fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
How people are using a copy paste method and making 2000$ to 10000$ every week on internet? Is this legit?
Tags: Make Money Online, Marketing Automation, Internet Marketing

Due to Corona pandemic a huge amount of people have lost there jobs all over the world . This amout is about 140 million people although after losing jobs people are unable to do daily needs.

Many people have tried shopify ,amazon ,blogging, YouTube videos ,free money apps ,survey and many more but all in vein .

Most of the people are unable to Crack the algorithm of these big internet marketing. Here a person help them to get sales and make a good money.

John crestani was the person whom came with an idea that teach how to make sales ,generate, leads ,traffic and email list . He was also fired from his job and today he is earning 7 million dollars income an average.

WHY PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT HE IS A FAKE GURU?

Well as he has training of basic marketing and people who are intermediate this is course is for beginners as also there a course for intermediate but people due to few mistakes didn't tried that intermediate course.

Overall this is not totally worthless just need to choose according to your experience level if you are new in marketing beginners is best for you but if you have made huge sales its time to try intermediate one .

If you are also interested or trying to find a new job its the best time as there is huge discount https://bit.ly/3nE9HE3

Disclaimer this article is based on people reviews and a few research.

Disclosure There are affiliate links inside
How to increase organic traffic SEO rankings and traffic increase
By: Naceur Mohammed
Tags: Passive Income Online, Passive Income On Blogs, Make Money Online, Passive Income, Financial Freedom

As of today, after creating several blogs in several niches

we have seen that nearly all of our republished pages have consistently been gaining more and more search traffic over time.. Now, the best part about this SEO strategy is that increases in traffic can happen almost immediately, as you can see here here and here.

So if you want to know how to get organic traffic fast by simply refreshing, older content, then stay tuned. When you update content, you can’t just recreate any old page and expect to get a quick boost in organic traffic.

There are some requirements in page selection and you actually need to update the content with some thought. Plus. Your website should follow at least the basic SEO best practices.. So you should have good content a technically sound website and have some kind of website authority, meaning you’re, not a new site or have no links pointing at any of your pages.

Content is obviously a huge contributor to your ranking success., But it’s, not always going to be. The main reason why you’re, not ranking in the top 3 positions., So the first thing we need to do is actually identify that a content issue exists.

And there are four main things to look out. For. First check the age of your page.. It takes time to acquire backlinks and for Google to understand where your page fits in the SERP.. So as a general rule of thumb, you should give your page around 6–12 months to rank before considering a major update.

Read more here : https://www.freedombizmachine.com/seo-ranking-page/
Passive Income Ideas for teens in 2020
By: Pascal Henningsson
Tags: Side Hustle Ideas, Make Money From Home, Make Money As A Teenager, Make Money Online, Passive Income

Passive income is money that needs little to no work to receive and manage. It is considered progressive passive income as the person earning spends less money to maximize the earnings.

Examples of passive income include investment income and any corporate practices in which the person’s income does not contribute.

In some previous years, passive income has been one of the most widely debated concepts of personalized wealth on the Net.

Kinds of Passive Income Teenagers Can Earn

You’re not going to be a teenager one day, but we’re going to add a few strategies down to consider as you move into the 20s and 30s.

Most of these aren’t going to implement right now, but they’re pleasant to bear in mind and be ready for!

Here are some ways you can bring your income to benefit you in 2020/2021:

Establish an online business that you can manage from an application or your smartphone

Stock Photography

Writing an eBook

Creating Online Courses

Affiliate Marketing

YouTube Partner Program

Digital Display Advertising

Creating a Niche Website

Pre-Monetized Blogging

Crowdfunding

Purchase investment in land/real estate

Invest stable dividend-paying index shares in diversifying and gaining passive income profits.

Put the remaining money in a high-interest bank account or deposit certificates.

The One Funnel Away Challenge

Find more about Passive income methods for teens. Visit the link given below.

Final thoughts:

Passive income will perform for you, despite whether you have millions of dollars to spend and little time to waste, or $0, enough free time, and a flame of creativity.

Although they could take some investment and willpower to get started, the profit drivers on this list will keep making your money even after you’ve put it to use.

Just think about what you’re dealing with: set your strategic targets and determine how much time, commitment, and resources you’re prepared to bring into your project.

