fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
The Sage and His Son
By: Mitchell Duran
Tags: Poetry, Nature Poem, Fatherhood, Reading, Climate Change

A meditation on climate change, fatherhood, and humanity.

It’s always easier to tear down the highest wall,

To take the clay from under the supports,

Ripping apart souls who have worked their entire lives

Like cotton from a teddy bear,

Counting everything as nothing.

In tides of great pain and of Great War,

The stars still shine brightest,

Hanging in the heavens like icicles along the rafters,

Like rain clinging to thin leaf about bare branch.

When mountains tremble by the sight of man,

We have gone too far.

When explosions can be heard full-circle around the world,

We must ask ourselves: why do we wish to instill fear?

Oceans exhale with clarity.

Myself eludes itself,

Deep with chilling disparity.

I’ve yet to prove to that I am human.

My absence overwhelms my life.

Sweet gale of the Redwood forests,

Tranquil eyes of the auburn hawks in the sky,

Sincere Pine trees of the North,

Let injustice force you to come forth.

There is always a good fight to be fought.

Blood, if we possess it, will always be shed for the necessary.

I’ve made amends with that.

Trust and respect are the only cures

For man’s need for barbarity.

Here I take two steps forward

And ten steps back.

Cracking open my perception of time and history.

Allowing my soul and all souls before me

To join and see

That time is infinite,

With or without us.

That we, in life, hold the power

Of our continuation.

-

One morning, a sage took his son for a walk.

The sun was high in the sky

While birds soared below the clouds.

The sage looked down on his son

Proud to have brought life upon the land.

He imagined himself a tree;

His son an acorn.

He imagined his son as pollen

And destiny being the bee

Who would one day carry him away

To a place that would be his son’s future.

He then imagined that all things in this world

Are so desperately similar

That to destroy anything or anyone

Would be destroying an essential part of oneself.

The river runs like our blood does.

The earth rumbles much like our stomachs.

A volcano explodes much like our hearts do in love

And our bodies turn to dust

Like the ash from a tree enflamed turned to embers.

We are:

Like the flower,

Like the rock,

Like the whale washed up on the beach,

Like firsts lights reach.

The sage and his son

Sat upon the edge of the mountain

And observed mad spinning life.

The sage with his son

Thought not about God,

Thought not about Mother Nature,

Thought not about man’s need for conjuring a reason,

The sage with his son simply sat and watched.

And,

As the sun dropped behind the end of the World,

He imagined himself a clam

And his son

A shining pearl.
REEEAAAAD, ya’ll!
By: R. E. Warner
Tags: Made You Look

I love this poster because the intended message gets so overwhelmed and even contradicted by aspects of it’s design. Despite a US literacy rate of [99%](http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=US+literacy), the US adult population can be categorized into “[half readers and half non-readers](http://stephenslighthouse.com/2009/01/17/american-reading-habits-studied/)." Reading is not exactly an American past time, is what I’m saying, and Britney Spears (as opposed to some famous author) is not exactly the best spokesperson choice for literacy, IMHO. And I wouldn’t have pointed out the U states reading stats but it’s sort of irresistible given the symbolic patriotism stretched across Britney’s boobs.[¹] And I suppose that *Harry Potter* is the pop fiction of the age, but aren’t there really [more literate choices](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings)?[^2]

“Hey!” (sounds out the inevitable disagreement) “Other options wouldn’t make reading as exciting and cool for kids.” Yeah! I agree! In fact, we should put the word “Read” right in the poster in an over-used [trajan-like](http://typographica.org/2007/on-typography/trajan-the-fallback-font-for-lazy-movie-marketers/) movie poster font that looks like daggers, cuz reading will *cut ya’*, man! And Britney Spears is more than an awesome spokesperson — — she is so radical that she should have an angelic gaussian light spilling down on her! We could even present the book over Britney’s nether-regions as if to say, boys, if you you finish this book, guess what else you’ll get? And don’t tell kids to go to the library tell them it’s “@ your library,” because @ is cool or something. Yes, I am certain — -certain, I tell you — -that kids read because of this poster’s placement in children’s libraries.[³]

[¹]: And they tell us we can’t burn flags. Whatever. Burn *that* one.

[²]: Yeah. I’m a nerd.

[³]: Which is *not* where I stole mine from.
Nice and Toasty
Tags: Brunch, Reviews, Food, Internships, Chicago

We chose a restaurant called Toast (per a fellow intern’s recommendation), located in Lincoln Park near the Fullerton CTA station. R and I depart relatively early, as we anticipate an hour-long commute, and are pleased when we actually arrive ahead of schedule. The wait time is not terrible — 45 minutes — so we head over to a nearby Starbuck’s and camp out while waiting for A. Time goes by quickly, as we talk about an assortment of topics. A is preparing to apply for college (I can’t help but shudder as I reflect on #collegeappseason) and so R and I try to give her as much helpful advice as we can muster. My best tip? Go to class and go to sleep. Not at the same time, of course.

