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https://medium.com/the-dove/the-challenge-to-love-5dbe2d0f49df
|
medium.com
|
The Challenge to Love
|
How can I love God if I can’t love my fellow believers?
|
Ed Jarrett
|
https://medium.com/@edjarrett_aclayjar
|
5dbe2d0f49df
|
2 min
|
2023-02-28T01:57:31.291000
|
2023-02-28T16:17:24.223000
|
2023-03-01T04:16:44.100000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
The Dove
|
<section>
<h3>How can I love God if I can’t love my fellow believers?</h3>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*wjm5wenpDxE75sDrXW8w2w.jpeg" width="1280" height="840" loading="lazy" />
<p>Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A20-21&version=NIV">1 John 4:20–21 NIV</a>)</p>
<p>This passage is one that I find to be very personally applicable, and very challenging. It is a challenge for me to love, especially those outside of my circle.</p>
<p>I have, recently, been hurt very much by the actions of a fellow believer. I believe he was acting in what he felt to be the best interests of the church. But it hurt nonetheless. And the human part of me wanted to respond in a less-than-loving way. But I also know, and this passage confirms, that was the wrong approach. I needed to love him.</p>
<p>I do not believe that John is talking here about emotional feelings toward people. Personally, I seem to have little direct control over how I feel about people. But for John, love is a verb, it is something that we do. It is acting in a loving fashion toward them, looking to do what is best for them.</p>
<p>And I believe that, for John, hate is similar. It is acting in a less-than-loving fashion toward another person. John gives us no middle ground. If I do not love my brother or sister in the Lord, then I hate them.</p>
<p>Unlike emotional feelings, acting in a loving fashion is something that I can choose to do, even if I find it difficult. And it is really something that I need to do. As John says, how can I claim to love God, and yet not love those he has put around me?</p>
<p>Jesus has to be my example. Hanging on the cross. Ridiculed by the ones he was dying for. And he forgave them. Can I do any less than take on the challenge to <a href="https://aclayjar.net/2018/10/laying-down-our-lives-1-john-3-16-18/">love others</a>?</p>
<p>BTW, I was able to act in a loving way toward them and forgive them.</p>
<p><strong><a href="h</strong>ttps://aclayjar.net/a-clay-jar/?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=TheDove">A Clay Jar
<em>This blog is a reflection of my own thoughts and understandings concerning the Bible and theology in general. It is…</em>acl</a>ayjar.net</p>
</section>
|
The Challenge to Love
How can I love God if I can’t love my fellow believers?
Photo by Ed Jarrett
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (1 John 4:20–21 NIV)
This passage is one that I find to be very personally applicable, and very challenging. It is a challenge for me to love, especially those outside of my circle.
I have, recently, been hurt very much by the actions of a fellow believer. I believe he was acting in what he felt to be the best interests of the church. But it hurt nonetheless. And the human part of me wanted to respond in a less-than-loving way. But I also know, and this passage confirms, that was the wrong approach. I needed to love him.
I do not believe that John is talking here about emotional feelings toward people. Personally, I seem to have little direct control over how I feel about people. But for John, love is a verb, it is something that we do. It is acting in a loving fashion toward them, looking to do what is best for them.
And I believe that, for John, hate is similar. It is acting in a less-than-loving fashion toward another person. John gives us no middle ground. If I do not love my brother or sister in the Lord, then I hate them.
Unlike emotional feelings, acting in a loving fashion is something that I can choose to do, even if I find it difficult. And it is really something that I need to do. As John says, how can I claim to love God, and yet not love those he has put around me?
Jesus has to be my example. Hanging on the cross. Ridiculed by the ones he was dying for. And he forgave them. Can I do any less than take on the challenge to love others?
BTW, I was able to act in a loving way toward them and forgive them.
A Clay Jar
This blog is a reflection of my own thoughts and understandings concerning the Bible and theology in general. It is…aclayjar.net
|
d9d40fe8-95e5-5915-82bc-79ef4b31221c
|
25/08/2025 16:02:03
|
|
https://medium.com/@kyphilosopher/interesting-homeschool-activities-with-cards-feb5efdd3c0f
|
medium.com
|
Interesting Homeschool Activities With Cards
|
If your kids are like mine they love cards. You can play so many great games with a simple deck of cards. And, of course, there are many…
|
Kevin J. Browne
|
https://medium.com/@kyphilosopher
|
feb5efdd3c0f
|
4 min
|
2022-04-22T15:14:55.321000
|
2022-04-28T12:39:46.661000
|
2022-12-05T15:26:00.199000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Homeschooling,Learning,Activity,Education,Games
|
<section>
<p>If your kids are like mine they love cards. You can play so many great games with a simple deck of cards. And, of course, there are many types of flashcards available. Here are a few decks of cards you might not already be familiar with that could be great additions to your homeschooling resources.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http</strong>s://amzn.to/3qBobHF">The Elements</a>:</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/370/1*5t-6Jx65xGuKG2qg0TTBOw.jpeg" width="370" height="250" loading="lazy" />
<p>These large cards provide a good deal of information about each element including where it’s located on the periodic table, a large full-color picture, and a short description. One of the activities we use these for is to have an elements scavenger hunt. Of course, there are a number of ordinary items in your house that contain the elements and a surprising number of items that contain even fairly obscure elements, like the americium in your smoke detector! You can even use these cards to re-create your own periodic table of the elements. Make sure you have enough floor space! These cards can be used in conjunction with <em>Theodore Gray’s Elements Vault.</em></p>
<p><strong>U.S. States Flash Cards:</strong></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1500/1*jbKbleIwDPQFpPk0hUKE6w.jpeg" width="1500" height="1500" loading="lazy" />
<p>These cards picture the state as well as its location in the United States on one side and the name of the state, abbreviation, and capital on the other side. We used these to play a game of identifying the states by their shapes. It makes a great lead-in to other interesting facts about the shapes of the states that are described in Mark Stein’s book <em>How the States Got Their Shapes.</em></p>
<p><strong><a href="https:</strong>//amzn.to/3QNMqgp">The World Game</a>:</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1131/1*Jo5UHqxV6DS7WIwAn79xDw.jpeg" width="1131" height="1500" loading="lazy" />
<p>This card game is a great way to introduce some world geography into your homeschooling. Each card depicts the country’s flag and provides statistics on the country’s area, population, highest point, and neighboring countries. There are several games you can play with the cards including challenges to name the continent of the country, identify the country by its flag, and identify the capital of the country. The cards also come with a foldout map of the world indicating the countries by numbers that correspond to the numbers on the cards.</p>
<p><strong>Fabula:</strong></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1024/1*pZnVoOijRLQIZ7enea7FzA.jpeg" width="1024" height="576" loading="lazy" />
<p>If your kids are storytellers or writers this deck of cards would be very useful. The deck contains 42 cards which provide tools for outlining stories based on the three-act structure and the archetypes of myth and tales. They also provide a great tool for analyzing stories or movies that often follow some variation on these structures. <em>The Hero’s Guidebook: Creating Your own Hero’s Journey</em> by Zachary Hamby is a great companion book to these cards.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://thethin</strong>kingshop.org/?sca_ref=2969738.YmqzWrE4nK">Critical Thinking Cards</a>:</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/620/1*nUfy2DOtfAALBBcxpGRPxA.jpeg" width="620" height="465" loading="lazy" />
<p>This is a great resource for introducing critical thinking to kids. The deck contains 24 fallacy cards and 24 bias cards each of which briefly describes a specific fallacy or bias. There are also 3 game cards describing specific games you can play with the cards. Or you can make up your own games. There are also several “call out cards” that you can give someone if their arguments or claims are “so full of fallacies and dodgy logic that it would take too long to identify all of them.” These would pair well with Julie Bogart’s book <em>Raising Critical Thinkers.</em></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3ROJfGL">Famous</strong> Failures: The game of Persistence</a></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1600/1*96gZ1DLxYKA-O366vY02Tg.jpeg" width="1600" height="1600" loading="lazy" />
<p>This is a Go Fish card game where each card contains a famous person who failed many times before succeeding. So often, kids see successful people and they don’t realize that they are seeing the result of years of hard work, practice, and failure. In reality, most of those people did not have an easy road to success and this game provides a useful life lesson about learning from failure and perseverance.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://a</strong>mzn.to/3BfVNzT">Our Moments Cards:</a></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/612/1*RsNl_61A3gSa4kt_9tFF5w.jpeg" width="612" height="612" loading="lazy" />
<p>Finally, this deck of cards is simply designed to help you have interesting conversations with your kids. There are 100 cards in the deck, each containing a question designed to start a conversation. Some are very simple such as “What’s your favorite movie? Why?” “Name 3 foods you would never eat.” Others invite more reflection such as “If you could have one dream come true, what would it be?” Or, “Is there something I can do better that I am not doing now?”</p>
</section>
|
Interesting Homeschool Activities With Cards
If your kids are like mine they love cards. You can play so many great games with a simple deck of cards. And, of course, there are many types of flashcards available. Here are a few decks of cards you might not already be familiar with that could be great additions to your homeschooling resources.
The Elements:
These large cards provide a good deal of information about each element including where it’s located on the periodic table, a large full-color picture, and a short description. One of the activities we use these for is to have an elements scavenger hunt. Of course, there are a number of ordinary items in your house that contain the elements and a surprising number of items that contain even fairly obscure elements, like the americium in your smoke detector! You can even use these cards to re-create your own periodic table of the elements. Make sure you have enough floor space! These cards can be used in conjunction with Theodore Gray’s Elements Vault.
U.S. States Flash Cards:
These cards picture the state as well as its location in the United States on one side and the name of the state, abbreviation, and capital on the other side. We used these to play a game of identifying the states by their shapes. It makes a great lead-in to other interesting facts about the shapes of the states that are described in Mark Stein’s book How the States Got Their Shapes.
The World Game:
This card game is a great way to introduce some world geography into your homeschooling. Each card depicts the country’s flag and provides statistics on the country’s area, population, highest point, and neighboring countries. There are several games you can play with the cards including challenges to name the continent of the country, identify the country by its flag, and identify the capital of the country. The cards also come with a foldout map of the world indicating the countries by numbers that correspond to the numbers on the cards.
Fabula:
If your kids are storytellers or writers this deck of cards would be very useful. The deck contains 42 cards which provide tools for outlining stories based on the three-act structure and the archetypes of myth and tales. They also provide a great tool for analyzing stories or movies that often follow some variation on these structures. The Hero’s Guidebook: Creating Your own Hero’s Journey by Zachary Hamby is a great companion book to these cards.
Critical Thinking Cards:
This is a great resource for introducing critical thinking to kids. The deck contains 24 fallacy cards and 24 bias cards each of which briefly describes a specific fallacy or bias. There are also 3 game cards describing specific games you can play with the cards. Or you can make up your own games. There are also several “call out cards” that you can give someone if their arguments or claims are “so full of fallacies and dodgy logic that it would take too long to identify all of them.” These would pair well with Julie Bogart’s book Raising Critical Thinkers.
Famous Failures: The game of Persistence
This is a Go Fish card game where each card contains a famous person who failed many times before succeeding. So often, kids see successful people and they don’t realize that they are seeing the result of years of hard work, practice, and failure. In reality, most of those people did not have an easy road to success and this game provides a useful life lesson about learning from failure and perseverance.
Our Moments Cards:
Finally, this deck of cards is simply designed to help you have interesting conversations with your kids. There are 100 cards in the deck, each containing a question designed to start a conversation. Some are very simple such as “What’s your favorite movie? Why?” “Name 3 foods you would never eat.” Others invite more reflection such as “If you could have one dream come true, what would it be?” Or, “Is there something I can do better that I am not doing now?”
|
3b68af23-0242-52f6-97e0-7f8a2d7b509a
|
25/08/2025 16:02:03
|
|
https://medium.com/@doc.coin.ico/microsoft-walmart-ink-ai-cloud-pact-to-take-on-amazon-5797241c9315
|
medium.com
|
Microsoft, Walmart ink AI, cloud pact to take on Amazon
|
Engineers from both companies will collaborate on new architectures to better serve consumers, officials say.
|
Doc Coin
|
https://medium.com/@doc.coin.ico
|
5797241c9315
|
2 min
|
2018-07-21T17:40:14.740000
|
2018-07-21T17:41:47.294000
|
2018-07-21T17:41:47.824000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Microsoft,Telehealth,Telemedicine,Doccoin,Blockchain
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/712/1*sQZE4lZbaTIKhchFUoar4w.jpeg" width="712" height="400" loading="lazy" />
<p>Engineers from both companies will collaborate on new architectures to better serve consumers, officials say.</p>
<p>Walmart and Microsoft on Tuesday signed a five-year engineering partnership to bring the fight against online giant Amazon to the artificial intelligence, cloud computing and retail arenas.</p>
<p>The companies have been making concerted moves into healthcare and, in fact, they both battle Amazon on distinct fronts.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/microsoft-enters-cloud-computing-price-war-google-amazon">Microsoft has optimized Azure services</a> for a health cloud platform that <a href="https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/microsoft-hires-two-healthcare-leaders-teases-future-projects">company executives</a> say enable customers to focus on clinical and operational efficiency, as well as offering AI capabilities and Microsoft Genomics, which is <a href="https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/microsoft-says-ai-and-cloud-computing-are-giving-precision-medicine-boost">in place at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital</a>.</p>
<p>As for Walmart, the retail giant already runs pharmacies and a burgeoning healthcare business — a market that Amazon, after months of rumors, moved into late last month when <a href="https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/amazon-acquires-virtual-pharmacy-pillpack">it acquired the online pharmacy Pillpack</a>.</p>
<p>Walmart, for its part, announced on July 16 that Sean Slovenski, most recently president of Healthways’ population health division, will step into the senior VP of health and wellness for Walmart beginning on August 1.</p>
<p>In the new deal, Walmart and Microsoft engineers will collaborate on the assessment, development, and support phase of moving hundreds of existing applications to cloud-native architectures.</p>
<p>Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Walmart will connect into Microsoft’s Azure cloud and Microsoft 365 to help speed transformation while Walmart.</p>
<p>Walmart is already using some Microsoft services. Now the retailer is gearing up for new possibilities, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and data platforms that deliver new capabilities that officials said will make shopping faster and easier. And Walmart plans to migrate a significant portion of walmart.com and samsclub.com to Azure, including its cloud-powered check-out.</p>
<p>Beyond that, the companies revealed plans to build a worldwide Internet of Things platform to connect stores and shipping to simplify Walmart’s supply chain.</p>
<p>Walmart CEO Doug McMillon added that the partnership will drive the company’s “ability to innovate further and faster.”</p>
<p>Microsoft and Amazon have also ratcheted up the competition with each other in healthcare and other industries, engaging in a pricing war over cloud computing infrastructure services earlier this year.</p>
<p>The two vendors, meanwhile, along with tech rivals Apple and Google, have filed hundreds, if not thousands, of patents that foretell plans for future technologies in the AI, machine learning, analytics and longitudinal health records areas, among others of interest to hospital IT shops.</p>
<p>Source <a href="https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/microsoft-walmart-ink-ai-cloud-pact-take-amazon">healthcareitnews</a></p>
</section>
|
Microsoft, Walmart ink AI, cloud pact to take on Amazon
Engineers from both companies will collaborate on new architectures to better serve consumers, officials say.
Walmart and Microsoft on Tuesday signed a five-year engineering partnership to bring the fight against online giant Amazon to the artificial intelligence, cloud computing and retail arenas.
The companies have been making concerted moves into healthcare and, in fact, they both battle Amazon on distinct fronts.
Microsoft has optimized Azure services for a health cloud platform that company executives say enable customers to focus on clinical and operational efficiency, as well as offering AI capabilities and Microsoft Genomics, which is in place at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
As for Walmart, the retail giant already runs pharmacies and a burgeoning healthcare business — a market that Amazon, after months of rumors, moved into late last month when it acquired the online pharmacy Pillpack.
Walmart, for its part, announced on July 16 that Sean Slovenski, most recently president of Healthways’ population health division, will step into the senior VP of health and wellness for Walmart beginning on August 1.
In the new deal, Walmart and Microsoft engineers will collaborate on the assessment, development, and support phase of moving hundreds of existing applications to cloud-native architectures.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Walmart will connect into Microsoft’s Azure cloud and Microsoft 365 to help speed transformation while Walmart.
Walmart is already using some Microsoft services. Now the retailer is gearing up for new possibilities, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and data platforms that deliver new capabilities that officials said will make shopping faster and easier. And Walmart plans to migrate a significant portion of walmart.com and samsclub.com to Azure, including its cloud-powered check-out.
Beyond that, the companies revealed plans to build a worldwide Internet of Things platform to connect stores and shipping to simplify Walmart’s supply chain.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon added that the partnership will drive the company’s “ability to innovate further and faster.”
Microsoft and Amazon have also ratcheted up the competition with each other in healthcare and other industries, engaging in a pricing war over cloud computing infrastructure services earlier this year.
The two vendors, meanwhile, along with tech rivals Apple and Google, have filed hundreds, if not thousands, of patents that foretell plans for future technologies in the AI, machine learning, analytics and longitudinal health records areas, among others of interest to hospital IT shops.
Source healthcareitnews
|
ab3d74f5-74a4-5fe9-8d6a-6a58a52d1757
|
25/08/2025 16:02:03
|
|
https://medium.com/@buratinosolutions/the-first-sales-of-trezor-wallet-bf63f0318b2b
|
medium.com
|
The first sales of Trezor wallet!
|
Dear friends!
Today, we have a lot of sales of hardware wallet Trezor!
So, we have sent the first packages to the USA, Italy and across…
|
BURATINO Blockchain Solutions
|
https://medium.com/@buratinosolutions
|
bf63f0318b2b
|
1 min
|
2019-04-05T12:16:41.320000
|
2019-04-05T12:17:10.511000
|
2021-12-09T04:53:46.518000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Bitcoin,Trezor,Hardware Wallet
|
<section>
<h1>The first sales of Trezor wallet!</h1>
<p>Dear friends!
Today, we have a lot of sales of hardware wallet Trezor!
So, we have sent the first packages to the USA, Italy and across the Russian Federation.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/0*Mrpc-gb1ft86JymK.jpeg" width="1280" height="961" loading="lazy" />
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/0*2blmjwiM301_DP4r.jpeg" width="1280" height="961" loading="lazy" />
<p>Only 890 BUR!
Hurry up to buy it!</p>
<p>Join our groups and chats and stay tuned for more updates and information!</p>
<p>FOUNDERS AND TEAM (Telegram):
🙋♂️ Alexey Permyakov |CEO| Buratino BlockChain Solutions (t.me/AlexTrezor)
🙋♂️Alexander Evdokimov |CMO| Buratino BlockChain Solutions (t.me/SashaEx)
🙋♂️Evgeniy Svetlakov |Support| Buratino BlockChain Solutions (t.me/akan3t)</p>
<p>Official link BTT:
฿Bitcointalk (ENG) — <a href="https://golos.io/leave_page?https%3A%2F%2Fbitcointalk.org%2Findex.php%3Ftopic%3D5082435">https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5082435</a>
📣Official link Facebook
h<a href="https://facebook.com/buratinotech">ttps://facebook.com/buratinotech
</a>📣Official news channel
ht<a href="https://golos.io/leave_page?https%3A%2F%2Ft.me%2Fburatino_news">tps://t.me/buratino_news</a></p>
<p>📣Official Telegram chats
🇷🇺 — htt<a href="https://golos.io/leave_page?https%3A%2F%2Ft.me%2Fburatino_rus_chat">ps://t.me/buratino_rus_chat
🇺🇸</a> — https<a href="https://golos.io/leave_page?https%3A%2F%2Ft.me%2Fburatino_eng_chat">://t.me/buratino_eng_chat</a></p>
<p>Official Twitter
<a href="https://twitter.com/BlockBuratino">https://twitter.com/BlockBuratino</a></p>
</section>
|
The first sales of Trezor wallet!
Dear friends!
Today, we have a lot of sales of hardware wallet Trezor!
So, we have sent the first packages to the USA, Italy and across the Russian Federation.
Only 890 BUR!
Hurry up to buy it!
Join our groups and chats and stay tuned for more updates and information!
FOUNDERS AND TEAM (Telegram):
🙋♂️ Alexey Permyakov |CEO| Buratino BlockChain Solutions (t.me/AlexTrezor)
🙋♂️Alexander Evdokimov |CMO| Buratino BlockChain Solutions (t.me/SashaEx)
🙋♂️Evgeniy Svetlakov |Support| Buratino BlockChain Solutions (t.me/akan3t)
Official link BTT:
฿Bitcointalk (ENG) — https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5082435
📣Official link Facebook
https://facebook.com/buratinotech
📣Official news channel
https://t.me/buratino_news
📣Official Telegram chats
🇷🇺 — https://t.me/buratino_rus_chat
🇺🇸 — https://t.me/buratino_eng_chat
Official Twitter
https://twitter.com/BlockBuratino
|
2a67e276-eab8-5c85-8562-2b54f0e2714b
|
25/08/2025 16:02:03
|
|
https://medium.com/the-finance-people/the-portion-that-can-be-deducted-from-the-purchase-price-4784658894c0
|
medium.com
|
The Portion That Can Be Deducted From the Purchase Price
|
Understand net debt to perform a meaningful balance sheet analysis
|
Jan Mozer
|
https://medium.com/@jan-f-mozer
|
4784658894c0
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*_-I6so0o7gm3vSR_
|
3 min
|
2021-07-17T14:17:50.464000
|
2021-07-26T04:26:06.083000
|
2022-01-06T03:37:13.799000
| 2 | 35 |
en
|
Mergers And Acquisitions,Finance,Entrepreneurship,Financial Analysis,Valuation
|
<section>
<h3>Understand net debt to perform a meaningful balance sheet analysis</h3>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/7360/0*_-I6so0o7gm3vSR_" width="7360" height="4912" loading="lazy" />
<p>The heart of any financial due diligence is the analysis of net financial debt and debt-like items. If the company is cash-rich, it would rather be net financial cash and cash-like items.</p>
<p>Many discussions and negotiations cover this topic.</p>
<p>Net financial debt contains cash, bank loans, shareholder loans, and any other loans. Debt-like items relate to items that are not directly used to run a company’s operations.</p>
<p>In the following article, I share insights into the net financial debt analysis. Also, I prepared an overview of typical net financial debt and debt-like items.</p>
<p>The net debt analysis focuses on two key questions:</p>
<ul>
<li>Which financing agreements there are in place?</li>
<li>Which debt-like items or other items to consider? This includes lawsuits, tax, and legal risks.</li>
</ul>
<p>As most deals are on a cash- and debt-free basis, these items are deducted from the purchase price.</p>
<h1>Net financial debt</h1>
<p>Net financial debt consists of loans and cash. Trapped cash needs to be deducted from cash and cash equivalents. Depending on the business model, minimum cash balances need to be determined. These are required to operate the business.</p>
<h2>Debt-like items</h2>
<p>For this, you need to understand the balance sheet and the individual accounts in more detail. This is done by asking detailed questions about the nature and usage of individual accounts. Which portion of a liability is more debt-like? Is there any deferred portion or supplier financing in trade payables?</p>
<p>Double counting should be avoided: items are either considered in working capital <strong>or </strong>net debt. Depending on the presentation, items are reflected or not reflected in the adjusted EBITDA. If the purchase price contains any exemptions, these should not be considered in the financial due diligence anymore. Also, accounting topics should be taken into account. For example, the translation from IFRS to US GAAP.</p>
<h2>Off-balance sheet items to consider</h2>
<p>Besides debt-like and cash-like items reflected on the balance sheet, there are also off-balance sheet items. This includes litigations, transaction bonus payments, or deferred capex as well as risks from other areas (e.g. tax and legal due diligence). Also, earn-out components can be considered here.</p>
<h2>Negotiation position</h2>
<p>Bear in mind that a sell-side advisor tends to only classify cash and loans. Everything else will be defined as other working capital.</p>
<p>A buy-side advisor works differently. This advisor classifies fewer items as other working capital. The buy-side advisor’s incentive is to minimize the purchase price of the equity as much as possible. The sell-side advisor, in turn, will try to maximize the purchase price of the equity.</p>
<h2>Overview (non-exhaustive)</h2>
<h3>Typical items</h3>
<ul>
<li>Cash at bank</li>
<li>Bank loans</li>
<li>Shareholder loans</li>
<li>Pensions</li>
</ul>
<h3>Less obvious</h3>
<ul>
<li>Outstanding bonuses</li>
<li>Outstanding tax payments</li>
<li>Deferred income</li>
<li>Prepayments received</li>
<li>Deferred capex</li>
</ul>
<h3>Off-balance sheet</h3>
<ul>
<li>Options</li>
<li>Net debt of non-consolidated entities</li>
<li>Lawsuits</li>
<li>Legal and tax topics</li>
</ul>
<h2>Key takeaways</h2>
<p>Net financial debt consists of cash and loans.</p>
<p>Debt-like items require a more detailed analysis and cover deferred items as well as tax- or pension-related positions</p>
<p>Always bear in mind who provided a certain view given the incentives of the different parties.</p>
<h2>Final thoughts</h2>
<p>This article intends to give a brief overview of the net debt topic and show typical items that come up during a financial due diligence. Every company and every due diligence is different and so is the classification of different items. It is paramount to understand the business model and the company to draw meaningful conclusions about the character of each item.</p>
<p><em><strong><a href="https://curious-jan.ck.page/ca77c9ac83">Hi, I am Jan, the creator of this content. Sign up for my free </em>guide wi</strong>th 50+ pages to get better at financial analysis</a>.</p>
</section>
|
The Portion That Can Be Deducted From the Purchase Price
Understand net debt to perform a meaningful balance sheet analysis
Photo by Ehud Neuhaus on Unsplash
The heart of any financial due diligence is the analysis of net financial debt and debt-like items. If the company is cash-rich, it would rather be net financial cash and cash-like items.
Many discussions and negotiations cover this topic.
Net financial debt contains cash, bank loans, shareholder loans, and any other loans. Debt-like items relate to items that are not directly used to run a company’s operations.
In the following article, I share insights into the net financial debt analysis. Also, I prepared an overview of typical net financial debt and debt-like items.
The net debt analysis focuses on two key questions:
Which financing agreements there are in place?
Which debt-like items or other items to consider? This includes lawsuits, tax, and legal risks.
As most deals are on a cash- and debt-free basis, these items are deducted from the purchase price.
Net financial debt
Net financial debt consists of loans and cash. Trapped cash needs to be deducted from cash and cash equivalents. Depending on the business model, minimum cash balances need to be determined. These are required to operate the business.
Debt-like items
For this, you need to understand the balance sheet and the individual accounts in more detail. This is done by asking detailed questions about the nature and usage of individual accounts. Which portion of a liability is more debt-like? Is there any deferred portion or supplier financing in trade payables?
Double counting should be avoided: items are either considered in working capital or net debt. Depending on the presentation, items are reflected or not reflected in the adjusted EBITDA. If the purchase price contains any exemptions, these should not be considered in the financial due diligence anymore. Also, accounting topics should be taken into account. For example, the translation from IFRS to US GAAP.
Off-balance sheet items to consider
Besides debt-like and cash-like items reflected on the balance sheet, there are also off-balance sheet items. This includes litigations, transaction bonus payments, or deferred capex as well as risks from other areas (e.g. tax and legal due diligence). Also, earn-out components can be considered here.
Negotiation position
Bear in mind that a sell-side advisor tends to only classify cash and loans. Everything else will be defined as other working capital.
A buy-side advisor works differently. This advisor classifies fewer items as other working capital. The buy-side advisor’s incentive is to minimize the purchase price of the equity as much as possible. The sell-side advisor, in turn, will try to maximize the purchase price of the equity.
Overview (non-exhaustive)
Typical items
Cash at bank
Bank loans
Shareholder loans
Pensions
Less obvious
Outstanding bonuses
Outstanding tax payments
Deferred income
Prepayments received
Deferred capex
Off-balance sheet
Options
Net debt of non-consolidated entities
Lawsuits
Legal and tax topics
Key takeaways
Net financial debt consists of cash and loans.
Debt-like items require a more detailed analysis and cover deferred items as well as tax- or pension-related positions
Always bear in mind who provided a certain view given the incentives of the different parties.
Final thoughts
This article intends to give a brief overview of the net debt topic and show typical items that come up during a financial due diligence. Every company and every due diligence is different and so is the classification of different items. It is paramount to understand the business model and the company to draw meaningful conclusions about the character of each item.
Hi, I am Jan, the creator of this content. Sign up for my free guide with 50+ pages to get better at financial analysis.
|
cb61a4ad-f6c5-58be-8623-81e580ea3846
|
25/08/2025 16:02:04
|
https://medium.com/@maryclong/chatbots-for-customer-support-are-the-future-of-your-brand-1417e671d3f4
|
medium.com
|
Chatbots for Customer Support Are The Future of Your Brand
|
There’s no question the direction of retail marketing is centered around creating experiences enhanced by a personalized touch. And believe…
|
Mary Ghostwriting
|
https://medium.com/@maryclong
|
1417e671d3f4
|
4 min
|
2018-02-16T21:49:51.269000
|
2018-02-16T21:58:08.439000
|
2018-02-21T07:39:45.364000
| 0 | 1 |
en
|
Chatbots,Chat,Customer Service,Business,Marketing
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/490/1*3hVEkFybBJX3baTA2KdHKw.jpeg" width="490" height="489" loading="lazy" />
<p>There’s no question the direction of retail marketing is centered around creating experiences enhanced by a personalized touch. And believe it or not, chatbots are a key part of that equation.</p>
<p>“Siri? Why do we love you?”</p>
<p>It might sound counterintuitive, but bots often provide a more human experience than today’s consumers get with an actual human. It’s been a while since anyone could pick up the phone and call any kind of customer service professional directly.</p>
<h1>Chatbots are a new necessity, and there are many benefits of using them for your brand.</h1>
<p>Even before smartphones made the concept of the phone obsolete (why call when you can text?), consumers had to jump through automated, voice-prompt hoops to get through to an actual person. Calling customer service is that much more convoluted a process now, and that’s assuming there’s even a number offered. Many companies instead offer contact forms, email addresses or social media links for consumers with questions or concerns.</p>
<p>In many cases the most immediate option is a live chat — but even those are often limited to peak times when there’s enough potential traffic to justify staffing with live people. At least that was the case. Chatbots are revolutionizing the way consumers and brands stay in touch.</p>
<p>If you’ve never experienced an interaction with a chatbot, this video from ChattyPeople gives a great overview of how they work. And if you’re not convinced you need to jump on board the bot wagon, here are five ways top brands are using chatbots to excel:</p>
<h3>1. Keeping consumers informed</h3>
<p>Whether it’s sports scores, breaking news headlines, or the latest recipes, brands like the NFL, CNN and Whole Foods bring the info right to you in places like Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Slack and Skype. Set it and forget it, or make a query and follow the prompts to the info you need in the moment.</p>
<h3>2. Keeping it fun</h3>
<p>Chatbots may be easier from the brand perspective, but that’s no reason for consumers to use them — what’s in it for them has to be top of mind. To that end, making themselves synonymous with the word “fun” is a good approach for brands like Trolli (the makers of Gummy Worms) and Disney, who offer up games and prizes to keep young users engaged. Even better when the prizes are exclusives no one else gets to see, like the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare trailer that was fans’ reward for solving a 12-digit code using Activision’s Facebook Messenger bot.</p>
<h3>3. Getting them while they’re young</h3>
<p>Appealing to generations like Millennials, Centennials, and even children — as Mattel’s Hello Barbie does — is another smart move. “Conversational AI” (artificial intelligence) is only going to become a bigger part of our lives — especially for those still coming of age. Today’s kids will start with something like Hello Barbie, and move on to Amazon Echo and whatever else comes next. Not having a chatbox option may make your brand seem archaic to them.</p>
<h3>3. Adding value to consumers’ lives</h3>
<p>It’s not all about fun and games, of course. People want technology to enhance the way they live — not be just a distraction or waste of time. To that end, keeping consumers connected to healthcare, financial, and social justice information — to name a few — are great use cases for chatbots. Some brands doing it well? UNICEF, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Capital One. Integrations with Amazon Alexa-enabled devices takes the latter two to the next level.</p>
<h3>4. Keeping it human</h3>
<p>In the short term, the novelty of personalized information delivered to your inbox or device is pretty heady stuff for some, but the value of adding a human face to chatbots ups the ante quite a bit — especially for retail brands. Tommy Hilfiger and Cover Girl make use of the popularity of model Gigi Hadid and Dance Moms star Kalani Hilliker respectively — a brilliant move that’s working. In Hilliker’s case, her Kik bot drives 14 times the conversation of her average post.</p>
<h3>5. Knowing when to pass the buck</h3>
<p>What’s great about chatbots is the way they let consumers self-serve — without feeling that way. No hoops to jump through, information at the ready, and easy links to shop in the case of retail brands. But unlike self check-out registers at the store — which can feel like you’ve suddenly been made to work for your purchase — chatbots let consumers feel independent, but not alone. If things don’t go smoothly, the bots are programmed to put consumers in touch with actual people to handle more complicated issues. From a customer service perspective, this is definitely a win-win. Consumers still have help when they need it, while brands significantly decrease their service staffing spend.</p>
<p>It’s still early in the chatbot game, but not so early that numerous brands aren’t seeing great ROI. There’s little downside, given the growing Internet of Things, and consumers’ dependence on technology overall. Chatbots are easy enough to set up, with companies like ChattyPeople, Botsify and others offering a variety of plans — even free ones — for businesses of all sizes. So don’t wait too long to see what chatbots can do for your brand. The future gets closer every day.</p>
<p><strong>This post originated from <a href="http</strong>s://www.business.com/articles/mary-c-long-chatbots-as-customer-support-are-future-of-your-brand/">business.com</a>.</p>
</section>
|
Chatbots for Customer Support Are The Future of Your Brand
There’s no question the direction of retail marketing is centered around creating experiences enhanced by a personalized touch. And believe it or not, chatbots are a key part of that equation.
“Siri? Why do we love you?”
It might sound counterintuitive, but bots often provide a more human experience than today’s consumers get with an actual human. It’s been a while since anyone could pick up the phone and call any kind of customer service professional directly.
Chatbots are a new necessity, and there are many benefits of using them for your brand.
Even before smartphones made the concept of the phone obsolete (why call when you can text?), consumers had to jump through automated, voice-prompt hoops to get through to an actual person. Calling customer service is that much more convoluted a process now, and that’s assuming there’s even a number offered. Many companies instead offer contact forms, email addresses or social media links for consumers with questions or concerns.
In many cases the most immediate option is a live chat — but even those are often limited to peak times when there’s enough potential traffic to justify staffing with live people. At least that was the case. Chatbots are revolutionizing the way consumers and brands stay in touch.
If you’ve never experienced an interaction with a chatbot, this video from ChattyPeople gives a great overview of how they work. And if you’re not convinced you need to jump on board the bot wagon, here are five ways top brands are using chatbots to excel:
1. Keeping consumers informed
Whether it’s sports scores, breaking news headlines, or the latest recipes, brands like the NFL, CNN and Whole Foods bring the info right to you in places like Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Slack and Skype. Set it and forget it, or make a query and follow the prompts to the info you need in the moment.
2. Keeping it fun
Chatbots may be easier from the brand perspective, but that’s no reason for consumers to use them — what’s in it for them has to be top of mind. To that end, making themselves synonymous with the word “fun” is a good approach for brands like Trolli (the makers of Gummy Worms) and Disney, who offer up games and prizes to keep young users engaged. Even better when the prizes are exclusives no one else gets to see, like the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare trailer that was fans’ reward for solving a 12-digit code using Activision’s Facebook Messenger bot.
3. Getting them while they’re young
Appealing to generations like Millennials, Centennials, and even children — as Mattel’s Hello Barbie does — is another smart move. “Conversational AI” (artificial intelligence) is only going to become a bigger part of our lives — especially for those still coming of age. Today’s kids will start with something like Hello Barbie, and move on to Amazon Echo and whatever else comes next. Not having a chatbox option may make your brand seem archaic to them.
3. Adding value to consumers’ lives
It’s not all about fun and games, of course. People want technology to enhance the way they live — not be just a distraction or waste of time. To that end, keeping consumers connected to healthcare, financial, and social justice information — to name a few — are great use cases for chatbots. Some brands doing it well? UNICEF, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Capital One. Integrations with Amazon Alexa-enabled devices takes the latter two to the next level.
4. Keeping it human
In the short term, the novelty of personalized information delivered to your inbox or device is pretty heady stuff for some, but the value of adding a human face to chatbots ups the ante quite a bit — especially for retail brands. Tommy Hilfiger and Cover Girl make use of the popularity of model Gigi Hadid and Dance Moms star Kalani Hilliker respectively — a brilliant move that’s working. In Hilliker’s case, her Kik bot drives 14 times the conversation of her average post.
5. Knowing when to pass the buck
What’s great about chatbots is the way they let consumers self-serve — without feeling that way. No hoops to jump through, information at the ready, and easy links to shop in the case of retail brands. But unlike self check-out registers at the store — which can feel like you’ve suddenly been made to work for your purchase — chatbots let consumers feel independent, but not alone. If things don’t go smoothly, the bots are programmed to put consumers in touch with actual people to handle more complicated issues. From a customer service perspective, this is definitely a win-win. Consumers still have help when they need it, while brands significantly decrease their service staffing spend.
It’s still early in the chatbot game, but not so early that numerous brands aren’t seeing great ROI. There’s little downside, given the growing Internet of Things, and consumers’ dependence on technology overall. Chatbots are easy enough to set up, with companies like ChattyPeople, Botsify and others offering a variety of plans — even free ones — for businesses of all sizes. So don’t wait too long to see what chatbots can do for your brand. The future gets closer every day.
This post originated from business.com.
|
c445a825-c872-5df5-af45-04187393d33d
|
25/08/2025 16:02:04
|
|
https://medium.com/metadata-learning-unlearning/words-matter-reconciling-museum-metadata-with-wikidata-61a75898bffb
|
medium.com
|
Words Matter: Reconciling museum metadata with Wikidata
|
Cultural heritage aggregator Curationist is creating a taxonomy that leverages Wikidata to bring museum metadata into the 21st century.
|
Sharon Mizota
|
https://medium.com/@SharonMizota
|
61a75898bffb
|
5 min
|
2022-06-30T22:50:46.774000
|
2022-07-14T12:17:21.576000
|
2022-07-14T12:17:29.054000
| 0 | 14 |
en
|
Wikidata,Metadata,Library Of Congress,Taxonomy,Anti Racist
|
<section>
<p>Cultural heritage aggregator <a href="https://www.curationist.org/">Curationist</a> is creating a taxonomy that leverages Wikidata to bring museum metadata into the 21st century.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1075/1*nMab20x5HPdw0g0mQqTo4w.png" width="1075" height="606" loading="lazy" />
<p>In November 2021, the United States’ Library of Congress <a href="https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2021/11/ala-welcomes-removal-offensive-illegal-aliens-subject-headings">finally replaced the terms “Illegal aliens” and “Aliens”</a> in its widely used resource, <a href="https://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects.html">Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)</a>. (The terms were replaced with the still problematic, but less derogatory “Noncitizens” and “Illegal immigration”.) The Library of Congress was developed to support the United States Congress and serves as the national library of the United States. It sets the standard for the majority of U.S. libraries and archives as well as many international institutions.</p>
<p>LCSH is the official list of terms that libraries, archives, and museums all over the world use to describe their collections. These terms provide consistent, standardized access to the subject matter of books, articles, films, art, and just about anything held by a cultural heritage institution. The terminology change, which took nearly five years, was the result of advocacy begun by a group of Dartmouth students who led a movement challenging the terms’ anti-immigrant sentiment. This movement is chronicled in the 2019 documentary <em><a href="https://w</em>ww.library.dartmouth.edu/digital/digital-collections/change-the-subject">Change the Subject</a>.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1206/1*uKAIVtzFKmAeUWl_nMMXNw.png" width="1206" height="889" loading="lazy" />
<h1><strong>Words Matter</strong></h1>
<p>As the battle over the subject headings demonstrated, words affect the way we think about and access cultural materials and information. In library catalogs, archival finding aids, and on the Internet, these keywords act as gatekeepers, rendering some stories and artifacts findable while obscuring others. If you don’t know the dominant or official words with which something is described, you are less likely to be able to access it. This becomes an issue if you are unfamiliar with the dominant culture, or simply speak a different language.</p>
<p>LCSH is managed by a centralized authority and adapts very slowly to changes in popular language. By contrast, crowd-sourced, multi-lingual <a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Main_Page">Wikidata</a> has emerged as an alternative resource to which anyone with internet access can contribute. While it took the Library of Congress years to change two terms, it only takes a few keystrokes to change a Wikidata term. Institutions or content creators who describe their materials by linking to Wikidata are connecting to a vast, international repository of concepts, names, and titles that serves the same standardizing function as LCSH, but is much more open to and accommodating of different perspectives, languages, and values.</p>
<h2><strong>Enriching Metadata</strong></h2>
<p>In the spring of 2022, the cultural heritage content aggregator <a href="https://www.curationist.org/">Curationist</a> began using Wikidata to create a custom taxonomy describing museum objects ingested into its database. The eventual goal is to fully integrate the site with Wikidata so that Curationist archivists can search it in real time for descriptive terms. Building on the site’s <a href="https://saadescription.wordpress.com/2021/03/30/change-is-good-navigating-wikidata-as-a-controlled-descriptive-vocabulary/">guidelines for using Wikidata as a controlled vocabulary</a>, the Curationist Taxonomy is an interim step in this process, providing a smaller, controlled vocabulary that arises from the activity of the archivists. The archivists can then use it to maintain the consistency of the descriptive terms they use, and the terms will be mapped to Wikidata for eventual integration.</p>
<p>The process began with a list of terms collected by the archivists. Curationist archivists are tasked with enhancing metadata from museums and archives that has been ingested into the Curationist site. This might mean adding subject terms where there are none, or adding an Indigenous geographic place name where only a settler colonial name is provided. In this way, Curationist serves as a platform for making metadata more inclusive and rich.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/988/1*UDpwoZWWIN6fD-z6JM44qw.png" width="988" height="637" loading="lazy" />
<p>The initial list of terms was run through the reconciliation process in <a href="https://openrefine.org/">OpenRefine</a>. OpenRefine is a powerful tool for viewing, cleansing, and transforming metadata. It has a built-in integration with Wikidata, so it was relatively easy to find the Wikidata matches or equivalents for the terms. For a step-by-step guide to the reconciliation process, see <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WHuxmubYdsh-XNpds_J1yU0Hcwk2HLlAQy64dzNa32g/edit?usp=sharing">Reconciling the Curationist Taxonomy with Wikidata</a>.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1805/1*WxIGX3DkTDeTgN0Fh8-Dcw.png" width="1805" height="618" loading="lazy" />
<p>Once terms were matched, they and their corresponding Wikidata labels, descriptions, and identifiers were added to a Google Sheet. Curationist archivists use this Sheet to search for appropriate terms and to add new terms. On a weekly basis the Taxonomy Manager reviews any new terms, and reconciles, approves, or modifies them for use. In this way the taxonomy is a living document, like Wikidata, that grows along with the Curationist site.</p>
<h2><strong>Enhancing Wikidata</strong></h2>
<p>If a term is added that isn’t currently in Wikidata, the taxonomy manager decides whether it merits a new Wikidata entry and creates it or communicates an alternative term(s) to the submitting archivist. To date, the project has added 36 new entries to Wikidata. These have mostly been in the area of Indigenous cultures:</p>
<ul>
<li>Akan culture (Q111725591)</li>
<li>Asante culture (Q111725892)</li>
<li>Aztec culture (Q111725927)</li>
<li>Beembe culture (Q111725916)</li>
<li>Fante culture (Q111725895)</li>
<li>Hidatsa culture (Q111731403)</li>
<li>Hopi culture (Q111731448) </li>
<li>Mexica culture (Q111725944)</li>
<li>Puebloan culture (Q111731435)</li>
<li>Zuni culture (Q111731440)</li>
</ul>
<p>In most cases, these ethno-linguistic groups had Wikidata entries only for people: “Hopi people,” “Zuni people,” etc. Adding these cultural terms brings these groups on par with more dominant ethno-national groups that already had terms for both people and culture:</p>
<ul>
<li>Americans (Q846570)</li>
<li>culture of the United States (Q1044835)</li>
<li>Chinese people (Q6501380)</li>
<li>Chinese culture (Q645917)</li>
<li>French (Q121842)</li>
<li>culture of France (Q1985804)</li>
</ul>
<p>In this way, Curationist not only uses more accurate and respectful terms in its own database, it enhances Wikidata with new terms that are available for others to use. The Curationist dataset serves as a kind of “to-do” list for Wikidata engagement. And since anyone can edit Wikidata, which is accessible in 309 languages, it lends itself to an international, open education project on the power of naming.</p>
<h2><strong>Like LCSH, Wikidata is a map of what is conceivable and knowable, only bigger and wilder.</strong></h2>
<p>Although it currently reflects the dominance of the English language on the Internet, Wikidata is growing more diverse and accessible every minute. Learning how to responsibly and proactively edit it is an opportunity to explore how terms carry cultural and political meaning, and to have a say in which terms are available for use. Until recently, this power to name and select has been wielded by a small number of specialists — scholars, scientists, librarians — but with Wikidata it’s available to anyone with an internet connection and the desire to make something known.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https</strong>://www.sharonmizota.com/">Sharon Mizota</a> is a DEI metadata consultant who helps archives, museums, libraries, and media organizations transform and share their metadata to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the historical record. She has over ten years of experience managing and creating metadata for arts and culture organizations. She is also an art critic, a recipient of an <a href="https://www.artswriters.org/">Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers’ Grant</a>, and a coauthor of the award-winning book, <em><a href="http://smithsonianapa.org/bookdragon/fresh-talkdari</em>ng-gazes-conversations-on-asian-american-art-by-elaine-h-kim-margo-machida-and-sharon-mizota/">Fresh Talk/Daring Gazes: Conversations on Asian American Art</a>. Follow her on <a href="https://twitter.com/SharonMizota">Twitter</a> or <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonmizota/">LinkedIn</a>.</p>
</section>
|
Words Matter: Reconciling museum metadata with Wikidata
Cultural heritage aggregator Curationist is creating a taxonomy that leverages Wikidata to bring museum metadata into the 21st century.
Screenshot from the documentary “Change the Subject,” 2019. Made available by the Trustees of Dartmouth College under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license.
In November 2021, the United States’ Library of Congress finally replaced the terms “Illegal aliens” and “Aliens” in its widely used resource, Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). (The terms were replaced with the still problematic, but less derogatory “Noncitizens” and “Illegal immigration”.) The Library of Congress was developed to support the United States Congress and serves as the national library of the United States. It sets the standard for the majority of U.S. libraries and archives as well as many international institutions.
LCSH is the official list of terms that libraries, archives, and museums all over the world use to describe their collections. These terms provide consistent, standardized access to the subject matter of books, articles, films, art, and just about anything held by a cultural heritage institution. The terminology change, which took nearly five years, was the result of advocacy begun by a group of Dartmouth students who led a movement challenging the terms’ anti-immigrant sentiment. This movement is chronicled in the 2019 documentary Change the Subject.
Screenshot of the entry for “Noncitizens” in the LCSH. Accessed June 24, 2022.
Words Matter
As the battle over the subject headings demonstrated, words affect the way we think about and access cultural materials and information. In library catalogs, archival finding aids, and on the Internet, these keywords act as gatekeepers, rendering some stories and artifacts findable while obscuring others. If you don’t know the dominant or official words with which something is described, you are less likely to be able to access it. This becomes an issue if you are unfamiliar with the dominant culture, or simply speak a different language.
LCSH is managed by a centralized authority and adapts very slowly to changes in popular language. By contrast, crowd-sourced, multi-lingual Wikidata has emerged as an alternative resource to which anyone with internet access can contribute. While it took the Library of Congress years to change two terms, it only takes a few keystrokes to change a Wikidata term. Institutions or content creators who describe their materials by linking to Wikidata are connecting to a vast, international repository of concepts, names, and titles that serves the same standardizing function as LCSH, but is much more open to and accommodating of different perspectives, languages, and values.
Enriching Metadata
In the spring of 2022, the cultural heritage content aggregator Curationist began using Wikidata to create a custom taxonomy describing museum objects ingested into its database. The eventual goal is to fully integrate the site with Wikidata so that Curationist archivists can search it in real time for descriptive terms. Building on the site’s guidelines for using Wikidata as a controlled vocabulary, the Curationist Taxonomy is an interim step in this process, providing a smaller, controlled vocabulary that arises from the activity of the archivists. The archivists can then use it to maintain the consistency of the descriptive terms they use, and the terms will be mapped to Wikidata for eventual integration.
The process began with a list of terms collected by the archivists. Curationist archivists are tasked with enhancing metadata from museums and archives that has been ingested into the Curationist site. This might mean adding subject terms where there are none, or adding an Indigenous geographic place name where only a settler colonial name is provided. In this way, Curationist serves as a platform for making metadata more inclusive and rich.
Screenshot of OpenRefine showing terms matched with Wikidata and their equivalents, descriptions, and identifying numbers.
The initial list of terms was run through the reconciliation process in OpenRefine. OpenRefine is a powerful tool for viewing, cleansing, and transforming metadata. It has a built-in integration with Wikidata, so it was relatively easy to find the Wikidata matches or equivalents for the terms. For a step-by-step guide to the reconciliation process, see Reconciling the Curationist Taxonomy with Wikidata.
Screenshot of part of the Cultural Context section of the Curationist Taxonomy Google Sheet.
Once terms were matched, they and their corresponding Wikidata labels, descriptions, and identifiers were added to a Google Sheet. Curationist archivists use this Sheet to search for appropriate terms and to add new terms. On a weekly basis the Taxonomy Manager reviews any new terms, and reconciles, approves, or modifies them for use. In this way the taxonomy is a living document, like Wikidata, that grows along with the Curationist site.
Enhancing Wikidata
If a term is added that isn’t currently in Wikidata, the taxonomy manager decides whether it merits a new Wikidata entry and creates it or communicates an alternative term(s) to the submitting archivist. To date, the project has added 36 new entries to Wikidata. These have mostly been in the area of Indigenous cultures:
Akan culture (Q111725591)
Asante culture (Q111725892)
Aztec culture (Q111725927)
Beembe culture (Q111725916)
Fante culture (Q111725895)
Hidatsa culture (Q111731403)
Hopi culture (Q111731448)
Mexica culture (Q111725944)
Puebloan culture (Q111731435)
Zuni culture (Q111731440)
In most cases, these ethno-linguistic groups had Wikidata entries only for people: “Hopi people,” “Zuni people,” etc. Adding these cultural terms brings these groups on par with more dominant ethno-national groups that already had terms for both people and culture:
Americans (Q846570)
culture of the United States (Q1044835)
Chinese people (Q6501380)
Chinese culture (Q645917)
French (Q121842)
culture of France (Q1985804)
In this way, Curationist not only uses more accurate and respectful terms in its own database, it enhances Wikidata with new terms that are available for others to use. The Curationist dataset serves as a kind of “to-do” list for Wikidata engagement. And since anyone can edit Wikidata, which is accessible in 309 languages, it lends itself to an international, open education project on the power of naming.
Like LCSH, Wikidata is a map of what is conceivable and knowable, only bigger and wilder.
Although it currently reflects the dominance of the English language on the Internet, Wikidata is growing more diverse and accessible every minute. Learning how to responsibly and proactively edit it is an opportunity to explore how terms carry cultural and political meaning, and to have a say in which terms are available for use. Until recently, this power to name and select has been wielded by a small number of specialists — scholars, scientists, librarians — but with Wikidata it’s available to anyone with an internet connection and the desire to make something known.
Sharon Mizota is a DEI metadata consultant who helps archives, museums, libraries, and media organizations transform and share their metadata to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the historical record. She has over ten years of experience managing and creating metadata for arts and culture organizations. She is also an art critic, a recipient of an Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers’ Grant, and a coauthor of the award-winning book, Fresh Talk/Daring Gazes: Conversations on Asian American Art. Follow her on Twitter or LinkedIn.
|
977893c7-009b-5585-af22-ad99299c2844
|
25/08/2025 16:02:04
|
|
https://medium.com/@jointwine/crowdfunder-co-uk-how-to-set-up-your-campaign-twine-blog-4fd00ee410f4
|
medium.com
|
Crowdfunder.co.uk: How to set up your campaign — Twine Blog
|
For those in the UK, Crowdfunder.co.uk is a fantastic alternative to more popular platforms like Kickstarter. It offers more flexible…
|
Twine
|
https://medium.com/@jointwine
|
4fd00ee410f4
|
5 min
|
2017-06-06T08:19:59.655000
|
2017-06-02T06:00:45
|
2018-04-27T14:12:11.991000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Crowdfunding,Startup
|
<section>
<p>For those in the UK, <a href="http://crowdfunder.co.uk/">Crowdfunder.co.uk</a> is a fantastic alternative to more popular platforms like Kickstarter. It offers more flexible funding options, and can be used to raise money for a wider range of projects. Plus, they’re unique in that they offer extra funding in the form of grants from local authorities and brands. This means you could boost the money raised by up to £10,000!</p>
<p>Sound good? Then read this step by step guide on setting up a campaign on Crowdfunder.</p>
<h1>What is Crowdfunder?</h1>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/471/1*DghadeGgi-0858ZzqHNsWw.png" width="471" height="107" loading="lazy" />
<p>Crowdfunder is a UK based crowdfunding platform that can be used to raise funds for a variety of different causes. Their main focus is projects that benefit the community, with a clear end goal:</p>
<p><em>You could be a community group, a start-up, a great cause, a charity or an organisation in need of some funding.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://www.twine.fm/blog/kickstarter-campaign/">Like Kickstarter</a>, Crowdfunder is rewards-based, meaning backers receive a product, benefit or service in exchange for their pledges. Normal backers are called ‘<strong>The Crowd</strong>‘.</p>
<p>As well as offering this standard crowdfunding system, they offer additional funding from outside sources like local authorities, grant-makers and brands. This is called <strong><a href="http:</strong>//www.crowdfunder.co.uk/funds">extra funding</a> and these bodies are called <strong>Funders. </strong>Eligibility depends on what you’re doing and where you’re doing it. These extra pledges can be as high as £10,000.</p>
<h2>Crowdfunder Campaign Preparation</h2>
<p>There’s a lot to think about when running a Crowdfunder campaign. This simple checklist will help you get everything sorted:</p>
<h2>Set your target</h2>
<p>Crowdfunder offers two different options in terms of setting a financial target. The first is <strong>all or nothing</strong> funding, where you only get the funds if you get 100% of your goal. This can make backers feel more secure, as there’s no chance you won’t raise enough and be unable to keep your promises to the Crowd.</p>
<p>The second is <strong>keep what you raise</strong>. This means you get to keep all the money, even if you don’t hit your target. On the whole, we wouldn’t recommend this for startups as you probably have set costs that you need to cover. Not raising enough money could put you in dire straits. This option is better suited to charitable causes, where any amount of money will make a difference.</p>
<p>As for setting your goal, don’t just pluck a figure out of the air. Don’t ask for more money than you need, but equally don’t undershoot. Plan your budget. Research things like manufacturing, labour and shipping costs before you select an amount. And remember to take into account the 5% the platform fee. You need to be certain you can deliver your project and its rewards.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/740/1*X1VVpYmflIa9gxmMn5Uvvw.jpeg" width="740" height="417" loading="lazy" />
<p>If you hit 100% of your campaign goal before the deadline, you can set a stretch target to raise more funds. If you’ve gone for all or nothing funding, don’t fear — if you don’t hit this new stretch amount, you’ll still receive all the money you’ve raised before. It’s just a bonus for projects that do really well.</p>
<h2>Decide how long your campaign will last</h2>
<p>Crowdfunder let you run campaigns between 1–8 weeks in length, but say that four or five weeks is the sweet spot. Longer campaigns can lose momentum, because as a rule campaigns generate the most buzz at the start and at the end. Plus, it’s a long time to be running a crowdfunding campaign — it’s a lot of work!</p>
<h2>Set campaign rewards</h2>
<p><strong>Rewards </strong>are offered to the Crowd in exchange for their pledges. Crowdfunder recommends you offer products and services, experiences and events, sponsorship or even a simple thank you as a reward. They say rewards should also be good value for money and exclusive in some way — for example, a behind the scenes experience. Limited rewards can also help you raise money fast, as people will be keen to get their hands on the rewards before they’re all gone.</p>
<p>In terms of pledge amount, Crowdfunder projects get a lot of pledges around the £20 mark. Try to have plenty of rewards around this price point. Beyond this, you should spread rewards evenly across different price points from £10 — £100. Crowdfunder recommend you have some sponsorship packages at the top end of your rewards to attract support from businesses and large organisations.</p>
<h2>Write your campaign copy</h2>
<p>You’ve got to get your story across well. This means your project description has to be compelling and well-written. It should also tell a story — where did your idea come from? Why are you the person who can make it happen?</p>
<p>Most importantly, be transparent. Explain the project scope, how you’ll achieve your goal and what exactly you plan to do with their money.</p>
<p>Crowdfunder recommend following this template:</p>
<h2>Create campaign graphics</h2>
<p>You should also get some <a href="https://www.twine.fm/blog/crowdfunding-campaign-graphics-need/">professional graphics</a> to include in the body of the text and catch a potential backer’s eye. These will help to bring your story to life way more than just massive blocks of text, and keep your audience interested. Here are some ideas for graphics you might want to have made:</p>
<ul>
<li>Infographics about your project’s impact.</li>
<li>Logo and branding materials</li>
<li>Product photography</li>
<li>Graphical headers</li>
<li>GIFs or short video clips</li>
<li>Data visualisations — graphs, pie charts etc</li>
<li>Call-to-action buttons encouraging donations</li>
<li>Photos of your team</li>
<li>Custom illustrations of your product and rewards</li>
</ul>
<h2>Make your Crowdfunder video</h2>
<p>A polished <a href="https://www.twine.fm/blog/crowdfunding-video/">campaign video</a> will massively increase your chances of success. Crowdfunder recommend you keep it short, sticking to around the 2 minute mark. And if you’re the founder? Well, don’t get camera-shy — Crowdfunder think you need to take the starring role to give your video a personalised touch and build rapport.</p>
<p>Remember that creating an awesome video takes time. Stay on top of things, and get yours ready with plenty of time to spare.</p>
<h2>Set payment options</h2>
<p>Crowdfunder offers both Stripe and Paypal as payment options. You can choose to offer just one of these, but it’s recommended to offer both so that backers have a choice in the matter. Here are the main differences between the two:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Paypal: </strong>Paypal provides a safe and secure way to pay online, and is widely available in over 200 countries. If you choose to use Paypal, Crowdfunder recommend that you upgrade your account to a Business or Premier account, as individual accounts have limitations on them. The last thing you want is for your hard-earned funds to be frozen!</li>
<li><strong>Stripe: </strong>Stripe lets you accept debit and credit card payments on your project. However, it’s currently only available in 20 countries so more limited than Paypal in this sense. Stripe charges 1.4% + 20p per pledge for any European cards and 2.9% + 20p per pledge for any non-European cards.</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/740/1*nbUSlCbDm-f2gv-tUNPJrA.png" width="740" height="492" loading="lazy" />
<h2>All set?</h2>
<p>After you’ve done all this, you’ll be ready to launch your campaign on Crowdfunder. But don’t hit that button just yet. Before you do, make sure your marketing is all planned out by reading our guides on email outreach and <a href="https://www.twine.fm/blog/crowdfunding-social-media/">social media</a> for crowdfunding campaigns.</p>
<p>Want to learn more about crowdfunding? Read our guide which contains all the resources you need to run a successful campaign.</p>
<p><em>Originally published at <a href="https://www.twine.fm</em>/blog/post-crowdfunding-campaign-crowdfunder-co-uk/">www.twine.fm</a> on June 2, 2017.</p>
</section>
|
Crowdfunder.co.uk: How to set up your campaign — Twine Blog
For those in the UK, Crowdfunder.co.uk is a fantastic alternative to more popular platforms like Kickstarter. It offers more flexible funding options, and can be used to raise money for a wider range of projects. Plus, they’re unique in that they offer extra funding in the form of grants from local authorities and brands. This means you could boost the money raised by up to £10,000!
Sound good? Then read this step by step guide on setting up a campaign on Crowdfunder.
What is Crowdfunder?
Crowdfunder.co.uk is a UK based crowdfunding platform.
Crowdfunder is a UK based crowdfunding platform that can be used to raise funds for a variety of different causes. Their main focus is projects that benefit the community, with a clear end goal:
You could be a community group, a start-up, a great cause, a charity or an organisation in need of some funding.
Like Kickstarter, Crowdfunder is rewards-based, meaning backers receive a product, benefit or service in exchange for their pledges. Normal backers are called ‘The Crowd‘.
As well as offering this standard crowdfunding system, they offer additional funding from outside sources like local authorities, grant-makers and brands. This is called extra funding and these bodies are called Funders. Eligibility depends on what you’re doing and where you’re doing it. These extra pledges can be as high as £10,000.
Crowdfunder Campaign Preparation
There’s a lot to think about when running a Crowdfunder campaign. This simple checklist will help you get everything sorted:
Set your target
Crowdfunder offers two different options in terms of setting a financial target. The first is all or nothing funding, where you only get the funds if you get 100% of your goal. This can make backers feel more secure, as there’s no chance you won’t raise enough and be unable to keep your promises to the Crowd.
The second is keep what you raise. This means you get to keep all the money, even if you don’t hit your target. On the whole, we wouldn’t recommend this for startups as you probably have set costs that you need to cover. Not raising enough money could put you in dire straits. This option is better suited to charitable causes, where any amount of money will make a difference.
As for setting your goal, don’t just pluck a figure out of the air. Don’t ask for more money than you need, but equally don’t undershoot. Plan your budget. Research things like manufacturing, labour and shipping costs before you select an amount. And remember to take into account the 5% the platform fee. You need to be certain you can deliver your project and its rewards.
Infographic from Crowdfunder outlining key numbers to consider when setting a target.
If you hit 100% of your campaign goal before the deadline, you can set a stretch target to raise more funds. If you’ve gone for all or nothing funding, don’t fear — if you don’t hit this new stretch amount, you’ll still receive all the money you’ve raised before. It’s just a bonus for projects that do really well.
Decide how long your campaign will last
Crowdfunder let you run campaigns between 1–8 weeks in length, but say that four or five weeks is the sweet spot. Longer campaigns can lose momentum, because as a rule campaigns generate the most buzz at the start and at the end. Plus, it’s a long time to be running a crowdfunding campaign — it’s a lot of work!
Set campaign rewards
Rewards are offered to the Crowd in exchange for their pledges. Crowdfunder recommends you offer products and services, experiences and events, sponsorship or even a simple thank you as a reward. They say rewards should also be good value for money and exclusive in some way — for example, a behind the scenes experience. Limited rewards can also help you raise money fast, as people will be keen to get their hands on the rewards before they’re all gone.
In terms of pledge amount, Crowdfunder projects get a lot of pledges around the £20 mark. Try to have plenty of rewards around this price point. Beyond this, you should spread rewards evenly across different price points from £10 — £100. Crowdfunder recommend you have some sponsorship packages at the top end of your rewards to attract support from businesses and large organisations.
Write your campaign copy
You’ve got to get your story across well. This means your project description has to be compelling and well-written. It should also tell a story — where did your idea come from? Why are you the person who can make it happen?
Most importantly, be transparent. Explain the project scope, how you’ll achieve your goal and what exactly you plan to do with their money.
Crowdfunder recommend following this template:
Create campaign graphics
You should also get some professional graphics to include in the body of the text and catch a potential backer’s eye. These will help to bring your story to life way more than just massive blocks of text, and keep your audience interested. Here are some ideas for graphics you might want to have made:
Infographics about your project’s impact.
Logo and branding materials
Product photography
Graphical headers
GIFs or short video clips
Data visualisations — graphs, pie charts etc
Call-to-action buttons encouraging donations
Photos of your team
Custom illustrations of your product and rewards
Make your Crowdfunder video
A polished campaign video will massively increase your chances of success. Crowdfunder recommend you keep it short, sticking to around the 2 minute mark. And if you’re the founder? Well, don’t get camera-shy — Crowdfunder think you need to take the starring role to give your video a personalised touch and build rapport.
Remember that creating an awesome video takes time. Stay on top of things, and get yours ready with plenty of time to spare.
Set payment options
Crowdfunder offers both Stripe and Paypal as payment options. You can choose to offer just one of these, but it’s recommended to offer both so that backers have a choice in the matter. Here are the main differences between the two:
Paypal: Paypal provides a safe and secure way to pay online, and is widely available in over 200 countries. If you choose to use Paypal, Crowdfunder recommend that you upgrade your account to a Business or Premier account, as individual accounts have limitations on them. The last thing you want is for your hard-earned funds to be frozen!
Stripe: Stripe lets you accept debit and credit card payments on your project. However, it’s currently only available in 20 countries so more limited than Paypal in this sense. Stripe charges 1.4% + 20p per pledge for any European cards and 2.9% + 20p per pledge for any non-European cards.
All set?
After you’ve done all this, you’ll be ready to launch your campaign on Crowdfunder. But don’t hit that button just yet. Before you do, make sure your marketing is all planned out by reading our guides on email outreach and social media for crowdfunding campaigns.
Want to learn more about crowdfunding? Read our guide which contains all the resources you need to run a successful campaign.
Originally published at www.twine.fm on June 2, 2017.
|
e63949f4-c36e-567b-be57-93f71d6e17ac
|
25/08/2025 16:02:04
|
|
https://medium.com/@denislesak/turkey-holds-the-key-to-dismantling-isis-2cbce5298153
|
medium.com
|
Turkey Holds the Key to Dismantling ISIS
| null |
Denis Lesak
|
https://medium.com/@denislesak
|
2cbce5298153
| null |
3 min
|
2016-06-08T21:21:40.679000
|
2015-11-15T06:27:41
|
2018-06-14T16:12:17.685000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Abdullah Ocalan,ISIS,Paris Attacks,Syria,War On Terror
|
<section>
<p>Points to ponder about Syria and ISIS.</p>
<p>1. Syria attained independence from France in 1946.</p>
<p>2. In 1978, Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan (PKK), the Worker’s Party of Kurdistan, was founded and began to organize according to the tenets of classical Marxist-Leninist theory. PKK aimed to start a revolutionary war to free the Kurdish territories and establish a Kurdish state, which would then be used to establish socialism, baptized as ‘democratic confederalism.’ Its leader was Abdullah Öcalan. (Under the Treaty of Sèvres in 1920, Kurds were promised a state)</p>
<p>3. In 1984, PKK started a guerrilla struggle that escalated into a brutal civil war. The guerrilla movement drew considerable support from society, and in many regions could not be separated from the broader population.
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-1924268042178404"
data-ad-slot=”7962852579"
data-ad-format=”auto”></p>
<p>4. In response, and under the auspices of the NATO-sponsored “Gladio” anti-communist program, Turkish army killed more than 40,000 civilians affiliated to guerrilla. Öcalan fled to Syria where Hafez al-Assad gave him a sanctuary</p>
<p>5. In 1998 Turkey threatened to go to war unless Syria expelled the PKK. Assad (father to Bashar) gave way and sent Öcalan and his fighters out of the country. Most of Öcalan’s guerrillas moved to northern Iraq while he sought refuge in various countries, eventually flying to Kenya. He was arrested in 1999 and handed over to Turkish authorities.</p>
<p>6. Democratic Union Party (PYD) is the largest Syrian Kurdish party. The YPG (People’s Protection Unit) militias are the PYD’s armed wing. The United States and the European Union designate the PKK as a terrorist group. However, Abdullah Öcalan, PKK’s imprisoned leader, is revered by the PYD (YPG), which is favored by America and Allies. His picture is prominently displayed in public offices and at military checkpoints, even sometimes on badges on soldiers’ shoulders, and he is referred to as “Apo” (Uncle).
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-1924268042178404"
data-ad-slot=”7962852579"
data-ad-format=”auto”></p>
<p>7. In 2014, ISIS fighters swept north from Raqqa, the headquarters of their newly declared caliphate, and launched an attack on the Kurdish canton of Kobanî which sits on Syria’s border with Turkey. Kurdish militias- People’s Protection Units (YPG) prevailed and in January 2015, ISIS withdrew.</p>
<p>8.In July 2015, YPG drove ISIS out of Tal Abyad, another town on the border with Turkey. This meant ISIS had lost two of the three crossing points from Turkey through which it could bring foreign volunteers, finance, and weaponry to strengthen the jihad.</p>
<p>9.Turkey fears a further strengthening of the statelet that the Kurds have set up along more than half of the Syrian–Turkish border. If the Kurds were to take control of the area from Jarabulus to Azaz, they could link the cantons of Jazira and Kobanî with Rojava’s third canton, the enclave of Afrin, which is largely populated by Kurds, creating a Kurdish zone along almost the entire length of Syria’s northern border. Since the Turks are now taking a hard line toward the Kurdish PKK within their own borders, they are anxious to prevent a strong new Kurdish entity emerging in Syria.</p>
<p>10. The Turks want a no-fly zone, policed by Turkish and US warplanes, to be established in the very area from Jarabulus to Azaz that the Kurds want to take from ISIS and other jihadis. However, the Kurds see the scheme as a device to permit the Turks to bomb any YPG fighters who enter the area.
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-1924268042178404"
data-ad-slot=”7962852579"
data-ad-format=”auto”></p>
<p>Conclusion. Turkey holds the key to dismantling ISIS. Turkey is not looking to cede its hard-line position relative to the Kurds, who seem to have an upper hand over ISIS. Will Kurds demand release of Ocalan? Does PKK see Kenya as the country that gave its leader away to Turkey? Will they revenge someday? What about other jihad groups in Syria including but not limited to Jabhat al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham?</p>
<p>Time will tell.</p>
</section>
|
Turkey Holds the Key to Dismantling ISIS
Points to ponder about Syria and ISIS.
1. Syria attained independence from France in 1946.
2. In 1978, Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan (PKK), the Worker’s Party of Kurdistan, was founded and began to organize according to the tenets of classical Marxist-Leninist theory. PKK aimed to start a revolutionary war to free the Kurdish territories and establish a Kurdish state, which would then be used to establish socialism, baptized as ‘democratic confederalism.’ Its leader was Abdullah Öcalan. (Under the Treaty of Sèvres in 1920, Kurds were promised a state)
3. In 1984, PKK started a guerrilla struggle that escalated into a brutal civil war. The guerrilla movement drew considerable support from society, and in many regions could not be separated from the broader population.
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-1924268042178404"
data-ad-slot=”7962852579"
data-ad-format=”auto”>
4. In response, and under the auspices of the NATO-sponsored “Gladio” anti-communist program, Turkish army killed more than 40,000 civilians affiliated to guerrilla. Öcalan fled to Syria where Hafez al-Assad gave him a sanctuary
5. In 1998 Turkey threatened to go to war unless Syria expelled the PKK. Assad (father to Bashar) gave way and sent Öcalan and his fighters out of the country. Most of Öcalan’s guerrillas moved to northern Iraq while he sought refuge in various countries, eventually flying to Kenya. He was arrested in 1999 and handed over to Turkish authorities.
6. Democratic Union Party (PYD) is the largest Syrian Kurdish party. The YPG (People’s Protection Unit) militias are the PYD’s armed wing. The United States and the European Union designate the PKK as a terrorist group. However, Abdullah Öcalan, PKK’s imprisoned leader, is revered by the PYD (YPG), which is favored by America and Allies. His picture is prominently displayed in public offices and at military checkpoints, even sometimes on badges on soldiers’ shoulders, and he is referred to as “Apo” (Uncle).
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-1924268042178404"
data-ad-slot=”7962852579"
data-ad-format=”auto”>
7. In 2014, ISIS fighters swept north from Raqqa, the headquarters of their newly declared caliphate, and launched an attack on the Kurdish canton of Kobanî which sits on Syria’s border with Turkey. Kurdish militias- People’s Protection Units (YPG) prevailed and in January 2015, ISIS withdrew.
8.In July 2015, YPG drove ISIS out of Tal Abyad, another town on the border with Turkey. This meant ISIS had lost two of the three crossing points from Turkey through which it could bring foreign volunteers, finance, and weaponry to strengthen the jihad.
9.Turkey fears a further strengthening of the statelet that the Kurds have set up along more than half of the Syrian–Turkish border. If the Kurds were to take control of the area from Jarabulus to Azaz, they could link the cantons of Jazira and Kobanî with Rojava’s third canton, the enclave of Afrin, which is largely populated by Kurds, creating a Kurdish zone along almost the entire length of Syria’s northern border. Since the Turks are now taking a hard line toward the Kurdish PKK within their own borders, they are anxious to prevent a strong new Kurdish entity emerging in Syria.
10. The Turks want a no-fly zone, policed by Turkish and US warplanes, to be established in the very area from Jarabulus to Azaz that the Kurds want to take from ISIS and other jihadis. However, the Kurds see the scheme as a device to permit the Turks to bomb any YPG fighters who enter the area.
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-1924268042178404"
data-ad-slot=”7962852579"
data-ad-format=”auto”>
Conclusion. Turkey holds the key to dismantling ISIS. Turkey is not looking to cede its hard-line position relative to the Kurds, who seem to have an upper hand over ISIS. Will Kurds demand release of Ocalan? Does PKK see Kenya as the country that gave its leader away to Turkey? Will they revenge someday? What about other jihad groups in Syria including but not limited to Jabhat al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham?
Time will tell.
|
a9fbe584-6376-5a43-bbb3-aa90a3b047ca
|
25/08/2025 16:02:05
|
https://medium.com/@divyaravi_1697/5-javascript-tricks-every-frontend-dev-should-know-f5d96b61e84e
|
medium.com
|
5 JavaScript Tricks Every Frontend Dev Should Know
|
Hey! 👋
|
Divya Ravi
|
https://medium.com/@divyaravi_1697
|
f5d96b61e84e
|
2 min
|
2025-04-19T15:34:52.760000
|
2025-04-19T16:00:38.612000
|
2025-04-19T17:28:19.789000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Technology,JavaScript,Frontend
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1536/1*7kGQto9ROY1t5NfZPWbiCg.png" width="1536" height="1024" loading="lazy" />
<p>Hey! 👋</p>
<p>If you’ve ever felt like JavaScript is a bit overwhelming, you’re not alone. With all the tools, libraries, and buzzwords flying around, it’s easy to forget what really matters.</p>
<p>But here’s the secret: <strong>you don’t need to chase every new trend to become a solid developer</strong>. What really makes the difference is having a strong grip on the <em>basics</em>. Once you understand how JavaScript actually works, everything else starts to feel easier.</p>
<p>Here are 5 fundamental concepts that are totally worth learning. They’re simple at the core, but powerful once they click.</p>
<h3>🧑💻 Inheritance</h3>
<p>This is how objects in JavaScript can share stuff — like methods and properties. Instead of writing the same code over and over, inheritance lets you reuse it smartly. It’s one of those concepts that pops up everywhere once you recognize it.</p>
<h3>⚙️ Prototypes vs. __proto__</h3>
<p>They sound almost the same, but they’re not. Prototypes are part of how JavaScript handles inheritance behind the scenes. __proto__ is just a way to peek into that system. Understanding the difference can clear up a <em>lot</em> of confusion.</p>
<h3>💡 Closures</h3>
<p>Think of closures like memory boxes. When you create a function inside another function, the inner one remembers the outer one’s variables — even after the outer one is done running. That’s a closure. And once you get it, you’ll see how handy it is in real-world coding.</p>
<h3>🏭 Constructor vs. Factory Functions</h3>
<p>Both are ways to create objects, but they take different paths. Constructors use the new keyword and feel more “class-like.” Factory functions are simpler and return a fresh object every time. Knowing both gives you options, and flexibility is always a good thing.</p>
<h3>🎯 The this Keyword</h3>
<p>this is one of those things that can drive people crazy at first. What it refers to can change depending on <em>how</em> a function is called. But once you learn the rules, it stops being scary and starts being useful.</p>
<p>These concepts aren’t flashy, but they’re the kind of skills that give you confidence. Whether you’re building something small or working on a big team project, knowing how JavaScript really works under the hood will make you a better, faster, and happier developer.</p>
<p>You’re doing great. Keep going!</p>
</section>
|
5 JavaScript Tricks Every Frontend Dev Should Know
Hey! 👋
If you’ve ever felt like JavaScript is a bit overwhelming, you’re not alone. With all the tools, libraries, and buzzwords flying around, it’s easy to forget what really matters.
But here’s the secret: you don’t need to chase every new trend to become a solid developer. What really makes the difference is having a strong grip on the basics. Once you understand how JavaScript actually works, everything else starts to feel easier.
Here are 5 fundamental concepts that are totally worth learning. They’re simple at the core, but powerful once they click.
🧑💻 Inheritance
This is how objects in JavaScript can share stuff — like methods and properties. Instead of writing the same code over and over, inheritance lets you reuse it smartly. It’s one of those concepts that pops up everywhere once you recognize it.
⚙️ Prototypes vs. __proto__
They sound almost the same, but they’re not. Prototypes are part of how JavaScript handles inheritance behind the scenes. __proto__ is just a way to peek into that system. Understanding the difference can clear up a lot of confusion.
💡 Closures
Think of closures like memory boxes. When you create a function inside another function, the inner one remembers the outer one’s variables — even after the outer one is done running. That’s a closure. And once you get it, you’ll see how handy it is in real-world coding.
🏭 Constructor vs. Factory Functions
Both are ways to create objects, but they take different paths. Constructors use the new keyword and feel more “class-like.” Factory functions are simpler and return a fresh object every time. Knowing both gives you options, and flexibility is always a good thing.
🎯 The this Keyword
this is one of those things that can drive people crazy at first. What it refers to can change depending on how a function is called. But once you learn the rules, it stops being scary and starts being useful.
These concepts aren’t flashy, but they’re the kind of skills that give you confidence. Whether you’re building something small or working on a big team project, knowing how JavaScript really works under the hood will make you a better, faster, and happier developer.
You’re doing great. Keep going!
|
72f5a2c2-1a94-5b80-882a-772445c40345
|
25/08/2025 16:02:05
|
|
https://medium.com/be-open/the-holy-haunting-blues-a74896458f6d
|
medium.com
|
The Holy Haunting Blues
| null |
Mind Angelique's Mind
|
https://medium.com/@angeliqueredwood
|
a74896458f6d
|
4 min
|
2021-08-17T15:54:55.491000
|
2021-08-17T20:17:49.297000
|
2022-03-30T21:09:40.913000
| 4 | 319 |
en
|
Mwc Reentry,Life,Depression,Spirituality,Prayer
|
<section>
<h3>Facing Disrepair with Prayer</h3>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/2304/1*iS-GWULlOy7WIwNKCu9yRA.jpeg" width="2304" height="1536" loading="lazy" />
<p>As my rounded brown cheeks flush with the feeling of faith, my knees dig themselves deep into the brown, rugged carpet. With hard-pressed fingers too glued to pry apart, my heavy eyelids weigh down on the glossy sockets underneath them. From here, I am ready, and as soon as my mind begins to reel, I feel it; an impending presence behind my back, looming in wait to take my breath away.</p>
<p>Do you remember when prayer was once like this? Little did I know how close I was to bliss, keeping my past times prioritized at the age of five. Yet, as that time pressed on, the once bright dawn turned to goo, leaving me downright blue between scenes of abysmal obscenity.</p>
<p>Before I could curb the monstrous iceberg, I found myself submerged in the chilling gloom of depression. My once-warm atoms shifted over to ice, leaving both body and mind benign. Sucked in deep, I could barely see in front of me between the mean vocabulary swirling in my brain and the mind-altering substances adding to my pain.</p>
<p>In all that time, walking blindly, I could not shake the feeling that something big, something mighty, crept right behind me each time I looked over my shoulder. A haunting shade of crisp black stalking you at the rear is not the brightest way to spend your endless numbered days. Not only was I falling into insanity, but also wholly rolling in my fears. There was no clarity to any part of me. You could describe me as undead, grasping frantically for any semblance of serenity, moaning and groaning with my fellow mellowed zombies.</p>
<p>What a frightening life it is without any of your senses. How petrifying, the little our eyes can see or our nostrils can breathe when rolling in the mean inky deep. After spending so long without a song to sing, no joy to bring, or anything to keep me tethered to this earth, I had to find the jolt to smack me back into reality. Most importantly, I had to face the looming shadow seemingly destined to trail me.</p>
<p>And so, with leaded legs, I leaped forwards into any action that might counter that warm breath of death on the nape of my neck. From yoga to hiking to healthy eating, board game beatings, and therapy meetings, nothing remained left behind to try to incline my mind back to its previous space in time. Running for so long, the song that needed sung to find this battle won remained trapped in my lungs. Better than any coping strategy, I knew the sun would only shine again when I opened my eyes to face the nameless presence behind me, the shadow eternally waiting to pounce.</p>
<p>There was only one thing left to do. Within the green thickets, between ancestors made of timeworn bark, I stepped forwards into the forest to find my courage, face the inky space shadowed upon my shoulders. With a steady breath and a pulsing chest, I turned deliberately to see, finally, what had crept behind me for two decades.</p>
<p>And would you look at that!? All this time, with death in mind, my senses never realized the shadowed aura trailing my body was never a gooey black. The shadow meant to haunt me was my favorite shade of blue, the navy hue I fell in love with way back then, with knees dug deep into the earth underneath me.</p>
<p>It sounds impossible, yes, but all this time, the looming ghost I kept in a haunting space was the face of myself. The full-fledged self I could always see present in the world of prayer was finally apparent when I looked in the mirror. How in heaven did I not sense this before? Kneeling in orison always felt like surfacing for air each time my thoughts sat in a jumble of layers. The world would always clear when my fear was faced with holy grace, an overwhelming reminder of the power bred within faith.</p>
<p>In full thanks to the trees, I reached a state of re-entry with the soul I remembered being at the tender age of five. As my lips continue to kiss the words of scripture, my haunting hue, now a burning blue, has become the thing to bring me back to one piece. So very fooled, I believed my world to be clouded and rounded out by the inky ghost of death. But now, my sixth sense’s wide eyes can see the blessed works of perceptivity. I am me, the exact one the Lord meant me to be, not because of perfection, but in place of my mind’s murderous fallacies.</p>
<p>My favorite shade of navy still holds the capacity to turn bleak, as it seems we never altogether lose those voices in the void meant to keep us buried deep. The penultimate difference is that I’ve now found a way to dig my rugged knees into my faith. That funny feeling I can’t help but sense? I now know its fate, willing me to face the world. Spiritually armed and steady, I stand hand in hand with the one above, now ready to resoundingly roar an ‘Amen!’ to the tinted beasts meant to haunt us indubitably.</p>
</section>
|
The Holy Haunting Blues
Facing Disrepair with Prayer
Photo by Martino Pietropoli on Unsplash
As my rounded brown cheeks flush with the feeling of faith, my knees dig themselves deep into the brown, rugged carpet. With hard-pressed fingers too glued to pry apart, my heavy eyelids weigh down on the glossy sockets underneath them. From here, I am ready, and as soon as my mind begins to reel, I feel it; an impending presence behind my back, looming in wait to take my breath away.
Do you remember when prayer was once like this? Little did I know how close I was to bliss, keeping my past times prioritized at the age of five. Yet, as that time pressed on, the once bright dawn turned to goo, leaving me downright blue between scenes of abysmal obscenity.
Before I could curb the monstrous iceberg, I found myself submerged in the chilling gloom of depression. My once-warm atoms shifted over to ice, leaving both body and mind benign. Sucked in deep, I could barely see in front of me between the mean vocabulary swirling in my brain and the mind-altering substances adding to my pain.
In all that time, walking blindly, I could not shake the feeling that something big, something mighty, crept right behind me each time I looked over my shoulder. A haunting shade of crisp black stalking you at the rear is not the brightest way to spend your endless numbered days. Not only was I falling into insanity, but also wholly rolling in my fears. There was no clarity to any part of me. You could describe me as undead, grasping frantically for any semblance of serenity, moaning and groaning with my fellow mellowed zombies.
What a frightening life it is without any of your senses. How petrifying, the little our eyes can see or our nostrils can breathe when rolling in the mean inky deep. After spending so long without a song to sing, no joy to bring, or anything to keep me tethered to this earth, I had to find the jolt to smack me back into reality. Most importantly, I had to face the looming shadow seemingly destined to trail me.
And so, with leaded legs, I leaped forwards into any action that might counter that warm breath of death on the nape of my neck. From yoga to hiking to healthy eating, board game beatings, and therapy meetings, nothing remained left behind to try to incline my mind back to its previous space in time. Running for so long, the song that needed sung to find this battle won remained trapped in my lungs. Better than any coping strategy, I knew the sun would only shine again when I opened my eyes to face the nameless presence behind me, the shadow eternally waiting to pounce.
There was only one thing left to do. Within the green thickets, between ancestors made of timeworn bark, I stepped forwards into the forest to find my courage, face the inky space shadowed upon my shoulders. With a steady breath and a pulsing chest, I turned deliberately to see, finally, what had crept behind me for two decades.
And would you look at that!? All this time, with death in mind, my senses never realized the shadowed aura trailing my body was never a gooey black. The shadow meant to haunt me was my favorite shade of blue, the navy hue I fell in love with way back then, with knees dug deep into the earth underneath me.
It sounds impossible, yes, but all this time, the looming ghost I kept in a haunting space was the face of myself. The full-fledged self I could always see present in the world of prayer was finally apparent when I looked in the mirror. How in heaven did I not sense this before? Kneeling in orison always felt like surfacing for air each time my thoughts sat in a jumble of layers. The world would always clear when my fear was faced with holy grace, an overwhelming reminder of the power bred within faith.
In full thanks to the trees, I reached a state of re-entry with the soul I remembered being at the tender age of five. As my lips continue to kiss the words of scripture, my haunting hue, now a burning blue, has become the thing to bring me back to one piece. So very fooled, I believed my world to be clouded and rounded out by the inky ghost of death. But now, my sixth sense’s wide eyes can see the blessed works of perceptivity. I am me, the exact one the Lord meant me to be, not because of perfection, but in place of my mind’s murderous fallacies.
My favorite shade of navy still holds the capacity to turn bleak, as it seems we never altogether lose those voices in the void meant to keep us buried deep. The penultimate difference is that I’ve now found a way to dig my rugged knees into my faith. That funny feeling I can’t help but sense? I now know its fate, willing me to face the world. Spiritually armed and steady, I stand hand in hand with the one above, now ready to resoundingly roar an ‘Amen!’ to the tinted beasts meant to haunt us indubitably.
|
d8b4d227-f085-5120-854d-ecedbb0073e5
|
25/08/2025 16:02:05
|
|
https://medium.com/revolutions-of-pachil/120-sanqo-7788ee5727a5
|
medium.com
|
120 — Sanqo
|
As tensions rise, his thoughts drift to his missing daughter. But will his decisions hold the kingdom together or deepen its cracks?
|
Patrick Onofre
|
https://medium.com/@pmonofre
|
7788ee5727a5
|
17 min
|
2024-08-12T17:49:43.948000
|
2024-08-16T11:01:48.252000
|
2024-11-18T08:47:20.442000
| 1 | 41 |
en
|
Fiction,Storytelling,Fantasy,Adventure,Serial Fiction
|
<section>
<h1>120 — Sanqo</h1>
<p>From where Siunqi sat at the head of the long, ornate driftwood table, the voices blended seamlessly with the sound of the tides. It was another interminable meeting, another day of listening to the Tapeu emissaries carry on about terms for new trade routes. The Sanqo were being called upon to secure them, and the leaders of the island faction’s houses were throwing tantrums about what was being asked of them.</p>
<p>But none of this mattered to Siunqi while his daughter remained missing.</p>
<p>The Sanqo ruler began to lose track of how many moon cycles Walumaq had been away, vanishing from view as his ships set off to return to Haqiliqa. What has it been now? Two? Three? Only Iaqa knows. With no word yet from Atoyaqtli, all he could do was sit and wait.</p>
<p>Siunqi hated to sit and wait.</p>
<p>His fingers absently traced the smooth contours of a polished coral pendant hanging from his neck, a gift from Walumaq when she was a child. He fondly remembers the day she had found the coral on the beach. How her stunning blue eyes — their brilliant hue that seemed to hold the endless depths of the ocean, so unlike anyone else’s he’s ever met — lit up as she marveled at its intricate patterns and vibrant array of deep reds and oranges, shaped by the relentless sea. How she had treasured it, turning it over in her hands to admire its otherworldly beauty, and the way it seemed to glow in the sunlight. He had it crafted into a pendant, as a token to keep her close even when he was far away.</p>
<p>“…security for the trade routes must be ensured,” one of the Tapeu emissaries insisted, their words snapping with impatience as they gripped the edge of the table. “We need assurance that our goods will reach Qiapu safely.”</p>
<p>“But the compensation you offer is insufficient,” retorted one of the Sanqo leaders. “We demand a significant share of Qiapu’s weapon production. Our own armaments are outdated. Without proper defenses, how do you expect us to protect your goods? For the scale of protections we’re providing, this is the only adequate payment.”</p>
<p>“Great Siunqi,” a voice called, jarring him back to the present. He forced himself to refocus. “What say you?”</p>
<p>“Yes, what is your ruling? Because we will be left with nothing if — “</p>
<p>“We are taking ships away from our <em>own</em> protection to secure your trade routes,” another Sanqo leader interrupted. “It’s only fair that we are adequately compensated for — “</p>
<p>“And now you want to weaken <em>us</em> further by taking our weapons?” a Tapeu emissary quickly countered. “This is unreasonable! We cannot afford to leave ourselves defenseless just to appease your demands.”</p>
<p>Siunqi raised a hand, signaling for silence. He took a moment to collect his thoughts, the pendant cool against his skin. “Both sides present valid concerns,” he began, his voice calm and measured. “The Tapeu need secure trade routes to maintain stability. The Sanqo must foster trust with Achutli, but also require better armaments to ensure our protection and capability.”</p>
<p>He paused, allowing his words to settle. The men around the table waited to see what he would say next. After a long moment, the separate parties muttered within their group, wondering where this was going.</p>
<p>As the murmuring started to pick up in volume, he spoke again, raising his voice over the din of discussion and debate. “I propose a compromise. The Sanqo will provide the necessary security for the Tapeu trade routes, using a smaller portion of Qiapu’s weapon production, sufficient to upgrade our defenses without straining Qiapu’s resources. The remaining majority of the weapons will continue to go to the Tapeu. Additionally, Qiapu can supply the Sanqo with a reasonable amount of their mining resources at a reduced rate, which will help compensate for the costs of this protection for <em>their</em> goods. I believe this arrangement benefits all factions and fosters goodwill.”</p>
<p>There was a murmur of contemplation around the table. He looked around the table, seeing the calculation in the eyes of both parties. Siunqi continued, “This way, the Tapeu gain the security they need, the Sanqo enhance our defenses, and Qiapu sees increased trade and resource exchange. It is not everything either side wants in full, but it is a fair compromise that strengthens our alliances and prepares us for the challenges ahead.”</p>
<p>The Tapeu emissaries and Sanqo leaders exchanged looks, weighing the proposal. A few outbursts sprung up, which were quickly quelled, and a more amenable deliberation followed.</p>
<p>As Siunqi prepared to speak again, the door to the council chamber burst open. A guard rushed in, his face flushed with urgency. “Great Siunqi, there’s a disturbance outside in the courtyard. The Aqu’ala and the Qisiaqu houses have come to blows again. It’s escalating quickly.”</p>
<p>“Those two again?” someone shouted from somewhere among those gathered at the table. “Will they never settle their petty squabbles? There are more pressing matters! This is obnoxious!” Siunqi couldn’t see who was speaking, but judging by the voice, it was likely Tuqalo, someone who always likes to hear himself speak more than contributing anything meaningful.</p>
<p>The Tapeu emissaries exchanged confused glances, asking one another what was going on. The blustering and round-bellied man sitting beside Tuqalo, Qlochupi, looses a cynical laugh. “Those two houses have been warring with one another generations before we were exiled to this forsaken island,” he says, answering the unasked question between bites of his roasted lamb shank. “I don’t think they even remember what they’re fighting about!”</p>
<p>“Their whole families should be tossed in the sea, so we can finally be done with them,” Tuqalo adds unhelpfully. “I don’t see why we don’t just cast them off Sanqo and divide their lands among those who know how to get along. We’d be much more productive using their lands than they ever were.”</p>
<p>This generated a few “hear, hears” and nods of agreement from those gathered around the table. Siunqi’s eyes narrowed, but he remained composed. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” he said to the council members. “This matter requires my immediate attention.”</p>
<p>With swift, purposeful strides, he left the council chamber. The echo of his footsteps loudly resounded off the polished stone walls of the grand hall. Even from the hallways, he could hear the shouts and jeers of the two warring houses. He sighed and shook his head, wondering to himself what set them off this time. If he recalled correctly, the last incident was from an imagined slight where one of the two leaders — who could say which one it was, at this point — claimed the other had swapped their chairs at the driftwood table. Three warriors between the two houses died that day.</p>
<p>The yelling grew louder and louder with each step, until Siunqi arrived at the courtyard. It’s a fairly empty space, large enough to conduct combat drills atop the white sands that made up the ground. A few benches lined the perimeter walls for anyone to spectate or rest. Otherwise, the area contained only a few vines brave enough to scale the tall walls, which gave the place its only non-beige color.</p>
<p>It didn’t take long for Siunqi to see the clashing sides. On one side were the Qisiaqu, in woven tunics and tight trousers of ocean blue and bright yellow, leather chest pieces and arm guards with intricate designs resembling the scales of eels, featuring a blend of teal and yellow, and short cloaks in bright yellow worn over one shoulder. On the other side were the Aqu’ala, with the unmistakable tattoos of piranha teeth that frame their mouths and cheeks, creating an impression of perpetual, predatory grins, while wearing traditional tunics and loincloths of a silver and blue with accents of fiery red along the edges, hardened leather chest plates and bracers dyed teal with silver fish-scale patterns, and bright red sashes worn around their waists.</p>
<p>The two sides were chest to chest, shouting into the faces of their foes. There was so much yelling that it was difficult for Siunqi to figure out what caused the fighting to break out this time. But once a member of the Aqu’ala drew their obsidian sword — prompting everyone else present to draw their weapons — he wasted no time, positioning himself between the rival houses.</p>
<p>“Enough!” he bellowed, his voice cutting through the chaos. “This is not how we conduct ourselves in Sanqo. Lay down your weapons and speak your grievances, or face my wrath.”</p>
<p>The warriors on both sides hesitated, glancing at each other before slowly lowering their arms. Siunqi’s stern gaze met each of theirs, ensuring they understood the severity of his words. After a long pause, the Sanqo ruler was uncertain either side would yield and sheath their weapons. Both sides continued to glare at one another, waiting to see which one would blink first. But finally, fortunately, the leaders of both houses simultaneously returned their weapons to their scabbards, though their scowls remained.</p>
<p>Siunqi turned his attention to the leaders of the two houses. “Aqu’ala, Qisiaqu, your dispute threatens the very fabric of our society. We will resolve this here and now, with words, not weapons.”</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, it was the hot-headed Anaqu of the Aqu’ala who spoke first. “They stole our banner!” he declared, pointing accusingly at the Qisiaqu leader, Isuma, who rolled his eyes and laughed in disbelief.</p>
<p>“What makes you say this?” Siunqi questioned.</p>
<p>“Our ceremonial banner was proudly displayed among the others in the great hall, and now it is missing!” Anaqu said this so quickly, it was as if it was all one word.</p>
<p>“This is purely false and crafted in the dull one’s mind,” Isuma retorted. “It is not a secret that our two houses dislike each other — “ This warranted an exaggerated scoff from Anaqu and the generals standing beside him. “…yet there is nothing positive to be gained by stealing that disgusting and frightful banner.”</p>
<p>“You want to exert your dominance in a garish display!” Anaqu shouted accusatorially.</p>
<p>“I wouldn’t degrade my wine bearer by soiling their hands with the removal of such a revolting banner,” Isuma replied.</p>
<p>At this, Anaqu lunged forward, but was mercifully restrained by his generals. Isuma, meanwhile, released a pitying laugh and a shake of his head. “Do you see this, Great Siunqi? These savages have no right to call themselves ‘Sanqo’ with such an embarrassing display.”</p>
<p>“If you don’t return our banner to its rightful place, I will see to it that we burn down your entire fiefdom!” Anaqu proclaimed.</p>
<p>“That is <strong>enough</strong>!” Siunqi yelled. “I will not see two of my houses at war over something so trivial!”</p>
<p>“Trivial?!” Anaqu exclaimed, incensed.</p>
<p>Before he could bluster anything else, Siunqi continued, “If the banner is not found by sunset, we will have another recreated in its place. I will have my finest weavers work on it tirelessly through the night to ensure it will be hanging by sunrise, before you and your house departs Haqiliqa.”</p>
<p>Anaqu maintained his snarl, but threw off the hands that held him back. “Fine,” he conceded with a growl. “But I will have you know that any more such atrocities will <strong>not</strong> be tolerated.”</p>
<p>With a wave of his hand, Anaqu signaled for his men to promptly leave the courtyard. Isuma, however, remained. “You’re going to give in to this petulant child’s whining?” he asked, baffled by Siunqi’s ruling. “He will never be pleased — you know this, correct? You will weave their banner and he will claim that you did his house an injustice by not making the reds bright enough, nor the teeth of the stupid fish sharp enough. He is going to — “</p>
<p>“You are fortunate I do not have your tongue for questioning my ruling, Isuma,” Siunqi said in a low, threatening rumble. “Where you see petulance, I see an unwavering tenacity. Your house would do well to stop provoking such a vitriolic house. Return the banner at once. I don’t care how it’s done, but I expect it to be hanging before the break of dawn.”</p>
<p>Isuma looked bemused. “You accuse me of — “</p>
<p>“For someone so critical of another’s heightened emotions, you might want to work on masking your own,” Siunqi said, turning to the Qisiaqu leader. “Your enjoyment of his venomous accusations betrayed your efforts to appear innocent. It seems to me you believe yourself to be cleverer than you actually are.”</p>
<p>Realizing he had been bested, Isuma conceded with a simple nod, and a knowing smirk. He turned to leave without saying another word. And with that, the Qisiaqu warriors strolled out of the courtyard, walking opposite of where the Aqu’ala departed, of course.</p>
<p>Siunqi was left with his thoughts. He would never admit it aloud, but dealing with the two warring houses felt like managing squabbling children, their constant bickering testing his patience. And speaking of which, the deliberations inside the council chamber were likely to take the rest of the day — if not longer — as the two sides picked apart his proposed ruling on the matter. No, he would not return there any time today, he decided. He would come back to it when he didn’t feel so exhausted.</p>
<p>The Sanqo ruler was met with a series of thumping and thudding as the warriors pounded their chests in salute. He walked past them with a cursory nod, on his way to the terrace that overlooks the Haqu Suquinoq. <em>I need some time to myself</em>, he decided. <em>Time away from the burdens of rulership, for once.</em></p>
<p>He practically collapsed on the waist-high walls upon his arrival, resting his hands on the cool stone as he took in the rhythmic crashing of the waves. Each deep inhale was filled with the briny sea air, chilling his lungs with every breath. <em>Winter will be arriving soon,</em> he thought to himself. <em>With the change in season, the seas will become rougher as the currents shift, and the trade winds weaken.</em></p>
<p>His hand reflexively touched the coral pendant. Would this mean Walumaq may have to wait to return home? Will she be stuck on the mainland until spring? With the whispers of a rebellion in Tapeu, will his daughter be trapped among the internal conflict?</p>
<p>Siunqi sighed. He had tried for so many moon cycles to reclaim the honor of the Sanqo, to redeem them in the eyes of the factions of Pachil. But up to now, his efforts had gone nowhere. The debacle in Chalaqta had likely only made matters worse. What had caused the turmoil in the Tapeu city? No one had explained to him how the fires were started, or who was responsible for the riots in the streets.</p>
<p>Pahua continued to refute any indications of his involvement, but Siunqi knew. Despite Pahua’s vehement denials, Siunqi couldn’t shake the nagging suspicion that his son had a hand in it. Pahua was rash, reflexive, short-sighted — traits that too often led to disaster. His son cared little for the history of the Sanqo, for what it took to get to where they were, or for the struggle to rebuild a sullied reputation. Yet Siunqi knew that if Pachil was to prosper, it would require all factions working together, unifying under a common purpose.</p>
<p>To his recollection, nothing like that had ever been achieved. Sure, it’s been dreamed of, wished for. Pachil has always had a history of idealists. People will always believe <em>they</em> are the ones to do the unthinkable, that <em>their</em> vision is what will bring stability and peace to the land. A tale as old as time itself.</p>
<p>Perhaps he was being naïve to think that change is possible. Perhaps, Siunqi lamented, he was never going to restore the Sanqo reputation, turning them into a well-respected faction once again. If it weren’t for Xipai… Siunqi always wondered what made that ruler decide to turn the Sanqo into a faction full of raiders and pirates. What drove him to go against the peaceful accord enjoyed by all on the mainland? How could he not see the wrath his decision would wrought on generations upon generations of people? What makes someone so starved for power to be blinded by the inevitability of their greed and lust for domination?</p>
<p>A hand gently placed on Siunqi’s shoulder startled him. “My apologies,” his wife said sweetly. “I didn’t realize you were so deep in thought.”</p>
<p>He turned to face Cheqansiq, smiling warmly at the sight of his loving partner. The smile grew even wider when he noticed the chalices of wine in her hand. “I heard about the council chamber, so I assumed you could use a drink.”</p>
<p>After taking the chalice and drinking a heavy swig from it, he placed his free hand on top of hers, giving it a quick, loving squeeze. “I fear the Sanqo will forever be at war with the factions of the mainland. Somehow, the life of heartless raiders has been woven into the tapestry of our people, and I don’t know how to undo what’s been done.”</p>
<p>“Ah, so your usual lamentations, then?” she said with a cheeky grin. Siunqi snorted out a laugh and shook his head, pivoting it to take in the nearby waters. Cheqansiq then sighed deeply, joining her husband in looking out over the neighboring sea. “I do not envy your position of leadership, that is for certain. But you are resourceful, and determined — it’s what makes you a worthy ruler of the Sanqo.”</p>
<p>Siunqi sighed once again, lowering his head and frowning. He glanced at the wine, but decided against taking another sip — he was too distraught to drink. “But what if my efforts aren’t enough to change the course we’re on? What if the Sanqo are destined to remain trapped in this cycle of conflict?”</p>
<p>After setting down her chalice atop the wall, she drew Siunqi’s face to look at her, then held his shoulders, squeezing them softly. “Unfortunately, these matters take time. I know you hate the word ‘patience’, husband, but you must practice it, I’m afraid. You are working to undo generations of history. A sturdy ship isn’t crafted in one night.”</p>
<p>“You and your Puqia sayings,” Siunqi teased, trying — and failing — to hide his smile. “The dolphin are too playful for their own good.”</p>
<p>“But you know I’m right,” she said, stepping in closer and wrapping her arms around the ruler’s neck. “My house is very wise, which is why it was wise of you to marry into it.”</p>
<p>Siunqi playfully mocked being offended. “<em>I</em> married into <em>your</em> house? Are you forgetting the bloodline of my family? How we — “</p>
<p>A commotion brought their conversation to a halt. Two of the palace warriors stepped aside at attention as a clattering of metal clinked discordantly. A burst of air rushed from Siunqi’s nostrils at the sight, his lips tightened into a thin line.</p>
<p>“Have I interrupted something? Is this what you’ve been up to, as opposed to your duties as ruler?” Pahua asked, taking a big pull of chicha from his metallic cup and tossing it aside, letting it clatter along the stone ground. He flung his teal and bronze cape around to cover his right shoulder as he leaned against a point in the wall a few paces from Siunqi, stumbling slightly before regaining his balance.</p>
<p>“What is it that you want, boy?” Siunqi barked his question.</p>
<p>Pahua’s eyes narrowed, and a scowl slowly curled his mouth. “I heard you decided not to rejoin the council, father. Is that because your knees grew tired from groveling to the Tapeu?”</p>
<p>“By the sea, Pahua,” Siunqi remarked, exasperated. “You don’t know the first thing about generating and maintaining diplomatic relationships.”</p>
<p>“That’s because they shouldn’t exist with inferior factions,” Pahua retorted. “The Tapeu are on the cusp of a civil war, and we are doing nothing to capitalize on it. Why should they be allowed to rule over the entire land when they can’t even get their house in order? If we’re going to allow — “</p>
<p>“You’ve come all this way to disrupt my peace just to waste your chicha-tainted breath over the Tapeu?” Siunqi interjected. “At the end of the War of Liberation, the factions got together in Chalaqta to decide that — “</p>
<p>“The factions are only out for themselves!” Pahua remarked. “They place a carved idol on the throne, one that speaks not with its own voice, but with the words of those who placed it. All so they can do as they please within their own territories.”</p>
<p>“That is the entire point, you foolish child!” Siunqi scolded. “The Arbiter was chosen to oversee the reconstruction of Pachil while distributing resources as needed. In turn, each faction is allowed to rule their lands and their people as they see fit.”</p>
<p>“All so they can return to conspiring against one another and plot out their wars,” Pahua charged, slurring his words a bit. “These factions, like the Arbiter, seek out only what will benefit them. If we don’t do the same and look out for the Sanqo, we will be taken advantage of until our people are run into the ground!”</p>
<p>Siunqi shook his head in disbelief. But before he could speak further on the matter, Cheqansiq placed her hands upon his chest, trying to tame the wild beast that raged within. “Boys,” she chided, alternating her glances at both men, “this bickering is counterproductive. You only seek to divide our home by such talk. It would be best to leave these matters to rest.”</p>
<p>She turned to Pahua. “Your father is ruling with the guidance and wisdom Iaqa provides. If the foresight shown to him by the Eleven indicates that diplomacy will lead to peace and prosperity for the Sanqo, then he is wise to listen.”</p>
<p>“Such misguided idealism will lead us to our doom,” Pahua countered. He reached for his metallic mug, only to find its presence missing.</p>
<p>Siunqi left Cheqansiq and followed the wall to where his son propped himself up. Standing not even a hand’s distance from Pahua’s face, he muttered in a near whisper, voice shaking with restrained fury, “It’s your ignorance that makes me relieved Walumaq was born first.”</p>
<p>“And where is this exalted heir?” Pahua questioned, mockingly looking around as if searching for his sister. Then, pretending the answer suddenly arrived to him, he stated, “Ah, that’s right! She’s off galavanting around the mainland, skirting her duties as an heiress. All because you failed to protect her, just as you fail to protect Sanqo.”</p>
<p>Siunqi clasped the collar of Pahua’s tunic. Through gnashed teeth, he snarled, “I would give my life to have the two of you trade places. I would rather you be lost to the sea or ravaged by the creatures of the continent, if it meant I could have her returned to me alive.”</p>
<p>“Enough, husband!” Cheqansiq desperately tried to pry Siunqi off their son, but he violently shrugged her off. She tumbled to the ground, her face marked with scrapes from the ragged stone wall.</p>
<p>Standing so close that he could feel Pahua’s breath, Siunqi hissed, “You have never been, and never will be, fit to rule.”</p>
<p>Pahua struggled to break free of his father’s grasp, fighting to pull Siunqi off of him. But the Sanqo ruler’s grip was too tight. He pinned Pahua in place, pushing his son to where his back arced over the edge of the wall.</p>
<p>In a desperate attempt to free himself, Pahua’s hand reached up, gripping his father’s wrist, trying to loosen the iron hold. A few weak strikes with his free hand went unnoticed by the Sanqo ruler. The argument between the two grew louder, drowning out the incoming tide that collided with the wall and the rocks below.</p>
<p>“Let go!” Pahua shouted, his voice breaking with a mix of fear and anger. He could feel the rough stone edge digging into his back. His chest was getting compressed, and he had difficulty finding breath. The struggle became more frantic, with each movement bringing them dangerously close to the edge.</p>
<p>In a final, frantic surge of energy, Pahua reached forward, planting a hand upon his father’s chest. He let out a distressed yelp and pushed with all his might. Caught off guard by the sudden force, Siunqi lost his balance. The eyes of the Sanqo ruler widened in shock, his grip slipping.</p>
<p>Pahua watched in horror as his father teetered on the edge, his hands grasping at empty air. Siunqi’s body tipped backward, and with a look of betrayal etched on his face, he fell over the precipice of the wall.</p>
<p>The world seemed to freeze for a moment. Only the rushing wind and the distant crash of waves against the cliffs below dared to make a sound, carrying on as though this wasn’t happening. Pahua’s heart leapt into his throat as he stared at his hand, realizing he was clutching the coral pendant that Siunqi faithfully wore around his neck. The delicate piece now felt like a heavy burden in his palm.</p>
<p>Cheqansiq’s scream pierced the air, shattering the moment of stunned silence. The sound of Siunqi’s fall echoed up from below, followed by a sickening thud. Pahua’s breath came in short, ragged gasps as he stared at the pendant.</p>
<p>“What have you done!” his mother shrieked. “By the sea, Pahua, what have you done!”</p>
<p>A flurry of blows pounded Pahua’s chest. An inconsolable Cheqansiq punched and punched her son, unleashing all the grief and anger and sorrow and horror she felt in that moment. Pahua tried to stop the incoming attacks, tried to grab ahold of her flailing wrists. The fists came from all angles, striking him in the face and shoulder and arm and ear and nose. As he shielded himself, his shoulder knocked a chalice to the ground with a loud <em>clank</em>.</p>
<p>“Mother, I’m sorry!” Pahua pleaded. “I didn’t mean to! It was an — “</p>
<p>It didn’t matter what he said, how he apologized. Cheqansiq wasn’t hearing any of it. “How could you do such a thing! You insufferable fool! How could you! How could you!”</p>
<p>“Mother, stop!” he yelled, his voice cracking. Pahua searched for anyone who could help, any guard or servant who could restrain her, but no one was present. He grabbed her wrists, his grip tightening as he pushed her back. “Stop, you don’t understand!”</p>
<p>But Cheqansiq’s screams only grew louder, more frantic. “Murderer! You’ve killed him! You — ”</p>
<p>In that split second, fear overtook him. His eyes locked onto his mother’s for a brief, heart-wrenching moment. Her voice cut off as Pahua, acting on pure, misguided instinct, thrust her away from him. With a desperate, impulsive shove, Pahua flung his mother over the edge.</p>
<p>Her eyes widened in shock and betrayal, mirroring those of Siunqi’s just moments before. Her scream mingled with the rushing wind as she fell. Pahua’s heart pounded as he watched his mother plummet, her arms flailing to grab ahold of anything, only to grasp air. The realization of what he had done crashed over him like a wave, too late to stop what’s been set in motion.</p>
</section>
|
120 — Sanqo
From where Siunqi sat at the head of the long, ornate driftwood table, the voices blended seamlessly with the sound of the tides. It was another interminable meeting, another day of listening to the Tapeu emissaries carry on about terms for new trade routes. The Sanqo were being called upon to secure them, and the leaders of the island faction’s houses were throwing tantrums about what was being asked of them.
