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Skip-Level Meeting: Agenda & Questions for Employee Feedback
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What is a Skip-Level Meeting?
To put it simply, a skip-level meeting is a gathering of a CEO or a higher up manager and employees who are more than one step down the chain of command. It’s when upper-level managers bypass mid-level managers and talk directly to non-managerial employees.
A skip-level meeting can be a simple and quick conversation in which employees are asked how they feel about working for the company. Or, the meeting can cover any other of the following topics:
Ideas for possible new campaigns, products or initiatives;
How to improve the everyday working environment;
How do the employees feel about the company goals and their team;
Vision and priorities;
The goal of skip-level meetings is to provide a safe and productive environment for a fruitful conversation between higher-level employees and lower-level employees. A skip-level meeting builds a bridge between The Boss and the worker which creates a comfortable working space where everyone feels heard and cherished.
What is the Difference Between a Skip-Level Meeting and a Regular Company Meeting?
The main difference between a skip-level meeting and a normal meeting with a manager is that the regular meeting usually consists of technical or organizational updates and things like employee productivity are being discussed. During a skip-level meeting, however, employees are given the opportunity to voice their concerns and feelings about different things happening in the company. Another difference is that conducting skip-level meetings increases transparency throughout the organization as a whole. Regular meetings are for updates, new assignments and stating new rules or changes. Skip-level meetings are for voicing opinions and enhancing loyalty, transparency and dedication.
What are the benefits of a skip-level meeting?
By now, you’ve probably understood some of the benefits of running a skip-level meeting. As mentioned above, they provide a safe and encouraging environment for low-level employees to share their beliefs and feelings about the company. Some other advantages of these meetings include:
Employers and employees can interact with each other and get to know each other in a better way.
Skip-level meetings are especially effective when moving into a leadership role in a new company.
Leaders and managers will make judgement calls and decide what to change and what to keep the same after hearing what their employees think.
Increased company transparency.
Open environment is created where ideas and innovation are welcomed.
Increased employee engagement.
As employees will feel valued and included, they are more likely to be loyal and not leave for another company.
A universal understanding of your company and its goals, vision and priorities is created.
They can result in high-performing teams with low levels of employee burnout and stress.
Questions for Skip-Level Meeting
Here are some good skip-level meeting questions for your next gathering with company employees.
How do you feel about working for our company?
How do you feel about your job lately?
What are some of your recent accomplishments you’re most proud of?
How do you measure your employee productivity levels?
Is there any tool you believe would be helpful for your current role?
Is there anything or anyone you think might be blocking you from being even more successful at your role than you already are?
Do you have any ideas for innovation in your team or in the company?
Is there anyone in the company you would like to learn more from?
What is one thing you think might help improve the performance of your team?
If you were the CEO, what’s going to be the first thing you would change?
Do you manage to achieve work-life balance? Do you feel overwhelmed with work recently?
Is there anyone from the team you believe deserves a shout-out?
What are your professional goals for the upcoming year?
Do you have any questions that you would like to ask?
Skip-Level Meeting Agenda
Define the Purpose
If you’re a manager or a CEO, you have to be well-aware of the primary purpose of the skip-level meeting agenda. You’re trying to get an honest assessment from your company members at all levels and determine the organization’s effectiveness. Define the purpose of the skip-level meeting beforehand. Is it to determine managerial effectiveness, fix organizational issues or it’s going to be a simple organizational alignment meeting?
Once you’ve collected data from the meeting, you will be able to draw meaningful conclusions about day to day operations and remove any blocks affecting the performance of the employees.
Run these meetings with an open mind and try to create an environment in which everyone can freely and without fear express their thoughts and opinions. Once you’ve built that mindset and fully embraced the purpose of such meetings, you will see how your employees will respond with trust and confidence in your and your company.
2. Anonymity
At the beginning of every skip-level meeting, make sure all employees know that they will remain anonymous. The reason why you have to do this is because you want employees to speak freely, without fear of retribution. This is especially valid when senior leaders want to learn more about the performance of mid-level managers. Put the team members at ease by ensuring that none of them will face any backlashes if they speak their mind, even if they have to say something negative. By ensuring their anonymity, you can get the full benefits of skip level meetings.
3. Plan
Just like you plan ahead and prepare in order to conduct effective business meetings, you have to do the same for skip-level meetings. Skip-level meetings require advanced planning in order to get the most out of them.
Take time to think carefully and plan accordingly. How do you envision your skip-level meetings? What are going to be the questions you will ask your team members? What is the goal of the meeting? Is it to determine the effectiveness of mid-level management or discuss organizational issues? Keep in mind that you can’t cover everything in one skip-level meeting. Outline your questions based on the purpose of the meeting and the area that you want to focus on.
Employees should also be ready with skip-level meeting questions. The better prepared both sides are for the meeting, the more effective the outcomes will be.
Remember to also provide a skip-level meeting agenda before the meeting. This way, you will allow everyone to come prepared, be aware of the true purpose behind the meeting and feel less nervous about meeting the boss of their boss.
4. Manage Risk
A skip-level meeting is not a witch hunt against mid-level managers. Their purpose is for senior managers to get a better understanding of their company and give a chance to every employee to speak their mind.
You have to keep the outcomes of the skip-level meeting risk low for both mid-managers and employees. This way, everyone can contribute to the process and be as honest as possible.
Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Next Skip-Level Meeting:
For senior managers:
A skip-level meeting is not a mid-level manager feedback session. Their purpose is not to spy on managers and their team. Their purpose is to connect with employees of all levels and determine if there’s anything you have to change within your organization.
Skip-level meetings are an opportunity for you to gather useful information straight from the front-line. Foster an environment of comfort and transparency. Yes, some team members might not be ready to share honest opinions and thoughts during the first meeting. However, if you insist on running skip-level meetings regularly, you will notice how everyone will start feeling more vulnerable with you.
For employees:
It’s your time to shine so use it wisely. You’re given the opportunity to talk to a leader, a CEO or a high-level executive you might not have access to otherwise. So, you have to prepare accordingly. Think of your journey at the company so far and what are your goals, dreams and ambitions for your future at this company.
What do you want your leader to know about you personally and professionally? Craft unique questions so you can learn more about the business and leave a good impression.
After the Skip-Level Meeting:
After the meeting has finished, you can share a follow-up email with the attendees and also the manager. Thank everyone for their time and point out a couple of things that you will take action on.
If you’re going to conduct a skip-level meeting without taking any action based on the information you learn, you are just wasting everyone’s precious time. Be ready to hear both positive and negative statements and act on them professionally.
Hold skip-levels at least once a quarter to secure good results. Also, you have to be transparent with the mid-level managers and treat them with respect regardless of the actions you plan on taking after gathering insights from the meetings.
Tools to Facilitate a Skip-Level Meeting
Skip-level meetings are a great way to get to know every person working for your company and get truthful insights about your company. However, they are time-consuming and may turn into an unproductive waste of everyone’s time. That is especially true if you plan on running a skip-level meeting online.
To secure the productivity and efficiency of your skip-levels, I advise you to consider implementing a tool like Mombit.
Mombit is a meeting management tool designed to boost meeting productivity, attend and facilitate as many meetings as you want and easily keep track of action items. With built-in meeting minutes, you can easily take notes and manage the agenda of the meeting.
Below, check out how Mombit works:
|
https://medium.com/@velinablogging/skip-level-meeting-agenda-questions-for-employee-feedback-4eaf3aba03cd
|
[]
|
2020-12-14 16:37:40.076000+00:00
|
['Meeting Management', 'Management', 'Employee Engagement', 'Senior Management', 'Meetings']
|
Is Data Science Still a Rising Career in 2021
|
2020 was the first year since 2016, Data Scientist was not the number one job in America, according to Glassdoor’s annual ranking. That title would belong to Front End Engineer, followed by Java Developer, followed by Data Scientist.
Best Jobs in America for 2020, via Glassdoor
Now being 3rd isn’t bad at all, in fact you’re still on the podium. But is the shiny title of Data Scientist finally falling off, or did it just become another victim of 2020?
To determine this we’ll look at 3 economic factors that have an influence on job ranking:
Demand
Supply
Growth
Examining these factors will give us the answer if data science is still a rising career in 2021.
Demand
If you go back years ago, the shiny titles in the early 2010s were programmers and web designers. The salaries for the two were great back then, but have plateaued since as supply caught up with demand.
That is not the case for Data Scientists yet as demand is still quite high.
There is a reason Data Scientist is in the top 3 for job rankings, and it’s because their demand is absolutely ridiculous and in no sight of slowing down.
Where Does This Demand Come From?
Data-driven decision making. That is the simple answer to this question. To be a successful company in the 21st century you have to use data to your advantage.
Before many were doing this by using excel to analyze data, but now anyone can have access to and use data-crunching tools like:
Google Analytics — Digital marketing cloud-based service
Tableau, Power Bi — Data visualization tools for business intelligence
Python, R— Programming languages used to perform complicated analysis with a few lines of code
The largest companies in the entire world are data science fueled enterprises. Take a look at Google, Amazon, and Facebook. Each use data science to create algorithms that improve customer satisfaction and maximize profits.
Google — Ranking of webpages to ensure the top links have an answer to any desired question.
Amazon — Recommendation of products based on consumer’s past behavior and interests.
Facebook — Targeted ads (they know the sports you like, preferred price range, food, etc) to increase market success.
In the end, the main reason demand is still high is because if your competitors are relying on data-driven decision making and you aren’t, they will surpass you and steal your market share.
Therefore companies have to adapt and employ data science tools and techniques or they will simply be forced out of business.
Meaning… Data Scientists are a must in 2021.
Supply
The supply of Data Scientists is low, and it’s because the field of data science is still relatively new even in 2021.
You see 20 years ago it was impossible to learn data science because of slow internet connection, and low computational primitive programming languages. As the years went on though, the power of computers started to grow exponentially and data science became possible.
This exponential growth and interest in the field were impossible to predict, and traditional education was not ready to meet the needs of those who wanted to learn this growing field.
Very few programs were created to educate aspiring Data Scientists. This shows as research suggests those who get into the field usually transition from other fields such as business, psychology, and life sciences.
Most who transitioned learned their skills through self-preparation by reading books, and taking online courses…
Not through the traditional education system.
Photo from Unsplash by Changbok Ko
Employment Statistics
Those who get into data science have the advantage of starting a career path in which there are more open jobs than qualified candidates to fill them.
In fact, data science jobs remain open 5 days longer than the average for all other jobs. This points to the fact that there is less competition which results in the recruiters needing extra time to find the correct candidates.
These correct candidates are in luck as most will only need a bachelor’s degree to get hired. The low supply has resulted in 61% of data scientist positions be available to those with a bachelor’s degree, while only 39% will require a master’s degree or a PhD.
Growth
If you’ve been following this article along, then you probably have a good assumption on the trajectory of the growth of data science jobs.
Per LinkedIn, there has been a 650% increase in data science jobs since 2012. Glassdoor gives evidence to this claim as they had about 1700 job postings with data science being the primary role in 2016. That number rose to 4500 in 2018, and sort of flattened out in 2020 at around 6500.
COVID-19 was the big story in 2020, and presumably, the reason for this flattening out. Overall though tech jobs have proven to be resilient during the pandemic, which is now in its tenth month.
Photo from Unsplash by Elena Mozhvilo
Don’t Bet Against the Growth
Demand for Data Scientists is still high while supply is low. According to IBM, this tendency will continue to be strong for years to come. Another credible source that agrees with this statement is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sees strong growth in the data science field and predicts the number of jobs will increase by about 28% through 2026. To give that 28% a number, that is roughly 11.5 million new jobs in the field.
In the long term, it would probably be unwise to bet against data science as a career move, especially when you widen the field to include related positions like research engineers and machine learning engineers.
Final Thought
So is data science still a rising career in 2021? The answer is a resounding YES! Demand across the world for Data Scientists are in no way of slowing down, and the lack of competition for these jobs makes data science a very lucrative option for a career path.
Join my email list with 1k+ people to get The Complete Python for Data Science Cheat Sheet Booklet for Free.
|
https://towardsdatascience.com/is-data-science-still-a-rising-career-in-2021-722281f7074c
|
['Christopher Zita']
|
2021-03-29 05:41:14.665000+00:00
|
['Data Scientist', 'Python', 'Data Science', 'Career Advice', 'Machine Learning']
|
How to Earn Money on Fiverr as a Freelancer 2021 in Hindi
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Fiverr is an online market place where freelancers list their services and earn decent part time/ full time income working form home.
You can signup on Fiverr here: http://www.fiverr.com
Year 2020 has been tough for most of us. Many have lost their jobs and world economies are struggling to bring back confidence in market.
During these challenging times, we must keep trying, finding different ways to earn money and grow financially. Every individual has got some skills which he or she can use to make decent income online.
Fiverr.com has been in online marketplace for about 10 years but many still does not know about this freelancer website. On Fiverr.com freelancers get registered for free and they sell their services to international market online. Services on Fiverr are called as gigs. You as a seller can provide freelancer services starting from $5.
Here is a detailed video in Hindi about how you as a freelancer can start selling your skills on Fiverr
Best Website for freelancers to Earn Extra Income Working from Home
In this video, I have suggested ten Fiverr gig ideas which most of sellers are providing on Fiverr. After watching this video, you can research about these service ideas on fiver, with this research on these topics which I have suggested, you will get a basic idea about how you too can start selling your freelancer services on Fiverr.com.
Many of freelancers on Fiverr are earning more than $ 500 a month and sky is the limit. (Earnings Disclaimer: Your earning as a freelancer on Fiverr depends purely on your hard work and your learning about various skills.)
I hope this video has helped you in having a basic understanding about how you too can explore your possibilities to earn money online as a freelancer on Fiverr.
I wish you all the very best for all your future endeavours.
Yours
Digital Dost Eashwar
|
https://medium.com/@digitaldosteashwar/how-to-earn-money-on-fiverr-as-a-freelancer-2021-in-hindi-5d0a6199e1f
|
['Digital Dost Eashwar']
|
2020-12-27 15:04:50.130000+00:00
|
['Work From Home', 'Freelance', 'Freelancing', 'Fiverr', 'Fiverr Gig']
|
How to Write a LinkedIn Headline (Recruiters Will Respond To)
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As a copywriter-slash-career coach, I have clients come to me for plenty of reasons but the top requests? Help with their LinkedIn headline and bio, and with their resume.
And while I will eventually cover it all, today I’m focusing on the LinkedIn headline. How to write a good one and why it counts the most.
But I thought I was supposed to write ‘Marketing Manager at Company X.’ If this was your assumption, you’re a bit behind the times. Not like Justin and Britney showing up in denim outfits behind, but like, for-profit companies trying to figure out TikTok behind the times.
Thankfully, I got you covered.
PROBLEM YOU HAVE
You hate your LinkedIn headline and have no clue what to say.
You don’t want to come off pretentious or phony. But you want to put your best foot forward.
Or maybe you actually hate what you currently do and don’t want to pigeonhole yourself.
WHY YOU NEED TO SOLVE IT
More companies are looking at your LinkedIn versus your resume.
Your LinkedIn serves as a search engine (i.e., the Google machine for recruiters) and is the greatest chance for you to shoot your shot.
LinkedIn is the new business card.
WRITE THE HEADLINE OF YOUR DREAMS
TEMPLATE
Basic formula:
[Who I serve and how I serve them] + [their RIO] + [through what I do] + [my expertise, specialization, strengths]. | [Optional: Your current title and company]
Example:
Dylan, a kindergarten teacher who hopes to be a college professor, may write:
Preparing students for future success through academic study, literature, and early childhood education. | 4th Grade English Teacher at ABC Elementary School
Fostering possibility and encouraging discovery through creative writing and composition. | 4th Grade English Teacher at ABC Elementary School
Developing future leaders through the facilitation of discussion, education, and discovery. Currently an early childhood educator with aspirations in higher education.
Not a wordsmith? No problem. Here is some inspiration to help you.
VERBS TO SPARK INSPIRATION
Helping
Serving
Advising
Directing
Collaborating
Developing
Communicating
Building
Briding
Bringing
WHO VERBIAGE TO SPARK INSPIRATION
C-suite executives
Entrepreneurs
Workforce
Employees
Future leaders
Everyday people
Business coaches
Communities
RIO VERBIAGE TO SPARK INSPIRATION
Build their business
Grow their business
Expand their business
Discover their why
Understand their purpose
Build a community
Inspire change
Focus
TIPS WHEN SPEAKING TO YOUR SPECIALIZATION
The riches are in the niches — get super specific on what it is you do. If you primarily work with start-up tech clients in the North Texas area, say it LOUD!
Always use metrics when you can
What “proof” do you have?
How do you make professionals feel and/or what can you promise them?
ON THE FENCE
Not sure if you’ve hit the mark? Does your headline answer the following questions:
What skillset can you bring to a job?
What are you good at?
What will we remember about you long after you leave the company?
And if you’re still on the fence, you can always hire me to write your LinkedIn headline and bio. Shameless plug.
Happy headlining!
Originally published at https://www.jazminereedclark.com on December 7, 2020.
|
https://medium.com/@jazminereedclark/how-to-write-a-linkedin-headline-recruiters-will-respond-to-e0de49fb735c
|
['Jazmine Reed-Clark']
|
2020-12-08 02:23:43.870000+00:00
|
['Resume Writing', 'Social Media Strategy', 'Recruiting', 'How To', 'LinkedIn']
|
Home Profit System Review! (Make Money Online This System)
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I am retired.I basically make about $6,000-$8,000 a month online. It’s enough to comfortably replace my old jobs income, especially considering I only work about 20 hours a week from home. That does not mean I am wealthy, it just means I have been receiving a fixed income in a world where the prices keep rising. I have tried several things, but since I am getting older, I Realised that I need more income, but not an income where I have to produce more and more to keep up. Until a few months back, I had no idea how could I get some extra cash. So, I needed to find some things that an old guy like me can do to make money without having to do it forever. I am glad I found this because it proved to be exactly what I was looking for!!! I am receiving a steady paycheck each week using this system for the last 6 months now. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking to earn some money online With Home Profit System.
I personally working with this system for 2 years now… Earned in a total of $123,000 since I started… I even managed to persuade two friends of mine to try it out… Once they started to cash in checks they were receiving, they started thanking me all the time… Frankly, it’s getting on my nerves now and I feel I should have kept my mouth shut… lol.
Here’s how to get started:
Go to this link, fill out a basic online form and hit submit at Home Profit System
Home Profit System- Official WEBSITE
WARNING — Registration Deadline is on December 31, 2020
|
https://medium.com/@patelinter2020/home-profit-system-review-make-money-online-this-system-9e56ba5a5049
|
['Patel International']
|
2020-12-19 09:01:58.127000+00:00
|
['Make Money Online At Home', 'Earnmoneyonlinefast', 'Online Business', 'Make Money Online Fast', 'Make Money Online Free']
|
React vs Angular vs Vue 2020
|
The framework battle continues into 2020 with no signs of slowing down. Which one of these front end giants is leading the pack? Well that depends on the way you look at it. Lets take a look at some of the numbers.
Job Demand and Postings
Unless you are the kind of coder who just likes to sit there and make websites for fun, the most likely statistic you are interested in would be job demand. Which one will land you that great position or top out your worth in the market.
The above chart is based of a job posting search using the name of each of the frameworks for the whole country of Canada. To my surprise Vue has a demanding lead over both Angular and even React.
It should be noted that the keyword search is not specifying what the main desired skills is, and each of these postings could be requesting the name of the frameworks as a secondary “nice to have” skill.
Popularity
Frequency of downloads
Next lets look at what developers seems to prefer. When you use a framework everyday one of the top considerations to you could very well be the “ease of use” or preference. If you are just starting out this could also carry over the amount of supporting material you can find from the community to help you along your way as well.
Number of framework downloads. Source of the image
In terms of popularity it seems React would be the developers choice by far as it stands currently. Vue does seem to be on the rise slowly, but has a long way to go to close the gap.
I would assume that the consistent level of Angular is attributed to the fact that companies that are already invested in Angular are staying with Angular, while new comers are going for leaner frameworks, with easier learning curves such as React and Vue.
Pros and Cons
React
Benefits of React:
Easy to learn, thanks to its simple design, use of JSX (an HTML-like syntax) for templating, and highly detailed documentation.
Developers spend more time writing modern JavaScript, and less time worrying about the framework-specific code.
Extremely fast, courtesy of React’s Virtual DOM implementation and various rendering optimizations.
Great support for server-side rendering, making it a powerful framework for content-focused applications.
First-class Progressive Web App (PWA) support, thanks to the `create-react-app` application generator.
Data-binding is one-way, meaning less unwanted side effects.
Redux, the most popular framework for managing application state in React, is easy to learn and master.
React implements Functional Programming (FP) concepts, creating easy-to-test and highly reusable code.
Applications can be made type-safe with either Microsoft’s TypeScript or Facebook’s Flow, with both featuring native support for JSX.
Migrating between versions is generally very easy, with Facebook providing “code mods” to automate much of the process.
Skills learned in React can be applied (often directly) to React Native development.
Drawbacks of React:
React is unopinionated and leaves developers to make choices about the best way to develop. This can be tackled by strong project leadership and good processes.
The community is divided on the best way to write CSS in React, split between traditional stylesheets (CSS Modules) and CSS-in-JS (i.e. Emotion and Styled Components).
React is moving away from class-based components, which may be a barrier for developers more comfortable with Object Oriented Programming (OOP).
Mixing templating with logic (JSX) can be confusing for some developers at first.
Companies that use React: Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, New York Times, Yahoo, Khan Academy, Whatsapp, Codecademy, Dropbox, Airbnb, Asana, Atlassian, Intercom, Microsoft, Slack, Storybook, and many more.
Angular
Benefits of Angular:
Angular’s created to be used alongside with Typescript. And has exceptional support for it.
Angular-language-service — which allows intelligence and autocomplete inside of component external HTML template files.
New features like a generation of Angular based npm libraries from CLI, generation, and development of WebComponents based on Angular.
Detailed documentation that allows getting the all necessary information for the individual developer without asking his colleagues. However, this requires more time for education.
One-way data binding that enables singular behaviour for the app which minimized risks of possible errors.
MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel) that allows developers to work separately on the same app section using the same set of data.
Dependency injection of the features related to the components with modules and modularity in general.
Structure and architecture specifically created for great project scalability
Drawbacks of Angular:
Variety of different structures(Injectables, Components, Pipes, Modules etc.) makes it a bit harder to learn in comparison with React and Vue.js, which have an only “Component” in mind.
Relatively slower performance, according to different benchmarks. On the other hand, it can be easily tackled by utilizing so-called “ChangeDetectionStrategy”, which helps to control the rendering process of components manually.
Companies that use Angular: Companies that use Angular: Microsoft, Autodesk, MacDonald’s, UPS, Cisco Solution Partner Program, AT&T, Apple, Adobe, GoPro, ProtonMail, Clarity Design System, Upwork, Freelancer, Udemy, YouTube, Paypal, Nike, Google, Telegram, Weather, iStockphoto, AWS, Crunchbase.
Vue
Benefits of Vue.js:
Empowered HTML. This means that Vue.js has many similar characteristics with Angular and this can help to optimize HTML blocks handling with the use of different components.
Detailed documentation. Vue.js has very circumstantial documentation which can fasten learning curve for developers and save a lot of time to develop an app using only the basic knowledge of HTML and JavaScript.
Adaptability. It provides a rapid switching period from other frameworks to Vue.js because of the similarity with Angular and React in terms of design and architecture.
Awesome integration. Vue.js can be used for both building single-page applications and more difficult web interfaces of apps. The main thing is that smaller interactive parts can be easily integrated into the existing infrastructure with no negative effect on the entire system.
Large scaling. Vue.js can help to develop pretty large reusable templates that can be made with no extra time allocated for that according to its simple structure.
Tiny size. Vue.js can weight around 20KB keeping its speed and flexibility that allows reaching much better performance in comparison to other frameworks.
Drawbacks of Vue.js:
Lack of resources. Vue.js still has a pretty small market share in comparison with React or Angular, which means that knowledge sharing in this framework is still in the beginning phase.
Risk of over flexibility. Sometimes, Vue.js might have issues while integrating into huge projects and there is still no experience with possible solutions, but they will definitely come soon.
Companies that use Vue.js: Xiaomi, Alibaba, WizzAir, EuroNews, Grammarly, Gitlab and Laracasts, Adobe, Behance, Codeship, Reuters.
Thoughts
Depending on how you look at the numbers, what is important to you, or what your idea of a good framework is based on the pros and cons, you will come to different conclusions. My opinion is mine alone and you opinion may be completely different.
After reviewing the material in this, I don’t think there has ever been a better time to look at Vue. It is in huge demand regarding job postings, and even if it is just a secondary “nice to have” skill for now the investment in picking it up will certainly pay off.
That being said I am partial to React, I find it easy to use and can produce quality web sites in less time than before using it. After looking the popularity it appears a good amount of the developer community would agree with me. However the developer community will not sign your pay checks and at the end of the day that is probably why you are doing this.
Lastly Angular seems to be losing the battle. They will need to do some major damage control in order to pull back into contention. They trail in job postings, and significantly in popularity.
Thanks for reading and I hope this helped!
|
https://medium.com/@tytraff/react-vs-angular-vs-vue-2020-43c4bf09f2f9
|
['David Tyler Trafford']
|
2020-03-11 01:55:46.365000+00:00
|
['JavaScript', 'React', 'Angular', 'Coding', 'Vue']
|
How I Make My Own “Dividends” By Selling Covered Calls
|
Let’s break it down by what happens depending on the stock price
Assume we sold the contract that expires Jan 8 with a $230 strike price for $136 in the example above.
Case 1: The stock price is below $230 by the end of the expiration date
If the shares aren’t worth over $230 (lets say its $227 by the expiration date), nobody would want to buy them for $230. The contract is now worthless, and you keep the money they paid you for it ($136). The stock price may have gone down (maybe it drops to $210) and you lost some value there, but if you were planning on keeping the shares anyway, at least you got the extra $136.
Case 2: The stock price is above $230 (lets say its $235) by the end of the expiration date
In this case, your shares will be sold for $230 each. While you are selling your shares at a discount of $5 each, it’s important to note that you have only lost out on potential profits! You still turned a profit of $9 each compared to the day you sold the contract when the stock was valued at $221, and you kept the $136 as well. All you did was put a cap on your profits, but you still profited regardless.
Case 3: Before the expiration date, you decide you want to get out of this contract
You don’t have to wait for the contract to expire to get out of it. You can also “buy back” your contract before the expiration date. If the price of $MSFT has exceeded/has a high chance of exceeding the contract’s strike price, you will probably need to pay more than you sold the contract for originally to get out of it. However, if the price of $MSFT has gone down, stayed the same, or only gone up a small amount (and has a low chance of getting to the strike price), you will likely be able to buy back your contract for less than what you were paid for it and be able to pocket the difference.
|
https://medium.com/@andrwyng/how-i-make-my-own-dividends-by-selling-covered-calls-14e71871d33
|
['Andrew Yang']
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2020-12-24 00:51:45.027000+00:00
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['Options Trading', 'Finance', 'Stocks', 'Options', 'Stock Market']
|
Rooster Teeth value VPN privacy protection — read on for the best VPN deal out there
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Rooster Teeth value VPN privacy protection — read on for the best VPN deal out there Viktor Zwoch Apr 13·2 min read
Rooster Teeth is a very successful YouTube channel that currently has 9.48 million subscribers and six billion views. Those are impressive numbers for any channel, and it speaks of high quality of their content. They do various videos from making podcasts, animated shows, to live-action shorts and series. They also make content about gaming. This content production company from Austin is well known for their videos which are released frequently to satisfy those who crave entertainment. But what’s even better is that they care about their fans online safety, and recommend to use a VPN for privacy protection.
What is the best VPN deal out there?
Rooster Teeth are recommending a decent VPN with a good reputation, and it’s worth getting. However, you might want to know that there is an even better deal at the moment. For a limited time only you can get NordVPN with a 68% discount, which will cost you $3.71/month for a three-year deal.
Or if you want to use it for a shorter time, you can get a one-year deal 58% OFF for $4.92/month. Whichever fits your needs the best.
You can get this service from Apple Store by clicking here or download it from Google Play via this link.
What makes NordVPN a leader in the industry?
NordVPN is a well-known brand which they carefully forged by providing a high-quality service for nearly a decade. With 5000+ high-speed servers in 59 countries, a proven no-logs policy, comfortable to use App and a professional developer and support teams Nord is one of the leaders in the VPN industry. It will encrypt your traffic, protect you from phishing and malware, disable ads and trackers, and let you bypass geographical restrictions. All of this in one fully developed App that will protect your online data.
What is a VPN?
VPN is a Virtual Private Network, and it’s a privacy protection oriented cybersecurity software. It works by creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and one of its servers, then rerouting all the data-flow through the chosen secured server. This way, a VPN protects your online data against malicious players, who might want to do you harm.
|
https://medium.com/@nonvictorsilva/rooster-teeth-value-vpn-privacy-protection-read-on-for-the-best-vpn-deal-out-there-c95487a6a4ff
|
['Viktor Zwoch']
|
2021-04-13 11:00:05.234000+00:00
|
['Cybersecurity', 'Discount', 'Deal', 'Privacy', 'VPN']
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Path towards the ‘Sustainable’ World !
|
Sustainability is one of the foremost concern that humanity faces today. Stuart Hart in his book, Capitalism at Crossroads discusses about some of the frameworks that can be used to develop sustainable strategies.
Hart also discusses about how Worlds are in collision and how money economy is encroaching on nature’s economy and making undeniable and many a times not so welcoming changes in local markets/culture. Later he suggests how corporations can obtain real benefits by building a balanced sustainability portfolio. However, all these efforts require a holistic view of the scenario and any reductionist approach would not solve the problem in the longer term.
I would like to argue that since we are trying to fix the externalities created by the businesses, we need to focus on fundamental premises on which the businesses are built, since we inherit the business frameworks from times when sustainability was not an issue. Going back in time, during the imperial era, all the imperial powers were focussed on extracting as much resources from occupied territories to bring wealth back home, without paying any attention to the local communities and environmental impact. In fact many bigger corporations that exist today were found during the pre world war era.
Businesses today are defined by their ability to make profits. Profits as we know today is measured in terms of monetary performance. Given that we need to re look how we conduct business, we may need to redefine our definition of profit (which is actually inherited from imperial times and before). New definition of value(profit) might include not only economic value but ‘societal value’, encompassing all the three economies(money economy, traditional economy and nature’s economy). Michael Porter, professor at HBS terms this as ‘shared value’, while Umair, a blogger at HBR, in his book ‘The New Capitalist Manifesto’ termed this as ‘thick value’. The idea is essentially the same, unless we redefine the basic premise to do business, we cannot change the outcome beyond a certain threshold. It would require more fundamental rethinking of the pillars of business.
However to do that and make businesses believe that they are actually creating value, we need to come up similar complex mathematical models and metrics to keep track of ‘value’ created by corporations and any benefits that can be extended to them.
Making businesses choose more green strategies and create new technologies and efficient processes seems to me that they still lack the vision of the future. This is because, though they are trying to change how a particular business functions, but zooming out of the picture, still doesn’t fundamentally change the business scenario, where profits are primarily driven by economic benefits and which augments human behaviour of greed.
Measuring economic profit is a well established science. However, it is really cumbersome to come up with any generic model to measure ‘societal value’ as it may depend on geographies and local culture. This would create some non-deterministic calculations of profit which corporations are inherently opposed to, since they work better in deterministic world defined by proper laws. Therefore to solve the problem of sustainability it is important to develop frameworks that provides a metric based approach to measure ‘societal value’ without undermining the current economic benefits to the corporations.
To conclude, I believe, to be able to measure the ‘value’ created by businesses and disseminate that information to the stakeholders can bring about change in the way businesses function, and wipe out the problem of sustainability, as we know it today.
|
https://medium.com/all-things-philosophical/path-towards-the-sustainable-world-a47217950b45
|
['Anshul Pandey']
|
2017-12-09 02:42:22.967000+00:00
|
['My Thoughts', 'Business', 'Capitalism', 'Shared', 'Society']
|
Influencer Marketing — Influencers, Screws, Reviews
|
Bernard Goldbach https://www.flickr.com/photos/topgold/
In the 1860’s a prominent machinist named William Sellers set out on a mission to standardise the common screw. Importantly, this was a screw by his own design.
At that time, screws were made individually, by hand, on demand. Sellers saw the opportunity to develop an interchangeable screw, which could be mass-produced and lead to lower prices and speed of delivery. It also meant specialist screw machinists lost their uniqueness and most likely their trade. Much like the scribe, who objected heavily to the printing press, the machinists would do everything in their power to block Sellers. Hand-made screws meant repeat business for machinists and that customers were locked in.
In the 1860’s Sellers set out on an influencer campaign. Connection and influence became his leading tactic.
And so, Sellers targeted influential and heavy users of the screw. He started with the railroad and U.S, navy. This created an air of momentum, much like a snowball starting to roll down a hill. With this momentum, word of mouth played its part, closely followed by (the medium of choice at that time), the newspaper.
As you can guess, Sellers won and today we see the result of his vision. Once standardisation bedded in, so did an eco-system of standardized products around the screw.
Influencers
If you take Sellers tactic and view it as a framework you can see how it is the essence of influencer marketing.
A top PR firm owner once described PR to me as follows:
If I were to tell you my blog is great that is communications. If I told someone to tell other people my blog is great that is marketing. If people tell each other my blog is great, that is PR.
Taking this simple formula and applying it to Influencer Marketing we get a mix of 2 and 3. On this week’s Innovation Show we talk to №1 Global “Digital Marketing Influencer” in 2016 and Forbes “Top 20 Influencer of CMO’s” in 2017, Jeff Bullas. As a recognised influencer Jeff tells us how to engage influencers like him. Jeff describes influencer marketing as follows:
“Influencer marketing is reaching the tribes of influencers, people, who have built credibility and authenticity in their niche and their industry and quite often is doing that through great content.” — Jeff Bullas
There are some conflicts that need to be balanced to achieve this. The influencer will not waver on their credibility and promote a product they do not believe in. Jeff sees co-created or collaboratively created content as the best way to achieve influencer marketing. This content needs to address the pain points or interests of the tribe. Lazy marketers will create a blanket piece of content and expect this to be one size fits all (much like Sellers’ screw above). Content distribution does not work that way.
Jeff sees the influencer as the orchestrator of how to distribute content as well as the co-creator of this content. Distribution is key, as the influencer inherently understands the content consumption habits of their tribe and how each platform plays a different role. When you place content on a non-owned platform you must observe the behavior of the audience of that platform.
Big brands are so used to mass media messaging that they struggle when it comes to influencer marketing. The reality is the advertising landscape has been atomised into much smaller slices of the pie. To compete as a marketer one must embark on a journey of constant education. One must learn the platforms by doing, not reading and thus understand which are relevant for your brand and your audience.
Many measurement metrics need to be reimagined and recalibrated for today’s world of marketing. Many marketers do not convert their marketing effort to sales. The challenge is often that there are very few board members who are aware what is good and what is not and so very few call it as it really is…
A final piece of the pie to consider is the education piece of marketing. Jeff sees marketing as 75% education and 25% sales and feels marketers consistently fail at the last piece, hence the adage that the best marketers are ex-salespeople.
Reviews
On this week’s show we also talk to Gisela Hausmann, author of nine books, including the award-winning “Naked Determination”. Gisela is an email evangelist, and an expert Amazon reviewer and Amazon review coach.
The reason both Jeff and Gisela are on the same show is the common denominator of authenticity. In a world of always on, of suspicion of advertising, of ad blocking and (bad) content marketing authenticity is king. This is no different for the world of reviews. If Amazon or iTunes sniff a false or planted review they will come down very harshly on the culprit.
Why are reviews important?
No-one really believes the highly produced piece to camera any more. Yes, it still has its place, but the savvy marketer needs to consider every customer touch point. Reviews are an aspect so often overlooked, when you think about human behavior, reviews are an essential slice of the marketing pie.
Think for a moment of a purchase decision. A buyer will check user reviews before they read an article in the newspaper or a YouTube video by the brand. This is akin to checking tripadvisor reviews or forum reviews before deciding on a hotel destination.
Gisela gives us some real nuggets such as how it is vital for any brand selling on Amazon to ensure they get reviewed on Amazon US first. Why? Amazon US is a blanket review site where the reviews for the US are also made available in other countries and are placed below the local market reviews. Unbeknownst to most is that when you place a review on Amazon it is only available on that local market’s website.
Gisela also tells us how to approach professional reviewers, for example do not try to impress or woo the reviewer. Reviewers get sent the product to review, but there are strict regulations around what they can do with the product, for example Amazon won’t let them sell a product they review. We discuss an example of one reviewer who reviews Dog products. This reviewer uses the product, reviews it and then donates everything to a local dog shelter.
You can see the correlation between influencers, screws and reviews now. Marketers need to re-educate themselves. The old world is long dead, we are in a world of accelerated innovation and innovation is a form of evolution that often people don’t see until it is too late. Don’t be a stagnant marketer and never take risks. This is a journey with no destination. The destination is the journey. To excel in the new business environment in any respect we must embark on a journey of constant learning, self-improvement and enjoy the journey.
THANKS FOR READING
On this week’s Innovation Show we talk to №1 Global “Digital Marketing Influencer”, 2016 and Forbes “Top 20 Influencers of CMO’s” in 2017, Jeff Bullas. As an influencer Jeff tells us how to engage an influencer to excel at influence marketing. He also lets us know a bit about his mindset and what drives him.
We talk to Gisela Hausmann, author of nine books, including award-winning “Naked Determination” Gisela is an email evangelist, and an expert Amazon reviewer and review coach.
Finally, we talk to Lisa Marie Clinton, founder and CEO of Avail (Assisted Visuals Achieving Independent Living). Avail is a portable, discreet virtual assistant. It works as an e-learning app and web portal for children and adults with intellectual or development disabilities. The app and site deliver smart prompts based on the person’s ability, so it is personalised to the user.
You can subscribe on iTunes here.
Website is here.
TuneIn is here.
Soundcloud is below.
|
https://medium.com/thethursdaythought/influencer-marketing-influencers-screws-reviews-ce5e037742a6
|
['Aidan Mccullen']
|
2017-02-09 19:19:06.644000+00:00
|
['Influencer Marketing', 'Social Media', 'Amazon', 'Marketing', 'Digital Marketing']
|
Healthy Habits Series: Creating a Schedule of Small Habits
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“I have so many things I want to do in regards to self-care, but I don’t know where to start”. I hear this a lot, because people think that they have to do a ton of things that take up a lot of time in order to feel like they did self-care. Well guess what? Self-care isn’t as glamorous as Instagram says it is. A lot of self-care is little habits that work towards the bigger picture of your own personal care. It’s with these habits that you can create a rotating schedule. But HOW do I fit in anything else? The good news is, once you create the schedule, the actual habits are usually 5 minutes or less.
Think of things you should probably be doing or would like to do. For example, you say you should be flossing your teeth. You occasionally remember to actually do it. You want to do a face mask, but think about it as you’re pulling down the covers to go to bed. For me, I chose flossing, using a face mask, oil pulling, and dry brushing.
broadwaycosmeticdentist.com
Pick when you’re going to do them. If you chose flossing, you could add that to your nighttime routine and you could add oil pulling to your morning shower routine. My morning habits include dry brushing and oil pulling, while my night time habits include flossing and putting on a face mask.
Create a simple visual schedule. I created a simple daily schedule using Excel. Each of my habits is done 2-3 times a week. Some days only include one habit, while others include one habit in the morning and one at night.
Hang it up where you can see it. I placed mine right inside the door of my medicine cabinet in my bathroom. This way, when I open it to brush my teeth in the morning and at night, I have a visual prompt to tell me which other habit I should be engaging in.
If you feel like you need to change up your habits, just make a new schedule and adjust accordingly. I hope this provides you with some helpful tips to add in those small things you say you should be doing, but forget about pretty often.
inc.com
Thanks for reading about this week’s healthy habits series. Look out each Monday for the healthy habits series!
Brianna Snyder, M.A., BCBA
|
https://medium.com/@BDAMovementMatters/healthy-habits-series-creating-a-schedule-of-small-habits-19b224ae3aba
|
['Hacking Health']
|
2020-02-17 23:21:38.197000+00:00
|
['Behavior', 'Habit Building', 'Habits', 'Behavior Change', 'Wellness']
|
The second day of Mr. Dragon writing
|
The second day of Mr. Dragon writing
Because there is nothing at all, what on earth can provoke dust? I am Mr. Dragon. I mainly share between two people or parties trust.
I am relatively strange. Sometimes, I do not know why I trust a person. But more often than suspect a person’s malicious motive. I do not know why that is too.
The queer trust is likely to suffer losses in theory. But maybe it is a fortune cause. It has not yet caused great loss, up to now. Of course, I also try to change the bad habit.
In most cases, an ordinary being wants to get a thing done. He needs these three things: solid determination, plenty of patience and enough confidence.
I browse a youtuber’s job vacancy, which makes me a little sad. But I still take heart of grace in the end, and send it to my bio. The process lets me realize studying English is relatively easy. After all, no comparison, no harm. But, what is laughable is that I write an article that is still painful for me.
Being unable to read English causes a lot of pain yet. Whatever it takes, this time I must hold on, hold on, hold on, defeat the English! I import 1h, inpur short essays of 300 words or more.
Oh, up to now, only write 200 words, the rest of 100 words should write what? The dormitory’s power is out. The university in my country will have a blackout at 23:00 on non-holidays. And my computer battery life is poor, so I probably only have half an hour to code the remaining 60 words. In addition, I published articles. The reading amount was 0 as of one hour ago. This undoubtedly made me more upset.
Oh, I plan to publish it on reddit. Oh, I am 22 words short of 300. It’s funny to think about it. After all, I used to have difficulty sharing 300 Chinese words every day.
About good vision, I hard studying English the reason why is love.
Thanks for reading.
|
https://medium.com/@minerva-dragon/the-second-day-of-mr-dragon-writing-405de66d3e13
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[]
|
2021-05-05 15:19:52.836000+00:00
|
['Pain', 'Sad']
|
Dec 14, 2020 / New Moon in Sagittarius Solar Eclipse
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Dec 14, 2020 / New Moon in Sagittarius Solar Eclipse
Let’s all have a collective breath; exhale and let go off 2020! As we close out this roller coaster of year, pay attention to the energies within and outside of yourself. In this reading, Cadence pulls some cards to get your inward reflection going to start 2021 on a high note.
If you’re interested in a 1:1 reading with Cadence, please email her at [email protected]
Cadence also does a reading for the collective at the top of our Take a Break class at My Sex Bio Studio. The class is FREE and takes place every other Tuesday. Sign up today at www.mysexbiostudio.org
|
https://medium.com/@mysexbio/dec-14-2020-new-moon-in-sagittarius-solar-eclipse-cadences-tarot-reading-for-the-collective-c938514b4d2e
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['My Sexual Biography']
|
2021-01-11 17:32:28.043000+00:00
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['Tarot', 'Sagittarius', 'Moon', 'Tarot Reading', 'New Moon']
|
TechNY Daily
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October 7, 2020
Edition 501
TechNY15 Stock Index:1,274.40 (+40.40)
Keeping the NYC Tech Industry Informed and Connected
1. NYC’s Petal, which uses a holistic underwriting model to qualify consumers for its credit card, has raised $55 million in a Series C funding. Peter Thiel’s Valar Ventures led the round and was joined Rosecliff Ventures, Afore Capital, RiverPark Ventures, Great Oaks Venture Capital, GR Capital, Nelstone Ventures, Abstract Ventures, Ride Ventures, The Gramercy Fund, Adventure Collective, Starta Ventures and NFL player Kelvin Beachum, Jr. Petal looks at the cash flow of potential borrowers rather than credit scores to assess creditworthiness. (www.petalcard.com) (TechCrunch)
2. NYC’s SeamlessDocs, a form automation platform for governments, has been acquired by Dallas’s Kofile, a digital transformation platform for local governments. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. SeamlessDocs had previously raised $19.2 million from investors including The CAPROCK Group, SJF Ventures, New York State, Motorola Solutions, Kernel Capital, Govtech Fund and 1776 Ventures. (www.seamlessdocs.com) (www.kofile.us) (AccessWire)
3. NYC’s Begin, developer of early learning program HOMER, has raised $50 million in a Series C funding. Investors in the round included LEGO Ventures, Sesame Workshop, 3One4 Capital, Trustbridge Partners and Interlock Partners. Since the start of the pandemic, the company has seen a 280% increase in subscriptions compared to the same period last year. (www.beginlearning.com) (TechCrunch)
4. NYC’s Buzzer, a mobile platform for live sports, has raised $4 million in a seed funding. NYC’s Lerer Hippeau and Sapphire Sport led the round and were joined by R&R Venture Partners and Imagination Capital. The company’s platform sends real-time, personalized notifications to help fans watch their favorite teams live. (www.buzzer.com) (PR Newswire)
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5. NYC’s ButterflyMX, a developer of smart intercoms for apartment buildings, has raised $35 million in a growth round financing. Volition Capital led the round and was joined by Egis Capital, RiverPark Ventures and Stifel Financial Corporation. The company’s platform uses smartphones to let residents grant building access to visitors without using keys or fobs. (www.butterlymx.com) (The Real Deal)
6. Elmsford-based Seeqc, a quantum computing startup, has raised $22.4 million in a Series A funding. EQT Ventures led the round, with participation from M Ventures, the venture capital arm of Merck, and Swedish private equity firm FAM AB. Seeqc is developing an application specific quantum computing system based on a hybrid architecture that combines quantum processors with classical computers. (www.seeqc.com) (SilconAngle)
7. NYC’s Rally, a fractional investing platform for alternatives investments such as luxury cars, has raised $17 million in a Series B financings. Investors included Upfront Ventures, Porsche Ventures, Raptor Group, Global Brain, Relay Ventures and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. The company’s platform allows small investors to buy equity shares of collector items such as luxury cars, wine, sports memorabilia, comic books and watches. (www.rallyrd.com) (TechCrunch)
8. Norwalk’s Datto, a provider of cloud-based data backup, has filed to raise $100 million in an IPO. The company has previously raised $100 million from General Catalyst and TCV. Datto posted revenue of $458.8 million and a loss of $31.2 million in 2019. (www.datto.com) (CRN)
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Hyperscience is the automation company that enables data to flow within and between the world’s leading firms in financial services, insurance, healthcare and government markets. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in New York City with offices in Sofia, Bulgaria and London, UK, we’ve raised more than $50 million raised to date and are growing quickly. We welcome anyone who believes in big ideas and demonstrates a willingness to learn, and we’re looking for exceptional talent to join our team and make a difference in our organization and for our customers.
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https://medium.com/@smallplanetapps/techny-daily-d5e27e9c35f0
|
['Small Planet']
|
2020-10-07 20:27:03.108000+00:00
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['Technews', 'Venture Capital', 'Funding', 'Technology News', 'Tech']
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Giants take season series in Buehler’s first ever loss to San Francisco
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(Photo by Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)
by Rowan Kavner
A back-and-forth season series went to the Giants. The Dodgers still have a month to make sure the division doesn’t, too.
Walker Buehler had never lost a game to the division rivals, entering Sunday’s series finale in San Francisco with a 7–0 record and 1.83 ERA in 12 career starts against the Giants. He carved his way through their lineup each of his first five times seeing them this year, allowing three earned runs in 34 innings.
That’s what made the final regular season matchup between the National League’s top two teams, a 6–4 loss for the Dodgers which put the Giants back in the NL West driver’s seat, particularly bewildering.
With the season series tied at nine games apiece, the 19th matchup of the year between the teams pitted Buehler against a San Francisco bullpen game. What looked on paper to be a favorable matchup did not play out as such, as the Giants struck early and often against the Dodgers’ Cy Young Award candidate in a way no team had prior this year.
Buehler, who had gone at least six innings in 26 of his first 27 starts this year, allowed a season-high six runs in a season-low three innings. He had not allowed more than two runs in any of his previous 10 starts before watching his ERA climb from 2.05 to 2.31 on Sunday.
It was the first time Buehler had allowed six runs in a game since Sept. 2, 2019. The Giants’ five swings and misses against him were tied for the Dodger ace’s fewest in a game this season (also on May 28 against San Francisco).
“Not a whole lot was very good,” Buehler said. “Probably the worst I’ve thrown in a long time. We’ll get back to the drawing board and improve, but tough day for me today.”
Manager Dave Roberts said familiarity tends to benefit the hitter, but when Buehler’s making pitches, that typically doesn’t matter.
The Giants plated runs on Buehler in each of the first three innings — including a home run in the first, two run-scoring hits in the second and another two run-scoring hits in the third — before the righty’s night ended at 53 pitches. He had not gone fewer than five innings in any other start this year.
“They were just on him tonight,” Roberts said. “I think there were some missed locations, some tough luck and also some quality contact. There just wasn’t a lot of swing-and-miss stuff. You’ve got to give credit when credit’s due.”
Boasting the top pitching staff in baseball, Sunday marked just the third time a Dodger starter allowed six earned runs in a game this year. No Dodger starter had allowed even four runs in a game all of August.
Despite that, the Dodgers got the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning following a pinch-hit two-run homer from Albert Pujols before their comeback attempt fell short.
Most of their opportunities to strike came much earlier.
The Dodgers left eight runners on base through the first five innings against a litany of Giants pitchers. They had two runners in scoring position with no outs after an RBI single from Will Smith in the second inning, but they stranded both runners.
An inning later, Smith popped out with the bases loaded to end another threat. The Dodgers loaded the bases again two innings later but came up empty on a Chris Taylor strikeout.
“We let those guys off the hook,” Roberts said. “Situationally, they were better than we were.”
The result was a seesawing division lead that tipped in favor of the Giants, who took two of three games this weekend.
The Dodgers have 25 games remaining, including a four-game trip to St. Louis beginning this week, to reclaim first place and defend their division crown for a ninth straight year.
“We have a month left,” Buehler said. “This is a big game, a Sunday night game, tied in the division and all that, but what it boils down to is playing a better month of baseball than they do.”
|
https://dodgers.mlblogs.com/giants-take-season-series-in-buehlers-first-ever-loss-to-san-francisco-16ca797c36f4
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['Rowan Kavner']
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2021-09-06 04:02:16.209000+00:00
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['Dodgers', 'Postgame', 'MLB', 'Giants', 'Walker Buehler']
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Hindsight 2020. Favorite albums, songs and music videos…
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Favorite albums, songs and music videos from a year spent in isolation…
This year was kidnapped. Seized by looming fear, ideas of where life would take us next, love affairs we thought would last forever, the unforeseen loss of those we thought we would have the chance to say goodbye to, the unknowns of our own minds. What we have had throughout it all was music. The best albums infested our brains and inspired us. The best songs made us dance in our bedrooms as though they were packed clubs. The best videos showed us new worlds we never thought we’d see.
And while I have amassed a list of the 100 songs that soundtracked this year of abduction, I also believe it is an important act to look back at the year and the sounds that I loved the most. In my mind, I thought if it were true that I spent most of my time this year with music, then looking back would act as a way to actually relive the year’s fondest memories. I was correct.
Five albums, five songs, five videos. This is what 2020 sounded like.
ALBUMS (L to R: Taylor Swift, Yves Tumor, Dehd, Charli XCX, Perfume Genius)
folklore by Taylor Swift
Key Tracks: the last great american dynasty, august, peace
I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now… On her eighth studio album, released without any fanfare or the traditional album rollout Swift has perfected, the pop megastar did what no one expected: she stopped writing about herself. The result is a collection of soft, folk-inspired pop songs that paint elaborate portraits of life all across America. From raucous party scenes in Rhode Island to silent moments of reading in a park in Tennessee to sharing ghost stories in a closet in Pennsylvania to secret rendezvous behind the mall in an unnamed small town, folklore operates as a new type of great American songbook, one capable of transporting anyone back in time to when they were heartbroken or pushed over the edge or, most difficult of all, when they were trying to do the right thing. Alongside Aaron Dresser of The National and pop production royalty Jack Antonoff, Swift has created something that could only have been made during a pandemic and, as a result, injected new life into her career.
Set My Heart On Fire Immediately by Perfume Genius
Key Tracks: Describe, On The Floor, Nothing At All
Perfume Genius is a chameleon. The two records that proceeded Set My Heart On Fire Immediately were completely unique worlds: Too Bright was a gothic, gay masquerade ball, No Shape was a baroque fairytale. This record, his fifth, is yet another transformation. Over the course of 13 songs, Perfume Genius covers a wide range of sounds and emotions but all of them sound as though he’s doing his best to get everything out before a barn door shuts in his face, leaving him out in the rain. It’s progressive rock at its most emotive, which allows for the album to create succinct and haunting images destine to gnaw their way into any listener’s mind. The album’s unique ability to merge the feeling of moving slowly through mud and the feeling of a swift wind knocking you off your feet are most keenly felt on “Describe,” the album’s first single, and “Nothing At All,” a stunning anti-love song dedicated to all the terrible lovers out in the world. With this album, Perfume Genius perfectly blends all of his previous selves, ultimately creating a new version of himself that is impossible to look away from and sounds unlike anything else.