If you would like to invest, create a company, outsource your own, or get paying for your daily life, you will live on passive income.
sonnet 45.
By: Alex Guenther
Tags: Poem, Sonnet, Wildlife, Thailand, Poetry

sonnet 45.

why isn’t it enough that gaur roam wild

as dusk enfolds the highland border zone

and we jolt back to camp? blue shadows thrown

across the hills don’t move me; like a child

preoccupied with its own pains - a mild

pulled muscle, thoughts of comforts left at home -

i nearly miss the bull standing alone,

accusatory, looming, immobile.

roused from my reveries, i glimpse its shape

half-hid in thicket, bulk of horn-tipped brawn.

i watch me watching it, not wholly here,

and know some crucial message has escaped

me, swallowed by the shadows. we drive on -

night’s falling, and i feel regret, and fear.

from “108 sonnets”, available at http://bit.ly/108_sonnets. photo by me.
sonnet 23.
By: Alex Guenther
Tags: Poem, Bangkok, Sonnet, Thailand, Poetry

vast armored insect, kaiju crocodile,

ten-storey legs of undressed grey concrete;

the skytrain station dwarfs the blocks beneath

and vomits tracks which blot the sky for miles;

high on its knotted platforms, clicking stiles

accompany dull shuffling of feet;

its hulking belly sags above the streets

while pigeons stain its flanks; commuters file

onto its ramps like it’s their mothership.

the mammoth interchange’s gnarled maze

looms floating like a city subway stop

uprooted from the earth’s concealing grip

and hauled aloft, huge root-ball lost in haze

that dribbles yoga gyms and coffee shops.

from “108 sonnets”, available at http://bit.ly/108_sonnets. photo by me.
How I visited Thailand during a pandemic
Tags: Thailand, Buddha, Food

From to Rita L., for her photo of Thai Basil

So Okay Okay, there is a free wait to get a free Covid-19 screening at the airport. To save yourself $200 in screening all you have to do is not travel. So this is a very eclectic location with distressed wood and servers that seem to have an endless number of Thank You’s (no joke, don’t believe me seriously check it out).

I believe we ordered a yellow curry, mango chicken and pineapple rice. All were quite lovely except the yellow curry was not served with white rice by default and I did question the potato in the pineapple rice adding a western twist to the dish. The meal altogether was quite nice, with a transformative welcome and send off by the buddha.

Quite frankly I was impressed with the level of detail from the distressed wood dividers to the led lines of light across the wall behind the trim, to the themes in the dining carrying all the way to the washroom. The very (very very very) attentive staff take care of their guest and located right in Uptown Toronto it is a very easy to access location without the downtown problems of parking. If you’re in need of a no-travel pandemic escape, give this restaurant a try located right in Richmond Hill. Namaste.
CIT (Center Of InsurTech, Thailand) ศูนย์กลางของนวัตกรรมด้านเทคโนโลยีประกันภัยยุคใหม่ บริการด้วยใจพัฒนาธุรกิจประกันภัยเพื่อประชาชน
By: Siwawut Wongyara
Tags: Thailand, Technology, Startup, Insurance, Insurtech

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
Nattaphong
By: ณ ฐพงษ, จ นทร ส วรรณ
Tags: Thailand

We believe in authentic, personal storytelling . The stories that perform best for us are rooted in firsthand experience and packed with tons of va…
Why is wine so expensive in Thailand?
By: Thaivisa News
Tags: Thailand, Wineries, Wine, Expensive Wine

Wine: A taste full of secrets.

Thailand, a kingdom in the south-east region of Asia which is known for its tropical beaches, opulent royal palaces, ancient ruins, and its temples attracts lots of tourists every year.

Although the country is known for its production of some of the best quality and cheap beer, it fails to satisfy the same with the wine.

Due to its excessive pricing the locals, tourists, or ex-pats are discouraged to enjoy a bottle of wine on a regular basis because let’s be honest, not everyone prefers beer with dinner.

An exorbitant amount of tax:

It is no secret that Thailand imposes an obscene level of tax on the wine suppliers. The suppliers are subjected to the local 400% excise tax which indicates the clear reason behind the excessive increase in pricing.

It is easily available at the local supermarkets such as Tesco, Makro, Big C with prices starting from 500 baht. Labels like Jacob’s Creek cost over 700 baht. However, most of the popular labels are priced quite high.

What factors can help lower the costs of wines?

The storage of the wine is a key factor in the taste and quality of the wine.

Thailand is a tropical country with sometimes extreme hot weather. Poor storage can lead suppliers to sometimes face heavy losses due to the loss in quality or taste of the wine.

The importers need to rethink and replan their techniques of storing the wine in transit and on arrival.

Suppliers can also apply techniques and seek advice from oenologists who have proper expertise in dealing with wine storage and related issues.

Also, what would really help is if Thailand could stop taxing bottles based on the price at origin and instead implement a current tax and divide that by total bottles imported.

A kingdom without wineries?

Thailand is widely known for its beer but since the last decade, it has also indulged in the wine-making industry as it is not completely dependent on imports.

Vineyards and wineries can be found in many regions of Thailand. One of its best vineyards can be found in Khao Yai, located in the Asok valley, 160 km northeast of Bangkok, GranMonte, an estate that covers an area of 16 hectares.

Another one can be found in the surrounding area of Hua Hin with one further north of Pattaya.

Are Thai local wines worth the taste?

Though Thailand is not an excellent wine producer, the exception does take place with the prices.

For example, the low price of the local wine rice Siam Sato which costs around 35 baht for a bottle of 0.7l which is about 1 US dollar, and fruity wine Fresco, prices ranging from 170 baht for 0.7l.

