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WATCH TONIGHT— Eurovision Song Contest 2019 — LiveStream — Semi Final & Final
By: Kamrul Islam
Tags: Eurovision Song Contest, Live

How to watch Eurovision 2019: Dates, times and channels for the song

contest finals. The 64th Eurovision Song Contest is being broadcast live from Tel Aviv, Israel and is set to bring more weird and wonderful acts to the stage

THE Eurovision Song Contest 2019 is set to be back with a bang with a whole load of weird and wonderful acts taking to the stage for your enjoyment.

The competition is now in it’s 64th year, here are all the details you need so you don’t miss one second of this annual extravaganza.

Eurovision 2019 will be broadcast on May 14, 16 and 18.

May 14 will see Semi-Final 1, commentated on by Scott Mills and Rylan Clark-Neal.

You can watch along on BBC Four from 8–10.10pm.

Semi-Final 2 can also be seen on BBC Four on May 16 from 8pm until 10.10pm and once again Scott and Rylan will be providing live commentary.

Graham Norton will provide the commentary for the singing competition.

The final can be seen on BBC One from 8pm-11:40pm.

The programmes will be available to watch online with BBC iPlayer shortly after they are broadcast.

BBC Radio 2 will broadcast Eurovision 2019 from 8pm-11pm on Saturday 18, 2019.
Enjoy Right Now, today
Tags: Life, Fun, Live

It’s almost everyday when I think about what I’m going to do with my future, and when I listen to music it’s like both of the two correlate with each other. Although I am sure that I want to write as my career for as long as I can, I still always imagine what the future will look like,be like, and I can already tell how much I’m going to miss my times as a teenager.

With my sixteenth birthday coming up, I realize that time is catching up with me, and how damn short our lives are. Now I know sixteen isn’t an old age at all, but it’s crazy for me to think that in fourteen years I’ll be a thirty year old man. Fifteen years came out of nowhere, so it just touches me how soon I’ll be entirely grown up. I can still remember the day where my mother dropped me off at my first day of preschool, and I was balling my eyes out telling her not to leave me. Eventually I got less and less attached, and thus began the process of growing up.

Now what is growing up? To me, growing up is the process of realization and when you begin to learn the hard truth about life, and learn to accept it. For example, I’ve grown to realize I shouldn’t give a shit about what people think about me , and as long as I’m happy with myself then I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing. I’ve surrounded myself with people who appreciate me for who I am, which is why I can always be myself around the people I can, and hopefully always will be able to call my friends.

My friends. With my friends, we can act differently under circumstances and we love to have fun. We’ll wrestle, we’ll have deep talks. We’ll do dumb shit in Target like throw a football ball around and get kicked out, laughing our asses off; but we can still have a good talk. These talks can be our look on life, where we see ourselves in the future, and how it is best for us to live in the moment, because the good times will never last forever. I believe it says a lot about our characters, and to be honest we are pretty damn mature than most people we know.

Staying out biking or skating in the hills until midnight purposely not answering our parents text messages, is something I’ll always miss; we’ll always miss. In about two to four years we’re going to eventually be too old for all that, and we’re going to have cars, and be adults, and NOT have curfews. Time will catch up with all of us, which can be a happy or sad reality, whichever way you decide to look at it.

My point is- live in the moment and do your best to enjoy it. The good times don’t last forever, and eventually those good times will become a memory from about two years to out of nowhere twenty years. Time really flies, and it doesn’t give a damn about you.
I found my Red Shoes
By: Purvi Das
Tags: Appreciation, Explore, Life, Live, Purvi Das

There comes a time at some point of life where we feel too much or nothing at all at the same time. Maybe I was like that, ignoring often my feelings because I thought feelings for something for a while will end up wrenching my own heart.

I tend to suppress things, because I thought expressing would not make the situation any different. I often find a hand to shake but not a ear to express my fears, my flaws, my emotions. We are thought to make ourselves valuable in front of everyone but not vulnerable.

Photo by Redd on Unsplash

Have you read The Red Shoes by Hans Christian Andersen? The little girl in the story wore her red shoes everywhere she went, even to the God fearing church. Once you wear those shoes, your feet starts dancing on their own, and you can never stop dancing or take off those shoes. But even after that, the little girl never gave up on those red shoes. In the end, the executioner had to cut off her feet yet the two feet that got cut off still continued to dance in those red shoes. Same way some things can’t be torn apart no matter how hard you try to do so. That’s why obsession can kill without warning. My obsession of suppressing what I feel expunged me.

Maybe I forgot that we are humans with not just flesh and bones but also a soul full of emotions. Maybe I forgot that it’s okay to cry. Cry our heart out. Maybe I forgot to unleash the burden of my feelings. Maybe I feared that my feelings would be stomped to death amidst the storm of judgement. Maybe, I felt that crying would render me weak.