Toast is jam-packed (lol, puns) when we return at the directed time, and by the time we are finally seated, I’m pretty sure I could’ve eaten a horse (metaphorically). Toast’s menu options — breakfast and lunch, no separate brunch menu — are pretty incredible, and I struggle to choose what exactly I want. Ultimately I decide on the vegetarian omelette (which has broccoli!!).

Vegetarian omelette with potatoes and sourdough toast (not pictured).

The omelette arrives quickly and is quite delicious, and I am also pleasantly surprised by how well the broccoli works with the egg (seriously, would recommend). Added bonus: it comes with two large slices of toast. Added bonus #2: service is extremely attentive and polite, with multiple waiters coming by to check on things, making the atmosphere super cozy. I am very appreciative.

All in all, Toast was a great experience and my fellow intern’s recommendation was entirely on point. 10/10, would — and will! — come again.
Global Education Day is June 24th
By: Lucy Gray
Tags: Education, Education Technology, Iste18, Edtech4good, Edtech

Global Education Day is June 24th

Join Us Online or In Person for the 7th Annual Meet Up at #ISTE18

EdTech4Good http://bit.ly/edtech4good

Join us online or in person at the 2018 International Society for Technology in Education Conference (ISTE) in Chicago, Illinois! GEC Co-founders Steve Hargadon and Lucy Gray will be hosting the 7th Annual Global Education Day meet up at the conference.

Global Education Day is brought to you by EdTech4Good, Qatar Foundation International, and TakingITGlobal and will take place on Sunday, June 24th from 2–5 PM CDT (GMT-5). Directions for joining this event are available here. For those who will be in Chicago, the event is currently at capacity, BUT there is a waiting list and ISTE will release any unclaimed spots at 2:05 PM that day to those waiting in line outside the venue door.

If you cannot attend this event in person, catch some of the proceedings streamed on our Facebook page and follow all the action on Twitter via the hashtag #globaled18. Everyone is also welcome to join this professional development portal from Participate which contains our agenda, free global education resources, and opportunities for networking: go.participate.com/global-ed-day-18.

Steve Hargadon and Lucy Gray and will be hosting a poster session about the GEC following the opening keynote on Sunday as well. Please come by Table 20 and say hello if you are at the ISTE conference!
BloomX Embraces Regulation
By: Toni Reyes
Tags: Regulation, Fintech

Meet Ken Mazzio, Bloom’s Advisor and Chief Risk & Compliance Officer. Ken worked for almost 2 decades for the world’s biggest banks, building his expertise on risk and regulation. He has since shifted to the cryptocurrency startup scene and is now leading Bloom’s compliance efforts. Watch this video to understand why he fully supports Bloom’s mission!

For more information, go to https://bx8.io and join the Telegram group at https://t.me/joinBX8.
When Survival Depends on Audience Engagement
By: A Singular Story
Tags: Freelancing, Work, Culture, Media, Writing

I had made mine Medium’s tagline — words matter — a long time before joining the platform.

Then again, words are my job and vocation/affliction, none of which would be possible without a lifelong, abiding belief in the power of language.

Medium’s motto is pithy and does a good job of capturing the essence of the platform.

But a website declaring that words matter is no guarantee that all the words you find on it will.

The level of effort, heart, and insight varies widely from one user to the next and is dependent on message and the delivery thereof. Even a solid message doesn’t guaranty engagement if the formatting goes awry, there’s no picture, and the headline is a wash.

When no care has been taken to eradicate spelling and grammar mistakes, it gets worse.

There’s one notable exception to this last rule: many non-native English speakers write here, too. And do a splendid job with the kind of learned and thoughtful fluency monolingual folks can only dream of.

Alas, if you choose to try and follow your thoughts to see where they might lead instead of churning out clickbait, being a pro might not help you either. There’s always a risk that what interests you and what you feel strongly about won’t resonate with anyone else.

To this end, I set myself the goal of reaching just the one person with every piece.

Because I write a lot about the tyranny of living with a brain that keeps trying to kill me and being too cash-strapped to be well, a single connection means my work is done.

As isolation and an eroding sense of self are defining features of major depressive disorder, solace is everything. To have the chance to provide it to another human is a gift, to move them to tears something I’m never prepared for but it happens, too. Depression is unspeakably painful and silence kills, but words can offer relief.

And yet, I too am in it for the money. Medium is mostly how I’m rebuilding a life that works, word by word, after depression grounded me for the last five years and annihilated my livelihood. And I turned to Medium because there were no barriers to entry; I could get to work right away and start earning.

This means I spend my time thinking out loud rather than crafting pitches that often end up in a dark hole. Or chasing payment after a piece has been published. On one occasion, it took a magazine an entire calendar year to pay me. Because this is how glamorous professional writing can be. You work non-stop but money remains elusive, and by the time it turns up you’re already broke and in debt because it took ages to get paid.