Thus, if Thailand lowers the excise tax and suppliers focus on storage as a key priority with continuous improvement in the production of local wines, a slump in prices may follow.

For more insightful stories and news visit https://www.thaivisa.com/
Thailand, Coronavirus spreads fast among migrant workers
By: The Workers Rights
Tags: Coronavirus, Migrant Workers, Ministry Of Health, Thailand, Covid 19

Thailand’s local community blames migrant workers for the quick spread of coronavirus across the country. According to Thai Health authorities, COVID-19 cases pass 5,000. Only yesterday, officials have reported 548 new contagions, almost all of them among migrant laborers in the seafood production in Samut Sakhon district. From the beginning of the pandemic, Thailand’s total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surged past 5,000 as hundreds of migrant workers resulted positive, posing a major challenge for the Government.

Thailand has been one of various Southeast Asian nations that were managing relatively unharmed by the coronavirus emergency. But on Saturday, the Ministry of Health announced a daily record of 548 new cases, practically all of them between migrant workers in the seafood business in Samut Sakhon province, 34 kilometers southwest of the capital Bangkok.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha stated yesterday his executive would wait to see how the circumstances looked in a week’s time to establish any special limitations for New Year’s holidays. The new cases in Samut Sakhon, most not presenting manifestations, were found by mass testing after a 67-year-old shrimp merchant at a seafood market resulted positive to the COVID-19 swamp. The Klang Koong seafood market, one of the country’s largest, and its associated house were sealed off by security forces and police agents. The province imposed a night lockdown and other movement restrictions until January 3. Several public places, including shopping department stores, schools, gyms, cinemas, spas, and sports stadiums, have to remain closed until this data.

Some 360 of the 382 new contagions reported yesterday were migrants working in the province, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration affirmed. There were 14 other cases described as locally transmitted and eight discovered in COVID isolation facilities where essentially all people coming from overseas must wait for fifteen days. The majority of migrant workers in Samut Sakhon province are from neighboring Myanmar, which is witnessing a breaker in coronavirus contagions starting from last August. The circumstances in near Myanmar had produced great concern among Thai authorities, spending great efforts to clearly decrease border passage.

Last month, several cases were found among Thai women who had worked in Myanmar and then evaded health checks when coming back home to northern Thailand generating panic among their communities. Most of the people from northern Thailand who recently traveled to Myanmar and resulted positive for the coronavirus tests were traced just after having already arrived in Bangkok. According to the Worldometer and John Hopkins University, Thailand recorded a total of 5,289 coronavirus cases and 60 deaths from the beginning of the global emergency.

https://www.theworkersrights.com/thailand-coronavirus-spreads-fast-among-migrant-workers/
How to open a company in Thailand
Tags: Work Permit, Tax Registration, Setting Up A Business, Thailand, Business

Choose the legal form

There are several main types of companies and the process starts by choosing a suitable one. These business forms include the ordinary and the limited partnerships, the public and the limited companies, and the sole trader.

Select the available name

The name of the new company is important and it needs to be a unique one that does not infringe other names already in use by registered Thai companies. A preliminary name check can be performed.

Draw up the company documents

A Thai company is incorporated through the registration of the Articles of Association and a Memorandum. These are bylaws of the company, its constitutive documents that include relevant information about the business.

Register the company

Companies are required to register with the Department of Business Development belonging to the Ministry of Commerce. Founders submit a special application form, together with the company documents and other statements.

Obtain additional permits

Some companies require additional licensing from Thai Ministries. Income tax and VAT registrations are also mandatory and are to take place within 60 days after incorporation.
สภาวะ “แกะดำ”
By: Jatdilok Raksutee
Tags: Thailand, Blog, Thai

Don’t let your dreams be dreams.
Unable to find a job or a company to sponsor you for your Work Permit in Thailand. What can you do?
Tags: Work Permit, Thailand, Company, Setting Up A Business, Spouse

Unable to find a job or a company to sponsor you for your Work Permit in Thailand. What can you do? Naf Dec 23, 2020·2 min read

One of the most common situations faced by expats of digital nomads who want to stay in Thailand for an extended period of time would be to get a Visa that allows you to do so. One of the most common and easily obtained types of Visa that allows you to stay in Thailand for a longer period of time is a Work Permit / Work Visa.

How to get a Thailand Work Permit / Work Visa?

Option 1

Get employed by a legitimate company, large enough to employ you officially and willing to sponsor your work permit/visa.

Option 2

Be your own boss. Setup your own company and then employ yourself :)

For this article, we will focus on Option 2 since option 1 is a no brainer.

Let’s start with the cost — because we know ultimately the goal here is to get you a Work Visa that allows you to stay in Thailand for an extended time.

Total Cost: THB 45,000

This will get you 1 year Work Visa / Work Permit and also a Company.

With this, you can extend your Work Visa for another 2 years.

What’s the whole process entails?

You will need to set up a Thai Company. Once you have completed setting up the Limited Company, you will then use that company to sponsor yourself a Work Visa. Upon expiry, you can extend your Work Visa for another 1 year for 2 times.

