fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
A Verasity and Theta Comparison
Tags: Verasity, Videos, Cryptocurrency

Verasity is a protocol and product layer platform for esports and video entertainment. This unique position across gaming, video, advertising and blockchain makes it difficult to compare Verasity to other projects.

We’re very proud of Verasity’s unrivalled industry placement but in order to answer community questions we have written our view on why Theta is often mentioned as a competitor to Verasity; how we differ and why Verasity has enormous growth potential.

The Comparison

Theta is a blockchain powered network purpose-built for video streaming where users share bandwidth and computer resources to receive rewards. Theta is focused on a decentralized content distribution network (CDN) to lower bandwidth costs. They have a video player platform as a use case for their decentralized CDN. Essentially Theta is a competitor of Torrents and other P2P services.

So far Theta’s CDN is still centralized and they use Akamai, the largest centralized CDN in the world for their bandwidth. Neither Google nor Facebook have solved the decentralized CDN problem but Theta is trying to. We hope they succeed. But Verasity is not interested in the decentralized CDN problem at all and that’s why we don’t see Theta as a competitor.

We are solving the engagement and monetization problem that ALL video platforms have with ads, whether centralized or decentralized.

Of course, lower bandwidth costs would be good if there is a successful decentralized CDN, but saving on costs is not what drives the monetization of video publishers. What drives monetization is ads. As long as there is up to 50% fraud, video publishers cannot make money and brands are unhappy with their online advertising.

Users are also impacted by fake views as recommendation algorithms continue to push worthless content that is deemed to be popular by fraud. All of this will be rectified by Verasity’s Proof of View.

The ad fraud market is far bigger than the CDN market (23 x bigger!) and more important to brands and video player platforms. Theta currently has a market cap of $8.5 billion and the CDN total industry value is only $15 billion whereas the video ad industry is worth over $350 billion and Verasity’s market cap is $70 million.

Theta’s market cap is already greater than half of the entire CDN market value, whereas Verasity has room to grow 5,000 times to reach the value of the current ad industry.
Theta Edge Node adds new video transcoding jobs, the first step in Theta tackling the $1.1B annual transcoding market
By: Theta Labs
Tags: Encoding, Videos, Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Edge Computing

Theta Edge Node adds new video transcoding jobs, the first step in Theta tackling the $1.1B annual transcoding market Theta Labs Follow Jan 18 · 2 min read

Theta Edge Network is the leading blockchain-powered network for decentralized video delivery, with more than 7,000 Edge Nodes across the world. Edge Nodes currently relay video content over the fully decentralized Theta Edge Network, with no centralized servers involved of any kind. Recently, edge nodes also added the capability for users to contribute their excess CPU/GPU computing power to process jobs for Folding@Home, the world’s first distributed supercomputer dedicated to medical efforts such as protein folding for vaccine research. (If you aren’t already running an edge node, you can start running one by downloading here). Now, Edge Compute is launching a new type of job for video transcoding.

Video transcoding is the process of converting video files from one encoding format to another, to change file formats or to a different bitrate for example. This is a critical function utilized by all video platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and others to ensure video can reach the greatest number of users with different video players, internet speeds, latency, and other factors that call for different video formats. According to the global consulting firm MarketsandMarkets, today’s centralized video transcoding industry generates $1.1B in annual revenue, and is expected to grow by 15% per year into 2022 and beyond. It’s a massive market and only growing bigger with more media and entertainment content moving to video.

As more video-on-demand, live streamed, online video shopping, social user-generated videos are generated, they must be transcoded to make it readily consumable by viewers around the world. This work can now be seamlessly done through Theta’s distributed Edge Network, with users earning TFUEL in exchange for completing these compute-intensive jobs. To begin with, we will be testing with sample videos to track reliability, speed and efficiency, and then moving to actual uploaded videos from Theta.tv and over time expanding to external customers. This is an in-demand workflow, a turnkey solution that will be attractive to all video platforms to use, and adding to the available jobs for edge nodes to complete. Initially, a monthly pool of 150k TFUEL will be allocated as rewards to edge nodes for transcoding services, which will expand as more video platforms join the network and pay with their own TFUEL. In the future, this could evolve to become a marketplace for distributed computing services where providers price discrete jobs and edge nodes bid for jobs to optimize profits, earnings or efficiency. Give it a try and start today — download the Theta Edge Node and earn TFUEL rewards!
The 4 master artists who used nature-inspired color palettes
By: Mandy Ding
Tags: Design, Color Palette, UI Design, Colors, Product Design

The 4 master artists who used nature-inspired color palettes

Many artists in history were obsessed with colors in nature. When viewing their masterpieces, we could discover their intense passions, unconcealable emotions, and their staunch belief in the power of colors.

As a product designer, I also constantly think about what natural color patterns can be used to better connect with users. To get inspired, I want to take a whirlwind journey through modern art history, drill insights into what colors meant to some of the most creative geniuses, and discuss what can be leveraged to our design practices. 😉

Claude Monet: the harmonious, analogous colors

Claude Monet is among one of the most well-known Impressionism artists. Around the 1860s, he and a group of young artists decided to paint what they saw, thought, and felt in a simple and intuitive way.