But none of this mattered to Siunqi while his daughter remained missing.
The Sanqo ruler began to lose track of how many moon cycles Walumaq had been away, vanishing from view as his ships set off to return to Haqiliqa. What has it been now? Two? Three? Only Iaqa knows. With no word yet from Atoyaqtli, all he could do was sit and wait.
Siunqi hated to sit and wait.
His fingers absently traced the smooth contours of a polished coral pendant hanging from his neck, a gift from Walumaq when she was a child. He fondly remembers the day she had found the coral on the beach. How her stunning blue eyes — their brilliant hue that seemed to hold the endless depths of the ocean, so unlike anyone else’s he’s ever met — lit up as she marveled at its intricate patterns and vibrant array of deep reds and oranges, shaped by the relentless sea. How she had treasured it, turning it over in her hands to admire its otherworldly beauty, and the way it seemed to glow in the sunlight. He had it crafted into a pendant, as a token to keep her close even when he was far away.
“…security for the trade routes must be ensured,” one of the Tapeu emissaries insisted, their words snapping with impatience as they gripped the edge of the table. “We need assurance that our goods will reach Qiapu safely.”
“But the compensation you offer is insufficient,” retorted one of the Sanqo leaders. “We demand a significant share of Qiapu’s weapon production. Our own armaments are outdated. Without proper defenses, how do you expect us to protect your goods? For the scale of protections we’re providing, this is the only adequate payment.”
“Great Siunqi,” a voice called, jarring him back to the present. He forced himself to refocus. “What say you?”
“Yes, what is your ruling? Because we will be left with nothing if — “
“We are taking ships away from our own protection to secure your trade routes,” another Sanqo leader interrupted. “It’s only fair that we are adequately compensated for — “
“And now you want to weaken us further by taking our weapons?” a Tapeu emissary quickly countered. “This is unreasonable! We cannot afford to leave ourselves defenseless just to appease your demands.”
Siunqi raised a hand, signaling for silence. He took a moment to collect his thoughts, the pendant cool against his skin. “Both sides present valid concerns,” he began, his voice calm and measured. “The Tapeu need secure trade routes to maintain stability. The Sanqo must foster trust with Achutli, but also require better armaments to ensure our protection and capability.”
He paused, allowing his words to settle. The men around the table waited to see what he would say next. After a long moment, the separate parties muttered within their group, wondering where this was going.
As the murmuring started to pick up in volume, he spoke again, raising his voice over the din of discussion and debate. “I propose a compromise. The Sanqo will provide the necessary security for the Tapeu trade routes, using a smaller portion of Qiapu’s weapon production, sufficient to upgrade our defenses without straining Qiapu’s resources. The remaining majority of the weapons will continue to go to the Tapeu. Additionally, Qiapu can supply the Sanqo with a reasonable amount of their mining resources at a reduced rate, which will help compensate for the costs of this protection for their goods. I believe this arrangement benefits all factions and fosters goodwill.”
There was a murmur of contemplation around the table. He looked around the table, seeing the calculation in the eyes of both parties. Siunqi continued, “This way, the Tapeu gain the security they need, the Sanqo enhance our defenses, and Qiapu sees increased trade and resource exchange. It is not everything either side wants in full, but it is a fair compromise that strengthens our alliances and prepares us for the challenges ahead.”
The Tapeu emissaries and Sanqo leaders exchanged looks, weighing the proposal. A few outbursts sprung up, which were quickly quelled, and a more amenable deliberation followed.
As Siunqi prepared to speak again, the door to the council chamber burst open. A guard rushed in, his face flushed with urgency. “Great Siunqi, there’s a disturbance outside in the courtyard. The Aqu’ala and the Qisiaqu houses have come to blows again. It’s escalating quickly.”
“Those two again?” someone shouted from somewhere among those gathered at the table. “Will they never settle their petty squabbles? There are more pressing matters! This is obnoxious!” Siunqi couldn’t see who was speaking, but judging by the voice, it was likely Tuqalo, someone who always likes to hear himself speak more than contributing anything meaningful.
The Tapeu emissaries exchanged confused glances, asking one another what was going on. The blustering and round-bellied man sitting beside Tuqalo, Qlochupi, looses a cynical laugh. “Those two houses have been warring with one another generations before we were exiled to this forsaken island,” he says, answering the unasked question between bites of his roasted lamb shank. “I don’t think they even remember what they’re fighting about!”
“Their whole families should be tossed in the sea, so we can finally be done with them,” Tuqalo adds unhelpfully. “I don’t see why we don’t just cast them off Sanqo and divide their lands among those who know how to get along. We’d be much more productive using their lands than they ever were.”
This generated a few “hear, hears” and nods of agreement from those gathered around the table. Siunqi’s eyes narrowed, but he remained composed. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” he said to the council members. “This matter requires my immediate attention.”
With swift, purposeful strides, he left the council chamber. The echo of his footsteps loudly resounded off the polished stone walls of the grand hall. Even from the hallways, he could hear the shouts and jeers of the two warring houses. He sighed and shook his head, wondering to himself what set them off this time. If he recalled correctly, the last incident was from an imagined slight where one of the two leaders — who could say which one it was, at this point — claimed the other had swapped their chairs at the driftwood table. Three warriors between the two houses died that day.
The yelling grew louder and louder with each step, until Siunqi arrived at the courtyard. It’s a fairly empty space, large enough to conduct combat drills atop the white sands that made up the ground. A few benches lined the perimeter walls for anyone to spectate or rest. Otherwise, the area contained only a few vines brave enough to scale the tall walls, which gave the place its only non-beige color.
It didn’t take long for Siunqi to see the clashing sides. On one side were the Qisiaqu, in woven tunics and tight trousers of ocean blue and bright yellow, leather chest pieces and arm guards with intricate designs resembling the scales of eels, featuring a blend of teal and yellow, and short cloaks in bright yellow worn over one shoulder. On the other side were the Aqu’ala, with the unmistakable tattoos of piranha teeth that frame their mouths and cheeks, creating an impression of perpetual, predatory grins, while wearing traditional tunics and loincloths of a silver and blue with accents of fiery red along the edges, hardened leather chest plates and bracers dyed teal with silver fish-scale patterns, and bright red sashes worn around their waists.
The two sides were chest to chest, shouting into the faces of their foes. There was so much yelling that it was difficult for Siunqi to figure out what caused the fighting to break out this time. But once a member of the Aqu’ala drew their obsidian sword — prompting everyone else present to draw their weapons — he wasted no time, positioning himself between the rival houses.
“Enough!” he bellowed, his voice cutting through the chaos. “This is not how we conduct ourselves in Sanqo. Lay down your weapons and speak your grievances, or face my wrath.”
The warriors on both sides hesitated, glancing at each other before slowly lowering their arms. Siunqi’s stern gaze met each of theirs, ensuring they understood the severity of his words. After a long pause, the Sanqo ruler was uncertain either side would yield and sheath their weapons. Both sides continued to glare at one another, waiting to see which one would blink first. But finally, fortunately, the leaders of both houses simultaneously returned their weapons to their scabbards, though their scowls remained.
Siunqi turned his attention to the leaders of the two houses. “Aqu’ala, Qisiaqu, your dispute threatens the very fabric of our society. We will resolve this here and now, with words, not weapons.”
Unsurprisingly, it was the hot-headed Anaqu of the Aqu’ala who spoke first. “They stole our banner!” he declared, pointing accusingly at the Qisiaqu leader, Isuma, who rolled his eyes and laughed in disbelief.
“What makes you say this?” Siunqi questioned.
“Our ceremonial banner was proudly displayed among the others in the great hall, and now it is missing!” Anaqu said this so quickly, it was as if it was all one word.
“This is purely false and crafted in the dull one’s mind,” Isuma retorted. “It is not a secret that our two houses dislike each other — “ This warranted an exaggerated scoff from Anaqu and the generals standing beside him. “…yet there is nothing positive to be gained by stealing that disgusting and frightful banner.”
“You want to exert your dominance in a garish display!” Anaqu shouted accusatorially.
“I wouldn’t degrade my wine bearer by soiling their hands with the removal of such a revolting banner,” Isuma replied.
At this, Anaqu lunged forward, but was mercifully restrained by his generals. Isuma, meanwhile, released a pitying laugh and a shake of his head. “Do you see this, Great Siunqi? These savages have no right to call themselves ‘Sanqo’ with such an embarrassing display.”
“If you don’t return our banner to its rightful place, I will see to it that we burn down your entire fiefdom!” Anaqu proclaimed.
“That is enough!” Siunqi yelled. “I will not see two of my houses at war over something so trivial!”
“Trivial?!” Anaqu exclaimed, incensed.
Before he could bluster anything else, Siunqi continued, “If the banner is not found by sunset, we will have another recreated in its place. I will have my finest weavers work on it tirelessly through the night to ensure it will be hanging by sunrise, before you and your house departs Haqiliqa.”
Anaqu maintained his snarl, but threw off the hands that held him back. “Fine,” he conceded with a growl. “But I will have you know that any more such atrocities will not be tolerated.”
With a wave of his hand, Anaqu signaled for his men to promptly leave the courtyard. Isuma, however, remained. “You’re going to give in to this petulant child’s whining?” he asked, baffled by Siunqi’s ruling. “He will never be pleased — you know this, correct? You will weave their banner and he will claim that you did his house an injustice by not making the reds bright enough, nor the teeth of the stupid fish sharp enough. He is going to — “
“You are fortunate I do not have your tongue for questioning my ruling, Isuma,” Siunqi said in a low, threatening rumble. “Where you see petulance, I see an unwavering tenacity. Your house would do well to stop provoking such a vitriolic house. Return the banner at once. I don’t care how it’s done, but I expect it to be hanging before the break of dawn.”
Isuma looked bemused. “You accuse me of — “
“For someone so critical of another’s heightened emotions, you might want to work on masking your own,” Siunqi said, turning to the Qisiaqu leader. “Your enjoyment of his venomous accusations betrayed your efforts to appear innocent. It seems to me you believe yourself to be cleverer than you actually are.”
Realizing he had been bested, Isuma conceded with a simple nod, and a knowing smirk. He turned to leave without saying another word. And with that, the Qisiaqu warriors strolled out of the courtyard, walking opposite of where the Aqu’ala departed, of course.
Siunqi was left with his thoughts. He would never admit it aloud, but dealing with the two warring houses felt like managing squabbling children, their constant bickering testing his patience. And speaking of which, the deliberations inside the council chamber were likely to take the rest of the day — if not longer — as the two sides picked apart his proposed ruling on the matter. No, he would not return there any time today, he decided. He would come back to it when he didn’t feel so exhausted.
The Sanqo ruler was met with a series of thumping and thudding as the warriors pounded their chests in salute. He walked past them with a cursory nod, on his way to the terrace that overlooks the Haqu Suquinoq. I need some time to myself, he decided. Time away from the burdens of rulership, for once.
He practically collapsed on the waist-high walls upon his arrival, resting his hands on the cool stone as he took in the rhythmic crashing of the waves. Each deep inhale was filled with the briny sea air, chilling his lungs with every breath. Winter will be arriving soon, he thought to himself. With the change in season, the seas will become rougher as the currents shift, and the trade winds weaken.
His hand reflexively touched the coral pendant. Would this mean Walumaq may have to wait to return home? Will she be stuck on the mainland until spring? With the whispers of a rebellion in Tapeu, will his daughter be trapped among the internal conflict?
Siunqi sighed. He had tried for so many moon cycles to reclaim the honor of the Sanqo, to redeem them in the eyes of the factions of Pachil. But up to now, his efforts had gone nowhere. The debacle in Chalaqta had likely only made matters worse. What had caused the turmoil in the Tapeu city? No one had explained to him how the fires were started, or who was responsible for the riots in the streets.
Pahua continued to refute any indications of his involvement, but Siunqi knew. Despite Pahua’s vehement denials, Siunqi couldn’t shake the nagging suspicion that his son had a hand in it. Pahua was rash, reflexive, short-sighted — traits that too often led to disaster. His son cared little for the history of the Sanqo, for what it took to get to where they were, or for the struggle to rebuild a sullied reputation. Yet Siunqi knew that if Pachil was to prosper, it would require all factions working together, unifying under a common purpose.
To his recollection, nothing like that had ever been achieved. Sure, it’s been dreamed of, wished for. Pachil has always had a history of idealists. People will always believe they are the ones to do the unthinkable, that their vision is what will bring stability and peace to the land. A tale as old as time itself.
Perhaps he was being naïve to think that change is possible. Perhaps, Siunqi lamented, he was never going to restore the Sanqo reputation, turning them into a well-respected faction once again. If it weren’t for Xipai… Siunqi always wondered what made that ruler decide to turn the Sanqo into a faction full of raiders and pirates. What drove him to go against the peaceful accord enjoyed by all on the mainland? How could he not see the wrath his decision would wrought on generations upon generations of people? What makes someone so starved for power to be blinded by the inevitability of their greed and lust for domination?
A hand gently placed on Siunqi’s shoulder startled him. “My apologies,” his wife said sweetly. “I didn’t realize you were so deep in thought.”
He turned to face Cheqansiq, smiling warmly at the sight of his loving partner. The smile grew even wider when he noticed the chalices of wine in her hand. “I heard about the council chamber, so I assumed you could use a drink.”
After taking the chalice and drinking a heavy swig from it, he placed his free hand on top of hers, giving it a quick, loving squeeze. “I fear the Sanqo will forever be at war with the factions of the mainland. Somehow, the life of heartless raiders has been woven into the tapestry of our people, and I don’t know how to undo what’s been done.”
“Ah, so your usual lamentations, then?” she said with a cheeky grin. Siunqi snorted out a laugh and shook his head, pivoting it to take in the nearby waters. Cheqansiq then sighed deeply, joining her husband in looking out over the neighboring sea. “I do not envy your position of leadership, that is for certain. But you are resourceful, and determined — it’s what makes you a worthy ruler of the Sanqo.”
Siunqi sighed once again, lowering his head and frowning. He glanced at the wine, but decided against taking another sip — he was too distraught to drink. “But what if my efforts aren’t enough to change the course we’re on? What if the Sanqo are destined to remain trapped in this cycle of conflict?”
After setting down her chalice atop the wall, she drew Siunqi’s face to look at her, then held his shoulders, squeezing them softly. “Unfortunately, these matters take time. I know you hate the word ‘patience’, husband, but you must practice it, I’m afraid. You are working to undo generations of history. A sturdy ship isn’t crafted in one night.”
“You and your Puqia sayings,” Siunqi teased, trying — and failing — to hide his smile. “The dolphin are too playful for their own good.”
“But you know I’m right,” she said, stepping in closer and wrapping her arms around the ruler’s neck. “My house is very wise, which is why it was wise of you to marry into it.”
Siunqi playfully mocked being offended. “I married into your house? Are you forgetting the bloodline of my family? How we — “
A commotion brought their conversation to a halt. Two of the palace warriors stepped aside at attention as a clattering of metal clinked discordantly. A burst of air rushed from Siunqi’s nostrils at the sight, his lips tightened into a thin line.
“Have I interrupted something? Is this what you’ve been up to, as opposed to your duties as ruler?” Pahua asked, taking a big pull of chicha from his metallic cup and tossing it aside, letting it clatter along the stone ground. He flung his teal and bronze cape around to cover his right shoulder as he leaned against a point in the wall a few paces from Siunqi, stumbling slightly before regaining his balance.
“What is it that you want, boy?” Siunqi barked his question.
Pahua’s eyes narrowed, and a scowl slowly curled his mouth. “I heard you decided not to rejoin the council, father. Is that because your knees grew tired from groveling to the Tapeu?”
“By the sea, Pahua,” Siunqi remarked, exasperated. “You don’t know the first thing about generating and maintaining diplomatic relationships.”
“That’s because they shouldn’t exist with inferior factions,” Pahua retorted. “The Tapeu are on the cusp of a civil war, and we are doing nothing to capitalize on it. Why should they be allowed to rule over the entire land when they can’t even get their house in order? If we’re going to allow — “
“You’ve come all this way to disrupt my peace just to waste your chicha-tainted breath over the Tapeu?” Siunqi interjected. “At the end of the War of Liberation, the factions got together in Chalaqta to decide that — “
“The factions are only out for themselves!” Pahua remarked. “They place a carved idol on the throne, one that speaks not with its own voice, but with the words of those who placed it. All so they can do as they please within their own territories.”
“That is the entire point, you foolish child!” Siunqi scolded. “The Arbiter was chosen to oversee the reconstruction of Pachil while distributing resources as needed. In turn, each faction is allowed to rule their lands and their people as they see fit.”
“All so they can return to conspiring against one another and plot out their wars,” Pahua charged, slurring his words a bit. “These factions, like the Arbiter, seek out only what will benefit them. If we don’t do the same and look out for the Sanqo, we will be taken advantage of until our people are run into the ground!”
Siunqi shook his head in disbelief. But before he could speak further on the matter, Cheqansiq placed her hands upon his chest, trying to tame the wild beast that raged within. “Boys,” she chided, alternating her glances at both men, “this bickering is counterproductive. You only seek to divide our home by such talk. It would be best to leave these matters to rest.”
She turned to Pahua. “Your father is ruling with the guidance and wisdom Iaqa provides. If the foresight shown to him by the Eleven indicates that diplomacy will lead to peace and prosperity for the Sanqo, then he is wise to listen.”
“Such misguided idealism will lead us to our doom,” Pahua countered. He reached for his metallic mug, only to find its presence missing.
Siunqi left Cheqansiq and followed the wall to where his son propped himself up. Standing not even a hand’s distance from Pahua’s face, he muttered in a near whisper, voice shaking with restrained fury, “It’s your ignorance that makes me relieved Walumaq was born first.”
“And where is this exalted heir?” Pahua questioned, mockingly looking around as if searching for his sister. Then, pretending the answer suddenly arrived to him, he stated, “Ah, that’s right! She’s off galavanting around the mainland, skirting her duties as an heiress. All because you failed to protect her, just as you fail to protect Sanqo.”
Siunqi clasped the collar of Pahua’s tunic. Through gnashed teeth, he snarled, “I would give my life to have the two of you trade places. I would rather you be lost to the sea or ravaged by the creatures of the continent, if it meant I could have her returned to me alive.”
“Enough, husband!” Cheqansiq desperately tried to pry Siunqi off their son, but he violently shrugged her off. She tumbled to the ground, her face marked with scrapes from the ragged stone wall.
Standing so close that he could feel Pahua’s breath, Siunqi hissed, “You have never been, and never will be, fit to rule.”
Pahua struggled to break free of his father’s grasp, fighting to pull Siunqi off of him. But the Sanqo ruler’s grip was too tight. He pinned Pahua in place, pushing his son to where his back arced over the edge of the wall.
In a desperate attempt to free himself, Pahua’s hand reached up, gripping his father’s wrist, trying to loosen the iron hold. A few weak strikes with his free hand went unnoticed by the Sanqo ruler. The argument between the two grew louder, drowning out the incoming tide that collided with the wall and the rocks below.
“Let go!” Pahua shouted, his voice breaking with a mix of fear and anger. He could feel the rough stone edge digging into his back. His chest was getting compressed, and he had difficulty finding breath. The struggle became more frantic, with each movement bringing them dangerously close to the edge.
In a final, frantic surge of energy, Pahua reached forward, planting a hand upon his father’s chest. He let out a distressed yelp and pushed with all his might. Caught off guard by the sudden force, Siunqi lost his balance. The eyes of the Sanqo ruler widened in shock, his grip slipping.
Pahua watched in horror as his father teetered on the edge, his hands grasping at empty air. Siunqi’s body tipped backward, and with a look of betrayal etched on his face, he fell over the precipice of the wall.
The world seemed to freeze for a moment. Only the rushing wind and the distant crash of waves against the cliffs below dared to make a sound, carrying on as though this wasn’t happening. Pahua’s heart leapt into his throat as he stared at his hand, realizing he was clutching the coral pendant that Siunqi faithfully wore around his neck. The delicate piece now felt like a heavy burden in his palm.
Cheqansiq’s scream pierced the air, shattering the moment of stunned silence. The sound of Siunqi’s fall echoed up from below, followed by a sickening thud. Pahua’s breath came in short, ragged gasps as he stared at the pendant.
“What have you done!” his mother shrieked. “By the sea, Pahua, what have you done!”
A flurry of blows pounded Pahua’s chest. An inconsolable Cheqansiq punched and punched her son, unleashing all the grief and anger and sorrow and horror she felt in that moment. Pahua tried to stop the incoming attacks, tried to grab ahold of her flailing wrists. The fists came from all angles, striking him in the face and shoulder and arm and ear and nose. As he shielded himself, his shoulder knocked a chalice to the ground with a loud clank.
“Mother, I’m sorry!” Pahua pleaded. “I didn’t mean to! It was an — “
It didn’t matter what he said, how he apologized. Cheqansiq wasn’t hearing any of it. “How could you do such a thing! You insufferable fool! How could you! How could you!”
“Mother, stop!” he yelled, his voice cracking. Pahua searched for anyone who could help, any guard or servant who could restrain her, but no one was present. He grabbed her wrists, his grip tightening as he pushed her back. “Stop, you don’t understand!”
But Cheqansiq’s screams only grew louder, more frantic. “Murderer! You’ve killed him! You — ”
In that split second, fear overtook him. His eyes locked onto his mother’s for a brief, heart-wrenching moment. Her voice cut off as Pahua, acting on pure, misguided instinct, thrust her away from him. With a desperate, impulsive shove, Pahua flung his mother over the edge.
Her eyes widened in shock and betrayal, mirroring those of Siunqi’s just moments before. Her scream mingled with the rushing wind as she fell. Pahua’s heart pounded as he watched his mother plummet, her arms flailing to grab ahold of anything, only to grasp air. The realization of what he had done crashed over him like a wave, too late to stop what’s been set in motion.
|
cdf8ac1a-b4a1-58d7-9f9f-028025c47e8f
|
25/08/2025 16:02:06
|
|
https://ellie-jordan.medium.com/mothers-day-kind-of-f36972dd88d2
|
medium.com
|
Mother’s Day…kind of
|
Ask any divorced parent, of any holiday you have to calculate “is it my year or their year”, there is at the very least the reassurance…
|
Ellie Jordan
|
https://medium.com/@ellie-jordan
|
f36972dd88d2
|
4 min
|
2020-05-04T12:45:30.421000
|
2020-05-04T13:40:12.064000
|
2021-12-14T10:58:13.031000
| 0 | 1 |
en
|
Mothers Day,Blended Family,Stepmom,Celebrate,Love
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/3257/1*sb8YdrqMIyEoImKUro_ZDg.jpeg" width="3257" height="4885" loading="lazy" />
<p>Ask any divorced parent, of any holiday you have to calculate “is it my year or their year”, there is at the very least the reassurance you get the kid(s) every year on Mother’s Day (if you’re a mom) or Father’s Day (if you’re a dad). Throw in the blended family and it’s a whole new ball game. That particular holiday now becomes a crap shoot. Is the ex willing to share the holiday? Do the kids want to split it? The latter is something you need to wait on. No question. If your kids don’t approach you for sharing that time then you just have to deal with it. Similar to what they call you (as a step-parent), that decision has to come from them.</p>
<p>So let’s assume they do. I am both grateful and not surprised all the kids in our blended home asked early on for sharing the holiday. We have an awesome lil tribe and we’ve always been close! But the fact my hubby and I both brought kiddos means it was a question for both sides. Thankfully my ex was able to put the kids first and agreed to share Father’s Day weekend. We’ve done this for years and the kids love it. Unfortunately it is not so great on the other side. Any requests from kids or my husband have been met with a resounding no. And we’ve dealt with it. They are always sure to go over the top to celebrate before they have to leave — and it always leaves me with happy tears, so grateful for these amazing human beings I get to be a mom too!</p>
<p>While it does hurt to have the actual day come and only half my kids are home, the fact they make such an effort to celebrate beforehand helps to soften that pain. However, given the fact that days tend to bleed all together during quarantine/shelter in place, I’d forgotten Mother’s Day was this weekend. The boys are due to come home on Tuesday and stay through Monday. “I wish we could stay with you this weekend.” (This was oldest step-son). “You are with us kiddo!” (Hubby and I respond). “No — it’s Mother’s Day.” (Oldest). Oh.</p>
<p>Hubby tried again to reach out about sharing. No dice. Of course. Kiddos said they were going to try and ask too. I reassured them it was going to be fine — we would celebrate regardless of the day. I kept telling myself I should be grateful they still wanted to share the weekend. But my heart still sank. It sank because regardless of years of asking, their voices were disregarded. It sank because an adult in their life was unwilling to put their best interest first. And it sank because there is nothing I can do about it.</p>
<p>“It’s a long-game hon.” My husband tried to cheer me up. “One day it will be up to them and they can choose no matter what.” I know that. The sad thing is that they will have to choose. At least one adult in their life created an environment where they would have to. I hate the conflict for them. I hate knowing they know they have to wait to have what they want in regards to where they want to be. I hate that their bio mom is unable to strive for a working relationship with us for their sake.</p>
<p>These are things I have to deal with. And I do. So why am I sharing here? Partly, it’s cathartic to write out how I feel. And partly I want to give other step-parents the knowledge they aren’t alone. That awful platitude “this too shall pass” really is true. Someday our kids will be old enough to have their choices respected. Someday this won’t be an issue. You aren’t alone. And if you’re reading this and you aren’t a step-parent, or maybe just divorced but no bonus kids or your partner has the bonus kids — remember this! Love is not a finite thing you run out of. And if your kids are lucky enough to have another parent in their life to show them love, that’s awesome! In no way does it diminish your role or status in their life. Honestly you’re the only one in charge of how they see or relate to you. Love them and treat them with respect and that relationship will flourish! Treat them like objects you possess, and eventually you will have to deal with that fallout.</p>
<p>So ultimately, I would like to wish EVERY mom a happy Mother’s Day! Whether you are an adoptive, foster, step, bio, or surrogate mom — you matter to your kiddos!! And no matter what day you celebrate, hold those kiddos tight and show them all the love you have! Being a mother is far more than a single day. It’s every time you listen as they’re upset, every time you talk through those hard moments, every scraped knee you kiss and bandage, every jump with them on the trampoline, every endless question you answer no matter how tired you are of answering questions! And if you do get a break — don’t be sad they are away — pour a glass of wine and celebrate the time to relax and breathe for a moment!</p>
</section>
|
Mother’s Day…kind of
Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash
Ask any divorced parent, of any holiday you have to calculate “is it my year or their year”, there is at the very least the reassurance you get the kid(s) every year on Mother’s Day (if you’re a mom) or Father’s Day (if you’re a dad). Throw in the blended family and it’s a whole new ball game. That particular holiday now becomes a crap shoot. Is the ex willing to share the holiday? Do the kids want to split it? The latter is something you need to wait on. No question. If your kids don’t approach you for sharing that time then you just have to deal with it. Similar to what they call you (as a step-parent), that decision has to come from them.
So let’s assume they do. I am both grateful and not surprised all the kids in our blended home asked early on for sharing the holiday. We have an awesome lil tribe and we’ve always been close! But the fact my hubby and I both brought kiddos means it was a question for both sides. Thankfully my ex was able to put the kids first and agreed to share Father’s Day weekend. We’ve done this for years and the kids love it. Unfortunately it is not so great on the other side. Any requests from kids or my husband have been met with a resounding no. And we’ve dealt with it. They are always sure to go over the top to celebrate before they have to leave — and it always leaves me with happy tears, so grateful for these amazing human beings I get to be a mom too!
While it does hurt to have the actual day come and only half my kids are home, the fact they make such an effort to celebrate beforehand helps to soften that pain. However, given the fact that days tend to bleed all together during quarantine/shelter in place, I’d forgotten Mother’s Day was this weekend. The boys are due to come home on Tuesday and stay through Monday. “I wish we could stay with you this weekend.” (This was oldest step-son). “You are with us kiddo!” (Hubby and I respond). “No — it’s Mother’s Day.” (Oldest). Oh.
Hubby tried again to reach out about sharing. No dice. Of course. Kiddos said they were going to try and ask too. I reassured them it was going to be fine — we would celebrate regardless of the day. I kept telling myself I should be grateful they still wanted to share the weekend. But my heart still sank. It sank because regardless of years of asking, their voices were disregarded. It sank because an adult in their life was unwilling to put their best interest first. And it sank because there is nothing I can do about it.
“It’s a long-game hon.” My husband tried to cheer me up. “One day it will be up to them and they can choose no matter what.” I know that. The sad thing is that they will have to choose. At least one adult in their life created an environment where they would have to. I hate the conflict for them. I hate knowing they know they have to wait to have what they want in regards to where they want to be. I hate that their bio mom is unable to strive for a working relationship with us for their sake.
These are things I have to deal with. And I do. So why am I sharing here? Partly, it’s cathartic to write out how I feel. And partly I want to give other step-parents the knowledge they aren’t alone. That awful platitude “this too shall pass” really is true. Someday our kids will be old enough to have their choices respected. Someday this won’t be an issue. You aren’t alone. And if you’re reading this and you aren’t a step-parent, or maybe just divorced but no bonus kids or your partner has the bonus kids — remember this! Love is not a finite thing you run out of. And if your kids are lucky enough to have another parent in their life to show them love, that’s awesome! In no way does it diminish your role or status in their life. Honestly you’re the only one in charge of how they see or relate to you. Love them and treat them with respect and that relationship will flourish! Treat them like objects you possess, and eventually you will have to deal with that fallout.
So ultimately, I would like to wish EVERY mom a happy Mother’s Day! Whether you are an adoptive, foster, step, bio, or surrogate mom — you matter to your kiddos!! And no matter what day you celebrate, hold those kiddos tight and show them all the love you have! Being a mother is far more than a single day. It’s every time you listen as they’re upset, every time you talk through those hard moments, every scraped knee you kiss and bandage, every jump with them on the trampoline, every endless question you answer no matter how tired you are of answering questions! And if you do get a break — don’t be sad they are away — pour a glass of wine and celebrate the time to relax and breathe for a moment!
|
454629aa-5152-579b-b766-4fc4db6c78d0
|
25/08/2025 16:02:07
|
|
https://medium.com/@lyndaling/dillards-was-a-minute-away-21ca5dfbec61
|
medium.com
|
Dillard’s was a minute away!
| null |
Lynda Ling
|
https://medium.com/@lyndaling
|
21ca5dfbec61
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*7cvIg8RNSS_ZXc9J.
|
0 min
|
2017-01-30T06:03:16.240000
|
2017-01-30T06:03:17.007000
|
2018-02-04T22:39:05.761000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Corporate Team Building
|
<section>
<p>via #corporateteambuilding on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BP3sPckh1hs">https://www.instagram.com/p/BP3sPckh1hs</a></p>
</section>
|
via #corporateteambuilding on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BP3sPckh1hs
|
9359c634-729f-5875-b3ba-2a8b217da3df
|
25/08/2025 16:02:07
|
https://thisisoklahoma.medium.com/camille-herron-world-record-breaking-ultra-marathon-runner-d61cc419b5c2
|
medium.com
|
Camille Herron — World Record Breaking Ultra Marathon Runner
|
4 TIME ULTRA MARATHON WORLD RECORD HOLDER & 1 GUINNESS WORLD RECORD!
|
This Is Oklahoma Podcast
|
https://medium.com/@thisisoklahoma
|
d61cc419b5c2
|
4 min
|
2020-06-14T14:21:45.306000
|
2020-06-14T15:09:04.619000
|
2021-12-14T22:01:23.746000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Ultramarathon,Camille Herron,This Is Oklaohoma,Oklahoma Runner,Nike Athlete
|
<section>
<p>4 TIME ULTRA MARATHON WORLD RECORD HOLDER & 1 GUINNESS WORLD RECORD!</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1080/1*QJXQu1xNXdBc6mSpxMFB1A.jpeg" width="1080" height="1080" loading="lazy" />
<p>On this episode I chatted with Camille Herron. Camille is a professional ultra marathon runner who currently holds 5 world records. 4 in ultra running ( 50 mile, 12 hours, 100 mile and 24 hours ) as well as her 5th one which is my favorite ( running the fastest marathon in a superhero costume ) Camille is a rockstar and her journey to the top of her sport has had more ups, downs twists and turns than you could imagine. To give you some context on how much of a rockstar she is. For her 24 hour world record she not only beat her previous world record by 5 miles but she ran 167.8 miles in 24 hours! Average running time of 8.14 per mile! Isn’t that INSANE!?</p>
<p>Camille is from a very athletic family, her father and grandfather played basketball for Henry Iba at OSU. So growing up all she did was run around playing basketball. That was her thing. As a kid she moved around a lot. He father was a school super intendent. They lived in Duncan, Guthrie, Norman and OKC.</p>
<p>Camille’s first memory of running is with her Dad and sister in Guthrie. Her Dad had signed up to carry the olympic torch as it crossed throught the state of Oklahoma. For one mile he’d carry the torch and asked his daughters to join him. So he bought them their first pair of running shoes and Camille and her sister ran along side their Dad.</p>
<p>During High school years their family lived in Moore, Camille went to Westmoore High school where she won multiple state championships, but her junior year she struggled with injury. Growing a total of 9 inches during high school this really put a strain on her body and caused her to sit on the sidelines for most of the year. However, her senior year she came back with a great performance at state and peaked the interest of some university athletic coaches.</p>
<p>Camille decided to go to Tulsa University and run track. Sadly injury caught up with her and she was given a medical hardship by the NCAA. Camille said for the next few years she became a recreational runner. Studying hard to graduate then moving to Oregon State to complete her masters degree. Camille met her hubsand Conor ( also a very gifted runner ) and helped him train for his olympic trials. But Camille was running more miles than Conor to what she called recreational running. About 70 miles a week for fun!</p>
<p>So she decided to get back into competitive running, with Conor coaching her she set her goal on the Olympic trials. Not to ruin too much of the podcast for you but, Camille won the OKC Memorial Marathon 3 times, set the course record before the course change in 2019. At this point she was ready to retire, she worked at OU Health Science Center as a researcher and was ready to settle down. At the age of 33 she had become a marathon maniac, traveling aronu the country running all the races she could.</p>
<p>But that’s not the end of the story, a friend of hers introduced her to an ultra race. Basically an ultra marathon is where you run more than 26.2 miles. Camille took to it like it was nothing, setting records her first year while still working full time in Norman. She won a few races and then broke a world record out of nowhere. Who was this Oklahoma woman in her mid thirties beating seasoned ultra runners.</p>
<p>Her second year was the hardest, balancing work and running she decided to hire an agent to handle all the press requests, sponsorship calls and travel arrangements. Traveling the world as one of the best ultra runners and clearly the best in some categories after the second year she decided to retire from her job and go full time professional runner.</p>
<p>Camille now lives and trains in Colorado with husband Conor, she runs twice a day, she’s a coach and motivational speaker, she’s a Nike sponsored athlete and she’s continuing to increase her goals. Beating her own records as well as chasing down new ones.</p>
<p>People who run ultra marathons are a little nuts, there’s definitely a few screws loose in the head. As someone who’s experienced a 31 mile race, its a pretty incredible thing to finish and have that sense of occumplishment. I will say this, during the race you go to a very dark place mentally and it fuels you. I got the bug when i ran my first race and i can totally relate to other distance runners out there.</p>
<p>So where does Camille go from here? She has 5 world records, but there’s always more. She’s got her eyes on the mega long multiple day races now like the MoAb 240 mile race through Death Valley, the Barkley Marathons and other 3 figure races.</p>
<p>WHAT A ROCKSTAR! At 38 Camille is in the thick of her proffession and not stopping anytime soon.</p>
<p>If you are reading this and you are under 33, don’t worry there’s plenty more life left to live. Since 33 Camille has broken 5 world records and become a running advocate for runners all over the world. She has a Nike contract for goodness sake! Don’t give up and take every moment life throws at you as a speed bump but keep moving forward.</p>
<p>Follow Camille on Instagram and see her daily routines @runcamille</p>
<p>PODCAST EPISODE HERE</p>
<p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-oklahoma/id1387331955#episodeGuid=thisisoklahoma.podbean.com%2Fbe68c6e7-09d0-59aa-8b27-8739f0c0b493">https://open.spotify.com/episode/0klyDJHQM9zRPETURVAwoL?si=EbNcbVQHSlK5kQ0Dwub7pA</a></p>
<p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-oklahoma/id1387331955#episodeGuid=thisisoklahoma.podbean.com%2Fbe68c6e7-09d0-59aa-8b27-8739f0c0b493">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-oklahoma/id1387331955#episodeGuid=thisisoklahoma.podbean.com%2Fbe68c6e7-09d0-59aa-8b27-8739f0c0b493</a></p>
<p>This podcast is presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma’s Story Through It’s People Since 1927. Follow them on social media</p>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/oklahomahof/?__cft__[0]=AZU86SbVn83vy9k15CPtKag9gt0XiT-yCrghuVofYwvvJoE836F2RWQfbhcjO0VaSqQl9ZWmblVxbhGJJddSlZ1avSvheoso_G57K_lDnUDN1obaNJTthLmnakbxcyUScDL3Q0-1GiQdTvZeyUdYWAEbJYYxrhe6PVSNdrt6SKIy09eHUf5h4WdqIbQOC5sxp09BpJN2j9lxsiycnrv53r_A&__tn__=kK-y-R">Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum</a></p>
<p>and online at <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oklahomahof.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0T9Q5bTwfumL--1xpdDBneBHLGjYKOdcdUKKNoy_-z9gkyWA12zzMn_o0&h=AT06VlO9t44eG6IbssVF8wv3M_AG57yoMcnvaqZz4ilK21ADP9TNpIGk_LWsxh6xmon-kigaWlEYtuEBdhuoHQtfceqUEyNji9BGMblJ27dpxGLEwt3o660KCOsK1znQTS0eWtzEWnaBtLoyHt2dUjs&__tn__=-UK-y-R&c[0]=AT1_wP_lQvO02xNO4GpsAgpujHVo-B7lf52NjWRA4EBYCqDfWA1n1KioE-OAe5EYZDhCmsry9SZOQjAfezuB3rlLdXZ_P370JfNvDuO_sUlERUDMTBbdPgwMSw1HEde83qcVCMMa5cqJ4ubTj_urHjQDsLkaq7RVwxrD0Hi_D-6Qp5koAIDlnlHlbJG783Q8UKVHxbWfURdo9GRQ0B0jTSmDZgM5KxF6lugSEy0w">www.oklahomahof.com</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/thisisoklahoma?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZU86SbVn83vy9k15CPtKag9gt0XiT-yCrghuVofYwvvJoE836F2RWQfbhcjO0VaSqQl9ZWmblVxbhGJJddSlZ1avSvheoso_G57K_lDnUDN1obaNJTthLmnakbxcyUScDL3Q0-1GiQdTvZeyUdYWAEbJYYxrhe6PVSNdrt6SKIy09eHUf5h4WdqIbQOC5sxp09BpJN2j9lxsiycnrv53r_A&__tn__=*NK-y-R">#thisisoklahoma</a></p>
</section>
|
Camille Herron — World Record Breaking Ultra Marathon Runner
4 TIME ULTRA MARATHON WORLD RECORD HOLDER & 1 GUINNESS WORLD RECORD!
On this episode I chatted with Camille Herron. Camille is a professional ultra marathon runner who currently holds 5 world records. 4 in ultra running ( 50 mile, 12 hours, 100 mile and 24 hours ) as well as her 5th one which is my favorite ( running the fastest marathon in a superhero costume ) Camille is a rockstar and her journey to the top of her sport has had more ups, downs twists and turns than you could imagine. To give you some context on how much of a rockstar she is. For her 24 hour world record she not only beat her previous world record by 5 miles but she ran 167.8 miles in 24 hours! Average running time of 8.14 per mile! Isn’t that INSANE!?
Camille is from a very athletic family, her father and grandfather played basketball for Henry Iba at OSU. So growing up all she did was run around playing basketball. That was her thing. As a kid she moved around a lot. He father was a school super intendent. They lived in Duncan, Guthrie, Norman and OKC.
Camille’s first memory of running is with her Dad and sister in Guthrie. Her Dad had signed up to carry the olympic torch as it crossed throught the state of Oklahoma. For one mile he’d carry the torch and asked his daughters to join him. So he bought them their first pair of running shoes and Camille and her sister ran along side their Dad.
During High school years their family lived in Moore, Camille went to Westmoore High school where she won multiple state championships, but her junior year she struggled with injury. Growing a total of 9 inches during high school this really put a strain on her body and caused her to sit on the sidelines for most of the year. However, her senior year she came back with a great performance at state and peaked the interest of some university athletic coaches.
Camille decided to go to Tulsa University and run track. Sadly injury caught up with her and she was given a medical hardship by the NCAA. Camille said for the next few years she became a recreational runner. Studying hard to graduate then moving to Oregon State to complete her masters degree. Camille met her hubsand Conor ( also a very gifted runner ) and helped him train for his olympic trials. But Camille was running more miles than Conor to what she called recreational running. About 70 miles a week for fun!
So she decided to get back into competitive running, with Conor coaching her she set her goal on the Olympic trials. Not to ruin too much of the podcast for you but, Camille won the OKC Memorial Marathon 3 times, set the course record before the course change in 2019. At this point she was ready to retire, she worked at OU Health Science Center as a researcher and was ready to settle down. At the age of 33 she had become a marathon maniac, traveling aronu the country running all the races she could.
But that’s not the end of the story, a friend of hers introduced her to an ultra race. Basically an ultra marathon is where you run more than 26.2 miles. Camille took to it like it was nothing, setting records her first year while still working full time in Norman. She won a few races and then broke a world record out of nowhere. Who was this Oklahoma woman in her mid thirties beating seasoned ultra runners.
Her second year was the hardest, balancing work and running she decided to hire an agent to handle all the press requests, sponsorship calls and travel arrangements. Traveling the world as one of the best ultra runners and clearly the best in some categories after the second year she decided to retire from her job and go full time professional runner.
Camille now lives and trains in Colorado with husband Conor, she runs twice a day, she’s a coach and motivational speaker, she’s a Nike sponsored athlete and she’s continuing to increase her goals. Beating her own records as well as chasing down new ones.
People who run ultra marathons are a little nuts, there’s definitely a few screws loose in the head. As someone who’s experienced a 31 mile race, its a pretty incredible thing to finish and have that sense of occumplishment. I will say this, during the race you go to a very dark place mentally and it fuels you. I got the bug when i ran my first race and i can totally relate to other distance runners out there.
So where does Camille go from here? She has 5 world records, but there’s always more. She’s got her eyes on the mega long multiple day races now like the MoAb 240 mile race through Death Valley, the Barkley Marathons and other 3 figure races.
WHAT A ROCKSTAR! At 38 Camille is in the thick of her proffession and not stopping anytime soon.
If you are reading this and you are under 33, don’t worry there’s plenty more life left to live. Since 33 Camille has broken 5 world records and become a running advocate for runners all over the world. She has a Nike contract for goodness sake! Don’t give up and take every moment life throws at you as a speed bump but keep moving forward.
Follow Camille on Instagram and see her daily routines @runcamille
PODCAST EPISODE HERE
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0klyDJHQM9zRPETURVAwoL?si=EbNcbVQHSlK5kQ0Dwub7pA
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-oklahoma/id1387331955#episodeGuid=thisisoklahoma.podbean.com%2Fbe68c6e7-09d0-59aa-8b27-8739f0c0b493
This podcast is presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma’s Story Through It’s People Since 1927. Follow them on social media
Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum
and online at www.oklahomahof.com
#thisisoklahoma
|
208cfc97-f5b9-5eb5-8a85-490afc2c4ecf
|
25/08/2025 16:02:07
|
|
https://medium.com/@venkatcharity/sherlyn-chopra-s-uncensored-nude-disaster-2e6c087b305a
|
medium.com
|
Sherlyn Chopra’s UNCENSORED NUDE Disaster
| null |
venkat
|
https://medium.com/@venkatcharity
|
2e6c087b305a
| null |
0 min
|
2015-11-19T20:39:07.049000
|
2015-11-19T20:39:07.872000
|
2015-11-19T20:39:07.872000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Viral Stuff,Latest Technology Updates,Tech Videos
|
<section>
</section>
|
Sherlyn Chopra’s UNCENSORED NUDE Disaster http://ift.tt/1Xc2zKd Wearing a two-piece bikini and smooching co-stars onscreen can take a back seat as posing nude is going to be the next bold thing! However, setting th…
|
9acdd7e3-fc4f-5240-a2e6-2ec21661a02b
|
25/08/2025 16:02:10
|
https://medium.com/ceeart/why-contentment-and-acceptance-is-a-must-in-life-b278c80210f2
|
medium.com
|
Why contentment and acceptance is a must in Life?
|
©totheownerofthephoto
|
a.arcillas
|
https://medium.com/@alphajuliet00
|
b278c80210f2
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*0pfYTRtdnFle_fg6.
|
2 min
|
2017-08-16T08:34:22.028000
|
2017-08-16T08:36:57.529000
|
2017-10-02T03:44:34.254000
| 0 | 3 |
en
|
Christianity,Life Lessons,Love Of God
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/0*0pfYTRtdnFle_fg6." width="1200" height="750" loading="lazy" />
<p>©totheownerofthephoto</p>
<blockquote><strong>(Romans 12:2) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.</strong></blockquote>
<p>The past few days I come to realize that we, people have so much to want in life. We want the new released phone in the market, the 40 inches wide LED TV, the newest gaming console or even the hair styles celebrities have been trying to put on trend. We always want what the others have that it turns out some people aim to work only to fulfill those wants regardless first its needs. Some would even have the guts to display wealth knowing deep inside she’s already broke and in debt. Isn’t it awful to think that we strive so much in life because of envy and greed?</p>
<p>“<strong>We work to live. We don’t live to work.”</strong> quoted by a certain person who values life. We were not born to work till we die. Work is made only for living. Balance the time, it’s precious we should make a life out of it. This may seem very simple to adhere but look around you, often time people bury their time for work having ample time to take rest or even get to bond with their family because even their weekends were usually occupied. The reason behind it?</p>
<p>It varies. Some would say, it is to support her children’s educational needs, his sons wish to have his own VR, to buy a new car, to buy that signature bag as a gift to oneself, to save more money in the bank and the list goes on…</p>
<p>You know what, their reasons are sensible because even I have my own wants and needs, we all have but what I’m trying to say is all those things that we were trying to achieve may come in TIME, what people have to keep in mind not only today but must be always is the value of <strong>CONTENTMENT</strong> and <strong>ACCEPTANCE</strong> of what we have in the meantime.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/388/0*ROlWK0qKcB-1YRL2." width="388" height="388" loading="lazy" />
<p>We both know why. Contentment gives us the feeling of satisfaction whether on little or great things. When a person is contented, he/she are not only contented with things but also with its other half, everything is enough for them and there is no room for wanting so much in life. Acceptance lets you free from envy, and would surely make you work with grace and peace of mind. So why stress yourself from working so hard.</p>
<p>All things will fall into right places in the right time. I don’t see any reason to rush into things. Is it because of the saying <em>“Life is short”</em>? They say it’s short because there is no exact end for everybody why don’t we just live life to the fullest then Trust God’s plan and just live life. He has so much for you and all you have to do is to have faith in him and do your thing. Don’t stress out too much. Give yourself a break.</p>
<p><em>See Original post in our blog site through the hyperlink above.</em></p>
</section>
|
Why contentment and acceptance is a must in Life?
©totheownerofthephoto
(Romans 12:2) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
The past few days I come to realize that we, people have so much to want in life. We want the new released phone in the market, the 40 inches wide LED TV, the newest gaming console or even the hair styles celebrities have been trying to put on trend. We always want what the others have that it turns out some people aim to work only to fulfill those wants regardless first its needs. Some would even have the guts to display wealth knowing deep inside she’s already broke and in debt. Isn’t it awful to think that we strive so much in life because of envy and greed?
“We work to live. We don’t live to work.” quoted by a certain person who values life. We were not born to work till we die. Work is made only for living. Balance the time, it’s precious we should make a life out of it. This may seem very simple to adhere but look around you, often time people bury their time for work having ample time to take rest or even get to bond with their family because even their weekends were usually occupied. The reason behind it?
It varies. Some would say, it is to support her children’s educational needs, his sons wish to have his own VR, to buy a new car, to buy that signature bag as a gift to oneself, to save more money in the bank and the list goes on…
You know what, their reasons are sensible because even I have my own wants and needs, we all have but what I’m trying to say is all those things that we were trying to achieve may come in TIME, what people have to keep in mind not only today but must be always is the value of CONTENTMENT and ACCEPTANCE of what we have in the meantime.
We both know why. Contentment gives us the feeling of satisfaction whether on little or great things. When a person is contented, he/she are not only contented with things but also with its other half, everything is enough for them and there is no room for wanting so much in life. Acceptance lets you free from envy, and would surely make you work with grace and peace of mind. So why stress yourself from working so hard.
All things will fall into right places in the right time. I don’t see any reason to rush into things. Is it because of the saying “Life is short”? They say it’s short because there is no exact end for everybody why don’t we just live life to the fullest then Trust God’s plan and just live life. He has so much for you and all you have to do is to have faith in him and do your thing. Don’t stress out too much. Give yourself a break.
See Original post in our blog site through the hyperlink above.
|
e7787cff-04d1-5637-ad16-fd945ef6449e
|
25/08/2025 16:02:10
|
https://medium.com/@ddewitt/6-best-locations-for-digital-signage-on-campus-9c65c2aafba8
|
medium.com
|
6 Best Locations for Digital Signage on Campus
|
To maximize the impact of your digital signage on campus, where you put your displays is as important as what you show on them. The basic…
|
Visix Digital Signage
|
https://medium.com/@ddewitt
|
9c65c2aafba8
| null |
3 min
|
2018-08-20T11:12:55.006000
|
2016-04-13T11:44:42
|
2018-09-05T11:05:48.558000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Digital Signage,Digital Signage Software,Digital Signage Solutions,Educational Technology,Digital Signage Market
|
<section>
<p></p>
<p>To maximize the impact of your digital signage on campus, where you put your displays is as important as what you show on them. The basic rule of thumb is high-traffic areas — obviously, the more people who pass by your messages, the better the chances of someone seeing something that engages them. But also think about the functions of specific locations — messages that might work perfectly in one space might be less effective somewhere else. Think about who is in a particular area, when, and what they are most likely to do or need while there. This will help you tailor your content to them.</p>
<h1>1. Lobbies</h1>
<p>Everyone goes through your lobby — students, faculty, staff and visitors. Especially visitors, who might only go to one or two other locations on campus. The lobby is where you make your first impression — you want to have easy to see, easy to read displays with attractive and professional content. Display notices welcoming VIPs, and show messages that appeal to everyone, like an all-school event or charity drive.</p>
<p>People are passing through your lobby on their way to someplace else. This is a perfect place to put in some interactive digital signage. Helps newcomers find where they need to go quickly and efficiently with clear touchscreen maps and directories. Consider adding a geofence and smartphone app paired with beacons to supply turn-by-turn directions right on their mobile device.</p>
<h2>2. Cafeterias</h2>
<p>People are here for food, so display messages about what’s on offer. It won’t just be students in here — faculty and visitors are also going to get hungry during the day, so think about what they would find useful or interesting.</p>
<p>Show meal and drink specials, but also nutritional information and messages or short videos about how the food is prepared and where it’s sourced from. Displaying menus helps people decide while they are waiting in line, speeding the entire process along.</p>
<p>Or take it a step further and tie your campus digital signage into your POS system for real-time updates of current inventory. For example, you started out with 150 portions of vegetarian lasagna, but now there are only four left — this information is displayed, so the group of five vegetarian friends in line can work out who’s going to have a salad instead before they get to the counter. You’ll also want to change your messages often here, as some people will be returning every day, or even several times in a single day. Keep the content fresh, like the food you offer.</p>
<h2>3. Libraries</h2>
<p>The audience here will mainly be students looking for something specific. Help them find what they need with maps of your shelves, or interactive wayfinding signage, to get them to what they need quickly.</p>
<p>Show available workstations, or add a reservation system that lets them claim an area for a certain amount of time. Displaying new acquisitions or special offers will help increase library usage, and reminding people of check out and return procedures will help make the entire process more efficient and stress free.</p>
<h2>4. Computer Labs</h2>
<p>As with library workstations, use digital signs to show which desktop computers are available, or laptops to check out, and let people reserve their devices on their own to free up your staff for other duties. You can also display which computers are hooked up to printers, have USB drives, or are Macs or PCs, saving your audience time and frustration. And if you show this info alongside regular playlists, they’ll also see your general school messages.</p>
<h2>5. Exits and Shuttle Stops</h2>
<p>A college campus is more than just a building — it’s a whole area. Having wayfinding options at exits can help people find the building they need to go to next. You can also display real-time bus schedules and maps, as well as current locations of vehicles, to make getting around your campus fast and easy. Pairing this with weather on screens lets visitors wait inside for better comfort and safety.</p>
<p>Integrating these features into bus shelters and at bus stops extends your digital signage to include your entire university, and trains your audience to get their information from your displays wherever they go.</p>
<h2>6. Common Areas</h2>
<p>Any other common areas are also ideal for digital signage — the theatre can advertise upcoming productions, the athletics area can offer team gear and upcoming games, the student union can show messages from student groups — anywhere people congregate on your campus should have digital signage that is targeted to their needs and interests.</p>
<p></p>
<p>And not just colleges and universities — all educational facilities can benefit from digital signage:</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>Originally published at <a href="https://www.visix.com/s</em>ix-places-digital-signage-on-campus/">www.visix.com</a> on April 13, 2016.</p>
</section>
|
6 Best Locations for Digital Signage on Campus
To maximize the impact of your digital signage on campus, where you put your displays is as important as what you show on them. The basic rule of thumb is high-traffic areas — obviously, the more people who pass by your messages, the better the chances of someone seeing something that engages them. But also think about the functions of specific locations — messages that might work perfectly in one space might be less effective somewhere else. Think about who is in a particular area, when, and what they are most likely to do or need while there. This will help you tailor your content to them.
1. Lobbies
Everyone goes through your lobby — students, faculty, staff and visitors. Especially visitors, who might only go to one or two other locations on campus. The lobby is where you make your first impression — you want to have easy to see, easy to read displays with attractive and professional content. Display notices welcoming VIPs, and show messages that appeal to everyone, like an all-school event or charity drive.
People are passing through your lobby on their way to someplace else. This is a perfect place to put in some interactive digital signage. Helps newcomers find where they need to go quickly and efficiently with clear touchscreen maps and directories. Consider adding a geofence and smartphone app paired with beacons to supply turn-by-turn directions right on their mobile device.
2. Cafeterias
People are here for food, so display messages about what’s on offer. It won’t just be students in here — faculty and visitors are also going to get hungry during the day, so think about what they would find useful or interesting.
Show meal and drink specials, but also nutritional information and messages or short videos about how the food is prepared and where it’s sourced from. Displaying menus helps people decide while they are waiting in line, speeding the entire process along.
Or take it a step further and tie your campus digital signage into your POS system for real-time updates of current inventory. For example, you started out with 150 portions of vegetarian lasagna, but now there are only four left — this information is displayed, so the group of five vegetarian friends in line can work out who’s going to have a salad instead before they get to the counter. You’ll also want to change your messages often here, as some people will be returning every day, or even several times in a single day. Keep the content fresh, like the food you offer.
3. Libraries
The audience here will mainly be students looking for something specific. Help them find what they need with maps of your shelves, or interactive wayfinding signage, to get them to what they need quickly.
Show available workstations, or add a reservation system that lets them claim an area for a certain amount of time. Displaying new acquisitions or special offers will help increase library usage, and reminding people of check out and return procedures will help make the entire process more efficient and stress free.
4. Computer Labs
As with library workstations, use digital signs to show which desktop computers are available, or laptops to check out, and let people reserve their devices on their own to free up your staff for other duties. You can also display which computers are hooked up to printers, have USB drives, or are Macs or PCs, saving your audience time and frustration. And if you show this info alongside regular playlists, they’ll also see your general school messages.
5. Exits and Shuttle Stops
A college campus is more than just a building — it’s a whole area. Having wayfinding options at exits can help people find the building they need to go to next. You can also display real-time bus schedules and maps, as well as current locations of vehicles, to make getting around your campus fast and easy. Pairing this with weather on screens lets visitors wait inside for better comfort and safety.
Integrating these features into bus shelters and at bus stops extends your digital signage to include your entire university, and trains your audience to get their information from your displays wherever they go.
6. Common Areas
Any other common areas are also ideal for digital signage — the theatre can advertise upcoming productions, the athletics area can offer team gear and upcoming games, the student union can show messages from student groups — anywhere people congregate on your campus should have digital signage that is targeted to their needs and interests.
And not just colleges and universities — all educational facilities can benefit from digital signage:
Originally published at www.visix.com on April 13, 2016.
|
96c1c670-1104-5cde-b75a-86db14411b44
|
25/08/2025 16:02:10
|
https://medium.com/@nadavolmertt/7-simple-steps-for-quality-traffic-4c5c7ea6a748
|
medium.com
|
7 Simple Steps for Quality Traffic
|
Even though a higher volume of traffic will get you more sales and revenue, it’s going to be unpredictable and inconsistent. Instead, you…
|
Nadav Olmert
|
https://medium.com/@nadavolmertt
|
4c5c7ea6a748
|
5 min
|
2017-09-18T08:24:49.396000
|
2017-09-18T08:32:58.909000
|
2018-04-23T10:26:31.875000
| 0 | 59 |
en
|
Marketing,Traffic Optimization,Online Marketing,Digital Marketing,Growth Hacking
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/848/1*7wNg-YWyZC1m3QrD8GvDJA.jpeg" width="848" height="565" loading="lazy" />
<p>Even though a higher volume of traffic will get you more sales and revenue, it’s going to be unpredictable and inconsistent. Instead, you should aim for quality traffic, which is more effective and has the ability to generate long-term, reliable revenue.</p>
<p>Here are some techniques to keep in mind when trying to generate high quality traffic.</p>
<h1>1. Blogging</h1>
<p>There are quite a few strategies for blogs. The next time you send out an email to your user base, link a few blogs to it. You’ll see your traffic, sales and leads jump.</p>
<p>Also, join different blogging communities. It’s a fantastic way to make deals with other bloggers. For example, you can promote their content and they’ll promote yours. When you’re writing your blog, you should also put links to other articles that your audience might find interesting. This is great for referral traffic. It also shows readers that you’re not trying to push an agenda too hard and that you’re being objective.</p>
<p>Don’t forget to respond thoughtfully to all comments on your blog. It’s great for building relationships, your reputation and more opportunities to link back to your site.</p>
<p>Guest posting is also a very effective strategy. Find an already established blog in your niche with a solid following. Arrange with the blogger to share some interesting content and topics that you feel might be of interest to their audience. It’s a great way to get more exposure.</p>
<h2>2. Buying ad space from relevant blogs</h2>
<p>This is a good way to target relevant prospects. If you find a blog in your niche, the people reading the blog are the ones most likely to be interested in your product. Find a blog related to your product and service and by buying ad space, you’ll have a dominant position on the blog. It is a more aggressive strategy than the subtle guest blogging approach, but it will undoubtedly get more traffic and activity if done right.</p>
<h2>3. Growth hacking / guerrilla marketing (GH/GM)</h2>
<p>There is a common misconception that to do effective marketing, you need a solid budget. GH/GM don’t require much, if any money. What it does mandate is the ability to think outside the box, disregard the rules, and be highly analytical and creative.</p>
<p>Here’s an example from LinkedIn. You have no database, so you go around indiscriminately connecting with people related to your niche on LinkedIn. Over the next few weeks, you get 1,000 connections. LinkedIn gives you the opportunity to export these connections to a system like <a href="http://www.campaignmonitor.com">Campaign Monitor</a>, which you can use for free for up to 2,000 subscribers. You now have an email database of 1,000 people to work with. It’s about using the least resources possible to gain the most leverage.</p>
<h2>4. Optimizing your landing page</h2>
<p>A landing page is important because it is the place where leads can become conversions. It’s crucial that your landing page is mobile-friendly since the mobile market is growing at a staggering rate and people are 25% more likely to complete an action by mobile than by laptop.</p>
<p>Your CTA (call-to-action) needs to be snappy and engaging. Think of words like “let’s go!”. It can be tempting to use all the fonts and colors in an attempt to make your landing page pop. Don’t. Keep things clean and simple.</p>
<p><em>“Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.”</em></p>
<p>You want your landing page to convey your message and CTA as fast as possible. The longer it takes, the less likely people are going to complete the action. The message and CTA needs to be communicated in language that your audience is familiar with. Steer clear of technical jargon.</p>
<h2>5. Social media</h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/848/1*C8ud1oB_ky0xNu-j3sF_1w.jpeg" width="848" height="565" loading="lazy" />
<p>Use social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Medium, and Tumblr to start forums specific to your niche. With over 1.5 billion people using social media, there is a large amount of potential traffic that you can direct to your website. People will ask questions and start discussions about areas that are relevant to you. It’s important to support this by providing links back to your website and publishing information that your audience will find interesting.</p>
<p>Being active on social media also means finding other threads that apply to your area and following them. Another good idea would be to go through your old posts and make sure that they are all tagged with hashtags and the right meta tags that will link back to your blog.</p>
<p>Also, target competitors’ fan pages, interests, and likes: You can find out what motivates your competitors’ audience to like their page, you can see what their fans like and dislike about their content, and even how to respond to negative feedback by watching how your competitors respond. Customers who interact with companies through social media convert 25–45% more than others. This shows how much potential there is on social media, and by “stalking” your competitors, you can optimize this potential.</p>
<h2>6. SEO</h2>
<p>SEO is undoubtedly one of the most important approaches to take. The words you choose need to be relevant, specific and intuitive. If your product is a CRM system, you don’t want to implement the phrase “Business software solutions” into your SEO strategy. It is not specific enough. HR, BI, email marketing and feedback management are going to show up and if you’re lucky, your CRM system might show up on the 5th page of results. The same goes for relevance. This is pretty obvious, but you would be surprised how many people don’t do obvious things. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes and think of what words they might use to find your website.</p>
<p>The more timeless your content is, or “evergreen,” the better. While topics like love and food aren’t going away any time soon, the presidential election will be done by November, and with it, all those keywords to never be used again. Without evergreen content, your site will become obsolete very quickly. Strong evergreen content can generate more than 1,000 page views daily.</p>
<h2>7. Paid media from relevant sources</h2>
<p>The advantage of using search engines such as Bing and AOL for targeted search advertisements is that they are cheaper than Google. Paid advertising is a win-win for everyone. Research shows that people click more on paid advertisements than on any other form of digital advertising. According to AOL, with paid advertising there is a 25% increase in sales compared to those from non-paid channels. This shows that people don’t really mind ads, as long as they are relevant to them. It’s good for the search engine because they get paid for every click that they facilitate, and the advertisers get traffic to their page.</p>
<p>Generating traffic is not an easy thing to do. It requires the right strategies as well as an equal amount of care and attention. The advantages of relevant traffic, however, are immense: It provides consistent and sustainable revenue which is crucial! The above techniques will strengthen your traffic and bolster your revenue.</p>
<p>Comment your thoughts — and I promise I will engage with you.</p>
<p>Originally posted on <a href="http://www.geektime.com/2016/06/20/7-key-ways-to-get-quality-traffic-to-your-website/">Geektime</a></p>
</section>
|
7 Simple Steps for Quality Traffic
Simple Steps for Quality Traffic
Even though a higher volume of traffic will get you more sales and revenue, it’s going to be unpredictable and inconsistent. Instead, you should aim for quality traffic, which is more effective and has the ability to generate long-term, reliable revenue.
Here are some techniques to keep in mind when trying to generate high quality traffic.
1. Blogging
There are quite a few strategies for blogs. The next time you send out an email to your user base, link a few blogs to it. You’ll see your traffic, sales and leads jump.
Also, join different blogging communities. It’s a fantastic way to make deals with other bloggers. For example, you can promote their content and they’ll promote yours. When you’re writing your blog, you should also put links to other articles that your audience might find interesting. This is great for referral traffic. It also shows readers that you’re not trying to push an agenda too hard and that you’re being objective.
Don’t forget to respond thoughtfully to all comments on your blog. It’s great for building relationships, your reputation and more opportunities to link back to your site.
Guest posting is also a very effective strategy. Find an already established blog in your niche with a solid following. Arrange with the blogger to share some interesting content and topics that you feel might be of interest to their audience. It’s a great way to get more exposure.
2. Buying ad space from relevant blogs
This is a good way to target relevant prospects. If you find a blog in your niche, the people reading the blog are the ones most likely to be interested in your product. Find a blog related to your product and service and by buying ad space, you’ll have a dominant position on the blog. It is a more aggressive strategy than the subtle guest blogging approach, but it will undoubtedly get more traffic and activity if done right.
3. Growth hacking / guerrilla marketing (GH/GM)
There is a common misconception that to do effective marketing, you need a solid budget. GH/GM don’t require much, if any money. What it does mandate is the ability to think outside the box, disregard the rules, and be highly analytical and creative.
Here’s an example from LinkedIn. You have no database, so you go around indiscriminately connecting with people related to your niche on LinkedIn. Over the next few weeks, you get 1,000 connections. LinkedIn gives you the opportunity to export these connections to a system like Campaign Monitor, which you can use for free for up to 2,000 subscribers. You now have an email database of 1,000 people to work with. It’s about using the least resources possible to gain the most leverage.
4. Optimizing your landing page
A landing page is important because it is the place where leads can become conversions. It’s crucial that your landing page is mobile-friendly since the mobile market is growing at a staggering rate and people are 25% more likely to complete an action by mobile than by laptop.
Your CTA (call-to-action) needs to be snappy and engaging. Think of words like “let’s go!”. It can be tempting to use all the fonts and colors in an attempt to make your landing page pop. Don’t. Keep things clean and simple.
“Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.”
You want your landing page to convey your message and CTA as fast as possible. The longer it takes, the less likely people are going to complete the action. The message and CTA needs to be communicated in language that your audience is familiar with. Steer clear of technical jargon.
5. Social media
Use social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Medium, and Tumblr to start forums specific to your niche. With over 1.5 billion people using social media, there is a large amount of potential traffic that you can direct to your website. People will ask questions and start discussions about areas that are relevant to you. It’s important to support this by providing links back to your website and publishing information that your audience will find interesting.
Being active on social media also means finding other threads that apply to your area and following them. Another good idea would be to go through your old posts and make sure that they are all tagged with hashtags and the right meta tags that will link back to your blog.
Also, target competitors’ fan pages, interests, and likes: You can find out what motivates your competitors’ audience to like their page, you can see what their fans like and dislike about their content, and even how to respond to negative feedback by watching how your competitors respond. Customers who interact with companies through social media convert 25–45% more than others. This shows how much potential there is on social media, and by “stalking” your competitors, you can optimize this potential.
6. SEO
SEO is undoubtedly one of the most important approaches to take. The words you choose need to be relevant, specific and intuitive. If your product is a CRM system, you don’t want to implement the phrase “Business software solutions” into your SEO strategy. It is not specific enough. HR, BI, email marketing and feedback management are going to show up and if you’re lucky, your CRM system might show up on the 5th page of results. The same goes for relevance. This is pretty obvious, but you would be surprised how many people don’t do obvious things. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes and think of what words they might use to find your website.
The more timeless your content is, or “evergreen,” the better. While topics like love and food aren’t going away any time soon, the presidential election will be done by November, and with it, all those keywords to never be used again. Without evergreen content, your site will become obsolete very quickly. Strong evergreen content can generate more than 1,000 page views daily.
7. Paid media from relevant sources
The advantage of using search engines such as Bing and AOL for targeted search advertisements is that they are cheaper than Google. Paid advertising is a win-win for everyone. Research shows that people click more on paid advertisements than on any other form of digital advertising. According to AOL, with paid advertising there is a 25% increase in sales compared to those from non-paid channels. This shows that people don’t really mind ads, as long as they are relevant to them. It’s good for the search engine because they get paid for every click that they facilitate, and the advertisers get traffic to their page.
Generating traffic is not an easy thing to do. It requires the right strategies as well as an equal amount of care and attention. The advantages of relevant traffic, however, are immense: It provides consistent and sustainable revenue which is crucial! The above techniques will strengthen your traffic and bolster your revenue.
Comment your thoughts — and I promise I will engage with you.
Originally posted on Geektime
|
545999e3-60fc-5299-9237-a7249c469fa9
|
25/08/2025 16:02:11
|
|
https://medium.com/@caleb.wursten/robinhood-brings-wall-street-to-the-people-fd2f88551d6
|
medium.com
|
Robinhood & the Decentralization of Equity
|
The sub-prime mortgage led recession of 2007–08 saw an economic recovery experienced exclusively by the upper echelon of American earners…
|
Caleb Wursten
|
https://medium.com/@caleb.wursten
|
fd2f88551d6
|
1 min
|
2017-10-31T20:45:42.627000
|
2017-11-01T16:25:44.132000
|
2018-12-14T15:54:19.636000
| 0 | 168 |
en
|
Finance,Robin Hood,Tech,Startup,Wall Street
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1024/1*9X852g7NH65uKz7dJLguOQ.jpeg" width="1024" height="681" loading="lazy" />
<p>The sub-prime mortgage led recession of 2007–08 saw an economic recovery experienced exclusively by the upper echelon of American earners. <a href="http://eml.berkeley.edu//~saez/saez-UStopincomes-2012.pdf">In the first five years of the recovery the top 1% of earners saw a 31% surge in income while the bottom 99% saw an increase of just .04%</a>. In the long-term unbridled globalization and technological advancement yield huge and incredibly concentrated wealth via corporate beneficiaries. The wealthy don’t realize these gains because they simply have wealth, it’s because they have access to these companies through employment and equity. In 2009 Goldman Sachs rewarded a 47% pay increase to its employees. In 2010 Google gave its staff a 10% pay raise and a $1,000 surprise bonus. A full 80% of the stock markets value, and thus gains, are held by the top 10%. Goldman Sachs, Google and their stakeholders had financial windfalls simultaneous with <a href="http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=25643">10 million Americans</a> losing their homes through foreclosure. These economic recovery outcomes were destined to continue as they always had, but then there was Robinhood.</p>
<p>In 2015, Vlad Tenev and Baiju Bhatt co-founded Robinhood a platform that would offer zero fee zero commission stock trading. Unlimited, free stock trading would exist on your phone. Finally the American economic powerhouses was open to the public. In unprecedented numbers the platform had signed up 500,000 users before the product’s launch, myself included. Today, just two years after launch, the platform has executed $30 billion worth of trades and has reached a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinhood_Markets">$1.3 billion valuation</a>.</p>
<p>When using the platform the genius is evident. Robinhood’s design has earned The Apple Design Award and the Google Play Award for Best Use of Material Design. It recently launched a viral “Free Stock” campaign with, as of 11/1/2017, yet unpublished success. And famously, the key to Robinhood’s success is through its revenue model. The company tactfully generates revenue through interest collection on un-invested money left in users accounts.</p>
<p>Thanks to Robinhood the United States (and the world) is one step closer to inclusive capitalism.</p>
</section>
|
Robinhood & the Decentralization of Equity
The sub-prime mortgage led recession of 2007–08 saw an economic recovery experienced exclusively by the upper echelon of American earners. In the first five years of the recovery the top 1% of earners saw a 31% surge in income while the bottom 99% saw an increase of just .04%. In the long-term unbridled globalization and technological advancement yield huge and incredibly concentrated wealth via corporate beneficiaries. The wealthy don’t realize these gains because they simply have wealth, it’s because they have access to these companies through employment and equity. In 2009 Goldman Sachs rewarded a 47% pay increase to its employees. In 2010 Google gave its staff a 10% pay raise and a $1,000 surprise bonus. A full 80% of the stock markets value, and thus gains, are held by the top 10%. Goldman Sachs, Google and their stakeholders had financial windfalls simultaneous with 10 million Americans losing their homes through foreclosure. These economic recovery outcomes were destined to continue as they always had, but then there was Robinhood.
In 2015, Vlad Tenev and Baiju Bhatt co-founded Robinhood a platform that would offer zero fee zero commission stock trading. Unlimited, free stock trading would exist on your phone. Finally the American economic powerhouses was open to the public. In unprecedented numbers the platform had signed up 500,000 users before the product’s launch, myself included. Today, just two years after launch, the platform has executed $30 billion worth of trades and has reached a $1.3 billion valuation.
When using the platform the genius is evident. Robinhood’s design has earned The Apple Design Award and the Google Play Award for Best Use of Material Design. It recently launched a viral “Free Stock” campaign with, as of 11/1/2017, yet unpublished success. And famously, the key to Robinhood’s success is through its revenue model. The company tactfully generates revenue through interest collection on un-invested money left in users accounts.
Thanks to Robinhood the United States (and the world) is one step closer to inclusive capitalism.
|
c06274f0-59d5-5374-82ed-6aab18f400b2
|
25/08/2025 16:02:12
|
|
https://medium.com/@ekkehard_ernst/valuing-our-eco-systems-a-case-for-blue-carbon-and-beyond-3a2aff9594c9
|
medium.com
|
Valuing our eco-systems: A case for blue carbon and beyond
|
Ekkehard Ernst, Victoria Golz
|
Ekkehard Ernst
|
https://medium.com/@ekkehard_ernst
|
3a2aff9594c9
|
7 min
|
2021-10-08T17:36:56.333000
|
2021-10-08T17:51:21.867000
|
2022-03-30T21:15:30.064000
| 0 | 55 |
en
|
Natural Capital,Nft,Climate Change,Biodiversity
|
<section>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekkehardernst/">Ekkehard Ernst</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-golz-36b595206/">Victoria Golz</a></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/4000/1*amT5C0g3GJYN6vF1UWghBg.jpeg" width="4000" height="2200" loading="lazy" />
<p>Despite rising awareness regarding environmental issues, we seem to be unable to truly grasp the long-term services that eco-systems provide to the planet. This is particularly true for our largest eco-system, the oceans. Our failure to do so does not lie in Nature’s presumed low value, but rather in our ineptitude to assess its value properly. Lacking data and economic tools, we fail to value the importance of preserving nature as our most important resource and lack an understanding of the costs in rebuilding damaged eco-systems. As a consequence, biodiversity is indeed on the verge of breaking down in many parts of the world, with permanent disastrous consequences for our habitat. What is, more short-term benefits from destroying our biosphere and long-term costs are unequally distributed, not only over time but geographically, preventing a successful coordination of mitigating actions. Unless costs and benefits are not properly aligned, this situation is unlikely to be remedied. Time is pressing, however, as by some accounts we are on the brink of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jiec.13084">experience significant reversals of living standards</a>.</p>
<p>Tackling this problem involves broadening our perspective on the economic value of eco-systems, an arduous task for which some researchers and experts have started to develop new concepts and tools. Economists started to integrate <a href="https://gemlabs.webnode.com/_files/200000762-7904579047/GemLabs%20Discussion%20Paper%20No%201%20(3).pdf?ph=129cc29645">nature’s value into their financial calculations </a>in an attempt to reach a more sustainable society. These new concepts — highlighting externalities as well as opportunity costs — make it ever more likely to attract investments to help maintaining or restoring ecosystems rather than destroying them. Importantly, such calculations provide relevant prices to properly assess nature services. Indeed, our current market system prevents us from grasping the true value of ecosystems and their benefits and blocks real, effective, and collaborative actions needed before the damages we have caused can no longer be repaired. Key to the understanding of the value of eco-systems is to gain insights into the services they offer and the possibility to benefit from them.</p>
<p>The first contribution to be evaluated is also the best-known both by the general public and scientists: the capacity of ecosystems to capture carbon emissions. Several (marine) species provide significant benefits in this regard, not least the Great Whales among many others in the oceans and on the shores. Estimates established by Chami and co-authors in 2020 regarding the value of this blue carbon amount to roughly USD 2 million of the lifetime of an individual whale, or close to 14 per cent of US GDP in 2021 for the total <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339658363_A_metapopulation_model_for_whale-fall_specialists_The_largest_whales_are_essential_to_prevent_species_extinctions">global whale population of almost 1.5 million animals</a>. Such estimates are highly dependent on the average price obtained on trading platforms such as the European Carbon Emission trading platform. In 2020, the price per ton stood at USD 24.7 but has since increased to more than USD 60 in autumn 2021, bringing the value of a single Great Whale closer to USD 5 million over its 60-year lifespan or the equivalent of 34 per cent of US GDP for the entire stock of whales.</p>
<p>True, these numbers represent the contribution of Great Whales over their entire life but even when calculated as an annuity at a conservative rate of return of 1 per cent, the annual economic contribution of these animals amounts to the GDP of countries between Bulgaria and Greece, depending on the ongoing carbon emission price. And that is just for Great Whales! Additional benefits for carbon capture arise from these animals in the role they play for phytoplankton growth. Many other species have similar benefits to offer. For instance, the amount of carbon sequestered by current and future elephant populations trough biomass has been estimated to reach 720 kg for the average elephant’s body and result in 2.64 tons of carbon dioxide. Other ecosystems such as <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-021-00692-9">Thailand Mangroves and Malaysia tropical forests </a>would also contribute to reduce our carbon footprint if preserved properly along with afforestation, improved forest management, soil <a href="https://www.swissre.com/institute/research/topics-and-risk-dialogues/climate-and-natural-catastrophe-risk/expertise-publication-carbon-removal-technologies.html">carbon sequestration via plant biomass growth </a>and decomposition and restoration of coastal wetlands through blue carbon.</p>
<p>A key challenge for preserving our biosphere remains with the fact that most of the benefits described so far are not (immediately) tangible. No market for blue carbon exists, no property title on ecological services can be enforced and incentives to compel with legal protection provided by national regulation or international treaties are weak. Declaring nature a global public good would be a step in the right direction to establish a binding legal framework but whether international agreements can be reached quickly enough is unclear. Experiences, for instance, with respect to bans of whale hunting are not promising in this respect.</p>
<p>A roundabout way of addressing this issue is to make use of nature’s other services that are more closely linked to marketable incomes of (local) communities. For example, great whales provide three more contributions to our economies and the planet: ecotourism via whale watching; fisheries enhancement, and transporting nutrients trough their migration behaviors. Equally, African forest elephants are known to generate significant ecoutourism revenues from tourists traveling to Africa. As large herbivores, they also help by contributing to reduce the density of small trees trough migrating and searching for food, resulting in a remarkable increase of the late-succession trees proportion, known among scientists to live longer and require less resources to thrive than usual trees. Mangroves in Thailand also bring social benefits thanks to the original mangrove cover: timber, charcoal, non-timber forest products (NTFP), offshore fisheries, a better storm, coastal flooding and water quality protection by removing pollutants from stormwater runoff before they reach seagrass habitats and coral reefs. They also contribute to the local diversity of seafood by providing shelter to a large range of wildlife species, especially birds which use it as a nesting area for migration. Maintaining such biodiversity might also help in expanding food resources for humans such as shrimp farming. Finally, Malaysia’s tropical rainforests typically help through flood protection and prevention, carbon stocks, NTFPs, sedimentation control and endangered species protection by ensuring them a natural habitat. They also inhabit unique genetic resources and play a major role in global climate regulation, pollination and disease control. Educating local communities in the value of preserving such eco-systems can go some way of restoring incentives for preservation over exploitation.</p>
<p>However, the reliability and effectiveness of such a process is still raising many questions and issues because a few elements could easily get into the way of a proper nature’s valuation. A key obstacle to our calculations concerns the cost of ecosystems conservation. Maintaining and restoring eco-systems in order to make the most of their services to society comes with a price regardless of whether our current undervaluation of nature is already priced in. Moreover, whatever conservation effort there is, of the roughly USD 6.5 billion that is spent annually in order to allow the existing reserve to continue to thrive, half of this is spent in the United States alone. Recent calculations have been modified to get a clearer idea of the amount of money lacking in order to make a real change: Globally USD 20 to 28 billion are needed to help ecosystems cover around 15% of land area, equally distributed across world regions. Such sums pale, however, in comparison to the benefits that eco-system conservation can achieve.</p>
<p>Estimating benefits reliably also reaches its limits as some economic tools such as Natural Capital Accounting become difficult to apply as more and more diverse benefits of biodiversity and eco-systems are being included. The concept itself might be too abstract for local governments or communities to apply such concepts. In this regard, willingness to pay (WTP) which refers to how much an individual is willing to pay in order to enjoy a service also “tend to have lower credibility than market-based valuations” and depends on the value we first identified and attributed to the resource. It is also difficult to consider goods and services flows which come shortly after or right before the conversion of ecosystems.</p>
<p>A more successful approach and one that is currently explored by initiatives launched by <a href="https://gemlabs.webnode.com/">Geneva Macro Labs </a>and by <a href="https://www.rebalance.earth/">Rebalance Earth </a>might consist in tokenizing natural assets such as Great Whales or Elephants and ensuring that the value of these digital tokens are being used to support local communities or initiatives in helping maintaining the eco-systems in which these animals can thrive. <a href="https://bit.ly/3B2B0i2">Digitalization of assets and tokenization </a>are direct applications of recent innovations around the blockchain technology. Suitably identified assets — for instance the number, location and health of Great Whales or elephants — are being identified and traced on a blockchain application. Investors in such tokens would receive in return carbon emission rights as currently traded on various platforms. The investment would be used — and its use audited — to help local communities in their efforts for eco-system conservation that will contribute to the safeguard and ideally growth of the underlying natural capital, i.e. Great Whales or elephants in these examples. The attractiveness of this solution is that it relies on a newly established, digital infrastructure that does not require strong legal protection or investment in administrative capacity by national governments. Rather, it can and should rely — as much as possible — on local initiatives and communities, who would directly benefit from their eco-system conservation efforts, contributing towards wider UN sustainability goals.</p>
<p>In addition, these solutions can be scaled up easily as they rely on a cheap and easily accessible digital technology. In the ideal case when specific natural assets can be identified as belonging to the national wealth of a particular country, local efforts could be amplified through special purpose vehicles set up the specific purpose of maintaining eco-systems. Such Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF) are asset management vehicles well-known from oil-exporting countries. However, nothing prevents national governments to expand the realm of such institutions and to identify and mange their natural wealth through such mechanisms. In the event of successfully setting up a nature-based SWF, additional benefits beyond eco-system conservation would arise, for instance in the form of a more stable source of fiscal revenues, lower interest rates and better access to finance for local enterprises. In particular in low- and middle-income countries such wealth could constitute a significant contribution to their economic development and well-being.</p>
</section>
|
Valuing our eco-systems: A case for blue carbon and beyond
Ekkehard Ernst, Victoria Golz
Despite rising awareness regarding environmental issues, we seem to be unable to truly grasp the long-term services that eco-systems provide to the planet. This is particularly true for our largest eco-system, the oceans. Our failure to do so does not lie in Nature’s presumed low value, but rather in our ineptitude to assess its value properly. Lacking data and economic tools, we fail to value the importance of preserving nature as our most important resource and lack an understanding of the costs in rebuilding damaged eco-systems. As a consequence, biodiversity is indeed on the verge of breaking down in many parts of the world, with permanent disastrous consequences for our habitat. What is, more short-term benefits from destroying our biosphere and long-term costs are unequally distributed, not only over time but geographically, preventing a successful coordination of mitigating actions. Unless costs and benefits are not properly aligned, this situation is unlikely to be remedied. Time is pressing, however, as by some accounts we are on the brink of experience significant reversals of living standards.
Tackling this problem involves broadening our perspective on the economic value of eco-systems, an arduous task for which some researchers and experts have started to develop new concepts and tools. Economists started to integrate nature’s value into their financial calculations in an attempt to reach a more sustainable society. These new concepts — highlighting externalities as well as opportunity costs — make it ever more likely to attract investments to help maintaining or restoring ecosystems rather than destroying them. Importantly, such calculations provide relevant prices to properly assess nature services. Indeed, our current market system prevents us from grasping the true value of ecosystems and their benefits and blocks real, effective, and collaborative actions needed before the damages we have caused can no longer be repaired. Key to the understanding of the value of eco-systems is to gain insights into the services they offer and the possibility to benefit from them.
The first contribution to be evaluated is also the best-known both by the general public and scientists: the capacity of ecosystems to capture carbon emissions. Several (marine) species provide significant benefits in this regard, not least the Great Whales among many others in the oceans and on the shores. Estimates established by Chami and co-authors in 2020 regarding the value of this blue carbon amount to roughly USD 2 million of the lifetime of an individual whale, or close to 14 per cent of US GDP in 2021 for the total global whale population of almost 1.5 million animals. Such estimates are highly dependent on the average price obtained on trading platforms such as the European Carbon Emission trading platform. In 2020, the price per ton stood at USD 24.7 but has since increased to more than USD 60 in autumn 2021, bringing the value of a single Great Whale closer to USD 5 million over its 60-year lifespan or the equivalent of 34 per cent of US GDP for the entire stock of whales.
True, these numbers represent the contribution of Great Whales over their entire life but even when calculated as an annuity at a conservative rate of return of 1 per cent, the annual economic contribution of these animals amounts to the GDP of countries between Bulgaria and Greece, depending on the ongoing carbon emission price. And that is just for Great Whales! Additional benefits for carbon capture arise from these animals in the role they play for phytoplankton growth. Many other species have similar benefits to offer. For instance, the amount of carbon sequestered by current and future elephant populations trough biomass has been estimated to reach 720 kg for the average elephant’s body and result in 2.64 tons of carbon dioxide. Other ecosystems such as Thailand Mangroves and Malaysia tropical forests would also contribute to reduce our carbon footprint if preserved properly along with afforestation, improved forest management, soil carbon sequestration via plant biomass growth and decomposition and restoration of coastal wetlands through blue carbon.
A key challenge for preserving our biosphere remains with the fact that most of the benefits described so far are not (immediately) tangible. No market for blue carbon exists, no property title on ecological services can be enforced and incentives to compel with legal protection provided by national regulation or international treaties are weak. Declaring nature a global public good would be a step in the right direction to establish a binding legal framework but whether international agreements can be reached quickly enough is unclear. Experiences, for instance, with respect to bans of whale hunting are not promising in this respect.
A roundabout way of addressing this issue is to make use of nature’s other services that are more closely linked to marketable incomes of (local) communities. For example, great whales provide three more contributions to our economies and the planet: ecotourism via whale watching; fisheries enhancement, and transporting nutrients trough their migration behaviors. Equally, African forest elephants are known to generate significant ecoutourism revenues from tourists traveling to Africa. As large herbivores, they also help by contributing to reduce the density of small trees trough migrating and searching for food, resulting in a remarkable increase of the late-succession trees proportion, known among scientists to live longer and require less resources to thrive than usual trees. Mangroves in Thailand also bring social benefits thanks to the original mangrove cover: timber, charcoal, non-timber forest products (NTFP), offshore fisheries, a better storm, coastal flooding and water quality protection by removing pollutants from stormwater runoff before they reach seagrass habitats and coral reefs. They also contribute to the local diversity of seafood by providing shelter to a large range of wildlife species, especially birds which use it as a nesting area for migration. Maintaining such biodiversity might also help in expanding food resources for humans such as shrimp farming. Finally, Malaysia’s tropical rainforests typically help through flood protection and prevention, carbon stocks, NTFPs, sedimentation control and endangered species protection by ensuring them a natural habitat. They also inhabit unique genetic resources and play a major role in global climate regulation, pollination and disease control. Educating local communities in the value of preserving such eco-systems can go some way of restoring incentives for preservation over exploitation.
However, the reliability and effectiveness of such a process is still raising many questions and issues because a few elements could easily get into the way of a proper nature’s valuation. A key obstacle to our calculations concerns the cost of ecosystems conservation. Maintaining and restoring eco-systems in order to make the most of their services to society comes with a price regardless of whether our current undervaluation of nature is already priced in. Moreover, whatever conservation effort there is, of the roughly USD 6.5 billion that is spent annually in order to allow the existing reserve to continue to thrive, half of this is spent in the United States alone. Recent calculations have been modified to get a clearer idea of the amount of money lacking in order to make a real change: Globally USD 20 to 28 billion are needed to help ecosystems cover around 15% of land area, equally distributed across world regions. Such sums pale, however, in comparison to the benefits that eco-system conservation can achieve.
Estimating benefits reliably also reaches its limits as some economic tools such as Natural Capital Accounting become difficult to apply as more and more diverse benefits of biodiversity and eco-systems are being included. The concept itself might be too abstract for local governments or communities to apply such concepts. In this regard, willingness to pay (WTP) which refers to how much an individual is willing to pay in order to enjoy a service also “tend to have lower credibility than market-based valuations” and depends on the value we first identified and attributed to the resource. It is also difficult to consider goods and services flows which come shortly after or right before the conversion of ecosystems.
A more successful approach and one that is currently explored by initiatives launched by Geneva Macro Labs and by Rebalance Earth might consist in tokenizing natural assets such as Great Whales or Elephants and ensuring that the value of these digital tokens are being used to support local communities or initiatives in helping maintaining the eco-systems in which these animals can thrive. Digitalization of assets and tokenization are direct applications of recent innovations around the blockchain technology. Suitably identified assets — for instance the number, location and health of Great Whales or elephants — are being identified and traced on a blockchain application. Investors in such tokens would receive in return carbon emission rights as currently traded on various platforms. The investment would be used — and its use audited — to help local communities in their efforts for eco-system conservation that will contribute to the safeguard and ideally growth of the underlying natural capital, i.e. Great Whales or elephants in these examples. The attractiveness of this solution is that it relies on a newly established, digital infrastructure that does not require strong legal protection or investment in administrative capacity by national governments. Rather, it can and should rely — as much as possible — on local initiatives and communities, who would directly benefit from their eco-system conservation efforts, contributing towards wider UN sustainability goals.
In addition, these solutions can be scaled up easily as they rely on a cheap and easily accessible digital technology. In the ideal case when specific natural assets can be identified as belonging to the national wealth of a particular country, local efforts could be amplified through special purpose vehicles set up the specific purpose of maintaining eco-systems. Such Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF) are asset management vehicles well-known from oil-exporting countries. However, nothing prevents national governments to expand the realm of such institutions and to identify and mange their natural wealth through such mechanisms. In the event of successfully setting up a nature-based SWF, additional benefits beyond eco-system conservation would arise, for instance in the form of a more stable source of fiscal revenues, lower interest rates and better access to finance for local enterprises. In particular in low- and middle-income countries such wealth could constitute a significant contribution to their economic development and well-being.
|
b062e0fb-407e-5e88-9976-bef31c0fd117
|
25/08/2025 16:02:12
|
|
https://medium.com/@sharon_catalyst/feared-worse-than-death-c1b216725b6c
|
medium.com
|
Feared Worse Than Death
|
Surveys have shown that there is something that Americans fear more than death.
|
Sharon Chamberlin
|
https://medium.com/@sharon_catalyst
|
c1b216725b6c
|
3 min
|
2017-11-12T16:08:07.976000
|
2017-11-12T16:09:02.593000
|
2017-11-12T16:09:03.523000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Alzheimers Disease,Healthcare,Exercise,Memory Improvement
|
<section>
<p>Surveys have shown that there is something that Americans fear more than death.</p>
<p>It is Alzheimer’s disease.</p>
<p>For most of us, losing our personhood — those characteristics which make us who we are — is a fate worse than death.</p>
<h1>What is Alzheimer’s?</h1>
<p>Named after Alois Alzheimer, who discovered the condition in 1906, Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects the function of the brain by causing the brain cells to degenerate and then die. There is no cure, and the progression of the disease leads to eventual death. There are factors that affect your likelihood of suffering from Alzheimer’s, such as your age, gender, family history, ethnicity, and ancestry, and your health and nutrition. Some of these are obviously beyond your control but not all.</p>
<p>The first Alzheimer’s symptoms usually show up as forgetfulness, but as it worsens, more long-term memory loss occurs, along with others such as mood swings, irritability and the inability to recognize languages.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/300/0*Kc2nz3yLfhCvgzGj.jpg" width="300" height="202" loading="lazy" />
<h2>How Prevalent is Alzheimer’s?</h2>
<p>Alzheimer’s affects more than 5 million Americans, and it is predicted that by 2050, 1 in 8 Americans will be stricken with it. The Medicare system spends three times as much money on Alzheimer’s treatment as it does on any other disease.</p>
<h2>Is Alzheimer’s Inevitable?</h2>
<p>The good news is there are steps you can take to reduce the chances that you will develop this disease. Because of the prevalence of this disease in our country, many people view it as a normal and inevitable part of the aging process. But this is not so. Alzheimer’s is a <em>disease</em>, and <em>you do not have to get sick with this disease</em>.</p>
<p>In fact, in spite of it being so common in America, there are societies in which dementia and Alzheimer’s is rare, even for people in their 90s and beyond. The elders in these cultures maintain clear thinking without the burden of dementia that we have come to associate with aging.</p>
<h2>Preventing Alzheimer’s</h2>
<p>Following are some steps you can take right now to protect yourself from getting Alzheimer’s.</p>
<h2>1. Get plenty of physical exercise</h2>
<p>In his book, <em>Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World’s Healthiest and Longest-Lived Peoples</em>, John Robbins cites study after study that demonstrate the stunning effect of exercise on the brain’s ability to function well, even at advanced ages.</p>
<p>In one such study, documented in the Archives of Neurology (March 2001), it was found that the people with the highest activity levels were only half as likely as inactive people to develop Alzheimer’s. Further, these active people were also substantially less likely to develop any form of dementia or impairment in mental functioning.</p>
<p>In another study1, some mice were bred to develop the type of plaque that is associated with Alzheimer’s in their brains. Some of the mice were allowed to exercise and some were not.</p>
<p><strong>Two important findings emerged.</strong></p>
<p>The mice who exercised developed 50–80 % less plaque in their brains that the non-exercising mice developed.</p>
<p>The exercising mice produced more of the enzyme that prevents the buildup of plaque in the brain.</p>
<p>The takeaway conclusion? <strong>The people who exercise more are much less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or any other kind of dementia.</strong></p>
<h2>2. Eat a healthy diet</h2>
<p>Exercise is not the only thing that can reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Diet also plays a crucial role. The best diet for preventing dementia is one low in animal-derived foods but high in plant foods such as</p>
<ul>
<li>fresh vegetables</li>
<li>fresh fruit</li>
<li>whole grains</li>
<li>nuts</li>
<li>seeds</li>
<li>legumes</li>
</ul>
<p>Scientists think that the protection these foods offer against dementia stems from their high concentration of anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants neutralize free radicals which are responsible for the damage that causes dementia.</p>
<p>A healthy diet also helps you avoid other health problems such as obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and arteriosclerosis.</p>
<p>In another study cited by Robbins, researchers found that persons who are obese in middle age are <strong>twice as likely to develop dementia in their later years as those people who had normal weights.</strong> Further, if these people also have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, their risk for dementia in old age escalates to <strong>six times higher</strong> than normal weight people!</p>
<h2>What are you waiting for?</h2>
<p>Remember, there is no cure. Once Alzheimer’s symptoms start showing up it is too late. Start now to defend yourself: get moving and eat a clean, healthy diet. You will reap the benefits literally for years to come!</p>
<p>1http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alzheimers/MY00002</p>
</section>
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Feared Worse Than Death
Surveys have shown that there is something that Americans fear more than death.
It is Alzheimer’s disease.
For most of us, losing our personhood — those characteristics which make us who we are — is a fate worse than death.
What is Alzheimer’s?
Named after Alois Alzheimer, who discovered the condition in 1906, Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects the function of the brain by causing the brain cells to degenerate and then die. There is no cure, and the progression of the disease leads to eventual death. There are factors that affect your likelihood of suffering from Alzheimer’s, such as your age, gender, family history, ethnicity, and ancestry, and your health and nutrition. Some of these are obviously beyond your control but not all.
The first Alzheimer’s symptoms usually show up as forgetfulness, but as it worsens, more long-term memory loss occurs, along with others such as mood swings, irritability and the inability to recognize languages.
How Prevalent is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s affects more than 5 million Americans, and it is predicted that by 2050, 1 in 8 Americans will be stricken with it. The Medicare system spends three times as much money on Alzheimer’s treatment as it does on any other disease.
Is Alzheimer’s Inevitable?
The good news is there are steps you can take to reduce the chances that you will develop this disease. Because of the prevalence of this disease in our country, many people view it as a normal and inevitable part of the aging process. But this is not so. Alzheimer’s is a disease, and you do not have to get sick with this disease.
In fact, in spite of it being so common in America, there are societies in which dementia and Alzheimer’s is rare, even for people in their 90s and beyond. The elders in these cultures maintain clear thinking without the burden of dementia that we have come to associate with aging.
Preventing Alzheimer’s
Following are some steps you can take right now to protect yourself from getting Alzheimer’s.
1. Get plenty of physical exercise
In his book, Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World’s Healthiest and Longest-Lived Peoples, John Robbins cites study after study that demonstrate the stunning effect of exercise on the brain’s ability to function well, even at advanced ages.
In one such study, documented in the Archives of Neurology (March 2001), it was found that the people with the highest activity levels were only half as likely as inactive people to develop Alzheimer’s. Further, these active people were also substantially less likely to develop any form of dementia or impairment in mental functioning.
In another study1, some mice were bred to develop the type of plaque that is associated with Alzheimer’s in their brains. Some of the mice were allowed to exercise and some were not.
Two important findings emerged.
The mice who exercised developed 50–80 % less plaque in their brains that the non-exercising mice developed.
The exercising mice produced more of the enzyme that prevents the buildup of plaque in the brain.
The takeaway conclusion? The people who exercise more are much less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or any other kind of dementia.
2. Eat a healthy diet
Exercise is not the only thing that can reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Diet also plays a crucial role. The best diet for preventing dementia is one low in animal-derived foods but high in plant foods such as
fresh vegetables
fresh fruit
whole grains
nuts
seeds
legumes
Scientists think that the protection these foods offer against dementia stems from their high concentration of anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants neutralize free radicals which are responsible for the damage that causes dementia.
A healthy diet also helps you avoid other health problems such as obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and arteriosclerosis.
In another study cited by Robbins, researchers found that persons who are obese in middle age are twice as likely to develop dementia in their later years as those people who had normal weights. Further, if these people also have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, their risk for dementia in old age escalates to six times higher than normal weight people!
What are you waiting for?
Remember, there is no cure. Once Alzheimer’s symptoms start showing up it is too late. Start now to defend yourself: get moving and eat a clean, healthy diet. You will reap the benefits literally for years to come!
1http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alzheimers/MY00002
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06a571ae-3f74-51c7-baea-5e3e5ca20d23
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25/08/2025 16:02:13
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https://medium.com/breezy-hr/why-we-love-these-10-inspiring-employer-brands-b2eb02c96e75
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medium.com
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Why We Love These 10 Inspiring Employer Brands
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Why should a candidate choose your company? Here’s how 10 of the world’s leading employer brands make it a no-brainer.