But sometimes only crying can save us from being a living corpse.

Unless we’re reincarnated, this life is the one sure shot we have at anything and everything and there’s no point moving ahead without appreciating it. Me changing my old red shoes putted me one step closer to appreciation because it is much more than just love and life.

With love

Purvi.
$MEONG is now LIVE at PancakeSwap
By: Meong Token
Tags: Nft, Pancakeswap, Live, Meongtoken, Cattoken

$MEONG is now LIVE at PancakeSwap

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How to buy $MEONG at PancakeSwap ?

Download and Open TrustWallet.

this is TrustWallet

2. Swap BNB to BSC (Smart Chain)

Make Sure you have BNB at your TrustWallet.

If you don’t have, you can transfer it from your other wallet first.

After that you will need to swap you BNB to BSC (Smart Chain)

First Click your BNB, then find the 3 dots below BNB, click the dot. Then click “Swap to Smart Chain” . Refer to picture below.

this is BNB at TrustWallet

3. Go to Dapps , scroll down to find PancakeSwap

At the bottom side of Trust Wallet, find DApps, refer to picture.

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At DApps, scroll down until you find Pancake Swap.

Click PancakeSwap

4. Connect your TrustWallet to PancakeSwap

Click connect at the very top of PancakeSwap, don’t forget to connect to your Smart Chain.

connect your wallet

5. Buy $MEONG with BSC (Smart Chain)

Now you can buy $MEONG by swapping your BNB through Smart Chain!

You can only buy 5 trillion $MEONG at once.

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What Is Your Ideal Life?
By: Silently Noisy
Tags: Ideal Life, Focus, Live, Dreaming, Dreams

Did anyone ask you this question before? If you ever had to define your ideal life what would it be like and who do you want to be around.

At some point, everyone has imagined what they want or what they wouldn’t want as a part of their routine in bits and pieces. You’ve always gone about having this thought and forgetting about it. And trust me, the problem is not wanting the best of what we can; but it lies in forgetting about what we want.

Routines are so set that you tend to get comfortable in your own rut. Not necessarily it is your favourite way of living your life, but you tend to make peace with yourself that this is what it is, and nothing more can be achieved or changed.

What if whatever you have always dreamt of comes true! By whatever I literally mean whatever… Just imagine!!!! Your favourite destination travel, a nice big villa, healthy family and you surrounded by amazing friends, partying whenever you feel like, taking a break and flying to the most favourite holiday destination whenever you want to. Not being bound by duties officially, and most of all working on your passion project. How easy and fun life would have been. The thought of it only makes you feel happy right?!

But just because we stop reliving this dream again and again in our minds and hearts we tend to forget about it. A dream should become a guiding force that doesn’t put you to rest until you are where you have always wanted to be. I think we have started settling for too little and that’s where the problem lies.

As Steve Jobs says “Never Settle” keep going until you find what you want.

What you deserve will find its way towards you only when you make an effort to walk towards it. Energy attracts energy. Without you putting in an equal amount of effort you wouldn’t get the results that you desire.

Dream about your ideal life and one day you will live it for real, keep working towards it. You already know what needs to be done, let's start putting it to action.
Finish-LIVE【IRONMAN】Watch IRONMAN Mont Tremblant 2019 Live Stream Free TV
By: Asae Repon
Tags: Live Streaming, Live

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Make it a habit to Exercise — Day 134
By: Max Ignatius Atlas
Tags: Life, Food, Live, Soul, Australia

I had a really good night’s sleep, so I was pretty eager to go on a nice morning run. I made sure to pick up any litter that I saw along the way, and I also stopped for some hill running at a spot I had staked out the other day. I’m making good progress with elevated running, so I’ll probably make another attempt at summiting a mountain in the near future. I was actually pretty close the last time, so I think I should be ready to give it another go.

I felt pretty unstoppable for the rest of the day; it just seemed like everything I did was destined to be remarkable. Work went extremely well, I finished up all my errands in a breeze, and I even managed to squeeze in a good amount of reading. I feel freer than I have in a long time like I can accomplish anything if I set my mind to it. I never would have imagined a few months ago just how liberating it can be to prioritize your health.

Daily Image Year of Change Day 134 #YOC

Are those abs I see coming in? It’s been ages since I saw them last (if I ever did)!

For tonight’s workout, I decided I would switch things up a bit, and I did the first portion of my exercises outside. It was a bit cumbersome moving the weights outside and then back in, but I still felt great and it was nice to enjoy the weather while I worked out. I always find it invigorating when I exercise outdoors instead of in a gym, so I’m going to try and do so as much as possible.

Also See: Stages of Noticing Weight Loss — Day 40

Geo Life Shopping List Week Twenty

The shopping list is now my regular and as needed will buy add hock, however, this list will give you the flavours and calories you need to lose weight while staying healthy.