A partial snapshot of Claude Monet’s “Water Lillies” (1915). Color palette picked by using Coolers.

It was a huge break away from their Realist predecessors. Claude Monet and his peer artists were much more interested in painting landscape and contemporary life, rather than depicting historical and mythological scenes.

If we take a close look at Monet’s paintings, we can observe his focus on picturing nature and capturing the fleeting effects of natural light. The color palettes on his works were often soft and glowing, which convey a more intimate feel to the viewers.

A partial snapshot of Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge” (1897–99). Color palette picked by using Coolers.

Meanwhile, he often used analogous colors to draw natural sceneries. The “Water Lillies” series is one of the stunning examples. In the following “Water Lillies” painting created in 1908, we can sense the beauty of nature through the softly fluid blues and greens, with cream and a bit of pink. The smooth transitions between analogous colors create a sense of gentleness and calm.

A partial snapshot of Claude Monet’s “Water Lillies” (1908). Color palette picked by using Coolers.

💡 Designer takeaway

Analogous color schemes are often found in nature and are harmonious and pleasing to the eye. Claude Monet’s works can be a great place to find inspiration from if we want to convey a calm, gentle feel in the interface we’re designing.
The essential usage of UI elements (Chapter #2)
Tags: Colors, Design, Visual Design

I hope you guys read my first chapter on typography. Here we are going to talk about our next chapter on color theory as part of this series.

Color vs Contrast

Understanding a bit about color and contrast can help us communicate more with our designs efficiently and effectively. Color is one of the most powerful elements in the design and often misused in various aspects of visual communication. Knowing about color theory is mandatory for every designer and artist.

Color wheel

In the above color wheel, warm colors are the reds, yellows and oranges while cool colors are blues and blue variations. The complementary colors are always opposites on the color wheel.

Contrast is the difference between the dark and the light. For example, if two colors are different from each other like Black and white then they have high contrast. If the two colors are similar like Red and Orange, then they have low contrast. The contrast will assist the user to get a certain thing at first. The best practice is to measure the contrast of your designs is just convert your designs into grayscale as shown below.

Image source: Daktronics

Color contrast between the colors.

High saturated colors affect the user's eye.

Best practices of using color and contrast:

Use subtle shades of natural colors.

Poor contrast between the colors makes the colors hard to see.

Avoid bold and highly saturated primary colors. Too much color becomes visually tired.

Avoid unreadable color combinations and poor contrast.

Always choose colors from an analogous palette.

The type must always contrast sharply with background colors to be readable.

Limit the color usage in a scheme from max 5 – 6.

1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women worldwide have color deficiency. Always keep in mind people who have color deficiency while choosing the colors. You can also read more about the color accessibility here to improve the experience of color-blind people.

Flat colors vs Gradient colors

The basic features of flat design such as intuitive shapes, clear typography, contrast colors, shadows, complex details, textures and other design elements are centred on the idea of simplicity. However, the simplicity is not simple to achieve. Everything must be designed with the same goal in mind to create a functional design.

Evaluation of flat design

Old vs New Appstore

Flat design has several benefits based on its popularity compared to gradients in digital design.

Flat designs are easy to the eyes

It is an easy approach to present the content to digest fast

Clear visual hierarchy

Readability and legibility

Adjustability in terms of Responsive and Adaptive design

Easy for the development cycle

Takes less load on the digital systems

Okay, That’s it for today. Stay tuned for more articles on different design elements.

Happy learning!
Procrastination: What (Not) Watering My Plants Taught Me About Getting Shit Done!
By: Thushan Jayaratne
Tags: Habit Building, Insights, Procrastination, Task Management, Change Your Life

So, every time that I did manage to water the plants, I left the bottles near the plants, on the balcony. So every time that I saw this, in my mind, I was already at the end of the process, in my mind the water was already in the plants, hence the empty bottles. If the bottles are empty, that means that there is water in the plants ergo, I have completed my task! But the plants needed water, not the bottles, and the water was in the bathroom 30 feet away, that was the source. I was essentially witnessing and focussing on the completion of the job, the end point of the process, the result of the project. I spent a lot of time where the end process would take place and I had a clear view of the stakeholders of the process i.e the plants and the bottles. But I was missing a vital element in the process, the water. As far as I was concerned, the bottles were empty and it was already at the end of the process (of watering the plants). So why in the world would I want to START something that I had already done, right?

Balcony Bottles

See, I am a serial procrastinator, and this got me thinking. Is this the reason that most of us procrastinators…procrastinate? If you are like me, it is not just that we don’t finish things, but more often than not, projects get delayed because we don’t start things at all. We are focussing on finishing the task or more specifically, the finished task, rather than focussing on starting it in the first place.