Here, payment isn’t (yet, and may never be) commensurate with professional fees in my case but it happens, regular as clockwork at the end of the month.

To someone in as desperate a situation as mine, this is hugely helpful.
Practicing Minimalism by Getting Rid of Your Books
By: Michelle Jaqua
Tags: Life Lessons, Life, Nonfiction, Letting Go, Books

If you want to become a minimalist, it’s time to get rid of your book collection.

Wait, what? Why would I ask you to do that?

Why would I even talk about getting rid of books? Am I crazy? Maybe.

But, hear me out.

Most people have something they collect. Coins, figurines, the corks from wine bottles…or books.

I collect books. At least, I used to collect them.

In the Pacific NW, bookstores are a thing. I live in the city with the famous Powell’s Bookstore, a four-story warehouse converted into a mega independent bookstore. I love that place.

I can spend hours in a bookstore and load my arms with all kinds of treasures. I’d run home to pour through them once or twice, then put them away.

Then they sat in the bookshelf for years without being touched.

After years of doing this, I developed quite a collection. It wasn’t until one day, I looked at all my books and knew I had a problem. My obsessive book collecting turned into a mild hoarding situation. My books became more of a burden than a pleasure.
6 More Digital Assets Listed under USDT Market
Tags: Investment, Cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Listings, Blockchain

Dear Trader!

When we started Bitbns in late 2017, we wanted to give our traders a first-rate trading experience. In that endeavour, we have succeeded tremendously. But at the same time, we continue to strive to get better, we challenge ourselves to come up with new features that can make trading fun and easy for you. Keeping up with our pace, we recently launched USDT trade pairs for BTC, ETH, XRP, TRX and BTT. And if you remember correctly, we had also promised to launch USDT pairs for other coins as well.

Staying true to our word, we are adding the following Six cryptocurrencies in USDT market.

EOS (EOS) NEO (NEO) Stellar (XLM) Cardano (ADA) Litecoin (LTC) Bitcoin Cash ABC (BCHABC)

Soon you will be able to trade the above against Tether (USDT).

Open Order: 03/04/2019 at 01:45 pm

Trading: 03/04/2019 at 03:00 pm

Get ready for a terrific trading experience.

Happy Trading!
How to use Cryptoverview with Bittrex?
By: Sascha Becker
Tags: Trading, Cryptocurrency, Bittrex, API, React

Cryptoverview is our new project to bring more insights into your cryptocurrency portfolio and enhance the trading experience. It will visualize your assets in a donut graph, display your grows in a time graph, list trending currencies, display your individual assets with indicators, show closed and open orders. There are many more features yet to come.

Cryptoverview currently only supports Bittrex. More API connections are planned. In order to connect this service you need to generate an API key pair in your Bittrex account.

Step 1: Login to Bittrex

Log into your Bittrex account and head over to the “Settings” menu

Step 2: Find the API area

Select “API Keys” on the left side menu

Step 3: Create new API Keys

Select “Add New Key” and a “new key” row will appear. Give it “Read Info”, input your Authentificator Code if you use one and press finally “Update Keys”.

The “Key” and “Secret” are needed for the next step.

Cryptoverview only needs the “Read Info” right. Future features may need more rights.

Step 4: Create a Cryptoverview account

Head over to https://cryptoverview.com and press “Create a new account”. Enter a unique username, a secret and strong password and your keys from Step 3.

Step 5: Enjoy

Now you’ve gained access. Your portfolio data will be crunched and displayed in various graphs, lines and tables. Cryptoverview is still in a very early stage. If you run into problems or have something to say feel free to drop us a mail over at info@wertarbyte.com.
The Flow
By: Josh Hallman
Tags: Flow, Days

Can you just go with the flow?



When there are things you want, things you’d like to accomplish how will you get them? Remember there are forces around you that you cannot control (ie: people and their actions). This flow is a stream that deviates many times and there is a point where you will have to ask yourself if you trust things enough to just go with them.



The Flow, when you go with it be knowledgeable and trust the steadiness and destination.
Blind Luck
By: Tom Zimberoff
Tags: Photojournalism, Cameras, Music, Portraits, Photography

So here we were, a year later in LA, getting ready for a photoshoot in that cavernous rehearsal hall. We were at S.I.R. (Studio Instrument Rentals), where the biggest stars in music, to this day, choreograph their performances before going on tour. It used to be a Columbia Pictures soundstage during Hollywood’s golden age. Directors, from Capra to Kubrick, shot scenes there for movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “From Here to Eternity,” and “Dr. Strangelove.” For me, working with a musical mastermind like Stevie Wonder notwithstanding, it was a thrill to be in the very spot where actors like Clark Gable, James Stewart, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, and Burt Lancaster spoke their lines to the camera.

When I shoot a portrait, I always try to include something unexpected; not necessarily controversial but something that makes it both the subject’s and my own. Because Stevie Wonder always wore dark glasses in public and in pictures (and still does), I figured I’d ask him to pose without them. Why not? I’d seen him often enough in private without them. I don’t remember him giving it a second thought. But I had something additional in mind.

