fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Joan Didion and Susan Sontag documentaries
By: Ludwig Alain Zaragoza Alvarez
Tags: Documentary, Happiness, Sunday, Loneliness, Mental Health

Briefs (1)

Photograph by Thomas Leuthard

I’ve recently seen two amazing documentaries about Joan Didion (2017) and Susan Sontag (2014). The first invites the viewer to reflect upon the importance of our own life, not in a sense of hyper-individualizing your bubble of thought and care but breaking the inner and captive feeling of sadness to overcome very difficult situations that weren’t meant to happen. Or at least you never asked nor envisioned them to happen so you weren’t in control. I admire both writers, as far as I know, they exerted with audacity the art of writing from an authentic non-binary perspective (maybe at some point they became blurred for some as part of the pop or New Wave American cultures) and championed messages not to forget about history or our vulnerabilities among so many others.

After Didion’s documentary, I had a deep breath about the physical distance from the people I care about. In any way, we can’t compare losing someone forever with being far from them another year or so through this pandemic experience. Also, from a few years ago loneliness meaning has deeply changed for me as I am (or feel more) aware of most of my changes happening physically and psychologically. Beyond what most of the cinema evokes about the pain of being lonely, and taking into account that we are all social and political beings, beyond what motivates couples to take a step further but later found themselves signing divorce documents, there is a particular and sometimes unaware movement to forget about ourselves. Have we been invited to do so? Like a vague jump into the unknown for no reason (sometimes the reason is love but ends up being a contradiction). Not in a sense of forgetting about the others and concentrating upon oneself but rather the opposite channeled through the advocacy to help the people you can. That happened to Sontag during the Yom Kippur’s war or expressing herself about the outrageous Holocaust itself, knowing that she had the opportunity to help others by influencing them with words, even when some may find that irrelevant.

What I was motivated to do was to start writing more, even when it is not scientific nor elaborated, because sometimes hiding into a position of “let’s wait 3–12 months until you have that article published” that may extend the distance between the object and the researcher to a further audience, instead of what we want to express now. I am not saying the research process to publish is useless (I love it and patiently wait for it) but there is also a time to open up our minds even to watch how ideas evolve in ourselves through time. This is another way to talk more, isn’t it? So I hope you may find intriguing ideas from those documentaries, write to me if you fancy it! and let see if we find time to read both authors soon.

Until next time,

Alain
Kudachozhi
Tags: Documentary, Culture, Film, Folklore, Songs

In the cultural sphere of the Indian state Kerala, Valluvanadu is a region that’s home to the most number of folk art forms. A key specialty of Valluvanadu is that agricultural symbols and festivities are celebrated with the most vigorous.

As part of the yearly festival in Sree Veerasyanam Bhagavati Temple, famous for its festival that is celebrated across the ten traditionally significant locales, is located in central Valluvanad, the people of ‘Pulaya’ community perform many art forms. ‘Kudachozhi’ is a prominent one of these art forms.

An artist’s transformation from being a human to a Chozhi (Spiritual Protector) begins with bathing in the Nila river and worshipping in the Thattakam Devi temple. Then the face painting starts. Adorned with face painting, carrying a symbolic traditional ‘Umbrella’ in the left hand, and a ‘Vishari’ (traditional palm leaf hand fan) in the right hand, the artist ceases to be a human being and transforms himself into a Chozhi (Spiritual Protector).

Rice flour made from the previous year’s harvest and homegrown turmeric is the ingredients used for face painting. Only these two ingredients are used for face painting, which reveals how intimately the art form is linked with agriculture.

The ‘Vishari’ in the right hand of an artist is believed to fan away all the hardships and negativity waiting to happen in the following year. These fans are also believed to repel insects and birds harmful to agriculture.

The ‘Umbrella’ in the left hand of an artist is believed to bring plentiful rain, and alleviate the heat of the sun god.
BK from Home: Humble Passion
By: Kineklub Lfm Itb
Tags: Bioskop Kampus, Documentary, Film

we talk about movies, tv shows, k-dramas, animes, and more!
RED HEAVEN: Reaching for the Stars with Your Feet on the Ground
By: Eddie Strait
Tags: Space Exploration, Documentary, Mars, Space Travel, Red Heaven

To viewers watching it right now, Red Heaven feels like an unwelcome piece of “art-imitating-life.” We’ve spent most of 2020 in some form of quarantine, so the prospect of watching six people spend one year in isolation sounds like gallows humor. In both instances, the isolation is at the behest, and benefit, of science and humans writ large. We’re doing what we can right now in the name of survival and in one of the world’s (and the United States’ most trying moments, the subjects at the heart of Red Heaven are building toward one of mankind’s greatest achievements: traveling to Mars. However, if humans are going to survive on another planet, first we have to survive on this one. Red Heaven has a catchy premise, but the heart of the movie revolves around our basic humanity and how we coexist.