Our bottles are near the plants and NOT near the Water source. Our focus is at the place of emptying, not the at the place of filling up. The bottles are the tools and skills needed to complete the task, the bottles are the agents of transformation and action. The water is the Creativity, knowledge and expertise required for the task, which will add value to the end product or objective.

My focus was on the finish line, not the starting line. Instead of going to the starting line, getting On the marks, Getting set and Going… I was lounging at a VIP tent down at the Finish line waiting for me to finish a race that I hadn’t even started running yet.

The solution was very obvious, instead of keeping the empty bottles near the plants i.e the finish line, after I had watered the plants, I kept them in the bathroom, the source of the Water i.e the starting line. More specifically, near the tap so that I HAVE to fill it and I am reminded of it everyday/ time that I go in there. By doing this, everyday, I found myself where I needed to be in order to finish my task…the STARTING Point!
3 Podcasts for Guilt-Free Procrastination
By: Afiifah Sembiring
Tags: Listening, Inspiration, Procrastination, Productivity, Podcast

Confession: I am not that into books.

Maybe you’re not that into books too! You get frustrated watching episodes-after-episodes of Netflix and wished that you’re one of those “successful people” who read for leisure.

If you haven’t come across a podcast or listen to one, you’re missing out! It is honestly the best medium to consume information. You can listen to an episode while you’re cleaning your apartment, running errands, or — my personal favorite — baking. You can lounge around and feel as insightful as reading a book because you will learn something from it.

Here are three personal picks to get you inspired when you feel like procrastinating:

Detail Therapy

Amy Landino has amazing productivity content on Youtube, but her podcast is a refreshing take on some of the things she preaches about in her channel. She interviews entrepreneurs, creators, and motivational speakers on their productivity hacks, morning routine, and what it means to live a fulfilling life.

My favorite episode from Detail Therapy was an interview with Ashley Stahl, where they talked about the future workforce, self-esteem, and finding your true calling (basically all the things that soon-to-graduate college students try to navigate).

She’s On the Money

If you are an ambitious woman who strives to take control of your money and want to learn the basics of personal financing, this is the podcast for you! From savings to building your investment portfolio, the podcast covers everything finance in a simple and exciting way. Listen to some inspirational stories from everyday Australians who managed to rewrite their money story.

It is staggering that only 23% of women globally take charge of long-term financial-planning decisions. As a finance major myself, I get excited when resources like these are more accessible to women. Financial literacy is essential to close gender-gap.

I recommend working through She’s on the Money from the first episode.

Not Overthinking

Contrary to what the title suggests, this podcast dives deep into human experiences and overthink the little tendencies humans do in their daily encounters. Hosted by two brothers (Ali and Taimur) who graduated from Cambridge, the podcast really gets you thinking! I would recommend this podcast for those who are lightly into philosophy.

My pick from not Overthinking is the episode where they explore the reason why we procrastinate on our personal life and introduce the notion of treating personal life like a business.

What do you listen to in your free time? Let me know in the comments section below.
The Perfect Writing Setup
By: Paul Alvarez
Tags: Opinion, Gadgets, Writing, Procrastination, Technology

The picture above was the perfect writing setup for me, or what I thought it was going to be. I longed for a Logitech MX Performance wireless mouse and a matching black and gray extended Apple Magic Keyboard.

I also found a Roost stand that Tim Ferriss shared on his 5-Bullet Friday newsletter. It was the perfect stand to make my laptop screen more ergonomically friendly without needing a bulkier stand or an expensive monitor to attach my laptop too.

My wife and I moved to a new house on the 1st of the year, and, with this new home, we now have another room that is separate from the house that we plan to use as an office.

So I took the opportunity to make the office mine by buying the things I felt would help me write more. Not only did I hope the utility of these items would help my writing, but I hoped it would also encourage me to sit in my chair more and write.

It did the opposite.

What I realized is that my perfect writing setup isn’t a “setup” at all. I like to write everywhere. I like to write on my phone while on a walk, I like to write on my laptop on the couch on a lazy Saturday afternoon, I also like to write in coffee shops, libraries or just outside on a chair.

And occasionally, I will also write in my office but not always and now that I understand this, I know that I could never have a perfect writing setup in just one place. My favorite writing place is where I feel like writing at that time. By trying to force myself to just write in one place prevented me from wanting to write at all.

Having spent all that money on new gear for my desk, I felt terrible wanting to take the laptop to the coffee shop with me. Or to bring it into the house and write at our dining room table. I needed to justify my purchase of buying these items for my setup by leaving my laptop in the office and only writing there.

So I returned it all. The stand. The mouse. And the keyboard.
Does Procrastination Lead To Irreverent Dreams?
By: Gairika Mitra
Tags: Blogger, Writer, Procrastination, Dreams, Blogging

Procrastination has been the buzz word and has certainly gained a special privilege both in the heart and mind (certainly unaware of when a rift brews up between the two). That apart, the reliance on procrastination has been quite bullish. Yet, the point of discussion here is when you indulge too much in procrastination, does it affect your dreaming state too?