To continue reading, click here
Live Video is Great for Marketing
By: Melanie Herschorn
Tags: Live, Live Streaming, Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing, Social Media Strategy

Do you remember Periscope?

I got locked out of my hotel room at the Luxor in Las Vegas once, around the time that Periscope was really taking off. Since I had nothing better to do, I decided to try it out, right then and there in the hallway that looked like I’d fallen into ancient Egypt.

When people started to tune in, I was beyond excited. A handful of people from across the globe were watching me live, in real time. And after that first live experience, I’ve never looked back.

Going live can be scary if you don’t have a lot of experience, but the only way to get better is to keep going. Imperfect action, every day.

Why go live?

In a Facebook group and on Instagram, your followers get alerted and they may tune in to grab some value from you in real time

Live video creates an intimacy that you can’t get from a recorded video

It allows for interaction and engagement, live coaching, Q&As, and shows people how awesome it is to chat with you

Live video does not have to be polished.

You shouldn’t be trying to speak perfectly. You should be relaxed, natural and authentically yourself. Notes are ok but having a full script in front of you may be difficult to follow. Stick to bullet points if you don’t have the material memorized. And don’t worry about looking down to read, either. This isn’t a state of the union, it’s a live, informal talk.

Lighting matters.

If you’re completely in the dark or overexposed, it’ll be difficult to see you. Not seeing will likely cause people to stop watching. Getting a ring light to place behind the camera will make a big difference. And if, like me, ring lights give you migraines, just walk over to a window!

The details of what you talk about in your live video will depend on your content marketing strategy. But in general, here are guidelines for the structure of your videos:

Tell stories that will capture your audience’s attention. Stories sell. They draw in the viewer and keep them engaged.

You can also use a tip-based video structure if you’re teaching something more in-depth:

State problem and why they care

Tell them why you’re an authority on the subject

Provide 3 helpful tips

Crush objections

Give them your call to action

Download your Free guide “How to Create a Freebie That Converts”

The hardest part about going Live is getting over yourself! Everyone is unsure of themselves at the beginning. Having notes will make sure you always know what you’re going to say. It’s also a good idea to practice in the mirror or record yourself and watch it back so you get more comfortable.

And, here’s a pro tip: remember that you’re not talking to several people at once. You’re having a conversation with one person at a time. Pretend the camera is your BFF and the people you’re talking to will feel you engage with them.

You now have all the tools you need to go live on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more. Tag me in the comments so I can watch your incredible Live transformation!
A happy ending
By: Alina Rădulescu
Tags: Life, Happiness, Human Behavior

I like happy endings. In movies, in TV shows, in books, in life.

Credit: Roya News

Ibelieve that, no matter what kind of mistakes we’ve made, we all deserve to have our very own fairytale ending. For some people this means being by themselves, while others want or need to be surrounded by their loved ones.

In movies, it’s nice to see that, in the end, they stayed together and they lived happily ever after on a fluffy cloud with their pink unicorn. It makes us smile when we see in front of us an elderly couple, moving at the speed of a snail, still holding hands like they’re two lovebirds.

All these things make me believe that there is something good waiting for each and one of us. But the road to get there is not easy, no, no. On the contrary, it’s like an obstacle course.

We all dream of a perfect, joyful and simplistic ending to our story. Whatever that means - a nice job, the perfect soulmate, a dozen of kids, traveling - we want something that will make us not have any regrets whatsover.

I’m an optimist, you might say, and you’d be 100% right. Or maybe I’m just naive and don’t know what life is all about. I’m pretty ok with both of them, so go on, feel free to put a label on me and also on my adult (-ish) thinking.
Where do Bodhi Trees grow?
By: Amitabh Anand
Tags: Human Behavior, Philosophy Of Religion, Philosophy Of Mind, Humor, Humanity

I do not know how this will end, I am not sure anybody else does either; simply because we might not be the last generation to enjoy the spoils of the land, a few more will come before the end comes.

All said and done, I still have questions, many questions.

But the one question that rankles me most above all — If I will never know how or when this ends, can I at least know when or how it started? I have been searching for the answer for so long now, no headway yet, though.

All I have is a head which is only as good as a fishbowl for questions — questions that swim around, swallow smaller questions, grow stronger, swim around with greater vigour, procreate to spawn more questions, and die. But, not enough are dying, at least not as many as should have and definitely not as fast as they should have. My cup runneth over!

When did humans become immune to human emotions? When did we decide that killing in the name of love should be accompanied by wing-dings? When did the young, the old, and the dead decide that the will of our Creator is that we destroy? When did the deranged, the invalids, and the irrationalists decide to wrench power from our hands and dictate our lives? When did the gentle, the polite, and the studied decide to continue as they had and not rise up once to fight? When did we establish that we had enough time?

