Read an article at http://www.bbc.com/ and present it to us. Discuss it with the group as well.
Owls are nocturnal creatures. They’re wide awake at night and they sleep during the day. If this sounds like bliss to you, then, like about 20 percent of the population who find themselves most active at around 9 pm, you may fall into the same category as our feathered friend. Night owls often have difficulty waking up in the morning, and like to be up late at night. Studies of animal behaviour indicate that being a night owl may actually be built into some people’s genes. This would explain why those late-to-bed, late-to-rise people find it so difficult to change their behaviour. The trouble for night owls is that they just have to be at places such as work and school far too early. This is when the alarm clock becomes the night owl’s most important survival tool. Experts say that one way for a night owl to beat their dependence on their alarm clocks is to sleep with the curtains open. The Theory is that if they do so, the morning sunlight will awaken them gently and natura...
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So, I decided to present you this article, because it actually might present you with some valuable knowledge. Rather basic approach to the topic, but for some it might one day actually "pay-off".
Back to the topic. Author of the article presents few suggestions on, how you should approach financial aspects of job interview. She start with single most important tip about that topic: knowing what you actually are talking about. Before even approaching the interview, you need to know how much you can expect. I do not know how you can go to an interview without having even slight idea about market reality.
Later on she gives some smaller advises on how to gather necessary information about salaries on the market. I am not going to copy and paste them here. If you are really interested, this article takes like 3 to 5 minutes to read. I personally found some of this tips interesting. Few tips that author left for end of the article are actually quite interesting: one about monetizing your skills and one about having a good workaround.
For little article I think it was time well-spent reading it.
It describes Netflix’s Marvel Comics-based series Jessica Jones. Unlike Halle Berry’s Catwoman and Jennifer Garner’s Elektra, the show's protagonist is a tough badass rather than just a pretty eye-candy. For the author, this is a starting point to ponder about the changing image of women in superhero movies. From sexy, half-undressed pretty faces created for the pleasure of looking upon, to independent, strong, powerful characters whose costumes don't necessarily show their cleveage.
I think it's a good article and it shows a very positive change in film industry. I think that portrayal of women in superhero movies needed that for a long time.
This is absolutely not the case with Jessica Jones, Agent Carter and non-Marvel Mad Max: Fury Road and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. They give you badass heroines without nudity and unnecessary romantic plots. Isn't it refreshing?
Especially part about monetizing you abilities is useful. Many people tend to discredit their own work or don't consider it to be worth mentioning on interviews. It might be a good thing to consider, what impact I had in my previous job or organization I volunteered for.
This article describes how setting shorter deadlines for repetitive work can improve your efficiency. It helps you focus on your task and limits time wasting. The downside is that you don't really have time for coming up with creative ideas, that you may come up with even while procrastinating. As always, finding a balance is key to being successful.
Personally, I don't really setup too much deadlines and still consider myself to be quite productive. But I'll probably try setting a stricter time limit on some basic activites that need to be done. They referenced the original Parkinson's Law in the article. It is the idea that "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion", which I feel like everyone has experienced at some point.
This article is about recently getting more popular idea of "paying it forward" and how random act of kindness can influence not only people who cant afford coffe or lunch but ourselves and whole society. What is suprising is that in selfish point of view acting kind can benefit for us. It lowers our stress levels. From other point of view it spreads "free" coffe and also motivates people to pass it forward, and bring society together, which is good, as society tends nowadays to focus on selfishness and individualism. Personally, I will start looking around for opportunity to "pay forward" and see if I could become happier for cost of one coffe.
Netflix documentary leads to debate about convicted murderer
I actually decided to write one of my presentation for the course about this series, because I watched it a couple of months ago and found it to be an extremely interesting case and program so the article was surely useful for some research. So you can look forward to learning more details about this case in a couple of weeks ;).
The documentary series was shot over 10 years and tells a story of a man who was wrongfully convicted and spent 18 years in prison. But that's not the main focus of the story. About two years after his release a young woman was murdered and the man was accused of this crime. The series shows a lot of the hearings and court videos of his new trial. The documentary strongly pushes the opinion that the man is not guilty but it's not really clear when you get all the information if he committed the crime or not. However the series revealed many problems of American criminal justice system and inaccuracies and errors made in this case. He was convicted and is serving his sentence but the series caused a serious backlash and now people are signing a petition to free him. The article states that it was signed by more than 250,000 people but I checked and now it's more than 500,000.
I chose this article because I am a lover of coffee already for many years. This article is a clash of two drinks.