Like, for instance, is there any particular mechanism, where your dreams turn revolutionary when it’s early in the morning like past 4.30? Probably yes. Now, where did the process germinate from? As per the internal planner, the day though was a sultry one, yet involved of tasks, equitably distributed between the house and office work, both of which were inevitably procrastinated. One procrastination led to the other, and other to the other…

Ultimately, it was midnight, and the eyes couldn’t keep calm, whilst the bed was summoning too. Then came the plethora of dreams, the most profound one said that Yours Truly has tested positive for COVID! What continued were a series of indignation, wrath, seclusion, and quarantining. Amid this, the grey matter suddenly recalled that there was an article kept dangling for a long time, which needed some addressing. There was a high possibility that it was smitten by the procrastination bug! Countless questions surrounded the mind then, the loudest being, can COVID positive patients have access to laptops? If allowed, could they engage on a WhatsApp video call or Zoom conversation, if need be? And, if they were then would the person at the receiving end also contract Corona?

The heartbeat also synced perfectly to the pace of the dream, and started beating loudly. Yet, the most favourite, procrastination went missing here. Everything seemed to be real, and in present tense. No scope for rebuttal. Again, questions like what about the inherent companionship of OCD that compelled Yours Truly to wash hands every half an hour go? How did the virus affect the body then? Gradually, my dream heralded a close friend of mine feeling sorry all the way from Florida on seeing my condition, then it was my mom and then it was everyone in my building who came with chicken soups and bouquets of flowers to the hospital.

What’s uncanny here is how were these people allowed to meet a COVID positive patient during such testing times. One of the health workers replied ‘Ma’am, since you contracted COVID at a time when procrastination had cast a spell, people can visit you as an exception.’ Ah! That was special indeed, and I was still swaying in the train of thoughts and was secretly contemplating a deep dive into some sumptuous desserts when my alarm beeped and the timing showed way beyond my waking time. Probably, while procrastinating, I had set the alarm an hour later than usual. And there came all the irreverent dreams… Was it only due to procrastination?
Downloading and Installing MongoDb On Windows
By: Shuaib Oseni
Tags: Mongodb, Backend Development, Backend, Web, Database

Step 1

download mongoDb from here. Make sure MSI is selected as the package you want to download

make sure choose windows in the OS option..

step 2

Installing MongoDb

now head over to your pc download directory. look for the mongodb installation wizard, double click to start installation process.

2. Click next to begin installation

3. Accept license agreement and click next

4. choose the complete setup option, then click next

5. Select “Run service as Network Service user”

6. Click Install to begin installation

7. Installation begins. Click Next once completed

8. Click the finish button to complete installation

MongoDB also comes with Compass, which is a graphical tool.

Once installation is complete, we’ll need to set up MongoDB on the local system.

To run the mongo shell, you’ll need to go to the monogdb location.

here is the path to mongodb location:

c:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\4.2\bin

mongodb location

now head over to windows command prompt and run as administrator

now, in the terminal lets navigate to the mongodb folder

cd c:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\4.2\bin

Start the mongodb daemon by running:

mongod

Connect to MongoDB using the Mongo shell While the MongoDB daemon is running, from a different Command prompt window run

c:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\4.2\bin\mongo

To verify if the setup was successful

mongo --version

Okay guys, we’ve come to the end of our long session. Go ahead and build amazing stuffs with Mongodb.

you can follow on twitter @Aboki_frontend
Running Go application on Kubernetes
By: João Filipe Moura
Tags: In Loco Tech, Kubernetes, In Loco, Backend Development, Golang

During our testing, we found three major problems. The first one was that the application was deployed with modest CPU request resources, only 200 millicpu and a limit of 400 millicpu (millicpu is used in Kubernetes meaning the millesimal part of a single CPU core), so this means that, for each time unit, Kubernetes only gives 20% of continuous processing time to each pod, since the standard strategy of the Linux kernel threads is based on time slices.

In this strategy, the kernel gives time slices to each process to run, locking the CPU resource to that process during its time slice, making rounds between all processes consuming that resource. Each pod will execute for 20% of that time slice, then it is going to wait for at least 80% of the time slice to execute again. Even if there is no other pod competing for that CPU time, the processing will only continue up to 40% of the time. So in a context where the node has only one instance of our Go app, the CPU stays idle rather than fill the computation time with the app.

Another thing we had considered was the Kubernetes QoS (Quality of Service). The desired QoS can be specified in the deployment manifest among Guaranteed, Burstable, and Shared. Here is the Kubernetes documentation that explains it beautifully. In our tests, we specified Guaranteed QoS (the CPU request and limit to 1 full CPU) in the deployment, having almost the same results. But we struggled with request spikes since we have a signature behavior where this kind of load happens:
Findes in Java Stream
By: Gene Zeiniss
Tags: Java, Javastreams, Functional Programming, Backend Development, Lambda

Findes in Java Stream

This is the second post in java stream series. Hooray! After reading my previous post that tackled matches (Java stream predicate methods), a friend of mine warned me to be careful about using Java streams:

“Streams are good, but it does not mean that you should plug-in streams in every line of code you have. There is some performance overhead to consider too, even with sequential streams. With parallel streams it is even trickier. Brian Goetz (the Java concurrency and multithreading God) gives a nice sum up”, A.Z.