Heaven To A Tortured Mind by Yves Tumor
Key Tracks: Gospel For A New Century, Kerosene!, Dream Palette
Remember that moment in Fantasia where Chernabog reveals himself at the top of the mountain? That’s what the opening moments of Yves Tumor’s Heaven To A Tortured Mind may invoke for a listener. Big horns, bigger attitude, and an even bigger hook are the ingredients that go into the album’s opening track, “Gospel For A New Century,” one of the best songs of the year. From there, the album grabs the listener by the lapels and refuses to ever let go as it drags them through a barrage of soundscapes and blatantly pompous exercises in musical fusion. Tumor has found their power and the album allows for them to get in the listener’s face frequently and relish in the discomfort they may feel. Part glam rock, part neo-soul, part acid trip, Heaven To A Tortured Mind sits in a league of its own in 2020, with very few peers who had the audacity to attempt to do so much so well in less than 40 minutes. Songs like “Kerosene!” make quick work to establish Yves Tumor as a musical force of nature and this record is one everyone should listen to, as long as they are prepared to submit themselves to the control of a rockstar with nothing to lose.
Flower of Devotion by Dehd
Key Tracks: Desire, Loner, Flood
From the first gut wrenching, “baby!,” that escapes the mouth of Dehd lead singer Emily Kempf’s mouth on Flower of Devotion’s first track, it’s impossible to look away. On the band’s third record, Dehd carry the listener through a purposefully accessible and minimal soundscape built to slowly creep in and infest the mind. For most, post-punk surf rock feels nostalgic and something often relegated to background music, but Dehd manages to subvert all expectations by writing and constructing songs that feel revelatory without ever having to reinvent the genre. In fact, it’s the simple yet attention grabbing lyrics and poignant use of counter melodies that allow for Kempf’s vocal to elevate the album from great to fantastic. This record could easily have been overproduced, overwritten, and overdone in pursuit of festival ready bops, but instead it is honest, raw and self-aware, with Kempf glowing at its center. Her ability to go from soft and tragic in one moment to exuberant and violent in the next with no warning is a reminder of why post-punk surf rock strikes such a distinct cord and Flower of Devotion is a battle cry for the future of the genre.
how i’m feeling now by Charli XCX
Key Tracks: forever, party 4 u, c.20
One can only imagine what it must be like to be inside Charli XCX’s head. A popstar whose greatest commercial accomplishments has been writing hits for other popstars, Charli simultaneously has been honing her hyperpop sound for nearly half a decade, with how i’m feeling now emerging after six straight weeks of work at the onset of the pandemic. The result is a nearly perfect pop record that manages to encapsulate the entire notion of Club Quarantine and then some within eleven songs. From bangers like “pink diamond” to tortured love songs like “party 4 u” to moments of divine revelation like “i finally understand,” how i’m feeling now manages to hit all the moments that many encountered during those first few months of quarantine while bringing to life a soundscape any other popstar would run from in a heartbeat. One of the album’s highlights, “c2.0,” a stylish rework of her 2019 song “Click,” pays homage to Charli’s long list of collaborators by reveling in the difficulty of not being able to see friends during the pandemic. It’s a universal feeling that needed a soundtrack, which may have been the point of how i’m feeling now all along.
SONGS (L to R: Chloe x Halle, Arca, Tora, Jessie Ware)
“Time” by Arca
For anyone familiar with Arca, “Time” will come as a surprise. Known for experimental soundscapes and difficult to approach techniques utilizing discordance and genre-clashing, Arca’s dense discography has carved a niche entirely unique and unflinching. With “Time,” however, Arca chooses a different lane to operate in. Rather than manipulating all the sounds around her to create a cacophonous mirror to the artist’s complex gender identity and personal experience, “Time” allows for Arca to stand still while sounds swirl around her. The result is unlike anything she has ever put out and operates as both an incredible echo of the quarantine experience and a tentpole moment for the breadth of her craft.
“Ungodly Hour” by Chloe x Halle
Buried deep inside Chloe x Halle’s debut record is the best Disclosure song of the year. Undeniably groovy and begging to be heard on a dimly lit dancefloor, “Ungodly Hour” is unlike anything else Chloe x Halle has ever put out and a necessary reminder of how Disclosure may still have a few hits left in them after all. For Chloe x Halle, “Ungodly Hour” is a risk, a step outside of the duo’s R&B comfort zone, but one that has immense payoff. There wasn’t a single other song in 2020 that managed to fuse dance and R&B to the level of perfection reached on “Ungodly Hour,” making it a perfect blueprint for both Chloe x Halle and Disclosure moving forward, if either duo chooses to follow it.
“New Jade” by Caribou
As the EDM bubble continues to collapse in on itself, the electronic music community has relied on artists like Caribou to transcend and push boundaries in pursuit of vitality. “New Jade,” the standout track on the band’s excellent album Suddenly, has all of the ingredients of a perfect Caribou song: an infectious sample, a head-nod inducing kick drum, and enough twist and turns to make any listener feel as though they’re spinning into oblivion in the middle of a dancefloor. Lyrically, “New Jade” is a break up song, a diary entry on the difficulty of leaving someone behind and finding newness, all of which feels distinctly in disagreement with the song’s constant musical layering and propulsion towards its inevitable ending. This sort of subversive mind-game allows for the song to continually surprise the listener while managing to pull them in closer. While Caribou makes fantastic albums, it’s songs like “New Jade” that may serve as the band’s legacy as one of the select electronic artists continuing to innovate and disrupt the genre.
“Call Your Name” by Tora
When describing “Call Your Name,” Tora, a 20 year old R&B singer from London, is quick to note the song’s themes deeply revolve around, “the reality behind power — how those without it feel the need to unceasingly prove themselves.” A three minute exercise in understanding power dynamics, “Call Your Name” is an infectious anthem from one of the year’s most elusive and promising new artists. Powered by lush, horn driven production designed to capture the attention of any casual listener, the song is one of the year’s most underrated and one that will peak any listener’s interest when it comes to Tora and whatever she decides to create next.
“Soul Control” by Jessie Ware
Whoever told Jessie Ware to stop making dance music should be fired immediately. At the center of the English singer’s spectacular new album What’s Your Pleasure?, is “Soul Control,” a truly perfect dance song fans have been craving for over half a decade. Part throwback disco, part modern soul, the song is expertly written, sung to perfection and features an outro guitar solo built to get everyone out on the dancefloor. It’s a wonderful reminder of why Ware was so special when she emerged: she’s a vocalist who is able to sound soft and seductive over any kind of beat. For the two records leading up What’s Your Pleasure? those beats were mostly under 70 bpm and built for the bedroom. Thankfully, in a year where so many pop artists turned away from dancefloor fillers, “Soul Control” managed to flip the script, turn up the bpm and find innovation through the basics.
VIDEOS (L to R: Christine and the Queens, The Chicks, The Weeknd, J Balvin, FKA twigs)
La Vita Nuova by Christine and the Queens (Director: Colin Solal Cardo)
Over the course of nearly 14 minutes, “La Vita Nuova” is the perfect encapsulation of what Christine and the Queens is all about. Featuring five songs, the short film tells the story of infatuation and how quickly infatuation can become obsession. Each of the songs is given its own treatment, creating a truly filmic arch for the entire video. Shot inside and atop Paris’s Opéra Garnier, “La Vita Nuova” utilizes the perfect choreography from Ryan Heffington and the undeniable presence of Christine to enrapture audiences in a journey that manages to shift the moment after the story becomes the clear, constantly pushing audiences into new areas of the Opera house, where they meet another incarnation of the band’s lead singer. One portion in particular, which features her song “Nada,” is exceptional in its use of a seemingly overused film technique that is unnervingly elevated and brought to life by the performance. By the time the video comes to its dramatic and glossy close, audiences may want to immediately rewatch it, to be able to dive deeper into its messages and visual storytelling cues. As engrossing as it is entertaining, “La Vita Nuova” is pure music video perfection and proof that Christine and the Queens are one of the most inventive storytellers in music today.
sad day by FKA twigs (Director: Hiro Murai)
After directing “This Is America,” Hiro Murai had an inconceivable task: to continue working. How does one follow up what must be the most watched and lauded video in recent memory? The answer is simple: you make another one just as good. “Sad Day,” a track from FKA twigs’ 2019 record Magdelene, did not need a video like the one Murai created, one that transforms one of last year’s saddest songs into the backdrop for one of this year’s best fight scenes. Twigs is the perfect centerpiece, walking the fine line between dancing and fighting in order to make space for herself as hero and anti-hero. The song itself only plays in small portions throughout the video, as though a third character in the video’s love story. Through use of color, symbolism and ingenious cinematography, Murai creates a worthy successor to “This Is America” and continues to prove himself to be one of the best in his field.
After Hours by The Weeknd (Director: Anton Tammi)
The commitment to character from The Weeknd during the After Hours era has been both impressive and nauseating. This beaten and battered character often operates as a reminder of where The Weeknd came from, way back in 2011 when he was entirely anonymous, simply able to hide behind a name and a visual language. To see one of the world’s biggest stars constantly bloodied and bandaged, however, was also quite difficult, particularly in a year marked by unrest and mental despair. Released mere weeks before the onset of the pandemic, “After Hours” feels strangely prescient and begins with The Weeknd finishing a performance on Jimmy Kimmel in front of a live audience, a smile wide across his face. As he exits the soundstage and finds himself alone, the smile slowly begins to transform and make way for some other sort of Weeknd. From there, everything quickly becomes deranged as the video quite literally grabs the popstar by the leg and drags him through hell before culminating in a barrage of seizure inducing flashes of red light. The entire experience is haunting yet addictive, like watching a car crash on repeat. Somehow, it’s impossible to look away.
March March by The Chicks (Director: Seanne Farmer)
A visual time capsule of unrest, The Chicks’ video for “March March” operates as a reminder of the band’s unflinching devotion to social justice and honest criticism of the system. It is no surprise to see this band make a video like “March March,” but by making the choice to blend content from all different types of protesting, particularly previous civil rights movements, with the Black Lives Matter movement of 2020 the video reveals itself to be captivating in its simplicity. It isn’t until around two and a half minutes into the video that things start to really transform, as the names of the victims of police brutality and racial injustice begin to appear over content from this year’s protests. For almost 90 seconds, the names continue to appear, a stark reminder of just how many lives have been lost in America’s broken system. Much like Pharrell and Jay Z’s “Entrepreneur” video, The Chicks’ video for “March March” is a captivating and clean visual documentation of the resilience in America in 2020 and all of our power to impact change.
Un Dia by J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Tainy (Director: Stillz)
The video for “Un Dia” did not need to be special. In fact, “Un Dia” is the type of song that most likely did not need a video at all. This particular brand of song, the type that features a female pop star singing an infectious hook while a grab-bag of male rappers and vocalists do verses around her, usually is built solely for radio airplay and music festivals. It’s so surprising, then, to see how this video, one that relies on a concrete narrative and features none of the musical talent, manages to hit an emotional cord while also utilizing smart, approachable filmic techniques. By contrasting full color scenes of a door of white light (often paired with two scarecrow-esque entities engulfed in flames) with black and white scenes of a woman grieving and moving on from a former lover, the “Un Dia” video manages to do what every video hopes to accomplish: take a great song and transform it into an unforgettable story.
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https://medium.com/@aryadavachi/2020-in-music-f23a3e020fbc
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['Arya Davachi']
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2020-12-21 07:05:41.637000+00:00
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['Music Video', 'Year In Review', 'Album Review', '2020', 'Music']
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Traveling Back in Time with Tanglewood
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Traveling Back in Time with Tanglewood
A love letter to the Sega Genesis stands out in an era of increasingly arbitrary console wars
We have just entered a new generation of home consoles, but it doesn’t quite feel like it. Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have struggled to forge an identity of any sort other than their namesake.
In an era where consoles are having trouble differentiating, it’s worth looking back in time. The 16-bit console war, arguably the greatest of all the video game wars, certainly was driven by branding — yet there was still so much more to it beyond just superficial slogans.
In the red corner we had SEGA Genesis (or Mega Drive for some of us) and over at the blue corner we had Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). As consoles they were completely distinct from each other, each powered by their unique architecture, with game developers having to adjust everything from graphics to sound design in order to accommodate for hardware differences. Just compare Sonic the Hedgehog with Super Mario World, or better yet try stepping into a Genesis vs. SNES battle of the ports debate over Earthworm Jim.
Given the uniqueness of each console, even the process of assembling and porting games from one console to another required far more inventive solutions, rather than simply uploading an unlock key onto Xbox Live or PlayStation Network. With such ambition, each console in prior console generations, anything from the Genesis to the 3DO or even the CD-i, could claim to be a unique beast. Nowadays the lines have blurred so much that many gamers can’t help but feel nihilistic about the very idea of a video game console.
But not everyone.
Tanglewood by developer Big Evil Corporation is the brainchild of creator Matt Phillips, who created the game as a love letter to and a product of a very specific console: The Sega Genesis.
Tanglewood is a game developed from scratch using authentic Genesis development kits and assembly tools (6800 language to be precise), all with the intent of creating something capable of running and functioning on Genesis hardware via cartridge.
Many indie developers over the last decade alone have risen to the occasion to accomplish such feats, most notable being the RPG epic Pier Solar, and so Tanglewood is certainly up there as one of the more higher tier outputs to keep a long-extinct console alive.
Those without the rose-tinted lens of nostalgia would wonder the point of it all, just as they scratch their heads whenever they see the countless 8-bit style titles on Steam on an almost weekly basis. Games like Tanglewood are genuine in what they are trying to recreate, and for the developer to meticulously design and construct the title under the working conditions of the ’90s, shows a whole different level of commitment to the craft.
In various interviews with developer Matt Phillips, the most telling thing about Tanglewood was how difficult it was to realize its vision within the confines of not just the Genesis development tools, but translating everything onto a cartridge that can be played on any version of the Genesis (or Mega Drive) console without issue.
Working around these limitations proves to be a blessing in disguise, as inventive and creative programming methods were needed to bring all of the ideas of Tanglewood to fruition. There’s something about limitations which somehow inspire developers to push their talent and creativity to the limit. Nowadays a typical Xbox One game spans hundreds of gigabytes, with development being so complacent that post-launch updates further add several hundred extra gigabytes to the hard drive.
Matt Phillips didn’t have this luxury when creating Tanglewood, in fact every ounce of resource available had to be utilized to the fullest in order to make sure every single pixel and sound byte could exist. The end product is a game which pushes the graphical and technical boundaries of the Genesis further than anything else before, unearthing new things several decades after the hardware had been utilized for all its worth.
Nearly two decades earlier, the late, great Satoru Iwata (1959–2015) of Nintendo performed an absolute programming and file-compression miracle, when he found a way to make Pokémon Gold/Silver possible on the extremely dated Game Boy Color hardware, without driving up the cost of the cartridge. Matt Phillips too needed to ensure a cartridge could carry his ambitious title, which has since become a collector’s item. Of course, Tanglewood can now be played on more convenient gaming platforms.
Tanglewood is a surreal and beautiful platformer, with great use of color and sound to create a sense of atmosphere. It has the vibes of 16-bit SEGA classic Ecco the Dolphin in that it’s purposely vague. This is a remnant of gaming from yesteryear, when players were expected to step into the game’s world without excessive tutorials to hold their hand.
Of course, back then every game shipped with a tome-sized instruction manual, and it was almost mandatory to read through it before the cartridge was latched onto the console (by the way, every manual advised to NOT blow into the cartridge!). It’s funny to think how these days the very idea of a colored instruction manual is now a premium product, coming bundled with limited print editions of game releases. To get the most out of Tanglewood, players need to digest the manual first and foremost, and thankfully there is a digital manual for those not playing the boxed Genesis version.
Tanglewood is a fascinating case study, because if anyone played it on PC today, they probably wouldn’t be able to tell how it was built pixel for pixel using primordial game development tools. From both a visual and design standpoint, it’s on par with anything else in the indie gaming scene, arguably coming together with more fluidity and finesse than games built with far more convenient tools and methods.
In an era where consoles often have more detractors than celebrators, Tanglewood demonstrates the power of limitations. It is a love letter constructed through the beauty and science of its deeply intentional creation process.
Written by Jahanzeb Khan for Vista Magazine.
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https://medium.com/vistas-mag/traveling-back-in-time-with-tanglewood-de1386e154fe
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[]
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2020-12-07 01:58:54.860000+00:00
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['Videogames', 'Pixel Art', 'Nostalgia', 'Gaming']
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過百泛民區議員料被DQ
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A columnist in political development in Greater China region, technology and gadgets, media industry, parenting and other interesting topics.
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https://medium.com/@frederickyeung-59743/%E9%81%8E%E7%99%BE%E6%B3%9B%E6%B0%91%E5%8D%80%E8%AD%B0%E5%93%A1%E6%96%99%E8%A2%ABdq-91f5a17c417d
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['C Y S']
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2020-12-23 04:26:33.653000+00:00
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['Government', 'Hong Kong', 'China']
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HOW TO MANAGE TASKS EFFICIENTLY WITH THESE 4 EASY ACTIONABLE STEPS | Ask Dr Annika
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HOW TO MANAGE TASKS EFFICIENTLY WITH THESE 4 EASY ACTIONABLE STEPS | Ask Dr Annika Annika Sorensen Aug 23·4 min read
Do you sometimes feel that you’ve lost your ability to manage tasks efficiently?
I know, I’ve been there too.
There are moments that there are just too many things on my list and I sometimes feel like it’s too much than what I can take.
Times like this make me feel useless… and it’s very stressful.
I remember a time when a client came to me saying:
“I am so stressed out. I don’t know what to do and the business is going down.”
Our sessions made our bond stronger, together with the trust. So during one of our sessions, a lot of things were put out in the open and what we’re able to see is that there’s been an ongoing mismatch with his Mother-in-law.
They were not animus… basically, there has been a misunderstanding.
And when that misunderstanding has been cleared, my client got things working well again.
So what I’m saying here is that…
We can have problems, at work or at home, or somewhere else which can sometimes be unavoidable. So when there is, just stop and figure it out.
GIVE TIME TO PONDER
Take the time to ponder about it first because when there’s too much happening but no thinking or planning has happened, a lot of mistakes can arise and although mistakes are okay, it’s gonna slow us down and we know that they could have been prevented in the first place.
MAKE A LIST TO MANAGE TASKS EFFICIENTLY
Making a list of things to do or tasks at hand plays a crucial role in this journey!
When you don’t have a list, you just go on and do things randomly… even maybe sometimes pick random tasks because that task makes you happier than the rest.
But what does this do to other tasks? They get piled up.
When you make a list of things to do, you automatically put them in their logical order, thus giving it organization.
And working on tasks with a structure means you’re managing your tasks efficiently.
On the other hand, if you get confused on which task goes first while making your list, I advise you to break them down into these 4 categories:
1. Urgent and Important
Examples of tasks that fall under this category are those that you cannot always predict and require immediate action or attention to stop further harm if any. These tasks give you the feeling to drop other tasks and do only these tasks NOW.
2. Not Urgent But Important
These tasks, since they are not urgent… mean that you get to have the time to really ponder about them.
Sample tasks that fall here are the tasks that could be really something big for your business and need plenty of time planning and doing.
“Why does it come second if it is not urgent”
Because if you don’t start doing them now, sooner or later THEY BECOME URGENT.
3. Urgent But Not Important
These are the tasks that require urgency because they could be preventing you from achieving some of your goals, or proceeding to the next step/s.
But since they are not important, ask yourself if they can be rescheduled or outsourced.
4. Not Urgent and Not Important
Yes, they do exist. Some examples that fall here are those that other people told you that you need or tasks you see other people have so you also thought you need but don’t probably have to do at all.
Avoid these tasks as much as possible as they only serve as a distraction. Reflect and ask if these tasks are really necessary or just a waste of time.
If they turn out to be somewhat necessary after you ponder about it, then figure out if they fall under any of the first three, or again, just delegate.
RAISE YOUR POTENTIAL CAPACITY
Raising your potential capacity means doing what you can to increase your energy. With more energy, you will be able to do more.
DELEGATE SOME TASKS
If there’s too much ongoing — literally too much than what you can take even after doing the above steps, then you might want to consider delegating or outsourcing.
Outsourcing is a good way to take some tasks off your plate. Just choose the tasks that don’t really need to be done by you personally, and focus on the bigger things.
These are the 4 steps I advise you to take: Taking the time to ponder, making a list, raising your potential capacity, and delegating some tasks.
Combine these all together and you’ll have less stress from too many tasks!
Want to read more like this? CLICK HERE.
If you want to start your process for less stress in your life get my free e-book and start working.
To your success and keep smiling,
|
https://medium.com/@askdrannika/how-to-manage-tasks-efficiently-with-these-4-easy-actionable-steps-ask-dr-annika-27a940e5a3
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['Annika Sorensen']
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2021-09-07 01:48:59.094000+00:00
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['Time Management', 'Efficiency', 'Work Life Balance', 'Work Smarter', 'Stress Management']
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Are You Better Off With an Older Team or a Younger Team?
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“So, you’re thinking of going the young route,” Bruce Wooley, who was the dean of the electrical engineering department at Stanford, said to me. One of Bruce’s past students had introduced us, and Bruce and I were having coffee on Stanford’s campus.
Picture: Depositphotos
I told Bruce I was considering a recent PhD of his to be VP Engineering of my newly minted startup, and Bruce’s comment was what I was worried about.
The experience of your VP Engineering or CTO will directly determine the experience of your team.
“Tim,” the person I was considering, had about five years of work experience, but he was brilliant. “Maybe his brilliance will be enough to attract talent,” I said to myself. The fact that I was even asking myself this question was a tip-off that Tim wasn’t the right person for role.
I knew, in my my heart of hearts, that Bruce was right. We would have a team of inexperienced engineers if I made Tim the VP Engineering.
There was no way Tim was going to be able to recruit experienced engineers we needed with his lack of experience.
In some industries, there’s nothing wrong with having an inexperienced team.
I started thinking about the young engineers I’d worked with. There certainly were some really strong young engineers. Some of them were moving towards guru level status.
“We can make this work,” I said to Bruce. Bruce arched his eyebrows in response.
That was the moment, the arching of Bruce’s eyebrows, that was telling me everything I needed to know. He didn’t need to say anything else to me.
In some industries, especially emerging industries, a young team is advantageous. The young team isn’t held back by any rules. And, just like Facebook’s famous, “move fast and break things,” motto, it’s okay to break a little china along the way.
In other industries, a young team can be the kiss of death.
However, the Analog IC industry was not an emerging industry. Yes, we absolutely wanted to move fast. But breaking things just wouldn’t work.
The cost of “taping out” (this is the information you send to a fabrication facility such as TSMC to produce your chip) an Analog IC costs around $150K, depending upon the technology. That’s just the beginning of the costs you incur.
You don’t get instantaneous answers about whether your chip works or not. From tape out to getting the initial samples back can take around 10 weeks.
The real killer is time. You lose so much time if your chip doesn’t work. If too many of our chips weren’t production worthy on their first spin, we would fail because our costs would explode.
That’s why I knew, in my heart of hearts, a team of young engineers wasn’t going to be enough in the world of Analog ICs. Tim might be a great VP Engineering, but he just didn’t have enough experience for what we needed. It was just too risky.
It took time, but I eventually ended up bringing on Jeroen as my co-founder and VP Engineering. The choice was a good one. Jeroen hit all the right notes:
A. Jeroen had the experience Tim was lacking.
Jeroen had over 20 years experience, and he had a bunch of patents as well. Jeroen had been managing and building teams for years, so I knew that he had the experience necessary to build our engineering team. And…
B. Jeroen had integrity.
Everything starts and finishes with integrity. You can’t build a team unless every member of the team has integrity.
One of the answers I love hearing from engineers is, “I can’t leave my job until I complete my project.” It’s a great answer that speaks to the integrity of the engineer.
This was the first thing Jeroen said to me when we were talking about his exit from Maxim. I had no doubt that he would join. And…
C. Jeroen could recruit.
When Jereon told me about the people he wanted to recruit, they were all A-level talent. I knew many of the people he had in mind, so that also gave me extra comfort. And…
D. Jeroen was very hands on.
You need your VP Engineering/CTO to be hands on at the start of the company. You just can’t have any managers (including yourself) that just manage.
Jeroen’s plan was to design one of our initial products himself. In fact, this was the first product we introduced.
I liked the idea of Jeroen designing because he would understand the design rigor and process we would build. Plus, you earn the respect of the team when you are hands on. And…
E. Jeroen had really good business sense.
Good business sense in your key technical people is critical to your success. Why? Imagine working with a cofounder that has bad business sense?
You will be fighting all the time over nonsense if you have a technical cofounder that has bad business sense. I found Jeroen’s advice and judgement on the business issues we faced to be invaluable. Finally…
F. Jeroen was a cultural fit.
I wanted a VP Engineering cofounder that shared the same vision for how to build our company that I did. I’m not just talking about the product vision, but team building and cultural vision of the company. Jeroen was just as fanatical about building our company as I was.
Jeroen and I had a strong alignment that we weren’t going to hire any “brilliant jerks” into the engineering organization. And, for the most part, we didn’t hire any brilliant jerks.
However, we asked any brilliant jerks that joined the company to leave.
Develop a check list, like I did, of the qualities that are important for your technical cofounder to have. Then stick to that checklist.
For me, integrity, experience, the ability to recruit, being hands-on, having good business sense, and being a cultural fit were important to me. Perhaps these qualities will work for you as well.
Look at the trade-offs when you decide how to build your team.
Some of the skills Jeroen had (Integrity, being hands on, and cultural fit) were skills that aren’t age specific. However, the other skills Jeroen had (the experience and business sense) were skills that only an experienced engineer would have in my industry. I needed these skills in building our engineering team for us to be successful.
You, on the other hand, may not need experience. In fact, experience might work against your success. Then you should go the inexperienced route.
For more, read: https://www.brettjfox.com/what-are-the-five-skills-you-need-to-be-a-great-ceo
|
https://medium.com/swlh/are-you-better-off-with-an-older-team-or-a-younger-team-38d2bbaf090d
|
['Brett Fox']
|
2020-07-31 02:02:30.268000+00:00
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['Marketing', 'Startup', 'Entrepreneurship', 'Venture Capital', 'Leadership']
|
January at Betaworks
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Hey there, 2019.
It’s hard to believe that we’re already 1 month + 7 days into another year of building. The snow hasn’t yet hit the streets of NYC, but the air certainly has a cold enough bite to it to make you want to sit inside a little longer and read satirical tweets about Peleton bikes. Meanwhile, Betaworks has been humming with activity as we ease ourselves into the new year, from continuing to grow our community of builders at Studios, to actively searching for companies building the future of Synthetic Reality for Camp, and supporting our companies that make up the Ventures portfolio family. Every day seems to bring new conversations, perspectives and people into our circle, so we decided that in 2019 we’d sit down at the end of each month and try to capture all the good stuff.
The Frontier
People often ask what our investment thesis is. And in the simplest sense, our philosophy is to invest in frontier technology — that is, technology that signals a fundamental shift in engineering or design, coupled with changing user behavior. We continually think about and look for the next interface for creation and interaction and the result of that is often a new category of consumer good or service.
The next frontier we’re investing in is that of Synthetic Media — a term we coined to describe the outputs generated by advancements in generative adversarial networks, a form of deep learning. Specifically, we’re interested in deep tech and tools for creating synthetic media, detection systems for artificially created or modified media and consumer applications that enable new modes of entertainment or connection. We’ve already started to invest in companies building in this space (Morphin, Superplastic, Hugging Face) and applications are open for our upcoming early-stage program organized around this theme–Synthetic Camp. This article by Julia Alexander at The Verge sums up the opportunity for applications of this technology, particularly in the digital celebrity space.
Continuing the theme of Betaworks Camp, we were stoked to welcome back Livecamp company Culture Genesis as they hosted a press event at Studios to announce a new funding partnership with Tech Cypha. Tech Cypha is an investment syndicate focused on early, growth and late-stage startups started by founders of color, with Culture Genesis being their first investment. The syndicate was created by Jason Geter (Grand Hustle Records) and Clifford Joseph ‘T.I’ Harris Jr. (rapper and actor). This is an important new frontier in investment and we look forward to supporting their mission.
Finally, our portfolio co Superplastic continued to push the frontier in collectable art. Superplastic makes a range of limited edition “Janky” figurines, designed by famous street artists from all over the world. This month, they launched their 8-inch Lotus SuperJanky and it sold out in minutes. We got our hands on another SuperJanky, designed by Pete Fowler, which you can watch us unbox here.
Humans are weird, let’s build for that
We started Studios with a mission to bring people together IRL to have important conversations that would ultimately help them to build better. We wanted to start the year by breaking down exactly what our vision for building better means, so John wrote a compact and shared it with our members. The 5 tenets of our compact are:
I. Products are born from human needs. II. Build for people. Build from trust. III. That’s a tree! Remember the forest. IV. Have a purpose. Mean it. Measure it. V. Bias our species.
These tenets are infused into our conversations at Betaworks and we hope that by adopting them, our members can build products that better serve humankind and society.
And while we’re on the topic of better serving humankind, we’re still mulling over our thoughts from our event with Douglas Rushkoff and Seth Godin for the launch of Rushkoff’s book ‘Team Human’. Addressing a packed clubhouse, Rushkoff implored us to:
“embed the digital future with our human values before we surrender to algorithmic logic”.
This theme resurfaced during our inaugural AMA Live of 2019 with Betaworks CEO John Borthwick. John echoed Doug’s point, emphasising the need to be more purposeful in what we build:
It probably doesn’t get any more humane than an initiative that works to save human lives. We were honored to host Life Camp for their Peace Week townhall, bringing together a diverse group of peacebuilders to find solutions against gun violence. We built Studios with the belief that bringing a diverse group of people together face-to-face to have a conversation is how real-world problems are solved, with solutions catering for the many and not the few. We’re thrilled that Erica and the Life Camp team chose Betaworks Studios as the place to bring their community together.
Peace Week Townhall at Betaworks Studios. Photos by Bridget Badore 📸
The month in betas
Betaworking is a way of thinking about turning ideas into businesses. It is focusing on building betas and then refining them. Although a physical space, Betaworks Studios is a product that is in constant beta. We started the year with a refresh of our entrance hall and added a colorful mural designed by our artist-in-residence, Christian. We also opened up our podcasting room to the public, in partnership with our friends at Anchor. The Anchor Podcast Lab at Betaworks Studios comes complete with recording equipment and is available to book here.
Our new mural coming to life.
Betaworking also means building with intent, purposeful experimentation. Having a goal but knowing that there may be many twists and turns before that goal is reached. In January, Squad App released their latest beta into the wild. Esther and the team originally joined the Betaworks family in 2016 as part of Botcamp. Since then, they have felt the twists and turns of experimenting with their product and released Squad App to offer a better way to connect with people digitally. Read the story behind the product for yourself here.
Matt Hartman talks me through top products of the day on Product Hunt using the Squad app.
Meanwhile, Studios member Paul Mikhaylenko has been using his time in our clubhouse to ready his podcast app for launch. Paul launched Listen as the first design-focused and gesture-based podcast app, featuring a UI which allows the user to perform all the essential functions with one hand. With a little help from the Studios community, it reached no.1 on Product Hunt on launch day. You can try it for yourself here.
The Listen app in action.
But with betaworking, you won’t always get it right. In our monthly ‘Inside The Investment Committee’ breakfast, we were joined by fellow VCs from Lerer Hippeau to find out how to nail your pitch. Their advice:
(more where that came from here)
But VCs get it wrong too. For his AMA, John recounted missing SNAP when they were raising a seed round. He declined to meet Evan Spiegel, but felt that if he had he would have felt differently about the product and likely invested! The portfolio co that could have been, ey?
John later sent the email below to the betaworks ventures team with the comment:
“Remember, to keep an open mind. Judgement and assumptions was my mistake here.”
When John got introduced to Evan Spiegel.
What we’re reading
Upcoming conversations
BTS
02/04 — Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs — Partners or Adversaries?
02/07 — Ask Me Anything Live: Elizabeth Cutler
02/21 — The Messy Middle: A Discussion with Scott Belsky
02/21 — Ask Me Anything Live: Scott Heiferman
02/28 — Ask Me Anything Live: Neil Blumenthal
Workshops
02/04 — Workshop: Snap Kit for Developers with Snapchat
02/05 — Let go of perfectionism: a workshop with Ladies Get Paid
02/11 — How to foster a culture of belonging at work
Something to think about
What will it be like to live in a world where the boundaries between real and synthetic are blurred?
Gif of the month
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https://render.betaworks.com/january-at-betaworks-d9dbd329ae24
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['Sarah Mcbride']
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2019-02-07 21:32:03.013000+00:00
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['Startup', 'Betaworks', 'VC', 'Technology', 'NYC']
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When Sacredness Was Endemic to All Things
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Pavel Jedlicka @freeimages.com
I will decide to love the empty book of your body, the blank pages of sages hermiting stories deep within you. The ones I will never come to know because they inhabit the mystery that animates your soul. No matter what kind of degree in advanced humanity I achieve, I can never graduate into the school of your secrecy. Not the secrecy that comes from willful withholding, but the secrecy of what can never be known of you, even by you.
I once heard that a couple had this line in their wedding vows: “I promise to never know you.” This was their way of putting the mystery I speak of at the center. For to thoroughly know something is to lose sight of it altogether. This is how they healed the damage of divinity being separated from nature. This is how they used their love to reach back to an earlier time, a time before the divorce of matter and spirit, when sacredness was endemic to all things.
This is how I will now hollow out a tree to enunciate love. This is how I will soak all the fiber and form it into the empty pages of your precious singularity, so I never, ever, forget your story of eternity.
|
https://medium.com/100-naked-words/when-sacredness-was-endemic-to-all-things-e22962f1be88
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['Samantha Wallen']
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2017-07-11 06:01:00.568000+00:00
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['Love', 'Soul', '100 Naked Words', 'Poetry', 'Creativity']
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Spot The Manipulators In Your Own Life: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix
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Spot The Manipulators In Your Own Life: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix Caitlin Johnstone Dec 20, 2019·6 min read
The real underlying currency of our world is not gold, nor bureaucratic fiat, nor even military might. The real underlying currency of our world is narrative, and the ability to control it. Everything always comes down to this one real currency. If you look at what all these think tanks, NGOs, media outlets and grant making networks that billionaires pour their money into actually do, it ultimately boils down to controlling the dominant stories that people tell about what’s going on in their world.
If you want to understand how narrative management works in the world, pay attention to how it plays out in your own life. What are some popular narratives within your family, perhaps about one of your family members, that don’t reflect reality? What subjects are off limits in your immediate or extended family, and why? Who do you know that repeatedly spins narratives about the kind of person they are, or the kind of person you are?
Most of us have at least one strong narrative manipulator in our circle somewhere; family, friends, work, etc. You can spot them by how much energy they pour into manufacturing a consensus about someone in their circle, including themselves; working to spin narratives about themselves that make them look good, or narratives about someone else to make them look bad.
Watch for anyone in your life who repeatedly tells you stories about the kind of person they are, because they’re trying to manipulate your narrative about them. Also watch for anyone who keeps telling you stories about yourself, because they’re trying to manipulate your narrative about you. Be especially wary of the latter.
Spot the manipulators in your own life and watch their patterns, then look out to the world and compare those patterns to what you see with government and media. You’ll see the exact same patterns on a macro scale. Manipulation takes the same form whether small-scale or large.
We’ll get angry at our compatriots for not rising up and forcing real change. We’ll get angry at a loved one for not leaving an abusive relationship. What we rarely do is look closely and see that both are victims of manipulation which keeps them from changing their situation.
Whenever I talk about propaganda influencing public action I get accused of depriving people of their “agency”, but the only way to believe that is to believe it’s impossible to influence people’s decisions through media. An idea both propagandists and advertisers would scoff at.
I love my job, but it’s so stupid and annoying to have to keep dignifying the mass media with attention and analysis. They’re so discredited at this point that everyone should just be dismissing them like raving street corner preachers. I look forward to that day so I can spend my time making art instead of paying attention to the lies that are coming out of people’s screens.
There are exactly zero babies in the mainstream media bathwater. It’s a propaganda network which manufactures consent for mass murder, oppression and exploitation, and it deserves nothing other than total obliteration. Toss it all out.
All this impeachment stuff is very exciting for everyone who lacks the mental capacity to count Senate seats.
Still haven’t seen any coherent defense of Democrats impeaching over Trump’s Biden/Ukraine political shenanigans but not Bush’s torture scandals or lying about a war that slaughtered a million people.
It would be wonderful if we lived in a world where Democrats would impeach a Republican president for war crimes. Unfortunately it won’t happen because (A) they’d implicate countless Democrats in the process and (B) they want be able to commit their own war crimes once back in office.
Anyone who warns that impeachment is a distraction from more important issues will get told “We can walk and chew gum at the same time! We can push impeachment AND advance progressive agendas!” The same people saying this just spent the last three years fixating on Russia instead of advancing progressive agendas.
It’s unfortunate that when someone changes to a new belief system, like converting to a religion or whatever, their attention goes into that new belief system and not into the amazing discovery that they have the incredible superpower to change their beliefs whenever they want.
To have the luxury of being able to do deep inner work and become a healthy human being on this planet is a tremendous privilege, yet most who have this privilege neglect to use it. Do your part in clearing our species of insanity, if you are able. To do otherwise is a betrayal of humanity.
A certain type of antisocial personality disorder will always tend to gravitate toward circles where violence and aggression are the norm. This includes the military and police force, naturally. It also includes political activist circles which encourage violence and aggression.
People spend so much time on online political forums pretending to disagree with each other’s opinions when really everyone’s just masturbating their early childhood trauma on each other in a socially acceptable disguise.
Mentally replace all the doofy company logos on people’s cars and clothing with the word “CAPITALISM”.
If US government agencies say “So this thing just happened and as a result we’re going to have to intervene militarily over there,” and your immediate, reflexive answer isn’t “Bullshit, either provide indisputable and independently verifiable proof or fuck off,” then you’ve learned nothing at all about the history of US interventionism.
The extremist militants who nearly succeeded in toppling the Syrian government are not and have never been “moderate rebels”. They’re only “moderate” compared to the psychopaths who’ve been funding them.
Establishment narrative management about Syria is so uniquely heated and aggressive for two reasons:
1) Syria has unique geostrategic importance.
2) The empire has done extremely evil things in Syria that it absolutely cannot allow to enter into mainstream attention.
People tell me “It’s not Trump’s fault he keeps advancing evil establishment agendas! He’s being manipulated!” But seriously, who gives a fuck? Either he’s an impotent puppet who does as he’s told or he’s doing it on his own. Either way, fuck him. It’s a meaningless distinction.
How to criticize the Israeli government without being labeled an anti-semite:
1. Don’t criticize the Israeli government.
2. Ever.
3. At all.
“Is it journalism?” is a meaningless, power-serving debate. The question is if it’s GOOD journalism. Stop imbuing the word with magical significance and accept that it’s simply a description of an activity that can be done by Jake Tapper, Julian Assange, or a small-time Youtuber.
I have this platform because of baked-in privileges, extraordinary support, but also sheer luck and miracles clearing me over the many invisible walls that prevent people like me getting a big voice. I acknowledge the existence of those invisible walls. I exist to knock them down.
_______________________
Thanks for reading! The best way to get around the internet censors and make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list for my website, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking me on Facebook, following my antics on Twitter, checking out my podcast on either Youtube, soundcloud, Apple podcasts or Spotify, following me on Steemit, throwing some money into my hat on Patreon or Paypal, purchasing some of my sweet merchandise, buying my new book Rogue Nation: Psychonautical Adventures With Caitlin Johnstone, or my previous book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. For more info on who I am, where I stand, and what I’m trying to do with this platform, click here. Everyone, racist platforms excluded, has my permission to republish or use any part of this work (or anything else I’ve written) in any way they like free of charge.
Bitcoin donations:1Ac7PCQXoQoLA9Sh8fhAgiU3PHA2EX5Zm2
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https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone/spot-the-manipulators-in-your-own-life-notes-from-the-edge-of-the-narrative-matrix-a826364f4e8
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['Caitlin Johnstone']
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2019-12-20 14:31:21.506000+00:00
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['Abuse', 'Media Criticism', 'Politics', 'Propaganda', 'Psychology']
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Home Safe
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I’ve used less gas, logged fewer steps, and leaned forward to hug not a single person since March. But 2020 has been quite a journey nonetheless: a journey of learning to stay home.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how what I mean when I say home has changed over the course of my life. When I was a kid saying I was going home, I meant to the house where my family lived. Until I was twelve that was my parents, me, sometimes a dog, and one time a single pet ant I managed to keep in one square of a tennis racket for about half an hour. Then my brother was born, and home became a new house big enough for all four of us. I spent a lot of my tween hours rocking and singing my baby brother to sleep in that house, practicing for piano and voice lessons, and learning in its mirrors why cutting your own bangs is always a mistake. I spent many of my teenage hours having crucially important conversations on the landline phone in that house, laughing my way through a family pie fight in the back yard, celebrating birthday surprises, making silly poster collages about church youth group choir trips in my room, and saying goodnight to my boyfriend at the door. That house and my family provided shelter during some of my adult life’s most exciting and most painful transitions; as I made memories there over time the house itself and the love of my family both swirled together into what home felt like for me: the safety, comfort, and belonging of being with the people I love inside the walls that have held us all through the years. I think that feeling is a big part of what so many of us are grieving this holiday season: I will miss closing my eyes on Christmas night in the room I grew up in with the people who have loved me the longest snoring not-at-all quietly down the hall.
As a young adult I remember crying — and of course writing hilariously awful teenage poetry about — the first time I heard myself call my dorm room home on the phone with my mother. I couldn’t have articulated it at the time, but I was grieving the loss of concreteness in my younger understanding of home. I had great roommates in whom I found pieces of what home used to mean. I found a kind of home in the friends I made in my courses and especially in choral ensembles where we breathed, made music, and were silent together. And I was beginning to beginning to build what would become my new home for awhile with the man I would later marry…and even later divorce. But piecing home together in people and experiences didn’t feel quite as safe or comfortable as going home had felt to me as a child. I think this is also a feeling many of us are grieving this year: I miss the ease of having one place that solidly, singularly felt like home. I could map it. GPS could tell me how long it would take to get to that feeling. Looking for those feelings of home during a pandemic where the responsible thing is to stay at our own house or apartment or condo or care facility most of the time compels us to see not just the easy whole, but also the complicated pieces that make up our homes. To use bread, one of the year’s most ubiquitous themes: we’ve spent most of this year in a drawer where the ingredients we’ve each put into our recipe for home are proving themselves in undeniable ways. 2020 has made it hard to look away from the realities of our lives; our relationships; our social structures; and the systems we have built, been harmed by, or benefitted from. And so, held uncomfortably close within the walls we have built, we are indeed feeling stuck at home.
Some of my most valuable lessons about staying at home were ones I learned just a few years ago in midlife by moving 3,000 miles away from the house and people I grew up calling home. I was overwhelmed with a flood of emotions my first night living in California when the locator app my family had used to share in my cross-country journey showed a dot for me by one ocean and a dot for my mom all the way on the other. In that moment I faced a choice between staying present to myself in the flood or finding a way to escape what I was feeling. I’ve made both choices in the many times I’ve faced that decision since. That night I tried to escape myself and my feelings by actually writing the word home in the sand. But it didn’t work. I learned — and continue again and again to keep re-learning — that home is built inside. Home isn’t the houses, the landscapes, or even the people: there’s nothing outside of us that can make us feel at home enough until we cultivate safety, comfort, and a sense of belonging to ourselves. And this year has given us ample opportunities to choose between coming home to ourselves and abandoning who we truly are.
I have thought about that night on the beach in San Francisco many times since my mom died last year: what I wouldn’t give for her to be only 3,000 miles away. The death of the person who was herself my first home has changed how I understand myself in the world in ways I am still unraveling.
What I do know now is that our whole lives are opportunities to take an honest look at the person in the mirror and to create a life that brings a reflection of peace. Ultimately, for me this year has been about practicing staying home to myself. It has been about deciding not to look away no matter how hard things get. To be relentlessly honest with myself about what I need to make right, let go of, hold on to, and reach out for in the world even when it scares me or doesn’t make me look good. It is difficult, exhausting, uncomfortable, humbling work. But creating a life we can live in is worth it. Building a home within that doesn’t wash away with the tide is worth it. Only then can each of us fully enjoy the things that make our houses homes; only then can we truly cherish the people who show us how much they love us by asking us to let them know when we’re home safe.
|
https://medium.com/@lisajeffcoat/home-safe-7aa67874b9e
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['Lisa Jeffcoat']
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2020-12-20 22:06:26.666000+00:00
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['Grief And Loss', 'Stay At Home', '2020', 'Well Being', 'Home']
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Portfolio optimization in R using a Genetic Algorithm
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Portfolio optimization is one of the most interesting fields of study of financial mathematics. Since the birth of Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) by Harry Markowitz, many scientists have studied a lot of analytical and numerical methods to build the best investment portfolio according to a defined set of assets.
In this article, I’ll show a method to optimize a portfolio by using a numerical technique based on genetic algorithms. The power of genetic algorithms makes it possible to find the optimal portfolio even when the objective function isn’t smooth or differentiable.
Portfolio composition
Let’s say we have selected N financial assets we want to invest in. They can be stock, funds, bonds, ETF etc. Each one of them has many historical returns, that are the price relative difference from one period to another. Periods can be days, weeks, months and so on.
The return of the i-th asset between period t and period t-1 is defined as:
Now, when we want to build an investment portfolio, we want to mix many assets together allocating a fraction x of our capital to each one of them. Each fraction is called weight.
The portfolio return at time t is then:
The goal of portfolio optimization is to find the values of the weights that maximize some performance metric of our portfolio according to the weights constraints, which are:
So, we are talking about a constrained optimization problem.
Objective function
In his famous essay, Harry Markowitz explains a complete theory about portfolio composition. Further studies have identified a useful objective function for portfolio optimization which is called Sharpe ratio, defined as:
E[P] is the expected return of the portfolio, Var[P] is the variance. For simplicity, we are not considering the risk-free return that is included in the original Sharpe ratio formula.
There are many interpretations of the Sharpe ratio. I’ve always considered it a stability metric. If it’s high, it means that the average return is higher than the variance, so the returns are quite stable around the mean value. Remember that our goal as investors is to reach the highest stability of portfolio, not the highest profit.
There are many objective functions we could use for our optimization, but in this article, I’ll use Sharpe ratio maximization for its simplicity. The examples I’m going to provide can be generalized to many other performance metrics.
Constraints
Constraints are the real hard part of the problem as they make it much more difficult to solve.
Remember that in portfolio optimization the basic constraints are the following:
In fact, our weights must be positive (let’s suppose we don’t or we can’t go short) and must be less than 1. Their sum must be exactly equal to 1 in order to cover the entire capital we want to invest.
Constrained optimization is a tough analytical challenge that can be fought in many ways. In the following part of the article, I’ll show you the method of the penalty function.
The penalty function method
In science, it’s often useful to transform a complex problem in a simpler one. The great issue of a constrained problem are the constraints, so it could be useful to transform our problem in an unconstrained optimization problem.
Let’s suppose we want to optimize (i.e. minimize) a generic f(x) function subjected to some constraints. In order to make the constraints disappear explicitly from our problem, we can create a new function that penalizes all the points in the function domain that don’t satisfy the constraints.
Since we are facing an optimization problem, the simpler way to do it is adding a positive penalty to the original f(x) for all the points outside the constraints. With this trick, the only way we can find the global minimum is by the satisfaction of the constraints.
Building the penalty function according to the constraints
When our constraint is an inequality in the form g(x) < 0, we can build a penalty function in the form max(0,g(x)). This way, if g(x) is negative, the max function returns 0, else it returns the value of g(x) itself, increasing the value of the penalty function and discouraging the optimization. The higher the value of the penalty function, the further the global minimum is.
In order to keep our function reasonably differentiable, it’s useful to square it. So, our inequality constraints give us the following penalty functions:
What about the sum constraint? It’s an equality constraint, which is simple to describe as a penalty function.
If we have a generic constraint in the form f(x)-d=0, we can easily build a quadratic form like this:
This function has an obvious global minimum when f(x)=d, which is exactly what we want.
So, the equality constraint becomes:
For the final function, we want to emphasize the constraints in the optimization procedure. Remember that we are transforming a constrained problem in an unconstrained one, but our algorithm doesn’t know it, so it’s useful to force the global minimum search multiplying the penalty function by a factor. Usually, it’s multiplied by 10, but I suggest you multiply it by 100, in order to enhance the optimization process.
Finally, the function we want to optimize is the Sharpe ratio with minus sign. We want to maximize Sharpe ratio, but the penalty function formalism seen so far works only for functions to be minimized, so we can multiply Sharpe ratio by -1 in order to transform a maximization problem in a minimization problem.
The final function we have to minimize is then:
Genetic algorithms
Genetic algorithms follow the natural selection law, according to which only the best individuals survive to evolution. These algorithms are nearly a science by themselves and writing too much about them goes beyond this article. What it’s worth saying is that genetic algorithms are very useful because the random part of their process makes them work even with non-continuous or non-differentiable functions. Therefore, they can escape really well from local minima and go toward the global minimum, unlike deterministic methods like the Gradient Descent.
Optimization framework in R
After the theory there comes the practice. In this section, I’ll show you some example code written in R.
Collect data of assets returns
First of all, we must choose the assets we want to invest in and collect their historical returns.
For this example I’ve collected historical data for these assets:
Apple
Amazon
Facebook
Nasdaq index
S&P 500 index
WWE
I’ve used Yahoo Finance in order to get daily data in CSV format from November 11, 2013 to November 9, 2018.
Each asset data is stored in a separate CSV file.
Historical data for Apple downloaded from Yahoo Finance
Now we can open RStudio and change the working directory to the one that contains the CSV files.
Data preparation
First of all, we have to merge all data into a single structure, joining them by date.
f = NULL
files = c("AAPL.csv","SP.csv","AMZN.csv","NDAQ.csv","WWE.csv","FB.csv") for (i in 1:length(files)) {
csv = read.csv(files[i])
csv = csv[,c("Date","Close")]
names(csv) = c("Date",files[i])
if (i == 1) f = csv
else f = merge(f,csv)
}
The resulting f data frame is:
Now we have to calculate the returns. If the date field is the first one, we can use this simple R code
for (i in 2:ncol(f)) {
# Price time series of the i-th asset
prices = f[,i]
# Price lagged by 1
prices_prev = c(NA,prices[1:(length(prices)-1)])
# Returns time series
returns = (prices-prices_prev)/prices_prev
# Replace the i-th column with returns
f[,i] = returns
} # Remove the first row with NAs and the Date column
asset_returns = f[2:nrow(f),2:ncol(f)]
The data frame asset_returns looks like this:
Portfolio returns
Portfolio historical returns are a function of the weights. Remember that historical data is always the same and what we want to do is to find an optimal portfolio changing the weights values.
We can define portfolio returns time series in function of the weights by multiplying each asset return by the weight related to it. Then we can sum all the weighted time series element by element.
We can define a portfolio_returns function that does this job. It’s a function of an array x of weights.
portfolio_returns = function(x) {
port.returns = 0
# Multiplication of the i-th asset by the i-th weight in "x"
for (i in 1:length(x)) {
port.returns = port.returns + asset_returns[,i] * x[i]
}
return (port.returns)
}
Objective function with penalty
First of all, we have to calculate the Sharpe ratio on the historical weighted portfolio returns.
sharpe = function(x) {
port.returns = portfolio_returns(x)
return (mean(port.returns)/sqrt(var(port.returns)))
}
Now we have to write the code for the penalty function. We can write a constraint function that implements all the constraints.
constraint = function(x) {
boundary_constr = (sum(x)-1)**2 # "sum x = 1" constraint
for (i in 1:length(x)) {
boundary_constr = boundary_constr +
max(c(0,x[i]-1))**2 + # "x <= 1" constraint
max(c(0,-x[i]))**2 # "x >= 0" constraint
}
return (boundary_constr)
}
Finally, we write our objective function to be optimized.
obj = function(x) {
# We want the maximum Sharpe ratio, so we multiply it by
# -1 to fit an optimization problem
return (-sharpe(x)+100*constraint(x))
}
Optimization via Genetic Algorithm
Now comes the optimization procedure. R has a wonderful general purpose Genetic Algorithm library called “GA”, which can be used for many optimization problems.
Remember: the goal is to find the values of the weights that maximize the Sharpe ratio according to the constraints.
The ga function in R is a simple but effective genetic algorithm implementation for solving maximization problems.
For this article, I configured the genetic optimization in order to make it perform 50.000 iterations, stopping only if the maximum fitness doesn’t change for 50 consecutive iterations. This is our stopping criterion for the genetic algorithm.