By serendipity, another performer left a painted curtain hanging in the rehearsal hall depicting a Manhattan skyline. It reminded me of a lyric from the tune “Living for the City” on “Innervisions:”

Wow! New York City, Just like I pictured it, Skyscrapers and everything.

Bingo! That was our backdrop. Its artificiality worked in its favor, graphically. And with the obvious absence of a blind man’s dark glasses, I thought it might evoke that lyric in the spirit of Steve’s “innervision” or what he wanted his audience to hear further into the song: the disillusionment of a black man enduring a brutal police arrest. But just as we got down to business, I realized we had an issue. I had to explain candidly — awkwardly — how I’d have to wait short intervals between each shot, before tripping the shutter, because, well, there was no other way to say this: his eyes didn’t always point in the same direction. Never mind taking my own eye away from the viewfinder; I had to catch each opportunity as it came along with no predictable cadence. Blind luck. He was okay with that, too. I also felt obliged to disclose that I was shooting high-resolution film; that the scar on his forehead, a vestige of his encounter with the truck, would clearly be visible. No pushback there either.
10 Instagram Marketing Hacks for People with 0 Followers
By: Ali Mirza
Tags: Social Media, Instagram, Growth Hacking

I recently launched my Instagram marketing course on Udemy and I am really excited to see a lot of positive feedback. However, at least 3 of my students asked this same question

“I am a newbie on Instagram, how do I get my first 100 followers”.

I totally get it, because no one likes a ghost town. If you have 0 followers on Instagram, why would anyone follow you. Right? So here is a list of growth hacks (or tasks) you can use to get your first 100 (or close) followers.

1) Complete your Instagram bio. Make sure you add your keywords and Hashtags in the bio.

2) Use an awesome profile image (not the one from your Tinder profile)

If you are a brand, use your logo as a profile image

If you have a personal account, use your headshot

3) Post at least 9 awesome photos. No one wants to come to an empty house.

4) Search and follow at least 25 relevant Instagram accounts. e.g. I would search “#SocialMedia” and follow the first 25 accounts.

5) Like at least 25 relevant photos

6) Comment on at least 25 photos and “good pic” or “great profile” does not count. Be thoughtful!

7) Invite your Facebook friends to like your Instagram profile. Go to Instagram settings for this.

8) Follow people from your contact list & Facebook friends. Some of these will follow you back. Head back to Instagram setting to get this done.

9) Post your Instagram profile on other social media channels (Twitter, Pinterest etc.)

10) Text your friends and ask them to follow you on Instagram. Yes — your mom, brother, sister and ex also count. Most of them will be more than happy to connect with you on Instagram.

Now that you have at least 100 (or close) followers on Instagram you can start working on the strategies I discussed in my course. e.g.

How to create an Instagram marketing game plan

Creating your daily posting schedule

Creating & optimizing Instagram Ads using Facebook’s power editor

25+ time-saving tools for images & videos

Now over to you. What would you recommend to an Instagram newbie?

Comments

comments
Why Can’t we be Friends?
By: Kira Wertz
Tags: Self Improvement, Life Lessons, Transgender, LGBTQ, Facebook

A while back I’d become Facebook friends with someone who was part of a volunteer group I joined. This person, a gay disabled vet, seemed like a decent enough person. After all, I don’t discriminate against anyone within the community, and he really loved dogs; I tend to take that as a good quality. But I began to notice a racial bias in his postings. Anything that could be considered as trolling the Black Lives Matter movement seemed to be his schtick. I tried to move beyond that, and keep him in the mix for the sake of whatever redeeming qualities he might have. But then there was more of the same.

I chose to stop remaining silent when he’d posted a video of a young black girl dancing at an assembly. The girl was, for lack of a better term, “getting it!” This person’s response to this extremely physical dance number was something like “give her 7 years and she’ll be at the club.” This notion that the girl’s worth as a dancer was tied to her ethnicity and that her ethnicity would tie her to being a stripper was really triggering for me. I left a comment indicating how racist it was. He never acknowledged my comment, but that didn’t stop another one of his friends from doing so. I was told to find a “safe space.” An obvious dig against people who are perceived as easily offended, when in fact they’re just people who aren’t afraid of displaying empathy.

The mere fact that my “friend” didn’t bother to admit racism, nor denounce his friend’s equally douchey response got me to block him real quick. Maybe this is my fault. I instantly gave this person more credit than they deserve because they were gay. I had already caught onto the racism, and had let it go for too long. In the back of my mind I thought I was misinterpreting him, because why in the hell would someone who is a member of a minority community actively participate in the dissemination of a different minority community?

My position here is that this has been a valuable lesson; community members are not always safe. It is unwise to assume someone is an ally because they fall within the LGBTQ spectrum. They may have biases within the community, and they may be just as toxic, racist, and xenophobic as any straight cisgender person can be.
your cup
By: Larry Fallon
Tags: Poetry

Your cup sits on the bookshelf beside the bed

photo by Larry Fallon

It sits where you left it

weeks ago

I wake at night and sometimes smile remembering the evening you drank that tea comforting me.