On August 28th, 2015, six people from all over the world embarked on the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation IV, or HI-SEAS for short, to simulate living on Mars for one year. Their goal was to carry out routine tasks that will, theoretically, face the people who eventually travel to the Red Planet. The crew is Chief Medical Officer Sheyna, Soil Scientist Carmel, Chief Scientific Officer Christiane, Chief Engineering Officer Andrzej, Astrobiologist Cyprien, and Space Architect Tristan. The crew worked together and individually, and Red Heaven directors Lauren DeFilippo and Katherine Gorringe get some interesting footage of everyone in action. The doc is light on science stuff, and primarily focuses on the other key element of the study: how will these people get along and maintain their sanity for a year?

For the most part, the struggles of the HI-SEAS IV crew are about what you would assume for people living together in tight quarters. They’re crammed into a 1,200sqft domicile, so privacy doesn’t exist. Even if when we see someone alone, they can hear everything else going on, whether it’s someone exercising, playing guitar, or working on the water system. Recurring onscreen graphic updates viewers on how long the mission has been going on and where the group’s morale level is, even though those updates are redundant.
Sam Johnson, Congressman and Veteran
By: Graysen Golter
Tags: Journalism, Documentary, Graysen Golter

Originally created on December 3, 2020

Sam Johnson returns home to friends and family from Vietnam (Courtesy of Beverly Briney)

A look into the life of Samuel Robert Johnson, a Texas congressman and veteran from the Korean and Vietnam Wars. In Vietnam, he was captured and spent nearly seven years as a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton.
Photography made me appreciate life.
By: Alfred Twj
Tags: Self Improvement, Photography, Documentary, Life Lessons, Life

What documentary-styled photography taught me.

“I learned all about life with a ball at my feet” — Ronaldinho

I learned all about life with my camera.

Doing what you love will make you a better person if you are aware of it.

Being a documentary-styled photographer taught me about appreciating the little things in life. Sometimes, we are too caught up chasing goals and money and we tend to leave out certain aspects of our lives which matters. If you pay close attention to your surroundings, you will start to see the stories the people. Live and learn from one another, always.

A photo I took in London

Here is a picture I took in London 2 years back and titled, “Tech-NO-logy.”

Sometimes, we glued ourselves to our mobile devices and we forget about the things that happen around us. In today’s day and age, the digital world is so influential that even little kids have Instagram or Facebook accounts of their own. I grew up in the 80s and back then, the best “digital” product that I owned was a pager. There weren’t many digital distractions — we played with sticks and stones, soccer with empty bottles and cans, writing love letters and folding them into paper planes… we look at the world with our eyes wide open. Sadly, this is becoming a rare sight.

Here is a photo I took in Santorini 2 years back titled, “Transatlanticism.”

In case you are wondering, Transatlanticism is song written and performed by the band, Death Cab for Cutie. As told by Ben Gibbard, the singer and songwriter of the band, “ The incomprehensible emotional gap between two lovers separated by comprehensible distances.” Whenever I look at this picture of mine, the feeling of missing someone far away hits me.

I have had long-distance relationships before… and sometimes, I stare out of my bedroom the window blankly, with hopes of her miraculously appearing before me. Man… I can still feel it in my bones.

A photo I took In Taipei

Here is another picture I took and titled, “Distractions.” I was walking the streets of Taipei with my client and we both decided to explore a night market. The place was filled with pop-up stores, food carts and very interesting hand-made crafts. I put my camera aside and started to indulge myself in everything that was happening around me. There was a family standing in front of me busy taking selfies. I saw this little boy being tugged around fiercely by his dad. I went closer and took the picture — I was sad. Everyone was so focused on taking Instagram stories, selfies and videos… no one was paying attention to the stores. We should all learn something from this little dude.

Today, I help my clients to tell their stories visually — I mostly document and capture the stories behind families and businesses. With this motion in play, I have learnt a lot from them. Stories are the ones which will move us… in turn, make you a better person.

With a camera in my hand… I learned all about my life.
Coming Soon: “Sacred Cow”
By: Shain E. Thomas
Tags: Nick Offerman, Coming Soon, Documentary, Diana Rodgers, Sacred Cow

Diana Rodgers’ Sacred Cow: The Nutritional, Environmental and Ethical Case for Better Meat comes to On Demand and DVD on Tuesday, 5 January 2021.

At our grocery stores and dinner tables, even the most thoughtful consumers are overwhelmed by the number of considerations to weigh when choosing what to eat — especially when it comes to meat. Guided by the noble principle of least harm, many responsible citizens resolve the ethical, environmental and nutritional conundrum by quitting meat entirely. But can a healthy, resilient and conscientious food system exist without animals?

Image Credit: IMDb.com

The film, distributed by Uncork’d Entertainment, probes the fundamental moral, environmental and nutritional quandaries we face in raising and eating animals. In this project, we focus our lens on the largest and perhaps most maligned of farmed animals, the cow.

Sacred Cow, garnering a favourable response at the 2020 Nature Without Borders International Film Festival, is definitely food for thought.