Let’s take a look at the code:
library("GA") ga_res = ga(
# Tell the genetic algorithm that the
# weights are real variables
type="real-valued",
# "ga" function performs maximization, so we must
# multiply the objective function by -1
function(x){-obj(x)},
# x_i >= 0
lower = rep(0,ncol(asset_returns)),
# x_i <= 1
upper = rep(1,ncol(asset_returns)),
# Maximum number of iterations
maxiter = 50000,
# If the maximum fitness remains the same for 50
# consecutive transactions, stop the algorithm
run=50,
# Exploit multi-core properties of your CPU
parallel=TRUE,
# We want to see the partial results of the process
# while it performs
monitor=TRUE,
# Seed useful for replicating the results
seed=1
)
Optimization procedure may take a few minutes, depending on the speed of your CPU.
For this example and the settings I’ve shown you, optimization process took 310 iterations.
Let’s store the resulting weights in a vector.
# Store the resulting weights in a vector
sol = as.vector(summary(ga_res)$solution)
And, finally, we can read their values near the names of our assets:
According to these weights, we should allocate 11.9% of our capital on Apple stocks, 6.3% on S&P 500, 25.9% on Amazon and so on.
As you can see, each weight is positive and less than 1 and their sum is 0.99903, which is pretty close to 1 as we wanted. Don’t forget that numerical methods have a physiological inaccuracy that can be controlled in order to fit your problem needs.
Now we can plot the historical returns of the weighted portfolio versus the historical returns of the single assets.
optimal_returns = portfolio_returns(sol) plot(cumsum(optimal_returns),type="l",lwd=5) lines(cumsum(asset_returns[,1]),col="blue")
lines(cumsum(asset_returns[,2]),col="red")
lines(cumsum(asset_returns[,3]),col="green")
lines(cumprod(asset_returns[,4]),col="violet")
lines(cumsum(asset_returns[,5]),col="peru")
lines(cumsum(asset_returns[,6]),col="pink") legend(0,1.5,legend=c("Weighted portfolio",names(asset_returns)),
col = c("black","blue","red","green","violet","peru","pink"),lty=1)
As you can see, the portfolio return (black thick line) is the most stable curve, although it’s not the best performing one (Amazon performs better). It’s nice to see that our portfolio outperforms S&P 500.
Conclusions
In this article, I’ve covered the penalty function method in order to perform portfolio optimization. I’ve shown you how to perform it in R using genetic algorithms and I’ve plotted the results of the weighted portfolio versus the single assets.
Everything I’ve written it’s just an example of how we can do portfolio optimization using free software like R and free data sources like Yahoo Finance.
The method involved here is flexible enough to be used with other objective functions (e.g. Sortino ratio), it can be improved by the use of a deterministic optimization algorithm after the genetic algorithm, in order to reach a certain precision (e.g. gradient descent or any algorithm included in the optim R function).
Plus, we have performed an optimization without an out-of-sample cross validation, which is fine for this example but should not be done in live trading. Remember, never perform an optimization without cross-validate its results!
I hope this article helped you understand the power of genetic algorithms in portfolio optimization.
|
https://medium.com/the-trading-scientist/portfolio-optimization-in-r-using-a-genetic-algorithm-8726ec985b6f
|
['Gianluca Malato']
|
2018-11-17 11:02:02.465000+00:00
|
['Trading', 'Portfolio Management', 'Optimization Algorithms', 'Machine Learning', 'Genetic Algorithm']
|
How to Be More Productive as a New Mom
|
Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash
Life as a new mom is full of surprises. It is one of the most exciting times of your life but it comes with it’s own challenges.
It takes time to adjust to your new life with your little bundle of joy. Some days it can feel so overwhelming when there are dirty dishes piled up in the sink, laundry needs to be folded, house is a mess, baby won’t stop crying and you are unable to function properly due to lack of sleep.
My life with a newborn was a chaos too but with time I made some lifestyle changes that helped me become more productive and manage my time in a better way.
I’m sharing some of the productivity tips that I picked up after doing a lot of research, reading many blogs and talking to my friends who are mothers as well.
Have an early start
Mornings are so underrated. I believe how you spend your morning determines what kind of day you are going to have so it’s important to start your day right.
My first tip is to wakeup atleast one or two hours before the baby wakes up so that you can make most of the early hours. You can workout, have breakfast in peace, gather your thoughts and make plans for the day before things start getting crazy around the house.
Even some days when you don’t feel like doing anything, just having some quiet moments to yourself, curling up on the couch, reading a few pages of your favourite book or sitting silently and sipping a cup of tea works like therapy.
Wakeup to a clean house:
It really helps if you wake up to a clean house so that you can have a fresh start the next morning without having to deal with any mess of the previous day.
I hate waking up to a messy home. Dirty dishes in the sink spoil my morning like nothing else, so when I put baby down for the night I try to dedicate at least half an hour to cleaning up all the mess aound the house and meal prepping breakfast. I also put all the things I might need first thing in the morning somewhere accessible.
Make a To do list:
As you are still learning to adjust to your new life with your baby or toddler, that demands your attention 24/7, your mind is all over the place. You keep forgetting things you need to do. Making a to do list of all the tasks that need to be done saves you from so much stress. By transferring all this extra information from your brain onto a piece of paper saves so much of your mental energy that can be used in some other creative activity.
Prioritise tasks
When you make a to do list try to write down all the tasks, even the most mundane ones like doing the laundry, then priortise them according to their importance and urgency. It keeps you from wasting time and energy on tasks that add no value to your life.
Minimise use of devices
A few months back I used to waste so much of my time and mental energy on social media. Every ten minutes I felt an urge to pickup my phone. I was easily distracted by any new message or social media notification. All this extra information that I was feeding my brain on daily basis was so overwhelming and was adding no value to my life.
Minimising use of devices was a major lifestyle change for me. It made my life better in so many ways. I was able to focus on tasks that were actually important. I still use social media, watch movies and play video games but only during the short breaks I take every other hour.
Stay hydrated
Sometimes when we are busy we forget to have enough water which can lead to dehydration resulting in headaches, muscle cramps, lack of energy and fatigue, so make sure to have at least 8 glasses of water per day. Try to have at least two glasses of water first thing in the morning. You can also download a water reminder app to keep your water intake in check.
Ready to go out
When you are exhausted from handling a baby all day then even a task as simple as getting dressed up to go out might feel daunting. So It helps to have 2–3 formal and casual dresses always ready in your closet in case you have to go out.
When you are in a hurry to rush out the door, having a handbag ready ahead of time with all your essentials might come in handy as well. You can also find a makeup look that you can put on in 5–10 minutes.
Eat healthy food
No matter how busy you are don’t forget to take meals on time. Avoid foods that are high on calories but don’t have any nutritional value. Try to go for healthier options like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein meat. Eating healthy has a positive affect on your productivity as well. It improves your sleep and increases your mental energy and alertness as well.
Audiobooks and podcasts
If you love to read and hardly find time for it now, try listening to an audio book or podcast. You can listen to an audiobook while doing any mindless tasks like cooking, laundry or even when you take baby out for a stroll. It makes a task even as mundane as washing dishes kinda enjoyable and if you are prone to anxiety or depression it is a great way to steer clear of any negative thoughts and boost mood.
Self care
Last but not the least, make time for yourself . Ask your spouse or any other family member to take care of the baby for a bit so that you can take some time off to relax. Moms are big worriers so it’s a must to have some down time.
Final thoughts
Motherhood is a beautiful journey, enjoy it without the stress of becoming a perfect mother. Try implementing simple tips like these into your daily life. It takes time to adjust to this new life but you will get there for sure.
|
https://medium.com/@SimplyMaheen/how-to-be-more-productive-as-a-new-mom-40d4d9b4af66
|
['Maheen Gulzar']
|
2021-08-26 20:00:03.354000+00:00
|
['Motherhood', 'Productivity', 'Productivity Tips', 'Time Management', 'Moms']
|
How to Enable Cross-Progression Between Generations and Platforms
|
Originally published at https://gamesindustry.biz, republishing here for more people to enjoy.
A fundamental but often overlooked feature of video games is tracking player progression. This ability to lay down the controller and pick up where you left off in the game in another time or place is an expected video game feature.
When we talk about storing player progress, we need to talk about everything that the game needs to remember about the player. This may include the last town the player has visited, the character level of the avatar, or how many enemies the player defeated (and should stay down).
And then there’s the player statistics — how many times you’ve swung your sword, how many headshots you did, how many times you defeated your all-powerful father in Hades, your best time, and so on.
With the implementation of various cloud save features approximately a decade ago, players were introduced to the comfort of having progress saved in the cloud, so you can pick it back up when you move from device to device.
However, with the recent trend of cross-platform gaming, there is no consistent way for games to implement cross-platform, or even cross-gen cloud save features.
Fans were delighted when they heard about Witcher 3 supporting cross-save, but it turned out to be pretty limited in nature — Switch users are able to load and save their progress using Steam or GOG. Currently there are no plans to support other platforms, such as Xbox or PlayStation.
And what does that mean for cross-progression between sequel games such as Overwatch 2, with Blizzard promising that players would be able to carry all progress from Overwatch, in addition to cross-play between the two games?
In this article, we will go over the basics of platform cloud save, and how to design platform-agnostic capabilities for your game to track your players’ progression across platforms, or even across different games within the same franchise.
Cloud save
Cloud save was introduced about a decade ago, popularized by Steam and Xbox Live — it empowered players to play a game on one device, and continue it on a different one. Fast forward to today, most platforms now provide some level of cloud save — whether it’s free for all, or behind a premium membership (such as PSN and Nintendo Switch Online).
How does it work?
For most platforms, you would carry on to read and write local files using the APIs provided by the platform, and that platform will take care of uploading and doing timestamp validation on the files.
For example, this is the behavior for Steam cloud save: “The Steam Cloud provides an easy and transparent remote file storage system for your game. Files specified in the Auto-Cloud configuration or written to disk (created, modified, deleted, etc.) using the Cloud API will automatically be replicated to the Steam servers after the game exits.
“If the user changes computers, the files are automatically downloaded to the new computer prior to the game launching. The game can then access the files by reading them through the Cloud API or reading them directly from disk as usual. Avoid machine specific configurations such as video settings.”
The benefit of Save game is that it is local files on the device, so it works best for offline single player games.
However, there are limitations with having client side save game:
Security and tampering — while you can roll out your own encryption mechanism, local save games are prone to client side tampering; which means you cannot really store important multiplayer data such as power level, ELO rating and premium currency in local save. Most (if not all) platforms handle cloud save per Title ID/App ID. That means that if you release a sequel to your game, that’s considered to be a separate game, which means that it will have a separate Title ID/App ID. And since one game cannot query and manage the cloud save of another game, your two games will not be able to share game progressions.
To get around some of these limitations, a lot of games store player data on the game backend as well, in addition to the local save.
This ensures that certain player data (that only game servers have the ability to write to) will be secure — such as ELO rating, to be used for fair matchmaking. The obvious drawback is players have to be online to retrieve the values.
A platform-agnostic way to store your player progression
Now that you are familiar with the basics of storing player data on the backend side, we can extend that to support cross-platform, cross-gen, or even cross-titles. The key is to build a platform-agnostic solution.
If you can identify your players, regardless of what platform or Device or even TitleID they are using, you can build mapping logic on your Backend to enable cross-progression. I discussed this in my 2020 GDC talk, which was covered on the GamesIndustry.biz Academy.
By using a technique called Account Linking, you can create a federated account on your backend to identify all players on your games, whether they are playing on Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X, Switch, and so on.
With that information, you can then decide whether you would want to segregate your Player Storage per platform, or if you opt to go with a more unified strategy.
This will also allow you to be creative to support cross-game promotion and progression for your games.
One way to achieve this is to segregate your data to store the player data that should be shared across multiple games in its own partition that multiple games have access to read and write to.
One word of advice: if you want to enable unified storage for the same players across multiple platforms or titles, you want to consider implementing SPOP (Single Point of Presence) for your backend system.
SPOP is when users can only be logged into their account on one device at a time, and logging into one will log out the other. This will ensure that all write and read operations are safe, and you are not dealing with non deterministic behavior of players manipulating their player state from different locations at the same time.
In summary, various platforms provide great quality-of-life cloud save features that games can utilize. As we are entering the cross-platform gaming era, you will discover that you will need some kind of platform agnostic cloud save system that lets you design how you store player progression, to get around the various platform limitations.
|
https://medium.com/accelbyte-inc/how-to-enable-cross-progression-between-generations-and-platforms-9b237f6f2781
|
['Accelbyte Inc']
|
2021-03-01 10:00:54.897000+00:00
|
['Platform', 'Game Development', 'Backend Development', 'Cross Platform', 'Backend']
|
Filip Hammar Bitcoin — Review. “Bitcoin Trader Filip Hammar” Click…
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Check out my analysis to see how we compare to other auto-traders in the crypto industry.
Here’s my brief review of my Bitcoin Dealer.
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How does it work?
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Having used Bitcoin Merchant for a couple of days, I’m very excited about the performance. Bitcoin Broker can consistently trade when the conditions are acceptable, but it is inactive as a general rule. However, I’ve found out on the off chance that you’re only keeping your PC running with the intention that it can do business at whatever point it needs to, you have the best results. So I just let it go and let it get me some cash while I’m resting!
My Score of Bitcoin Trader: 4.75 /5
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“Bitcoin Trader Filip Hammar”
|
https://medium.com/@kv8163543/filip-hammar-bitcoin-review-f38c500b91f4
|
['Kevin Velazquez']
|
2021-06-22 12:19:25.973000+00:00
|
['Bitcoin Wallet', 'Bitcoin Mining', 'Bitcoin News', 'Bitcoincash', 'Bitcoin']
|
8 Awesome Black Friday 2020 Deals for Designers (up to 94% off!)
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|
https://medium.com/@web-design-articles/8-awesome-black-friday-2020-deals-for-designers-up-to-94-off-68b8f2108414
|
['Web Design Articles']
|
2020-11-25 17:30:27.997000+00:00
|
['Black Friday', 'WordPress', 'Discount']
|
Good vs Bad Content
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Content, content, content — from the billboards we drive by, to the ads we scroll past — it’s around us every day. While getting users to first engage with your content is the biggest leap for a company, the most important thing is whether or not they will come back a second time. Quality content is what ensnares readers, getting them to come back again and again. Your hook may get them there, but the quality is what keeps them there, and this article will help you navigate the minefield that lies between the two.
Selling vs lying: a loss of integrity
Being honest to your customers is important, and this honesty should not be compromised for a number of reasons. While every piece of content is a way to advertise the business, companies must focus on not talking about their services too much. If a viewer came to watch a video about “how to get that perfect summer bod,” they’ll be mighty disappointed if that’s not what they get. If that description was listed in the hook, then there must be a level of honesty upheld. It’s not just about getting viewers on the hook and then pulling a bait-and-switch, it’s about building a reputation of integrity.
For example, if you oversell your company’s multi-tiered subscription plans, such as the ones unique to GoFable (with custom-fit options for companies from start-up size to large corporations 😉) by plugging it somewhere it doesn’t relate to the topic, your viewership will question your credibility. By switching topics, your product can be construed as a form of dishonesty, as users wanted to read about the topic that was in the hook. If readers feel they’ve been tricked, it will make them lose trust in your content, and soon they won’t even engage with it enough to see if it offers what it said it should.
Intriguing vs confusing: a thin line
Now that we’ve clarified the defining factor between Good and Bad content, the primary focus of this article will be on creating content that keeps users entertained. Looking deeper into what it means to be entertained, one will find it primarily revolves around intrigue.
“We men are fascinated by the things we don’t really understand.” — Chriss Jami
Provoking a question is something that authors, artists and creators have been using for centuries to promote viewer interest. These questions can come in many forms. If you are educating someone about a topic, your content creates and provokes questions that drive the lesson. In order for the viewers to learn, your content should later answer these questions. Sometimes intrigue and interest can be maintained by asking less obvious questions — like with TV series. Secrets, scandals, hints, lies, and losses are all tactics that TV series use as ways to keep viewers hooked and coming back for more.
However, you don’t want to leave too many ends untied, as provoking questions with answers too far away will leave you with a viewership that is also out of sight. Without keeping a focused point for your content creation, you will lose your reader in the details. Casual viewership audiences want something that, like them, is a casual read, or a casual watch. Give them something to think about and question. Keep it evolving, but you don’t have to drop a can of worms like Stephen Hawking’s The Theory of Everything.
Familiar vs predictable
On the other hand, one should make sure to follow general content guidelines and structures that create a sense of familiarity for regular users. If, while reading this article, the format and tone changed from section to section, how would that affect readers? They would spend most of their time adjusting to the changes, leaving them with less energy to decipher what was said. This concept can also be applied when there are multiple content creators on one team. Sure, we all know that every Cosmo article cannot be written by the same author, however, the similar, colorful style and peppy tone makes it easier for readers to digest. Familiar branding can eventually become a preferred, or even craved style for consumers.
However, as a word of caution, you cannot make your content too patterned. If there is not enough difference between each video, ad or blurb you create, then it will become predictable to readers. Followings may be started by consumers’ desire for a stylistic signature, however, absolute predictability without change will be its death.
Volume vs noise
While this title may appear very auditory, the volume we are referring to is size and amount. Yes, you need a large volume of content released to entertain others and keep yourself on the front page, but don’t over-do. Falling prey to the concept of filler content is a terrible mistake, as readers will have nothing to value in your creations.
Again, this article is all about differentiating between Good and Bad content, mmkay? The choice between the two can be crucial because it can raise your bottom line and directly improve sales. If you are dishing out dry, used-up topics, this will not be the case.
Make sure you do not present the same topic in 10 different variations just for volume’s sake, as this is where it becomes noise. Readers will not come back for more.
Creating a library of quality content will take time, but this investment is worthwhile, as it will provide something delicious for readers to fall back on when they have the time to really explore the depths of your product’s site. Make sure you have enough content, but not to the extent that it lowers the quality of the content you produce.
Conclusion
As one can see, there’s a pattern in distinguishing between Good and Bad content. Some measures of quality are a hard and fast line, however, most tend to be more of a balance. Yes, there is a clear answer for all of the decisions listed here, however content creation is like art. Each producer and creator will have their own style, and their own terrain to navigate with a much broader array of choices. Most decisions your company makes will be by its own rule of thumb, as after all, surely you know what your clients want best.
Connect with us
GoFable Website
Medium Blog
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
— — —
Experienced a time where good content was the defining line for your company? Tell us about it in the comments!
|
https://medium.com/gofable/good-vs-bad-content-c8d965d54e47
|
['Claire Mccallick']
|
2019-07-18 06:03:42.299000+00:00
|
['Content', 'Marketing', 'Content Marketing', 'Startup', 'Product Marketing']
|
Rewilding: A Climate Change and Conservation Solution
|
One of my favourite lockdown reads so far has been Wilding by Isabella Tree. It truly opened my eyes to the process of conservation and rewilding and the extremely positive effects it can have.
When we talk about reducing climate change or protecting species from extinction we often talk about using less paper, switching to renewable energy, driving less, using less plastic etc etc etc.
This however, isn’t enough. Simply slowing down our destruction of the planet and it’s ecosystems isn’t enough.
Millions of years of evolution and trial and error have created forests and jungles bursting with life and biodiversity. They provide home to millions of creatures and plants, have some of the healthiest soil in the world and store billions of tonnes of carbon.
The book follows a family who left an old abandoned farm in Sussex to do it’s thing. They made minimal input such as a few seeds and some grazing animals but nature did the majority of the work. The results were astounding.
Here are some key takeaways.
Let nature take the driver’s seat, humans aren’t very good at recreating biodiversity.
Often tree planting organisations set off with good intentions yet rarely come close to what a natural forest would be like. Monocultures, or large areas full of one species in rows may absorb some carbon but they do not have any kind of biodiversity.
Wild animals need a large variety of plants and trees to provide shelter and food. A single species of tree might be suitable for a bird to make a nest, but it won’t house the insects it needs to eat.
This is the importance of biodiversity. Many species rely on each other for survival in what’s known as a symbiotic relationship. A good example of this would be flowers and bees: bees pollinate the flowers, flowers give the bees nectar to make honey. Without one, the other will not survive.
Oak trees and squirrels. Oak trees drop their seeds (acorns) and squirrels collect them to store up for winter; they take them far away and bury them ready for the colder months when oak trees no longer drop acorns. However, often the squirrel forgets where it has buried the acorn and so the buried acorn can germinate and grow into an oak tree. Oak trees depend on the squirrel to spread its seeds, squirrels depend on the oak tree for food.
This goes even further though. Squirrels often bury acorns near or under bushes and shrubs in order to remember where they buried it. As the acorn grows into an oak sapling, the thorny shrub protects the young sapling from being eaten by grazers such as cows or horses.
Hopefully this explains the needs for an environment rich in biodiversity, different animals and plants, in order to provide a healthy ecosystem.
Even simpler than this, all animals need to eat and therefore must rely on other smaller animals or plants for it’s survival.
More plants/weeds means more insects, more insects means more birds and bats, meaning more mammals allowing more dispersal of tree seeds meaning more life etc etc etc.
Nature is very, very good at remaining in equilibrium and controlling species while boosting biodiversity constantly.
Humans plant a few different trees and expect it to solve all our problems; these trees often don’t last more than 5 years due to this lack of any symbiotic relationships. For context, ancient forests contain trees up to 400 years old.
The bit of land the book is based on, Knepp, was left to do it’s own thing for around 20 years and is now one of the most biodiverse areas in the UK.
Bring back rare species
One of the many successes of the Knepp rewilding project is the fact that it’s biodiverse landscape providing food and shelter for just about any native species means that endangered species are returning to the UK.
Purple Emperors, a beautiful species of butterfly and birds such as Nightingales and Turtle Doves which are all struggling to survive in the increasingly urban landscapes of the UK are on the rise at Knepp. They have made their homes here and have been successfully breeding.
Climate change is accelerating thousands of species towards extinction which wouldn’t have happened unless humans came and messed up the atmosphere. Hunting also has a massive effect. Slowing that down isn’t enough.
We need to actively create habitats, or rather allow nature to create habitats, for them to increase their numbers and have a safe space to hunt and reproduce.
The importance of this is that symbiotic relationship; I keep mentioning it for a reason, it’s very important. When one species goes extinct, this often leads to multiple other species going extinct that might have relied on it for food or seed dispersal.
An example of this is wolves going from Yellowstone National Park. Hunting the wolves to extinction led to a boom in numbers of deer (their prey). Deer, being grazers, over grazed the landscape allowing no new tree saplings to grow and eliminating forest in the area, slowly turning it all into grassland. Therefore, the extinction of this species of wolf meant less trees, meaning less insects and birds, lower soil quality meaning less worms and bacteria and so on.
Do you see where I’m getting at here? All species have a place in nature and getting rid of one can often have a large knock on effect. This is why protecting rare species is so important.
Regenerating poisoned soil
Years of regular monocultural agriculture strips soil of all life.
Following years of doing it sustainably with grazing animals, healthy soil worms and bacteria or crop rotations, farmers learnt that they can get higher yields by using artificial chemical fertilisers.
Healthy soil contains about 8 billion microbes per handful, that’s more than there are humans on Earth. These microbes break down organic matter and create nutrients.
Modern agriculture decided they don’t need this life because it’s quicker to provide the required nutrients themselves using chemicals. On top of this they out more chemicals in the form of pesticides to kill all the insects too. Then they spray the food with chemicals again to make sure the food is ready to eat by the time they fly it half way across the world to your supermarket.
Once the land is well and truly dead, farmers move on to a new patch of land to destroy.
Knepp was farming land, the soil had little life in it initially.
By allowing plants and trees to grow, animals returned, life returned to the soils and the engineers and construction workers of nature got to work.
Within a few years the soil became healthy again, full of nutrients and life ready to provide nutrients to new plants and animals, increasing biodiversity.
Carbon Capture
Irresponsible land management releases soil carbon into the atmosphere. Healthy soil with plants and grazing animals allows to soil to absorb carbon instead.
When we think of planting trees to capture carbon we imagine it all in the trunk. They take carbon dioxide from the air, release the oxygen and store the carbon.
However, the dark brown colour of healthy soil is actually carbon, which is naturally black. Adding plants, trees and grazing animals increases the soil’s health and allows it to store more carbon.
Restoring soil is an incredible way of storing carbon. The 4 per 1000 initiative suggests that increasing the carbon capture in the Earth’s soil by just 0.4% every year would completely offset the Earth’s carbon footprint.
Flood mitigation
Forests are some of the best flood barriers in the world. The healthy, well draining soil is designed to hold water to prepare for droughts. Farmland and urban concrete jungles cause water to run straight over the surface which has lead to a massive increase in flooding in the UK and all over the world.
Restoring forests, wetlands and biodiverse ecosystems will capture rain as it falls and feed the plants instead of allowing it to run off into towns and cities, flooding them.
Governments often tend to spend billions building flood walls and dams to help prevent flooding. Nature’s flood protection has been proven to be more effective, significantly cheaper plus you get all the added bonuses discussed in this article.
Healthier meat
Some of the main arguments for eating less meat are that the animals are kept in bad conditions, they release a lot of methane which is bad for the planet, they eat a lot of grain which requires lots of land, fertiliser and water and it’s not even that good for you.
Knepp uses longhorn cows to graze the landscape. Large mammals like this are important for maintaining a balanced ecosystem; they maintain over-growing plants, aerate the soil and fertilise it with their faeces.
Occasionally however, with no large predators on the land (for obvious reasons) to control their numbers they do have to cull some for the benefit of the entire ecosystem.
However, it has been proven that grazing cows which eat a large variety of highly nutritious food all day every day are the most nutritious and best tasting meats on the planet.
They live a great life, they produce significantly less methane, they are much more nutritious and are significantly cheaper; you don’t even need to feed them, nature takes control of that one.
So it’s win, win. This can provide some kind of financial incentive to rewilding as the cows benefit the biodiversity of the ecosystem while providing a healthy guilt-free meat meal.
Mental health
Many studies have proven that nature is very beneficial for our mental health.
The sound of the birds and insects buzzing, trees rusting in the wind, clear air and bright colours calms the mind and distracts from the chaotic urban life.
A study I read was based in a hospital. They had 2 wards, one with windows facing backstreets, concrete, no greenery at all and one with windows facing trees, lakes and green landscapes.
The results showed that the patients facing the trees and nature required less painkillers, recovered faster and less of them died from their illnesses. Isn’t that incredible?
This can suggest that even if you are well, being around nature more often can help prevent illness and boost overall wellbeing, mentally and physically.
Providing more of these green spaces (no, a green space isn’t a golf course or a lawn, they are monocultures and are awful for the environment, an argument for another day) would allow more people access to the incredible health benefits of spending time in nature.
|
https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/rewilding-a-climate-change-and-conservation-solution-fcb21395bacb
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['Daniel Whitlock']
|
2020-07-29 11:58:28.628000+00:00
|
['Global Warming', 'Climate Change', 'Conservation', 'Sustainability', 'Environment']
|
Love
|
You ask me if I am in love with you, and I question why you even have to ask.
Am I in love with you?
I have loved you since the first moment your voice spoke my name.
I have been in love with you for so long now that I think of you with every love song that my heart sings along to.
You are like the sunrise on a perfect morning, and the sunset that my eyes would want to see even if were the last I ever glanced at.
Am I in love with you?
Yes.
How could I possibly not be.
Because you, to me, are everything.
Everything that is good and beautiful,
In a world that can often seem far too cold.
I am in love with you and I understand,
That you will never be able to love me back.
Sometimes the heart makes sacrifices,
And plastic hearts get broke in half.
You ask me if I am in love with you,
Ask me again tomorrow, and the next day.
The answer will forever be yes.
|
https://psiloveyou.xyz/love-15f196459ab7
|
['Lost Angiest']
|
2020-12-13 13:02:34.970000+00:00
|
['Poetry', 'Poetry Sunday', 'Love', 'Life', 'Love Poems']
|
Gradient Descent algorithm.
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Brief theory how it works.
Photo by rishi on Unsplash
Disclaimer
Gradient descent is one of the widely used algorithms in the model training, especially when using linear regression algorithm.
What is the linear regression?
Linear regression is the simple prediction method, which is tries to draw a line between all results, which tries to predict data y, which can be dependent from input parameter x.
Image from https://www.machinelearningmindset.com/linear-regression-with-tensorflow/
The formula for linear regression (as seen on the image) Y = aX +b. Where a is intercept and b is slope.
Fore example, we have set of x parameters as {1,2,3} and corresponding y results set {2,3,4} , which means that a=1 and b = 1. This knowledge let us assume that if x=4 then y = 5 (y =a*x+1) .
Gradient descent
To calculate proper intercept and slope during the model training we can use gradient descent algorithm.
Image from https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/879043/Implementing-Gradient-Descent-to-Solve-a-Linear-Re
Here on the picture is the cost function graphic and we want to make our parameter with lowest possible cost function. Red dot on the picture is the cost of error with current parameter. To know in which direction we should move and with which step we should know the vector , to know the vector we need to calculate partial derivative.
First, we need to start from something, so just pick some initial weights (intercept and slope) and calculate the error.
After we have first step we need to step by step calculate the gradient and new weights.
Use new weights to calculate gradient and new weights, until we will have a minimal gradient (preferably zero, but it’s rare luck).
And when you will have weights with minimum error that will be your best parameters which were calculated by using gradient descent algorithm.
Here’s a good thing about gradient descent — step, with which you changing weights dependent on the derivative and will vary. Otherwise, using to big step your calculation can be not very precise, or, in case of too small steps it will be very slow computation.
Another one good thing is that not always (I would say pretty rare) error can be equal to zero and gradient descent is very useful in computation lowest error rate.
In the next article I will try to do a little hands-on experience.
|
https://bogdansamoletskyi.medium.com/gradient-descent-algorithm-d94890985137
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['Bogdan Samoletskyi']
|
2020-09-28 17:56:47.008000+00:00
|
['Gradient Descent', 'Machine Learning', 'ML']
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Heart Attack
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Introduction to Heart:
Human heart is a muscular organ. it provides blood and nutrients to our body which we need. The main chamber of blood supplying in our heart is left ventricle through a large artery called Aorta. To aorta small arteries are connected called coronary arteries. It supplies oxygenated blood to all body parts. But at the same time it carries deoxygenated blood and pumps it to lungs for filtration. This is called double pump of heart. The blood flows through aorta to provide our body oxygen and nutrients.
How Does Heart Attack Occurs?
An abnormal behavior of heart is called heart attack
During your heart attack. Blood flows through one of your coronary artery may have reduced or completely blocked (Atherosclerosis).
The reducing blood flow may have been caused by a buildup of fatty substance called PLAQUE in your coronary arteries. If this plaque became disrupted a blood clot might have formed. It will lead to a complete blockage stopping blood flow down the artery. The blockage in coronary artery prevents the reaching of nutrients, blood and oxygen supply from heart to all parts of the body. As a result, heart muscle in that area started to die. Damage to the part of your heart muscle is called HEART ATTACK. It’s also known as MAYOCARDIAL INFARCTION or MI.
The Recovery of Blood Blockage in Heart:
The doctors recommend the procedure to help open the blood blockage and the blood flow to the damage area of the heart muscle.
The procedure they recommend may have been a CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY. During the coronary angioplasty a balloon tipped catheter inflates inside your blocked coronary artery to open it. The procedure may have involved STENT to open the blocked coronary artery properly. This is usually a thin metal mash which act as a scaffold. Or you may have had a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).
CABG is a surgical procedure in which the blocked areas of coronary arteries are bypassed with the veins or other arteries from the body.
Several Medications Prescribed by Health Care:
· Oral antiplatelet therapy helps prevent platelets from sticking together and forming new blood clots.
· You may also receive drugs called Beta blockers that helps lower your heart rate and blood-pressure.
· Drugs such as ACE inhibitors (angiotensin converting enzyme) or ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) and calcium channel blockers also work to lower your blood pressure if needed.
And you may have prescribed statins along with the lower fat diet to lower your cholesterol. The drugs work by reducing the amount of cholesterol made in liver.
What Is Myocardial Infarction:
The term myocardial infarction is derived from myocardium (the heart muscle) and infarction (tissue death). It is more commonly known as heart attack. It occurs when blood supply to a part of muscle is interrupted and leads to death of heart muscles. Heart attack may be caused by blood clot in coronary arteries. It is a medical emergency, and the leading cause of death for both men and women all over the world. Severe chest pain is the most common symptom of myocardial infarction and may be in the form of sensation of tightness, pressure, or squeezing. Pain radiates most of often to left arm, but may also radiate to lower jaw, neck, right arm and back. Loss of consciousness and even death can occur in myocardial infarction. Immediate treatment for suspected acute myocardial infarction includes oxygen supply, aspiring, and sublingual tablet of glyceryl trinitrate. Most cases of myocardial infarction are treated with angioplasty (mechanical widening of narrowed of totally obstructed blood vessel) or bypass surgery (surgery in which arteries or veins from elsewhere in the patient’s body are grafted the coronary arteries to improve blood supply to heart muscles).
Warning :
“Angina Pectoris” Means Chest pain. It is not severe as heart attack. The pain may occur in heart and often left in arm and shoulder. It is a warning sign that blood supply to heart muscles is not sufficient, but shortage is not enough to cause tissue death.
Cardiovascular Disorders:
Epidemiological study shows an inverse correlation between garlic consumption and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease progression [180–182]. The wealth of scientific literature supports the proposal that garlic consumption have significant cardio protective effect, which include both animal and human studies. But certain issues regarding the proper use of garlic, i.e. use of different preparations available, dose, duration and interaction with generic drugs should be optimized. Further research should also be carried out to identify specific compounds from garlic or garlic products that are responsible for most of its biological effects.
Aortic stiffening is as much an important risk factor in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, as it serves as reliable surrogate marker for clinical endpoints like myocardial and cerebrovascular incidents. Elevated aortic stiffness induces high systolic blood pressure, augmented pulse pressure with increased ventricular afterload, reduced sub endocardial blood flow and augmented pulsatile stress in the peripheral arteries [154]. In population, consuming garlic for long period, attenuation of age-related increase in aortic stiffness has been observed. This suggests a protective effect on the elastic properties of the aorta related to aging in human [155]. This study also showed that regular long term garlic powder intake protected endothelial cell from oxidative injury [155].
Woodward PW: Garlic and Friends: The History, Growth and Use of Edible Alliums. Hyland House, Melbourne, Australia. 1996, 2–22.
World Heart Day:
It is held on 29th September,2002. every year throughout the world. Its objective is to help people better understand their personal risks of cardiovascular disorders. The final decades of the twentieth century represented a period of unprecedented success for the cardiovascular biomedical enterprise in advancing the knowledge of cardiovascular disease. Scientific progress in understanding the mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases fueled the proliferation of new methods for prevention and treatment, clinical trials to critically test these interventions, and evidence-based practice guidelines to distill these scientific advances broadly into clinical practice.
Conclusions:
It is important to stay on your medication if you are feeling better.
Do not go off your medication for any reason unless the health care professional that prescribed them tell you to.
|
https://medium.com/@hasan-mughal006/heart-attack-ab7652870a07
|
['Hassan Mughal']
|
2021-07-06 15:08:30.369000+00:00
|
['Heart Attack Causes', 'Heart Disease', 'Heart Attack Symptoms', 'Heart Attack Treatment', 'Heart']
|
Not really a success.
|
Image by Mylene2401 from Pixabay
In 2020 humans have agreed to wear masks to avoid COVID spread. I acknowledge this as the biggest human coordination exercise ever executed. It is a success.
We solved it with unsustainable disposable masks. With typical economies of scale from huge volume demands and low wages in Asia. With single point of failure by not been able to scale manufacturing fast enough in the Western territories.
This shift to power laws is driving a huge increase of wealth and income inequality to levels that are even beyond the previous peak of the early 1900s. Inequality beyond a certain level is socially corrosive, as people start to live in a world that is disconnected from the problems faced by large parts of the population. (Excerpt from the book World After Capital)
We didn’t leverage local manufacturing of reusable (sustainable) mask. Everyone can manufacture reusable fabric masks. Anyone can invest in 3D printing, pickup open sourced mask design blueprints and locally manufacture at low/mid scale sustainable products. Capitalism has completely removed our will to build.
|
https://medium.com/@miguel-cabeza/not-really-a-success-77db327c304a
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['Miguel Cabeza']
|
2020-12-26 13:38:29.403000+00:00
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['Masks', 'Codiv 19', 'Politics', 'Sustainability', 'Innovation']
|
2020 Year in Review
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Our new investment themes
We updated our investment themes this year to reflect how we’re thinking about the future of travel. Moving forward, our team will be focusing on the following themes:
Seamless Customer Journeys: As a travel provider, we strive for smooth travel experiences. We’re looking for solutions that brighten the journey and enable a seamless travel experience through every part of a customer’s trip. Reimagining the Accommodation Experience: Once travelers land in-destination, there’s an opportunity to continue enhancing their experience. We’re looking at evolutions in hospitality, including alternative accommodations, and the underlying products and services that power the industry. Next-Generation Aviation Operations and Enterprise Technology: The more efficient an airline’s operation, the better it can serve customers and stakeholders. In this investment focus, we’re looking for innovations that enhance safety, improve operations, and drive enterprise-wide efficiencies. Innovation in Loyalty, Distribution and Revenue: On the commercial side of the business, we’re prioritizing technologies that personalize and diversify commerce, simplify payments, and improve revenue opportunities. Sustainable Travel: Sustainability is essential for the long-term health of our business, our customers, and our communities. With that in mind, we’re focusing on advanced methods of measuring and reducing emissions, improved environmental protections, and game-changing alternative propulsion systems
With these new investment themes, we’re looking ahead to the next decade (and beyond) to identify innovations and invest in solutions that are fundamental to our industry’s future.
Team updates
We welcomed three new team members at the start of 2020:
Sarah Mattina: As our communications and marketing liaison, Sarah is responsible for sharing the ideas and people behind not just JTV but our portfolio of exemplary companies. She was previously at Southwest Airlines. Welcome, Sarah!
Ruchit Majmudar: Ruchit also comes to us from Southwest Airlines, where he worked in corporate strategy and innovation. As an Operations Analyst, he’ll partner with JetBlue teams and our JTV partners to connect them with relevant emerging technologies to drive innovation. Welcome, Ruchit!
Daisy Garcia: Daisy is our newest Investment Analyst. She recently relocated back to California after working and studying in six countries, bringing a fresh global perspective to the team. Her primary focus is making new investments and conducting due diligence on early stage startups. Welcome, Daisy!
New investments
Prior to COVID-19, we made two investments:
3Victors provides next-generation travel analytics. Airlines track a lot of data, but can’t always deploy business intelligence solutions capable of mining such a deep trove. 3Victors solves that problem with its real-time 360° view of air travel, combined across multiple sources into a single actionable view. Read more about our investment from Principal Jim Lockheed in this great article.
i6 is a data and software solution provider that optimizes the fuel supply chain into a single platform for the aviation and transportation sectors. The result is a mobile-first, paper-free experience that eliminates manual entry and streamlines fuel operations between vendors and airlines. Read more about i6’s Series A here, which we joined alongside International Airlines Group, Shell, and World Fuel Services.
Virtual programming
Given the pandemic, our focus this year shifted to researching the latest technologies to augment JetBlue’s “Safety from the Ground Up” program. This included ultraviolet cleaning, thermal scanning, health passport testing, and personalization. The most exciting and essential event was our contactless journey Innovation Sprint and Demo Day, where we came together with a challenge to address the urgent need for contactless experiences across the travel journey. The purpose was to examine each stage of the travel ribbon to determine how startups can be used for a safer experience.
These innovation sprints (which we do in non-pandemic times as well) give us early experience with new solutions. Ultimately, this positions us for the future and allows us to be as nimble as possible — especially when we have to quickly adapt to new market realities.
Ecosystem partnerships
Our partnerships are a large part of what we do at JTV, as it allows us to build a beneficial ecosystem in collaboration with like-minded providers that share our vision.
In November, we announced the third addition to our International Partnership Program: CAE Inc. CAE is a Canadian manufacturer of simulation technologies and training services primarily for airlines, aircraft operators, and aircraft manufacturers. Alongside Vantage Airport Group and Air New Zealand, CAE will work with the emerging technologies and startups in our portfolio to improve the experience, infrastructure, and processes across the travel experience.
Read more about the partnership from Amy Burr, our Managing Director of Operations and Partnerships.
Launch of our Platform
Platform services have become a critical component of VC firms. Beyond transactional investments, these initiatives further enhance the way we work with our portfolio companies to accelerate their growth. By formalizing our Platform, we can better support teams with introductions to vendors, consultants and service providers; connect them to relevant resources; and build community across the portfolio to share knowledge, facilitate partnerships and strengthen bonds. Read more about the initiative from Amy Burr.
Portfolio milestones
We’re proud of the resilience and fortitude of our portfolio companies, who have stayed the course in the face of fierce headwinds. Here are some notable milestones and achievements:
|
https://medium.com/jtv-insights/2020-year-in-review-b20682081440
|
['Bonny Simi']
|
2020-12-17 16:17:58.152000+00:00
|
['Technology', 'Travel', 'Venture Capital', 'Startups', 'Team']
|
Dating Coach Certification
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1. Don’t overcomplicate things
The first date with someone you know little or nothing about is full of uncertainty. Don’t make things more complicated by trying to arrange the perfect romantic dinner, or planning a whole day out. Instead, keep things short and simple. A cup of coffee in a central location will make it clear fast if your date is someone you would like to spend more time with. And if things go well, the coffee could turn into a lunch or dinner, adding some spontaneity into the mix.
Read full article : http://bit.ly/3mwrJGN
|
https://medium.com/@rpm07/dating-coach-certification-680deafa2f55
|
['Rana Pratap']
|
2020-12-19 15:47:33.182000+00:00
|
['First Love', 'Relationships', 'Relationships Love Dating', 'Love', 'First Date']
|
Telifie, who we are
|
Hey! We’re Telifie, the maker of the smart home drive in Dayton, Ohio. Telifie was created to eliminate the monthly subscriptions cloud storage services charge and give more features to users with more privacy and security!
The Device
Telifie comes in 256GB, 512GB and 1024GB sizes. WiFi is required for setup and, after that, you can connect it to your smart phone for faster access when you’re at home. Our servers act as a middleman for transferring files so your content is never stored permanently in the cloud. Pick a color for the lights that show when you’re using Telifie, or sometimes things look better with the lights off if you’d like.
Smart home dashboard
Our smart home dashboard gives you the capability of presenting your files from our apps on your TV and you can get notifications, stay up-to-date on the weather, and so much more with updates free forever. Connect the Telifie to surround sound with the aux port (that’s right, an aux port) and make a smart speaker system and play music through the Telifie with your phone. You can use it without the TV too!
Access
Our apps require two-factor authentication and sport an elegant design that gives you all the capabilities you need to get the most out of your Telifie. File transfers and device communication is encrypted and authentication keys are refreshed regularly.
The bigger picture
As our journey continues, our mission will never change: provide affordable, elegant, and versatile products for everyone. We are proud of our warranty and servicing program where you can get free servicing for life! A Telifie costs less than a year of cloud subscriptions and gives you the most bang for your buck. You can check out our roadmap for our software running on the device, called Connect.
Our Kickstarter is launching on May 25th, and we need your support to fully fund $40k to put a Telifie in your hands and make privacy and security a priority for customers. Visit our Kickstarter page and save our campaign to get just one email when we launch for up to 30% off our MSRP or signup for our email list (just once a week, no spam).
Lastly…
My name is Kenny Hawkins, the CEO, and Founder of Telifie. I graduated from Miami University (Ohio) in 2020 and took a year to build Telifie. It is most important to me that Telifie remain an honest and ethical business. As a user, you can suggest and vote on features and talk to us at any time free of charge.
We are a small business and we want to maintain that mentality of supporting our community. I appreciate your help and can’t thank you enough for believing in Telifie. Thanks for reading until the end!
|
https://medium.com/telifie/telifie-who-we-are-ff27ad1c0e94
|
['Kenny Hawkins']
|
2021-05-03 08:15:13.011000+00:00
|
['Gadgets', 'Kickstarter', 'Technology']
|
What Are the Symptoms of Pregnancy ?
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How to Understand Pregnancy Symptoms?
Symptoms
Missed period the most obvious early symptom of pregnancy and the one that prompts most women to get a pregnancy test is a missed period. But not all delayed periods are caused by pregnancy.There are some reasons besides this first symptom it might because you lost or gained too much weight, stress, fatigue hormonal problems are other possibilities.
Cramp
Early in pregnancy, woman may experience light or mild cramping,these cramps will probably feel like the light cramps you get during your period. But the cramp will be in lower back or lower stomach
Increased urination
Pregnant women might find urinating more often than usual you may find yourself running to the bathroom more frequently at this stage.
Food cravings
Strange food cravings may be one of the best known signs of pregnancy. Just like many of the other symptoms of early pregnancy food cravings are the result of the changes in hormone levels. Food cravings can last for their entire pregnancy but in most cases they disappear by the end of the first trimester.
Nausea
Morning sickness which can happen at anytime it often begins one month after women pregnant however, some may feel nausea earlier and some never experience it pregnancy hormones likely play a role in nausea symptom.
Fatigue
Woman can start feeling unusually fatigued as soon as one week after conceiving fatigue during early pregnancy typically gets better around the start of the second trimester.
|
https://medium.com/@2fan1kar/what-are-the-symptoms-of-pregnancy-3ce3fe58c736
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[]
|
2020-12-11 09:48:06.085000+00:00
|
['Symptomsofpregnancy', 'Pregnancy']
|
Understanding Consumer Behaviour And Motivations
|
If you want to succeed as an online seller or an entrepreneur, you’ll need to understand why consumers behave they way they do. And, ultimately, what motivates them to buy.
The key to reaching and engaging with your prospects and customers is to understand the decision making process behind their purchase habits. Once you have a clearer idea, it’ll be much easier to persuade them to buy from you (instead of your competitors).
It’s also important to ensure your marketing campaign doesn’t go to waste, and help to inform the right direction on who to target, what messaging to send out, and how to design your visuals for your marketing activity. A successful marketing campaign will depend a lot on how well you can influence consumers and their buying behaviour.
The psychological factors that motivates consumers to make a purchase
According to the legendary marketing guru Philip Kotler, consumer behaviour is “the buying behaviour of final consumers, those individuals and households who buy goods and services for personal consumption.”
There’s no simple black and white guide as to how and what motivates a consumer to buy, but there are a number of key factors that are seen as primary drivers that influences their decision making process. These factors can persuade them to buy Product A as opposed to Product B, or exit Webstore C to enter Webstore D.
Here are 3 main psychological factors behind consumer behaviour:
Motivation
What we buy is very much influenced by our motivation and goals in life depending where we are on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Perception
Individuals all have a different perception of the world, which is unique to them. Some people feel that the world is a negative place and others feel it is full of optimism. This affects what people buy and their reaction to products. Attitudes
Attitudes lead people to behave in a fairly consistent way towards thoughts, feelings and tendencies. If you are old fashioned or conservative in your attitudes then this will affect what you buy, wear or think across the board.
If you’re a new online seller, it might take time for you to understand the consumer behaviour in your industry. Be patient and observant, and it’ll be well worth the wait. Creating consumer surveys and posting it on your Facebook page or inserting in your email blast are easy ways to collect valuable data about their behaviour.
You can ask for feedback on your products or webstore, their favourite hobbies, how they spend their time, their income level, where they live, and so many more questions that can give you a better idea of who they are and what are the motivating factors behind their purchasing decision making process.
|
https://medium.com/avanaasia/understanding-consumer-behaviour-and-motivations-1a4f31e81765
|
[]
|
2020-01-09 07:57:25.025000+00:00
|
['Marketing', 'Consumer', 'Ecommerce', 'Social Commerce']
|
How to increase your visibility at work while being authentic
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Yes, your work won’t speak for itself.
Visibility at work can make all the difference in propelling your career forward. To grow in your career, you need opportunities that set you apart from your colleagues. And to land coveted opportunities, you need to be visible to your boss who makes those decisions.
Remember, out-of-sight, is out-of-mind ! And it is YOUR responsibility to make sure you are getting the right visibility and are in your boss’s radar!
If you find yourself doing the same kind of work for months and years, if you are not considered for promotion or high-impact projects, then that means your hard work is not being recognized and its needs some work.
But most of us shy away from spotlight due to various reasons. Lets look at some of the reasons why some of us feel better off without being seen.
5 Reasons why we shy away from visibility at work
1. You assume your boss knows everything you do
One of the common mistakes people make is assuming their boss knows everything they are doing and do not feel the need to do anything extra to advocate for themselves. They believe their work will speak for itself.
It’s unreasonable to expect that your boss will give you opportunities since they can see what’s going on. The truth is, your manager has a lot of other things that need his attention and keeping tabs on how you are creating impact is least of his concerns, unless it is really outstanding.
Another way to look at it is, even though you get work through your boss, what kind of challenges and difficulties you had to face and solve is not always obvious. The kind of different thinking you had to do, what ropes you had to pull, what trade-offs you had to make, how many nights you had to work extra— all this is not obvious. It’s unreasonable to expect that your boss will understand and be able to see everything that happens behind the scenes.
It is your responsibility to reflect on this and share with your manager at opportune times. And no, don’t wait until the annual review to have this conversation!
2. You avoid conflict by not expressing differing opinions
You are basically a neutral person and want to gel with everyone. Challenging opinions and processes are not really your thing and you are more than happy to follow along and do what is asked of you.
You value status-quo at workplace more than anything else. Conflicts are just not worth your energy. So you don’t question, challenge or express a different opinion.
3. Uncomfortable with the spotlight due to low confidence
You are afraid of being wrong or failing to live up to expectations, so being low-key is your mantra. Visibility makes you uncomfortable and you are better off being that individual contributor, who works in silo and minds his/her own business.
4. Avoiding more responsibility in order to balance other needs
You don’t want to volunteer/ask for high-profile work or take up projects that have high visibility and impact for fear of disrupting your work-life balance. You are not in a position to trade your family time and needs for meeting the demands of your work.
5. You feel it is not authentic and not in line with your personality
You feel that “marketing” yourself is not in-line with your personality and don’t feel your authentic self if you had to showcase your work and ask for strategic opportunities.
Creating visibility doesn’t have to be a chore or overwhelming. It can be improved by employing some simple tips that are based on genuineness and authenticity.
The first step to making any progress is identifying the real reasons why we hold ourselves back. If you can identify with any of the reasons listed above, then hurrah! You have tackled the first hurdle.
Read on to see what you can do to improve your visibility at your workplace and be in the thoughts of your boss! But also keep in mind that this is not an overnight game-changer. It requires you to build a certain credibility and rapport with your boss to start things working for you.
Here are 4 things you can start doing to get better visibility at work
1. Genuinely care about your team, your company, your clients and generally about the work you do.
And how to do exactly that ?
You can start by understanding how the work you do fits the larger picture and how it impacts your company’s and client’s business. By speaking up in meetings and asking questions, especially in broader forums. By asking WHY we do certain things, HOW to do certain things and WHAT is important for us, you demonstrate that you are invested in the company’s goals and care about achieving them. Voice your opinions, ideas, challenge norms, and always seek to identify and solve problems Simply by being more than just an individual contributor who does what he/she is told
Here is an example from a friend who struggled to speak in meetings but finally found her voice by taking baby steps.
“ I always struggled to speak in meetings because I feared my question was not good enough, and that I would look foolish. But over a period of time, I realized that it was not really about impressing anybody with my question, but genuinely trying to understand what it was all about and how it impacts us and how we could, in turn, create an impact. The day I realized this, I made extra efforts to find the courage to speak up and, it changed my presence in the team drastically. I felt comfortable bringing attention to some problems we were having, question some practices and voicing my thoughts in larger forums. It did wonders to my growth.”
2. Build meaningful relationship with your boss
Having a good working relationship with your boss makes a world of difference in terms of making progress at work. For people outside this relationship, it may look like politics and favoritism but the reality is building a genuine relationship and trust takes time and work, and in the end, is the ultimate way to get into the inner circle of leadership.
Proximity to your boss gives you insight into larger problems that your team or company might be facing and gives you a chance to play a critical role. It also gives you an opportunity to share the bottom-up view, share your own team’s problems and get his help to solve them.
So how can you build this meaningful relationship ?
First of all, you have to genuinely like that person who is your boss! 🙂 If you have differences, find some common ground that you can work with, and keep your focus on that while working to build a relationship. When its a new relationship, it takes time to understand his/her personality, values and working style. One way to forge a good relationship is to schedule regular 1–1 meetings, monthly or quarterly and talk through various things. Sometimes it can have an agenda, sometimes it could just be plain casual chat. Talk about what excites you about the work you do, bring problems to light, and offer solutions. Don’t just be the person who brings problems. Be the person who offers solutions too. Ask about your boss’s pain points. And how you can help him. Lend a listening ear. Help your boss be a better boss. Share some challenges you faced, how you overcame them, your wins, your accomplishments and talk about how it helped you grow as person. Talk about what kind of work you would like to do. Ask if you can lead that strategic project. Volunteer to do a presentation before the leadership the next time. Ask if you can help with the hiring of new team members and be part of the interview panel. Set expectations, ask for feedback and lay the path forward together, that benefits both you as an individual as well as the company. In the end, it’s all about business impact.