To find out the step by step process on how to set up a limited company here in Thailand.

Alternatively, if the cost seems justifiable, considering your monthly Visa run and the risk of getting stopped by the immigration, you can contact us to have it taken care for you.
《บอกกับใจ 對心言語》／ Selina And Sirinya
Tags: 歌詞, Song, Thailand, Lyrics, 翻譯

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
Peripéteies in Greece — Week 19. Adventures in Greece as we pursue the…
By: Tim Bull
Tags: Greece, Lockdown, Christmas, Athens

Peripéteies in Greece — Week 19

Progress on the boat in Italy is slow, perhaps not surprising because of Christmas this week, but we did get the Letter of Intent ready and now we are waiting confirmation so we can arrange access for our surveyor to assess the boat for us.

Coronavirus cases continue to drop, there was only 240 new cases today although we suspect that number is impacted by the Christmas break and a likely slowdown in testing, still we’ll take it! They are starting to hint that some things may re-open on the 7th of Jan, although slowly, so let’s see how that turns out.

We spent the week doing the usual walks with people and several larger ones ourselves. One mission was to head to the far side of the Acropolis where there are some large rosemary bushes so we could collect some for Christmas lunch and the chicken Karina was going to roast.
2020: The Year To Remember Yet To Forget
By: Shweta Singh
Tags: 2020, Life, Motivation, Lockdown, Freelance Writing

Before I start, I would like to thank everything and everyone who contributed even a bit to help me keep going throughout the year.

Looking back in January 2020, when we all were so filled with hopes, happiness, and smiles. But before we could start the year, the most challenging time begun.

The pandemic wave already knocked the world.

And then each one of us has had a list of struggles. Our lives turned 360 degrees during the lockdown.

Some of us were fighting with the COVID-19. Many of us were losing our control over our emotional, mental, and financial health.

Some were losing their families and friends.

Some were losing their jobs.

Some were suffering the domestic violence.

And some were depressed with all the negativity around.

With time, we all are getting distorted, devastated, and depressed.

This year has shown us almost everything — from the lowest to the strongest.

Everyone, you’ll meet after will have their version of 2020.

The coming time will demand us to be more kind, more loving, and most importantly, more understanding. Probably, we all will be able to understand the other’s battle. That’s the kind of place we all deserve.

I salute everyone who is fighting endless battles every day.

We are not dead yet. No matter how hard the situation might get, we all will keep rising again and again, stronger and stronger, braver and braver — till we reach the other side.

The other side is full of happiness, success, and smiles.

We all have some light, hope, love, and laughter left within us.

Time to bring it out.

The time will pass.

Better time is on its way.

With every fight we lose, we win another one.

Time to let all the toxicity go with the year. And follow the learnings to lead a beautiful life ahead.

Wishing you all life full of Hope, Happiness, and Health.
Bye-bye 2020, don’t spark joy. In one of my earlier posts, I remember…
By: Gulfer Ulas
Tags: 2020, Isolation, Study, Lockdown, Writing

In one of my earlier posts, I remember I’ve written why do I write in a blog, and it is all because of therapeutic reasons. I know it is the chemistry for troubled times. Here we’re having a long time of pandemic and understandably we are all suffering from different aspects of anxiety, depression, and loneliness of these difficult isolated times which I less likely want to talk about it. For my part, I think losing the motivation amidst all of this unforeseeable future has been new to me. In general, I am quite passionate about what I am up to, however, for the first time, along with my whole learning process, I have never felt that much desperation so far. These random feelings are visiting from time to time and feeling like things are turning uncomfortable immediately. I presume that this break down must basically come from my hectic studies. I think the worst part of a Ph.D. (permanent head damage**) is about once you get used to a certain pace of study, you cannot do otherwise. And I cannot simply fit in the art of doing nothing anymore. In other words, I cannot just sit without doing something. I admit that I’ve enjoyed this whirl so far, as I’ve believed these heavy times feed us more and more with never-ending inspiration. But, I’ve just realized that I am no longer happy with this uncomfortable clarity. Against such distractions, I’m trying different methods like breaking from social media, looking at my calendar, trying to discover different things, watching funny shows, shopping, tidying up, practicing the ‘art of doing nothing’ etc. Yet, no luck. It doesn’t work. I am basically longing for an inspirational educational atmosphere. I miss meeting random people for a chat. I miss being exhausted but still say yes to spontaneous invites.

At first, I was a bit relaxed, I admit, but later as much the vagueness continued to grow, I have to make myself get a sense of perspective, and when I thought about it more, I felt very relieved, because to be studying on paper seems to get somehow inspiration, and it is good to have a chance to think. I’ve been using this time to crack on with writing. And yet now, as we emerge from lockdown, I miss my friends but I also miss myself. I used to be social, spontaneous, now I fear that person may be gone forever. Every act must be weighed up. There is a strange pressure to appear and behave as normal. I am not sure how to switch it back on again.
The plight of cycling.
By: Adil Manzoor
Tags: Everyday Life, Coronavirus, Lockdown, Photo Essay, Journalism

The plight of cycling.