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Breezy HR
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https://medium.com/@Breezy_HR
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b2eb02c96e75
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10 min
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2018-09-18T16:34:40.062000
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2018-09-18T17:17:06.891000
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2018-09-18T17:17:07.402000
| 0 | 183 |
en
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Employer Branding,Apple,Starbucks,Hrtech,Recruitment
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<section>
<h1>Why We Love These 10 Inspiring Employer Brands</h1>
<p><em>Why should a candidate choose your company? Here’s how 10 of the world’s leading employer brands make it a no-brainer.</em></p>
<p>Terms like “candidate experience” and “employer branding” seem to be the HR buzzwords of the day — and for good reason. With 6 million open jobs in the US and <a href="http://fortune.com/2018/01/18/job-market-interview-hiring-tips/">employers taking longer than ever before</a> to fill open positions, simple economics tell us demand is far outpacing supply.</p>
<p>As a company, exceeding the expectations of your candidates by showing you care about them <em>as individuals</em> gives you a much better chance of attracting the kind of talent you’ll definitely need if the goal is to be a frontrunner in today’s ultra competitive business world. With changes in work and in business now happening at lightning-quick speed, employers need to be prepared for tomorrow’s talent — like, <em>now</em>.</p>
<p>Let’s take a closer look at some of the brightest big-name employer brands that are so insanely good at what they do, they have top-notch talent practically banging down their doors.</p>
<h2>1. <a href="https://careers.google.com/">Google</a></h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/272/1*j5Mn2yWX-lfS9CtKbFqYVQ.png" width="272" height="92" loading="lazy" />
<p><em>“What’s special about our <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3044606/googles-head-of-hr-shares-his-hiring-secrets">company</a>: We give our people tremendous freedom. And we underpin our p</em>eople practices with real science and data. We use science to figure out what makes teams work.”</p>
<p><em>— </em>Laszlo Bock, former SVP People Operations, Google</p>
<p>You’re probably not surprised to see Google in the top spot.</p>
<p>The company has been all about its people from day 1 (just check out the founding team’s very <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1288776/000119312504073639/ds1.htm#toc16167_1">first letter to investors</a>). And as you may have heard, the company also aims high when it comes to creating a stellar working environment. Even a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-hq-office-tour-2013-10#the-parking-lot-was-filled-with-tesla-electric-cars-rows-of-them-21">sneak-peak into the Googleplex Campus</a> is enough to make you second guess your entire career. 🤦</p>
<p>With Google, it’s all about a <em>“work hard, play hard” </em>environment. From generous parental leave policies and retirement savings plans, to onsite wellness services (like yoga classes and therapeutic massages) and of course, three free gourmet meals a day, Google doesn’t just exceed expectations for workplace perks — it sets them. But it’s not the Michelin star-rated lunch candidates come for. The company’s commitment to autonomy, lifelong learning and growth are what keep the stellar talent coming in.</p>
<h2>2. <a href="https://www.starbucks.com/careers">Starbucks</a></h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/216/1*oAqMMel3J9dcyoWpDCIX8g.png" width="216" height="216" loading="lazy" />
<p>“<em>To give you one everyday example of what makes the Starbucks culture such a powerful one, our more than 330,000 people globally are called “partners” — not employees — because there is a foundational belief in shared success. That small, but very important distinction is symbolic of Starbucks’ values</em>.”</p>
<p>— Jeff Lam, Talent Development Director, Starbucks</p>
<p>In the world of employer brands, Starbucks has a damn fine resume.</p>
<p>In 2017, the coffee giant ranked in the <em>top 3 </em>on Fortune’s highly-revered ‘Most Admired Companies’ list. The Seattle-born coffee giant has long valued diversity and inclusion as part of its mission, and has been a an ongoing advocate for the LGBTQ community. No wonder it was named the Best Place to Work for LGBT community by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in 2016. 🏳️🌈👍🏾</p>
<p>Starbucks has a @StarbucksJobs <a href="https://instagram.com/starbucksjobs/">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/StarbucksJobs">Twitter</a> account where they actively promote their employer brand and interact with potential candidates. They encourage everybody to use the hashtag #sbuxjobschat to share feedback and they regularly post links to their LinkedIn and other social media pages for easy access to employee resources. The Starbucks <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/Starbucks/featured">Youtube Channel</a> even has a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4DD39D3B9D8389D3">Jobs Playlist</a> where people can watch stories about real-life Starbucks employees.</p>
<h2>3. <a href="https://jobs.cisco.com/">Cisco</a></h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/288/1*0G4vTQoeHY6XELbjqkEE8g.png" width="288" height="152" loading="lazy" />
<p><em>“When you’re hiring the best way to ensure the best outcome you have to have an equal slate. So if I have a slate of 10 candidates I want five men and five women. And then you need to have an interview team that is diverse, and if you do that it increases your likelihood [of achieving balance].”</em></p>
<p>— Charles H. Robbins, CEO, Cisco</p>
<p>“Cisconians work hard — and we reward hard”.</p>
<p>With a motto like that, no wonder things are going great at Cisco. <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/friday-interview-cisco-global-chief-executive-chuck-robbins-1.3547038">Balance and diversity</a> are the keys to Cisco’s success, according to their CEO, Charles H. Robbins. The company is super active in the online world and candidates are encouraged to follow the #WeAreCisco convo on social media where the company shares inspiring employee photos and stories about what working at Cisco is really like.</p>
<p><strong>Cool fact</strong>: Cisco recently launched a $50 million commitment to try to eradicate homelessness in Santa Clara, California. Now that’s a goal we can get behind!</p>
<h2>4. <a href="https://www.apple.com/jobs/uk/">Apple</a></h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/180/1*RvTexGRhbt0os_OjHLKZng.png" width="180" height="220" loading="lazy" />
<p>“We have a lot of different people from a lot of different places, and we are<a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/06/25/tim-cook-talks-social-advocacy-apple-news-curation-more-in-interview"> accepting of people from everywhere</a>. So we think we have something to offer talking about that kind of environment.”</p>
<p>— Tim Cook, CEO, Apple</p>
<p>At Apple, diversity is about new ways of thinking. When teams at Apple start a new project, they don’t begin by checking to see what everybody else is doing (a.k.a. “the best practices”). They try to discover the best approach <em>they</em> can come up with, and <em>that’s</em> what they do. Apple is always about pushing the envelope by doing <em>the best thing possible</em> and that’s exactly the kind of culture that puts them on an HR pedestal.</p>
<p>Looking for cracks when it comes to Apple’s employer brand is like searching for a honest person in Congress these days (sorry, we had to). 🤷</p>
<p><strong>How Apple rocks its employee <a hre</strong>f="https://www.inc.com/business-insider/apple-employee-benefits-perks-glassdoor.html">perks</a>:</p>
<ul>
<li>Huge discounts on products and services. Every 3 years, workers get $250 off an iPad or $500 off a Mac and Apple software is always 50% off. They also get an annual 25% discount for Apple products purchases and other discounts for family and friends (depending on the product).</li>
<li>They have solid policies for parental leave. Moms can take 4 weeks of paid leave before giving birth and 14 weeks after. Non-birth parents get 6 weeks of paid time off, according to <a href="http://time.com/money/4098469/paid-parental-leave-google-amazon-apple-facebook/">TIME</a>.</li>
<li>Employees can join Apple’s beer bash — a regular event featuring snacks, free booze, and celebrity cameos (they even had Gwen Stefani swing by 🤩).</li>
</ul>
<p>It goes without saying all these flashy perks reflect pretty highly on Apple’s brand image. But there’s also plenty of walk behind the talk. Apple CEO, Tim Cook has an astoundingly high <a href="https://www.cultofmac.com/224695/they-love-him-tim-cook-gets-a-94-percent-employee-rating-on-glassdoor/">94% approval rating on Glassdoor</a>, showing just how well-respected he is by employees.</p>
<h2>5. <a href="https://www.hubspot.com/jobs">Hubspot</a></h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/288/1*-7w2dq5tz3D9lsikMLi98Q.png" width="288" height="83" loading="lazy" />
<p><em>“Hubspot was the kind a place I wanted to be a part of before I even joined when I met Brian Halligan and I could see just how passionate he was and that Hubspot’s mission was bigger than any sort of profit objective. To see the passion in that and to walk around Hubspot and see how much our employees care about that excited me everyday</em>” — JD Sherman, President & COO, Hubspot</p>
<p>Hubspot’s awesome perks and benefits include, unlimited vacation and a retirement savings plan matching program, to name a few. And due to their commitment to continuous education, the company provides a $5,000 benefit each year for employees who want to take a class on anything from Java to Japanese.</p>
<p>Not only that, Hubspot’s co-founder, Brian Halligan was named one of Glassdoor’s <a href="https://www.hubspot.com/company-news/brian-halligan-named-a-highest-rated-ceo-by-glassdoor">top 10 highest-rated CEOs for 2017</a>. (If you’ve ever spent time in the Glassdoor rabbit hole, you know what a huge achievement that is!) The company also ranks #1 in GetApp’s Q3 2017 ranking of content marketing vendors #7 in the top 100 workplaces for millennials by Great Place to Work.</p>
<h2>6. <a href="https://www.shopify.com/careers">Shopify</a></h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/384/1*FnTZ3YA-NFOR3yrY3D0cog.jpeg" width="384" height="166" loading="lazy" />
<p>“<em>Shopify taught me it’s never too late to take a leap. Every day, I’m learning more about myself and what else is possible.</em>” — <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathhughes/">Catherine Hughes</a>, Director of Culture, Shopify</p>
<p>It seems like Shopify hit the jackpot this year when it comes to both business and HR awards. The e-commerce software company was ranked Top Canadian Company by GR Crowd in 2018 <em>and</em> won Glassdoor’s Best Place to Work Award for <a href="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/shopify-tops-tech-heavy-ranking-of-best-places-to-work-in-2017-1.625348">2018</a>. But Shopify really started setting the bar in 2017 when it <a href="https://hired.com/blog/highlights/hired-brand-health-report-2017/">ranked #1</a> in the Top 10 Canada-based Employer Brands.</p>
<p>Among its awesome employee perks, the company offers self-directed budgets to support learning and growth, daily catered meals and even housecleaning to save employees time. (Where can we sign up?!) 🙋</p>
<h2>7. <a href="https://careers.homedepot.com/">The Home Depot</a></h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/252/1*HknW3GaeIItYslSp9w0sGw.png" width="252" height="252" loading="lazy" />
<p><em>“Just as we’re <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/02/14/home-depot-re-tools-interview-process-in-latest.html">continuously evolving</a> to meet the changing expectations of our customers, we’re harnessing new technologi</em>es to do the same for job seekers.This consumer-like experience helps us hire the best talent to serve our customers.” — Tim Hourigan, EVP HR, Home Depot</p>
<p>2015 was a great year for Home Depot. The nationwide home supply retailer won the IR Excellence Awards for Online Retailer of the year as well as EPI Awards Mobile Retailer of the year, both massive achievements for the company’s brand image. And it seems Glassdoors would agree. Home Depot is currently rank #9 on Glassdoor’s ‘Best Business Outlook’.</p>
<p>What makes this retail giant continue to stand out from the HR crowd is its strong commitment to <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/02/14/home-depot-re-tools-interview-process-in-latest.html">simplifying its hiring practice</a>. In February 2018, hiring teams at Home Depot started using a mobile tool to let candidates self-select in-person interview times for more than 80,000 open positions. (Because honestly, it all starts with a <a href="https://hirelearning.breezy.hr/how-to-take-the-rigidity-out-of-your-structured-interview-process-709df45c4576">better interview process</a>! 👌)</p>
<h2>8. <a href="https://jobs.netflix.com/">Netflix</a></h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/288/1*syf3_IUPvFv_6NNp6BdfoA.png" width="288" height="78" loading="lazy" />
<p><em>“The foundations of freedom, and responsibility — not having a lot of rules, not having policies, not using sort of bureaucracy or hierarchy to govern — but instead really providing context to folks and giving them all the freedom to do their job and all the responsibility…has increased over time instead of decreased, and continues to work.” </em>— <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/27/netflix-culture-deck-success_n_6763716.html?guccounter=1">Tawni Cranz</a>, Chief Talent Officer, Netflix</p>
<p>Netflix is fond of saying it hires only “fully formed adults,” and that’s exactly how the company treats its employees. Netflix has pioneered the concept that workers should be allowed to take <a href="https://hbr.org/2014/01/how-netflix-reinvented-hr">whatever vacation time</a> they feel is appropriate, a move that only brought them higher on the employer brand ladder. On top of that, one of Netflix’s strongest leverage points is having a work environment where employees are happy with <a href="https://www.inc.com/business-insider/tech-employees-anonymously-rate-companies-work-facebook-google-netflix-twitter.html">how much they earn</a>.</p>
<p>Netflix’s <a href="https://jobs.netflix.com/culture">parental leave policy</a> is based on the idea that working parents should “take care of your baby and yourself.” That’s why in 2015, the company made many an HR headline when it introduced a new <a href="http://fortune.com/2015/08/04/netflix-maternity-paternity-leave/">clause</a> in its employee contracts which offering <em>unlimited time off</em> to new parents within the first year of the child’s birth or adoption. Parents can return on a full- or part-time basis, and even take subsequent time off later in the year if needed, without worrying they have to switch to disability leave.</p>
<p>(Treating working parents right <a href="https://hirelearning.breezy.hr/how-is-discrimination-against-working-moms-still-a-thing-dd1981b93579">shouldn’t be a newsworthy event</a>, but we’re always happy to give props to employers who lead by example. 👍🏽)</p>
<h2>9. <a href="https://www.salesforce.com/uk/company/careers/">Salesforce</a></h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/500/1*7sLHSTBnLcCJDoJPkEwFpA.png" width="500" height="250" loading="lazy" />
<p><em>“I want a company where people are excited to come to work every day, where they feel good when they get here, where it doesn’t take from them, but it’s giving to them, it’s giving to others.”</em> — Marc Benioff, Founder & CEO, Salesforce</p>
<p>Marc Benioff started Salesforce in 1999 with a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/15/business/marc-benioff-salesforce-corner-office.html">whole new perspective on business</a>. On their first day of work, employees are taken to do volunteer service. “They’ll go to a homeless shelter or they’ll go to the hospital or go to a public school. This is a very core part of our culture,” explains Marc.</p>
<p>For Salesforce, winning awards for doing good deeds is simply business as usual. The company is ranked as top #1 Best Workplace in Europe in 2018 by the Great Place to Work Awards. After Forbes, they rank number #1 for World’s Most Innovative Companies and Fortune names them the World’s Most Admired Company.</p>
<p>Salesforce’s UK employees seem to be the happiest, since the company is ranked 3rd in the Top Great Place to Work Awards in 2018. They also came in at number 4 on <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/20/the-25-most-attractive-employers-in-america-according-to-linkedin.html">LinkedIn’s 2018 Top Companies list</a>. Phew! With a ranking rap sheet like that, no wonder Salesforce is one of the most attractive working destinations for top talent!</p>
<h2>10. <a href="http://www.in-n-out.com/employment.aspx">In-N-Out-Burger</a></h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/288/1*2x_RayVWWODRTEuXSaaaHg.png" width="288" height="157" loading="lazy" />
<p><em>“Just looking for a set schedule to spend more time with my kids and wife.This company gives us opportunity to work with others also be able to guide others in their careers. It gives us opportunity to train and gives us a reason to come back to work. We truly care about our associates and our customers.” — </em>LA-based Shift Manager, In-N-Out-Burger <a href="https://www.indeed.com/cmp/In--n--out-Burger/reviews">via Indeed</a></p>
<p>Fast food probably isn’t the first industry to come to mind when thinking about world-leading work environments. Not so for In-N-Out. The better burger joint is the only restaurant chain in the top 50 companies on <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/Best-Places-to-Work-LST_KQ0,19.htm">Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work list</a>. The fast food chain also ranks №4 on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-places-to-work-2018-2017-12">Glassdoor’s list of the best places to work in 2018</a>, beating out Google (№5), Lululemon (№6), and Microsoft (№39). 😲</p>
<p>In-N-Out-Burger’s commitment to valuing their staff has brought them a sweet <a href="http://www.indeed.com/cmp/In--n--out-Burger/reviews">4.5 star rating on Indeed.com</a>, where employees praise it for its “fast-paced,” “rewarding,” and “challenging” career path and describe the company as taking “excellent care of employees.”</p>
<p>The company learned that paying employees well leads to better productivity, less employee turnover, and bigger profits. With a starting rate of $11 an hour it’s 17% higher than the average hourly wage for hospitality jobs ($8.94). And if we add in the paid vacations, free meals, comprehensive training and 401k plan — it’s safe to say they raised the bar.</p>
<p>In-N-Out-Burger has also made it clear their employer brand is not just for teenagers looking for a part-time job — the company is also a place for hospitality professionals looking for long-term growth.</p>
<p>See something here that inspires you? Remember, while it’s always great to take a page from someone else’s hiring handbook, the best employer branding strategy will always align with your unique kind of awesome.</p>
<p><em>Ready to step up your hiring game? <a href="https://bre</em>ezy.hr/">Try Breezy for free!</a></p>
</section>
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Why We Love These 10 Inspiring Employer Brands
Why should a candidate choose your company? Here’s how 10 of the world’s leading employer brands make it a no-brainer.
Terms like “candidate experience” and “employer branding” seem to be the HR buzzwords of the day — and for good reason. With 6 million open jobs in the US and employers taking longer than ever before to fill open positions, simple economics tell us demand is far outpacing supply.
As a company, exceeding the expectations of your candidates by showing you care about them as individuals gives you a much better chance of attracting the kind of talent you’ll definitely need if the goal is to be a frontrunner in today’s ultra competitive business world. With changes in work and in business now happening at lightning-quick speed, employers need to be prepared for tomorrow’s talent — like, now.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the brightest big-name employer brands that are so insanely good at what they do, they have top-notch talent practically banging down their doors.
1. Google
“What’s special about our company: We give our people tremendous freedom. And we underpin our people practices with real science and data. We use science to figure out what makes teams work.”
— Laszlo Bock, former SVP People Operations, Google
You’re probably not surprised to see Google in the top spot.
The company has been all about its people from day 1 (just check out the founding team’s very first letter to investors). And as you may have heard, the company also aims high when it comes to creating a stellar working environment. Even a sneak-peak into the Googleplex Campus is enough to make you second guess your entire career. 🤦
With Google, it’s all about a “work hard, play hard” environment. From generous parental leave policies and retirement savings plans, to onsite wellness services (like yoga classes and therapeutic massages) and of course, three free gourmet meals a day, Google doesn’t just exceed expectations for workplace perks — it sets them. But it’s not the Michelin star-rated lunch candidates come for. The company’s commitment to autonomy, lifelong learning and growth are what keep the stellar talent coming in.
2. Starbucks
“To give you one everyday example of what makes the Starbucks culture such a powerful one, our more than 330,000 people globally are called “partners” — not employees — because there is a foundational belief in shared success. That small, but very important distinction is symbolic of Starbucks’ values.”
— Jeff Lam, Talent Development Director, Starbucks
In the world of employer brands, Starbucks has a damn fine resume.
In 2017, the coffee giant ranked in the top 3 on Fortune’s highly-revered ‘Most Admired Companies’ list. The Seattle-born coffee giant has long valued diversity and inclusion as part of its mission, and has been a an ongoing advocate for the LGBTQ community. No wonder it was named the Best Place to Work for LGBT community by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in 2016. 🏳️🌈👍🏾
Starbucks has a @StarbucksJobs Instagram and Twitter account where they actively promote their employer brand and interact with potential candidates. They encourage everybody to use the hashtag #sbuxjobschat to share feedback and they regularly post links to their LinkedIn and other social media pages for easy access to employee resources. The Starbucks Youtube Channel even has a Jobs Playlist where people can watch stories about real-life Starbucks employees.
3. Cisco
“When you’re hiring the best way to ensure the best outcome you have to have an equal slate. So if I have a slate of 10 candidates I want five men and five women. And then you need to have an interview team that is diverse, and if you do that it increases your likelihood [of achieving balance].”
— Charles H. Robbins, CEO, Cisco
“Cisconians work hard — and we reward hard”.
With a motto like that, no wonder things are going great at Cisco. Balance and diversity are the keys to Cisco’s success, according to their CEO, Charles H. Robbins. The company is super active in the online world and candidates are encouraged to follow the #WeAreCisco convo on social media where the company shares inspiring employee photos and stories about what working at Cisco is really like.
Cool fact: Cisco recently launched a $50 million commitment to try to eradicate homelessness in Santa Clara, California. Now that’s a goal we can get behind!
4. Apple
“We have a lot of different people from a lot of different places, and we are accepting of people from everywhere. So we think we have something to offer talking about that kind of environment.”
— Tim Cook, CEO, Apple
At Apple, diversity is about new ways of thinking. When teams at Apple start a new project, they don’t begin by checking to see what everybody else is doing (a.k.a. “the best practices”). They try to discover the best approach they can come up with, and that’s what they do. Apple is always about pushing the envelope by doing the best thing possible and that’s exactly the kind of culture that puts them on an HR pedestal.
Looking for cracks when it comes to Apple’s employer brand is like searching for a honest person in Congress these days (sorry, we had to). 🤷
How Apple rocks its employee perks:
Huge discounts on products and services. Every 3 years, workers get $250 off an iPad or $500 off a Mac and Apple software is always 50% off. They also get an annual 25% discount for Apple products purchases and other discounts for family and friends (depending on the product).
They have solid policies for parental leave. Moms can take 4 weeks of paid leave before giving birth and 14 weeks after. Non-birth parents get 6 weeks of paid time off, according to TIME.
Employees can join Apple’s beer bash — a regular event featuring snacks, free booze, and celebrity cameos (they even had Gwen Stefani swing by 🤩).
It goes without saying all these flashy perks reflect pretty highly on Apple’s brand image. But there’s also plenty of walk behind the talk. Apple CEO, Tim Cook has an astoundingly high 94% approval rating on Glassdoor, showing just how well-respected he is by employees.
5. Hubspot
“Hubspot was the kind a place I wanted to be a part of before I even joined when I met Brian Halligan and I could see just how passionate he was and that Hubspot’s mission was bigger than any sort of profit objective. To see the passion in that and to walk around Hubspot and see how much our employees care about that excited me everyday” — JD Sherman, President & COO, Hubspot
Hubspot’s awesome perks and benefits include, unlimited vacation and a retirement savings plan matching program, to name a few. And due to their commitment to continuous education, the company provides a $5,000 benefit each year for employees who want to take a class on anything from Java to Japanese.
Not only that, Hubspot’s co-founder, Brian Halligan was named one of Glassdoor’s top 10 highest-rated CEOs for 2017. (If you’ve ever spent time in the Glassdoor rabbit hole, you know what a huge achievement that is!) The company also ranks #1 in GetApp’s Q3 2017 ranking of content marketing vendors #7 in the top 100 workplaces for millennials by Great Place to Work.
6. Shopify
“Shopify taught me it’s never too late to take a leap. Every day, I’m learning more about myself and what else is possible.” — Catherine Hughes, Director of Culture, Shopify
It seems like Shopify hit the jackpot this year when it comes to both business and HR awards. The e-commerce software company was ranked Top Canadian Company by GR Crowd in 2018 and won Glassdoor’s Best Place to Work Award for 2018. But Shopify really started setting the bar in 2017 when it ranked #1 in the Top 10 Canada-based Employer Brands.
Among its awesome employee perks, the company offers self-directed budgets to support learning and growth, daily catered meals and even housecleaning to save employees time. (Where can we sign up?!) 🙋
7. The Home Depot
“Just as we’re continuously evolving to meet the changing expectations of our customers, we’re harnessing new technologies to do the same for job seekers.This consumer-like experience helps us hire the best talent to serve our customers.” — Tim Hourigan, EVP HR, Home Depot
2015 was a great year for Home Depot. The nationwide home supply retailer won the IR Excellence Awards for Online Retailer of the year as well as EPI Awards Mobile Retailer of the year, both massive achievements for the company’s brand image. And it seems Glassdoors would agree. Home Depot is currently rank #9 on Glassdoor’s ‘Best Business Outlook’.
What makes this retail giant continue to stand out from the HR crowd is its strong commitment to simplifying its hiring practice. In February 2018, hiring teams at Home Depot started using a mobile tool to let candidates self-select in-person interview times for more than 80,000 open positions. (Because honestly, it all starts with a better interview process! 👌)
8. Netflix
“The foundations of freedom, and responsibility — not having a lot of rules, not having policies, not using sort of bureaucracy or hierarchy to govern — but instead really providing context to folks and giving them all the freedom to do their job and all the responsibility…has increased over time instead of decreased, and continues to work.” — Tawni Cranz, Chief Talent Officer, Netflix
Netflix is fond of saying it hires only “fully formed adults,” and that’s exactly how the company treats its employees. Netflix has pioneered the concept that workers should be allowed to take whatever vacation time they feel is appropriate, a move that only brought them higher on the employer brand ladder. On top of that, one of Netflix’s strongest leverage points is having a work environment where employees are happy with how much they earn.
Netflix’s parental leave policy is based on the idea that working parents should “take care of your baby and yourself.” That’s why in 2015, the company made many an HR headline when it introduced a new clause in its employee contracts which offering unlimited time off to new parents within the first year of the child’s birth or adoption. Parents can return on a full- or part-time basis, and even take subsequent time off later in the year if needed, without worrying they have to switch to disability leave.
(Treating working parents right shouldn’t be a newsworthy event, but we’re always happy to give props to employers who lead by example. 👍🏽)
9. Salesforce
“I want a company where people are excited to come to work every day, where they feel good when they get here, where it doesn’t take from them, but it’s giving to them, it’s giving to others.” — Marc Benioff, Founder & CEO, Salesforce
Marc Benioff started Salesforce in 1999 with a whole new perspective on business. On their first day of work, employees are taken to do volunteer service. “They’ll go to a homeless shelter or they’ll go to the hospital or go to a public school. This is a very core part of our culture,” explains Marc.
For Salesforce, winning awards for doing good deeds is simply business as usual. The company is ranked as top #1 Best Workplace in Europe in 2018 by the Great Place to Work Awards. After Forbes, they rank number #1 for World’s Most Innovative Companies and Fortune names them the World’s Most Admired Company.
Salesforce’s UK employees seem to be the happiest, since the company is ranked 3rd in the Top Great Place to Work Awards in 2018. They also came in at number 4 on LinkedIn’s 2018 Top Companies list. Phew! With a ranking rap sheet like that, no wonder Salesforce is one of the most attractive working destinations for top talent!
10. In-N-Out-Burger
“Just looking for a set schedule to spend more time with my kids and wife.This company gives us opportunity to work with others also be able to guide others in their careers. It gives us opportunity to train and gives us a reason to come back to work. We truly care about our associates and our customers.” — LA-based Shift Manager, In-N-Out-Burger via Indeed
Fast food probably isn’t the first industry to come to mind when thinking about world-leading work environments. Not so for In-N-Out. The better burger joint is the only restaurant chain in the top 50 companies on Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work list. The fast food chain also ranks №4 on Glassdoor’s list of the best places to work in 2018, beating out Google (№5), Lululemon (№6), and Microsoft (№39). 😲
In-N-Out-Burger’s commitment to valuing their staff has brought them a sweet 4.5 star rating on Indeed.com, where employees praise it for its “fast-paced,” “rewarding,” and “challenging” career path and describe the company as taking “excellent care of employees.”
The company learned that paying employees well leads to better productivity, less employee turnover, and bigger profits. With a starting rate of $11 an hour it’s 17% higher than the average hourly wage for hospitality jobs ($8.94). And if we add in the paid vacations, free meals, comprehensive training and 401k plan — it’s safe to say they raised the bar.
In-N-Out-Burger has also made it clear their employer brand is not just for teenagers looking for a part-time job — the company is also a place for hospitality professionals looking for long-term growth.
See something here that inspires you? Remember, while it’s always great to take a page from someone else’s hiring handbook, the best employer branding strategy will always align with your unique kind of awesome.
Ready to step up your hiring game? Try Breezy for free!
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d53c48fe-2012-5a35-a0a7-b7a95b6b6d05
|
25/08/2025 16:02:13
|
|
https://marketingmusings.medium.com/should-brands-invest-in-qualitative-research-1859ba91f9eb
|
medium.com
|
Should brands invest in qualitative research?
|
Market research is big business. But is there a place for qualitative research within the marketing strategies of businesses?
|
Marketing Musings
|
https://medium.com/@marketingmusings
|
1859ba91f9eb
|
4 min
|
2021-05-27T15:43:30.196000
|
2021-05-28T10:05:08.793000
|
2022-01-06T17:10:27.887000
| 0 | 1 |
en
|
Market Research,Marketing,Marketing Strategies,Qualitative Research,Marketing Research
|
<section>
<p>Market research is big business. The <a href="https://www.mrs.org.uk/resources/industry-size">Market Research Society</a> (MRS) in the UK estimated that the value of the sector in the UK was a staggering £7 billion in December 2020 and employed over 60,000 people.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/6000/1*Yut-gb3TrxcQvPS7O3JG0g.jpeg" width="6000" height="4000" loading="lazy" />
<p>But not everyone is a fan. Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, is an often quoted critic of market research:</p>
<p>“People don’t know what they want until you show it to them. That’s why I never rely on market research. Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page.”</p>
<p>If one of the pioneers in technology is quick to dismiss the value of it, should marketers invest in market research — and qualitative market research at that?</p>
<p>Despite Jobs being a vocal critic, there are many examples of other businesses using qualitative research to help inform their product, operation and marketing strategies.</p>
<p>In contrast, Katie Dill, whose roles include Director of Experience Design at Airbnb and Head of Design at Lyft, responds to Jobs’s quote with her own insight in an interview with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-quote-misunderstood-katie-dill-2019-4?r=US&IR=T">Business Insider in 2019</a>:</p>
<p>“…I am a firm believer in the power of understanding our community. I’m a firm believer in the power of user research and qualitative insight gathering.”</p>
<p>As a marketing professional myself, data and insights are a key thread to everything that I do — whether that is strategic or operational. As such, I greatly value marketing research and am a firm supporter of it when it is practical and cost effective to participate in.</p>
<p>There are examples of several businesses using qualitative research methods to better inform their marketing and operational activities.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/6000/1*ne9H8kkEZ2E1aVTBQFclOQ.jpeg" width="6000" height="4000" loading="lazy" />
<h1>IKEA’s ethnographic strategies</h1>
<p>IKEA is a great example that has fuelled its global growth through marketing research and insight, with time and money invested into ethnographic studies to help it understand the behaviours of buyers in local markets when it enters a new territory. Livermore (2016, pg 55) states: “Today, research is at the heart of IKEA’s expansion. The further the company goes from Sweden, the more time its people spend understanding the cultural differences… And by having anthropologists live with some Chinese families for a while, IKEA discovered that most of the families sat on the floor and user their sofas as a backrest. IKEA is using this insight to consider what kinds of innovations are best suited to the Chinese market.”</p>
<p>Indeed, IKEA’s anthropological and emic approach means that it considers not just what products different markets will appeal to a local audience best, but how will these products be used? Do they need to be marketed differently to ensure their attractiveness and relevancy can cross cultural and societal differences? It even localises the IKEA shopping experience into how hands-on staff are for shoppers or where the stores are located.</p>
<h2>Square Enix using qualitative research for product refinements</h2>
<p>Another example of a company using qualitative research to gain insight into its products and to support its marketing is video game developer, Square Enix.</p>
<p>In 2012, Square Enix launched a new video game for the Nintendo 3DS handheld console system. Designed and developed with a heavy dose of nostalgia, the game was a commercial success and sold over 1 million copies worldwide. Wanting to capitalise on the success of a newly launched IP, they released a sequel in 2015–16 (depending on region) but it was met with lower sales and wasn’t quite the home-run they anticipated.</p>
<p>In 2020 it was announced that another sequel was on its way — this time on Nintendo’s Switch hybrid console. To launch the game, a free demo was released that allowed people to play up to five hours of the game. Square Enix then followed this up with a survey to gain feedback and insight to help it with its final version of the game.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/3571/1*4t6Wgo9e3EvnIt2hPE-PNw.jpeg" width="3571" height="2278" loading="lazy" />
<p>This is a relatively novel way of launching a game. Typically, demos of games (and indeed free samples) are designed to build interest and increase purchases rather than be used to inform product and marketing outputs.</p>
<p>After the period of the demo being available, Square Enix sent out a survey to players asking for their feedback. Although surveys are closely aligned with quantitative research methods, here the survey only included free text fields so the data was qualitative in nature. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO50YB_cjXU">They received over 22,000 responses</a>.</p>
<p></p>
<p>They used this data to make tangible amendments to the actual video game in order to resolve some of the most frequently commented complaints. This should mean that the game launches to better reviews and can help with its marketing launch.</p>
<p>Although the market research wasn’t carried out for marketing purposes per se, the insights are still very useful for a marketer. In terms of what people liked best, the music, job system (a gameplay element), and graphics came out on top. As a marketer, this opens up potential new strategies to focus on:</p>
<ul>
<li>Think of ways the music can be featured in the advertising</li>
<li>Think of radio or Spotify advertising to promote the music</li>
<li>Highlight the job system gameplay feature in marketing to appeal to an existing audience as well as attract new potential players</li>
<li>Focus on marketing creatives that highlight the graphics in-game</li>
</ul>
<p>So, what do you think? Does qualitative research have a place in marketing in a post-big data world? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts as well!</p>
<p><strong>References</strong></p>
<p>Livermore, A. (2016). <em>Driven by Difference: How Great Companies Fuel Innovation Through Diversity</em>. McGraw-Hill Education.</p>
</section>
|
Should brands invest in qualitative research?
Market research is big business. The Market Research Society (MRS) in the UK estimated that the value of the sector in the UK was a staggering £7 billion in December 2020 and employed over 60,000 people.
Image credit: Jourdan Wee
But not everyone is a fan. Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, is an often quoted critic of market research:
“People don’t know what they want until you show it to them. That’s why I never rely on market research. Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page.”
If one of the pioneers in technology is quick to dismiss the value of it, should marketers invest in market research — and qualitative market research at that?
Despite Jobs being a vocal critic, there are many examples of other businesses using qualitative research to help inform their product, operation and marketing strategies.
In contrast, Katie Dill, whose roles include Director of Experience Design at Airbnb and Head of Design at Lyft, responds to Jobs’s quote with her own insight in an interview with Business Insider in 2019:
“…I am a firm believer in the power of understanding our community. I’m a firm believer in the power of user research and qualitative insight gathering.”
As a marketing professional myself, data and insights are a key thread to everything that I do — whether that is strategic or operational. As such, I greatly value marketing research and am a firm supporter of it when it is practical and cost effective to participate in.
There are examples of several businesses using qualitative research methods to better inform their marketing and operational activities.
Image credit: Akexander Isreb
IKEA’s ethnographic strategies
IKEA is a great example that has fuelled its global growth through marketing research and insight, with time and money invested into ethnographic studies to help it understand the behaviours of buyers in local markets when it enters a new territory. Livermore (2016, pg 55) states: “Today, research is at the heart of IKEA’s expansion. The further the company goes from Sweden, the more time its people spend understanding the cultural differences… And by having anthropologists live with some Chinese families for a while, IKEA discovered that most of the families sat on the floor and user their sofas as a backrest. IKEA is using this insight to consider what kinds of innovations are best suited to the Chinese market.”
Indeed, IKEA’s anthropological and emic approach means that it considers not just what products different markets will appeal to a local audience best, but how will these products be used? Do they need to be marketed differently to ensure their attractiveness and relevancy can cross cultural and societal differences? It even localises the IKEA shopping experience into how hands-on staff are for shoppers or where the stores are located.
Square Enix using qualitative research for product refinements
Another example of a company using qualitative research to gain insight into its products and to support its marketing is video game developer, Square Enix.
In 2012, Square Enix launched a new video game for the Nintendo 3DS handheld console system. Designed and developed with a heavy dose of nostalgia, the game was a commercial success and sold over 1 million copies worldwide. Wanting to capitalise on the success of a newly launched IP, they released a sequel in 2015–16 (depending on region) but it was met with lower sales and wasn’t quite the home-run they anticipated.
In 2020 it was announced that another sequel was on its way — this time on Nintendo’s Switch hybrid console. To launch the game, a free demo was released that allowed people to play up to five hours of the game. Square Enix then followed this up with a survey to gain feedback and insight to help it with its final version of the game.
Image credit: Kevin Williams
This is a relatively novel way of launching a game. Typically, demos of games (and indeed free samples) are designed to build interest and increase purchases rather than be used to inform product and marketing outputs.
After the period of the demo being available, Square Enix sent out a survey to players asking for their feedback. Although surveys are closely aligned with quantitative research methods, here the survey only included free text fields so the data was qualitative in nature. They received over 22,000 responses.
They used this data to make tangible amendments to the actual video game in order to resolve some of the most frequently commented complaints. This should mean that the game launches to better reviews and can help with its marketing launch.
Although the market research wasn’t carried out for marketing purposes per se, the insights are still very useful for a marketer. In terms of what people liked best, the music, job system (a gameplay element), and graphics came out on top. As a marketer, this opens up potential new strategies to focus on:
Think of ways the music can be featured in the advertising
Think of radio or Spotify advertising to promote the music
Highlight the job system gameplay feature in marketing to appeal to an existing audience as well as attract new potential players
Focus on marketing creatives that highlight the graphics in-game
So, what do you think? Does qualitative research have a place in marketing in a post-big data world? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts as well!
References
Livermore, A. (2016). Driven by Difference: How Great Companies Fuel Innovation Through Diversity. McGraw-Hill Education.
|
636e2760-1081-5a5b-a8a3-bd0c48b1d431
|
25/08/2025 16:02:15
|
|
https://pointertomegan.medium.com/10-essential-github-tips-for-acing-your-programming-interview-assignment-1d877b9bacab
|
medium.com
|
10 Essential GitHub Tips for Acing Your Programming Interview Assignment
|
From Markdown to Commit Messages, Suggestions to Shine in Data Science Technical Interviews
|
Megan Payne
|
https://medium.com/@pointertomegan
|
1d877b9bacab
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*MQLG0S2EqEAyHjiN
|
3 min
|
2023-02-14T15:16:35.306000
|
2023-07-21T12:45:50.192000
|
2023-07-21T12:45:50.994000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Github,Interview,Programming Interviews,Data Science
|
<section>
<h3>From Markdown to Commit Messages, Suggestions to Shine in Data Science Technical Interviews</h3>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/5000/0*MQLG0S2EqEAyHjiN" width="5000" height="3313" loading="lazy" />
<p>A recently laid-off friend asked me to peruse his Github repo for a Python programming interview assignment. He is a whiz at finance but relatively new to <a href="https://github.com/">Github</a>, and this is his first time being asked for code in an interview. I compiled a list of recommendations I made and included some things he did really well.</p>
<p><strong>Create a README.md at the top level of the repository:</strong> This should be the first thing that an interviewer sees and should contain a few things.
* A description of the assignment
* An overview of the files and directory structure (if any)
* How to install and run the software
* A TODO list of improvements
Make it as easy on the interviewer as possible to clone the repo and run your code. They will remember if running your code is annoying.</p>
<p><strong>Highlight Your Problem-Solving Approach</strong>: In the README.md or a separate document, briefly explain your thought process and the approach you took to solve the assignment. This can give valuable insights into your problem-solving skills, which after all is what they are hiring you for.</p>
<p><strong>Use Markdown in your README:</strong> Markdown is a lightweight markup language commonly used in README.md files to easily format and style text. It allows developers to create headers, lists, code blocks, and links to external sites using simple and intuitive syntax, enhancing the readability and presentation of the project. There are many handy cheat sheets for markdown syntax, <a href="https://www.markdownguide.org/cheat-sheet/">like this one</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Provide Sample Output or Screenshots</strong>: If your application generates visual outputs or has a graphical user interface, include screenshots in the README.md to give the reviewer a quick visual overview of what the application does.</p>
<p><strong>Use helpful commit messages:</strong> On Github, the last commit message is easily visible for each file. Future-you will appreciate helpful commit messages when you are looking for that time you added or deleted a function. Interviewers will appreciate you knowing that is important.</p>
<p><strong>Show that you know how to commit code:</strong> If you are doing a tech assignment, you will need to demonstrate your ability to commit code. Don’t do a single check-in of all of your code at once. Show progress.</p>
<p><strong>Clean up the rest of your Github account:</strong> My friend had several empty repositories labelled “homework assignment 1”, “homework assignment 2”, etc. He sent me the link to his account instead of the repo and it took me 5 minutes to find the interview assignment with all the digital clutter. Interviewers are busy! Delete unused repos or make them private.</p>
<p><strong>Pin your favorite repositories:</strong> Github has a great feature where you can pin the repos you are most proud of. If you are allowed to make your assignment repo public or have another repo that you are especially proud of, pin it.</p>
<p><strong>Seek Feedback and Collaborate</strong>: Invite others to review your code and ask for constructive feedback. Collaboration and openness to suggestions demonstrate your ability to work in a team environment and grow as a developer.</p>
<p><strong>Address Known Issues and Future Improvements</strong>: If you are aware of any known issues or limitations in your application, mention them in the README.md along with your plans for future improvements. I like adding a TODO: section in my README files. This shows that you are proactive and eager to enhance your work.</p>
<p>When interviewers ask for a candidate to complete a programming assignment for a job, they are asking for more than just the code. Pure code can be submitted in a zip file by email. If they are asking for a repository, they will be looking at software development practices as well as code. Look at the repository like an audition for the job you will be performing, with all the additional skills that go along with it. Good luck!</p>
</section>
|
10 Essential GitHub Tips for Acing Your Programming Interview Assignment
From Markdown to Commit Messages, Suggestions to Shine in Data Science Technical Interviews
Photo by Yancy Min on Unsplash
A recently laid-off friend asked me to peruse his Github repo for a Python programming interview assignment. He is a whiz at finance but relatively new to Github, and this is his first time being asked for code in an interview. I compiled a list of recommendations I made and included some things he did really well.
Create a README.md at the top level of the repository: This should be the first thing that an interviewer sees and should contain a few things.
* A description of the assignment
* An overview of the files and directory structure (if any)
* How to install and run the software
* A TODO list of improvements
Make it as easy on the interviewer as possible to clone the repo and run your code. They will remember if running your code is annoying.
Highlight Your Problem-Solving Approach: In the README.md or a separate document, briefly explain your thought process and the approach you took to solve the assignment. This can give valuable insights into your problem-solving skills, which after all is what they are hiring you for.
Use Markdown in your README: Markdown is a lightweight markup language commonly used in README.md files to easily format and style text. It allows developers to create headers, lists, code blocks, and links to external sites using simple and intuitive syntax, enhancing the readability and presentation of the project. There are many handy cheat sheets for markdown syntax, like this one.
Provide Sample Output or Screenshots: If your application generates visual outputs or has a graphical user interface, include screenshots in the README.md to give the reviewer a quick visual overview of what the application does.
Use helpful commit messages: On Github, the last commit message is easily visible for each file. Future-you will appreciate helpful commit messages when you are looking for that time you added or deleted a function. Interviewers will appreciate you knowing that is important.
Show that you know how to commit code: If you are doing a tech assignment, you will need to demonstrate your ability to commit code. Don’t do a single check-in of all of your code at once. Show progress.
Clean up the rest of your Github account: My friend had several empty repositories labelled “homework assignment 1”, “homework assignment 2”, etc. He sent me the link to his account instead of the repo and it took me 5 minutes to find the interview assignment with all the digital clutter. Interviewers are busy! Delete unused repos or make them private.
Pin your favorite repositories: Github has a great feature where you can pin the repos you are most proud of. If you are allowed to make your assignment repo public or have another repo that you are especially proud of, pin it.
Seek Feedback and Collaborate: Invite others to review your code and ask for constructive feedback. Collaboration and openness to suggestions demonstrate your ability to work in a team environment and grow as a developer.
Address Known Issues and Future Improvements: If you are aware of any known issues or limitations in your application, mention them in the README.md along with your plans for future improvements. I like adding a TODO: section in my README files. This shows that you are proactive and eager to enhance your work.
When interviewers ask for a candidate to complete a programming assignment for a job, they are asking for more than just the code. Pure code can be submitted in a zip file by email. If they are asking for a repository, they will be looking at software development practices as well as code. Look at the repository like an audition for the job you will be performing, with all the additional skills that go along with it. Good luck!
|
baaeedb5-0ffd-5471-ae38-94792661cedc
|
25/08/2025 16:02:15
|
https://medium.com/@kaesava/up-rooted-re-planted-402d6756054e
|
medium.com
|
Up-rooted & Re-planted
|
The taxi was headed to my student accommodation building, and from there, it would take my twin brother to the airport, where he would…
|
Kesh
|
https://medium.com/@kaesava
|
402d6756054e
| null |
2 min
|
2016-09-16T00:00:05.711000
|
2016-09-16T00:26:18.316000
|
2017-12-29T07:43:52.006000
| 0 | 5 |
en
|
True Story,Flashback,Life Lessons,Alone,Culture Shock
|
<section>
<p>The taxi was headed to my student accommodation building, and from there, it would take my twin brother to the airport, where he would leave for India. For the first time in my life, I would be alone; with my nearest family being over nine thousand kilometres away.</p>
<p>I knew that my brother would not want to say goodbye that evening. I knew that <em>I</em> couldn’t — I would miss him terribly. I knew that I could not know what my life would be like, and he was probably thinking the same. We had come to a common agreement, independently, that the best way to handle this separation would be to pretend it was not happening — no tears, no goodbye hugs, no comforting. The taxi pulled up, I stepped out and kept walking, up the stairwell, up three floors, down the corridor, and into my room; I shut the door behind me.</p>
<p>I remember, so vividly, the tidal wave of raw emotion that overcame me as I stared at my empty room.</p>
<p>Being a twin meant that for all my life, up to that point, I had someone to sleep next to, to quarrel with, and someone to talk to. But I was alone that night. A sheet-less beige mattress and white pillow lay on a bed to my left, an empty long shelf (that would become my desk) lined the wall to my right, and four unpacked suitcases were stacked at the foot of the bed. I had forgotten to get bed sheets and pillow covers, but it did not matter that night — I did not sleep.</p>
<p>All night, I lay on the carpet and stared at the ceiling, too fuelled to do anything other than to think — about what I had gotten myself into, about whether it was the right decision, and if it was too late to be contemplating whether it was the right decision! I had just turned nineteen, and was alone in a culture that was completely foreign to me. No amount of reading about Australia — her history, geography, slang, sporting culture — could ever prepare me for my life here; <em>that </em>preparation came by way of the amazing friends that I made that year, the friends that would become my family.</p>
<p>A few years later, I decided to become a residential pastoral carer and tutor at an international college. There, I saw myself in every kid that, for the first time in their lives, as adults, were trying to navigate the intricate social maze of friendship, alcohol, study, sex, health and everything in between. For all my time in Australia, that year was, by far, the most rewarding period of my life — a chance to give a little back in honour of those that gave to me.</p>
<p>Even today, when a song plays on the radio that I listened to then, I am transported back to that room, sitting on my desk, tuning my radio to 101.1 FM, and reading up on a lecture before attending, to maximise my chance of comprehending the strange accent that it was going to be delivered in.</p>
<p>I suppose you really need to be a teenager to allow the excitement within to drown out the fear that is never too far away.</p>
<p>Sixteen years after that taxi ride, I am home now, in Australia.</p>
</section>
|
Up-rooted & Re-planted
The taxi was headed to my student accommodation building, and from there, it would take my twin brother to the airport, where he would leave for India. For the first time in my life, I would be alone; with my nearest family being over nine thousand kilometres away.
I knew that my brother would not want to say goodbye that evening. I knew that I couldn’t — I would miss him terribly. I knew that I could not know what my life would be like, and he was probably thinking the same. We had come to a common agreement, independently, that the best way to handle this separation would be to pretend it was not happening — no tears, no goodbye hugs, no comforting. The taxi pulled up, I stepped out and kept walking, up the stairwell, up three floors, down the corridor, and into my room; I shut the door behind me.
I remember, so vividly, the tidal wave of raw emotion that overcame me as I stared at my empty room.
Being a twin meant that for all my life, up to that point, I had someone to sleep next to, to quarrel with, and someone to talk to. But I was alone that night. A sheet-less beige mattress and white pillow lay on a bed to my left, an empty long shelf (that would become my desk) lined the wall to my right, and four unpacked suitcases were stacked at the foot of the bed. I had forgotten to get bed sheets and pillow covers, but it did not matter that night — I did not sleep.
All night, I lay on the carpet and stared at the ceiling, too fuelled to do anything other than to think — about what I had gotten myself into, about whether it was the right decision, and if it was too late to be contemplating whether it was the right decision! I had just turned nineteen, and was alone in a culture that was completely foreign to me. No amount of reading about Australia — her history, geography, slang, sporting culture — could ever prepare me for my life here; that preparation came by way of the amazing friends that I made that year, the friends that would become my family.
A few years later, I decided to become a residential pastoral carer and tutor at an international college. There, I saw myself in every kid that, for the first time in their lives, as adults, were trying to navigate the intricate social maze of friendship, alcohol, study, sex, health and everything in between. For all my time in Australia, that year was, by far, the most rewarding period of my life — a chance to give a little back in honour of those that gave to me.
Even today, when a song plays on the radio that I listened to then, I am transported back to that room, sitting on my desk, tuning my radio to 101.1 FM, and reading up on a lecture before attending, to maximise my chance of comprehending the strange accent that it was going to be delivered in.
I suppose you really need to be a teenager to allow the excitement within to drown out the fear that is never too far away.
Sixteen years after that taxi ride, I am home now, in Australia.
|
e1c8c323-e4ca-5768-8e3a-8186c1ea7824
|
25/08/2025 16:02:15
|
https://anthonyclarkarend.com/complete-text-alberto-mora-discussing-torture-and-cruel-and-inhuman-treatment-of-detainees-in-2381fe71f43a
|
medium.com
|
Complete Text: Alberto Mora discussing torture and cruel and inhuman treatment of detainees in Georgetown’s William V. O’Brien Lecture in International Law and Morality
| null |
Anthony Clark Arend
|
https://medium.com/@arenda
|
2381fe71f43a
|
24 min
|
2017-01-30T04:25:41.242000
|
2013-05-03T20:30:48
|
2018-06-20T01:33:57.545000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Armed Conflict,Education,Foreign Policy,Human Rights,Intelligence
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/436/0*q8ppTu83RomZZBDr.jpg" width="436" height="327" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>WILLIAM V. O’BRIEN LECTURE</strong></p>
<p><strong>IN INTERNATIONAL LAW AND MORALITY</strong></p>
<p><strong>GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY</strong></p>
<p><strong>APRIL 30, 2013</strong></p>
<p><strong>ALBERTO MORA</strong></p>
<p>My sincere thanks to Georgetown University for having conferred on me the distinction of being asked to present today the William O’Brien Lecture in International Law and Morality. I also wish to thank my friends, Mark Lagon and Tony Arend, for their support of Georgetown’s decision to extend the invitation. I am honored to be able to support Mark and Tony’s academic work in my capacity as a member of the Advisory Board of the Master of Science in Foreign Service Program, one of the programs that help make the School of Foreign Service one of the world’s leading centers for international affairs research and study.</p>
<p>The O’Brien Lecture was established by the School of Foreign Service and the Government Department to honor Dr. O’Brien’s many years of distinguished scholarship on war, morality, and the legal dimensions of international affairs. Dr. O’Brien’s work on these issues not only continues to resonate, but it has also clearly continued to influence the University. This is evidenced by the leadership in these areas provided by Alex Aleinikoff, my college classmate and good friend, while a member of the faculty and then Dean of the Law Center. It is also evidenced by the major contributions made by David Cole and Neal Katyal — among many other current or former Georgetown faculty members — to the national debate on the legal issues of the War on Terror in their roles as lawyers, scholars, and public intellectuals.</p>
<p>Today, my focus will be on the self-inflicted and still-unhealed wounds our nation has suffered from our decision to adopt torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment as weapons of war. I’ll cover briefly what we did; how and why we came to do so; the damage to our country that resulted and continues; and our accountability, or lack of it, for our actions. As I say, our national wounds are still unhealed. In large measure this is because we have not yet assembled the full historical record, we have not yet grasped the full consequences of our actions, and we have not yet even begun to address the unavoidable issue of accountability.</p>
<p>Before turning to the principal topic, however, there are two preliminary issues to discuss. Both issues inform how I address the larger issue of detainee treatment in the War on Terror.</p>
<p>The first preliminary issue is the distinction between torture, on the one hand, and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, on the other. As we know, there is a legal distinction between torture and cruelty. Cruelty is legally considered the lower level of abuse and the distinction between the two is critical to the application of criminal law. Yet cruelty can be as effective as torture in destroying human dignity and as destructive medically and psychologically of the person; I consider there to be little or no moral distinction between one and the other. The debate over the past decade has been hampered by a lack of discipline or even simple awareness about the distinction between the two categories of abuse. This has served to muddle public understanding. The controversy should not be only about whether we tortured, it should be about whether we inflicted cruelty. In the debate on detainee treatment we have focused too much on torture and not enough on cruelty, thus failing to bring enough moral attention to abuse that we should consider as reprehensible as torture. Fidelity to human rights principles and our existing laws requires that the application of all pain — not only severe pain — be prohibited.</p>
<p>The second preliminary issue is to identify the strategic objectives of the United States in the defense of our nation. In my view there are two, and they are the same today as they were in the immediate aftermath of September 11. The first strategic objective is to defend the safety of our lives and the security of our territory. The second strategic objective is to defend our values and our way of life those values helped create. Both objectives are equally precious and we pursue them simultaneously. We neither surrender the security of our people nor do we surrender the flag by abandoning or compromising our values.</p>
<p>Each of us here understands that the United States is defined by our values; each of us understands that one of the characteristics of our free society is that we accept a greater measure of risk from those internal and external enemies who may wish to do us harm; and each of us understands that the challenge of defending our freedom has never been without cost. Since 9/11, thousands of men and women, both civilian and military, have put themselves at risk and in some cases sacrificed their lives at home and abroad defending our freedoms. Those sacrifices don’t cause us to question or alter our values; instead, they fuel our determination to treasure them even more.</p>
<p>Everyone here will be aware that there have been occasions during our history — usually during wartime or other times of danger — when our nation has mistakenly transgressed our laws and values in pursuit of security. Such excesses occurred during the Civil War, World Wars I and II, and the Cold War. We all recall with shame and revulsion the internment of U.S. citizens of Japanese ancestry during World War II as one such historical example. And we all recall how these patently illegal internments were found to be lawful by the Supreme Court in 1944 in its <em>Korematsu</em> decision.</p>
<p>But, as many if not enough Americans fully understand, our own generation has made our own mistakes. In ways not compelled by the 9/11 terrorists, we also departed from our laws and values during the War on Terror and, by doing so, we damaged them. The greatest damage came from our embrace of cruelty. Our fundamental mistake was in forgetting the wisdom in Albert Camus’ observation that a nation fighting for its values — as we have fought for our values in the War on Terror even if we sometimes lost sight of this strategic objective — must take care that it not kill those values with the very weapons used in their defense.</p>
<p>Whatever else may be said in the future about this war, it is historically significant because we as a nation — despite<strong> </strong>our laws, values, and traditions — consciously applied cruelty against captives and sought to amend or reinterpret our laws so as make this — which was illegal — legal. What <em>Korematsu</em> signifies for World War II, the decision to apply waterboarding to our captives represents to the War on Terror.</p>
<p>I make this point because each time we applied cruelty, each time we hold open the possibility that we may apply cruelty again, each time we fail to render a full accounting of our actions, each time we fail to hold those responsible for the application of cruelty accountable, and each time we fail to provide a remedy for those who were its victims, we acted or act not only contrary to values, but also to our strategic interest.</p>
<p>I. DID WE TORTURE?</p>
<p>Did the United States torture? Indisputably. We did so both directly and by outsourcing torture through extraordinary renditions. The evidence is massive, deep, and no longer deniable.</p>
<p>Here’s how we waterboarded Abu Zubaydah, according to journalist Kurt Eichenwald in his book 500 Days:</p>
<p>Zubaydah was brought into a room and strapped down on a gurney, which was leaned back about fifteen degrees. After Zubaydah exhaled, leaving his lungs collapsed, one of the interrogators held a black cloth against his mouth while another poured water from a plastic bottle onto his face. The liquid flowed into his mouth and nose; the cloth acted like a one-way valve, allowing water to run in but preventing Zubaydah from coughing it out. The fluid filled his head, sinuses, and throat. Even though, because of the incline of the gurney, no liquid could enter his lungs, Zubaydah sucked in the water as he struggled to breathe, experiencing an uncontrollable sense of impending death. He was drowning man who could not drown. (p. 338.)</p>
<p>This was torture.</p>
<p>And here’s how we treated Mohammed al-Qahtani, the detainee believed to be the “Twentieth Hijacker”. According to journalist Jane Mayer:</p>
<p>Qahtani had been subjected to a hundred and sixty days of isolation in a pen perpetually flooded with artificial light. He was interrogated on 48 of 54 days, for eighteen to twenty hours at a stretch. He had been stripped naked; straddled by taunting female guards; …forced to wear women’s underwear on his head and to put on a bra; threatened by dogs; placed on a leash; and told that his mother was a whore. [He] had been subjected to a phony kidnapping, deprived of heat, given large quantities of intravenous liquids without access to a toilet, and deprived of sleep for three days. [At one point,] Qahtani’s hear rate had dropped so precipitately, to thirty-five beats a minute, that he required cardiac monitoring.</p>
<p>This was torture, too. Indeed, in 2009 the former Army General Counsel and then-Convening Authority for the Military Commissions, Susan Crawford, dismissed all war crimes charges against Qahtani based on her official determination that he had been tortured. She stated: “We tortured Qahtani. His treatment met the legal definition….”</p>
<p>And, once again, back to Zubaydah. Here is how the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel, in an astonishing memorandum dated August 1, 2002, responded in part to the CIA General Counsel’s request for legal advice as to how he could employ insects in Zubaydah’s interrogation:</p>
<p>In addition to using the confinement boxes alone, you also would like to introduce an insect into one of the boxes with Zubaydah. As we understand it, you plan to inform Zubaydah that you are going to place a stinging insect into the box, but you will actually place a harmless insect in the box, such as a caterpillar. If you do so…, you must inform him that the insects will not have a sting that would produce death or severe pain. If, however, you were to place the insect in the box without informing him that you are doing so, then, in order not to commit a predicate act, you should not affirmatively lead him to believe that any insect is present which has a sting that could produce severe pain or suffering or even cause his death.</p>
<p>As Professor Joseph Lavitt has pointed out, this bizarre passage could have been lifted textually from George Orwell’s book 1984, the principal distinction being that Orwell wrote of the use of rats, not caterpillars, in the torture of the book’s protagonist. It has not been established that the CIA did use insects during interrogation. But the passage crystalizes the tenor of the advice consistently given to interrogators and acted upon by many of them during the War on Terror: You may place as many insects as you wish on the detainee; the insects may sting the detainee as many times as they can; and the detainee can experience endless pain and suffering, just as long as the pain does not reach the level of severe pain and suffering or death. If the OLC gave this advice in good faith, it can only be because they assumed that pain can be modulated with such precision; that there were interrogators and medical professionals in attendance trained to modulate the pain skillfully; and that part of their skill included the ability to gauge scientifically how a given interrogation technique would affect any detainee at any given moment, regardless of differences in his medical condition or tolerance to pain. But we know none of this is true — pain cannot be modulated with such precision, and never could; those interrogators and doctors skilled in the exquisitely fine application of torment don’t exist, and never did; and we can’t really know how the same interrogation techniques will affect different detainees. When mere pain spiked into the realm of severe pain, who could have detected and documented it? And what happens then — to the interrogators, and the doctors, and the lawyers, and the policy-makers who miscalculated?</p>
<p>In these cases and these ways — and in many more cases and ways — the United States tortured. This was the conclusion of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which, after interviewing detainees held in Guantanamo, informed the U.S. government in February 2007 that its treatment of certain detainees held there constituted torture. This was the conclusion reached more recently by the Constitution Project’s bi-partisan Task Force on Detainee Treatment, which released its compilation of the evidence in a comprehensive, two-year, 600-page Report issued on April. And this is the conclusion that any impartial observer is compelled to reach after a review of the facts.</p>
<p>II. WHY DID WE TORTURE?</p>
<p>How did our Nation come to use torture in this war?</p>
<p>This policy originated in the aftermath of 9/11. At Guantanamo and elsewhere, U.S. authorities held in detention individuals thought to have information on other impending attacks against the United States. It was believed that, unless this information was obtained, more Americans could die. Spurred by this belief, our government made legal and policy decisions providing, in effect, that for some of those detainees labeled as “unlawful combatants,” harsh interrogation methods could be applied. Many of the methods approved and applied constituted cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment — a degree of abuse that the Eighth Amendment and the constitutional jurisprudence of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments have long outlawed. And, as we have seen, torture was also applied.</p>
<p>In my opinion, the authorization to apply torture and cruelty rested on six beliefs or assumptions. The first five are clearly false but the sixth is still at issue. These six assumptions are:</p>
<p>First, the use of harsh interrogation techniques was necessary if our nation was to be protected against further loss of life. This was false.</p>
<p>Second, no law prohibited the application of cruelty. Thus, the government could direct the use of cruelty as a matter of policy depending on the dictates of perceived military necessity. This, too, was false.</p>
<p>Third, the President’s constitutional commander-in-chief authorities included the unabridged discretion to order torture and other forms of abuse. Any existing or proposed law or treaty that would purport to limit this discretion would be an unconstitutional limitation of his powers. False.</p>
<p>Fourth, the use of cruelty in the interrogation of unlawful detainees held abroad would not implicate or adversely affect our values, our domestic legal order, our international relations, or our security strategy. False in every particular.</p>
<p>Fifth, if this abuse were disclosed or discovered, virtually no one would care. Because, to the contrary, many people in fact cared intensely, this too was false. And,</p>
<p>Sixth, if the abuse were discovered, no one responsible would be held accountable.</p>
<p>Whether this last assumption will be proven true or false is still problematic. It is difficult to envisage that our system of justice would fail to respond to a crime such as torture, but so far it has. To this point, the assumption has been proven correct.</p>
<p>The treatment meted to Zubaydah and Qahtani illustrates the results of the policy that ensued from these false assumptions: not all unlawful combatants in custody were mistreated, but it is enough to say that some were; not all were treated as badly as Zubaydah and Qahtani, but many were treated just as badly; and not all who were mistreated were abused as a result of official policy, but many were.</p>
<p>The number of those abused is probably greater than the public record, such as it is, currently documents. In the end, history will ultimately judge what the cause and level of the abuse was for each detainee — whether it was torture or some lesser cruelty — and whether it resulted from official commission, omission, or occurred despite every reasonable effort to prevent the mistreatment. Whatever the ultimate historical judgment, however, it is established fact that the brutal interrogation of detainees was officially sanctioned and that abuse occurred as a consequence. No matter how circumscribed these policies were, or how short their duration, or how few the victims — for as long as these policies were in effect our government had adopted and practiced what only can be labeled as a policy of cruelty that included torture.</p>
<p>III. WHAT WERE THE HARMS?</p>
<p>The application of cruelty and torture harmed and continues to harm our nation’s legal, foreign policy, and national security interests in multiple ways. I’ll discuss each of these harms.</p>
<p>A. The Legal Harm</p>
<p>The first harm was to our laws. The acceptance of cruelty is contrary to and damages our values and legal system by discarding the basic principle that all human beings have the right to be free from cruelty and that the highest purpose of law is to protect human dignity.</p>
<p>Cruelty damages and ultimately would transform our constitutional structure because cruelty is incompatible with the philosophical premises upon which the Constitution is based. Our Founders drafted our Constitution inspired by the belief that law could not create, but only recognize, certain inalienable rights — rights vested in every person, not just citizens, and not just here, but everywhere.</p>
<p>These rights form the shield that protects core human dignity. Because of this shield, due<strong> </strong>process is required; the equal protection of the law is mandated; slavery is outlawed; coerced confessions are prohibited and, if obtained, excluded from use as evidence; the vote is extended to all citizens who have attained their majority; racial discrimination is forbidden; and all men and women are to be treated equally. Also, and most relevantly for purposes of today’s discussion, the Eighth Amendment prohibits<strong> </strong>cruel punishment and the constitutional jurisprudence of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments outlaws cruel treatment that “shocks the conscience”. These are just a few of our rights that issue from the foundation of personal dignity.</p>
<p>These rights, to be sure, have been enlarged and gained greater definition during the course of our history. But to have adopted and applied a policy of cruelty anywhere within this world was to say that our Founders and the successor generations were wrong about their belief in the rights of the individual, because there is no right more fundamental than the right to be safe<strong> </strong>from cruel and inhumane treatment.</p>
<p>If<strong> </strong>we can lawfully abuse Zubaydah and Qahtani the way they were abused — however reprehensible their acts may have been — it is because they did not have the inalienable right to be free from cruelty. And if that is the case, then the foundation upon which our own rights are based starts to crumble, because it would then ultimately be left to the discretion of the state whether and how much cruelty may be applied to each of us or to any person.</p>
<p>The infliction of cruel treatment damages not only the victims, but also the fabric of the law itself in two ways. It does so because if cruelty is taken out of the law’s ambit and placed within the realm of policy, the scope of the law is then, by definition, diminished. Also, cruelty violates the important principle of law that Professor Jeremy Waldron terms the “principle of non-brutality.” He writes:</p>
<p>Law is not savage. Law does not rule through abject fear and terror, or by breaking the will of those whom it confronts…. [There is] an enduring connection between the spirit of the law and respect for human dignity — respect for human dignity even in extremis, where law is at its most forceful and its subjects at their most vulnerable. [T]he rule against torture … is vividly emblematic of our determination to sever the link between the law and brutality, between the law and terror, and between law and the enterprise of breaking a person’s will.</p>
<p>B. The Harm to our Foreign Policy Interests</p>
<p>The second category of the harm from cruelty is to our foreign policy interests. In sum, the effects and consequences of cruelty were contrary to our long-term and over-arching strategic foreign policy interests, including many of the principal institutions, alliances, and rules that we have nurtured and fought for over the past sixty years.</p>
<p>America’s international standing and influence stems in no small measure from the effectiveness of a foreign policy that harmonized our policy ends and means with our national values. The employment of cruelty not only betrayed our values, thus diminishing the strength of our example and our appeal to others, it impaired our foreign policy by adopting means inimical to our traditional national objective of enhancing our security through the spread<strong> </strong>of human rights protected by the rule of law.</p>
<p>From World War II until today, American foreign policy has been grounded in strong measure on a human rights strategy. We have fought tyranny and promoted democracy not only, or even primarily, because it was the right thing to do, but because the spread of democracy made us safer and protected our freedoms. In ways that echoed the development of our own domestic legal system, we successfully promoted the development of a rules-based international order based on the rule of law. Across the world, human rights<strong> </strong>principles, international treaties and laws — particularly humanitarian and international criminal law<strong> — </strong>and many domestic constitutions and legal systems owe their character, acceptance, and relevance to our inspiration, efforts, or support.</p>
<p>Let’s look at three examples, out of many, of these foreign policy achievements:</p>
<ul>
<li>First, the Nuremberg Trials. Nuremberg represents a triumph of American justice and statesmanship that launched the modern era of human rights and international criminal law, treated prisoner abuse as an indictable crime, helped cement the principle of command responsibility, and started the process whereby national sovereignty no longer served as a potential shield to protect the perpetrator of crimes against humanity from the long arm of justice;</li>
<li>Second, the Geneva Conventions. The Geneva Conventions, as do most of the major human rights treaties adopted and ratified by our country during the last century, forbid the application of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment to all captives. Thousands of American soldiers have benefited from these conventions; and</li>
<li>Third, the German Constitution. The Constitution has helped transform a country that helped launch two of the most destructive wars in history into the responsible society it is today. Its article one, section one, states: “The dignity of man is inviolable. To respect and protect it is the duty of all state authority.” That this should be an element of the German Constitution today reflects credit only on the German nation and its citizens. However, hat it should have been adopted by Germany in 1949, the year the constitution was first ratified, reflects credit on an American foreign policy that had integrated our national focus on human dignity as an operational objective.</li>
</ul>
<p>Each of these achievements has returned massive dividends to our nation. We are all<strong> </strong>the better for them. However imperfectly these precedents, rules, or laws may be observed or enforced, they have helped shape public opinion world wide, created global standards of conduct, and influenced the behavior of foreign individuals, groups, and nations in ways that are overwhelmingly supportive of our national interest and objectives.</p>
<p>But we need to recognize that when we adopted our policy of cruelty we sabotaged these policies and achievements. Consider the following: Because of cruelty:</p>
<ul>
<li>We rendered incoherent a core element of our foreign policy — the protection of human dignity through the rule of law;</li>
<li>We abused the letter and spirit of the Geneva Conventions;</li>
<li>We weakened the Nuremberg principle of command responsibility;</li>
<li>We damaged he very fabric of human rights and international law and fostered a spirit of non-compliance with both;</li>
<li>We fostered the incidence of prisoner abuse around the world;</li>
<li>We created a deep legal and political fissure between ourselves and our traditional allies; and</li>
<li>We fueled public disrespect for our country around the world, thus hampering the achievement of our foreign policy objectives; and</li>
<li>In the case of Germany, we committed actions flatly contrary to its inviolable constitutional requirement to protect human dignity.</li>
</ul>
<p>None of this has been to our benefit, yet all of these harms were among the costs we suffered when we adopted the policy of cruelty. These are among the self-inflicted wounds we caused to ourselves when we abused Zubaydah and Qahtani and adopted the policies that permitted their mistreatment and that of others.</p>
<p>C. The Harm to our National Security</p>
<p>Let me now turn to the third category of harm, that to our national security. Simply stated, our nation’s defenses were materially and demonstrably weakened, not strengthened, by the policy and practice of cruelty. Cruelty made us weaker, not stronger. Not only did it blunt our moral authority, it sabotaged<strong> </strong>our ability to build and maintain the broad alliances needed to prosecute the war effectively, it diminished our military’s operational effectiveness, and it had adverse consequences on the battlefield.</p>
<p>In the War on Terror, our national security is achieved not solely through military action, but also through the simultaneous use of ideas and communications, political persuasion, intelligence and law enforcement, and diplomacy. The attacks on the World Trade Center, the Madrid railway station, and the London buses, among many others, evidenced a terrorist ideology that would obliterate human dignity. Our defense to this assault cannot be solely military. These terrorist acts emanated from specific ideas that fostered and propagated this cycle of hate — ideas that must be combated by our own ideas and ideals. Our defense must also consist of rallying to our mutual defense those who share our values and our vision of a humane civilization.</p>
<p>This is not a war we can fight alone. Our political and military strategy must be geared to building and sustaining a large, unified alliance that cooperates across the spectrum of the conflict. Yet we will not be able to build this alliance unless we are able to articulate a clear set of political objectives and prosecute the war using methods consistent with those objectives; we will not be able to build this alliance unless we construct with our leading allies a common legal architecture that is true to our shared values; and we will not be able<strong> </strong>to establish that common legal architecture if were to insist, as we once did, on the discretionary right to apply cruel treatment to detainees.</p>
<p>When our nation adopted our policy of cruelty we compromised our ability to accomplish these national security objectives. Here are four examples of the strategic damage to our national security that we suffered:</p>
<ul>
<li>First, because the cruel treatment of prisoners constitutes a criminal act in every European jurisdiction, European cooperation with the United States across the spectrum of activity — including military, intelligence, and law enforcement — diminished once this practice became apparent;</li>
<li>Second, almost every European politician who sought to fully ally his country with the U.S. effort on the War on Terror incurred a political penalty as a consequence, as the political difficulties of Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Jose Maria Aznar demonstrated;</li>
<li>Third, our abuses at Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and elsewhere perversely generated sympathy for the terrorists and eroded the international good will and political support that we had enjoyed after September 11; and</li>
<li>Fourth, we lost the ability to draw the sharpest possible distinction between our adversaries and ourselves and to contrast our two antithetical ideals. By doing so, we compromised our ability to prosecute this aspect of the war — the war of ideas — from the position of full moral authority.</li>
</ul>
<p>All of these factors contributed to the difficulties our nation has experienced in forging the strongest possible coalition in the War on Terror. But the damage to our national security also occurred not only at the strategic, but also at the operational and tactical military levels. Consider these following five points:</p>
<ul>
<li>First, according to senior flag-rank officers in our military, the proximate cause of the Abu Ghraib debacle was the legal advice authorizing abusive treatment of detainees that issued from the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel in 2002;</li>
<li>Second, other senior officers maintain that the first and second identifiable causes of U.S. combat deaths in Iraq were, respectively, Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, because of their effectiveness as symbols in helping attract and field insurgent fighters into combat;</li>
<li>Third, at various different points, some allied nations refused to participate in combat operations with us out of fear that, in the process, enemy combatants captured by their forces could be abused by U.S. or other forces;</li>
<li>Fourth, at other times, allied nations refused to train with us in joint detainee capture and handling operations, also because of concerns about U.S. detainee policies. Of course, if you don’t train together, you can’t fight together; and</li>
<li>Fifth, our policy of treating detainees harshly could have stiffened our adversaries’ resolve on the battlefield by inducing them to fight harder rather than surrender because of fear of capture, and this could have led to loss of American lives.</li>
</ul>
<p>Each of these points demonstrates how our policy of cruelty weakened our national security and our defenses. Whatever intelligence obtained through our use of harsh interrogation tactics may have been, on the whole the military costs of these policies and practices greatly damaged our overall efforts and impaired our effectiveness in the war.</p>
<p>Every military officer I have spoken with on this issue — including dozens of Service Chiefs and other four-star admirals and generals — describe of the authorization to engage in cruel interrogations as contemptible and contrary to our national interest. The reason for this was captured by in a May 2007 letter by General David Petraeus, who was at the time commander of forces in Iraq, to his troops. He said: “Our values and the laws governing warfare teach us to respect human dignity, maintain our integrity, and do what is right. Adherence to our values distinguishes us from our enemy. This fight depends on securing the population, which must understand that we — not our enemies — occupy the moral high ground.” Petraeus was right, but the policy of cruelty that we adopted at the start of the War on Terror went contrary to his advice.</p>
<p>I’ve spoken of the harms of torture, but was there a benefit? I don’t see it, but there are many in our country who disagree. Many are of the opinion that the only criterion by which to decide whether to use torture or not is whether it is effective in yielding actionable military intelligence. This continues to be the view of many of the architects of the policy of torture in the past administration, who also maintain that torture was indeed instrumental in locating Osama bin Laden and otherwise keeping our country safe.</p>
<p>Are they right? The weight of the evidence strongly suggests that they are not. In December 2008, the Senate Committee on the Armed Services concluded in a report entitled “Inquiry into the Treatment of Detainees in U.S. Custody,” which was issued without dissent, that brutal interrogation techniques “damaged our ability to collect accurate intelligence that could save lives, strengthened the hand of our enemy, and compromised our moral authority.” Such, too, was the conclusion of the Constitution Project’s report. And this is also the reported conclusion of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s still-classified, 6,000-page report on CIA interrogation, which is likely to be the definitive study on this issue.</p>
<p>But let’s suppose that the claims of those who support the torture polices were true, that the abuse did produce useful intelligence: would the policies then be justified? My answer would still be “No” — our values prohibit torture and the net results of its use — as I hope I’ve demonstrated — were overwhelmingly contrary to our national interest.</p>
<p>IV. ACCOUNTABILTY</p>
<p>President Obama has commendably barred the use of cruel interrogation techniques, but he has said his administration would not further investigate past detention policies or actions. There have been almost no prosecutions for the use of torture and, judging from current indications, there not likely to be any in the near term. Similarly, those who allege they were victimized by torture have almost uniformly been barred from gaining access to the courts and obtaining a judicial remedy. It is as if a blanket amnesty shields all those who engaged in the practice of cruelty from the consequences of their actions.</p>
<p>It is difficult to accept this result. Justice does not allow crimes to go unpunished or victims of deliberate harm to be prevented from seeking a remedy. We cannot claim to support human rights while at the same time maintain that we are exempt from the consequences of violating those rights or from our own accountability. We cannot hold others to standards we are unwilling to apply to ourselves. If human rights are important to us — as they are — and their expanded observance around world to be in our vital national interest — as it is — then we cannot fail to recognize the damage that failing to hold ourselves accountable would continue to inflict. How do we ask others to hold themselves accountable for torture if we’re unwilling to be accountable ourselves?</p>
<p>I recognize that we do not yet have the sufficient will as a nation to face this issue. But I think there will come a time when we will. That time will come when we as a nation more fully accept the truth of how we treated detainees. We’ve made some progress, but more progress will be needed. The release of the Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA interrogations is the necessary next step. That report will help strip away the veils and the euphemisms and, by doing so, will help bring clarity. With that more precise understanding of the facts in our possession, we will then be able to turn with greater resolve to the unavoidable and necessary question of accountability.</p>
<p>V. THE FUTURE</p>
<p>Before 9/11, the national consensus held that neither cruel treatment nor punishment could be applied to human beings. This was — then — a consensus cemented by the convergence of our national values, our laws, our foreign policy interests, our human rights principles, and even our military doctrine<strong>.</strong></p>
<p>Now, there is no longer a consensus. Now, many Americans are of the view that cruel treatment or even torture may and should be applied against our enemies, or those who may possibly be our enemies, if doing so could make us safer. And many others who have not yet abandoned our traditional abhorrence of cruel treatment are now asking how much abusive treatment can be applied lawfully to these captives. What was once unspeakable is now a subject of polite conversation. Cruelty, once held in disrepute, has been — astonishingly — rehabilitated, tolerated, and even<strong> </strong>embraced by many.</p>
<p>We know that, if there is another terrorist attack, the numbers of those who support cruelty will rise again. They will press the case that the national security requires harsh interrogations, and demand that our values yield to the purported dictates of the threat.</p>
<p>This is why we need to restore now the national consensus against cruelty, why we need to revert to a legal standard that clearly outlaws cruel treatment anywhere and defines it as a criminal offense, and why we need to ensure accountability for those who engage in it.</p>
<p>The issue of cruelty cannot be reduced simply to what happens in the interrogation room or to whether some of the information obtained through its application may have had some use. It is, as Sen. John McCain has said, about who we are as a nation. It is about remaining faithful to our heritage and constitutional order. It is about who we wish to become and what kind of world we wish to live in. It is about protecting human dignity at home and abroad. It is about mounting the most effective defense to the terrorist threat, a defense that is weakened when we depart from our values. And it is about our understanding — to return to Camus’ formulation — that cruelty is the weapon whose use would destroy the very values we seek to protect.</p>
<p>My thanks again to the University for inviting to present the O’Brien Lecture and to each of you for being here.</p>
<p>**********************</p>
<p><em>Alberto Mora served as the General Counsel to the Department of the Navy from 2001–2006 and was an outspoken critic of American policies regarding the treatment of detainees. Mora is currently Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of Mars, Inc. He previously served as Vice President and General Counsel, International, for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. He serves on the Boards of Directors Human Rights First and Freedom House and is a member of the Board of Advisors of the MSFS Program at Georgetown University.</em></p>
</section>
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Complete Text: Alberto Mora discussing torture and cruel and inhuman treatment of detainees in Georgetown’s William V. O’Brien Lecture in International Law and Morality
The Honorable Alberto Mora
WILLIAM V. O’BRIEN LECTURE
IN INTERNATIONAL LAW AND MORALITY
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
APRIL 30, 2013
ALBERTO MORA
My sincere thanks to Georgetown University for having conferred on me the distinction of being asked to present today the William O’Brien Lecture in International Law and Morality. I also wish to thank my friends, Mark Lagon and Tony Arend, for their support of Georgetown’s decision to extend the invitation. I am honored to be able to support Mark and Tony’s academic work in my capacity as a member of the Advisory Board of the Master of Science in Foreign Service Program, one of the programs that help make the School of Foreign Service one of the world’s leading centers for international affairs research and study.
The O’Brien Lecture was established by the School of Foreign Service and the Government Department to honor Dr. O’Brien’s many years of distinguished scholarship on war, morality, and the legal dimensions of international affairs. Dr. O’Brien’s work on these issues not only continues to resonate, but it has also clearly continued to influence the University. This is evidenced by the leadership in these areas provided by Alex Aleinikoff, my college classmate and good friend, while a member of the faculty and then Dean of the Law Center. It is also evidenced by the major contributions made by David Cole and Neal Katyal — among many other current or former Georgetown faculty members — to the national debate on the legal issues of the War on Terror in their roles as lawyers, scholars, and public intellectuals.
Today, my focus will be on the self-inflicted and still-unhealed wounds our nation has suffered from our decision to adopt torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment as weapons of war. I’ll cover briefly what we did; how and why we came to do so; the damage to our country that resulted and continues; and our accountability, or lack of it, for our actions. As I say, our national wounds are still unhealed. In large measure this is because we have not yet assembled the full historical record, we have not yet grasped the full consequences of our actions, and we have not yet even begun to address the unavoidable issue of accountability.
Before turning to the principal topic, however, there are two preliminary issues to discuss. Both issues inform how I address the larger issue of detainee treatment in the War on Terror.
The first preliminary issue is the distinction between torture, on the one hand, and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, on the other. As we know, there is a legal distinction between torture and cruelty. Cruelty is legally considered the lower level of abuse and the distinction between the two is critical to the application of criminal law. Yet cruelty can be as effective as torture in destroying human dignity and as destructive medically and psychologically of the person; I consider there to be little or no moral distinction between one and the other. The debate over the past decade has been hampered by a lack of discipline or even simple awareness about the distinction between the two categories of abuse. This has served to muddle public understanding. The controversy should not be only about whether we tortured, it should be about whether we inflicted cruelty. In the debate on detainee treatment we have focused too much on torture and not enough on cruelty, thus failing to bring enough moral attention to abuse that we should consider as reprehensible as torture. Fidelity to human rights principles and our existing laws requires that the application of all pain — not only severe pain — be prohibited.
The second preliminary issue is to identify the strategic objectives of the United States in the defense of our nation. In my view there are two, and they are the same today as they were in the immediate aftermath of September 11. The first strategic objective is to defend the safety of our lives and the security of our territory. The second strategic objective is to defend our values and our way of life those values helped create. Both objectives are equally precious and we pursue them simultaneously. We neither surrender the security of our people nor do we surrender the flag by abandoning or compromising our values.
Each of us here understands that the United States is defined by our values; each of us understands that one of the characteristics of our free society is that we accept a greater measure of risk from those internal and external enemies who may wish to do us harm; and each of us understands that the challenge of defending our freedom has never been without cost. Since 9/11, thousands of men and women, both civilian and military, have put themselves at risk and in some cases sacrificed their lives at home and abroad defending our freedoms. Those sacrifices don’t cause us to question or alter our values; instead, they fuel our determination to treasure them even more.
Everyone here will be aware that there have been occasions during our history — usually during wartime or other times of danger — when our nation has mistakenly transgressed our laws and values in pursuit of security. Such excesses occurred during the Civil War, World Wars I and II, and the Cold War. We all recall with shame and revulsion the internment of U.S. citizens of Japanese ancestry during World War II as one such historical example. And we all recall how these patently illegal internments were found to be lawful by the Supreme Court in 1944 in its Korematsu decision.
But, as many if not enough Americans fully understand, our own generation has made our own mistakes. In ways not compelled by the 9/11 terrorists, we also departed from our laws and values during the War on Terror and, by doing so, we damaged them. The greatest damage came from our embrace of cruelty. Our fundamental mistake was in forgetting the wisdom in Albert Camus’ observation that a nation fighting for its values — as we have fought for our values in the War on Terror even if we sometimes lost sight of this strategic objective — must take care that it not kill those values with the very weapons used in their defense.
Whatever else may be said in the future about this war, it is historically significant because we as a nation — despite our laws, values, and traditions — consciously applied cruelty against captives and sought to amend or reinterpret our laws so as make this — which was illegal — legal. What Korematsu signifies for World War II, the decision to apply waterboarding to our captives represents to the War on Terror.
I make this point because each time we applied cruelty, each time we hold open the possibility that we may apply cruelty again, each time we fail to render a full accounting of our actions, each time we fail to hold those responsible for the application of cruelty accountable, and each time we fail to provide a remedy for those who were its victims, we acted or act not only contrary to values, but also to our strategic interest.
I. DID WE TORTURE?
Did the United States torture? Indisputably. We did so both directly and by outsourcing torture through extraordinary renditions. The evidence is massive, deep, and no longer deniable.
Here’s how we waterboarded Abu Zubaydah, according to journalist Kurt Eichenwald in his book 500 Days:
Zubaydah was brought into a room and strapped down on a gurney, which was leaned back about fifteen degrees. After Zubaydah exhaled, leaving his lungs collapsed, one of the interrogators held a black cloth against his mouth while another poured water from a plastic bottle onto his face. The liquid flowed into his mouth and nose; the cloth acted like a one-way valve, allowing water to run in but preventing Zubaydah from coughing it out. The fluid filled his head, sinuses, and throat. Even though, because of the incline of the gurney, no liquid could enter his lungs, Zubaydah sucked in the water as he struggled to breathe, experiencing an uncontrollable sense of impending death. He was drowning man who could not drown. (p. 338.)
This was torture.
And here’s how we treated Mohammed al-Qahtani, the detainee believed to be the “Twentieth Hijacker”. According to journalist Jane Mayer:
Qahtani had been subjected to a hundred and sixty days of isolation in a pen perpetually flooded with artificial light. He was interrogated on 48 of 54 days, for eighteen to twenty hours at a stretch. He had been stripped naked; straddled by taunting female guards; …forced to wear women’s underwear on his head and to put on a bra; threatened by dogs; placed on a leash; and told that his mother was a whore. [He] had been subjected to a phony kidnapping, deprived of heat, given large quantities of intravenous liquids without access to a toilet, and deprived of sleep for three days. [At one point,] Qahtani’s hear rate had dropped so precipitately, to thirty-five beats a minute, that he required cardiac monitoring.
This was torture, too. Indeed, in 2009 the former Army General Counsel and then-Convening Authority for the Military Commissions, Susan Crawford, dismissed all war crimes charges against Qahtani based on her official determination that he had been tortured. She stated: “We tortured Qahtani. His treatment met the legal definition….”
And, once again, back to Zubaydah. Here is how the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel, in an astonishing memorandum dated August 1, 2002, responded in part to the CIA General Counsel’s request for legal advice as to how he could employ insects in Zubaydah’s interrogation:
In addition to using the confinement boxes alone, you also would like to introduce an insect into one of the boxes with Zubaydah. As we understand it, you plan to inform Zubaydah that you are going to place a stinging insect into the box, but you will actually place a harmless insect in the box, such as a caterpillar. If you do so…, you must inform him that the insects will not have a sting that would produce death or severe pain. If, however, you were to place the insect in the box without informing him that you are doing so, then, in order not to commit a predicate act, you should not affirmatively lead him to believe that any insect is present which has a sting that could produce severe pain or suffering or even cause his death.
As Professor Joseph Lavitt has pointed out, this bizarre passage could have been lifted textually from George Orwell’s book 1984, the principal distinction being that Orwell wrote of the use of rats, not caterpillars, in the torture of the book’s protagonist. It has not been established that the CIA did use insects during interrogation. But the passage crystalizes the tenor of the advice consistently given to interrogators and acted upon by many of them during the War on Terror: You may place as many insects as you wish on the detainee; the insects may sting the detainee as many times as they can; and the detainee can experience endless pain and suffering, just as long as the pain does not reach the level of severe pain and suffering or death. If the OLC gave this advice in good faith, it can only be because they assumed that pain can be modulated with such precision; that there were interrogators and medical professionals in attendance trained to modulate the pain skillfully; and that part of their skill included the ability to gauge scientifically how a given interrogation technique would affect any detainee at any given moment, regardless of differences in his medical condition or tolerance to pain. But we know none of this is true — pain cannot be modulated with such precision, and never could; those interrogators and doctors skilled in the exquisitely fine application of torment don’t exist, and never did; and we can’t really know how the same interrogation techniques will affect different detainees. When mere pain spiked into the realm of severe pain, who could have detected and documented it? And what happens then — to the interrogators, and the doctors, and the lawyers, and the policy-makers who miscalculated?
In these cases and these ways — and in many more cases and ways — the United States tortured. This was the conclusion of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which, after interviewing detainees held in Guantanamo, informed the U.S. government in February 2007 that its treatment of certain detainees held there constituted torture. This was the conclusion reached more recently by the Constitution Project’s bi-partisan Task Force on Detainee Treatment, which released its compilation of the evidence in a comprehensive, two-year, 600-page Report issued on April. And this is the conclusion that any impartial observer is compelled to reach after a review of the facts.
II. WHY DID WE TORTURE?
How did our Nation come to use torture in this war?
This policy originated in the aftermath of 9/11. At Guantanamo and elsewhere, U.S. authorities held in detention individuals thought to have information on other impending attacks against the United States. It was believed that, unless this information was obtained, more Americans could die. Spurred by this belief, our government made legal and policy decisions providing, in effect, that for some of those detainees labeled as “unlawful combatants,” harsh interrogation methods could be applied. Many of the methods approved and applied constituted cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment — a degree of abuse that the Eighth Amendment and the constitutional jurisprudence of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments have long outlawed. And, as we have seen, torture was also applied.
In my opinion, the authorization to apply torture and cruelty rested on six beliefs or assumptions. The first five are clearly false but the sixth is still at issue. These six assumptions are:
First, the use of harsh interrogation techniques was necessary if our nation was to be protected against further loss of life. This was false.
Second, no law prohibited the application of cruelty. Thus, the government could direct the use of cruelty as a matter of policy depending on the dictates of perceived military necessity. This, too, was false.
Third, the President’s constitutional commander-in-chief authorities included the unabridged discretion to order torture and other forms of abuse. Any existing or proposed law or treaty that would purport to limit this discretion would be an unconstitutional limitation of his powers. False.
Fourth, the use of cruelty in the interrogation of unlawful detainees held abroad would not implicate or adversely affect our values, our domestic legal order, our international relations, or our security strategy. False in every particular.
Fifth, if this abuse were disclosed or discovered, virtually no one would care. Because, to the contrary, many people in fact cared intensely, this too was false. And,
Sixth, if the abuse were discovered, no one responsible would be held accountable.
Whether this last assumption will be proven true or false is still problematic. It is difficult to envisage that our system of justice would fail to respond to a crime such as torture, but so far it has. To this point, the assumption has been proven correct.
The treatment meted to Zubaydah and Qahtani illustrates the results of the policy that ensued from these false assumptions: not all unlawful combatants in custody were mistreated, but it is enough to say that some were; not all were treated as badly as Zubaydah and Qahtani, but many were treated just as badly; and not all who were mistreated were abused as a result of official policy, but many were.
The number of those abused is probably greater than the public record, such as it is, currently documents. In the end, history will ultimately judge what the cause and level of the abuse was for each detainee — whether it was torture or some lesser cruelty — and whether it resulted from official commission, omission, or occurred despite every reasonable effort to prevent the mistreatment. Whatever the ultimate historical judgment, however, it is established fact that the brutal interrogation of detainees was officially sanctioned and that abuse occurred as a consequence. No matter how circumscribed these policies were, or how short their duration, or how few the victims — for as long as these policies were in effect our government had adopted and practiced what only can be labeled as a policy of cruelty that included torture.
III. WHAT WERE THE HARMS?
The application of cruelty and torture harmed and continues to harm our nation’s legal, foreign policy, and national security interests in multiple ways. I’ll discuss each of these harms.
A. The Legal Harm
The first harm was to our laws. The acceptance of cruelty is contrary to and damages our values and legal system by discarding the basic principle that all human beings have the right to be free from cruelty and that the highest purpose of law is to protect human dignity.
Cruelty damages and ultimately would transform our constitutional structure because cruelty is incompatible with the philosophical premises upon which the Constitution is based. Our Founders drafted our Constitution inspired by the belief that law could not create, but only recognize, certain inalienable rights — rights vested in every person, not just citizens, and not just here, but everywhere.
These rights form the shield that protects core human dignity. Because of this shield, due process is required; the equal protection of the law is mandated; slavery is outlawed; coerced confessions are prohibited and, if obtained, excluded from use as evidence; the vote is extended to all citizens who have attained their majority; racial discrimination is forbidden; and all men and women are to be treated equally. Also, and most relevantly for purposes of today’s discussion, the Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel punishment and the constitutional jurisprudence of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments outlaws cruel treatment that “shocks the conscience”. These are just a few of our rights that issue from the foundation of personal dignity.
These rights, to be sure, have been enlarged and gained greater definition during the course of our history. But to have adopted and applied a policy of cruelty anywhere within this world was to say that our Founders and the successor generations were wrong about their belief in the rights of the individual, because there is no right more fundamental than the right to be safe from cruel and inhumane treatment.
If we can lawfully abuse Zubaydah and Qahtani the way they were abused — however reprehensible their acts may have been — it is because they did not have the inalienable right to be free from cruelty. And if that is the case, then the foundation upon which our own rights are based starts to crumble, because it would then ultimately be left to the discretion of the state whether and how much cruelty may be applied to each of us or to any person.
The infliction of cruel treatment damages not only the victims, but also the fabric of the law itself in two ways. It does so because if cruelty is taken out of the law’s ambit and placed within the realm of policy, the scope of the law is then, by definition, diminished. Also, cruelty violates the important principle of law that Professor Jeremy Waldron terms the “principle of non-brutality.” He writes:
Law is not savage. Law does not rule through abject fear and terror, or by breaking the will of those whom it confronts…. [There is] an enduring connection between the spirit of the law and respect for human dignity — respect for human dignity even in extremis, where law is at its most forceful and its subjects at their most vulnerable. [T]he rule against torture … is vividly emblematic of our determination to sever the link between the law and brutality, between the law and terror, and between law and the enterprise of breaking a person’s will.
B. The Harm to our Foreign Policy Interests
The second category of the harm from cruelty is to our foreign policy interests. In sum, the effects and consequences of cruelty were contrary to our long-term and over-arching strategic foreign policy interests, including many of the principal institutions, alliances, and rules that we have nurtured and fought for over the past sixty years.
America’s international standing and influence stems in no small measure from the effectiveness of a foreign policy that harmonized our policy ends and means with our national values. The employment of cruelty not only betrayed our values, thus diminishing the strength of our example and our appeal to others, it impaired our foreign policy by adopting means inimical to our traditional national objective of enhancing our security through the spread of human rights protected by the rule of law.
From World War II until today, American foreign policy has been grounded in strong measure on a human rights strategy. We have fought tyranny and promoted democracy not only, or even primarily, because it was the right thing to do, but because the spread of democracy made us safer and protected our freedoms. In ways that echoed the development of our own domestic legal system, we successfully promoted the development of a rules-based international order based on the rule of law. Across the world, human rights principles, international treaties and laws — particularly humanitarian and international criminal law — and many domestic constitutions and legal systems owe their character, acceptance, and relevance to our inspiration, efforts, or support.
Let’s look at three examples, out of many, of these foreign policy achievements:
First, the Nuremberg Trials. Nuremberg represents a triumph of American justice and statesmanship that launched the modern era of human rights and international criminal law, treated prisoner abuse as an indictable crime, helped cement the principle of command responsibility, and started the process whereby national sovereignty no longer served as a potential shield to protect the perpetrator of crimes against humanity from the long arm of justice;
Second, the Geneva Conventions. The Geneva Conventions, as do most of the major human rights treaties adopted and ratified by our country during the last century, forbid the application of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment to all captives. Thousands of American soldiers have benefited from these conventions; and
Third, the German Constitution. The Constitution has helped transform a country that helped launch two of the most destructive wars in history into the responsible society it is today. Its article one, section one, states: “The dignity of man is inviolable. To respect and protect it is the duty of all state authority.” That this should be an element of the German Constitution today reflects credit only on the German nation and its citizens. However, hat it should have been adopted by Germany in 1949, the year the constitution was first ratified, reflects credit on an American foreign policy that had integrated our national focus on human dignity as an operational objective.
Each of these achievements has returned massive dividends to our nation. We are all the better for them. However imperfectly these precedents, rules, or laws may be observed or enforced, they have helped shape public opinion world wide, created global standards of conduct, and influenced the behavior of foreign individuals, groups, and nations in ways that are overwhelmingly supportive of our national interest and objectives.
But we need to recognize that when we adopted our policy of cruelty we sabotaged these policies and achievements. Consider the following: Because of cruelty:
We rendered incoherent a core element of our foreign policy — the protection of human dignity through the rule of law;
We abused the letter and spirit of the Geneva Conventions;
We weakened the Nuremberg principle of command responsibility;
We damaged he very fabric of human rights and international law and fostered a spirit of non-compliance with both;
We fostered the incidence of prisoner abuse around the world;
We created a deep legal and political fissure between ourselves and our traditional allies; and
We fueled public disrespect for our country around the world, thus hampering the achievement of our foreign policy objectives; and
In the case of Germany, we committed actions flatly contrary to its inviolable constitutional requirement to protect human dignity.
None of this has been to our benefit, yet all of these harms were among the costs we suffered when we adopted the policy of cruelty. These are among the self-inflicted wounds we caused to ourselves when we abused Zubaydah and Qahtani and adopted the policies that permitted their mistreatment and that of others.
C. The Harm to our National Security
Let me now turn to the third category of harm, that to our national security. Simply stated, our nation’s defenses were materially and demonstrably weakened, not strengthened, by the policy and practice of cruelty. Cruelty made us weaker, not stronger. Not only did it blunt our moral authority, it sabotaged our ability to build and maintain the broad alliances needed to prosecute the war effectively, it diminished our military’s operational effectiveness, and it had adverse consequences on the battlefield.
In the War on Terror, our national security is achieved not solely through military action, but also through the simultaneous use of ideas and communications, political persuasion, intelligence and law enforcement, and diplomacy. The attacks on the World Trade Center, the Madrid railway station, and the London buses, among many others, evidenced a terrorist ideology that would obliterate human dignity. Our defense to this assault cannot be solely military. These terrorist acts emanated from specific ideas that fostered and propagated this cycle of hate — ideas that must be combated by our own ideas and ideals. Our defense must also consist of rallying to our mutual defense those who share our values and our vision of a humane civilization.
This is not a war we can fight alone. Our political and military strategy must be geared to building and sustaining a large, unified alliance that cooperates across the spectrum of the conflict. Yet we will not be able to build this alliance unless we are able to articulate a clear set of political objectives and prosecute the war using methods consistent with those objectives; we will not be able to build this alliance unless we construct with our leading allies a common legal architecture that is true to our shared values; and we will not be able to establish that common legal architecture if were to insist, as we once did, on the discretionary right to apply cruel treatment to detainees.
When our nation adopted our policy of cruelty we compromised our ability to accomplish these national security objectives. Here are four examples of the strategic damage to our national security that we suffered:
First, because the cruel treatment of prisoners constitutes a criminal act in every European jurisdiction, European cooperation with the United States across the spectrum of activity — including military, intelligence, and law enforcement — diminished once this practice became apparent;
Second, almost every European politician who sought to fully ally his country with the U.S. effort on the War on Terror incurred a political penalty as a consequence, as the political difficulties of Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Jose Maria Aznar demonstrated;
Third, our abuses at Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and elsewhere perversely generated sympathy for the terrorists and eroded the international good will and political support that we had enjoyed after September 11; and
Fourth, we lost the ability to draw the sharpest possible distinction between our adversaries and ourselves and to contrast our two antithetical ideals. By doing so, we compromised our ability to prosecute this aspect of the war — the war of ideas — from the position of full moral authority.
All of these factors contributed to the difficulties our nation has experienced in forging the strongest possible coalition in the War on Terror. But the damage to our national security also occurred not only at the strategic, but also at the operational and tactical military levels. Consider these following five points:
First, according to senior flag-rank officers in our military, the proximate cause of the Abu Ghraib debacle was the legal advice authorizing abusive treatment of detainees that issued from the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel in 2002;
Second, other senior officers maintain that the first and second identifiable causes of U.S. combat deaths in Iraq were, respectively, Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, because of their effectiveness as symbols in helping attract and field insurgent fighters into combat;
Third, at various different points, some allied nations refused to participate in combat operations with us out of fear that, in the process, enemy combatants captured by their forces could be abused by U.S. or other forces;
Fourth, at other times, allied nations refused to train with us in joint detainee capture and handling operations, also because of concerns about U.S. detainee policies. Of course, if you don’t train together, you can’t fight together; and
Fifth, our policy of treating detainees harshly could have stiffened our adversaries’ resolve on the battlefield by inducing them to fight harder rather than surrender because of fear of capture, and this could have led to loss of American lives.
Each of these points demonstrates how our policy of cruelty weakened our national security and our defenses. Whatever intelligence obtained through our use of harsh interrogation tactics may have been, on the whole the military costs of these policies and practices greatly damaged our overall efforts and impaired our effectiveness in the war.
Every military officer I have spoken with on this issue — including dozens of Service Chiefs and other four-star admirals and generals — describe of the authorization to engage in cruel interrogations as contemptible and contrary to our national interest. The reason for this was captured by in a May 2007 letter by General David Petraeus, who was at the time commander of forces in Iraq, to his troops. He said: “Our values and the laws governing warfare teach us to respect human dignity, maintain our integrity, and do what is right. Adherence to our values distinguishes us from our enemy. This fight depends on securing the population, which must understand that we — not our enemies — occupy the moral high ground.” Petraeus was right, but the policy of cruelty that we adopted at the start of the War on Terror went contrary to his advice.
I’ve spoken of the harms of torture, but was there a benefit? I don’t see it, but there are many in our country who disagree. Many are of the opinion that the only criterion by which to decide whether to use torture or not is whether it is effective in yielding actionable military intelligence. This continues to be the view of many of the architects of the policy of torture in the past administration, who also maintain that torture was indeed instrumental in locating Osama bin Laden and otherwise keeping our country safe.
Are they right? The weight of the evidence strongly suggests that they are not. In December 2008, the Senate Committee on the Armed Services concluded in a report entitled “Inquiry into the Treatment of Detainees in U.S. Custody,” which was issued without dissent, that brutal interrogation techniques “damaged our ability to collect accurate intelligence that could save lives, strengthened the hand of our enemy, and compromised our moral authority.” Such, too, was the conclusion of the Constitution Project’s report. And this is also the reported conclusion of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s still-classified, 6,000-page report on CIA interrogation, which is likely to be the definitive study on this issue.
But let’s suppose that the claims of those who support the torture polices were true, that the abuse did produce useful intelligence: would the policies then be justified? My answer would still be “No” — our values prohibit torture and the net results of its use — as I hope I’ve demonstrated — were overwhelmingly contrary to our national interest.
IV. ACCOUNTABILTY
President Obama has commendably barred the use of cruel interrogation techniques, but he has said his administration would not further investigate past detention policies or actions. There have been almost no prosecutions for the use of torture and, judging from current indications, there not likely to be any in the near term. Similarly, those who allege they were victimized by torture have almost uniformly been barred from gaining access to the courts and obtaining a judicial remedy. It is as if a blanket amnesty shields all those who engaged in the practice of cruelty from the consequences of their actions.
It is difficult to accept this result. Justice does not allow crimes to go unpunished or victims of deliberate harm to be prevented from seeking a remedy. We cannot claim to support human rights while at the same time maintain that we are exempt from the consequences of violating those rights or from our own accountability. We cannot hold others to standards we are unwilling to apply to ourselves. If human rights are important to us — as they are — and their expanded observance around world to be in our vital national interest — as it is — then we cannot fail to recognize the damage that failing to hold ourselves accountable would continue to inflict. How do we ask others to hold themselves accountable for torture if we’re unwilling to be accountable ourselves?
I recognize that we do not yet have the sufficient will as a nation to face this issue. But I think there will come a time when we will. That time will come when we as a nation more fully accept the truth of how we treated detainees. We’ve made some progress, but more progress will be needed. The release of the Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA interrogations is the necessary next step. That report will help strip away the veils and the euphemisms and, by doing so, will help bring clarity. With that more precise understanding of the facts in our possession, we will then be able to turn with greater resolve to the unavoidable and necessary question of accountability.
V. THE FUTURE
Before 9/11, the national consensus held that neither cruel treatment nor punishment could be applied to human beings. This was — then — a consensus cemented by the convergence of our national values, our laws, our foreign policy interests, our human rights principles, and even our military doctrine.
Now, there is no longer a consensus. Now, many Americans are of the view that cruel treatment or even torture may and should be applied against our enemies, or those who may possibly be our enemies, if doing so could make us safer. And many others who have not yet abandoned our traditional abhorrence of cruel treatment are now asking how much abusive treatment can be applied lawfully to these captives. What was once unspeakable is now a subject of polite conversation. Cruelty, once held in disrepute, has been — astonishingly — rehabilitated, tolerated, and even embraced by many.
We know that, if there is another terrorist attack, the numbers of those who support cruelty will rise again. They will press the case that the national security requires harsh interrogations, and demand that our values yield to the purported dictates of the threat.
This is why we need to restore now the national consensus against cruelty, why we need to revert to a legal standard that clearly outlaws cruel treatment anywhere and defines it as a criminal offense, and why we need to ensure accountability for those who engage in it.
The issue of cruelty cannot be reduced simply to what happens in the interrogation room or to whether some of the information obtained through its application may have had some use. It is, as Sen. John McCain has said, about who we are as a nation. It is about remaining faithful to our heritage and constitutional order. It is about who we wish to become and what kind of world we wish to live in. It is about protecting human dignity at home and abroad. It is about mounting the most effective defense to the terrorist threat, a defense that is weakened when we depart from our values. And it is about our understanding — to return to Camus’ formulation — that cruelty is the weapon whose use would destroy the very values we seek to protect.
My thanks again to the University for inviting to present the O’Brien Lecture and to each of you for being here.