It’s a fascinating question “to use or not to use Java stream?” and it definitely requires looking into in the future. That’s why I’ve decided to share A.Z.’s comment with you. However, my present goal is to introduce the stream’s features, and not to discuss stream’s viability.

In this post we deal with two methods: findFirst() and findAny() . I call this group “findes”. It’s easy to confuse these two, let’s clear up their uses.

First, some basics:
CNC Lathe Factory, Shaper/Slottin Machine Exporter and Supplier, CNC LATHE MACHINE Manufacturer- Tengzhou Luzhong Machine Tool Co.,ltd — China Machinery Factories
Tags: Manufacturing

CNC Lathe Factory, Shaper/Slottin Machine Exporter and Supplier, CNC LATHE MACHINE Manufacturer- Tengzhou Luzhong Machine Tool Co.,ltd — China Machinery Factories Johnson Nov 15, 2019·2 min read

Welcome to Tengzhou Luzhong Machine Tool Co.,ltd. — China Manufacturer Tengzhou Luzhong Machine Tool Co., Ltd. is a large-scale manufacturing enterprisewith glorious chievement and long history .Founed in 1992 ,company covers an area of 100 thousand square meters, the construction covers area of 250 thousand square meters.

China Manufacturers — Our main products are : CNC Lathe Machine ,CNC Milling Machine ,Vertical Machining Center ,Lathe Machine ,Drilling Machine ,Milling Machine and others metal cutting machine tools .All the products above have passed CE ,ISO ,SGS ,TUV certificates .

www.Hifactory.com ，Please click on the website to see — China Machinery Factories Dear friends, Hifactory is China’s best quality B2B platform. Buyers directly correspond to Chinese suppliers. The platform does not charge any fees. Buyers who need to purchase Chinese goods can search for Hifactory, register and communicate directly with Chinese suppliers.

Our company formed a good win-win relationship with d omestic and foreign sales agents.Our company not only has formed a mature sales network in China, but also signed sales agency contracts with copanies from more than 100 foreign countries, and our machines has been exporting to Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, North America, Australia and other zones for more than 20 years ,and have been trusted and praised by vast number of users .

Our company focuses on strict and effective management,system, strict audit machines is quality ,try not to let out a detail, and make the machines more refined and finer .Service is our eternal theme of the pursuit ,our compamy have many overseas service personnel in many countries .Our company can also procide OEM and ODM service.

Our company is always adhering to the “THE BEST QUALITY ,CREATED BY LUZHONG “ purposes, to provide better quality machines ,more efficient and thoughtful after-sale service to customers . With your support, we will make great progress. Let’s join hands and create a better future!
Zoom Technologies continued to invest in equipment tools and improving manufacturing methods.
By: Zoom Technologies
Tags: Manufacturing, Manufacturing Processes

Zoom Technologies continued to invest in equipment tools and improving manufacturing methods. They are offering standard mould and insert, mould base, plastic part, gun drilling, surface drilling, mould tooling component all type of jobs, Gun drilling is common process like grinding, drilling, and many more, its produce deeper hole. This gun drilling machine has wide range of functionality. Deep drilling design to meet the needs of the modern machine shop, gun drilling increase the productivity of many plies without accuracy and hardness. Zoom Technology has been serving customers’ needs by offering best services and advanced mould component products. Zoom technologies mould will ensure the best mould built for your requirement. By using latest technologies and machine like mould and insert. Zoom Technologies offers following types of tooling component. Injection, Compression, Thermostat, Insert Moulding, Die Cast Moulding, Transfer, Rubber, Prototype/Bridge tool. There main focus is to meet the need of customers, so they are providing quality base product to customers to satisfy their needs with high quality product with reasonable prices.

Source- http://zoomtechnologies.net/
Spiritual Capitalism
By: Michael Farrell
Tags: Spiritual, Spirituality, Health, Capitalism, Soul

One of the most contentious aspects of the New Age Thought — or more generally ‘Spirituality’ — has been its adoption of ideas and practices from non-Western cultures.

Its central ideology, that all traditions are fluid and free for anyone to co-opt, has led to some spiritual circles appropriating and marketing the practices of indigenous societies, resulting in accusations of cultural imperialism.

In sum, the West has been accused of misrepresenting ideas from the East as part of its Capitalist ideology.

How? Here’s an example.

We’ve all seen the fitness magazines that promise us a smaller waist or a six-pack ‘in just two weeks’.

And we all know that such promises are utter bullshit.

Such quick-fix schemes ensure the magazines keep selling and the wheels of the multi-billion dollar health and fitness industry keep turning. It is also symptomatic of our fast food culture where everything and everyone is disposable, and we want to see results right now.