Author of the article as a typical Englishman would like to win tea in this competition, which is an informal national drink.
A cup of tea has about half the dose (40 milligrams) of the stimulant caffeine than into a cup of brewed coffee filter (80 to 115 milligrams). Despite this, on many levels, you will not find significant differences in action.
When you drink tea before sleep you will not have a problem to fall asleep as much as you will choose coffee.
Coffee has antioxidants that protect against cancer and diabetes. These drinks counteract depression, illness, keeping calm and sober look in stressful situations.
I personally did not realize the many properties of tea and coffee.
And you? Which drink in your opinion win in this challenge?
Read this article and decide.
I read an article about the subconscious. When you do something mechanically, but not quite consciously, I think that each of us has to deal with it every day. I recommend to watch the movie, which is published in the article, it's really interesting survey. The conclusion of the whole article is that we could do some things more quickly when we don't focus our thinking on them. In my opinion this is such programming themselves. In my own case I see it best when I do some exercises. When I learn to have properly a movement I make this better when I don't focus on it too much.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35830311
The article which I chose is about the new possibilities of investing, which allow to invest algorithmically through a diversified portfolio of low-cost index funds.
There are companies who offer advisory service done by robots, while creating a portfolio of an investor by taking into account 40 different variables such as spousal situation, rental income or pensions. The advantage is that in this way they are able to assess what kind of investment decisions are the best for a specific person, so they are personalized and adjusted to each client. What is more astonishing is the time of the service delivery, since it takes only seconds to create and send back online a whole retirement plan. Unfortunately there is also a disadvantage of such a technology development, because this means that the actual advisers are competing with machines and computers, so many of them may loose their jobs.
Personally, I think that it is inevitable that many fields of work are becoming more and more digitalized and rely mostly on computers, machines, robots and algorithms.
It's about country flags with a focus on the flag of New Zealand which is going to be replaced with a new design chosen by citizens. We can see a few of the entries in the article - some good, some bad (in my opinion). Besides that the article points out some design rules like the importance of simplicity and the difficulty of keeping the flag plain while still making it representative for something as vast and complex as a country with its own history and people inhabiting it. It also shows a few examples of other well designed flags that are appreciated by vexillologist around the world and explains why they are treated so.
I chose this article because not long ago I've watched a TED presentation made by Roman Mars who talked about a similar topic, namely city flags, their bad designs and what is wrong with them (you can watch it here: https://www.ted.com/talks/roman_mars_why_city_flags_may_be_the_worst_designed_thing_you_ve_never_noticed - it's pretty entertaining).
It's terrifying that people don’t respect the past. Place of creation of something can be very important. Nowadays people rarely calls attention to the history, cultural significance. For them important is only money. this is how the globalization works. The concept of development is more important than culture, history. the thing that is old loses meaning and is worthless. Modernity(just money) pushes tradition.
Contemporary problem of the terrorism is more than just a loud words. As it could be seen from the article above, Turkey faced numerous attacks that kills dozens and wound hundreds. We can see that modern terrorism challenges every single member of the first world, tries to dictate their views and demands towards the civilized world with the help of barbaric tortures and executions that are filmed with sadistic pleasure.
As you've already guessed I am talking about ISIS - the number 1 problem of the world. The last article gives us a possibility to see one of the acts of terror, made by ISIS combatants in order to reach their goal. What is more important, this article is not about consequences of one terrorist attack, it demonstrates the whole picture of the guerrilla tactics that was implemented on the territory of Turkey. ISIS combatants are aiming at people in the most unprotected places possible and since the war on terror started they are only trying harder. If previously they were avoiding Istanbul, now they are viewing it as their primary target and it will continue until Turkish government will be able to handle the situation.
As it could be seen, the problem of the terrorist state is far more dangerous and unpredictable than Russian question. Russian oligarchs and politicians are not interested in the fight they are not able to win, especially when their money, property and children are there, however, there is an enemy that has nothing to lose and with the help of modern technologies like social media lets the whole world know what they are standing for and brainwash young people with fake ideals and ideas.
France faced ISIS twice and both times they faced numerous tragic deaths and the feeling of terror. Feeling that every one is under pressure and could be killed by some radical monkey with a grenade with the same ease he or she does it in video games.
The worst thing is that those attacks are putting Muslim society in the situation where they are seen as radical extremists even though it was already proved numerous times that ISIS has no adequate comprehension of the Islam (where it was said that in order to show your faith you have to blow up the monument and cut of the head of infidel, even though this infidel is the same Muslim as the guy who cuts of his head).
I chose this article because it sort of hits me close to home as a half-Armenian.