I wake at night and a tear, sometimes tears, flow wondering why you can’t return.

I picked it up once to return it to the kitchen but I had to put it back. I adjusted it so the handle would be at the same angle as you placed it.

Your cup is a comforting reminder

Your cup is a disturbing reminder

When you come back please put your cup away.
Featured AI2er: Joanna Power
Tags: Featured Ai2er, Tech, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence

Joanna Power is a Senior Software Engineer on the Semantic Scholar team.

What put you on the path to your current role?

I took computer science classes for fun as an undergrad, while getting a degree in biology. Out of college, my first real job was doing computer “stuff” for some labs involved in the Human Genome Project. That’s when I realized that day to day, I enjoyed working with computers more than doing work in a biology lab. The near-instantaneous turn around time to try something new was hugely appealing to me. After a year of that work, I went to graduate school and got a Master’s degree in computer science.

What’s the most surprising or interesting thing that happened with your work at AI2 recently?

As a result of working at AI2, I had the opportunity to attend a workshop on AI and Policy last month. Experts in computing, business and law all presented on the practical aspects of regulating AI research and development. Despite the fact that so many questions in this area don’t have full answers yet, there was a common theme of urgency that policies related to fairness and accountability are needed, since every day new systems are launched that have real impact on real people’s lives. I think this is a fascinating and really important area.

What are you looking forward to with your work this summer?

I am on the Semantic Scholar team, and we are working hard to expand to all of science. The product started off with just computer science papers, and then expanded to include neuroscience. Last year, which was my first year at AI2, we expanded to include all of biomedicine, which was a huge change and required significant changes to our systems. By the end of this year, the product will have papers for more than nineteen other areas of science. It’s exciting to scale our systems to handle all the extra data, and we are all very interested to see how our new users will interact with the product.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give an aspiring software engineer?

Learn to keep an open mind and collaborate. In software engineering, there is never one answer to a problem. What makes it engineering, in my mind, is that there are always multiple possible solutions with different trade-offs. The best engineers are those who can come up with workable solutions as starting points and then improve those solutions by going back and looking at new data, questioning original assumptions, and listening to ideas from other people.

Most underrated activity or place in Seattle?

This is a bit general, but I’m going to say the city parks. There are so many beautiful places around Seattle, it’s easy to overlook the great places we have to get out in nature that are right here. Discovery Park and Seward Park are two of my favorites.

Follow AI2 on Twitter @allen_ai.
Chapter Six: Vignettes from the Middle East
By: Mike Sanchez
Tags: Travel, Storytelling, Abu Dhabi

I look at the blue back-lit console which says I’ve been running in place for 2,800 meters. I’m having black and white flashbacks of my childhood by now.

I arrive at six in the morning at Abu Dhabi airport. First thing I noticed is the number of different nationalities I’m walking with at the tarmac. A security guard approaches and tells me the carousel is towards the left. I’m not sure where I’m heading. I’m spending two weeks on vacation; 9 hours separated from Manila. I purposely didn’t turn on roaming and switched my phone to Airplane mode — a feature I’ve always found helpful in my often pursuit of seclusion.

“How are you?” drearily asked the immigration officer. I said “I’m good” and our conversation moved to head gestures from thereon. I’m having mini panic attacks as the free Wi-Fi doesn’t reach outside the airport so I go back and forth like a drug addict relapsing. Anxiety takes over as I want to have a cup of coffee but at the same time my wife and sister-in-law are picking me up and are probably looking for me already. Abu Dhabi, I’m fucking cold.

IKEA candy.

Abu Dhabi was great. Abu Dhabi is everything you’d want in a city. Well-disciplined traffic, excessively perfumed malls, 20mbps public Wi-Fi, and did I already mention relatively cheap shawarmas? Granted, a trail mix of different cultures all driving on the same road will prove to be chaotic, I really enjoyed my stay here — minus the penitentiary food they serve in IKEA.

The Grand Mosque is huge — it’s enormous! Shiekh Zayed must’ve done many, many things right to deserve this structure. By this time, I’ve already gotten used to security approaching me and it’s usually either: (1) I’ve done or am doing something prohibited, or (2) to have these customary conversations:

[indistinct words] I’m sorry? “Are you Vietnam, Thailand, Japanese, Philippines..” Oh, Filipino. I’m a Filipino. “Are you a Muslim?” No. [gestures hand over his beard as if saying “then what’s with all the facial hair?”] [inaudible]

The guard tells me not to stand on the hand-laid tiles to which I complied without reservations.
Cloud Firestore Basics in Android
By: Ashton Jones
Tags: Mobile App Development, Android App Development, Firebase, Android, Programming

Cloud Firestore Basics in Android

How to Get, Add, Edit, and Delete Data in Cloud Firestore, with Real App Examples

In this post, I will be demonstrating how to do the basic database operations in Cloud Firestore in an Android App, using a published app I built as a practical example.