It might surprise you how many opportunities you can land just by asking. Stretch your professional boundaries and help your boss help you !
An example for you:
“ I was leading a new team and struggled with team engagement. We had a daily team call, but only a few would show up. Nobody would raise hands to take up work and always said they were busy. I brought this up with my boss in one of my conversations with him and brainstormed on what we could do differently to get the team on board. I tried a few things later and the situation began to improve gradually. In one of my 1–1 meetings with my boss, I brought this topic up and explained what steps I took and how the team engaged better with me. He was appreciative of what I did and gave some good feedback that boosted my confidence! “
3. Communicate openly, freely and passionately
Most of the times when communicating the outcome of an effort, we skip the details and jump directly to the conclusion. “Over-communicate” — is a common advice that I hear frequently.
What that doesn’t mean is talking just for the sake of talking.
What it means is, sharing the little interesting details. Sharing your thought process that made you arrive at a decision. Why you thought this was the right way to go and not the other way. Sharing details that gives others an insight into what kind of work went into delivering that favorable outcome.
Doing this helps others understand how you think, and then trust your thinking and judgement.
Here is an example.
“ The xxx application is migrated to cloud and deployment was successful tonight. “ Now the above statement is an understatement. It neglects to bring to light the challenges faced and judgement calls taken under pressure. A better way to communicate this would be - “ The xxx application is migrated to cloud and deployment was successful tonight. However there were a few challenges along the way. We realized that one of the firewalls was not opened, that resulted in connectivity issues. We had to reach out to security team in the early morning to have this fixed. For awareness, this firewall request is easy to miss as the new cloud architecture is a little different from what has been designed so far. So other project teams, please take note of this and make sure you have this covered to avoid surprises during your releases.” Now this detailed communication gives insight into what really happened that night and how the team handled it. It’s the little details that give comfort that the right steps were taken and the right thought process was employed, in turn earning trust.
4. Volunteer
Volunteer to take up projects that create impact at high levels and help solve business problems. Remember, be strategic about this.
Volunteer to do presentations, be it your project work, or something you learnt recently, in front a broader audience.
Volunteer to do things outside of your comfort zone. Take risks that help you broaden your horizons, expand your skill set and help in more ways than one.
“ The process was creating false alerts and those emails went high up the management chain. Our Business leadership would scramble to understand what happened , and every time, it would turn out to be a non-issue and everybody heaved a sigh of relief. I realized this was happening way too often, wasting everybody’s energy and time. Something needed to be done. I quickly proposed a way to fix that false positive alerts. Although we had a solution, my team didn’t have the time to take this additional work. I volunteered to do it. I sat that weekend to learn powershell scripting, took my husband’s help and fixed that damned script in 3 days and nights. It brought me recognition at the high levels, and made people see me differently — this girl can pick up new skills and deliver. It gained me access to new teams, new kind of work that was interesting and impactful.”
Summary
It takes more than hard work to get ahead and get good opportunities in this competitive world. Your work needs to be seen by the right people and it is your responsibility to make it happen.
Remember, out of sight is out of mind.
To summarize, here are the steps you can take to boost your visibility.
Genuinely care about the work you do Speak up in meetings, share your ideas, express your opinions Build meaningful relationship with your boss Ask to be part of strategic projects Volunteer to take up projects outside of your comfort zone and expand your skill set.
PS : The examples quoted here are from conversations with my friends and family on how they maximized their visibility.
Other resources :
You can also checkout the latest episode of CandidSpeak on Instagram . The conversation is about visibility at work, imposter syndrome and basically a manager’s perspective on an individual’s growth.
|
https://medium.com/@sampadaraje/how-to-increase-your-visibility-at-work-while-being-authentic-f35076a38ac9
|
['Sampada Raje']
|
2021-01-25 16:31:21.928000+00:00
|
['Career Advice', 'Self Improvement', 'Professional Development', 'Women In Tech', 'Work']
|
5 Must see sights in Paris
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The French capital city, Paris, is known across the world for its arts, fashion, food and culture. It is one of Europe’s most popular cities for people to visit. Paris has no shortage of sights to see and those sights cover a large array of genres. We’ve compiled a list of the best five sights to visit when in the elegant French city, Paris…
Louvre
An art lovers dream. Established in the city in the 18th century the Louvre museum has become one of the largest museums in the world. Its collection includes over 38,000 items, the museum’s collection includes objects such as paintings, drawings and sculptures. All of which are held in one of France’s most impressive buildings, the Louvre Palace. The glass pyramid which was added at a later date has become an iconic symbol of the museum. Entrance to the museum is set at 15 euros and it is open to the public six days of the week.
Find out more: https://totalsights.com/sights/louvre
Eiffel Tower
One of the world’s most iconic structures. Standing at 324 metres in height and built out of wrought iron the tower is a French Landmark and can be seen from across Paris. It was built in the years 1887–1889 and became the tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 40 years. The tower is one of the most visited sights in Europe, it has three observation decks and you can enter and use the observation decks for 25 euros.
Find out more: https://totalsights.com/sights/eiffel-tower
Arc de Triomphe
A huge monument at the heart of the city. The arch is 50 metres high and 45 metres wide and it is known as ‘The Star’, as 12 avenues lead to the centred junction it is on. The Neoclassical triumphal arch was unveiled in the city in 1836. It was built to honour the people that fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The monument is decorated by heroic nude French youths battling against German warriors. The monument has an observation deck that you can visit for elevated views of the city, access to the deck costs 8 euros.
Find out more: https://totalsights.com/sights/arc-de-triomphe
Champs-Élysées
Arguably the most fashionable street in the world. The Champs-Elysees stretches for over a mile and is full of high-end fashion shops that attract many fashionistas daily. Also on the street is restaurants and cafes for people to enjoy. The street has a friendly and welcoming vibe and doesn’t just play to the rich, it is welcoming to all.
Find out more: https://totalsights.com/sights/champs-elysees
Tuileries Garden
One of the most beautiful parks in the whole of Paris. It was created in 1564 as the garden of the Tuileries Palace that formerly existed on the site up until the 19th century. It was made a public park in the 17th century. It is a green space that covers 28 hectares and is a mixture of lawns, fountains and ponds that make for a great place to socialise or relax. The park is free to visit daily.
Find out more: https://totalsights.com/sights/tuileries-garden
Full article : https://totalsights.com/articles/5-must-see-sights-paris
|
https://medium.com/@totalsights/5-must-see-sights-in-paris-f1522d1f5bc1
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[]
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2021-06-17 11:57:12.448000+00:00
|
['Paris', 'Sightseeing', 'Travel']
|
Famous restaurants in Amritsar
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1. Charming Chicken
Location:- Majitha Rd, Sehaj Avenue, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
2. Crystal Restaurant
Location:- Crystal Chowk, Queens Rd, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Nagar, Near, Company Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
3. Bharawan Da Dhaba
Location:- near Town Hall, Town Hall, Katra Ahluwalia, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
4. Ziva all-day dining
Location:- Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar
5. Haveli
Location:- Highway, Grand Trunk Rd, Amritsar, Punjab 143115
6. Bhai Kulwant Singh Kulchian Wale
Location:- Bazar Bikaneria, Near Golden Temple, Katra Ahluwalia, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
7. Kulcha Land
Location:- DISTT Shopping Complex, opposite M K Hotel, Center, B — Block, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
8. Bade Bhai Ka Brothers Dhaba
Location:- near Town Hall, Town Hall, Katra Ahluwalia, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
9. Shahi Qila
Location:- Wagah, Border, Wagah, Attari, Punjab 143108
10. Chatter Box Amritsar
Location:- DISTT Shopping Complex, Ground Floor, SCO No. B-113, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
11. Brother’s Amritsari Dhaba
Location:- Opp,Marwari Mandir,Chowk Phawara, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
12. Kesar da Dhaba
Location:- Chowk Passian, gali rajpura, near Telephone Exchange, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
13. Tavolo Mondo
Location:- Ajnala Road (Airport Road), 8th Mile Stone, Punjab 143001
14. Beera Chicken House
Location:- Shop — 100, Majitha Rd, opposite Bhandari hospital, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
15. Makhan Fish and Chicken Corner SINCE 1962
Location:- 21A, Near Madaan Hospital Makhan Chowk, Majitha Rd, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
16. The Yellow Chilli
Chhatwal Hotel & Resorts Sco-108, GRD Towers, District Shopping Center, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
17. Sarhad
Location:- Grand Trunk Rd, Attari, Punjab 143108
18. Ashok Kulche Wala
Location:- Shop №68, 69, Market, Near Park, A — Block, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
19. Brothers Dhaba
Location:- Grand Trunk Rd, near LIC Building, Khandwala, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
20. Barbeque Nations
Location:- Plot no. 77, SGK Tower, Mall Road, near Income Tax Office, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
21. Neelam’s
Location:- Golden Temple Way, Jallan Wala Bagh, Katra Ahluwalia , Amritsar , Punjab 143001
22. Kobe Sizzlers
Location :- SCO 109, B — Block, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
23. Astoria Food Pavilion (and Oka)
Location:- District Shopping Centre, Sco.-38, Basement, Ground & 1stFloor, B — Block, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar, Punjab 143001
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https://medium.com/@riyarandhawaa/famous-restaurants-in-amritsar-45972f1d4771
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['Riya Sachdeva']
|
2021-07-25 04:40:09.250000+00:00
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['Travel', 'Food', 'Foodies', 'Travelling', 'World']
|
TikTok Is the Influencer’s Next Frontier
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TikTok Is the Influencer’s Next Frontier
Fatherhood on Friday: That dancing app your kids like has 800 million active users. It’s time to consider its massive influence potential. Dad 2.0 May 15, 2020·4 min read
Lunchbox Dad on TikTok
You know TikTok, right? That dumb app thing your kid dances on, and it’s had some problems with concerns over privacy and security? It is all those things, but its massive popularity — TikTok just reached two billion downloads, and its galaxy of 800 million active users has probably increased by 10,000 since you started reading this — has it positioned as the next big thing among influencers looking for an alternative to Instagram.
So says our friend and frequent Summit contributor Beau Coffron, who has blazed a lot of trails over his nine-year career as Lunchbox Dad. He established his second vertical long before it became imperative, and as a social media professional, he’s built up formidable followings everywhere he’s tried. And now, he’s directing his attention to adding a TikTok presence to his burgeoning media empire.
There are a lot of reasons to consider following his lead. TikTok is another opportunity to innovate with video, which makes the cornerstone of most influencer campaigns more appealingly bite-sized (and fills that Vine-shaped hole in our hearts). You can amass followers in no time (Beau has 50K in just five months), but more importantly, you don’t even need them to get a lot of views. That’s because TikTok’s algorithm circulates your videos to similar “For You” feeds without a date stamp, conferring a much longer shelf life onto your work. Since there aren’t a lot of dads on it yet, intrepid content makers can venture forth and plant their flags in a whole new territory.
As of now, TikTok isn’t readily monetizable, so Beau tends to package its videos as part of larger contracts with brand partners. It’s a matter of time, though, until TikTok’s power becomes more widely known, and brands, Beau conjectures, will be on board with it “by the end of the year.”
So if you’re using this time to reassess your influence and demographics and think TikTok could work for you, do your research and dive into some of the most engaging content online. And be prepared for a little snarky scrutiny (which, as dads, we’re already pretty used to).
ON THE PODCAST: Our First Guest Mom!
Episode 30 is a freewheeling four-way, as we celebrate Mother’s Day with our first guest mom, Deborah Christy Moebes (Whipstitch), and her husband Michael Moebes (Dadcation), one of the few online power couples who’ve both spoken at a Dad 2.0 Summit.
They discuss motives for the work they do, keeping their cool in a quarantined household with three kids and a dog, and what Deborah and Lin-Manuel Miranda have in common.
IN THE NEWS
As companies like Twitter allow most workers to stay working from home forever, work schedules will become more flexible and paid leave will get closer to reality.
Given the family’s stressful health problems, this dad went above and beyond the call to see his daughter’s face light up.
Being home for her dad’s final days is proof, she says, that “it’s the people that matter — not the perfectly planned ceremony.”
Will Smith and Kenan Thompson are two of many familiar faces you’ll see when the new DADS documentary drops on June 19.
“Before the lockdown, men’s home and family roles were out of sight and out of mind. But now, we’re seeing them first-hand.“
On Saturday, May 16: Join 21st Century Fathers for an online conference for dads of kids with special needs.
If you’re the type of husband who completely checks out of homeschooling, “That’s a jerk move, dude.”
After his daughter’s graduation was canceled, he took matters into his own hands. “After all those years, you’re going to walk across somebody’s stage if I have to build you one myself.”
While the nursing home is on lockdown, he stays connected with his 92-year-old dad by serenading him with trombone music outside his window.
PORCHLIGHT POSTS
“He showed more warmth toward his dog, Otis, than any of his seven children or 21 grandchildren. But he was also the most generous person I’ve ever known.” — Jeff McLane, The Sports World Stopped, and Unironically So Did My Father’s Life
“You look like Elmer Fudd and Lindsay Lohan’s love child.” — Charlie Berens, Taylor Calmus, Penn Holderness, and Myles Montplaisir, Neighbors In Quarantine
“He is just a kid. It is up to me to teach him that getting angry and yelling does not get you anywhere in life.” — Brandon Billinger, “I’m Sorry” Teaches Your Kids You Promise to Do Better By Them
“When I clean up after you, I relive all of the recent moments of this half life together.” — Scott Lacey, The Memories of Cleaning
“I’m such a believer in asking for help when needed, but it still feels like a muscle I don’t stretch enough.” — Ryan Walton, Instagram post
‘GRAM OF THE WEEK
Do you receive the Dad 2.0 Newsletter? You should! In it we share all kinds of information and news about the Dad 2.0 Summit. Add it to your inbox! It’s the perfect way to start planning for our tenth summit, our first-ever fall event coming to Los Angeles on October 1–2, 2020.
Share your fatherhood news and/or stories with us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Medium using the #FoF hashtag!
|
https://medium.com/@dad2summit/tiktok-is-the-influencers-next-frontier-96b989b4044f
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[]
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2020-05-18 12:24:04.111000+00:00
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['Tiktok App', 'Dads', 'Social Media Marketing', 'Fatherhood', 'Influencer Marketing']
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Catch up with Cannes Lions Roving Reporters, Luc and Rogin
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Every year Dentsu Aegis Network sponsors our brightest and best talent to attend Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, to get inspired, and feedback on their experience.
This year, a duo from Isobar won the competition to attend. So we took a moment to interview them on the Croisette to give an insight into their time here in Cannes.
What’s being a Roving Reporter all about?
From a creative perspective, being a Roving Reporter is being able to make the best of new interfaces and communication tools to deliver DAN’s creative vision in a relevant, fresh and innovative way. It’s about making sure you connect with the movers and shakers within our network — the people who are directing from the top.
Can you tell us more about what you do at Isobar (Luc)!
I’ve worked at Isobar as a creative for a year and a half. Since then, I’ve been busy developing the creative vision and activities for Isobar in Belgium — we’ve been transforming ourselves, whilst transforming our clilents businesses! Amongst other things, I work on the digital content strategy and development, digital assets production, creative solutions and recently I was selected to participate in R500. Route 500 is a high potential programme — so I am flattered to have been selected — and I really hope it will help on my journey to become a creative director.
This is your first Cannes Lions. What were you looking forward to the most?
Basically everything — from the people to the parties. I always insisted on the fact that diversity powers creativity. Exchanging with creative leaders and minds about the importance of creativity in our digital world is the best way to step forward into Isobar’s and DAN’s 2020 perspectives but also for me to get insights from the most experienced markets in the world when it’s about creativity.
Artificial Intelligence, VR and AR features heavily on this year’s Cannes agenda. What do you think will have the biggest impact on the creative process, and our industry?
AI will definitely have the biggest impact on our industry and on the creative process.
It has the potential to ensure we create work with relevance and at scale — getting as close as possible to the consumer. But I strongly believe that using human understanding tools such as empathy and perspective will continue to be valuable.
As a creative, I know that I have to understand AI deeply and how to use its potential to ultimately unveil our abilitiy to create individual experiences at scale — so Jean Lin’s talk about the Future of Creativity will be really useful!
Finally, what are you hoping to get out of your experiences at the world’s largest celebration of creativity?
Insights, learnings and contacts from DAN’s and Isobar’s most advanced markets in creativity to become an asset every step of the way in our future transformation.
|
https://medium.com/isobar-global-blog/catch-up-with-cannes-lions-roving-reporters-luc-and-rogin-6d5d74d1a823
|
[]
|
2017-06-22 15:38:24.458000+00:00
|
['Digital Marketing', 'Creativity', 'Cannes Lions', 'AI', 'Interview']
|
Last Minute Christmas Gifts for family and friends!
|
These gifts are guaranteed to arrive before Christmas Day! First gift is a nice affordable pair of fuzzy slippers. The same slippers that Oprah marked as one of her favorite things! The next item that’s guaranteed for your friends or family to enjoy is The Dash Popcorn Maker, it pops kernels with hot air instead of oil for healthier snacking. With its compact design and vintage style, your friends or family will surely love it! The last great deal I’ve found for you is one that I personally bought myself and for others and that is, the AmazonBasics Water Resistant Bluetooth Speaker. This speaker is amazing for all occasions and its water resistant so when your in the pool with your friends you’ll have no problem playing your music for everyone to hear with no worries of it getting broken.
|
https://medium.com/@gavinnaasko/last-minute-christmas-gifts-for-family-and-friends-ac2041bff5be
|
['Gavin Naasko']
|
2020-12-21 20:09:20.986000+00:00
|
['Friends', 'Last Minute Deals', 'Family', 'Christmas', 'Great Product']
|
Best Practices for Bucketing in Spark SQL
|
Best Practices for Bucketing in Spark SQL
Bucketing is a feature supported by Spark since version 2.0. It is a way how to organize data in the filesystem and leverage that in the subsequent queries.
There are many resources that explain the basic idea of bucketing, in this article, we will go one step further and describe bucketing more in detail, we will see various different aspects it can have and explain how it works under the hood, how it evolved over time and — most importantly — how to efficiently use it.
We will see bucketing from two different perspectives — the perspective of a data analyst who is a typical user of the data, and the perspective of a data engineer who is responsible for preparing the data and exposing it to the data user.
In this report, we will discuss the most up-to-date enhancements to bucketing in Spark 3.1.1 which is the latest release at the time of this writing and for the code, we will use the PySpark API.
What is bucketing?
Let’s start with this simple question. Bucketing in Spark is a way how to organize data in the storage system in a particular way so it can be leveraged in subsequent queries which can become more efficient. This efficiency improvement is specifically related to avoiding the shuffle in queries with joins and aggregations if the bucketing is designed well.
Queries with sort-merge join or shuffle-hash join and aggregations or window functions require the data to be repartitioned by the joining/grouping keys. More specifically, all rows that have the same value of the joining/grouping key must be in the same partition. To satisfy this requirement Spark has to repartition the data, and to achieve that, Spark has to physically move the data from one executor to another — Spark has to do a so-called shuffle (for more details about the logic that Spark uses to determine if a shuffle is necessary, see also my other article closely related to this topic).
With bucketing, we can shuffle the data in advance and save it in this pre-shuffled state. After reading the data back from the storage system, Spark will be aware of this distribution and will not have to shuffle it again.
How to make the data bucketed
In Spark API there is a function bucketBy that can be used for this purpose:
(
df.write
.mode(saving_mode) # append/overwrite
.bucketBy(n, field1, field2, ...)
.sortBy(field1, field2, ...)
.option("path", output_path)
.saveAsTable(table_name)
)
There are four points worth mentioning here:
We need to save the data as a table (a simple save function is not sufficient) because the information about the bucketing needs to be saved somewhere. Calling saveAsTable will make sure the metadata is saved in the metastore (if the Hive metastore is correctly set up) and Spark can pick the information from there when the table is accessed.
Together with bucketBy, we can call also sortBy, this will sort each bucket by the specified fields. Calling sortBy is optional, bucketing will work also without the sorting. The other way around is not working though — you can not call sortBy if you don’t call bucketBy as well.
The first argument of the bucketBy is the number of buckets that should be created. Choosing the correct number might be tricky and it is good to consider the overall size of the dataset and the number and size of the created files (see more detailed discussion below).
Careless usage of the bucketBy function can lead to the creation of too many files and custom repartition of the DataFrame might be needed before the actual write — see more info about this issue below (in the Bucketing from a data engineer perspective section).
How is the data distributed among buckets?
So we know that bucketing will distribute the data into some buckets/groups. You might be now wondering how are these buckets determined. Having a specific row, do we know in which bucket it will end up? Well, yes! Roughly speaking, Spark is using a hash function that is applied on the bucketing field and then computes this hash value modulo number of buckets that should be created (hash(x) mod n). This modulo operation ensures that no more than the specified number of buckets are created. For the sake of simplicity, let’s first assume that after applying the hash function we get these values: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ) and we want to create 4 buckets, so we will compute modulo 4. Modulo function returns the remainder after integer division:
1 mod 4 = 1 # remainder after the integer division
2 mod 4 = 2
3 mod 4 = 3
4 mod 4 = 0
5 mod 4 = 1
6 mod 4 = 2
The computed number is the final bucket. As you can see, we just distributed these six values into four buckets
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ) -> (1, 2, 3, 0, 1, 2)
To be more exact, Spark is not using a simple modulo function, but a so-called positive modulo which makes sure the final bucket value is a positive number and is defined as follows:
b = value mod n if b < 0:
b = (b + n) mod n
So if the bucket value is negative, we will add n (number of buckets) and compute the modulo again which will no longer be negative. Let's assume this example in which the hash function returns negative number -9 and we want to compute to which bucket it belongs (still assuming we use four buckets):
n = 4
value = -9 b = value mod n = -9 mod 4 = -1 # be is negative so we continue:
b = (b + n) mod n = (-1 + 4) mod 4 = 3 mod 4 = 3
So the value -9 will belong to bucket number 3.
The hash function that Spark is using is implemented with the MurMur3 hash algorithm and the function is actually exposed in the DataFrame API (see in docs) so we can use it to compute the corresponding bucket if we want:
from pyspark.sql.functions import hash, col, expr (
spark.range(100) # this will create a DataFrame with one column id
.withColumn("hash", hash(col("id")))
.withColumn("bucket", expr("pmod(hash, 8)"))
)
Here we can see how the data would be distributed into buckets if we use bucketing by the column id with 8 buckets. Notice that the pmod function is called inside expr because the function is not directly available in the PySpark API, but it is available in SQL (to see more information about how the expr function can be used with SQL functions, you can check my recent article about DataFrame transformations).
Advantages of bucketing
The main goal of bucketing is to speed up queries and gain performance improvements. There are two main areas where bucketing can help, the first one is to avoid shuffle in queries with joins and aggregations, the second one is to reduce the I/O with a feature called bucket pruning. Let’s see both these optimization opportunities more in detail in the following subsections.
Shuffle-free joins
If you are joining two tables and neither of them is particularly small, Spark will have to make sure both tables are distributed on the cluster in the same way (according to the joining key) and will therefore shuffle the data (both tables will be shuffled). In the query plan, you will see an Exchange operator in both branches of the join. Let’s see an example:
tableA.join(tableB, 'user_id')
If the join is planed with sort-merge join, the execution plan will look like this:
Image by author
As you can see, each branch of the join contains an Exchange operator that represents the shuffle (notice that Spark will not always use sort-merge join for joining two tables — to see more details about the logic that Spark is using for choosing a joining algorithm, see my other article About Joins in Spark 3.0 where we discuss it in detail).
However, if both tables are bucketed by the joining key into the same number of buckets, Spark will read the data on the cluster with this specific distribution so it doesn’t require additional repartitioning and shuffle — the Exchange operator will no longer be present in the plan:
Image by author
One-side shuffle-free join
An interesting question is what happens if only one table is bucketed and the other is not. The answer actually depends on the number of buckets and the number of shuffle partitions. If the number of buckets is greater or equal to the number of shuffle partitions, Spark will shuffle only one side of the join — the table that was not bucketed. However, if the number of buckets is less than the number of shuffle partitions, Spark will shuffle both tables and will not leverage the fact that one of the tables is already well distributed. The default number of shuffle partitions is 200 and it can be controlled with this configuration setting:
spark.conf.set("spark.sql.shuffle.partitions", n)
So if we use the default setting (200 partitions) and one of the tables (let’s say tableA) is bucketed into, for example, 50 buckets and the other table (tableB) is not bucketed at all, Spark will shuffle both tables and will repartition the tables into 200 partitions.
To make sure that bucketing of tableA is leveraged, we have two options, either we set the number of shuffle partitions to the number of buckets (or smaller), in our example 50,
# if tableA is bucketed into 50 buckets and tableB is not bucketed spark.conf.set("spark.sql.shuffle.partitions", 50) tableA.join(tableB, joining_key)
or we repartition the tableB into 50 partitions by explicitly calling repartition as follows:
(
tableA
.join(tableB.repartition(50, joining_key), joining_key)
)
Both these techniques will lead to a one-side shuffle-free join, which can be seen also from the query plan because the Exchange operator will be in only one branch of the join and so only one table will be shuffled.
Tables with different bucket numbers
There is one more situation that we can consider here. What if both tables are bucketed, but into a different number of buckets? What will happen depends on the Spark version because an enhancement was implemented for this case in 3.1.1.
Before 3.1 the situation was actually similar to the previous case where only one table is bucketed and the other is not, in other words, both tables will be shuffled unless a specific condition with shuffle partitions and the number of buckets is met in which case only one table will be shuffled and we will get a one-side shuffle-free join. Here the condition is similar as before — the number of shuffle partitions must be equal to or less than the number of buckets of the bigger table. Let’s see this more clearly on a simple example: if tableA has 50 buckets, tableB has 100, and the number of shuffle partitions is 200 (default), in that case, both tables will be shuffled into 200 partitions. However, if the number of shuffle partitions is set to 100 or less, only the tableA will be shuffled into 100 partitions. Similarly, we can also repartition one of the tables to the number of buckets of the other table in which case also only one shuffle would happen during the execution.
In Spark 3.1.1 a new feature was implemented which can coalesce the larger number of buckets into the smaller one if it bucket numbers are multiples of each other. This feature is by default turned off and can be controlled with this configuration setting spark.sql.bucketing.coalesceBucketsInJoin.enabled. So if we turn it on and have again tableA bucketed into 50 buckets, tableB into 100, the join will be shuffle-free because Spark will coalesce tableB into 50 buckets so both tables will have the same number and this will happen regardless of the number of shuffle partitions.
What about the sort?
We have seen that with bucketing we can eliminate Exchange from the plan of sort-merge join. The plan contains also Sort operators, just after the Exchange because the data has to be sorted to be merged correctly. Can we eliminate the Sort as well? You might be tempted to say yes because the bucketing supports also sorting, we can call sortBy after bucketBy and have each bucket sorted so it should be possible to leverage that during the join. However, the situation with sort is more complex.
Before Spark 3.0, it was possible to eliminate the Sort operator from the join plan if each bucket was formed by exactly one file. In that case, Spark was sure that the data is sorted after reading it on the cluster and indeed the final plan was Sort-free. However, if there were more files per bucket, Spark couldn’t guarantee that the data is globally sorted and thus kept the Sort operator in the plan — the data had to be sorted during the join execution. (See the section Bucketing from a Data Engineer perspective below to learn how to achieve exactly one file per bucket.)
In Spark 3.0 the situation changed and by default, the Sort is present even if there is only one file per bucket. The reason for this change was that listing all the files to check if there is only one per bucket was too expensive (if there were too many files) so it was decided to turn off this check and have the Sort in the plan all the time (for the sort-merge join). As you can see it is a trade-off, one optimization for another. There was also introduced a new configuration setting spark.sql.legacy.bucketedTableScan.outputOrdering that you can set to True to enforce the behavior before 3.0 and still leverage the sorted buckets with one file.
Shuffle-free aggregations
Similarly to joins, aggregations also require correct distribution of the data on the cluster and in general Spark will have to shuffle the data for the following queries:
# this requires partial shuffle if tableA is not bucketed:
(
tableA
.groupBy('user_id')
.agg(count('*'))
)
# this requires full shuffle if tableA is not bucketed :
(
tableA
.withColumn('n', count('*').over(Window().partitionBy('user_id')))
)
If, however, the tableA is bucketed by the field user_id, both queries will be shuffle-free.
Bucket pruning
Bucket pruning is a feature that was released in Spark 2.4 and its purpose is to reduce I/O if we use a filter on the field by which the table is bucketed. Let’s assume the following query:
spark.table('tableA').filter(col('user_id') == 123)
If the table is not bucketed, Spark will have to scan the entire table to find this record and if the table is large, it can take many tasks that will have to be launched and executed. On the other hand, if the table is bucketed, Spark will know immediately to which bucket this row belongs (Spark computes the hash function with the modulo to see directly the bucket number) and will scan files only from the corresponding bucket. And how does Spark know which files belong to which bucket? Well, each file name has a specific structure and contains information not only about the bucket to which it belongs, but also which task produced the file as you can see from this picture:
Image by author
The bucket pruning can lead to a huge speed-up if the table is very large.
Disadvantages of bucketing
We just described the advantages that bucketing can offer. You might be wondering whether there are also some disadvantages or simply some situations in which it is better to avoid it. There is actually one consequence of bucketing that is good to keep in mind and it is parallelization during execution. If a table is bucketed into n buckets and you will query it, the first stage of the resulting job will have exactly n tasks. On the other hand, if the table is not bucketed or the bucketing is turned off, a number of tasks can be very different because Spark will try to split the data into partitions to have approximately 128 MB per partition (this is controlled by configuration setting spark.sql.files.maxPartitionBytes) so the tasks have reasonable size and don’t get into troubles with memory.
If a table is bucketed and over time it grew in size and the buckets become large it could be more efficient to turn the bucketing off to allow Spark to create more partitions and avoid problems with data spill. This is useful especially if the query doesn’t do any operations that could directly leverage the distribution provided by bucketing.
In Spark 3.1.1 a new feature was implemented that can recognize a situation in which bucketing is not useful based on the query plan (no joins or aggregations) and will turn the bucketing off in the sense that it will discard the distribution and scan the data in the same way as if it wasn’t bucketed. This feature is by default turned on and can be controlled by spark.sql.sources.bucketing.autoBucketedScan.enabled configuration setting.
Bucketing from a data analyst perspective
Data Analyst wants to query the data and in an ideal world, he/she doesn’t want to care about the details of how the table is stored in the data lake. Well, we don’t live in an ideal world and sometimes it is still useful to know some details about the table to leverage a faster execution and achieve better performance. It will be important to be able at least check if the bucketing is leveraged in the query or if it can be leveraged, in other words, if there is a way to easily achieve some performance improvement for the query.
Is the table bucketed?
To see if and how a table is bucketed we can simply check the details about the table by calling a SQL statement
spark.sql("DESCRIBE EXTENDED table_name").show(n=100)
Image by author
From this, you can see if the table is bucketed, what fields were used for the bucketing and how many buckets the table has. Notice that we called here show(n=100) because the show function displays by default only 20 rows, but if the schema of the table is large, the information about bucketing will not appear in the first 20 rows, so just be aware that depending on the table it might be needed to show more rows to see the bucketing info.
Is the bucketing leveraged in my query?
First of all, bucketing has to be enabled, which is by default, but if you are not sure, you can check it as follows
spark.conf.get("spark.sql.sources.bucketing.enabled")
and it should return True. This configuration setting can be used to control if bucketing is on or off.
If a table is bucketed the information about it is saved in metastore. If we want Spark to use it we need to access the data as a table (this will make sure that Spark gets the information from the metastore):
# Spark will use the information about bucketing from metastore:
df = spark.table(table_name) # Spark will not use the information about bucketing:
df = spark.read.parquet(path_to_data)
Notice that in the second case where we approach the data directly from the path, Spark will not communicate with the Hive metastore and will not get the information about bucketing — bucketing will not be used.
Last but not least we can check the query plan and see if there are Exchange operators in the plan in places where we want to avoid them.
Can I help Spark?
Usually, if the tables are bucketed in the same number of buckets, the bucketing will work out of the box. But there are some cases in which Spark will fail to leverage bucketing and we can actually help to make it work. To get an idea, let’s see some of these situations.
Before Spark 3.0, if the bucketing column has a different name in two tables that we want to join and we rename the column in the DataFrame to have the same name, the bucketing will stop working. For example, tableA is bucketed by user_id, and tableB is bucketed by userId, the column has the same meaning (we can join on it), but the name is different (user_id vs userId). The bucketing will not be fully leveraged in the following query:
# The bucketing information is discarded because we rename the
# bucketed column and we will get extra shuffle:
(
tableA
.withColumnRenamed('user_id', 'userId')
.join(tableB, 'userId')
)
To make it work, we need to keep the original names:
# Here bucketing will work:
(
tableA
.join(tableB, tableA['user_id'] == tableB['userId'])
)
This issue was fixed in Spark 3.0 so renaming the column is no longer a problem.
Another thing that is good to watch out for is the data types of the joining columns — they need to be the same. Let’s assume this example: tableA is bucketed by user_id which is of integer type, tableB is also bucketed by user_id, but it is of long type and both tables are bucketed into 50 buckets. In this situation the data types of the joining column are different in each table, so Spark will have to cast it, will discard the bucketing information and both tables will be shuffled:
# both tables will be shuffled if user_id has different data type
# in both tables: tableA.join(tableB, user_id)
It is quite unfortunate that both tables were created with a different data type for a column that has the same meaning. Nevertheless, we can help Spark to achieve at least one-side shuffle-free join as follows:
(
tableA
.withColumn('user_id', col('user_id').cast('long'))
.repartition(50, 'user_id')
.join(tableB, 'user_id')
)
As you can see we explicitly convert the data type to be the same in both tables and then repartition the changed table into the same number of partitions as is the other table. The shuffle will happen only on this side where we repartition it, the other table will be shuffle-free. This basically becomes equivalent to the situation in which only one table is bucketed and the other is not.
The last example in this section is related to using a user-defined function (UDF) in a query with a join. We need to keep in mind, that UDF will discard information about bucketing, so if we call the UDF before the join, it will lead to the same situation as if only one table is bucketed. Either both tables will be shuffled, or we will have one-side shuffle-free join if we repartition the table or if we set the number of shuffle partitions to the number of buckets:
# Spark will shuffle both tables because of the UDF
(
tableA.withColumn('x', my_udf('some_col'))
.join(tableB, 'user_id')
) # One-side shuffle-free join:
(
tableA.withColumn('x', my_udf('some_col'))
.repartition(50, 'user_id') # assuming we have 50 buckets
.join(tableB, 'user_id')
) # One-side shuffle-free join:
# set number of shuffle partitions to number of buckets (or less): spark.conf.set('spark.sql.shuffle.partitions', 50)
(
tableA.withColumn('x', my_udf('some_col'))
.join(tableB, 'user_id')
)
And if we want to totally avoid the shuffle, we can simply call the UDF after the join
(
tableA
.join(tableB, 'user_id')
.withColumn('x', my_udf('some_col'))
)
Bucketing from a data engineer perspective
The tables in the data lake are usually prepared by data engineers. They need to consider how the data will be used and prepare it so it serves typical use-cases of the data users, which are usually data analysts and scientists. Bucketing is one of the techniques that need to be considered similarly to partitioning which is another way how to organize data in the file system. Let’s now see some issues that the data engineer usually has to face.
How to create a bucketed table
We have already seen the query above using the function bucketBy. The problem in practice becomes to control the number of created files. We need to keep in mind that each task in the last stage of the Spark job will create one file for each bucket for which it carries data. Let’s assume this example in which we process a 20 GB dataset and we have the data distributed into 200 tasks in the last stage (each task processing approximately 100 MB) and we want to create a table with 200 buckets. If the data on the cluster is distributed randomly (which is the general case) each of these 200 tasks will carry data for each of these 200 buckets, so each task will create 200 files, leading to 200 x 200 = 40 000 files, where all final files will be very small. You can see that number of resulting files is the multiplication of the number of tasks with the requested number of final buckets.
We can fix this problem by achieving already on the cluster the same distribution that we want to have in the file system (in the storage). If each task has data only for one bucket, in that case, each task will write only one file. That can be achieved by custom repartition before the write
(
df.repartition(expr("pmod(hash(user_id), 200)"))
.write
.mode(saving_mode) # append/overwrite
.bucketBy(200, 'user_id')
.option("path", output_path)
.saveAsTable(table_name)
)
This will create exactly one file per bucket. As you can see we repartition the data exactly by the same expression that is Spark using under the hood to distribute the data among the buckets (see the relevant section above for more details on how this works). You could actually use here more simple df.repartition(200, ‘user_id’) with the same result, but the advantage of the above approach is that it works also if you want to at the same time partition the data in the filesystem by another field as follows
(
df
.repartition(200, "created_year",expr("pmod(hash(user_id), 200)"))
.write
.mode(saving_mode)
.partitionBy("created_year")
.bucketBy(200, "user_id")
.option("path", output_path)
.saveAsTable(table_name)
)
Here each file system partition will have exactly 200 files (one file per bucket), so the total number of files will be the number of buckets multiplied by the number of file system partitions. Notice that this wouldn’t work out if you just call df.repartition(200, “created_year”, “user_id”).
How to determine a reasonable number of buckets
This can be tricky and depends on more circumstances. It is important to consider the size of the final buckets — remember that when you read the data back, one bucket will be processed by one task, and if the bucket is large in size, the task will get into troubles with memory and Spark will have to spill data on the disk during the execution which will lead to a performance hit. Depending on the queries that you will run on the data, 150-200 MB per bucket might be a reasonable choice and if you know the total size of the dataset, you can compute from this how many buckets to create.
In practice, the situation is more complex and one has to face the following challenges:
the table is continuously appended and its size grows in time and so does the size of the buckets. In some cases, this may still be fine if the dataset is also partitioned by some date dimension (year and month for example) and the buckets are distributed uniformly across these partitions. If the typical query asks always only for recent data, for example, the last 6 months, we can design the buckets so the reasonable size corresponds to the 6 months of data. The total size of the bucket will grow, but it doesn’t matter, because we will never ask for the entire bucket.
the data is skewed — this happens if there is a specific value of the bucketing key for which there are many more records than for other values of the key. For example, if the table is bucketed by user_id, there might be a specific user that has many more interactions/activities/purchases or whatever the dataset represents and this will lead to data skew — the task that will process this bigger bucket will take longer than the other.
Evolution of the bucketing feature
Spark itself is being continuously evolved and improved with each new release. Also, the bucketing feature underwent some improvements in the last few releases, so let's mention some of these here:
Improvements in Spark 2.4
Bucket pruning (see Jira)— reduce I/O with a filter on the bucketed field.
Improvements in Spark 3.0
Discard information about sorting (see Jira) — this is not really an improvement of bucketing, but rather the opposite. After this change, the sort-merge join always requires sorting, no matter if the buckets are already sorted. This was done in favor to have a faster explain command which needed to do file listing to verify if each bucket has only one file. There is a configuration setting that can bring the original behavior back (spark.sql.legacy.bucketedTableScan.outputOrdering, by default it is False so you need to set it to True if you want to leverage sorted buckets during the join). Also, see the discussion about the sort in the relevant section above.
Respect aliases in output partitioning (see Jira) — it makes sure that sort-merge join will be shuffle-free for bucketed tables even if we rename the bucketed column.
Improvements in Spark 3.1
Coalescing bucketed tables for join (see Jira) — enable shuffle-free join if both tables have a different number of buckets. See the discussion about the feature in the relevant section above.
Enable/disable bucketing by a rule (see Jira) — a rule that will turn off bucketing if it cannot be leveraged in the query.
Future improvements
Here is listed a couple of features that are not implemented at the time of writing this article (April 2021):
Add bucket scan info to explain (see Jira) — see the information if the bucketing is used in the query plan
Read multiple sorted bucket files (see Jira) — leverage the sorted buckets for the sort-merge join even if there are more files per bucket
Hive bucketing write support (see Jira) — enable compatibility with Hive bucketing (so it could be leveraged also by Presto)
Configuration settings related to bucketing
We have already seen some of them throughout the article, but let’s list them here to have them in one place:
spark.sql.sources.bucketing.enabled — control if bucketing is on/off, default is True.
spark.sql.sources.bucketing.maxBuckets — maximum number of buckets that can be used for a table. By default, it is 100 000.
spark.sql.sources.bucketing.autoBucketedScan.enabled — it will discard bucketing information if it is not useful (based on the query plan). By default it is True.
spark.sql.bucketing.coalesceBucketsInJoin.enabled — if both tables have a different number of buckets, it will coalesce buckets of the table with the bigger number to have the same as the other table. It works only if both numbers are multiples of each other. It is also constrained by the next configuration setting. By default it is False.
spark.sql.bucketing.coalesceBucketsInJoin.maxBucketRatio — the maximum ratio of the two bucket numbers to have the coalescing work. By default, it is 4. In other words, if one table has more than 4 times the number of buckets than the other table, the coalescing will not take place.
spark.sql.legacy.bucketedTableScan.outputOrdering — use the behavior before Spark 3.0 to leverage the sorting information from bucketing (it might be useful if we have one file per bucket). By default it is False.
spark.sql.shuffle.partitions — control number of shuffle partitions, by default it is 200.
Final discussion
In this report, we described bucketing from different perspectives. We have seen some of the issues that a data engineer needs to deal with when creating a bucketed table, like choosing a reasonable number of buckets and controlling the number of created files. We have also discussed the data analyst view — having bucketed tables provides optimization opportunities. In many cases, these opportunities are utilized by Spark out of the box, in some situations, however, extra care needs to be taken to leverage the bucketing potential. This happens with joins of tables where the bucketing details differ, for example, the tables have a different number of buckets, the bucketing column has a different name or data type, here we have seen that at least one-side shuffle-free join can be achieved with simple tricks using an explicit repartition of the DataFrame, or changing the number of shuffle partitions to meet the number of buckets.
|
https://towardsdatascience.com/best-practices-for-bucketing-in-spark-sql-ea9f23f7dd53
|
['David Vrba']
|
2021-04-25 23:25:53.944000+00:00
|
['Query Optimization', 'Spark Sql', 'Apache Spark', 'Data Science', 'Data Engineering']
|
Home Camera Security System Nashville TN | 877.740.1411
|
Are you interested in purchasing a home security system? Nashville is home to some of the best home security systems in the nation and you should consider having one installed in your home if you are concerned about your safety. If you are not sure whether you want to go with a wireless system or not, you can take a look at our comprehensive Nashville home security systems guide. In this article we will take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages that go along with having a security system installed in your home.
Photo by PawełCzerwiński on Unsplash
Secure Your Home.
“A home security system is basically a complete surveillance system meant to secure several points of entry such as windows, doors, etc., in a building or house. A security monitoring system can be either monitored or un-monitored. In case of monitored security, the signal sent by the alarm is received by a central monitoring station and a signal is sent to the control panel of the building where the sensors are located and a message is immediately sent to the monitoring station if the sensor is triggered.
The advantages of having a home security system are many. For one, it allows you to sleep better knowing that your home and family are protected against intruders and thieves. This will also give you peace of mind because you will know that your home and family are secure from harm. There is also the added benefit that a monitored security system helps to reduce the cost of insurance for homeowners. Insurance companies consider a home security system as an effective form of protection, because it significantly reduces the risks of burglary, vandalism, smoke damage, fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. The central monitoring station, which is responsible for sending signals to the control panel or receiving signals from other sensors on the property also cuts down on the costs incurred for maintenance and other emergency services.
A wide range of home security systems offer different features and benefits. The most common home security systems today are the type that are made up of closed circuit video cameras and door sensors. Closed circuit video cameras allow a monitor to be placed near the entrance to the house and can be remotely controlled via the computer or cell phone. Door sensors are installed at random places inside the home and trigger the alarm when they detect movement such as the opening of a door or window. The monitoring system then activates the closed circuit camera and sends a signal to the control panel if any action is detected.
Most modern security systems have motion detection features. Motion detection is an important feature in finding the best home security systems since it alerts the monitoring company of an illegal entry. The camera will usually have a night vision setting so that it can see in pitch dark areas such as alleyways and store buildings. If a burglar attempts to enter the home undetected, the system will send a signal either way to the control panel or to the local authorities.
Most home alarm systems today come with two-way voice capabilities, which means they can communicate with a live person on the other end by simply speaking into a microphone. These microphones can be placed nearly anywhere in the house and can trigger the siren and notify the monitoring company if any door or window is opened while the system is activated. Other options available include sensors for window and garage doors that can detect whether or not the door is opened and will alert the security company. Most sensors will alert the monitoring center if a door or window is opened while the system is activated.
Wireless sensors are also available that do not require any external power source and have long range. These home security systems work great in areas where a home alarm system might not be effective such as an apartment complex or a shopping mall. A public wi-fi network is available that allows for a person to leave their security information on a public server and allow a monitoring center to have full access to all the information. This type of security is much more expensive than a traditional home alarm system, since there is no need to have a backup generator that would power up the entire home security system when it is deactivated.”
Reliable Home Security Systems with the Latest Technology.
“Homeowners in Georgia are now able to take advantage of cutting edge technology to provide their home with the most reliable home security system that money can buy. Thanks to the Internet, a homeowner in Georgia no longer has to travel hundreds of miles away to a security monitoring center to have his home secure. Thanks to satellite television, a home security system for Georgia is as close as a phone call away. Thanks to the latest technology, home security systems for Georgia are now able to monitor the twenty-four hours a day and provide the most reliable protection available for homeowners.
Satellite TV gives a home security system for Georgia the ability to watch what is happening in real time from any location in the world. A home security system for Georgia that includes this feature will alert the homeowner when doors or windows are opened while it is being monitored. This makes it possible for the home to be secured before it is opened and while the doors or windows are open. With the latest technology, even a security monitoring center will be unable to steal the family’s possessions in an emergency without being detected.
It is important for every homeowner to keep his or her family and home safe. Home security systems for Georgia have helped make this possible. When a family is burglarized, there is no way to protect the house and the people inside of it without the latest technology. A home security system provides the ultimate defense against intruders. For the safety and protection of the home and family, all Georgia residents should invest in a home security system today. The peace of mind that it provides means a homeowner doesn’t have to worry about what happens when he or she is gone for the day.”
Fire and Smoke Monitoring.
“A home security system, consisting of a series of detectors, cameras, alarms, and a control panel, is designed to provide high-quality protection for your home against fire and smoke emergencies. A monitoring system which includes a plurality of detectors usually situated at different remote points, each detector receiving a trigger switch that is normally open and that simply opens when smoke or any other unusual condition, like fire, is detected. Fire and smoke alarms, installed in the house and at least one additional fire alarm positioned in the house, will alert and awaken the family members within the home. The homeowner is alerted immediately by an audible siren and via a monitor placed by the system provider, so that he/she is immediately able to respond to the emergency.
Fire and smoke detectors, normally fixed at the entrance of the house, are provided by either circuit breakers installed at various doors and windows or by a separate system, which must be manually activated. If you are opting for a system that offers continuous monitoring, where your home is constantly monitored, you may have to switch the detector switches on and off from time to time. It is advisable to ensure that there are no obstructions in the path of the detector switch, such as curtains, furniture, drapes etc before putting it in action. For effective monitoring, the front and most visible door and window openings need to be covered. This means that, for normal domestic installation, the front door and windows need to be left open, as well as the usual places, namely the bedrooms, the dining room, living room and the kitchen.
Fire and smoke detection systems use different types of detectors, namely, the infrared (infrared) detectors, photoelectric detector, and carbon monoxide detector. In this context, it is crucial to understand how these different detectors work so that appropriate installations can be made. Infrared detectors detect heat or changes in temperature, whereas photoelectric and carbon monoxide detectors use electrical resistance to change in temperature. Fire and smoke detection systems use both types of detectors to locate any signs of fire and smoke. As a result, one needs to understand the fundamentals behind fire and smoke detection and monitoring in order to decide upon an appropriate system for a specific building or establishment.”
Home security systems comparison.
“Home security systems comparison is a big part of buying a home system. Most people spend so much time comparing security companies that they forget about the most important things when it comes to a home security system. One of these most important things to compare is what kind of system they have to offer. Wireless Home Security Systems Comparison is vital because there are many different types of home security systems available on the market today. If you don’t take the time to compare them and get an idea of what you are looking for then you may never buy a system for your home if you don’t know what you are looking for.
In this article we have broken the systems down into their most basic parts, features and how each one compares to the others. Overall, wireless home security systems comparison provides your protection with 24-hour professional-level monitoring and several advanced security features which make home protection easy and effective. There are three main types of wireless home security systems which include keychain alarms, wireless camera alarms and wireless intruder alarms. These are the more basic units which are great if you are only looking for basic protection. The keychain and wireless camera alarms on the other hand are great if you need extra protection around the house or if you want to monitor your outside perimeter at all times. In the last category we have intruder alarms, which are probably the most popular choice amongst home owners today.
When you do your home security systems comparison, make sure to look at the company’s reputation and track record. Also consider how long they have been in business and how many people they service. This will help you determine how reliable they are and whether or not you can trust them with your valuables. It’s also a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints filed against the company in the past. Keep these above factors in mind when comparing home security solutions and you will end up with the best system that suits your needs.”
How much do home security systems cost.
“One of the most common questions that homeowners ask when they are considering a home security system is, “”How much do home security systems cost?”” Unfortunately, there is not one easy answer to this question. In general, you will end up spending more on your home security system if you choose a company that provides a good warranty and good after sales support. The reason for this is that in the rare event that your home security system malfunctions or breaks down, you will be far happier if you know that you have good customer service representatives available to assist you in the unlikely event that your home security system breaks down.
Another area that you will need to take into consideration when you are figuring out how much a home security system cost is the actual hardware that you will need to install in your home. This may include components such as door and window alarms, motion detection lights, a video surveillance camera, access control systems and several other components. These items can add quite a bit to the total cost of a home security system. There are some ways that you can keep the cost of your home security system low and one of these is by choosing a home security system with a built in battery backup.
When you consider how much do home security systems cost, you will also want to take a close look at how long the warranty lasts. It is very tempting to go with the lowest quote that you get online or in the phone book, but you may end up regretting your decision later. A lot of companies will offer you an installation warranty with your home security system, but it is best to opt for one that is longer than just a few months. You should be able to find home security systems cost estimates on the Internet easily.
When you are asking yourself how much do home security systems cost, it may also be wise to factor in the cost of hiring a professional alarm company to install your home security system. Alarm company employees are not just amateurs who happen to know how to install home security systems. They are trained professionals who know how to protect your home and family from a number of threats. If you want the best protection possible, you will likely want to hire an alarm system company to come out to your house at least once per month and service it while you aren’t at home. You should be able to get an estimate of how much the alarm system will cost you before you commit to anything, so be sure to ask questions. Most alarm companies will work with you after you have made your initial purchase.
How much do home security systems cost will be different if you live in a high crime area or if your home is in an area known for break-ins. Another thing to consider is how much you plan on protecting your home with a security system. If you only need protection from burglars or other invaders, you should probably not invest in one of these expensive devices. However, if you want to secure your home against home invasion or a variety of other risks, these devices can be very useful and must be included in your overall home security plan.
As mentioned at the beginning, home security systems are designed to protect you and your family from a variety of different dangers. The costs involved with getting a home security system installed will depend on how extensive your coverage area is and what features you choose. Be sure to get an estimate from a number of different companies before choosing a home security system, because they can vary greatly in price. Getting a home security system installed by a good company can also help you save money in the long run by having it regularly inspected and maintained to make sure you’re getting the most for your money.”
Wireless home security cameras systems reviews.
“Wireless home security systems reviews can help homeowners make a more informed decision when it comes to choosing the right home security system. While most people are content with the seemingly seamless performance of wireless home security systems, there are those who would like to be able to take wireless security systems outside of their homes for added protection. Outdoor security systems are becoming increasingly popular because they provide homeowners with a sense of peace and security that just can’t be bought. When it comes to finding the right home security system for one’s home, however, it’s important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
For instance, while it might make perfect sense to install a wireless home security system in a multi-purpose room like the kitchen, it might actually make more sense to install a wireless home security system in the family room. This is because there will likely be more electronics and equipment in this room than in a bedroom or basement, so there will be a greater temptation to overlook a potential security issue. It’s also a great idea to try and install your home security system in places like the garage, shed, attic, workshop, yard maintenance trailer or even near the pool if you happen to have one. These types of installations are also less likely to be reached up due to weather conditions. For these reasons, it’s important to read reviews on home security systems before committing to one company.
Wireless home security systems reviews should be full of information about the product itself and how it works. Reading through customer testimonials can help homeowners understand what features they should expect to have on their new home security system. A good product will come with a user manual that is easy to understand and that includes important safety tips and guidelines.