Promotional Image Credit: “Sacred Cow”

The documentary, an educationally framed film penned by writer Callie T. Wiser, sees Parks & Recreation’s Nick Offerman narrate the production. Sacred Cow, originally premiering as an online offering, saw an initial United States release on Monday, 28 September 2020.
Shawn Mendes Wonder lacks Wonder
By: Cambria Covell
Tags: Shawn Mendes, Netflix, Documentary, Wonder, Music

Compared to other show biz documentaries Netflix has aired, Wonder feels directionless. While Mendes himself is charming and talented, the documentary feels like an hour long tour vlog. It’s not a behind the scenes of an album or a dedicated tour documentary.

The documentary assumes the viewer knows exactly how Mendes becomes famous, not even bothering to touch on the social media aspect of his rise to fame except for a small conversation with his manager about watching a cover he’d done online. And a few snippets of him when he was younger.

In comparison to Netflix’s Miss Americana with Taylor Swift, which gave a detailed look at the stars rise to fame in simply a few shots as well as her struggle with becoming politically aware while rehashing one of the stars biggest feuds and struggles.

Or The Rolling Stones Ole ole ole! which detailed the bands struggle to perform in a country where English music had previously been banned.

Or even Ed Sheeran’s Songwriter documentary which discussed his rise on youtube and journey to becoming a professional singer as well as songwriter.

Wonder is in fact wonderless as a complication of him on tour, recording an album and struggling with losing his voice forcing him to cancel a show. And while some of that might be worth watching its certainly not documentary worthy. It feels like something that was made purely for content since it seems to be the trendy, new thing for musicians to do.

Even 20 Feet From Stardom, which was about backup singers, pulled more punches than this one.

Mendes does not have the weight of previous, modern documentary subjects to carry a full film like this and one spends half of the time wondering why it was made. While it will probably be enjoyable for fans of the singer, a casual viewer tuning in will wonder what the purpose of the film was.
Samantha Mitchell’s “RSVP” Incluvie Film Fest Review
By: Bianca Sbrocchi
Tags: Film Reviews, Film Festivals, Documentary, Short Film, Incluvie

In a very lonely time, filmmaker Samantha Mitchell manages to spin a painful memory into a film that celebrates connection, community, and a love of parties.

The melancholy of isolation is suspended for the brief 14 minutes of this film as an immediate connection is created between audiences and the subjects of RSVP. Each charming and insightful in their own unique way, this film explores the importance of gathering together, told through many different perspectives.

My heart aches for Samantha during her opening narration as she explains her own difficult relationship with parties. But very soon after, a natural warmth settles into the narrative through the interviews she skillfully conducts. In this way, she very nicely incorporates our festival’s theme of “loneliness” with the desire and relief of community. This short documentary has a very cozy pace, lightly bouncing between the homes of her subjects as they offer their diverse perspectives. Their differing life experiences create an all-encompassing picture of why bringing loved ones together is so important to them. The joy of their shared experiences is infectious and uplifting.

This film has wonderfully written narration, beautiful cinematography and seamless editing. Though Mitchell’s passion for this subject is very apparent in her film language, some missing pieces of information prevent me from fully understanding each subject’s particular contribution to what we see on screen. While we see that the food is being served and wine is being poured, for certain subjects, the nature of their get-together would have benefited from more explanation. Fortunately, reading the director’s synopsis of her film filled some of these gaps.

One character’s message is the takeaway of this film, and it could not have been portrayed in a lovelier fashion — “There’s always something you can do…to make people feel like they’re welcome”

Watch the film here.
Brazil’s Oscar© 2020 Entry for Best International Feature: ‘Babenco’ by Barbara Paz
By: Sydney Levine
Tags: Oscars, Documentary, Jewish, Movies, Brazil

Brazil’s Oscar© 2020 Entry for Best International Feature: ‘Babenco’ by Barbara Paz

‘Babenco: Tell Me When I Die’ is the documentary of Babenco dying. Dying is not pleasant and initially, I had a really hard time watching. By its end, however, I not only understood why Brazil submitted it to the Academy; it is in honor of Hector Babenco, one of Brazil’s most accomplished transcultural directors, but I was also moved by the genuine love he had for life and that the filmmaker Barbara Paz had for him. It was awarded two prizes at its première at the Venice Film Festival 2019, Best Documentary on Cinema in the official Venice Classics competition, and also the Independent Critics Prize — Bisato D’oro. Therefore I knew it would be very cinematic and philosophical about cinema… and in its poetic form and in rendering its own homages to Fellini, to Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, and to Bob Fosse, with his ruminations on his life and work, it works. Sydney Levine Follow Dec 6, 2020 · 6 min read

The presence of a woman at his death, his partner, the actress Barbara Paz who must learn the craft of filmmaking as she makes the film and whom you see do the fabulous rendition of “Singing in the Rain” at his death bed in his previous movie, My Hindu Friend in which she costars with Willem Dafoe, is strangely analogous to Fellini’s 8 1/2 and to Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz. In My Hindu Friend, Dafoe plays Diego, a film director very close to death, surrounded by people who are having trouble dealing with his current tempestuous mood. Chances are he won’t survive, but if he does, that means he needs to relearn how to live.