A rickshahwalla waiting for passengers.

Three months after the lockdown was abruptly imposed, the Rickshaw-wallahs of Delhi are still facing the burnt. Akbar, a resident of Bihar talks of events of the past with teary eyes. Having spent his lifetime in Delhi and working tirelessly for fifty years, a bitter tone of complaint still lingers on his tongue. After cycling from dawn to dusk, all he manages to earn is his daily bread, while the conditions at his home in Bihar are still distraught. He lives in an attic of a small house, where he also helps in cleaning and sweeping to pay off his rent. Right after the lockdown was imposed, Akbar had been forced to return to his native village by foot, and had hardly managed to return home. Old and weak, Akbar, complains that ever since he returned to Delhi, the conditions have gone from bad to worse, and the debt is only increasing.

(Akbar in the above photos)

Sheikh Samud, another rickshaw-Walla, hailing from West Bengal has recently come to Delhi. Prior to this, he worked as a daily laborer in Bengal. He complains that he could not find work due to Lockdown, and had no option but to arrive in a foreign city. At home, Samud has three daughters, and all of them are enrolled in a school. He lives in Abul Fazal, along with other Rickshaw-wallas on a rent of some nine hundred rupees. Apart from this, he pays for the rent of the Rickshaw, which amounts to fifteen hundred rupees per month.

(Sheikh Samud in the above photos)

Mohammad Syed has been in Delhi for twenty-seven years, and hails from Bihar. He complains that he has been living a life of neglect, and no one, he maintains, has ever been of any help to him. The world, according to him, lacks empathy, and everyone peruses one own interest. He bluntly says that on the days he does not earn, he does not eat.

( Mohammad Syed in the above photos)

Mohammad Saiffudin lives in Batla-house, and works hard to pay the debts incurred on him by the marriage of his daughter. During the lockdown, he travelled to his home and somehow had managed to give a motor-bike to his son-in-law in dowry, but now finds himself in debt without any reliable means to survive. He earns some eighty to hundred rupees per day, and complains that the E-battery wallas grab all the customers.

(Mohammad saiffudin in the above photos)

(a phone photo essay)
Christmas evening 2020
By: Gordie Jackson
Tags: 2020, Evening, Lockdown, Communication, Christmas

gjphoto 25122020

I was texting a friend in response to her Christmas greeting and I described my day as being like a radio host in a studio. I didn’t physically see anyone other than the three others at ‘meeting’ this morning but through technologies, I connected. Whatapps, text, phone, mobile, video conferencing social media were my forms of communications.

I found myself sitting for an hour just looking out the window. Radio 3 had a meditative soundscape which enhanced the experience.

How come I hadn’t noticed the beauty of the sun as it crossed the sky right in front of me. It was I returning to my place at the window that I noticed how the sunlit the room.

Sunlit room gj25122020

I had wondered whether the Facebook video call with friends made at University would work, it did, we covered many subjects and I felt more connected.

At 9 pm we had decided to continue the zoom Meeting for Worship and we had 21 people join us from around the UK, Ireland, North America, France and Finland.

I decided I needed to feel the air against my face so I took a walk to the postbox and deposited a card knowing it will not be picked up to Tuesday. Another form of communication.

Shortly after 10 pm, Ciara returned and we slouched on the couch and watched ‘Murder on the Orient Express’. I didn’t make it to the end as sleep enveloped me.

g
Live life king-size!. “Babumoshai, zindagi badi honi chahiye…
Tags: Self, Life, Lockdown, Blog

“Babumoshai, zindagi badi honi chahiye lambi nahi.” ~Rajesh Khanna, Anand(1971)

The average human being in India lives for 69.16 years, equivalent to 36350496 minutes or 2181030000 seconds. Wait, did you even count the number of zeroes in that figure? I was more worried about the number of seconds that we live for ourselves. Also, is there any idle value for the same?

Those of us who were lucky to spend a significant amount of time growing under our parents' shelter mostly never realized the essence of life. We speculated that the roadway to success mainly comprises of passing out of school with a heavy percentage, getting into college, and securing a job to settle down in life finally. By the time we were happy about venting out of the “teenage”, we were burdened with a whole new bunch of roles and responsibilities. We tried to cope with our professional and personal lives and desired to balance the two of them. We tried to impress our supervisors, catch up with our friends, please our partners, and gratify our parents all at the same time. Our social gatherings started to look like an escape from reality, breaking free from our lives that we have yearned for so long. But where did we exactly lost ourselves? Where did we go wrong?