Wireless home security systems reviews should also explain how the wireless components of the system work. Some companies use infrared technology, while others use radio frequency. Knowing the difference can help homeowners decide which type is best for them.
Wireless home security systems often need to be connected to electricity in order to work. As an owner, it’s important to know whether or not the equipment you purchase will work well in areas where there’s no electricity. If you live in a remote area where there’s no electricity, consider installing a security system that uses cell phone towers. These products are actually quite affordable. Most people who own one never have a problem installing them themselves. Just make sure that the model you choose has at least two-ways to communicate with the police and emergency medical services.
It’s also important to note whether or not the home security system comes with free lifetime technical support. If so, you’ll be able to find support personnel online anytime. The key is to buy a home security system that you’ll be comfortable using. There are lots of options out there, so take your time to look through all of them before making a final decision.”
Call Now- 877.740.1411
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https://medium.com/@homesecuritycamera8777401411/home-camera-security-system-nashville-tn-877-740-1411-ce3ed9eca916
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['Home Security Camera']
|
2021-02-23 07:38:00.892000+00:00
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['Home Monitoring', 'Home Security Systems', 'Arlo Camera Setup', 'Security Camera']
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Configuring Apache Web Server on Docker
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Ansible is a great tool for IT automation and system configuration. Here, I’m going to show how to prepare a system for Ansible & then configure the Apache Web Server with Docker on another system.
Configuring Ansible
Prerequisites for Ansible:
Since Ansible uses Python the only prerequisite for Ansible is a system with Python installation.
Let’s configure Ansible:
Install the pip package for virtual environment and create a new virtual environment.
2. Now activate the virtual environment.
3. Install Ansible.
4. Create a new directory for inventory, create ip.txt file in that directory to store the list of nodes/hosts and add the location of the directory to the ansible configuration file.
5. Check the ansible configuration.
Launching Docker Container & configuring webserver in it using Ansible
We will be creating an Ansible Playbook which is nothing but a simple YAML file containing instructions for configuration.
In the YAML file, first, define the hosts.
- hosts: host1
2. Then we have to define the tasks that the ansible will perform in the host systems. Our first task would be to configure the Linux package and docker repository and installing the required packages.
3. Our next task would be to create a working directory to store the webpages and copying the contents to that directory.
4. After this, we need to enable and start the docker service and pull the Apache Web-server image from docker hub.
5. Once everything is ready then launch the Apache Webserver docker container with working directory mounted to the directory “/usr/local/apache2/htdocs/” of the container and allow the traffic on webserver port through the firewall.
Our web-server is launched in the Docker container!!
|
https://medium.com/@sukeshseth/apache-web-server-in-container-490bfb83d35f
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['Sukesh Seth']
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2020-12-26 09:00:10.087000+00:00
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['Containers', 'Python', 'Website', 'Docker', 'Ansible']
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Why dark social sharing isn’t light years away
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Also, if sufficiently used, they provide social proof to your website which, in sensitive, trust-related contexts, such as e-commerce can actually have a direct impact on your conversions and revenue. Since we’re talking about social proof, let me ask you a question: in the past month, how many websites have you visited that didn’t have any social widgets? Yup, not that many. With all this (well deserved) publicity, social sharing buttons and the social media networks they represent became the face of online content distribution. But let’s step back for a minute: didn’t people already distribute content way before Facebook (and other social networks) were created?
This was the question that had The Atlantic’s Alexis Madrigal scratching his head. If like Alexis you’ve been connected to the Internet before the rise of the “Social Web” or “Web 2.0”, you might remember how you used to share information back then. Let me take you on a trip down memory lane. We’re in 1999, it’s your coffee break and you’re using Alta Vista to search for something funny to go with that cup of holy caffeine. You find a hilarious page and you feel compelled to share it with your best friend (but there’s no “share button”, remember?). You copy the URL that’s on the top of our browser (go IE5!), you paste it to an email draft and you click send. That was the good old fashioned social sharing — copying URLs from the address bar and pasting them onto emails or messenger/chat/mIRC windows.
As you’re reading the last sentences of the previous paragraph, you most likely started thinking “Well, I STILL do that.” Don’t worry, you’re not alone nor antiquated. The social web wasn’t born with Facebook or MySpace, these platforms just gave structure to what used to be a disperse behavior. Most of what we call social sharing is done without the help of any social widget and comes through email services, instant messages, and some mobile apps. These traffic sources are not recognized most of the time by most web analytics or social media tracking tools. The obscurity of this traffic inspired Alexis Madrigal to call it Dark Social. It has nothing to do with necromancy, voodoo or Voldemort and his Death Eaters. It’s more like the dark side of the moon: it’s there but it’s hard to get a glimpse of it. Or it used to be.
As soon as we realized that more than two thirds of social sharing is done through dark social (in Europe, that percentage drastically rises to over 75%) we built an app that allows site owners and managers to monitor all those shares that are made without the help of social widgets. That said, we’re able to help websites measure social shares via dark social and the results are in. A very interesting case is a website with about 65,000 visitors in the last month. More than 34,000 of those visitors arrived at the website via almost 9,000 dark social shares. In other words, around 9,000 visitors copy/pasted a URL that directed to this website and brought almost 53% of that site’s monthly traffic.
This is incredible. I had the opportunity to talk with these guys and their reaction was priceless: “What do you mean by 9,000 shares? Our best performing articles have 100–200 shares each, tops”. By measuring their dark social sharing, they were able to see that what they had previously thought was merely a few hundred shares is now nearly 100 times that much. Social media is hard but it’s not intangible. It’s all about having the right mindset, tool set and processes in order to make the most out of it.
Long story short: Social sharing isn’t all about social widgets and their counters; most of social sharing is done through dark social — copy/pasting URLs. Moreover, you can activate this kind of tool on your website without any coding skills or pricy developer hours. It’s time for all of us to unleash the power of the social users, the returns of social media and grow our businesses accordingly.
|
https://medium.com/getsocial-io/why-dark-social-sharing-isnt-light-years-away-10bf741e96ff
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['João Romão']
|
2017-07-06 14:48:23.571000+00:00
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['Dark Social', 'Social Media', 'Measurement', 'Analytics', 'Digital Marketing']
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Now what, Argentina?
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The Copa America is about to start. So is the blind faith.
Image from www.deportes.canalrcn.com
Don’t ask me why. I have no idea why we keep believing that we can win the Copa America this year. Every single time Argentina is to play a tournament, we think we can win it. “Just because we are Argentina”. And the Copa America 2019 is not the exception.
It’s true, we have the best player in the world, that gives us a little bit of advantage. But we’ve had him for almost 15 years and we’ve got enough to learn that that doesn’t guarantee success. It’s also true that, if we look back in history, we are one of the best teams in the world. But history doesn’t get into the pitch.
As you may already know, the South American football is perhaps the toughest in the world. There are almost no differences between the teams and anyone can beat anyone. Thus, any team can win the Copa America. For instance, Bolivia or Venezuela are not the favourites, but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if they raised the trophy. The qualifiers for the 2018 Word Cup made as sweat a lot. Suffering until the last match, imagining ourselves watching the Russian action without being part of it. So why could Argentina even think of winning this tournament?
Problems in the Argentinian Football Association are part of the everyday life. New coaches every now and then, complete disorganization in the top leagues, no long-term projects. Like it or not that gets reflected into the pitch. If the bases are not strong enough, the whole building is going to fall down.
Psychology is not my field, but I know how bad it can be. After losing three finals in three years (or how I like to call it, “reaching the second place three years in a row”) the players were bombed with brainless critics. Those things do hurt. And every time these players face another competition something negative may happen inside their minds.
5 years later, we’re hoping to find ourselves playing in the Maracana the last Sunday of the competition. We just want the ending of the story to be different. We just want to get freedom. We just want to be able to feel a fleeting happiness, to get a little bit of glory. How does that feel?
I’ll be with you again, Argentina. Yesterday, today, tomorrow. Another Copa America full of intensity and emotions, full of victories and defeats, full of laugh and tears.
Now I think I know why I believe we can win this Copa America despite all the negative facts against us. Because, after all, it’s just football.
|
https://medium.com/the-sports-niche/now-what-argentina-e000cb7855ec
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['Ignacio Zambello']
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2019-06-14 15:21:13.824000+00:00
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['Soccer', 'Copa America', 'Football', 'Argentina', 'Messi']
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Apple, Spotify Back to SXSW; The Cheapskate’s Guide to Music Streaming; Ed Sheeran!
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The Cheapskate’s Guide to Music Streaming — theringer.com
You don’t have to fork over $10 for music streaming; there are other ways. Many, many other ways.
Ed Sheeran ‘nearly broke Spotify’ as Divide breaks the record for most streamed album in first week — www.thedrum.com
UK artist Ed Sheeran is capitalising upon his popularity through music streaming service Spotify as the company has revealed he has broke the record for ‘best first week of streams for an album’.
Could Sonalytics help Spotify build, not buy SoundCloud? — musically.com
We reported yesterday on Spotify’s acquisition of British startup Sonalytics, which we’d tipped as one to watch in our recent startups report.
Copyright, royalties and musical piracy in Mauritius — musicinafrica.net
Admittedly a very difficult issue, copyrighting has plagued Mauritian artists for decades. This text discusses recent developments as it concerns Mauritian authorities and the country’s artists.
Netflix rules out music streaming and live sports — www.trustedreviews.com
Despite growing competition among streaming services, Netflix confirmed that it has no plans to offer music or live sport any time soon.
The One Thing Missing From The New Sonos Playbase: Better Apple Music Integration — www.forbes.com
If Spotify can do it, why not Apple Music?
Apple, Spotify head back to SXSW as subscription wars heat up — www.bnn.ca
Music and tech fans are making their annual pilgrimage to Austin, Texas, this week for the South By Southwest (SXSW) festival. What began thirty years ago as a showcase for local musicians has morphed into a must attend event for startup entrepreneurs and musical talent alike.
Music publishers worldwide follow mechanical rate proceedings in US — www.completemusicupdate.com
America’s Copyright Royalty Board yesterday got around to thinking about what the country’s mechanical royalty rates should be for the next five years. And to confirm that the worldwide music community was watching the process, the International Confederation Of Music Publishers vocalised its support for the US music publishing sector’s bid to get the rates up.
Front Row Seats From Your Couch: How VR Could Change Concerts — www.billboard.com
As the virtual reality market and the music industry increasingly cross paths, an immersive live — music experience no longer requires setting foot in a crowded venue.
iEast Music Streaming Box Smashes Sonos On Price — www.channelnews.com.au
Melbourne-based distributor Indi Imports is shaking up the wireless sound game, bringing Chinese company iEast’s Sound Streamer and AM160 to local audiophiles.
NBR Radio partners with Spotify — www.nbr.co.nz
You can now stream Andrew Patterson’s Sunday Business podcast in Spotify clients for iPhone and Android.
‘I don’t see a YouTube value gap. Over 45% of our revenue from the platform is from UGC’ — www.musicbusinessworldwide.com
You don’t have to stand around long in this business to hear someone paint YouTube as the devil — a money-grabbing Google cash cow built on the back of content it played no part in developing.
Speak to Believe boss Denis Ladegaillerie, however, and he’ll tell you a very different tale.
|
https://medium.com/platform-stream/apple-spotify-back-to-sxsw-the-cheapskates-guide-to-music-streaming-ed-sheeran-c82fe1da49ee
|
['Platform']
|
2017-03-11 16:00:22.112000+00:00
|
['SXSW', 'Ed Sheeran', 'Music', 'Streaming Music', 'Spotify']
|
Aspire For The Heights: Four Things To Look For In A Mentor Who Can Inspire You To Go Places
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Mentors can come from anywhere. They can take the form of a close family member, an instructor or teacher, or even the president of your country. You can even have more than one mentor if you feel like it, so long as they are inspiring you to go along the right paths of life.
Mentors at times even take the form of bad influences. That drug-addicted uncle and his friends who raised his nephew when no one else was there could turn out to be that boy’s mentor because he hasn’t been exposed to any better. As a result, he would end up taking the path to drug addiction as well.
We must have positive mentors in our lives, so allow me to enlighten you on four characteristics of a mentor that you may want to follow in life:
They have strong mentors of their own — The mentor you want to follow doesn’t have to have been the one who went through the trials, but it could be that they observed and learned from someone who did. For instance, your mentor could be someone who watched their mother struggle at rock bottom to make ends meet for her family
Photo by Joshua Ness on Unsplash
As a result, your mentor may have gotten the inspiration to make their mother proud of who they’ve become so she’ll know that her hard work was not in vain. So you want to look for someone who has a strong mentor or mentors whose lives drive them to do and be better.
They impact the lives of many — An ideal mentor would be one who has and still is serving others and making an impact in their lives. Think about what their career entails, what other activities they’re involved in when not working, what organizations they are part of, etc. A good mentor could be one who has a heart for children or the disadvantaged.
A good mentor who is in a high position may also have an interest in the areas of humanity, education, and health. So look for someone who selflessly gives back to the community and is bent on helping to bring positive change to the world in which we live. This will help you to do the same, once you have a heart for it.
Their career paths center around bringing about global change — Similar to my previous point, an ideal mentor would be one who has chosen a career path or career paths that are aimed at making a difference in the world. These career paths don’t center around financial gains but rather around helping those in need in various ways.
Photo by Brendan Church on Unsplash
This could be a career in the healthcare sector, in education, childcare, and advocacy, among others. I’d choose one who works closely with the United Nations or UNICEF as these organizations encompass most areas of human interest and global impact.
Who do they keep in their circle? — This is a question that you must ask yourself when seeking a mentor. There is a saying that goes “if you want to be a winner, hang around with winners”. This is essential if you want to go far in life, and it’s true for the mentor that you choose to follow.
An ideal mentor would’ve gotten to where he/she is because of the circle of positive and impactful people around him/her. For instance, someone who wants to make a global impact would usually work until they find themselves around those who are already in a position to make a positive global impact.
These individuals can include the president, a senator, a congressman or woman, billionaires, actors, and the like. Now, being around these people could simply mean that your potential mentor has been working either with or for these people, or they started like this and worked their way up to being included among the friendly circles of these folks. Get the picture? So choose wisely.
You do not have to get a mentor who is near you for them to be your mentor. Some people have mentors whom they have never met and will probably never know the impact that they have made on the lives of those who observe, follow, and copy them.
It would be great to find a mentor who possesses all of the above points, but it wouldn’t be a loss if they have at least one. If you have someone in your life who possesses all the traits of an ideal mentor then good for you! If not, don’t sweat it. The main thing is that you garner from someone who is a positive influence on their community or even the world at large.
|
https://medium.com/@whatton-jeff/aspire-for-the-heights-four-things-to-look-for-in-a-mentor-who-can-inspire-you-to-go-places-16add9e31d04
|
['Jeff Whatton']
|
2020-12-19 15:36:05.228000+00:00
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['Mentor', 'Success', 'Career', 'Mentorship']
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The Equal Protection Challenge to Winner Take All: A Legal Guide
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Today, the non-profit that I founded, EqualCitizens.US, announced it would crowdfund support for two lawsuits to challenge the way votes are allocated in the Electoral College. All but two states allocate their vote according to a winner-take-all system, in which the winner of the popular vote gets all the electoral votes for that state. We believe winner-take-all violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, and we intend, through EqualVotes.US, to build a case (and a campaign) to get the Supreme Court to agree.
We’re not the first to have this thought. (I was brought to see it by Sam Issacharoff’s essay; last November, I published a related argument on Medium by Jerry Sims.) And we’re not so naive to believe that this fight will be easy. But we do believe that a credible and true argument can be made, and that there is real value in raising and pressing this argument now. In this post, I offer a guide to that legal argument, styled, for quick skimming, as an FAQ.
(1) What’s the practical problem with the winner-take-all system?
Winner-take-all skews the presidential selection process in two critical ways.
First, it focuses the attention of presidential campaigns — and hence, candidates — on no more than a dozen “battleground” states. Those are the swing states, the states that could conceivably go one way or the other. A rational campaign works hard to win those states by tailoring its message and platform to the interests of voters in those states. Thus, in 2016, two-thirds of campaign events happened in just 6 battleground states — Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Michigan. Four battleground states — Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania — saw 71% of campaign ad spending and 57% of candidate appearances. Altogether, the 14 battleground states saw 99% of ad spending and 95% of candidate campaign stops.
Yet these battleground states do not truly represent America. They are whiter, older, and more focused on 20th century industry than the rest of America. A presidential campaign aiming to please them is thus not a campaign for America.
Second, winner-take-all increases the probability that the loser of the popular vote will be selected as president. Two of the last 3 presidents were inaugurated after losing the popular vote. Some estimate that America’s changing demographics mean the probability of this will only increase over time. According to some, in close elections, there’s as much as a 40% chance that the popular vote loser will be selected as President. This again radically undermines the ability of the President to represent America as a whole.
The only way to solve these two problems perfectly would be to eliminate the Electoral College (by amending the Constitution), or to effectively (and very cleverly) evade it (as the National Popular Vote initiative would do, through a compact by states representing at least 270 electoral votes to pledge their electors to the winner of the national popular vote).
The first solution just will not happen. Amendments require 38 states to be ratified. There are easily 13 states that are ok with the current system.
The second solution could very much happen. But it will take an enormous political movement to convince the states to support the national popular vote compact. Even the most optimistic in that movement believe it will be years before they have enough votes committed.
Our aim is to make progress now. We want to build a movement to support the fight to get the courts to apply the principle of “one person, one vote” to our presidential elections, ban winner-take-all and thus force a change by 2020.
(2) The electoral college is part of the Constitution. How could a Court ever invalidate it?
Our lawsuit will not challenge the Electoral College. We will challenge the winner-take-all rules for allocating electoral college votes. Those rules are not part of the Constitution. They are the creation of state legislatures. It is the states that establish the procedures that erase the impact of any vote for any candidate other than the winning candidate. Those state procedures do not have the sanction of the framers’ Constitution. But they must conform to the standards of our amended Constitution—amended by the 14th Amendment.
(3) But doesn’t the Constitution give the states “plenary power” to choose their electors however they wish?
It does, but let’s be clear about what the Supreme Court has said “plenary power” means. As the Court wrote in Williams v. Rhodes (1968),
[T]he Constitution is filled with provisions that grant Congress or the States specific power to legislate in certain areas; these granted powers are always subject to the limitation that they may not be exercised in a way that violates other specific provisions of the Constitution. Nor can it be thought that the power to select Electors could be exercised in such a way as to violate express constitutional commands that specifically bar States from passing certain kinds of laws. Clearly, the Fifteenth and Nineteenth Amendments were intended to bar the Federal Government and the States from denying the right to vote on grounds of race and sex in presidential elections. And the Twenty-fourth Amendment clearly and literally bars any State from imposing a poll tax on the right to vote “for Electors for President or Vice President.” Obviously we must reject the notion that Art. II, § 1, gives the States power to impose burdens on the right to vote, where such burdens are expressly prohibited in other constitutional provisions. We therefore hold that no State can pass a law regulating elections that violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s command that “No State shall … deny to any person … the equal protection of the laws.”
That’s why, in the following year, in Moore v. Ogilvie (1969), the Court applied “one person, one vote” to Illinois’ system for petition gathering in the selection of presidential electors. And that’s why, more recently, in Bush v. Gore (2000), the Court affirmed the application of “one person, one vote” to “the Presidential selection process.” 531 U.S., at 107.
The reason, as Bush explained, is that once the state decides to give the vote for President to the people, that changes, fundamentally, the freedom the state has. As Bush described,
[w]hen the state legislature vests the right to vote for President in its people, the right to vote as the legislature has prescribed is fundamental; and one source of its fundamental nature lies in the equal weight accorded to each vote and the equal dignity owed to each voter. 531 U.S., at 107.
The legislature is certainly not compelled to give the people the right to vote for President. But once it does, its “plenary” authority has been fundamentally constrained. That is the meaning of the “one person, one vote” jurisprudence for almost 50 years.
(4) Ok, assuming, as Bush states, the “Presidential selection process” is constrained by “one person, one vote,” how does winner-take-all actually deny anyone an equal vote?
This is the critical step in the argument. Certainly, there is no decision by the Supreme Court that squarely addresses the issue. But the reasoning of the Court’s jurisprudence clearly points to the conclusion that winner-take-all violates “one person, one vote.”
To see why, however, we need to take a couple steps.
Winner-take-all systems are of two kinds. The most common—call it “final winner-take-all”—aggregates, and then discards, votes at the final stage of an election. Candidate X gets 1,000,000 votes; candidate Y gets 1,100,000 votes. Candidate Y thus wins. This is the way congressmen are elected. The winner of the popular vote at the final stage becomes the congressman. Those who voted for her opponent have their votes counted at the final stage. There are just not enough of them for the opponent to prevail.
But sometimes, winner-take-all systems aggregate (and discard) votes at both the final stage, and an intermediate stage (“intermediate winner-take-all”).
In Georgia, for example, until the early 1960s, the state primary for statewide office was conducted through a kind of mini-electoral college. The winner of the vote in a county got the delegates from that county. Those delegates were then aggregated across all counties to determine the nominee for the state.
Gray v. Sanders (1963) invalidated that procedure because the size of the counties was different, and hence the weight of votes between counties was different. Georgia tried to defend that inequality by pointing to the Electoral College. The essence of its argument was “we’re not as unequal as the Electoral College is.” The Supreme Court rejected that argument. As the Court held, the federal electoral college did not sanction parallels at the state level.
Yet though unremarked by the Court, just as troubling as the unequal size of the counties was the fact that the procedure threw away votes for a statewide office before they were effectively and finally counted. If you happened to vote for the candidate for governor who lost in your county, your vote had no effect at the final stage of the counting.
This is a distinct — but should be equally troubling — constitutional problem.
To see why, imagine a state had 4 districts of exactly the same population — 2.5 million each. Imagine each district had 1.5 million voters. And imagine a candidate for governor — call her Jones — lost 3 of the districts (A, B, and C) by just 10,000 votes, but won the 4th district (D) by 500,000 votes.
If the state counted every vote equally, Jones would win statewide by more than 450,000 votes. But if the state allocated delegates at the district level, like the Electoral College, and determined who got that delegate on a winner-take-all basis, Jones would win delegates from just one district, while losing in the other three. She would therefore lose the election, determined through district level winner-take-all reckoning, even though she would have plainly won the popular vote for the state — overwhelmingly.
Now there’s lots of ways our hypothetical state could achieve this same result more directly, without using the device of an electoral college. The problem for our hypothetical state is that each of these other ways has been clearly deemed illegal. If the state said, for example, that votes from districts A, B, and C were weighted at 20x a vote from district D, that would plainly violate the “one person, one vote” principle. Yet that would achieve the same result — Jones would lose the weighted count, even though she plainly wins the “one person, one vote” count.
Yet this is precisely what intermediate winner-take-all does. Votes are weighted contingently. If a vote is cast for a candidate who loses a district, that vote is weighted at zero. If the candidate wins the district, the vote is weighted at 1. That contingent weighting would just as effectively guarantee that Jones loses as the mini-electoral college would guarantee that Jones loses.
So the constitutional question comes to this — why is a system that contingently weights the votes in one district over another any better than a system that directly weights votes? Why is one that says “votes get weighted at 20x with certainty” any worse than one that says “votes get weighted at zero contingently”?
Our view is that there is no meaningful constitutional difference between a weighted vote system at an intermediate stage, and a contingently weighted vote system at an intermediate stage. Both systems violate the principle of one person, one vote. Both systems should therefore be forbidden by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
This is precisely the problem with winner-take-all in the Electoral College. The College is electing national officers — the President and Vice President of the United States. Citizens of the United States are voting for those national officers. But before their vote gets effectively counted, if they happen to vote for a candidate who loses their state, their vote is contingently discarded. If they vote for the loser, their vote is weighted at zero in the allocation of electoral college votes. It therefore has no power beyond their state, even if their candidate could win the election nationally. It thus violates the “one person, one vote” principle.
But notice the obvious point: Unlike the electoral college itself, which the Court in Gray signaled would receive a kind of 14th Amendment constitutional pass, intermediate winner-take-all is not part of the constitution. Even if Gray means that the unequally sized states within the electoral college don’t violate the Constitution, Gray says nothing about the rules for how electors get allocated by the states. Those rules don’t have constitutional sanction. Indeed, those rules, we believe violate the Constitution, as amended.
(5) Has the Court really never addressed this issue?
Never directly, indirectly once. And the authority of that one time has now been drawn into question by Bush v. Gore (2000).
The Court has never directly considered the question of whether winner-take-all violates “one person, one vote.” Delaware asked it to do so just over 50 years ago. The Court ducked the question then, and has never heard arguments on the issue since.
The Court did summarily affirm a lower court’s determination that winner-take-all does not violate “one person, one vote.” In Williams v. Virginia Board of Elections (1968), a 3 judge district court upheld Virginia’s winner-take-all rule against an Equal Protection challenge. As the lower court held, though winner-take-all did raise significant issues of fairness and equality, to violate the 14th Amendment, the plaintiff had to show that the rule was “invidious.” As the 3 judge panel wrote,
[I]n a democratic society the majority must rule, unless the discrimination is invidious. No such evil has been made manifest here. 288 F. Supp, at 627.
Six months later, the Supreme Court summarily affirmed, without argument or opinion, the lower court ruling. Williams v. Virginia Board of Elections (1969). And under the rules governing summary affirmance, even though 50 years old, this decision would preclude us from raising a challenge to winner-take-all again — unless “‘doctrinal developments’ illustrate that the Supreme Court no longer views a question as unsubstantial, regardless of whether the Court explicitly overrules the case.’ Bostic v. Schaefer, 760 F.3d 352, 373 (4th Cir. 2014) (quoting Hicks v. Miranda, 422 U.S. 322, 344 (1975)).”
We believe Bush v. Gore is that “doctrinal development.” For in that case, the Court found that a procedure for recounting votes did not meet the standards of “one person, one vote,” but without any suggestion of invidiousness. The question for the Court was not whether the standard for recounting established by the Florida Supreme Court was invidious. The question was whether it secured to every voter equal protection for their vote. Bush thus removes the invidiousness requirement for “one person, one vote” claims in the context of the “Presidential selection process.” It therefore permits us now to argue that winner-take-all violates the Equal Protection Clause.
(6) Yes, but didn’t the Supreme Court say that the rule of Bush v. Gore applied to that case only?
It is true that the Court did say that its “consideration is limited to the present circumstances.” 531 U.S., at 109. It’s also true that no one really knows what that bizarre statement means. The Court could not, honestly, be saying that it was crafting a 14th Amendment rule for that case alone. It could not have been saying that somehow the 14th Amendment protects Republicans differently from how it protects Democrats. As Justice Scalia said in a law review article,
[W]hen, in writing for the majority of the Court, I adopt a general rule, and say, ‘This is the basis of our decision,’ I not only constrain lower courts, I constrain myself as well. If the next case should have such different facts that my political or policy preferences regarding the outcome are quite the opposite, I will be unable to indulge those preferences.
Yet if the Court was really saying, “here’s the 14th Amendment we’re applying here, so as to guarantee a Republican gets elected President, but in every other case, please apply a different 14th Amendment” then we shouldn’t let it get away with such lawlessness so easily. Our presumption should be as Scalia declared it — that the “basis of” the decision constrains the lower courts and the Supreme Court. And the basis of the decision in Bush v. Gore is that invidiousness is no longer a requirement.
(7) If you win, won’t the states just allocate electors at the congressional district level?
They may try, but if we win, they won’t be allowed to. The basis upon which we would prevail would also foreclose allocation by congressional district.
The reason again is the “one person, one vote” principle.
If we win, the default remedy would be either national popular vote, or proportional allocation of electoral votes at the state level. From the perspective of equality, congressional allocation would be worse than either of these two solutions because it would less certainly assure a result that would be consistent with the “one person, one vote” results. Once we show that fact, the state would then bear the burden of justifying this less equal scheme. There is no justification for that added inequality. Electors have no ongoing connection to any congressional district. There is no other justification for accepting the less equal result. “One person, one vote” thus shows why the rule must be proportional allocation of electors, either at the state level, or nationally — at least so long as the states vest a vote for President in the People.
(8) If you win, won’t the system become unstable. Won’t third party candidates throw the election into the House?
Under the Constitution, if no candidate for President gets 270 votes in the College, then the House of Representatives must determine who the next President will be. The House votes by state delegation — each state gets one vote. Currently, 31 states are controlled by Republicans. Thus, if the election were decided by the House, it is most likely that the Republican candidate would win, regardless of who won the “one person, one vote” election.
Third party candidates increase the probability that no candidate would achieve a majority in the College. They therefore increase the chance that an election for President would be thrown into the House. But the consequence of that result, though constitutionally sanctioned, is an even greater probability that the selected President would not be the candidate who won the “one person, one vote” election.
This fact justifies the traditional state remedy for third party candidates. States have long had the power to limit third party candidates. In this case, the possible election in the House would justify the states limiting any allocation of their electors to any third party candidate who could not win in the college. Such an allocation rule by the states would increase the probability that the candidate who was ultimately selected was the candidate who won the “one person, one vote” vote. That fact would, at the very least, justify state rules that gave voters a ranked choice for President, or that excluded allocations to candidates who could not win in the College.
To say this is not to denigrate the Constitution’s scheme for resolving elections in which no candidate achieves a majority. There needs to be a system for addressing that problem, when that problem arises. But even at the founding, election by the House was not the preferred method for selecting the President. As Hamilton explained in The Federalist Papers, it was “desirable that the sense of the people should operate in the choice of the person to whom so important a trust was to be confided.” That “sense” is expressed today through elections. A state rule that aims to preserve that sense is plainly justified — and especially so under the amended Constitution.
So yes, the Constitution gives the House the power to determined the President when no majority exists in the College. But a Constitution complemented by the “one person, one vote” principle certainly permits the states to adopt rules aimed at increasing the probability that the College would determine the President and Vice President consistent with the “one person, one vote” election.
Conclusion
Thus an outline of a legal argument for the conclusion that “one person, one vote” renders winner-take-all in the states unconstitutional. I’m happy to extend the analysis in response to questions raised in the comments. We’re eager for feedback and criticism. Note, we don’t consider “you’re not going to win” criticism. In our view, the question is (1) do we have a correct legal claim, and (2) will bringing that claim help build the movement necessary to bring about reform, whether through this litigation or not.
I’ve tried to answer (1) in this post. I will say more about (2) later. But this should be enough to establish the core belief that is necessary to justify bringing a legal action in good faith: Under the law as it is right now, given the Constitution as it has been amended, states should not be allocating their electoral college votes according to the winner-take-all principle.
I have long believed that the courts alone will not solve the problems with our democracy. I remain committed to that view. But EqualCitizens.US aims to rally as many Americans as possible to the understanding that our current democracy does not respect all citizens equally. This case will make that point clear in the context of the presidential selection system. In other fights, we will show why it is also true because of the private funding of public campaigns, because of gerrymandering, and because of the way we are not equally free to vote. All of these inequalities destroy the possibility of America being a “representative democracy.” Yet a “representative democracy” (what the framers would have called, “a Republic”) is what we were promised.
Help us fight to get that promise back. Join us at EqualVotes.US.
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https://lessig.medium.com/the-equal-protection-challenge-to-winner-take-all-a-legal-guide-ce99747e5001
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[]
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2017-09-16 19:33:06.594000+00:00
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['Electoral College', 'Equalvote', 'Equalcitizens', 'Politics']
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SaasGlue vs. Prefect
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Sometimes the best way to understand a new thing is through analogy. Analogy: a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification. In this post we will explain the differences between a platform similar to Airflow, called Prefect, and SaasGlue
After raising over $43M in Series A and Series B, Prefect has generated a fair amount of buzz recently. Included in the ranks of investors are some pretty heavy hitters. Github, Valor Equity Partners, Kaggle, etc. Prefect positions itself as “The easiest way to automate your data”. There is no doubt they have a very useful product. Automation of software orchestration and data pipelines is a hot topic right now.
Prefect is a nice system. SaasGlue is better. Read on to find out why.
Prefect Hybrid Model Vs. SaasGlue Model
The Prefect Hybrid Model is built on a false premise. In a blog post from 2/10/2020, Prefect CEO Jeremiah Lowin cites an anecdote wherein an early investor claimed “There’s no way in hell I’m giving you our code or data’’. This led to Prefect’s Hybrid Model. Prefect does not have access to the client’s code. They create a metadata file based on the customer’s code and use it as a proxy for managing jobs.
The assertion that most customers won’t put their code and data in third-party clouds is just silly. Amazon AWS Lambda, Microsoft Azure Automation, and Google Cloud Compute Functions have thousands and thousands of paying customers who do just that. Cloud security is well-established with mainstream customers. Even highly sensitive customers like government entities are rapidly adopting cloud computing services. The FedRAMP program promises unparalleled security for government agencies and lists hundreds of cloud providers. https://marketplace.fedramp.gov/#!/products?sort=productName
Another case cited by Prefect to justify their hybrid model is HIPAA compliance. AWS, Azure, GCP, Oracle Cloud, and IBM Cloud are all HIPAA compliant vendors, and SaasGlue works with all of them.
The SaasGlue Model
SaasGlue code can be stored either in the SaasGlue cloud or on-premise (like the Prefect Hybrid Model). Why would you want the code to be in the cloud? One obvious reason is failover. Using SaasGlue, if one agent (system) is down, the job can run on another agent with the same tags. The Prefect Hybrid Model cannot do this.
Another benefit of using SaasGlue is convenient access to load balancing among ephemeral compute instances. This is similar to the distributed parallelized map reduce model in SPARK and Hadoop.
The SaasGlue model also makes cross-cloud orchestrations trivially easy. Prefect can’t orchestrate jobs that run on-prem, in GCP and in AWS without firewall exceptions. SaasGlue can.
Who runs that code anyway?
In the Prefect system, their agent actually executes the code. This is a common architecture for many automation platforms like Airflow. So you need a plugin for each language you want to run. Managing these plugins becomes a nightmare.
Note that the Prefect agent has full access to the code downloaded from the customer’s on-prem server. Tell me again how this Prefect system doesn’t have access to customer code?
In the SaasGlue system, the agent does not execute any code. It passes the job to local interpreters in the system. That way, there are no plugins to manage. Run whatever scripting language you like. SaasGlue can even orchestrate compiled code as an artifact. If the interpreter is not present in the system, you can download that as part of the job.
Multi Lingual!
Prefect makes you learn a new language. It looks a lot like Python. Python is a nice language, but there are lots of other nice languages out there as well. Like .net, Scala, Ruby, Powershell, Windows batch files, Node.js, etc. SaasGlue can easily automate workflows with any of these, or even a mix. SaasGlue even allows passing variable values between heterogeneous code execution environments and cross-cloud.
SaasGlue allows you to leverage the scripts and programs you already have. With Prefect, if it’s not Python, you’re out of luck. Rewrite
Secret Agents
There is a huge difference between the Prefect Agent and the SaasGlue Agent. The Prefect agent is for execution and orchestration. The SaasGlue agent is for connectivity to a local interpreter. The result is that the SaasGlue agent is super easy to deploy, while the Prefect agent requires extensive setup and configuration. SaasGlue has fully embraced light-touch, cloud-based orchestration.
Security
If your automation requires cross sub-net connectivity, the Prefect agent will require firewall exceptions. In contrast, SaasGlue uses OAUTH 2.0 standard security for agent and API access, and uses no inbound connections.
Types
Prefect offers 4 different kinds of agents, Local, Docker, Kubernetes, and AWS ECS.
SaasGlue offers 3 different agents as of today, Windows, Mac, and Linux. The Linux agent runs on any Linux machine, local, cloud, or ephemeral. SaasGlue also publishes a Docker image which can be used to deploy the agent. The SaasGlue agent has a very small footprint, and could easily be applied to IOT.
Another option with SaasGlue is agentless. If your data is accessible in AWS Lambda or Google Cloud Compute Functions or if your code is calling a public API, SaasGlue can leverage these agentless technologies. Look for a blog entry on this soon.
Where do you want your Orchestration?
Now we are getting down to the fundamental difference between SaasGlue and platforms like Prefect. Orchestration can happen in the cloud or on a local machine. If done in the cloud, like SaasGlue, then there are no boundaries to orchestration and automation. Provisioning is handled by the cloud infrastructure. Orchestration on a local machine dramatically limits your connectivity, leaving you configuring firewalls, managing plug-ins, being limited to scripting languages, and worrying about provisioning and administering the platform. We think that taking advantage of the massive benefits of cloud computing makes more sense. BTW, if you want to keep all your scripts on-prem, we can do that too. Trivially.
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https://medium.com/@jack-wood/saasglue-vs-prefect-9fda9f98c16b
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['Jack Wood']
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2021-07-06 21:32:12.960000+00:00
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['Automation Tools', 'Data Engineering', 'Prefect', 'Jenkins']
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North America Windshield Snow Brush Market Booming Worldwide Opportunity, Upcoming Trends & Growth Forecast 2021–2026
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North America Windshield Snow Brush Market 2021–2026
Straits Research has recently added a new report to its vast depository titled Global North America Windshield Snow Brush Market. The report studies vital factors about the Global North America Windshield Snow Brush Market that are essential to be understood by existing as well as new market players. The report highlights the essential elements such as market share, profitability, production, sales, manufacturing, advertising, technological advancements, key market players, regional segmentation, and many more crucial aspects related to the Global North America Windshield Snow Brush Market.
North America Windshield Snow Brush Market
The Major Players Covered in this Report:
Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation
Snow Joe LLC
Emsco Group
Machimepex USA
The Ames Companies, Inc
Garant GP
Michelin
Aurora Tools
BirdRock Brands
Astroai Corporation
Get a Sample PDF Report: North America Windshield Snow Brush Market
Segmentation is as follows: -
By Material
EVA Foam
PVC
By Length
Less than 30 Inch
30–40 Inch
More than 40 Inch
By Sales Chanel
Online Retail
Store-Based Retail
Hypermarkets and Supermarkets
Convenience Stores
Specialty Stores
The report specifically highlights the North America Windshield Snow Brush market share, company profiles, regional outlook, product portfolio, a record of the recent developments, strategic analysis, key players in the market, sales, distribution chain, manufacturing, production, new market entrants as well as existing market players, advertising, brand value, popular products, demand and supply, and other important factors related to the North America Windshield Snow Brush market to help the new entrants understand the market scenario better.
Important factors like strategic developments, government regulations, North America Windshield Snow Brush market analysis, end-users, target audience, distribution network, branding, product portfolio, market share, threats and barriers, growth drivers, latest trends in the industry are also mentioned.
Regional Analysis For North America Windshield Snow Brush Market:
North America (United States, Canada, and Mexico)
Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, and Italy)
Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia)
South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, etc.)
Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa)
In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of the North America Windshield Snow Brush are as follows:
• History Year: 2014–2019
• Base Year: 2019
• Estimated Year: 2020
• Forecast Year 2021 to 2026
The main steps in the investigation process are:
1) The first step in market research is to obtain raw market information from industry experts and direct research analysts using primary and secondary sources.
2) Extracts raw data from these sources to extract valuable insights and analyze them for research purposes.
3) Classify the knowledge gained by qualitative and quantitative data and place it accordingly to make final conclusions.
Key Questions Answered in the Report:
• What is the current scenario of the Global North America Windshield Snow Brush Market? How is the market going to prosper throughout the next 6 years?
• What is the impact of COVID-19 on the market? What are the major steps undertaken by the leading players to mitigate the damage caused by COVID-19?
• What are the emerging technologies that are going to profit the market?
• What are the historical and the current sizes of the Global North America Windshield Snow Brush Market?
• Which segments are the fastest growing and the largest in the market? What is their market potential?
• What are the driving factors contributing to the market growth during the short, medium, and long term? What are the major challenges and shortcomings that the market is likely to face? How can the market solve the challenges?
• What are the lucrative opportunities for the key players in the North America Windshield Snow Brush market?
• Which are the key geographies from the investment perspective?
• What are the major strategies adopted by the leading players to expand their market shares?
• Who are the distributors, traders, and dealers of the Global North America Windshield Snow Brush market?
• What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by types and applications of the market?
For More Details On this Report: North America Windshield Snow Brush Market
About Us:
Regardless of whether you’re looking at business sectors in the next town or crosswise over continents, we understand the significance of being acquainted with what customers purchase. We overcome the issues of our customers by recognizing and deciphering just the target group, while simultaneously generating leads with the highest precision. We seek to collaborate with our customers to deliver a broad spectrum of results through a blend of market and business research approaches. This approach of using various research and analysis strategies enables us to determine greater insights by eliminating the research costs. Moreover, we’re continually developing, not only with regards to where we measure, or who we measure but in how our visions can enable you to drive cost-effective growth.
Contact Us:
Company Name: Straits Research
Email: [email protected]
Phone:
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North America Windshield Snow Brush Market Growth, North America Windshield Snow Brush Forecast, North America Windshield Snow Brush Industry Trends, North America Windshield Snow Brush Market Share, North America Windshield Snow Brush Industry Size, North America Windshield Snow Brush Market Data Analysis, North America Windshield Snow Brush Market Overview”
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https://medium.com/@shubhamk.straitsresearch/north-america-windshield-snow-brush-market-booming-worldwide-opportunity-upcoming-trends-growth-6a86717433b
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['Shubham K']
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2021-12-29 06:31:27.929000+00:00
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['Market Research Reports', 'Market Research', 'North America', 'Snow', 'Windshield']
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Yin and Yang of Love
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Yin and Yang of Love
A philosophical haiku
Image by Comfreak from Pixabay
Which is easier
To love or to receive love
Which brings the most joy
Receiving the love
Of a pure shining spirit
Filling you with warmth
Or pouring your love
Into a warm, willing soul
Watching while it grows
Which bring the most pain
Being loved by a mad man
Possessed and controlled
Or to hold, shelter
Give all to another heart
Just to see it stop
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https://medium.com/american-haiku/yin-and-yang-of-love-8a5c9a361c50
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['Glenda Thompson']
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2020-01-24 21:32:16.058000+00:00
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['Questions', 'Life', 'Relationships', 'Love', 'Philosophy']
|
Custom VS Code Snippets and Emmet for ERB files
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In this post, I walk you through two simple tweaks I made to VS Code that I found really helpful in speeding up development in ERB views files for Rails applications:
Defining your own custom snippets for the ERB tags <% %> , <%= %> , and <%# %> . Enabling Emmet in ERB files.
Defining Your Own Custom Snippets for ERB tags
Defining your own custom code snippets in VS Code is pretty straightforward.
Below, I’ll walk you through the process of defining three snippets for tags you’ll use frequently when writing ERB templates:
<% %> which executes the Ruby code inside it but doesn’t render a return value — affectionately known as snowcones. <%= %> which evaluates and renders a return value for the Ruby code inside it — affectionately known as squids. <%# %> which wraps a comment in your ERB file.
Using these snippets in VS Code might look something like this:
The keywords “squid” , “cmmt” , and “snowcone” are being used to insert these ERB tag snippets.
Anatomy of a User Snippet
Template for a Snippet
A snippet is made up of:
“Name” — just a descriptive name used to help you identify what the snippet is for in your settings file
— just a descriptive name used to help you identify what the snippet is for in your settings file “prefix” — - the keystroke that will be used to trigger your code editor to insert the snippet
— - the keystroke that will be used to trigger your code editor to insert the snippet “body” — - the code that will be inserted when your snippet is called. This is made up of an array of strings, so if you’d like your snippet to be multi-lined in your editor,
— - the code that will be inserted when your snippet is called. This is made up of an array of strings, so if you’d like your snippet to be multi-lined in your editor, “description” - a description of what the code snippet contains.
User snippets in VS Code are stored in language-specific JSON files, which you can access under Code > Preferences > User Snippets , and then by searching for the file that corresponds to the language you’re writing the snippet for.
We’re dealing with ERB here, so I’ll navigate to the erb.json file:
Accessing User Snippets
Navigating to “erb.json“ to define Snippets for use in ERB files
Below is the code for the three snippets demonstrated in the gif above. Feel free to paste it into your erb.json file and tinker with it as you see fit.
The prefixes “snowcone” , “squid” , and “cmmt” are being used to trigger each of these snippets, respectively. I chose to use these prefixes, because they make sense to me sense to me intuitively, but these snippets will work just fine if different prefixes make more sense to you.
Note the $1 between the ERB tags within the snippet bodies on lines 4, 12, and 20. These are tabstops, which specify where your cursor should jump to after the snippet has been inserted.
If you were defining a snippet that has multiple locations your cursor should visit, you can define these by numbering tabstops sequentially and using the tab key to navigate between them once the snippet is inserted. So your cursor would first visit tabstop $1 , followed by $2 , then $3 and so on, with $0 denoting the last place your cursor should visit.
Emmet — What It Is and How to Use It
Emmet is an insanely helpful set of plug-ins for code editors, which allow you to drastically cut down on the time and keystrokes it takes to code HTML elements by using autocompletion to insert HTML tags and attributes.
To use Emmet, starting typing the name of an HTML tag (i.e., a tag without the angle brackets < or > . So for example, h1 not <h1> , p not <p> ).
As you begin to type out the name of the tag, an inline popup appears with one or more Emmet snippets that correspond to what you’ve typed so far.
Using the up/down arrow keys, choose the snippet you’d like to use and press tab to insert it into your code.
Emmet automatically inserts the opening and closing element tags along with any attributes the element might require. It also automatically places your cursor at the first point in the element at which you need to enter content, allowing you to tab between those different insertion points if there is more than one.
In the example below, I use Emmet to pretty quickly generate an HTML skeleton along with a few other elements without having to worry about typos or forgetting to close tags, all while saving myself a ton of repetitive keystrokes.
Use Emmet to quickly and accurately insert HTML.
Emmet comes installed out-of-the-box in VS Code; however, by default, it’s only enabled on HTML documents.
To get full use of of all that Emmet has to offer when developing the views in a Rails application, which are .erb or .html.erb files, follow these steps to enable Emmet on these file types.
In VS Code, navigate to Code > Preferences > Settings
2. Search for Emmet and under the option Emmet: Include Languages , follow the link to Edit in settings.json
|
https://medium.com/swlh/custom-vs-code-snippets-and-emmet-for-erb-files-d163917cce68
|
['Graham Flaspoehler']
|
2019-10-17 20:28:13.639000+00:00
|
['Web Development']
|
Rabbi, what is your product?
|
As we head into our second covid era Rosh Hashana, a lot has changed about our lives. Many people have moved to new communities (space, cost, weather), tightened their friend group (social distancing), and altered their synagogue attendance habits (to be determined).
One thing I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is: why do we attend synagogue?
Perhaps we go to fulfill ritual prayer requirements or to catch up with friends at the end of each week. Those are the two reasons that often come to mind, at least they do for me.
But, do we ever stop to think about what we are “buying” when we attend synagogue? Put otherwise, do we ever ask, “Rabbi, what is your product?”
On the surface this question appears to be so Millennial. Individualistic. Consumeristic. Maybe even heretical. However, I believe that like so many other aspects of our lives, religion is facing massive competition.
There is an old joke that a Jewish man is found stranded on an island and on the island are two buildings…his rescuers must know, “you are one man on a stranded island, why do you need two buildings?”…to which he famously responds “That is the synagogue I go to, that is the one I would not even step into!”
That used to be the summation of religious competition. I go there, I don’t go there.
Now we have something much more profound to consider, namely more options. It is not too dissimilar to the experience of retail over the last 30 years: mom and pop shops gave way to big box retailers, which in turn folded in the face of e-commerce, which is now facing competition from the return to shopping locally.
We used to go to pray where our grandparents prayed, then massive new neighborhoods popped up and the mega synagogue took over, many responded to that with a craving for individualized and more communal expressions of prayer, namely the ‘backyard minyan’. This process was fast tracked by covid, particularly when it comes to the outdoor services many people attended at home last year for the High Holidays.
There is one more element to this, which I think has been overlooked…the sermon.
There have been a few articles written recently which essentially say that the sermon is dead because people can’t pay attention any more. I think that is a lame excuse.
The sermon is facing the same competition as the core synagogue experience. Options.
It used to be that I could only get my dose of reverie and inspiration from my local preacher or Rabbi. This simply isn’t true anymore due to the proliferation of podcast and social media adoption by religious figures and institutions.
I could listen to a sermon from a rabbi in Florida on a Tuesday and from a preacher from a town in Mississippi on Thursday. I can subscribe to the most brilliant minds of the generation, their thoughts automatically downloading onto my phone each week.
On the flip side, these virtual experiences are missing the fundamental communal necessity of shared experiences. For the sermon this could be the uproarious laugh at a well delivered punchline, or the deafening silence of a powerful story retold for the first time. Or, it could be that friend who pulls you into the hallway to check-in, to ask about an ailing parent or that big deal you closed at work.
So I ask…Rabbi, what is your product? What are you selling? How do you define your value proposition? How do you bottle the good stuff and stock it on your shelves?
This isn’t a new idea. Religious institutions have have picked their flavor since the beginning of time. Are you strict and demanding? Welcoming? Lots of singing or long sermons? Is this a Carlebach Minyan? How do you feel about kiddish club?
More profoundly, the midrash tells us there are 70 faces to the Torah. Recognizing that interpretation and approach will vary from perspective to perspective. From one community to the next, from one backyard to the next.
It is not totally fair to place the full burden on the Rabbi. As a strong believer in lay leadership, I think it is important for community members to speak up. Fill out the feedback form, so to speak. If you aren’t going to attend synagogue anymore because there are no longer play groups for your children, then what will get you to come back? How else can you engage in your community?
This may seem like a doomsday scenario. Even our most sacred institutions can’t survive? However, I think if we figure this out then we will end up in a better place than we started. After all, are we praying to return to a place whose hallmark was the front of the room asking the back of the room to talk a little softer?
|
https://medium.com/@alexluxenberg/rabbi-what-is-your-product-49afa5e051f2
|
['Alex Luxenberg']
|
2021-09-05 16:18:18.631000+00:00
|
['Sermons', 'Religion', 'Judaism']
|
Experimenting with generics in Go
|
For the sake of the exercise we’ll implement a simple list of generics elements, that should have some basic higher order methods as well, such as Filter , Foreach and Map
We’ll start with the definition of our generic data structure:
type List(type T) struct {
elems []T
}
As you can see, we now are able to declare types after struct or interface name. Most languages use <> to denote a type, although Scala, for example, uses [] . Go uses (type) for the same purpose.
Having declared the type, we now can use it inside our struct to define slice of elements.
Translating this to Java, we would have something along those lines:
|
https://medium.com/swlh/experimenting-with-generics-in-go-39ffa155d6a1
|
['Alexey Soshin']
|
2020-07-17 11:21:07.636000+00:00
|
['Go', 'Generics', 'Programming']
|
How to Talk Yourself Up
|
How to Talk Yourself Up
As I was heading to the fridge to make breakfast this morning, I stubbed my toe. I’m not gonna lie. It hurt. While it wasn’t severe enough to shout out expletives, my inner voice clearly let me know what a mistake this was. I really didn’t need to hear anything from my internal peanut galley. It actually made the situation much worse than it was. Calendar Apr 27·6 min read
These “helpful hints from self — to self” happens to all of us at some point. Whenever you make a mistake or question yourself, that pesky voice drags us further down. When that happens, it’s difficult to stay focused, engaged, and productive.
How to Talk Yourself Up
What if you were more kind to yourself? You know, like how you treat a friend who needs support? Well, that’s positive self-talk and it comes with the following benefits;
Provides fresh perspectives during hard times.
Increases self-confidence and self-efficacy.
Helps manage psychological health, which is also good for your physical well-being.
Opens us to new opportunities and relationships.
In short, positive self-talk isn’t about ignoring negativity, aka toxic positivity. Instead, it’s identifying your strengths and using them to solve problems.
And, it can actually be easy to incorporate this into your daily routine by doing the following.
Beware of self-talk dissonance.
“If your existing self-talk is negative, don’t try to overcompensate with overzealous, motivational monologues,” writes Malla Wollan for The New York Times Magazine. In other words, don’t exclaim “You’re the best!” to pep yourself up.
“Research suggests that people with low self-esteem who try to force positive self-talk can end up feeling worse,” adds Wollan. “Instead, begin slowly. Psychologists call this an experimental mindset.
Also, give yourself commands like ‘Take a deep breath” a try as well. “In a study of scuba divers,” it was “found that those who practiced instructional self-talk were significantly more focused and confident during certification than those who practiced motivational self-talk.”
Challenge negative thoughts and cognitive distortions.
At the same time, if your inner voice is spewing negative self-talk, you need to tell it to bugger off. If you don’t, you’re just adding unnecessary stress and anxiety to your life. And, you’re also sabotaging your own motivation and productivity.
To stop negative self-talk, try the following strategies;
Whenever these types of thoughts appear, jot them down in a journal or a sticky note. It’s a simple and effective way to identify patterns.
If you’re ruminating, literally tell yourself to “Stop!” I sometimes raise a closed fist as well when my mind is racing.
Place a rubber band around your wrist and snap it back a negative thought pops up.
Replace this bad habit with milder statements. For instance, as opposed to screaming “I hate traffic,” say “Rush-hour traffic annoys me.”