I really wanted to see this movie for my own personal reasons and memories. Of course Pixote was a new, original masterpiece. And then, I remember when Kiss of the Spider Woman (two time winner of the Oscar — for Best Picture and for Best Actor to William Hurt) played at Cannes — it was the first time I was in Cannes in 1985. The following year he served on the jury at Sundance. It was my second Sundance and there I learned to ski with him and Todd McCarthy while Todd’s girlfriend, and still my close friend, Florance Dauman, the acquisitions executive for Goldwyn and Piers Handling, programmer for Toronto Film Festival and Jeff Dowd , producers rep, went hotdogging together skiing the black diamond courses. It was a great experience and Hector was so much fun to learn with.

I had no idea until this film showed a clip from his previous film, My Hindu Friend, that Babenco was Jewish. I thought he was 100% Brazilian and that even his name was Brazilian. And then I learned he was not even born in Brazil.
CNA documentary ‘Beyond the Viral Video’ explores the societal impact of digital virality, starting with TikTok |
By: Voiddeck Media
Tags: Singapore, Viral, Documentary, Television, Tik Tok

Photo credit: CNA

Before it was banned in India, mobile video platform, TikTok, commanded a huge following in the South Asian giant, with some 200 million active users. The app was so popular that it made Internet celebrities among some rural folks, who showcased their talents through the app.

One example is 23-year-old Mahesh Kapse (pictured, right), who used TikTok to feature his speed painting skill. According to a CNA report, Kapse’s “most watched video has more than 71 million views” and his work has garnered positive reactions “from Indian stars and international cricket players.”

Screengrab from a fan reaction TikTok video

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he reportedly “gained 1.25 million followers — and an income that was almost four times what his family earned from farming.”

The rise of Indian TikTok stars is explored in CNA’s new documentary “Beyond the Viral Video”. The debut episode delves into the app’s algorithm that prizes content, and pushes those videos to a wider audience.

LEVELLER OR PLATFORM FOR MISINFORMATION?

Just as the viral video phenomenon is a dream come true for many marketers hoping to leverage video to sell products or services, it can be a reputational nightmare scenario for organisations when negative backlash creates virality. In the same way, TikTok is both a leveller and also a platform for misinformation, as detailed in the documentary.

Its ban from India, though, had little to do with its societal impact, and almost everything to do with the political tensions between China and India over a border conflict. The politics surrounding the app is dissected, too, in the debut episode ‘Should We Be Afraid Of TikTok?’.

CATCH THE SERIES FINALE

The 3-part documentary concluded on 5th Dec, in an episode where subjects who became instant celebrities from viral fame or infamy are showcased.

The episode “What Happens After Viral Fame?” features personalities such as China’s Ice Boy, Cambodia’s linguistic talent Thuch Salik, and Singaporean livestreamer ‘S-Hook’ lady Lerine. Find out how life has been for these viral video stars, after the hype has faded. Catch the trailer and Instagram story teaser here:

The entire 3-part documentary is available on YouTube and meWATCH.
Big announcement come out yesterday from Local Celebrity “JPeso” that he’s dropping a documentary…
Tags: Documentary, TV Series

Big announcement come out yesterday from Local Celebrity “JPeso” that he’s dropping a documentary mini series giving us an inside look at how James turns into “JPeso”. The hard truths and facts will leave people in disbelief as he explains his youth and teenage years. His rise to success is far from easy from family troubles to early love & betrayal. Not to mention his troubles with the law it’s been a rollercoaster ride to say the least for Peso. We asked him why he wanted to share such personal information to the world his response “ All I post on Instagram is parties and the good times I want people to understand a side of me besides the clout the internet can be very misleading”. He added that the Internet can be a very toxic place sometimes depending on how you use it. Networking is something Peso practices everyday but even he admitted he needed time to get away. As he gained more exposure in 2019 he became close to socially taking over a university teaming up with local artist and national celebrities. “Clout can be poisonous sometimes and sometimes can be the equivalent of money” said Peso telling his production team that when he was gaining lots of attention he couldn’t even walk around campus without being recognized . Even with the dark background there is a moral to the series that’s positive and motivationally. Set to release early 2021 it will be interesting to see how much exposure this gets it definitely deserve it. STAY TUNED!
The Not So Simple Life of Paris Hilton
Tags: Abuse, Celebrity, Trauma, Documentary, Paris Hilton

I have been a fan of Paris Hilton ever since she became famous and was on everyone’s radar and magazine cover in the early 2000s. I idolized everything about her and pretty much worshipped her like she was my Queen.

She had everything I wanted. She was famous, and she was wealthy, fans adored her, was well known in Hollywood, the paparazzi followed her, and so on. I wanted all of that.

I wanted to be famous and wealthy, adored by fans and followed by the paparazzi. I seriously wanted to be just like her and be able to party in prestigious nightclubs and travel to exotic places.

Did I mention I wanted the lifestyle that involved being followed and photographed nonstop by the paparazzi? It’s incredible how your wants and desires change in twenty years, and I’m honestly happy about that.