The health, fitness and beauty industries exploit our fears and insecurities by touting quick fix solutions to help us lead ‘happier’, healthier lives. Instead of allowing the customer to reach out to them out of their own volition, they expose our needs, our desires, and our fears in order to attract us to their wares. Then, they ensnare us with their promises of ‘fixing’ our problems.

In many respects, ‘spirituality’ and the ‘self-help’ industry is no exception.

Self-love; manifesting our wildest dreams; overcoming our fears; positive thinking and so on: it all taps directly into our insecurities and our desires with various ‘solutions’ or promises of a better life.

And the jargon?

“Raise your vibration, INSTANTLY!”

…and bypass and suppress your negative emotions as a result? Isn’t that dangerously close to spiritual bypassing?

Here’s another one:

“Change your body and manifest a million dollars IN JUST THREE DAYS!”

And my personal favourite:

“Re-wire your mind in JUST 17 SECONDS!”

Neuroplasticity is indeed a phenomenon; but can we really undo thousands of years of genetic evolution ‘in just 17 seconds’?

Hell no.

The emphasis on quick results contradicts what lies at the heart of authentic spiritual development: patience, as well as constant backsliding.

There are no quick fixes.

Our journey is a constant ebb and flow with no endpoint. The beauty is in the journey itself, in the struggle, and in the subsequent learning we gain from overcoming obstacles and adversity.

That’s how we grow.

If it were all so easy, then what would be the point?
The Basics for Becoming an Aviation Pilot By Simba Mutsahuni
Tags: USA, Simba Chikore, Pilot, Simba Mutsahuni, Aviation

Aviation Pilot | Simba Chikore

Simba Mutsahuni is a Professional Pilot in the United States, Being an aviation pilot is amazing. The air shudder with whirls of the sounds of the helicopter is just great. However, the procedure of how to be a pilot isn’t a simple undertaking, as it needs much persistence, devotion and an authentic enthusiasm for the activity, in addition to other related things. On the off chance that you have these characteristics, at that point, you can turn into a pilot. The way toward turning into a plane pilot is very not quite the same as that of a helicopter steer just as a commercial pilot.

If you love traveling, have a heart for adventure, and enjoy seeing cities from a vantage point high above the clouds, a career as an aviation pilot may be right for you. Thanks to growth in the aviation industry, job opportunities for pilots abound. In fact, aspiring pilots can find jobs with either commercial airlines or corporations that own their own private jets. With many of the military aviators of the Vietnam War era retiring, industry observers are actually predicting a shortage of pilots in the years ahead.

It was once thought that few people could succeed as pilots — but nothing could be further from the truth. Research indicates that as many as 90 percent of the public has the aptitude to learn to pilot an aircraft. In other words, becoming a pilot may be easier than you realize.

Of course, you do need extensive training to become a professional pilot. To begin with, you’ll need to secure a private pilot’s certificate. This certificate will allow you to pilot an aircraft with passengers on board. However, the certificate will not permit you to earn money as a pilot. For that, you’ll need to obtain a commercial pilot’s certificate.

If your target is Captain at an airline, you will need to get your Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. While you could be employed as a co-pilot for several airlines with a Commercial Certificate, only Airline Transport Pilot’s (ATP) will be captain of a passenger aircraft. On many occasions, you can be hired on with a Commercial Certificate and after some additional training, you could be tested for your Airline Transport Pilot Certificate during a training check ride.

Simba Chikore Aviation Pilot

Simba Chikore fly and navigate different types of aircraft. He work for specific companies, transporting people and cargo on fixed schedules leading airlines generally have a preference for a college diploma as well as a First Class Medical Certificate, Commercial Pilot or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, along with recommended hours, knowledge in English and age prerequisites.

Flight training can be expensive, requiring students to spend more than $22,000. However, financial aid is provided to available to students who need it. And that training can pay off handsomely, once you secure a commercial aviation job paying more than $100,000 annually.
AirBridgeCargo, Unilode Aviation extend ULD management partnership
By: Logistics Update Africa
Tags: Aviation, Bluetooth

The equipment will be firmly mounted to ULDs by Unilode and carried in AirBridgeCargo’s B747F fleet.

Jan 02, 2019: AirBridgeCargo Airlines and Unilode Aviation Solutions have extended their unit load device (ULD) management partnership for the extensive usage of transmitting portable electronic devices (TPEDs) for ULDs — pallets and containers.

The equipment, which is a bluetooth low energy (BLE v.5.0) tracking and sensing device, will be firmly mounted to ULDs supplied and managed by Unilode and carried in the cargo compartments of AirBridgeCargo’s B747 freighter fleet. The monitoring devices will be used to track ULDs, register all environmental parameters, covering such crucial factors as temperature, humidity, illumination and shock actions to guarantee 100 percent transparency of shipment data. In addition, AirBridgeCargo will get accurate information from Unilode about the cargo status and its location, be it in the air or on the ground.