How did we manage to burn an entire planet with mere rage? How did we succumb so thoroughly and willingly to our baser instincts? How did the poor, the wretched, and the rejected die without even a whimper? How did the proletariat, the skilled, and the distinguished continue to wilfully orchestrate and trade bets on our collective doom? How did the powerful, the accomplished and the endowed not realise that there is nothing like absolute power or control? How did we not see the transience of us all?

When did the macabre become acceptable?

How did we come about to celebrate murders?

Also, who was it that first bred vengeance and avarice into the human gene pool? When and how did we devolve into such animals?
PS: I love you and also others
By: Madhuka De Silva
Tags: Design, Human Behavior, Interaction Design, Psychology, Product Design

Yesterday I went to buy a soft toy for a small kid. So I went to a big supermarket, which has many things including toys. In the toy section I was looking hard whilst walking through the aisle but I didn’t find the spot at first.

Then suddenly a small girl came running around, picked up a Winnie-the-pooh from the bottom shelf and showed it her mother (I guess) who was coming behind her. It was just right there where I was standing! How did I miss that? Wasn’t I looking enough or not having focus?

Previous studies show that eye level is the most effective location for product placement (Van Nierop et al., 2008), meaning that we tend to look at what is in our eye-level. Not rocket science but behavioral science!

So you see? Certain things like our psychology, cognitive science, behavioral science does not change in 1900's or 2000's! Such stays the same, we are still humans! The eye-level capturing of things is just one example of that.

Should we address all users/ user needs?

This is a big debate and a question that arise from time to time. This sounds to me like “Should I love all or just you”? (Well of course baby I only love you Darshana Senavirathna)

The thing is it was easier for the kid to sight the toy but was tough for me. May be the supermarket strategy was to get the children’s attention, but I also had the need to buy a soft toy to a kid. Were I addressed or included in their segment of supermarket buyer experience?

There you got the answer for the big question! What matters is how we use and to what extent we apply the unchanging knowledge we have(hoping aliens don’t invade or mutants don’t arise). Obviously, the market cannot keep addressing me and the kid at the same time, right?

Hmm, can’t they? What do you think?
What’s social about distancing?
By: Selene Feige
Tags: Socialdistancing, Human Behavior, Social Media, Technology, Covid 19 Crisis

What’s social about distancing?

Credit: Mike Dorner

What is it that we miss (or missed) the most during quarantine?

I use the word quarantine as it’s the commonly accepted term to indicate the time of social distancing we’re spending at home in an attempt to stop CoVid-19 from spreading further.

Even though quarantine literally means “a time frame of forty days”, for most of us, it has been far more than that before slowly going back to any embryonal form of ordinary life.

There’s most certainly not just one answer as it depends both on personal inclinations and a person’s current situation however, the first thing people tried to get around while on quarantine was the sudden lack of conviviality by finding new ways of social interaction. Actual face-to-face interaction, something that lately, we were consciously or unconsciously avoiding almost to the extent of becoming low key terrified by it.

We started using FaceTime, HouseParty, Skype, Hangouts… you name it, as never before.

Source: Google Trends (Worldwide)

It’s about conviviality in the end, isn’t it?

How come that in a time when fear of death broke into our everyday lives as probably never before for most of us, our first urge, ok maybe second after the quest for food and toilet paper, is to rebuild the bridges of companionship with friends, family and loved ones?

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs puts belongingness and love on the third level of the pyramid however, it’s the first step of the second block, so basically it’s the most fundamental of our psychological needs.

Maybe though, in desperate times such as these, the pyramid undergoes what I would call a turnover and perhaps, the separation between physical and psychological becomes thinner, and safety comes not only by having enough food in the pantry but through that ancestral need of belonging to your tribe.

I guess that in current times, that idea of belonging could be identified also as “conviviality” which doesn’t necessarily depend on a place but it drills down to the act of sharing.

The environment helps of course but most of all, conviviality is about feeling connected to one another. Even in days like these, each of us found a way recreate conviviality with friends, family and loved ones, despite being physically apart.

Conviviality makes us feel stronger and when we feel stronger together, we feel we can overcome anything, perhaps even death.
Staying productive in this pandemic
By: Promatics Technologies
Tags: Human Resources, Remote Working, Human Behavior, Productivity, Covid 19

Tips on working from home and still hitting your goals

Several people have said Covid-19 is here to stay, like you, we sure hope it’s not, but one thing that is here to stay would be an increase in the number of people who work from home.

For a lot of people it’s a dream come true, for others it’s a nightmare to deal with. Still, whichever category you fall into, it’s going to be tough remaining productive while in the comfort of your home, having distractions ranging from Netflix to laundry to maybe your children.