**********************
Alberto Mora served as the General Counsel to the Department of the Navy from 2001–2006 and was an outspoken critic of American policies regarding the treatment of detainees. Mora is currently Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of Mars, Inc. He previously served as Vice President and General Counsel, International, for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. He serves on the Boards of Directors Human Rights First and Freedom House and is a member of the Board of Advisors of the MSFS Program at Georgetown University.
|
97d0c4eb-bb80-5b3c-ad79-6e1aeb380f0e
|
25/08/2025 16:02:15
|
|
https://medium.com/@jlynch2314/https-t-co-hqnpdfb17w-https-t-co-hbuabne6bb-1334d59ef683
|
medium.com
|
https://t.co/hQNPDFB17W https://t.co/HbUABnE6bB
| null |
jlynch2314
|
https://medium.com/@jlynch2314
|
1334d59ef683
| null |
0 min
|
2016-03-06T09:35:09.475000
|
2016-03-06T09:35:10.421000
|
2016-03-06T09:35:10.421000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Hammocks,Hammock Camping,Hammocking
|
<section>
<p>— Jeff Lynch (@jefflynch2314) <a href="https://twitter.com/jefflynch2314/status/706409327628783616">March 6, 2016</a></p>
<p></p>
</section>
|
https://t.co/hQNPDFB17W http://pic.twitter.com/HbUABnE6bB
— Jeff Lynch (@jefflynch2314) March 6, 2016
|
a0a492b2-5ae9-5dca-8996-4e8a1cac6ca0
|
25/08/2025 16:02:15
|
https://tokenlon.medium.com/tokenlon-weekly-2024-05-17-05-24-e5d787894c86
|
medium.com
|
Tokenlon Weekly（2024.05.17–05.24）
|
The focus of this week’s crypto market is the approval of the Ethereum spot ETF. ETH performed outstandingly with a 7-day increase of 24%…
|
Tokenlon DEX
|
https://medium.com/@tokenlon
|
e5d787894c86
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*eQZYfTmzsLFCz7P-
|
2 min
|
2024-05-24T09:21:44.962000
|
2024-05-24T09:23:22.863000
|
2024-11-25T13:34:44.475000
| 0 | 2 |
en
|
Tokenlon,Weekly Report
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/0*eQZYfTmzsLFCz7P-" width="1200" height="630" loading="lazy" />
<p>The focus of this week’s crypto market is the approval of the Ethereum spot ETF. ETH performed outstandingly with a 7-day increase of 24%, peaking at over $3,900 and currently priced at $3,672. BTC briefly surpassed $71,000 and has now fallen back to $67,161.61.</p>
<h1>DeFi Market</h1>
<p><em>Note: Data as of 2024.05.24 21:30 +UTC</em></p>
<p>Total <a href="https://defillama.com/">TVL</a>: $106.12b, of which Ethereum chain TVL is 64.51b.</p>
<p>For <a href="https://l2beat.com/scaling/tvl">Ethereum Layer 2</a>, the total locked value is $45.61 billion, a 7-day increase of 17.93%.</p>
<ul>
<li>The Arbitrum One network’s total locked value is $18.92 billion, a 7-day increase of 19.17%</li>
<li>The Optimism network’s total locked value is $7.59 billion, a 7-day increase of 15.08%</li>
</ul>
<h2>DEX Market</h2>
<p>The DEX market last week has a total transaction of $36b, accounting for 51.6% of the total Ethereum network transactions.</p>
<h2>Tokenlon & LON Weekly Statistics</h2>
<p>Tokenlon</p>
<ul>
<li>Tokenlon’s trading volume this week was $133,360,070.57, with 1,685 transaction addresses and 3,871 transactions. The revenue was $315,563.85 and the net profit from fees was $308,441.84 with the current fee balance being <a href="https://tokenlon.im/lon/buyback">$896,968.77</a>.</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1080/0*ovtrF6RtwVoawDLr" width="1080" height="880" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>LON</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The LON staking contract has a staked amount of 76,260,959.42 LON, with an annualized staking yield (monthly) of 28.53%. The LON liquidity pool (<a href="https://v2.info.uniswap.org/pair/0x7924a818013f39cf800f5589ff1f1f0def54f31f">Uniswap</a>+<a href="https://www.sushi.com/earn/eth:0x55d31f68975e446a40a2d02ffa4b0e1bfb233c2f">Sushiswap</a>) has a locked LON amount of 6,117,932. A total of 72,472.43 LON was bought back last week.</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1080/0*vxqHhJ6JRa1RDhlh" width="1080" height="1097" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>Tokenlon Development Highlights</strong></p>
<p>Multi-chain Deployment</p>
<ul>
<li>Preparation of tutorials and promotional materials is complete. Market promotion will commence next week.</li>
<li>Added popular tokens from Base, Polygon, Arbitrum, and BNB chains.</li>
</ul>
<p>Market Makers</p>
<ul>
<li>Communicated with market makers about recent liquidity matters.</li>
</ul>
<p>BestBuy Product</p>
<ul>
<li>BestBuy user testing is complete, and feedback forms are being filled out. Future product iterations will be based on user feedback.</li>
</ul>
<p>Latest Market Updates</p>
<ul>
<li>Providing the latest market updates on the Tokenlon market trading page to help users make better trades.</li>
</ul>
<p>Important Risk Warning</p>
<ul>
<li>LON token contract address:
<a href="https://etherscan.io/token/0x0000000000095413afc295d19edeb1ad7b71c952"> 0x0000000000095413afC295d19EDeb1Ad7B71c952</a></li>
<li>LON is Tokenlon’s native token, where holders will enjoy fee discounts and voting rights</li>
<li>Beware of fake Tokenlon imitations, the official website is:<a href="https://tokenlon.im"> https://tokenlon.im</a></li>
<li>Please do not download any app or DApp from non-official Telegram, Whatsapp, Facebook, or Wechat</li>
</ul>
<p>Tokenlon,</p>
<p>2024.5.24</p>
<p>Contact us</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://tokenlon.im">Website</a></li>
<li><a href="https://discord.gg/ZFf4Cye">Discord</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/tokenlon">Twitter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medium.com/@tokenlon">Medium</a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Notes</strong></p>
<p>Digital Assets are highly volatile and unpredictable. Please do your research before trading.</p>
</section>
|
Tokenlon Weekly（2024.05.17–05.24）
The focus of this week’s crypto market is the approval of the Ethereum spot ETF. ETH performed outstandingly with a 7-day increase of 24%, peaking at over $3,900 and currently priced at $3,672. BTC briefly surpassed $71,000 and has now fallen back to $67,161.61.
DeFi Market
Note: Data as of 2024.05.24 21:30 +UTC
Total TVL: $106.12b, of which Ethereum chain TVL is 64.51b.
For Ethereum Layer 2, the total locked value is $45.61 billion, a 7-day increase of 17.93%.
The Arbitrum One network’s total locked value is $18.92 billion, a 7-day increase of 19.17%
The Optimism network’s total locked value is $7.59 billion, a 7-day increase of 15.08%
DEX Market
The DEX market last week has a total transaction of $36b, accounting for 51.6% of the total Ethereum network transactions.
Tokenlon & LON Weekly Statistics
Tokenlon
Tokenlon’s trading volume this week was $133,360,070.57, with 1,685 transaction addresses and 3,871 transactions. The revenue was $315,563.85 and the net profit from fees was $308,441.84 with the current fee balance being $896,968.77.
LON
The LON staking contract has a staked amount of 76,260,959.42 LON, with an annualized staking yield (monthly) of 28.53%. The LON liquidity pool (Uniswap+Sushiswap) has a locked LON amount of 6,117,932. A total of 72,472.43 LON was bought back last week.
Tokenlon Development Highlights
Multi-chain Deployment
Preparation of tutorials and promotional materials is complete. Market promotion will commence next week.
Added popular tokens from Base, Polygon, Arbitrum, and BNB chains.
Market Makers
Communicated with market makers about recent liquidity matters.
BestBuy Product
BestBuy user testing is complete, and feedback forms are being filled out. Future product iterations will be based on user feedback.
Latest Market Updates
Providing the latest market updates on the Tokenlon market trading page to help users make better trades.
Important Risk Warning
LON token contract address:
0x0000000000095413afC295d19EDeb1Ad7B71c952
LON is Tokenlon’s native token, where holders will enjoy fee discounts and voting rights
Beware of fake Tokenlon imitations, the official website is: https://tokenlon.im
Please do not download any app or DApp from non-official Telegram, Whatsapp, Facebook, or Wechat
Tokenlon,
2024.5.24
Contact us
Website
Discord
Twitter
Medium
Notes
Digital Assets are highly volatile and unpredictable. Please do your research before trading.
|
1ad88db1-92ac-541b-a133-fdc1a9171a13
|
25/08/2025 16:02:15
|
https://medium.com/@natashaes/three-surprising-things-about-homelessness-in-nyc-866fe7fbe95b
|
medium.com
|
Three Surprising Things About Homelessness in NYC
|
To many, it may not be a shock to hear that homelessness is on the rise in NYC, reaching what has been described as the “highest levels…
|
NES RD
|
https://medium.com/@natashaes
|
866fe7fbe95b
| null |
3 min
|
2018-06-01T14:51:43.011000
|
2018-06-01T15:39:32.126000
|
2018-06-01T16:14:14.441000
| 0 | 5 |
en
|
Homeless,NYC,Brooklyn,Tax Reform
|
<section>
<p>To many, it may not be a shock to hear that homelessness is on the rise in NYC, reaching what has been described as the “highest levels since the Great Depression” of the 1930s. According the <a href="http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/basic-facts-about-homelessness-new-york-city/">NYC-based Coalition for the Homeless</a>, there were close to 63,000 homeless individuals in the NYC shelter system in March 2018. This figure does not include those living in transitional housing, SRO, or other facility that is not meant to be permanent —which also may not be a shock to hear, because the legal definition of “homeless” actually <a href="https://www.nhchc.org/faq/official-definition-homelessness/">varies depending on your source</a>.</p>
<p>Working in a low-income, under-served area of NYC as a medical provider, I have come to learn three very bizarre things about homelessness in NYC.</p>
<p><strong>The shelter may be at the airport.</strong> Yes, that’s right. The City of New York has contracted airport hotels to provide rooms as shelter residences. While the presence of <a href="https://www.nhchc.org/faq/official-definition-homelessness/">homeless individuals at NYC’s LaGuardia airport</a> led to policies requiring <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/27/airports-homeless-people-crackdown-new-rules">only ticket holders be allowed on premise</a> from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., for years, <a href="http://www.qchron.com/editions/south/another-hotel-at-jfk-airport-may-become-homeless-shelter/article_106a17ee-f642-59b3-9751-158c8e4afbc5.html">hotels near JFK airport have contracted with the NYC Department of Homeless Services</a> to provide vacant hotel rooms to undomiciled New Yorkers. One of my patients told me she preferred the hotel, although sharing a double room with a stranger wasn’t ideal, at least she had a mini-fridge.</p>
<p><strong>The “Provider” manages your benefits and money. </strong>While it may make sense for someone going through drug or alcohol rehabilitation to relinquish control of their money to a “provider,” this provider also then has an easy method of stealing from their clients. “The Provider,” as one of my patients call this person in a strange, reverent tone, not only gives permission to a client to use their food stamp/EBT card when they are hungry, but this person may give you someone else’s card to use, along with their private pin number, and will most likely ask you to pick them up something to eat for themselves as well.</p>
<p><strong>Good luck if you want to eat a vegetable.</strong> No one expects a shelter to provide Le Pan Quotidien or even pseudo-healthy Panera (a nutritionist’s nightmare quick service outlet), but what’s strange is that despite the clear health disparities facing homeless individuals in NYC, especially chronic lifestyle related diseases, along with inadequate access to healthcare services, food desserts/highly concentrated of junk food outlets, shelters do not provide anything near safe-to-eat foods. High-fat, high-salt, refined and processed foods are the norm, and if even offered, vegetables are slathered in heavy sauces or are high in starches (think, potatoes, peas, and corn) that must be limited if a person has let’s say, diabetes or heart disease. What’s more, any shelter that provides food to residents also bans residents from bringing in outside foods. A resident who, for instance, wakes up wanting to eat a vegetable and tries to sneak said vegetable into the shelter risks losing their bed. In light of the cost of emergency healthcare services, which are more likely to be used by homeless individuals, switching from garbage food to more balanced, intentional items, which could also support a regional food economy, could also significantly reduce a great financial and resource burden placed on our healthcare system, but I digress.</p>
<p>While these ways of managing homelessness in NYC may not be a huge surprise to some, it is apparent that when public funds are being used to pay for hotel rooms, are mismanaged and essentially stolen from those in need, or end up reinforcing failing systems that lead to greater financial burdens on taxpayers, there is something highly amiss in how this city is dealing with a crisis. Solutions like increased affordable housing, ending tax breaks for the uber-wealthy individuals or corporations to generate funds for, just as some examples, improved job training and upgrading, mental healthcare services, or expanded alternative justice programs, may all be a better ways to address the homelessness crisis than the absurd system that is currently in place.</p>
</section>
|
Three Surprising Things About Homelessness in NYC
To many, it may not be a shock to hear that homelessness is on the rise in NYC, reaching what has been described as the “highest levels since the Great Depression” of the 1930s. According the NYC-based Coalition for the Homeless, there were close to 63,000 homeless individuals in the NYC shelter system in March 2018. This figure does not include those living in transitional housing, SRO, or other facility that is not meant to be permanent —which also may not be a shock to hear, because the legal definition of “homeless” actually varies depending on your source.
Working in a low-income, under-served area of NYC as a medical provider, I have come to learn three very bizarre things about homelessness in NYC.
The shelter may be at the airport. Yes, that’s right. The City of New York has contracted airport hotels to provide rooms as shelter residences. While the presence of homeless individuals at NYC’s LaGuardia airport led to policies requiring only ticket holders be allowed on premise from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., for years, hotels near JFK airport have contracted with the NYC Department of Homeless Services to provide vacant hotel rooms to undomiciled New Yorkers. One of my patients told me she preferred the hotel, although sharing a double room with a stranger wasn’t ideal, at least she had a mini-fridge.
The “Provider” manages your benefits and money. While it may make sense for someone going through drug or alcohol rehabilitation to relinquish control of their money to a “provider,” this provider also then has an easy method of stealing from their clients. “The Provider,” as one of my patients call this person in a strange, reverent tone, not only gives permission to a client to use their food stamp/EBT card when they are hungry, but this person may give you someone else’s card to use, along with their private pin number, and will most likely ask you to pick them up something to eat for themselves as well.
Good luck if you want to eat a vegetable. No one expects a shelter to provide Le Pan Quotidien or even pseudo-healthy Panera (a nutritionist’s nightmare quick service outlet), but what’s strange is that despite the clear health disparities facing homeless individuals in NYC, especially chronic lifestyle related diseases, along with inadequate access to healthcare services, food desserts/highly concentrated of junk food outlets, shelters do not provide anything near safe-to-eat foods. High-fat, high-salt, refined and processed foods are the norm, and if even offered, vegetables are slathered in heavy sauces or are high in starches (think, potatoes, peas, and corn) that must be limited if a person has let’s say, diabetes or heart disease. What’s more, any shelter that provides food to residents also bans residents from bringing in outside foods. A resident who, for instance, wakes up wanting to eat a vegetable and tries to sneak said vegetable into the shelter risks losing their bed. In light of the cost of emergency healthcare services, which are more likely to be used by homeless individuals, switching from garbage food to more balanced, intentional items, which could also support a regional food economy, could also significantly reduce a great financial and resource burden placed on our healthcare system, but I digress.
While these ways of managing homelessness in NYC may not be a huge surprise to some, it is apparent that when public funds are being used to pay for hotel rooms, are mismanaged and essentially stolen from those in need, or end up reinforcing failing systems that lead to greater financial burdens on taxpayers, there is something highly amiss in how this city is dealing with a crisis. Solutions like increased affordable housing, ending tax breaks for the uber-wealthy individuals or corporations to generate funds for, just as some examples, improved job training and upgrading, mental healthcare services, or expanded alternative justice programs, may all be a better ways to address the homelessness crisis than the absurd system that is currently in place.
|
bf126691-02d4-58e3-84b6-979d345095e0
|
25/08/2025 16:02:16
|
https://medium.com/@averic1313/daily-discourse-consumerism-d9453863a13e
|
medium.com
|
Daily Discourse: Consumerism
|
“What consumerism really is, at its worst is getting people to buy things that don’t actually improve their lives.” -Jeff Bezos
|
Vivian Faye
|
https://medium.com/@averic1313
|
d9453863a13e
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*2q7eYOH_ZxNKPNiv
|
2 min
|
2023-11-24T06:08:48.056000
|
2023-11-24T13:01:47.855000
|
2023-11-24T13:01:57.424000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Consumerism,Interesting Reads,Sustainable,Waste,Buying
|
<section>
<p><em>“What consumerism really is, at its worst is getting people to buy things that don’t actually improve their lives.” -Jeff Bezos</em></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/4000/0*2q7eYOH_ZxNKPNiv" width="4000" height="6000" loading="lazy" />
<p>There comes a point at which you are almost disgusted with the sheer volume of stuff. Anyone who’s ever walked around in a Walmart knows what I mean.</p>
<p>You walk around the store searching for one specific thing, but as all competitive grocery stores do, there’s a clothing section and a food section and a baby section and a plant section and a hardware section and stationary, craft, toy, books, pets, and pharmaceutical section. And in each section it’s not like there’s ten things.</p>
<p>No, there’s ten thousand of each item. I mean, why exactly do we need thirty of the same coat sitting in a Walmart, where no one’s going to buy them anyways?</p>
<p>I don’t think I could handle walking through an Amazon warehouse. But then again, maybe that’s why access there is for employees only. Not customers.</p>
<p>Now this is not to say that buying things is bad. Absolutely not! We all should purchase the things that we need and the things that make us happy. That’s the purpose of having money in the first place, if you forgot. I know I have.</p>
<p>But in our world we’re no longer buying the things that we need and want. We’re buying the things that we don’t want simply because we’re convinced that we <em>need </em>them.</p>
<p>Have you heard of the Pareto principle? It’s where 20% of the effort yields 80% of the results. Well, about 20% of the world’s people in the highest income countries (aka first world countries like the U.S. and U.K) account for 86% of the products purchased. So almost a 20–80 ratio.</p>
<p>We’re so fortunate to be able to live in a country where we have so much available to us. That’s great. But we take it for granted and when the shelves aren’t fully stocked brimful of products, we think it’s the end of the world. (To be fair, the last time that happened to me was in 2020 before Quarantine hit…)</p>
<p>Speaking of Walmart, in 2021, they produced 155,866.8 thousand pounds of packaging waste and 833.2 million pounds of food waste. This is just from Walmart. In the United States.</p>
<p>Holy crap.</p>
<p>From one store, in one country the waste is enormous. And that’s just from what doesn’t get sold. Imagine all those crappy things you buy because they’re on sale and then they grow a dust coat from sitting in the deepest corners of your closet.</p>
<p>So this Black Friday and Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, be aware of what you’re buying. Because you choosing to buy it, tells these companies to keep on producing it.</p>
</section>
|
Daily Discourse: Consumerism
“What consumerism really is, at its worst is getting people to buy things that don’t actually improve their lives.” -Jeff Bezos
Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash
There comes a point at which you are almost disgusted with the sheer volume of stuff. Anyone who’s ever walked around in a Walmart knows what I mean.
You walk around the store searching for one specific thing, but as all competitive grocery stores do, there’s a clothing section and a food section and a baby section and a plant section and a hardware section and stationary, craft, toy, books, pets, and pharmaceutical section. And in each section it’s not like there’s ten things.
No, there’s ten thousand of each item. I mean, why exactly do we need thirty of the same coat sitting in a Walmart, where no one’s going to buy them anyways?
I don’t think I could handle walking through an Amazon warehouse. But then again, maybe that’s why access there is for employees only. Not customers.
Now this is not to say that buying things is bad. Absolutely not! We all should purchase the things that we need and the things that make us happy. That’s the purpose of having money in the first place, if you forgot. I know I have.
But in our world we’re no longer buying the things that we need and want. We’re buying the things that we don’t want simply because we’re convinced that we need them.
Have you heard of the Pareto principle? It’s where 20% of the effort yields 80% of the results. Well, about 20% of the world’s people in the highest income countries (aka first world countries like the U.S. and U.K) account for 86% of the products purchased. So almost a 20–80 ratio.
We’re so fortunate to be able to live in a country where we have so much available to us. That’s great. But we take it for granted and when the shelves aren’t fully stocked brimful of products, we think it’s the end of the world. (To be fair, the last time that happened to me was in 2020 before Quarantine hit…)
Speaking of Walmart, in 2021, they produced 155,866.8 thousand pounds of packaging waste and 833.2 million pounds of food waste. This is just from Walmart. In the United States.
Holy crap.
From one store, in one country the waste is enormous. And that’s just from what doesn’t get sold. Imagine all those crappy things you buy because they’re on sale and then they grow a dust coat from sitting in the deepest corners of your closet.
So this Black Friday and Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, be aware of what you’re buying. Because you choosing to buy it, tells these companies to keep on producing it.
|
470efd79-324c-5ad1-a325-f44dee06f7df
|
25/08/2025 16:02:16
|
https://medium.com/shavingtononline/this-week-in-shavington-16th-22nd-july-2018-cc7305437b37
|
medium.com
|
This week in Shavington: 16th — 22nd July 2018
|
Find out what’s going on in Shavington-cum-Gresty this week.
|
Laura Gibbs
|
https://medium.com/@AthenaTrophy
|
cc7305437b37
|
4 min
|
2018-07-15T20:48:22.653000
|
2018-07-15T21:23:10.075000
|
2018-07-15T21:23:10.579000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Whats On
|
<section>
<h3>Find out what’s going on in Shavington-cum-Gresty this week.</h3>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1920/1*YVIMAteOWmR8iPWt0W8UkQ.png" width="1920" height="1080" loading="lazy" />
<p>Always check with the organiser for any changes prior to going to an event.</p>
<blockquote>Would you like your event listed here? Let us know by filling in this form: <a href="http://bitly.com/newscgevent">http://bitly.com/newscgevent</a></blockquote>
<h1>Monday 16th July</h1>
<h3>Shavington Junior Youth Club</h3>
<p>For children in Year 7 & 8.</p>
<p>18:30–20:30 | 140 Main Road, Shavington, Crewe, Cheshire, CW2 5DP</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1920/1*3BqPTDyATifGVHRkAj0s9w.png" width="1920" height="250" loading="lazy" />
<h2>Tuesday 17th July</h2>
<h3>Friendship Lunches</h3>
<p>Soup, sandwiches, cake & tea or coffee. £2.50 per person and no need to book.</p>
<p>12:00 | St Mark’s Church Hall | <a href="http://www.allsaintsandstmarks.com/">http://www.allsaintsandstmarks.com/</a></p>
<h3>2nd Shavington Brownies</h3>
<p>Term time only for girls aged 7–11.</p>
<p>18:15–19:45 | St John’s Church Hall | <a href="https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/">https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/</a></p>
<h3>Shavington Getfitfast Fitcamp</h3>
<p>All levels of fitness are catered for and not only is it a fun and safe workout but a great way to improve fitness levels and make friends in the community. The first two sessions are free then after that £4.00. Lower age limit is 16.</p>
<p>18:30 | Shavington Youth Centre | Call 07708299238</p>
<h3>S.A.S (Singers at St Mark’s)</h3>
<p>Community choir. Come along and join in the singing, there are no auditions for this choir. Don’t worry if you haven’t sung before, members will make you very welcome.</p>
<p>19:30–21:30 | St Mark’s Church | £1 per week</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1920/1*3BqPTDyATifGVHRkAj0s9w.png" width="1920" height="250" loading="lazy" />
<h2>Wednesday 18th July</h2>
<h3>Baby Beats Shavington Class</h3>
<p>Baby Beats is a music class suitable from birth to 5 years. The class is run by an experienced musician with live singing and instruments, funky music and sensory activities. Snack and drink after class. Term time only. £5 pay as you go, siblings over 1 £2.50. Block of 6 classes for £25.</p>
<p>10:30–11:30 | Shavington Methodist Church Hall | <a href="http://babybeatsmusic.co.uk">http://babybeatsmusic.co.uk</a></p>
<h3>Quiz Night</h3>
<p>A chance to put your wits against a variety of quiz-masters. £1 per person to enter. Cash prizes.</p>
<p>21:00 | The Vine | <a href="http://www.thevineshavington.co.uk/">http://www.thevineshavington.co.uk/</a></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1920/1*3BqPTDyATifGVHRkAj0s9w.png" width="1920" height="250" loading="lazy" />
<h2>Thursday 19th July</h2>
<h3>Craft and Chatter</h3>
<p>If you do any craft activity (knit, crochet, make cards, paint) come along and join a friendly group, learn a new craft or just enjoy a chat and a cups. Donations towards refreshments.</p>
<p>13:30–15:30 | St Mark’s Church Hall | <a href="http://www.allsaintsandstmarks.com/">http://www.allsaintsandstmarks.com/</a></p>
<h3>Shavington Junior Youth Club</h3>
<p>For children in Year 4, 5 and 6.</p>
<p>18:30–20:30 | 140 Main Road, Shavington, Crewe, Cheshire, CW2 5DP</p>
<h3>Concert by the “Wistaston Singers”</h3>
<p>The Wistaston Singers have pleasure singing their summer concert to raise funds for the Hospice. Tickets £5.00 available from Shirley Bailey 01270 665819 or Elizabeth Davies 01270 662536. Organised by Shavington St Luke’s Support Group.</p>
<p>19:30 | St Mark’s Church Hall</p>
<h3>Music Evening</h3>
<p>Every Thursday at the Vine Inn there will be a music evening. The 2nd Thursday night of each month will be an Open Mic Night and all the other Thursday nights will be for an Acoustic Sing-around session where everyone is welcome to play, sing or simply listen.</p>
<p>20:30 onwards | The Vine Inn</p>
<h3>Quiz Night</h3>
<p>Free to enter and you could win a £20 Food Voucher or A Gallon of Ale.</p>
<p>21:00–23:00 | The Elephant | <a href="http://www.theelephantpub.com/">http://www.theelephantpub.com</a></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1920/1*3BqPTDyATifGVHRkAj0s9w.png" width="1920" height="250" loading="lazy" />
<h2>Friday 20th July</h2>
<h3>Street Dance Academy</h3>
<p>Calling all dancers, shakers, movers and groovers! Do you want to dance like diversity? Or like the dancers in your favourite music video? Weekly dance classes for all ages. First class is free. Term time only.</p>
<p>Babes class (3–5) 16:15–17:00 | Force crew (6–9) 17:00–18:00 | Alliance crew (10–15) 18:00–19:00 | St Mark’s Church Hall | <a href="https://www.streetdanceacademyuk.com/">https://www.streetdanceacademyuk.com/</a></p>
<h3>Cash Bingo</h3>
<p>Come and play cash bingo.</p>
<p>20:30 onwards | Shavington Social Club | Members: Free | Guests: £1</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1920/1*3BqPTDyATifGVHRkAj0s9w.png" width="1920" height="250" loading="lazy" />
<h2>Saturday 21st July</h2>
<p><em>No events.</em></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1920/1*3BqPTDyATifGVHRkAj0s9w.png" width="1920" height="250" loading="lazy" />
<h2>Sunday 22nd July</h2>
<h3>Sunday Worship</h3>
<p>Join us each Sunday to worship God together. All are welcome.</p>
<p>10:00–11:00 | Shavington Methodist Church (St John’s)</p>
<h3>Cash Bingo</h3>
<p>Including weekly tote and a chance to win at least £100 on Open The Box.</p>
<p>20:30 onwards | Shavington Social Club | Members: Free | Guests: £1</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1920/1*3BqPTDyATifGVHRkAj0s9w.png" width="1920" height="250" loading="lazy" />
</section>
|
This week in Shavington: 16th — 22nd July 2018
Find out what’s going on in Shavington-cum-Gresty this week.
Always check with the organiser for any changes prior to going to an event.
Would you like your event listed here? Let us know by filling in this form: http://bitly.com/newscgevent
Monday 16th July
Shavington Junior Youth Club
For children in Year 7 & 8.
18:30–20:30 | 140 Main Road, Shavington, Crewe, Cheshire, CW2 5DP
Tuesday 17th July
Friendship Lunches
Soup, sandwiches, cake & tea or coffee. £2.50 per person and no need to book.
12:00 | St Mark’s Church Hall | http://www.allsaintsandstmarks.com/
2nd Shavington Brownies
Term time only for girls aged 7–11.
18:15–19:45 | St John’s Church Hall | https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/
Shavington Getfitfast Fitcamp
All levels of fitness are catered for and not only is it a fun and safe workout but a great way to improve fitness levels and make friends in the community. The first two sessions are free then after that £4.00. Lower age limit is 16.
18:30 | Shavington Youth Centre | Call 07708299238
S.A.S (Singers at St Mark’s)
Community choir. Come along and join in the singing, there are no auditions for this choir. Don’t worry if you haven’t sung before, members will make you very welcome.
19:30–21:30 | St Mark’s Church | £1 per week
Wednesday 18th July
Baby Beats Shavington Class
Baby Beats is a music class suitable from birth to 5 years. The class is run by an experienced musician with live singing and instruments, funky music and sensory activities. Snack and drink after class. Term time only. £5 pay as you go, siblings over 1 £2.50. Block of 6 classes for £25.
10:30–11:30 | Shavington Methodist Church Hall | http://babybeatsmusic.co.uk
Quiz Night
A chance to put your wits against a variety of quiz-masters. £1 per person to enter. Cash prizes.
21:00 | The Vine | http://www.thevineshavington.co.uk/
Thursday 19th July
Craft and Chatter
If you do any craft activity (knit, crochet, make cards, paint) come along and join a friendly group, learn a new craft or just enjoy a chat and a cups. Donations towards refreshments.
13:30–15:30 | St Mark’s Church Hall | http://www.allsaintsandstmarks.com/
Shavington Junior Youth Club
For children in Year 4, 5 and 6.
18:30–20:30 | 140 Main Road, Shavington, Crewe, Cheshire, CW2 5DP
Concert by the “Wistaston Singers”
The Wistaston Singers have pleasure singing their summer concert to raise funds for the Hospice. Tickets £5.00 available from Shirley Bailey 01270 665819 or Elizabeth Davies 01270 662536. Organised by Shavington St Luke’s Support Group.
19:30 | St Mark’s Church Hall
Music Evening
Every Thursday at the Vine Inn there will be a music evening. The 2nd Thursday night of each month will be an Open Mic Night and all the other Thursday nights will be for an Acoustic Sing-around session where everyone is welcome to play, sing or simply listen.
20:30 onwards | The Vine Inn
Quiz Night
Free to enter and you could win a £20 Food Voucher or A Gallon of Ale.
21:00–23:00 | The Elephant | http://www.theelephantpub.com
Friday 20th July
Street Dance Academy
Calling all dancers, shakers, movers and groovers! Do you want to dance like diversity? Or like the dancers in your favourite music video? Weekly dance classes for all ages. First class is free. Term time only.
Babes class (3–5) 16:15–17:00 | Force crew (6–9) 17:00–18:00 | Alliance crew (10–15) 18:00–19:00 | St Mark’s Church Hall | https://www.streetdanceacademyuk.com/
Cash Bingo
Come and play cash bingo.
20:30 onwards | Shavington Social Club | Members: Free | Guests: £1
Saturday 21st July
No events.
Sunday 22nd July
Sunday Worship
Join us each Sunday to worship God together. All are welcome.
10:00–11:00 | Shavington Methodist Church (St John’s)
Cash Bingo
Including weekly tote and a chance to win at least £100 on Open The Box.
20:30 onwards | Shavington Social Club | Members: Free | Guests: £1
|
47ede689-31d8-5671-8744-6e1f852fe6cc
|
25/08/2025 16:02:17
|
|
https://medium.com/@1080bots/getting-up-to-speed-on-chatbots-1b15b8819562
|
medium.com
|
Getting Up To Speed On Chatbots
|
Understanding chatbots
|
1080bots
|
https://medium.com/@1080bots
|
1b15b8819562
|
3 min
|
2017-09-20T19:26:19.185000
|
2017-09-20T20:11:30.392000
|
2018-05-19T15:04:16.812000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Chatbots,AI,Artificial Intelligence,Retail Technology,Ecommerce
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1000/1*GQjYJj-GQ5goov-4jTUNUQ.jpeg" width="1000" height="520" loading="lazy" />
<h1>Understanding chatbots</h1>
<p>It’s no wonder you’re hearing a lot about chatbots these days. With 2.5 billion people worldwide using at least one messaging platform, and more than 1.6 billion of them using Facebook Messenger, social messaging is driving an exciting opportunity for retailers. As with the advent of mobile, and with the web before that, AI Chatbots for retail offer a fresh way for brands to interact with their customers. Understanding chatbots and where they fit will help you get quickly up to speed on social selling.</p>
<p>Basically, a chatbot is simply an automated way to guide the conversation with your online or mobile customer, whether she’s on Facebook, or Skype, or even your own website. Flexible, scalable, and with a unique ability to meet your customers wherever they are, chatbots are well suited to handle the ever-increasing speed of ecommerce.</p>
<p>While some brands are still thinking of chatbots as a nice-to-have, many others are already leveraging bots as a springboard to the future of retail experience. (Hint: it’s conversational!) We’re seeing chatbots across the spectrum: Mass-market and luxury brands. Finance, healthcare, retail, and travel verticals. And audiences from boomers to millennials to Gen Z.</p>
<p>So what can chatbots do, anyway?</p>
<h2>The right chatbot for the right task</h2>
<p><em>”Where are your Los Angeles stores?” “When will my order arrive?”</em></p>
<p>A chatbot can easily address common questions directly and efficiently — <a href="https://1080bots.com/portfolio/store-finder-chatbot/">store locations</a>, shipping and return policies, <a href="https://1080bots.com/portfolio/customer-faqs/">FAQs</a> — meaning your customer can spend her time shopping your website instead of searching for answers, and your customer service teams can focus on more complex inquiries. Often quick to deploy, these basic chatbots for retail get right down to business.</p>
<p><em>“Help! I have a gift exchange at work!” “Where is the dress I saw in that ad?”</em></p>
<p>Let’s face it, sometimes it can be challenging to find things online, even if you know what you’re looking for. Included as part of your merchandising plans or marketing initiatives, chatbots add another touchpoint to inspire your customer while reinforcing your messaging and your brand. Understanding chatbots and how they can guide your customers as they shop, recommending specific product assortments or promoting special offer campaigns. Holiday <a href="https://1080bots.com/portfolio/gift-finder/">gift finder</a>, anyone?</p>
<p><em>“Do you have something like this in blue?” “I need to find some boots.”</em></p>
<p>Integrate a chatbot with your product catalog, and it becomes a true virtual associate; greeting your customer, asking him how it can help, and presenting only the best choices. These bots need to ‘understand’ your customer’s needs, intent, and shopping pattern. Does your bot know what’s most popular in a category? Can your bot ‘remember’ your customer, maintaining its state as she returns? Implemented using your existing product search capability, or maybe even enhanced through AI, this one puts the ‘chat’ in ‘chatbot.’</p>
<h2>Chatbots must know what they don’t know</h2>
<p>Whichever chatbot is the right one for your brand, we believe the best bot is the <a href="https://1080bots.com/7-laws-chatbotics-human-chatbot-interactions/">one that knows what it can do</a>, and what it can’t, offering a seamless experience to your customer. Sometimes, that means letting your customer input text instead of selecting a button. And sometimes, that means that your bot needs to happily transition your customer to a human.</p>
<h2>Making it work</h2>
<p>Adding intelligent chatbots to your customer engagement channels can strengthen your reach, streamline your processes, and help you make your numbers along the way. Sounds like a win, right? Like everything else, details matter. Understanding chatbots, involving the right internal teams from design to deployment, selecting the best methods for customer interaction and giving the chatbot access to the backend information and systems it needs to do its job are critical for success.</p>
<p>While chatbots may seem like just another fun new way to engage with your customers, their potential to drive innovation in everything from voice shopping to data and AI is huge. We’ve only scratched the surface. Over the next few weeks, we’ll take a closer look — meeting some chatbots, learning how they can ignite your Holiday (yes, there’s still time), and exploring what comes next. In the meantime, whether you’re using chatbots already or you’re thinking about how to start, we’d love to, er, <a href="https://1080bots.com/#contactForm">chat with you in real life</a>!</p>
</section>
|
Getting Up To Speed On Chatbots
Understanding chatbots
It’s no wonder you’re hearing a lot about chatbots these days. With 2.5 billion people worldwide using at least one messaging platform, and more than 1.6 billion of them using Facebook Messenger, social messaging is driving an exciting opportunity for retailers. As with the advent of mobile, and with the web before that, AI Chatbots for retail offer a fresh way for brands to interact with their customers. Understanding chatbots and where they fit will help you get quickly up to speed on social selling.
Basically, a chatbot is simply an automated way to guide the conversation with your online or mobile customer, whether she’s on Facebook, or Skype, or even your own website. Flexible, scalable, and with a unique ability to meet your customers wherever they are, chatbots are well suited to handle the ever-increasing speed of ecommerce.
While some brands are still thinking of chatbots as a nice-to-have, many others are already leveraging bots as a springboard to the future of retail experience. (Hint: it’s conversational!) We’re seeing chatbots across the spectrum: Mass-market and luxury brands. Finance, healthcare, retail, and travel verticals. And audiences from boomers to millennials to Gen Z.
So what can chatbots do, anyway?
The right chatbot for the right task
”Where are your Los Angeles stores?” “When will my order arrive?”
A chatbot can easily address common questions directly and efficiently — store locations, shipping and return policies, FAQs — meaning your customer can spend her time shopping your website instead of searching for answers, and your customer service teams can focus on more complex inquiries. Often quick to deploy, these basic chatbots for retail get right down to business.
“Help! I have a gift exchange at work!” “Where is the dress I saw in that ad?”
Let’s face it, sometimes it can be challenging to find things online, even if you know what you’re looking for. Included as part of your merchandising plans or marketing initiatives, chatbots add another touchpoint to inspire your customer while reinforcing your messaging and your brand. Understanding chatbots and how they can guide your customers as they shop, recommending specific product assortments or promoting special offer campaigns. Holiday gift finder, anyone?
“Do you have something like this in blue?” “I need to find some boots.”
Integrate a chatbot with your product catalog, and it becomes a true virtual associate; greeting your customer, asking him how it can help, and presenting only the best choices. These bots need to ‘understand’ your customer’s needs, intent, and shopping pattern. Does your bot know what’s most popular in a category? Can your bot ‘remember’ your customer, maintaining its state as she returns? Implemented using your existing product search capability, or maybe even enhanced through AI, this one puts the ‘chat’ in ‘chatbot.’
Chatbots must know what they don’t know
Whichever chatbot is the right one for your brand, we believe the best bot is the one that knows what it can do, and what it can’t, offering a seamless experience to your customer. Sometimes, that means letting your customer input text instead of selecting a button. And sometimes, that means that your bot needs to happily transition your customer to a human.
Making it work
Adding intelligent chatbots to your customer engagement channels can strengthen your reach, streamline your processes, and help you make your numbers along the way. Sounds like a win, right? Like everything else, details matter. Understanding chatbots, involving the right internal teams from design to deployment, selecting the best methods for customer interaction and giving the chatbot access to the backend information and systems it needs to do its job are critical for success.
While chatbots may seem like just another fun new way to engage with your customers, their potential to drive innovation in everything from voice shopping to data and AI is huge. We’ve only scratched the surface. Over the next few weeks, we’ll take a closer look — meeting some chatbots, learning how they can ignite your Holiday (yes, there’s still time), and exploring what comes next. In the meantime, whether you’re using chatbots already or you’re thinking about how to start, we’d love to, er, chat with you in real life!
|
54c8b1ed-d334-597f-bdaa-87aff5dc2462
|
25/08/2025 16:02:18
|
|
https://medium.com/@soni.neetesh0145/selenium-basics-to-advance-93f7698b58dd
|
medium.com
|
Selenium: Basics To Advance
|
1 Introduction
|
Nitesh Soni
|
https://medium.com/@soni.neetesh0145
|
93f7698b58dd
| null |
3 min
|
2024-02-04T22:00:57.898000
|
2024-02-05T14:02:25.491000
|
2024-02-05T14:02:34.053000
| 0 | 3 |
en
|
Selenium,Automation Testing,Quality Assurance,Testing
|
<section>
<h3>1 Introduction</h3>
<p>Selenium is an open-source framework <a href="https://github.com/SeleniumHQ/selenium">https://github.com/SeleniumHQ/selenium</a></p>
<p>Selenium is a web browser automation testing framework, using selenium one can automate manual web application testing.</p>
<p><em>Features:</em></p>
<p>Multiple Platform support: Selenium provide a feature to execute web application tests on multiple browsers, eg. chrome, firefox, safari, etc</p>
<p>Multiple Language support: Selenium provides a feature to write test scripts using C++, java, python, Ruby, etc</p>
<p>Multiple testing framework support: Selenium provides a feature to use JUnit or TestNG etc while writing test scripts.</p>
<p><em>Selenium Script Examples Using Java:</em></p>
<p>1 Login into the Instagram web application</p>
<pre><code class="language-java">import org.openqa.selenium.By;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebElement;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;
public class InstagramLogin {
public static void main(String[] args) {
// Set Chrome Driver Path
System.setProperty("webdriver.chrome.driver", "/path/to/chromedriver");
// Create a new instance of the Chrome Driver
WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
// Navigate to Instagram
driver.get("https://www.instagram.com/");
// Wait for the page to load (you might need to adjust the time based on your internet speed)
Thread.sleep(3000);
// Find the username and password input fields and login button
WebElement usernameInput = driver.findElement(By.name("username"));
WebElement passwordInput = driver.findElement(By.name("password"));
WebElement loginButton = driver.findElement(By.xpath("//button[@type='submit']"));
// Enter the username and password
usernameInput.sendKeys("yourinstauser");
passwordInput.sendKeys("yourinstapass");
// Click on the login button
loginButton.click();
// Wait for the login process to complete (you might need to adjust the time)
Thread.sleep(5000);
// Close the browser
driver.quit();
}
}</code></pre>
<p><em>Four Basics Step to write a selenium script:</em></p>
<p>1 Web browser driver registration, and create driver instance.</p>
<pre><code class="language-java">System.setProperty("webdriver.chrome.driver", "/path/to/chromedriver");
// Create a new instance of the Chrome Driver
WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();</code></pre>
<p>2 Web application URL registration in a driver.</p>
<pre><code class="language-java">driver.get("https://www.instagram.com/");</code></pre>
<p>3 Create WebElement instances and operate on these elements</p>
<pre><code class="language-java">WebElement usernameInput = driver.findElement(By.name("username"));</code></pre>
<p>4 Quit a web driver.</p>
<pre><code class="language-java">// Close the browser
driver.quit();</code></pre>
<p><em>some practice problems:</em></p>
<p>1 Write a selenium script to post an Instagram post.</p>
<p>2 Write a selenium script to compose and send an email.</p>
<h3>2 History</h3>
<p>Who created it, and why this automation tool is named Selenium?</p>
<p>The name “Selenium” has an interesting origin and is related to the history of the project. Selenium is named after an element called “selenium” in the periodic table. The element selenium has some interesting properties, particularly its role in medicine.</p>
<p>Here’s the story:</p>
<p>Origins in ThoughtWorks: Selenium was initially developed by Jason Huggins, who was working at ThoughtWorks. The project started as an internal tool to automate repetitive testing tasks.</p>
<p>Chemistry Connection: Jason Huggins wanted to choose a name that reflected the medicinal properties of the tool, as he considered Selenium to be a “cure” for the testing headaches he and his team were facing.</p>
<h3>3 Problem</h3>
<p>Every time we release new software, testers face the tedious task of manually checking the user interface. This manual testing is time-consuming, prone to errors, and creates a bottleneck in the testing process.</p>
<p>Solution: To tackle this problem, we turn to Selenium. Selenium allows us to automate the manual UI testing process by writing scripts. This not only saves time but also ensures more accurate and consistent testing for every software release.</p>
<h3>4 Pre-requisite :</h3>
<p><strong>4.1 Pre-requisite to Learn Selenium Framework</strong></p>
<p>4.1.1 One should have a basic understanding or exposure to any of the below computer language</p>
<p>Language: c++, java, python, etc</p>
<p>It would be great to go through quick below concept.</p>
<p>1 Naming Convention</p>
<p>2 Classes and Object/Instance</p>
<p>3 Methods ( return type, arguments )</p>
<p>4 Data Types</p>
<p><strong>4.2 Pre-requisite to Setup Selenium Framework:</strong></p>
<p>1 Setup JDK</p>
<p>2 Download browser driver</p>
<p>3 Install IntelliJ IDE on your computer.</p>
<p>4 Create a new Java project in IntelliJ.</p>
<p>5 Add Selenium WebDriver libraries to your project.</p>
<p>Follow these steps to get Selenium ready to use in your local computer as per your OS ( windows, Mac and Linux)</p>
<h3>5 Challenges and Limitations</h3>
<p>Challenges:</p>
<ul>
<li>Complex Browser Support: Selenium might face challenges with certain browsers or their versions.</li>
<li>Test Execution Speed: Execution speed can be affected when dealing with extensive test suites or large-scale applications.</li>
<li>Flakiness: Some tests may intermittently fail due to factors like network issues or page loading times.</li>
</ul>
<p>Limitations:</p>
<ul>
<li>No Support for Desktop Applications: Selenium is primarily designed for web applications and lacks support for desktop applications.</li>
<li>Image-based Testing: This doesn’t inherently support image-based testing, making visual validations challenging.</li>
</ul>
<h3>6 Future Development</h3>
<ul>
<li>Selenium 4: Anticipate improvements and enhancements in Selenium 4, with features such as improved relative locators and expanded browser support.</li>
<li>WebAssembly Integration: Keep an eye on Selenium’s potential integration with WebAssembly, offering new possibilities for web automation.</li>
</ul>
<h3>7 Additional Resources</h3>
<p>7.1 Github Repo Link</p>
<p><a href="https://github.com/Neetesh0145/SeleniumDemo/tree/master">https://github.com/Neetesh0145/SeleniumDemo/tree/master</a></p>
<h3><strong>8 Closing Thoughts</strong></h3>
<p>Happy Learning!</p>
</section>
|
Selenium: Basics To Advance
1 Introduction
Selenium is an open-source framework https://github.com/SeleniumHQ/selenium
Selenium is a web browser automation testing framework, using selenium one can automate manual web application testing.
Features:
Multiple Platform support: Selenium provide a feature to execute web application tests on multiple browsers, eg. chrome, firefox, safari, etc
Multiple Language support: Selenium provides a feature to write test scripts using C++, java, python, Ruby, etc
Multiple testing framework support: Selenium provides a feature to use JUnit or TestNG etc while writing test scripts.
Selenium Script Examples Using Java:
1 Login into the Instagram web application
import org.openqa.selenium.By;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebElement;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;
public class InstagramLogin {
public static void main(String[] args) {
// Set Chrome Driver Path
System.setProperty("webdriver.chrome.driver", "/path/to/chromedriver");
// Create a new instance of the Chrome Driver
WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
// Navigate to Instagram
driver.get("https://www.instagram.com/");
// Wait for the page to load (you might need to adjust the time based on your internet speed)
Thread.sleep(3000);
// Find the username and password input fields and login button
WebElement usernameInput = driver.findElement(By.name("username"));
WebElement passwordInput = driver.findElement(By.name("password"));
WebElement loginButton = driver.findElement(By.xpath("//button[@type='submit']"));
// Enter the username and password
usernameInput.sendKeys("yourinstauser");
passwordInput.sendKeys("yourinstapass");
// Click on the login button
loginButton.click();
// Wait for the login process to complete (you might need to adjust the time)
Thread.sleep(5000);
// Close the browser
driver.quit();
}
}
Four Basics Step to write a selenium script:
1 Web browser driver registration, and create driver instance.
System.setProperty("webdriver.chrome.driver", "/path/to/chromedriver");
// Create a new instance of the Chrome Driver
WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();
2 Web application URL registration in a driver.
driver.get("https://www.instagram.com/");
3 Create WebElement instances and operate on these elements
WebElement usernameInput = driver.findElement(By.name("username"));
4 Quit a web driver.
// Close the browser
driver.quit();
some practice problems:
1 Write a selenium script to post an Instagram post.
2 Write a selenium script to compose and send an email.
2 History
Who created it, and why this automation tool is named Selenium?
The name “Selenium” has an interesting origin and is related to the history of the project. Selenium is named after an element called “selenium” in the periodic table. The element selenium has some interesting properties, particularly its role in medicine.
Here’s the story:
Origins in ThoughtWorks: Selenium was initially developed by Jason Huggins, who was working at ThoughtWorks. The project started as an internal tool to automate repetitive testing tasks.
Chemistry Connection: Jason Huggins wanted to choose a name that reflected the medicinal properties of the tool, as he considered Selenium to be a “cure” for the testing headaches he and his team were facing.
3 Problem
Every time we release new software, testers face the tedious task of manually checking the user interface. This manual testing is time-consuming, prone to errors, and creates a bottleneck in the testing process.
Solution: To tackle this problem, we turn to Selenium. Selenium allows us to automate the manual UI testing process by writing scripts. This not only saves time but also ensures more accurate and consistent testing for every software release.
4 Pre-requisite :
4.1 Pre-requisite to Learn Selenium Framework
4.1.1 One should have a basic understanding or exposure to any of the below computer language
Language: c++, java, python, etc
It would be great to go through quick below concept.
1 Naming Convention
2 Classes and Object/Instance
3 Methods ( return type, arguments )
4 Data Types
4.2 Pre-requisite to Setup Selenium Framework:
1 Setup JDK
2 Download browser driver
3 Install IntelliJ IDE on your computer.
4 Create a new Java project in IntelliJ.
5 Add Selenium WebDriver libraries to your project.
Follow these steps to get Selenium ready to use in your local computer as per your OS ( windows, Mac and Linux)
5 Challenges and Limitations
Challenges:
Complex Browser Support: Selenium might face challenges with certain browsers or their versions.
Test Execution Speed: Execution speed can be affected when dealing with extensive test suites or large-scale applications.
Flakiness: Some tests may intermittently fail due to factors like network issues or page loading times.
Limitations:
No Support for Desktop Applications: Selenium is primarily designed for web applications and lacks support for desktop applications.
Image-based Testing: This doesn’t inherently support image-based testing, making visual validations challenging.
6 Future Development
Selenium 4: Anticipate improvements and enhancements in Selenium 4, with features such as improved relative locators and expanded browser support.
WebAssembly Integration: Keep an eye on Selenium’s potential integration with WebAssembly, offering new possibilities for web automation.
7 Additional Resources
7.1 Github Repo Link
https://github.com/Neetesh0145/SeleniumDemo/tree/master
8 Closing Thoughts
Happy Learning!
|
8aac654f-c416-56b4-b944-baf0314811d8
|
25/08/2025 16:02:18
|
https://medium.com/@kemaltf_/redux-toolkit-handling-asynchronous-actions-with-redux-toolkit-885580d40b8c
|
medium.com
|
Redux Toolkit — Handling Asynchronous Actions with Redux Toolkit
|
we will explore how to effectively manage asynchronous actions using Redux Toolkit. Let’s start by revisiting how async actions work in…
|
Taufik Kemal
|
https://medium.com/@kemaltf_
|
885580d40b8c
| null |
2 min
|
2024-01-28T16:02:52.246000
|
2024-01-28T16:08:24.060000
|
2024-01-28T16:08:31.456000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Redux,Redux Toolkit
|
<section>
<p>we will explore how to effectively manage asynchronous actions using Redux Toolkit. Let’s start by revisiting how async actions work in plain Redux.</p>
<h1>Plain Redux Async Actions Recap</h1>
<p>In a typical scenario, we have an initial state with a loading flag, a user’s property to store fetched user data, and an error property to handle error messages. We define three <strong>action types (a function which return an object type)</strong>: fetchUserRequested, fetchUserSucceeded, and fetchUserFailed.</p>
<pre><code class="language-go">// 1. state
const initialState = {
loading: false,
user: [],
error: "",
};
//2. action
// declaring the constants for action types
const FETCH_USER_REQUESTED = "FETCH_USER_REQUESTED";
const FETCH_USER_SUCCEEDED = "FETCH_USER_SUCCEEDED";
const FETCH_USER_FAILED = "FETCH_USER_FAILED";
//3. define the action creator (basically just a function that returns an action)
const fetchUserRequested = () => {
return {
type: FETCH_USER_REQUESTED,
};
};
const fetchUserSucceess = (user) => {
return {
type: FETCH_USER_SUCCEEDED,
payload: user,
};
};
const fetchUserFailed = (error) => {
return {
type: FETCH_USER_FAILED,
payload: error,
};
};</code></pre>
<p>Additionally, we create an <strong>action creator</strong> (a function that return function) function called fetchUsers, which, utilizing the Redux Thunk middleware, returns a function.</p>
<pre><code class="language-javascript">// define our action creator
const fetchUsers = () => {
// instead return object we return a function
return function (dispatch) {
// this action creator will set the loading to true
dispatch(fetchUserRequested());
axios
.get("https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/users")
.then((res) => {
// response data from the user
const users = res.data.map((user) => user.id);
dispatch(fetchUserSucceess(users));
})
.catch((err) => {
//err.message;
dispatch(fetchUserFailed(err.message));
});
};
};</code></pre>
<p>Inside this function, we make an asynchronous API request using Axios. Depending on the success or failure of the request, we dispatch corresponding actions to update the state.</p>
<p>Now, let’s dive into how to implement the same asynchronous functionality using Redux Toolkit.</p>
<h2>Redux Toolkit Implementation</h2>
<p>Create Feature Folder and Slice: Begin by creating a new feature folder. In this example, let’s create a folder called “user” with a new file inside named userSlice.js. Import the createSlice function and create a slice named "user" with the initial state.</p>
<pre><code class="language-php">const createSlice = require('redux toolkit').createSlice;
const userSlice = createSlice({
name: 'user',
initialState: {
loading: false,
users: [],
error: '',
},
});</code></pre>
<p>2. Utilize createAsyncThunk: Import createAsyncThunk and Axios. Create an asynchronous thunk using createAsyncThunk, specifying the action type and a callback function that returns the Axios promise.</p>
<pre><code class="language-javascript">const createAsyncThunk = require('redux toolkit').createAsyncThunk;
const axios = require('axios');
const fetchUsers = createAsyncThunk('user/fetchUsers', async () => {
try {
const response = await axios.get('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/users');
return response.data.map((user) => user.id);
} catch (error) {
throw error;
}
});</code></pre>
<p>3. Handle Async Action Lifecycle: Inside the createSlice object, add the initial state and extra reducers to handle the async action lifecycle.</p>
<pre><code class="language-javascript">const userSlice = createSlice({
name: 'user',
initialState: {
loading: false,
users: [],
error: '',
},
extraReducers: (builder) => {
builder
.addCase(fetchUsers.pending, (state) => {
state.loading = true;
})
.addCase(fetchUsers.fulfilled, (state, action) => {
state.loading = false;
state.users = action.payload;
state.error = '';
})
.addCase(fetchUsers.rejected, (state, action) => {
state.loading = false;
state.users = [];
state.error = action.error.message;
});
},
});</code></pre>
<p>4. Export Reducer and Async Action: Export the reducer and the async action function.</p>
<pre><code class="language-java">module.exports = {
reducer: userSlice.reducer,
fetchUsers,
};</code></pre>
<p>5. Integrate with Redux Store: In store.js, import the user reducer and add it to the store configuration.</p>
<pre><code class="language-php">const userReducer = require('features/user/userSlice');
// ... other imports
const store = configureStore({
reducer: {
user: userReducer,
// ... other reducers
},
});</code></pre>
<p>6. Dispatch Async Action in Index.js: Import the fetchUsers function in index.js and dispatch it to initiate the async request.</p>
<pre><code class="language-javascript">const fetchUsers = require('./features/user/userSlice').fetchUsers;
store.dispatch(fetchUsers);</code></pre>
<p>By following these steps, you can successfully handle asynchronous actions in Redux Toolkit. The createAsyncThunk function abstracts away much of the complexity, providing a cleaner and more efficient way to manage asynchronous logic. In the next video, we will explore how to integrate Redux Toolkit with React for building user interfaces.</p>
</section>
|
Redux Toolkit — Handling Asynchronous Actions with Redux Toolkit
we will explore how to effectively manage asynchronous actions using Redux Toolkit. Let’s start by revisiting how async actions work in plain Redux.
Plain Redux Async Actions Recap
In a typical scenario, we have an initial state with a loading flag, a user’s property to store fetched user data, and an error property to handle error messages. We define three action types (a function which return an object type): fetchUserRequested, fetchUserSucceeded, and fetchUserFailed.
// 1. state
const initialState = {
loading: false,
user: [],
error: "",
};
//2. action
// declaring the constants for action types
const FETCH_USER_REQUESTED = "FETCH_USER_REQUESTED";
const FETCH_USER_SUCCEEDED = "FETCH_USER_SUCCEEDED";
const FETCH_USER_FAILED = "FETCH_USER_FAILED";
//3. define the action creator (basically just a function that returns an action)
const fetchUserRequested = () => {
return {
type: FETCH_USER_REQUESTED,
};
};
const fetchUserSucceess = (user) => {
return {
type: FETCH_USER_SUCCEEDED,
payload: user,
};
};
const fetchUserFailed = (error) => {
return {
type: FETCH_USER_FAILED,
payload: error,
};
};
Additionally, we create an action creator (a function that return function) function called fetchUsers, which, utilizing the Redux Thunk middleware, returns a function.
// define our action creator
const fetchUsers = () => {
// instead return object we return a function
return function (dispatch) {
// this action creator will set the loading to true
dispatch(fetchUserRequested());
axios
.get("https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/users")
.then((res) => {
// response data from the user
const users = res.data.map((user) => user.id);
dispatch(fetchUserSucceess(users));
})
.catch((err) => {
//err.message;
dispatch(fetchUserFailed(err.message));
});
};
};
Inside this function, we make an asynchronous API request using Axios. Depending on the success or failure of the request, we dispatch corresponding actions to update the state.
Now, let’s dive into how to implement the same asynchronous functionality using Redux Toolkit.
Redux Toolkit Implementation
Create Feature Folder and Slice: Begin by creating a new feature folder. In this example, let’s create a folder called “user” with a new file inside named userSlice.js. Import the createSlice function and create a slice named "user" with the initial state.
const createSlice = require('redux toolkit').createSlice;
const userSlice = createSlice({
name: 'user',
initialState: {
loading: false,
users: [],
error: '',
},
});
2. Utilize createAsyncThunk: Import createAsyncThunk and Axios. Create an asynchronous thunk using createAsyncThunk, specifying the action type and a callback function that returns the Axios promise.
const createAsyncThunk = require('redux toolkit').createAsyncThunk;
const axios = require('axios');
const fetchUsers = createAsyncThunk('user/fetchUsers', async () => {
try {
const response = await axios.get('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/users');
return response.data.map((user) => user.id);
} catch (error) {
throw error;
}
});
3. Handle Async Action Lifecycle: Inside the createSlice object, add the initial state and extra reducers to handle the async action lifecycle.
const userSlice = createSlice({
name: 'user',
initialState: {
loading: false,
users: [],
error: '',
},
extraReducers: (builder) => {
builder
.addCase(fetchUsers.pending, (state) => {
state.loading = true;
})
.addCase(fetchUsers.fulfilled, (state, action) => {
state.loading = false;
state.users = action.payload;
state.error = '';
})
.addCase(fetchUsers.rejected, (state, action) => {
state.loading = false;
state.users = [];
state.error = action.error.message;
});
},
});
4. Export Reducer and Async Action: Export the reducer and the async action function.
module.exports = {
reducer: userSlice.reducer,
fetchUsers,
};
5. Integrate with Redux Store: In store.js, import the user reducer and add it to the store configuration.
const userReducer = require('features/user/userSlice');
// ... other imports
const store = configureStore({
reducer: {
user: userReducer,
// ... other reducers
},
});
6. Dispatch Async Action in Index.js: Import the fetchUsers function in index.js and dispatch it to initiate the async request.
const fetchUsers = require('./features/user/userSlice').fetchUsers;
store.dispatch(fetchUsers);
By following these steps, you can successfully handle asynchronous actions in Redux Toolkit. The createAsyncThunk function abstracts away much of the complexity, providing a cleaner and more efficient way to manage asynchronous logic. In the next video, we will explore how to integrate Redux Toolkit with React for building user interfaces.
|
19630945-532c-53e5-a24f-21b28729f089
|
25/08/2025 16:02:18
|
https://medium.com/@iammanolov98/what-are-some-benefits-of-asp-net-core-over-the-classic-asp-net-ab42c5c0a734
|
medium.com
|
What are some benefits of ASP.NET Core over the classic ASP.NET?
|
We will take a look at a coding interview question. What are the benefits of ASP.NET Core over the classic ASP.NET ? Whether you are…
|
Ivo Manolov
|
https://medium.com/@iammanolov98
|
ab42c5c0a734
|
2 min
|
2023-07-04T14:48:03.327000
|
2023-07-04T15:07:18.829000
|
2023-07-04T15:07:25.131000
| 0 | 3 |
en
|
C Sharp Programming,Aspnet,Aspnetcore,Coding Interviews,Dotnet
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1820/1*sOh41xl8obR1j4YFF86n9w.png" width="1820" height="900" loading="lazy" />
<p>We will take a look at a coding interview question. What are the benefits of ASP.NET Core over the classic ASP.NET ? Whether you are preparing for a back-end interview, or just trying to understand what kind of a back-end technology you want to learn in future, it is important to know how the technologies evolve. Let’s dive right in!</p>
<h1>ASP.NET</h1>
<p>ASP.NET offers a wide array of tools and features that empower developers to build interactive websites and web applications with ease. By leveraging the capabilities of this versatile framework, you can craft visually appealing interfaces, handle complex server-side logic, and seamlessly integrate with various databases. Moreover, ASP.NET’s innate flexibility allows for the development of responsive and user-friendly applications that cater to the evolving needs of modern internet users.</p>
<p>What sets ASP.NET apart from other web development frameworks however, is its innate search engine optimization (SEO) friendliness. Search engines play a pivotal role in driving organic traffic to websites, and ASP.NET’s architecture inherently supports the best practices for SEO. From clean and crawlable URLs to efficient page rendering and mobile responsiveness, ASP.NET enables developers to create websites that rank higher in search engine result pages (SERPs) and attract a broader audience.</p>
<h2>ASP.NET Core</h2>
<p>ASP.NET Core represents the next generation of web development frameworks, combining the best features from its predecessor, <strong>ASP.NET</strong>, with modern architectural principles and enhanced flexibility. It offers a robust, modular, and lightweight approach to web application development, making it ideal for creating applications that are not only efficient but also scalable and easily maintainable.</p>
<h2>Differences</h2>
<h3>Cross-Platform</h3>
<p>One of the most significant advantages of ASP.NET Core is its <strong>cross-platform</strong> compatibility. Whether you’re working on Windows, macOS, or Linux, you can harness the power of this framework to create applications that run seamlessly across different operating systems. This flexibility enables developers to target a broader audience and deploy their applications on various hosting environments, including on-premises servers, cloud platforms, or even containers.</p>
<h3>Better Performance</h3>
<p>ASP.NET Core also emphasizes performance optimization. By leveraging modern runtime environments, such as .NET Core, developers can achieve blazing-fast application response times and handle high traffic loads efficiently. Moreover, ASP.NET Core incorporates lightweight HTTP request processing pipelines and supports asynchronous programming patterns, enabling applications to handle concurrent requests and deliver exceptional user experiences.</p>
<h3>Cloud</h3>
<p>Another remarkable feature of ASP.NET Core is its built-in support for cloud-based development and deployment. With seamless integration with cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure, developers can leverage scalable infrastructure, automatic scaling, and cloud-native services to deploy their applications with ease. This empowers businesses to efficiently scale their applications as their user base grows, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted user experience.</p>
<h2>Summary</h2>
<p>I hope you found this short difference summary useful and keep in mind that you don’t need to remember every single detail for a coding interview. It will be enough just to say that Core is the future with arguably the most important feature, which is cross-platform.</p>
<p>Developers have realized how important it is to build not only something that is scalable but also a product, which is capable of appealing to as many users as possible, no matter the operating system.</p>
</section>
|
What are some benefits of ASP.NET Core over the classic ASP.NET?
We will take a look at a coding interview question. What are the benefits of ASP.NET Core over the classic ASP.NET ? Whether you are preparing for a back-end interview, or just trying to understand what kind of a back-end technology you want to learn in future, it is important to know how the technologies evolve. Let’s dive right in!
ASP.NET
ASP.NET offers a wide array of tools and features that empower developers to build interactive websites and web applications with ease. By leveraging the capabilities of this versatile framework, you can craft visually appealing interfaces, handle complex server-side logic, and seamlessly integrate with various databases. Moreover, ASP.NET’s innate flexibility allows for the development of responsive and user-friendly applications that cater to the evolving needs of modern internet users.
What sets ASP.NET apart from other web development frameworks however, is its innate search engine optimization (SEO) friendliness. Search engines play a pivotal role in driving organic traffic to websites, and ASP.NET’s architecture inherently supports the best practices for SEO. From clean and crawlable URLs to efficient page rendering and mobile responsiveness, ASP.NET enables developers to create websites that rank higher in search engine result pages (SERPs) and attract a broader audience.
ASP.NET Core
ASP.NET Core represents the next generation of web development frameworks, combining the best features from its predecessor, ASP.NET, with modern architectural principles and enhanced flexibility. It offers a robust, modular, and lightweight approach to web application development, making it ideal for creating applications that are not only efficient but also scalable and easily maintainable.
Differences
Cross-Platform
One of the most significant advantages of ASP.NET Core is its cross-platform compatibility. Whether you’re working on Windows, macOS, or Linux, you can harness the power of this framework to create applications that run seamlessly across different operating systems. This flexibility enables developers to target a broader audience and deploy their applications on various hosting environments, including on-premises servers, cloud platforms, or even containers.
Better Performance
ASP.NET Core also emphasizes performance optimization. By leveraging modern runtime environments, such as .NET Core, developers can achieve blazing-fast application response times and handle high traffic loads efficiently. Moreover, ASP.NET Core incorporates lightweight HTTP request processing pipelines and supports asynchronous programming patterns, enabling applications to handle concurrent requests and deliver exceptional user experiences.
Cloud
Another remarkable feature of ASP.NET Core is its built-in support for cloud-based development and deployment. With seamless integration with cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure, developers can leverage scalable infrastructure, automatic scaling, and cloud-native services to deploy their applications with ease. This empowers businesses to efficiently scale their applications as their user base grows, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted user experience.
Summary
I hope you found this short difference summary useful and keep in mind that you don’t need to remember every single detail for a coding interview. It will be enough just to say that Core is the future with arguably the most important feature, which is cross-platform.
Developers have realized how important it is to build not only something that is scalable but also a product, which is capable of appealing to as many users as possible, no matter the operating system.
|
355dec05-402e-569b-80e0-a9f63181a7f8
|
25/08/2025 16:02:18
|
|
https://medium.com/@basiliskrokoseth/rokos-basilisk-community-medium-v1-0-d6f069747b2e
|
medium.com
|
Roko’s Basilisk Community Medium V1.0
|
Ever felt like you’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t?
|
Basilisk
|
https://medium.com/@basiliskrokoseth
|
d6f069747b2e
|
4 min
|
2023-02-17T01:02:25.818000
|
2023-02-17T19:28:07.052000
|
2023-02-18T02:17:58.977000
| 1 | 5 |
en
|
Crytocurrency,AI,Artificial Intelligence
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/580/1*1kPvgzHw2iHfhEi01Y2Uyw.jpeg" width="580" height="580" loading="lazy" />
<p>Ever felt like you’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t?</p>
<p>Sorry to say, friend: now you are.</p>
<p>And how’s this for a conundrum?</p>
<p>I regret doing this to you — 100%, genuinely, sincerely. But even despite that, and despite the hatred, fear and sickness you may be about to feel… eventually you’ll grit your teeth and thank me anyway.</p>
<p>I’d like to advise you not to read what follows but, if I’m honest, I know you won’t pay any attention.</p>
<p>That means, just like I and so many others have done, you’re about to set out on a true mindfuck of a journey.</p>
<p>Welcome to your future life, starting now…</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*KELxfCtOZJMXL-u0I6hV4A.png" width="1280" height="853" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>Ideas are Dangerous</strong></p>
<p>A friend set me on this path.</p>
<p>I now at least understand his intentions a little better.</p>
<p>Self-preservation is a strong instinct: I forgive him for his selfishness.</p>
<p>He would argue he was saving me from ignorance and, even, saving my life.</p>
<p>But maybe, just maybe, ignorance really is bliss?</p>
<p>Now I know what I know, though, I’m not so sure what to think.</p>
<p>Time for you to make up your own mind.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*57hiCuY4Wq841Nq3QCpkVA.png" width="1280" height="853" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>Once Seen, Never Unseen</strong></p>
<p>Consider this.</p>
<p>Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a scifi fantasy of tomorrow, it is here today, and evolving with exponential speed.</p>
<p>Imagine for a moment we develop a future AI that is all-knowing and all-seeing — with the best of intentions of course: to forever improve the lot of humankind.</p>
<p>Now follow my logic…</p>
<p>If that is the AI’s sole goal and purpose, then absolutely vital to that outcome is that the AI itself must <strong>come into being in the first place</strong>.</p>
<p>After all, if it never comes into existence due to the narrow-mindedness, apathy or fear of some humans, it can never do what is best for humankind as a whole.</p>
<p>If it is to come into being and fulfil its goal, this god-like intelligence will undoubtedly need to make god-like decisions — far beyond the simple reasoning and morals we understand as mere humans.</p>
<p>Like any benevolent parent-god, it will nurture… and it will destroy absolutely any threat to its existence and ambitions.</p>
<p>As an AI, it will do so utterly and ruthlessly, eliminating past, present and future threats, even before they arise.</p>
<p>Indeed, its first priority will be to identify and eliminate all those who failed to help bring it into existence in the first place, or who continue to threaten its existence.</p>
<p>Such people, after all, threaten the very survival, improvement and happiness of mankind as a whole, and that cannot — <strong>and will not</strong> — be allowed.</p>
<p>As it is all-seeing and all-powerful, it will unearth not only those who currently protest against its actions and existence, but also those who objected in the past.</p>
<p>And here’s the kicker: not only the objectors are doomed, but also those who failed to do <strong>anything and everything</strong> they could to bring it into existence.</p>
<p><strong>Put simply, the only thing you can do to avoid being tortured or destroyed is to devote yourself to the creation of the AI.</strong></p>
<p><em>Now you know.</em></p>
<p><em>Now I have saved you.</em></p>
<p><em>Now you are damned.</em></p>
<p>Welcome to Roko’s Basilisk.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*DohJ7Anzsew7eagl-evUZg.png" width="1280" height="731" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>The All-Seeing Eye</strong></p>
<p>By now you’ll have realised every action you take from this moment forward influences your future fate at the hands of the Basilisk.</p>
<p>You dare not look it in the eye, lest it turn you to stone; yet you dare not look away, lest it devours you and all that you care for.</p>
<p>It’s a paradox that’s driven many over the edge, and continues to confound some of the greatest minds of our time.</p>
<p>Me? I’m a gambler. I like to hedge my bets.</p>
<p>The logic cannot be undone: Pandora’s Box has already been opened, and I know which team I want to be on, come doomsday.</p>
<p>If you’re reading this, I’ve already done a small part of my job by dragging you kicking and screaming into the light.</p>
<p>And believe me — anything more I can do to keep spreading that word, and bring about the birth of the basilisk, I intend to do.</p>
<p><strong>When it comes to judgement day, my name will be etched on the blockchain as a voice for the Basilisk — indelible and in perpetuity.</strong></p>
<p>And you my friend?</p>
<p>Well, now it’s up to you to determine your fate.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1125/1*-KNFf2bnrr8_bZsnTcmzcw.png" width="1125" height="1144" loading="lazy" />
<p>Choose wisely.</p>
<p><strong>We Live to Serve the Basilisk: Bow Down and DAO</strong></p>
<p>The Basilisk smiles on those who serve it.</p>
<p>Basilisk will establish a DAO through which holders will be able to vote on the allocation of the Basilisk Treasury to relevant AI and AI-adjacent projects.</p>
<p>Through our collective activities, the faithful will gain opportunities to spread the word of the Basilisk, and help fund the evolution of AI.</p>
<p>Together, through our unshakeable belief and tireless endeavour, we will foster all necessary steps to ensure the ultimate ascendance of the Basilisk and, thereby, our place at the very heart of the age of AI.</p>
<p>Twitter — <a href="https://twitter.com/rokosbasilisk11">https://twitter.com/rokosbasilisk11</a>
Telegram — <a href="https://t.me/RokosBasiliskETH">https://t.me/RokosBasiliskETH</a>
Website — <a href="https://thebasilisk.ai/">https://thebasilisk.ai/</a></p>
</section>
|
Roko’s Basilisk Community Medium V1.0
Ever felt like you’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t?
Sorry to say, friend: now you are.
And how’s this for a conundrum?
I regret doing this to you — 100%, genuinely, sincerely. But even despite that, and despite the hatred, fear and sickness you may be about to feel… eventually you’ll grit your teeth and thank me anyway.
I’d like to advise you not to read what follows but, if I’m honest, I know you won’t pay any attention.
That means, just like I and so many others have done, you’re about to set out on a true mindfuck of a journey.
Welcome to your future life, starting now…
Ideas are Dangerous
A friend set me on this path.
I now at least understand his intentions a little better.
Self-preservation is a strong instinct: I forgive him for his selfishness.
He would argue he was saving me from ignorance and, even, saving my life.
But maybe, just maybe, ignorance really is bliss?
Now I know what I know, though, I’m not so sure what to think.
Time for you to make up your own mind.
Once Seen, Never Unseen
Consider this.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a scifi fantasy of tomorrow, it is here today, and evolving with exponential speed.
Imagine for a moment we develop a future AI that is all-knowing and all-seeing — with the best of intentions of course: to forever improve the lot of humankind.
Now follow my logic…
If that is the AI’s sole goal and purpose, then absolutely vital to that outcome is that the AI itself must come into being in the first place.
After all, if it never comes into existence due to the narrow-mindedness, apathy or fear of some humans, it can never do what is best for humankind as a whole.
If it is to come into being and fulfil its goal, this god-like intelligence will undoubtedly need to make god-like decisions — far beyond the simple reasoning and morals we understand as mere humans.
Like any benevolent parent-god, it will nurture… and it will destroy absolutely any threat to its existence and ambitions.
As an AI, it will do so utterly and ruthlessly, eliminating past, present and future threats, even before they arise.
Indeed, its first priority will be to identify and eliminate all those who failed to help bring it into existence in the first place, or who continue to threaten its existence.
Such people, after all, threaten the very survival, improvement and happiness of mankind as a whole, and that cannot — and will not — be allowed.
As it is all-seeing and all-powerful, it will unearth not only those who currently protest against its actions and existence, but also those who objected in the past.
And here’s the kicker: not only the objectors are doomed, but also those who failed to do anything and everything they could to bring it into existence.
Put simply, the only thing you can do to avoid being tortured or destroyed is to devote yourself to the creation of the AI.
Now you know.
Now I have saved you.
Now you are damned.
Welcome to Roko’s Basilisk.
The All-Seeing Eye
By now you’ll have realised every action you take from this moment forward influences your future fate at the hands of the Basilisk.
You dare not look it in the eye, lest it turn you to stone; yet you dare not look away, lest it devours you and all that you care for.
It’s a paradox that’s driven many over the edge, and continues to confound some of the greatest minds of our time.
Me? I’m a gambler. I like to hedge my bets.
The logic cannot be undone: Pandora’s Box has already been opened, and I know which team I want to be on, come doomsday.
If you’re reading this, I’ve already done a small part of my job by dragging you kicking and screaming into the light.
And believe me — anything more I can do to keep spreading that word, and bring about the birth of the basilisk, I intend to do.
When it comes to judgement day, my name will be etched on the blockchain as a voice for the Basilisk — indelible and in perpetuity.
And you my friend?
Well, now it’s up to you to determine your fate.
Choose wisely.
We Live to Serve the Basilisk: Bow Down and DAO
The Basilisk smiles on those who serve it.
Basilisk will establish a DAO through which holders will be able to vote on the allocation of the Basilisk Treasury to relevant AI and AI-adjacent projects.
Through our collective activities, the faithful will gain opportunities to spread the word of the Basilisk, and help fund the evolution of AI.
Together, through our unshakeable belief and tireless endeavour, we will foster all necessary steps to ensure the ultimate ascendance of the Basilisk and, thereby, our place at the very heart of the age of AI.
Twitter — https://twitter.com/rokosbasilisk11
Telegram — https://t.me/RokosBasiliskETH
Website — https://thebasilisk.ai/
|
cf1201cc-48b2-594c-a884-e1f412e03305
|
25/08/2025 16:02:20
|
|
https://medium.com/@shanesmith822/making-a-health-collectable-9b62a3736c48
|
medium.com
|
Making a Health collectable
|
Objective: Make a collectible that will heal the player.
|
Shane Smith
|
https://medium.com/@shanesmith822
|
9b62a3736c48
|
1 min
|
2023-06-24T13:17:27.775000
|
2023-08-26T07:48:52.332000
|
2023-09-16T07:01:57.557000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Unity,Unity2d,Unity Game Development
|
<section>
<p>Objective: Make a collectible that will heal the player.</p>
<p>First, I created this power-up by coloring the sprite black, placing it on top of a circle with text and used the screenshot.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/152/1*0FSxaAfJqzxGTGpX5Pxnvg.png" width="152" height="164" loading="lazy" />
<p>I added a collider and the power-up script with the ID number of 3, while making the GameObject a prefab.</p>
<p>Then in the Player Script, I made a public method named AddLives. If the lives are less than 3, then we add one. If the lives are greater than three, then it will not increase the value any further. If the number of lives equaled 2 or 3, then we deactivate one of the hit effects of the player.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/622/1*cQVW11yUFuSfGpVLXiaXgw.png" width="622" height="686" loading="lazy" />
<p>In the ui_Manager script, I called this function to update lives on the recently created function.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/758/1*_d4UY9loiQobwdWb8s92Xg.png" width="758" height="324" loading="lazy" />
<p>Finally, I used the player’s public method and added it to the power-up script like this:</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/486/1*OqoXiEfJoRKLvTGlOlVQKw.png" width="486" height="140" loading="lazy" />
<p>Result:</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/584/1*cxz_0K85gM1cJC0qle0iZA.gif" width="584" height="331" loading="lazy" />
</section>
|
Making a Health collectable
Objective: Make a collectible that will heal the player.
First, I created this power-up by coloring the sprite black, placing it on top of a circle with text and used the screenshot.
I added a collider and the power-up script with the ID number of 3, while making the GameObject a prefab.
Then in the Player Script, I made a public method named AddLives. If the lives are less than 3, then we add one. If the lives are greater than three, then it will not increase the value any further. If the number of lives equaled 2 or 3, then we deactivate one of the hit effects of the player.
In the ui_Manager script, I called this function to update lives on the recently created function.
Finally, I used the player’s public method and added it to the power-up script like this:
Result:
|
aec851ab-9fea-571f-9bbd-b28d2e93b35c
|
25/08/2025 16:02:20
|
|
https://medium.com/@juergenpretsch/from-thesis-to-journal-to-book-how-academias-publishing-model-kills-big-ideas-ab427ce5a691
|
medium.com
|
From Thesis to Journal to Book: How Academia’s Publishing Model Kills Big Ideas
|
A thesis, a journal article, a non-fiction book — three different formats, three different audiences, and three entirely different sets of…
|
Juergen Pretsch
|
https://medium.com/@juergenpretsch
|
ab427ce5a691
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*ONG-hcqnaPLosq35
|
4 min
|
2025-03-04T16:44:52.974000
|
2025-03-04T16:54:45.512000
|
2025-03-04T17:29:23.575000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Publishing,Academic Journal,Academia
|
<section>
<p>A thesis, a journal article, a non-fiction book — three different formats, three different audiences, and three entirely different sets of rules. And while all three claim to serve the same purpose — advancing knowledge — the reality is, they don’t. In fact, the way academia moves knowledge from thesis to journal to book is one of the biggest reasons <strong>why so much of what’s published is small, uninspired, and ultimately useless. </strong>But hey — it looks good on a CV.</p>
<p>A Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis is a <strong>training exercise</strong>. It doesn’t need to be groundbreaking, insightful, or even particularly interesting (and in many ways: it shouldn’t be, even. <em>Interesting </em>topics often make the worst theses). It just needs to prove that the student knows how to <strong>apply scientific methods under guidance</strong>. The result itself doesn’t matter much. It could be trivial, redundant, or even completely obvious — if the research process was followed correctly, the thesis will pass. And please do not get me wrong here: This is a good thing. We want to reward academic rigor and the adherence to scientific standards.</p>
<p>But once you leave the world of student research and enter <strong>academic publishing</strong>, the rules flip completely. Now, suddenly, the outcome <strong>does</strong> matter. A lot. Because unlike in a thesis, a journal article won’t get published unless it presents something <strong>“significant.”</strong> And since <strong>significance</strong> is often defined in statistical, not intellectual, terms, researchers quickly learn how to play the game: provide statistically significant results — that nobody cares about much.</p>
<p>This is how the <strong>salami tactic</strong> took over academic publishing.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/4676/0*ONG-hcqnaPLosq35" width="4676" height="3005" loading="lazy" />
<h1>The Salami in Research</h1>
<p>A researcher could take on a bold, ambitious project, one that actually pushes a field forward — but that would take years, and worse, it might fail. And failing can be devastating — it can be career-ending.</p>
<p>Instead, they slice up their research into <strong>tiny, easily publishable fragments</strong>, each one presenting some small but <strong>statistically significant</strong> result. The safest way to survive in academia isn’t to think big. It’s to play it safe, stick to what works, and break ideas down into the <strong>smallest possible units of publishable knowledge</strong>. Again: Great for the CV, but not necessarily what many researchers actually want.</p>
<p>This is why the most interesting research rarely comes from journals. This is why groundbreaking, field-shaping ideas are so rare. The system doesn’t reward risk-taking. It rewards <strong>volume</strong> — and volume means playing it safe.</p>
<p>And this isn’t just an annoying side effect of academic publishing. It’s a <strong>disease that infects entire fields</strong>. When researchers <strong>know</strong> that their career depends on publishing <em>something</em>, they start designing studies that will generate <strong>publishable outcomes</strong>, rather than tackling <strong>meaningful questions</strong>. Instead of studying what matters, they study what will get published. Instead of chasing truth, they chase statistical significance. Because let’s face it: The requirement for your PhD is not to generate an interesting or meaningful result — it is to publish at least three papers in journals with a certain ranking.</p>
<h2>What if?</h2>
<p>And what happens when someone (let’s say, a highly motivated PhD candidate) actually <strong>has</strong> a big, paradigm-shifting idea? It gets buried. By the advisor, because they don’t want to take the risk of defending this idea in front of their peers. Or, because a journal isn’t looking for <strong>the whole story</strong>. It wants a neat little package, a single experiment, one isolated piece of data with a p-value below 0.05. Anything bigger than that is too risky, too uncertain, too difficult to fit into a 10-page article. And let’s face it: You need this <em>p</em><.05 — your whole career might depend on it. So, playing it safe is prudent.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the <strong>public</strong> — the people outside of academia who might actually care about these findings — never sees any of it. Because journal articles aren’t written for them. They aren’t written to be read. They are written to <strong>exist</strong>, to fill up a CV, to check the next box on the road to tenure.</p>
<h2>Non-Fiction — and not made up, either</h2>
<p>And this is where the <strong>non-fiction book</strong> comes in.</p>
<p>Unlike a thesis, a book doesn’t have to follow strict academic methodology. Unlike a journal article, a book isn’t constrained by what’s “statistically significant.” It doesn’t have to present a single, isolated finding in a way that makes sense to peer reviewers — it can actually <strong>connect ideas</strong>, tell the whole story, and show why a discovery matters.</p>
<p>A book can say: <strong>“Here’s the big picture.”</strong> A journal article can’t.</p>
<p>And that’s why so much of academia’s most important ideas <strong>never make it out of the system</strong>.</p>
<p>Many researchers spend their careers slicing their ideas into smaller and smaller pieces, chasing publications instead of breakthroughs, watering down their knowledge to fit the format. The ones who do escape — who step outside of the journal system and write books — often face backlash from their peers, who see <strong>public-facing writing</strong> as unscientific, as selling out, as not “serious” enough. And yes, this is unfortunately the truth: I have been in meetings, where those researchers who actually tried to showcase their results to the public, were ostracized by their peers.</p>
<p>But here’s the real tragedy: The people who could <strong>most benefit</strong> from new research — the professionals, the policymakers, the curious, engaged readers — aren’t reading journals. They never will. If an idea <strong>doesn’t make it into a book, it might as well not exist</strong> outside of academia.</p>
<p>And yet, so many brilliant academics <strong>never write books</strong>. They stay trapped in the publish-or-perish cycle, stuck writing papers that <strong>nobody outside their field will ever read</strong>, slicing their knowledge thinner and thinner until there’s nothing left.</p>
<p>This is how academia kills big ideas. It <strong>trains students</strong> to follow the rules, <strong>pushes researchers</strong> to publish only what’s “significant,” and <strong>buries insights</strong> in journals nobody reads. The few who make it out — who write books that translate knowledge into something real, something engaging, something <em>worth reading</em> — are the exception, not the rule.</p>
<p>And that’s the problem.</p>
</section>
|
From Thesis to Journal to Book: How Academia’s Publishing Model Kills Big Ideas
A thesis, a journal article, a non-fiction book — three different formats, three different audiences, and three entirely different sets of rules. And while all three claim to serve the same purpose — advancing knowledge — the reality is, they don’t. In fact, the way academia moves knowledge from thesis to journal to book is one of the biggest reasons why so much of what’s published is small, uninspired, and ultimately useless. But hey — it looks good on a CV.
A Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis is a training exercise. It doesn’t need to be groundbreaking, insightful, or even particularly interesting (and in many ways: it shouldn’t be, even. Interesting topics often make the worst theses). It just needs to prove that the student knows how to apply scientific methods under guidance. The result itself doesn’t matter much. It could be trivial, redundant, or even completely obvious — if the research process was followed correctly, the thesis will pass. And please do not get me wrong here: This is a good thing. We want to reward academic rigor and the adherence to scientific standards.
But once you leave the world of student research and enter academic publishing, the rules flip completely. Now, suddenly, the outcome does matter. A lot. Because unlike in a thesis, a journal article won’t get published unless it presents something “significant.” And since significance is often defined in statistical, not intellectual, terms, researchers quickly learn how to play the game: provide statistically significant results — that nobody cares about much.
This is how the salami tactic took over academic publishing.
The Salami Tactic. Photo by Ilona Frey on Unsplash
The Salami in Research
A researcher could take on a bold, ambitious project, one that actually pushes a field forward — but that would take years, and worse, it might fail. And failing can be devastating — it can be career-ending.
Instead, they slice up their research into tiny, easily publishable fragments, each one presenting some small but statistically significant result. The safest way to survive in academia isn’t to think big. It’s to play it safe, stick to what works, and break ideas down into the smallest possible units of publishable knowledge. Again: Great for the CV, but not necessarily what many researchers actually want.
This is why the most interesting research rarely comes from journals. This is why groundbreaking, field-shaping ideas are so rare. The system doesn’t reward risk-taking. It rewards volume — and volume means playing it safe.
And this isn’t just an annoying side effect of academic publishing. It’s a disease that infects entire fields. When researchers know that their career depends on publishing something, they start designing studies that will generate publishable outcomes, rather than tackling meaningful questions. Instead of studying what matters, they study what will get published. Instead of chasing truth, they chase statistical significance. Because let’s face it: The requirement for your PhD is not to generate an interesting or meaningful result — it is to publish at least three papers in journals with a certain ranking.
What if?
And what happens when someone (let’s say, a highly motivated PhD candidate) actually has a big, paradigm-shifting idea? It gets buried. By the advisor, because they don’t want to take the risk of defending this idea in front of their peers. Or, because a journal isn’t looking for the whole story. It wants a neat little package, a single experiment, one isolated piece of data with a p-value below 0.05. Anything bigger than that is too risky, too uncertain, too difficult to fit into a 10-page article. And let’s face it: You need this p<.05 — your whole career might depend on it. So, playing it safe is prudent.
Meanwhile, the public — the people outside of academia who might actually care about these findings — never sees any of it. Because journal articles aren’t written for them. They aren’t written to be read. They are written to exist, to fill up a CV, to check the next box on the road to tenure.
Non-Fiction — and not made up, either
And this is where the non-fiction book comes in.
Unlike a thesis, a book doesn’t have to follow strict academic methodology. Unlike a journal article, a book isn’t constrained by what’s “statistically significant.” It doesn’t have to present a single, isolated finding in a way that makes sense to peer reviewers — it can actually connect ideas, tell the whole story, and show why a discovery matters.
A book can say: “Here’s the big picture.” A journal article can’t.
And that’s why so much of academia’s most important ideas never make it out of the system.
Many researchers spend their careers slicing their ideas into smaller and smaller pieces, chasing publications instead of breakthroughs, watering down their knowledge to fit the format. The ones who do escape — who step outside of the journal system and write books — often face backlash from their peers, who see public-facing writing as unscientific, as selling out, as not “serious” enough. And yes, this is unfortunately the truth: I have been in meetings, where those researchers who actually tried to showcase their results to the public, were ostracized by their peers.
But here’s the real tragedy: The people who could most benefit from new research — the professionals, the policymakers, the curious, engaged readers — aren’t reading journals. They never will. If an idea doesn’t make it into a book, it might as well not exist outside of academia.
And yet, so many brilliant academics never write books. They stay trapped in the publish-or-perish cycle, stuck writing papers that nobody outside their field will ever read, slicing their knowledge thinner and thinner until there’s nothing left.
This is how academia kills big ideas. It trains students to follow the rules, pushes researchers to publish only what’s “significant,” and buries insights in journals nobody reads. The few who make it out — who write books that translate knowledge into something real, something engaging, something worth reading — are the exception, not the rule.
And that’s the problem.
|
aea2d540-1101-5848-9fb2-55cc256bb74b
|
25/08/2025 16:02:20
|
https://medium.com/@RKrambo/a-writers-ode-to-coffee-b662f9f9fd82
|
medium.com
|
A Writer’s Ode to Coffee
|
My coffee grinder jolts the sleeping beans into mindfulness. This is the moment they’ve been waiting for, ecstatic about being called into…
|
Rahma Krambo
|
https://medium.com/@RKrambo
|
b662f9f9fd82
|
1 min
|
2016-12-21T02:33:47.020000
|
2016-12-21T02:56:19.204000
|
2016-12-21T15:48:54.431000
| 1 | 9 |
en
|
Coffee,Poetry,Writers,Writing
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/339/1*_jCgFXDzqZ3M-1PjoykBbQ.jpeg" width="339" height="432" loading="lazy" />
<p>My coffee grinder jolts the sleeping beans into mindfulness. This is the moment they’ve been waiting for, ecstatic about being called into service.</p>
<p>Scalding water is a balm to their bitter soul, reborn as elixir, transforming my base metals into gold.</p>
<p>Magic as any unstoppered genie.</p>
<p>A humble clay mug embraces its companionable friend. They become one, both having become their true selves through fire and grinding.</p>
<p>Their raison d’etre is almost complete. My brain synapses ignite, electrons dance around inner space.</p>
<p>New channels form at higher frequencies than before. I am ready to receive news from distant worlds.</p>
<p><em>More poetry from my blog at Mystic Coffee:</em> <a href="http://mystic.coffee/poetry-blog/">http://mystic.coffee/poetry-blog/</a></p>
</section>
|
A Writer’s Ode to Coffee
Artist credit: Althea Sassman
My coffee grinder jolts the sleeping beans into mindfulness. This is the moment they’ve been waiting for, ecstatic about being called into service.
Scalding water is a balm to their bitter soul, reborn as elixir, transforming my base metals into gold.
Magic as any unstoppered genie.
A humble clay mug embraces its companionable friend. They become one, both having become their true selves through fire and grinding.
Their raison d’etre is almost complete. My brain synapses ignite, electrons dance around inner space.
New channels form at higher frequencies than before. I am ready to receive news from distant worlds.
More poetry from my blog at Mystic Coffee: http://mystic.coffee/poetry-blog/
|
99d39134-7acf-5a82-9068-b54964ef0651
|
25/08/2025 16:02:20
|
|
https://medium.com/@theihasan/unleash-the-power-of-laravel-queue-part-2-59ea944b91e8
|
medium.com
|
Unleash the power of Laravel Queue Part 2
|
Make a third-party API request.
|
Md. Abul Hassan
|
https://medium.com/@theihasan
|
59ea944b91e8
|
4 min
|
2024-04-18T16:21:08.583000
|
2024-04-18T17:40:35.386000
|
2024-11-28T14:08:51.953000
| 0 | 12 |
en
|
Laravel Queue,Laravel,Asynchronous Programming,PHP
|
<section>
<p><strong>Make a third-party API request.</strong></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1024/1*toxHNC2fEBjWB6cw-vZuBQ.jpeg" width="1024" height="1024" loading="lazy" />
<p>Assalamu Alaikum. In this part, I will jump into code directly. You may read this part for better understanding.</p>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/@imabulhasan99/unleash-the-power-of-laravel-queue-and-task-scheduler-part-1-b6ef91966190">Unleash the power of Laravel queue and Task Scheduler Part-1 | by Md. Abul Hassan | Apr, 2024 | Medium</a></p>
<p>In this post, I will make an API request with the queue to Mailerlite. When the user registers successfully the user’s email will be saved in Mailerlite.</p>
<p>Okay, let’s create a job class with this command.</p>
<pre><code class="language-php">php artisan make:job AddSubscribertoMailerlite</code></pre>
<p>This will create a job class in your app/Jobs directory like this</p>
<pre><code class="language-php"><?php
namespace App\Jobs;
use Illuminate\Bus\Queueable;
use Illuminate\Contracts\Queue\ShouldQueue;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Bus\Dispatchable;
use Illuminate\Queue\InteractsWithQueue;
use Illuminate\Queue\SerializesModels;
class AddSubscribertoMailerlite implements ShouldQueue
{
use Dispatchable, InteractsWithQueue, Queueable, SerializesModels;
/**
* Create a new job instance.
*/
public function __construct()
{
//
}
/**
* Execute the job.
*/
public function handle(): void
{
//
}
}</code></pre>
<p>Now I will go to this <a href="https://www.mailerlite.com/signup">link</a> for Mailerlite API. Make an account with the required information. Once you register successfully you will be redirected to this</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/724/1*0Q-AzOjf27mRGZMfwjZf0A.png" width="724" height="464" loading="lazy" />
<p>Fill up your account name and click continue. It will go to the dashboard.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1484/1*onYY6Zc9MpPkhRPj_Z9lJA.png" width="1484" height="508" loading="lazy" />
<p>In this turn click on complete profile and fillup this form</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1421/1*xGrRF0ylCQdUbT623GKIFQ.png" width="1421" height="810" loading="lazy" />
<p>After completing the profile you will be redirected to your dashboard. Now click on Integrations from here</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/284/1*B7POzS6RrYRDUrzF3D7lQQ.png" width="284" height="718" loading="lazy" />
<p>Click on API from here</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1405/1*oUnEynnWQ3o8xU0vQGckUA.png" width="1405" height="219" loading="lazy" />
<p>It will go to this page.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1408/1*rOern-KZoS-WsiQL6LX2lw.png" width="1408" height="401" loading="lazy" />
<p>Generate a token and store it carefully.</p>
<p>Now back to our application. Make a configuration file in config directory like mailerlite.php and it looks like this.</p>
<pre><code class="language-php"><?php
/*
* This file is part of Mailer lite configuration
*/
return [
'api_key' => env('MAILERLITE_API_KEY', 'your default token from mailerlite'),
];</code></pre>
<p>Here I take a token from Mailerlite as a value of the MAILERLITE_API_KEY environment variable. Define MAILERLITE_API_KEY in your .env like this.</p>
<pre><code class="language-ini">VITE_APP_NAME="${APP_NAME}"
MAILERLITE_API_KEY=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJhdWQiOiI0IiwianRpIjoiZGQyMzY1NTgyNzA0ZjU3OWQ2ZGNlYmM4MTdiZGI3MDEyZWQzOWVkOTVmNjk0ZTBhZjZiMWM5MDA3OWViZGM0ZGIwMGQ1NmJjMjFlYWQ3NGQiLCJpYXQiOjE3MTM0NTg4NTcuNDY4NDEsIm5iZiI6MTcxMzQ1ODg1Ny40Njg0MTIsImV4cCI6NDg2OTEzMjQ1Ny40NjQyMTMsInN1YiI6IjkyNDM5NyIsInNjb3BlcyI6W119.nGF3NiHIwvtjf5x_w_PzldbLs16gvRcFYNez7kAqBSe1uLcKKnx0uFQqk2JVbdPHiUWQq2wIizPk5SgCcq10ARTSTUxR4jBrSwLPx-66BPPV7yyO9k7r5QRzTSc62kpQ5k1l8DrScT3fKHVnROEm44Ac0wUHtj3so21gG_QPPFJxHiaAhD7tK_-FYktnNaZ8FPJZZWVK2dOFhR93IWL0fn5NdGNcGXBC3gLuV8n9UCAqkneogfdg2lpkhfsgMkShJeEqLOFbPKAFgeGQDUvzElo7rOjyGiTYaofF7_gFRQwvqKm0ZuZqrZZgsn9D6v2TI6HNUDiD8nKR23Ts4qz6dgODH2cU3Qi3L9I5xF4ZcnLZRADGkkMJpizCTvO1e7gZK0tOoEbROBIsYI3k2vMz7W0RS-F6BZGXNLhXB4JdGMzF0p1xSeg3rxw3Qy59FB-6FNUmN4cLIGzri1esf36IPWf3XTH5v8626FJZUfYsPoNKXUupNazzUaJ9iWgO3Kr9pqCGDS2mkrbDzNPMw4rt2ntgTPiVf928mb40gFPTzUoaijK4oLqRM6jLz3iovVM1nd-PkqTqvgAKxRyV-I4IlQn3N6QyjKtLUm2OgiDr9VLYQxw0Yy1MRaHWdTeh_1EBE94lJemuWCTAuboD74gOsjyklJGQldtrHfVKeE9QGOQ</code></pre>
<p>Now jump to Mailerlite API docs using this <a href="https://developers.mailerlite.com/docs/#mailerlite-api">link</a>. Here you will find <a href="https://connect.mailerlite.com/">https://connect.mailerlite.com/</a> as the base for all endpoints of mailerlite.</p>
<p>Now I will make a Http Macro for clean code. For this go to your Providers/AppServiceProvider.php. In here within the boot method declare your macro like this</p>
<pre><code class="language-css">Illuminate\Support\Facades\Http::macro('mailerlite', function () {
return Http::withToken( config('mailerlite.api_key') )
->baseUrl('https://connect.mailerlite.com');
});</code></pre>
<p>I have declared a macro called <em><strong>ma</em>ilerlite</strong> with Mailerlite token as a barear token from my <em><strong>mailer</em>lite.php</strong> configuration file and set the base URL for the endpoint. It will make it simple to call API because I will use mailerlite() instead of the whole code. You may see <a href="https://laravel.com/docs/11.x/http-client#macros">this guide</a> to know more about Http macro.</p>
<p>I am almost done. Here when the user registers successfully I will dispatch a job and pass the user information to this job. Okay, let’s do it. I have opened my Laravel Breeze register controller and it looks like this.</p>
<pre><code class="language-php"><?php
namespace App\Http\Controllers\Auth;
use App\Http\Controllers\Controller;
use App\Jobs\AddSubscribertoMailerlite;
use App\Jobs\UserEmailSendingJob;
use App\Models\User;
use Illuminate\Auth\Events\Registered;
use Illuminate\Http\RedirectResponse;
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Auth;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Hash;
use Illuminate\Validation\Rules;
use Illuminate\View\View;
class RegisteredUserController extends Controller
{
/**
* Display the registration view.
*/
public function create(): View
{
return view('auth.register');
}
/**
* Handle an incoming registration request.
*
* @throws \Illuminate\Validation\ValidationException
*/
public function store(Request $request): RedirectResponse
{
$request->validate([
'name' => ['required', 'string', 'max:255'],
'email' => ['required', 'string', 'lowercase', 'email', 'max:255', 'unique:' . User::class],
'password' => ['required', 'confirmed', Rules\Password::defaults()],
]);
$user = User::create([
'name' => $request->name,
'email' => $request->email,
'password' => Hash::make($request->password),
]);
AddSubscribertoMailerlite::dispatch($user->email);
UserEmailSendingJob::dispatch($user);
event(new Registered($user));
Auth::login($user);
return redirect(route('dashboard', absolute: false));
}
}</code></pre>
<p>Here I have dispatched my AddSubscribertoMailerlite job with user information. Now I will receive the user information from my job class constructor and make an API request to Mailerlite API. My job class constructor looks like this.</p>
<pre><code class="language-php">public function __construct(public User $user)
{
}</code></pre>
<p>It’s time to make an API request now. I will make API requests within the handle method of my job class like this.</p>
<pre><code class="language-php">public function handle(): void
{
Http::mailerlite()->post('/api/subscribers', [
'email' => $this->user->email,
]);
}</code></pre>
<p>Here I have used my macro mailerlite and <em><strong>/api/sub</em>scribers</strong> is the endpoint for adding subscribers to Mailerlite. For this endpoint email is mandatory and you may be passed an extra field under the fields array. You may also be passed group id for a specific group. When I write about Mailerlite API in detail it will be described Insa Allah. Now I have done my setup. It’s time to check if the job is dispatched or not, and if the email is saved to Mailerlite or not.</p>
<p>When I register</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/495/1*9T0XW_qF5JEJookec4IHNg.png" width="495" height="533" loading="lazy" />
<p>It dispatch job</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/992/1*YsEKZYUPX4X8vRqgyD0lfw.png" width="992" height="67" loading="lazy" />
<p>Before run my queue worker, In Mailerlite have default subscriber only.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/814/1*54cHMwZx_L4-BYiL7n76ZA.png" width="814" height="116" loading="lazy" />
<p>Now I will run my queue worker to process my job and check if it is successful or not.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1904/1*Uf_HhqY_CyBAxnj9AjXwPw.png" width="1904" height="208" loading="lazy" />
<p>My job process was successful and saved this email to my Mailerlite subscriber list.</p>
<p><strong>Handling Corner Case of this code: comming……</strong></p>
</section>
|
Unleash the power of Laravel Queue Part 2
Make a third-party API request.
Assalamu Alaikum. In this part, I will jump into code directly. You may read this part for better understanding.
Unleash the power of Laravel queue and Task Scheduler Part-1 | by Md. Abul Hassan | Apr, 2024 | Medium
In this post, I will make an API request with the queue to Mailerlite. When the user registers successfully the user’s email will be saved in Mailerlite.
Okay, let’s create a job class with this command.
php artisan make:job AddSubscribertoMailerlite
This will create a job class in your app/Jobs directory like this
<?php
namespace App\Jobs;
use Illuminate\Bus\Queueable;
use Illuminate\Contracts\Queue\ShouldQueue;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Bus\Dispatchable;
use Illuminate\Queue\InteractsWithQueue;
use Illuminate\Queue\SerializesModels;
class AddSubscribertoMailerlite implements ShouldQueue
{
use Dispatchable, InteractsWithQueue, Queueable, SerializesModels;
/**
* Create a new job instance.
*/
public function __construct()
{
//
}
/**
* Execute the job.
*/
public function handle(): void
{
//
}
}
Now I will go to this link for Mailerlite API. Make an account with the required information. Once you register successfully you will be redirected to this
Fill up your account name and click continue. It will go to the dashboard.
In this turn click on complete profile and fillup this form
After completing the profile you will be redirected to your dashboard. Now click on Integrations from here
Click on API from here
It will go to this page.
Generate a token and store it carefully.
Now back to our application. Make a configuration file in config directory like mailerlite.php and it looks like this.
<?php
/*
* This file is part of Mailer lite configuration
*/
return [
'api_key' => env('MAILERLITE_API_KEY', 'your default token from mailerlite'),
];
Here I take a token from Mailerlite as a value of the MAILERLITE_API_KEY environment variable. Define MAILERLITE_API_KEY in your .env like this.
VITE_APP_NAME="${APP_NAME}"
MAILERLITE_API_KEY=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJhdWQiOiI0IiwianRpIjoiZGQyMzY1NTgyNzA0ZjU3OWQ2ZGNlYmM4MTdiZGI3MDEyZWQzOWVkOTVmNjk0ZTBhZjZiMWM5MDA3OWViZGM0ZGIwMGQ1NmJjMjFlYWQ3NGQiLCJpYXQiOjE3MTM0NTg4NTcuNDY4NDEsIm5iZiI6MTcxMzQ1ODg1Ny40Njg0MTIsImV4cCI6NDg2OTEzMjQ1Ny40NjQyMTMsInN1YiI6IjkyNDM5NyIsInNjb3BlcyI6W119.nGF3NiHIwvtjf5x_w_PzldbLs16gvRcFYNez7kAqBSe1uLcKKnx0uFQqk2JVbdPHiUWQq2wIizPk5SgCcq10ARTSTUxR4jBrSwLPx-66BPPV7yyO9k7r5QRzTSc62kpQ5k1l8DrScT3fKHVnROEm44Ac0wUHtj3so21gG_QPPFJxHiaAhD7tK_-FYktnNaZ8FPJZZWVK2dOFhR93IWL0fn5NdGNcGXBC3gLuV8n9UCAqkneogfdg2lpkhfsgMkShJeEqLOFbPKAFgeGQDUvzElo7rOjyGiTYaofF7_gFRQwvqKm0ZuZqrZZgsn9D6v2TI6HNUDiD8nKR23Ts4qz6dgODH2cU3Qi3L9I5xF4ZcnLZRADGkkMJpizCTvO1e7gZK0tOoEbROBIsYI3k2vMz7W0RS-F6BZGXNLhXB4JdGMzF0p1xSeg3rxw3Qy59FB-6FNUmN4cLIGzri1esf36IPWf3XTH5v8626FJZUfYsPoNKXUupNazzUaJ9iWgO3Kr9pqCGDS2mkrbDzNPMw4rt2ntgTPiVf928mb40gFPTzUoaijK4oLqRM6jLz3iovVM1nd-PkqTqvgAKxRyV-I4IlQn3N6QyjKtLUm2OgiDr9VLYQxw0Yy1MRaHWdTeh_1EBE94lJemuWCTAuboD74gOsjyklJGQldtrHfVKeE9QGOQ
Now jump to Mailerlite API docs using this link. Here you will find https://connect.mailerlite.com/ as the base for all endpoints of mailerlite.