You will learn how to implement the core database operations in Cloud Firestore: how to get (read), add (write), edit, and delete data in the database in an Android app.

Reply App Background

Reply is an Android app I built from scratch and published to the Google Play Store. I will use this app to provide clear, practical examples of how to implement the core Cloud Firestore operations.

I have the code available on Github and you can download the app on the Google Play Store.

Reply helps you easily create your own custom, pre-defined messages through any platform.

With the app, you create your custom message templates which you can categorize based on the type of message (i.e. personal, social, and business messages). Each tab corresponds to a category.

Once you create your own messages, you can preview, send, edit, and delete them using the main button in the bottom right corner.

Registering and Signing in Users

Before we start adding user data in the database, we first need to create users which we will save the user data to in the database. This should be done after registering/signing in to the app and only if it is a new user.

If you are using Cloud Firestore, you can also use Firebase Authentication to register and sign in users. If you are implementing Firebase Authentication for the first time, I recommend using FirebaseUI, because it provides a pre-built UI and requires less work. I use FirebaseUI in the Sign in Fragment for Reply, so you can also see a practical example.

❗️❗️Please note that authenticating/signing in a user does NOT create a user for you in the database.

Signing in a user and creating a user in the database are two separate operations you must implement.
Blockchain Expo Amsterdam Recap!
Tags: Ethereum, Cryptocurrency, Blockchain Technology, Blockchain, Cryptonews

The team had a booth set up and was able to talk with a mulittude of individuals. There was a lot of interest in the GoChain booth, people interested in what GO was and also those who had interest in partnering with GO for 100X increased performance.

Proof of Reputation (POR) Handout

Those who were intertested in GoChain could chat and take one of our Proof of Reputation handouts that explained our updated consensus model. This made it easy to learn why GoChain can provide 100X increased performance just by lifting and shifting from Ethereum.

Mike Leemberg and Adam Norris at the GoChain Booth.

Kledi Nenaj and Sascha Ghazwinian from Big Crypto with Adam Norris post interview.

Advisor Etiënne vantKruys stepping in for an Interview with Sascha Ghazwinian from Big Crypto.

Advisor Etiënne vantKruys had a moment to talk with BIG Crypto at the Blockchain Expo Europe in Amsterdam! Watch this video to get an insider scoop on ICOs and GoChain!

Adam Norris doing an interview with Cryptocurrency Academy.

The team was able to do press with a couple of differnt YouTube channels. Keep an eye out for some fresh content!

Schedule for speaking events.

There were multiple locations for the keynotes and discussions.

Full house for this presentation.

Throughout the event there were highly engaging keynotes, interactive discussions, and an opportunity to build new partnerships in the emerging industries that the blockchain technology is going to influence.

GoChain Booth was a popular destination.

GoChain was excited to have a booth at the event and is looking forward to connecting further with the community, developers and business professionals that we met during Blockchain Expo Europe!

Check out our compilation video of the event:

The team is planning on attending more conferences and expos in the future. Annoucements will be made on our official telegram channel!
2021 Resolution: Let’s Rethink Teacher Observations
By: Street Consulting
Tags: Education, Observation, Education Policy, Principal, Teaching And Learning

With a new administration entering the Whitehouse and a new education secretary soon to be announced, it is a perfect time to talk about rethinking teacher observations. The implementation of NCLB and ESSA led to some significant changes in testing, accountability, and ultimately, teacher observation and evaluation. Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, these changes did not have their intended outcomes. To be sure, there were some benefits — increased eyes on teaching, increased likelihood of actual observation happening each year, and increased dialogue about important elements of the teaching and learning process. All good.

However, the observation process remained deeply flawed in most places, despite well intentioned efforts to train observers and engage in the process faithfully. It turns out that it is exceedingly hard for an observer to strip away all factors not related to the teaching while observing. This means that teachers who work in higher poverty schools, teachers with higher needs students, and teachers working in urban centers, systematically get lower ratings for their teaching.

Years of discriminatory housing policies have led to segregated school systems and remarkable fiscal disparities between schools and school districts. And recently, a study by Lauren Sartain and Matthew Steinberg came to the conclusion that classroom and socioeconomic conditions of students not only impede student learning, but they also suppress the quality rating of the teacher being observed.

When reading the conclusions of the study, it seems that we should not be surprised one bit. This study is a cold reminder that our segregationist and discriminatory past reaches into places that we never considered. Obviously, fixing housing policy and education funding equity are front burner issues for the new administration, but ensuring teacher evaluations do not exacerbate the harm already caused should not be left to a second term or even a second year.

I am sure there is no easy solution to the dilemma Sartain and Steinberg’s study presents, but we can start by opening up the dialogue about a successor process. This process should be guided by two powerful principles: the first is from the healthcare field “Nothing about without me.” Ensure that actual educators are involved in the development of the policy that will shape practice. Second, state explicitly that the purpose of observation is to improve practice, and keep that process separate from the dilemma of evaluation.