Fact is even when COVID clears up; some employees will be tasked to work from home, so we decided to talk about five tips on working from home, and remaining productive

Like us, if you find them helpful, share it with your co-workers

Create a workspace

If you’re going to work from home, then you need a workspace to make it look as though you are working from the office. You’ll need to find a space to work from even within your home that keeps you focused at work, and it definitely shouldn’t be your bed, we recommend you get a desk and chair for this purpose and create a mini office within the home

Create a to-do list

After you get a workspace, it is also essential you have a to-do list, and if you would rather not do yours manually by writing on a notepad or sticky notes, there are various apps out there for this purpose, including Microsoft Sticky Notes and Google Keep Notes.

Remember to keep your list realistic, and not overcrowd it with activities too many to complete. We recommend you have 3–5 tasks to do each day.

Manage your time

Have you heard of the Promodoro technique? It involves working in short bursts and taking shorter breaks. You can work for 45 straight minutes and take a break of 5–10 minutes.

Customize this technique to suit you, but make sure you stick to what works for you. You can use your break time to move around, take a walk, reply texts, do whatever you want, but don’t sleep yet 😁😁

Manage those distractions

Working from a comfortable place like home means distractions, like we stated earlier, are inevitable, maybe that Netflix series you want to binge-watch, your 3-year-old dying for your attention, or ever incoming notifications on your smartphone.

You need to do something to keep them from distracting you actively, maybe you should put your phone on silence, or airplane mode, whatever it takes to keep the distractions 5 feet apart.

Tackle the harder activities first

Our minds have a funny way of cherry-picking the easier activities on our to-do list to work on first, and after finishing with them, we are often tired to go on to the most important tasks.

So decide to tackle the harder activities first, but if you have a track record to doing the reverse and staying productive, then do that by all means. But whatever method you choose, just make sure you complete your activities.
PTSD, Belt buckles and Cheeseburgers
By: Arcadia Cognerati
Tags: Left Of Bang, Profiling, Human Behavior, PTSD, Neuroscience

My Dad used to beat me like a Salvation Army drum!

I was brutalized more than my two older brothers possibly because I would always stop, square up to my father, and vociferously point out that I disagreed with his parenting style.

This obviously afforded him both access and opportunity.

My brothers encouraged my rebellion — it saved their hides over and over again. I also take full responsibility for whatever brain damage my brother Jeff received as a child. I’m sure I gave him more than one concussion experimenting with gravity and physics on his arguably square head. He sported a “butch cut” for most of his young life to hide the corners, but the barber solved our conundrum when he once charged Jeff four dollars for a haircut and said, “that’s a buck for each side!”

In addition to trying out every new toy on his God-blunted skull, my eldest brother and I would use our brother’s immense melon to deflect the big right hand swung by my oversized Mom. She would invariably send that flesh JDAM (aka “smart bomb”) flying into the big GM backseat whenever she forgot the words “quiet please,” and decided to send us her militant version of sign language.

I understand now that both my parents suffered from PTSD.

During the Civil War they called it condition called the “irritable heart” or “soldier’s heart.” In World War I they called it “Shell Shock” and in World War II it ranged from “Battle Fatigue” to “War neurosis” and even Hysteria.

Whatever you wish to call it, Mom and Dad had it in spades.

Poor Belinda

At this point I consternated over sharing with you my exploits from February of 1982 when I met Belinda Carlisle (hence the Go-Go’s reference). I was at a nightclub and restaurant on the top of the Satellite Hotel. Me, innocently holding a full bottle of Tanqueray and she, sporting a coke-fueled look of what I thought was fascination but was most likely boredom.

My other option was relating to you the true story of my Dad, PTSD and hamburgers….Cheeseburgers actually.

Whiteway’s

Whiteway Hamburgers was a Warren, Michigan culinary institution. It was as relevant to 8 Mile as Woodward. No police officer that ever worked 8 Mile (no matter which side of the DMZ) can say they never ate there. I remember as a child seeing the massive menu board high above the 18-foot long Vulcan stove that ran 24 hours a day.
Unmasking 2: Electric Boogaloo
By: Angad Singh
Tags: Life, Minimalism, Yin And Yang, Human Behavior

Hell is repetition. Being boring is a sin. Human beings are almost always their own undoing.

You look at some people and they seem so…… happy with mediocrity? A life spent inside one cubicle after another is what a lot of people seem to aspire, but is that really the way to live? Shouldn’t we aim for better things? Become job providers instead of job chasers? Work towards solving problems at a grassroot level? Focus our intellect on creating things and getting them patented rather than working on other peoples’ aspirations?

I find it so intriguing that people chase what they do not have. It sounds like an obvious and superfluous statement but it goes with the yin-yang philosophy as well as Newton’s third law of motion. A person with less money chases more money. A person with little peace of mind chases peace of mind. Now, if you go deeper with this philosophy, you can uncover a lot of things about why a person is the way they are. It is said that in a room, the weakest person has the loudest voice. Napoleon complex is basically just this. The people who share the most personal content on social media are probably the loneliest. The people who seek attention every time probably did not receive much during their lifetime. This constant need for validation stems from lack of validation attained prior.