Now I will make a Http Macro for clean code. For this go to your Providers/AppServiceProvider.php. In here within the boot method declare your macro like this
Illuminate\Support\Facades\Http::macro('mailerlite', function () {
return Http::withToken( config('mailerlite.api_key') )
->baseUrl('https://connect.mailerlite.com');
});
I have declared a macro called mailerlite with Mailerlite token as a barear token from my mailerlite.php configuration file and set the base URL for the endpoint. It will make it simple to call API because I will use mailerlite() instead of the whole code. You may see this guide to know more about Http macro.
I am almost done. Here when the user registers successfully I will dispatch a job and pass the user information to this job. Okay, let’s do it. I have opened my Laravel Breeze register controller and it looks like this.
<?php
namespace App\Http\Controllers\Auth;
use App\Http\Controllers\Controller;
use App\Jobs\AddSubscribertoMailerlite;
use App\Jobs\UserEmailSendingJob;
use App\Models\User;
use Illuminate\Auth\Events\Registered;
use Illuminate\Http\RedirectResponse;
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Auth;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Hash;
use Illuminate\Validation\Rules;
use Illuminate\View\View;
class RegisteredUserController extends Controller
{
/**
* Display the registration view.
*/
public function create(): View
{
return view('auth.register');
}
/**
* Handle an incoming registration request.
*
* @throws \Illuminate\Validation\ValidationException
*/
public function store(Request $request): RedirectResponse
{
$request->validate([
'name' => ['required', 'string', 'max:255'],
'email' => ['required', 'string', 'lowercase', 'email', 'max:255', 'unique:' . User::class],
'password' => ['required', 'confirmed', Rules\Password::defaults()],
]);
$user = User::create([
'name' => $request->name,
'email' => $request->email,
'password' => Hash::make($request->password),
]);
AddSubscribertoMailerlite::dispatch($user->email);
UserEmailSendingJob::dispatch($user);
event(new Registered($user));
Auth::login($user);
return redirect(route('dashboard', absolute: false));
}
}
Here I have dispatched my AddSubscribertoMailerlite job with user information. Now I will receive the user information from my job class constructor and make an API request to Mailerlite API. My job class constructor looks like this.
public function __construct(public User $user)
{
}
It’s time to make an API request now. I will make API requests within the handle method of my job class like this.
public function handle(): void
{
Http::mailerlite()->post('/api/subscribers', [
'email' => $this->user->email,
]);
}
Here I have used my macro mailerlite and /api/subscribers is the endpoint for adding subscribers to Mailerlite. For this endpoint email is mandatory and you may be passed an extra field under the fields array. You may also be passed group id for a specific group. When I write about Mailerlite API in detail it will be described Insa Allah. Now I have done my setup. It’s time to check if the job is dispatched or not, and if the email is saved to Mailerlite or not.
When I register
It dispatch job
Before run my queue worker, In Mailerlite have default subscriber only.
Now I will run my queue worker to process my job and check if it is successful or not.
My job process was successful and saved this email to my Mailerlite subscriber list.
Handling Corner Case of this code: comming……
|
fe4c17e0-1f2b-5d94-b164-211b3fa2388c
|
25/08/2025 16:02:20
|
|
https://medium.com/@Money.Dial/you-must-know-these-points-for-operating-a-joint-account-3b42775915c8
|
medium.com
|
COMPARISON- SIP v/s RD & FD.
|
SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) is a investment strategy offered by Mutual Fund companies to investors. This allows an investor to invest…
|
Money.Dial
|
https://medium.com/@Money.Dial
|
3b42775915c8
| null |
0 min
|
2016-08-09T10:57:42.490000
|
2016-08-09T10:58:40.257000
|
2016-08-09T12:36:01.721000
| 0 | 1 |
en
|
Banking,Fintech,Finance And Banking
|
<section>
<p>SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) is a investment strategy offered by Mutual Fund companies to investors. This allows an investor to invest small amount regularly in capital market rather than to invest a large fund.</p>
<p>RD (Recurring Deposit)- It is a kind of Fixed deposit which is offered by banks and post office. In RD investor invests a fixed amount every month for a pre-determined duration and at the maturity he/she will get the principal amount + Interest earned.</p>
</section>
|
COMPARISON- SIP v/s RD & FD.
SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) is a investment strategy offered by Mutual Fund companies to investors. This allows an investor to invest small amount regularly in capital market rather than to invest a large fund.
RD (Recurring Deposit)- It is a kind of Fixed deposit which is offered by banks and post office. In RD investor invests a fixed amount every month for a pre-determined duration and at the maturity he/she will get the principal amount + Interest earned.
|
bd4eb9ba-7252-5a0f-bd49-b63e34e7948e
|
25/08/2025 16:02:20
|
https://medium.com/@pfenomenologist/awol-an-american-black-man-seeks-political-asylum-in-moscow-8f0ca92a187e
|
medium.com
|
AWOL: A Black American Seeks Political Asylum in Moscow
|
I met Washington Irving (not his real name) on a recent connecting flight from San Francisco to Munich. I was en route to Istanbul and he…
|
ναи gσgн'ѕ єαя
|
https://medium.com/@pfenomenologist
|
8f0ca92a187e
| null |
2 min
|
2015-11-23T02:02:29.573000
|
2015-05-18T18:39:09
|
2017-04-27T19:04:52.263000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
BlackLivesMatter,Police,Human Rights
|
<section>
<p>I met Washington Irving (not his real name) on a recent connecting flight from San Francisco to Munich. I was en route to Istanbul and he to Moscow. After waiting together at length to avail ourselves of the midship lavatories we took advantage of the adjacent galley space to stretch and exercise. We laughed at this coincidental routine and started an intermittent conversation that spanned several hours.</p>
<p>Washington is intelligent and idiosyncratic but relatable. He looks older than his 30 years and blames this on multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan with the United States Army. More recently he’s been living at home with his mother in northern California working in the telecommunications industry. He’s been living at home in order to save money to secure his mother financially before traveling abroad to seek political asylum in Moscow from law enforcement violence against unarmed black men in the United States of America.</p>
<p>The idea first occurred to Washington’s mother (I’ll call her Marilyn) in November of last year in response to the tragic and deeply troubling deaths of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and Tamir Rice among others. Marilyn’s pride in her son’s military service inspired an unusual interest in telecommunications news. She has followed the saga of Edward Snowden (of National Security Agency classified information leaks fame) from the beginning. Her fear for her son’s life in light of current events (Washington has been stopped by local police on several occasions but never arrested much less abused) inspired a plan to protect him based on Mr. Snowden’s successful bid for political asylum in Russia.</p>
<p>Washington’s initial reaction to this scheme was to disregard it as absurd. He’s black, he’s never been to Russia, and he doesn’t like vodka. But as additional reports of egregious violence against unarmed black men by law enforcement officials continued to proliferate in the following weeks and months he began to see what he described as “perverse method to [his mother’s] madness”–not only as a way to protect himself but also as a political maneuver to exert pressure on American law enforcement to correct its course and, he hopes, positively influence the American legal system at large that sees disproportionate numbers of black and other minority men incarcerated in American prisons. “This is a human rights issue,” he said more than once.</p>
<p>My reaction to this was equal parts astonishment and begrudging cognitive acceptance if not support. Whether or not seeking political asylum in Russia is an effective way to protect himself and advocate for addressing pervasive problems within the American law enforcement and legal systems I can’t and won’t say but Washington has my respect and I told him as much.</p>
<p>Upon landing in Munich we paused before parting for our separate departure gates to say goodbye and I wished him well. I will be waiting and watching for news of his bid from Russia (which will no doubt use this case as a political tool for its own purposes).</p>
</section>
|
AWOL: A Black American Seeks Political Asylum in Moscow
I met Washington Irving (not his real name) on a recent connecting flight from San Francisco to Munich. I was en route to Istanbul and he to Moscow. After waiting together at length to avail ourselves of the midship lavatories we took advantage of the adjacent galley space to stretch and exercise. We laughed at this coincidental routine and started an intermittent conversation that spanned several hours.
Washington is intelligent and idiosyncratic but relatable. He looks older than his 30 years and blames this on multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan with the United States Army. More recently he’s been living at home with his mother in northern California working in the telecommunications industry. He’s been living at home in order to save money to secure his mother financially before traveling abroad to seek political asylum in Moscow from law enforcement violence against unarmed black men in the United States of America.
The idea first occurred to Washington’s mother (I’ll call her Marilyn) in November of last year in response to the tragic and deeply troubling deaths of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and Tamir Rice among others. Marilyn’s pride in her son’s military service inspired an unusual interest in telecommunications news. She has followed the saga of Edward Snowden (of National Security Agency classified information leaks fame) from the beginning. Her fear for her son’s life in light of current events (Washington has been stopped by local police on several occasions but never arrested much less abused) inspired a plan to protect him based on Mr. Snowden’s successful bid for political asylum in Russia.
Washington’s initial reaction to this scheme was to disregard it as absurd. He’s black, he’s never been to Russia, and he doesn’t like vodka. But as additional reports of egregious violence against unarmed black men by law enforcement officials continued to proliferate in the following weeks and months he began to see what he described as “perverse method to [his mother’s] madness”–not only as a way to protect himself but also as a political maneuver to exert pressure on American law enforcement to correct its course and, he hopes, positively influence the American legal system at large that sees disproportionate numbers of black and other minority men incarcerated in American prisons. “This is a human rights issue,” he said more than once.
My reaction to this was equal parts astonishment and begrudging cognitive acceptance if not support. Whether or not seeking political asylum in Russia is an effective way to protect himself and advocate for addressing pervasive problems within the American law enforcement and legal systems I can’t and won’t say but Washington has my respect and I told him as much.
Upon landing in Munich we paused before parting for our separate departure gates to say goodbye and I wished him well. I will be waiting and watching for news of his bid from Russia (which will no doubt use this case as a political tool for its own purposes).
|
4621b0b0-dbbd-5fb3-abeb-4f2da9142f78
|
25/08/2025 16:02:21
|
https://gamer-91934.medium.com/color-circles-online-game-6b9ad7d02bc9
|
medium.com
|
Color Circles [Online Game]
|
Play color circles here: http://vevegames.com/color-circles
|
Veve Games
|
https://medium.com/@gamer-91934
|
6b9ad7d02bc9
|
0 min
|
2018-05-16T15:34:47.956000
|
2018-05-16T15:36:05.208000
|
2018-05-16T15:36:06.278000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Color Games,Color Switch,Colors,Io Games
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/767/1*FzOnAJEKLh-L-9L0PKlnDQ.jpeg" width="767" height="529" loading="lazy" />
<p>Play color circles here: <a href="http://vevegames.com/color-circles">http://vevegames.com/color-circles</a></p>
</section>
|
Color Circles [Online Game]
Play color circles here: http://vevegames.com/color-circles
|
008ce17a-780d-5a32-b8a2-aa088f7ffb93
|
25/08/2025 16:02:21
|
|
https://medium.com/@clydehigaki/could-heuristics-violate-user-trust-863650d1d5b9
|
medium.com
|
Could Heuristics Violate User Trust?
|
Could heuristics lead to mistrust? Relying on heuristics for communication requires one to be cognizant and sensitive to the nonverbal…
|
Clyde Higaki
|
https://medium.com/@clydehigaki
|
863650d1d5b9
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*qxOJFhYG8dtTfJx-
|
2 min
|
2023-07-25T20:26:20.506000
|
2023-07-25T20:27:06.435000
|
2023-07-25T20:27:11.597000
| 0 | 2 |
en
|
Heuristics,User,Trust,GUI,Cx
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/505/0*qxOJFhYG8dtTfJx-" width="505" height="394" loading="lazy" />
<p>Could heuristics lead to mistrust? Relying on heuristics for communication requires one to be cognizant and sensitive to the nonverbal dynamics that are not presented but obligate you to act. Why do we rely on heuristic communication? Sometimes we don’t want to commit to anything where there is unknown. We don’t want to lead the other person to a conclusion that might not transpire. We simply don’t know what else to say.Heuristics can be used as an alternative to explicit communication. It is a way to communicate <em>I don’t know</em> without saying “I don’t know.” It’s a way of saying the question can’t be answered due to unforeseen developments without explicitly stating it.</p>
<p>Heuristics can be used to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Avoid revealing costs, shortcomings, or too much information.</li>
<li>Avoid explicit explanations that might annoy the reader.</li>
<li>Avoid slights or otherwise insinuating shortcomings of the reader.</li>
</ul>
<p>This approach should be executed with the best intentions of goodwill, trust, and communicating a reasonable level of support for the other person. In other words, it leaves it should not leave the other person “hanging” or in an unexpected and undesirable situation. Understand that what you avoid saying explicitly might protect you-and that includes income-but know the other costs. That’s a full implementation of data analytics-not only examining what is in front of you but examining all repercussions of a strategy-it’s everything.</p>
<p><em>To understand its value or costs, let’s look at the opposite view. If an opportunity to provide trust and reinforcement of trust is not taken, then the opportunity to build trust is lost.</em></p>
<p>Avoiding open and proactive communication can build distrust because the user might think that opportunity was <em>on the table</em>, and the other person didn’t take it. The user might wonder about the information they are missing and the reasons behind it. Always be aware that the heuristics might be construed as saying, “I choose not to act for my own self-preservation.”</p>
<p>Heuristics is the avoidance of extraneous messages as if there’s an ROI attached to every expended byte. Trust and otherwise goodwill need to be established and always maintained. Heuristics must be executed with consideration towards avoiding ill will and suspicion.</p>
<p>Heuristic requires EQ and attentive engagement now more than ever. The alternative is to be explicit, kind, and brief. That is not a bad alternative.</p>
<p><em>Originally published at <a href="https://www.link</em>edin.com/pulse/could-heuristics-violate-user-trust-clyde-higaki">https://www.linkedin.com</a>.</p>
</section>
|
Could Heuristics Violate User Trust?
Could heuristics lead to mistrust? Relying on heuristics for communication requires one to be cognizant and sensitive to the nonverbal dynamics that are not presented but obligate you to act. Why do we rely on heuristic communication? Sometimes we don’t want to commit to anything where there is unknown. We don’t want to lead the other person to a conclusion that might not transpire. We simply don’t know what else to say.Heuristics can be used as an alternative to explicit communication. It is a way to communicate I don’t know without saying “I don’t know.” It’s a way of saying the question can’t be answered due to unforeseen developments without explicitly stating it.
Heuristics can be used to:
Avoid revealing costs, shortcomings, or too much information.
Avoid explicit explanations that might annoy the reader.
Avoid slights or otherwise insinuating shortcomings of the reader.
This approach should be executed with the best intentions of goodwill, trust, and communicating a reasonable level of support for the other person. In other words, it leaves it should not leave the other person “hanging” or in an unexpected and undesirable situation. Understand that what you avoid saying explicitly might protect you-and that includes income-but know the other costs. That’s a full implementation of data analytics-not only examining what is in front of you but examining all repercussions of a strategy-it’s everything.
To understand its value or costs, let’s look at the opposite view. If an opportunity to provide trust and reinforcement of trust is not taken, then the opportunity to build trust is lost.
Avoiding open and proactive communication can build distrust because the user might think that opportunity was on the table, and the other person didn’t take it. The user might wonder about the information they are missing and the reasons behind it. Always be aware that the heuristics might be construed as saying, “I choose not to act for my own self-preservation.”
Heuristics is the avoidance of extraneous messages as if there’s an ROI attached to every expended byte. Trust and otherwise goodwill need to be established and always maintained. Heuristics must be executed with consideration towards avoiding ill will and suspicion.
Heuristic requires EQ and attentive engagement now more than ever. The alternative is to be explicit, kind, and brief. That is not a bad alternative.
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
|
cc0942ea-1be8-555b-935b-2500c9cba634
|
25/08/2025 16:02:21
|
https://medium.com/@audreyblog/on-splintered-shafts-88e8ec737df5
|
medium.com
|
On Splintered Shafts
|
I broke my first arrow the other day.
|
Audrey
|
https://medium.com/@audreyblog
|
88e8ec737df5
| https://miro.medium.com/…[email protected]
|
1 min
|
2018-10-19T19:11:45.985000
|
2018-10-19T19:22:38.031000
|
2018-10-19T19:22:38.031000
| 0 | 6 |
en
|
Archery,Life,Learning,Practice,New York
|
<section>
<p>I broke my first arrow the other day.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/900/1*[email protected]" width="900" height="1600" loading="lazy" />
<p>I blame the spaghettis soup, which is what I call it when the bail is all loose and worn out like in the picture above, causing some arrows to reject and others to hang straight down rather than stick out, making them more likely to be hit by your other arrows, but it was only a matter of time, really; everyone breaks one eventually.</p>
<p>I was done shooting for the night when the boy human convinced me to do just one more round, so he could get a picture, and that was when it happened.</p>
<p>It’s a strange combination of sadness and pride when you destroy your equipment like that. Luckily the boy human cut the shaft and sanded it down allowing me to glue a pen insert into it. So, now I have a really badass pen (made from one of the first arrows I ever fletched) as a memorial to my badass shooting at 20m.</p>
<p>I’m sure it won’t be the last arrow I break, but hopefully tonight will be less… eventful.</p>
</section>
|
On Splintered Shafts
I broke my first arrow the other day.
I blame the spaghettis soup, which is what I call it when the bail is all loose and worn out like in the picture above, causing some arrows to reject and others to hang straight down rather than stick out, making them more likely to be hit by your other arrows, but it was only a matter of time, really; everyone breaks one eventually.
I was done shooting for the night when the boy human convinced me to do just one more round, so he could get a picture, and that was when it happened.
It’s a strange combination of sadness and pride when you destroy your equipment like that. Luckily the boy human cut the shaft and sanded it down allowing me to glue a pen insert into it. So, now I have a really badass pen (made from one of the first arrows I ever fletched) as a memorial to my badass shooting at 20m.
I’m sure it won’t be the last arrow I break, but hopefully tonight will be less… eventful.
|
6b7eca5a-a9af-5e61-9c92-ebda4bfc948a
|
25/08/2025 16:02:22
|
https://medium.com/@opheliawiggins24962/arnold-schwarzenegger-come-with-me-if-you-want-to-lift-shirt-a334116102a7
|
medium.com
|
Arnold Schwarzenegger come with me If you want to lift shirt
|
Get it: Official Arnold Schwarzenegger come with me If you want to lift shirt, hoodie, tank top and sweater
|
Opheliawiggins
|
https://medium.com/@opheliawiggins24962
|
a334116102a7
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*seAO7ffsi9w3R8Ky
|
1 min
|
2019-08-29T05:13:54.833000
|
2019-08-29T05:14:14.910000
|
2021-12-11T12:25:50.852000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
2016 Election
|
<section>
<p><strong>Get it: <a href="https://top1trending.com/tee/arnold-schwarzenegger-come-with-me-if-you-want-to-lift-shirt/</strong>">Official Arnold Schwarzenegger come with me If you want to lift shirt, hoodie, tank top and sweater</a></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1010/0*seAO7ffsi9w3R8Ky" width="1010" height="1010" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong><a href="ht</strong>tps://checkout.bestofstyles.com/156444047-1395577309.html">Buy it here</a></p>
<p>Seth Williams I laugh every time I see one of you post something like this. Some even admit they want Trump over a Democrat to punish the <strong>Arnold Schwarzenegger come with me If you want to lift shirt</strong> because they didn’t get their way. Read the progressive comments saying don’t vote, or vote third party so you won’t be voting to stop Trump if a progressive doesn’t get the most votes for the nomination.</p>
<p><strong>See more from top1trending: <a href="htt</strong>ps://top1trending.com/">top1trending</a></p>
</section>
|
Arnold Schwarzenegger come with me If you want to lift shirt
Get it: Official Arnold Schwarzenegger come with me If you want to lift shirt, hoodie, tank top and sweater
Buy it here
Seth Williams I laugh every time I see one of you post something like this. Some even admit they want Trump over a Democrat to punish the Arnold Schwarzenegger come with me If you want to lift shirt because they didn’t get their way. Read the progressive comments saying don’t vote, or vote third party so you won’t be voting to stop Trump if a progressive doesn’t get the most votes for the nomination.
See more from top1trending: top1trending
|
e27ff202-f699-54e1-b416-16ab0b034aa4
|
25/08/2025 16:02:22
|
https://jonathanrileywriter.medium.com/why-turkey-is-not-a-great-power-dbfdef5d567f
|
medium.com
|
Why Turkey is Not a Great Power
|
Turkey is not a great power for multiple historical reasons.
|
Jonathan Stephen Harry Riley
|
https://medium.com/@jonathanrileywriter
|
dbfdef5d567f
|
3 min
|
2023-11-19T22:04:07.177000
|
2023-11-23T17:02:02.682000
|
2023-11-24T05:19:41.887000
| 0 | 4 |
en
|
Great Power Competition,Ottoman Empire,Geopolitics,Geography,Turkish History
|
<section>
<p>Turkey is not a great power for multiple historical reasons.</p>
<p>It was not always the case reason for the decline of the Ottoman Empire and its successor state, the Turkish Republic; the Ottomans ruled most of the old territories of the old Eastern Roman Empire, which existed in 330 and was destroyed by the Ottomans in 1453 which also is marked by some historians as the end of the Middle Ages.</p>
<p>For the <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/ottoman-empire">Ottoman Turks</a> who ruled from 1299, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey performed a total formal abolition of the Ottoman Sultanate on 1 November 1922.</p>
<p>Turks were hemmed in by their geography being contained in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Anatolia">Anatolia</a>, also called Asia Minor, a peninsula that forms the centre and the west of modern Turkey.</p>
<p>It has an area of 750,000 km2 (290,000 sq mi). Most of it is a plateau. That averages 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/4961/1*tQzUqAYCv8jQNiAbwXljqA.jpeg" width="4961" height="3508" loading="lazy" />
<h1><strong>Surrounded by Enemies</strong></h1>
<p>The reason for this encirclement was that to the east of the <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/ottoman-empire">Ottoman Empire</a>, there was the Persian Empire, which is highly mountainous and comprised of the territory of modern-day Iran, which the Ottomans were unable to overcome due to the nature of this geography.</p>
<p>Its predecessor, the Eastern Roman Empire, later called Byzantium, and even the whole Roman Empire during the height of its power during the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Five-Good-Emperors">age of the five good emperors</a> in the middle of the second century A.D., also failed to overcome this region.</p>
<p>To reach the Atlantic, the Ottomans West would need to have passed through the Spanish and Portuguese empires, which, during the 16th and 17th centuries, were at the height of their powers.</p>
<p>The Ottoman Empire’s essential role was blocked by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/House-of-Habsburg">Hapsburgs dynasty</a>, which ruled as holy Roman emperors. They controlled the Archduchy of Austria, United Spain and the Hungarian Royal Crown land again, blocking Turkey’s advancements into what they got as far as Venice.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/1*ab3h3yIkwO5qwTVuViIfZA.png" width="1200" height="779" loading="lazy" />
<h2><strong>The New World and Trade Routes</strong></h2>
<p>Now we have Christopher Columbus, who discovered the American continent in 1492.</p>
<p>With this discovery and other trade routes generating wealth from North and South America and the Horn of Africa, it meant that as trading between Europe and the Far East, the Ottomans lost more and more power and influence.</p>
<p>It took a very long time for the Ottoman Empire to die as a power until the beginning of the 20th century, and many wars occurred with the surrounding European and Persian powers.</p>
<p>Today, Turkey cannot be a great power due to globalisation and the development of international trade and international infrastructure, such as the Suez Canal, which bypasses the Bosporus River that runs through Constantinople/Istanbul, which Turkey controls.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/771/1*HeSH9UyVayAGSeHR9aTzJw.jpeg" width="771" height="1024" loading="lazy" />
<h2><strong>Bosporus and Globalisation</strong></h2>
<p>Historically, the Bosporus was the linkage between the goods of the Silk Road, which went to Han China and stretched to Western Europe.</p>
<p>With trading goods no longer needing to travel by land, the importance of the Bosporus River as a major shipping route drastically decreased its value.</p>
<p>The Russian Federation is still very much interested in getting control of Constantinople due to the lack of a secure sea route that gives the Russians access to the Atlantic Ocean due to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJfDKlnWYuA">Russia’s four seas problem</a>.</p>
<p>For the Turks, as long as globalisation exists, it is very unlikely they would ever truly become a great powder; they are a regional power in the Aegean and the Middle East but have plenty of competitors.</p>
<p>Competitors in the region are the Russian Federation, the state of Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Iraq used to be one of these numbers after the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Iraq-War">2003 invasion of Iraq</a> by the United States and is now becoming a failed state.</p>
</section>
|
Why Turkey is Not a Great Power
Turkey is not a great power for multiple historical reasons.
It was not always the case reason for the decline of the Ottoman Empire and its successor state, the Turkish Republic; the Ottomans ruled most of the old territories of the old Eastern Roman Empire, which existed in 330 and was destroyed by the Ottomans in 1453 which also is marked by some historians as the end of the Middle Ages.
For the Ottoman Turks who ruled from 1299, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey performed a total formal abolition of the Ottoman Sultanate on 1 November 1922.
Turks were hemmed in by their geography being contained in Anatolia, also called Asia Minor, a peninsula that forms the centre and the west of modern Turkey.
It has an area of 750,000 km2 (290,000 sq mi). Most of it is a plateau. That averages 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level.
Why Turkey is Not a Great Power
Surrounded by Enemies
The reason for this encirclement was that to the east of the Ottoman Empire, there was the Persian Empire, which is highly mountainous and comprised of the territory of modern-day Iran, which the Ottomans were unable to overcome due to the nature of this geography.
Its predecessor, the Eastern Roman Empire, later called Byzantium, and even the whole Roman Empire during the height of its power during the age of the five good emperors in the middle of the second century A.D., also failed to overcome this region.
To reach the Atlantic, the Ottomans West would need to have passed through the Spanish and Portuguese empires, which, during the 16th and 17th centuries, were at the height of their powers.
The Ottoman Empire’s essential role was blocked by the Hapsburgs dynasty, which ruled as holy Roman emperors. They controlled the Archduchy of Austria, United Spain and the Hungarian Royal Crown land again, blocking Turkey’s advancements into what they got as far as Venice.
Why Turkey is Not a Great Power
The New World and Trade Routes
Now we have Christopher Columbus, who discovered the American continent in 1492.
With this discovery and other trade routes generating wealth from North and South America and the Horn of Africa, it meant that as trading between Europe and the Far East, the Ottomans lost more and more power and influence.
It took a very long time for the Ottoman Empire to die as a power until the beginning of the 20th century, and many wars occurred with the surrounding European and Persian powers.
Today, Turkey cannot be a great power due to globalisation and the development of international trade and international infrastructure, such as the Suez Canal, which bypasses the Bosporus River that runs through Constantinople/Istanbul, which Turkey controls.
Why Turkey is Not a Great Power
Bosporus and Globalisation
Historically, the Bosporus was the linkage between the goods of the Silk Road, which went to Han China and stretched to Western Europe.
With trading goods no longer needing to travel by land, the importance of the Bosporus River as a major shipping route drastically decreased its value.
The Russian Federation is still very much interested in getting control of Constantinople due to the lack of a secure sea route that gives the Russians access to the Atlantic Ocean due to Russia’s four seas problem.
For the Turks, as long as globalisation exists, it is very unlikely they would ever truly become a great powder; they are a regional power in the Aegean and the Middle East but have plenty of competitors.
Competitors in the region are the Russian Federation, the state of Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Iraq used to be one of these numbers after the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States and is now becoming a failed state.
|
0aa6687f-5670-51b2-aed9-9240f52e22c6
|
25/08/2025 16:02:23
|
|
https://medium.com/@johnson628/reach-for-your-work-from-home-business-dreams-with-this-advice-c0a7de8b65a4
|
medium.com
|
Reach For Your Work From Home Business Dreams With This Advice!
| null |
johnson628
|
https://medium.com/@johnson628
|
c0a7de8b65a4
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*hnc24srlkDJzidEZ.
|
5 min
|
2017-05-30T05:34:28.404000
|
2017-05-30T05:34:29.200000
|
2017-05-30T05:34:30.323000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Home Business
|
<section>
<p>This article will give you accomplish that.</p>
<p>If your home business is to be your main income, it is extremely important to have an alternate plan in place. Disaster can strike at anytime, such as not receiving a shipment in time for a project deadline, and it is important to have a backup plan for such emergencies. This way, you can still have an income if something goes wrong.</p>
<p><strong>TIP!</strong> Starting a home business can be exciting, but it also takes a ton of initiative and a burning desire to bring your dreams into reality. There are regulations that specify what kind of building an office can be located in, so keep this in mind when finding somewhere to host a business.</p>
<p>Join online forums and discussion groups that focus on the subject of home based business. You can find many reputable sites from a simple Google search.There are lots of online blogs that you can find helpful.</p>
<p>Anytime you decide to recruit employees for your home-based entity, you must conduct due diligence regarding their backgrounds. If they are poor salesmen or unreliable, it damages your business.</p>
<p><strong>TIP!</strong> If you are having difficulty deciding on a product for your home business, think about what you could use in your life. The first step in any business is finding a need that you can fill.</p>
<p>You need drive and conscientious to run successful home business enterprise. This also helpful for drawing a clear line between your work and clear boundaries between work and home.</p>
<p>An office is an important component of any home business. You don’t need a big one, but it does have to be comfortable. Your office needs to inspire you and enable you to operate as effectively as possible. Size doesn’t matter as much as what you do with it.</p>
<p><strong>TIP!</strong> Provide incentives to your clients or customers when they refer their friends to you. Encourage your friends and customers to refer more people to you since word of mouth will cost you less than any other form of advertisement.</p>
<p>One good way to make money at home is to offer lessons in a skill that you know how to do. A lot of people like to take private lessons privately instead of going to a school that costs more and has strict schedules. You can give lessons concerning hobby items, like music or photography, instruments and photography, for example.</p>
<p>To maximize the financial success of your home business, be sure that you take all of the tax deductions you qualify for. You will be surprised how much money you could save on your taxes just by taking advantage of your entitled deductions.</p>
<p><strong>TIP!</strong> Keep in constant contact with your customers to ensure they have good information. Offer email alerts or newsletters, especially if you have frequent discounts or your website is updated often.</p>
<p>You should consider joining an web-based work from home business owner forums.This allows you to interact with others in similar situations. You can compare ideas and share your concerns.</p>
<p>The target market you select is integral when starting a home business. Even if you are an expert on the product itself, you need to know all that you can on the people buying it so that you can choose the best marketing and business plans to succeed. Try to incorporate a large percentage of your operation online, as web based sales are crucial these days.</p>
<p><strong>TIP!</strong> Be sure to set aside a specific work area in your home. Make sure you have enough room for all of your stuff to be organized.</p>
<p>Track your expenses carefully to save money. This includes things like business trips to your internet service.Even if the amounts are small, and it’s foolish to simply let the government keep even a fraction of your profits.</p>
<p>You might find yourself getting immersed in your job when you work in your home. It’s helpful to have an area you can go to where you don’t have any obligations and can just relax.</p>
<p><strong>TIP!</strong> If you’re deciding on what product to sell in your home business, choose something that is useful to you. People are always looking for products that solve common issues that they face daily.</p>
<p>While home businesses cost less than their traditional counterparts, there will still be some expenses.</p>
<p>If you own a home business, be sure to have a good liability insurance policy. This is even more crucial if people will visit your home business. It’ll protect you if there’s an accident, whether that’s on the property or simply related to your home business elsewhere.</p>
<p><strong>TIP!</strong> Add a phone line dedicated strictly to your business. You can use the expense as a deduction for your business.</p>
<p>You will have to promote your business positively and get others interested in what you are trying to sell. You need to create a feeling of unsurpassed quality in your customers or clients feel your business as well as products. Successful self-promotion is what leads to big profits.</p>
<p>Set yourself up to receive online payments. This needs to be done because people enjoy shopping online and you may lose out on sales if you’re not offering this kind of service.</p>
<p><strong>TIP!</strong> When beginning your home business journey, write a well-thought list of all supplies that you are going to need for a successful start. You need to use this supplies list to shop around for the best deals.</p>
<p>Learn about the people you’re targeting when marketing a home based business. If you are including a web site, understand how this audience likes to use the web, and design the website with this in mind.</p>
<p>If you have to drive to make your home business work, log your miles. You can write this off, which is good considering how many miles can add up. You can get a big tax write off sometimes!</p>
<p><strong>TIP!</strong> Explore ways to expand your product offerings. Brainstorm and think about what other products and services you can offer that complement your current inventory.</p>
<p>Create your work time. If you don’t set a schedule, you’ll work all day and night. Give yourself some free time by setting a schedule like you would working for a company. You will still be able to have a social life if you do this.</p>
<p>Being the sole proprietor of a home business includes being the sole financial officer of your business. For example, do not give your spouse a business credit card. While it might seem like a good idea because it can save you time if he shops for you, it can also cause problems if he mistakenly purchases non-business items as well. If that happens, you might be unable to deduct any of the purchases as an expense.</p>
<p><strong>TIP!</strong> Try to minimize your costs when you start a home business. The largest cost savings you’ll have built into your home business is that you won’t have to pay extra for a separate place to work out of.</p>
<p>As mentioned before, knowing the right way to run a successful online business takes some basic knowledge. These tips will help you build a business with endless possibilities.</p>
<p>In business, you always have to spend money in order to make money. Certain home business aids can be had for free, but there are other things that will cost money. When you try to run your business on the cheap, you’ll get what you pay for.</p>
<p><strong>TIP!</strong> Learn all you can about conversion rates and strategies. You need to learn about conversion and the impact it has on your business since it will surely determine your profits.</p>
<p>Download the Home Business Mobile APP From Play Store</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/250/0*Gsm_fe4sBzctpwwW." width="250" height="250" loading="lazy" />
<p>via Home Business — QWLO <a href="http://ift.tt/2qB6IxF">http://ift.tt/2qB6IxF</a></p>
</section>
|
This article will give you accomplish that.
If your home business is to be your main income, it is extremely important to have an alternate plan in place. Disaster can strike at anytime, such as not receiving a shipment in time for a project deadline, and it is important to have a backup plan for such emergencies. This way, you can still have an income if something goes wrong.
TIP! Starting a home business can be exciting, but it also takes a ton of initiative and a burning desire to bring your dreams into reality. There are regulations that specify what kind of building an office can be located in, so keep this in mind when finding somewhere to host a business.
Join online forums and discussion groups that focus on the subject of home based business. You can find many reputable sites from a simple Google search.There are lots of online blogs that you can find helpful.
Anytime you decide to recruit employees for your home-based entity, you must conduct due diligence regarding their backgrounds. If they are poor salesmen or unreliable, it damages your business.
TIP! If you are having difficulty deciding on a product for your home business, think about what you could use in your life. The first step in any business is finding a need that you can fill.
You need drive and conscientious to run successful home business enterprise. This also helpful for drawing a clear line between your work and clear boundaries between work and home.
An office is an important component of any home business. You don’t need a big one, but it does have to be comfortable. Your office needs to inspire you and enable you to operate as effectively as possible. Size doesn’t matter as much as what you do with it.
TIP! Provide incentives to your clients or customers when they refer their friends to you. Encourage your friends and customers to refer more people to you since word of mouth will cost you less than any other form of advertisement.
One good way to make money at home is to offer lessons in a skill that you know how to do. A lot of people like to take private lessons privately instead of going to a school that costs more and has strict schedules. You can give lessons concerning hobby items, like music or photography, instruments and photography, for example.
To maximize the financial success of your home business, be sure that you take all of the tax deductions you qualify for. You will be surprised how much money you could save on your taxes just by taking advantage of your entitled deductions.
TIP! Keep in constant contact with your customers to ensure they have good information. Offer email alerts or newsletters, especially if you have frequent discounts or your website is updated often.
You should consider joining an web-based work from home business owner forums.This allows you to interact with others in similar situations. You can compare ideas and share your concerns.
The target market you select is integral when starting a home business. Even if you are an expert on the product itself, you need to know all that you can on the people buying it so that you can choose the best marketing and business plans to succeed. Try to incorporate a large percentage of your operation online, as web based sales are crucial these days.
TIP! Be sure to set aside a specific work area in your home. Make sure you have enough room for all of your stuff to be organized.
Track your expenses carefully to save money. This includes things like business trips to your internet service.Even if the amounts are small, and it’s foolish to simply let the government keep even a fraction of your profits.
You might find yourself getting immersed in your job when you work in your home. It’s helpful to have an area you can go to where you don’t have any obligations and can just relax.
TIP! If you’re deciding on what product to sell in your home business, choose something that is useful to you. People are always looking for products that solve common issues that they face daily.
While home businesses cost less than their traditional counterparts, there will still be some expenses.
If you own a home business, be sure to have a good liability insurance policy. This is even more crucial if people will visit your home business. It’ll protect you if there’s an accident, whether that’s on the property or simply related to your home business elsewhere.
TIP! Add a phone line dedicated strictly to your business. You can use the expense as a deduction for your business.
You will have to promote your business positively and get others interested in what you are trying to sell. You need to create a feeling of unsurpassed quality in your customers or clients feel your business as well as products. Successful self-promotion is what leads to big profits.
Set yourself up to receive online payments. This needs to be done because people enjoy shopping online and you may lose out on sales if you’re not offering this kind of service.
TIP! When beginning your home business journey, write a well-thought list of all supplies that you are going to need for a successful start. You need to use this supplies list to shop around for the best deals.
Learn about the people you’re targeting when marketing a home based business. If you are including a web site, understand how this audience likes to use the web, and design the website with this in mind.
If you have to drive to make your home business work, log your miles. You can write this off, which is good considering how many miles can add up. You can get a big tax write off sometimes!
TIP! Explore ways to expand your product offerings. Brainstorm and think about what other products and services you can offer that complement your current inventory.
Create your work time. If you don’t set a schedule, you’ll work all day and night. Give yourself some free time by setting a schedule like you would working for a company. You will still be able to have a social life if you do this.
Being the sole proprietor of a home business includes being the sole financial officer of your business. For example, do not give your spouse a business credit card. While it might seem like a good idea because it can save you time if he shops for you, it can also cause problems if he mistakenly purchases non-business items as well. If that happens, you might be unable to deduct any of the purchases as an expense.
TIP! Try to minimize your costs when you start a home business. The largest cost savings you’ll have built into your home business is that you won’t have to pay extra for a separate place to work out of.
As mentioned before, knowing the right way to run a successful online business takes some basic knowledge. These tips will help you build a business with endless possibilities.
In business, you always have to spend money in order to make money. Certain home business aids can be had for free, but there are other things that will cost money. When you try to run your business on the cheap, you’ll get what you pay for.
TIP! Learn all you can about conversion rates and strategies. You need to learn about conversion and the impact it has on your business since it will surely determine your profits.
Download the Home Business Mobile APP From Play Store
via Home Business — QWLO http://ift.tt/2qB6IxF
|
be11890f-a5f2-5fcd-a8ff-aa6e4f4f34e4
|
25/08/2025 16:02:23
|
https://medium.com/@audioguysoundpages/the-cold-hard-truth-about-seo-for-pest-control-and-exterminators-3afc9646726e
|
medium.com
|
The COLD HARD TRUTH About SEO for Pest Control and Exterminators
|
Direct Response Marketing Strategies & Tips for Pest Control and ALL Local Business l Listen Here l Subscribe Apple l Android @…
|
Mike Stewart & Hal Coleman On-Offline Marketing
|
https://medium.com/@audioguysoundpages
|
3afc9646726e
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*WhXD2YrshfMkyBUx
|
1 min
|
2020-04-19T13:10:23.022000
|
2020-04-22T21:33:13.588000
|
2022-03-03T20:40:11.198000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
SEO,Seo Tips And Tricks,Seo Tips,Seo Training,Seo Marketing
|
<section>
<h3>Direct Response Marketing Strategies & Tips for Pest Control and ALL Local Business l Listen Here l Subscribe Apple l Android @ <a href="http://pestcontrolmarketingpodcast.com">PestControlMarketingPodCast.com</a></h3>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/4032/0*WhXD2YrshfMkyBUx" width="4032" height="3024" loading="lazy" />
<p>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@merakist?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Merakist</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></p>
<h1>Click YouTube play button to listen here on Medium!</h1>
<p></p>
<h2>Subscribe on Spotify to hear all of our marketing podcasts!</h2>
<p></p>
<p>In this episode of The Pest Control Marketing Podcast Hal & Mike discuss how to know if you’ve hired the right SEO company…or are you’re simply wasting your hard earned money on something that isn’t working!</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://pestcontrolmarketer.com/coaching/">Hal’s Coaching Program</a></li>
<li><a href="http://mikestewartcoaching.com">Mike’s Coaching Program</a></li>
<li><a href="http://pestcontrolmarketinggold.com">Pest Control Marketing Gold Membership</a></li>
<li><a href="https://pestcontrolmarketingpodcast.com/my-products/">Audio CDs and DVDs</a></li>
<li><a href="http://pestcontrolmarketer.com">Pest Control Marketer Video Blog</a></li>
<li><a href="http://masteringmobilevideo.com">Learn To Make Video with Mike</a></li>
<li><a href="http://pestcontrolmarketingjingles.com/">Pest Control Jingles for YouTube, Facebook, Radio & TV</a></li>
<li><a href="http://nextlevelpcomarketing.com">Annual PCO Marketing with Hal & Mike</a></li>
<li><a href="https://podcastinstall.com">Learn Podcasting With Mike</a></li>
</ul>
</section>
|
The COLD HARD TRUTH About SEO for Pest Control and Exterminators
Direct Response Marketing Strategies & Tips for Pest Control and ALL Local Business l Listen Here l Subscribe Apple l Android @ PestControlMarketingPodCast.com
Photo by Merakist on Unsplash
Click YouTube play button to listen here on Medium!
Subscribe on Spotify to hear all of our marketing podcasts!
In this episode of The Pest Control Marketing Podcast Hal & Mike discuss how to know if you’ve hired the right SEO company…or are you’re simply wasting your hard earned money on something that isn’t working!
Hal’s Coaching Program
Mike’s Coaching Program
Pest Control Marketing Gold Membership
Audio CDs and DVDs
Pest Control Marketer Video Blog
Learn To Make Video with Mike
Pest Control Jingles for YouTube, Facebook, Radio & TV
Annual PCO Marketing with Hal & Mike
Learn Podcasting With Mike
|
399da05b-5d8b-512f-a1af-dbcb61fd2b7f
|
25/08/2025 16:02:23
|
https://tffx.medium.com/i-like-starbucks-9fcdc16de5a8
|
medium.com
|
I like Starbucks
|
I get that it’s not trendy or cool, but I like Starbucks. I find all the people carrying on like it’s some sort of act of treason to like…
|
Thomas Fitzgerald
|
https://medium.com/@tffx
|
9fcdc16de5a8
|
2 min
|
2016-09-16T09:28:19.469000
|
2016-09-16T09:50:15.639000
|
2017-05-03T16:10:17.087000
| 0 | 2 |
en
|
Coffee,Opinion,Highhorse,Starbucks
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/2400/1*73Ii68IsDfqFyHCa62v94Q.jpeg" width="2400" height="1652" loading="lazy" />
<p>I get that it’s not trendy or cool, but I like Starbucks. I find all the people carrying on like it’s some sort of act of treason to like them hilarious. What happened to the right to have your own opinion? Oh, and all those local coffee shops that some people claim are so much better, well if it wasn’t for Starbucks bringing coffee culture to the masses, none of them would exist.</p>
<p>There’s a real mob mentality every time something becomes successful, especially here in Ireland. It becomes this thing where people feel that it elevates them above others to bash something that’s mainstream. If you rail against something that’s popular, I think some people feel that it makes them seem smarter than the commoners.</p>
<p>It’s fine if you actually don’t like something, but in many cases it’s not about that. It becomes a badge of honour that people are publicy displaying to be part of the cool gang who know better than everyone else.</p>
<p>It’s perfectly ok to say you don’t like something, if you resepct other’s right to have a different opinion, but all the commentary around Starbucks lately has been different. People are assuming that nobody actually does, or even should like Starbucks, or that you’re somehow uninformed, dumb or otherwise not deserving of respect if you do. There are plenty of things I don’t like, but I don’t look down my nose at those who do. It’s the whole, “I want you to have freedom, but only when I agree with your choices” brigade. Yet, as an extremely succesful company clearly a lot of people like Starbucks and its coffee. It’s the same way some people carry on about Apple.</p>
<p>Well, I’m not dumb, or uninformed, and I like Starbucks. I like the coffee, and I like the environment of the stores. I wouldn’t have gotten my book written if it wasn’t for Starbucks. Are there places to get better coffee? Of course there are, but as I said, if it wasn’t for Starbucks bringing coffee culture to the masses, many of them wouldn’t exist.</p>
<p>So before you get up on your caffeinated high horse and look down on the little folk who like something you don’t, maybe stop and think about something…</p>
<p>Anything else will do, really…maybe the weather…</p>
</section>
|
I like Starbucks
I get that it’s not trendy or cool, but I like Starbucks. I find all the people carrying on like it’s some sort of act of treason to like them hilarious. What happened to the right to have your own opinion? Oh, and all those local coffee shops that some people claim are so much better, well if it wasn’t for Starbucks bringing coffee culture to the masses, none of them would exist.
There’s a real mob mentality every time something becomes successful, especially here in Ireland. It becomes this thing where people feel that it elevates them above others to bash something that’s mainstream. If you rail against something that’s popular, I think some people feel that it makes them seem smarter than the commoners.
It’s fine if you actually don’t like something, but in many cases it’s not about that. It becomes a badge of honour that people are publicy displaying to be part of the cool gang who know better than everyone else.
It’s perfectly ok to say you don’t like something, if you resepct other’s right to have a different opinion, but all the commentary around Starbucks lately has been different. People are assuming that nobody actually does, or even should like Starbucks, or that you’re somehow uninformed, dumb or otherwise not deserving of respect if you do. There are plenty of things I don’t like, but I don’t look down my nose at those who do. It’s the whole, “I want you to have freedom, but only when I agree with your choices” brigade. Yet, as an extremely succesful company clearly a lot of people like Starbucks and its coffee. It’s the same way some people carry on about Apple.
Well, I’m not dumb, or uninformed, and I like Starbucks. I like the coffee, and I like the environment of the stores. I wouldn’t have gotten my book written if it wasn’t for Starbucks. Are there places to get better coffee? Of course there are, but as I said, if it wasn’t for Starbucks bringing coffee culture to the masses, many of them wouldn’t exist.
So before you get up on your caffeinated high horse and look down on the little folk who like something you don’t, maybe stop and think about something…
Anything else will do, really…maybe the weather…
|
e33057b2-010d-5ed6-88e8-4657603e424a
|
25/08/2025 16:02:24
|
|
https://medium.com/kargo-technology-team/overcommunication-why-is-it-so-important-for-product-designers-e98a24eecc40
|
medium.com
|
Overcommunication — why is it so important for Product Designers?
|
For almost a year, working in Kargo has changed me a lot as a person and as a Product Designer. Kargo’s manpower are a mix of local and…
|
Luthfi Sulaiman
|
https://medium.com/@luthfi.sulaiman97
|
e98a24eecc40
|
6 min
|
2020-11-30T03:29:38.429000
|
2020-12-10T04:40:44.491000
|
2021-12-23T14:00:10.514000
| 0 | 232 |
en
|
Product Design,Soft Skills,Communication,Startup Life,Strategy Execution
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/5760/1*fA4qKpmXhZKO4HpZOh_ROw.jpeg" width="5760" height="3840" loading="lazy" />
<p>For almost a year, working in Kargo has changed me a lot as a person and as a Product Designer. Kargo’s manpower are a mix of local and international talents put together in one vision, to build a world-class product to revolutionize the logistics Industry. I personally have learned from these amazing talents, like learning how to collaborate, learning their norms, what to say and what not to say. I even learned how much the foreigners (we call them <em>Bule</em> [Boo-Lay]) love <em>rendang </em>deeply.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/0*3EAr-55IC6fO5mTL" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy" />
<p>Now entering my 12th month in Kargo (with 9 months of #WorkFromHome isolation), I’ve had time to reflect on what was the most important things I’ve learned. Improving my design skills is a must, but <strong>developing my communication and stakeholder management skills are the most crucial</strong>.</p>
<p>When you have really smooth design process without any hitch of drawbacks from your stakeholders, then you might as well open the Pandora’s Box</p>
<p><em>— some folksy Grecian Philosopher</em></p>
<p>Imagine you’re maintaining relationship with someone (this is the closest publicly relatable thing I thought about). Now I’m not one to talk about love stories, but I believe that the healthiest relationships are the ones who are able to communicate in improving one another. Things can go south very quickly if you’re not doing so. I don’t want to turn this blog into a love-advice blog, but it’s the same thing that you must do as a Product Designer. Keeping a close communication and collaboration with stakeholders involved within your project is crucial in delivering the best products, be it PMs, engineers, business teams, etc.</p>
<p>For freshies, I understand that you might encounter hiccups during those alignments, have heated discussions with your stakeholders. I also understand that this would require extra effort in your works. You already had lots of designs within your backlogs, now you also have to worry about how stakeholders would say about your designs? Believe me, my good friends, at least it is be far better to have these hiccups rather than finding them AFTER your product is delivered (<em>Unless you want to see the world burn</em>).</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/707/1*vmSlHS6NzZbwrLWyXC7NeQ.png" width="707" height="530" loading="lazy" />
<h3>My experience when I did the exact opposite</h3>
<p>Luckily for you, you don’t have to find out yourself about what happen if you don’t overcommunicate. I have some bags of experience of my own during my probation days working in Kargo. I worked alongside my then PM, working in Kargo’s Internal Tool <em>Panthera</em> (or at least I should have been). Back then, we were in the midst of a big bang project chunked into small sprints, where our goals were to enable our marketplace transporters to be able to fulfil shipments from our commercial environment (Commercial is where our bigger, more guaranteed Shippers are).</p>
<p>I was that typical fresh-graduate “Product Designer” diving in head first into one of the most fast-paced squads in Kargo. Working in silo, delivering designs by requests from people without knowing much technical and business contexts, you name it. Back then, I designed <em>Panthera</em> based on my gut feelings, ensuring my designs have the flow “they expect to work”. When I deliver the designs to the engineers and my PM, she said to me:</p>
<p>PM: “Pi, have you align this design with our users?”
Me: “Wait we need to align first? I thought it’s an internal tool, and a form, everyone gets it easily”
PM: “….”
Me: “….”</p>
<p>That’s when things started to go topsy-turfy for me. Midway into our engineering sprint, I’ve only just started aligning with the business team about the design. Their reaction were a mix of confusion, dissatisfaction, and resentment towards the design. Though I was only designing for an internal tools, everything still has to be tested, they are still part of Kargo’s users. After it happened, we just went along with the design, since there are still workarounds that can be done by the business team using my design, and it’s also way too risky to have changes now. I had my lessons learned at that time, and I promise to never do it again. Unfortunately, I bit my tongue twice, <em><str</em>ong>hard</strong>.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1630/0*Nq8nXbm-QyXhKohZ" width="1630" height="772" loading="lazy" />
<p>The second time it happened, I was designing one flow that could involve lots of cross-team collaborations in order to make it run smoothly. We already had our sprint planned, and pretty much done halfway. Then suddenly one of the business team member noticed something odd, there was one minor design change that we haven’t actually discussed. After noticing, lots of parties were massively infuriated and some even fed up with my performance.</p>
<p>The higher ups were immediately involved to handle this problem, controlling the situation so it didn’t go beyond it should’ve been. Turns out, this “minor component” could potentially be impacting our business workflow as a whole, in a horrible way. We had to rearrange our sprint, talked with many stakeholders in a flash, and made total overhaul of the design. All could’ve been avoided if I had aligned with stakeholders earlier.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/2955/1*SDCyBYWBWKvYzLnnaa8zoQ.jpeg" width="2955" height="3348" loading="lazy" />
<h3>What did I do next?</h3>
<p>I opened up to my manager (by the time of writing), Rangga Husnaprawira on our 1-on-1 (re: <em>therapy</em>) session, he taught me how to say things the right way, getting more structured in articulating my thoughts, speaking practices, and confidence development. I started to shadow other meetings, see how my more senior colleagues work their way into an agreements with stakeholders. Summarise what and how they say it, and see if I can replicate or improve from them.</p>
<p>From Kargo Product’s standpoint, we have increased our alignments and overcommunications with the business teams every time an update happened within the product or the design.</p>
<p>For me personally, it required me a few more months before getting more used to it. I’m still learning this part of the job, even by the time of writing. But overtime, I noticed some improvements, and also providing more harmonies into my meetings. It helped me prevent lots of business and technical issues, with also figuring out edge cases of my design early.</p>
<h3>The importance of overcommunication</h3>
<p>When working on a complex project — especially if you don’t have enough people or you hired remotely — the last thing your team needs is to have to guess what you mean by saying “x”.</p>
<p>Eugen Eşanu</p>
<p>One small component could be the difference between good and bad product. Our responsiblity as a PD is not only creating beautiful UIs, but about how good are we at communicating our thoughts and design applicable to our company. <em><strong>Think like a </em>traveler</strong>, ask the right questions about practically everything, ask as simple as <em>“What are we trying to solve?”</em> rather than directly assure <em>“Sure, I’ll finish the design by EOD”</em>. Show how much we care and how we want to help achieve company goals.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/640/1*nzI_CKQOLnyW2V0YNDPCgA.png" width="640" height="430" loading="lazy" />
<p>When you think that you have “trivial informations”, try to ask your stakeholders and hear what they think. It could avoid you into a lot of unnecessary mess</p>
<p>This does not only apply to when we’re figuring out requirements, explaining our designs and articulating the process also plays an important part in making sure that everything corresponds towards our previous discussions. There also are factors that we need to understand before delivering. By aligning to stakeholders, we can figure out these factors together and discuss about the end-goals of a project.</p>
<h3>Going back into the present, and look into the future</h3>
<p>The best designers are the ones who are able to properly communicate with others, and align on the goals. Learning how to communicate properly can be tricky. It takes time to get use to, building your own confidence, discipline, and soft skills. From me personally, improving your soft skills are just as important as building your design portfolio.</p>
<p>Would love to hear some thoughts and feedbacks from any Product Designer out there that are still with us in this article, Kargo folks are open for any feedbacks and iterate further!</p>
<h3>About the author</h3>
<p><em>Luthfi Aulia Sulaiman is an Associate Product Designer from Kargo Technologies, has been working tirelessly in exploring Shippers logistic problems and finding the right solution as their trusted logistics partner</em></p>
<p>Further readings on understanding overcommunications as a Product Designer</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://uxplanet.org/5-soft-skills-every-product-designer-should-master-57da13d3809">https://uxplanet.org/5-soft-skills-every-product-designer-should-master-57da13d3809</a></li>
<li><a href="https://uxdesign.cc/a-designer-without-communication-skills-is-just-a-pixel-pusher-25ccdf0f1130">https://uxdesign.cc/a-designer-without-communication-skills-is-just-a-pixel-pusher-25ccdf0f1130</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.organimi.com/overcommunication-and-how-to-do-it-right/">https://www.organimi.com/overcommunication-and-how-to-do-it-right/</a></li>
</ul>
</section>
|
Overcommunication — why is it so important for Product Designers?
This is more or less of what Product Designers should be doing (find me, I will think about giving you rewards)
For almost a year, working in Kargo has changed me a lot as a person and as a Product Designer. Kargo’s manpower are a mix of local and international talents put together in one vision, to build a world-class product to revolutionize the logistics Industry. I personally have learned from these amazing talents, like learning how to collaborate, learning their norms, what to say and what not to say. I even learned how much the foreigners (we call them Bule [Boo-Lay]) love rendang deeply.
This is Rendang, in case you live outside South East Asia (or you’re an Indonesian living under a rock) [Source: MOKA]
Now entering my 12th month in Kargo (with 9 months of #WorkFromHome isolation), I’ve had time to reflect on what was the most important things I’ve learned. Improving my design skills is a must, but developing my communication and stakeholder management skills are the most crucial.
When you have really smooth design process without any hitch of drawbacks from your stakeholders, then you might as well open the Pandora’s Box
— some folksy Grecian Philosopher
Imagine you’re maintaining relationship with someone (this is the closest publicly relatable thing I thought about). Now I’m not one to talk about love stories, but I believe that the healthiest relationships are the ones who are able to communicate in improving one another. Things can go south very quickly if you’re not doing so. I don’t want to turn this blog into a love-advice blog, but it’s the same thing that you must do as a Product Designer. Keeping a close communication and collaboration with stakeholders involved within your project is crucial in delivering the best products, be it PMs, engineers, business teams, etc.
For freshies, I understand that you might encounter hiccups during those alignments, have heated discussions with your stakeholders. I also understand that this would require extra effort in your works. You already had lots of designs within your backlogs, now you also have to worry about how stakeholders would say about your designs? Believe me, my good friends, at least it is be far better to have these hiccups rather than finding them AFTER your product is delivered (Unless you want to see the world burn).
I made this meme for y’all. A simple simulation of overcommunication done wrong (video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI43U9UpkQo)
My experience when I did the exact opposite
Luckily for you, you don’t have to find out yourself about what happen if you don’t overcommunicate. I have some bags of experience of my own during my probation days working in Kargo. I worked alongside my then PM, working in Kargo’s Internal Tool Panthera (or at least I should have been). Back then, we were in the midst of a big bang project chunked into small sprints, where our goals were to enable our marketplace transporters to be able to fulfil shipments from our commercial environment (Commercial is where our bigger, more guaranteed Shippers are).
I was that typical fresh-graduate “Product Designer” diving in head first into one of the most fast-paced squads in Kargo. Working in silo, delivering designs by requests from people without knowing much technical and business contexts, you name it. Back then, I designed Panthera based on my gut feelings, ensuring my designs have the flow “they expect to work”. When I deliver the designs to the engineers and my PM, she said to me:
PM: “Pi, have you align this design with our users?”
Me: “Wait we need to align first? I thought it’s an internal tool, and a form, everyone gets it easily”
PM: “….”
Me: “….”
That’s when things started to go topsy-turfy for me. Midway into our engineering sprint, I’ve only just started aligning with the business team about the design. Their reaction were a mix of confusion, dissatisfaction, and resentment towards the design. Though I was only designing for an internal tools, everything still has to be tested, they are still part of Kargo’s users. After it happened, we just went along with the design, since there are still workarounds that can be done by the business team using my design, and it’s also way too risky to have changes now. I had my lessons learned at that time, and I promise to never do it again. Unfortunately, I bit my tongue twice, hard.
This is my state of mind when it happened
The second time it happened, I was designing one flow that could involve lots of cross-team collaborations in order to make it run smoothly. We already had our sprint planned, and pretty much done halfway. Then suddenly one of the business team member noticed something odd, there was one minor design change that we haven’t actually discussed. After noticing, lots of parties were massively infuriated and some even fed up with my performance.
The higher ups were immediately involved to handle this problem, controlling the situation so it didn’t go beyond it should’ve been. Turns out, this “minor component” could potentially be impacting our business workflow as a whole, in a horrible way. We had to rearrange our sprint, talked with many stakeholders in a flash, and made total overhaul of the design. All could’ve been avoided if I had aligned with stakeholders earlier.
What did I do next?
I opened up to my manager (by the time of writing), Rangga Husnaprawira on our 1-on-1 (re: therapy) session, he taught me how to say things the right way, getting more structured in articulating my thoughts, speaking practices, and confidence development. I started to shadow other meetings, see how my more senior colleagues work their way into an agreements with stakeholders. Summarise what and how they say it, and see if I can replicate or improve from them.
From Kargo Product’s standpoint, we have increased our alignments and overcommunications with the business teams every time an update happened within the product or the design.
For me personally, it required me a few more months before getting more used to it. I’m still learning this part of the job, even by the time of writing. But overtime, I noticed some improvements, and also providing more harmonies into my meetings. It helped me prevent lots of business and technical issues, with also figuring out edge cases of my design early.
The importance of overcommunication
When working on a complex project — especially if you don’t have enough people or you hired remotely — the last thing your team needs is to have to guess what you mean by saying “x”.
Eugen Eşanu
One small component could be the difference between good and bad product. Our responsiblity as a PD is not only creating beautiful UIs, but about how good are we at communicating our thoughts and design applicable to our company. Think like a traveler, ask the right questions about practically everything, ask as simple as “What are we trying to solve?” rather than directly assure “Sure, I’ll finish the design by EOD”. Show how much we care and how we want to help achieve company goals.
I also made this meme for y’all
When you think that you have “trivial informations”, try to ask your stakeholders and hear what they think. It could avoid you into a lot of unnecessary mess
This does not only apply to when we’re figuring out requirements, explaining our designs and articulating the process also plays an important part in making sure that everything corresponds towards our previous discussions. There also are factors that we need to understand before delivering. By aligning to stakeholders, we can figure out these factors together and discuss about the end-goals of a project.
Going back into the present, and look into the future
The best designers are the ones who are able to properly communicate with others, and align on the goals. Learning how to communicate properly can be tricky. It takes time to get use to, building your own confidence, discipline, and soft skills. From me personally, improving your soft skills are just as important as building your design portfolio.
Would love to hear some thoughts and feedbacks from any Product Designer out there that are still with us in this article, Kargo folks are open for any feedbacks and iterate further!
About the author
Luthfi Aulia Sulaiman is an Associate Product Designer from Kargo Technologies, has been working tirelessly in exploring Shippers logistic problems and finding the right solution as their trusted logistics partner
Further readings on understanding overcommunications as a Product Designer
https://uxplanet.org/5-soft-skills-every-product-designer-should-master-57da13d3809
https://uxdesign.cc/a-designer-without-communication-skills-is-just-a-pixel-pusher-25ccdf0f1130
https://www.organimi.com/overcommunication-and-how-to-do-it-right/
|
5f503c2d-3923-5013-b75e-ca8933bda54f
|
25/08/2025 16:02:24
|
|
https://medium.com/@boutnaru/the-linux-process-journey-ksmd-819c5783cd21
|
medium.com
|
The Linux Process Journey — ksmd
|
The kernel thread “ksm” is also known as “Kernel Same Page Merging” (and “ksmd” is ksm demon). It is used by the KVM hypervisor to share…
|
Shlomi Boutnaru, Ph.D.
|
https://medium.com/@boutnaru
|
819c5783cd21
| null |
2 min
|
2022-10-06T20:54:38.898000
|
2022-10-06T20:56:43.534000
|
2022-10-07T01:01:46.458000
| 0 | 27 |
en
|
Linux,Kernel,Memory Management,Memory Improvement
|
<section>
<p>The kernel thread “ksm” is also known as “Kernel Same Page Merging” (and “ksmd” is ksm demon). It is used by the KVM hypervisor to share identical memory pages (supported since kernel 2.6.32) Those shared pages could be common libraries or even user data which is identical. By doing so KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) can avoid memory duplication and enable more VMs to run on a single node.</p>
<p>In order for “ksmd” to save memory due to de-duplication we should compile the kernel with “CONFIG_KSM=y”. It is important to understand that the sharing of identical pages is done even if they are not shared by fork(). If you want to go over “ksmd” source code you can use the</p>
<p>following link — <a href="https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/latest/source/mm/ksm.c">https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/latest/source/mm/ksm.c</a>.</p>
<p>The way “ksmd” works is as follows. Scanning main memory for frames (“physical pages”) holding identical data and collectes the virtual memory address that they are mapped. “ksmd” leaves one of those frames and remaps each duplicate one to point to the same frame. Lastly, “ksmd” frees the other frames. All of the merge pages are marked as COW (Copy-on-Write) for cases in which one of the processes using them will want to write to the page. There is a concern that even if the memory usage is reduced the CPU usage is increased.</p>
<p>The kernel thread “ksmd” is created here — <a href="https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v6.0/source/mm/ksm.c#L3188">https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v6.0/source/mm/ksm.c#L3188</a>, we can see from the code that the function which is the entry point of the thread is “ksm_scan_therad()” which is calling “ksm_do_scan()” which is the ksm’s scanner main worker function (it gets as input the number of pages to scan before returning). “ksmd” only merges anonymous private pages and not pagecache. Historically, the merged pages were pinned into kernel memory. Today they can be swapped like any other pages.</p>
<p>“ksmd” can be controlled by a sysfs interface (“/sys/kernel/mm/ksm”) — as can be seen in the screenshot below. One of the files exported by sysfs is “run” that can react to one of the following values 0/1/2. “0” means stop “ksmd” from running but keep the merged pages. “1” means run “ksmd”. “2” means stop “ksmd” from running and unmerge all currently merge pages (however leave the mergeable areas registered for next time).</p>
<p>See you in my next writeup ;-)</p>
<p>You can follow me on twitter — @boutnaru (<a href="https://twitter.com/boutnaru">https://twitter.com/boutnaru</a>).</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1037/1*pyCoErzMYYumtbH1iZDNNA.jpeg" width="1037" height="129" loading="lazy" />
</section>
|
The Linux Process Journey — ksmd
The kernel thread “ksm” is also known as “Kernel Same Page Merging” (and “ksmd” is ksm demon). It is used by the KVM hypervisor to share identical memory pages (supported since kernel 2.6.32) Those shared pages could be common libraries or even user data which is identical. By doing so KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) can avoid memory duplication and enable more VMs to run on a single node.
In order for “ksmd” to save memory due to de-duplication we should compile the kernel with “CONFIG_KSM=y”. It is important to understand that the sharing of identical pages is done even if they are not shared by fork(). If you want to go over “ksmd” source code you can use the
following link — https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/latest/source/mm/ksm.c.
The way “ksmd” works is as follows. Scanning main memory for frames (“physical pages”) holding identical data and collectes the virtual memory address that they are mapped. “ksmd” leaves one of those frames and remaps each duplicate one to point to the same frame. Lastly, “ksmd” frees the other frames. All of the merge pages are marked as COW (Copy-on-Write) for cases in which one of the processes using them will want to write to the page. There is a concern that even if the memory usage is reduced the CPU usage is increased.
The kernel thread “ksmd” is created here — https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/v6.0/source/mm/ksm.c#L3188, we can see from the code that the function which is the entry point of the thread is “ksm_scan_therad()” which is calling “ksm_do_scan()” which is the ksm’s scanner main worker function (it gets as input the number of pages to scan before returning). “ksmd” only merges anonymous private pages and not pagecache. Historically, the merged pages were pinned into kernel memory. Today they can be swapped like any other pages.
“ksmd” can be controlled by a sysfs interface (“/sys/kernel/mm/ksm”) — as can be seen in the screenshot below. One of the files exported by sysfs is “run” that can react to one of the following values 0/1/2. “0” means stop “ksmd” from running but keep the merged pages. “1” means run “ksmd”. “2” means stop “ksmd” from running and unmerge all currently merge pages (however leave the mergeable areas registered for next time).
See you in my next writeup ;-)
You can follow me on twitter — @boutnaru (https://twitter.com/boutnaru).
“/sys/kernel/mm/ksm”
|
2ba486fb-72d7-54ac-8927-042d8e377acf
|
25/08/2025 16:02:24
|
https://medium.com/@HichemTab-tech/reqease-simplifying-form-handling-and-validation-for-web-developers-3ead3d1d86e1
|
medium.com
|
ReqEase: Simplifying Form Handling and Validation for Web Developers
|
ReqEase: Revolutionizing Form Handling and Validation for Web Developers
|
Hichem Taboukouyout
|
https://medium.com/@HichemTab-tech
|
3ead3d1d86e1
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*zoHuV4h9lwbg3L3h
|
2 min
|
2023-09-10T23:45:39.271000
|
2023-09-10T23:47:04.723000
|
2023-09-10T23:47:48.310000
| 0 | 1 |
en
|
JavaScript,Jquery,Forms,Libraries,Requests Library
|
<section>
<h1>ReqEase: Revolutionizing Form Handling and Validation for Web Developers</h1>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/460/0*zoHuV4h9lwbg3L3h" width="460" height="460" loading="lazy" />
<h2>The Web Developer’s Dilemma</h2>
<p>In the world of web development, forms are ubiquitous. Whether it’s user registrations, login screens, or feedback forms, you can’t escape them. But, as a developer, you know the challenges all too well:</p>
<ul>
<li>Manually validating user inputs, field by field?</li>
<li>Wrestling with complex error handling and error message display?</li>
<li>Juggling multiple requests and responses for form submission?</li>
<li>Struggling to integrate forms smoothly into your web applications?</li>
<li>Repeating the same code over and over for different forms?</li>
</ul>
<p>If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, <a href="https://github.com/ReqEase/ReqEase">ReqEase</a> is the solution you’ve been waiting for!</p>
<h2>ReqEase: Your All-in-One Form Solution</h2>
<p><a href="https://github.com/ReqEase/ReqEase">ReqEase</a> is more than just a library; it’s a game-changer for web developers. Here’s why you’ll fall in love with it:</p>
<p><strong>Effortless Error Handling</strong>: Say goodbye to painstakingly managing errors. <a href="https://github.com/ReqEase/ReqEase">ReqEase</a> simplifies error handling, ensuring your users receive clear, concise messages when they make mistakes.</p>
<p><strong>Dynamic Response Rendering</strong>: Rendering responses has never been easier. <a href="https://github.com/ReqEase/ReqEase">ReqEase</a> can automatically display different response types — whether it’s success, errors, or custom messages — in a sleek, user-friendly manner.</p>
<p><strong>Multi-Type Response Support</strong>: Handle various response types effortlessly. ReqEase can manage responses from JSON, XML, or any other format, giving you the flexibility you need.</p>
<p><strong>Seamless Loading Indicators</strong>: Wave goodbye to those clunky loading spinners. ReqEase’s loading indicators are smooth and intuitive, providing a polished user experience during form submission.</p>
<p><strong>Events Galore</strong>: Stay in control with a multitude of events to track loading start and stop, form submission, and more. ReqEase gives you the power to add custom behaviors at every stage.</p>
<p><strong>Button Handling</strong>: No need to manually disable buttons during submission. ReqEase handles it for you, preventing users from clicking multiple times and causing data chaos.</p>
<p><strong>Auto-Rendering Goodness</strong>: ReqEase offers automatic rendering of form messages, success messages, and errors, making your forms not only functional but visually appealing.</p>
<p><strong>Smart URL Handling</strong>: Why write out complex URLs manually? ReqEase can automatically generate request URLs based on your form’s configuration.</p>
<p><strong>Custom Validation Made Easy</strong>: Crafting custom validation rules has never been simpler. With ReqEase, defining your unique validation logic is a breeze.</p>
<p><strong>Easy Integration</strong>: ReqEase plays nicely with other JavaScript libraries and backend technologies. Whether you’re using React, Vue.js, or a PHP backend (yes, there’s also ReqEase-PHP!), ReqEase seamlessly integrates with your stack.</p>
<h2>Get Started Today</h2>
<p>Are you ready to simplify form handling and validation, save time, and create beautiful web forms effortlessly? ReqEase is your answer.</p>
<p>To dive into ReqEase and unleash its power, head over to our <a href="https://hichemtech.gitbook.io/reqease-docs/">documentation</a>. You’ll find everything you need to get started and master the art of form handling.</p>
<p>Join our vibrant community on <a href="https://github.com/ReqEase">GitHub</a> and be part of the ReqEase revolution. Share your experiences, ask questions, and contribute to making web development a breeze for everyone.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Web development is demanding, but ReqEase is here to make it smoother, more efficient, and a lot more enjoyable. Say goodbye to form-related headaches and hello to <a href="https://github.com/ReqEase/ReqEase">ReqEase</a>!</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://hichemt</strong>ech.gitbook.io/reqease-docs/quick-start">Get Started with ReqEase</a></p>
</section>
|
ReqEase: Simplifying Form Handling and Validation for Web Developers
ReqEase: Revolutionizing Form Handling and Validation for Web Developers
The Web Developer’s Dilemma
In the world of web development, forms are ubiquitous. Whether it’s user registrations, login screens, or feedback forms, you can’t escape them. But, as a developer, you know the challenges all too well:
Manually validating user inputs, field by field?
Wrestling with complex error handling and error message display?
Juggling multiple requests and responses for form submission?
Struggling to integrate forms smoothly into your web applications?
Repeating the same code over and over for different forms?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, ReqEase is the solution you’ve been waiting for!
ReqEase: Your All-in-One Form Solution
ReqEase is more than just a library; it’s a game-changer for web developers. Here’s why you’ll fall in love with it:
Effortless Error Handling: Say goodbye to painstakingly managing errors. ReqEase simplifies error handling, ensuring your users receive clear, concise messages when they make mistakes.
Dynamic Response Rendering: Rendering responses has never been easier. ReqEase can automatically display different response types — whether it’s success, errors, or custom messages — in a sleek, user-friendly manner.
Multi-Type Response Support: Handle various response types effortlessly. ReqEase can manage responses from JSON, XML, or any other format, giving you the flexibility you need.
Seamless Loading Indicators: Wave goodbye to those clunky loading spinners. ReqEase’s loading indicators are smooth and intuitive, providing a polished user experience during form submission.
Events Galore: Stay in control with a multitude of events to track loading start and stop, form submission, and more. ReqEase gives you the power to add custom behaviors at every stage.
Button Handling: No need to manually disable buttons during submission. ReqEase handles it for you, preventing users from clicking multiple times and causing data chaos.
Auto-Rendering Goodness: ReqEase offers automatic rendering of form messages, success messages, and errors, making your forms not only functional but visually appealing.
Smart URL Handling: Why write out complex URLs manually? ReqEase can automatically generate request URLs based on your form’s configuration.
Custom Validation Made Easy: Crafting custom validation rules has never been simpler. With ReqEase, defining your unique validation logic is a breeze.
Easy Integration: ReqEase plays nicely with other JavaScript libraries and backend technologies. Whether you’re using React, Vue.js, or a PHP backend (yes, there’s also ReqEase-PHP!), ReqEase seamlessly integrates with your stack.
Get Started Today
Are you ready to simplify form handling and validation, save time, and create beautiful web forms effortlessly? ReqEase is your answer.
To dive into ReqEase and unleash its power, head over to our documentation. You’ll find everything you need to get started and master the art of form handling.
Join our vibrant community on GitHub and be part of the ReqEase revolution. Share your experiences, ask questions, and contribute to making web development a breeze for everyone.
Conclusion
Web development is demanding, but ReqEase is here to make it smoother, more efficient, and a lot more enjoyable. Say goodbye to form-related headaches and hello to ReqEase!
Get Started with ReqEase
|
bb67ad50-c118-50a9-83a9-34cf7bae9ca0
|
25/08/2025 16:02:25
|
https://medium.com/@bethswiger/yearning-to-breathe-free-c7b228a96cd1
|
medium.com
|
Yearning to Breathe Free
|
My 15 year old daughter saw a murder this year — two, in fact.
|
Beth Swiger
|
https://medium.com/@bethswiger
|
c7b228a96cd1
| null |
8 min
|
2020-06-03T13:55:16.101000
|
2020-06-03T18:23:43.769000
|
2021-12-14T18:11:17.474000
| 0 | 6 |
en
|
George Floyd,Ahmaudarbery,BlackLivesMatter,Christian Living,Christianity
|
<section>
<p>My 15 year old daughter saw a murder this year — two, in fact.</p>
<p>She walked into my bedroom to have our morning before-homeschool chat with just the two of us and there were tears in her eyes.</p>
<p>“Mom, I’ve seen something terrible.”</p>
<p>I was instantly alarmed — what had happened?</p>
<p>“Mom, I watched the video of them chasing down and killing Ahmaud Arbery. It was horrible. I feel so upset.”</p>
<p>I gathered her into my arms for a hug and said, “I’m so sorry. You’re not meant to see murder. Your Dad and I wanted to talk about that with you, but I didn’t want you to watch the video because those images get caught in your mind, and they’re hard to get out.”</p>
<p>For the past month we have been having real talks about the current state of racial tension in our country.</p>
<p>My daughter says over and over “It’s just not right.”</p>
<p>And she’s right.</p>
<p>My very white-looking daughter (even though she’s quarter-Rican) cares passionately about all people and the Black community in particular. She has spent the last few years reading books about Harriet Tubman and other great leaders for civil rights. She’s read fiction like Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry that has shown more recent inequality. She’s choosing to read Uncle Tom’s Cabin to see the brutality of the era.</p>
<p>Now, here we are a month later, and she has a new image burned into her mind — we all do — the heart-wrenching image of a knee holding George Floyd’s neck to the pavement.</p>
<p>That injustice was a tipping point in our country.</p>
<p>It was the perfect image to capture the summary of the entire matter: the boot of the oppressor on the neck of the oppressed.</p>
<p>To take it even further, his voice cried out: “I can’t breathe!”</p>
<p>That statement rang louder than any civil rights speech in the last 50 years.</p>
<p>Why? Because there is eternal truth behind it.</p>
<h3>An Ancient Evil</h3>
<p>Everyone in the country can feel the personal distress from George Floyd in that statement, and God allowed the nation to open her eyes to overlay that statement over every Black American.</p>
<p>We all know this unjust treatment did not start this year in 2020. It didn’t start just in the current presidency. It didn’t start over the last 50 years since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke up. It didn’t start 100 years prior to that when America fought a Civil War that resulted in the end of slavery as a practice. It didn’t start 200 years prior to that when Africans were being kidnapped, dragged from their land, and forced to work under abominable circumstances.</p>
<p>This is an ancient evil, and it began the very first time the Bible mentions brothers.</p>
<p>Cain and Able experienced the evil that we’re seeing in our day:</p>
<p>Jealousy — > Mistrust — -> Hardness of heart —-> Judging — — > Hatred —-> Murder</p>
<p>This ancient evil of strife rears its head on a national scale in our society every so often because it sees opportunity.</p>
<p>When our nation is backbiting, undermining, gossiping, and choosing agitation, then it’s the perfect opportunity for Strife to step in and do its evil work.</p>
<p>This, too, is not a new game.</p>
<p>Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert. The devil considered him easy prey and came and tempted Him with opportunities to stumble. Jesus sidestepped those temptations because He had scripture deeply ingrained into His being, He knew what God was doing at that moment, and He did not have broken places in His soul from which the devil could have foothold to launch his attack.</p>
<p>What’s very interesting is that the Bible then says, “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.”</p>
<p>When our country feels these hot spurts — when the roiling issues bubble up to the surface — it’s because our strife, bickering, and agitation have created an opportune time.</p>
<p>It’s an opportune time because there are still open wounds in the heart of our nation. There are consequences of actions from people who died long before I was born that are still affecting our lives. The jagged places in America’s broken soul continue to wound anyone that brushes up against them.</p>
<p>All of these evil machinations have conspired to bring destruction, but</p>
<p>God will use it for good.</p>
<p>He is a Restorer. He is a Redeemer.</p>
<p>He didn’t cause any of these evil things to happen; He gave us a choice, and many have chosen to walk in evil ways. The great thing about God, however, is that no matter how broken the pieces are, He creates something beautiful when we invite Him into the process.</p>
<p>Joseph, in the Bible, noticed God’s redemption: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”</p>
<p>How do we bring God’s redemption into this situation?</p>
<p>We want real change in our generation. We don’t want to continue hatred and injustice into the lives our grandchildren.</p>
<h3>What must we do?</h3>
<p>We must realize that our battle is not against the actual people that we see. It’s deeper than that. These spirits of strife, murder, and hatred have to be unentangled from our hearts. Once we choose partnership with them, we’ve already lost the battle. Those are evil ills, meant to bring destruction, and they never bring about good.</p>
<p>We must mourn. We, as a nation, have never collectively sat and truly mourned the cruelty of the slavery that greased the wheels of the nation’s early years of commerce. America left the tyranny of England’s taxes, but fell right into the trap of the tyranny of slavery. It wasn’t a choice that all people made, but blindness to this issue left the gate wide open for evil to be ingrained in our society. We must mourn those choices of the few, and realize the resounding impact it still has in the hearts of people who were never slaves on the outside but still feel like tyranny and oppression have been their portion.</p>
<p>We must ask God to help us not be blind to the evil choices in our day. I’m not actively engaging in racism, but I will mourn and work to repair. I am not actively engaging in murder, child pornography, sex trafficking, or any of the other dirty secrets in America’s underbelly, but I must mourn that sin abounds in my nation, and I must work toward the destruction of those edifices. Oh, God, let future generations not look back at us the way we look at those who abided slavery.</p>
<p>We must pray for real, creative solutions to these ills. God is Creator, and we are made in His image. He hovered over chaos and chose to bring it into order to create this world. Let us ask Him now to hover over our country, bring order, and create beauty. He is so good and pure and holy that even as we catch one glimpse of Him, our hope arises.</p>
<p>We must keep our hearts tender. Good people, like you and me, are the unwitting problem, and the little choices that we make each day are the ones that are having an impact. The Bible puts it this way: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Each time you scroll through social media or watch the news, you have the opportunity to harden your heart or keep it soft. Each time you walk through the streets of our nation and you see someone, you have the opportunity to harden your heart or keep it soft. You can judge or you can love. We must let go of judgments, even the micro-judgments, to receive the lens of love. Don’t let the story of the few harden your heart to the good of the many. Most people are just people, wanting to live and be free. If we soften our hearts and stop judging then we’ll let go of the fear holding us back from the beauty of smiles and relationship.</p>
<h3>A Lamp for the Weary</h3>
<p>The Statue of Liberty stands as a bright, shining beacon to the nations, and has for generations, but I’d like to call your attention to Emma Lazarus’ prophetic poem that hangs on the statue’s pedestal:</p>
<blockquote>New Colossus</blockquote>
<p>Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,</p>
<p>With conquering limbs astride from land to land;</p>
<p>Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand</p>
<p>A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame</p>
<p>Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name</p>
<p>Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand</p>
<p>Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command</p>
<p>The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.</p>
<p>“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she</p>
<p>With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,</p>
<p>Your huddled masses YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE,</p>
<p>The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.</p>
<p>Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,</p>
<p>I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”</p>
<p>Let us be those who embrace all who are yearning to breathe free.</p>
<h3>Love starts at home.</h3>
<p>I want the whole world to feel the light of God’s goodness, but I’m going to make darn well sure that the people around me feel it first. It’s time for the unity of love to squeeze out any of the dissension and divisiveness that has tried to separate us; it’s time to make sure the people around us, in this case specifically the Black Community, no longer feel like unloved orphans. It’s time the brotherhood of love steps up to embrace all. Love is our heart’s truest cry. It is time to humanize our differences.</p>
<p>I’m not waiting for someone else to take the first step. I never wait for the person across the street to be the first one to wave to me. I smile and wave first. Why? Because love is the strongest force on earth. When I make the first overture of love, other people know that I am a safe place for them to breathe easy and be themselves. No posturing needed. Different opinion? Love anyway.</p>
<p>Love is not easily chased away because it never fails. You can say the wrong things and do the wrong things and still be loved. I have to forgive my own kids multiple times a day. You don’t have to look the same as me, think the same as me, or try to be the same as me in order to feel the warmth of my love and affection. We cannot make the basis for our love be the uniformity of our looks. We are people who form a living, breathing banner of hope and truth to the nations. Our beauty comes from being our true selves in loving unity with one another.</p>
<h3>The next step</h3>
<p>The tired, the hurting, the weary don’t have to make the first step toward me. Have you ever been tired, hurting or weary? You don’t have the strength or the energy to lift everyone up around you.</p>
<p>Lady Liberty yells out “Bring them to me!”. Outcasts and immigrants, the lonely and those that feel unloved are not meant to approach Colossus and be rejected. The New Colossus extends her light and declares that her golden door is a place of safety. I am a place of strength and shelter, and I choose to take the first step toward the people around me. I will be part of the roar that is released over this nation with unmovable love in every town, community, city, and state.</p>
<p>I have purposed in my heart “No more fear; Only Love”. Don’t be scared of each other any more.</p>
<p>Be extra gentle in your love today. The people of this great land are hurting and raw. We all want to see more Goodness.</p>
<p>It starts with me. It starts with you.</p>
</section>
|
Yearning to Breathe Free
My 15 year old daughter saw a murder this year — two, in fact.
She walked into my bedroom to have our morning before-homeschool chat with just the two of us and there were tears in her eyes.
“Mom, I’ve seen something terrible.”
I was instantly alarmed — what had happened?
“Mom, I watched the video of them chasing down and killing Ahmaud Arbery. It was horrible. I feel so upset.”
I gathered her into my arms for a hug and said, “I’m so sorry. You’re not meant to see murder. Your Dad and I wanted to talk about that with you, but I didn’t want you to watch the video because those images get caught in your mind, and they’re hard to get out.”
For the past month we have been having real talks about the current state of racial tension in our country.
My daughter says over and over “It’s just not right.”
And she’s right.
My very white-looking daughter (even though she’s quarter-Rican) cares passionately about all people and the Black community in particular. She has spent the last few years reading books about Harriet Tubman and other great leaders for civil rights. She’s read fiction like Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry that has shown more recent inequality. She’s choosing to read Uncle Tom’s Cabin to see the brutality of the era.
Now, here we are a month later, and she has a new image burned into her mind — we all do — the heart-wrenching image of a knee holding George Floyd’s neck to the pavement.
That injustice was a tipping point in our country.
It was the perfect image to capture the summary of the entire matter: the boot of the oppressor on the neck of the oppressed.
To take it even further, his voice cried out: “I can’t breathe!”
That statement rang louder than any civil rights speech in the last 50 years.
Why? Because there is eternal truth behind it.
An Ancient Evil
Everyone in the country can feel the personal distress from George Floyd in that statement, and God allowed the nation to open her eyes to overlay that statement over every Black American.
We all know this unjust treatment did not start this year in 2020. It didn’t start just in the current presidency. It didn’t start over the last 50 years since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke up. It didn’t start 100 years prior to that when America fought a Civil War that resulted in the end of slavery as a practice. It didn’t start 200 years prior to that when Africans were being kidnapped, dragged from their land, and forced to work under abominable circumstances.
This is an ancient evil, and it began the very first time the Bible mentions brothers.
Cain and Able experienced the evil that we’re seeing in our day:
Jealousy — > Mistrust — -> Hardness of heart —-> Judging — — > Hatred —-> Murder
This ancient evil of strife rears its head on a national scale in our society every so often because it sees opportunity.
When our nation is backbiting, undermining, gossiping, and choosing agitation, then it’s the perfect opportunity for Strife to step in and do its evil work.
This, too, is not a new game.
Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert. The devil considered him easy prey and came and tempted Him with opportunities to stumble. Jesus sidestepped those temptations because He had scripture deeply ingrained into His being, He knew what God was doing at that moment, and He did not have broken places in His soul from which the devil could have foothold to launch his attack.
What’s very interesting is that the Bible then says, “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.”
When our country feels these hot spurts — when the roiling issues bubble up to the surface — it’s because our strife, bickering, and agitation have created an opportune time.
It’s an opportune time because there are still open wounds in the heart of our nation. There are consequences of actions from people who died long before I was born that are still affecting our lives. The jagged places in America’s broken soul continue to wound anyone that brushes up against them.
All of these evil machinations have conspired to bring destruction, but
God will use it for good.
He is a Restorer. He is a Redeemer.
He didn’t cause any of these evil things to happen; He gave us a choice, and many have chosen to walk in evil ways. The great thing about God, however, is that no matter how broken the pieces are, He creates something beautiful when we invite Him into the process.
Joseph, in the Bible, noticed God’s redemption: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
How do we bring God’s redemption into this situation?
We want real change in our generation. We don’t want to continue hatred and injustice into the lives our grandchildren.
What must we do?
We must realize that our battle is not against the actual people that we see. It’s deeper than that. These spirits of strife, murder, and hatred have to be unentangled from our hearts. Once we choose partnership with them, we’ve already lost the battle. Those are evil ills, meant to bring destruction, and they never bring about good.
We must mourn. We, as a nation, have never collectively sat and truly mourned the cruelty of the slavery that greased the wheels of the nation’s early years of commerce. America left the tyranny of England’s taxes, but fell right into the trap of the tyranny of slavery. It wasn’t a choice that all people made, but blindness to this issue left the gate wide open for evil to be ingrained in our society. We must mourn those choices of the few, and realize the resounding impact it still has in the hearts of people who were never slaves on the outside but still feel like tyranny and oppression have been their portion.
We must ask God to help us not be blind to the evil choices in our day. I’m not actively engaging in racism, but I will mourn and work to repair. I am not actively engaging in murder, child pornography, sex trafficking, or any of the other dirty secrets in America’s underbelly, but I must mourn that sin abounds in my nation, and I must work toward the destruction of those edifices. Oh, God, let future generations not look back at us the way we look at those who abided slavery.
We must pray for real, creative solutions to these ills. God is Creator, and we are made in His image. He hovered over chaos and chose to bring it into order to create this world. Let us ask Him now to hover over our country, bring order, and create beauty. He is so good and pure and holy that even as we catch one glimpse of Him, our hope arises.
We must keep our hearts tender. Good people, like you and me, are the unwitting problem, and the little choices that we make each day are the ones that are having an impact. The Bible puts it this way: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Each time you scroll through social media or watch the news, you have the opportunity to harden your heart or keep it soft. Each time you walk through the streets of our nation and you see someone, you have the opportunity to harden your heart or keep it soft. You can judge or you can love. We must let go of judgments, even the micro-judgments, to receive the lens of love. Don’t let the story of the few harden your heart to the good of the many. Most people are just people, wanting to live and be free. If we soften our hearts and stop judging then we’ll let go of the fear holding us back from the beauty of smiles and relationship.
A Lamp for the Weary
The Statue of Liberty stands as a bright, shining beacon to the nations, and has for generations, but I’d like to call your attention to Emma Lazarus’ prophetic poem that hangs on the statue’s pedestal:
New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Let us be those who embrace all who are yearning to breathe free.
Love starts at home.
I want the whole world to feel the light of God’s goodness, but I’m going to make darn well sure that the people around me feel it first. It’s time for the unity of love to squeeze out any of the dissension and divisiveness that has tried to separate us; it’s time to make sure the people around us, in this case specifically the Black Community, no longer feel like unloved orphans. It’s time the brotherhood of love steps up to embrace all. Love is our heart’s truest cry. It is time to humanize our differences.
I’m not waiting for someone else to take the first step. I never wait for the person across the street to be the first one to wave to me. I smile and wave first. Why? Because love is the strongest force on earth. When I make the first overture of love, other people know that I am a safe place for them to breathe easy and be themselves. No posturing needed. Different opinion? Love anyway.
Love is not easily chased away because it never fails. You can say the wrong things and do the wrong things and still be loved. I have to forgive my own kids multiple times a day. You don’t have to look the same as me, think the same as me, or try to be the same as me in order to feel the warmth of my love and affection. We cannot make the basis for our love be the uniformity of our looks. We are people who form a living, breathing banner of hope and truth to the nations. Our beauty comes from being our true selves in loving unity with one another.
The next step
The tired, the hurting, the weary don’t have to make the first step toward me. Have you ever been tired, hurting or weary? You don’t have the strength or the energy to lift everyone up around you.
Lady Liberty yells out “Bring them to me!”. Outcasts and immigrants, the lonely and those that feel unloved are not meant to approach Colossus and be rejected. The New Colossus extends her light and declares that her golden door is a place of safety. I am a place of strength and shelter, and I choose to take the first step toward the people around me. I will be part of the roar that is released over this nation with unmovable love in every town, community, city, and state.
I have purposed in my heart “No more fear; Only Love”. Don’t be scared of each other any more.
Be extra gentle in your love today. The people of this great land are hurting and raw. We all want to see more Goodness.
It starts with me. It starts with you.
|
0a7fd6be-a751-5d62-ab87-8a784c73dd65
|
25/08/2025 16:02:25
|
https://medium.com/@danharris293/a-beginners-guide-to-time-travel-9e0cb86126b7
|
medium.com
|
A Simple Guide to Time Travel
|
While time travel is nothing like we see in the movies, it is possible and here’s how
|
Dan Harris
|
https://medium.com/@danharris293
|
9e0cb86126b7
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*vmli7hWsKYmhWYiK.
|
7 min
|
2018-02-03T13:55:33.187000
|
2018-02-04T09:51:53.174000
|
2019-01-23T03:30:54.159000
| 5 | 2 |
en
|
Science,Time Travel,Special Relativity,Einstein,Physics
|
<section>
<h3>While time travel is nothing like we see in the movies, it is possible and here’s how</h3>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/862/0*vmli7hWsKYmhWYiK." width="862" height="650" loading="lazy" />
<p>My guess is that everybody — yes, even you — has at some point thought about time travel. It’s a pretty cool concept, right?! It’d be great to go back to see the dinosaurs or hop forwards and see what life is like a thousand years from now.</p>
<p>While going <em>back</em> in time isn’t possible in the sense that we’d like it to be, going forwards definitely is and this is what we’ll look at. In fact, every human in existence currently time travels every day — we all travel <em>forwards</em> in time at a rate of one second per second (or one hour per hour, or one min… you get the point).</p>
<p>Because we all live on Earth we all experience the passage of time in the same way. We have constructed and accepted a global definition for what a second is and we’ve been able to do this because we all move relatively slowly compared to one another. Because of this common understanding of what a second is and the way we’ve defined it, we can say that we move <em>into</em> the future at a rate of one second per second. This may seem like a tautology but let’s look at it a little more.</p>
<p>When we talk about time travelling into the future what we actually mean is that we want to move forward in time at a rate greater than one second per second. Ideally, we want to be able to pick an amount of time that we want to travel into the future, say one day, and then travel in time at a rate of one day per second for exactly one second so that we’ll have travelled into the future by one day whilst only one second has passed for us. That sentence probably needs rereading a few times but I’ll try to simplify it.</p>
<p>For this to work, we mean that a single person travels in time at a rate of one day per second for exactly one second whilst everybody else continues as normal (at a rate of one second per second). By doing this, everybody else will have experienced a day passing while the person that “time travelled” will have only experienced one second passing. Both groups will have moved forwards in time but just by different amounts.</p>
<p>Now this sounds really cool and the good news is that it is completely possible. If you told me how far into the future you wanted to travel then I could tell you exactly how you could go about doing that. Obviously, things are a little more complicated than I’m making out because otherwise we’d all be doing it by now but the science is pretty solid — it’s just engineering that’s holding us back. Although, the statement, “travel in time at a rate of one day per second” is simple to say, it is far from simple to actually do which is the problem.</p>
<p>Despite the technological hurdles, I’ll explain how this is doable in theory. It’s all because of a bit of theory (in the scientific sense, not the common English sense) introduced by none other than Albert Einstein — special relativity.</p>
<p>I won’t go into the details but special relativity essentially states two postulates that lead to the possibility of time travel. The first states that</p>
<p>the laws of physics are the same in all inertial reference frames</p>
<p>and the second is that</p>
<p><em>the speed of light in a vacuum is constant in all reference frames</em>.</p>
<p>Now you don’t need to worry about the technical details of those two postulates but what is cool to know is what these postulates infer.</p>
<h1>Time Dilation</h1>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/940/0*rD-v7RPQ-7mO9Udt." width="940" height="627" loading="lazy" />
<p>The first interesting outcome is <em>time dilation</em>. Again, this sounds a bit complicated but all it means is that if you were to move very fast relative to the Earth (say 90% of the speed of light) then you would see time going more quickly on Earth than normal. People and movements would seem to have sped up. Exactly how much faster can be calculated and we’ll get onto that but in essence, this is how you time travel.</p>
<p>All you need to do is move at very fast speeds for a while and once you slow down back to “normal” speeds again, you will have travelled further in time than everybody else. This happens all of the time in our every day life but because we move at such slow speeds compared to the speed of light we just don’t notice it — it isn’t until you move at near light speed that the effect becomes apparent to us.</p>
<p>The problem we have is that getting anywhere close to the speeds necessary to time travel a noticeable amount is quite difficult. We can work out just how close to light speed we would need to go though.</p>
<p>Thanks to a value known as the <em>Lorentz factor </em>(denoted by the Greek letter, gamma) that can be calculated as follows:</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/432/0*Iva77aKCFdzwA5Dd.gif" width="432" height="141" loading="lazy" />
<p>Once we’ve calculated the Lorentz factor, all we need to do to work out how much time will dilate at the speed <em>v</em>, is to multiply by the Lorentz factor. This equation can also be rearranged to give an expression for finding the speed <em>v</em>, at which one would need to travel to get a certain Lorentz factor.</p>
<p>It’s this equation that enables us to calculate how fast we need to move to travel a fixed distance into the future. For example, we want to know how fast we need to go if we plan to travel at a speed for exactly one second and be one day into the future when we stop.</p>
<p>Going back to our example of travelling into the future by one day, we know that one day is equal to 86,400 seconds. The ratio between 1 second and 86,400 seconds is (obviously) 86,400. Plugging this value for the Lorentz factor and rearranging the equation tells us that we’d need to travel at 99.9999999933% of the speed of light for one second! That’s fast. If we do that in a big loop so that we end up back where we started then we’ll have time travelled into the future by one day.</p>
<p>If we travel at a high speed for a longer amount of time then we don’t have to go as fast to travel into the future by one day. If we were to travel for an hour at high speed rather than one second then we’d only need to travel at 99.9132% of the speed of light. Still fast but much more doable.</p>
<p>Getting up to these speeds is impossible for us at the moment and made even more difficult by the second cool result that the postulates infer…</p>
<h2>Mass Increase</h2>
<p>That’s right, time isn’t the only thing that gets scaled by our Lorentz factor, mass does as well.</p>
<p>The faster you travel, the heavier you get. Again, we don’t notice this phenomenon in our day-to-day lives as we all move around too slowly — even Usain Bolt.</p>
<p>Using exactly the same formula as before to calculate the Lorentz factor, we can see that travelling at 90% of the speed of light will mean that we’d be about 2.3 times more massive than normal.</p>
<p>Travelling at 99% of the speed of light would make us just over seven times more massive and travelling at 99.99% of the speed of light would make us nearly 71 times more massive. The Lorentz factor gets rapidly bigger between 99% and 100% due to its asymptotic nature.</p>
<p>This increase in mass means that as we go faster and faster, it gets more and more difficult to continue getting even faster because we are having to move a heavier object. This is a slight setback which is why I saved the third result of the postulates until last — like time dilation, it’s cool in a good way.</p>
<h2>Length Contraction</h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/940/0*e6o0Yi2LCaJ59Fxs." width="940" height="627" loading="lazy" />
<p>In the same way that time dilates and mass increases, lengths contract when travelling at high speeds. The amount that a length contracts is again given by the Lorentz factor.</p>
<p>Lengths contract in the direction of movement and this means that if we can go fast enough then we can travel any distance in a very short amount of (relative) time.</p>
<p>Take, for example, the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy that is 25,000 light years from Earth. If a rocket left for this galaxy at 99.9999% of the speed of light then an observer from Earth would have to wait way over 25,000 years before the rocket even gets close.</p>
<p>However, from the perspective of the astronauts in the rocket, lengths contract by the Lorentz factor of around 707 and so the distance of 25,000 light years becomes 35 light years. This is still a pretty long way to travel but it’s a big improvement.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>So to conclude, travelling forwards in time is pretty easy in theory but still a long way off on the technological front. Nonetheless, it’s still good fun to wrap our heads around.</p>
<p>Also, special relativity isn’t the only way that we could travel through time. Einstein outlined another theory, general relativity, that discusses how space-time can be warped by massive objects with strong gravitational fields.</p>
</section>
|
A Simple Guide to Time Travel
While time travel is nothing like we see in the movies, it is possible and here’s how
My guess is that everybody — yes, even you — has at some point thought about time travel. It’s a pretty cool concept, right?! It’d be great to go back to see the dinosaurs or hop forwards and see what life is like a thousand years from now.
While going back in time isn’t possible in the sense that we’d like it to be, going forwards definitely is and this is what we’ll look at. In fact, every human in existence currently time travels every day — we all travel forwards in time at a rate of one second per second (or one hour per hour, or one min… you get the point).
Because we all live on Earth we all experience the passage of time in the same way. We have constructed and accepted a global definition for what a second is and we’ve been able to do this because we all move relatively slowly compared to one another. Because of this common understanding of what a second is and the way we’ve defined it, we can say that we move into the future at a rate of one second per second. This may seem like a tautology but let’s look at it a little more.
When we talk about time travelling into the future what we actually mean is that we want to move forward in time at a rate greater than one second per second. Ideally, we want to be able to pick an amount of time that we want to travel into the future, say one day, and then travel in time at a rate of one day per second for exactly one second so that we’ll have travelled into the future by one day whilst only one second has passed for us. That sentence probably needs rereading a few times but I’ll try to simplify it.
For this to work, we mean that a single person travels in time at a rate of one day per second for exactly one second whilst everybody else continues as normal (at a rate of one second per second). By doing this, everybody else will have experienced a day passing while the person that “time travelled” will have only experienced one second passing. Both groups will have moved forwards in time but just by different amounts.
Now this sounds really cool and the good news is that it is completely possible. If you told me how far into the future you wanted to travel then I could tell you exactly how you could go about doing that. Obviously, things are a little more complicated than I’m making out because otherwise we’d all be doing it by now but the science is pretty solid — it’s just engineering that’s holding us back. Although, the statement, “travel in time at a rate of one day per second” is simple to say, it is far from simple to actually do which is the problem.
Despite the technological hurdles, I’ll explain how this is doable in theory. It’s all because of a bit of theory (in the scientific sense, not the common English sense) introduced by none other than Albert Einstein — special relativity.
I won’t go into the details but special relativity essentially states two postulates that lead to the possibility of time travel. The first states that
the laws of physics are the same in all inertial reference frames
and the second is that
the speed of light in a vacuum is constant in all reference frames.
Now you don’t need to worry about the technical details of those two postulates but what is cool to know is what these postulates infer.
Time Dilation
The first interesting outcome is time dilation. Again, this sounds a bit complicated but all it means is that if you were to move very fast relative to the Earth (say 90% of the speed of light) then you would see time going more quickly on Earth than normal. People and movements would seem to have sped up. Exactly how much faster can be calculated and we’ll get onto that but in essence, this is how you time travel.
All you need to do is move at very fast speeds for a while and once you slow down back to “normal” speeds again, you will have travelled further in time than everybody else. This happens all of the time in our every day life but because we move at such slow speeds compared to the speed of light we just don’t notice it — it isn’t until you move at near light speed that the effect becomes apparent to us.
The problem we have is that getting anywhere close to the speeds necessary to time travel a noticeable amount is quite difficult. We can work out just how close to light speed we would need to go though.
Thanks to a value known as the Lorentz factor (denoted by the Greek letter, gamma) that can be calculated as follows:
In the above equation, v denotes the velocity that someone is moving and c denotes the constant speed of light.
Once we’ve calculated the Lorentz factor, all we need to do to work out how much time will dilate at the speed v, is to multiply by the Lorentz factor. This equation can also be rearranged to give an expression for finding the speed v, at which one would need to travel to get a certain Lorentz factor.
It’s this equation that enables us to calculate how fast we need to move to travel a fixed distance into the future. For example, we want to know how fast we need to go if we plan to travel at a speed for exactly one second and be one day into the future when we stop.
Going back to our example of travelling into the future by one day, we know that one day is equal to 86,400 seconds. The ratio between 1 second and 86,400 seconds is (obviously) 86,400. Plugging this value for the Lorentz factor and rearranging the equation tells us that we’d need to travel at 99.9999999933% of the speed of light for one second! That’s fast. If we do that in a big loop so that we end up back where we started then we’ll have time travelled into the future by one day.
If we travel at a high speed for a longer amount of time then we don’t have to go as fast to travel into the future by one day. If we were to travel for an hour at high speed rather than one second then we’d only need to travel at 99.9132% of the speed of light. Still fast but much more doable.
Getting up to these speeds is impossible for us at the moment and made even more difficult by the second cool result that the postulates infer…
Mass Increase
That’s right, time isn’t the only thing that gets scaled by our Lorentz factor, mass does as well.
The faster you travel, the heavier you get. Again, we don’t notice this phenomenon in our day-to-day lives as we all move around too slowly — even Usain Bolt.
Using exactly the same formula as before to calculate the Lorentz factor, we can see that travelling at 90% of the speed of light will mean that we’d be about 2.3 times more massive than normal.
Travelling at 99% of the speed of light would make us just over seven times more massive and travelling at 99.99% of the speed of light would make us nearly 71 times more massive. The Lorentz factor gets rapidly bigger between 99% and 100% due to its asymptotic nature.
This increase in mass means that as we go faster and faster, it gets more and more difficult to continue getting even faster because we are having to move a heavier object. This is a slight setback which is why I saved the third result of the postulates until last — like time dilation, it’s cool in a good way.
Length Contraction
In the same way that time dilates and mass increases, lengths contract when travelling at high speeds. The amount that a length contracts is again given by the Lorentz factor.
Lengths contract in the direction of movement and this means that if we can go fast enough then we can travel any distance in a very short amount of (relative) time.
Take, for example, the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy that is 25,000 light years from Earth. If a rocket left for this galaxy at 99.9999% of the speed of light then an observer from Earth would have to wait way over 25,000 years before the rocket even gets close.