By adopting these two principles we can create a more fair and effective way to observe teachers and provide feedback, build trust, and improve our systems.

The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.

– Harvey S. Firestone
A Ducky Breakfast
Tags: Wildlife Photography, Ducks, Blog, Photography, Nature Photography

Although these new Muscovies look black from a distance, close up you can see brilliant hues of green, purple, and blue in their feathers. These unusual Muscovies act more domesticated than our regular lake ones. Without hesitation, they came on our patio, and when I was standing outside, they walked within inches of my feet. Makes me wonder where they came from.

Oddly, they didn’t care for the cracked or whole corn that all the other ducks eat. I even tried birdseed, which they nibbled and spit out. Maybe, they’ll like the grub worms I’ve ordered.

© Dennett

We call the Muscovies Tobies (you can read why here) and have christened the new ones Bobies, for black Tobies.

© Dennett 11/16/2020

When the ducks came close to our porch, our cat Sébastien was enthralled. Our dog Syau, on the other hand, could not have cared less! She is only interested in squirrels.

And, just because she is so beautiful, I will end with a photo of Princess Syau:

© Dennett — Our Lhasa Apso

© Dennett 2020
Dr. Eve Crane
By: Terence C. Gannon
Tags: Pathology, Interview, Medicine, Careers, Podcast

When Dr. Eve Crane was just five years old, her father became gravely ill with what was eventually diagnosed as an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis. It eventually rendered him a quadriplegic and tragically led to his early passing. It was during this period Eve made up her mind that she was going to grow up and dedicate her life to finding a cure for her father’s illness. She turned her family’s tragedy into a true triumph of the human spirit. It’s an inspiring and heartwarming story.

Born and raised in Los Alamos, New Mexico, Eve Crane graduated summa cum laude from Rice University in Chemical Engineering and received her M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. She pursued postdoctoral work at MIT as well as three years of surgical training. However, after some deep soul searching, she realized that she simply had to return to her true professional passion — her calling — of pathology. She completed her residency in anatomic pathology, a clinical fellowship in hemopathology at Johns Hopkins Hospital and is board certified.

Recently, she also completed a post doctoral fellowship with world renown stem cell researcher Dr. Sean Morrison, who was also a guest on a previous episode of The WorkNotWork Show. In fact, it was through our interview with Dr. Morrison that we met Eve. The microscopic slide image of neural crest stem cells used for Dr. Morrison’s episode was one she helped prepare. It was a happy coincidence because once we heard her entire story we knew that she would be a perfect future guest. While it took a while to find a slot in her packed schedule, we finally managed to sit down. Our expectations for the episode were high — but easily and instantly exceeded just as soon as she started to talk.

Eve represents a new generation of medical practitioner trained in the connected era and enabled by social media. Not only does she thoroughly understand and embrace this technology, she believes it to be a key enabler of her career going forward. She talks in considerable depth the role it plays and the exciting future potential it has both for her and for her profession.

Eve now feels she has completed the training phase of her career and recently accepted a position as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Rochester. New York. She can be found there, of course, and on a social media platform near you. We spoke with Dr. Crane at her home in Rochester.
Play Learning Mix 3: Feel Soft Robotics
Tags: Education, Entertainment, Health, Robotics, AI

Enabling you to be fully alive in the 21st Century. 3 weekly discoveries for feeling global signals, that can touch your heart, impact your work and/or life!

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I Heard They Wanted To Have a Foursome With Me
By: Evelyn Martinez
Tags: Sexuality, Relationships, Self, This Happened To Me, Self-awareness

Assumptions are normal, but that doesn’t make them right

Assumptions are made every day by everyone.

According to a very interesting Yale study, the brain is a massive network of connections that requires a crazy amount of energy. And one of the ways the brain saves energy is by connecting the dots of previously stored memories about people, situations, etc. Then, it makes assumptions.

(I’m paraphrasing here, but you can check out the study yourself.)

The reason I bring this research up is to humor the people who might say, “It’s not a big deal? Be flattered and move on.”

It’s my way of saying, “yes, you’re right. It’s not a big deal.”

But also, it kind of is. To me, anyway.

How you may ask? One shining example might be 55 percent of men in the UK (taken from a sample of 1,104 adults) think “women are more likely to get sexually assaulted while wearing revealing clothes” (according to a special survey for The Independent).

This is an extreme statistic I’ve chosen. But it still carries a blanket message that can be used in business, politics, relations, and just life: assumptions are dangerous. Or at least, they’re awkward as hell.

I’ve had a lot of confused people straight up stop me after I say, “Hey you’re pretty cool” and respond, “Whoa, I don’t like you like that.”

(To which I give them a look and say, “that’s great, but not really what I was saying at all.)