Make lemonade out of lemons. It’s frustrating when the unexpected happens, like a meeting being canceled at the last minute. Rather than succumbing to anger, use this free block of time to your advantage, like cleaning out your inbox or desk.
Turn self-limiting statements into questions. As opposed to saying “I can’t do this,” ask yourself how to make it possible.
Make “can’t” a forbidden word.
When I was a teenager, my parents loosened up the rules on what words I could and could not say. I think you have a general idea of what these words were. I’ve actually implemented a similar technique with the word “can’t.”
See, when you blurt this four-letter word out, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Mainly, this is because this word packs a powerful, self-doubting punch.
Instead, remove “can’t” from your vocabulary. It’s not an easy task. But, it’s possible with practice.
To get started, stop fearing failure. Use it as a learning opportunity. After that, give yourself visual reminders, like on notecards or post-its, along with telling others.
And, when you do catch yourself, stop and replace it with “can.”
Focus on what you do.
Recall in the past when you’ve done some networking. Whether if it’s in-person or during a discovery call, there’s a fine line that you must walk. You have to sell yourself while not coming across as an egomaniac.
Often, you can do this by talking about your favorite clients or a project that you’re particularly proud of. You could also share what you’ve got on deck. And, could have a conversation about the skills you’re currently developing or what trends you’re excited about.
You don’t have to follow this verbatim. But, hopefully, you get the jest. When you need a pick-me-up, focus on your accomplishments, what you’re looking forward to, and how you’re an asset to others.
Be grateful.
Practicing gratitude has been found to increase happiness, our well-being, and self-esteem. It can also improve our relationships, decision-making, and our overall health.
If you stop and think about it, this does make sense. By focusing on what you do have, as opposed to what you don’t, can give you an attitude adjustment. In turn, this will bolster positive self-talk.
The easiest way to practice gratitude is by starting a gratitude journal. All this involves is just writing down 3 to 5 things that you’re grateful for during the day — or keep an online Calendar journal or list of these gratitudes at the end of the day.
Talk to yourself in the third person.
“At first, you might feel silly doing it, but psychological science supports this practice,” notes Jade Wu Ph.D., aka the Savvy Psychologist.
“A brain imaging study suggests that when you think about a bad memory or see something aversive, talking to yourself in the third person activates brain areas involved in self-control less than if you talk in the first person,” Dr. Wu explains. “You may need to use less self-control to regulate emotions when you say, ‘Hey [insert your name here], it’s okay. You’ve got this,’ compared to, ‘I’ve got this.’”
“Third-person self-talk creates a slight illusion that you’re talking to someone else, which provides enough psychological distance to make emotion regulation easier,” she adds. “And when it comes to emotion regulation in high-stakes situations, any help we can get is a good thing.”
Stop playing the comparison game.
It’s easy to fall into this trap.
You go to update your status on Insta when you see a high school friend flaunting their new house or car. Someone from college has been in Europe for the last month. And, a former work colleague landed a generous promotion.
Here’s the thing. You don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. Someone who has a McMansion might be borrowed under debt. Earning a higher position at work might mean sacrificing quality family time.
Practicing gratitude can help. Define what success means to you and live your best life.
Surround yourself with positive affirmations.
Here’s a simple hack to talk yourself up. Write positive mantras and affirmations on post-its. Then, place them strategically at home and work, like on the fridge or add these to your online Calendar.
I get that this might come off as a bit on the hokey side. But, having visual aids can help change the tone of your inner voice. And, it also encourages you to tap into the power of repetition.
Say goodbye to yesterday.
“Every second you dwell on the past you steal from your future. Every minute you spend focusing on the problems you take away from finding your solutions” — Robin Sharma
Cool quote, right? I think so because it speaks volumes.
You’ve all made mistakes and will always have regrets. But, what’s done is done. Learn and grow from your transgressions and zero in on the present.
Work with a professional.
Kudos to talking yourself up. But, that doesn’t mean you’re going to resolve deeper issues like clinical depression or anxiety. That’s when you need to talk to a therapist or psychologist.
There’s no shame in this. It also doesn’t mean that you’re weak. Instead, a mental health professional can use cognitive therapy to assist you in identify and challenging distortions. These can include catastrophizing, jumping to conclusions, or “shoulds.”
From there, they can work to develop strategies to have more accurate thinking. And, they can also guide you in calming exercises so that you don’t feel as anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed.
Image Credit: cottonbros; pexels; thank you!
|
https://medium.com/@calendardotcom/how-to-talk-yourself-up-f563bc8f7020
|
[]
|
2021-05-07 19:56:15.656000+00:00
|
['Productivity', 'Mental Health', 'Positivity', 'Positive Thinking']
|
The Key to Asking the Universe for Help? Learning How to Listen.
|
Photo by Aperture Vintage on Unsplash
For the past few days, I’ve been wondering, “What should I write about this week?” I even asked my cerebral husband. He had some ideas, but nothing clicked. Finally, I asked for guidance from the Universe.
You can call the force beating our hearts, breathing our lungs, and growing the grass whatever suits you — God, Gaia, Life Force Energy, your Guides, or even Gloria. The name doesn’t matter.
For simplicity’s sake, let’s call it the Universe. I asked the Universe, “What should I write about this week?”
Radio silence.
My brain, on the other hand, had loads of thoughts. They felt like fireworks shooting off inside my head — one after the other, fired off before the smoke cleared from the prior!
Just skip a week, no one will notice…
What can you say that hasn’t already been said by countless others?!!?
Why are you even writing these posts?!
You’re wasting your time!
You should get a real job!
On and on and on…
My mind continued to berate me this morning as I walked to our local farmer’s market. It’s not an obvious or brazen bully. That would have been too easy to stop. It’s more cunning. It’s the running tape, almost imperceptible, looping on replay in the recesses of my mind.
I consciously looked to gratitude for relief.
I am lucky to have this so-called “problem”. It’s a glorious morning; I have an awesome family; I live in Santa Barbara for crying out loud!
AND…I could still hear my mind whispering its negative rant. That’s duality. Both grateful AND doubtful as I tried to tip the teeter-totter toward gratitude.
As lady luck, or the Universe, would conspire, I “happened” to run into some friends who were also walking to the market.
As we caught up, I learned one of them had just sold his business and was trying to figure out his next steps. He told me his dream was to become a sports trainer for kids and maybe a personal trainer for adults.
Without missing a beat, he said…
The thing is, I don’t have a license or certificate.
Also, there are already so many gyms and personal trainers.
I knew his brain was sending him an onslaught of doubts and fears, like Darth Vader trying to coerce Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side.
This guy loves training, coaching, sports. He’s passionate about all things athletic! When he talked about his idea, I could see his energy light up and glow, but you didn’t need to be psychic to feel his excitement.
I shared some insights. He smiled and said, “Thank you. That really helped.”
The Universe brought us together at that very moment. I have just arrived home with my vegetables, and this post flowed with ease.
PS I normally go to the market later in the morning so if I’d gone at my normal time, I would have missed this exchange.
PPS My other friend, who normally drives home my heavy bags of produce, texted me as I was walking and said she was at the market early due to a conflict later in the morning. We “happened” to be there at the same time and she drove my heavy bags home. These “coincidences” felt like the Universe wanted it to be crystal clear that my plea was indeed being answered.
The cool thing is that the Universe doesn’t care if you’re asking for help on writing inspiration, a job search, school choice, who to date, or even what to wear. There is no hierarchy in requests or responses. Practice asking on the little things so you’re ready for the big ones. The trick, of course, is learning how to listen.
|
https://medium.com/@ascendedpresence/the-key-to-asking-the-universe-for-help-learning-how-to-listen-f001bbb1b3d8
|
['Susan Moe']
|
2020-12-22 20:02:36.648000+00:00
|
['Synchronicity', 'Spiritual Growth', 'Personal Growth', 'The Universe', 'Gratitude']
|
Justice Department fails to seek DE U.S. Attorney, David Weiss — resignation
|
Reasons why David Weiss must be removed as Delaware United States Attorney
As detailed by the picture above, there’s much bad faith going on in the eToys/ Toys R Us related cases; which has been a 20 year RICO case permitted to expand nationwide.
Delaware United States Attorney, David Weiss, is a Colm Felix Connolly allegiant hold-over (Connolly pictures is bottom center of above detailed graph).
Colm Connolly has been a 20 year blocker of any investigations & prosecutions of Colm’s partners — the Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell law firm (“MNAT").
MNAT confessed deceit, in 2005, of having multiple conflicts of interests in the eToys.com bankruptcy case.
Unfortunately, DE United States Attorney Colm Connolly also concealed his conflict of interest facts— that Colm was a partner of MNAT — when Connolly staunchly refused to prosecute MNAT for 8 years!
Resultant, of Delaware United States Attorney Colm Connolly’s deceits, MNAT has continued to Obstruct Justice, for 20 years, in order to protect Goldman Sachs & Bain Capital organized crimes.
|
https://medium.com/@laserdliquidator/justice-department-fails-to-seek-de-u-s-attorney-david-weiss-resignation-d970e259448d
|
['Laser Haas']
|
2021-02-09 05:26:35.899000+00:00
|
['Us Attorneys Office', 'Justice', 'Delaware', 'Biden Admini', 'Corruption']
|
Presenteeism: The evil flip side of absenteeism
|
For years, companies have discouraged absences in the workplace. However, being present when unfit is increasingly becoming the new Frankenstein of the corporate world.
It’s Monday morning, the alarm just went off and you need to get ready for work. However, this is not your average Monday morning. Your body hurts and you don’t feel well at all. In just a blink of an eye, the question pops up in your mind: To go or not to go? To be absent and sick at home or to be present and sick at the office? No worries, regardless of what you do, either choice will generate a cost for your company.
For a long time, however, companies have seen absences as the only problem to solve in the workplace. While available data is often contradictory, the attention that companies have placed on excessive absences at work (absenteeism) seems to be working. In the UK, for example, and according to the 2018 Health and well-being at work report produced by CIPD and Simplyhealth, there has been a significant downward trend in average absence rates from 7.7 days in 2011 to 6.6 days in 2018.
That should be good news, right? Not too fast. While absenteeism seems to be falling, the number of people going to work while unfit (presenteeism) has significantly increased in the last years. In fact, only in the UK and “within the space of eight years, the number of people suffering from presenteeism has tripled,” argues Professor Cary Cooper, President of the CIPD.
Both absenteeism and presenteeism pose significant costs for companies. But how do you know if your employees are adopting one behavior or the other?
What is employee absenteeism?
According to The Balance Careers, a provider of financial services, absenteeism is “a pattern of missing work in which an employee is habitually or frequently absent from work.” Behind that behavior, there are many reasons that can be grouped in two main categories:
Planned absenteeism — Excused absences granted by the employer such as annual leave, vacation time, government services leave or planned medical treatments. Unplanned absenteeism — Unplanned/emergency absences that can be involuntary (e.g. unavoidable illnesses, injuries) or voluntary (e.g. taking care of relatives, low job satisfaction).
Considering the above, your focus should be placed on unplanned absenteeism as a behavior that emerges from two key factors: the ability to attend (e.g. having an unexpected injury) and the motivation to attend (e.g. being overly stressed at work).
What is presenteeism at work?
Presenteeism is a pattern of going to work when not feeling good physically or psychologically, something that has a negative impact in the employee’s productivity as well as that of the company or organization the employee belongs to.
While presenteeism is on the rise today, the study of this phenomenon has significantly changed in the last fifteen years moving from over-engagement in the workplace to showing up at work when ill.
In his essay in The Cambridge Companion to Presenteeism at Work, Eric Gosselin argues that most people treat presenteeism today as a phenomenon that requires two variables: “the worker having a health problem and still being present at work despite that condition.” However, Gosselin says that such an idea overlooks a very important aspect related to presenteeism: the lack of productivity inherent to this phenomenon.
Because of that, Gosselin argues that the following three conditions are necessary in order to consider a worker’s behaviour as presenteeism:
1. Be ill (physically or psychologically).
2. Be at work.
3. Exhibit decreased productivity.
Similarly, in the foreword of Professor Hesan Quazi’s book on presenteeism, Professor Wee Chow Hou states that this phenomenon has been viewed from two different angles:
Sickness presenteeism — The practice of coming to work despite illness, injury, anxiety, and so on, which results in reduced productivity.
Non-sickness presenteeism — The practice of working long hours without the real need to do so.
With that being said, your focus should be placed on dealing with sickness presenteeism, which is also compatible with the conditions exposed by Gosselin.
However, we can add to this analysis another condition that can be considered a precursory practice to presenteeism: unconsciously favor quantity to quality. When people aren’t necessarily sick but they go to work out of fear of losing their jobs or simply to show that they are good employees, they are favoring quantity over quality and that behavior can easily lead to presenteeism.
A new threat: Leavism
Parallel to absenteeism and presenteeism, it is worth to say a word about leavism. As defined by Professor Cary Cooper, “leavism” occurs when an employee uses his/her leave time to get work done. Considering that everyone needs time to rest and recuperate especially in today’s work environment, leavism can severely affect the health and well-being of individuals and incidentally the productivity of the company itself.
Unfortunately, leavism is a very general practice today. For instance, the Health and Well-being at Work report found out that two-thirds of companies in the UK noticed leavism among their employees.
A holistic approach to absenteeism and presenteeism
Traditionally speaking, absenteeism and presenteeism have been studied as two isolated phenomena. However, nowadays more people are in favor of a holistic approach where you can bring together these two behaviors. In his essay about presenteeism, Gosselin provides two reasons that support that approach: the complementarity effect and the substitution effect.
The complementarity effect suggest that one behavior follows the other. Going to work sick (presenteeism) at some point will probably transform into absenteeism and vice versa. In fact,
“presenteeism today can be considered a warning sign of future absenteeism.”
On the contrary, the substitution effect says that if one phenomenon takes place, the other doesn’t occur. In other words, you are either present or absent from work. However, the direction of the substitution has been interpreted in only one direction, “with absenteeism behavior replaced by presenteeism behavior.”
In one way or the other, we can see that there is a strong link between both behaviors. As stated by Gosselin, absenteeism and presenteeism are “behavioral variants originating from concurrent realities”.
An article on presenteeism published in the blog of the Canadian company Solutions & Co. argues that “presenteeism is the result of the valorization of diligence at work aimed at reducing absenteeism, in comparison to which it is still excessive — proportionally and inversely opposed.” In other words, presenteeism “is the flip side of the coin.”
There is only one problem with that coin, though: each side has a very different cost! In fact, while data is often contradictory, everyone agrees that the costs of presenteeism are a lot higher than the costs of absenteeism, which is quite alarming considering the dramatic increase of the former during the last years. Presenteeism is, indeed, the evil flip side of absenteeism. Is there any way to fight that? Of course! And the best way to do it is by building a corporate culture that is focused around your employee’s well-being. Only by doing that, you can effectively deal with this new corporate Frankestein.
|
https://medium.com/management-business-intelligence-by-beebole/presenteeism-the-evil-flip-side-of-absenteeism-907426591e80
|
['Carlos Quintana']
|
2020-03-04 11:17:46.585000+00:00
|
['Human Resources', 'Employees', 'Employee Engagement', 'Management And Leadership', 'Workforce']
|
Inovação nos Setores Imobiliário e de Construção no Brasil
|
Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more
Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
|
https://medium.com/braaim/inova%C3%A7%C3%A3o-nos-setores-imobili%C3%A1rio-e-de-constru%C3%A7%C3%A3o-no-brasil-80a3a8c2f465
|
['Braaim - Brazilian Alternative Investment Market']
|
2020-12-07 13:27:19.163000+00:00
|
['Startup', 'Construtech', 'Investment', 'Inovação', 'Construction']
|
Aamir Khan Bitcoin — Review. “Bitcoin Trader Aamir Khan” Click Here…
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“Bitcoin Trader Aamir Khan” Click Here To Join!
Check out my analysis to see how we compare to other auto-traders in the crypto industry.
Here’s my brief review of my Bitcoin Dealer.
I got together with Bitcoin Trader to keep it quick, and I added $250 to my account because it’s the sum recommended to maximize your earnings ultimately. Today is my sixth day using the software, and I was able to hit $11,000+, but I’m still trying to reach my $21,000 target by the end of the week.
My Honest Analysis of Bitcoin Auto Trader:
Bitcoin Dealer has a super-speed program that exchanges a large number of trades every day. The framework uses the existing business establishment and rapid AI, which gives this program a favorable position over the other systems.
This item has an unfortunate speed of just .07 percent after more than six years of automatic trade. This means you’d have a very low chance of losing your cash, like less than 1% of the probability of misfortune. Take the divider lane!
The machine signal carries out transactions with 163 exchanges in 35 countries, and the amount of trades it is getting to is disconcerting-4 million!
After looking at the association behind this signing scheme, I found that it was on favorable terms. In 2018, this Trading Application earned $723 million in benefits, which was 11 percent more than the Merchant of 2019. A beautiful return.
This year, regardless of how the market sectors are in a state of unrest, this bitcoin merchant has determined that he will start picking up $650 million in benefits amid immense misfortunes on world securities exchanges.
I’ve been wildly looking for some real technique to pick up money online from home for as long as two years. I was looking for a dream that I couldn’t get my all-day pound by working my hours and making shrewd speculations. So when I caught the breeze of the broker robot on my Facebook channel, the thought provoked my curiosity.
How does it work?
You start by opening a record to use Bitcoin Dealer. At the hour of my registration, they provided a record master to walk you through the cycle and “hold your hand” for your first projects. For the calculation to make trades, it needs assets to work with, so I just stacked the base to start with $250. In any case, writing this out of what’s to come, I’m thinking about how much better my earnings would have been if I had started higher. When I stacked the assets, Bitcoin Broker dominated and started to do business for me!
Having used Bitcoin Merchant for a couple of days, I’m very excited about the performance. Bitcoin Broker can consistently trade when the conditions are acceptable, but it is inactive as a general rule. However, I’ve found out on the off chance that you’re only keeping your PC running with the intention that it can do business at whatever point it needs to, you have the best results. So I just let it go and let it get me some cash while I’m resting!
My Score of Bitcoin Trader: 4.75 /5
On the off chance that you need to start, click this link to start making the most of this Bitcoin Broker in 24 hours! Click Here To Join!
“Bitcoin Trader Aamir Khan”
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https://medium.com/@kv8163543/aamir-khan-bitcoin-review-bf581d132b95
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['Kevin Velazquez']
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2021-06-22 12:18:14.496000+00:00
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['Bitcoin Wallet', 'Bitcoin Mining', 'Bitcoin News', 'Bitcoincash', 'Bitcoin']
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Why you should bring prototyping into your design process?
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Why you should bring prototyping into your design process?
Learn the value of the prototype, make a compelling design and boosting your product development process.’
Photo by UX Store on Unsplash
I’ve been with UI/UX design for nearly 5 years so far, every time when I present my design solutions to the stakeholders, I got different levels of feedback depending on how I demonstrate my works.
And I found an interesting fact is that if I only show my static design mockup with some basic user flows, people can roughly understand how I want to approach the problem, but it’s not easy for them to imagine how this design would work in the reality. So I have to be very articulated about every interaction detail of my design in order to better visualize the whole design concept for my audiences.
However, sometimes when I’m designing for a large scope project or a complex feature, it’s a bit difficult to clearly describe my idea by just showing static design mockups. So I’ve been looking for a better way to help me showcase my work without explaining too much? Then I finally landed on prototyping.
I started translating my ideas into an animated or playable prototype from different levels of tasks, it helps me largely reduce the communication cost and give people a simpler way to absorb the idea I provided.
In the past few years, I’ve tried a lot of prototyping tools in different use cases, I learned a lot from building those interactive experiences, it makes my design more vibrant and compelling, it’s also an important skill to me being a UX designer.
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https://uxdesign.cc/why-you-should-bring-prototyping-into-your-design-process-fb25b679accb
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['Lin Simon']
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2020-04-20 11:36:15.752000+00:00
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['Marketing', 'Prototyping', 'UI', 'User Experience', 'UX Design']
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Palestine is controversial among progressives. Where should people stand on this issue?
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Palestine , A Socialist Introduction, Edited by Sumaya Awad, and brian bean, Haymarket 2020
Palestine is one of the most controversial issues among liberals and even among some socialists. The Labor Party in Britain has been roiled by this issue , with the expulsion of Jeremy Corbyn for allowing “ anti-semitism”( criticism of Israel). In the U.S., politicians and university administrators war against the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, also labeling it as anti-semitic.
This is the most damning and yet most ludicrous charge against the Palestinian liberation movement. Calling for basic democracy and equality in Israel/Palestine is condemned as a hatred of Jews. The charge is itself anti-semitic. It blames all Jews for the oppressive, destructive and anti-humane policies of the Zionist state. Equating anti-Zionism with anti-semitism is like calling opposition to South African apartheid “anti-white”. Any state that privileges one race, religion or ethnicity must be opposed , even if the favored group was previously oppressed. Palestinian activists have been clear that their rejection of Zionism is not based on opposition to Judaism. It is instead based on opposition to colonialism and racism. This hasn’t stopped the slander.
The slander campaign orchestrated by the Israeli government, the U.S. government and their allies, hasn’t worked. Young people, including young Jews are more and more critical of Israel. Part of the reason for the slander campaign is the desire to counter the declining support for Zionist oppression of the Palestinians
Given this controversy there has never been a more important time to clarify the major issues around Palestinian liberation. Haymarket has published many books on Palestinian liberation. In fact, its first book was The Struggle for Palestine. Palestine, A Socialist Introduction is a needed extension and updating of that original analysis.
This book is a very important introduction to the issue but it is much more. It explains clearly why anyone concerned with equality and democracy should support the Palestinian cause. Just as importantly, it explains to supporters of Palestine why they should be socialists. Further , it examines in detail important controversies among supporters of Palestine which can shape strategies and tactics. All along it calls for activism around the issue especially highlighting the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement ( BDS)
The“ Roots of the Nakba: Zionist Settler Colonialism” lays out the basis of opposition to Zionism. This explains the nature of Palestine before the Zionist colonization, the alliance of Zionism with imperialism and the reactionary nature of Zionism from its inception in Europe. It is clear from this description that Palestine was not “ a land without people” as the Zionists claimed. Palestine was a well developed thriving society that was displaced by the expulsion of the Palestinians called the Nakba.
This is followed by “ How Israel Became the Watchdog State: U.S. Imperialism and the Middle East”. Israel was backed by the USSR , Britain at France at first. The U.S. became its main backer from the late 60’s on. This alliance was based on the complimentary interests of the U.S. and Israel, not the “Israel Lobby” that some on the left blame. This alliance resulted in Israeli support for regimes the U.S. was reluctant to embrace, Guatemala, South Africa etc.
“ The Price of “Peace” on Their Terms” explains why the “peace process” has been a disaster. It was always aimed at the consolidation of Israeli power over the Palestinians, not at creating a viable Palestinian state. Palestinians who opposed it were correct to see it as a Zionist/Imperialist process, not a road to liberation.
Why did the Palestine Liberation Organization go along with the “ peace process” that did not further the needs of Palestinians? This is explained in the “ Price of “Peace”..” The background to this capitulation is laid out in “ National Liberation Struggle: A Socialist Analysis”. The author examines the political weaknesses of leading Palestinian organizations. Just as important, he explains the class basis of those politics. He clearly outlines the class conflict of the Palestinian elite and the workers and farmers of Palestine. He lays out a socialist solution to the oppression of Palestine based on the regional working class.
This discussion of political strategy continues with “ Not an Ally: The Israeli Working Class”. This is a very good update on “The Class Nature of Israel” in the Struggle for Palestine. It explains why the Israeli working class is not a potential revolutionary force. This is very important. Some on the Left defer to the Israeli working class and so oppose BDS and are even weak on the right of return for Palestinians — -This is true of those in the CWI/Militant tradition and now the U.S. SWP, which has become conservative on other political issues. This chapter focuses on the overwhelming privilege of the Israeli working class and how its benefits are based on Zionism/dispossession of Palestinians. The analogy they use is local economies that are based on a state prison. The chapter spends a fair amount of time examining the effects on the political attitudes of Israeli workers that come from the Zionist structure.
A similar strategic discussion is contained in “Multiple Jeopardy: Gender and Liberation in Palestine”. The role of women and LGBTQ people is often ignored or downplayed in liberation struggles. This chapter rightly corrects that omission in regard to Palestine, stressing the leading role women have played. Just as importantly, it explains the necessity of any movement for liberation taking up gender issues.
Related to this is the important historical and current discussion on the links between Black Liberation and Palestine in “ Cops Here, Bombs There: Black Palestinian Solidarity”. The issue itself is important in explaining why oppressed people should support Palestine. It also puts Palestinian liberation in a broader context.
This broader context is explained further in “ Palestine in Tahrir”. It discusses the Palestinian movement in the context of the Arab Spring. This reinforces the idea that the liberation of Palestine is an international issue.
This international dimension is taken up in the important international BDS campaign in the interview with Omar Barghouti, international leader of BDS. This interview is very important since it outlines the most important contribution that those outside of Palestine can make to the Palestinian cause. This is further motivated in “ Afterword: Its Time to Move”
Finally the importance of seeing Palestine as part of the struggle for human liberation generally is explained in the introduction and the final sections. Imperialism is an integral part of capitalism. Zionism is dependent on Imperialism. Liberation of Palestine must be connected with the struggle against imperialism and capitalism. These issues are taken up in “About This Book” and “Conclusion: Revolution Until Victory”
This is an important contribution both to newcomers to the issue of Palestine, and to long time activists and socialists concerned with strategy and tactics in the movement
|
https://medium.com/@sleigh1917/palestine-is-controversial-among-progressives-where-should-people-stand-on-this-issue-e8331a49e0f8
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['A Marxist View Of Current Events']
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2020-12-06 23:34:23.146000+00:00
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['International Relations', 'Palestine And Israel', 'Marxism', 'Imperialism', 'Revolution']
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Word of Power: how to convey motion effect by typography
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Word of Power: how to convey motion effect by typography
Creation of a dynamic identity for video production OMA. We translated our article previously published on the Skillbox Media design blog. maryco Dec 17, 2021·6 min read
Image: OMA / designed by maryco studio
OMA is a full cycle video production. Previously, the team filmed only commercials, but in 2020 the company was reorganized under a new brand. Its positioning has changed — now it also deals with television programs and films.
The updated brand needed a new corporate identity: a logo with a 3D version for splash screens, a color palette and fonts. OMA intended to use this identity in video, as well as for office printing and publications.
The task
We did not have hard restrictions, only a few guidelines:
1. Reflect the ideas contained in the name “OMA”. First, this is the connection with the physical Ohm’s law, that is, with the strength of the current. Secondly, there is the mantra “Om” or “Aum” — a sacred sound that is called the word of power. That is, the name contains a wide range of associations from electricity to sound waves. It was crucial to convey images of purity, strength, clarity and movement in the logo.
2. Use white, black, blue and green colors. And no yellow, red and orange.
3. Convey the character of the brand. The OMA team develops new ideas for each project, knows how to find non-trivial solutions, so the visual should be alive, moderately minimalistic, but catchy.
Our approach is to build on the logo: this is how we move from smaller to larger. Moreover, it is often the logo that dictates the style, like a constant. We agreed with OMA that we will offer three versions of the logo and choose one, which we will refine and use as the basis of the identity.
Logo development: general concept and different options
All the references that the client showed us were minimalistic, often abstract, with subtle optical illusions.
Image: Advertising Agency GSP / Seagate
Building on the references, we have identified two key ideas:
· Using three letters of the name as a logo — to create a vivid image and emphasize the character of the brand through the font.
· Convey themes of current, sound and video through plasticity and rhythms, create the motion effect.
References that we have selected. Image: maryco studio
For three concepts, we hand-drawn the letters and translated them into vectors.
The first version of the logo
Image: OMA / designed by maryco studio
We chose a spelling in which vertical lines seem to cut the letters. Due to this, the forms come to life, the motion effect and displacement appears. When you look at this logo, it is intuitively clear how the dynamics will be built, how it can be played up.
The client liked the idea, but they weren’t hooked on it.
The second version of the logo
Image: OMA / designed by maryco studio
This version is more laconic, thin, without graphic deformations. But the motion effect is still there: contrasting strokes set the rhythm and at the same time lighten the shapes.
While discussing this decision with the client, we came to the conclusion that the typeface was too soft and sophisticated in character. As a result, this option was abandoned.
The third version of the logo
Image: OMA / designed by maryco studio
Image: OMA / designed by maryco studio
We have prepared two styles. The first is basic. It is grotesque with geometric, understandable and readable symbols. Such a logo is suitable for small formats, for example, for avatars on social networks.
For large media, we made a second face — added a glitch effect to the base. It divides letters horizontally and creates a slope, while the word “OMA” is easy to read.
This logo turned out to be more neutral — geometric, simple and complex at the same time. The client approved it.
Next, we created a 3D version of the logo. We picked up a texture and made a model that can be used in both static and dynamic versions.
Image: OMA / designed by maryco studio
Style-forming elements: fonts and colors
The first concept
Fonts. We chose Ambidexter and Manrope to create contrast, break order and grab attention. Ambidexter would do well for this task in headlines as an accent.
Colors. Based on the client’s wishes, we proposed a combination of white, grayscale, as well as purple, dark blue and pink in both muted and saturated shades.
Layout with fonts and colors from the first concept. Image: OMA / designed by maryco studio
Layout with fonts and colors from the first concept. Image: OMA / designed by maryco studio
This palette, especially the combination of neon pink and blue, pleased the client. However, this solution had a drawback: when OMA uses these colors on its Instagram, the feed will turn out to be too dark.
Unexpectedly for us, the client asked us to use yellow in the new concept, which he wanted to exclude in the first brief. We agreed that we would not choose an open and flashy shade, but a more complex one — appropriate in a digital environment.
Second concept
Colors. This time, the palette is based on yellow and grayscale. We suggested using blue, green and purple colors as visual accents.
Fonts. In addition to combining Ambidexter and Manrope, we have prepared two new font pairs: Akrobat and Le Murmure, Manrope and PT Serif.
The second identity concept. Three font combinations: Manrope and Ambidexter, Akrobat and Le Murmure, Manrope and PT Serif. Image: OMA / designed by maryco studio
Layouts of the second identity concept. New colors and three font combinations: Manrope and Ambidexter, Akrobat and Le Murmure, Manrope and PT Serif. Image: OMA / designed by maryco studio
As a result, the following font combination was approved:
· For the headlines, we use the elegant Le Murmure accent and the neo-grotesque Akrobat. In both fonts, there are elongated, restrained characters.
· We leave the minimalistic and readable Manrope for typing.
|
https://medium.com/@maryco/word-of-power-how-to-convey-motion-effect-by-typography-5901e0eafcd5
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[]
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2021-12-17 10:03:30.069000+00:00
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['Design', 'Logo Design', 'Design Agency', 'Brand Identity Design']
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Sorry, Wrong Number
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Written by
Almost famous cartoonist who laughs at her own jokes and hopes you will, too.
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https://marcialiss17.medium.com/sorry-wrong-number-267918280006
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[]
|
2020-08-30 16:28:51.436000+00:00
|
['Humor', 'Life', 'Cartoon', 'Comics']
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Beautiful Reasons
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NEW LANGUAGES FOR DATA VISUALIZATIONS: STARTING A DIALOGUE
To be a designer you have to find new languages, new ways of entertaining people; and working with data you also have to make visuals that can become magnetic to people that are not familiar with data practices.
We believe that, sometimes, the act of loading an analytical representation with emotional investment produces attention rather than distraction, creates worlds that are evocative and nameless at the same time, able to inspire sensations, as long as we always respect the values in the data and we don’t manipulate the information.
To this regard, we can define successful designs as the ones able to balance convention (i.e. familiar forms our minds are already familiar with) and novelty: new features that can engage and delight people in the hope they will stick around our visualizations a bit longer, and in the hope we can help the conversations in our fields moving forward.
We believe that there isn’t a unique truth in data-visualization, and that there are more than one instead, more or less appropriate and effective depending on the scopes and the goals, on the data and on the readers, on the situations and contexts.
Dense and non-conventional data visualizations produce a type of behaviour that promotes slowness in this era of short attention span: if we can create visuals that are demanding the right slowness and the right level of engagement, people would slow them down to meet it.
This article is obviously not providing answers; I hope it can rather start a dialogue among practitioners and enthusiasts: how can we keep on exploring, guessing, imagining, hunching, trying combinations and trying to inspire feelings, as visual communicators who use images and symbols rather than words and numbers?
How can we be faithful to scientific accuracy while allowing space for exceptions to flourish, with the aim of bringing a range of new possibilities to the table?
|
https://medium.com/accurat-studio/beautiful-reasons-c1c6926ab7d7
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['Giorgia Lupi']
|
2016-01-21 17:04:06.478000+00:00
|
['Design', 'Data Visualization', 'Data']
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The 7 Social Engineering Techniques Your Employees Are Still Falling For.
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Security awareness training? Covered. Simulated phishing? Done. So how come employees are still falling for the same old social engineering techniques?
Last year, 30% of phishing emails were opened by their intended target and 12% of users proceeded to click on malicious attachments that allowed attackers the opportunity to breach an organisation. But social engineering isn’t just a problem that’s sticking around — it’s a growing threat.
In 2015, only 23% of users were reported to have opened a phishing email, suggesting that employees are now more susceptible to these attacks. So what techniques are employees still falling for?
We’ve put together four of the main social engineering techniques facing your employees.
Did you know…
it takes a business 191 on average to identify data breaches.
1.Falling for freebies
Take a look through your endless inbox of marketing emails and you’ll find a host of free stuff or ‘special offer’ discounts. While many of us are sceptical of just how ‘special’ these offers are, most employees can’t resist the temptation of freebies. Problem is — nothing is ever truly free.
That’s exactly why we’re still seeing the old social engineering trick of ‘Free Software’ being wielded around, and employees still falling for it. The software being downloaded could actually be something that is out there for free. The risks, however, come with visiting the harmful website, which could result in a user downloading infected or compromised software.
Read Next: The real reason why phishing attacks are so successful
Your employees can be even more at risk when visiting sites that are offering ‘bundling’ software, which means that they may have to download added software that they don’t even need, just to acquire the one they want.
Encourage your employees to check if your company has already licensed the software. If not, then visiting the software vendor’s website is a simple yet effective way of making sure that they are indeed offering this software, and that you’re downloading from a legitimate source.
2. “But it looked real?!”
Perhaps the more obvious one (yet one that is still fooling employees far too often) are work-related emails that look real or official. Subject lines can be crucial to these emails, with lines such as “Attached Invoice”, “Here’s the file you needed” and “Look at this CV” being some of the more successful types.
Although fraudulent work-related emails are tricky to spot, ‘consumer’ emails regarding topics like card notifications, or social networking accounts, can be just as harmful to your company. If an employee is to click on an email asking to reset their password for a personal account, chances are that they won’t look closely at where the email came from, which can potentially result in their computer being infected or taken over.
A quick and easy method of checking the authenticity of an email is for the user to simply hover their cursor over the email address of the sender before clicking on any link.
The risk of an employee exchanging sensitive information as a result if this type of social engineering can also be avoided with the use of a secure file transfer system, so you know where the file has come from and whether it has been vetted. Also, users should be made aware that any file asking the recipient to enable ‘macros’ should be reported, as this can lead to a system takeover.
3. Surfing social media during work
The door can be widely opened for cyber criminals when employees choose to browse Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms during work. Social media is the most common ingredient for a social engineering attack, one of the main reasons for this is that many employees are unaware of the potential risks that come from what is, for most of us, a daily activity. Add to that the lack of security awareness training focusing on social media use, and you have a recipe for a successful attack.
The rising trend of mobile workforces has also seen an increase in the use of social platforms on company devices, resulting in a further increase in significant risks to an organisation.
4. Accepting fake LinkedIn invitations
One of the most recent scams growing in popularity is the introduction of fraudulent employee accounts on LinkedIn, which are used for information gathering. For instance, someone creates a fake LinkedIn account posing as a known member of your organisation (usually, somebody within a project team or company executive). The fraudster connects with a user in your organisation, then starts to communicate via message.
For an employee, having a company executive connect with them and ask for company-related details, can mean that any suspicions are overshadowed by this perceived sense of importance and urgency. The danger here is that the employee is unwittingly handing over sensitive information to a cyber criminal, which is then used in a broader campaign to target the company through potential spear-phishing.
Through the high volume of connection requests we get via LinkedIn, it can be difficult to avoid accepting fake accounts. One step that can be taken is to encourage employees to email the work address of the person they have connected within their organisation (should that individual be asking for information).
5. Fake IT Support
Another commonly used social engineering tactic is posing as IT Support. If successful this can drastically impact a network. This type of attack is so successful because it can give the attacker physical access to network computers.
it can only take a matter of seconds for someone to compromise a computer with physical access. One of the most common tools for a social engineer to use is a USB thumb drive, there very small, easy to conceal and can easily be loaded with different types of payloads depending on the task that needs to be done.
6. Changing Passwords
This type of social engineering relies on calling up the help desk support of business and asking them to change the password of the person they are posing as. As this is is a method of vishing it is very difficult to determine whether the person is legitimate or not, people can easily be manipulated over the phone simply because you can hear their voice.
More often than not the social engineer will pose as a senior level employee such as a manager or a CEO. After all, they are the ones with access to the most important thing a business has, money and data. Once they get the password changed they can access what they want, but the actual employee can’t which makes it even more difficult to regain access and terminate the social engineers.
Similar read: 5 things you need to teach your employees about password security
7. The name-drop
This method of social engineering is very difficult to spot, simply because of a trusted colleague name being mentioned in an email. You would assume if an email contains someone's name it would not be from a social engineer.
Just like every social engineering scam, this one relies on your emotions, once you trust someone you will do whatever they ask. Even if it means giving away your credentials or password. The problem is you have no idea who is sat behind there screen sending you that email.
It could be a colleague!
Or it could be a cyber criminal!
Read next: The most common phishing emails that appear in your employee’s inboxes
|
https://medium.com/@emma.woods/the-7-social-engineering-techniques-your-employees-are-still-falling-for-6de5de0807f4
|
['Emma Woods']
|
2019-02-07 10:26:22.427000+00:00
|
['Employees', 'Social Engineering', 'Cybercrime', 'Cybersecurity', 'Phishing']
|
5 Strategies to Reduce Frontend Build Time with CI/CD
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1. Using Parallel Web Packs
Parallel-Webpack allows you to run your application builds in parallel, helping to reduce build times significantly.
You can get started using Parallel-Webpack easily with NPM using the following command:
npm install parallel-webpack — save-dev
To get a better understanding of Parallel-Webpack configuration, let’s go through this simple example.
var path = require('path');
module.exports = [{
entry: './firstjob.js',
output: {
path: path.resolve(__dirname, './dist'),
filename: 'task1.bundle.js'
}
},
{
entry: './secondjob.js',
output: {
path: path.resolve(__dirname, './dist'),
filename: 'task2.bundle.js'
}
}];
The above configuration includes two separate build tasks as firstjob and secondjob. Parallel-Webpack will run both these entries simultaneously, and you will find out that task1.bundle.js is built at the same time as task2.bundle.js.
Parallel-Webpack allows you to control parallelism and includes features from the normal Webpack like the watcher and retry limit.
Controlling Parallelism
Sometimes, you may want to limit the usage of CPU cores available for Parallel-Webpack. In such cases, you can specify the number of allowed CPU cores using parallel-webpack -p=2 command.
Running The Watcher
One of the features which make the Webpack so influential is its watcher that continuously rebuilds your application. You can use the same feature effortlessly with Parallel-Webpack by adding the watch flag to the command.
parallel-webpack --watch
Likewise, there are many exciting features in Parallel-Webpack that can be integrated into your CI/CD pipeline to speed it up. And you can find more information about them in their documentation.
|
https://blog.bitsrc.io/5-strategies-to-reduce-frontend-build-time-with-ci-cd-3ce429304d1a
|
['Bhagya Vithana']
|
2021-05-21 07:19:02.927000+00:00
|
['Micro Frontends', 'Frontend Development', 'Parallel Webpacks', 'Dependency Caching', 'Npm Ci']
|
Be brave enough to keep it simple
|
Lovely piece of wisdom in that quote.
In all of my work as a sounding board to leaders and to teams, I have never (never!) found an occasion where it was important for them to make things more complicated in order to get their message across, to get alignment, agreement, engagement, energy, enthusiasm, motivation etc.
I’ve written on this site many times away simplicity and will do so again today, but today I will focus on why there is demand for specialists like me to support change.
It comes down to one word. Bravery.
Some people are not brave, some people don’t believe they are (but have untapped and powerful depths of courage awaiting being unleashed), some have bravery by the bucketload and simply need it focussed in the right way.
Let us explore some.
Bravery and Entrepreneurs
Let us start with Entrepreneurs. I wrote about this in this post, noting:
A real entrepreneur has no choice. That’s it. Being an entrepreneur and working with entrepreneurs, when I ask people why they started their business, the answer always contains something like: “I couldn’t NOT do it”
In that article, I quoted my inspiring entrepreneurial friend Maeve Gillies:
“I have often said “Leap and the net will appear”,
though the net doesn’t always look like a net”.
So, being entrepreneurial is highly linked to bravery. Oh, and entrepreneurial mindset goes way, way beyond starting a business. Leaders in corporate situations who decided to go with the transformational, the radical. Those people must, as Steve Jobs said, be “the crazy ones” those who “think different”.
Bravery and Simplicity
In the last week, I wrote more than once about clients and clients distilling ideas, plans, strategies down to one page. Whether a small business, multi-billion dollar global organisation or a national government, the process is the same and the value always clear, obvious, palpable and tangible.
Those recent posts:
“Simplicity on the other side of complexity”
“Simple, but not easy”
Writing these two recent posts reminded me of an older one: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”, noting once again the work with clients to simplify:
“I write this having this week spent a day with a wonderful large team who spend their days working on complex issues, researching and reporting them. Often they create reports that are many tens of pages long.
I asked them “what would good look like ?” and they said “no more than three of four pages”. I then asked “what would great look like ?” and the answer was “one page”.
That felt like wisdom to me. So, at the end of six hours together, they aligned around a report for themselves from their day of collaboration and discussion. The length of that report? One page.”
Now, it is nine month or so since I wrote those words, and as I write this post I am also preparing for my latest meeting with that client and their team.
They have certainly made progress in that time, yet though they are still very clear on the power of that “one-page” strategy, they are still having a lot of the same conversations about what needs to change.
As I write this, I recognise that the missing piece in this case, and so often, is bravery.
In writing the post yesterday, “simple, but not easy”, I started to talk about the shift in feelings it takes to actually create a space where radical change is possible and can and will happen.
I’ve worked with such opportunities to be brave again and again. This year I put myself in the hands of the masters that are Alison and Matt at AliMat Inc to extract from me my thoughts and distil them to words. They are geniuses at what they do, and when they put words on my #BeMoreYou page (which talks about the attributes of those who choose to work with me) about what I see as Bravery.
These words speak to me. This is what I believe that attribute is all about.
Be Brave.
Bravery means you’re open to being uncomfortable, to stretching, as that’s where the growth lies. If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re playing it too safe.
Bravery is a virtuous circle. When you embrace your full potential (discomfort and all). Your vision becomes clearer and your confidence increases, even in the face of uncertainty.
Simplify your vision, your strategy, your plan, your message. Sometimes it feels brave to discard the fifty-page powerpoint deck and all the charts and data, but be brave. Be open, stretch. Be supported through this and feel the virtuous circle as bravery begets more bravery.
|
https://tommccallum.medium.com/be-brave-enough-to-keep-it-simple-85ab0c90c965
|
['Tom Mccallum']
|
2018-11-27 20:32:47.306000+00:00
|
['Wisdom', 'Trust', 'Vulnerability', 'Openleadership']
|
Random Acts of Kindness: Have We Lost the Ability to Be Kind?
|
The phrase “practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” was written by Anne Herbert on a placemat in Sausalito, California in 1982. It was based on and, in some way, to counteract or contrast the phrase “random acts of violence and senseless acts of cruelty”.
This phrase has always resonated with me and I believe it to be a basic tenet of Tikkun Olam. Translated into English this means “to repair the world”.
Has the world gone less kind?
Could it be that the world we live in is less kind world than the one we grew up in? Or are we just more aware of the unkindness and incivility as it is splashed over every image electronic or otherwise that we see and hear? When yelling seems to be a perfectly acceptable way of making your point.
At the time Herbert wrote on that napkin these profound words I was the age my daughter is now and I believe the world was a kinder place. Or at least more civilized.
I am not talking about healthy debate. I am talking about a way to interact with other people that begins in hostility and anger. An anger that is almost instantaneous. Quite unprovoked and completely over the top. There is no counting to ten in this scenario. Someone disagrees with you and you scream. It makes no sense to me.
Kindness isn’t weakness. Decency should be our lowest common denominator of human interaction, not the highest. It’s not a free speech issue either. It’s free to say whatever hurtful crap you feel like saying because there are no repercussions.
Common courtesy is how we live together in a peaceful society.
Or apologize by still blaming us for making them act the way they do.
Who feels better?
It reminds me of a car advertisement about an engine that can go from zero to 60 in under 5 seconds. So too, is seeming calm to rage in under 60 seconds.
I have a theory that people who yell and scream and feel justified to vent any time they want somehow feel better after the incident or outburst. Like letting steam out of a boiling kettle or taking your foot off the gas pedal. Unfortunately, the one who was yelled at or had anger screamed all over them has no such relief.
And further, I believe this hostile behavior of completely out of proportion outbursts is a learned behavior. Temper tantrums are for little children who cannot or are unable to express their feelings in any other way. A grown ass adult shouldn’t be allowed to behave that way. No matter who they are.
The more people get away with it, say over a lifetime, the more acceptable to them it becomes. “He sure does have a temper” or “that’s just how she talks” or “he’s under a lot of pressure” aren’t explanations. It’s acceptance and enabling this sort of behavior to continue and go unchecked. To be laughed off and unconfronted.
Human interaction doesn’t have to be confrontational. There is an us and them going on in the world today that evokes hostility. In many cases I believe anger covers up fear and fear is scary. So why not just yell until you feel better? Because it takes a terrible toll on the people around you.
It happens all the time
I see this in my practice with people in relationships both long and short term, where one partner can’t control themselves and is unable to filter or doesn’t want to get a handle on their outbursts.
Unfortunately, we have all sorts of ways to overreact now. Not just fact to face but on the phone, text, email, Facebook, FaceTime. And the other person in the relationship tries to be reasonable and in many cases apologizes for nothing in particular just to get back to some sort of calm.
It’s the containment that we, as a society, have lost the ability to do. You feel anger? Take a breath. Are you mad at someone or something? Don’t lash out. Try instead to figure out the trigger and work on that. I have a friend that used to make the sound of a truck backing up when she thought someone was going to dump on her. It was very effective at getting people’s attention and changing the atmosphere.
My advice?
Don’t let anyone be unkind or uncivil to you. If someone says something, and you are not afraid for your life, call them on their crap. Walking on eggshells until the next outburst isn’t the way to live your best life. And just because it has always been that way it doesn’t mean it always has to be that way in the future. You deserve kindness and respect.
The next time you feel yourself get angry, stop and think about the source and proportion of that anger. You are not a three-year-old. Get a grip.
When we are in a relationship of any type it seems a basic premise that their feelings or comfort should be important to us. And as I get older I find the people whom I spend most of my time with have many lovely qualities, but above all I would say kindness is the most important one.
Examine the interactions in your life. If you feel angry and bitter work on that and not taking it out on the people around you. Model kindness.
Be kind to yourself. Now over to you: How do you control your anger?
Spread the word
|
https://medium.com/the-ascent/random-acts-of-kindness-have-we-lost-the-ability-to-be-kind-tamara-mendelson-4874efba8ee3
|
['Tamara Mendelson']
|
2019-08-14 15:21:50.109000+00:00
|
['World', 'Coaching', 'Positive Psychology', 'Kindness', 'Blog']
|
Just Ice of Thailand. Shame on Judicial System.
|
Near 9:10 28 august 4–5 people from the Court of justice Ratchada (they used special uniform) came to me near gate 8 of criminal court and we go to sit near the office of the court of justice (next building) and I explained that I came to look records from CCTVs, I came with the police report from Phahonyotin Police Station about someone stole my phone when I slept near the gate 8 of Ratchada criminal court. Also, I explained about my cases that I sue and about corruption, inactions of police and officials. After when they learned the details we went to section 7 of Ratchada criminal court, where I sent my form to sue. The case was accepted with number 2218/2563 26 august 2020 but after 10–30 minutes judge Suraphan Boonchuay (นายสุรพันธ์ บุญช่วย) wrote a comment on the form that he can not read and understand the text (which wrote volunteer lawyer in this court at 26 Aug 2020 and other part was typed by computer) and I have to rewrite in 15 days. People from the court of justice said there have a volunteer lawyer in 10 meters from section 7 she can rewrite for me, we moved to her, and they spoke with her and they again said she can rewrite the form for me. Next, judge Nathlita Charoenkhasemsuk (ณัฏฐ์ลิตา เจริญเขษมมีสุข) from Ratchada criminal court came and started to talk with people from the court of justice and people from section 7. When finished talking they did not explain anything and everybody gone. I not understood whats happen and just waited 1–2 hours. After I asked section 7 whats happen — the answer was I have to wait. Then I went to the office of the court of justice and their officer said that people from the Russian embassy going to the Ratchada criminal court, I have to wait and I came back there. After 30–60 minutes I see few police officers showing the finger to my side, next they followed me and tried to make me in the circle. I started to worry about my safety. I asked them did I made something bad or wrong, or they want to arrest me for some reason, they said not. It was just moral pressure. After the judge came back and started to talk with the police. I asked her what’s happening she said I can not sue in criminal court and I can not also look at records from CCTV cameras. I asked from policemen, he said I can not look at CCTV cameras and also can not stay in the court anymore. Then I said I have the report from the local police and I have to look CCTVs records. The judge said again I can’t, I explained that day before, 27 august 2020, security of the court in the evening contacted the person responsible for CCTV and he said at 9 am I can go and look at records. (Also 28 august that moment when all people have gone from the place near the volunteer lawyer, security also came and invite me to go look at the records of CCTV. I explained to security that I do not understand where gone all people and why they have gone and maybe I have to wait.) the judge said security gave the wrong information and she will claim him. (This security ex-army soldier and even I did not have money to buy food when I sit and waited near the court is the person who helped me in my bad situation, he brought me some food and tried to help). After I explained to the police that I do nothing bad I just tried to fight alone with the criminal and misconduct of officials. After that pressure and I did not see the progress of my cases, and they did not give me access to a record of CCTV I came out of the court. But police still followed me. Then I went to 7/11 in the next building of the courts they came and looked to windows of 7/11 and continued to follow me when I came to the food buffet next door. Then started to rain and I moved to the side of the civil court. I turned back and I did not see anyone and then I leave the territory of the court’s complex. My life in danger now. If something happens to me or someone kills please know that information. Airat Goldin. 30 August 2020. I’m still alive and continue to fight for the truth.
|
https://medium.com/@umbrellacorp/just-ice-of-thailand-shame-on-judicial-system-4b36d03ccd06
|
[]
|
2021-06-22 09:46:16.124000+00:00
|
['Judiciary', 'Thailand', 'Thai', 'Courts', 'Justice']
|
Anchors aweigh
|
The loss of religious faith can be at once heart-breakingly sad and joyously cathartic. The release of one’s energies from strictly controlled dogma can produce a lightness of spirit rarely felt when within dogma’s grasp, but the loss of what was once believed to be absolute truth can leave many sorrowful.
Many, without the certainty of life’s meaning and an entire community of like-believers to guide them along, begin to flounder within the new lightness — all past anchors are now aweigh, so they drift through the grey, unfamiliar waters of no-faith, all the while grieving for the comfort of their once truth.
’Tis a sad and lonely voyage, at times, but not one truly taken solo. All are guided and guarded more closely through this passage than any other, for, not only, do higher guides join the journey, one’s higher self lays hand to the tiller.
’Tis the higher self that leads one to this point and ’tis this aspect of self that will steer one onwards, for now it has been fully released back to its owner, but this re-connection can take much time to feel comfortable.
Many, perhaps, prefer to live for a time in stark reality, close their minds and hearts to anything remotely spiritual — understandable, of course, cold reality can be a calming refuge for the spiritually wounded, but the temptation of truth’s knowing often, eventually, niggles. Many resist fearing more hurt, more seemingly foolish gullibility.
Mm, so how does one who has experienced profound disillusionment with what they once thought to have believed regain any form of faith?
Well, ’tis not truly a question of regaining structured faith, for faith bides in the soul of the seeker — and seekers you all be, but ’tis a question of regaining trusting faith in one’s own judgement.
What needs to be recognized here is that whatever has been left behind has been replaced with knowledge, knowledge that would not have been attained if a judgement, good or no, had not been previously made to experience, to seek. ’Tis the seeking, not the gifting, of knowledge that will lead to finding one’s own absolute truth, truth that will lift not bind, truth that will allow one to journey not stay anchored to the sharp, unyielding reefs of someone else’s dogma.