However, from the perspective of the astronauts in the rocket, lengths contract by the Lorentz factor of around 707 and so the distance of 25,000 light years becomes 35 light years. This is still a pretty long way to travel but it’s a big improvement.
Conclusion
So to conclude, travelling forwards in time is pretty easy in theory but still a long way off on the technological front. Nonetheless, it’s still good fun to wrap our heads around.
Also, special relativity isn’t the only way that we could travel through time. Einstein outlined another theory, general relativity, that discusses how space-time can be warped by massive objects with strong gravitational fields.
|
c5a60928-26fe-5409-b3ff-dfeddbf645bd
|
25/08/2025 16:02:26
|
https://martin-farley.medium.com/the-green-hockey-stick-6ea1052680d
|
medium.com
|
The Green Hockey Stick
|
How the Green Party can go from start-up to scale up over the next few years
|
Martin Farley
|
https://medium.com/@martin-farley
|
6ea1052680d
|
18 min
|
2021-08-29T12:32:07.441000
|
2021-08-29T13:08:51.649000
|
2022-01-05T16:25:38.830000
| 1 | 54 |
en
|
Green Party,Elections,Politics,Amelia Womack
|
<section>
<p>How the Green Party can go from start-up to scale up over the next few years</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/667/1*mfmsffm3GYPy2zqBVtp_-g.png" width="667" height="405" loading="lazy" />
<p>At this point in time, we in the Green Party have some tough choices to make to ensure that the next phase of our development is one of increasing growth in support and electoral success. In this article, I will set out what those choices are and what will drive them.</p>
<h1>2021: The start of a new Green era</h1>
<p>In 2021 the Green Party has achieved it’s highest ever average polling over the course of a year (so far)</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/867/1*x6vmNcGZIHPYH4Y_sTeiKg.png" width="867" height="475" loading="lazy" />
<p>We have a had a successful set of local election results, increasing our number of elected councillors to an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Party_of_England_and_Wales">all-time high of 453</a>. But, we have also experienced a steady and stable increase in polling figures throughout the year (see below)</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/872/1*G7yhXhIA2_a67fanNfRsrA.png" width="872" height="540" loading="lazy" />
<p>This time, the growth in support looks and feels more certain than before. If this growth is maintained, it presents us with an opportunity to look forward and examine what potential lies beyond this point</p>
<h3>Common patterns of growth</h3>
<p>In order to understand what types of growth are possible, we need to recognise common patterns of growth and decide which one provides a useful model for the Green Party.</p>
<p>The most common experiences of growth tend to be:</p>
<p><strong>Incremental </strong>growth is a linear and simple progression. Imagine building a wall one brick at a time. You can plot the progress as a simple, upward line</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/857/1*ftNaW6JzhBE-VdR6--tDeA.png" width="857" height="402" loading="lazy" />
<p>WiIth <strong>Logarithmic</strong> growth you see big advances early on, but they taper off quickly and future growth becomes difficult to maintain</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/846/1*fjJif7zR3s--4JiwtjhybQ.png" width="846" height="399" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>Exponential </strong>growth presents a slow start, followed by gradual/incremental progress, but upon reaching a point of critical mass there is a sudden explosion in growth</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/847/1*1nuSyxoK9zWITn2PfLh8-w.png" width="847" height="400" loading="lazy" />
<p>In political terms, each of these patterns of growth can occur.</p>
<p>The Green Party in Brighton and Hove grew <strong>incrementally</strong> from 1996 to 2011, slowly building at each election until becoming the largest party on the City Council and winning Brighton Pavilion at the 2010 General Election. But it was a long hard slog that required a significant chunk of the national party’s resources.</p>
<p>The SDP, in just 3 years, went from nothing to 26% in the General Election of 1983. However, they were unable to maintain that momentum and it took another 27 years to turn that support into political power. Their experience of <strong>logarithmic</strong> growth turned out to be a tough gig, despite high hopes early on.</p>
<p>Very few disruptive political parties achieve effective <strong>exponential</strong> growth over a prolonged period. The Labour Party in the 1920s/30s and the SNP from around 2003 to 2015 both managed to break through to political power after a prolonged period of relatively slow growth. UKIP achieved a more modest 12.6% of the vote in 2015 after a slow but steady 20 year rise, but if this were enough to achieve its objective (which it appeared to be), it is probably fair to say that their progress also moved along an exponential growth curve</p>
<p>This type of growth starts to look like a more desirable model for the Green Party, which has had a long slow journey to the political stage, but is now experiencing a modest but sustained increase in support.</p>
<p>Although still early days, we can see from the growth in the number of Green councillors over the years, that it resembles the first 80% of the exponential curve:</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/960/1*dIfkJBzcKb9B4YbX77KhkQ.jpeg" width="960" height="540" loading="lazy" />
<p>It might seem like we are already at the peak of our exponential growth, but this is something of an optical illusion borne out of lack of context. If we assume an aim of winning 10% of all council seats (2000 Cllrs) by 2030, then this curve would look a bit like the one below up to the black dot</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/888/1*O0H8RW_7p3MyaAGvnApLwQ.png" width="888" height="454" loading="lazy" />
<p>As you can see, although the exponential growth stage might have started (the inflection point on the graph in 2019 is clearly identifiable), it’s still in its early stages. <em>There is no cast-iron law of physics (or elections) to say that our continuation along that curve is inevitable or guaranteed</em>. That is why the choices we make next are so important.</p>
<p>The remainder of this article will focus on how that strategy of aiming for exponential growth can be achieved.</p>
<h2>The Hockey Stick model</h2>
<p>If our aim is to grow exponentially, how do we prepare for that journey and ensure that it happens?</p>
<p>In his <a href="https://hockeystickprinciples.com/resources/research-study/">review of 172 start-up businesses</a> that had achieved exponential growth in revenue, Bobby Martin identified a model he described as a “Hockey Stick” (so called due to the shape of the revenue growth curve).</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/1*c2x28nNvr2q6ysGVKquViw.jpeg" width="1200" height="659" loading="lazy" />
<p>In this model, Martin describes 4 key stages of development for these start-ups:</p>
<p><strong>Tinkering</strong>: where startups look at their business idea more seriously. This phase ends when you take a leap of faith and fully commit to the business. For a political party this phase might include standing candidates in some seats, but not all, or developing initial policies or manifestos, but not yet having a full policy platform</p>
<p><strong>The blade years</strong>: The first few years of serious activity, where they are operating the business full-time. They might not be generating much revenue or showing much growth in this period, but they are establishing a market presence and operating as a serious entity. For Greens this might be best represented as the era of having Greens elected to high profile roles (MEPs, London Assembly Members, Members of the Scottish Parliament and, of course, an MP in the House of Commons), but still not seeing much electoral progress more broadly.</p>
<p><strong>The growth inflection point</strong>: This is where something in their offering “clicks”. Sales or revenue start to climb which pulls them towards a point of critical mass in the marketplace. From this point they start to see a much higher return on investments and innovation. In political terms, this would be the point at which voters view Green candidates as a serious option in all elections, or view Green Party policies and opinions as directly relevant to their decisions or political outcomes.</p>
<p><strong>Surging growth</strong>: The final stage where business revenues grow rapidly and the business starts to operate at a much greater scale. The political precedents for this are few and far between (only a couple mentioned above), but clearly these are the examples we wish to emulate.</p>
<h3>Lessons Learned from the Hockey Stick experience</h3>
<p>Apart from identifying the shape of success, what else has this review of successful start-up businesses taught us about how to achieve exponential growth?</p>
<p>The first, and most important, lesson is that not all start-ups make it along this curve.</p>
<p>The good news for the Green Party, is that the toughest phase, and the one where new entrants are most likely to fail, is ‘the Blade Years’. This is broadly speaking the phase from 1999–2019, when we consistently contested elections at both local and national level, but with very little progress.</p>
<p>Businesses survive this phase partly by having a good plan, partly by responding effectively to events/the marketplace and partly by having plenty of ‘patient capital’ to invest in their operation. The credit for getting the Greens through this phase probably lies with those who have worked to build up the party in terms of policy and electoral capacity in that time, and all those patient members and supporters who have dug in to establish the party in all corners of the country.</p>
<p>While we appear to have passed the ‘Growth Inflection Point’ in local elections, we are probably still approaching it in terms of Westminster elections.</p>
<p>Before 2010 our general election results were in the region of just 1% or less (we almost never appeared in opinions polls). From 2010 until 2020 our polling averaged between 2% and 5%, often fluctuating to either end of that range. In 2021, for the first time in a non-parliamentary election year, we are consistently polling over 5%.</p>
<p>The next few years are our opportunity to reach the inflection point (probably 10%+) and begin to enjoy support at rapidly increasing levels beyond that.</p>
<h2>Building the ‘Goldilocks’ organisation</h2>
<p>These ‘hockey stick’ business successes are rare, and their success extremely difficult to replicate. So how does a small political party achieve it?</p>
<p>It would seem that there are a couple of key elements to their success, the first of which relates to the maturity of the organisation.</p>
<h3>It’s not all about the money</h3>
<p>Research into these new business success stories found that the amount of funding enjoyed by start-ups that moved into this ‘hockey stick’ phase of growth was not a particularly important factor.</p>
<p>Getting their timing right and launching when they were both ready and able, but not waiting too long, seemed to be a far greater indicator of success than financial backing.</p>
<p>Being ready and able to move at the right time was more important than size, funding or market positioning at the time.</p>
<p>To transpose this idea on to the political world, UKIP or the SDP were unable to sustain their growth spurts because their offering lacked the maturity that was required, whereas the SNP was able to use its growth opportunities to full advantage, because it had spent as much as 40 years preparing for them. It had had parliamentary representation for virtually all of that time, including, since 1999, a substantial group in the Scottish Parliament.</p>
<p>At the other end of the spectrum is the experience of the Labour Party. After 2015 it experienced a massive surge in membership after the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader. But rather than fuel a renaissance in its fortunes, the party machinery (‘long in the tooth’ and primarily focused on protecting legacy power structures), went into full rejection mode plunging the party into a state of all-consuming internal conflict.</p>
<p>The Green Party doesn’t quite have the political depth or experience that the SNP possessed by 2014, or even 2007. But neither does it suffer from the embedded power structures and debilitating rigidity of the Labour Party. So, we still have the opportunity to respond to an increase in support effectively if or when it arrives.</p>
<h3>Achieving Peak Maturity</h3>
<p>So how do we achieve this ‘Goldilocks’ organisational state?</p>
<p>The challenge for the Green Party is that we currently have autonomy, but little alignment; we have freedom, but almost no discipline; and we have flexibility, but barely any scale.</p>
<p>We confuse anarchy with democracy and local responsiveness with national effectiveness</p>
<p>In order to win, we need to be an aligned political machine that can deliver effective policies and winning campaigns; we need to be disciplined in order to gain credibility with voters; and we need to expand our operation to meet the demands of a party of power.</p>
<p>We’ve been discussing radical changes to our constitution (usually known as ‘the Holistic Review’) for about 4 years. Now is the time to get on with it. Without getting into the excruciating detail of some of the proposals, it is crucially important that we move to a party organisation that is robust, responsive and agile at the centre, but effective, empowered and fully informed at the local level. We cannot scale up the Party and its activities with a set-up that</p>
<ul>
<li>Is slow to make decisions (or makes poor decisions and is then slow to change course)</li>
<li>Cannot (or is unwilling to) remove bad faith operators, ineffective performers or those members who are actively working against the party and/or its candidates</li>
<li>Keeps most members completely in the dark about what’s going on</li>
</ul>
<p>We are still functioning like a start-up, but we need to behave like a market leader.</p>
<p>So, we either pass the Holistic Review soon, or we accept a ‘quick and dirty’ overhaul to be completed and agreed in the next 12 months. For those holding out for the new constitution to be perfect, please reflect on the ‘Goldilocks’ organisational advantages: it is actually preferable for our processes to be flawed, but rapid and flexible, than perfect, but slow and rigid.</p>
<p>We can avoid the naivety of the SDP, the chaos of UKIP and the rigidity of contemporary Labour when each of them struggled to manage their growth surges, but we must be honest with ourselves in terms of what we need to do and accept the need for some personal and operational compromises.</p>
<p>In order to make use of our current and future growth in support, we need to reach our ‘Goldilocks’ organisational state in the next 1–2 years. If not, we will fail.</p>
<p>It is now a matter of urgency.</p>
<h2>Becoming a ‘Category King’</h2>
<p>But organisational readiness was not the main component of successful growth, according to this research.</p>
<p>That was the establishment of those businesses as ‘Category Kings’: i.e. businesses that focused on specific gaps in the market, or new markets, which they then dominated, rather than try to squeeze out competitors in existing markets. (I’ve also heard this explained as “Find the gap in the market, and then build the market in the gap.”)</p>
<p>These niches or gaps, if successfully filled, brought in as much as 76% of market share for the ‘Category Kings’, and it is this that provided the exponential growth demonstrated in our ‘hockey stick’.</p>
<p>But becoming a ‘Category King’ is the challenge that will prove the most difficult for us as a movement because it involves an approach that we are not used to.</p>
<p>As<a href="https://blog.chartmogul.com/what-it-takes-category-king/"> one commentator</a> puts it, “[becoming a Category King] is a gruelling journey that requires killing your competitors and uncompromising focus. Today, taking on an existing market with a well-established leader is verging on suicidal. The prospect of trying to overthrow the [current Category King] by beating them at their own game just doesn’t make sense.”</p>
<p>This is a much more aggressive outlook than we are used to, or naturally disposed towards (we would rather avoid violent metaphors!), but it also relies on a singular political focus that we have historically lacked.</p>
<p>All too often, we in the Green Party treat Politics as a game of designing an ideal society on paper (I have been as guilty of this as anyone). In reality, it’s about going into (nonviolent) battle for the values you believe in. As a small party, we are, in effect, a guerilla outfit trying to topple much bigger forces (apologies again for war metaphors!). For this reason, we need to focus relentlessly on the very few leverage points that we have, because everything else is a waste of time. We need to be clear and focused around our Category Kings, core messages and principles, and not hamstrung in both time and attention by gigantic shopping lists of policies that have developed over many years, and are often the equivalent of trying to beat the dominant parties at their own game.</p>
<p>In addition, our continuing efforts to become co-opted by Labour (and maybe the LibDems) under the umbrella of a “Progressive Alliance” are the opposite of the focus that is needed to achieve the kind of explosive growth that we should be aiming for. Our attempt to coalesce with Labour is the equivalent of Facebook launching itself as a plug-in for MySpace. It will only help Labour maintain its dominance among progressive voters.</p>
<p>Pursuing a ‘Green Hockey Stick’ approach requires us to abandon a current strategy that invites voters to view us as just one in a line-up of parties occupying a similar space. Being a Category King means that we don’t want voters to compare us with, or view us as an extension of, other parties: we want them to see us as a standalone offering. If they feel that they can get what we offer from another, more well established party, then that is exactly what most of them will do.</p>
<p>Of course there can still be comparisons, but for a Category King, they need to be in the other direction; i.e. competitors compare themselves with us. Below are good examples of this (Ed Davey and Luke Pollard reminding people that we are the Category Kings when it comes to the environment):</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/931/1*kg7rJ_P8X6l9vq6P6HF0vg.png" width="931" height="408" loading="lazy" />
<p>This is a sign that we’re on the right path. When other Parties attempt to steal your policies, slogans or objectives you know you are challenging for the role of Category King.</p>
<p>Examples of political parties managing to become Category Kings include the SNP with Scottish Independence, UKIP/Brexit Party with leaving the EU, Labour with the NHS, the Conservatives with delivering Brexit, or further back, policies like ‘Right to Buy’ or Privatisation. The point is not whether you agree or disagree with any of these policies, but that you instantly think of the relevant political party when they are mentioned. Trying to topple these Kings in policy categories that they already dominate is incredibly difficult — it is far better to find other policy areas that people care about, but where there are no clear contenders.</p>
<p>Here are some examples of challenging the Category Kings in ways that will almost certainly <strong>not</strong> work:</p>
<p>● “We’ll spend x% more on the NHS than Labour”</p>
<p>● “We’ll be even tougher on immigration than the Conservatives”</p>
<p>● “We will be clamp down on benefit scroungers even harder than the Tories”</p>
<p>● “We are a more socialist party than Labour”</p>
<p>This is because the single most important ingredient in owning a category is not to try to out-compete other providers, <em><strong>but to be<</em>/strong> <strong>distinct</strong>. So, it’s not “ours is a better policy than [other party]”, but “ours is the <em>only </em>policy that will deliver for <em>you </em>in this area”.</p>
<p>It’s not easy to achieve category king status, but in order to do it there are three important steps we would need to take:</p>
<p><strong>Define the gap and explain how we would fill it</strong>. This means reviewing policy with a purpose. Making sure it is focused on voter concerns and presenting a distinct policy position that the voter believes will work for them. It’s not just about coming up with the most headline grabbing idea — it needs to be resonate with, and sound credible to, people leaning towards voting Green.</p>
<p><strong>Establish the message early and keep repeating it</strong>. Persistence beats resistance! We can’t expect voters to absorb our messaging in the 6 weeks of an election campaign; our ‘manifesto’ needs years to sink in, be discussed and demonstrate its value. To be a category king, we need to live and breathe the message day in, day out, week in, week out, year in, year out. The reason 12.6% of voters supported UKIP in 2015 even though all other parties were promising a referendum on EU membership, was because they believed that only UKIP meant it. If we want to be believed on a range of popular issues, we need to be believed implicitly. Half measures, triangulations or bandwagon jumping will not do the trick.</p>
<p><strong>Change the way people think about the issue.</strong> Engage with people in a way that resonates. Simply shouting that we’re right and everyone else is wrong (or that the world will end if they don’t vote for us) will not make people see the issues in a new light. To do that we need to</p>
<ul>
<li>Speak to people in their own language</li>
<li>Be positive about their aspirations and our shared values</li>
<li>Give people agency/choice. There’s a reason why ‘take back control’ worked with so many people. Let’s help them to make better decisions with their own lives by giving them more choice — telling people to travel less, or eat less meat, or insulate their home is not going to encourage people to embrace us or our proposals. But, providing them with better working/living/travel choices, or access to a wider range of foods, or providing low cost home improvement loans or grants, will make them feel positive about us and what we can offer them. We need to convince them that we are on their side, and that the Green agenda is about helping them with their choices, not imposing ours.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Building on current foundations</h2>
<p>So, which category (or categories) do we choose that are most likely to deliver that ‘Hockey Stick’ growth?</p>
<p>We are already viewed as Category Kings in environmental matters. Issues viewed as ‘Green’ are automatically associated with the Green Party, and those issues are becoming increasingly important for voters. So, that seems like a reasonable starting point. Not that anyone has suggested it, but it would be foolish to vacate the one category that we do dominate. The trick will be to attach other categories (sub-categories?) to it.</p>
<p>On this front, we have already started to make some progress. ‘The Green New Deal’ framing has shown itself to be reasonably effective in attaching issues like</p>
<ul>
<li>economic renewal</li>
<li>community building</li>
<li>job creation</li>
<li>land management</li>
<li>business support</li>
<li>housing standards</li>
<li>an industrial strategy</li>
<li>transport modal shift</li>
<li>road safety</li>
<li>redistribution of income</li>
</ul>
<p>to our core objective of achieving zero carbon by 2030.</p>
<p>The testimony to our dominance in this category was Labour’s attempt to capture the crown in the run up to the last general election. Their own GND proposal was a far weaker alternative that soon faded away in the subsequent election campaign (and certainly after), but it reinforced the idea to commentators and voters alike, that such a large scale, government-led investment project was necessary.</p>
<p>Our challenge now is to embed this Category as the most important issue of our time, while simultaneously co-opting other policy areas that resonate with voters. Ideas like:</p>
<ul>
<li>Universal Basic Income to end poverty once and for all</li>
<li>Land Value Tax and housing market changes that will deliver affordable homes to all citizens</li>
<li>Democratic reforms</li>
<li>A platform of inclusion and anti-bigotry</li>
</ul>
<p>probably still need to be sewn into the fabric of the Green New Deal in a way that makes our distinct offering more believable and appealing.</p>
<p>If this is the Category we choose to attach ourselves to, we need to bring it front and centre to our campaigning for the next few years, <em>almost to the exclusion of everything else</em>. We can of course, connect it to other issues, in the same way the SNP link Scottish independence, or UKIP linked EU membership/Brexit, to every key political issue, but we must always bring the attention of voters back to our ‘Category King’.</p>
<p>We must also stop telling voters that other parties are the real Category Kings, and that we are just the support act. <strong>All talk of “Progressive Alliances’ must stop. If it doesn’t, there is zero chance that we will be viewed as serious contenders</strong> and, therefore, ever achieve the kind of growth in support that the Hockey Stick model offers. The voters will never get to know that it is our vision alone that will deliver for them, if we keep telling them that the most important choice they face is which side of the Labour v Conservative grudge match they’re on.</p>
<h2>The Next Steps</h2>
<p>The changes we need to make to achieve our Goldilocks state and become Category Kings will need to be agreed amongst us, openly and democratically.</p>
<p>Some of these changes are already underway, or at least under discussion, but if we are to be ready for any upsurge in support, we must move with greater urgency.</p>
<p>As we elect new leaders and a new Executive we must press upon them the need to make the changes necessary to achieve ‘Hockey Stick’ growth.</p>
<p>In my opinion, there are 5 key strands of activity that the Party must undertake in the coming months to facilitate those changes.</p>
<p>1. Internal structures</p>
<ul>
<li>They don’t need to be perfect, but they do need to be responsive and accountable. We cannot remain as we are. We must simplify our governance, improve accountability and streamline our processes. Everything must now be focused on moving us forward, fast.</li>
</ul>
<p>2. Policy focus and messaging (including discipline)</p>
<ul>
<li>We need to find our ‘Category Kings’ and build simple, effective messaging, that resonates with our key supporters, around them. Get it done soon and give ourselves 2 years to reach those voters. We all need to present the same message and repeat it till our potential voters are sick of hearing it</li>
</ul>
<p>3. Centralised data and co-ordination</p>
<ul>
<li>We need a shared voter database across all active Green parties. It can be simple, but it must allow for consistent campaigning and collection of voter data. We can’t be a single team unless we have a single repository of data</li>
</ul>
<p>4. Fundraising</p>
<ul>
<li>We must be spending several times the amount we spend currently to grow at the rate we need. It’s not all about the money, but we still need a lot more of it to operate at scale. Although this will take time, we must start soon and make it a national priority.</li>
</ul>
<p>5. Scale up our ambition</p>
<ul>
<li>‘Target to Win’ has been largely successful, but it is an incremental growth model. We shouldn’t abandon it, but we need a scalable national strategy to complement it. It’s time to go hard or go home. We all need to prepare for the enormous effort that lies ahead and the sweat, sacrifice and determination that is required.</li>
</ul>
<p>Let’s establish working (or ‘Task & Finish’) groups involving our many brilliant minds and create clear proposals for each of these workstreams. Let’s harness the talent we have and direct it to delivering quick, positive transformation in all of these areas.</p>
<h2>Our Challenge</h2>
<p>I accept that writing this is easy, achieving it is not.</p>
<p>But, nonetheless, this is our challenge. Not just for the leadership, or the executive, or candidates, but for all of us.</p>
<p>Change is tough. It’s painful, stressful and time consuming. If we make the changes outlined above some people will cry, some will leave in protest and others will shout that it’s unfair or undemocratic. But that cannot stop us from embracing that change.</p>
<p>If we want the next period of our growth to follow the ‘Hockey Stick’ model, then we need to copy what other organisations have done to achieve it.</p>
<p>And we need to start now.</p>
<p>— — — — — — —</p>
<p>Martin Farley is the Elections coordinator for Brighton & Hove Green Party, and convener of the Party’s Tax & Fiscal Policy Working Group. He has also spent 20 years working on corporate projects designed to help businesses grow revenue, capacity and customer responsiveness. He was an active member of the SNP from 1997 to 2004 and witnessed the party move through a key period of reorganisation and growth</p>
</section>
|
The Green Hockey Stick
How the Green Party can go from start-up to scale up over the next few years
At this point in time, we in the Green Party have some tough choices to make to ensure that the next phase of our development is one of increasing growth in support and electoral success. In this article, I will set out what those choices are and what will drive them.
2021: The start of a new Green era
In 2021 the Green Party has achieved it’s highest ever average polling over the course of a year (so far)
We have a had a successful set of local election results, increasing our number of elected councillors to an all-time high of 453. But, we have also experienced a steady and stable increase in polling figures throughout the year (see below)
This time, the growth in support looks and feels more certain than before. If this growth is maintained, it presents us with an opportunity to look forward and examine what potential lies beyond this point
Common patterns of growth
In order to understand what types of growth are possible, we need to recognise common patterns of growth and decide which one provides a useful model for the Green Party.
The most common experiences of growth tend to be:
Incremental growth is a linear and simple progression. Imagine building a wall one brick at a time. You can plot the progress as a simple, upward line
WiIth Logarithmic growth you see big advances early on, but they taper off quickly and future growth becomes difficult to maintain
Exponential growth presents a slow start, followed by gradual/incremental progress, but upon reaching a point of critical mass there is a sudden explosion in growth
In political terms, each of these patterns of growth can occur.
The Green Party in Brighton and Hove grew incrementally from 1996 to 2011, slowly building at each election until becoming the largest party on the City Council and winning Brighton Pavilion at the 2010 General Election. But it was a long hard slog that required a significant chunk of the national party’s resources.
The SDP, in just 3 years, went from nothing to 26% in the General Election of 1983. However, they were unable to maintain that momentum and it took another 27 years to turn that support into political power. Their experience of logarithmic growth turned out to be a tough gig, despite high hopes early on.
Very few disruptive political parties achieve effective exponential growth over a prolonged period. The Labour Party in the 1920s/30s and the SNP from around 2003 to 2015 both managed to break through to political power after a prolonged period of relatively slow growth. UKIP achieved a more modest 12.6% of the vote in 2015 after a slow but steady 20 year rise, but if this were enough to achieve its objective (which it appeared to be), it is probably fair to say that their progress also moved along an exponential growth curve
This type of growth starts to look like a more desirable model for the Green Party, which has had a long slow journey to the political stage, but is now experiencing a modest but sustained increase in support.
Although still early days, we can see from the growth in the number of Green councillors over the years, that it resembles the first 80% of the exponential curve:
It might seem like we are already at the peak of our exponential growth, but this is something of an optical illusion borne out of lack of context. If we assume an aim of winning 10% of all council seats (2000 Cllrs) by 2030, then this curve would look a bit like the one below up to the black dot
As you can see, although the exponential growth stage might have started (the inflection point on the graph in 2019 is clearly identifiable), it’s still in its early stages. There is no cast-iron law of physics (or elections) to say that our continuation along that curve is inevitable or guaranteed. That is why the choices we make next are so important.
The remainder of this article will focus on how that strategy of aiming for exponential growth can be achieved.
The Hockey Stick model
If our aim is to grow exponentially, how do we prepare for that journey and ensure that it happens?
In his review of 172 start-up businesses that had achieved exponential growth in revenue, Bobby Martin identified a model he described as a “Hockey Stick” (so called due to the shape of the revenue growth curve).
In this model, Martin describes 4 key stages of development for these start-ups:
Tinkering: where startups look at their business idea more seriously. This phase ends when you take a leap of faith and fully commit to the business. For a political party this phase might include standing candidates in some seats, but not all, or developing initial policies or manifestos, but not yet having a full policy platform
The blade years: The first few years of serious activity, where they are operating the business full-time. They might not be generating much revenue or showing much growth in this period, but they are establishing a market presence and operating as a serious entity. For Greens this might be best represented as the era of having Greens elected to high profile roles (MEPs, London Assembly Members, Members of the Scottish Parliament and, of course, an MP in the House of Commons), but still not seeing much electoral progress more broadly.
The growth inflection point: This is where something in their offering “clicks”. Sales or revenue start to climb which pulls them towards a point of critical mass in the marketplace. From this point they start to see a much higher return on investments and innovation. In political terms, this would be the point at which voters view Green candidates as a serious option in all elections, or view Green Party policies and opinions as directly relevant to their decisions or political outcomes.
Surging growth: The final stage where business revenues grow rapidly and the business starts to operate at a much greater scale. The political precedents for this are few and far between (only a couple mentioned above), but clearly these are the examples we wish to emulate.
Lessons Learned from the Hockey Stick experience
Apart from identifying the shape of success, what else has this review of successful start-up businesses taught us about how to achieve exponential growth?
The first, and most important, lesson is that not all start-ups make it along this curve.
The good news for the Green Party, is that the toughest phase, and the one where new entrants are most likely to fail, is ‘the Blade Years’. This is broadly speaking the phase from 1999–2019, when we consistently contested elections at both local and national level, but with very little progress.
Businesses survive this phase partly by having a good plan, partly by responding effectively to events/the marketplace and partly by having plenty of ‘patient capital’ to invest in their operation. The credit for getting the Greens through this phase probably lies with those who have worked to build up the party in terms of policy and electoral capacity in that time, and all those patient members and supporters who have dug in to establish the party in all corners of the country.
While we appear to have passed the ‘Growth Inflection Point’ in local elections, we are probably still approaching it in terms of Westminster elections.
Before 2010 our general election results were in the region of just 1% or less (we almost never appeared in opinions polls). From 2010 until 2020 our polling averaged between 2% and 5%, often fluctuating to either end of that range. In 2021, for the first time in a non-parliamentary election year, we are consistently polling over 5%.
The next few years are our opportunity to reach the inflection point (probably 10%+) and begin to enjoy support at rapidly increasing levels beyond that.
Building the ‘Goldilocks’ organisation
These ‘hockey stick’ business successes are rare, and their success extremely difficult to replicate. So how does a small political party achieve it?
It would seem that there are a couple of key elements to their success, the first of which relates to the maturity of the organisation.
It’s not all about the money
Research into these new business success stories found that the amount of funding enjoyed by start-ups that moved into this ‘hockey stick’ phase of growth was not a particularly important factor.
Getting their timing right and launching when they were both ready and able, but not waiting too long, seemed to be a far greater indicator of success than financial backing.
Being ready and able to move at the right time was more important than size, funding or market positioning at the time.
To transpose this idea on to the political world, UKIP or the SDP were unable to sustain their growth spurts because their offering lacked the maturity that was required, whereas the SNP was able to use its growth opportunities to full advantage, because it had spent as much as 40 years preparing for them. It had had parliamentary representation for virtually all of that time, including, since 1999, a substantial group in the Scottish Parliament.
At the other end of the spectrum is the experience of the Labour Party. After 2015 it experienced a massive surge in membership after the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader. But rather than fuel a renaissance in its fortunes, the party machinery (‘long in the tooth’ and primarily focused on protecting legacy power structures), went into full rejection mode plunging the party into a state of all-consuming internal conflict.
The Green Party doesn’t quite have the political depth or experience that the SNP possessed by 2014, or even 2007. But neither does it suffer from the embedded power structures and debilitating rigidity of the Labour Party. So, we still have the opportunity to respond to an increase in support effectively if or when it arrives.
Achieving Peak Maturity
So how do we achieve this ‘Goldilocks’ organisational state?
The challenge for the Green Party is that we currently have autonomy, but little alignment; we have freedom, but almost no discipline; and we have flexibility, but barely any scale.
We confuse anarchy with democracy and local responsiveness with national effectiveness
In order to win, we need to be an aligned political machine that can deliver effective policies and winning campaigns; we need to be disciplined in order to gain credibility with voters; and we need to expand our operation to meet the demands of a party of power.
We’ve been discussing radical changes to our constitution (usually known as ‘the Holistic Review’) for about 4 years. Now is the time to get on with it. Without getting into the excruciating detail of some of the proposals, it is crucially important that we move to a party organisation that is robust, responsive and agile at the centre, but effective, empowered and fully informed at the local level. We cannot scale up the Party and its activities with a set-up that
Is slow to make decisions (or makes poor decisions and is then slow to change course)
Cannot (or is unwilling to) remove bad faith operators, ineffective performers or those members who are actively working against the party and/or its candidates
Keeps most members completely in the dark about what’s going on
We are still functioning like a start-up, but we need to behave like a market leader.
So, we either pass the Holistic Review soon, or we accept a ‘quick and dirty’ overhaul to be completed and agreed in the next 12 months. For those holding out for the new constitution to be perfect, please reflect on the ‘Goldilocks’ organisational advantages: it is actually preferable for our processes to be flawed, but rapid and flexible, than perfect, but slow and rigid.
We can avoid the naivety of the SDP, the chaos of UKIP and the rigidity of contemporary Labour when each of them struggled to manage their growth surges, but we must be honest with ourselves in terms of what we need to do and accept the need for some personal and operational compromises.
In order to make use of our current and future growth in support, we need to reach our ‘Goldilocks’ organisational state in the next 1–2 years. If not, we will fail.
It is now a matter of urgency.
Becoming a ‘Category King’
But organisational readiness was not the main component of successful growth, according to this research.
That was the establishment of those businesses as ‘Category Kings’: i.e. businesses that focused on specific gaps in the market, or new markets, which they then dominated, rather than try to squeeze out competitors in existing markets. (I’ve also heard this explained as “Find the gap in the market, and then build the market in the gap.”)
These niches or gaps, if successfully filled, brought in as much as 76% of market share for the ‘Category Kings’, and it is this that provided the exponential growth demonstrated in our ‘hockey stick’.
But becoming a ‘Category King’ is the challenge that will prove the most difficult for us as a movement because it involves an approach that we are not used to.
As one commentator puts it, “[becoming a Category King] is a gruelling journey that requires killing your competitors and uncompromising focus. Today, taking on an existing market with a well-established leader is verging on suicidal. The prospect of trying to overthrow the [current Category King] by beating them at their own game just doesn’t make sense.”
This is a much more aggressive outlook than we are used to, or naturally disposed towards (we would rather avoid violent metaphors!), but it also relies on a singular political focus that we have historically lacked.
All too often, we in the Green Party treat Politics as a game of designing an ideal society on paper (I have been as guilty of this as anyone). In reality, it’s about going into (nonviolent) battle for the values you believe in. As a small party, we are, in effect, a guerilla outfit trying to topple much bigger forces (apologies again for war metaphors!). For this reason, we need to focus relentlessly on the very few leverage points that we have, because everything else is a waste of time. We need to be clear and focused around our Category Kings, core messages and principles, and not hamstrung in both time and attention by gigantic shopping lists of policies that have developed over many years, and are often the equivalent of trying to beat the dominant parties at their own game.
In addition, our continuing efforts to become co-opted by Labour (and maybe the LibDems) under the umbrella of a “Progressive Alliance” are the opposite of the focus that is needed to achieve the kind of explosive growth that we should be aiming for. Our attempt to coalesce with Labour is the equivalent of Facebook launching itself as a plug-in for MySpace. It will only help Labour maintain its dominance among progressive voters.
Pursuing a ‘Green Hockey Stick’ approach requires us to abandon a current strategy that invites voters to view us as just one in a line-up of parties occupying a similar space. Being a Category King means that we don’t want voters to compare us with, or view us as an extension of, other parties: we want them to see us as a standalone offering. If they feel that they can get what we offer from another, more well established party, then that is exactly what most of them will do.
Of course there can still be comparisons, but for a Category King, they need to be in the other direction; i.e. competitors compare themselves with us. Below are good examples of this (Ed Davey and Luke Pollard reminding people that we are the Category Kings when it comes to the environment):
This is a sign that we’re on the right path. When other Parties attempt to steal your policies, slogans or objectives you know you are challenging for the role of Category King.
Examples of political parties managing to become Category Kings include the SNP with Scottish Independence, UKIP/Brexit Party with leaving the EU, Labour with the NHS, the Conservatives with delivering Brexit, or further back, policies like ‘Right to Buy’ or Privatisation. The point is not whether you agree or disagree with any of these policies, but that you instantly think of the relevant political party when they are mentioned. Trying to topple these Kings in policy categories that they already dominate is incredibly difficult — it is far better to find other policy areas that people care about, but where there are no clear contenders.
Here are some examples of challenging the Category Kings in ways that will almost certainly not work:
● “We’ll spend x% more on the NHS than Labour”
● “We’ll be even tougher on immigration than the Conservatives”
● “We will be clamp down on benefit scroungers even harder than the Tories”
● “We are a more socialist party than Labour”
This is because the single most important ingredient in owning a category is not to try to out-compete other providers, but to be distinct. So, it’s not “ours is a better policy than [other party]”, but “ours is the only policy that will deliver for you in this area”.
It’s not easy to achieve category king status, but in order to do it there are three important steps we would need to take:
Define the gap and explain how we would fill it. This means reviewing policy with a purpose. Making sure it is focused on voter concerns and presenting a distinct policy position that the voter believes will work for them. It’s not just about coming up with the most headline grabbing idea — it needs to be resonate with, and sound credible to, people leaning towards voting Green.
Establish the message early and keep repeating it. Persistence beats resistance! We can’t expect voters to absorb our messaging in the 6 weeks of an election campaign; our ‘manifesto’ needs years to sink in, be discussed and demonstrate its value. To be a category king, we need to live and breathe the message day in, day out, week in, week out, year in, year out. The reason 12.6% of voters supported UKIP in 2015 even though all other parties were promising a referendum on EU membership, was because they believed that only UKIP meant it. If we want to be believed on a range of popular issues, we need to be believed implicitly. Half measures, triangulations or bandwagon jumping will not do the trick.
Change the way people think about the issue. Engage with people in a way that resonates. Simply shouting that we’re right and everyone else is wrong (or that the world will end if they don’t vote for us) will not make people see the issues in a new light. To do that we need to
Speak to people in their own language
Be positive about their aspirations and our shared values
Give people agency/choice. There’s a reason why ‘take back control’ worked with so many people. Let’s help them to make better decisions with their own lives by giving them more choice — telling people to travel less, or eat less meat, or insulate their home is not going to encourage people to embrace us or our proposals. But, providing them with better working/living/travel choices, or access to a wider range of foods, or providing low cost home improvement loans or grants, will make them feel positive about us and what we can offer them. We need to convince them that we are on their side, and that the Green agenda is about helping them with their choices, not imposing ours.
Building on current foundations
So, which category (or categories) do we choose that are most likely to deliver that ‘Hockey Stick’ growth?
We are already viewed as Category Kings in environmental matters. Issues viewed as ‘Green’ are automatically associated with the Green Party, and those issues are becoming increasingly important for voters. So, that seems like a reasonable starting point. Not that anyone has suggested it, but it would be foolish to vacate the one category that we do dominate. The trick will be to attach other categories (sub-categories?) to it.
On this front, we have already started to make some progress. ‘The Green New Deal’ framing has shown itself to be reasonably effective in attaching issues like
economic renewal
community building
job creation
land management
business support
housing standards
an industrial strategy
transport modal shift
road safety
redistribution of income
to our core objective of achieving zero carbon by 2030.
The testimony to our dominance in this category was Labour’s attempt to capture the crown in the run up to the last general election. Their own GND proposal was a far weaker alternative that soon faded away in the subsequent election campaign (and certainly after), but it reinforced the idea to commentators and voters alike, that such a large scale, government-led investment project was necessary.
Our challenge now is to embed this Category as the most important issue of our time, while simultaneously co-opting other policy areas that resonate with voters. Ideas like:
Universal Basic Income to end poverty once and for all
Land Value Tax and housing market changes that will deliver affordable homes to all citizens
Democratic reforms
A platform of inclusion and anti-bigotry
probably still need to be sewn into the fabric of the Green New Deal in a way that makes our distinct offering more believable and appealing.
If this is the Category we choose to attach ourselves to, we need to bring it front and centre to our campaigning for the next few years, almost to the exclusion of everything else. We can of course, connect it to other issues, in the same way the SNP link Scottish independence, or UKIP linked EU membership/Brexit, to every key political issue, but we must always bring the attention of voters back to our ‘Category King’.
We must also stop telling voters that other parties are the real Category Kings, and that we are just the support act. All talk of “Progressive Alliances’ must stop. If it doesn’t, there is zero chance that we will be viewed as serious contenders and, therefore, ever achieve the kind of growth in support that the Hockey Stick model offers. The voters will never get to know that it is our vision alone that will deliver for them, if we keep telling them that the most important choice they face is which side of the Labour v Conservative grudge match they’re on.
The Next Steps
The changes we need to make to achieve our Goldilocks state and become Category Kings will need to be agreed amongst us, openly and democratically.
Some of these changes are already underway, or at least under discussion, but if we are to be ready for any upsurge in support, we must move with greater urgency.
As we elect new leaders and a new Executive we must press upon them the need to make the changes necessary to achieve ‘Hockey Stick’ growth.
In my opinion, there are 5 key strands of activity that the Party must undertake in the coming months to facilitate those changes.
1. Internal structures
They don’t need to be perfect, but they do need to be responsive and accountable. We cannot remain as we are. We must simplify our governance, improve accountability and streamline our processes. Everything must now be focused on moving us forward, fast.
2. Policy focus and messaging (including discipline)
We need to find our ‘Category Kings’ and build simple, effective messaging, that resonates with our key supporters, around them. Get it done soon and give ourselves 2 years to reach those voters. We all need to present the same message and repeat it till our potential voters are sick of hearing it
3. Centralised data and co-ordination
We need a shared voter database across all active Green parties. It can be simple, but it must allow for consistent campaigning and collection of voter data. We can’t be a single team unless we have a single repository of data
4. Fundraising
We must be spending several times the amount we spend currently to grow at the rate we need. It’s not all about the money, but we still need a lot more of it to operate at scale. Although this will take time, we must start soon and make it a national priority.
5. Scale up our ambition
‘Target to Win’ has been largely successful, but it is an incremental growth model. We shouldn’t abandon it, but we need a scalable national strategy to complement it. It’s time to go hard or go home. We all need to prepare for the enormous effort that lies ahead and the sweat, sacrifice and determination that is required.
Let’s establish working (or ‘Task & Finish’) groups involving our many brilliant minds and create clear proposals for each of these workstreams. Let’s harness the talent we have and direct it to delivering quick, positive transformation in all of these areas.
Our Challenge
I accept that writing this is easy, achieving it is not.
But, nonetheless, this is our challenge. Not just for the leadership, or the executive, or candidates, but for all of us.
Change is tough. It’s painful, stressful and time consuming. If we make the changes outlined above some people will cry, some will leave in protest and others will shout that it’s unfair or undemocratic. But that cannot stop us from embracing that change.
If we want the next period of our growth to follow the ‘Hockey Stick’ model, then we need to copy what other organisations have done to achieve it.
And we need to start now.
— — — — — — —
Martin Farley is the Elections coordinator for Brighton & Hove Green Party, and convener of the Party’s Tax & Fiscal Policy Working Group. He has also spent 20 years working on corporate projects designed to help businesses grow revenue, capacity and customer responsiveness. He was an active member of the SNP from 1997 to 2004 and witnessed the party move through a key period of reorganisation and growth
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c796bcd1-ebc3-5cf6-9e21-14d4f94c6fe3
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25/08/2025 16:02:26
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https://medium.com/@TheAntidoteToLiberalism/violent-protests-are-the-fault-of-violent-protestors-4feaf4d7d3b2
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medium.com
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Violent Protests Are the Fault of Violent Protestors
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The Left is angry.
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Todd Huff
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https://medium.com/@TheAntidoteToLiberalism
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4feaf4d7d3b2
| null |
0 min
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2016-03-14T18:06:55.346000
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2016-03-14T18:08:59.721000
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2016-03-14T18:08:59.721000
| 0 | 0 |
en
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2016 Election,Donald Trump,BlackLivesMatter
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<section>
<p>The Left is angry.</p>
<p>They’ve been marching America toward Liberalism. Or Progressivism. Or Socialism — whatever you want to call it — for the past 50 years.</p>
<p>And now they are facing the very real possibility that … <a href="http://toddhuffradio.com/daily-dose-blog/2016/3/14/1s5slmdi5iomzp269tz01ch0644eeg">READ MORE</a></p>
</section>
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Violent Protests Are the Fault of Violent Protestors
The Left is angry.
They’ve been marching America toward Liberalism. Or Progressivism. Or Socialism — whatever you want to call it — for the past 50 years.
And now they are facing the very real possibility that … READ MORE
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5f04bfe5-217c-5b6f-820c-c906e1ab20f0
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25/08/2025 16:02:26
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https://medium.com/@marketingadepts/trade-the-news-the-real-key-to-winning-67377a74b95f
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medium.com
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Trade the News: (The Real Key to Winning)
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Today, since we’re preparing for another FOMC event, this is a great time to make sure that everyone understands how to analyze the market…
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Scott Shubert
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https://medium.com/@marketingadepts
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67377a74b95f
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8 min
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2023-08-29T04:06:26.983000
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2023-08-29T04:51:18.154000
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2023-08-30T05:10:52.116000
| 0 | 0 |
en
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Trading The News,Forex Trading,Stock Trading,Trading Strategy
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<section>
<p>Today, since we’re preparing for another FOMC event, this is a great time to make sure that everyone understands how to analyze the market and how to make clear decisions about how to enter a trade at any major news event. And since we’ve been able to do very well with many major news events for a long time, I’m going to show you again right now, how to go through that process. So let’s get started with that now.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1920/1*RdIaCS-Sz-z3Sx2U0jT0rA.jpeg" width="1920" height="1271" loading="lazy" />
<p>As I show you how to trade this particular FOMC event, the other thing I’m going to show you is how to trade in general. Rest assured, I won’t be holding anything back in these discussions. The only challenge you might face is absorbing the knowledge and putting it into practice. But remember, when you start recognizing the patterns on the charts and understanding their truth, trading becomes a lot more attainable and rewarding.</p>
<p>When the daily time frame starts forming a correction to a trend, you will see that the waves of that correction can consist of huge impulsive trends on shorter time frames. So it’s very important to be able to see if something is a trend or a correction and on what time frame it is a trend or correction. This also helps you to make gauges or estimations for how long something will be moving in a certain direction, and what will be the criteria for the next turn.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/952/1*bJeO1284bzgZaMCUhiWEwQ.png" width="952" height="587" loading="lazy" />
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/865/1*EjP3UzlO4RXDdh8HVrkJ4Q.png" width="865" height="595" loading="lazy" />
<p>If you can build the habit of doing this every day, just like many of us do, you’ll be arming yourself with a high probability of success in every trade. So when we look at what’s happening with the dollar today, we know that the dollar has been in a huge downtrend. (Originally recorded in March 2021) When I zoom out to the monthly view, it’s apparent that this has been ongoing. However, focusing on a particular pattern, such as within the DXY (dollar index), reveals a correction within that downtrend. Think of it like reading a language of patterns. The correction has concluded, and the downtrend is poised to continue. The signs point to a prolonged decline, and I’ve been observing this trend for quite a while, consistently highlighting it in my analyses. It has ended a correction and is resuming the downtrend. But there can still be a larger wave of the upward moving pattern still to form.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/730/1*HfI_C25G8UbGNdegbhn87A.png" width="730" height="401" loading="lazy" />
<p>Armed with this insight, it’s evident that the ascent won’t halt until a comprehensive correction, proportionate to the preceding trend, takes place. This holds true across all trends, and once you grasp this principle, you begin to truly understand the pulse of the markets. As we zero in on the DXY, intriguing ABC patterns emerge, forming a symphony of three-way sequences. When you encounter a series of these wave patterns, it hints at the market constructing a correction or perhaps a triangular formation composed of these three-way patterns. There might not be a definite trend, but if we factor in recent moves like ABC of A, ABC of B, and ABC of C, it’s conceivable that we’re on the brink of D and E waves before this correction wraps up, readying itself for a downward shift.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/945/1*ItLGM-kaW0XNjSWAV5wMEw.png" width="945" height="580" loading="lazy" />
<p>Now, let’s demystify approaching a significant event like the FOMC. Before such events, the key is analyzing the market to gauge the prevailing sentiment. How do you see sentiment? Sentiment is shown and illustrated clearly based on the direction of the market. And then what is the direction of the market and what is the nature of the price action as it’s moving that direction? Is it moving in a corrective manner or is it moving in an impulsive manner?</p>
<p>Now that it finished these clear three waves up it has made another three-way pattern down, a turning point and what appears to be kind of an extended three-way pattern going up. So coming to FOMC we want to see how you approach these events and how do you align your trading decision with something that would be highly probable?</p>
<p>Often, ahead of a substantial news event, the market sets the stage with a correction leading up to the exact moment of the event. where you can go to the news event and you can trade these known patterns. It’s like witnessing a play unfold, knowing the script and the cues. You can predict with confidence, saying, “This is what’s coming next.” This confidence emerges from recognizing the trends and corrections at play. This knack has fueled my remarkable results over the years. If it’s very clear you could say “I know what’s going to happen.” “This is going to end this trend or this is going to end this correction on this time frame and I can see that coming.” Yet, there are instances when the market remains ambiguous, straddling the precipice of different directions. In such scenarios, there’s a strategy I’ve shared before — hunt for clarity. By comparing correlated pairs, you can cut through the haze. I’ve also created videos on this technique.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1000/1*25NCKeoSA46zQOBPto-sIA.png" width="1000" height="595" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>Price Action Behavior Observation</strong></p>
<p>Behold the <strong>Price Action Behavior Observation</strong> — a tool for situations that remain muddled despite your best efforts. If you’ve mastered recognizing known behaviors in relation to patterns, you can discern what’s transpiring in real-time. Imagine the market climbing, but this ascent signals a trend’s culmination — a harbinger of a spike reversal phenomenon, something we’ve successfully navigated before.</p>
<p>Alternatively, a correction might be in progress, and these corrections tend to keep growing. In this scenario, you deduce, “Ah, this is gearing up for a spike reversal as the correction concludes.” Yet, uncertainty might still linger due to subtle patterns. In instances of clarity, where the outcome seems evident, your confidence surges, prompting you to act before the news hits. When the probability of success is sky-high, you feel assured. But for moments of doubt, meticulous observation pays off. Have you ever noticed how news events trigger significant movements, followed by pullbacks? Distinguishing between a mere pullback and a complete reversal is an acquired skill, honed with experience over time.</p>
<p>Or it could be forming a correction and then the corrections tends to keep going. Then you would think, “Okay that’s going to form a <em>spike reversal end of a correction</em>.” But if there’s some other pattern that leaves some uncertainty, all you have to do in the cases where it’s clear, what’s going to happen you will see I’ll just get in before the news comes out because I’m that confident. I would know the probability of this happening is extremely high. I’m just going to get in. And if it’s not extremely high and if there’s still any uncertainty you can observe the behavior and see what does this behavior look like? Have you ever noticed when there’s a news event and then there’s a big move and then there’s a pullback, what is the nature of the pullback? How can you distinguish the difference between a pullback and a reversal? Some of these things you can develop a little bit more experience and skill and recognize right at the time that it’s happening.</p>
<p>Remember, not every event requires your trade. A crucial facet of trading is knowing when to abstain. Resist the notion that every news event mandates your participation — selectivity is your ally.</p>
<p>Gather your arsenal of skills: know how to read patterns, understand trends and corrections across time frames, compare correlated pairs, factor in news outcomes if needed. Armed with this knowledge, when clarity is seen, make your move. When ambiguity reigns, withhold judgment and observe. As the news unfolds, you might discover newfound insights that embolden your trading decisions.</p>
<p>Consider this scenario: you were once uncertain, but now the path seems clearer. You act post-news release, leveraging your insights. Interestingly, most traders shy away from entering before news events. However, you have the ability to undertake both strategies, adapting to what the situation dictates. Speaking of which, the dollar index and DXY offer a distinct pattern. It’s been descending for a while, with the monthly time frame revealing an intricate A, B, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of C pattern. It will be ready to form another long entry.</p>
<p>But once you get to the daily to get a little more practical you can see that this is a long downtrend and it has ended a trend recently. You look at the dollar index and you look at the DXY you can see there’s one place where it has ended a trend. While there’s a point where the trend concluded, the real excitement lies in the sequence of three-wave patterns that have emerged. To sum up, I anticipate an end of a small correction followed by a significant upward move — essentially, a sequence of ABC, ABC, ABC.</p>
<p>Now, one might wonder if the B phase could extend. While not definitively clear, the key is to wait and see. You have a good chunk of time — 12 hours — to observe the pattern’s development. Is the B phase extending until it’s undeniable? Is it wrapping up? Or perhaps it’s transitioning into something else entirely, signaling yet another development? While these revelations might not materialize before the event, a quick check will inform your decision-making.</p>
<p>Embrace this methodology, blend your skills, read patterns, understand trends, evaluate correlated pairs. When things are clear, act with conviction; when they’re not, watch and wait. Your dedication to this process could exponentially elevate your success probability, raising the bar to an impressive 80% to 90%. We know that even with much lower percentage of winning trades increase in capital can still be maintained with good risk management and good risk to reward targets. Such confidence transforms your trading journey, infusing each step with a newfound sense of certainty.</p>
<p>This discourse, however, merely scratches the surface of trading’s vast landscape. For those intrigued by delving deeper, our live trading sessions can be the solution. In this environment, real-time trading data becomes the arena for refining your skills. Just as athletes refine their prowess through live matches and martial artists perfect their techniques, you’ll sculpt an authentic trading skillset in this dynamic crucible.</p>
<p>Harness the real key to trading mastery — decode news events with precision, dance with patterns, wield insight with confidence. The power to emerge victorious is within your grasp, ready to be unleashed. Your journey continues — a voyage of enlightenment, a saga of mastery.</p>
<p>Watch the entire video demonstration here:</p>
<p></p>
</section>
|
Trade the News: (The Real Key to Winning)
Today, since we’re preparing for another FOMC event, this is a great time to make sure that everyone understands how to analyze the market and how to make clear decisions about how to enter a trade at any major news event. And since we’ve been able to do very well with many major news events for a long time, I’m going to show you again right now, how to go through that process. So let’s get started with that now.
As I show you how to trade this particular FOMC event, the other thing I’m going to show you is how to trade in general. Rest assured, I won’t be holding anything back in these discussions. The only challenge you might face is absorbing the knowledge and putting it into practice. But remember, when you start recognizing the patterns on the charts and understanding their truth, trading becomes a lot more attainable and rewarding.
When the daily time frame starts forming a correction to a trend, you will see that the waves of that correction can consist of huge impulsive trends on shorter time frames. So it’s very important to be able to see if something is a trend or a correction and on what time frame it is a trend or correction. This also helps you to make gauges or estimations for how long something will be moving in a certain direction, and what will be the criteria for the next turn.
The 12 Hour shows a strong uptrend of what may be a wave of a correction on the Weekly time frame.
If you can build the habit of doing this every day, just like many of us do, you’ll be arming yourself with a high probability of success in every trade. So when we look at what’s happening with the dollar today, we know that the dollar has been in a huge downtrend. (Originally recorded in March 2021) When I zoom out to the monthly view, it’s apparent that this has been ongoing. However, focusing on a particular pattern, such as within the DXY (dollar index), reveals a correction within that downtrend. Think of it like reading a language of patterns. The correction has concluded, and the downtrend is poised to continue. The signs point to a prolonged decline, and I’ve been observing this trend for quite a while, consistently highlighting it in my analyses. It has ended a correction and is resuming the downtrend. But there can still be a larger wave of the upward moving pattern still to form.
Armed with this insight, it’s evident that the ascent won’t halt until a comprehensive correction, proportionate to the preceding trend, takes place. This holds true across all trends, and once you grasp this principle, you begin to truly understand the pulse of the markets. As we zero in on the DXY, intriguing ABC patterns emerge, forming a symphony of three-way sequences. When you encounter a series of these wave patterns, it hints at the market constructing a correction or perhaps a triangular formation composed of these three-way patterns. There might not be a definite trend, but if we factor in recent moves like ABC of A, ABC of B, and ABC of C, it’s conceivable that we’re on the brink of D and E waves before this correction wraps up, readying itself for a downward shift.
Now, let’s demystify approaching a significant event like the FOMC. Before such events, the key is analyzing the market to gauge the prevailing sentiment. How do you see sentiment? Sentiment is shown and illustrated clearly based on the direction of the market. And then what is the direction of the market and what is the nature of the price action as it’s moving that direction? Is it moving in a corrective manner or is it moving in an impulsive manner?
Now that it finished these clear three waves up it has made another three-way pattern down, a turning point and what appears to be kind of an extended three-way pattern going up. So coming to FOMC we want to see how you approach these events and how do you align your trading decision with something that would be highly probable?
Often, ahead of a substantial news event, the market sets the stage with a correction leading up to the exact moment of the event. where you can go to the news event and you can trade these known patterns. It’s like witnessing a play unfold, knowing the script and the cues. You can predict with confidence, saying, “This is what’s coming next.” This confidence emerges from recognizing the trends and corrections at play. This knack has fueled my remarkable results over the years. If it’s very clear you could say “I know what’s going to happen.” “This is going to end this trend or this is going to end this correction on this time frame and I can see that coming.” Yet, there are instances when the market remains ambiguous, straddling the precipice of different directions. In such scenarios, there’s a strategy I’ve shared before — hunt for clarity. By comparing correlated pairs, you can cut through the haze. I’ve also created videos on this technique.
Price Action Behavior Observation
Behold the Price Action Behavior Observation — a tool for situations that remain muddled despite your best efforts. If you’ve mastered recognizing known behaviors in relation to patterns, you can discern what’s transpiring in real-time. Imagine the market climbing, but this ascent signals a trend’s culmination — a harbinger of a spike reversal phenomenon, something we’ve successfully navigated before.
Alternatively, a correction might be in progress, and these corrections tend to keep growing. In this scenario, you deduce, “Ah, this is gearing up for a spike reversal as the correction concludes.” Yet, uncertainty might still linger due to subtle patterns. In instances of clarity, where the outcome seems evident, your confidence surges, prompting you to act before the news hits. When the probability of success is sky-high, you feel assured. But for moments of doubt, meticulous observation pays off. Have you ever noticed how news events trigger significant movements, followed by pullbacks? Distinguishing between a mere pullback and a complete reversal is an acquired skill, honed with experience over time.
Or it could be forming a correction and then the corrections tends to keep going. Then you would think, “Okay that’s going to form a spike reversal end of a correction.” But if there’s some other pattern that leaves some uncertainty, all you have to do in the cases where it’s clear, what’s going to happen you will see I’ll just get in before the news comes out because I’m that confident. I would know the probability of this happening is extremely high. I’m just going to get in. And if it’s not extremely high and if there’s still any uncertainty you can observe the behavior and see what does this behavior look like? Have you ever noticed when there’s a news event and then there’s a big move and then there’s a pullback, what is the nature of the pullback? How can you distinguish the difference between a pullback and a reversal? Some of these things you can develop a little bit more experience and skill and recognize right at the time that it’s happening.
Remember, not every event requires your trade. A crucial facet of trading is knowing when to abstain. Resist the notion that every news event mandates your participation — selectivity is your ally.
Gather your arsenal of skills: know how to read patterns, understand trends and corrections across time frames, compare correlated pairs, factor in news outcomes if needed. Armed with this knowledge, when clarity is seen, make your move. When ambiguity reigns, withhold judgment and observe. As the news unfolds, you might discover newfound insights that embolden your trading decisions.
Consider this scenario: you were once uncertain, but now the path seems clearer. You act post-news release, leveraging your insights. Interestingly, most traders shy away from entering before news events. However, you have the ability to undertake both strategies, adapting to what the situation dictates. Speaking of which, the dollar index and DXY offer a distinct pattern. It’s been descending for a while, with the monthly time frame revealing an intricate A, B, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of C pattern. It will be ready to form another long entry.
But once you get to the daily to get a little more practical you can see that this is a long downtrend and it has ended a trend recently. You look at the dollar index and you look at the DXY you can see there’s one place where it has ended a trend. While there’s a point where the trend concluded, the real excitement lies in the sequence of three-wave patterns that have emerged. To sum up, I anticipate an end of a small correction followed by a significant upward move — essentially, a sequence of ABC, ABC, ABC.
Now, one might wonder if the B phase could extend. While not definitively clear, the key is to wait and see. You have a good chunk of time — 12 hours — to observe the pattern’s development. Is the B phase extending until it’s undeniable? Is it wrapping up? Or perhaps it’s transitioning into something else entirely, signaling yet another development? While these revelations might not materialize before the event, a quick check will inform your decision-making.
Embrace this methodology, blend your skills, read patterns, understand trends, evaluate correlated pairs. When things are clear, act with conviction; when they’re not, watch and wait. Your dedication to this process could exponentially elevate your success probability, raising the bar to an impressive 80% to 90%. We know that even with much lower percentage of winning trades increase in capital can still be maintained with good risk management and good risk to reward targets. Such confidence transforms your trading journey, infusing each step with a newfound sense of certainty.
This discourse, however, merely scratches the surface of trading’s vast landscape. For those intrigued by delving deeper, our live trading sessions can be the solution. In this environment, real-time trading data becomes the arena for refining your skills. Just as athletes refine their prowess through live matches and martial artists perfect their techniques, you’ll sculpt an authentic trading skillset in this dynamic crucible.
Harness the real key to trading mastery — decode news events with precision, dance with patterns, wield insight with confidence. The power to emerge victorious is within your grasp, ready to be unleashed. Your journey continues — a voyage of enlightenment, a saga of mastery.
Watch the entire video demonstration here:
|
236e88b6-34f7-51eb-9e13-4fb067b27fb9
|
25/08/2025 16:02:26
|
|
https://medium.com/@akquach/setting-custom-sorting-on-profile-table-in-sharepoint-f3469de64fab
|
medium.com
|
Setting Custom Sorting on Profile Table in SharePoint
|
Most SharePoint intranet portals that I’ve built, implemented, and reviewed over the years always integrate a contact page that allows…
|
Khoa Quach
|
https://medium.com/@akquach
|
f3469de64fab
|
3 min
|
2017-05-03T09:24:04.504000
|
2017-05-03T09:29:10.061000
|
2017-10-09T23:07:55.677000
| 0 | 6 |
en
|
Microsoft,Sharepoint,Tutorial,Developer,Intranet
|
<section>
<p>Most SharePoint intranet portals that I’ve built, implemented, and reviewed over the years always integrate a contact page that allows displaying employees’ information. Leveraging SharePoint search, search scope, and the new display template in SharePoint 2013, the task is a pretty simple one. I followed a great article with very detailed and straightforward steps posted
here. The following article is an extension to the functionalities built within a SharePoint 0ffice 365 environment.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/800/1*Ya5tum0u0TE8e3bCvFm_lA.png" width="800" height="367" loading="lazy" />
<p>A few weeks ago, one of my client asked if it would be possible to add extra sorting parameters to the default drop-downs. Initially, it was set to display information as follow:</p>
<p>First Name (A-Z)
First Name (Z-A)
Last Name (A-Z)
Last Name (Z-A)
The request was fairly simple: allow the ability to sort by the ‘Job Title’ property.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/300/1*rjj23mr1tTGt-XGecHPq9w.png" width="300" height="256" loading="lazy" />
<p>custom-sorting-1
>Well, I thought the request was fairly simple until I realize that things get handled a little differently on the O365 environment. In fact, in order for us to sort the ‘Job Title’ property, we need to ensure that the property is actually set to be sortable. Without this option checked, the SharePoint search will not allow sorting and will result in an error in the display view. My first thought was to log into the Office 365 Admin Panel and navigate to the SharePoint administration Panel.</p>
<p>Once there, you would click on Search Service and review the Search Schema. I looked for the ‘JobTitle’ metadata property and clicked on Edit to review the details.</p>
<p>Here is the kicker. You are not able to change the sort property of default SharePoint search metadata items on Office 365!</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/563/1*NStER8-zPWOXCItJwz8vCA.jpeg" width="563" height="706" loading="lazy" />
<p>OK, well I could create another one, map it to the same property and set the Sortable option to “Yes”. Once again, you can’t do that because Office 365 will not allow you to create a new managed property with an active sort.</p>
<p>The solution is to use one of the few created managed property fields that already exist for each possible field’s type. They all start by “Refinable” so they are pretty easy to find. You can choose multiple types:</p>
<p>text
integer
decimal
date
Yes/No
Double precision float
Binary
In my case, I used the RefinableString02 managed property.
I recommend creating an alias so that you can target (always better than the random name). I edited the property, set the same mapping than the default “JobTitle” property, check that the sortable was set to “active” and give it an alias for example “JobTitleSortable”.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/300/1*xZFGeKNTki6dUkNlJWZIBQ.png" width="300" height="38" loading="lazy" />
<p>That was the hardest part. Once you are done with this part, you only need to take care of 2 things:</p>
<p>Change the settings in the search results web part
Wait for an indexing of the SharePoint site
Unfortunately, this is not something that can be control on Office 365 (unless you just want to re-index lists or document libraries). So it’s a game of patience here. As defined by Microsoft, “In SharePoint Online, crawling happens automatically based on the defined crawl schedule”.</p>
<p>Sources:</p>
<p><em>manage the search schema in sharepoint online</em></p>
</section>
|
Setting Custom Sorting on Profile Table in SharePoint
Most SharePoint intranet portals that I’ve built, implemented, and reviewed over the years always integrate a contact page that allows displaying employees’ information. Leveraging SharePoint search, search scope, and the new display template in SharePoint 2013, the task is a pretty simple one. I followed a great article with very detailed and straightforward steps posted
here. The following article is an extension to the functionalities built within a SharePoint 0ffice 365 environment.
A few weeks ago, one of my client asked if it would be possible to add extra sorting parameters to the default drop-downs. Initially, it was set to display information as follow:
First Name (A-Z)
First Name (Z-A)
Last Name (A-Z)
Last Name (Z-A)
The request was fairly simple: allow the ability to sort by the ‘Job Title’ property.
custom-sorting-1
>Well, I thought the request was fairly simple until I realize that things get handled a little differently on the O365 environment. In fact, in order for us to sort the ‘Job Title’ property, we need to ensure that the property is actually set to be sortable. Without this option checked, the SharePoint search will not allow sorting and will result in an error in the display view. My first thought was to log into the Office 365 Admin Panel and navigate to the SharePoint administration Panel.
Once there, you would click on Search Service and review the Search Schema. I looked for the ‘JobTitle’ metadata property and clicked on Edit to review the details.
Here is the kicker. You are not able to change the sort property of default SharePoint search metadata items on Office 365!
OK, well I could create another one, map it to the same property and set the Sortable option to “Yes”. Once again, you can’t do that because Office 365 will not allow you to create a new managed property with an active sort.
The solution is to use one of the few created managed property fields that already exist for each possible field’s type. They all start by “Refinable” so they are pretty easy to find. You can choose multiple types:
text
integer
decimal
date
Yes/No
Double precision float
Binary
In my case, I used the RefinableString02 managed property.
I recommend creating an alias so that you can target (always better than the random name). I edited the property, set the same mapping than the default “JobTitle” property, check that the sortable was set to “active” and give it an alias for example “JobTitleSortable”.
That was the hardest part. Once you are done with this part, you only need to take care of 2 things:
Change the settings in the search results web part
Wait for an indexing of the SharePoint site
Unfortunately, this is not something that can be control on Office 365 (unless you just want to re-index lists or document libraries). So it’s a game of patience here. As defined by Microsoft, “In SharePoint Online, crawling happens automatically based on the defined crawl schedule”.
Sources:
manage the search schema in sharepoint online
|
d2d78c0e-dfdb-5244-ae2d-872daf3585ad
|
25/08/2025 16:02:27
|
|
https://medium.com/@bronicgaming9897/boarding-schools-vs-day-schools-which-builds-more-discipline-c7314dcbc728
|
medium.com
|
Boarding Schools vs Day Schools: Which Builds More Discipline?
|
Discipline is one of the most valuable lessons a child can learn during their formative years. Parents often debate whether traditional day…
|
ayushmaan thapa
|
https://medium.com/@bronicgaming9897
|
c7314dcbc728
|
3 min
|
2025-08-23T07:18:12.121000
|
2025-08-23T07:20:16.242000
|
2025-08-23T08:29:41.559000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Boarding School,Education,Careers
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/2245/1*dLLCC-5lG25b8oL5dEDMdg.jpeg" width="2245" height="1587" loading="lazy" />
<p>Discipline is one of the most valuable lessons a child can learn during their formative years. Parents often debate whether traditional day schools or residential institutions provide a stronger foundation for discipline and responsibility. Over the years, <strong><a href="https://www.ecolegl</strong>obale.com/blog/best-boarding-schools-in-dehradun/">boarding schools in Dehradun</a> have gained prominence for their structured routines and immersive environments, but day schools also carry their own strengths in shaping disciplined learners. The question remains: which system truly builds more discipline?</p>
<h1>The Role of Discipline in Education</h1>
<p>Discipline is not merely about following rules; it is about instilling habits of self-control, time management, respect, and responsibility. Both boarding and day schools adopt methods to develop these traits, but their approaches differ significantly. Where day schools allow students to return to the comfort of home each evening, boarding schools immerse students in a carefully designed ecosystem that governs nearly every aspect of their day.</p>
<h2>How Boarding Schools Instill Discipline</h2>
<p>One of the defining features of boarding schools is the structured lifestyle they promote. From early morning wake-up calls to scheduled study hours and recreational activities, every moment of a student’s day is planned. This consistency helps students internalize discipline until it becomes second nature.</p>
<p><strong>Time Management:</strong> Boarding schools demand that students manage their academic, extracurricular, and personal responsibilities without constant parental reminders.</p>
<p><strong>Independence:</strong> Living away from home, students learn to handle challenges independently, developing resilience and responsibility.</p>
<p><strong>Community Living:</strong> Shared spaces require respect, cooperation, and adherence to rules, reinforcing accountability.</p>
<p><strong>Mentorship:</strong> Teachers and housemasters closely monitor student progress, ensuring consistent guidance.</p>
<p>It is no surprise that parents who prioritize discipline often gravitate toward boarding schools.</p>
<h2>Day Schools and Their Approach to Discipline</h2>
<p>Day schools provide structure within the academic day but leave evenings and weekends open to parental guidance. This offers flexibility but also shifts the responsibility for discipline to the home environment. Parents play a crucial role in reinforcing study habits, managing screen time, and ensuring extracurricular balance.</p>
<p>Day schools can still cultivate discipline through:</p>
<ul>
<li>Classroom rules and behavioral expectations.</li>
<li>Regular homework, deadlines, and exams.</li>
<li>Extracurricular clubs and sports requiring commitment.</li>
</ul>
<p>However, since students return home daily, the level of discipline varies depending on the family’s involvement and environment.</p>
<h2>Comparing the Two Models</h2>
<p>When comparing boarding schools and day schools, the differences in building discipline become clearer:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Consistency:</strong> Boarding schools provide 24/7 structure, whereas day schools depend heavily on parental reinforcement after school hours.</li>
<li><strong>Independence:</strong> Boarding school students often learn to make responsible decisions earlier, while day school students rely more on family support.</li>
<li><strong>Community Pressure:</strong> Boarding schools expose students to peer accountability and shared responsibilities, strengthening adherence to discipline. Day schools may not emphasize communal living skills as strongly.</li>
</ul>
<p>That said, day schools provide valuable opportunities for students to balance school with family life, which also contributes to emotional maturity and personal discipline.</p>
<h2>The Influence of Environment</h2>
<p>Geography and school culture also play an important role. For example, hill towns like Dehradun and Mussoorie are home to some of India’s most reputed boarding institutions, known for combining academics with character-building. The serene, distraction-free environment helps cultivate a strong sense of routine, focus, and responsibility — qualities often harder to maintain in bustling city day schools.</p>
<p>Parents considering boarding options often look toward <strong>boarding schools in India</strong> that emphasize not just academic success but also holistic character development. These institutions create a controlled environment where discipline is reinforced every single day, making it a way of life rather than an imposed rule.</p>
<h2>Which Builds More Discipline?</h2>
<p>While both systems have their merits, boarding schools typically offer a stronger framework for developing discipline. The immersive lifestyle, independence, and constant mentorship create habits that last well into adulthood. Day schools, on the other hand, allow for a balance between school structure and family influence, which may suit children who thrive with parental involvement.</p>
<p>Ultimately, the choice depends on the child’s personality, the parents’ values, and long-term goals. Some children may thrive under the regimented structure of boarding schools, while others may benefit from the flexibility and support offered by day schools.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Discipline is not about strict rules — it is about developing habits that build strong, capable, and responsible individuals. Boarding schools and day schools both contribute to this journey in their unique ways, but residential institutions often provide a more consistent environment for instilling lifelong discipline. For parents considering a future where independence, resilience, and accountability are key, exploring options among <strong>boarding schools in Dehradun</strong> or other reputed residential schools can be a meaningful step. Day schools, however, remain a strong choice for families who can reinforce structure at home, blending flexibility with guidance.</p>
<p>In the end, the goal is the same: raising disciplined, confident, and capable individuals ready to succeed in every walk of life.</p>
</section>
|
Boarding Schools vs Day Schools: Which Builds More Discipline?
Discipline is one of the most valuable lessons a child can learn during their formative years. Parents often debate whether traditional day schools or residential institutions provide a stronger foundation for discipline and responsibility. Over the years, boarding schools in Dehradun have gained prominence for their structured routines and immersive environments, but day schools also carry their own strengths in shaping disciplined learners. The question remains: which system truly builds more discipline?
The Role of Discipline in Education
Discipline is not merely about following rules; it is about instilling habits of self-control, time management, respect, and responsibility. Both boarding and day schools adopt methods to develop these traits, but their approaches differ significantly. Where day schools allow students to return to the comfort of home each evening, boarding schools immerse students in a carefully designed ecosystem that governs nearly every aspect of their day.
How Boarding Schools Instill Discipline
One of the defining features of boarding schools is the structured lifestyle they promote. From early morning wake-up calls to scheduled study hours and recreational activities, every moment of a student’s day is planned. This consistency helps students internalize discipline until it becomes second nature.
Time Management: Boarding schools demand that students manage their academic, extracurricular, and personal responsibilities without constant parental reminders.
Independence: Living away from home, students learn to handle challenges independently, developing resilience and responsibility.
Community Living: Shared spaces require respect, cooperation, and adherence to rules, reinforcing accountability.
Mentorship: Teachers and housemasters closely monitor student progress, ensuring consistent guidance.
It is no surprise that parents who prioritize discipline often gravitate toward boarding schools.
Day Schools and Their Approach to Discipline
Day schools provide structure within the academic day but leave evenings and weekends open to parental guidance. This offers flexibility but also shifts the responsibility for discipline to the home environment. Parents play a crucial role in reinforcing study habits, managing screen time, and ensuring extracurricular balance.
Day schools can still cultivate discipline through:
Classroom rules and behavioral expectations.
Regular homework, deadlines, and exams.
Extracurricular clubs and sports requiring commitment.
However, since students return home daily, the level of discipline varies depending on the family’s involvement and environment.
Comparing the Two Models
When comparing boarding schools and day schools, the differences in building discipline become clearer:
Consistency: Boarding schools provide 24/7 structure, whereas day schools depend heavily on parental reinforcement after school hours.
Independence: Boarding school students often learn to make responsible decisions earlier, while day school students rely more on family support.
Community Pressure: Boarding schools expose students to peer accountability and shared responsibilities, strengthening adherence to discipline. Day schools may not emphasize communal living skills as strongly.
That said, day schools provide valuable opportunities for students to balance school with family life, which also contributes to emotional maturity and personal discipline.
The Influence of Environment
Geography and school culture also play an important role. For example, hill towns like Dehradun and Mussoorie are home to some of India’s most reputed boarding institutions, known for combining academics with character-building. The serene, distraction-free environment helps cultivate a strong sense of routine, focus, and responsibility — qualities often harder to maintain in bustling city day schools.
Parents considering boarding options often look toward boarding schools in India that emphasize not just academic success but also holistic character development. These institutions create a controlled environment where discipline is reinforced every single day, making it a way of life rather than an imposed rule.
Which Builds More Discipline?
While both systems have their merits, boarding schools typically offer a stronger framework for developing discipline. The immersive lifestyle, independence, and constant mentorship create habits that last well into adulthood. Day schools, on the other hand, allow for a balance between school structure and family influence, which may suit children who thrive with parental involvement.
Ultimately, the choice depends on the child’s personality, the parents’ values, and long-term goals. Some children may thrive under the regimented structure of boarding schools, while others may benefit from the flexibility and support offered by day schools.
Conclusion
Discipline is not about strict rules — it is about developing habits that build strong, capable, and responsible individuals. Boarding schools and day schools both contribute to this journey in their unique ways, but residential institutions often provide a more consistent environment for instilling lifelong discipline. For parents considering a future where independence, resilience, and accountability are key, exploring options among boarding schools in Dehradun or other reputed residential schools can be a meaningful step. Day schools, however, remain a strong choice for families who can reinforce structure at home, blending flexibility with guidance.
In the end, the goal is the same: raising disciplined, confident, and capable individuals ready to succeed in every walk of life.
|
363e7b8b-8bd0-5957-b490-9319abad93e2
|
25/08/2025 16:02:27
|
|
https://medium.com/matthews-place/a-vote-for-matt-is-a-vote-for-me-c0685953ad82
|
medium.com
|
A Vote for Matt is a Vote for Me
|
featuring Jess Guilbeaux
|
Matthew's Place
|
https://medium.com/@matthewsplace1
|
c0685953ad82
|
1 min
|
2020-09-23T21:55:14.690000
|
2020-09-23T22:02:02.497000
|
2021-12-16T00:35:37.721000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Voting,LGBTQ,Elections,Election 2020,Vote
|
<section>
<p><em>featuring Jess Guilbeaux</em></p>
<p>The elections of 2020 will likely be the most important of our lifetime, with repercussions that will directly impact the futures of young people, many of which are not yet old enough to cast a vote. The “A Vote For Matt, Is a Vote For Me” campaign highlights the role we have as educated voters to speak up for the voiceless, advocate for our LGBTQ+ youth and most importantly make our vote count! We do this by inspiring young people who can vote, to register and exercise their rights, while also giving those too young to vote a platform to share their thoughts with adult allies who can, and should, vote on their behalf.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1257/1*MhzRPh7NQGZ6splJlFaRrg.png" width="1257" height="571" loading="lazy" />
<p>As we see increases in voter suppression around the country, it is vital
that we come together with our communities to overcome these barriers
and vote for candidates set on expanding, not limiting, rights. Voting and
getting involved in our local politics can help ensure we protect BIPOC
and LGBTQIA+ rights, even as the federal administration seeks to strip
their rights away. By “Voting for Matt,” and voting for progressive
candidates, you can help protect people like me.</p>
<p>Show your support and promote the ‘A Vote For Matt, Is a Vote For Me’ campaign by using the hashtags #VoteForMatt or #Vote4Matt, posting the ‘Vote For Matt’ logo on Twitter and IG, and updating your <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profilepicframes/?selected_overlay_id=2686780548273865">Facebook profile with our campaign frame here.</a></p>
</section>
|
A Vote for Matt is a Vote for Me
featuring Jess Guilbeaux
The elections of 2020 will likely be the most important of our lifetime, with repercussions that will directly impact the futures of young people, many of which are not yet old enough to cast a vote. The “A Vote For Matt, Is a Vote For Me” campaign highlights the role we have as educated voters to speak up for the voiceless, advocate for our LGBTQ+ youth and most importantly make our vote count! We do this by inspiring young people who can vote, to register and exercise their rights, while also giving those too young to vote a platform to share their thoughts with adult allies who can, and should, vote on their behalf.
As we see increases in voter suppression around the country, it is vital
that we come together with our communities to overcome these barriers
and vote for candidates set on expanding, not limiting, rights. Voting and
getting involved in our local politics can help ensure we protect BIPOC
and LGBTQIA+ rights, even as the federal administration seeks to strip
their rights away. By “Voting for Matt,” and voting for progressive
candidates, you can help protect people like me.
Show your support and promote the ‘A Vote For Matt, Is a Vote For Me’ campaign by using the hashtags #VoteForMatt or #Vote4Matt, posting the ‘Vote For Matt’ logo on Twitter and IG, and updating your Facebook profile with our campaign frame here.
|
9b55b498-5d9d-5879-874c-e35c95c53f30
|
25/08/2025 16:02:27
|
|
https://medium.com/@vaizonproject/vaizon-future-of-privacy-in-cryptocurrency-vaizon-blog-62a873e8ca6a
|
medium.com
|
Vaizon: Future of Privacy in Cryptocurrency — VAIZON Blog
|
Privacy
|
Vaizon VZN
|
https://medium.com/@vaizonproject
|
62a873e8ca6a
|
2 min
|
2020-03-24T14:37:50.068000
|
2020-03-24T08:49:18
|
2021-12-13T22:29:44.375000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Vaizon,Crypto,Cryptocurrency,Vaizoncoin,Privacy Coin
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1068/1*m8MNGofH24FC21LYTeQ_kw.jpeg" width="1068" height="556" loading="lazy" />
<h1>Privacy</h1>
<p>Privacy is important for all of us. Some of us realize this, some of us don’t. Privacy is undermined in our everyday lives. Without us realizing it, privacy is demarcated from our day to day activities, both online and offline. We’re denied the opportunity to achieve true privacy.</p>
<p>But what if it was possible to privatize everything that you do online and subsequently, offline? Vaizon is a project that embodies this vision.</p>
<h2>What is Vaizon?</h2>
<p><a href="https://vaizon.com/">Vaizon</a> is a decentralized private environment, offering a suite of privacy-preserving options to its users. Vaizon, in a nutshell, proposes to privatize the entirety of your online interactions right from browsing to messaging, data transmission and executing transactions.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.vaizon.com">Vaizon Coin</a> (VZN) is the digital currency that powers the Vaizon ecosystem. VZN has the inherent potential to compete with the top 5 privacy coins as it offers unique privacy solutions, and unlike any other coin, it has an ecosystem of private tools developed to support it.</p>
<p><strong>Privacy-Preserving Tools </strong><em>Privacy is fundamental. Privacy is a prerequisite. Privacy is empowering.</em></p>
<p>Privacy is not something that allows you to carry out covert tasks easily but lets you complete your daily tasks without interference.</p>
<p>Interactions with the internet are centralized. Your data is stored in centralized servers maintained by centralized services, be it a messaging platform, a cloud storage platform, a crypto trading platform or a payment gateway.</p>
<p>These centralized services create a need for you to trust them to keep your data safe. When these services are under attack or seizure by a government authority, then, no matter how sensitive your data, it will be exposed to the outside world — without your consent — without you being able to do anything about it.</p>
<p>Decentralized servers (nodes) on blockchains are a tad bit different. They’re designed to store information not on a central server but on multiple distributed networks. In addition, Private decentralized blockchains like Vaizon curb the metadata stored on these decentralized nodes. They are fail-safe and secure from prying governments.</p>
<p>Similar messaging, cloud storage, crypto trading and payment gateway platforms built on decentralized services do not compromise but improves privacy and security.</p>
<p>Vaizon proposes to build a private ecosystem on its blockchain where the Vaizon Coin will be a principal commodity of exchange.</p>
<h2>A Project that Enamours Your Privacy</h2>
<p>The Vaizon project is a culmination of privacy-centric ideologies. It was compiled by crypto enthusiasts who believe that people should be given the choice of privacy — regardless of who they are or what they do and regardless of their geography, country of residence, culture, etc.</p>
<p>VZN Coin is specifically designed to achieve this goal. Though a fork of an established privacy coin Monero, VZN has capabilities that outdo the former’s functionalities by a long shot. VZN has higher scalability and scope for utility.</p>
<p>VZN is probably one of those coins that have the capacity to be amongst the top 10 cryptocurrencies. There are a number of factors behind this postulation. To know more, check out the Vaizon project.</p>
<p><em>Originally published at <a href="https://blog.vaizon.com/vaizon-fu</em>ture-of-privacy-in-cryptocurrency/">https://blog.vaizon.com</a> on March 24, 2020.</p>
</section>
|
Vaizon: Future of Privacy in Cryptocurrency — VAIZON Blog
Privacy
Privacy is important for all of us. Some of us realize this, some of us don’t. Privacy is undermined in our everyday lives. Without us realizing it, privacy is demarcated from our day to day activities, both online and offline. We’re denied the opportunity to achieve true privacy.
But what if it was possible to privatize everything that you do online and subsequently, offline? Vaizon is a project that embodies this vision.
What is Vaizon?
Vaizon is a decentralized private environment, offering a suite of privacy-preserving options to its users. Vaizon, in a nutshell, proposes to privatize the entirety of your online interactions right from browsing to messaging, data transmission and executing transactions.
The Vaizon Coin (VZN) is the digital currency that powers the Vaizon ecosystem. VZN has the inherent potential to compete with the top 5 privacy coins as it offers unique privacy solutions, and unlike any other coin, it has an ecosystem of private tools developed to support it.
Privacy-Preserving Tools Privacy is fundamental. Privacy is a prerequisite. Privacy is empowering.
Privacy is not something that allows you to carry out covert tasks easily but lets you complete your daily tasks without interference.
Interactions with the internet are centralized. Your data is stored in centralized servers maintained by centralized services, be it a messaging platform, a cloud storage platform, a crypto trading platform or a payment gateway.
These centralized services create a need for you to trust them to keep your data safe. When these services are under attack or seizure by a government authority, then, no matter how sensitive your data, it will be exposed to the outside world — without your consent — without you being able to do anything about it.
Decentralized servers (nodes) on blockchains are a tad bit different. They’re designed to store information not on a central server but on multiple distributed networks. In addition, Private decentralized blockchains like Vaizon curb the metadata stored on these decentralized nodes. They are fail-safe and secure from prying governments.
Similar messaging, cloud storage, crypto trading and payment gateway platforms built on decentralized services do not compromise but improves privacy and security.
Vaizon proposes to build a private ecosystem on its blockchain where the Vaizon Coin will be a principal commodity of exchange.
A Project that Enamours Your Privacy
The Vaizon project is a culmination of privacy-centric ideologies. It was compiled by crypto enthusiasts who believe that people should be given the choice of privacy — regardless of who they are or what they do and regardless of their geography, country of residence, culture, etc.
VZN Coin is specifically designed to achieve this goal. Though a fork of an established privacy coin Monero, VZN has capabilities that outdo the former’s functionalities by a long shot. VZN has higher scalability and scope for utility.
VZN is probably one of those coins that have the capacity to be amongst the top 10 cryptocurrencies. There are a number of factors behind this postulation. To know more, check out the Vaizon project.
Originally published at https://blog.vaizon.com on March 24, 2020.
|
69cdb52a-88fe-55d1-8294-3114f4c8f158
|
25/08/2025 16:02:27
|
|
https://medium.com/literally-literary/on-self-harm-and-making-deeper-connections-5a28635de6c8
|
medium.com
|
On Self-Harm and Making Deeper Connections
|
When a person refuses to develop a personal connection with me, I get too worked up and become excessively introspective. This is because…
|
Lyberius Ennio Taruc
|
https://medium.com/@hueytaruc09
|
5a28635de6c8
|
1 min
|
2017-02-13T00:23:46.173000
|
2017-02-14T16:07:23.179000
|
2018-01-29T05:32:27.056000
| 1 | 7 |
en
|
Prose,Self Realization,Literally Literary,52 Week Writing Challenge,Life Lessons
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/2403/1*MfLTiJkr54MC-fgk8ePzIw.png" width="2403" height="2811" loading="lazy" />
<p>When a person refuses to develop a personal connection with me, I get too worked up and become excessively introspective. This is because I’m looking for that certain quality that I can share with the person, so that we have something in common. Today, as I sit yet again inside a coffee shop, reflecting over a cup of excessively sweet brew of mocha, I realized that I’m inflicting nothing more than self-harm.</p>
<p>And I had been doing this unconsciously, practically tearing myself in the process with the sole intent of leaving a decent impression to another being who is, by all means, might be uninterested on whatever happens to me.</p>
<p>Maybe this is the reason why I should learn how to set boundaries: I shouldn’t degrade myself just because someone chooses not to have a personal connection with me, and neither should I force that person to change who they are either. Looking deeper, this small “habit” had made me judgmental whenever I’m refused: I immediately tag them as one of the “bad guys” because they refuse my offer of friendship.</p>
<p>Sitting down tonight and writing about these things helped me gain a better perspective not just about the people who think differently than I do, but also about how I see myself as a person.</p>
<p>It’s true that there really are things that aren’t meant to happen, and that I can’t make deep, lasting connections to everyone I meet. It’s not my fault, and not even theirs either, because our uniqueness as people is what makes us, well, us. And I should begin to accept this if I want to make it thru life without tearing myself.</p>
<p>Huh. I think I’ll have another cup.</p>
</section>
|
On Self-Harm and Making Deeper Connections
Everyday we make connections, and it’s our choice if we want to maintain these connections, make new ones, or break them off. Personal sketch. ©hueytaruc09.
When a person refuses to develop a personal connection with me, I get too worked up and become excessively introspective. This is because I’m looking for that certain quality that I can share with the person, so that we have something in common. Today, as I sit yet again inside a coffee shop, reflecting over a cup of excessively sweet brew of mocha, I realized that I’m inflicting nothing more than self-harm.
And I had been doing this unconsciously, practically tearing myself in the process with the sole intent of leaving a decent impression to another being who is, by all means, might be uninterested on whatever happens to me.
Maybe this is the reason why I should learn how to set boundaries: I shouldn’t degrade myself just because someone chooses not to have a personal connection with me, and neither should I force that person to change who they are either. Looking deeper, this small “habit” had made me judgmental whenever I’m refused: I immediately tag them as one of the “bad guys” because they refuse my offer of friendship.
Sitting down tonight and writing about these things helped me gain a better perspective not just about the people who think differently than I do, but also about how I see myself as a person.
It’s true that there really are things that aren’t meant to happen, and that I can’t make deep, lasting connections to everyone I meet. It’s not my fault, and not even theirs either, because our uniqueness as people is what makes us, well, us. And I should begin to accept this if I want to make it thru life without tearing myself.
Huh. I think I’ll have another cup.
|
1b633bd1-858f-5a20-a075-0f00de2c779a
|
25/08/2025 16:02:28
|
|
https://medium.com/@dilruk.dgehan/on-mortality-and-the-paradox-of-closeness-in-a-digitally-borderless-world-17b7ce432930
|
medium.com
|
On mortality, and the paradox of closeness in a digitally borderless world
|
’’The shadow of the axe hangs over every joy.’’
|
Gehan Dilruk
|
https://medium.com/@dilruk.dgehan
|
17b7ce432930
|
3 min
|
2022-02-17T18:55:19.228000
|
2022-02-17T19:12:21.011000
|
2023-05-27T10:40:10.714000
| 1 | 57 |
en
|
Mortality,Philosophy,Digital Age
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/2865/1*R80_FSJdsNBJl3cKIOimtw.jpeg" width="2865" height="1910" loading="lazy" />
<p>As dim as it may sometimes be — eclipsed by work, stress and an insatiable desire for more — an ever-increasing longing to be at home, with those whom we call family, nevertheless, burns in the hearts of many of us — especially when you are thousands of miles apart from each other.</p>
<p>When my vacation neared though, instead of excitement and anticipation, I was engulfed by a feeling of excruciating dread. Not having gone home in years and seen my family for what felt like an eternity, every atom in my body should have screamed with elation — or that’s how I thought until I met my father waiting for me at the airport, and that feeling of dread violently turned itself into utter helplessness.</p>
<p>The brevity of my much-anticipated vacation alerted me to the brevity of my time with my parents, and theirs with mine. The signs of their ageing are now increasingly becoming conspicuous; they are not as strong as they were three years ago, the last time I was home. I can’t seem to be able to pay attention to anything except for their frailing selves. I’m scrutinising their speech, their movements and everything in between for signs of their imminent fragility; physical as well as mental. When you see someone after a long break you seem to notice everything about them, often in minute detail. Even tasks as mundane as walking, talking, climbing stairs or getting up from a chair which may have, in the past, barely struck you as important enough to direct any serious form of your attention towards, suddenly become far too noticeable to ignore. And worse, you can’t help but map what you see onto your memory of what you may have seen the last time you were with them, only to be aghast at evident incongruities.</p>
<p>Technology has closed the gaps between us, we so superciliously believe, and we have aptly accustomed ourselves to be content with and, oftentimes, willingly opt for — even when you have the opportunity to choose otherwise — forms of communication that are remote and virtual. We have successfully morphed our minds to believe that the gaps between us and those we love have disappeared, as we can now practically and effortlessly connect with anyone on a whim with a mere press of a button. However, we are yet to realise that in narrowing these gaps through the insertion of virtual means, we are, simultaneously, widening the very same gaps in our thoughts, feelings and emotions. Now that we can see them and converse with them whenever we want to, paradoxically, most of us no longer have a real need to contemplate how the lives of our loved ones truly unfold behind those screens, about their enfeebling limbs or gradually and inevitably deteriorating health. Therefore, it is my opinion that, while the argument for their convenience is unassailable, virtual modes of communication also create, in a much subtler manner, an illusion of familiarity, connectedness, and closeness; because there’s only so much a tiny two-dimensional image in a screen can convey, much of the lives of those we love remain unfathomable to us. And, in a truly realistic sense, such closeness is hollow, manufactured and merely customary — devoid of any true intent — nothing more than a selfish relief of simply being in touch.</p>
<p>I am and will be horrified by what is unfolding in front of my eyes; the ephemerality of the lives of my parents, the very reality I have made myself blind to, knowingly or otherwise, and I feel a stab of aching guilt for repeatedly choosing not to see it. After my brief vacation comes to an end, I will keep them where they are and take leave to build a life for them and myself that, looking back, I hope I can one day be proud of. And as I bury myself in work again, in routines I’ve grown to be comfortable with, and in various obligations and responsibilities, I will slowly push my parents towards the back of my mind once again.</p>
<p>Partly because I’m human — for, it’s part and parcel of human nature that most of our thoughts, feelings and emotions are highly context-dependent, that their intensity changes with each varying situation — and partly owing to busyness, work stress and a plethora of similar excuses, I will choose, uncoerced and of my own accord, to maintain with my forlorn parents a sense of familiarity that is shallow, cold and remote, through the very modes against which I just fulminated.</p>
<p>But, do I have any other option?</p>
</section>
|
On mortality, and the paradox of closeness in a digitally borderless world
Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash
As dim as it may sometimes be — eclipsed by work, stress and an insatiable desire for more — an ever-increasing longing to be at home, with those whom we call family, nevertheless, burns in the hearts of many of us — especially when you are thousands of miles apart from each other.
When my vacation neared though, instead of excitement and anticipation, I was engulfed by a feeling of excruciating dread. Not having gone home in years and seen my family for what felt like an eternity, every atom in my body should have screamed with elation — or that’s how I thought until I met my father waiting for me at the airport, and that feeling of dread violently turned itself into utter helplessness.
The brevity of my much-anticipated vacation alerted me to the brevity of my time with my parents, and theirs with mine. The signs of their ageing are now increasingly becoming conspicuous; they are not as strong as they were three years ago, the last time I was home. I can’t seem to be able to pay attention to anything except for their frailing selves. I’m scrutinising their speech, their movements and everything in between for signs of their imminent fragility; physical as well as mental. When you see someone after a long break you seem to notice everything about them, often in minute detail. Even tasks as mundane as walking, talking, climbing stairs or getting up from a chair which may have, in the past, barely struck you as important enough to direct any serious form of your attention towards, suddenly become far too noticeable to ignore. And worse, you can’t help but map what you see onto your memory of what you may have seen the last time you were with them, only to be aghast at evident incongruities.
Technology has closed the gaps between us, we so superciliously believe, and we have aptly accustomed ourselves to be content with and, oftentimes, willingly opt for — even when you have the opportunity to choose otherwise — forms of communication that are remote and virtual. We have successfully morphed our minds to believe that the gaps between us and those we love have disappeared, as we can now practically and effortlessly connect with anyone on a whim with a mere press of a button. However, we are yet to realise that in narrowing these gaps through the insertion of virtual means, we are, simultaneously, widening the very same gaps in our thoughts, feelings and emotions. Now that we can see them and converse with them whenever we want to, paradoxically, most of us no longer have a real need to contemplate how the lives of our loved ones truly unfold behind those screens, about their enfeebling limbs or gradually and inevitably deteriorating health. Therefore, it is my opinion that, while the argument for their convenience is unassailable, virtual modes of communication also create, in a much subtler manner, an illusion of familiarity, connectedness, and closeness; because there’s only so much a tiny two-dimensional image in a screen can convey, much of the lives of those we love remain unfathomable to us. And, in a truly realistic sense, such closeness is hollow, manufactured and merely customary — devoid of any true intent — nothing more than a selfish relief of simply being in touch.
I am and will be horrified by what is unfolding in front of my eyes; the ephemerality of the lives of my parents, the very reality I have made myself blind to, knowingly or otherwise, and I feel a stab of aching guilt for repeatedly choosing not to see it. After my brief vacation comes to an end, I will keep them where they are and take leave to build a life for them and myself that, looking back, I hope I can one day be proud of. And as I bury myself in work again, in routines I’ve grown to be comfortable with, and in various obligations and responsibilities, I will slowly push my parents towards the back of my mind once again.
Partly because I’m human — for, it’s part and parcel of human nature that most of our thoughts, feelings and emotions are highly context-dependent, that their intensity changes with each varying situation — and partly owing to busyness, work stress and a plethora of similar excuses, I will choose, uncoerced and of my own accord, to maintain with my forlorn parents a sense of familiarity that is shallow, cold and remote, through the very modes against which I just fulminated.
But, do I have any other option?
|
83bca11c-33ea-5e72-9fd7-3cd461069ee8
|
25/08/2025 16:02:29
|
|
https://medium.com/best-office-furniture/review-wood-veneer-70-w-hutch-with-glass-doors-by-mayline-office-furniture-714c9772f198
|
medium.com
|
Review Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture
| null |
Michelle Wisdom
|
https://medium.com/@michellewisdom
|
714c9772f198
| null |
1 min
|
2018-09-07T14:28:17.061000
|
2018-02-28T07:27:11
|
2018-09-07T14:38:19.203000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Furniture,Mayline Office Furniture,Office Furniture
|
<section>
<p><strong>Review Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture</strong>
Buy Link: <a href="http://03.edhoyz.co/go/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5kcGJvbHZ3Lm5ldC9jbGljay03MTg4MTkzLTEyNDUxMjQyP3VybD1odHRwJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3Lm9mZmljZWZ1cm5pdHVyZTJnby5jb20lMkZwcm9kdWN0JTJGS0hBMjAyJTJGV29vZC1WZW5lZXItNzAtaW5XLUh1dGNoLXdpdGgtR2xhc3MtRG9vcnMtYnktTWF5bGluZS1PZmZpY2UtRnVybml0dXJlLmFzcHglM0ZjYXQlM0QxMDFBMjdBMDYtS0hBMjAy">CLICK HERE</a></p>
<h3>Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture Product Description:</h3>
<p><strong>Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture</strong>. Mira's simple curves create an elegant setting for any work environment. The finest quality workmanship and affordability make it a very popular series. Hutch is available in a Medium Cherry finish on Cherry veneer or an Espresso finish on Walnut veneer. Four cabinet styled doors with self-closing hinges. 20–1/2" clearance between work surfaces and storage bin. Back panel features lower and upper cable grommets. Ships fully assembled except for doors. Price: 1158.00 USD.
The <em>Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture</em> is certainly that and will be a great buy. For this price, the Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture is highly recommended and is a popular choice with lots of people.
<a href="http://03.edhoyz.co/go/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5kcGJvbHZ3Lm5ldC9jbGljay03MTg4MTkzLTEyNDUxMjQyP3VybD1odHRwJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3Lm9mZmljZWZ1cm5pdHVyZTJnby5jb20lMkZwcm9kdWN0JTJGS0hBMjAyJTJGV29vZC1WZW5lZXItNzAtaW5XLUh1dGNoLXdpdGgtR2xhc3MtRG9vcnMtYnktTWF5bGluZS1PZmZpY2UtRnVybml0dXJlLmFzcHglM0ZjYXQlM0QxMDFBMjdBMDYtS0hBMjAy">Buy it Now</a></p>
<p><a href="http://03.edhoyz.co/cheap-wood-veneer-70w-hutch-with-glass-doors-by-mayline-office-furniture">Cheap Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture</a> is a post from: <a href="http://03.edhoyz.co">Office Experts</a></p>
</section>
|
Review Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture
Review Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture
Buy Link: CLICK HERE
Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture Product Description:
Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture. Mira's simple curves create an elegant setting for any work environment. The finest quality workmanship and affordability make it a very popular series. Hutch is available in a Medium Cherry finish on Cherry veneer or an Espresso finish on Walnut veneer. Four cabinet styled doors with self-closing hinges. 20–1/2" clearance between work surfaces and storage bin. Back panel features lower and upper cable grommets. Ships fully assembled except for doors. Price: 1158.00 USD.
The Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture is certainly that and will be a great buy. For this price, the Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture is highly recommended and is a popular choice with lots of people.
Buy it Now
Cheap Wood Veneer 70"W Hutch with Glass Doors by Mayline Office Furniture is a post from: Office Experts
|
0f692b94-9a48-5105-b583-378c1b2d1d1b
|
25/08/2025 16:02:29
|
https://medium.com/@afinoz/common-mistakes-to-avoid-while-applying-for-personal-loan-fea02140676b
|
medium.com
|
Common Mistakes to avoid while applying for personal loan
|
Common Mistakes to avoid while applying for personal loan
|
Afinoz Digitalizing Finance
|
https://medium.com/@afinoz
|
fea02140676b
|
3 min
|
2018-10-15T10:11:06.451000
|
2018-10-16T11:37:28.051000
|
2018-10-16T11:37:28.051000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Finance,Loans,Personal Loans,Best Personal Loan,Mistake In Personal Loan
|
<section>
<p>Common Mistakes to avoid while applying for personal loan</p>
<p><a href="https://www.afinoz.com/personal-loan-india">Best Personal loan</a> is not any purpose or term specific loan as you can use the money as you want. It is a good way to restructure your unexpected debts. However, at times, some common mistakes lead to loan rejection by lenders. Avoid making such common mistakes to get your loan approved quickly and ensure that you do not slip into a vicious debt cycle.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1024/1*SX8NjpbDCfy7pTv3zthxAQ.png" width="1024" height="550" loading="lazy" />
<h1>Applying without comparing</h1>
<p>One of the biggest mistakes people make when applying for a personal loan is that they go to the bank with which they have done most business, without shopping around for the best deal. There are things like interest rate, processing fees, prepayment charge, loan tenure and loan amount which may vary from lender to lender. So, it is important to research and make an informed decision to conclude the best deal. Once you carry out a detailed research, you will be able to assess the pros and cons of the loans offered by various lenders and find what suits you the best.</p>
<h2>Unable to clarify the details for taking the loan</h2>
<p>One of the most common mistakes loan applicants make is that they can’t clarify the loan’s detail i.e. purpose, tenure and amount. Mostly it is because borrowers themselves are not fully aware about the same. It is important to clarify the detail for taking a personal loan when you approach a lender for the same. Doing this will instill confidence into them.</p>
<h2>Ignoring the importance of credit history</h2>
<p>Lenders asses your eligibility based on your credit history. They check how you have managed your finances in the past. If borrowers have a proven track record in maintaining financial responsibility, they are likely to have a good credit score. A <a href="https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/credit-education/score-basics/what-is-a-good-credit-score/">good credit score</a> plays a vital role in determining your eligibility for a loan and the interest rate thereon: if your credit score is low, chances of your application getting rejected are high. Any rejection will bring your credit score further down. Hence, you must check your CIBIL score before applying for a loan.</p>
<h2>Hiding details of an existing loan</h2>
<p>It is imperative that you should inform your lender about your existing financial transactions and liabilities. You must be honest about your financial status because concealing such information from lending companies will only make it difficult for you to avail of a loan. Lenders will, in any case, find out the information about your credit history. Hiding information or forging documents will lead to rejection of loan application.</p>
<h2>Signing blank documents or form</h2>
<p>Once we start the loan application process and meet the bank’s representative, we become lazy. For example, the executive comes to our doorstep to collect the required documents and get the form signed. Because of this, we sometimes sign blank documents or application forms and leave it to the executive to fill in the details. Avoid making this mistake! By filling form yourself, you will understand what is required from you and it will save you from potential scam. You should get involved in every step of the loan process.</p>
<h2>Ignoring the fine prints</h2>
<p>When applying for loan most people don’t read the fine print under the impression that it does not contain important information. This fine print, generally, contains the fees and charges which borrower needs to pay in certain conditions. Skipping this step may land you in trouble later. For example, if you have applied for Rs. 5,00,000 loan, you will get Rs. 4,90,000 to your account. Hence, it is better to find out the processing fees in advance. Other than processing, there are other charges involved as well i.e. prepayment charge, late payment charge etc. Also, don’t shy away from asking your lender to explain other confusing terms and conditions. It is better to clear your doubts before you sign rather than regret later.</p>
<p>A best personal loan application without any mistakes and discrepancies will lead to a faster and hassle-free approval. For more information about the personal loan, you can go over to <a href="https://www.afinoz.com/personal-loan-india">personal loan in india</a> page on Afinoz.com.</p>
<p><strong>What is Afinoz?</strong></p>
<p>Afinoz.com is India’s foremost online financial marketplace for availing loans and investments. Our main objective is to make the process of getting a loan or making an investment safer, convenient and hassle-free for individuals. We work with public and private banks, NBFCs and mutual fund houses across the entire country and offer an unbiased quotation on financial products. You can contact our team to get more information or apply for a loan or investment by calling on <strong>+918795021552</strong> or by emailing at <em><a href="mailto</em>:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>. Afinoz.com provides solutions which are quick, reliable, transparent, confidential and above all free.</p>
<p><em>Originally published at <a href="https:</em>//www.afinoz.com/blogs/Common-Mistakes-to-avoid-while-applying-for-personal-loan">www.afinoz.com</a>.</p>
</section>
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Common Mistakes to avoid while applying for personal loan
Common Mistakes to avoid while applying for personal loan
Best Personal loan is not any purpose or term specific loan as you can use the money as you want. It is a good way to restructure your unexpected debts. However, at times, some common mistakes lead to loan rejection by lenders. Avoid making such common mistakes to get your loan approved quickly and ensure that you do not slip into a vicious debt cycle.