I’m a chronic pain sufferer who is chronically ill; how the hell am I able to keep up a lifestyle that attracts attention from the paparazzi?

Well, your girl Paris has been living that life for the last twenty years and became a phenomenally successful businesswoman.

Paris was able to turn her media fame into a titular brand which includes 19 product lines, 50 boutiques worldwide, and a club resort in Manila, Philippines. DAMN, GIRL!

Despite her wild success in business and Hollywood as a socialite, Hilton has been through some traumatic experiences in her life that remind us all to be kind to everyone, for they could be suffering from a battle we know nothing about.
Video Game Documentaries and History
By: Nikolis Asimakis, Zaratoth
Tags: Documentary, History, Videogames

YouTube channels

nerdSlayer Studios

A channel famous for the “Death of a Game…” series. It covers the timeline and uncovers the facts that led up to the “death” of MMO Games and, sometimes, gaming companies. The episodes are very well researched and extremely enjoyable to watched. I’ve personally rewatched some of them multiple times!

The latest video at the time of writing, covering Anthem’s disaster

Indigo Gaming

A channel that offers reviews, retrospectives etc. I discovered it due to the PHENOMENAL documentary on the Cyberpunk genre that deserves its own article but didn’t give much thought initially. However, I saw yesterday their last year’s coverage of the history of God games and was taken aback. I’ll definitely check out more of their documentary pieces in the near future.

The documentary on God games that got me hooked

Chris Davis

A channel that I discovered when I was bored and wanted to check out on one of my favourite game genres in there, Isometric CRPGs. He has a whole series on the subject, covering notable games in almost hour-long presentations, featuring both gameplay, a gamer’s insights as well as historical facts surrounding the development of the games. A must-follow channel for fans of CRPGs.

The first episode in the “A History of Isometric CRPGs” series

Lockstin & Gnoggin

Not a channel I really follow, since most of the videos are not for me. However, they’ve put out the most extensive and well researched history of the Fire Emblem series that I’ve seen. It is definitely a must watch!
Comparative Film Analysis: ‘Isle of Dogs’ and ‘The Brainwashing of My Dad’ — A Discussion on Political Persuasion Served Two Ways
By: Natasha Visosky
Tags: Semiotics, Film Studies, Documentary, Wes Anderson, Film

The following will dig into two films with immensely differing styles, but which both explore the same theme: political brainwashing. In classic good-versus-evil oppositions, one animated family film and one plain-jane documentary each stand to make strong points about the state of media and persuasion in the 21st century.

Isle of Dogs is a high-budget production by a well-known director with an A-list cast. It has a clear style, witty dialogue, and is overall a pithy piece of work that’s visually appealing while dealing with a serious subject: government brainwashing. We see a stereotypically evil leader, who acts as a dictator, gives speeches to rile up crowds, rejects scientific proof, and all in all antagonizes the hero.

The film employs a very cartoony, stereotypical look at Japanese style: from sumo matches to haiku to sushi and sake bars. Unfortunately, this only emphasizes the white hero trope of the character leading the student newspaper to bust the government, white American Tracy Walker. But it also lends itself to the film’s style in positive ways. The traditional taiko drumming used as background music throughout is very effective at increasing tension and suspense.

And there is a recurring visual theme of shots showing a circle from above in the centre of the screen, echoing traditional Japanese ensō paintings. These are circles drawn as part of a zen practice. They symbolize enlightenment, strength, connectedness, and must be painted in one stroke without stopping (The Authentic Path). These are themes throughout the film. Prominently, there are several instances of enlightenment after having been in a state of delusion. On a large scale, Mayor Kobayashi has convinced the population of Megasaki that dogs are bad and should be banished (or, in another sense, deported) and denies the science telling him there is a cure for their illness. At the end of the film, he and the assembly become enlightened when they get to see the science at work right in front of them and hear about Atari’s experience with the trash island dogs. Another running example of obscured truth is the dog pack’s continuous gossiping (“Did you hear the rumour?” said throughout). However, there’s a shift in attitude towards the end of the film when the narrator states that “these rumours remain unconfirmed” (01:32:22). The hero’s journey in this film is very much one seeking truth and enlightenment.
‘LIFE IS SO TIGHT’
By: The Endless Journey
Tags: Documentary, Africa, Migrants, Photojournalism, Disability

Sitting on a pavement in Raleigh Street, Yeoville’s main street, with late-afternoon foot traffic bustling past him, Gift Mupambiki seems unperturbed by the noise around him as he jams on his keyboard.

Despite the incessant hooting of cars and taxis and the commotion of daily life and passers-by, Mupambiki’s repetitive electronic melody is clear. Nearby, a group of men come out of a tavern to watch him play. Most people just pass by, but the occasional child accompanying a parent, unable to contain their curiosity, tries to stop, briefly, to listen.

Mupambiki has been coming to this spot near the library almost every day for years. Blind in both eyes, face mask pulled up to almost cover his eyes, he plays his upbeat keyboard melodies and hopes for some money to be dropped into the tin cup in front of him. His jamming, combined with begging, is how he has been earning a living on the streets of Johannesburg for more than a decade.