This constant need to keep everyone around us happy leaves behind the necessity to bring about peace in ourselves. I think it's time that we stop procrastinating about what could have been done better in situations where we have the option to let it go and hold on to our tranquility.
The VOYAGERS Lockdown Band is back…
By: Voyagers
Tags: Songs, Lockdown, Only You, Voyagers

VOYAGERS is a community of 300 people from 30+ countries, aiming to build close support among people working on meaningful things. There are VOYAGERS groups working in health-tech, climate-tech and food-tech, who in normal years share not-for-profit weekend adventures in magical places. When travel stopped amid a pandemic, we created the virtual VOYAGERS Lockdown Band. To mark the end of 2000, we offer the VOYAGERS take on Yazoo’s 1982 indie hit Only You. More at VOYAGERS.io.
2020 stole our Christmas
By: Daniel Ajiboso
Tags: 2020, Life, Lockdown, Christmas, Covid 19

The year 2020 was a troubling year to say the least, this year kicked off with everyone celebrating entering a new decade, but this year quickly stole our joys with several losses.

Incredible people like Kobe Bryant, Chadwick Boseman, Diego Maradona and many more died this year, Trump killed an Iranian General, George Floyd was killed by the police and sparked major protests and riots all over the world against racism.

Here is Nigeria, we had our own protest against police brutality in October the #EndSARS protests that rocked this nation and showed the government the power of the people. There were the Australian fires, locusts and all manner of things that happened all over the world.

Then of course, the defining event of 2020 was the COVID 19 pandemic, the first pandemic the world had ever seen in 100 years. Almost no one alive today had ever witnessed a pandemic, and we all did this year, a deadly virus that has killed over 1.7 million people all over the world.

The pandemic shut down world economies, sent the world into recession, sporting events got postponed or cancelled, fans weren’t allowed into stadiums when sports resumed.

The lockdowns had to be the hardest part of it all, many people went jobless, companies went under, startups failed, the rich got richer while the poor got poorer, middle class people joined lower class people, and this happened all over the world despite the best intentions of governments.

And now we’re having a second wave of the virus at what is supposed to be the most festive part of the year. Nobody is happy, people’s mental health declined at alarming rates this year, and it seems like everyone is simply just tired.

People can’t even go out to celebrate as much as they would want to because of the very fact that they could die if they did. And even those of us who love indoor Christmas don’t even feel the festivity of the season, so much so that the 25th of December, the one day you’re required to be happy has been stolen by a year that came to take away our happiness.

The only thing we can do is try to ignore the emptiness inside and try to be festive despite not necessarily being in the mood thanks to the nature of this year. And I guess that’s all we can do, just like Diane in Bojack Horseman said “life’s a bitch and you keep living”
A Christmas Message From Our Founder
Tags: Christmas2020, Lockdown, Social Network, Christmas

We may not all be able to get together this Christmas, but after a year like 2020, we’ve been reminded of what is really important — our health, our families, friendship and being part of a community from which we gain a sense of belonging and ‘togetherness’.

For me, what really matters is that people feel connected, even if they can’t physically be in the same space, and throughout this year our team of hosts at Citysocializer have volunteered hundreds of hours of their time to help make that happen.

Like other small businesses we have faced challenges to survive the pandemic, and our hosts have helped us to continue fulfilling our mission to deliver happiness, wellness and belonging for others by hosting fun, creative and welcoming virtual events for people to come together throughout what has been an isolating and difficult year.

I, and everyone who has found solace and amazing friendships through these events, are incredibly grateful to them.

And it hasn’t stopped! Every night this weekend and beyond, through to the new year, we have even more interactive virtual events being hosted via Zoom for anyone and everyone who could do with some company, some laughs, feeling the joy of friendship, camaraderie and meeting new people to join in with.

I’d like to wish everyone, however you are celebrating, whether virtually or in-person, a very Merry Christmas.

Sanchita x

Citysocializer CEO & Founder
A New Christmas model
By: Beverley Abrahams
Tags: Lockdown, Christmas

A New Christmas model

So it’s not letting up, it continues its relentless, restless pursuit of our happiness! I am with my daughter, son-in-law and grandson: I had to choose a side, there’s no option for having it all! So we adjust to a smaller world, less lit, less colour but always full of love!

Looking back, I realise that Christmas’s have been getting smaller for many years; as the children have grown older, as extended family have move further away, as political and economic pressures have shrunk my world. The big Christmas get togethers, with turkey and trimmings, Christmas pudding and mince pies, it’s no longer the norm. We tend to huddle in smaller groups, we dissect along lines of love and familiarity. I have chosen my tribe, the ones who love in equal measure, the ones who are essential even in the shrunken world of covid.

What’s your new norm? Do you still hanker (an odd word but it sums up that feeling of need) for what you thought you needed in ‘the old dispensation’, the rituals, the ceremonies, the safe tradition that made you believe in elves and miracles? I still believe in the miracles, I refuse to lose my optimism, my hope eternal for without it there would be no air to breathe, there would be no new model for Christmas 2020. With hope, I know 2021 can only get better!

Wishing you a joyous season of love and Grace.
What if….
By: Amit Kumar Gupta
Tags: Coronavirus, Lockdown, Covid 19, Narendra Modi, India

The Indian government imposed a total socio-economic lockdown in the country in the wake of the outbreak of C-19 pandemic from 25th March 2020. The restrictions were relaxed gradually from June-2020 onwards.