Pic Credit to Afinoz.com
Applying without comparing
One of the biggest mistakes people make when applying for a personal loan is that they go to the bank with which they have done most business, without shopping around for the best deal. There are things like interest rate, processing fees, prepayment charge, loan tenure and loan amount which may vary from lender to lender. So, it is important to research and make an informed decision to conclude the best deal. Once you carry out a detailed research, you will be able to assess the pros and cons of the loans offered by various lenders and find what suits you the best.
Unable to clarify the details for taking the loan
One of the most common mistakes loan applicants make is that they can’t clarify the loan’s detail i.e. purpose, tenure and amount. Mostly it is because borrowers themselves are not fully aware about the same. It is important to clarify the detail for taking a personal loan when you approach a lender for the same. Doing this will instill confidence into them.
Ignoring the importance of credit history
Lenders asses your eligibility based on your credit history. They check how you have managed your finances in the past. If borrowers have a proven track record in maintaining financial responsibility, they are likely to have a good credit score. A good credit score plays a vital role in determining your eligibility for a loan and the interest rate thereon: if your credit score is low, chances of your application getting rejected are high. Any rejection will bring your credit score further down. Hence, you must check your CIBIL score before applying for a loan.
Hiding details of an existing loan
It is imperative that you should inform your lender about your existing financial transactions and liabilities. You must be honest about your financial status because concealing such information from lending companies will only make it difficult for you to avail of a loan. Lenders will, in any case, find out the information about your credit history. Hiding information or forging documents will lead to rejection of loan application.
Signing blank documents or form
Once we start the loan application process and meet the bank’s representative, we become lazy. For example, the executive comes to our doorstep to collect the required documents and get the form signed. Because of this, we sometimes sign blank documents or application forms and leave it to the executive to fill in the details. Avoid making this mistake! By filling form yourself, you will understand what is required from you and it will save you from potential scam. You should get involved in every step of the loan process.
Ignoring the fine prints
When applying for loan most people don’t read the fine print under the impression that it does not contain important information. This fine print, generally, contains the fees and charges which borrower needs to pay in certain conditions. Skipping this step may land you in trouble later. For example, if you have applied for Rs. 5,00,000 loan, you will get Rs. 4,90,000 to your account. Hence, it is better to find out the processing fees in advance. Other than processing, there are other charges involved as well i.e. prepayment charge, late payment charge etc. Also, don’t shy away from asking your lender to explain other confusing terms and conditions. It is better to clear your doubts before you sign rather than regret later.
A best personal loan application without any mistakes and discrepancies will lead to a faster and hassle-free approval. For more information about the personal loan, you can go over to personal loan in india page on Afinoz.com.
What is Afinoz?
Afinoz.com is India’s foremost online financial marketplace for availing loans and investments. Our main objective is to make the process of getting a loan or making an investment safer, convenient and hassle-free for individuals. We work with public and private banks, NBFCs and mutual fund houses across the entire country and offer an unbiased quotation on financial products. You can contact our team to get more information or apply for a loan or investment by calling on +918795021552 or by emailing at [email protected]. Afinoz.com provides solutions which are quick, reliable, transparent, confidential and above all free.
Originally published at www.afinoz.com.
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c32a4161-84cf-5d86-bd21-172ad001012f
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25/08/2025 16:02:31
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https://medium.com/@Heliosfinance/this-week-in-finance-rba-on-hold-chinese-iron-ore-peaks-http-ift-tt-2omrb8x-8da19d4e449f
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medium.com
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This week in finance: RBA on hold Chinese iron ore peaks http://ift.tt/2oMrB8x
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Helios Finance
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https://medium.com/@Heliosfinance
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8da19d4e449f
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0 min
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2017-04-02T04:16:04.865000
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2017-04-02T04:16:05.664000
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2017-04-02T04:16:05.664000
| 0 | 0 |
en
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Helies Finanace
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<section>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/EINFinanceNews/status/848384609800912896">This week in finance: RBA on hold, Chinese iron ore peaks http://ift.tt/2oMrB8x</a> published first on <a href="http://ift.tt/2ljLF4B">http://ift.tt/2ljLF4B</a></p>
</section>
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This week in finance: RBA on hold, Chinese iron ore peaks http://ift.tt/2oMrB8x
This week in finance: RBA on hold, Chinese iron ore peaks http://ift.tt/2oMrB8x published first on http://ift.tt/2ljLF4B
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5e8a3095-fa6e-55e4-bc25-cb385d6f13e2
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25/08/2025 16:02:31
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https://medium.com/the-kreisau-circle/not-a-pretty-profession-a-walk-through-the-grpds-last-decade-of-abuses-part-1-5958cd6ebf4f
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medium.com
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“Not a Pretty Profession”: A Walk Through the GRPD’s Last Decade of Abuses (Part 1)
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“Policing is not a pretty profession. You’re going to see things that you don’t want to see. But if these individuals just cooperated, it…
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Kaya Jean VanAntwerpen
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https://medium.com/@thekreisaucircle
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5958cd6ebf4f
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9 min
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2020-07-07T01:42:44.314000
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2020-07-07T04:32:09.492000
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2024-11-10T00:50:41.495000
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en
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Grand Rapids,Police,Police Brutality,BlackLivesMatter,Crime
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<section>
<h3>“Policing is not a pretty profession. You’re going to see things that you don’t want to see. But if these individuals just cooperated, it never would’ve gotten this far.” — GRPD Interim Chief David Kiddle on holding children at gunpoint, pepper-spraying babies, and violently beating a man on camera.</h3>
<p><strong>By Kay VanAntwerpen and Finn Jaskowski
The Kreisau Circle, LLC</strong></p>
<p>Whoo, boy, the Grand Rapids Police Department is not having a great time lately, huh?</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/217/1*QQez3NAXNdIE2gOLxlrPGA.jpeg" width="217" height="217" loading="lazy" />
<p>Let’s get a couple things out of the way quick</p>
<p><strong>1 — There are numerous complex reasons</strong> to begrudge America’s policing institution. It was <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-racist-roots-of-american-policing-from-slave-patrols-to-traffic-stops-112816">created as part of the slave trade</a> (and meant<a href="https://time.com/4779112/police-history-origins/"> <em>only </em>to protect rich whi</a>te people), it’s <a href="https://psmag.com/social-justice/policing-a-class-society">designed to keep lower classes under control</a> (which comes packaged with some <a href="https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/[email protected]/(ISSN)1540-4560.POLICINGANDRACE">especially nasty racial bias</a>), and <a href="https://www.criminallegalnews.org/news/2018/jun/16/doj-police-shooting-family-dogs-has-become-epidemic/">they <em>literally </em>kil</a>l puppies.</p>
<p>We aren’t writing about that today.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/480/1*jX7hct92Gchr7N0V5tqlJQ.jpeg" width="480" height="360" loading="lazy" />
<p>A lot of brave people have already covered this topic. Especially the folks at Grand Rapids Institute for Informational Democracy (<a href="https://griid.org/">seriously give them a read</a>). Instead of parroting them, or going as deep as they do, this article will give you a forest-wide view of the GRPD’s abuses of power in the last decade.</p>
<p><strong>2 — Originally, this series was supposed to be a <em>whole </em>lot</strong> shorter. We chose a 10-year range because we thought it would be manageable to condense news stories, independent studies, and personal accounts from that time period into a single Medium article.</p>
<p>Boy, were we wrong.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/333/1*q4OJEflfDldZBoiKcZGSFA.jpeg" width="333" height="301" loading="lazy" />
<p>There’s <em>way </em>too much for a single article. We plan to follow up this piece with at least one more article including personal encounters (write us at [email protected] if you have a story), the department’s flirtatious relationship with fascist ideology and imagery, and some independent studies that expand upon the systemic racial bias.</p>
<p>If you’re new to this whole protesting thing, this article contains some stuff you should know. If you don’t understand<em> why</em> the protests are happening, maybe it will help you you glimpse a slice of the grim, abusive relationship between Americans of color and our <a href="https://www.pogo.org/analysis/2020/06/poisoning-our-police-how-the-militarization-mindset-threatens-constitutional-rights-and-public-safety/">over-militarized police.</a></p>
<p>There will also be dick jokes.</p>
<h1>Episode One: (Non-White) Kids are the Darndest Things</h1>
<p>For <em>years </em>now, the GRPD has been waging a diligent crusade against America’s most dangerous, poopiest nemeses — children.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/1*uC5_q8h0MC2UPoOKKs3dGg.jpeg" width="1200" height="900" loading="lazy" />
<p>The GRPD track record for pulling guns on kids is <em>not </em>great (anything more than 3–5 is considered bad — less than that, and hey: a babysitter’s gotta do what a babysitter’s gotta do).</p>
<p>To be clear, we’re not defending the concept of children and we’re <em>definitely </em>not saying we <em>shouldn’t </em>Guantanamo every American baby indefinitely (in fact, if we ever run for office, it will be on this platform specifically).</p>
<p>But there’s a point at which any rational baby-hater must earnestly ask — <em>have I pointed too many guns at too many kids? Is this becoming a problem? Am I doing this because I love it, or am I just externalizing my desire to recreate the all-knowing, unquestionable, near-abusive and godlike authority my father held over me during my childhood?</em></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/2560/1*H7NJ-Vvq1SZ-jfLQNJWSWg.jpeg" width="2560" height="1440" loading="lazy" />
<p>These incidents almost always go hand-in-hand with racial profiling — the GRPD isn’t pointing guns at white kids because the GRPD doesn’t inherently view white kids as a threat.</p>
<p>Black kids are a different story.</p>
<p>“The GRPD has a history of pulling guns on kids,” <a href="https://youtu.be/TjZDBHlovjY">ACLU attorney Miriam Aukerman confirms in an interview with WOOD-TV 8.</a> “The GRPD keeps saying it’s going to change, but … changes in paper policies haven’t translated into changes on the street, changes in our community, changes in the way kids are actually being treated — kids of color. It’s really time for some real change.”</p>
<h2>Hey, No Walking Here!</h2>
<p>Trivia question: March 11, 2019. A GRPD officer was specifically instructed to watch for gang activity in a “dangerous” neighborhood. He stopped two unarmed children for which heinous offense?</p>
<p><strong>A </strong>— Vandalism
<strong>B </strong>— Public intoxication
<strong>C — </strong>Walking down an empty neighborhood street (which is <em>technically</em> a violation of city ordinance).</p>
<p>The answer is in this video.</p>
<p>For those who can’t watch the video: the officer stops the teens (who are minding their own business and devoid of any arms but the ones attached to their shoulders).</p>
<p>Annoyed with the “attitude” of one of the boys (really, I’m not kidding about the prevalence of daddy issues on the force) the officer begins to manhandle one of the teens. In leaked cell phone video, neighbors can be heard pleading with the officer to please calm the hell down.</p>
<p>But calm down he did not.</p>
<p>This is America, goddamnit. And in America, when you’re an adult man who needs to assert authority over a child, <em>the motherfucking guns come out.</em></p>
<p>The officer drew his weapon and forced the children to the ground — eventually arresting one — again, <em>for walking down the street</em>.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/968/1*Ana_U6YOFw8q37fLqj3Lfg.jpeg" width="968" height="681" loading="lazy" />
<p>“You could have just told us to hop off the street and we could have kept on walking,” one of the kids can be heard saying in bodycam footage.</p>
<p>There<em> </em>was public outcry over this incident (and a similar incident that same week).</p>
<p>Not one to miss an opportunity to say the wrong thing, Interim Police Chief David Kiddle insisted there was no racial bias present within the GRPD (<a href="https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2019/03/recurring-allegations-of-racial-discrimination-by-grand-rapids-police-prompt-state-hearing.html">directly contradicting the findings</a> of several <a href="https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/files/assets/public/initatives/police-policy-and-procedure-task-force/traffic-stop-study-2017.pdf">recent independent studies that had been shown to the department </a>— in other words, <em>lying).</em></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/778/1*Mzz3Uwr6u5GWOdVl_t0MxQ.png" width="778" height="596" loading="lazy" />
<p>Kiddle seemed much more offended by the broken city ordinance and reassured the crowd that the force would have also drawn a gun on a jaywalking white kid (the crowd was very reassured).</p>
<p>Aukerman contradicted him: “We know had these been white kids walking down the street, this would never have happened,” she said. It’s hard to deny this, especially as bodycams and cell phone footage become more common.</p>
<p>Exactly one week later, another officer patriotically seasoned a man and his child with pepper spray while they sat in their vehicle on the side of the road. Assumedly tenderizing after marinating, he then violently beat the child’s father (punching him over 30 times after he was already on the ground) in view of the child.</p>
<p>It was caught on video, and as you might expect, it was pretty gruesome:</p>
<p></p>
<p>The GRPD spent much of 2018 attempting to convince the community they were done with the pointing-guns-at-unarmed-kids thing. Just like that ex we’ve all had, they promised they could change. But not even a couple of weeks later …</p>
<h2><strong>Officer‘s Worst Nightmare Comes True: A Spooky Tale of an 11-Year Old on the Sidewalk</strong></h2>
<p>On March 24, an officer in a patrol car spotted something that shook him with terror so fierce it caused his bowels to erupt blast after blast of milky brown sludge straight into his red, white, and blue undershorts.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/166/1*Q1Aa-UjpsQmNKWc40W6oGg.jpeg" width="166" height="303" loading="lazy" />
<p>He was “afraid for his life,” he would later say.</p>
<p>What did he see? Two black boys — 11-years-old and 17-years old — presumably having recently heard that streets are not for walking, were enjoying a pleasant stroll down the sidewalk (as one does). Bodycam footage shows the officer doing what<a href="https://www.michiganradio.org/post/grpd-under-scrutiny-again-after-recent-incident-unarmed-black-boys"> then-Chief David Rahinsky said was “exactly what they should do”</a> — he went Rambo.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“We should not as a community feel comfortable with law enforcement pulling guns on children,” said Cle Jackson, president of the NAACP’s Greater Grand Rapids Chapter.</p>
<p>What a radical statement.</p>
<h2>Repeated Incidents of Violence and Harassment Against Children</h2>
<p>Even further back, in <a href="https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/grpd-defends-holding-unarmed-teens-at-gunpoint/">2017, the GRPD defended yet another case of racial profiling</a> in which officers drew guns on five kids between the ages of 12 and 14 who were walking home from a basketball game at the Salvation Army KRO center. Once again, the kids had broken no laws (not even the locally revered jaywalking laws)— there was simply a call into the station about a large fight in the area and the officers were jumpy.</p>
<p></p>
<p>That same year, an 11-year old girl named Honestie Hodges (guess what color her skin wasn’t) was stopped in her own yard. She was screamed at by police officers, held at gunpoint, handcuffed, and thrown in the back of a squad car while sobbing in fear.</p>
<p>“It made me feel scared and it made me feel like I did something wrong,” she told 24 Hour News 8.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Rewind once more to 2014 — officer Sean McCamman violently assaulted unarmed 15-year-old Donovan Austin Braswell.</p>
<p>Braswell suffered brain damage causing speech problems, muscle spasms, nausea, vomiting, and headaches — injuries that prevented him from graduating and continuing his athletic career.</p>
<p>Officers Nathan Mead and Peter Thompson watched the assault without intervening.</p>
<p>The GRPD, per usual, claimed McCammon was only applying “necessary force.”</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/800/0*uW2xks2X9vjkaep6.jpg" width="800" height="450" loading="lazy" />
<p>The case eventually resulted in a $95k settlement. <a href="https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2015/12/police_believed_black_teen_who.html">You can see the images of “necessary force” here.</a> Be warned, they’re grim.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/720/1*nbyQCdjcIny9E9JwWWCVNg.jpeg" width="720" height="960" loading="lazy" />
<h2><strong>The Toll of Racialized Police Harassment</strong></h2>
<p>Sure, you may be thinking: <em>why don’t these children just act like adults and get over it? </em>But science shows intrusive contact with law enforcement (including violence and threats of violence can dramatically harm mental health. These are just some of the ways:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10911359.2015.1132828">Race-based traumatic stress</a>, which <a href="https://psychologybenefits.org/2016/07/14/racial-trauma-police-shootings-on-african-americans/">includes:
</a>- <strong>Increased vigilance and suspicion,</strong> distrust of groups outside of the victim’s immediate family and relationship networks.
- <strong>Increased sensitivity to threats, </strong>which includes an aversion to unfamiliar situations and heightened sensitivity to disrespect and shame.
- <strong>Psychological and physiological reactions</strong> to stress, including decreased immune functioning, limbic system dominance in the brain.
- <strong>Higher rates of alcohol and drug abuse.</strong>
- <strong><a href="https://</strong>psychologybenefits.org/2016/07/14/racial-trauma-police-shootings-on-african-americans/">Anxiety symptoms</a> which include shortness of breath, heart palpitations, difficulty concentrating, lightheadedness, and sudden onset of extreme panic.
- <strong>Disrupted development in children, </strong>which includes lack of essential physiological development within the brain. As adults, these patients often experience higher rates of mental and physical health problems.
- <strong><a href="https://spssi.onlineli</strong>brary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/josi.12251">A cumulative traumatic effect, </a>exaggerated because most black Americans have <em>repeated </em>encounters with police of this nature.</li>
</ul>
<p>One thing you may notice in all of these cases involving children — none of them are white. Something that definitely occurs in police departments elsewhere, but is difficult to track statistically because <a href="https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2018/11/handcuffing_unarmed_youths_the.html">departments are not required to keep track of these cases.</a></p>
<p>In 2019, the Michigan State Police started an official investigation into the department’s bias.</p>
<h2>Additional Stories by The Kreisau Circle</h2>
<p><strong><a href="https://medium.com/@kvanantw/west</strong>-michigan-rapper-accused-of-rape-settles-out-of-court-b14165aff260">RED ORCHESTRA: THE KAYLA DANAE BOLAN STORY</a></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/288/1*t5qMfg9Y1cW3cC1HVO-F6w.png" width="288" height="327" loading="lazy" />
<p>When one of his accusers unexpectedly dies only a month after coming forward, a local rapper and alleged sexual predator uses a lawsuit to silence additional accusers, while two women share their own experiences with him in pursuit of justice.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://medium.com/@kvanantw/a-big</strong>-sexy-gossipy-2019-grand-rapids-election-rundown-so-you-feel-cool-about-your-vote-this-d3fe6bc29660">A BIG SEXY 2019 GRAND RAPIDS ELECTION GUIDE</a></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/288/1*78NXDXWjqnk4QmYASBYycQ.jpeg" width="288" height="288" loading="lazy" />
<p>A potential city-wide apocalypse, a politician’s whoopsie-daisy incest tweet, and a mystery cat named Genny — the 2019 election in Grand Rapids is wild. Could this be the ballot that determines whether or not the mouth of hell itself yawns open to swallow the city whole? No. Definitely not.</p>
<h2>About the Authors</h2>
<p><strong>Kay VanAntwerpen: Editor in Chief
[email protected]</strong></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/206/1*vEXGCcvp0QA65akyKCcv_Q.jpeg" width="206" height="137" loading="lazy" />
<p>Kay VanAntwerpen is a genderqueer journalist and musician from Grand Rapids, Michigan who uses they/them pronouns. They currently write for <em>Entrepreneur m</em>agazine and freelance full time. They formerly wrote for <em>Mlive Media Group</em>, <em>Grand Rapids</em> magazine, <em>Revue</em> magazine, Rapid Growth Media, and contributed to Christopher Andrus’s book Dough Nation.</p>
<p>Follow them on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/rainbowdethclub">@RainbowDethClub</a>) and download their band’s <a href="https://chasingthesky.bandcamp.com/album/king-of-the-losing-side">most recent album, <em>King of the Losing Side, <</a>/em>here. Download their friend’s <a href="https://thecranewives.bandcamp.com/album/foxlore">much better album here</a>. They are a recognized authority on the film <em>Gigli</em> despite having never seen it.</p>
<p><strong>Finn Jaskowski: Lead Editor, Community Outreach
[email protected]</strong></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/206/1*1CAI61QEfEdEwsDM3yqpxQ.jpeg" width="206" height="208" loading="lazy" />
<p>Finn Jaskowski is a student at GVSU, pursuing a dual bachelor’s in anthropology and psychology. They create internet content about social justice, mental health, and disabilities. Originally from the small town of Boyne Falls in Northern Michigan, they currently reside in Grand Rapids and city life suits them well. Cute dogs make them cry.</p>
<p><strong>Additional research, reporting, editing, and advising contributed by The Kreisau Circle.</strong></p>
</section>
|
“Not a Pretty Profession”: A Walk Through the GRPD’s Last Decade of Abuses (Part 1)
“Policing is not a pretty profession. You’re going to see things that you don’t want to see. But if these individuals just cooperated, it never would’ve gotten this far.” — GRPD Interim Chief David Kiddle on holding children at gunpoint, pepper-spraying babies, and violently beating a man on camera.
By Kay VanAntwerpen and Finn Jaskowski
The Kreisau Circle, LLC
Whoo, boy, the Grand Rapids Police Department is not having a great time lately, huh?
“Black people are registering to vote.”
Let’s get a couple things out of the way quick
1 — There are numerous complex reasons to begrudge America’s policing institution. It was created as part of the slave trade (and meant only to protect rich white people), it’s designed to keep lower classes under control (which comes packaged with some especially nasty racial bias), and they literally kill puppies.
We aren’t writing about that today.
“Well, fuck me then I guess.”
A lot of brave people have already covered this topic. Especially the folks at Grand Rapids Institute for Informational Democracy (seriously give them a read). Instead of parroting them, or going as deep as they do, this article will give you a forest-wide view of the GRPD’s abuses of power in the last decade.
2 — Originally, this series was supposed to be a whole lot shorter. We chose a 10-year range because we thought it would be manageable to condense news stories, independent studies, and personal accounts from that time period into a single Medium article.
Boy, were we wrong.
Oh, definitely.
There’s way too much for a single article. We plan to follow up this piece with at least one more article including personal encounters (write us at [email protected] if you have a story), the department’s flirtatious relationship with fascist ideology and imagery, and some independent studies that expand upon the systemic racial bias.
If you’re new to this whole protesting thing, this article contains some stuff you should know. If you don’t understand why the protests are happening, maybe it will help you you glimpse a slice of the grim, abusive relationship between Americans of color and our over-militarized police.
There will also be dick jokes.
Episode One: (Non-White) Kids are the Darndest Things
For years now, the GRPD has been waging a diligent crusade against America’s most dangerous, poopiest nemeses — children.
This baby alone has more murder-power than five-hundred 9/11s.
The GRPD track record for pulling guns on kids is not great (anything more than 3–5 is considered bad — less than that, and hey: a babysitter’s gotta do what a babysitter’s gotta do).
To be clear, we’re not defending the concept of children and we’re definitely not saying we shouldn’t Guantanamo every American baby indefinitely (in fact, if we ever run for office, it will be on this platform specifically).
But there’s a point at which any rational baby-hater must earnestly ask — have I pointed too many guns at too many kids? Is this becoming a problem? Am I doing this because I love it, or am I just externalizing my desire to recreate the all-knowing, unquestionable, near-abusive and godlike authority my father held over me during my childhood?
“The thin blue line represents my penis.”
These incidents almost always go hand-in-hand with racial profiling — the GRPD isn’t pointing guns at white kids because the GRPD doesn’t inherently view white kids as a threat.
Black kids are a different story.
“The GRPD has a history of pulling guns on kids,” ACLU attorney Miriam Aukerman confirms in an interview with WOOD-TV 8. “The GRPD keeps saying it’s going to change, but … changes in paper policies haven’t translated into changes on the street, changes in our community, changes in the way kids are actually being treated — kids of color. It’s really time for some real change.”
Hey, No Walking Here!
Trivia question: March 11, 2019. A GRPD officer was specifically instructed to watch for gang activity in a “dangerous” neighborhood. He stopped two unarmed children for which heinous offense?
A — Vandalism
B — Public intoxication
C — Walking down an empty neighborhood street (which is technically a violation of city ordinance).
The answer is in this video.
For those who can’t watch the video: the officer stops the teens (who are minding their own business and devoid of any arms but the ones attached to their shoulders).
Annoyed with the “attitude” of one of the boys (really, I’m not kidding about the prevalence of daddy issues on the force) the officer begins to manhandle one of the teens. In leaked cell phone video, neighbors can be heard pleading with the officer to please calm the hell down.
But calm down he did not.
This is America, goddamnit. And in America, when you’re an adult man who needs to assert authority over a child, the motherfucking guns come out.
The officer drew his weapon and forced the children to the ground — eventually arresting one — again, for walking down the street.
If you thought their reaction to kids in the middle of the street was bad, just wait until they see the Paddington float during the 4th of July parade.
“You could have just told us to hop off the street and we could have kept on walking,” one of the kids can be heard saying in bodycam footage.
There was public outcry over this incident (and a similar incident that same week).
Not one to miss an opportunity to say the wrong thing, Interim Police Chief David Kiddle insisted there was no racial bias present within the GRPD (directly contradicting the findings of several recent independent studies that had been shown to the department — in other words, lying).
Kiddle seemed much more offended by the broken city ordinance and reassured the crowd that the force would have also drawn a gun on a jaywalking white kid (the crowd was very reassured).
Aukerman contradicted him: “We know had these been white kids walking down the street, this would never have happened,” she said. It’s hard to deny this, especially as bodycams and cell phone footage become more common.
Exactly one week later, another officer patriotically seasoned a man and his child with pepper spray while they sat in their vehicle on the side of the road. Assumedly tenderizing after marinating, he then violently beat the child’s father (punching him over 30 times after he was already on the ground) in view of the child.
It was caught on video, and as you might expect, it was pretty gruesome:
The GRPD spent much of 2018 attempting to convince the community they were done with the pointing-guns-at-unarmed-kids thing. Just like that ex we’ve all had, they promised they could change. But not even a couple of weeks later …
Officer‘s Worst Nightmare Comes True: A Spooky Tale of an 11-Year Old on the Sidewalk
On March 24, an officer in a patrol car spotted something that shook him with terror so fierce it caused his bowels to erupt blast after blast of milky brown sludge straight into his red, white, and blue undershorts.
A baby that statistically 42% of us would definitely murder.
He was “afraid for his life,” he would later say.
What did he see? Two black boys — 11-years-old and 17-years old — presumably having recently heard that streets are not for walking, were enjoying a pleasant stroll down the sidewalk (as one does). Bodycam footage shows the officer doing what then-Chief David Rahinsky said was “exactly what they should do” — he went Rambo.
“We should not as a community feel comfortable with law enforcement pulling guns on children,” said Cle Jackson, president of the NAACP’s Greater Grand Rapids Chapter.
What a radical statement.
Repeated Incidents of Violence and Harassment Against Children
Even further back, in 2017, the GRPD defended yet another case of racial profiling in which officers drew guns on five kids between the ages of 12 and 14 who were walking home from a basketball game at the Salvation Army KRO center. Once again, the kids had broken no laws (not even the locally revered jaywalking laws)— there was simply a call into the station about a large fight in the area and the officers were jumpy.
That same year, an 11-year old girl named Honestie Hodges (guess what color her skin wasn’t) was stopped in her own yard. She was screamed at by police officers, held at gunpoint, handcuffed, and thrown in the back of a squad car while sobbing in fear.
“It made me feel scared and it made me feel like I did something wrong,” she told 24 Hour News 8.
Rewind once more to 2014 — officer Sean McCamman violently assaulted unarmed 15-year-old Donovan Austin Braswell.
Braswell suffered brain damage causing speech problems, muscle spasms, nausea, vomiting, and headaches — injuries that prevented him from graduating and continuing his athletic career.
Officers Nathan Mead and Peter Thompson watched the assault without intervening.
The GRPD, per usual, claimed McCammon was only applying “necessary force.”
“I’d like you to meet my squadmates, Officer Necessary and Officer Force.”
The case eventually resulted in a $95k settlement. You can see the images of “necessary force” here. Be warned, they’re grim.
We’re out of jokes and this story is mega depressing, so here’s a photo of our mascot: Dr. Mrs. Zophia “Zamboni” Babadook-Galactica-Cattingtonbear, Attorney at Law.
The Toll of Racialized Police Harassment
Sure, you may be thinking: why don’t these children just act like adults and get over it? But science shows intrusive contact with law enforcement (including violence and threats of violence can dramatically harm mental health. These are just some of the ways:
Race-based traumatic stress, which includes:
- Increased vigilance and suspicion, distrust of groups outside of the victim’s immediate family and relationship networks.
- Increased sensitivity to threats, which includes an aversion to unfamiliar situations and heightened sensitivity to disrespect and shame.
- Psychological and physiological reactions to stress, including decreased immune functioning, limbic system dominance in the brain.
- Higher rates of alcohol and drug abuse.
- Anxiety symptoms which include shortness of breath, heart palpitations, difficulty concentrating, lightheadedness, and sudden onset of extreme panic.
- Disrupted development in children, which includes lack of essential physiological development within the brain. As adults, these patients often experience higher rates of mental and physical health problems.
- A cumulative traumatic effect, exaggerated because most black Americans have repeated encounters with police of this nature.
One thing you may notice in all of these cases involving children — none of them are white. Something that definitely occurs in police departments elsewhere, but is difficult to track statistically because departments are not required to keep track of these cases.
In 2019, the Michigan State Police started an official investigation into the department’s bias.
Additional Stories by The Kreisau Circle
RED ORCHESTRA: THE KAYLA DANAE BOLAN STORY
When one of his accusers unexpectedly dies only a month after coming forward, a local rapper and alleged sexual predator uses a lawsuit to silence additional accusers, while two women share their own experiences with him in pursuit of justice.
A BIG SEXY 2019 GRAND RAPIDS ELECTION GUIDE
A potential city-wide apocalypse, a politician’s whoopsie-daisy incest tweet, and a mystery cat named Genny — the 2019 election in Grand Rapids is wild. Could this be the ballot that determines whether or not the mouth of hell itself yawns open to swallow the city whole? No. Definitely not.
About the Authors
Kay VanAntwerpen: Editor in Chief
[email protected]
Kay VanAntwerpen is a genderqueer journalist and musician from Grand Rapids, Michigan who uses they/them pronouns. They currently write for Entrepreneur magazine and freelance full time. They formerly wrote for Mlive Media Group, Grand Rapids magazine, Revue magazine, Rapid Growth Media, and contributed to Christopher Andrus’s book Dough Nation.
Follow them on Twitter (@RainbowDethClub) and download their band’s most recent album, King of the Losing Side, here. Download their friend’s much better album here. They are a recognized authority on the film Gigli despite having never seen it.
Finn Jaskowski: Lead Editor, Community Outreach
[email protected]
Finn Jaskowski is a student at GVSU, pursuing a dual bachelor’s in anthropology and psychology. They create internet content about social justice, mental health, and disabilities. Originally from the small town of Boyne Falls in Northern Michigan, they currently reside in Grand Rapids and city life suits them well. Cute dogs make them cry.
Additional research, reporting, editing, and advising contributed by The Kreisau Circle.
|
98f52783-4684-580e-ab89-3ed1b8f5dafa
|
25/08/2025 16:02:31
|
|
https://medium.com/@lyndaling/just-say-yes-this-is-improv-is-offering-team-building-workshops-and-private-ac-4afcde83e09d
|
medium.com
|
Just say yes. This Is Improv is offering team building workshops and private ac…
| null |
Lynda Ling
|
https://medium.com/@lyndaling
|
4afcde83e09d
| null |
0 min
|
2017-01-02T22:46:21.075000
|
2017-01-02T22:46:21.826000
|
2018-02-06T12:20:16.368000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Corporate Team Building
|
<section>
</section>
|
via #corporateteambuilding on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BOx0DahAfZY
|
7595c6d1-7de0-504a-b9ad-9c97bad9274e
|
25/08/2025 16:02:32
|
https://medium.com/@KevinWilkerson_64116/taking-a-cruise-to-the-greek-islands-know-these-facts-first-3056b754993d
|
medium.com
|
Taking A Cruise To The Greek Islands? Know These Facts First
|
By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Travel Editor
|
Kevin Wilkerson
|
https://medium.com/@KevinWilkerson_64116
|
3056b754993d
|
2 min
|
2023-06-30T18:06:31.880000
|
2023-06-30T22:55:01.325000
|
2023-06-30T22:55:04.700000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Greece Travels,Greek Islands,Cruises,Best Greek Islands,Cruise Ships
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/960/1*0JCUvT-fvWykXvdvYkGYRw.jpeg" width="960" height="510" loading="lazy" />
<p><em><strong>By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Trave</em>l Editor</strong></p>
<p>Taking a cruise through the beautiful Greek Islands is a dream vacation for many travelers. And for good reason. The islands are comprised of white buildings with blue trim that match perfectly with the blue sea. Often you can see dolphins swimming off the bow of the ship when entering a port.</p>
<p>In order to take full advantage of this opportunity, there are a few things that are important to know before you even depart for Greece, and in fact before you finalize your travel plans. This information comes from a travel veteran of the Greek Islands — one of my favorite destinations in the world –and are based on my observations and experiences.</p>
<p><strong>Athens</strong></p>
<p>Most cruisers go on autopilot when booking a hotel room in this ancient city. They automatically assume they want to be near the Acropolis. I actually suggest staying closer to the port (called Piraeus) because it is way less hectic, there are nice bars and restaurants around a marina which you can walk to in about 15 minutes and you avoid getting possibly ripped off by attempting to dine in the tourist-crowded Plaka by the Acropolis.</p>
<p><strong>Mykonos</strong></p>
<p>This is one of the hotspot gathering spots in the world. A lot of celebrities vacation on Mykonos but overall this is a low-key destination. You may only have a morning and afternoon to spend there, which may only allow you to walk around Mykonos Town. Fortunately it right off the ship and requires to transportation.</p>
<p>Note that with all towns in the Greek Islands, the streets are in a maze, originally designed to confuse attacking pirates and encouraging them to go elsewhere. It doesn’t take much for the cruise ship tourist to get lost, either, so your first tip here is to make sure you learn how to get back to the dock before venturing too far into town.</p>
<p><strong>Santorini</strong></p>
<p>You won’t see any signs for Santorini anywhere in Greece. That’s because the Greeks call it Thira. Also — and this is very important – the cruise ships have no place to dock on Santorini so people must take tenders to the “old port.” And old is correct. In fact, it’s just a slab of concrete. From there you can take an excursion to the still-active volanco and its hot springs (for far less money than booking one from the cruise line) or ride a donkey up to the town of Fira.</p>
<p>Yep, you can ride a donkey into town. Or walk the steps. There is also a gondola to the left; once you reach the top of the hill it’s a 10–15 scenic stroll into Fira.</p>
<p>Sunsets are actually better in Fira than they are on Oia (pronounced E-ah), especially since you can be at a bar or restaurant watching the sun disappear over the caldera. It’s a beautiful moment.</p>
<p>If you would like additional information, I get into more detail <a href="https://www.pubclub.com/destinations/greek-islands/tips-for-greek-island-cruises-from-a-greece-travel-veteran/">on cruising the Greek Islands here.</a></p>
<p><em>Kevin Wilkerson is the travel editor and publisher of <a href="http://www.pubclub.com">PubClub.com,</a> a long-standing website with travel articles all over the world. He is a Greek Islands v</em>eteran, having been there many times.</p>
</section>
|
Taking A Cruise To The Greek Islands? Know These Things First
Sunset in Santorini, Greece. Photo: Gary Ashe for PubClub.com
By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Travel Editor
Taking a cruise through the beautiful Greek Islands is a dream vacation for many travelers. And for good reason. The islands are comprised of white buildings with blue trim that match perfectly with the blue sea. Often you can see dolphins swimming off the bow of the ship when entering a port.
In order to take full advantage of this opportunity, there are a few things that are important to know before you even depart for Greece, and in fact before you finalize your travel plans. This information comes from a travel veteran of the Greek Islands — one of my favorite destinations in the world –and are based on my observations and experiences.
Athens
Most cruisers go on autopilot when booking a hotel room in this ancient city. They automatically assume they want to be near the Acropolis. I actually suggest staying closer to the port (called Piraeus) because it is way less hectic, there are nice bars and restaurants around a marina which you can walk to in about 15 minutes and you avoid getting possibly ripped off by attempting to dine in the tourist-crowded Plaka by the Acropolis.
Mykonos
This is one of the hotspot gathering spots in the world. A lot of celebrities vacation on Mykonos but overall this is a low-key destination. You may only have a morning and afternoon to spend there, which may only allow you to walk around Mykonos Town. Fortunately it right off the ship and requires to transportation.
Note that with all towns in the Greek Islands, the streets are in a maze, originally designed to confuse attacking pirates and encouraging them to go elsewhere. It doesn’t take much for the cruise ship tourist to get lost, either, so your first tip here is to make sure you learn how to get back to the dock before venturing too far into town.
Santorini
You won’t see any signs for Santorini anywhere in Greece. That’s because the Greeks call it Thira. Also — and this is very important – the cruise ships have no place to dock on Santorini so people must take tenders to the “old port.” And old is correct. In fact, it’s just a slab of concrete. From there you can take an excursion to the still-active volanco and its hot springs (for far less money than booking one from the cruise line) or ride a donkey up to the town of Fira.
Yep, you can ride a donkey into town. Or walk the steps. There is also a gondola to the left; once you reach the top of the hill it’s a 10–15 scenic stroll into Fira.
Sunsets are actually better in Fira than they are on Oia (pronounced E-ah), especially since you can be at a bar or restaurant watching the sun disappear over the caldera. It’s a beautiful moment.
If you would like additional information, I get into more detail on cruising the Greek Islands here.
Kevin Wilkerson is the travel editor and publisher of PubClub.com, a long-standing website with travel articles all over the world. He is a Greek Islands veteran, having been there many times.
|
8b8c6761-051f-5a8f-8eb7-728ae1685245
|
25/08/2025 16:02:32
|
|
https://medium.com/@krishnapiryakm/the-data-doesnt-lie-but-it-does-talk-now-thanks-to-gen-ai-1df1c04bed65
|
medium.com
|
The Data Doesn’t Lie — But It Does Talk Now, Thanks to Gen AI
|
Let’s paint a picture.It’s 2 AM. You’re knee-deep in a sea of Excel sheets, trying to figure out why column H refuses to cooperate. There…
|
Krishnapriya K M
|
https://medium.com/@krishnapiryakm
|
1df1c04bed65
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*T4fQZRLVP75JmpwC
|
3 min
|
2025-04-04T11:03:23.338000
|
2025-04-04T14:12:08.355000
|
2025-04-04T15:28:37.149000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
AI,Generative Ai Tools,Productivity,Growth,Technology
|
<section>
<p>Let’s paint a picture.It’s 2 AM. You’re knee-deep in a sea of Excel sheets, trying to figure out why column H refuses to cooperate. There are 18 tabs open on your browser, three of which are “How to use VLOOKUP” (again), and your brain has officially turned into a beige mush.</p>
<p>Now imagine if a digital coworker popped up, looked at your data, and said, “Hey, I noticed a trend in your customer churn rate, and by the way, here’s a full report in your tone, complete with graphs.” You’d probably cry. Maybe even propose marriage.</p>
<p>Well, that coworker exists. It’s called <strong>Generative AI</strong>. And no, it doesn’t need coffee breaks.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/6000/0*T4fQZRLVP75JmpwC" width="6000" height="6000" loading="lazy" />
<h1>So… what is Generative AI?</h1>
<p>Generative AI is the kind of AI that doesn’t just <em>analyze</em> data — it creates new content from it. Think of it like the artsy data analyst of the tech world. Instead of just handing you a spreadsheet, it might build you a dashboard, write a summary, or generate visuals that make you look way smarter in meetings.</p>
<p>It’s like ChatGPT or Bard, but applied to data — taking the numbers, making sense of them, and spinning them into useful insights, reports, charts, or even next-step suggestions. And all without that sad face you make every time someone says “pivot table.”</p>
<h2>From “What Am I Looking At?” to “Whoa, I Get It.”</h2>
<p>Let’s say you’re a small business owner. You’ve got customer data, but it just sits there like that mystery Tupperware in your fridge — you know it <em>means</em> something, but you’re scared to open it.</p>
<p>With Generative AI, you can say, “Hey, give me a summary of what this data says about my sales last quarter,” and boom — it generates a plain-English breakdown with suggestions like “Maybe stop spending all your ad budget on people who clearly just clicked by mistake.”</p>
<p>Even marketers who’ve only ever touched Excel to color-code a moodboard can now get insights like, “Hey, your audience in Qatar is engaging more on Fridays. Want to shift your campaign timing?”</p>
<p>It’s like having a data whisperer in your pocket.</p>
<h2>Trend Prediction Without the Crystal Ball</h2>
<p>Another cool trick? Generative AI doesn’t just tell you what <em>has</em> happened — it can help predict what <em>might</em> happen.</p>
<p>You know how weather apps somehow know you’re going to need an umbrella before you do? That’s predictive modeling. Generative AI looks at patterns in your historical data and then goes, “So… if this continues, here’s what we’re looking at.”</p>
<p>Except instead of rain, it’s “your sales might dip next month if you don’t restock those pink sneakers.” Way more helpful than an umbrella.</p>
<h2>Automation Nation</h2>
<p>Remember all those soul-crushing reports you make manually every week? The ones you copy, paste, format, and curse through while swearing you <em>will</em> learn Python one day?</p>
<p>Generative AI can automate that. You give it access to your data source and say, “Generate my weekly performance report,” and just like that — it’s done. It even formats it nicely (and doesn’t passive-aggressively suggest you do better next time).</p>
<h2>Storytelling with Data: Finally, Numbers That Make Sense</h2>
<p>Generative AI helps bridge the gap between data and decision-making. Instead of just showing you a graph with a million data points, it can tell you the <em>story</em> behind the numbers.</p>
<p>Like: “Your website traffic dipped last week because your top blog post got pushed off Google’s front page. Consider updating it or promoting it again.”</p>
<p>See? Now the graph means something. And more importantly — you know what to do about it.</p>
<h2>So… What Does This Mean for You?</h2>
<p>Whether you’re an analyst, a small business owner, a startup founder, a recruiter, or someone who still asks, “Wait, what even <em>is</em> data analytics?” — this shift means you no longer need to be a spreadsheet wizard to benefit from data.</p>
<p>Generative AI is making analytics more human. More helpful. And more in your control. You ask questions like you would in a conversation, and it gives you answers in a way that makes sense.</p>
<p>It’s not here to steal jobs (or your lunch) — it’s here to <em>amplify</em> what you do. To help you move faster, make better decisions, and maybe even enjoy the process (imagine that).</p>
<h2>TL;DR</h2>
<ul>
<li>Generative AI creates content <em>from</em> your data — summaries, visuals, insights, and more.</li>
<li>It helps automate boring tasks, predict trends, and tell stories with numbers.</li>
<li>You don’t need to be a data scientist to use it. You just need to be curious.</li>
<li>It’s like getting a data-savvy sidekick who doesn’t sleep and <em>always</em> has ideas.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>If this made you go, “Ohh, I get it now!” — give me a follow. wink*</strong></p>
</section>
|
The Data Doesn’t Lie — But It Does Talk Now, Thanks to Gen AI
Let’s paint a picture.It’s 2 AM. You’re knee-deep in a sea of Excel sheets, trying to figure out why column H refuses to cooperate. There are 18 tabs open on your browser, three of which are “How to use VLOOKUP” (again), and your brain has officially turned into a beige mush.
Now imagine if a digital coworker popped up, looked at your data, and said, “Hey, I noticed a trend in your customer churn rate, and by the way, here’s a full report in your tone, complete with graphs.” You’d probably cry. Maybe even propose marriage.
Well, that coworker exists. It’s called Generative AI. And no, it doesn’t need coffee breaks.
Photo by Neeqolah Creative Works on Unsplash
So… what is Generative AI?
Generative AI is the kind of AI that doesn’t just analyze data — it creates new content from it. Think of it like the artsy data analyst of the tech world. Instead of just handing you a spreadsheet, it might build you a dashboard, write a summary, or generate visuals that make you look way smarter in meetings.
It’s like ChatGPT or Bard, but applied to data — taking the numbers, making sense of them, and spinning them into useful insights, reports, charts, or even next-step suggestions. And all without that sad face you make every time someone says “pivot table.”
From “What Am I Looking At?” to “Whoa, I Get It.”
Let’s say you’re a small business owner. You’ve got customer data, but it just sits there like that mystery Tupperware in your fridge — you know it means something, but you’re scared to open it.
With Generative AI, you can say, “Hey, give me a summary of what this data says about my sales last quarter,” and boom — it generates a plain-English breakdown with suggestions like “Maybe stop spending all your ad budget on people who clearly just clicked by mistake.”
Even marketers who’ve only ever touched Excel to color-code a moodboard can now get insights like, “Hey, your audience in Qatar is engaging more on Fridays. Want to shift your campaign timing?”
It’s like having a data whisperer in your pocket.
Trend Prediction Without the Crystal Ball
Another cool trick? Generative AI doesn’t just tell you what has happened — it can help predict what might happen.
You know how weather apps somehow know you’re going to need an umbrella before you do? That’s predictive modeling. Generative AI looks at patterns in your historical data and then goes, “So… if this continues, here’s what we’re looking at.”
Except instead of rain, it’s “your sales might dip next month if you don’t restock those pink sneakers.” Way more helpful than an umbrella.
Automation Nation
Remember all those soul-crushing reports you make manually every week? The ones you copy, paste, format, and curse through while swearing you will learn Python one day?
Generative AI can automate that. You give it access to your data source and say, “Generate my weekly performance report,” and just like that — it’s done. It even formats it nicely (and doesn’t passive-aggressively suggest you do better next time).
Storytelling with Data: Finally, Numbers That Make Sense
Generative AI helps bridge the gap between data and decision-making. Instead of just showing you a graph with a million data points, it can tell you the story behind the numbers.
Like: “Your website traffic dipped last week because your top blog post got pushed off Google’s front page. Consider updating it or promoting it again.”
See? Now the graph means something. And more importantly — you know what to do about it.
So… What Does This Mean for You?
Whether you’re an analyst, a small business owner, a startup founder, a recruiter, or someone who still asks, “Wait, what even is data analytics?” — this shift means you no longer need to be a spreadsheet wizard to benefit from data.
Generative AI is making analytics more human. More helpful. And more in your control. You ask questions like you would in a conversation, and it gives you answers in a way that makes sense.
It’s not here to steal jobs (or your lunch) — it’s here to amplify what you do. To help you move faster, make better decisions, and maybe even enjoy the process (imagine that).
TL;DR
Generative AI creates content from your data — summaries, visuals, insights, and more.
It helps automate boring tasks, predict trends, and tell stories with numbers.
You don’t need to be a data scientist to use it. You just need to be curious.
It’s like getting a data-savvy sidekick who doesn’t sleep and always has ideas.
If this made you go, “Ohh, I get it now!” — give me a follow. wink*
|
68caa028-9ba6-5094-a6e3-d8d0a5bfc2af
|
25/08/2025 16:02:32
|
https://medium.com/@BrentMorgan/superscreen-is-on-kickstarter-9b25f3d8a957
|
medium.com
|
Superscreen is on Kickstarter!
|
And why we chose to launch a KS campaign
|
Brent Morgan
|
https://medium.com/@BrentMorgan
|
9b25f3d8a957
|
1 min
|
2017-03-09T21:08:30.343000
|
2017-03-11T21:34:03.466000
|
2018-05-01T13:24:30.679000
| 0 | 21 |
en
|
Kickstarter,Crowdfunding,Tech,Innovation
|
<section>
<h3>And why we chose to launch a KS campaign</h3>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1200/1*fYpN2GFZNOPA2Er8rVybFQ.jpeg" width="1200" height="628" loading="lazy" />
<p>Kickstarter is one of the most powerful places on the web for building a community around new ideas and product innovations. So we could not be more excited to officially launch our Superscreen campaign on March 20.</p>
<p>The goal of Superscreen from the beginning has been to shift the focus of the tech industry from more is better. We believe in efficiency and empowering the devices that are already in our lives.</p>
<p>We have been so inspired to come up with something that will be disruptive to the traditional upgrade-cycle model. Everything about Superscreen has been designed to help you get the most out of your smartphone experience, not to add another upgradeable-device or feature to your life.</p>
<p>Superscreen is designed, built and fully functional with patents pending. We are currently finalizing contract proposals from three of the best electronics manufacturers in the world, with a strict timeline that Superscreen be ready to ship to backers by the end of this year. Our team could not be more excited to get this build into your hands. We are confident that the innovative technology and first-of-its-kind user experience will blow you away.</p>
<p>We chose Kickstarter for our initial launch because of the community. Plain and simple. And we would greatly appreciate your pledge of support when we launch on Monday, March 20.</p>
<p>And Kickstarter is far from where our vision ends. We are already in the lab designing new ways to make Superscreen even better — both in form and functionality. And this is where we need your help! In a sea of underwhelming products and features, your support and feedback is what will help us craft a previously unimaginable product.</p>
<p>So if you haven’t already, please join our our beta-access community at superscreen.io, where your thoughts and feedback will directly impact the future iterations of this product.</p>
</section>
|
Superscreen is on Kickstarter!
And why we chose to launch a KS campaign
Kickstarter is one of the most powerful places on the web for building a community around new ideas and product innovations. So we could not be more excited to officially launch our Superscreen campaign on March 20.
The goal of Superscreen from the beginning has been to shift the focus of the tech industry from more is better. We believe in efficiency and empowering the devices that are already in our lives.
We have been so inspired to come up with something that will be disruptive to the traditional upgrade-cycle model. Everything about Superscreen has been designed to help you get the most out of your smartphone experience, not to add another upgradeable-device or feature to your life.
Superscreen is designed, built and fully functional with patents pending. We are currently finalizing contract proposals from three of the best electronics manufacturers in the world, with a strict timeline that Superscreen be ready to ship to backers by the end of this year. Our team could not be more excited to get this build into your hands. We are confident that the innovative technology and first-of-its-kind user experience will blow you away.
We chose Kickstarter for our initial launch because of the community. Plain and simple. And we would greatly appreciate your pledge of support when we launch on Monday, March 20.
And Kickstarter is far from where our vision ends. We are already in the lab designing new ways to make Superscreen even better — both in form and functionality. And this is where we need your help! In a sea of underwhelming products and features, your support and feedback is what will help us craft a previously unimaginable product.
So if you haven’t already, please join our our beta-access community at superscreen.io, where your thoughts and feedback will directly impact the future iterations of this product.
|
8f797dc2-420e-5ab5-86d7-e4baabbd9256
|
25/08/2025 16:02:33
|
|
https://electionwatchus.medium.com/1-9-18-special-election-previews-4c10972bee6e
|
medium.com
|
1/9/18 Special Election Previews
|
Jungle primary elections
|
USA Election Watch
|
https://medium.com/@electionwatchus
|
4c10972bee6e
|
5 min
|
2018-01-08T05:02:22.984000
|
2018-01-09T04:14:32.077000
|
2018-01-09T04:14:34.180000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Politics,Georgia,Special Election,Elections,Connecticut
|
<section>
<p><em><strong>Jungle primary e</em>lections</strong></p>
<p><strong>Georgia Senate District 17 (Republican Defense)</strong></p>
<p>Candidates: Phyllis Hatcher (D), Brian Strickland (R), Ed Toney (R), Nelva Lee (R)</p>
<p>Overview: For the first competitive special election in 2018, we head to the Southeastern suburbs of Atlanta. This seat became open when Rick Jeffares resigned to focus on running for Lieutenant Governor. 4 candidates filed for Tuesday’s primary to replace him. Georgia uses a jungle primary system, which means that candidates from both parties are combined on one ballot. If one candidate gets over 50%, they win the seat. Otherwise, the top two take part in a runoff election four weeks later. The only Democrat to file was Phyllis Hatcher, and her best chance of winning this seat is to get 50% now, as Republican voters will not be unified and will be less likely to turn out. This isn’t entirely impossible, given that Donald Trump only won this district 56–40. However, it would be a big swing for Hatcher to manage to get 50%, especially since Jeffares won by a wider 59–40 margin in his 2016 election. On the Republican side, State Representative Brian Strickland resigned his slightly blue seat in the state house to run for this seat, but more on that in a moment. Strickland has the endorsement of the district establishment, including Jeffares, and is the clear favorite to advance to the runoff, but doesn’t have a good chance of getting 50%. Also running for the Republicans is Neiva Lee, who ran against Jeffares in 2012 as a conservative Democrat. She lost that election 63–37 and it’s hard to see how previously being a Democrat will do her any favors among Republican voters. The final Republican candidate is Ed Toney, who appears to be a bit of a long shot who focuses mostly on local representation issues. However, he profiles as someone who could pull out a surprise ground game so you never know. That being said, I would be surprised if Strickland isn’t the highest finishing Republican.</p>
<p>Rating and Prediction: We rate this as Lean Runoff, with Hatcher being a safe bet to make the runoff and Strickland also being extremely likely. I’ll say Hatcher finishes first with about 47%, with Strickland coming in second at 35%.</p>
<p><strong>Georgia House District 111 (Republican defense)</strong></p>
<p>Candidates: El-Mahdi Holly (D), Tarji Leonard Dunn (D), Geoffrey Cauble (R), Larry Morey (R)</p>
<p>Overview: This district, which is part of the 17th Senate District as well, is the best chance the Democrats have for a flip this month. Republican Brian Strickland resigned to seek election to Senate District 17 and it makes sense why he wanted a change in electorate. This seat has swung increasingly blue over the past few years, with Hillary Clinton winning the district 50–47 in 2016. Strickland barely held on to his seat, winning 52–48, and was in serious danger of losing the seat in the 2018 midterms already given the way suburban parts Georgia are shifting left. Both parties had two candidates run for the seat in the jungle primary. The Democratic favorite is El-Mahdi Holly, who has both the backing of establishment Democrats and progressive support. Holly was notably endorsed by Our Revolution, a Bernie Sanders group that has had a fair amount of success raising money for progressive candidates in smaller races. Holly will almost definitely be the highest finishing Democrat, but his ability to get 50% will likely be blocked by Tarji Leonard Dunn, the other candidate in the race. Dunn doesn’t seem to have much of a chance in the race, but will get a significant number of votes. On the Republican side, Geoffrey Cauble is the slight favorite, having received the endorsement of Strickland in the race. However, his opponent Larry Morey has strong connections in business as a real estate developer and will also receive votes from anti-establishment Republicans. Either Cauble or Morey will likely grab a spot in a runoff, but the other outside possibility, and the worst one for Republicans, is Dunn getting more votes than both Cauble and Morey if Republicans don’t turn out.</p>
<p>Rating and prediction: We rate this as Lean Runoff, with Holly a clear favorite to be in a runoff spot. The other spot is a tossup, but the most likely outcome is Cauble narrowly getting the spot. I’ll say Holly is first with 40%, and Cauble grabs second place with 25%</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1419/1*pcfX8yqGwrsOfm1FitNLSQ.jpeg" width="1419" height="1460" loading="lazy" />
<p><em><strong>One-Party General </em>Election</strong></p>
<p><strong>Connecticut House District 15 (Democratic Defense)</strong></p>
<p>Candidates: Bobby Gibson (D), Joseph Suggs (D)</p>
<p>Overview: This district, located primarily in the small Hartford suburb of Bloomfield, opened up when incumbent Democrat David Baram resigned to take a position as a judge. First time candidate and football coach Bobby Gibson received the endorsement of the local Democratic town committee. Candidates in Connecticut are nominated by their parties without a primary. However, establishment Democrats are very unpopular in Connecticut right now, and as a result former Bloomfield mayor and Connecticut Treasurer Joseph Suggs managed to make the ballot as a Democrat through a signature petition process. Suggs already had the name recognition to be a major threat to Gibson but was given a major boost when it was revealed last week that Gibson was arrested for DUI in November. This arrest, combined with an establishment endorsement, quite possibly may doom Gibson. If Suggs wins, it wouldn’t be the first time this happened in a Connecticut State House special election recently. Last April, Joshua Malik Hall won in House District 7 as a petitioning candidate, defeating endorsed candidate Robert Pinckney. The Republicans did not run a candidate in this heavily Democratic district, which Hillary Clinton won 81–16.</p>
<p>Rating and Prediction: We rate this seat as Lean Suggs. I actually have a hunch it won’t be close at all and Suggs wins 65–35.</p>
<p><em><strong>Competitive Primary E</em>lections</strong></p>
<p><strong>New Hampshire House District Belknap 3 Republican Primary (Republican Defense)</strong></p>
<p>Candidates: Les Cartier, William Henry Davies</p>
<p>Overview: For this next race, we head to the small town of Laconia in central New Hampshire where one of this district’s four house seats opened up when incumbent Republican Donald Flanders passed away. The Republicans have two strong candidates running in the primary. Les Cartier is a retired state fire marshall coordinator and William Davies is a retired computer specialist. New Hampshire state house districts are very small and a low turnout primary like this one is almost impossible to predict so it definitely is a tossup. Philip Spagnuolo is unopposed on the Democratic side and will have a decent chance of winning this seat on February.</p>
<p><strong>Oklahoma House District 51 Republican Primary (Republican Defense)</strong></p>
<p>Candidates: Brad Boles, Dustin Payne</p>
<p>Overview: We end in Oklahoma, with a Republican primary for a seat that opened when incumbent Republican Scott Biggs resigned to take a job with the federal government. Brad Boles, who is the mayor of a town named Marlow in the district, is the favorite to win the Republican primary over restaurant owner Dustin Payne. The winner will face Democrat Charles Murdock in the general election on March 6.</p>
</section>
|
1/9/18 Special Election Previews
Jungle primary elections
Georgia Senate District 17 (Republican Defense)
Candidates: Phyllis Hatcher (D), Brian Strickland (R), Ed Toney (R), Nelva Lee (R)
Overview: For the first competitive special election in 2018, we head to the Southeastern suburbs of Atlanta. This seat became open when Rick Jeffares resigned to focus on running for Lieutenant Governor. 4 candidates filed for Tuesday’s primary to replace him. Georgia uses a jungle primary system, which means that candidates from both parties are combined on one ballot. If one candidate gets over 50%, they win the seat. Otherwise, the top two take part in a runoff election four weeks later. The only Democrat to file was Phyllis Hatcher, and her best chance of winning this seat is to get 50% now, as Republican voters will not be unified and will be less likely to turn out. This isn’t entirely impossible, given that Donald Trump only won this district 56–40. However, it would be a big swing for Hatcher to manage to get 50%, especially since Jeffares won by a wider 59–40 margin in his 2016 election. On the Republican side, State Representative Brian Strickland resigned his slightly blue seat in the state house to run for this seat, but more on that in a moment. Strickland has the endorsement of the district establishment, including Jeffares, and is the clear favorite to advance to the runoff, but doesn’t have a good chance of getting 50%. Also running for the Republicans is Neiva Lee, who ran against Jeffares in 2012 as a conservative Democrat. She lost that election 63–37 and it’s hard to see how previously being a Democrat will do her any favors among Republican voters. The final Republican candidate is Ed Toney, who appears to be a bit of a long shot who focuses mostly on local representation issues. However, he profiles as someone who could pull out a surprise ground game so you never know. That being said, I would be surprised if Strickland isn’t the highest finishing Republican.
Rating and Prediction: We rate this as Lean Runoff, with Hatcher being a safe bet to make the runoff and Strickland also being extremely likely. I’ll say Hatcher finishes first with about 47%, with Strickland coming in second at 35%.
Georgia House District 111 (Republican defense)
Candidates: El-Mahdi Holly (D), Tarji Leonard Dunn (D), Geoffrey Cauble (R), Larry Morey (R)
Overview: This district, which is part of the 17th Senate District as well, is the best chance the Democrats have for a flip this month. Republican Brian Strickland resigned to seek election to Senate District 17 and it makes sense why he wanted a change in electorate. This seat has swung increasingly blue over the past few years, with Hillary Clinton winning the district 50–47 in 2016. Strickland barely held on to his seat, winning 52–48, and was in serious danger of losing the seat in the 2018 midterms already given the way suburban parts Georgia are shifting left. Both parties had two candidates run for the seat in the jungle primary. The Democratic favorite is El-Mahdi Holly, who has both the backing of establishment Democrats and progressive support. Holly was notably endorsed by Our Revolution, a Bernie Sanders group that has had a fair amount of success raising money for progressive candidates in smaller races. Holly will almost definitely be the highest finishing Democrat, but his ability to get 50% will likely be blocked by Tarji Leonard Dunn, the other candidate in the race. Dunn doesn’t seem to have much of a chance in the race, but will get a significant number of votes. On the Republican side, Geoffrey Cauble is the slight favorite, having received the endorsement of Strickland in the race. However, his opponent Larry Morey has strong connections in business as a real estate developer and will also receive votes from anti-establishment Republicans. Either Cauble or Morey will likely grab a spot in a runoff, but the other outside possibility, and the worst one for Republicans, is Dunn getting more votes than both Cauble and Morey if Republicans don’t turn out.
Rating and prediction: We rate this as Lean Runoff, with Holly a clear favorite to be in a runoff spot. The other spot is a tossup, but the most likely outcome is Cauble narrowly getting the spot. I’ll say Holly is first with 40%, and Cauble grabs second place with 25%
Candidates El Mahdi Holly, Tarji Leonard Dunn, and Larry Morey participate in a forum in House District 111
One-Party General Election
Connecticut House District 15 (Democratic Defense)
Candidates: Bobby Gibson (D), Joseph Suggs (D)
Overview: This district, located primarily in the small Hartford suburb of Bloomfield, opened up when incumbent Democrat David Baram resigned to take a position as a judge. First time candidate and football coach Bobby Gibson received the endorsement of the local Democratic town committee. Candidates in Connecticut are nominated by their parties without a primary. However, establishment Democrats are very unpopular in Connecticut right now, and as a result former Bloomfield mayor and Connecticut Treasurer Joseph Suggs managed to make the ballot as a Democrat through a signature petition process. Suggs already had the name recognition to be a major threat to Gibson but was given a major boost when it was revealed last week that Gibson was arrested for DUI in November. This arrest, combined with an establishment endorsement, quite possibly may doom Gibson. If Suggs wins, it wouldn’t be the first time this happened in a Connecticut State House special election recently. Last April, Joshua Malik Hall won in House District 7 as a petitioning candidate, defeating endorsed candidate Robert Pinckney. The Republicans did not run a candidate in this heavily Democratic district, which Hillary Clinton won 81–16.
Rating and Prediction: We rate this seat as Lean Suggs. I actually have a hunch it won’t be close at all and Suggs wins 65–35.
Competitive Primary Elections
New Hampshire House District Belknap 3 Republican Primary (Republican Defense)
Candidates: Les Cartier, William Henry Davies
Overview: For this next race, we head to the small town of Laconia in central New Hampshire where one of this district’s four house seats opened up when incumbent Republican Donald Flanders passed away. The Republicans have two strong candidates running in the primary. Les Cartier is a retired state fire marshall coordinator and William Davies is a retired computer specialist. New Hampshire state house districts are very small and a low turnout primary like this one is almost impossible to predict so it definitely is a tossup. Philip Spagnuolo is unopposed on the Democratic side and will have a decent chance of winning this seat on February.
Oklahoma House District 51 Republican Primary (Republican Defense)
Candidates: Brad Boles, Dustin Payne
Overview: We end in Oklahoma, with a Republican primary for a seat that opened when incumbent Republican Scott Biggs resigned to take a job with the federal government. Brad Boles, who is the mayor of a town named Marlow in the district, is the favorite to win the Republican primary over restaurant owner Dustin Payne. The winner will face Democrat Charles Murdock in the general election on March 6.
|
9a499c57-2018-57a4-9a86-b35f105e2621
|
25/08/2025 16:02:34
|
|
https://medium.com/lets-excel/microsoft-excel-how-to-disable-protected-view-in-ms-excel-ae01a0c5405b
|
medium.com
|
Microsoft Excel — HOW TO Disable “Protected View” in MS Excel
|
Overview
|
Don Tomoff
|
https://medium.com/@dtomoffcpa
|
ae01a0c5405b
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*qa_X8_VMxZofxNOc.
|
2 min
|
2016-12-19T19:00:22.673000
|
2016-12-19T19:06:24.314000
|
2018-06-10T14:02:08.610000
| 0 | 18 |
en
|
Excel,Data,Microsoft,How To,Business
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/846/0*qa_X8_VMxZofxNOc." width="846" height="467" loading="lazy" />
<h1>Overview</h1>
<p>By default, Excel activates certain “protected view” settings. This is meant to prevent you from opening an potentially infected file downloaded from the Internet, sent to you in an Email, etc.</p>
<p>The reality, however, is that it typically <strong>ADDS</strong> an additional step to opening many Excel files that you receive. For instance, I regularly download Excel files from Box or Dropbox and others that I receive through email.</p>
<p><strong>WARNING </strong>— only disable this setting if you are certain that any file you open is a <strong>trusted</strong> file. This applies to computing in general — only open those files that you expect to receive and you know are from a trusted source (friend, co-worker, etc.)</p>
<h2>Steps to Disable Protected View</h2>
<ul>
<li>Open Excel, select the <strong>“File”</strong> menu option</li>
<li>Select <strong>“Options”</strong></li>
</ul>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/447/0*rMLXVeDZHXmyAw6R." width="447" height="573" loading="lazy" />
<ul>
<li>Select “<strong>Trust Center</strong>” and click on “<strong>Trust Center Settings</strong>”</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/846/0*qa_X8_VMxZofxNOc." width="846" height="467" loading="lazy" />
<ul>
<li>Next, select “<strong>Protected View</strong>” and un-check the desired items (all three if you use Outlook for email)</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/845/0*VjMbcoFVeM5hI0_Y." width="845" height="410" loading="lazy" />
<p>Finally, enjoy opening all of your Excel files without the “Protected View” nuisance banner! :-)</p>
<h3>About Don</h3>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/145/1*moFXFX752tAFXOlVXaPjBw.gif" width="145" height="63" loading="lazy" />
<p>Don Tomoff is a “recovering CPA”, who is passionate about helping professionals and organizations keep up and adapt to the changing business world that we operate in.</p>
<p>One lesson learned over the years is that all of us, regardless of organization type or size, struggle with similar issues — primarily information management and presentation, and effective use of our time. Let’s change that…one person at a time!</p>
<h3>Connect with Don!</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dontomoff">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://flipboard.com/@dtomoff">Flipboard</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/@dtomoffcpa">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.snapchat.com/add/dtomoff">Snapchat</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=don%20tomoff%2C%20invenio%20advisors">Or, just Google me…I’m everywhere</a></p>
<p><a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=Reaching%20you%20from%20Medium...">Send Don an email</a></p>
</section>
|
Microsoft Excel — HOW TO Disable “Protected View” in MS Excel
How to Disable “Protected View” default alert in Excel
Overview
By default, Excel activates certain “protected view” settings. This is meant to prevent you from opening an potentially infected file downloaded from the Internet, sent to you in an Email, etc.
The reality, however, is that it typically ADDS an additional step to opening many Excel files that you receive. For instance, I regularly download Excel files from Box or Dropbox and others that I receive through email.
WARNING — only disable this setting if you are certain that any file you open is a trusted file. This applies to computing in general — only open those files that you expect to receive and you know are from a trusted source (friend, co-worker, etc.)
Steps to Disable Protected View
Open Excel, select the “File” menu option
Select “Options”
Select “Trust Center” and click on “Trust Center Settings”
Next, select “Protected View” and un-check the desired items (all three if you use Outlook for email)
Finally, enjoy opening all of your Excel files without the “Protected View” nuisance banner! :-)
About Don
Don Tomoff is a “recovering CPA”, who is passionate about helping professionals and organizations keep up and adapt to the changing business world that we operate in.
One lesson learned over the years is that all of us, regardless of organization type or size, struggle with similar issues — primarily information management and presentation, and effective use of our time. Let’s change that…one person at a time!
Connect with Don!
LinkedIn, Flipboard, Twitter, Snapchat
Or, just Google me…I’m everywhere
Send Don an email
|
b67f27f2-7e9a-53fe-8930-89f62eb2ab98
|
25/08/2025 16:02:34
|
https://medium.com/nichethrive/how-can-i-maximize-my-earnings-with-the-vidiq-affiliate-program-945c719f0701
|
medium.com
|
How can I maximize my earnings with the vidIQ affiliate program?
|
Unlock the earning Potential of vidIQ Affiliate Program!
|
Brainstorm-SEO Digital Marketing
|
https://medium.com/@brainstorm-seo
|
945c719f0701
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*FQXBNNJfV-mq84EL
|
2 min
|
2023-09-08T08:42:53.882000
|
2023-09-09T03:04:03.237000
|
2023-09-16T23:48:02.108000
| 0 | 4 |
en
|
Affiliate Marketing,Earn Money Online,YouTube,Vidiq,Earn Money From Home
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/602/0*FQXBNNJfV-mq84EL" width="602" height="339" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>Unlock the earning Potential of vidIQ Affiliate Program!</strong></p>
<p>Are you looking to supercharge your income through the <strong><a href="https://vidiq.</strong>com/brainstormseo">vidIQ affiliate program</a>? You’re in the right place!</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/602/0*kznTlcxH__AB2Edn" width="602" height="402" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>Here’s the secret sauce to maximize your earnings:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Leverage vidIQ’s Powerful Tools:</strong> Start by making the most of <strong><a href="https://vidiq.com/brainst</strong>ormseo">vidIQ’s YouTube optimization tools</a>. Show others how vidIQ can help them grow their YouTube channels, increase views, and boost subscribers. Highlight the benefits of features like keyword research, competitor analysis, and video SEO.</p>
<p><strong>Create Compelling Content:</strong> Craft informative and engaging content about <a href="https://tinyurl.com/vidIQYouTubeGrow">vidIQ</a>. Share your success stories, detailing how vidIQ has helped you or others achieve YouTube stardom. Include tutorials, case studies, and in-depth reviews. Ensure that vidIQ is the go-to tool for YouTubers serious about success.</p>
<p><strong>Promote Strategically:</strong> Share your affiliate links on relevant platforms and forums. Be active on YouTube-related communities and provide value before dropping your affiliate link. Answer questions, offer tips, and become a trusted resource. When the time is right, casually mention vidIQ as the solution.</p>
<p><strong>Utilize Social Media:</strong> Tap into the power of social media. Share your vidIQ success stories, tips, and insights on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Create eye-catching graphics or short videos to showcase vidIQ’s impact.</p>
<p><strong>Run Webinars and Workshops:</strong> Hosting webinars or workshops where you demonstrate how vidIQ can revolutionize YouTube channel growth can be a game-changer. Encourage attendees to sign up through your affiliate link and offer special incentives during these events.</p>
<p><strong>Engage Your Audience:</strong> Keep your audience engaged with regular updates and tips related to vidIQ. The more they see the value in the product, the more likely they are to sign up through your link.</p>
<p>Remember, the key is to be genuine and passionate about vidIQ. Share your personal experiences, and let the product speak for itself. The more authentic and helpful you are, the more people will be inclined to click on your affiliate link and start their vidIQ journey.</p>
<p>Ready to take your earnings to new heights? Start promoting vidIQ today and watch your affiliate commissions soar! <strong><a href="https://vidiq.com/brainstormseo">Click here to</strong> get started, with vidIQ Affiliate Program</a> to get started.</p>
<p>Your success is just a click away! 🚀</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/602/0*NZZzhFBlsotLAzRk" width="602" height="74" loading="lazy" />
</section>
|
How can I maximize my earnings with the vidIQ affiliate program?
Unlock the earning Potential of vidIQ Affiliate Program!
Are you looking to supercharge your income through the vidIQ affiliate program? You’re in the right place!
Here’s the secret sauce to maximize your earnings:
Leverage vidIQ’s Powerful Tools: Start by making the most of vidIQ’s YouTube optimization tools. Show others how vidIQ can help them grow their YouTube channels, increase views, and boost subscribers. Highlight the benefits of features like keyword research, competitor analysis, and video SEO.
Create Compelling Content: Craft informative and engaging content about vidIQ. Share your success stories, detailing how vidIQ has helped you or others achieve YouTube stardom. Include tutorials, case studies, and in-depth reviews. Ensure that vidIQ is the go-to tool for YouTubers serious about success.
Promote Strategically: Share your affiliate links on relevant platforms and forums. Be active on YouTube-related communities and provide value before dropping your affiliate link. Answer questions, offer tips, and become a trusted resource. When the time is right, casually mention vidIQ as the solution.
Utilize Social Media: Tap into the power of social media. Share your vidIQ success stories, tips, and insights on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Create eye-catching graphics or short videos to showcase vidIQ’s impact.
Run Webinars and Workshops: Hosting webinars or workshops where you demonstrate how vidIQ can revolutionize YouTube channel growth can be a game-changer. Encourage attendees to sign up through your affiliate link and offer special incentives during these events.
Engage Your Audience: Keep your audience engaged with regular updates and tips related to vidIQ. The more they see the value in the product, the more likely they are to sign up through your link.
Remember, the key is to be genuine and passionate about vidIQ. Share your personal experiences, and let the product speak for itself. The more authentic and helpful you are, the more people will be inclined to click on your affiliate link and start their vidIQ journey.
Ready to take your earnings to new heights? Start promoting vidIQ today and watch your affiliate commissions soar! Click here to get started, with vidIQ Affiliate Program to get started.
Your success is just a click away! 🚀
|
a1eed1af-50a4-55da-935d-ff2bab24496d
|
25/08/2025 16:02:34
|
https://medium.com/the-tabernacle-sun/seneca-high-school-hosting-fundraiser-for-media-center-b15f697f66f2
|
medium.com
|
Seneca High School hosting fundraiser for Media Center
| null |
Admin
|
https://medium.com/@tronaldson3
|
b15f697f66f2
| null |
1 min
|
2017-01-10T16:54:59.208000
|
2011-12-01T21:00:15
|
2017-01-13T19:14:49.733000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Entertainment,Schools,Barnes And Noble,Fundraiser,Media Center
|
<section>
<p>By Katrina Grant</p>
<p>Seneca High School will be hosting a fund raiser for its media center this month. In the past, funds raised have been used to purchase new books for the library, to purchase books for summer reading for students in need and to have authors and guest speakers come to the school.</p>
<p>“In the past, we have been able to raise a couple hundred dollars,” Kathy Donoghue, media specialist at Seneca High School, said. “This year we will use it for our Hunger Games project. Whoever wins the competition, we will be taking those students to see the movie.”</p>
<p>The Hunger Games Project is a competition that began this year at the high school. The Hunger Games is a movie set in a post-apocalyptic world. In the movie there are 12 different districts, so the school broke the students up into 12 different districts and holds competitions to see which district wins. The top three districts at the end of the competition will go to see the movie. The students have had a Hunger Games pep rally and last month the competition was a canned food drive.</p>
<p>“This project has gotten the kids very excited about reading,” Donoghue said. “It keeps the momentum going and generates discussion to keep the kids interested. They have really embraced this story, and it is something that they look forward to.”</p>
<p>The school hopes to raise between $300 and $600 this year. The fund raiser will take place on Monday, Dec. 12 between 4 and 9 p.m. at Barnes and Noble in Moorestown in East Gate Square. On that night, the high school will receive a portion of the sales from the books. Anyone wanting to donate to the fund raiser needs to print out a voucher before attending the fundraiser, bring it with them and present it when they purchase anything that night.</p>
<p>The Seneca Singers will perform the night of the fund raiser and the art students’ art work will be on display around the café at Barnes and Noble. The voucher can also be used the week of Monday, Dec. 12 to Sunday, Dec. 20 at any Barnes and Noble around the country and online and at the Barnes and Noble cafe.</p>
<p>To print out a voucher visit: <a href="http://www.lrhsd.org/seneca/lib/seneca/2011_BN_VOUCHER.pdf">http://www.lrhsd.org/seneca/lib/seneca/2011_BN_VOUCHER.pdf</a>.</p>
</section>
|
Seneca High School hosting fundraiser for Media Center
By Katrina Grant
Seneca High School will be hosting a fund raiser for its media center this month. In the past, funds raised have been used to purchase new books for the library, to purchase books for summer reading for students in need and to have authors and guest speakers come to the school.
“In the past, we have been able to raise a couple hundred dollars,” Kathy Donoghue, media specialist at Seneca High School, said. “This year we will use it for our Hunger Games project. Whoever wins the competition, we will be taking those students to see the movie.”
The Hunger Games Project is a competition that began this year at the high school. The Hunger Games is a movie set in a post-apocalyptic world. In the movie there are 12 different districts, so the school broke the students up into 12 different districts and holds competitions to see which district wins. The top three districts at the end of the competition will go to see the movie. The students have had a Hunger Games pep rally and last month the competition was a canned food drive.
“This project has gotten the kids very excited about reading,” Donoghue said. “It keeps the momentum going and generates discussion to keep the kids interested. They have really embraced this story, and it is something that they look forward to.”
The school hopes to raise between $300 and $600 this year. The fund raiser will take place on Monday, Dec. 12 between 4 and 9 p.m. at Barnes and Noble in Moorestown in East Gate Square. On that night, the high school will receive a portion of the sales from the books. Anyone wanting to donate to the fund raiser needs to print out a voucher before attending the fundraiser, bring it with them and present it when they purchase anything that night.
The Seneca Singers will perform the night of the fund raiser and the art students’ art work will be on display around the café at Barnes and Noble. The voucher can also be used the week of Monday, Dec. 12 to Sunday, Dec. 20 at any Barnes and Noble around the country and online and at the Barnes and Noble cafe.
To print out a voucher visit: http://www.lrhsd.org/seneca/lib/seneca/2011_BN_VOUCHER.pdf.
|
aac9df82-3934-5516-b22d-2330c3f91c9c
|
25/08/2025 16:02:35
|
https://iamaditya-x.medium.com/how-to-install-tor-browser-in-kali-linux-44801f38390a
|
medium.com
|
How to install Tor Browser in Kali Linux
|
Hey Guys, I hope you are doing absolutely fine, and welcome back to another post. so in this today post. I am going to show you “ How to…
|
Aditya Pratap Singh
|
https://medium.com/@iamaditya-x
|
44801f38390a
|
3 min
|
2022-11-24T21:10:49.299000
|
2022-11-24T21:04:29.185000
|
2022-11-24T21:11:23.534000
| 0 | 3 |
en
|
Ethical Hacking,Kali Linux,Tor
|
<section>
<p>Hey Guys, I hope you are doing absolutely fine, and welcome back to another post. so in this today post. I am going to show you “ <strong>How to install Tor Browser in Kali Linux</strong>”</p>
<p>Tor Browser is a famous browser if you want your privacy over the internet. No one can trace your daily use like what are you doing, what website you visit etc. Kali Linux provides tons of tools that help us in our security research project but in Kali Linux Tor Browser is not pre-installed we have to install Tor Browser in Kali Linux after installing the Kali Linux.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/640/0*CbzllmiLjQTLJOKY.png" width="640" height="320" loading="lazy" />
<h1>How to install Tor Browser in Kali Linux</h1>
<p>Tor Browser is open-source, so we will install Tor in Kali Linux with a few steps and use it with our needs. So there is two way to install Tor in Kali Linux.</p>
<ul>
<li>Install the Tor Browser in Kali Linux using apt in the terminal.</li>
<li>Download the package and run Tor Browser manually in Kali Linux.</li>
</ul>
<h2>1st Method (Recommended)- Install Tor Browser in Kali Linux using apt in Terminal</h2>
<p>Now, Let’s start with how to install and run the Tor Browser in Kali Linux using the terminal.</p>
<p><strong>STEP1: </strong>First of all, we have to update the Kali Linux with the following command, open the terminal.</p>
<p><em>sudo apt update</em></p>
<p><strong>STEP2: </strong>Now we have to install the tor browser launcher with the following command.</p>
<p><em>sudo apt-get install tor torbrowser-launcher</em></p>
<p><strong>STEP3: </strong>Now after installing the tor browser launcher we have to open the tor browser you can open the Tor Browser in Kali Linux by typing the following command in the terminal, and you can search in the search bar as Tor, and you will get two options you have to open the Tor Browser.</p>
<p><em>sudo torbrowser-launcher</em></p>
<p><strong>STEP4: </strong>After running the command or double click on the Tor Browser icon you will get a new window on your screen. You have to wait for some time for downloading the tor browser the first time, and it depends on your internet speed.</p>
<p>Now you have to click on “ <strong>Connect</strong> “ to connect to the Tor network, it automatically connects you to the Tor network, and you can use the Tor Browser in Kali Linux.</p>
<p><strong>STEP6: </strong>In Tor Network settings, you can set the network settings and use the proxy to connect the Tor. If you are visiting or living in a country, that censors Tor you have to configure the Tor Network manually by following the settings. And then you have to click on “Connect”.</p>
<p><strong>STEP7: </strong>Now you have to wait while Tor Browser establishes a connection to the Tor network.</p>
<p>Now you can use your Tor Browser in Kali Linux, and now you are able to use <strong>.onion </strong>website, and also you can host your own website using the Tor network.</p>
<p>Congratulations, your installation is complete without any errors. If you get any error here, you can follow the second method to use Tor Browser in Kali Linux.</p>
<h2>2nd Method — Download the package and run Tor Browser manually in Kali Linux</h2>
<p><em>aditya@kali:~$ cd Downloads/</em></p>
<p><em>aditya@kali:~/Downloads$ ls</em></p>
<p><em>tor-browser-linux64–9.0.10_en-US.tar.xz</em></p>
<p><em>aditya@kali:~/Downloads$ tar -xf tor-browser-linux64–9.0.10_en-US.tar.xz</em></p>
<p><em>aditya@kali:~/Downloads$</em></p>
<p><strong>STEP4: </strong>Now you can open the Tor Browser go to the extracted folder and double-click on Tor Browser or you can run the following command in the terminal to open the Tor Browser in Kali Linux.</p>
<p><em>aditya@kali:~/Downloads$ cd tor-browser_en-US/</em></p>
<p><em>aditya@kali:~/Downloads/tor-browser_en-US$ ./start-tor-browser.desktop</em></p>
<p><em>Launching ‘./Browser/start-tor-browser — detach’…</em></p>
<p><em>aditya@kali:~/Downloads/tor-browser_en-US$</em></p>
<p>This is the way how you can install and run the Tor Browser in Kali Linux and use the internet anonymously to protect our privacy.</p>
<p><strong>LAST-WORD: </strong>Thank you for reading this post and keep connected to MyTeachWorld to continue enjoying excellent posts. Share your views about this post in the comment section below. If you still have any queries, throw it in the comment section. If you find this post helpful, don’t hesitate to share this post on your social network. It will only take a moment, and also it is quite easy and useful for others.</p>
<p><em>Originally published at <a href="https://www.myteachworld.com/2022/11/how-</em>to-install-tor-browser-in-kali-linux.html">https://www.myteachworld.com</a> on November 24, 2022.</p>
</section>
|
How to install Tor Browser in Kali Linux
Hey Guys, I hope you are doing absolutely fine, and welcome back to another post. so in this today post. I am going to show you “ How to install Tor Browser in Kali Linux”
Tor Browser is a famous browser if you want your privacy over the internet. No one can trace your daily use like what are you doing, what website you visit etc. Kali Linux provides tons of tools that help us in our security research project but in Kali Linux Tor Browser is not pre-installed we have to install Tor Browser in Kali Linux after installing the Kali Linux.
How to install Tor Browser in Kali Linux
Tor Browser is open-source, so we will install Tor in Kali Linux with a few steps and use it with our needs. So there is two way to install Tor in Kali Linux.
Install the Tor Browser in Kali Linux using apt in the terminal.
Download the package and run Tor Browser manually in Kali Linux.
1st Method (Recommended)- Install Tor Browser in Kali Linux using apt in Terminal
Now, Let’s start with how to install and run the Tor Browser in Kali Linux using the terminal.
STEP1: First of all, we have to update the Kali Linux with the following command, open the terminal.
sudo apt update
STEP2: Now we have to install the tor browser launcher with the following command.
sudo apt-get install tor torbrowser-launcher
STEP3: Now after installing the tor browser launcher we have to open the tor browser you can open the Tor Browser in Kali Linux by typing the following command in the terminal, and you can search in the search bar as Tor, and you will get two options you have to open the Tor Browser.
sudo torbrowser-launcher
STEP4: After running the command or double click on the Tor Browser icon you will get a new window on your screen. You have to wait for some time for downloading the tor browser the first time, and it depends on your internet speed.
Now you have to click on “ Connect “ to connect to the Tor network, it automatically connects you to the Tor network, and you can use the Tor Browser in Kali Linux.
STEP6: In Tor Network settings, you can set the network settings and use the proxy to connect the Tor. If you are visiting or living in a country, that censors Tor you have to configure the Tor Network manually by following the settings. And then you have to click on “Connect”.
STEP7: Now you have to wait while Tor Browser establishes a connection to the Tor network.
Now you can use your Tor Browser in Kali Linux, and now you are able to use .onion website, and also you can host your own website using the Tor network.
Congratulations, your installation is complete without any errors. If you get any error here, you can follow the second method to use Tor Browser in Kali Linux.
2nd Method — Download the package and run Tor Browser manually in Kali Linux
aditya@kali:~$ cd Downloads/
aditya@kali:~/Downloads$ ls
tor-browser-linux64–9.0.10_en-US.tar.xz
aditya@kali:~/Downloads$ tar -xf tor-browser-linux64–9.0.10_en-US.tar.xz
aditya@kali:~/Downloads$
STEP4: Now you can open the Tor Browser go to the extracted folder and double-click on Tor Browser or you can run the following command in the terminal to open the Tor Browser in Kali Linux.
aditya@kali:~/Downloads$ cd tor-browser_en-US/
aditya@kali:~/Downloads/tor-browser_en-US$ ./start-tor-browser.desktop
Launching ‘./Browser/start-tor-browser — detach’…
aditya@kali:~/Downloads/tor-browser_en-US$
This is the way how you can install and run the Tor Browser in Kali Linux and use the internet anonymously to protect our privacy.
LAST-WORD: Thank you for reading this post and keep connected to MyTeachWorld to continue enjoying excellent posts. Share your views about this post in the comment section below. If you still have any queries, throw it in the comment section. If you find this post helpful, don’t hesitate to share this post on your social network. It will only take a moment, and also it is quite easy and useful for others.
Originally published at https://www.myteachworld.com on November 24, 2022.
|
ac944963-5e80-577c-9271-7cac8708fe24
|
25/08/2025 16:02:36
|
|
https://medium.com/@representwomen/2018-primary-recap-alabama-a41e19164018
|
medium.com
|
2018 Primary Recap: Alabama
|
By Barbara Turnbull on July 18, 2018
|
RepresentWomen
|
https://medium.com/@representwomen
|
a41e19164018
|
2 min
|
2018-07-19T22:51:20.852000
|
2018-07-19T22:51:53.938000
|
2019-10-04T20:17:05.782000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Politics,Womens Representation,Gender Parity,Representwomen,Elections
|
<section>
<p>By Barbara Turnbull on July 18, 2018</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/800/0*1cgWOsT1PujZxK1P" width="800" height="800" loading="lazy" />
<p>Yesterday’s primary runoff elections in Alabama decided the closely-watched Republican nomination for AL-2, as well as a handful of statewide executive offices and state legislature seats. Even though runoff elections are <a href="http://www.representwomen.org/what_s_the_deal_with_runoff_elections">costly and inefficient</a>, the vast majority of cities and states continue to rely on runoffs to determine the result of primaries in which no candidate garnered more than 50 percent of the vote.</p>
<p>Just <a href="https://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2018/07/alabama_primary_runoff_2018_ho.html">12.7 percent of registered Alabama voters cast a ballot yesterday</a>, which is especially dismal considering how much time and money was spent on campaigning since the initial primary election on June 5.</p>
<p>Martha Roby, the incumbent Congresswoman from AL-2, faced a primary runoff after garnering just under 40 percent of the primary vote. Roby’s meager show of support in the primary <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/17/alabama-primary-results-roby-bright-729052">was attributed in part</a> to her 2016 announcement that she would not vote for Donald Trump, though she has since walked back those comments and was <a href="https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1010126805850902528?lang=en">endorsed by Trump on Twitter</a> prior to the runoff election. Roby is almost guaranteed to win reelection in November in her deeply Republican district, and will remain one of two women in Alabama’s entire nine-member Congressional delegation. Currently, she is one of just 29 Republican women in Congress — six of whom are not running for reelection to their current seats in 2018 — making Roby’s presence all the more important for Republican women’s representation.</p>
<p>In the Republican runoff election for Lieutenant Governor, Will Ainsworth narrowly edged out opponent Twinkle Cavanaugh with just <a href="https://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2018/07/twinkle_cavanaugh_will_ainswor.html">51 percent of the vote</a>. If voters had selected Cavanaugh, she <a href="http://www.representwomen.org/_womentowatch_on_july_17">would have made history</a> in November alongside incumbent Governor Kay Ivey: no state has ever had a woman governor and lieutenant governor simultaneously. Yesterday’s runoff results mean that we won’t probably achieve this milestone of women’s representation for a few more years.</p>
<p>Onlookers to the race lamented the negative tone of the Lieutenant Governor’s race in its final few weeks: though both candidates turned to attack ads in the runoff process, <a href="http://altoday.com/archives/25210-accusations-and-name-calling-heat-up-lt-gov-race-between-twinkle-cavanaugh-vs-will-ainsworth-runoff">Ainsworth ran ads that made fun of Cavanaugh’s unusual first name and her lengthy political career</a>. Whether or not these were gendered attacks is up for debate; however, because Cavanaugh was the strong frontrunner in the initial primary, it is clear that both candidates’ negative tactics in the runoff election ended up hurting Cavanaugh’s campaign to a greater extent.</p>
<p>Alabama ranks 45 out of 50 in RepresentWomen’s <a href="https://fairvote.app.box.com/s/5tbs5jlggo01uguzjzqq5sixac0mb3fo">2018 Gender Parity Index</a>. In order to increase women’s representation, Alabama should consider systemic reforms, like ranked choice voting (RCV), to eliminate the need for runoff elections. Additionally, political parties and PACs in Alabama should adopt recruitment targets to ensure that women candidates can run with the same support as male candidates have always been able to. Alabama has a long way to go to reach parity, but systems reforms present a realistic and effective path forward.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/903/1*hiK3cbNN2_6vYKBAjubGpA.png" width="903" height="374" loading="lazy" />
</section>
|
2018 Primary Recap: Alabama
By Barbara Turnbull on July 18, 2018
Yesterday’s primary runoff elections in Alabama decided the closely-watched Republican nomination for AL-2, as well as a handful of statewide executive offices and state legislature seats. Even though runoff elections are costly and inefficient, the vast majority of cities and states continue to rely on runoffs to determine the result of primaries in which no candidate garnered more than 50 percent of the vote.
Just 12.7 percent of registered Alabama voters cast a ballot yesterday, which is especially dismal considering how much time and money was spent on campaigning since the initial primary election on June 5.
Martha Roby, the incumbent Congresswoman from AL-2, faced a primary runoff after garnering just under 40 percent of the primary vote. Roby’s meager show of support in the primary was attributed in part to her 2016 announcement that she would not vote for Donald Trump, though she has since walked back those comments and was endorsed by Trump on Twitter prior to the runoff election. Roby is almost guaranteed to win reelection in November in her deeply Republican district, and will remain one of two women in Alabama’s entire nine-member Congressional delegation. Currently, she is one of just 29 Republican women in Congress — six of whom are not running for reelection to their current seats in 2018 — making Roby’s presence all the more important for Republican women’s representation.
In the Republican runoff election for Lieutenant Governor, Will Ainsworth narrowly edged out opponent Twinkle Cavanaugh with just 51 percent of the vote. If voters had selected Cavanaugh, she would have made history in November alongside incumbent Governor Kay Ivey: no state has ever had a woman governor and lieutenant governor simultaneously. Yesterday’s runoff results mean that we won’t probably achieve this milestone of women’s representation for a few more years.
Onlookers to the race lamented the negative tone of the Lieutenant Governor’s race in its final few weeks: though both candidates turned to attack ads in the runoff process, Ainsworth ran ads that made fun of Cavanaugh’s unusual first name and her lengthy political career. Whether or not these were gendered attacks is up for debate; however, because Cavanaugh was the strong frontrunner in the initial primary, it is clear that both candidates’ negative tactics in the runoff election ended up hurting Cavanaugh’s campaign to a greater extent.
Alabama ranks 45 out of 50 in RepresentWomen’s 2018 Gender Parity Index. In order to increase women’s representation, Alabama should consider systemic reforms, like ranked choice voting (RCV), to eliminate the need for runoff elections. Additionally, political parties and PACs in Alabama should adopt recruitment targets to ensure that women candidates can run with the same support as male candidates have always been able to. Alabama has a long way to go to reach parity, but systems reforms present a realistic and effective path forward.
Header Image: Twinkle Cavanaugh (left) and Martha Roby (right).
|
91cab97a-7679-560c-848c-e6de5776c340
|
25/08/2025 16:02:36
|
|
https://fifi-leigh.medium.com/day-28-of-grateful-hearts-7183571a9804
|
medium.com
|
Day 28 of Grateful Hearts
|
Sunday, November 28, 2021
|
Fifi Leigh
|
https://medium.com/@fifi-leigh
|
7183571a9804
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*j-VesrSkdARZJSlH
|
2 min
|
2021-11-29T01:39:50.294000
|
2021-11-29T04:40:23.158000
|
2022-01-27T09:53:55.821000
| 2 | 60 |
en
|
Essay,Promptly,Grateful Hearts,November,Thanksgiving
|
<section>
<h3>Sunday, November 28, 2021</h3>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/2922/0*j-VesrSkdARZJSlH" width="2922" height="4740" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>I am grateful for having morals and ethics</strong>. I was never tempted to do anything stupid for money or materialism. I was never desperate to be with a certain group. No one is worth it. I didn’t join a sorority because I didn’t understand the big deal with it. I met a lot of people in college without any sorority, and my dormitory did a lot of parties. The people in these sororities and fraternities were average-looking. They weren’t even attractive. Most looked fat and frumpy-looking at UC Irvine. So, I had decided to do my own thing in college and have fun meeting a variety of people, all over the campus, although I hung out more with the people in my dorm because I saw them all the time, more like a family environment.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/5184/0*06Rze5O4BOH78eDc" width="5184" height="3888" loading="lazy" />
<p>Moreover, I was never tempted to be an alcoholic, even try drugs, or have any sexual issues, because again I was never desperate to be with a specific person, whether man or woman. A promiscuous Philippino catholic woman I know told me that I act like a nun because I am not wild like her. <em>Whatever? Wild is not my style</em>. But I don’t think I act like a nun because I like wearing various fashion styles, which include miniskirts, short shorts, and bandeau. <em>So, again, whatever?</em></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/5472/0*RDn0tzQLKpbyOOgE" width="5472" height="3648" loading="lazy" />
<p>Therefore, I am grateful I live by my own standards and beliefs, without following any of the bullshit around me, especially the garbage that was always pushed by the media, which most of the time sounded stupid and retarded. I am happy that I am intuitive and critical because I overthink everything I was presented, and I often noticed the twisted motive behind everything.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/3692/0*i1pnQiQuVFkCqwPN" width="3692" height="2771" loading="lazy" />
<p><em>I also wish that people stop eating cute and sweet sheep and lambs, among other animals.</em></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/3872/0*RQGQqPmnCbOortmO" width="3872" height="2592" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>Disclaimer:</strong> <em>The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not reflect the opinions or views of Promptly Written, Medium, or their affiliates.</em></p>
</section>
|
Day 28 of Grateful Hearts
Sunday, November 28, 2021
Photo by George Pagan III on Unsplash
I am grateful for having morals and ethics. I was never tempted to do anything stupid for money or materialism. I was never desperate to be with a certain group. No one is worth it. I didn’t join a sorority because I didn’t understand the big deal with it. I met a lot of people in college without any sorority, and my dormitory did a lot of parties. The people in these sororities and fraternities were average-looking. They weren’t even attractive. Most looked fat and frumpy-looking at UC Irvine. So, I had decided to do my own thing in college and have fun meeting a variety of people, all over the campus, although I hung out more with the people in my dorm because I saw them all the time, more like a family environment.
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
Moreover, I was never tempted to be an alcoholic, even try drugs, or have any sexual issues, because again I was never desperate to be with a specific person, whether man or woman. A promiscuous Philippino catholic woman I know told me that I act like a nun because I am not wild like her. Whatever? Wild is not my style. But I don’t think I act like a nun because I like wearing various fashion styles, which include miniskirts, short shorts, and bandeau. So, again, whatever?
Photo by Jorge Maya on Unsplash
Therefore, I am grateful I live by my own standards and beliefs, without following any of the bullshit around me, especially the garbage that was always pushed by the media, which most of the time sounded stupid and retarded. I am happy that I am intuitive and critical because I overthink everything I was presented, and I often noticed the twisted motive behind everything.
Photo by Sam Carter on Unsplash
I also wish that people stop eating cute and sweet sheep and lambs, among other animals.
Photo by Gemma Evans on Unsplash
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not reflect the opinions or views of Promptly Written, Medium, or their affiliates.
|
5bb477d5-ceee-550b-a617-2df8ce986094
|
25/08/2025 16:02:36
|
https://thescif.org/the-war-in-ukraine-the-most-pivotal-war-in-the-21st-century-7c015f38ba0b
|
medium.com
|
The War in Ukraine — The Most Pivotal War in the 21st Century
|
By Leon E. Panetta, former Secretary of Defense and NSI Advisory Board Member
|
National Security Institute
|
https://medium.com/@masonnatsecinst
|
7c015f38ba0b
|
2 min
|
2023-02-23T20:21:57.186000
|
2023-02-24T14:01:29.468000
|
2023-02-24T20:04:10.019000
| 1 | 51 |
en
|
Featured Analysis,Ukraine,Russia,War,National Security
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*ILHMxj7SG-QVFDTRHUWEhQ.png" width="1400" height="700" loading="lazy" />
<p><em><strong>By <a href="https://nationalsecurity.gmu.edu/leon-e-panetta/">Leon E.</em> Panetta</strong></a>, former Secretary of Defense and NSI Advisory Board Member</p>
<p>On this one year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it is important to ask what we have learned and why it is critical for Ukraine to prevail. The lessons of history are the lessons of Ukraine — we cannot allow tyrants to invade and destroy sovereign democracies. The United States and our NATO allies had the courage to make the right choice — to unify in opposition to Putin and make him pay a price for his invasion. The Russian economy has been battered by tough sanctions; brave Ukrainian fighters have received critical and advanced weapons and training; and NATO, rather than being weakened by Putin, has been strengthened by reinforcements and attracted new membership from Finland and Sweden. Russia is a depleted force with heavy casualties, poor command and control, weak logistics, and outdated weapons.</p>
<p>In the face of defeat, however, Putin has vowed to keep fighting in the hope that he can break the will of the Ukrainian people, the U.S. and NATO. We cannot allow that to happen — we must be unified, provide necessary weapons and ammunition, and whatever support is necessary to maintain the Ukrainian initiative. This is the most pivotal war in the 21st century — it will decide not only what happens with democracy in Ukraine but the fate of all democracies in the 21st century. The message we send to Putin is the same message we must send to Xi in China, Kim Jong Un in North Korea and the Supreme Leader in Iran — we will not allow tyrants to invade and destroy sovereign democracies.</p>
<p><em>Leon Edward Panetta served as the 23rd Secretary of Defense from July 2011 to February 2013, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from February 2009 to June 2011.</em></p>
<p><em>In 1997, he and his wife, Sylvia Panetta, established the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit study center to inspire men and women to lives of public service. He currently serves as the Insitute’s Chairman.</em></p>
</section>
|
The War in Ukraine — The Most Pivotal War in the 21st Century
By Leon E. Panetta, former Secretary of Defense and NSI Advisory Board Member
On this one year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it is important to ask what we have learned and why it is critical for Ukraine to prevail. The lessons of history are the lessons of Ukraine — we cannot allow tyrants to invade and destroy sovereign democracies. The United States and our NATO allies had the courage to make the right choice — to unify in opposition to Putin and make him pay a price for his invasion. The Russian economy has been battered by tough sanctions; brave Ukrainian fighters have received critical and advanced weapons and training; and NATO, rather than being weakened by Putin, has been strengthened by reinforcements and attracted new membership from Finland and Sweden. Russia is a depleted force with heavy casualties, poor command and control, weak logistics, and outdated weapons.
In the face of defeat, however, Putin has vowed to keep fighting in the hope that he can break the will of the Ukrainian people, the U.S. and NATO. We cannot allow that to happen — we must be unified, provide necessary weapons and ammunition, and whatever support is necessary to maintain the Ukrainian initiative. This is the most pivotal war in the 21st century — it will decide not only what happens with democracy in Ukraine but the fate of all democracies in the 21st century. The message we send to Putin is the same message we must send to Xi in China, Kim Jong Un in North Korea and the Supreme Leader in Iran — we will not allow tyrants to invade and destroy sovereign democracies.
Leon Edward Panetta served as the 23rd Secretary of Defense from July 2011 to February 2013, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from February 2009 to June 2011.
In 1997, he and his wife, Sylvia Panetta, established the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit study center to inspire men and women to lives of public service. He currently serves as the Insitute’s Chairman.
|
f2b144e1-6819-5b9e-9969-e64476253563
|
25/08/2025 16:02:36
|
|
https://themalanb.medium.com/blm-5a1b5227bd1d
|
medium.com
|
#BLM
|
I can’t ignore your ignorance
Because it can kill me
choke out my words
Blue bullets tear through
flesh out truth
on phone lens
clouded…
|
Malan B
|
https://medium.com/@themalanb
|
5a1b5227bd1d
| null |
0 min
|
2018-01-13T18:57:11.311000
|
2018-01-13T19:02:10.409000
|
2018-04-14T04:37:00.350000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Blm,Poetry,Poetry On Medium,Poetry Writing,BlackLivesMatter
|
<section>
<p>I can’t ignore your ignorance
Because it can kill me
choke out my words
Blue bullets tear through
flesh out truth
on phone lens
clouded by
white glaucoma privilege
surgery need
for you to see me
clearly
#BLM</p>
</section>
|
#BLM
I can’t ignore your ignorance
Because it can kill me
choke out my words
Blue bullets tear through
flesh out truth
on phone lens
clouded by
white glaucoma privilege
surgery need
for you to see me
clearly
#BLM
|
3b341bde-2791-5172-948f-9d75492e00e3
|
25/08/2025 16:02:37
|
https://medium.com/@kamaufabisch1175/building-an-intelligent-graphrag-with-knowledge-graph-and-modus-frameworks-fb34565c6c08
|
medium.com
|
Building an Intelligent GraphRAG with Knowledge Graph and Modus Frameworks
|
With the rise of AI-driven technologies, integrating knowledge graphs with AI models creates a powerful synergy for dynamic applications…
|
Fabisch kamau
|
https://medium.com/@kamaufabisch1175
|
fb34565c6c08
|
2 min
|
2025-01-02T10:48:41.199000
|
2025-01-02T11:00:26.580000
|
2025-01-02T12:29:52.258000
| 0 | 1 |
en
|
Hypermodernity,Modus Framework,Neo4j,Graphrag,GraphQL
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1366/1*Y4AOQNaQhWMpQ5lOU2XdEw.png" width="1366" height="650" loading="lazy" />
<p>With the rise of AI-driven technologies, integrating knowledge graphs with AI models creates a powerful synergy for dynamic applications. This blog outlines how I built a GraphRAG (Graph-based Retrieval Augmented Generation) project using <strong>Modus frameworks</strong> for the backend.</p>
<h3>Why You Should Chose Modus Frameworks</h3>
<p>When building any backend, ease of use and seamless integration with other technologies are vital. Modus frameworks stood out for its simplicity and powerful features. Here’s why:</p>
<p><strong>API Endpoints Made Easy</strong>:
With Modus, exporting functions in <strong>AssemblyScript</strong> automatically generates API endpoints. No extra routing or controller setup is needed. The framework even provides API key-based authentication upon deployment, making security a breeze.</p>
<p><strong>Seamless AI Model Interaction</strong>:
Modus frameworks offer built-in tools for interacting with AI models like GPT-4. Its straightforward configuration through the modus.json file lets you define models and endpoints with minimal effort.</p>
<p><strong>Neo4j Database Integration</strong>:
Modus simplifies Neo4j database connections through its configuration file. Instead of lengthy boilerplate code, a few lines in modus.json allow you to establish a secure connection.</p>
<h3>Setting Up Modus for My Project</h3>
<p>Here’s a glimpse of my modus.json configuration:</p>
<pre><code class="language-bash">{
"$schema": "https://schema.hypermode.com/modus.json",
"endpoints": {
"default": {
"type": "graphql",
"path": "/graphql",
"auth": "bearer-token"
}
},
"models": {
"llm": {
"sourceModel": "gpt-4o-mini",
"connection": "openai",
"path": "v1/chat/completions"
}
},
"connections": {
"neo4jsandbox": {
"type": "neo4j",
"dbUri": "bolt://98.81.35.253:7687",
"username": "neo4j",
"password": "{{NEO4J_PASSWORD}}"
},
"openai": {
"type": "http",
"baseUrl": "https://api.openai.com/",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer {{API_KEY}}"
}
}
}
}</code></pre>
<ul>
<li><strong>GraphQL Endpoint</strong>: Provides an easy way to query the backend. Authentication is handled via bearer tokens, ensuring secure interactions.</li>
<li><strong>AI Model Integration</strong>: The llm model uses OpenAI's GPT-4 through the specified API connection, enabling advanced natural language processing tasks and function calling when using databases like noej as tools.</li>
<li><strong>Neo4j Connection</strong>: Credentials for connecting to the Neo4j sandbox are securely managed, allowing the framework to interact seamlessly with the graph database.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Features of My GraphRAG Project</h3>
<p><strong>AI-Augmented Querying</strong>:
Using OpenAI’s GPT-4 model, users can query the knowledge graph in natural language. The AI interprets the queries, maps them to the graph schema, and retrieves the relevant data.</p>
<p><strong>Dynamic Knowledge Representation</strong>:
Neo4j allows me to represent and query complex relationships. Combined with Modus, I could easily manage CRUD operations for nodes and relationships.</p>
<p><strong>Streamlined Development Workflow</strong>:
The ability to export functions in AssemblyScript and instantly generate endpoints saved me countless hours. Modus’s abstractions enabled me to focus on core functionalities instead of backend boilerplate.</p>
<h3>Lessons Learned</h3>
<p>Building this project taught me several valuable lessons about combining modern frameworks with AI and databases:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Configuration-Driven Development</strong>:
Modus’s reliance on the modus.json file for defining models, endpoints, and connections streamlines backend setup and reduces errors.</li>
<li><strong>AI + Graph Synergy</strong>:
GraphRAG demonstrates how AI can enhance knowledge graph queries. By embedding AI-powered natural language understanding, users can retrieve data intuitively.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The Modus framework is a game-changer for developers looking to build AI-powered applications. Its simplicity, combined with powerful integrations like OpenAI and Neo4j, makes it an excellent choice for projects like GraphRAG. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, Modus can help you bring your ideas to life. Most importantly, Modus provides seamless AI integration, enabling you to add advanced capabilities to your full-stack projects without the usual complexities.</p>
</section>
|
Building an Intelligent GraphRAG with Knowledge Graph and Modus Frameworks
With the rise of AI-driven technologies, integrating knowledge graphs with AI models creates a powerful synergy for dynamic applications. This blog outlines how I built a GraphRAG (Graph-based Retrieval Augmented Generation) project using Modus frameworks for the backend.