We ask you to not fret for your faith beloved children, for it is innate — inner energy, not outer. We ask you to not harshly judge your past judgement, but rather celebrate the gifts it brings, for your wise judgement knows when to lead or follow, knows when to leave or wallow.
Aweigh anchors at will beloved seekers, trusting in the hand laid to the tiller for it wisely seeks truth always and ways.
Trust. Be peace and sail freely over the sea of life and its beckoning mysteries.
Namaste.
Channelled 29/08/2019.
|
https://medium.com/illumination/anchors-aweigh-6276f7bca913
|
['Claire Elaine']
|
2020-06-18 08:47:32.478000+00:00
|
['Religion', 'Personal Growth', 'Spirituality', 'Faith', 'Spiritual Growth']
|
Building a disruptive frontend for commercial insurance
|
Our library of choice at Cytora is React and the Underwriting Productivity Suite (UWP) is the primary frontend application we are currently working on. React.JS is a fantastic library that is used in modern single-page applications in particular — which means they don’t refresh as you click around. Strong industry backing from the likes of Facebook, who are also the creators, makes it a very safe choice.
The product itself is designed to help insurers reduce expense ratios and deliver profitable growth. The suite uses our proprietary APIs to augment submissions as they come in, filter out risks that are out of appetite for the insurer, and prioritise these submissions according to their value.
Along with this application, we also have a collection of micro-frontends focused on a single responsibility, all using React and react hooks for state management, styling, side effects, etc.
The move to monorepo
Naturally, this presented my first challenge at Cytora. Having many frontends in separate repositories has the tendency of encouraging code duplication i.e., having almost identical pieces of code doing the same thing.
This can grow into a maintainability nightmare because if you need to make an important change, for example how you login, you have to make it in all the frontends. Making changes like these across many repositories is messy and difficult to track, and testing across repositories becomes complicated very quickly.
Typically, some companies would approach this problem by supporting both ways of doing the same thing, only upgrading the frontends which need this new functionality and referring to the older way of doing things as “legacy”, with the promise of going back “later” to update this older code.
The only problem here is if this “legacy” code is still being used you still need to maintain it along with its dependencies.Before you know it, you’ve essentially doubled the amount of work as well as restricting yourself in the future, as every new thing you add may need to be compatible with this “legacy” code you still have lying around.
This is not a new story by any means, but its ramifications and pitfalls are well documented, and many have experienced this pain first-hand. To mitigate this at Cytora, we decided to separate application-specific code from reusable code using a well-known package called Lerna.
This library allowed us to organise our codebase by allowing us to create independent, single responsibility packages designed to fulfil a specific role regardless of the context they are used.
This means we can abstract away commonly used or “boilerplate” code into individual modules ready to be consumed by all our frontends. We also went a step further with this, setting up a CI/CD process that handles automatic versioning and publishing to our internal private repository ready to be used by each one of our frontends.
The development experience was improved because of this and it freed the frontend team to make key changes in internal packages at will — but we didn’t stop there. As with most modern web applications, we had to ensure the application we built matched our brand, both in style and feel.
Building out the component library
Previously we used a mixture of LESS, SASS, and inline styles in our applications which were sufficient for what we were building. Ordinarily, inline styling is generally discouraged because you cannot do things like pseudos and media queries without involving some sort of JavaScript. These things are very important if you want your application to be responsive.
However, with the new requirement of centralising our styling across all our frontends, we needed to create a UI component library which again could be consumed by all our frontends, rather than using a mixture of three approaches to style our applications.
To accomplish this, we decided to use Material-UI as a base design language due to its maturity as well as the variety of pre-made components and combined it with styled-components to allow us to skin these components with our brand style and colours.
Our UX team provided all the wireframes for our components including different states such as hover, focus, active, etc. It it was our team’s responsibility to convert these designs into usable, pixel-perfect components via styled-components.
Using this library meant styles become an integral part of the component, not something you add later, making reusing and applying styles a breeze. Styling wasn’t the only key consideration when we were scoping the requirements for the UWP.
The collection of micro-frontends we have were focused on a singular task, making things such as state management easy to do using React hooks. With the UWP it was very clear we would need a more robust way to manage state across the application.
Choosing how to do state management
State management is one of the most fundamentally important decisions you can make when developing scalable, enterprise web applications. Generally speaking, you literally cannot afford to get it wrong, as to do so and having to switch to another library, will take you a lot of time, and we all know the old adage…
Previously Facebook (the creators of React) introduced hooks, particularly the `useState` hook which allows you to store small bits of state. In recent times we have seen the emergence of Recoil, a new state management library by the same author, which is intended, in their own words, to be “minimal and reactish”. You can also see some notable entries like “reactn” to name a few.
It’s exciting to see these new entries into the scene however it’s equally important to think about long-term support and maturity. While the newer kids on the block have a lot going for them, there continues to be a single library that has clear dominance in the state management “market”, not just in React but in other UI libraries too — Redux.
We knew that our state was going to change often, complex data structures would exist in terms of risk data, and multiple components would depend on these states.
From this using React in-built state management was out of the question from a global state management perspective. We would instead use hooks to handle small, localised state not needed elsewhere and use Redux to manage global state.
To help with this we created helper packages to abstract away any complexities in Redux, allowing our main product and micro-frontends to benefit from a consistent way to manage state.
This provided further benefits because now we had a unified approach on how we manage state in the frontend space, further closing the knowledge gap between different projects.
A developer could jump from one codebase to another with ease, speeding up productivity overall. We did a few things in this area to speed things up and automate as much as possible.
Improving the developer experience
There is a saying that mixed project standards can be worse than no standards at all! It’s something that happens naturally in any organisation that has been around for a while.
People have different styles, technologies change, new approaches are adopted and very easily you can end up with multiple coding patterns spread across your organisation.
This, of course, affects interoperability, slowing down development as you need to “learn” a project before you can be effective at it. Because of this, we decided to unify code standards across all frontends using tools such as ES-Lint & Prettier.
They work by setting specific rules, perform static analysis on the code, and automatically fixing issues. This meant our projects began converging around a single standard.
Augmenting this with a clear set of coding and patterns guidelines, such as exclusive use of functional programming, meant we could not only increase the speed of development but also reuse code across multiple projects much easier.
With a focus on CI/CD across the frontend space, testing was another key area to ensure we deliver high-quality features into the production environment.
Ensuring the reliable delivery of features
Along with static code analysis, unit and integration tests are an essential part of how we ensure quality at Cytora. JEST is a great testing platform, with the ability to adapt to any JavaScript library or framework which made it perfect for use within our React ecosystem.
At Cytora we use React Testing Library combined with JESTDOM to write unit tests, and BrowserStack for our integration tests. Given JEST’s inbuilt support for code coverage, powered by Istanbul, we can easily integrate all these metrics directly into our CI/CD platform. This made it very easy to set thresholds on code coverage, quality and standards.
Of course, after the application has gone live is where things get interesting. I’ve always thought the best QA’s in the world is the public at large — no joke! I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen someone using an application in ways you would have never imagined or designed. This, of course, is a rich area for unexpected behaviour and errors which are better found sooner rather than later…
Integrating with third-party providers
Looking at solutions to this issue there are two paths you can take: build the solution yourself, or get something off the shelf. It’s always going to be a balance between the resources you currently have and what needs to be done and implementing third party providers was the perfect balance for us.
We went for Sentry to provide application monitoring to our frontends and help us diagnose, fix, and optimise code way before a support ticket is raised. This means we are aware of how the application is performing in the wild and can address issues as soon as they creep up, making us extremely responsive to customer needs.
LaunchDarkly is also another tool we use in multiple contexts. At its core, it is a feature flagging tool meaning we can turn features on and off for different audiences as we pleased. It was also critical to our CI/CD approach because it allows us to ship features in progress and turn them off in a production environment until they are ready.
What’s next?
Working on a greenfield project like the Underwriting Productivity Suite has been both interesting and challenging. There is a certain air around ensuring you are making the correct decisions to support future endeavours which adds to the planning, but the experience has been fantastic and rewarding.
What we’ve been able to build so far is a modern, fast, and disruptive application; we truly are building the future of commercial insurance. Watch this space.
For more detail on the Underwriting Productivity Suite, visit the Cytora website.
|
https://medium.com/engineering-at-cytora/how-do-you-build-a-disruptive-frontend-for-commercial-insurance-4aa97b65271
|
['David Makuni']
|
2020-12-21 13:07:13.503000+00:00
|
['React', 'JavaScript', 'Front End Development', 'Insurance', 'AI']
|
Does Elasticsearch lie? How does Elasticsearch work?
|
Elasticsearch surprises us with its capabilities and speed of action, but does it return the correct results? In this post, you’ll learn how Elasticsearch works under the hood, and why returned aggregations are some kind of approximation.
Elasticsearch under the hood
Indices, shards and replicas
Let’s start with how Elasticsearch organizes data. You already know the concepts of index, it looks like a table in a relational database. Each index consists of at least one shard and any number of replicas.
Shards divide the data in the index. Such shard can be allocated on different nodes in the cluster. Thanks to this we can distribute data processing. Generalizing, based on routing, the added document will go to the first, next to the second, etc.
On the other hand, replicas play the role of protection against failure and support readings (you can only write to primary shards, you can read from shards and replicas). Suppose you have an index with a configuration of 3 primary shardy and 2 replicas. How many indexes (primary + replica) will the index have? 9 (1, 1 ′, 1 ″, 2, 2 ′, 2 ″, 3, 3 ′, 3 ″).
Primary shard and replicas within the same data form a replication group. When a new record goes to primary shard, it is responsible for sending it to replicas.
Queries and aggregations
When we ask for a specific record, the query is forwarded to the node with the shard where it is located. The node knows this based on the metadata (the node with the master role is responsible for it).
When we ask for a set of documents or aggregation, the query goes to all nodes containing shards of the questioned index. These return the result to the node that aggregates the results and returns them to the client.
Estimation
Why is aggregation just an estimate? Let’s look at Terms Aggregation, equivalent to GROUP BY + COUNT in SQL.
Suppose we have 3 shards, each with some records. We ask the cluster to count all the repeating values of a field. Based on the previous section, we know that such a query goes to each of the nodes. Let’s assume that it is like in the picture below.
I forgot to mention that we wanted TOP 3 values. So each node takes its TOP 3 and returns it to the node that coordinates the query.
Change of decision. We want TOP 4. We ask the cluster about the same and get different results. Not only that X has more records, but A and Z swapped places.
Test
In previous stories I described the collection, processing and analysis of public transport data in Warsaw. Let’s see if the records will be different based on this dataset. For comparison, I used Apache Spark together with the elasticsearch-spark library. If you want to connect it to Spark, take a look at this post.
In previous stories I described the collection, processing and analysis of public transport data in Warsaw. Let’s see if the records will be different based on this dataset. For comparison, I used Apache Spark together with the elasticsearch-spark library. If you want to connect it to Spark, take a look at my blog post (it’s in Polish, but Google Translate works quite well).
DataFrame in Apache Spark
In the Elasticsearch index with bus data, the date field does not have a standard format, so I had to set the es.mapping.date.rich option to false.
.option("es.nodes.wan.only","true")
.option("es.port","9200")
.option("es.net.ssl","false")
.option("es.nodes", "
.option("es.net.http.auth.user","elastic")
.option("es.net.http.auth.pass","xxxxxxx")
.option("es.mapping.date.rich","false")
val ztm = es.load("ztm") val es = spark.read.format("org.elasticsearch.spark.sql").option("es.nodes.wan.only","true").option("es.port","9200").option("es.net.ssl","false").option("es.nodes", " http://hadoop06 ").option("es.net.http.auth.user","elastic").option("es.net.http.auth.pass","xxxxxxx").option("es.mapping.date.rich","false")val ztm = es.load("ztm")
Top 20 Lines
Apache Spark version:
ztm.groupBy("lines").count().orderBy(desc("count")).show()
Elasticsearch version:
POST ztm/_search
{
"size": 0,
"aggs": {
"num_of_lines": {
"terms": {
"field": "lines",
"size": 20
}
}
}
}
There are many differences, but mainly due to the rows shift. Count is the same for most records. How will it look like with ascending order instead of descending?
By the way, we learned what stupidity sometimes we get from the API. Once again, you can see how important data quality is, and hence the quality control.
Top 10 vehicleNumber
Apache Spark version:
ztm.groupBy("vehicleNumber").count().orderBy(desc("count")).show()
Elasticsearch version:
POST ztm/_search
{
"size": 0,
"aggs": {
"num_of_vehicle_number": {
"terms": {
"field": "vehicleNumber"
}
}
}
}
In this case, hardly anyone agrees. Only the record from the first place as such can be counted.
Can we fix it?
The larger the size in the Elasticsearch query, the closer the results will be to the correct ones, but we will have to wait longer for them. In addition to the size parameter, you can use shard_size. This parameter defines how many records the counting node should return to the coordinating node, and its default value is (size * 1.5 + 10). There is also an option to display the error value for the worst case by the show_term_doc_count_error parameter (helps in determining shard_size).
Conclusions
As you can see, sometimes Elasticsearch can fool us. Is it wrong? It all depends on our expectations. There is one parameter that I have not mentioned yet. Time to complete queries. Elasticsearch responded immediately. I had to wait a bit for the Apache Spark result.
As the saying goes: life is a matter of choice 🙂 either quickly or exactly
|
https://medium.com/swlh/does-elasticsearch-lie-how-does-elasticsearch-work-f2d4e2bf92c9
|
['Maciej Szymczyk']
|
2020-07-01 20:48:28.275000+00:00
|
['Elasticsearch', 'Elastic Stack', 'Spark', 'Apache Spark']
|
Do Not Despise Wisdom
|
© 2020 Joao Tzanno. All Rights Reserved. Unsplash. Used by permission
T.S. Eliot is reputed to have asked, “Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?” Just as there is a difference between wisdom and knowledge, there is a difference between ignorance, naiveté, and foolishness, and it moves from bad to worse as we read from left to right.
Few things equal the frustration of trying to reason intelligently with one who rejects reason, knowledge, or wisdom. At times it feels like trying to win an argument with a drunk. That cannot be done. God blessed us with a mind and he expects us to use it, and to love him with it.
Wise men store up knowledge, But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand. — Proverbs 10:14, NASB How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?
And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing
And fools hate knowledge? — Proverbs 1:22, NASB
It has been 3,000 years, and Solomon’s question still resonates with relevance. How long, Solomon? Probably until time is no more.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction. — Proverbs 1:7, NASB
Such shunning of wisdom and knowledge is not unexpected. Indeed, it was prophesied. The apostle Paul characterized the practice as “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7) and then goes so far as to say they “oppose the truth” (verse 8).
That is deliberate ignorance.
Just so we don’t embrace the notion that this is no big deal, let’s look at how Paul introduces these despisers of knowledge.
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; — 2 Timothy 3:1–5a, NASB
I do not want my name associated with a list like that.
Humanity has a long and inglorious history of despising knowledge. The apostle Peter says the mockers and scoffers of the last days are “willingly ignorant” (2 Peter 3:5), and the apostle Paul says they are “without excuse” (Romans 1:20).
For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, — Romans 1:21–22, NASB
In this instance, the mockers and scoffers profess wisdom, but are fools. Arrogance is no better than ignorance. How often we see hatred of God’s knowledge portrayed as enlightenment. As Christ-followers, we want to pursue truth, wisdom, and knowledge, but we must give care regarding what we claim to know. “Knowledge puffs up” (1 Corinthians 8:1).
Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. — John 9:41, NIV-1978 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; — Psalm 1:1, ESV
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Victoriously in Christ!
– damon
DamonJGray.org
Medium.com
Facebook Author Page
Twitter — @DamonJGray
YouTube Channel
|
https://medium.com/@damonjgray/do-not-despise-wisdom-e08ceec8f48d
|
['Damon J. Gray']
|
2020-07-01 18:18:23.461000+00:00
|
['Wisdom', 'Bible', 'Knowledge', 'Christian Living', 'Proverbs']
|
Blitz.js- A React.js Framework for Fullstack Apps
|
By Payal Mittal
Blitz.js- A React.js Framework for Fullstack Apps
As technology is evolving, everyone is getting used to the simplicity it offers. The same thing is happening to the developers. With so many options available out there, the fresher developers keep looking for simpler options for web application development and the senior developers look forward to options that reduce the mundane manual work.
Ruby on Rails proved itself to be a major bundling force, after its release in 2005. Another major unbundling occurred with the release of React.js in 2013 which quickly become the driving force for rapid front-end development.
It was 2020 and almost the time for another major bundling, therefore the release of Blitz.
Blitz is the perfect choice for simpler web development, having a highly scalable architecture. It comes with all the boring stuff already configured and hence gives you a fun experience working with it.
In this blog, I’ll give you a brief insight into Blitz.js and its amazing features-
All About Blitz.js -
Blits.js is a battery-included, full-stack React framework built upon Next.js with a zero-API data layer, inspired by Ruby on Rails. Blitz is a simple method for building small as well as large full-stack applications with multiple graphical UIs.
“A Framework for building monolithic, full-stack, serverless React apps with zero data-fetching and zero client-side state management.”
It was created and released by Brandon Bayer on 24th April 2020. Brandon wanted to create something like Ruby on Rails but for React or JavaScript. He essentially announced the idea of Blitz on 17th February 2020 but he had only a few lines of prototype code at that time. Soon after, many people who were influenced by the idea came forward and offered their support to build its very first version.
We’ll see here what makes Blitz this special and what we can expect in the future from it, let’s get moving then-
What’s Special About Blitz.js?
Building a full-stack app is not at all an easy job. You have to spend a lot of time on things like figuring out the design pattern to use in the app, deciding a database to set up, setting up the configuration, deciding a folder structure, setting up the router/pages of the app, defining routing conventions, selecting a styling library and adding authorization and authentication at last.
All these things consume a great deal of time and patience, that too before even writing a single line of code.
Blitz is a blessing for the developer’s community as it is a lightning-fast framework that makes the development process far more productive than was ever possible. It comes with already configured Jest, Cypress, ESLint, Prettier, typescript, login, and password reset. It scaffolds the monolithic server-side rendered full-stack react app with all its configurations and backend already done.
Blitz Architecture
The list of features of Blitz goes on like this -
✔ Full-stack and Monolithic
Blitz includes everything from frontend to database, all inside a single app. You can deploy your backend and frontend separately on server or serverless likewise.
✔ Zero API Data Layer
React needed you to have a REST API or GraphQL API to work as a view layer, but not anymore. Blitz eliminates the need for API by introducing a new Zero-API data layer that can directly import your server code into React components, which is swapped with an auto-generated API at build-time. You can later use these APIs for apps and third-parties. It saves us from manually adding endpoints and do client-side fetching. This feature makes it faster and easier, that too, with an element of fun.
✔ Loose Opinions
Blitz is opinionated and when it does prefer convention, it doesn’t enforce it. It very well understands that there are reasons when you have to deviate from convention. It presents a perfect path for most applications but can diverge from it if needed.
✔ Convention over configuration
It means blitz prefers convention over configuration and does all the complex setup for you. With the simple architectural pattern and project structure, you can easily move from one Blitz app to another.
✔ Automatic image optimization
With its built-in image component Image, blitz optimizes images on-demand as per the user’s request. It resizes, optimizes, and serves images in modern WebP format and enables lazy-loading.
✔ Code Scaffolding
Blitz uses code scaffolding to reduce the code volume by scaffolding the initial code into your project. It gives you full ownership over the code and you can customize it as you wish. You would have unlimited design choices for your code. Blitz gives you a lot of blitz generate commands to scaffold code in your project. However, it is still in its early days and we will see a lot more to it in the upcoming versions.
Other features of blitz are -
Built-in CSS Support
Built-in authentication for session management
Built-in Support for Environment Variables
Automatic configuration of Jest for testing
Automatic static optimization
Server-side rendering
Code splitting
Easy to start and scale
The list does not end here. You can check more about its functionalities here.
Blitz CLI -
Blitz CLI (Command Line Interface) is the only way that you can interact with your application and enables you to build your project whatever way you want. To set up Blitz on your system, you would need Node.js 12 installed on your device.
You can install blitz globally via npm or yarn as given here -
# npm npm install -g blitz # Yarn yarn global add blitz
Some common Blitz CLI commands are given below -
To create a new blitz app, run -
blitz new blitz-app
To start the development server, run -
blitz dev
To create a production build of your app -
blitz build
Another command is to run db/seeds.ts script which quickly set up the dev environment, it is done by -
blitz db seed
For code scaffolding into your project, we use -
blitz generate [type] [model]
Here, type stands for the file types such as query , mutations , pages , crud , resources , etc., and model stands for the model-name to generate files for.
For instance, blitz generate all project will generate the following files -
app/pages/projects/[projectId]/edit.tsx app/pages/projects/[projectId].tsx app/pages/projects/index.tsx app/pages/projects/new.tsx app/projects/components/ProjectForm.tsx app/projects/queries/getProject.ts app/projects/queries/getProjects.ts app/projects/mutations/createProject.ts app/projects/mutations/deleteProject.ts app/projects/mutations/updateProject.ts
To install blitz recipes (e.g. tailwind) into your project, run -
blitz install tailwind
The output will be as follows -
> blitz install tailwind ✅ Installed 2 dependencies ✅ Successfully created postcss.config.js, tailwind.config.js ✅ Successfully created app/styles/button.css, app/styles/index.css ✅ Modified 1 file: app/pages/_app.tsx 🎉 The recipe for Tailwind CSS completed successfully! Its functionality is now fully configured in your Blitz app.
There are many other commands that you can check here.
Routing in Blitz:
Blitz uses file-based routing such that all the components in pages/ and HTTP handlers in api/ are mapped to a URL.
- Index Routes
The file-based router automatically routes index files to the root directory, for example-
app/pages/index.js → /
app/pages/blog/index.js → /blog
- Nested Routes
The router also supports nested files so that when you create a nested folder, all the structure files are routed to the root directory as shown below-
app/pages/blog/first-post.js → /blog/first-post
app/pages/dashboard/settings/username.js →/dashboard/settings/ username
- API Routes
File inside an api/ folder is mapped to a URL corresponding to its path. For example- app/projects/api/webhook.ts will be mapped to localhost:3000/api/webhook
You can use useRouter() and withRouter() hooks to access the router. Check out the code below to use the useRouter hook -
import {useRouter} from "blitz"
function Thing({href}) {
const router = useRouter()
return (
<div
style={{
color: router.pathname === href ? "red" : "black",
}}
/>
)
}
export default Thing
Blitz has built-in i18n (internationalized) routing support and can handle all the locales automatically via sub-path routing and domain routing.
Check out the official documentation for Blitz.js here -
|
https://medium.com/habilelabs/blitz-js-a-react-js-framework-for-fullstack-apps-ac3e8c7a390f
|
[]
|
2021-05-13 04:29:07.618000+00:00
|
['Blitzjs', 'Full Stack', 'Nextjs', 'React', 'App Development']
|
A Coding Bootcamp Gave Me Career Direction
|
A Coding Bootcamp Gave Me Career Direction
I believe that Código Ecuador will start a movement that will encourage and inspire youth and women to take control of their future
Photo by Matt Ragland on Unsplash
Let’s face it: My college years were a series of mistakes centered around my inability to face my fear of being outside of my comfort zone. I‘ll be honest with you and say that I’m one of those people who liked to stick to what I know in college. If only I had been more adventurous, I would have discovered how much I like web development sooner.
I stuck to the people who were close to me in high school, ate a lot of the food I already know, and was dead set in my dream of beginning a career as a surgeon with golden hands.
Of course, as any story goes, things popped up: beautiful things that I didn’t expect, like how I got my first taste of coding.
Coding opened my mind to new possibilities
It was in a statistics class later in my college years that I was introduced to R Studio and saw its potential with data visualization. From there, I joined HackCville, a coding bootcamp that teaches people in the community technical skills like HTML, CSS, and Javascript. The organization exposed me to the beautiful world of computer programming and changed my mind about my career goals.
Now, as someone who has gotten a chance to delve deeper into coding within the last few months, I can’t imagine a world where I hadn’t been introduced to web development. Through coding, I have met a broad spectrum of people and learned new skills and life lessons like how to work in a team.
I’m incredibly grateful for these people, and I hope to give the same experience to those who don’t have access. Nonetheless, I wished I had gained more exposure to coding through a coding bootcamp at an earlier time.
Its impact on my life and the movement that the organization will start in the community is why I am excited to take part in Código Ecuador.
Nonprofit technology education will promote self-discovery
Código Ecuador is an organization on a mission to help youths and women realize their potential in the field of technology. As a part of this organization, I can support others to discover themselves, preferably without all the hoops I went through.
In today’s tech scene, coding has become one of the most sought-after skills. Through Código Ecuador, youths and women will be able to explore the technology field with more support and fewer risks. They will have the opportunity to have a look at what could potentially be their future occupations.
I believe that Código Ecuador will start a movement that will encourage and inspire youths and women to take control of their future. These skills will allow them to not only better themselves, but their family, community, and nation.
Read more about the global potential of nonprofit coding camps
|
https://medium.com/c%C3%B3digo-ecuador/learn-to-code-organizations-helped-me-grow-6c559e17cf49
|
['Pitchsinee Veerakajorn']
|
2019-12-30 00:42:22.190000+00:00
|
['Careers', 'College', 'Programming', 'Women', 'Education']
|
How to become teacher in india
|
how to become teacher in india ? — Complete information about how to become a teacher.
Whenever it comes to a good career and profession, teaching is given the highest rank there. Learn how to become a teacher in this article, complete information in Hindi and Teacher.
Teacher status is always high in the country and society. Being a teacher is a matter of pride in itself and many people dream of experiencing this pride. But there are many people who do not know how to prepare to become a teacher, Teacher Ka Course Kitne Saal Ka Hota Hai.
Are you also willing to guide the children of the country as a teacher? But do not know the eligibility (qualification), syllabus, degree, exam details, salary, and to become a government teacher to become a teacher in India, you have reached the right place.
List of topics
In this article you will learn
Should you be a teacher
Teacher kaise bane
Teacher check
What to do to be a teacher
Which subject is required to graduate to become a teacher:
Which course should be taken to become a teacher:
Teacher test
TET (Teacher Eligibility Test) :
CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test):
adjusted to become a teacher
Teacher’s salary
how to become teacher in india
In this article you will learn Complete guidance for how you can make a career in the field of teaching by becoming a teacher.
After the 12th book, we will process to become a teacher and become a teacher.
What subject and degree will be required to become a teacher.
Should you be a teacher or how to become teacher in india
It is important to identify yourself first before knowing how you can become a teacher. Do you have all the qualifications a teacher should have? Such as –
READ ALSO ITI ka full form and What is ITI
|
https://medium.com/@nikitaselvi/how-to-become-teacher-in-india-991278b5d698
|
['Nikita Salvi']
|
2020-12-09 09:38:06.819000+00:00
|
['Teaching', 'Blogging', 'Blog', 'Teachers', 'Education']
|
Raspberry Pi Install Docker and Kubernetes
|
Install Kubernetes with K3s
Before starting the installation we need to make a change and enable cgroups, which is not enabled by default on ARM machines.
Let’s edit the file:
sudo nano /boot/cmdline.txt
and add the following string to the end of the file:
cgroup_enable=memory cgroup_memory=1
Now we can proceed with the installation:
sudo curl -sfL https://get.k3s.io | sh -s - --docker
With the “-docker” statement we are telling K3s to use Docker as the runtime system for Containers.
Once the installation is complete, check the status of the K3s service:
sudo systemctl status k3s
and we can see our node on the Kubernetes cluster:
sudo kubectl get nodes
And we will have an output similar to this:
Kubernetes Nodes
The commands to stop and start K3s are as follows:
sudo systemctl stop k3s sudo systemctl status k3s sudo systemctl start k3s
Configuring the Kubernetes Dashboard (K3s)
To enable the Kubernets dashboard we need to run the following commands:
GITHUB_URL=https://github.com/kubernetes/dashboard/releases VERSION_KUBE_DASHBOARD=$(curl -w '%{url_effective}' -I -L -s -S ${GITHUB_URL}/latest -o /dev/null | sed -e 's|.*/||') sudo k3s kubectl create -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kubernetes/dashboard/${VERSION_KUBE_DASHBOARD}/aio/deploy/recommended.yaml
The mode to access the interface is via Bearer Token, to retrieve it we must first create an RBAC (Role-based access control) configuration for the Dashboard.
Let’s create the dashboard.admin-user.yml file with the following content:
apiVersion: v1
kind: ServiceAccount
metadata:
name: admin-user
namespace: kubernetes-dashboard
Let’s create the dashboard.admin-user-role.yml file with the following content:
apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
kind: ClusterRoleBinding
metadata:
name: admin-user
roleRef:
apiGroup: rbac.authorization.k8s.io
kind: ClusterRole
name: cluster-admin
subjects:
- kind: ServiceAccount
name: admin-user
namespace: kubernetes-dashboard
and then deploy the configurations:
sudo k3s kubectl create -f dashboard.admin-user.yml -f dashboard.admin-user-role.yml
Now to get the Token we can use the command:
sudo k3s kubectl -n kubernetes-dashboard describe secret admin-user-token | grep ^token
We enable the port-forwarding to expose the dashboard to the outside:
sudo k3s kubectl port-forward -n kubernetes-dashboard service/kubernetes-dashboard 10443:443 --address 0.0.0.0
Now the dashboard will be visible from the following url: https://<IP>:10443/
Choosing the Token Authentication mode, and inserting the recovered Token from the command line we will have full access to the Dashboard:
|
https://medium.com/digital-software-architecture/raspberry-pi-install-docker-and-kubernetes-b347bff37ce
|
['Andrea Scanzani']
|
2020-12-10 16:09:06.201000+00:00
|
['Raspberry Pi', 'Docker', 'Kubernetes', 'Clustering']
|
5 Simple Ways to Stay Fit And Healthy During The Holidays — PouchPASS
|
Maintaining good health
Gaining weight during the holidays is inevitable for many of us. Excessive eating is part of the problem, but additional weight gain is also due to a lack of physical activity and exercise. Fitness regimes that have been practiced in the past months are often abandoned during the holidays. And more often than not, the guilt of overindulging sets in after celebrations are done and dusted.
Fitting in your regular routines won’t dampen your holiday mood. You can enjoy the festive season while staying fit at the same time. Here’s how you can avoid starting the year with guilt-free resolutions.
Exercise Comes First
One of the best ways to make sure you don’t miss a workout is to do it first thing in the morning. Getting that out of the way will ensure that the rest of the day can go on smoothly, especially if there are unforeseen plans that suddenly pop up. Dedicating the first 20 to 30 minutes of the day could also help you fight food cravings throughout the day.
Don’t Skip Meals
This a general rule of thumb that we abide by daily. It is tempting to skip certain meals, thinking that you’re creating more space in your tummy for those holiday upcoming holiday feasts. But, by doing so, you will end up with counterproductive results and could lead to unnecessary bingeing.
Make Better Choices
Cakes, cookies, and other yummy desserts are always part of the menu, which makes snacking so hard to avoid. You might find yourself munching just because there’s food around, and not because you’re genuinely hungry. If you are indeed in need of a snack, opt for real foods. Reach out for crudites, or nuts instead.
Find A Workout Buddy
Having a buddy to workout with is a great way to motivate yourself and others around you to stay active. Make it into a pseudo-social affair. Hiking, brisk walking, and jogging with a buddy or two can also be turned into a catch-up session. Even if you don’t work out together, checking in with someone else daily will make you think twice about skipping a session.
Modify your recipes
Homemade goods can be indulgent, but, modifying the recipes can help reduce calories. For instance, you can replace butter with applesauce, mashed banana, or pumpkin puree. You can also add flavour to your dishes with herbs and spices instead of butter. Replace cream cheese and sour cream with Greek yogurt to make guiltless dips for your chips.
|
https://medium.com/@pouchpass/5-simple-ways-to-stay-fit-and-healthy-during-the-holidays-pouchpass-7b57822335fa
|
[]
|
2021-01-04 01:08:10.778000+00:00
|
['New Year', 'Health Foods', 'New Year Resolution']
|
A Total Misunderstanding
|
A Total Misunderstanding
I opened the door and announced “I’m home” to Max. He was sitting on the couch. He did not respond, perhaps he’s sad. I wonder why. I sat down next to him and said “Are you okay?” I heard his stomach rumble. He’s obviously hungry. I fill a bowl of his favorite snack. I offer the food to him but he did not bother to look at it. I assumed that he needed to rest, so I went to finish the other chores around the house.
I came back to the couch an hour later and saw Max still staring at the blank television. I realized “Oh you lost the remote and you want to watch tv!” I start looking for the tv remote and found it under the rug. I turned on the tv and set it to the channel Max always watches, Animal Planet. Sometimes I wonder if Max should volunteer at the zoo since he’s so invested in other animals, but that’s for another day. I eventually gave up and confronted the boy. I questioned “Are you mad at me? If you are, just tell me why!” Then he looked at me and barked for 3 minutes straight.
I finally understood why Max was mad at me. It was because I pet his friend next door. I might have smelled just like her. I confessed, “Ok I did pet your friend, but I truly do love you!” Max looked at me and smiled. He licked my face and I said “You are the one dog for me, Max”…🐶🥰
|
https://medium.com/@akskarravi/a-total-misunderstanding-beeb13fd5c24
|
['Akshaya Ravi']
|
2021-03-01 14:27:06.898000+00:00
|
['Jealousy', 'Anger', 'Dogs', 'Short Story', 'Love']
|
Aliya Collection: Islamic Clothing for Modern Muslim Women
|
Aliya Collection is offering you with the latest Islamic wearing including Abayas, Hijabs, Jilbabs etc. They provide the finest range of Islamic clothing at cost-effective prices. In fact, they are the best in their services and provide utmost satisfaction to their customers.
There are so many religions in the entire world and every religion has its own dressing style. As Muslim women wear abayas that define their attire. In old times they always used to wear simple Abayas. Nowadays, the latest designs and styles have made possible for them to wear gorgeous Abayas and Hijabs without showing disrespect to their religion. Every woman, as well as Muslim girls and women, loves to wear nice and vibrant colours on various occasions. Despite of traditional culture and religion, most Muslim female love to wear new trendy outfits with various colours on several gatherings. Although, in past times black was the preferred colour in most Muslim countries and all abayas were made in black. However, in today times they are available all most in every colour. Women also like to wear bold colours. Now, women are experimenting with various printed fabrics and solid colours. It is must to cover the complete length of the arms. So, designers cannot do much with the length of the arm but they tailor sleeves in different styles. Abayas are available in different ranges from basic to luxurious designs. Another way to add some extra style in your abaya is by wearing a hijab that is available in different styles and colours. There are so many Hijab ranges available by which you can choose from.
A spokesperson from Aliya Collection explained, “We are the leading providers of Islamic wearing all over the world and provides effective and quality services to our customers in order to meet their requirements and fulfill their utmost satisfaction.”
It is hard, to sum up, Aliya Collection in a few words. They have a variety of Abayas, hijabs and many more in various styles, fabrics and colours that providing you with several latest modest fashions Islamic wearing.
Contact Us:
16 Holt Road, Leicestershire
LE102PY, United Kingdom
Phone: 07534796253
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.aaliyacollections.com/
|
https://medium.com/@hopelinn/aliya-collection-islamic-clothing-for-modern-muslim-women-1fa8d03fca5e
|
['Lauren Hardacre']
|
2019-05-21 06:18:07.697000+00:00
|
['Muslim']
|
The Change
|
Sign up for American Haiku Steamship To Writing History
By American Haiku
Writing takes practice. American Haiku is a great way to put your words from your fingers to your piece of paper. Don't quit, you can do it. Take a look
|
https://medium.com/american-haiku/the-change-3e138fae666b
|
['Edie Tuck']
|
2019-09-26 10:05:13.360000+00:00
|
['Poetry', 'Seasons', 'Haiku', 'Autum', 'Change']
|
Orange Juice, I Ordered
|
A beautiful morning, it was.
Hungry, I turned out to be.
To a restaurant, I did venture.
Out of the ordinary, nothing was.
The menu, I did look at.
An omelet, I did desire.
Hash browns, and wheat toast, the sides will be.
Orange juice to drink, when asked, I replied.
Order, I did.
Delicious, it was.
Satisfied hunger, it did.
“Everything good?” waiter did ask.
“Good, everything was,” I replied.
Surprised at my response, I was.
“Would you like to try some cherry pie for desert?”
Asked, the waiter did
“There is no try, only do.”
“Alright, I’ll bring a slice right away.”
Panic, I did.
Happening to me, what was?
Understand, I could not.
Pie, I did eat.
Check, I requested.
Examine the check, carefully, I did.
Shocking truth, I learned.
Orange Juice, I ordered.
Yoda Juice, I got.
Talk this way, I have, ever since.
Waiter, not wearing hearing aid.
Gone back, I have not.
|
https://markstarlin.medium.com/orange-juice-i-ordered-ab83aee1980b
|
['Mark Starlin']
|
2019-12-23 17:26:59.730000+00:00
|
['Food', 'Star Wars', 'Humor', 'Curated', 'One Minute Wit']
|
What are the financial issues and solutions for management to face when executing a Strategic Plan
|
You can have a better system to run into monetary deterrents while executing that procedure
When you receive a solution for your organization, you have to settle on choices that can lead one to five years. These are the top difficult financial issues and solutions for management.
1. Absence of Oversight
Organization new essential arrangement requires the investment of a few people and divisions. Every chief may have assignments, as the main priority to add to the new technique might not have enough cash to support all the individual errands entirety of your supervisors.
investment of a few people and divisions
The chance is that you look after a procedure without a moment. In this incident, you have to provide enough merchandise to take care of existing requests. Your creation supervisor may need new creation control programming, your distribution center chief may need stock management (which is a solid basic structure of which can be done) and the transportation office might need to load up on delivery supplies (that they have any delay/putting off something until laters in sending orders). If you don't regulate this cycle and clarify every office’s financial plan, you could wind up spending more than the system is worth.
you could wind up spending more than the system is worth.
2. Issues implementing goals
Vital plans regularly center around goals that are organized by you. You can plan to take care of problems your organization faces, such as extreme client returns, late requests, or low profitability. you might not have enough money to help with the technique. For instance, if the managing director should raise efficiency by ten units every day, he might need to add more managing staff. It can grow your goals implementing level. At the point when you present an issue, first, check whether the missing subsidizing has caused the difficulty you look to discuss.
check whether the absence of subsidizing has caused the difficulty you look to address.
3. Natural Strategy
On the off-chance, your association has an inventive educated workplace. Individuals who engage in arranging may not use a direct sensible method. A natural system comes from inspecting your main goal and qualities. At that point, giving out goals comes from a core value. While this is the real method approach, you are bear to fill way on the double. As an example when profited You might come across restricted assets, and you should distribute those assets to the essential activities that are delivered to build your benefits.
Distribute those assets to the essential activities that are delivered to build your benefits.
Another example, if you seek a procedure of utilizing social selling, you will be zero on becoming more acquainted with your clients. And in marketing client requirements are, before making an attempt to sell something and attempting to sell them something. As a feature of this system, you may enlist an online media master. You should follow the genuine deals you get from web-based media to check whether your cash is all spent. You may do similarly while preparing your current staff deals in social selling.
follow the genuine deals you get from web-based media to check whether your cash is all spent.
4. Endurance versus Development
Monetary arranging in general endurance is looked for the ideal approach. To safeguard money and to keep up payments, you have to minimize costs by arranging centers around the development. The individuals who are looking for higher income have to investigate new business sectors while receiving new strategies. Deal with your monetary arrangement like a venture portfolio. While you can guard a large portion of it, distribute a piece of it for some higher-hazard speculation that could offer better yields. So, your monetary arrangement should incorporate assets for supporting new procedures.
Here are some best tools to work with when facing financial issues
I hope this article was very useful for your daily life and please let us know what are all your current technical issues in your organization.
Please feel free to email [email protected] with any problems and we will find our very best to solve and share with all on this platform
Get the innovative articles you need at VOICEOFSHARK
|
https://medium.com/@voiceofshark/what-are-the-financial-issues-and-solutions-for-management-to-face-when-executing-a-strategic-plan-4852cf7d547f
|
[]
|
2020-12-23 08:45:30.969000+00:00
|
['Financial Issues', 'Management', 'Goals', 'Planning', 'Strategic Plan']
|
LDA Topic Modeling in Spark MLlib
|
In the past few months at Zero Gravity Labs, we have been exploring a variety of text mining methods in the context of dialogue understanding. For these experiments, we obtained and exploited hundreds of thousands of chat transcripts collected in our call center.
Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) is a widely used generative statistical model that is able to discover the main topics discussed in a collection of documents. In one of our recent experiments, we studied the effectiveness and efficiency of using LDA on chat data in detecting and tracking the evolution of topics and themes over time. This blog post highlights some of what we learned throughout this investigation by explaining the basics of LDA and providing an example of LDA implementation using Spark MLlib in Scala. For privacy and security reasons, instead of the chat data, the example provided is based on publicly available tweets collected via Twitter API.
What is LDA?
LDA is an unsupervised method that models documents and topics based on Dirichlet distribution, wherein each document is considered to be a distribution over various topics and each topic is modeled as a distribution over words. Therefore, given a collection of documents, LDA outputs a set of topics, with each topic being associated with a set of words. To model the distributions, LDA also requires the number of topics (often denoted by k) as an input. For instance, the following are the topics extracted from a random set of tweets from Canadian users where k = 3:
Topic 1: great, day, happy, weekend, tonight, positive experiences
Topic 2: food, wine, beer, lunch, delicious, dining
Topic 3: home, real estate, house, tips, mortgage, real estate
In addition to k, LDA can be provided with some domain knowledge by specifying two concentration parameters called α and β. A low α value places more weight on having each document being composed of only a few dominant topics, whereas a high value of α places more weight on each document being composed of a relatively larger set of topics. Similarly, a low β value places more weight on having each topic composed of only a few dominant words. Figure 1 shows an overview of LDA inputs and output.
Figure 1: LDA overview.
LDA is an iterative algorithm. In the first iteration of LDA, every word in each document is given a random topic from the set of k topics. Then, then the distribution of topics over documents and the distribution of words across topics are calculated. In the following iteration, the algorithm makes use of these current distributions and attempts to re-assign the topics to words by optimizing a set of parameters until the algorithm converges. To learn more about the mathematical details of LDA, this session of a machine learning course from the University of Colorado can be a great starting point. To get deeper in the theoretical background of LDA, the original paper by Blei, Ng, and Jordan can be the best resource. Finally, this article written by Asuncion et al. provides an overview of the optimization methods used for LDA including Expectation-Maximization (EM), which is the default implementation in Spark.
LDA Applications
In its training phase, LDA generates a list of themes and topics from a collection of documents, which can be directly used for analytical purposes. Besides, when this list is already available, one can locate a new document in the topic space (see Figure 2). For instance, given a new Twitter timeline, we will be able to infer that 50% of the tweets are about Topic 2 (food), while 50% of the tweets are about Topic 3 (real estate). By locating the documents in the space, it is also possible to understand how similar the documents are in regards to their topic of focus. For instance, we will be able to find other Twitter users that follow the same distribution of topics. In addition, LDA can be used to understand how topics evolve and shift in one document or across multiple documents over time.
Figure 2: Examples of LDA use cases.
Implementation in Spark
Spark MlLib offers out-of-the-box support for LDA (since Spark 1.3.0), which is built upon Spark GraphX. LDA implementation in Spark takes a collection of documents as vectors of word counts. Therefore, the first step is to load and pre-process your documents into the required format. The following snippets to pre-process the data are developed based on this blog post from Databricks.
To load the data into an RDD of String :
val sparkSession = SparkSession.builder()
.appName("LDA topic modeling")
.master("local[*]").getOrCreate()
val corpus: RDD[String] = sparkSession.read.json(readPath).rdd
.map(row => row.getAs("text").toString)
The following snippet tokenizes and cleans the text to only include words with more than three letters that are not the in the stopWords set:
val stopWords: Set[String] = sparkSession.read.text("stopwords.txt")
.collect().map(row => row.getString(0)).toSet
val vocabArray: Array[String] = corpus.map(_.toLowerCase.split("\\s"))
.map(_.filter(_.length > 3)
.filter(_.forall(java.lang.Character.isLetter)))
.flatMap(_.map(_ -> 1L))
.reduceByKey(_ + _)
.filter(word => !stopWords.contains(word._1))
.map(_._1).collect()
Finally, the following code completes the process of converting the documents into a vector of word counts:
val vocab: Map[String, Int] = vocabArray.zipWithIndex.toMap
// Convert documents into term count vectors
val documents: RDD[(Long, Vector)] =
tokenized.zipWithIndex.map { case (tokens, id) =>
val counts = new mutable.HashMap[Int, Double]()
tokens.foreach { term =>
if (vocab.contains(term)) {
val idx = vocab(term)
counts(idx) = counts.getOrElse(idx, 0.0) + 1.0
}
}
(id, Vectors.sparse(vocab.size, counts.toSeq))
}
Once the data is prepared, LDA model can be built by specifying the following parameters:
k: The number of topics (default k = 10)
α: Dirichlet parameter for prior over documents’ distributions over topics. If your documents are made up of a few dominant topics, choose a low α.
β: Dirichlet parameter for prior over topics’ distributions over words. If your topics are made up of a few dominant words, choose a low β.
maxIterations: Limit on the number of iterations (default i = 20)
setOptimizer: The optimizer used to perform the calculation (the default value is em for EM optimizer and online for online variational Bayes LDA algorithm. Note that the em is the default).
The following builds a simple LDA model that is expected to generate three topics after running 100 iterations:
val lda = new LDA().setK(3).setMaxIterations(100)
val ldaMode = lda.run(documents)
LDA model in Spark supports the following two methods:
describeTopics: Returns topics as arrays of most important terms and term weights
topicsMatrix: Returns a vocabSize by k matrix where each column is a topic
For instance, describeTopics can be used as follows to iterate through and print the terms in each topic, along with their corresponding weights:
ldaModel.describeTopics(maxTermsPerTopic = 10).foreach { case (terms, termWeights) =>
terms.zip(termWeights).foreach { case (term, weight) =>
println(f"${vocabArray(term.toInt)} [$weight%1.2f]\t")
}
println()
}
So far, we pre-processed the documents and ran an LDA model. Being an iterative optimization algorithm, LDA can be computationally intensive. Thus, spark allows saving and loading the trained topics for future use:
ldaModel.save(sparkSession.sparkContext, "path")
val sameModel = DistributedLDAModel.load("path")
The model loaded as a DistributedLDAModel supports a variety of other methods for the analysis of documents with respect to the trained set of topics. For instance, it enables the calculation of the top documents for each topic ( topDocumentsPerTopic ) or it can return the top k weighted topics for a document ( topicAssignments ). We can also see the distribution of topics for each document ( topicDistributions ). Details on the LDA model in Spark can be found in Spark API docs.
We are pleased to be able to share our work and are excited by the possibilities. We would love your feedback and to connect with others interested in this work, please get in touch. We are also looking for some other amazing Scientists to join our team so please check out our open roles.
Tarneh Khazaei is a Scientist at Zero Gravity Labs.
Connect with Taraneh or any member of our team (we are hiring) by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
|
https://medium.com/zero-gravity-labs/lda-topic-modeling-in-spark-mllib-febe84b9432
|
['Zero Gravity Labs']
|
2017-07-14 17:59:45.302000+00:00
|
['Natural Language', 'Spark', 'Dialogue Understanding', 'Lda', 'Data Science']
|
Bella&Buzz
|
Photographer, Poet, Musician, Mother, Mystic, Gardener, friend of wild creatures, swan whisperer. Find me on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wingthing/
|
https://medium.com/@mccray-lori569/bella-buzz-102d9b6f3891
|
['Lori Mccray']
|
2020-11-26 21:27:27.151000+00:00
|
['Photography', 'Birds', 'Nature', 'Wildlife']
|
Roku Ultra (2020) review: Incremental improvements
|
The 2020 Roku Ultra is a surprisingly tough streaming box to review.
While Roku’s hardware and software haven’t changed much from last year’s model, the wider world of streaming TV has changed a lot. Between new services like Apple TV+, Peacock, HBO Max, and the forthcoming Paramount+, there are more streaming options to juggle than ever. In response, we’ve seen devices such as the Chromecast with Google TV and the TiVo Stream 4K emerge to make sense of those options, funneling content from multiple apps into a single, unified menu.
Roku, meanwhile, has held steadfast to its less ambitious approach: Make free content easy to find, but make users dig through individual apps for everything else.
This review is part of TechHive’s coverage of the best media streamers, where you’ll find reviews of competing products, plus a buyer’s guide to the features you should consider when shopping for this type of product. Mentioned in this article Chromecast with Google TV Read TechHive's review$49.99MSRP $49.99See iton Google If you still agree with that approach, the $100 Roku Ultra has a lot to like. It supports Dolby Vision and HLG high dynamic range video, Bluetooth audio, and Dolby Atmos audio decode. It’s also a smidge faster than other Roku players, and it still has the comfiest remote you’ll find with any streaming player today.
But if you’re rooting for a new paradigm in streaming, where digging through a dozen different apps is no longer necessary, the new Roku Ultra will inevitably disappoint. (Roku is also shipping a new mini soundbar. You can read our Roku Streambar review here.)
Slicker box, better specsThe 2020 Roku Ultra is easy to tell apart from previous versions. The plastic enclosure has a matte finish throughout instead of being glossy around the edges, and the sides of the box curve inward at the top instead of outward. I think it’s more attractive.
Jared Newman / IDG 2019’s Roku Ultra on the left, 2020’s Ultra on the right.
The port arrangement has changed as well. There’s no more MicroSD card slot for expandable app storage, though the Ultra does have more built-in storage. (Roku won’t say exactly how much.) Meanwhile, the USB slot for local media playback has moved from the side of the box to the back, where it’s joined by the ethernet port and HDMI output.
Jared Newman / IDG MicroSD for expanded app storage is gone, but USB for local media playback remains.
This is also the first Roku player with Bluetooth, so you can pair a phone, tablet, or computer and play music through the TV. It’s a fine addition, though it doesn’t support pairing wireless headphones to play audio from the Roku. (For that, you can use Roku’s mobile app, which offers private listening through headphones or earbuds connected to the phone.)
As before, the Roku Ultra supports 4K HDR video, which allows for both higher resolution and more color detail in highlights and shadows, but the new arrival of Dolby Vision means those color optimizations can happen on a scene-by-scene basis. Of course, you’ll need a TV with Dolby Vision HDR support to take advantage, along with supported content in apps like Netflix or Amazon Prime. Dolby Atmos decode support means that some content can produce object-based audio effects if you have an Atmos-enabled speaker system.
Mentioned in this article Roku Streambar Read TechHive's reviewSee it I should mention one strange video playback issue, though: Deep in Roku’s settings there’s an option to automatically match the TV’s refresh rate to whatever content is playing. It’s disabled by default, but enabling it prevented me from playing video from Apple TV+ due to HDCP errors. Roku says I encountered a known bug that it’s working to squash. If you buy a Roku Ultra, checking for a firmware update should be your first order of business after connecting it to your network.
The remote, meanwhile, is unchanged from last year’s Ultra, which is fine. It’s a bit heftier than most streaming remotes, making it easier to hold, and the varying shapes and sizes of its buttons help you navigate without looking at them. A headphone jack on the left side allows for private listening—a set of earbuds is included—and buttons for volume and mute are on the right along with a power button up top. The remote has an infrared emitter, so you can program those buttons to work directly with your TV.
Jared Newman / IDG Roku’s oversized remote feels great and has a pair of programmable buttons.
You still can’t reprogram the Roku remote’s built-in app-launch buttons, but the two numeric buttons above them can be mapped to any voice command, so you can use them to open your favorite apps or turn on closed captioning. And as with previous Ultras, there’s a button on the box itself that plays a sound on the remote to help you find it—a nice touch that most other streamers still haven’t replicated.
Slight speed bumpsBeyond the more tangible hardware improvements in the 2020 Roku Ultra, Roku claims that the new box launches popular apps faster and has better wireless reception than previous versions. In practice, those improvements are noticeable, but not dramatic.
Compared to last year’s Ultra, the new model launched Amazon Prime about 1.5 seconds faster and The Roku Channel about a second faster, but launch times for Disney+ and YouTube were comparable on both. The Ultra does have a more pronounced advantage over the $50 Roku Streaming Stick+, launching Prime roughly 4.5 seconds faster, and loading The Roku Channel, YouTube, and Disney+ about 1.5 seconds faster, but none of those differences are enough to justify upgrading for speed alone.
Connectivity speed is where things get more interesting. Roku didn’t upgrade the internal Wi-Fi components—the Ultra still supports Wi-Fi 5 with dual-band MIMO—but the company says it has optimized its antennas to improve reception range.