Many people think the definition of “cool” is having tattoos, drinking, smoking, staying out till late at night, posting stories on Snapchat, or something similar. Some also believe these things to be “rebellious”. However I believe that it’s just another outlet to seek validation from people wherein one gets rewarded with imaginary points for being the most indifferent to things. The same people probably once cared too much and had their heart stomped on. The real rebellious people are the elderly couple who don’t open the door for anybody. The kids who spend up to 20 hours a day studying. The aboriginals living in various places around the world. THEY are the ones who don’t care about anyone or anything.

I don’t think I would be wrong in saying that life is pretty much a zero sum game. During our lives, whatever we do basically cancels itself out and we leave Earth the way we inhabited it. If an eminent personality contributed a lot to society, it was probably at the cost of their own well-being, or they felt the need to compensate after committing bad deeds. Who knows, maybe the day we achieve the perfect balance on this arbitrary scale is the day we die. There are just too many unknowns and this socially awkward, angsty 23-year old is certainly not the one with the answers.

See you next Thursday with more Jack Daniels for the soul. I’d plug my website but I’m too broke to pay for hosting.
THE DUMB PEOPLE
By: Charchit Upreti
Tags: Facts, People, Human Behavior, Instagram, Reality

I hope you don't recall any of your "dumb" memories after reading this title. I'm not talking about those who do not possess the same awareness of some subjects that their friends may have already dug deep into. I'm also not referring to those who are not adept at solving puzzles, riddles, or any such mind games. I'm talking about the class or the kind that are in denial about their blindness. Suppose you ever tell them that this particular X person has done some "ABC" stuff. In that case, they'd deny this info if they've made their mind to "X can't do that ABC stuff" and would rather blame you for coming up with a false story. Even bombarding them with shells of evidence is a fiasco. They are unwilling to alter their "first impression", and they'll hold on to it so dearly to make it their "last".

So is it one's fault to be that dumb? Of course, it is! It's okay to get fooled once or twice; still, it's pretty ridiculous not to recognize someone's reflection even after placement of a goddamn mirror in front of them for the third time!

So if you're still confused whether you're that dumb person or not, let me tell you a few things: If you're easily carried away by someone's emotional Instagram Caption; if you take someone's single act of chivalry as the sign of their being a gentleman; if you take their oversolicitous demeanour as their genuine concern—then you're probably that dumb.
Entitlement
Tags: Entitlement, Thoughts On Nothing, Human Behavior, Feelings, Feelings Become Words

All of us feel entitled. Entitled to our current job and a higher salary, our family’s ancestral property, or be it a person’s response to something you said. We often feel that we are entitled to it. That, we deserve to be treated right, always. We envision an imaginary scale of a concept of deserving, on which we put on our intangibles: hard work, patience, investment in the shape of time and energy, putting our thoughts, analysis of what-ifs, what-could, what-would etc, the whole package, on the left side of the scale.

And to balance it out, from the right side, we expect from life, what we think we deserve. The feeling could be vehemently expressed as, “I did this, this and this and everything right, why am I not getting the results?”, or to imagine it, the scale looks unnervingly unbalanced to the left. And you feel cheated and lost, torn in the middle without getting anywhere with all that hard work.

Would you feel the same if the scale was unbalanced to the right?

I like to believe that I’m young & grateful. I try to be as grateful as possible — It is not something you can fabricate, it comes from within. If a person in front of me holds the door open for me, I genuinely feel gratitude. The bubbles of gratitude arise again and again throughout the day when people around me help out or support me. The key idea that I’m trying to put out here is that you are not entitled to shit. Whether you’re a child with the best parents or the worst or none at all, you are on your own. You could be grateful for what you learn/get from them, but you are not entitled to anything at all. Let’s leave family aside, since they are biological variables. But your boss, your co-workers, your friends, your social circle: yes, there is a decent amount of sincerity and discipline expected from those relationships. But as soon as you act like you’re entitled to a special kind of treatment all the time — you risk to lose it all, eventually.
Vlognotes #5 S3, Eps 5 Digital Plans, Engagement and Haircuts…
By: Paul Frainer
Tags: Engagement, Digital, Human Behavior, Planning, Community

Things in the Vlog

Initial PAS bog on Digital Plans we took forward in August (Pre White Paper). Great to be starting collectively and sooooooooooo much work and behaviour shifts to get through to start realising potential and ideas into action.

Plug for colleagues at New Local (previous New Local Government Network NLGN) who I met with this week to discuss all things housing, planning and White Paper; thx Pawda and John for an engaging start to my Friday…

Things I’ve Read/Listened to this week

Enjoyed Adam Buxtons interview wit Robbie Williams on #POD — really interesting (bit of commitment needed to get into it but worth finishing).