Originally from Masvingo in Zimbabwe, Mupambiki encountered many other blind Zimbabweans in Johannesburg after a friend from back home encouraged him to come to South Africa. “I’m trying to raise money to go back to school and finish my studies. I was busy doing an honours in special needs education, but I ran out of money,” he said during a break from his playing.

From his regular spot on the pavement in Yeoville, it’s only about 2km away to the dark and dilapidated building in the Johannesburg inner city where he lives with dozens of other blind Zimbabwean migrants.
Stem Cell Therapy | Next Big Thing In Medical Science
Tags: Medicine, God, Documentary, Happiness, Stem Cell Research

Photo by Halacious on Unsplash

How would you feel if a specially challenged person can walk again with legs, kick a football, eat with a spoon or play baseball again. You definitely will feel happy, isn’t it? If we say in the near future it is possible, will you believe us?

STEM CELL THERAPY IS THE ANSWER TO IT.

Stem cell therapy is considered the future of the medical field because of its capability in curing diseases. For understanding Stem Cell Therapy (SCT) first we need to understand what stem cells are. Stem cells are those type of cells which can renew themselves and can be converted into a whole new organism or a number of different type of cells. It can be used to develop any tissue with the help of which we can regenerate a particular organ to develop in specific and monitored lab conditions.

For example, an embryonic stem cell can be converted into multiple cell types like a muscle, blood, brain, etc. SCT uses these stem cells to cure disease or to replace the faulty gene with a functioning gene.

E.g. diseases like SCID, leukaemia, Alzheimer's, all happen because of certain genetic defect or modifications. SCT can replace the genetic defect in the stem cells itself which will give rise to healthy cells.

SCT has many advantages over other therapies, like

In SCT the stem cells used can be somatic or germline. Somatic stem cells can cure the disease for the present generation and these cells will give rise to healthy cells. In germline SCT, the faulty genes are replaced from this generation and the healthy gene will now pass on to the next generation.

So, this technique can help in eradicating the degenerative diseases from generations which other techniques could not.
My Last Week in Germany
By: Anne Bonfert
Tags: Nature, Outdoors, Photography, Family, Documentary

Today we were invited. My sister and her boyfriend had cooked lunch. All four of us sat down together. We discussed topics like future travel plans. Which might fall into place or not. We spoke about our work. Or more their work since we aren’t working at the moment.

When my sister asked me last week about a get-together she mentioned she needed a photo of the two of us. She needs a photo for her bookshelf. She wants us to do a photoshoot so that she can select one afterward.

If that’s what is important to her I guess that is what we will do. Being the big sister I obviously care for her wellbeing. Having been so far away from her for years she needs my attention now.

Walking across the fields we are talking about the future while she is looking for spots for the photoshoot. All I’m seeing is autumn’s end. Lots of leaves covering the forest floor. Lots of brown leaves.

Most of the yellow, orange, and red ones have vanished. The grass is still green. But that’s about it.

My sister made me climb a tree, pose in front of the last rays of sunshine, and sit on a bench. My legs were not allowed to be crossed and my hands had a specific spot to be on. Trying to make her happy while the cold wind is blowing in my face.

Later we played some card games I haven’t even heard about before. It was entertaining. Creativity was requested. A challenge we all loved.

I’m glad I blocked this day from other appointments to spend some time with her. I do know how much it means for her. And after all, she is still my little sister.

© Bonfert — 20/11/2020 — EDUCATION

Do you remember what this is? An old telephone cell. Recycled and revamped into a modern library. Take a book, leave a book. Or something like that. A shelf was put into this cubicle and books were added. As easy as that.
One Tweak to IncreaseYour Etsy Shop Sales.
By: Alicia Shaffer
Tags: Sales Tips, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Tips And Tricks, Etsy

How to increase your Etsy shop sales with one simple tweak.

If you are like the majority of sellers on Etsy there is something you have a knack for, like making pottery or finding (and reselling) cool vintage flatware. You wanted to make a few bucks off of your talents and turning to Etsy was a no-brainer. I totally get it! Opening the shop is a great first step to success but SELLING requires more than going live and waiting for your sales to pour in. You HAVE to actively do something every. single. day.

A lot of shop owners that I have mentored over the years are frustrated with low (or no) sales and cannot understand why their shop struggles. They have done research or read books but still are stuck with sales that suck. We can talk about ALL of the things most shops need to improve for DAYS but the point of this post is to give you ONE simple tweak to improve your sales.

Why Listen to Me?

First let me say, I know what I am talking about, really. I’m not trying to sell you my $10 downloadable “sales guide” to selling on Etsy because that is not how I make my income. My initial income came from actually SELLING on Etsy and founding Three Bird Nest in 2011. I am sharing my success in hopes that you too can experience sales growth. My story is an entirely separate post (or 12) so let me get back to the reason for this one, how to increase YOUR shop sales.