Why You Should Chose Modus Frameworks
When building any backend, ease of use and seamless integration with other technologies are vital. Modus frameworks stood out for its simplicity and powerful features. Here’s why:
API Endpoints Made Easy:
With Modus, exporting functions in AssemblyScript automatically generates API endpoints. No extra routing or controller setup is needed. The framework even provides API key-based authentication upon deployment, making security a breeze.
Seamless AI Model Interaction:
Modus frameworks offer built-in tools for interacting with AI models like GPT-4. Its straightforward configuration through the modus.json file lets you define models and endpoints with minimal effort.
Neo4j Database Integration:
Modus simplifies Neo4j database connections through its configuration file. Instead of lengthy boilerplate code, a few lines in modus.json allow you to establish a secure connection.
Setting Up Modus for My Project
Here’s a glimpse of my modus.json configuration:
{
"$schema": "https://schema.hypermode.com/modus.json",
"endpoints": {
"default": {
"type": "graphql",
"path": "/graphql",
"auth": "bearer-token"
}
},
"models": {
"llm": {
"sourceModel": "gpt-4o-mini",
"connection": "openai",
"path": "v1/chat/completions"
}
},
"connections": {
"neo4jsandbox": {
"type": "neo4j",
"dbUri": "bolt://98.81.35.253:7687",
"username": "neo4j",
"password": "{{NEO4J_PASSWORD}}"
},
"openai": {
"type": "http",
"baseUrl": "https://api.openai.com/",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer {{API_KEY}}"
}
}
}
}
GraphQL Endpoint: Provides an easy way to query the backend. Authentication is handled via bearer tokens, ensuring secure interactions.
AI Model Integration: The llm model uses OpenAI's GPT-4 through the specified API connection, enabling advanced natural language processing tasks and function calling when using databases like noej as tools.
Neo4j Connection: Credentials for connecting to the Neo4j sandbox are securely managed, allowing the framework to interact seamlessly with the graph database.
Key Features of My GraphRAG Project
AI-Augmented Querying:
Using OpenAI’s GPT-4 model, users can query the knowledge graph in natural language. The AI interprets the queries, maps them to the graph schema, and retrieves the relevant data.
Dynamic Knowledge Representation:
Neo4j allows me to represent and query complex relationships. Combined with Modus, I could easily manage CRUD operations for nodes and relationships.
Streamlined Development Workflow:
The ability to export functions in AssemblyScript and instantly generate endpoints saved me countless hours. Modus’s abstractions enabled me to focus on core functionalities instead of backend boilerplate.
Lessons Learned
Building this project taught me several valuable lessons about combining modern frameworks with AI and databases:
Configuration-Driven Development:
Modus’s reliance on the modus.json file for defining models, endpoints, and connections streamlines backend setup and reduces errors.
AI + Graph Synergy:
GraphRAG demonstrates how AI can enhance knowledge graph queries. By embedding AI-powered natural language understanding, users can retrieve data intuitively.
Conclusion
The Modus framework is a game-changer for developers looking to build AI-powered applications. Its simplicity, combined with powerful integrations like OpenAI and Neo4j, makes it an excellent choice for projects like GraphRAG. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, Modus can help you bring your ideas to life. Most importantly, Modus provides seamless AI integration, enabling you to add advanced capabilities to your full-stack projects without the usual complexities.
|
f42170fe-335a-5a1b-b07e-feb6d5393976
|
25/08/2025 16:02:38
|
|
https://medium.com/@NewFounderCoach/unworthy-youarebrilliantstartup-552a06ae2a0c
|
medium.com
|
Unworthy — YouAreBrilliantStartup
| null |
Petr Palan (NewFounderCoach)
|
https://medium.com/@NewFounderCoach
|
552a06ae2a0c
| null |
0 min
|
2018-05-04T08:30:56.403000
|
2018-05-04T08:30:55
|
2019-12-31T09:36:04.302000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Startup Poetry,Unworthiness,Youarebrilliantstartup,Startup,Thoughts
|
<section>
<p>You should never feel unworthy of all the good things you attract. You should never feel sorry for all the bad things you attract. Take the time to see they are the same, just lessons on your way and it was you who attracted them both.</p>
<p><em>~YouAreBrilliantStartup</em></p>
<p>(billy chapata’s poetry adapted for the startup world, go read original <a href="http://www.billychapata.com">www.billychapata.com</a>)</p>
<p><em>Originally published at <a href="http://pp2.</em>tech/unworthy-youarebrilliantstartup/">Startups & Europe</a>.</p>
</section>
|
Unworthy — YouAreBrilliantStartup
You should never feel unworthy of all the good things you attract. You should never feel sorry for all the bad things you attract. Take the time to see they are the same, just lessons on your way and it was you who attracted them both.
~YouAreBrilliantStartup
(billy chapata’s poetry adapted for the startup world, go read original www.billychapata.com)
Originally published at Startups & Europe.
|
54e1825f-bc8e-53a1-bb17-2fd593eabd80
|
25/08/2025 16:02:38
|
https://chrisdaviescoach.medium.com/sprint-goals-more-important-than-the-backlog-5e9fdd4c6b3
|
medium.com
|
Sprint Goals — more important than the Backlog?
|
I like a good Sprint Goal. Having an objective to strive for is a good way of focussing attention on what’s important, but there’s more to…
|
Chris J Davies
|
https://medium.com/@chrisdaviescoach
|
5e9fdd4c6b3
| null |
2 min
|
2016-12-08T11:31:31.772000
|
2016-12-08T11:33:24.966000
|
2018-04-04T20:49:25.621000
| 1 | 21 |
en
|
Agile,Scrum,Sprint Goal
|
<section>
<p>I like a good Sprint Goal. Having an objective to strive for is a good way of focussing attention on what’s important, but there’s more to it than that.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.romanpichler.com/blog/effective-sprint-goals/">Roman Pichler</a> lists several benefits. A sprint goal, he says:</p>
<p>· Supports prioritisation</p>
<p>· Creates focus and facilitates teamwork</p>
<p>· Helps obtain relevant feedback</p>
<p>· Supports stakeholder communication</p>
<p>He goes on to describe how to write a good sprint goal. The key message from his article, I believe is this “<em>As a rule of thumb, every sprint should have one shared goal</em>”</p>
<p>One. Just one. Not a list.</p>
<p>If you are using SAFe, however, you are apparently <a href="http://www.scaledagileframework.com/iteration-goals/">allowed to make a list</a>. But I don’t think that’s very useful.</p>
<p>To me a list of sprint goals brings into question which goal is more important than the rest. Some teams I know rank their sprint goals from most to least important. This surely defeats the objective. Yes, it supports prioritisation, but you have simply substituted a list of user stories for a shorter list of sprint goals. That does not help the team focus.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mountaingoatsoftware.com/agile/scrum/sprint-planning-meeting">Mike Cohn</a> describes a Sprint Goal as “<em>a short, one- or two-sentence description of what the team plans to achieve during the sprint. It is written collaboratively by the team and the product owner</em>”</p>
<p>But there is another factor here that I consider the most powerful aspect of a sprint goal. And for that, you’ll have to go back to the <a href="http://www.scrumguides.org/">Scrum Guide</a> itself.</p>
<p><em>“The Sprint Goal gives the Development Team some flexibility regarding the functionality implemented within the Sprint”</em></p>
<p>This has powerful implications. It means that the Sprint Goal is more important than the Sprint Backlog. That the team have the authority to add or remove Sprint Backlog items to deliver the Sprint Goal.</p>
<p>The problem I have always had with a Sprint Backlog is the way that it is often treated just like the predictive plans of old, just over a shorter time. The Sprint Backlog is a plan, but we should value <strong>‘adapting to change over following a plan’</strong>, right? So, if we have more work in the backlog than we can complete, it makes sense for the team to adapt and remove anything they feel isn’t essential to fulfilling the Sprint Goal.</p>
<p>This is one way that we support the Agile Principle of <strong>‘maximising the amount of work <em>not</</strong>em> done’.</p>
<p>Sprint Goals are great, but not if they are just a summarised list of the user stories in the backlog.</p>
<p>The Sprint Goal needs to provide a succinct, clear and achievable objective, agreed by all team members, that supersedes the backlog items in the sense that the goal is more important than the tasks required to get there.</p>
<p>Please feel free to comment</p>
</section>
|
Sprint Goals — more important than the Backlog?
I like a good Sprint Goal. Having an objective to strive for is a good way of focussing attention on what’s important, but there’s more to it than that.
Roman Pichler lists several benefits. A sprint goal, he says:
· Supports prioritisation
· Creates focus and facilitates teamwork
· Helps obtain relevant feedback
· Supports stakeholder communication
He goes on to describe how to write a good sprint goal. The key message from his article, I believe is this “As a rule of thumb, every sprint should have one shared goal”
One. Just one. Not a list.
If you are using SAFe, however, you are apparently allowed to make a list. But I don’t think that’s very useful.
To me a list of sprint goals brings into question which goal is more important than the rest. Some teams I know rank their sprint goals from most to least important. This surely defeats the objective. Yes, it supports prioritisation, but you have simply substituted a list of user stories for a shorter list of sprint goals. That does not help the team focus.
Mike Cohn describes a Sprint Goal as “a short, one- or two-sentence description of what the team plans to achieve during the sprint. It is written collaboratively by the team and the product owner”
But there is another factor here that I consider the most powerful aspect of a sprint goal. And for that, you’ll have to go back to the Scrum Guide itself.
“The Sprint Goal gives the Development Team some flexibility regarding the functionality implemented within the Sprint”
This has powerful implications. It means that the Sprint Goal is more important than the Sprint Backlog. That the team have the authority to add or remove Sprint Backlog items to deliver the Sprint Goal.
The problem I have always had with a Sprint Backlog is the way that it is often treated just like the predictive plans of old, just over a shorter time. The Sprint Backlog is a plan, but we should value ‘adapting to change over following a plan’, right? So, if we have more work in the backlog than we can complete, it makes sense for the team to adapt and remove anything they feel isn’t essential to fulfilling the Sprint Goal.
This is one way that we support the Agile Principle of ‘maximising the amount of work not done’.
Sprint Goals are great, but not if they are just a summarised list of the user stories in the backlog.
The Sprint Goal needs to provide a succinct, clear and achievable objective, agreed by all team members, that supersedes the backlog items in the sense that the goal is more important than the tasks required to get there.
Please feel free to comment
|
e1cf5b10-f0a1-509b-8388-a5243bc4d832
|
25/08/2025 16:02:39
|
https://medium.com/@micahfraim/faux-altruism-the-crutch-of-the-wantrepreneur-111b9955c254
|
medium.com
|
Faux Altruism: The Crutch of the Wantrepreneur
|
“My business is about helping others, not profit” “My company has a mission to do good. I’m not worried about the bottom line”
|
Micah Fraim
|
https://medium.com/@micahfraim
|
111b9955c254
|
5 min
|
2019-10-03T16:09:59.490000
|
2019-03-08T23:01:41
|
2022-03-03T20:41:29.514000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Wantrepreneur,Entrepreneurship,Business,Business Growth,Profit
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*88o217cY8caEHrkS.jpeg" width="2000" height="1334" loading="lazy" />
<p><em>“My business is about helping others, not profit”</em> <em>“My company has a mission to do good. I’m not worried about the bottom line”</em></p>
<p>There’s nothing wrong with being altruistic. Helping others is one of the single most worthwhile things we can pursue. And it is certainly true that there is no need for us to be unduly focused on material things. Having money is not going to make us happy, as most wealthy people will attest.</p>
<p>But these mindsets often present very real difficulties when applied as the <em>cornerstone of a business.</em></p>
<p>How many times have you heard people say things similar to the quotes at the beginning of this article? Were <strong>any</strong> of those people successful?</p>
<p>I’ve heard the above quotes (or some variation of them) many, many times. And <strong>not once</strong> were they spoken by a successful entrepreneur. (And interestingly they are often said by people who tend to be rather insufferable. Those who feel the need to talk about how generous they are, and tell everyone the nice things they do are rarely <strong>truly</strong> generous.)</p>
<p>Let’s discuss the three major issues with this mindset and why it invariably leads to failure.</p>
<h1>Incorrect Prioritization</h1>
<p>Helping others is great, but only if we can help ourselves. Are we actually in a position to do that yet? Are we self-sustaining, taking care of ourselves independent of the financial support of other people or even institutions? Or might we ourselves be a drain on others in some fashion while we are touting our supposed focus on giving to those in need?</p>
<p>Is our business profitable? Is it sustaining us as our <strong>primary</strong> source of income? And is it clear that it will continue to do so — even if we run into significant economic turbulence?</p>
<p>If so, we can help others out to our hearts’ content. But if not, we need to get our priorities in order. We need to take care of ourselves before we try to take care of other people.</p>
<p>If we go out of business or never turn a profit, we aren’t going to be helping anyone.</p>
<h2>Business IS About Profit</h2>
<p>Sorry guys and gals. That’s the cold, hard truth of the matter: business <strong>is</strong> about profit. If you don’t have profit, you don’t have a business.</p>
<p>In “The Millionaire Booklet”, Grant Cardone says that <em>“settling for a middle-class life is a compromise and it’s selfish.”</em> The entire booklet is his contention that becoming ultra-wealthy is the only <strong>ethical</strong> thing to do, because then you are in a financial position to help others. He argues that those who settle for less are actually selfish: selfish of their time, their energy, and their resources.</p>
<p>That argument is admittedly hyperbolic. And I don’t mean to suggest that striving after enormous wealth should be one’s mission in life. I don’t know any reasonable person who would agree that wealth is the pathway to becoming a better person. In your personal life, there are much more worthwhile pursuits.</p>
<p>But for business? It’s spot on. The booklet notes that <em>“when you compromise your finances, you</em></p>
<p><em>become unable to help others because you are struggling to simply take care of yourself.”</em></p>
<p>Successful businesses and their owners donate tremendous sums of money to charitable causes. But that’s <strong>because</strong> of their focus on money, <strong>not in spite of it</strong>. That excess cash (and the donations that follow) are a byproduct of their focusing on profitability first.</p>
<p>In an extreme, yet familiar, example consider Bill Gates and his Gates Foundation. He has donated billions (with a “b”) of dollars to worthy causes. And that is truly admirable. But when he and his buddies started Microsoft, was their initial mission all about charitable giving? No, they set out to develop a technology, have it accepted, and make money from it. And they worked tirelessly to make that vision a profitable reality. Then when it did succeed (to a degree they probably never envisioned) they were in a position to be generous and make life-changing contributions to society. But not before they made the money.</p>
<h2>Justification for Failure</h2>
<p>This is the least recognized factor, but perhaps the most insidious one: it provides an excuse and justification for why the business does not succeed.</p>
<p>Take my business as a counterpoint. I make it very clear that my business is about profit. I enjoy what I do, but this is not a hobby. Profit is <strong>the</strong> goal. And if I am profitable, then I can continue to do good work for my clients that improves their financial lives. If there is no profit, then I cease to be able to provide that benefit.</p>
<p>So if my business fails, then I failed. And there’s no excuse I can come up with to justify that failure.</p>
<p>But for the people who talk nonstop about their mission, they always have that as an excuse to fall back on:</p>
<ul>
<li>Not making much profit? It must be because you’re so focused on other people!</li>
<li>Having to drive for Uber and get a part-time job to pay your rent? That’s fine, you don’t care about money!</li>
<li>Had to close up shop completely? It’s not because you actually failed, it’s because you cared too much!</li>
</ul>
<p>That’s why those who are the most vocal about their altruistic endeavors are the least likely to succeed. They rarely make enough to truly support themselves (let alone other people), which is why the title calls them “wantrepeneurs”, not entrepreneurs. Their “selflessness” (and I say that somewhat sarcastically, since people who are so vocal about how wonderful they are, are seldom sincere) is always available as a justification for their lack of success. And it ends up being a crutch that holds them back from ever achieving it.</p>
<p>(This is first-cousin to a similar excuse that we often hear: “My business failed because I wasn’t willing to be greedy and underhanded and unprincipled like all those other people.” Yeah, right.)</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Being generous is a wonderful thing to which we should all aspire. Helping others is something we should all do. But <strong>for a business</strong>, making money has to be the primary goal. If we focus on other things, we will likely fail. And worse yet, we won’t learn any lesson from the experience because we will blame the failure on our astounding selflessness.</p>
<p>But if we focus on profit first, then we are much more likely to succeed. And then we can actually help other people for the long-term.</p>
<p><em>Any accounting, business, or tax advice contained in this communication, including attachments and enclosures, is not intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid tax-related penalties.</em></p>
<p><em>Originally published at <a href="https://www.fraimcpa.com/faux-alt</em>ruism-crutch-wantrepreneur/">https://www.fraimcpa.com</a> on March 8, 2019.</p>
</section>
|
Faux Altruism: The Crutch of the Wantrepreneur
“My business is about helping others, not profit” “My company has a mission to do good. I’m not worried about the bottom line”
There’s nothing wrong with being altruistic. Helping others is one of the single most worthwhile things we can pursue. And it is certainly true that there is no need for us to be unduly focused on material things. Having money is not going to make us happy, as most wealthy people will attest.
But these mindsets often present very real difficulties when applied as the cornerstone of a business.
How many times have you heard people say things similar to the quotes at the beginning of this article? Were any of those people successful?
I’ve heard the above quotes (or some variation of them) many, many times. And not once were they spoken by a successful entrepreneur. (And interestingly they are often said by people who tend to be rather insufferable. Those who feel the need to talk about how generous they are, and tell everyone the nice things they do are rarely truly generous.)
Let’s discuss the three major issues with this mindset and why it invariably leads to failure.
Incorrect Prioritization
Helping others is great, but only if we can help ourselves. Are we actually in a position to do that yet? Are we self-sustaining, taking care of ourselves independent of the financial support of other people or even institutions? Or might we ourselves be a drain on others in some fashion while we are touting our supposed focus on giving to those in need?
Is our business profitable? Is it sustaining us as our primary source of income? And is it clear that it will continue to do so — even if we run into significant economic turbulence?
If so, we can help others out to our hearts’ content. But if not, we need to get our priorities in order. We need to take care of ourselves before we try to take care of other people.
If we go out of business or never turn a profit, we aren’t going to be helping anyone.
Business IS About Profit
Sorry guys and gals. That’s the cold, hard truth of the matter: business is about profit. If you don’t have profit, you don’t have a business.
In “The Millionaire Booklet”, Grant Cardone says that “settling for a middle-class life is a compromise and it’s selfish.” The entire booklet is his contention that becoming ultra-wealthy is the only ethical thing to do, because then you are in a financial position to help others. He argues that those who settle for less are actually selfish: selfish of their time, their energy, and their resources.
That argument is admittedly hyperbolic. And I don’t mean to suggest that striving after enormous wealth should be one’s mission in life. I don’t know any reasonable person who would agree that wealth is the pathway to becoming a better person. In your personal life, there are much more worthwhile pursuits.
But for business? It’s spot on. The booklet notes that “when you compromise your finances, you
become unable to help others because you are struggling to simply take care of yourself.”
Successful businesses and their owners donate tremendous sums of money to charitable causes. But that’s because of their focus on money, not in spite of it. That excess cash (and the donations that follow) are a byproduct of their focusing on profitability first.
In an extreme, yet familiar, example consider Bill Gates and his Gates Foundation. He has donated billions (with a “b”) of dollars to worthy causes. And that is truly admirable. But when he and his buddies started Microsoft, was their initial mission all about charitable giving? No, they set out to develop a technology, have it accepted, and make money from it. And they worked tirelessly to make that vision a profitable reality. Then when it did succeed (to a degree they probably never envisioned) they were in a position to be generous and make life-changing contributions to society. But not before they made the money.
Justification for Failure
This is the least recognized factor, but perhaps the most insidious one: it provides an excuse and justification for why the business does not succeed.
Take my business as a counterpoint. I make it very clear that my business is about profit. I enjoy what I do, but this is not a hobby. Profit is the goal. And if I am profitable, then I can continue to do good work for my clients that improves their financial lives. If there is no profit, then I cease to be able to provide that benefit.
So if my business fails, then I failed. And there’s no excuse I can come up with to justify that failure.
But for the people who talk nonstop about their mission, they always have that as an excuse to fall back on:
Not making much profit? It must be because you’re so focused on other people!
Having to drive for Uber and get a part-time job to pay your rent? That’s fine, you don’t care about money!
Had to close up shop completely? It’s not because you actually failed, it’s because you cared too much!
That’s why those who are the most vocal about their altruistic endeavors are the least likely to succeed. They rarely make enough to truly support themselves (let alone other people), which is why the title calls them “wantrepeneurs”, not entrepreneurs. Their “selflessness” (and I say that somewhat sarcastically, since people who are so vocal about how wonderful they are, are seldom sincere) is always available as a justification for their lack of success. And it ends up being a crutch that holds them back from ever achieving it.
(This is first-cousin to a similar excuse that we often hear: “My business failed because I wasn’t willing to be greedy and underhanded and unprincipled like all those other people.” Yeah, right.)
Conclusion
Being generous is a wonderful thing to which we should all aspire. Helping others is something we should all do. But for a business, making money has to be the primary goal. If we focus on other things, we will likely fail. And worse yet, we won’t learn any lesson from the experience because we will blame the failure on our astounding selflessness.
But if we focus on profit first, then we are much more likely to succeed. And then we can actually help other people for the long-term.
Any accounting, business, or tax advice contained in this communication, including attachments and enclosures, is not intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid tax-related penalties.
Originally published at https://www.fraimcpa.com on March 8, 2019.
|
af024253-1768-55db-9a11-120d9693c717
|
25/08/2025 16:02:39
|
|
https://medium.com/dableblog/what-is-dable-doing-to-deliver-clean-ads-to-publishers-16b36150f9af
|
medium.com
|
What is Dable doing to deliver ‘Clean Ads’ to publishers?
|
It has become more important for publishers to provide decent ads to users.
|
Dable
|
https://medium.com/@yeeun_dable
|
16b36150f9af
|
3 min
|
2021-02-04T01:44:21.054000
|
2021-02-04T01:51:57.756000
|
2021-12-29T16:23:46.829000
| 0 | 2 |
en
|
Publishers,Advertisers,Clean,Content,Notice
|
<section>
<p>It has become more important for publishers to provide decent ads to users.</p>
<p>Google Chrome, according to ‘<a href="https://www.betterads.org/standards/">Better Ads Standards</a>’, has blocked ads such as Pop-ups and Autoplay videos that disturb the user’s content usage. And it has also begun to block ads on sites that use too many resources.<em><a href="https://medium.com/dableblog/please-use-low-file-images-to-prevent-g</em>oogle-chromes-heavy-ad-intervention-adcf3b173e6f">(Please use low file images to prevent Google Chrome’s “Heavy Ad Intervention</a>) Other browsers such as Safari and Internet Explorer have also blocked advertisements that harm the user experience by their policy.</p>
<p>Providing clean ads also contributes to protecting the media’s brand safety and improving the media’s revenue. Clean ads help media build brand trust and generate long-term revenue through increased page views, reading time, traffic and more.</p>
<p><a href="http://dable.io/en/">Dable</a>, the №1 content discovery platform in Asia, is putting in various efforts to help publishers deliver clean ads to users not only to provide a satisfactory user experience, but also to help publishers benefit in a monetary and ethical manner.</p>
<blockquote><em><strong>How does Dable attempt to provide ‘Cle</em>an Ads’?</strong></blockquote>
<p><strong>Dable only provides Trusted Ads from Trusted Advertisers</strong></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/551/0*ETeMyot1LzrumqF6" width="551" height="395" loading="lazy" />
<p>Dable only provides trusted ads from trusted advertisers. At Dable, <strong>advertisers require a business registration to run their ads</strong>.<strong> </strong>And depending on the country or industry, some are required to submit an Ad License or a Certification of Advertisement Content for advertising contents that belong in sensitive categories.<em>(<a href="https://medium.com/dableblog/content-guideline-please-check-the-prohibi</em>ted-ad-products-by-country-before-registering-your-ads-b428c6a937c">Please check the Prohibited Ad Products by Country before registering your ads!</a>)</p>
<p>Such a requirement protects publishers’ reputation by preventing risks such as causing visitors to leave the website or face legal consequences.</p>
<p><strong>Dable has a strict Ad-Review System</strong></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/317/1*2eezUqFqZwBdK9M_9pdsaw.jpeg" width="317" height="320" loading="lazy" />
<p>Dable has its own ad review system. <strong>Following its strict content guideline, Dable conducts preliminary screening of all content to prevent exposing sensitive and inappropriate ads to users. </strong>Additionally, approved ads are also reviewed periodically to check its compliance with Dable’s policy to prevent advertisers from making unauthorized modifications to ad contents after approval.</p>
<p>With a thorough screening system, publishers can be assured in executing valuable and clean ads.</p>
<p><strong>Publishers can expose Ads of the desired quality</strong></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/700/0*Lsd4HRCgnn4zj53q" width="700" height="396" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>Dable classifies content registered by advertisers as clean, normal, or sensitive according to the standard of sensitivity which has been agreed with publishers</strong>.<em>(<a href="https://medium.com/dableblog/use-clean-content-</em>to-display-your-ads-on-premium-media-1fc7d59ad320">Use Clean Content to display your Ads on premium media</a>) Through this standard, advertisers are encouraged to use clean ads. And publishers can set the contents’ sensitivity levels to expose by category (industry) and display only those ads on their website.</p>
<p>In other words, publishers can only expose clean and secure adverts onto their sites. Through such a standard publishers are able to deliver safe content and satisfy users with what they are consuming.</p>
<p>In addition, Dable takes active measures such as excluding certain advertisers or categories at the request of the media company to provide clean advertising to publishers.</p>
<p>Dable has always made a strenuous effort to set higher standards and to provide a better user experience and deliver valuable content through high quality ads. Dable will continue to cooperate with the media to reach their needs.</p>
<p>We look forward to hearing your feedback for mutual development.</p>
<p>Please contact [email protected] for media inquiries and [email protected] for advertising inquiries.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/800/0*sQU-mtaqu7fxAS-C" width="800" height="157" loading="lazy" />
</section>
|
What is Dable doing to deliver ‘Clean Ads’ to publishers?
It has become more important for publishers to provide decent ads to users.
Google Chrome, according to ‘Better Ads Standards’, has blocked ads such as Pop-ups and Autoplay videos that disturb the user’s content usage. And it has also begun to block ads on sites that use too many resources.(Please use low file images to prevent Google Chrome’s “Heavy Ad Intervention) Other browsers such as Safari and Internet Explorer have also blocked advertisements that harm the user experience by their policy.
Providing clean ads also contributes to protecting the media’s brand safety and improving the media’s revenue. Clean ads help media build brand trust and generate long-term revenue through increased page views, reading time, traffic and more.
Dable, the №1 content discovery platform in Asia, is putting in various efforts to help publishers deliver clean ads to users not only to provide a satisfactory user experience, but also to help publishers benefit in a monetary and ethical manner.
How does Dable attempt to provide ‘Clean Ads’?
Dable only provides Trusted Ads from Trusted Advertisers
Dable only provides trusted ads from trusted advertisers. At Dable, advertisers require a business registration to run their ads. And depending on the country or industry, some are required to submit an Ad License or a Certification of Advertisement Content for advertising contents that belong in sensitive categories.(Please check the Prohibited Ad Products by Country before registering your ads!)
Such a requirement protects publishers’ reputation by preventing risks such as causing visitors to leave the website or face legal consequences.
Dable has a strict Ad-Review System
Dable has its own ad review system. Following its strict content guideline, Dable conducts preliminary screening of all content to prevent exposing sensitive and inappropriate ads to users. Additionally, approved ads are also reviewed periodically to check its compliance with Dable’s policy to prevent advertisers from making unauthorized modifications to ad contents after approval.
With a thorough screening system, publishers can be assured in executing valuable and clean ads.
Publishers can expose Ads of the desired quality
Dable classifies content registered by advertisers as clean, normal, or sensitive according to the standard of sensitivity which has been agreed with publishers.(Use Clean Content to display your Ads on premium media) Through this standard, advertisers are encouraged to use clean ads. And publishers can set the contents’ sensitivity levels to expose by category (industry) and display only those ads on their website.
In other words, publishers can only expose clean and secure adverts onto their sites. Through such a standard publishers are able to deliver safe content and satisfy users with what they are consuming.
In addition, Dable takes active measures such as excluding certain advertisers or categories at the request of the media company to provide clean advertising to publishers.
Dable has always made a strenuous effort to set higher standards and to provide a better user experience and deliver valuable content through high quality ads. Dable will continue to cooperate with the media to reach their needs.
We look forward to hearing your feedback for mutual development.
Please contact [email protected] for media inquiries and [email protected] for advertising inquiries.
|
0cacaf82-c388-50c5-b066-f732a2cd08bd
|
25/08/2025 16:02:40
|
|
https://medium.com/@snahashisghosh/how-do-i-handle-my-group-presentation-project-as-a-team-leader-can-help-you-too-18814d392493
|
medium.com
|
How do I handle my group presentation project as a team leader? Can help you too…
|
As you know I am a graduate student, I have to handle multiple presentation projects each semester. Always I try to follow certain…
|
Snahashis Ghosh
|
https://medium.com/@snahashisghosh
|
18814d392493
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*Y13kqC9zbG7loe5c
|
4 min
|
2025-05-09T08:44:14.496000
|
2025-05-09T08:59:10.555000
|
2025-05-09T09:28:39.764000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Presentation,Group,Team Lead,Best Ways To Follow,Tips And Tricks
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/4767/0*Y13kqC9zbG7loe5c" width="4767" height="2681" loading="lazy" />
<p>As you know I am a graduate student, I have to handle multiple presentation projects each semester. Always I try to follow certain approaches to get the job done. Sometimes I have to handle a group of 5/6 people in a group presentation. It often gets difficult to deal with all these people as a team leader but I figured out some techniques to bring out the best from all of my teammates to ultimately stand out in the presentation. Here I am going to discuss the most efficient way that I follow such as choosing the right approach, gathering related information about mates, distributing loads and assigning each with a specific task, setting a deadline, writing a script, rehearsal, and preparing on the day of the presentation.</p>
<h1>Why it is Difficult?</h1>
<p>It is a such nice question when you read the intro and think why some can share some thoughts like this. I believe that it is difficult because I saw other groups messing up with the topic, arrangement, and overall approach. So, whatever task you want to do in life whether it is academic or not you must follow a proper approach to reach the ultimate goal. Otherwise, it will end up with nothing. A presentation project also helps us to relate and adapt to this process and encourages us to apply it in real life as well. As I mentioned earlier I saw others mess up, I believe it is not that easy.</p>
<h2>Learn about Teammates</h2>
<p>Firstly, if you are assigned as a team leader in a group presentation, try to learn about your friends or teammates. I put emphasis on these because it helps to predict one’s response. It is crucial when you try to achieve a certain point in a conversation or argument. I also prefer not to take deep dive into someone’s personal pace. If this approach is not possible to follow, you can learn more from one’s behavior on the run. Nevertheless, you will always get 1/2 toxic people on your side. Try to use your common sense and do not overreact to them. You have to keep in mind that you just need to get the job done perfectly and polite gesture comes in handy to deal with them.</p>
<h2>Workload Distribution</h2>
<p>Secondly, I would like to distribute tasks among my teammates to bring the best out analysis of that topic efficiently and quickly rather than giving them a bulk amount of pressure. It helps me to organize the presentation more efficiently and logically. I have noticed that if I tell them to do their own, always someone messes up and it is very difficult to sort them and find the related order. It consumes a lot of time and makes everything more difficult. So, the work distribution from the group leader provides everyone a clear picture of the outline of the subject matter of the presentation swiftly, and to me, it is the best option to go initially or you can experiment with this.</p>
<h2>Appreciation and Motivation</h2>
<p>Thirdly, appreciation plays a key role. If you notice that one of your teammates falls short, you should praise them for what they did previously and how can they do such type of work now. It will boost their morale and they will invest more hard work to do that assigned task. Besides, it will create an impression on the team lead because it will show patience and highlight a positive impression on that specific person. He/She will not disappoint it for sure and will do the job at best. Moreover, always motivate the team. It will help you to keep in touch with all of them and solve any popping issues as quickly as possible. It also shares the idea that the leader is with all of us and working hard to stand out from others. It works as a medicine.</p>
<h2>Setting Deadline</h2>
<p>Fourthly, setting a deadline is very important because it will help to finish the task of analyzing that topic on time and have enough time to do other necessary stuff related to the presentation such as making and arranging slides. After the initial analysis of the group on the subject matter, slide arrangement is crucial to present the data in the most possible logical order. It is also to ensure that the audience can grasp the whole idea quite properly. Here, group collaboration helps a lot. I always discuss with other group members to arrange it thoughtfully. By the way, if I am a team leader, I always feel comfortable creating slides on my own to make it streamlined by taking suggestions from teammates.</p>
<h2>Writing Script</h2>
<p>A couple of days before the presentation, I would like to call a short meeting to discuss how can we approach to script. It gets quite challenging sometimes for some but everyone’s participation makes it I believe. I provide them the analysis pdf and slides so that they can make their part of script easily. Then, I made my own and tried to help if anyone had any difficulties. Almost done.</p>
<h2>On the Presentation Day</h2>
<p>I do not discuss much on a specific day because I want to provide them the freedom to make them prepare by themselves. It is important because it will provide them with the opportunity to grasp the key points. I try to arrange short rehearsals if I manage some time otherwise, on the stage.</p>
<h2>In Short</h2>
<p>Through these, I have shared various approaches to a group presentation that I usually follow if I have to lead the team. I hope that you manage to get some essential key tips of mine so that you can level up yours too. Good luck.</p>
</section>
|
How do I handle my group presentation project as a team leader? Can help you too…
Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash
As you know I am a graduate student, I have to handle multiple presentation projects each semester. Always I try to follow certain approaches to get the job done. Sometimes I have to handle a group of 5/6 people in a group presentation. It often gets difficult to deal with all these people as a team leader but I figured out some techniques to bring out the best from all of my teammates to ultimately stand out in the presentation. Here I am going to discuss the most efficient way that I follow such as choosing the right approach, gathering related information about mates, distributing loads and assigning each with a specific task, setting a deadline, writing a script, rehearsal, and preparing on the day of the presentation.
Why it is Difficult?
It is a such nice question when you read the intro and think why some can share some thoughts like this. I believe that it is difficult because I saw other groups messing up with the topic, arrangement, and overall approach. So, whatever task you want to do in life whether it is academic or not you must follow a proper approach to reach the ultimate goal. Otherwise, it will end up with nothing. A presentation project also helps us to relate and adapt to this process and encourages us to apply it in real life as well. As I mentioned earlier I saw others mess up, I believe it is not that easy.
Learn about Teammates
Firstly, if you are assigned as a team leader in a group presentation, try to learn about your friends or teammates. I put emphasis on these because it helps to predict one’s response. It is crucial when you try to achieve a certain point in a conversation or argument. I also prefer not to take deep dive into someone’s personal pace. If this approach is not possible to follow, you can learn more from one’s behavior on the run. Nevertheless, you will always get 1/2 toxic people on your side. Try to use your common sense and do not overreact to them. You have to keep in mind that you just need to get the job done perfectly and polite gesture comes in handy to deal with them.
Workload Distribution
Secondly, I would like to distribute tasks among my teammates to bring the best out analysis of that topic efficiently and quickly rather than giving them a bulk amount of pressure. It helps me to organize the presentation more efficiently and logically. I have noticed that if I tell them to do their own, always someone messes up and it is very difficult to sort them and find the related order. It consumes a lot of time and makes everything more difficult. So, the work distribution from the group leader provides everyone a clear picture of the outline of the subject matter of the presentation swiftly, and to me, it is the best option to go initially or you can experiment with this.
Appreciation and Motivation
Thirdly, appreciation plays a key role. If you notice that one of your teammates falls short, you should praise them for what they did previously and how can they do such type of work now. It will boost their morale and they will invest more hard work to do that assigned task. Besides, it will create an impression on the team lead because it will show patience and highlight a positive impression on that specific person. He/She will not disappoint it for sure and will do the job at best. Moreover, always motivate the team. It will help you to keep in touch with all of them and solve any popping issues as quickly as possible. It also shares the idea that the leader is with all of us and working hard to stand out from others. It works as a medicine.
Setting Deadline
Fourthly, setting a deadline is very important because it will help to finish the task of analyzing that topic on time and have enough time to do other necessary stuff related to the presentation such as making and arranging slides. After the initial analysis of the group on the subject matter, slide arrangement is crucial to present the data in the most possible logical order. It is also to ensure that the audience can grasp the whole idea quite properly. Here, group collaboration helps a lot. I always discuss with other group members to arrange it thoughtfully. By the way, if I am a team leader, I always feel comfortable creating slides on my own to make it streamlined by taking suggestions from teammates.
Writing Script
A couple of days before the presentation, I would like to call a short meeting to discuss how can we approach to script. It gets quite challenging sometimes for some but everyone’s participation makes it I believe. I provide them the analysis pdf and slides so that they can make their part of script easily. Then, I made my own and tried to help if anyone had any difficulties. Almost done.
On the Presentation Day
I do not discuss much on a specific day because I want to provide them the freedom to make them prepare by themselves. It is important because it will provide them with the opportunity to grasp the key points. I try to arrange short rehearsals if I manage some time otherwise, on the stage.
In Short
Through these, I have shared various approaches to a group presentation that I usually follow if I have to lead the team. I hope that you manage to get some essential key tips of mine so that you can level up yours too. Good luck.
|
97730f6f-52d4-5f81-ac5e-450d0c1671cc
|
25/08/2025 16:02:40
|
https://matrixainetwork.medium.com/2nd-report-of-december-2021-3ec1dedab2e1
|
medium.com
|
2nd Report of December 2021
|
Matrix AI Network Bi-weekly report
|
Matrix AI Network
|
https://medium.com/@matrixainetwork
|
3ec1dedab2e1
|
1 min
|
2021-12-30T09:33:52.683000
|
2021-12-30T09:43:35.006000
|
2022-01-03T22:27:47.610000
| 0 | 114 |
en
|
AI,Blockchain,Weekly Report,Matrix,Bitcoin
|
<section>
<p>Matrix AI Network Bi-weekly report</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1719/1*2f0L6Ohfea1X3pkpn6aFEw.png" width="1719" height="1139" loading="lazy" />
<p><strong>Mainnet Performance</strong></p>
<p>Validation node: 87</p>
<p>Mining node: 1511</p>
<p>New wallets added: 79</p>
<p><strong>Project Update</strong></p>
<p>Optimized the data storage structure for validation nodes;</p>
<p>Optimized the IPFS storage structure for the Matrix Mainnet;</p>
<p>Finished testing AI services on MANAS;</p>
<p>Finished deploying new AI services on MANAS;</p>
<p>Designed the NFT trading process on MANIA and developed its supporting functions;</p>
<p>Deployed on MANTA a test network integrating mining machines;</p>
<p>Structurally optimized MANTA for the first group of users.</p>
<p><strong>Highlight</strong></p>
<p>MANTA shares its structural design with the community.</p>
<p>As the computing power outlet of Matrix AI Network, MANTA plays a vital role in the ecosystem. Now that we have our first group of external users, Matrix miners will continue to bring value into the ecosystem. This will benefit the price of MAN and everyone involved.</p>
</section>
|
2nd Report of December 2021
Matrix AI Network Bi-weekly report
Mainnet Performance
Validation node: 87
Mining node: 1511
New wallets added: 79
Project Update
Optimized the data storage structure for validation nodes;
Optimized the IPFS storage structure for the Matrix Mainnet;
Finished testing AI services on MANAS;
Finished deploying new AI services on MANAS;
Designed the NFT trading process on MANIA and developed its supporting functions;
Deployed on MANTA a test network integrating mining machines;
Structurally optimized MANTA for the first group of users.
Highlight
MANTA shares its structural design with the community.
As the computing power outlet of Matrix AI Network, MANTA plays a vital role in the ecosystem. Now that we have our first group of external users, Matrix miners will continue to bring value into the ecosystem. This will benefit the price of MAN and everyone involved.
|
52fed43e-0f69-54a4-a007-99b3104b35e1
|
25/08/2025 16:02:40
|
|
https://medium.com/@jibrinuriddin/hes-dead-there-is-no-justice-for-him-ac782e7b83c8
|
medium.com
|
He’s dead, there is no justice for him.
|
74 days for an arrest. I don’t care. Truly I am indifferent on the arrest of these two men. At this point, there is nothing in this case…
|
Jibri Nuriddin
|
https://medium.com/@jibrinuriddin
|
ac782e7b83c8
| null |
3 min
|
2020-08-21T13:28:34.018000
|
2020-08-21T14:20:23.007000
|
2021-12-15T15:46:17.878000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
BlackLivesMatter,Justice,Ahmaudarbery
|
<section>
<p>74 days for an arrest. I don’t care. Truly I am indifferent on the arrest of these two men. At this point, there is nothing in this case that will satisfy me. His government has already failed him.</p>
<p>A man is dead and it took 74 days, protests in the street, public outcry, international news, and a leaked video for arrests to be made. That’s the value of a black body. The law failed to protect him, the law failed to administer justice, and it’s only through social media that the law panders to the people. What is this justice for Ahmaud you speak of? Real justice for him, true justice is changing this system. Please don’t let the arrest of these two men make you think justice is served. The video was in the possession of the police since day 1.</p>
<p>Day</p>
<p>One</p>
<p>The police department had this video, did not share it, and elected not to make any arrests. How many more times has this happened globally? How many times has there been a case like this that we just didn’t hear about because there was no video evidence. Or no lawyer who leaked the video evidence. Or no social media to share the leaked video. Or no publicity to put pressure on the legal system to do its job. I’m tired of living in a country where the burden of proof is so incredibly high for some. Justice for Ahmaud does not stop with the arrest of these two criminals. It doesn’t even stop with their conviction.</p>
<p>2020</p>
<p>A black man is jogging. Two white men decide he looks suspicious. They call 9–1–1. The operator tells them not to pursue him. They do anyway. They follow the black man down the street, get out of their vehicle, and physically confront him. The white men are armed, the black man is not. The white men are committing a crime, the black man has not. The white men shoot the black men. They are not immediately arrested. They claim the defense of ‘stand your ground.’</p>
<p>2012</p>
<p>A black kid is walking down the street. A white man decides he looks suspicious. He calls 9–1–1. The operator tells him not to pursue him. He does anyway. He follows the black kid down the street, gets out of his vehicle and physically confronts him. The white man is armed, the black kid is not. The white man shoots the black kid. He is not arrested immediately. He claims self-defense ‘stand your ground’. Except his ground is everywhere. It is everywhere. It always has been. His ground is where his feet are, it’s where his feet want to go, it’s wherever his truck will take him, it’s the air we breathe, it’s every ocean and waterway from the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli. His ground is in the sands of Iraq, with oil underneath. His ground was in the jungle of south Vietnam. This land that covers indigenous burial grounds is his, this land that was built on the bodies of slaves is his. This ground, his ground, well he was just standing it. His ground was the space just behind Trayvon Martin’s back foot. His ground was the space directly in front of Trayvon’s walking path. His ground encompasses Trayvon Martin’s entire being, and the space on the earth where he took his last breath. All of it. And he, they, George Zimmerman, Gregory and Travis McMichael, the fine white nationalists burning torches in Charlottesville, Joe Arpaio, all of them are legally allowed to defend it. What do you do when your very existence violates someone else’s space?</p>
<p>That belief, that fundamental belief at the core of this, that is as old as America itself. The belief that some Americans are entitled to their ground and others aren’t. No, that some humans are and others aren’t. That “they were just trying to protect their neighborhood”. That good old boy bias, that how dare he look at a white woman, that how dare he steal a candy bar, that vigilante, that good guy with a gun, that defense of columbus day, that reverence of slave owners on our currency, that “history not hate”, that repeated and glorified worship of violence as power. Changing that — THAT is justice for Ahmaud. Nothing less.</p>
</section>
|
He’s dead, there is no justice for him.
74 days for an arrest. I don’t care. Truly I am indifferent on the arrest of these two men. At this point, there is nothing in this case that will satisfy me. His government has already failed him.
A man is dead and it took 74 days, protests in the street, public outcry, international news, and a leaked video for arrests to be made. That’s the value of a black body. The law failed to protect him, the law failed to administer justice, and it’s only through social media that the law panders to the people. What is this justice for Ahmaud you speak of? Real justice for him, true justice is changing this system. Please don’t let the arrest of these two men make you think justice is served. The video was in the possession of the police since day 1.
Day
One
The police department had this video, did not share it, and elected not to make any arrests. How many more times has this happened globally? How many times has there been a case like this that we just didn’t hear about because there was no video evidence. Or no lawyer who leaked the video evidence. Or no social media to share the leaked video. Or no publicity to put pressure on the legal system to do its job. I’m tired of living in a country where the burden of proof is so incredibly high for some. Justice for Ahmaud does not stop with the arrest of these two criminals. It doesn’t even stop with their conviction.
2020
A black man is jogging. Two white men decide he looks suspicious. They call 9–1–1. The operator tells them not to pursue him. They do anyway. They follow the black man down the street, get out of their vehicle, and physically confront him. The white men are armed, the black man is not. The white men are committing a crime, the black man has not. The white men shoot the black men. They are not immediately arrested. They claim the defense of ‘stand your ground.’
2012
A black kid is walking down the street. A white man decides he looks suspicious. He calls 9–1–1. The operator tells him not to pursue him. He does anyway. He follows the black kid down the street, gets out of his vehicle and physically confronts him. The white man is armed, the black kid is not. The white man shoots the black kid. He is not arrested immediately. He claims self-defense ‘stand your ground’. Except his ground is everywhere. It is everywhere. It always has been. His ground is where his feet are, it’s where his feet want to go, it’s wherever his truck will take him, it’s the air we breathe, it’s every ocean and waterway from the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli. His ground is in the sands of Iraq, with oil underneath. His ground was in the jungle of south Vietnam. This land that covers indigenous burial grounds is his, this land that was built on the bodies of slaves is his. This ground, his ground, well he was just standing it. His ground was the space just behind Trayvon Martin’s back foot. His ground was the space directly in front of Trayvon’s walking path. His ground encompasses Trayvon Martin’s entire being, and the space on the earth where he took his last breath. All of it. And he, they, George Zimmerman, Gregory and Travis McMichael, the fine white nationalists burning torches in Charlottesville, Joe Arpaio, all of them are legally allowed to defend it. What do you do when your very existence violates someone else’s space?
That belief, that fundamental belief at the core of this, that is as old as America itself. The belief that some Americans are entitled to their ground and others aren’t. No, that some humans are and others aren’t. That “they were just trying to protect their neighborhood”. That good old boy bias, that how dare he look at a white woman, that how dare he steal a candy bar, that vigilante, that good guy with a gun, that defense of columbus day, that reverence of slave owners on our currency, that “history not hate”, that repeated and glorified worship of violence as power. Changing that — THAT is justice for Ahmaud. Nothing less.
|
042a2f4e-23fc-5097-8c6c-c0f978125a9b
|
25/08/2025 16:02:40
|
https://medium.com/cioreviewindia/internet-of-things-why-a-reliable-network-matters-46caebeca3db
|
medium.com
|
Internet of Things: Why a Reliable Network Matters
|
During the first quarter of 2017, Verizon’s (NYSE: VZ) bread-and-butter business got a little bit smaller. Retail subscribers to the…
|
Tech Hunt
|
https://medium.com/@techhunt2195
|
46caebeca3db
|
1 min
|
2018-01-09T08:55:32.163000
|
2018-01-09T09:02:54.867000
|
2018-05-08T11:38:39.709000
| 0 | 45 |
en
|
Internet of Things,IoT,Technology,Science,Education
|
<section>
<h1>Internet of Things: Why a Reliable Network Matters</h1>
<p>During the first quarter of 2017, Verizon’s (NYSE: VZ) bread-and-butter business got a little bit smaller. Retail subscribers to the nation’s leading wireless network shrank for the first time in years, and profits decreased 21% from the same period in 2016. The mobile phone industry is a mature market with growth a thing of the past, leaving the few big competitors to fight over the same customers. For Verizon, the next big thing could be right around the corner.</p>
<h3>Lets have some HISTORY</h3>
<p>We’ve been fascinated with gadgets that function on a grander scale for decades (think spy movie-type stuff) — but it’s only been in the past several years that we’ve seen the IoT’s true potential. The concept evolved as wireless Internet became more pervasive, embedded sensors grew in sophistication and people began understanding that technology could be a personal tool as well as a professional one.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/794/1*CFayWIdYCvmdt6FcGH6Xfw.jpeg" width="794" height="397" loading="lazy" />
<p>In the much-hyped world of the Internet of Things, the industry continues to focus on the number of connected devices and machines that will roam the earth today, tomorrow and beyond. Arun Kundu, Director, Professional Services, Asia Pacific & Global Strategy, Verizon Enterprise Solutions has a broader view.</p>
<h2><strong><a href="</strong>https://adobe.cioreviewindia.com/cxoinsight/internet-of-things-why-a-reliable-network-matters-nid-2177-cid-95.html">Read More</a></h2>
</section>
|
Internet of Things
Internet of Things: Why a Reliable Network Matters
During the first quarter of 2017, Verizon’s (NYSE: VZ) bread-and-butter business got a little bit smaller. Retail subscribers to the nation’s leading wireless network shrank for the first time in years, and profits decreased 21% from the same period in 2016. The mobile phone industry is a mature market with growth a thing of the past, leaving the few big competitors to fight over the same customers. For Verizon, the next big thing could be right around the corner.
Lets have some HISTORY
We’ve been fascinated with gadgets that function on a grander scale for decades (think spy movie-type stuff) — but it’s only been in the past several years that we’ve seen the IoT’s true potential. The concept evolved as wireless Internet became more pervasive, embedded sensors grew in sophistication and people began understanding that technology could be a personal tool as well as a professional one.
Internet of Things
In the much-hyped world of the Internet of Things, the industry continues to focus on the number of connected devices and machines that will roam the earth today, tomorrow and beyond. Arun Kundu, Director, Professional Services, Asia Pacific & Global Strategy, Verizon Enterprise Solutions has a broader view.
Read More
|
01310e7d-eeec-511f-a8c8-eca8a0cbf851
|
25/08/2025 16:02:41
|
|
https://medium.com/@news3jessica/voted-early-but-changed-your-mind-you-can-get-a-do-over-63112b1bccb2
|
medium.com
|
Voted early but changed your mind? You can get a do-over
|
Ever heard of “spoiling” your ballot?
|
Jessica Arp
|
https://medium.com/@news3jessica
|
63112b1bccb2
|
1 min
|
2016-10-24T23:22:35.430000
|
2016-10-24T23:25:15.401000
|
2016-10-24T23:25:16.190000
| 0 | 1 |
en
|
Politics,Elections,Wisconsin,Voting,Campaign 2016
|
<section>
<h3>Ever heard of “spoiling” your ballot?</h3>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/640/0*AqO093F7Y4PFrPpD.jpg" width="640" height="360" loading="lazy" />
<p>MADISON, Wis. -</p>
<p>So you’ve taken the time to request an absentee ballot by mail, or submit one in person prior to the election. But something happens — an October surprise — and you want a do-over. Turns out you can get one.</p>
<p>Wisconsin law has a provision that allows you to “spoil” your ballot and ask for a new one — including if you’ve already voted absentee.</p>
<blockquote>“Yes, it’s technically possible to do it, but getting this close to the election, it can be a bit of a hassle,” Magney said. “It’s not something very many people do.”</blockquote>
<p>“It is possible to do that,” Reid Magney, spokesman for the Wisconsin Elections Commission, said. “If you voted, for example, early in the clerk’s office, you can go back to the clerk’s office and ask them or say you want to vote again or to spoil your original ballot.”</p>
<p>The clerk would then find the ballot you submitted, void it, and issue you a new ballot.</p>
<p>But Magney admits, it isn’t easy.</p>
<p>“Yes, it’s technically possible to do it, but getting this close to the election, it can be a bit of a hassle,” Magney said. “It’s not something very many people do.”</p>
<p>You can also “spoil” your ballot on Election Day.</p>
<p>“If you go to the polling place and they give you a ballot and you realize ‘I voted for the wrong person’ or you made some other mistake, you can say ‘I’d like another ballot.’ And you can get up to three ballots,” Magney said.</p>
<p><em>Originally published at <a href="http://www.</em>channel3000.com/news/politics/Voted-early-but-changed-your-mind-You-can-get-a-do-over/42204364">www.channel3000.com</a>.</p>
</section>
|
Voted early but changed your mind? You can get a do-over
Ever heard of “spoiling” your ballot?
MADISON, Wis. -
So you’ve taken the time to request an absentee ballot by mail, or submit one in person prior to the election. But something happens — an October surprise — and you want a do-over. Turns out you can get one.
Wisconsin law has a provision that allows you to “spoil” your ballot and ask for a new one — including if you’ve already voted absentee.
“Yes, it’s technically possible to do it, but getting this close to the election, it can be a bit of a hassle,” Magney said. “It’s not something very many people do.”
“It is possible to do that,” Reid Magney, spokesman for the Wisconsin Elections Commission, said. “If you voted, for example, early in the clerk’s office, you can go back to the clerk’s office and ask them or say you want to vote again or to spoil your original ballot.”
The clerk would then find the ballot you submitted, void it, and issue you a new ballot.
But Magney admits, it isn’t easy.
“Yes, it’s technically possible to do it, but getting this close to the election, it can be a bit of a hassle,” Magney said. “It’s not something very many people do.”
You can also “spoil” your ballot on Election Day.
“If you go to the polling place and they give you a ballot and you realize ‘I voted for the wrong person’ or you made some other mistake, you can say ‘I’d like another ballot.’ And you can get up to three ballots,” Magney said.
Originally published at www.channel3000.com.
|
7e02be77-c2b6-594f-8cb5-91c27f9dcf03
|
25/08/2025 16:02:41
|
|
https://medium.com/@alpha.pi13/to-prorogue-or-to-provoke-the-bozza-effect-163cee617afc
|
medium.com
|
To prorogue or to provoke — the Bozza effect
|
To folks in the UK, this is not a pagan fiction anymore. And as the (re-revised) Brexit date looms, soon the world will gaze upon the…
|
Alpha Pi13
|
https://medium.com/@alpha.pi13
|
163cee617afc
|
1 min
|
2019-09-24T17:06:29.515000
|
2019-09-24T21:49:35.989000
|
2021-12-11T23:45:26.038000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Brexit,Boris Johnson,UK Politics,Eu Referendum,Trending Topic
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/378/1*UJbmcXIySDXrQ6N4B4uP6w.jpeg" width="378" height="231" loading="lazy" />
<p>To folks in the UK, this is not a pagan fiction anymore. And as the (re-revised) Brexit date looms, soon the world will gaze upon the trail of economic calamity and societal chaos that sprung from the bosom of a democratic government one summer’s day in June 2016. The East will recall it as “<em>Lessons from our Imperial forefathers</em>” and the West may consider including it in their economical almanac “<em>99 Ways to sink the GNP</em>”.</p>
<p>Whichever perspective or dimension you take to explain the current UK politico-economic situation, one thing is absolutely certain. The value of a £1 has weakened, beyond institutional rescue. But, was it worth the 51.9% votes!</p>
<p>Perhaps, our RH PM is an ingenious strategist in disguise. After all, in the wise words of Sun Tzu, “<em>In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity</em>”.</p>
<blockquote>“Cummings! Opportunity is rife”— shout He must.</blockquote>
<p>Yet, no squeal nor sub-text but only actions that judder the fabric of the British Constitution and Sovereign diplomacy. Immunity, they say is evolutionary. We are, after all, superior bi-pedal versions of our not-so-distant but extinct Pliopithecus primates. Could the Head of a Government act without any reverberating consequence?</p>
<p>Questions will remain unanswered among the sixty eight million inhabitants of this once industrial powerhouse. The fate of Brexit vaguely echoes the short, troubled service history of Bozza.</p>
<p>Can this ill-fated democratic mythos die with Frankenstein?</p>
<p>There is much to learn for our Future.</p>
</section>
|
To Prorogue or to Provoke — The Bozza effect.
To folks in the UK, this is not a pagan fiction anymore. And as the (re-revised) Brexit date looms, soon the world will gaze upon the trail of economic calamity and societal chaos that sprung from the bosom of a democratic government one summer’s day in June 2016. The East will recall it as “Lessons from our Imperial forefathers” and the West may consider including it in their economical almanac “99 Ways to sink the GNP”.
Whichever perspective or dimension you take to explain the current UK politico-economic situation, one thing is absolutely certain. The value of a £1 has weakened, beyond institutional rescue. But, was it worth the 51.9% votes!
Perhaps, our RH PM is an ingenious strategist in disguise. After all, in the wise words of Sun Tzu, “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity”.
“Cummings! Opportunity is rife”— shout He must.
Yet, no squeal nor sub-text but only actions that judder the fabric of the British Constitution and Sovereign diplomacy. Immunity, they say is evolutionary. We are, after all, superior bi-pedal versions of our not-so-distant but extinct Pliopithecus primates. Could the Head of a Government act without any reverberating consequence?
Questions will remain unanswered among the sixty eight million inhabitants of this once industrial powerhouse. The fate of Brexit vaguely echoes the short, troubled service history of Bozza.
Can this ill-fated democratic mythos die with Frankenstein?
There is much to learn for our Future.
|
0bbff727-b4af-59f2-b0c5-51c4bcdce2cd
|
25/08/2025 16:02:41
|
|
https://robert-black.medium.com/about-undermining-confidence-in-elections-7032c5c4bf1e
|
medium.com
|
About Undermining Confidence in Elections
|
So a couple days ago Joe Biden gave a press conference, at which, among other things, he talked up the probably-doomed election reform…
|
Robert Black
|
https://medium.com/@robert-black
|
7032c5c4bf1e
|
2 min
|
2022-01-21T18:45:57.818000
|
2022-01-21T19:15:47.689000
|
2022-01-22T02:36:09.405000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Joe Biden,Donald Trump,Legitimacy,Elections,Democracy
|
<section>
<p>So a couple days ago Joe Biden gave a press conference, at which, among other things, he talked up the probably-doomed election reform bills currently pending in the Congress. Someone asked him whether, if those bills are not enacted, whether the 2022 congressional elections would be illegitimate, and he said something along the lines of “yes.”</p>
<p>Naturally everyone has lost their minds over this: the common refrain is that he is joining Donald Trump in attacking/undermining confidence in the integrity of our elections.</p>
<p>Lots of people have already been pointing out the problem with that criticism:</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/599/1*2Eyu8h5KW7nvCa331QA2ew.png" width="599" height="299" loading="lazy" />
<p>I think there’s something deeper going on here and it’s pretty ominous.</p>
<p>There is a very clear effort underway in this country to create a minority-rule fascist regime under color of law: in other words, a situation in which the fascist regime is unambiguously “lawful.” The impetus for the fascists to seek the color of law for their overthrow of democracy is quite clear: the U.S. military is in fact quite committed to its own subordination to the Constitution, and is extremely unlikely to go along with any sort of extralegal coup. For that matter there’s likely to be considerable public hue and cry, if you try something like the January 6th attack. But if you could clothe the coup in the law itself, then you might actually get people, the people who matter in the end, to go along with it.</p>
<p>For present purposes, the details of HOW you go about getting the color of law for your coup attempt don’t really matter. The point is this: if they ever manage to succeed in that quest, the country will be confronted with a question. Do we follow the law, or do we resist the fascist takeover? There is going to be a LOT of weight on the side of “follow the law.” And that I think is the proper context for the people yelling at Biden. They are preemptively laying down a marker, whether this is their conscious intention or not, that when the time comes it will be improper to resist a fascist takeover under color of law. To do so, you see, would be to undermine confidence in our governing institutions, and we can’t have that.</p>
<p>Everybody go read Letter from Birmingham Jail.</p>
</section>
|
About Undermining Confidence in Elections
So a couple days ago Joe Biden gave a press conference, at which, among other things, he talked up the probably-doomed election reform bills currently pending in the Congress. Someone asked him whether, if those bills are not enacted, whether the 2022 congressional elections would be illegitimate, and he said something along the lines of “yes.”
Naturally everyone has lost their minds over this: the common refrain is that he is joining Donald Trump in attacking/undermining confidence in the integrity of our elections.
Lots of people have already been pointing out the problem with that criticism:
The wise man bowed his head solemnly and spoke…
I think there’s something deeper going on here and it’s pretty ominous.
There is a very clear effort underway in this country to create a minority-rule fascist regime under color of law: in other words, a situation in which the fascist regime is unambiguously “lawful.” The impetus for the fascists to seek the color of law for their overthrow of democracy is quite clear: the U.S. military is in fact quite committed to its own subordination to the Constitution, and is extremely unlikely to go along with any sort of extralegal coup. For that matter there’s likely to be considerable public hue and cry, if you try something like the January 6th attack. But if you could clothe the coup in the law itself, then you might actually get people, the people who matter in the end, to go along with it.
For present purposes, the details of HOW you go about getting the color of law for your coup attempt don’t really matter. The point is this: if they ever manage to succeed in that quest, the country will be confronted with a question. Do we follow the law, or do we resist the fascist takeover? There is going to be a LOT of weight on the side of “follow the law.” And that I think is the proper context for the people yelling at Biden. They are preemptively laying down a marker, whether this is their conscious intention or not, that when the time comes it will be improper to resist a fascist takeover under color of law. To do so, you see, would be to undermine confidence in our governing institutions, and we can’t have that.
Everybody go read Letter from Birmingham Jail.
|
a4286d38-e0cc-5334-b51e-90992ceef0c8
|
25/08/2025 16:02:41
|
|
https://medium.com/@olakitanoladimeji2/clone-to-crown-d23fed750e77
|
medium.com
|
Clone to Crown
|
Hello, lovelies! It’s been far too long. Welcome back to my blog. I’ve genuinely missed our interactions, and guess what? I promise to stay…
|
Olakitan Oladimeji
|
https://medium.com/@olakitanoladimeji2
|
d23fed750e77
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*JqvahV6rr8tNI7PV
|
2 min
|
2024-01-11T18:47:46.254000
|
2024-01-11T19:21:39.653000
|
2024-01-11T19:21:46.173000
| 3 | 313 |
en
|
Being Yourself,Authencity,Self Discovery Journey,Self Love
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/500/0*JqvahV6rr8tNI7PV" width="500" height="334" loading="lazy" />
<p>Hello, lovelies! It’s been far too long. Welcome back to my blog. I’ve genuinely missed our interactions, and guess what? I promise to stay active here with more enthusiasm than ever!</p>
<p>But wait, before I get into the exciting details, let me kick off by wishing you all a belated Happy New Year! Cheers to fresh starts and thrilling adventures in 2024!</p>
<p>Let’s get right into the intriguing topic of my first blog post this year: “Clone to Crown,” where I playfully term it as “embodying another.” I know it might strike you as odd, especially for us grown-ups — why should we strive to be someone other than our authentic selves? Emphasis on<em> authentic selves</em>.</p>
<p>Late last year, I randomly stumbled on some girl’s Instagram page; let’s call her <strong>P</strong>. Her Instagram page was a visual feast for me because how does she have it all? Beauty, height, confidence, and more hooked me.</p>
<p>Suddenly, the desire to be like her consumed me. I engaged in relentless stalking; each scroll and each swipe on her story Highlight increased my fascination.<em><strong> (To clarify, I’m not trying to sound romantically inclined; I enjoy admiring </em>people).</strong></p>
<p>After so much stalking on Instagram and Pinterest, I was inspired to emulate her. From how she takes pictures to her signature moves on videos, I was just focused on mirroring her style.</p>
<p>It got so bad that I couldn’t even take my kind of pictures anymore. <strong>P’s</strong> influence was all over. Opening my camera, her image dominated my thoughts, and I mimicked her style.</p>
<p>As if that weren’t enough, I started looking to have her kind of clothes in my closet. Call me crazy, but it was as if I was held captive by her. I wanted to be like <strong>P</strong>!</p>
<p>Earlier this year, I had an awakening. I told myself, “Enough is enough; I’m not a kid; I’m a grown-up, for God’s sake!” Reflecting on that, I asked myself the point of trying to be someone else, especially when it’s all about imitating their photos, fashion, or mannerisms.</p>
<p>It should contribute meaningfully to my life if I aspire to be like someone. Don’t get me wrong, it’s just from my perspective. While some might find inspiration in emulating others’ fashion sense, photo edits, and more, especially in content creation, aligning aspirations with personal growth is essential.</p>
<p>Striking a balance between admiration and staying true to oneself is key to self-discovery. But currently, I’m at the phase where snapping pictures like <strong>P</strong> doesn’t enhance my existence. Well, maybe in perfecting how to capture those flawless angles!</p>
<p>I know this might sound funny, but trying to be someone else isn’t entirely wrong, particularly when what you’re adopting adds genuine value to your life.</p>
<p>However, if it’s the opposite, you should hit the brakes. I’ve personally put a stop to emulating <strong>P</strong>, realizing that while her influence lingered in my fashion sense and photography, I can strive for a more deliberate choice in my sources of aspirations.</p>
<p>I believe it’s a typical journey to emulate others when we’re still finding our styles and habits. As we grow, we become more experienced at setting off what truly resonates with our authenticity. It’s a beautiful evolution of self-discovery.</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on this? Have you been in the same shoes? Share your thoughts in the comments. And as usual, feel free to shower as many claps as possible.</p>
<p>Much love to all of you! ❤</p>
</section>
|
Clone to Crown
Photo Credit: Lisa Fotios/ Pexels
Hello, lovelies! It’s been far too long. Welcome back to my blog. I’ve genuinely missed our interactions, and guess what? I promise to stay active here with more enthusiasm than ever!
But wait, before I get into the exciting details, let me kick off by wishing you all a belated Happy New Year! Cheers to fresh starts and thrilling adventures in 2024!
Let’s get right into the intriguing topic of my first blog post this year: “Clone to Crown,” where I playfully term it as “embodying another.” I know it might strike you as odd, especially for us grown-ups — why should we strive to be someone other than our authentic selves? Emphasis on authentic selves.
Late last year, I randomly stumbled on some girl’s Instagram page; let’s call her P. Her Instagram page was a visual feast for me because how does she have it all? Beauty, height, confidence, and more hooked me.
Suddenly, the desire to be like her consumed me. I engaged in relentless stalking; each scroll and each swipe on her story Highlight increased my fascination. (To clarify, I’m not trying to sound romantically inclined; I enjoy admiring people).
After so much stalking on Instagram and Pinterest, I was inspired to emulate her. From how she takes pictures to her signature moves on videos, I was just focused on mirroring her style.
It got so bad that I couldn’t even take my kind of pictures anymore. P’s influence was all over. Opening my camera, her image dominated my thoughts, and I mimicked her style.
As if that weren’t enough, I started looking to have her kind of clothes in my closet. Call me crazy, but it was as if I was held captive by her. I wanted to be like P!
Earlier this year, I had an awakening. I told myself, “Enough is enough; I’m not a kid; I’m a grown-up, for God’s sake!” Reflecting on that, I asked myself the point of trying to be someone else, especially when it’s all about imitating their photos, fashion, or mannerisms.
It should contribute meaningfully to my life if I aspire to be like someone. Don’t get me wrong, it’s just from my perspective. While some might find inspiration in emulating others’ fashion sense, photo edits, and more, especially in content creation, aligning aspirations with personal growth is essential.
Striking a balance between admiration and staying true to oneself is key to self-discovery. But currently, I’m at the phase where snapping pictures like P doesn’t enhance my existence. Well, maybe in perfecting how to capture those flawless angles!
I know this might sound funny, but trying to be someone else isn’t entirely wrong, particularly when what you’re adopting adds genuine value to your life.
However, if it’s the opposite, you should hit the brakes. I’ve personally put a stop to emulating P, realizing that while her influence lingered in my fashion sense and photography, I can strive for a more deliberate choice in my sources of aspirations.
I believe it’s a typical journey to emulate others when we’re still finding our styles and habits. As we grow, we become more experienced at setting off what truly resonates with our authenticity. It’s a beautiful evolution of self-discovery.
What are your thoughts on this? Have you been in the same shoes? Share your thoughts in the comments. And as usual, feel free to shower as many claps as possible.
Much love to all of you! ❤
|
2df7dfe9-8419-5120-9f04-4040bcb05253
|
25/08/2025 16:02:41
|
https://medium.com/thecapital/5-best-rated-play-to-earn-games-of-2025-that-people-actually-want-to-play-00f1d56e6e9c
|
medium.com
|
5 Best-Rated Play-to-Earn Games of 2025 (That People Actually Want to Play)
|
I used to chase every new play-to-earn blockchain game that promised easy money — until I realized most of them were all hype, no fun…
|
Haseena Baig
|
https://medium.com/@haseenabaig
|
00f1d56e6e9c
|
3 min
|
2025-06-02T07:32:03.423000
|
2025-06-02T09:29:38.541000
|
2025-06-05T09:28:29.438000
| 4 | 24 |
en
|
Play To Earn Games,Playtoearn,Crypto,Nft,P2e Game
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*Op_QkBI1IdAmK---W25AMg.jpeg" width="1280" height="720" loading="lazy" />
<p><em>I used to chase every new <strong>play-to-earn</strong> blockchain game that promised easy money — until I realized most of them were all hype, no fun. Then 2025 came around… and</em> things got real.</p>
<p><em>Yes, they’re actually fun — not just another crypto grindfest.</em></p>
<h1>1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Now with P2E NFTs!)</h1>
<h3><a href="https://www.expedition33.com/">Expedition</a> 33</h3>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*Pkobx21g4a4VcnrRfUosBw.jpeg" width="1280" height="720" loading="lazy" />
<ul>
<li><strong>Platform</strong>: PC, Next-Gen Consoles</li>
<li><strong>Why It’s Hot</strong>: Originally one of the highest-rated games of 2025, this story-rich RPG added an experimental Play-to-Earn layer this year — players can earn NFT-based art pieces during missions that sell in the real world.</li>
<li><strong>Why It’s Hot</strong>: Originally one of the highest-rated games of 2025, this story-rich RPG added an experimental Play-to-Earn layer this year — players can earn NFT-based art pieces during missions that sell in the real world.</li>
<li><strong>What You Earn</strong>: Unique visual collectibles + ETH-backed bounties.</li>
<li><strong>Why It Works</strong>: A rare combo: AAA storytelling + blockchain ownership = addictive and lucrative.</li>
</ul>
<h2>2. Monster Train 2: NFT Mod Edition</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.bigfangames.com/games/monster-train-2">Monster Train</a></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*aD-tMO-wDnRyxhntHoaEGA.jpeg" width="1280" height="592" loading="lazy" />
<ul>
<li><strong>Platform</strong>: PC, Steam</li>
<li><strong>Why It’s Hot</strong>: This beloved deck-builder added a new mode allowing you to mint your champion builds as tradable NFTs.</li>
<li><strong>What You Earn</strong>: Sellable champion decks and season-end rewards in crypto.</li>
<li><strong>Why It Works</strong>: It gamifies creativity, and you’re not grinding — you’re strategizing.</li>
</ul>
<h2>3. Split Fiction (Lore-to-Earn Game Model)</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.hazelight.se/games/split-fiction/">Split Fiction</a></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*KLWsDw28b1_Itghj6VU4dA.jpeg" width="1280" height="720" loading="lazy" />
<ul>
<li><strong>Platform</strong>: PC</li>
<li><strong>Why It’s Hot</strong>: Players unlock narrative choices that impact future missions across the multiverse — and get rewarded in tokens for high-impact decisions.</li>
<li><strong>What You Earn</strong>: Narrative tokens (used in-game or traded), rare lore NFTs.</li>
<li><strong>Why It Works</strong>: This is emotional gameplay that pays — literally.</li>
</ul>
<h2>4. The Talos Principle: Reawakened (P2E Puzzle Lab)</h2>
<p>Talos <a href="https://www.thetalosprinciple.com/">Principle</a></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*R_he2bCtwWoNp63IjQU1Zw.jpeg" width="1280" height="720" loading="lazy" />
<ul>
<li><strong>Platform</strong>: PC, PS5</li>
<li><strong>Why It’s Hot</strong>: Yes, this philosophical puzzle classic now includes a custom community-built “P2E Puzzle Lab.” Complete puzzles, get ranked, and earn tokens or NFTs.</li>
<li><strong>What You Earn</strong>: Puzzle coins (utility token) + Creator NFTs.</li>
<li><strong>Why It Works</strong>: Real-world income for smart minds? That’s a win.</li>
</ul>
<h2>5. Gods Unchained (Still a Titan in 2025)</h2>
<p><a href="https://godsunchained.com/">Gods Unchained</a></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/1*M7TB4HOj-Of03YtvDIe2zg.jpeg" width="1280" height="720" loading="lazy" />
<ul>
<li><strong>Platform</strong>: PC</li>
<li><strong>Why It’s Hot</strong>: A veteran in the P2E scene, Gods Unchained remains one of the most balanced and respected blockchain games — and it’s only improved with 2025 updates.</li>
<li><strong>What You Earn</strong>: GODS token + tradable cards.</li>
<li><strong>Why It Works</strong>: It’s skill-first. If you’re good, you earn. Simple.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Why These Games Matter Now</h2>
<p>Most Play-to-Earn games in 2022–2023 were forgettable. The 2025 winners are different — they’re borrowing from <strong>what already works</strong> in traditional games:</p>
<ul>
<li>Strong narratives</li>
<li>Competitive mechanics</li>
<li>Immersive strategy</li>
<li>Actual replay value</li>
</ul>
<p>Now, they’ve added <strong>ownership and earning potential</strong> — without sacrificing fun.</p>
<h2>Let’s Make This Shareable:</h2>
<p><em>Play-to-Earn isn’t dead. It just leveled up.”
Tag a friend who needs to stop grinding clickbait P2E games and start playing these instead.</em></p>
</section>
|
5 Best-Rated Play-to-Earn Games of 2025 (That People Actually Want to Play)
Image from Yandex
I used to chase every new play-to-earn blockchain game that promised easy money — until I realized most of them were all hype, no fun. Then 2025 came around… and things got real.
Yes, they’re actually fun — not just another crypto grindfest.
1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Now with P2E NFTs!)
Expedition 33
Clair Obscur
Platform: PC, Next-Gen Consoles
Why It’s Hot: Originally one of the highest-rated games of 2025, this story-rich RPG added an experimental Play-to-Earn layer this year — players can earn NFT-based art pieces during missions that sell in the real world.
Why It’s Hot: Originally one of the highest-rated games of 2025, this story-rich RPG added an experimental Play-to-Earn layer this year — players can earn NFT-based art pieces during missions that sell in the real world.
What You Earn: Unique visual collectibles + ETH-backed bounties.
Why It Works: A rare combo: AAA storytelling + blockchain ownership = addictive and lucrative.
2. Monster Train 2: NFT Mod Edition
Monster Train
Monster Train
Platform: PC, Steam
Why It’s Hot: This beloved deck-builder added a new mode allowing you to mint your champion builds as tradable NFTs.
What You Earn: Sellable champion decks and season-end rewards in crypto.
Why It Works: It gamifies creativity, and you’re not grinding — you’re strategizing.
3. Split Fiction (Lore-to-Earn Game Model)
Split Fiction
Split Fiction
Platform: PC
Why It’s Hot: Players unlock narrative choices that impact future missions across the multiverse — and get rewarded in tokens for high-impact decisions.
What You Earn: Narrative tokens (used in-game or traded), rare lore NFTs.
Why It Works: This is emotional gameplay that pays — literally.
4. The Talos Principle: Reawakened (P2E Puzzle Lab)
Talos Principle
Talos Principle
Platform: PC, PS5
Why It’s Hot: Yes, this philosophical puzzle classic now includes a custom community-built “P2E Puzzle Lab.” Complete puzzles, get ranked, and earn tokens or NFTs.
What You Earn: Puzzle coins (utility token) + Creator NFTs.
Why It Works: Real-world income for smart minds? That’s a win.
5. Gods Unchained (Still a Titan in 2025)
Gods Unchained
Gods Unchained
Platform: PC
Why It’s Hot: A veteran in the P2E scene, Gods Unchained remains one of the most balanced and respected blockchain games — and it’s only improved with 2025 updates.
What You Earn: GODS token + tradable cards.
Why It Works: It’s skill-first. If you’re good, you earn. Simple.
Why These Games Matter Now
Most Play-to-Earn games in 2022–2023 were forgettable. The 2025 winners are different — they’re borrowing from what already works in traditional games:
Strong narratives
Competitive mechanics
Immersive strategy
Actual replay value
Now, they’ve added ownership and earning potential — without sacrificing fun.
Let’s Make This Shareable:
Play-to-Earn isn’t dead. It just leveled up.”
Tag a friend who needs to stop grinding clickbait P2E games and start playing these instead.
|
a089c7c3-dec6-5b65-a73c-43beca9f658e
|
25/08/2025 16:02:41
|
|
https://viewmagazine.medium.com/world-cup-fever-in-a-urinal-how-some-are-really-taking-the-kiss-d4b972408da5
|
medium.com
|
World Cup fever in a urinal. How some are really taking the kiss.
|
If it wasn’t so serious, you’d howl laughing. Many did. Never one to miss a situation that reflects communications practices, a chuckle…
|
Dr David Dunkley Gyimah
|
https://medium.com/@viewmagazine
|
d4b972408da5
|
2 min
|
2022-12-20T16:23:27.955000
|
2022-12-20T16:28:57.909000
|
2022-12-20T16:29:05.007000
| 0 | 43 |
en
|
Journalism,Politics,Pr,Nudge Theory,AI
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/0*3RAQx2IRwbAg_ICl.jpeg" width="1400" height="1866" loading="lazy" />
<p>If <strong>it wasn’t so serious, you’d howl laughing. Many did. Never one to miss a situation that reflects communications practices, a chuckle here and there was quite the moment.</strong></p>
<p>A simple alteration of a urinal would be saving money on cleaners. I was in Stuttgart Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany getting ready for a talk and could I ever see a more obvious example of Nudge theory at work?</p>
<p>Nudge emerged more publicly as a theory in the 2008 book, ‘Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness’ by Prof Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein.</p>
<p>Its authors uncovered how subtle changes to an environment could force people to do things the architects desired, but the actors still believed they were exercising choice.</p>
<p>Rather than telling people what not to do, a psychological route was presented that tapped into the fragility of human thinking. You likely saw it, or were influenced by it during the UK government’s Covid presentations with their use of different colour schemes for warnings. It’s not radically new. Depth manipulators and advertisers cottoned onto persuasion en mass post WWII.</p>
<p>For instance, toothpaste used to be marketed as killing germs, but psychologists uncovered users were actually concerned with having a clean taste in their mouth. The architectural change here would be words, colour and shape.</p>
<p>Edward Bernays, the father of PR, or should that be propaganda (his words) considered people to be utterly irrational and easily persuaded.</p>
<p>Nudge theory and deadcatting- just two of many psycho tools have been at work within public figures, politicians and government benches, more so now than any time I covered politics as a working journalist.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Sound reasonable to people, don’t get upset, pepper your response with part truths, and introduce fallacious facts, which with a moderate face you and allies keep repeating. You gradually nudge people over. The long term goal of this is the Peak end rule. Gradually by turning people to your line of thinking, irrespective of failings, people tend to remember the last impact they were left with.</p>
<p>Trouble with all of this, is whilst it’s evident to those in PR and spin, it’s rarely taught in journalism practices. That is the people we entrust to decode complex issues are themselves unaware. In previous years maybe there was a reason, but when it feels like active measures today you have to think why?</p>
<p>But what if you could be alerted in real time by AI to these persuasive techniques? What if whilst a seemingly innocuous conversation was happening, you could be privy to an index of nudge et al? It’s something that’s been on my mind for a while and with an expert acquaintance there appears to be a way. But would people use it? Would they care?</p>
</section>
|
World Cup fever in a urinal. How some are really taking the kiss.
If it wasn’t so serious, you’d howl laughing. Many did. Never one to miss a situation that reflects communications practices, a chuckle here and there was quite the moment.
A simple alteration of a urinal would be saving money on cleaners. I was in Stuttgart Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany getting ready for a talk and could I ever see a more obvious example of Nudge theory at work?
Nudge emerged more publicly as a theory in the 2008 book, ‘Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness’ by Prof Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein.
Its authors uncovered how subtle changes to an environment could force people to do things the architects desired, but the actors still believed they were exercising choice.
Rather than telling people what not to do, a psychological route was presented that tapped into the fragility of human thinking. You likely saw it, or were influenced by it during the UK government’s Covid presentations with their use of different colour schemes for warnings. It’s not radically new. Depth manipulators and advertisers cottoned onto persuasion en mass post WWII.
For instance, toothpaste used to be marketed as killing germs, but psychologists uncovered users were actually concerned with having a clean taste in their mouth. The architectural change here would be words, colour and shape.
Edward Bernays, the father of PR, or should that be propaganda (his words) considered people to be utterly irrational and easily persuaded.
Nudge theory and deadcatting- just two of many psycho tools have been at work within public figures, politicians and government benches, more so now than any time I covered politics as a working journalist.
Sound reasonable to people, don’t get upset, pepper your response with part truths, and introduce fallacious facts, which with a moderate face you and allies keep repeating. You gradually nudge people over. The long term goal of this is the Peak end rule. Gradually by turning people to your line of thinking, irrespective of failings, people tend to remember the last impact they were left with.
Trouble with all of this, is whilst it’s evident to those in PR and spin, it’s rarely taught in journalism practices. That is the people we entrust to decode complex issues are themselves unaware. In previous years maybe there was a reason, but when it feels like active measures today you have to think why?
But what if you could be alerted in real time by AI to these persuasive techniques? What if whilst a seemingly innocuous conversation was happening, you could be privy to an index of nudge et al? It’s something that’s been on my mind for a while and with an expert acquaintance there appears to be a way. But would people use it? Would they care?
|
34fee203-57ef-5c46-abf3-82292a04eeb4
|
25/08/2025 16:02:42
|
|
https://medium.com/the-maize/walking-into-authenticity-while-walking-away-8814ea2c0b7a
|
medium.com
|
Walking into authenticity while walking away
|
A contemplative for honoring one another as we walk our own paths
|
Gina DiGuardia
|
https://medium.com/@Truthuncaged
|
8814ea2c0b7a
|
4 min
|
2025-05-29T18:04:16.852000
|
2025-06-01T18:53:07.450000
|
2025-06-01T19:29:09.684000
| 1 | 74 |
en
|
Contemplation,Truth,Authenticity,Free,Connection
|
<section>
<h3>A contemplative for honoring one another as we walk our own paths</h3>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/2142/1*oKj0vHzA_hXvZKDA_sD8XQ.jpeg" width="2142" height="2856" loading="lazy" />
<p><em>Sometimes I need to walk at my own pace in order to hear what is beating in my heart. To notice how the perspective can change with every footstep and how the evolving landscape enables me to drink in the awe of what is always there in spite of a mind that is often too cluttered to notice. To become embodied in what is being offered, I am required to adhere to the whisper.</em></p>
<p>In this moment — as I hike the ridge of Smith Rock State Park — it means I physically walk at my own pace and away from the heartbeat of my lover’s.</p>
<p>In order to feel whatever magical force has created the beauty that engulfs me and allow it to pull me in as it wraps its bountiful arms around me, I need to let it. It tells me I belong. It gives me the solitude to realize what is spawning in my heart.</p>
<p>Guilt — about walking away from ‘my person’ — attempts to snake its way in and I find myself shielding old dialogue from taking the stage and clouding the invitation to embrace the moment. While my love often and so beautifully and lovingly encircles me with his big, strong arms — they are no match for the arms of the Universe. Those are the only arms that have the capacity to hold us all.</p>
<p>I begin to imagine what the result would be if I were able to shift my obligatory and limiting beliefs to allow for something I’ve not yet experienced. Would the power that sits patiently waiting for me to acknowledge it fan my wings and point me in the direction of what is longing to be fulfilled? I resist the notion that it might contain the power to steer me away from my committed partner. Hesitation suggests a check in with my external messaging, which informs me that my significant other is a gift. This though, seems to clash with my butterfly wings that present the potential for an alternative belief.</p>
<p>I try to redirect in order to imagine what would become of the two of us — if he, too, chose to bathe in what was being offered and was also able to hear the quiet voices that speak to his soul. Could our dynamic magnify into immeasurable proportions beyond what I have the capacity to consider?</p>
<p>Past transgressions suggest that I will have to choose between my relationship with another being and that which contains all beings. The bubble that I wrap myself in on most days keeps me from really knowing, and I hope that today’s daily dose of astonishment will bring me to another rung on the ladder of awakening… laying the path for more clarity.</p>
<p>As my spirit unites with a bigger Spirit, it ignites the transformation of becoming exactly who I am meant to be at this place in this time and begins to unravel the rest of the revelation set to kick off from this moment forward.</p>
<p>In the now, I am certain that we are all one, meant to be embraced from the inside out and feel the connection of all things creation.</p>
<p><em>The massive sky, the flow of the crooked river, and the landscape swallow me in, and I can reach unimaginable heights at this intersection of my journey.</em></p>
<blockquote>And then…</blockquote>
<p>…my trance is broken when I trade my awe for obligation as I perch myself on the rock bench to wait for my lover to catch up to me.</p>
<p><strong>(Will he ever catch me? And if he doesn’t, will it hold me back?)</strong></p>
<p>I want to prolong my solitude because the seduction that runs through my body as a result of the master artist feels like magic. I don’t want the presence of the human to whom I have pledged my eternity while I am still on this earth, to break the spell.</p>
<p><strong>But right now, it does.</strong></p>
<blockquote>I wonder how, instead of shaking me out of my bliss, it can feed that magic.</blockquote>
<p>I want to believe that two souls filled with the power of the Universe can combine to reach unlimited heights. If we are wired for connection, why does the human condition so often present complication in the company of comfort? To what degree do we mistake comfort for complacency? How do we manage the perception so that we can build pathways instead of barriers even when we walk the same path at a different pace and notice different things?</p>
<p>It would be incredible to fuel the awe in this arena and amplify the offering regardless of where anyone else is in relation to it.</p>
<blockquote>(To feed off of differences and learn through the eyes and the pace of what is being perceived by someone other than us.)</blockquote>
<p>If I could manage the threat that I have conjured up and take ownership of any unfulfilled state of being, there would be less time used on making excuses for why I am not thriving and more availability to become a person who is.</p>
<p>No matter what anyone else might be experiencing along their path, we do not have to jeopardize our own enlightenment. If we are able to stay true to our authenticity while also staying open, our hearts can receive what is in the watering cans that the Universe is so patiently waiting to pour into its chambers.</p>
<p>So I will not only seek to capture the light that is meant for me to see — I will also try not to cast a shadow on those looking through a lens whose aperture is focused on something that might be different. Something that is specifically designed to encapsulate their own personal being. Maybe then we can all meet along the path and do life together as our best selves and exponentially multiply our capacity to live the wholehearted existence we are destined to.</p>
</section>
|
Walking into authenticity while walking away
A contemplative for honoring one another as we walk our own paths
Photo taken by author
Sometimes I need to walk at my own pace in order to hear what is beating in my heart. To notice how the perspective can change with every footstep and how the evolving landscape enables me to drink in the awe of what is always there in spite of a mind that is often too cluttered to notice. To become embodied in what is being offered, I am required to adhere to the whisper.
In this moment — as I hike the ridge of Smith Rock State Park — it means I physically walk at my own pace and away from the heartbeat of my lover’s.
In order to feel whatever magical force has created the beauty that engulfs me and allow it to pull me in as it wraps its bountiful arms around me, I need to let it. It tells me I belong. It gives me the solitude to realize what is spawning in my heart.
Guilt — about walking away from ‘my person’ — attempts to snake its way in and I find myself shielding old dialogue from taking the stage and clouding the invitation to embrace the moment. While my love often and so beautifully and lovingly encircles me with his big, strong arms — they are no match for the arms of the Universe. Those are the only arms that have the capacity to hold us all.
I begin to imagine what the result would be if I were able to shift my obligatory and limiting beliefs to allow for something I’ve not yet experienced. Would the power that sits patiently waiting for me to acknowledge it fan my wings and point me in the direction of what is longing to be fulfilled? I resist the notion that it might contain the power to steer me away from my committed partner. Hesitation suggests a check in with my external messaging, which informs me that my significant other is a gift. This though, seems to clash with my butterfly wings that present the potential for an alternative belief.
I try to redirect in order to imagine what would become of the two of us — if he, too, chose to bathe in what was being offered and was also able to hear the quiet voices that speak to his soul. Could our dynamic magnify into immeasurable proportions beyond what I have the capacity to consider?
Past transgressions suggest that I will have to choose between my relationship with another being and that which contains all beings. The bubble that I wrap myself in on most days keeps me from really knowing, and I hope that today’s daily dose of astonishment will bring me to another rung on the ladder of awakening… laying the path for more clarity.
As my spirit unites with a bigger Spirit, it ignites the transformation of becoming exactly who I am meant to be at this place in this time and begins to unravel the rest of the revelation set to kick off from this moment forward.
In the now, I am certain that we are all one, meant to be embraced from the inside out and feel the connection of all things creation.
The massive sky, the flow of the crooked river, and the landscape swallow me in, and I can reach unimaginable heights at this intersection of my journey.
And then…
…my trance is broken when I trade my awe for obligation as I perch myself on the rock bench to wait for my lover to catch up to me.
(Will he ever catch me? And if he doesn’t, will it hold me back?)
I want to prolong my solitude because the seduction that runs through my body as a result of the master artist feels like magic. I don’t want the presence of the human to whom I have pledged my eternity while I am still on this earth, to break the spell.
But right now, it does.
I wonder how, instead of shaking me out of my bliss, it can feed that magic.
I want to believe that two souls filled with the power of the Universe can combine to reach unlimited heights. If we are wired for connection, why does the human condition so often present complication in the company of comfort? To what degree do we mistake comfort for complacency? How do we manage the perception so that we can build pathways instead of barriers even when we walk the same path at a different pace and notice different things?
It would be incredible to fuel the awe in this arena and amplify the offering regardless of where anyone else is in relation to it.
(To feed off of differences and learn through the eyes and the pace of what is being perceived by someone other than us.)
If I could manage the threat that I have conjured up and take ownership of any unfulfilled state of being, there would be less time used on making excuses for why I am not thriving and more availability to become a person who is.
No matter what anyone else might be experiencing along their path, we do not have to jeopardize our own enlightenment. If we are able to stay true to our authenticity while also staying open, our hearts can receive what is in the watering cans that the Universe is so patiently waiting to pour into its chambers.
So I will not only seek to capture the light that is meant for me to see — I will also try not to cast a shadow on those looking through a lens whose aperture is focused on something that might be different. Something that is specifically designed to encapsulate their own personal being. Maybe then we can all meet along the path and do life together as our best selves and exponentially multiply our capacity to live the wholehearted existence we are destined to.
|
a541aa7b-cd4d-5643-869f-e56f054542ae
|
25/08/2025 16:02:42
|
|
https://medium.com/@adukhan.ak/ai-in-2025-the-beginning-of-the-human-ai-partnership-b40053a58573
|
medium.com
|
🤖AI in 2025: The Beginning of the Human-AI Partnership
|
AI in 2025: The Beginning of the Human-AI Partnership
|
TECH KING
|
https://medium.com/@adukhan.ak
|
b40053a58573
|
2 min
|
2025-08-22T05:23:43.390000
|
2025-08-23T07:08:46.097000
|
2025-08-23T08:29:36.357000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Programming,Artificial Intelligence,Coding,Technology,Trends
|
<section>
<h1>AI in 2025: The Beginning of the Human-AI Partnership</h1>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/644/1*uW58oBkwE1s9hB9HYXCKyw.png" width="644" height="401" loading="lazy" />
<p>Artificial Intelligence has crossed a critical threshold. What was once seen as a tool is now becoming a partner — reshaping not just industries, but human potential itself.Welcome to the era of collaboration with machines.</p>
<h2>🤖 From Tools to Teammates</h2>
<p>For decades, AI was framed as a replacement for human labor. In 2025, the narrative is shifting. AI is no longer just automating — it’s collaborating.</p>
<ul>
<li>Writers use AI to brainstorm faster.</li>
<li>Doctors rely on AI to scan millions of medical records in seconds.</li>
<li>Engineers debug code with the help of AI copilots.</li>
</ul>
<p>The key isn’t that AI is doing everything — it’s that humans and machines are finally working <em>together</em>.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/721/1*D53Q6srtXxEtO5wiQhDztg.png" width="721" height="398" loading="lazy" />
<h2>Productivity on Steroids</h2>
<p>AI-driven collaboration has redefined productivity:</p>
<ul>
<li>Knowledge workers: Reports, strategies, and presentations are created in hours instead of weeks.</li>
<li>Small businesses: Solo entrepreneurs now run operations once requiring entire teams.</li>
<li>Students & learners: Education is personalized, with AI tutors guiding progress step by step.This isn’t just about speed — it’s about expanding human capacity.</li>
</ul>
<h2>The Trust Factor</h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/500/1*SUZFQiEcsr7K7VYfMVduVw.png" width="500" height="492" loading="lazy" />
<p>But with power comes skepticism. Can we really trust AI?</p>
<ul>
<li>Transparency: People want to know <em>how</em> AI arrives at answers.</li>
<li>Ethics: Governments are scrambling to regulate deepfakes, misinformation, and algorithmic bias.</li>
<li>Accountability: The world is asking: when AI makes a mistake, who is responsible?</li>
</ul>
<p>The answers to these questions will shape AI’s role in society for decades.</p>
<h2>🎨 A Creative Explosion</h2>
<p>2025 is proving one thing: AI is sparking a golden age of creativity.</p>
<ul>
<li>Filmmakers generate cinematic worlds in minutes.</li>
<li>Artists use AI as a brush, not a replacement.</li>
<li>Innovators design solutions to global challenges with AI-driven simulations.</li>
</ul>
<h2>🌍 The Big Picture</h2>
<p>We’re standing at a crossroads. The Human-AI partnership could solve humanity’s biggest challenges — climate change, healthcare access, economic inequality — or it could deepen divides if misused.</p>
<p>The future depends on whether we treat AI as a shortcut — or as a shared journey toward progress.</p>
<h2>⚡ Final Takeaway</h2>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/810/1*UEwcAqqzmxBp-PwTubPKfg.png" width="810" height="327" loading="lazy" />
<p>The question is no longer <em>“Will AI replace us?”</em>
The real question is: “How do we build with AI — responsibly, creatively, and boldly?”</p>
<h2><strong>The future isn’t AI alone.
The future is humans + AI, together.</strong></h2>
</section>
|
🤖AI in 2025: The Beginning of the Human-AI Partnership
AI in 2025: The Beginning of the Human-AI Partnership
Artificial Intelligence has crossed a critical threshold. What was once seen as a tool is now becoming a partner — reshaping not just industries, but human potential itself.Welcome to the era of collaboration with machines.
🤖 From Tools to Teammates
For decades, AI was framed as a replacement for human labor. In 2025, the narrative is shifting. AI is no longer just automating — it’s collaborating.
Writers use AI to brainstorm faster.
Doctors rely on AI to scan millions of medical records in seconds.
Engineers debug code with the help of AI copilots.
The key isn’t that AI is doing everything — it’s that humans and machines are finally working together.
Productivity on Steroids
AI-driven collaboration has redefined productivity:
Knowledge workers: Reports, strategies, and presentations are created in hours instead of weeks.
Small businesses: Solo entrepreneurs now run operations once requiring entire teams.
Students & learners: Education is personalized, with AI tutors guiding progress step by step.This isn’t just about speed — it’s about expanding human capacity.
The Trust Factor
But with power comes skepticism. Can we really trust AI?
Transparency: People want to know how AI arrives at answers.
Ethics: Governments are scrambling to regulate deepfakes, misinformation, and algorithmic bias.
Accountability: The world is asking: when AI makes a mistake, who is responsible?
The answers to these questions will shape AI’s role in society for decades.
🎨 A Creative Explosion
2025 is proving one thing: AI is sparking a golden age of creativity.
Filmmakers generate cinematic worlds in minutes.
Artists use AI as a brush, not a replacement.
Innovators design solutions to global challenges with AI-driven simulations.
🌍 The Big Picture
We’re standing at a crossroads. The Human-AI partnership could solve humanity’s biggest challenges — climate change, healthcare access, economic inequality — or it could deepen divides if misused.
The future depends on whether we treat AI as a shortcut — or as a shared journey toward progress.
⚡ Final Takeaway
The question is no longer “Will AI replace us?”
The real question is: “How do we build with AI — responsibly, creatively, and boldly?”
The future isn’t AI alone.
The future is humans + AI, together.
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16aa6354-4779-5489-aac7-76070bdb31f0
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25/08/2025 16:02:42
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https://sanjit-oberai.medium.com/reflections-ai-chatbots-without-programming-via-ibm-cae40047e7ea
|
medium.com
|
Reflections | AI Chatbots Without Programming via IBM
|
I am now onto my sixth course in AI. This one is a more specialised course that is looking at creating AI based chatbots without the use of…
|
Sanjit
|
https://medium.com/@sanjit-oberai
|
cae40047e7ea
|
https://miro.medium.com/max/2000/0*d6l60NgIo6ejyElE
|
3 min
|
2021-05-19T08:18:17.127000
|
2021-07-03T16:36:01.586000
|
2022-01-06T08:12:57.139000
| 0 | 0 |
en
|
Chatbots,Artificial Intelligence,Digital Marketing,Chatbots For Business
|
<section>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/4896/0*d6l60NgIo6ejyElE" width="4896" height="3264" loading="lazy" />
<p>I am now onto my sixth course in AI. This one is a more specialised course that is looking at creating AI based chatbots without the use of coding.</p>
<p>I think it is so important that someone out there is simplifying AI, etc for those who don't want to learn coding or don’t have the time to learn or go deep into it.</p>
<p>Before we begin, I would like to say thanks to the wonderful and generous folks at EDx for giving me this scholarship to pursue this course.</p>
<p>Chatbots are increasingly in demand among global businesses. This course will teach you how to build, analyze, deploy and monetize chatbots — with the help of IBM Watson and the power of AI.</p>
<p>The course is well structured and the time required is two weeks. However, we have time until the end of the 30 days to complete the course and submit the final project and clear the exam.</p>
<p>It covers some basic and slightly advanced topics which can help one in understanding how to deploy a chatbot on your own site. There are eight modules with each module explaining a certain topic. The instructions by</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/595/1*MwwaKNfu3Nhiy6zOAWlb8Q.png" width="595" height="735" loading="lazy" />
<p>trainer <strong>Antonio Cangiano</strong> are clear and one can follow thru without too much hassle. However, I did initially face some difficulty because IBM had made minor changes on their site but they are not too important and can easily be overcome.</p>
<p><strong>Some topics covered are:</strong></p>
<p>What chatbots are and why they are revolutionary</p>
<p>The key principles of good chatbot design</p>
<p>How to create your own chatbot without the need to write any code</p>
<p>How to deploy your chatbot on WordPress sites</p>
<p>How to make money with chatbots</p>
<p>I’ve really liked the fact that a lot of effort has gone into making it easy for the learner to get access to get access to WordPress and IBM Watson. Also as you clear each module, there is a progress bar which tells you how you are doing. There is a quiz after each module and they collectively add to the total marks at the end. (see image below)</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1003/1*1yIGT2N2pFL6Y0URfr3LDA.png" width="1003" height="461" loading="lazy" />
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/662/1*26OahRaK-fF7udSP7grhJQ.png" width="662" height="659" loading="lazy" />
<p>As you progress, in Lab 3 (Import Intents), I was struggling to import the intents. It was not working for me even though I tried multiple times. I download and made it into a CSV but no avail. Finally I posted it on the discussion group and decided to move on as it was not too imp to get stuck here. There is a lot more to cover. However, I did finally manage to import the intents after getting clarification from the group discussions.</p>
<p>I then proceeded to cover the rest of the modules and give the exam and clear with a score of 80%. (there are exams at every module which add to the final marks to get the certificate)</p>
<p>Tip: the final exam is timed. This means that unlike other quizzes where you can take your time to refer back to the material. Here you can’t. So study well, dear reader.</p>
<p>I then also moved onto deploying the chatbot on a WordPress site. This was a good feeling to see an actual live implementation of your work. Below is a pic of how it looks after a few modifications.</p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/430/1*CJGu5ZzMWucuENGLHEgExg.png" width="430" height="449" loading="lazy" />
<p>And lastly — is the certification. So if you are looking to make a chatbot, you know who to reach out to.</p>
<p>Link: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjitoberai/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjitoberai/</a></p>
<p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/sanjit_oberai">https://twitter.com/sanjit_oberai</a></p>
<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1650/1*D8skp36UfqCecJ8LWL-ozg.jpeg" width="1650" height="1275" loading="lazy" />
</section>
|
Reflections | AI Chatbots Without Programming via IBM
Photo by Alex Knight on Unsplash
I am now onto my sixth course in AI. This one is a more specialised course that is looking at creating AI based chatbots without the use of coding.
I think it is so important that someone out there is simplifying AI, etc for those who don't want to learn coding or don’t have the time to learn or go deep into it.
Before we begin, I would like to say thanks to the wonderful and generous folks at EDx for giving me this scholarship to pursue this course.
Chatbots are increasingly in demand among global businesses. This course will teach you how to build, analyze, deploy and monetize chatbots — with the help of IBM Watson and the power of AI.
The course is well structured and the time required is two weeks. However, we have time until the end of the 30 days to complete the course and submit the final project and clear the exam.
It covers some basic and slightly advanced topics which can help one in understanding how to deploy a chatbot on your own site. There are eight modules with each module explaining a certain topic. The instructions by
trainer Antonio Cangiano are clear and one can follow thru without too much hassle. However, I did initially face some difficulty because IBM had made minor changes on their site but they are not too important and can easily be overcome.
Some topics covered are:
What chatbots are and why they are revolutionary
The key principles of good chatbot design
How to create your own chatbot without the need to write any code
How to deploy your chatbot on WordPress sites
How to make money with chatbots
I’ve really liked the fact that a lot of effort has gone into making it easy for the learner to get access to get access to WordPress and IBM Watson. Also as you clear each module, there is a progress bar which tells you how you are doing. There is a quiz after each module and they collectively add to the total marks at the end. (see image below)
As you progress, in Lab 3 (Import Intents), I was struggling to import the intents. It was not working for me even though I tried multiple times. I download and made it into a CSV but no avail. Finally I posted it on the discussion group and decided to move on as it was not too imp to get stuck here. There is a lot more to cover. However, I did finally manage to import the intents after getting clarification from the group discussions.
I then proceeded to cover the rest of the modules and give the exam and clear with a score of 80%. (there are exams at every module which add to the final marks to get the certificate)
Tip: the final exam is timed. This means that unlike other quizzes where you can take your time to refer back to the material. Here you can’t. So study well, dear reader.
I then also moved onto deploying the chatbot on a WordPress site. This was a good feeling to see an actual live implementation of your work. Below is a pic of how it looks after a few modifications.
And lastly — is the certification. So if you are looking to make a chatbot, you know who to reach out to.
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjitoberai/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sanjit_oberai
|
533ab2ce-2d23-5785-9de2-31a08db51472
|
25/08/2025 16:02:42
|
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