Interesting to see the HCLG Committee open an inquiry into the Planning White Paper Reform;

I didn’t mention in the #Vlog but checked out some work from Toby Lowe who I am meeting later next month around Human Learning Systems; a subject that really interests me especially in a #LocalGov context but also massively significant in managing uncertainty in place and economic planning. Looking forward to our chat but the website below is a great start to get a feel for it, check it out!

https://www.humanlearning.systems/blog/live-discussion-public-sector-systems-innovation/

Have an awesome weekend :-)
We make places, places make us
By: Marcel Kampman
Tags: Interview, Reflections, Human Behavior, Stories, Philosophy

Space creates us. For example, we cannot choose where we are born and raised. The fact that we are the children of a father and mother, and brought up surrounded by certain friends (the social), the town, the country, the time we live in (the society), this all impacts on how the ‘self’ is formed. If someone creates a space, it also means that the space creates someone else’s self.

Space creates us

Marcel shared three perspectives concerning making spaces in his lecture based on the more than 800 conversations that he had across the world. The first was ‘self’, the second was the ‘social’ — concerning people around us — and the third was ‘society’, concerning something more significant than the ‘social’. When we create spaces, we can think of it as a creative activity starting from the self, involving the social, which eventually expands to society, building or taking space allowing or disallowing others to create, hold or find space. However, we can also think in reverse, that spaces create us. For example, we cannot choose where we are born and raised. The fact that we are the children of a father and mother, and brought up surrounded by certain friends (the social), the town, the country, the time we live in (the society), this all impacts on how the ‘self’ is formed. If someone creates a space, it also means that the space creates someone else’s self. And perhaps this movement continues to repeat. If we think like this, making space is not only a creative activity, but also has ethical and political aspects towards people close to us, and the next generation, and onwards to others after them.

Essence of life

Lastly, the question Marcel asked the audience: ‘Is it possible, and what does it take to intentionally create spaces where people find space to create new space?’ It made me think of the concept of ‘reproduction’. By the way, my mind dismissed the word ‘intentionally’. Not only humans, but mammals, in general, have been repeating continuously for generations: we create space within our body for a child to born, and also the child will create space within their body for the next child. We may even say the same thing with creatures that lay an egg and plants. If so, ‘make space for someone else to make space’ might be describing the essence of life, not limited to human beings.
Our reaction to the spread of Covid-19
By: Hemant Kulkarni
Tags: Coronavirus, Human Behavior, Psychology, Sociology, Covid 19

When the Covid-19 was first detected in China and was reported about worldwide that it is a virus infecting hundreds and thousands of people, the world held its breath.

Then we found that it has spread to other nations and is spread exponentially. We began to learn more about it as the best of human minds worked on finding more about its effects and a cure.

As soon as it began to affect entire countries and the air and sea traffic, people began to panic that this is not something that is happening only in China but all over the world. And each country and the smallest town in it realized that it is going to reach the home turf sooner or later.

Everyone panicked. The global stock markets took a nosedive.

Everywhere, the cases have been on the rise and the news media report each new increase in number with loud statements and bold white letters on crimson red backgrounds. That induces fear in most minds.

And it should. We must take steps to stop the spread of the Covid-19 as it is more deadly than other strains of coronavirus.

But I am afraid that we won’t be as fearful a couple of months from now as we are now. Human minds get used to situations pretty fast. The change in the world is what grabs our attention. But if the change becomes a norm, then we collectively move onto something else to worry about.

And Covid-19 will just be another disease that people have to deal with and thousands die and it will be no big deal.

Not because Covid-19 became less deadly, but our minds became indifferent to its presence.
Fragile Heart
By: Shweta Choudhury
Tags: Heart, Break, Human Behavior, Emotions, Fragile

Apart from the fact that we believe we are never wrong,

We also emphasise that come what may, we’ll deal with it, we’re strong!

The point is not everything demands to be fought for or explained or accepted,

The beauty lies in letting go when required and holding in when emotions are reflected.

But how do we know when to choose one path from the other,

Some say “Just leave things to the heart,let it decide for you, don’t shudder!”

The problem here is, we’ve all faced the fragility of our hearts,

We’ve seen things get messy,complicated and horrifying,amongst other emotions on the cards.

Sometimes its someone in particular or sometimes it is just a place which brings back so many memories,

The images line up one by one, how much ever we try moving out of the galleries.