I’d like to stop here and mention that yes, I’m also quite the flirt when I want to be, but I can’t see how the “nice weather we’re having” conversations I have with the majority of people — including my new friends — are all that suggestive.

(Is “Yeah, it is kind of cold today,” code for, “spank me, daddy!” or am I missing something?)

What I’m trying to say is, a smile and a pleasant conversation can mean a lot of things. And you probably shouldn’t be taking guesses about a person until you learn about them.

If these people had asked about me first before making such a confession, they’d have understood I don’t hop into bed with randos I’ve said five words to.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that! Let your freak flags fly, friends. But this maybe helps explain the tension when the crew returned.

And oh, there was a lot of tension.
Morehouse Basketball Looks To Continue Winning Ways
By: Cai Johnson
Tags: NBA

Morehouse Basketball continues its hype with two players named to the SIAC preseason team.

As Morehouse basketball looks towards their season opener November 1st against University of Alabama-Birmingham, its been no secret of the lofty expectations for their upcoming 2019–2020 season. If there ever was, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) just put the world on notice- and the hype is real.

The SIAC recently released their 2019–2020 preseason polls and Morehouse was picked to finish first in the eastern division. The Maroon Tigers took home the 2017–2018 SIAC regular season title and decided to double up in 2019, finishing their season with another SIAC season title and a 20–5 overall record.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3sBkNdBGld/utm_source=ig_web_options_share_sheet

Coach Brewer has earned the reputation as a proven winner in this conference and his resume speaks for itself. This team is also star-studded, with two returning players named to the All-SIAC preaseason teams.

The Stars..

Just earlier this month, the SIAC 2019–2020 Basketball Preseason honors picked Senior Guard Robert Andrews as the Preseason Player of the Year award.

Andrews, a transfer from Oakland Community College, averaged 12.3 points per game and 3.2 rebounds a game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field. He finished his 2018–2019 campaign with honors as second-team all-conference and Newcomer of the Year.

He is joined by Atlanta native Michael Olmert*, the dependable veteran guard who has seen significant playing time since his freshman year. Olmert finished his 2018–2019 season by being named to 2018–2019 All-SIAC second-team while averaging 9.6 points per same, racking up 162 assists, and leading the conference in assists per game (6.9). *Olmert is pictured above

Morehouse Basketball looks geared for success this season and hope to fulfill the expectations of both Morehouse students and, apparently, other SIAC teams as well.

…

written by Cai Johnson, aspiring Journalist from Morehouse College
文本情感可视系统简介
Tags: Data Visualization

Explore, Think, Create

> words and ideas can change the world.
New Study Shows Employees Seek and Stay Loyal to Greener Companies
By: Dwight Sproull
Tags: Sustainability, Blockchain Technology, Renewable Energy, Blockchain, Environment

Nearly Half of Employees Would Accept Smaller Salaries to Work for Companies That Prioritize Sustainability

With the release of major climate reports depicting alarming risks to the environment and economy, an increasing number of companies are establishing environmental, social and corporate governance initiatives. Swytch recently conducted a survey of 1,000 employees in the U.S. who either currently work for or have worked for a company with over 5,000 employees to explore their sentiments around employers’ corporate sustainability activities.

The survey results show that employees of all generations seek companies that have programs set in place to be more sustainable. Gen Z and Millennials in particular are the most enthusiastic about pursuing and staying loyal to greener companies.

When choosing a company to work for, over 70% of people surveyed are more likely to work for a company that has a strong green footprint. Nearly half of respondents are even willing to accept a smaller salary to work for an environmentally and socially responsible company. In fact, over 10% would accept a salary decrease between $5,000 and $10,000, and over 3% would even be inclined to accept a decrease of over $10,000 per year.

Younger generations feel the most strongly about their employers taking steps to increase corporate sustainability. Over a third of both Gen Z and Millennials say it would be a deal breaker for them to work for a company that does not have a strong sustainability culture, whereas under a quarter of Gen X and only 17% of Baby Boomers would agree. In fact, nearly 40% of Millennials have accepted one job offer over another because that company was sustainable.

Beyond just attracting new talent, Swytch’s study shows that creating and circulating long-term sustainability goals will also help a business retain its employees. Nearly 70% of respondents say that a strong sustainability plan would affect their decision to stay with a company long term. In fact, about 30% have left a company due to its lack of a corporate sustainability agenda and over 11% have done so more than once.

“Extreme weather events and natural disasters are serving as a wake-up call to the severe effects of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Evan Caron, co-founder and managing director of Swytch. “As a growing number of employees are eager to see corporations take a stand on environmental responsibility, employers will have to respond accordingly in order to attract and retain top talent.”

Other interesting findings include:
Social Media Campaign
By: Teni Sonubi
Tags: Work

Assets created for a social media campaign. With my use of simple graphics and bold colors, I was able to convey the need of awareness towards sexual health. I was inspired by a crossword puzzle I saw, it was amazing how the simplest ideas and/or concepts are often hard to grasp at first.