One Simple Tweak for Sales Two words…Hero. Image. What is a hero image you ask? This is the first, main, image that the marketplace uses when shoppers are searching on the site. It is CRITICAL that your image is better than your competition, not necessarily the best photo you have ever seen, but better than your competitor’s. You are given a small 1.5" square of real estate opportunity to capture your potential customers’ interest to buy YOUR item over the others. You need to make sure they click on YOUR image.

How can you do this? Marketplaces are a different beast compared to getting the sale or conversion on your own website. This means your approach needs to be different. Put efforts into thinking about how your item(s) should be photographed. For example I searched Iggy Dog Collars and here’s a snapshot of the results. What photo makes you want to click on it? I personally like the image of the gray Iggy with the mustard color collar (top left). It is close enough too see the product, you gete an idea of the collar’s scale, the lighting is good and clean. Now do this with your own products and see what you could do to make positive changes.

It’s time to make the tweaks for your shop and see your sales improve. Think about the following…Do you have good lighting? Should you shoot flat lays or on model? Did you crop the image enough? Is it too far away or close? You can invest in an inexpensive tabletop shooting tents and lighting kit once you have a budget that allows you too invest.

Can’t wait for you to see your sales grow with this simple tweak! xo
【技巧攻略】Mini Motorways 輕鬆突破千分大關
By: 電玩安安 Acgaming
Tags: 遊戲, Games, iOS, Tips And Tricks, Apple Arcade

in Once Upon the Weird
6 Kebiasaan Baik yang Saya Pelajari dalam Membangun Software
By: Didik Tri Susanto
Tags: Startup, Coding, Software Development, Tips And Tricks, Software Engineering

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
Small Tips For Your Excel Sheet
By: Saif Khatri
Tags: Tips And Tricks, Tips, Engineering, Excel

Very quick and Simple Tricks that you must use in your spreadsheet. its for some blank cell and the copy formula from cell which is already be parented with the other formula.

BLANK CELL

In Excel most up cell is blank. but we talking for those cell which change to blank when we change some data.

For Example, Here I has Data Validation for cell but its change the other cells data too.

Example 1

For this Kindof Situtations we use IF Formula. First we call

Cell 1 = Data validation Cell ( which we change)

Cell 2= Blank cell

For formula use,

IF(Cell 1 = “data validation name” , your formula , “-”)

Formula Usage

My Formula is Longer and Complicated but you just focus on three parameter which help you out. And See we Get Dash when its blank.

CUT FORMULA OF DEPENDENT CELL

We Cut or Copy Formula we use copy and cut formula then special paste just a formula.

You probavbly do this

But its not work when this formula is dependent on the cell. Its never work for me :)

For Example,

Example 2

You see that we have two cells are dependent and we want to put in color cell. For this we just Cut or Copy the formula by select it from the formula bar. Then paste it in tht Formula Bar.

Cut and Paste in formula Bar

For selection Some Shortcuts ;)

Ctrl + A = Select All

Ctrl + Arow Keys = Move with Selction

Ctrl +Shift + Arrow Keys = Selection and Move With Word

Then just change cell in dependent cell.

Change dependent cell

Wollah You complete it :)

Hope This Helpful to you Project

THANK YOU !!!!
Improve your productivity in VS Code
By: Muhammad Yusuf
Tags: Shortcut Keys, Vscode, Tips And Tricks, Extension, Programming

Photo by Cathryn Lavery on Unsplash

VS Code is one of the best code editors today and it is used by so many programmers out there. And it has a sheer amount of ways for you to customize it, be it themes, extensions, or just the settings. If you regularly code in VS Code it’s best to know your tool’s full potential.

In these multiple articles, I hope you can get something to improve your productivity in your weaponry and your coding workflow in general. Just take note that some parts only work in the Javascript language. Enjoy.

Control how you view your VS Code

Search better with your VS Code

Best VS Code extensions

VS Code settings you should customize

Code better with these VS Code tips

Best VS Code shortcuts
How to keep the most productive employees — again
By: Mareike Mutzberg
Tags: Buddysystem, Parental Leave, Maternity Leave, Return To Work, Tips And Tricks

Parents are the more productive employees, research shows. So you want to keep them and you want to keep them happy. How can you support fresh parents returning to work after their parental leave? Here is how:

Coming back from parental leave is not always easy. Coping with sleep, sports and leisure time deprivation is just one part of it. The other one is dealing with changes at the workplace, like new faces, new processes, new tools and making it work in part time etc.

But having a child is one of the most rewarding things in life. Here is how you can help fresh parents in your company to enjoy this time and embrace the new situation by making the return to work experience a smooth and easy one.

…Before someone returns, s/he has to leave first. This whole experience of leaving and being away for such a long time determines already with which feelings a fresh parent will return to work.

A proper goodbye

organise a team night out and celebrate

send a card signed by all colleagues

surprise with a baby basket

have a “last official meeting with the manager”

organise and introduce a Buddy (see below)

(see below) check with HR for official guidelines and support

Touch points during absence

write a personal postcard (have the team sign it)

call

write an e-mail

forward the company newsletter

​​​​​​​meet up F-2-F (in a café, going for a walk — so the baby can join in the stroller…)

Agree beforehand on how often and via which channel you touch base. Check in on personal level, offer support, discuss the return plan (e.g. part time hours, responsibilities, paperwork, deadlines).