Then you want us to trust the heart with all major decisions, believe in its power to be unbiased and fair,

The heart is too messed up with issues of its own,trying hard to fix broken hopes,infact , too busy to care.
The Cookies
By: Author Kumar Bhardwaj
Tags: Pet Lovers, Dog Lover, Social, Human Behavior

I had just finished the tea, and watching through main door. As usual 4 months old Brown colored, sorry I don’t want to address him DOG, why because I called him Badka

Badka was sitting on wet road outside, why on wet road, simple he was feeling cool in this summer. Badka was so punctual as he comes around 09:30 AM every morning. His eyes was speaking. He was hungry before I got up one customer entered to my eatery, so I was forced to attend him, meanwhile customer was busy eating food served by me on table just placed next to me.

I imagined what Badka may be thinking about me, that I will not come out un-till the customer eats food, I think dog think (what do you think do comment)

Badka was right because I was not in the position to leave my cash counter and kitchen unattended. Just after 10 minutes customer paid the bill and stepped out. I assume Badka was smiling now (what do you think Dog smiles?) I too was not sure un-till I have seen Badka I waved at him and said wait wait Badka I am coming.

I rushed outside and pored the biscuits in front of him. His excitement was on peak as he was trying to snatch whole packet from my hand. Hold On dear badka it is for you only.

For you who I am to declare this ? Reason I saw four puppies was rushing towards my spot with enthusiasm and hope. They too were hungry.

Sigh — sorry badka now “this naughty gang” will spoil your breakfast. You cannot imagine the expression on Badka’s face. He must be assuming like Gayee Bhainsh Pani Mai. How true this gesture may be, I am not sure. Anyway

I think he was about to sniff the aroma of his favorite, cookies

And boom. Puppies Attack they all climbed on him along with cookies and finished the stuff under 90 seconds.

Badka was sitting still and watching them, actually allowing them to eat. Once they finished they roam around for minutes and run away to next destination.

I was recalling — Badka was just like them even more naughty and aggressive when he was small, I used to feed HIM with biscuits, Bread etc. Technically Badka has no direct connection with these Puppies except the connection of positive vibes or what we called being a human — the connection of humanity

These four puppies was just 45 to 60 days old, they born in the same colony in un constructed empty plot, so Badka witnessed from day one to today.

But I really don’t no. How Badka become so responsible and concerned, he was not a real bro, but he was caring.

He was not a father, still he was protecting. People says dogs bark a lot but he was so cool, I says super cool especially with them. Because if any strange or outsider comes to their territory.

They don’t bear anyone, anyone means anyone but here the situation was different.

I have gone inside to get two more packets and given to Badka. Again he was smiling showing gratitude and was willing to jump on his favourite morning meal — The Cookies

But one question was shunting in my mind.

When we human behave like Badka though we are intellectual and so called human. — Think over it.
Why Nepotism is Invincible?
By: Anshuraj Pradhan
Tags: Politics, Human Behavior, Nepotism In Bollywood, Nepotism, Family Business

Last year, the word ‘Nepotism in Bollywood’ was searched 63,000 times per month which roughly translates to 1.5 times per minute . Largely contributed by SSR case and media feeding frenzy. But why just Film Industry? Isn’t Nepotism exists in every field ? In ‘Politics’, in ‘Family Business’ , in ‘Legal Industry’ in ‘Government Jobs’ . Let’s take a deep dive .

Nepotism is defined by the ‘practice among those with power of favouring relatives or friends by giving them jobs’. Often it is argued on behalf of talent. By definition, A much less talented person is rewarded with a role deserved by a higher talented person. On paper, its absolutely looks unfair, but in reality there are much complexities involved.

Let’s understand by example. Often when a person enters a new industry (Let’s name him Abigail ) , he faces a lot of failures and rejections. But Abigail doesn’t give up, he slowly builds up his reputation. He is helped by people who know him by mutual contacts. Since Abigail is new, often people take a leap of faith on him and give him chance. Abigail capitalises on those chances and find his own version of success through his hard work, perseverance and determination. He stays in contact with people who gave him chances as they had helped him in struggling times. Now Abigail is rich and famous. Now, He also give opportunities to other people to whom he knows by mutual contacts.

A Random Image of Amit Shah ( Honourable Home Minister ) & Jay Shah ( BCCI Treasurer ) in a Wedding Event.

The Abigail story happens in every industry. In Politics , leaders trust newcomers with mutual contacts (often other leaders relatives). In Family Business, a father doesn’t want a son to go through the same ordeal he has gone through. In exchange, the son gives him the loyalty and the extra effort needed to run the business. No employee would do that without financial incentive. In short , the innate human desire to help the person who are close to us is quintessential. In tough times, it is the family and relatives who are by your side, not any stranger or client.

Conclusively, Nepotism is very natural to humans as we are social and connection oriented society. Even LinkedIn business model is defined by ‘connections’. Fighting nepotism is like fighting our inherent quality of bonding in human behaviour. Nepotism exists in every industry, just in different shades and gradients. Nepotism is much criticized, much practiced and little understood.

To successfully fight it, it will take more than a moral stance. Perhaps more than a ‘Koffee’.

Adios.