Both companies have reached agreements on the terms of BLE v. 5.0 usage, with the main work to be completed afterwards. AirBridgeCargo Airlines and Unilode Aviation Solutions are working on the rollout, making sure all the ULDs are properly equipped with BLE v.5.0, Bluetooth readers are installed at the places of cargo movement (warehouse, ground handling premises), and dedicated IT infrastructure is set to capture signals for real-time cargo monitoring.

“We are delighted to see our partnership with Unilode progressing and embracing new areas, such as internet of things (IoT), which will not only facilitate data accuracy but also enhance digital customer experience with the provision of detailed information for each and every shipment. This is especially important for special cargo — pharmaceutical products, oversize and heavy goods, live animals, etc. With the penetration of digitalisation taking place in the air cargo sector, we want to make sure that our customers get the full benefit of it, be it general cargo or other specialist dedicated services,” stated Sergey Lazarev, general director, AirBridgeCargo Airlines.

“AirBridgeCargo is Unilode’s loyal customer since 2004 and we are very pleased to work together in our digital transformation program which will enhance Unilode’s ULD management with the most innovative solutions available in the market. The BLE v.5.0 device is the most cost-effective solution for the transmission of shipment parameters with its primary benefits being improved speed and greater range. Thus, it operates faster and over greater distances than previous versions of Bluetooth. Unilode and AirBridgeCargo have been improving the quality of shipment data, which provides timely and detailed information to all stakeholders in the value chain,” said Benoit Dumont, Unilode CEO.

With this in mind, AirBridgeCargo Airlines has upgraded its online track and trace tool, introduced 24/7 control tower to monitor status of special cargo shipments, and reinforced its team at all levels.
Lufthansa Cargo acquires stake in cargo.one
By: Logistics Update Africa
Tags: Aviation, Startup

cargo.one has developed a platform for booking and marketing air cargo capacity.

Jan 02, 2019: Lufthansa Cargo has invested in cargo.one, a Berlin-based startup, acquiring a minority stake in the company. cargo.one has developed a platform for booking and marketing air cargo capacity. Through its focus on offering dynamic spot rates and enabling their booking, cargo.one is the first platform of its kind. It was founded in 2017 by Moritz Claussen, Oliver T Neumann and Mike Rotgers.

“Cargo.one is another important step towards the digitisation of our industry. We are pleased to have been one of the first airlines to recognise the potential of this multi-airline platform for our customers and to have made ourselves compatible. We are impressed with the technology and user-friendly product. We are also driving digitisation in our industry through cooperation with startups and financial investments such as that in cargo.one,” said Peter Gerber, CEO and chairman of the executive board of Lufthansa Cargo. “Our customers’ overall experience is now strongly improved by being able to more efficiently book air cargo capacity,” he continued.

“The investment in our technology signals to our customers that cargo.one is a strong partner with which to join forces to drive air cargo digitisation. Air cargo capacity worldwide can be made available online through our innovative distribution technology. Accordingly, we want to grow to become a global leader. The minority investment by Lufthansa Cargo now also demonstrates that even a star player in the industry is impressed with our technology,” said Moritz Claussen, cargo.one founder.

Lufthansa Cargo already invested in a technology startup Fleet Logistics, based in Portland, USA, back in early 2018. Founded in 2014, Fleet Logistics acts as an online marketplace, matching customer demand for cargo services with free capacity provided by logistics companies.

Lufthansa Cargo has also been cooperating since February 2018 in the role of anchor partner with technology accelerator Plug and Play based in Sunnyvale, USA. This, the world’s largest technology accelerator, brings technology startups and established companies together. They combine their efforts within the supply chain and logistics platform, which is focused on supply chain startups, to further develop and quickly implement new digital solutions. The program provides an opportunity for logistics players to network with and learn from each other, exchange ideas and drive digitisation.

“The close cooperation between Lufthansa Cargo and technology startups melds comprehensive air cargo experience with a technology-driven, fresh view of global logistics processes,” said Boris Hueske, head of digital transformation at Lufthansa Cargo.
Lufthansa, Fraport extend ground handling partnership at Frankfurt Airport
By: Logistics Update Africa
Tags: Aviation, Airlines

Fraport’s ground handling unit will be responsible for a range of services, including loading and unloading of Lufthansa passenger aircraft, baggage and cargo transportation.

Jan 02, 2019: Deutsche Lufthansa AG is entrusting Fraport AG Ground Services with the provision of ground handling services to all Lufthansa aircraft at Frankfurt Airport for another seven years. Recently, the two companies signed a respective contract, to become effective on January 1, 2019, and run until March 31, 2026.

Fraport AG’s executive board member and labor director Michael Müller said, “We are pleased to extend the long-standing and successful partnership with Lufthansa as our most important customer at Frankfurt Airport. Following a series of constructive talks, we submitted a competitive offer. The new agreement contains an extensive package of services and agreed quality standards.”