In my view, it is almost impossible to assess the utility and true impact of lockdown exercise. We would never know, what could have been the situation if a total lockdown was not imposed in March. It could have been worse in terms of economic and health shocks; or perhaps the economic loss could have been less pronounced, sans total lock down.

However, this episode has further strengthened our already strong view that the incumbent government is unpredictable. It can take decisions having far reaching repercussions rather quickly; without adequate planning; and without bothering about the immediate consequences in terms of human suffering.
The World’s Run Amok
By: Terry Mansfield
Tags: Poem, Creative Writing, Lockdown, Haiku, Poetry

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As Italy enters a new lockdown, Pope Francis says Christmas “invites us to reflect on the drama of history.” “If the pandemic has forced us to be more distant, Jesus, in the crib, shows us the way of…
By: Joseph Serwach
Tags: Pope Francis, Catholic, Inspiration, Lockdown, Christmas

As Italy enters a new lockdown, Pope Francis says Christmas “invites us to reflect on the drama of history.”

“If the pandemic has forced us to be more distant, Jesus, in the crib, shows us the way of tenderness to be close to each other, to be human,’’ the pope said December 23.

We all “ceaselessly search for truth, search for mercy and search for redemption; and, on the other hand, on the goodness of God, who has come towards us to communicate to us the truth that saves and to make us sharers in His friendship and His life,’’ he said.
Netflix’s Russian Doll & The Pandemic
By: Syd S Journal
Tags: Netflix, Review, Lockdown, Pandemic, Russian Doll Netflix

Fast forward to a few months when I am sitting with a friend watching TV, socially distant 6-feet apart, she looks at me and says, “Have you seen Russian Doll?”. I respond with yes I have and how it freaked me out and I stopped watching it. She asks me if I want to give it another shot and I hesitate, but eventually agree.

I spend the next entire day binge watching the show, completely enthralled by Nadia and Alan’s adventures in finding reason for their absurdity. The show isn’t just about a timeloop, its about internal struggles, second chances (sometimes even 15th chances), and how they affect us and the ones we love. Nadia’s cynicism is rooted in her trauma and Alan’s condition is reflected on his personal relationships. Both our protagonists are struggling with their own wars and we find over time, with each episode, that they must work together to solve this crisis, or as Nadia would put it: find the bug in the system.

We find Nadia reliving her birthday over and over again finding variations to exploit the day and to somehow free herself from this misery. She questions her existence, even the possibility of something supernatural as a cause, but she was never a believer herself. Alan has the idea that they are being punished for an unknown sin or crime. Both characters struggle with their sanity and try to make amends to people they have wronged, perhaps with the belief that somehow their conditions would be reversed and they would live to see a Thursday.

Through trial and error Nadia realizes that they must recreate the day they first encountered each other unknowingly. As the day resets we find both our protagonists in the same day, but in different timelines. In Alan’s timeline, Nadia refuses to recognize him and in Nadia’s world, Alan is still a drunken mess. The finale hinges around both our protagonists convincing each other of their impending doom and consequently saving each other’s lives.

The ending is left open to interpretation, just the way any timeloop movie/show should be. We don’t know if Nadia and Alan find peace, but do we know that they live to see another day. And one can hope that when this lockdown ends and the pandemic goes away, we too will live to see a Thursday.
Pawn to Queen Series: Lockdown
By: Shiela Cancino
Tags: Shiela Cancino, Pawn To Queen, Lockdown, Toastmasters, Covid 19

Lockdown is getting things done.

INTRO

Raise your hand if you’re familiar with the phrase “When You Visualize, It Will Materialize.”

LAW OF ATTRACTION

This is Law of Attraction and I learned this from the book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.

It’s like in a restaurant when you place your order; they have to deliver your order no matter what.

Let’s pretend that the universe is listening to us, what would be your order — what would be your big or small wishes, dreams, and goals?

MY DREAM BOOK

For me, it is to write a book.

Since 2008, I had baby steps like printing booklets of my Tagalog and English speeches but it’s not reaching 100% completion of my dream. I couldn’t write a book and couldn’t call myself an author!

It’s like telling yourself that I will go to the gym, use a mobile phone less and

attend South Horizons meeting more…

Excited in the beginning, then it will just subside.

~NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION — DOUBTED LAW OF ATTRACTION~

I got used to carrying over my dream of writing a book year after year. Every January, I would write my resolutions

then write the same dream of writing a book again.

Then, I started to doubt the power of the Law of Attraction because it’s not working on me!

~THE SPIKE OF COVID19~

While I was in Singapore, the Philippine government announced the community quarantine because of the increasing covid19 cases.

If you were in my shoes, would you go back to the Philippines?

My gut feeling said no.

~FLIGHT CHANGED~

And so, I extended my stay in Singapore

then changed my flight to Hong Kong instead.

I was locked down in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Then, I remember what my Uncle told me. “Everything happens for a reason.”