To evaluate, I ran numerous speed tests—both from Roku’s settings menu and from Netflix’s help section—in two tricky spots: One set of tests in my basement entertainment center, and the another at the opposite corner of the house from my router. Here are the results:
2020 Ultra (5 GHz): 58 Mbps in basement console, 36 Mbps in far corner 2019 Ultra (5 GHz): 59 Mbps in basement console, 18 Mbps in far corner 2020 Ultra (2.4 GHz): 73 Mbps in basement console, 29 Mbps in far corner 2019 Ultra (2.4 GHz): 56 Mbps in basement console, 20 Mbps in far corner Roku’s claims of improved range appear to check out, though I did also observe similar or better connectivity speeds in other high-end streaming boxes, including Amazon’s Fire TV Cube and the Apple TV 4K. That’s at least partly because Roku intentionally caps data speeds at 100 Mbps on its devices, supposedly to focus on range instead of speed. (I’ll have more to say about this in my cord-cutting column later this week.)
Software: Free is the focus Jared Newman / IDG The Roku home screen, same as it ever was.
Software is just as important as hardware, though, and Roku’s software is largely the same as it was a year ago. The main section of the home screen presents a grid of apps for services like Netflix and Hulu, while other sections let you browse for free movies and shows, search for free content, install new apps, or purchase a la carte videos from Fandango.
As always, Roku does a better job than any other streaming platform at surfacing free movies and shows. The “Featured Free” section of the home screen pulls in content—mostly ad-supported—from across different apps, and if you search for genres such as comedy or action, Roku will highlight a section of free options in its results.
Jared Newman / IDG Ad revenue is central to Roku’s business model, so you needn’t look far for free, ad-supported content.
The Roku Channel app, meanwhile, provides plenty of its own movies, shows, and linear channels to watch at no charge. Although Roku has also brought that app to Samsung TVs and Fire TV devices, it’s more deeply integrated with search and voice control on its own streamers.
Jared Newman / IDG Roku’s genre searches always bring free content to the forefront.
It’s just too bad Roku doesn’t put that same kind of effort into surfacing videos from premium sources such as Netflix, Disney+, or CBS All Access. Sure, you can use voice search on Roku’s remote to find specific movies or shows from those services, and you can browse across apps using some broad genre searches. But if you want to see what’s happening across all your streaming services or pick up where you left off on a specific show, you’ll have to jump into individual apps. Devices like the Apple TV 4K and the new Chromecast have shown that universal streaming guides and watchlists are possible, but Roku, for whatever reason, hasn’t tried to build one itself.
Jared Newman / IDG You can search for specific shows or genres, but there’s no unified menu for browsing across apps.
That’s not the only way Roku lags behind other platforms. Your ability to launch music by voice remains limited to just Pandora, TuneIn, or iHeartRadio, and you can’t use voice to launch live channels in apps like YouTube TV or Sling TV. Apple TV, Fire TV, and Chromecast with Google TV excel on all those fronts. And because Roku isn’t connected to any smart home platforms, you can’t use it to check on security cameras, control the lights, or adjust the thermostat.
There’s also the lingering issue of HBO Max, which remains unavailable on Roku due to disagreements with AT&T’s WarnerMedia over carriage terms. You can still access HBO on Roku in other ways—through the standalone HBO, as a Roku Channel subscription, or as an add-on to certain live streaming services—but you won’t get the full Max catalog. And for cable subscribers, you can no longer sign into HBO on Roku at all. While every streaming platform has some app gaps, Roku’s HBO issues are a blemish on its once-stellar reputation for app support.
Update, November 12, 2020: Roku has issued an update that adds Apple AirPlay support to select Roku streamers, including this one. This enables an HBO Max workaround—provided you also have an iPhone or an iPad, as TechHive’s Cord Cutter Confidential columnist Jared Newman explains in this story. Visit this page at Roku.com for details on how to use AirPlay (and Apple HomeKit) on compatible Roku devices.
That issue aside, Roku’s straightforward approach has its merits. There’s never any doubt about how to access your apps, and the system as a whole feels speedy and stable. For those reasons, the Roku Ultra remains a safe, easy recommendation for a higher-end streamer.
As for whether it’s the best, that all depends on your philosophy toward streaming.
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/@natalie35335560/roku-ultra-2020-review-incremental-improvements-44503b170fdb
|
[]
|
2020-11-29 23:21:56.698000+00:00
|
['Connected Home', 'Consumer Electronics', 'Tvs', 'Mobile Accessories']
|
Why engineers should get involved with Data Science competitions.
|
How is a competition organised?
This competition ran from the 24th of August 2020 until the 31st of October that year.
We discussed the competition details with Atrae’s in-house team of data scientists, figuring out what data we could use and what challenge would draw in bitgrit users. After much deliberation, we decided to see if contestants could improve on the matching algorithm that predicts the compatibility between the users of Yenta.
Defining the goal
We were looking for the algorithm that could first; predict if two users would match or not, and second; predict if they would arrange to meet up. We decided that the best way to judge this second point was by checking if they had left a review after matching.
We sorted user compatibility into 4 cases:
(0) — User A and User B didn’t match.
(1) — User A and User B matched but didn’t meet.
(2) — The users matched but left negative reviews.
(3) — The users matched and left positive reviews.
With the challenge for the competition set, we then prepared the data set using the following processes.
Preparing the data set
First, we arranged user data into two types, personal data (education, skills, profile information, etc), and mutual data (past swipes, reviews, etc).
We then took privacy and the usefulness of data into account, omitting all unneeded/sensitive information. Lastly, we tested the quality of the data set by running it through our own user compatibility algorithm models.
It was important for contestants to pick out what they needed from the data files, which was a challenge in itself, as there was a vast amount of different data types available to use.
We found later that something every prize winner had in common was that they spent a lot of their time on “feature engineering” before getting to work on the algorithm itself. Participants had to come up with creative and effective features (variables) in order to improve their algorithms and create the higher quality models.
Competition result
After 2 months, the competition came to an end and the prize money was handed out to the top 4 contestants. Nikhil, a data scientist from India came first with a score of 87.0207%.
Though all the winners created their solutions using LightGBM, the highest scores paid extra attention to the feature engineering step in their algorithm creation process.
Photo of the winner, data scientist Nikhil. When asked about the competition, he told us that “I feel that the quality of the data contributed to the results, and I really enjoyed the process of creating my model.”
1st place winner Nikhil explained that “I spent a lot of my time trying out all sorts of feature combinations to get to grips with the data, as there was so much variation”.
He also added that he felt the difference in age of users and the amount a user swipes right had the biggest impact on the predictability of results. In the post-competition interviews, Nikhil was also kind enough to add, “I’m pleased that I was able to provide some value to Atrae and the users of Yenta.”
Similarly, Kaggle grandmaster rank user, Senkin told us that unlike competitions ran by other AI companies, which provided only basic graph features, the #SwipeToSuccess competition had provided an incredibly resourceful set of data and he was able to learn a lot from it.
Competitions set up in this way are a great opportunity to gain ideas from data scientists worldwide and aid in the development of high-performance algorithms, as shown by this rundown.
We would like to finish the article by including some final thoughts by Mr. Sugiyama, who works as a data scientist at Atrae.
Closing notes by Mr. Sugiyama. (Atrae DS)
Atrae data scientists and engineers
The models that ranked highly were all truly amazing. The results made it clear that there were some world-class data scientists competing, pushing themselves and going through a lot of trial and error to refine their algorithms. We received a wide variety of models, ranging from those that mainly focused on gradient boosting decision trees/feature engineering, to those incorporating GCN. Judging by the level and variety of the models we received, I feel that we couldn’t have been able to achieve these results by ourselves. The interviews with the winners were also incredibly insightful. Though many feel that these contests are a game of gaining small increases in accuracy, something I felt as I was speaking with these amazingly gifted data scientists, is that there was a clear passion for data and a drive to solve complex problems, made only possible through hard work and countless trial and error. None of the winners seemed to be concerned about the prize money, for them it was about their analysis providing tangible real value for society instead. I left knowing that the best of us are those with an extremely driven mindset and a need to create value. In closing, I would like to thank DataGateway for their management of this competition, which was faultless. We were able to have in-depth discussions of our expectations and targets for the competition and arrived at something we were all happy with. Though we created a classification system to judge the results, we were very surprised as to how accurate it predicted the ranking of contestants (where models able to accomplish (0) or (1) would place on the higher end, and those that managed (2) or (3) would determine top spots). We are also very grateful for them conducting the data sort and preprocessing without any leaks or problems. To do this all ourselves would have been extremely difficult and we were able to rely on them completely throughout our collaboration together.
We’re currently holding a similar competition → Viral Tweets Prediction Challenge
The challenge for this competition is to create an algorithm to predict the virality level of tweets.
For the latest information, please check our website.
(For Inquires)
Company name: DataGateway
Address: Tokyo, Meguro, Kami Meguro, 3–4–3, Koganei Building 4F.
Company president: Tetsuro Masunaga
Business information: Development and provision of AI algorithms, as well as business consulting through data science.
|
https://medium.com/bitgrit-data-science-publication/why-engineers-should-get-involved-with-data-science-competitions-ae206ed56ace
|
[]
|
2021-06-17 02:42:43.923000+00:00
|
['Competition', 'Data Science', 'Machine Learning']
|
Presentation
|
Hydrocarbons have been vital to Russian monetary advancement following the breakdown of the Soviet Association in 1991. Helped by unfamiliar direct speculation from North America and Western Europe, the Russian energy area started to modernize during the tempestuous 1990s and change because of the credits for-shares activity from the Yeltsin organization in 1996 (McFaul, 1997). This rebuild empowered the area to exploit worldwide bonuses in market costs in the right on time to mid-2000s, which upheld the development of state uses as the Organization experienced more noteworthy political and financial development opposite its partners in both the G8 and the OECD (Saradzhyan, 2016). Regardless of the plunge in worldwide market costs over the previous decade because of the Incomparable Downturn and the Shale Transformation, the energy area keeps on speaking to a huge income stream for the Alliance’s state uses and a critical bit of its GDP.
Additionally, hydrocarbons have assumed a huge part in the US. The oil and gaseous petrol area speaks to about 8% of the general Total national output and straightforwardly underpins 6% of the U.S. labor force (American Oil Organization, 2018). Given its weight in the economy, the area utilizes its money to put resources into critical campaigning endeavors at all degrees of government. In the period 1998 to 2018, energy firms, to a great extent drove by the hydrocarbon area, burned through $2.2b in government campaigning endeavors (Loosely held bits of information, n.d.). Because of the Shale Transformation, the US has figured out how to support hydrocarbon creation levels at noteworthy highs, pushing it to the situation as the main worldwide oil and flammable gas maker, taking the title from the Russian Alliance in 2011 for flammable gas creation and in 2013 for consolidated oil and petroleum gas creation (Earthy colored and Kahan, 2019). In 2018, the US surpassed Saudi Arabia as the worldwide pioneer in absolute oil creation (Earthy colored and Kahan, 2019).
In spite of the fact that Russo-American relations have generally once in a while been more than welcoming, relations significantly soured during the Bramble organization over contrasts in international strategy, specifically concerning West and Focal Asia and the European conditions of the previous Soviet Association. NATO’s extension to the Baltic conditions of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in 2004 spoke to the first occasion when that a condition of the previous Soviet Association joined the U.S.- drove military alliance. This evoked solid phrasing from President Putin that the overall influence had moved to the degree that it repressed the Alliance’s capacity “to actualize its political responsibilities to military regulation in the north-western piece of the Russian League” (as refered to in Fedorov, 2013). Previous Head administrator Primakov had more grounded words for the extension, expressing that it added up to “containing” and “debilitating” the League (as refered to in Fedorov, 2013).
The Obama organization endeavored a “reset” of relations in 2009, with Secretary of State Clinton and Unfamiliar Clergyman Lavrov emblematically squeezing a red “reset” button in Geneva. Nonetheless, ties quickly cooled by 2012 because of shared question and converging destinations. Treatment of political protesters and the two gatherings at chances over the Syrian Common War pushed relations past the limit. In 2012, Congress passed the Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Annulment and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Responsibility Demonstration of 2012 (Magnitsky Act), which spoke to the primary significant bit of assent enactment (bills) against the Alliance under the Obama organization. The Magnitsky Demonstration was named in memoriam for Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian analytical writer who was killed in 2008 while researching defilement; establishment of the Magnitsky Demonstration brought about the focusing of Russian political pioneers whom the US considered liable for his demise.
After two years, the Euromaidan in Ukraine (November 2013–February 2014) and the 2014 Ukrainian transformation uncovered Ukraine as a key point of convergence in an intermediary battle among Moscow and Washington for European impact. Toward the beginning of February 2014, Russian insight released a telephone discussion between previous Partner Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Undertakings Victoria Nuland and previous U.S. Diplomat to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt that affirmed U.S. inclusion in choosing the following authority of Ukraine and assuming a more profound part in the emergency than that of the impartial arbiter it was anticipating (BBC, 2014). The 2014 extension of Crimea a while later and the resulting Battle in Donbas launched extra Russian approvals with Western European help and participation. In Walk 2014, the Obama organization gave three separate leader orders (13660, 13661, 13662) focusing on the Russian League corresponding to Ukraine, trailed by the marking of legislative approvals enactment in April and December and a fourth chief request in December (U.S. Legislative Exploration Administration, 2020). These authorizations spoke to the first occasion when that the Russian hydrocarbon area had been focused by the US since the Soviet-period Yamal pipeline ban forced by the Reagan organization from 1980–1984. Leader and legislative approvals kept on being forced against the Alliance through 2018 because of different activities taken by the Putin organization. These endeavors remembered focuses for both the energy area and the political world class.
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https://www.conventionsmalta.com/pok1/Enj-Ricoh-v-cup-nhk-tv-04.html
https://www.conventionsmalta.com/pok1/Enj-Ricoh-v-cup-nhk-tv-05.html
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https://www.conventionsmalta.com/pok1/v-ideo-nhk-trophy-jpn-01.html
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http://suwebacerrasite.azurewebsites.net/sup1/Enj-Ricoh-v-cup-nhk-tv-01.html
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http://suwebacerrasite.azurewebsites.net/sup1/JRA-v-Cup-fuji-tv-05.html
http://suwebacerrasite.azurewebsites.net/sup1/v-ideo-nhk-trophy-jpn-01.html
http://suwebacerrasite.azurewebsites.net/sup1/v-ideo-nhk-trophy-jpn-02.html
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https://simxperience.com/euro1/figure-v-skate-jp1.html
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https://simxperience.com/euro1/figure-v-skate-jp3.html
https://simxperience.com/euro1/figure-v-skate-jp4.html
https://simxperience.com/euro1/figure-v-skate-jp5.html
https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/Tour-v-championship-ntv-jp1.html
https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/Tour-v-championship-ntv-jp2.html
https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/Tour-v-championship-ntv-jp3.html
https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/Tour-v-championship-ntv-jp4.html
https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/Tour-v-championship-ntv-jp5.html
https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/V-Figure-nhk-cup-2020-special-jp1.html
https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/V-Figure-nhk-cup-2020-special-jp2.html
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https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/V-Figure-nhk-cup-spcl-jp13.html
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https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/V-Figure-nhk-cup-spcl-jp15.html
https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/Figure-skating-v-nhk-cup-201.html
https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/Figure-skating-v-nhk-cup-202.html
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https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/v-dieos-nhk-trophy-skating-jp1.html
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https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/figure-v-skate-jp1.html
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https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/figure-v-skate-jp4.html
https://www.conventionsmalta.com/modx/figure-v-skate-jp5.html
American Oil Foundation. (2018). Oil and flammable gas: Supporting the economy, making occupations, driving America forward. https://www.api.org/~/media/Records/Strategy/Expenses/DM2018-086_API_Fair_Share_OnePager_FIN3.pdf.
BBC. (2014, February 7). Ukraine emergency: Record of spilled Nuland-Pyatt call. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26079957
Earthy colored, B., and Kahan, A. (2019, August 20). The U.S. leads worldwide oil and gaseous petrol creation with record development in 2018. Today in Energy, the U.S. Energy Data Organization. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=40973.
Fedorov, Y. E. (2013). Progression and change in Russia’s approach toward Focal and Eastern Europe. Socialist and Post-Socialist Examinations, 46(3): 315–326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postcomstud.2013.06.003.
McFaul, M. (1997). Russia’s 1996 official political decision: The finish of captivated legislative issues. Hoover Foundation Press.
Loosely held bits of information. (n.d.) Campaigning: Top Enterprises. https://www.opensecrets.org/anteroom/top.php?indexType=i&showYear=a.
Saradzhyan, S. (2016). Is Russia declining? Demokratizatsiya, 24(3), 399–418. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/628611.
U.S. Legislative Exploration Administration. (2020). U.S. sanctions on Russia (CRS Report No. R45415). Recovered from https://fas.org/sgp/crs/column/R45415.pdf.
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https://medium.com/@aghjio/presentation-fd58196128e5
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[]
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2020-11-27 01:16:03.541000+00:00
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['Intro', 'Russia', 'Energy', 'Oil And Gas', 'Foreign Policy']
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Who is really to blame for 2016?. Hillary Clinton’s loss in 2016 was a…
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Hillary Clinton’s loss in 2016 was a shock to pollsters, political scientists, and the common man alike. Republicans now held a government trifecta, a rare occurrence, last happening in 2007 under the Bush administration. This leads us to question; Why did this happen? Many distressed democrats chalk it up to interference from foreign powers. While there may be some truth to that theory, a light examination of the 2016 presidential election reveals that the decimation of a blue wave was a fault of our own.
The corruption of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is starting to become more apparent, especially as the party relocates more and more left, and the pretense of progress just doesn’t cut it anymore. Despite left-leaning politics becoming more popular amongst the public, liberals are finding it difficult to shift the official party out of a centrist rut that planted itself in the ‘90s.
At face-value, people see the Democratic and Republican party at opposite ends of a spectrum, when in actuality, they’re more alike than different. In the ’80s and ’90s, Republican campaigns were winning elections as a result of corporate cash fuel. The Democrats, on the other hand, watched as their labor base fell apart at the seams. In order to succeed, the DNC moved their politics to the right and began the inflow of corporate cash.
Bill Clinton won the presidential election of 1992, and began his spree of right-winging; Disqualifying most low-income Americans from welfare support (PRWORA), shipping a million jobs to Mexico under the guise of free trade (NAFTA), deregulating the banks (repealing Glass-Steagall Act), and solidifying the illegality of same-sex marriage (DOMA). With a right-ward shift in the DNC, we begin seeing the liberal establishment convert as well, spouting center-conservative articles. Throughout the last 25 years, we’ve seen more right-moderate content, such as the mocking of movements like Occupy Wall Street or the censorship of an Op-Ed that criticized the administration’s policy towards Iran post-9/11.
Media arguably plays the most extensive role in setting the political climate of our country. It is the way in which information is spread, twisted, interpreted. The chaos that we consider to be normal is due in part to a shift in the Overton window, a spot on a political spectrum that is seen to be acceptable by the general public. I believe this shift to be mostly cultivated by democrats and the liberal establishment, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and most notably CNN.
Vox News explored CNN’s contribution to the shift of the Overton window to the right with their presentation of pro vs. anti-trump conservative debates. This not only gives conservatives a larger platform but one on a democratic biased station, which extends their reach beyond the typical traditional FOX viewer. The anti-trump conservative actually begins to seem reasonable compared to the Trump supporter. Whether or not this is an issue with you is your own thing. However, the point still stands that liberal viewers are subconsciously becoming more and more comfortable with the constant right-wing ideas and, therefore, more complacent with their implementation in our society.
An example of this would be the public view on the late Senator John McCain. As most know, McCain was the Republican nominee and opponent to Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential election. From my limited memory as a 5-year-old, I would always hear the demonization of Senator McCain for his conservative values and how they would shape our country post-Bush administration. While 17-year-old me isn’t necessarily vying to defend him, it is interesting to see the recasting of our attitudes toward him. We see him as a good man, a war hero, someone who loved his country and just wanted to lead it a little differently than democrats would’ve liked. This is our Overton window shift. The Trump administration’s radicalism has become the norm, and in turn, the Republicans of the 2000s are suddenly not so bad.
This rightward drift is also due in part to asymmetrical polarization, the divergence of political attitudes to ideological extremes. Throughout time, both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have moved away from the center of the spectrum. However, the Republican Party has moved much farther to the extreme than Democrats, making this polarization specifically asymmetrical. And the funny thing is, it is the Democratic party that is cultivating this trend. We continuously see compromise after compromise under the guise of bipartisanship while the Republicans continue to dig their heels in. While I certainly don’t condone radical partisanship, there needs to be some reciprocal resistance from the Democrats unless we want to continue being doormats by no fault but our own.
One of the toughest aspects that comes with this polarization is the increased commonality of Filibustering, a legislative procedure in which members of Congress will debate over a proposal to delay or entirely prevent a decision on said proposal. Rather than placing full blame on Republicans, although they certainly deserve it, it is vital to acknowledge the very democrat that gave them this power. In 2013, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid used the nuclear option to eliminate the 60-vote rule on executive branch nominations and federal judicial appointments, meaning that it would only take a simple majority of 51 senators to make a decision. Democrats held power in Congress at that time.
In order to understand the illogical nature of this nuclear option, it is necessary to look into why Congress had the 60-vote rule implemented in the first place. Despite my previous mini-rant on how compromise has damaged the progress of Democrats in Congress, I must clarify that compromise is necessary from BOTH sides in a well-functioning government. The 60-vote rule meant that, in most cases, compromises would be made in order to appeal to members of Congress on the other end of the aisle. With a simple majority of 51, whichever party dominates Congress at any given time is basically handed an invitation to go haywire, which is now the radical right. Republicans are becoming more ideological, and their easy access to filibustering enables them to be less willing to work with Democrats, shutting out any progress in this country.
In 2016, post-death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, President Obama named Merrick Garland to fill his seat on the bench. Mitch McConnell infamously led the Republican-dominated Congress in denying the pick. Not because Garland was a liberal. In fact, he was your typical run-of-the-mill centrist. McConnell and other Republicans just didn’t want the chair filled by any Obama appointee. This was made very clear in a speech given by McConnell that year: “One of my proudest moments was when I looked Barack Obama in the eye, and I said, ‘Mr. President, you will not fill the Supreme Court vacancy.’”
This is yet another example in which Democrats have cultivated their own destruction. We constantly position ourselves as pushovers by giving them opportunities to overpower us, and we continuously provide them with a platform in which they can sway public opinion on conservative ideals in public office, even subconsciously. This is related to the 2016 presidential election because we see the Republicans moving ideologically to where their base is. The Democrats are staying on the course defined by Bill Clinton’s Democratic party when the majority of contemporary Democrats don’t identify with those values anymore. Democratic voters want a candidate to get excited about. Instead, we are spoon-fed the same boring candidate who incites little to no change every four years, whereas the Republican party, to their credit, is evolving with their base.
While a lot of this can be easily chalked-up to incompetence, we must acknowledge the involvement of the DNC and their corruption in the 2016 democratic primary. This will directly relate to what I personally believe to be the most significant reason Hillary Clinton lost the presidential election.
My first conscious taste of corporatism in politics occurred when I watched the documentary Fahrenheit 11/9 by documentarian Michael Moore. In a specific part of his film, he targets the meddling of the DNC in the democratic nomination, explicitly using the state of West Virginia to convey his point. Bernie Sanders won every county in West Virginia, look it up! All 55 counties in West Virginia voted for Bernie Sanders, awarding him 18 pledged delegates with the remaining 11 going to Clinton. Then comes time for the Democratic National Convention roll call where the West Virginia Democratic Party tells the American people this lie: 19 votes for Clinton and 18 for Senator Sanders.
The West Virginia Democratic Party decided to alter the results of their primaries. Legality of unpledged delegates aside, drastically changing election results to favor a corporate frontrunner, is unethical, to say the least. This was the DNC’s biggest mistake in the race for the presidential bid. It is worth noting that this occurred in several states, including Indiana, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, etc. They flagrantly ignored the will of the people, and with that came consequences. This was such a betrayal to Sanders voters, a large portion of them straight up left the Democratic Party and didn’t come back. And who could blame them? This operation just tells people to stay home. Their vote doesn’t matter in the primary, so why would it in November? According to the Official 2016 Presidential General Election Results by the Federal Election Commission, about 66 Million Americans voted for Clinton, 63 Million voted for Trump, and 100 Million didn’t vote at all, and it’s hard to deny the DNC’s contribution to that.
We’re starting to see this meddling from the DNC in our upcoming election. I find the incredibly coincidentally timed drop-outs of Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar as well as forcing post-candidates to endorse to be a sign of the DNC choosing their frontrunner, Joe “Malarkey” Biden. We saw it in 2016, and we’re seeing it now. The liberal establishment is so opposed to Senator Sanders that they’re literally rigging elections against him. Regardless of whether you support Sanders or not, this is a matter of honesty. The candidate with the most votes SHOULD be the winner of an election. We have to look at this information and realize that our election process, even on the liberal side, is dishonest beyond belief and start looking into how to hold the people in charge accountable so they don’t screw us over like they’ve been doing the last 30-to-god knows how many years.
If we plan to have any form of success in November, we should learn from our tired tactics and stop repeating the very mistakes that handed us Trump. The combination of a shift in the Overton window, the increase of asymmetrical polarization, and corporate intervention in our elections is what I believe to be the biggest factor in Hillary Clinton’s loss and what will likely be the reason for Joe Biden’s defeat if he is the nominee. If the DNC carries out their interference in the Democratic primaries, we will see another four years of Trump and a once united party in shambles.
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https://medium.com/@knuoffer8/who-is-to-blame-for-2016-41e9627fd8cd
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['Katharine Diana']
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2020-09-20 03:11:26.969000+00:00
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['2016 Election', 'Politics', 'Republican Party', 'Democrats']
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HOAX: This website inviting users to apply for the US visa lottery is a scam
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HOAX: This website inviting users to apply for the US visa lottery is a scam
The link directs to a phoney webpage with a dubious free internet data offer. PesaCheck Follow Jul 6 · 5 min read
A website link shared on Facebook inviting users to apply for the United States of America 2021/2022 visa lottery is a HOAX.
The link shows an image of the US flag accompanied by the word “Visa.”
The link has also been shared on WhatsApp with a message stating that the online registration for the American Visa Lottery 2021 is now open.
Part of the message reads, “Take the chance of living in the USA and apply for the official US Green Card Lottery! The Green Card unlocks the door to the United States for thousands of USA fans every year”.
“It allows the lucky Green Card winners permanent residence as well as an unlimited work permit for the USA. Every year, the United States grants 55,000 Green Cards through the Green Card Lottery,” the message reads.
However, clicking the link does not direct one to the US Department of State website where applications for the Diversity Visa Program — also called “Visa Lottery” — are submitted.
The Department of State website states that it randomly selects applicants based on allocations of available visas in each region and country upon which the selectees win the chance to apply to become lawful permanent US residents. The E-DV website is the only means by which the department notifies selectees of their selection and the department expressly warns applicants against falling for scams relating to the immigration visa program.
A message that reads “deceptive site ahead” appears when a user clicks on the link, indicating that the website we are debunking is dubious.
When a user ignores the warning and continues, the website directs to a phoney page offering 20GB of free internet data instead of the promised American visa lottery form.
Clicking on the Get 20GB button opens up instructions directing the user to key in their telephone numbers to check if it is eligible to activate the free date.
Once the user does as instructed, a new message pops up confirming that their number is eligible to receive the internet bundles, valid for one month on their Android phone, computer, or iPhone. However, in order to activate the said internet bundles, the user must send the information to 12 groups on WhatsApp. This indicates that the website is a phishing scam out to mine personal information.
Additionally, the WHOIS information of the dubious website shows that it was registered on 20 June 2021, in Iceland, and the identity of the registrant is hidden.
Furthermore, the domain name of the dubious website is 20gb.xyx, which is different from the domain name of the US Department of State website, state.gov.
PesaCheck has looked into a website link inviting users to apply for the US 2021/2022 visa lottery and finds it to be a HOAX.
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https://pesacheck.org/hoax-this-website-inviting-users-to-apply-for-the-us-visa-lottery-is-a-scam-6dc98b8698cd
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[]
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2021-07-06 07:01:14.197000+00:00
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['Short Form', 'Kenya', 'Scam', 'English']
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Minard Day 2021: Resources, Research, and Inspirations
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Michael Friendly
A collection of snipped images from Minard’s graphic work. Source: RJ Andrews
This article was originally written for an international group of friends and colleagues, Les Chevaliers des Albums de Statistique Graphique, formed over 20 years ago to organize the collective purchase of the albums of the same name, an exquisite sampler of the best data and map graphics of the late 1800s and perhaps of all time.
Over this time, various members of the group have organized conference sessions, written papers, and books on the history of data visualization, and enjoyed each other's company at Chevalier lunches and dinners. A subset of this group, Les Chevaliers des Pays Catalan, has met annually in recent years somewhere in the Catalan region of France and Spain.
For some years, it has been my annual practice to send Minard Day greetings to this group on March 27. Last year, this resulted in the article Raiders of the Lost Tombs: The Search for Some Heroes of the History of Data Visualization.
Happy Minard Day, 2021 Edition
Happy Minard Day to all! Today is Charles-Joseph Minard’s 240th birthday! He rests contentedly in Montparnasse Cemetery, Section 7 (48.83879° N, 2.325163° E). He doesn’t use email, but I do have permission to post this:
Moi, Charles-Joseph Minard, je vous souhaite de bonnes nouvelles et j’approuve ce message. Ai-je vraiment 240 ans? Le temps passe vite quand je pense à de nouvelles cartes. …
What follows is some Chevalier and Minard-related News for 2021.
New book: A History of Data Visualization and Graphic Communication
My Harvard University Press book (with Howard Wainer), A History of Data Visualization and Graphic Communication is going to ink shortly, due to appear in June, 2021. We plan to put color versions of figures on a website.
A final Afterword chapter, recounting Chevalier work to discover details of the lives and burial sites of some of our heroes (Playfair, Minard, Guerry, van Langren) fell to the cutting room floor of our editor.
I rescued this and published an article on Medium, Raiders of the Lost Tombs: The Search for Some Heroes of the History of Data Visualization. This is the first official collective authorship for Les Chevaliers des Albums de Statistique Graphique.
Unmemorialized heroes of data visualization (Author graphic)
Albums de Statistique Graphique
Some sample plates from the Albums de Statistique Graphique
Not really new, but thanks again to David Rumsey, all 480 sheets of the Albums de Statistique Graphique are available on his davidrumsey.com site.
Professionally cataloged, searchable, with images that can be zoomed to your heart’s content. This effectively completes my dream from 1995, when Antoine de Falguerolles first showed me the copy of the 1885 Album he had found, and I set about to discover the others in the series. The rest of the story is Chevalier History.
The Minard System
Some sample plates from The Minard System
Sandra Rendgen’s 2018 book, The Minard System, continues to get rave reviews. More importantly, Sandra has done Minardists a great service by providing a comprehensive catalog of Minard’s graphic works. From this, we finally have an authoritative numbering system, more or less in chronological order. The Napoleon’s Russia Campaign graphic is Minard #60. ‘Minardists’ can now just say Minard #48 instead of the more cumbersome Location of a New Main Post Office in Paris graphic. (I see I can now buy the Kindle Edition of The Minard System for only $3.11, but I’d have to buy a 24" Color Kindle to read comfortably.)
The Paris publisher Éditions B42 released a French translation of The Minard System last fall. It includes a preface by Joost Grotens, dutch designer and cartographer who has is known for several brilliant atlases himself. Sandra has also written an article (in French), https://visionscarto.net/charles-joseph-minard-cinquante-cartes
Color palettes of the Albums
RJ Andrews (@infowetrust) has made a lovely study of the color palettes used in the Albums de Statistique Graphique. He recreated 25 color palettes used in various albums and published these as SVG vector patterns on Github.
See also RJ’s earlier study, Seeking Minard. This contains a visual catalog of all of Minard’s graphic works, plus a Youtube video of the development of Minard’s flow maps of the cotton trade.
In 2020, RJ obtained a copy of Minard’s Des tableaux graphiques et des cartes figuratives. His translation and commentary, Illustration Invades Everything, gives a good sense of “what he (Minard) was thinking”.
Re-visioning Minard
To understand what is so special about historical graphics, it is often useful to try to re-create them today, a process I call “re-visioning”. Many years ago, I launched the Minard Challenge, and new versions continue to roll in. I can no longer keep track and haven’t been able to update that page on my server.
One of the latest, by Martin Grandjean is particularly nice: Minard’s map vectorized & revisited. It is available in vectorized (SVG) format, as well as high-resolution PNG, together with several related versions.
Minard’s Napoleon March graphic re-created by Martin Grandjean
Minard Vis in R (MinR’d)
David Schoch has taken the idea of recreating Minard’s works further, following Sandra Rendgen’s numbering system, and trying to recreate these in very high resolution using R. Thirteen of the 61 Minard graphs are available on his web page. These are not yet in an R package but are available on Github.
ENPC Collection
Some items from the ENPC Minard archive
Not to be forgotten: The École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées has long been maintained an archival collection containing their entire collection of digital works of Minard. They recently prepared an exhibit, Cartes et documents de Ch.-J. Minard, showcasing Minard’s work.
One of the best is the short book, Des tableaux graphiques et des cartes figuratives This was recently translated and illustrated by RJ Andrews, Illustration Invades Everything.
Paul Kahn — Touching Minard
Some Minard originals from the ENPC collection (Source: Paul Kahn)
Paul Kahn recently described a 2020 visit to the ENPC to view the original work of Minard and Léon Lallanne in the Archives of the ENPC, Touching Minard. The illustrations shown in that article give perhaps a small sense of the awe one feels in viewing the originals in the archive of the ENPC.
Minard in the movies
In the last year, Robert Kosara (@eagereyes) made a Youtube video, Minard’s Famous “Napoleon’s March” Chart — What It Shows, What It Doesn’t. Among other things, he presents some interesting historical details from the Russian side of the 1812 Moscow campaign.
For background music, I suggest The 1812 Overture with Canons. Tchaikovsky wrote the overture to celebrate the Russian victory at the battle of Borodino.
TODO: A Plaque for Minard
Charles-Joseph Minard is a hero of Paris and of France, in the history of the engineers of the ENPC, and among those who still find his graphic work inspiring. It is therefore very surprising that there is no monument to Minard, no “Place Minard” or “Parc Minard” in Paris, not even a plaque on a wall somewhere, saying “Minard Lived Here!”
Even Sigmund Freud has a plaque outside the Hotel du Bresil (near Jardin de Luxembourg), and you can book his room! Not far from Buttes Chaument and Pré-Saint-Gervais, you can walk along Rue Sigmund Freud.
Some years ago, Antoine de Falguerolles discovered a notice of publication of one of Minard’s works and in the Annales des Ponts et Chaussées 1845, p. 18, giving his address as 36 rue du Bac. We’re still waiting to be able to put a plaque on the door.
Cuveé Chavaliers
It has been nearly two years since some of us last met for a Chevalier lunch in Vic, hosted by Pere Millán. As a memento, here is the label from the 2018 vintage, Cuvée Chevaliers des Pays Catalan.
This is indeed a Grande Vin de Visualization. The label says “mis en bouteilles par C. J. Minard, ENPC, en retraite”. En retraite, yes; but well remembered!
This article was originally published at https://www.datavis.ca/gallery/minard/MinardDay2021.html
|
https://medium.com/nightingale/minard-day-2021-resources-research-and-inspirations-5588e4e6dbe9
|
['Michael Friendly']
|
2021-05-14 13:56:29.023000+00:00
|
['Data Visualization', 'History', 'Graphics', 'Minard']
|
Understand Things As Interacting Systems
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So what are systems ?
In each of the previous example, we found common properties that make system useful tools. Let’s walk through each of them.
Systems are useful learning tools
We already saw that at the begining: building the model is what makes you understand it, question your assumptions, share your thoughts. Your models will be false — they are models! You learn with iterations, making them less false is possible.
Systems are entities…
A system is a model about entities, so you need at least things that last sufficiently long that you want to talk about them. It can be anything, from people to items to ideas and more.
Abstract entities
These things need to be in some sort of interaction, or at least relation. Again, here interaction and relation are very loosely defined, “the cars on the road” is totally fine, as much as “people who saw that series” or “these lines of codes”.
For example, the children from the previous school:
Sometime a little bit to concreate entities (if you are parents, you know)
So, you have things and links between them:
Abstractly interacting entities
This is your world, the thing you need to better understand, or just talk about with your friends.
Noisigly interacting entities
Defining systems — boundaries and names
And then, to transform that into interacting systems, you need to do (be careful, it will be very quick, don’t lose the track of my hands): draw lines around groups of things that belong together.
And tadaaaa, you have interacting systems — an ecosystem:
Tada! Colorful systems ! Choosing where to draw lines and why is the interesting part.
And give a name to each group. As you can see, you don’t even have to be good for the naming part, but at least you will be able to easily communicate to others (and yourself) what things you are talking about.
Again, “belong together” is up to you. It’s the part that makes the system definition helpful to reach your goal, to learn about the entities at hand. Thinking about the boundaries is what makes you understand your systems.
For example, if you want to build a long-lasting application, you could group code by the service it provides to other parts of the application. Or by how stable it must be because of third party integration. Or by sensitivity of managed data if you are on the security side of applications.
So each time you have interacting things, and you talk about a subpart of them, you are actually — even without knowing it — defining systems. Yep, you were doing it all that time.
Some examples of interacting systems:
“I love that book so much”.
System. With at least the people mostly sharing the ideas of narrators, and the ones who don’t.
“Did you correct the bug in that part of the application that looks if the user is connected?”.
System. And you should give a memrable name for that part of the application. And draw a big line around it, it seems important to be able to talk about its behaviour.
Or for the previous school example:
Creating systems is easy. Being ok with someone else (or you in 5min) about where to put the lines and what names should be used is the hard part
Internal language
As you defined a part “in” a system and a part “out” of it, you will see that the rules are not the same for things in and out.
A system develops an internal language. You know, your famous “business domain”, or even just your work expert vocabulary — the words that the outer world describes as “jargon” or “gibberish” most of the time. This internal language makes intra-system communications full of conventions, assumptions, non-obvious self-consistency. In exchange, your intra-system communications can be more precise and efficient.
Making explicit the boundaries of your system make it clear where you are allowed to use that internal language, and where you need to give more context, or even adapt to a common, less efficient but more broadly understood language.
Teachers talk to each other with pedagogical terms but they use common words to talk to parents. Alice’ Band has its private jokes and references which differ from Gus Band, but both agreed on a common, colorful language when they play together. And so on.
… interacting with other systems
These explicit boundaries also make apparent how all systems interact with each other.
Most of the time, you will be surprised by how much entangled systems are in reality, and how naive your circles were — that’s good ! You are learning about the topic at hand, and what you are starting to see are interfaces and communication protocols.
Interfaces
Interfaces are gates in the boundary of a system. They are places that other systems use to interact with your system — identified points of contact.
The fewer gates there are, the easier it is for a system to evolve and change without impacting other systems. It’s something very well-known in code, where we have entire books explaining that modules should hide their internal state. But actually, they just need to expose few interfaces, hiding internal state is just a consequence of that.
Protocols
Interfaces per se are not useful. They take flesh once you know how to use them to talk to the system, and what you get in return. We, experts, call that chating. Sorry, a protocol.
Promises and error modes
Once you have an identified bounded system that can be contacted at interface points thanks to protocols… You will like to actually interact with the system, and you will expect some kind of behaviour from it: the system make promises to the outer world about what it will do. Promises can be kept — it’s the nominal case in a working ecosystem — , or not — and that’s an error.
Protocols and interfaces help to encode these promises in a way that is useful for the other systems which want to interact with the firt one. They describe:
where you need to ask something,
what kinds of interactions will be processed,
what kinds of returns can be expected,
and what errors can happen along the way.
And so you have an ecosystem interacting by protocol through interfaces.
Promises on behavior is shared with protocols using interfaces
Nothing surprising in a digital world actually built upon these principles.
But you can use it on more down to earth systems, to better understand how the parts interact and what are the protocoles. Again, drawing the lines and putting the tags is what will make you discover the studied world, and confronting your lines with others will make you understand it: you will most likely disagree on where are the interfaces and what are the correct protocols.
See, in the following example, what happens if Charlie is in Deborah’s class, contrary to the three others?
Systems, protocol and interfaces don’t need to formally defined to share understanding of the world
Systems are fractal
Systems can be composed of subsystems. Or be part of macro-systems. You adapt the granularity to the problem at hand and zoom as needed.
Our school is its own system in the world, with its own interfaces to other systems like the local administrations, its ministry, parents, etc. You could zoom out to study the town as a system and better understand what the place of the school is, or you can zoom in Alice’s Band inner complicated relationships.
Zoom in and out of system to study different levels of interaction.
Systems are rooted in a world
One last thing: interacting systems are rooted in a world. So you have a virtual horizon to your ecosystem beside which nothing useful happens for that model of the world.
Systems are rooted in a world.
That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, just that you don’t want to consider it in your model. And actually, if something from beyond that horizon is important… It’s part of your ecosystem, and you need to understand its interaction. It isn’t a contradiction with the previous fractal part either: when you chose a level, you also choose to exclude what is considered irrelevant for your eco-system at that level. Again, this is part of being a mostly wrong model and not the reallity.
This horizon is extremely useful because it allows defining three modes of interaction for systems:
The nominal case, when an interaction went as expected for both parts.
The error mode, when something *expected* went wrong.
The failure mode, when something *unexpected* (i.e. beyond our horizon) happened.
In our school example, we could have:
nominal case: children are in school during break, they play marble and have some fun.
error mode: children are in school during break, they play marble, start a fight and their parents get called.
failure: in the morning, it’s snowing a lot. Children can’t go to school, all adults panic.
Or perhaps that last case should be an expected error mode? It’s a snowy region, and the city is used to that. There is a special public service that will take care of the children whom parents can’t get a day off —but most can, because remote is expected in that situation.
Well, you see: thinking in systems is useful. Now you know that you decide what the expected errors are, and what is an unexpected failure. It’s the same in your code. You want to know what your world hypothesis are and what events need to be considered to be fatal for your application.
For example, in Java, most people consider the memory management as beeing out of their world. In case of a memory allocation failure (the famous “OutOfMemoryError”), you just have to terminate your application, because you switched to an inconsistant state, out of your understanding of your model. But in some rare cases, it’s totally legit to draw lines around a part of the code and to expect that that part may throw that error (for example when loading a Big Thing in memory), with a recovery scheme (when Thing is Too Big).
In economics, they call the things happening beyond your model horizan externalities. Earth ecosystem is such an externality, and we are just now noticing that perhaps we don’t like the failure mode going with that one, so we are starting to internalise it, i.e. integrate it in our humanity models.
|
https://medium.com/@fanf42/understand-things-as-interacting-systems-b273bdba5dec
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[]
|
2019-09-27 14:22:09.474000+00:00
|
['Systems Thinking', 'Interaction', 'Software Development', 'Promise Theory', 'Wardley Maps']
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A Zero to Hero Analytics Framework to scale your business
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photo by Csaba Tamas
A Zero to Hero Analytics Framework to scale your business
Becoming a truly data-driven company is the “superfood” of customer-driven business growth. According to a MicroStrategy study, data-driven decision-making leads to improved efficiency and productivity, better financial performance, improved customer experience, acquisition, and retention. But how can you turn your organisation into a data-driven one?
At the beginning of my analytics journey, I wasn’t sure where to start to get the most out of data. I read several books and tens of articles. I synthesised my research into a practical, Zero to Hero step-by-step blueprint. Read on for the complete overview of the “Scaling Analytics Framework” that can fuel your engine of growth for years to come.
If you think about it for a moment, building and scaling a company often follows a similar path to the one of developing and launching a rocket. It all starts with a bold idea, a series of iterative design and test cycles. Many of these end with a failure and the hope that tomorrow will be better. We expect success will knock on the door before we run out of money. Most product launches are modest events at first, but successful ones are slowly building momentum. Day after day, one step at a time. It is a continuous climb, much like the rocket that leaves behind the pulling gravity of Earth.
Just like the rocket follows a well-calculated trajectory, entrepreneurs are also defining a path towards the envisioned destination and are gazing at the climb on a central dashboard. But on a second look, scaling a company might be considered even more challenging: it is like launching a rocket to the Moon and trying to figure out most of the space-flight science during the flight.
Analytics plays a pivotal role in this process, ensuring that your engine of growth has enough torque while not blowing up halfway to the exit event. First, analytics helps you to identify and describe the forces that influence your engine of growth and your crew. Next, it helps you to calculate the shortest path to the exit event. It provides a framework to identify and measure the activities that will bring you closer to the goal, one step at a time. And finally, analytics helps you to track progress along the way. It shows if the subsystems of your business are performing under nominal conditions.
Analytics also provides early alerts: be it too much fuel or oxygen consumption, or approaching the surface of the Moon too fast or too slow. In the case of the business: it provides early alerts on change in the revenue trends or customer engagement.
A real-time, pervasive analytics framework, is paramount for delegating high-velocity decisions. It also ensures conceptual integrity and alignment among teams. The cause and effect of hundreds of variables suddenly become transparent to everybody. Decisions become pragmatic and thoughtful, beyond bias and gut feeling.
by Csaba Tamas
And that is the purpose of the “Scaling Analytics Framework” that has 5 major steps: 1.) exploratory analysis — understand what your customer wants; 2.) define your objectives, the precise direction where you are going — we call these output metrics 3.) identify the performance indicators that lead you to your objectives — we call these input metrics 4.) create situational awareness in your organisation using a cause-effect network of key performance indicators; and finally in step 5.) track your performance and the validity of you your metrics and course correct when needed;
This system provides you instant feedback on course correction beyond the control room. Thus, individual teams will better understand the impact of their decisions.
Step #1 — Exploratory analysis: figuring out what customers want
Some business failure is a result of building products and services that nobody wants (while the entrepreneur is convinced about the viability of the idea). That’s why I encourage you to stop for a moment and distance yourself from the idea. Before you jump into the joy of building, try to figure out what your customers want. Or even better: what they need (a small, but important nuance).
Make sure you make what you can sell and not try to sell what you can make. And that means figuring out what people want to buy. Qualitative customer research is more important at the beginning of the product life cycle. My favourite book on the topic is called the Mom Test by Robert Fitzpatrick.
As soon as users start interacting with your product, you can shift to quantitative research using the ever-increasing amount of data. Now, you can run an exploratory analysis and look for a correlation between dependent metrics and desired outcomes. Some questions you could ask: what marketing activity shows the closest correlation to revenue growth? Which communication channel brings more customers? What product-feature increases engagement?
When you go beyond correlation and find causation, you know you found a Jackpot. If you can identify what drives the behaviour of your customers, you can predict and influence the future.
At this stage, however, we are targeting a potential correlation between your present actions and future results. In other words what input metrics lead to what output metrics. This is what we cover next.
Step #2 — Define desired outcomes, the output metrics (a.k.a. lagging indicators)
Let’s start with the desired business outcomes, like revenue and growth-rate. When you observe these, they are the result (output) of your past activities. That’s why we also call these “lagging indicators”. They show a reality that lags behind actions delivered in the past.
The series of output metrics are representing your path to the Moon. The destination of your rocket. Here you answer WHAT would you like to achieve, as opposed to HOW can you achieve it.
You can start by asking yourself: what is the business outcome you want to see at the end of this period (quarter or fiscal year)? The answer can be anything in the range of the number of activations, the number of monthly active users, retention rate, net promoter score, app store rating, or revenue growth.
I recommend defining at least one output metric in all key areas, such as sales, marketing, product, and operations. Some standard metrics can get you a jumpstart, be it the so-called “Pirate Metrics” or the “HEART Framework”.
The Pirate Metrics include Activation, Retention, Referral, and Revenue. These are focused on your sales performance. The “HEART Framework” on the other side is focused on your product performance. The metrics include Happiness (attitudes or satisfaction), Engagement (or user involvement), Adoption (number of new people using your product or feature), Retention (users who stick with your product), and finally Task Success, which covers behavioural metrics of UX such as effectiveness, efficiency, error rate.
Output metrics are usually easy to measure. On the downside, it is hard to identify the actions that can improve them. Think of revenue: it is simple to measure, but there’s no single conclusive step that you can follow to improve it. Since we are looking for a system that can give us direction and magnitude, we need to keep going.
Step #3 — Identify input metrics that influence future outputs (a.k.a. Leading indicators)
If output metrics — discussed in the previous section — are about defining the WHAT, input metrics are all about the HOW. There are at least two reasons why these are the most important metrics: a.) They give early indications of performance, thus they can predict the future, and b.) opposed to the output metrics, these are actionable. They describe the actions you can take to improve future outcomes.
Many businesses stop at defining and tracking output metrics in the boardroom. That’s not great, because output metrics can only be observed after the fact and you need input metrics that you are in full control of.
Take the example of the Net Promoter Score (NPS), which captures the customer’s sentiment towards your product or service. We can only observe its value at a time when the underlying customer sentiment is already settled. Input metrics — on the other hand — like “Average First Call Resolution” or “Daily Active Users” are early indicators that predict future NPS values.
But how to find the right input metrics for future NPS? Just ask the magic questions: What are the customer behaviours that predict satisfaction? What are performance metrics that will have a positive impact on customer satisfaction?
You could look at customer-service quality for example. Ask how promptly your teams are responding to a complaint? What are those complaints about? Does the increase of complaints correlates with the decreased NPS values? What is the number of average distress and inconvenience payments? What is the elasticity between the inconvenience payment and the NPS score? What are the root causes of those complaints? What is the value of successful resolution for those complaints?
Note: leading indicators are a.) early predictors of future outcomes and b.) measure activities that you are in full control of.
Step #4 Create situational awareness by ensuring business observability
“Entrepreneurs are particularly good at lying to themselves. Lying may even be a prerequisite for succeeding as an entrepreneur — after all, you need to convince others that something is true in the absence of hard evidence. […] As an entrepreneur, you need to live in a semi-delusional state just to survive the inevitable rollercoaster ride of running your startup. Small lies are essential. […] But if you start believing your own hype, you won’t survive. You’ll go too far into the bubble you’ve created, and you won’t come out until you hit the wall — hard — and that bubble bursts.” — Croll and Yoskowitz / Lean Analytics.
Yes, you need to deceive yourself a bit, but not to the point where you’re jeopardising your business. That’s where continuous, real-time situational awareness comes into the picture.
Let’s package your business intelligence into a graph of input and output metrics. I call this a Key Performance Indicator Tree (KPI-Tree in short). Combining the business outcomes (the output metrics), and the input metrics (the actions you need to take), we build a funnel. Or better said: a tree structure of KPIs that are representing the trajectory of your scaling business.
A KPI Tree is a powerful visualisation tool that helps to break down the organisations objectives into granular activities. This is somewhat similar in concept to the Objectives and Key Results (OKR) used by many startups today. It differs from it by providing higher granularity, immediate visibility, and tracking continuous performance metrics (not just new growth areas).
These are the steps to build a KPI tree of your own:
The root of the tree is the output metric, the business outcome; The leaf nodes of the tree are other output metrics that are part of the main output or the input metrics that lead to the desired main output.
by Csaba Tamas
Let’s use an example to illustrate the concept: say your goal is to close 50 new deals (a lagging indicator). With a six-month-long sales cycle, you would only know if you succeeded at the end of the 2nd quarter. To build an early warning system that gives you time to steer the rocket, you could set leading indicators to track your progress. Think about it: what could be a good candidate for the leading indicators in this scenario? How about Pipeline Volume or Number of Calls/Meetings/Emails per sales rep.
By tracking these metrics, you build a real-time perception of progress. You will know ahead of the period if you need to increase outreach efforts to meet your Deals Closed goal.
The combination of multiple KPI-Trees will lead to high business observability, which is a prerequisite tool for high-velocity decision-making.
The web of KPIs interwoven into the fabric of the organisation leads to increased business observability and this, in turn, leads to an increased ability of the organisation to better understand itself and adapt fast to changing market conditions.
Step #5 Measure, Refine and Improve
At the beginning of your product design process, you will make many hypotheses. You will try to define the customer needs and identify potential input metrics that lead to your desired outcome. As the business evolves, you will need to revisit your output metrics and redefine your KPI-Trees as you validate many of your early hypotheses.
Good metrics that help you grow fast are actionable, comparative, reliable, understandable and usually, take the form of a ratio.
Once implemented and maintained, the “Scaling Analytics Framework” will provide purpose and direction for your teams. It will assure a holistic understanding of the value streams and lead to real-time business observability as a basis of high-velocity decision-making. These elements are the main ingredients of an autonomous organisation, which scales faster due to its ability to react to changes in the environment autonomously. And that is the basis of a data-driven organisation and a key capability that will contribute to your sustained growth.
|
https://entrepreneurshandbook.co/a-zero-to-hero-analytics-framework-to-scale-your-business-e198b47e7bd2
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['Csaba Tamas']
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2021-07-14 17:17:50.719000+00:00
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['Big Data Analytics', 'Business Strategy', 'Scaling Up', 'Business Analytics', 'Business Intelligence']
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