Business topics to include in your communication:

Business decisions

Organisational information and updates

Facility news

Team matters

Invitation to company events

Return experience

Card on desk and/or chocolate

Coffee/lunch with manager

Team lunch

Personal reintroduction and welcome to wider team

Guidelines around #returnity (e.g. quiet room for expressing milk)

Regular 1on1 for personal check ins

Personal Buddy

Sometimes, all we need is someone who has been there already. Someone who understands our situation and can help out of experience. When becoming a parent (and it doesn´t matter if for the first or 4th time), everything changes. And this is where a Buddy comes in:

What is the duty of a Buddy?

A fresh parent´s Buddy is there to offer support and give guidance. They listen to parents´ joys and sorrows, they can give tips from their experience and answer their questions. Buddies can direct them to the correct authorities and websites, remind them of deadlines and necessary paperwork, and generally support them with their “first steps back in the office”.

How can I introduce a Buddy system in my company?

Simply create a “Buddy list” in excel, where other parents in your company can enter their name, contact details and maybe a few words about themselves, and publish it on your intranet or equivalent.
🔭 Software you should own as a Junior Android Developer
By: Alexander Khyzhun
Tags: Junior, Tips And Tricks, Software, Review, Android

⚙️ IDE (Integrated development environment)

First of all, you have to choose a software where you plan to write the code. For Android development, there are a few options: Android Studio, Intellij Idea, or Eclipse.

Let’s review all of them in brief:

Android Studio — in my opinion, the AS is brilliant. Comparing it to other IDEs this is the best IDE ever. A lot of developers after seeing what AS can tell that their IDE incapable.

It really was strongly designed for Android Developers to move the development to the next level.

AS solves a lot of things for developers and makes their life better by using an amazing collection of features that nobody has.

The official description of AS is:

“The fastest developer tools for building market-leading apps and accelerating performance. With an intelligent code editor, flexible build system, realtime profilers, and emulators.’’

And it’s the absolute truth. The only bad thing I can say about AS that it uses a lot of RAM, but it’s worth it, especially if you have a powerful machine 😉

Intellij Idea — this IDE is also cool. But for me, it looks like a more general place to write code.

It might be used for JS, Java, Kotlin, Scala, and so on. It has an extensive list of features but these things are not extensively aimed for Android only.

I like it, I used it, but when I went deep into Android Development I’ve found out that AS is the best for an Android developer.

Otherwise use it because all products by Jetbrains are amazing ✨

Eclipse — is bullshit, that’s all.

Using Eclipse in 2020 is like using Paint instead of Photoshop 🤷‍♂️.
VIDEO MARKETING
By: New Tech Solution
Tags: Video Marketing Strategy, Tips And Tricks, Youtube Marketing, Video Marketing, Digital Marketing

Nowadays, most of the business switch to video marketing. Have you ever wonder why? Let’s get into this why business switches to video marketing. Before getting into this, we will understand what is Video Marketing?

Video marketing uses videos to promote and advertise your product or service, improve interaction on your digital and social platforms, educate your customers and consumers, and use a new way to reach your audience.

Video marketing can help you to grow your business and also helps you to engage with your audience. Videos can have an immediate effect, meaning that advertisers can target their market. Video-favored technology is transforming the face of online marketing.

Video are easy to access and it saves time when it comes to reading. Just one click and you can enjoy the move it also ensures higher optimization opportunities. To make your video marketing successful video should be creative, also it should be a mix of both infographics as well as relevant content.

The video should not be lengthy as people don’t prefer to watch a lengthy video. Videos can do much more than just engagement. Video marketing can make a strong impact on its audience. For more, you can visit this blog: https://newtechsolution.co.in/index.php/2020/12/18/video-marketing/
The Lazy Person’s Tool For Quick Financial Calculations: Rule of 72
By: Kyra Krishna
Tags: Personal Finance, Self Improvement, Money, Productivity, Tips And Tricks

How To Use It

The rule says that by dividing 72 by the annual interest rate (R), you can find the approximate time (T) required to double the money. For example, according to the rule, with an interest rate of 8%, it will take 72/8, or 9 years to double your money. The actual number is 9.006 years. See, not too bad at all!

The rule is relatively accurate for interest rates ranging from 6% and 10% (which are conveniently common interest rates of index funds like the S&P 500). It’s a great shortcut for since compound interest calculations can get quite complicated. But if you would like to know about and use the exact equation for calculating the doubling time of an investment, you can read about it here.

Applications?

This rule is very useful for making quick comparisons between investments and setting long-term financial goals. The Rule of 72 is also a great way to calculate other things that increase at a constant compounding rate ranging from credit card debt and student loans to changes in populations and inflation. Whenever something is being compounded, you can use the Rule of 72 to approximate how long the number will take to double!