I was exposed to the virus during my flight from Singapore to Hong Kong and might get infected, But, instead of feeling down during Lockdown, I got things done.

~GET THINGS DONE~

I did the things that I always wanted to do but I had no time to do them before.

1. Organized photos and videos

2. Watched Korean drama

3. Revived Life Coaching

4. I wrote my dream book!

Since then, my definition of Lockdown has changed from feeling down to getting things done.

~

My fellow Toastmasters and friends,

during lockdowns, our world seems to stop

but actually it’s only giving us space to appreciate the things that are important.

To do the things that we always postpone.

If not to covid19 and the recent lockdowns in my life, my dream of writing a book will be in my new year’s resolution again next year and year after year.

In closing, if I have an option to remove Lockdown in the dictionary and my life, I wouldn’t because Lockdown is not feeling down, it’s getting things done.
Netflix gets 16 million new sign-ups thanks to lockdown
Tags: Netflix, Lockdown

Netflix has seen subscriber numbers surge this year, as lockdowns around the world keep people at home where they want to be entertained.

Almost 16 million people created accounts in the first three months of the year, the firm said.

That is almost double the new sign-ups it saw in the final months of 2019.

However, the streaming service, which is behind some multi-million dollar productions, said shutdowns have halted “almost all” filming around the world.

And sharp declines in the value of many currencies has meant new subscribers outside of the US, where Netflix is based, are not worth as much to the company as they would have been before the crisis. And that has hurt its international revenue growth.

Nevertheless, the home-entertainment giant’s share price has climbed more than 30% this year as investors bet on on its ability to benefit from people spending more time indoors.

Tiger King

“Netflix is and will continue to be the media company least impacted by Covid-19,” said eMarketer analyst Eric Haggstrom. “Their business is a near perfect fit to a population that is suddenly housebound.”

Demand for streaming has been so high that Netflix last month said it would reduce the quality of its videos in Europe to ease strain on internet service providers. The firm also hired an additional 2,000 customer support staff to handle the increased interest.

Netflix said some 85 million people had watched its original movie, Spenser Confidential, for at least two minutes — the cut-off it uses for viewing figures. Meanwhile, the documentary series Tiger King reached 64 million households.

The firm expected to add another 7.5 million members in the three months to the end of June — above analyst expectations. But it warned investors that viewers and growth would decline as governments lift lockdowns around the world.

“Given the uncertainty on home confinement timing this is mostly guesswork,” it said.

Netflix said it expects to stick to its release schedule through June and has been acquiring other movies to keep its offering fresh. But it said future membership growth could be hurt by delays to upcoming seasons and shows.

Paolo Pescatore, analyst at PP Foresight, said production delays would hurt subscriber growth at all streaming companies in coming months.

“Arguably, Netflix should fare much better with its broad catalogue,” he said.
Lockdown Blues
By: Rob Walker
Tags: Virus, Lockdown, Christmas, Family, Covid 19

Lockdown Blues

Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash

Mum’s in hospital, she’s broken her hip

after making an early morning coffee she did slip

banged her head and caused a scene

my dad couldn’t lift her, he’s old and no more so lean

she’s in the best place being looked after so well

she’s had an operation and only time will tell

I was going over to help and be there

only now this damn lockdown has made things unfair

it’s necessary and right to stop us moving round

with all the rapid changes my feet don’t even hit the ground

Christmas has died and with it Tradition too

it’ll probably be pizzas this year for me and for you

the brand new mutation in this virus that’s spreading

has laid down new rules for the places we were heading

tired of it all, getting stressed and upset

it’s the u-turns, the changes, that make us all fret

focus on the new year is what I told myself

but that too has been put up high on the shelf

Christmas, Oh Christmas a time of fun and cheer

where now we are faced with uncertainty and fear

as long as we keep to our bubbles and ourselves

this virus can’t spread and no more it can delve

it’s the people who travel that makes me despair

with the threat of this nasty being passed in the air

unto ur own and do as you please

but you’re being unfair concerning this disease

a good thing has come through being alone

that’s taught me about space and staying in the zone

a different way of living

with not so much giving

looking after ourselves

and all of our cells

if this wasn’t Christmas we’d not think the same

not rushing to give we’d have a different aim

COVID-19 you’re the one to blame

if it wasn’t for you everything would be the same.
a poem written in art class
By: Amy Knight
Tags: Paper Poetry, Art, Lockdown, Poetry On Medium, Poetry

Each one of us could draw a window;

carbon lines to build a frame.

The bricks, the glass, the sash, the sill —

no two of them would be the same.

We shade and shadow,

smudge and blend;

this class, this day, this year will end.

We did our best;

He knows how hard we pressed,

but we’ve all got different hands to lend.

The same Hard Black, between finger and thumb

makes a different mark for everyone.

Each of us is trying to escape

through a graphite window that our pencils make.

© Amy Knight 2020
Cosa ha comportato il lockdown da CoronaVirus nelle persone?
By: Poliziano News
Tags: Psicologia, Lockdown, Quarantine, Coronavirus

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

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