Under the agreement, Fraport’s ground handling unit will be responsible for a range of services, including loading and unloading of Lufthansa passenger aircraft, baggage and cargo transportation, and passenger bus transfers to and from the aircraft, as well as pushback, supply and waste disposal services.

The two partners have defined a number of key priorities in the new agreement, with a focus on punctuality, transfer quality, baggage claim times and standards for process stability. This will contribute to ensuring Frankfurt Airport’s position as a leading aviation hub, now and in the future.

Moreover, Fraport and Lufthansa plan to implement a number of innovations in various processes over the term of the agreement, all aimed to further raise ground handling efficiency and continuously enhance service quality.
Brussels Airlines to fly all ladies flight to Entebbe, Kigali on March 8
By: Logistics Update Africa
Tags: Aviation, Airlines

The A330 will fly with an all ladies crew, including captain and first officer, to Eastern Africa.

Feb 25, 2019: Brussels Airlines will be operating a special flight on International Women’s Day on March 8 from Brussels to Entebbe via Kigali.

The A330 will fly with an all ladies crew, including captain and first officer, to Eastern Africa. Brussels Airlines is a carrier with a female CEO for that matter made progress in having more and more ladies fly their planes, compared to even ten years ago.

Brussels Airlines will be joined by fellow Star Alliance member Ethiopian Airlines on the day, which will operate an Addis Ababa — Stockholm — Oslo flight on the same day.

The airline flies daily between the European capital city and Entebbe, in conjunction with both Kigali — six services a week and Bujumbura — 1 service per week and is considered a choice airline for Ugandans and Rwandans to fly not just to Brussels but via the Belgian capital to over 100 destinations in Europe, North America and Africa.
AYS Daily Digest 26/05/20 — Tensions Between Greece and Turkey Ramp Up
By: Are You Syrious
Tags: Digest, Turkey, Migrants, Greece, Refugees

SUPPORT AYS’ CAMPAIGN

Losing jobs they had to work hard to get as refugees in the country, during the pandemic — if we don’t help them, they lose home for the second time

Along with a number of problems they already had to face in a foreign country, the pandemic was the last straw because many lost their jobs because of it, and were left without a place to live due to the earthquake that hit Croatian capital. Now they face losing jobs, homes and potentially being separated from their children.

Many people who managed to reach Croatia and receive international protection in the country, creating a new home there after having been displaced or fleeing their home countries in order to save lives and health of their families, now face losing their new homes, too. While the pandemic has brought difficult times for many of us, those living in Zagreb also face the effects of the recent earthquake that hit Croatia’s capital, leaving many without safe homes, and with long-term consequences to the entire city. In this context, the refugees face all of these problems with even more difficulties in the foreign country they find themselves in.

That is why, together with the Solidarna Foundation and with generous support from the Bruketa&Žinić&Grey agency, Are You Syrious started an emergency support fund for the people under international protection in Croatia who, due to the pandemic that resulted in losing jobs, and consequences of the earthquake, face homelessness and hunger.

The aim is to collect funds to support those most vulnerable among them through temporary covering one or two monthly rents and covering food expenses, all the while working on helping them find new jobs. In that way, they would have a ‘safety net’ that the rest of us find in our family and friends during these tough times, something they, unfortunately, can’t count on.

Many of them were among the first ones to be fired from their workplaces, mostly having been earning minimal wages and doing the only jobs they could find, due to the language barrier and often also the preconceived notion in the society, although many of them are highly educated. Therefore, in the current situation, due to losing jobs they are unable to pay the rent for themselves and their families (in case they didn’t lose their flat already to landlords whose other houses were destroyed in the earthquake), and they risk being left in the street and being separated from their children.

Every cent goes directly for the purpose, no fees, no bank costs etc.

The funds will not be transferred to the AYS account, but the Foundation Solidarna will directly pay the utilities, rent or so, depending on the need in each case.

For information and super-easy way to scan and contribute, please visit:
AYS Daily Digest 12/05/20 Over 100 European Parliament members call for investigations into Greek…
By: Are You Syrious
Tags: Digest, Turkey, Greece, Refugees, Covid 19

The international aid organization CARE expresses their concern over the refugees currently in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

“CARE is deeply concerned about the safety and health for over 7,000 refugees and migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The situation is particularly dire for those who live outside of the official camps. A field study by CARE has shown that in Tuzla, in Northern Bosnia, over three-quarters of refugees and migrants do not have sufficient access to clean drinking water. There is also no adequate access to sanitation and basic hygiene. The study shows that for the majority of men, women and children, the absolute minimum standards of safe shelter and basic nutrition aren’t met. In January, Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded 30 per cent more arrivals of refugees and migrants than in the same period the year before.

‘A camp with capacity for 1,600 people is now housing over 3,000 people. Social distancing is impossible here’, reports Tim Clancy, from Promiz.ba, a partner organization of CARE. ‘Those outside of camps live in hiding, in constant fear of being sent to an overcrowded camp where the risk of infection would be much higher. The situation on the streets is also very difficult, only a handful of volunteers can reach the refugees.’”