The article presents a short story of a now Turkish city of Ani. Although it's only mention somewhere on the bottom that Ani first used to be the capital city of Armenia in the X/XI century. These days it's located at the Turkish-Armenian border.
As a child I was often told about atrocities commited by Turks to Armenians and somewhere on the way the picturesque city also fell victim to the never ending war between nations. It's a shame that what's left of it is nothing more than a ghost town. At least archaeologists are trying to save the ruins which are a perfect example of two different cultures colliding - Islamic Turkey and Christian Armenia, since it's visible that it takes from both worlds. I hope UNESCO acknowledges these efforts.
I chose this article as its super intresting to me. I really like the idea of us building a resting place for great scientists. It reminds me of a modern take on pyramids.
It would be 500m tall which would make it tallest manmade building at that time. Newtons sarcophagus would rest at the base of the sphere, while the sphere itself would be a planetarium. Had it been build it would surerly be a next Wonder of the World.
Overall, there are many nice ideas in the article.
Because I’m not good at negotiations the title attracted my attention. According to the article only 38% of US college graduates negotiated their job offers in 2015. Survey conducted within employers showed that one of a ten employer think less of a candidate who doesn’t try to negotiate. To be able to negotiate successfully we should research salary rages by checking websites, asking recruiters or people who worked for a company in which we apply for a job(of course if we know any). During the negotiations we need to know our value and present benefits the company can get from us. We should avoid throwing out a number, and rather than wait for a price that the opposite side can offer. Otherwise we can say lees than company can afford to pay.
It was quite confusing, and kind of surprising, because it was about portugeese white storks that stopped flying away to warmer countries for winter, because they are addicted to... junk food. It is so easy for them to find a meal on the landfill so they don't want to leave anymore. In general, they spend 80% of their time by the rubbish and they are trying to find leftovers that we are throwing away. Mostly they are looking for junk food and any other meat.
In my opinion it's very sad – we're not the only ones that is eating unhealthy food, but it is affecting the whole planet. Once genetic modified or junk food is getting into the ecosystem it stays there forever. And it could causes even more problems in a future we can't even imagine...
It's an interesting article with catchy title "Can we ever find a bit of quiet time?"...and it's a good question actually. It's about liten to music and meditation as a spend some time for your relax.
It's hard to desribe it in few sentence...but man who try meditation and listen to music as a form of relax as a new years resolution, derscribe if he stick of this tasks...
It todays world we have so many distractions and duties that we can't fully relax and kind of forgot about everyday life...
In this article author describes emerging phenomenon which for sure soon will become something common. What happens with facebook account when somebody dies? How facebook should act in such situation? This and many more questions probably will
appear more often as it's not yet regulated any way. Author touches both superficial, practical aspect of it and more spiritual once.
The article that I've chosen to present to you is "The birds that live on rubbish" by Melissa Hogenboom. This is an interesting subject for me and I think that everyone should do a certain minimum to protect the nature of the planet that we are all living on.
The number of Portugal's storks migrating to Africa decreases every year because they are feeding on rubbish from landfill sites. The research was conducted using GPS monitors fitted on storks. The birds spend most of their time by rubbish and establish their colonies there. They eat fatty, nutritious junk food leftovers, but also bottle caps, plastic bags, old computer parts etc. The administration wants to fight it by applying some food recycling program and by covering the open-air landfills. However, their future is uncertain - when the birds will no longer have access to food from the landfills, they might revert to their migratory strategy or they may starve.
Speaking of rubbish and birds - I would like to share an article about birds from Pacific Ocean islands feeding on garbage from the ocean. The pitures of dead birds with their insides full of plastic debris went viral abour a year ago, but it is still as shocking to me as it was the first time I read about this.
It's an interesting thing going on right now but i merely have any clear opinion about it. I have been in Cuba in 2013 and remember it as a beautiful and poor country with lots of kind people. I remember that any americans in there had to pretend they were Canadians and wore a lot of clothes with Canadian flags! That was funny to see :D Also I remember many strange things like not talking about political subjects loudly, not saying words like Fidel or communism loudly, but I didn't feel inconvenient with any of these. I also remember eating a soup with NO TASTE AT ALL in "second best hotel in Havana" which was just next to Russian embassy (which looked like some kind of spacecraft!) and eating crocodile and tortoise (i do not recommend). I think this is beautiful and very destroyed place, but for me it somehow gace it it's own charm. I am afraid Americans want to turn it into American holiday inn in few years (for the second time, because before the Revolucion it was a place absolutely filled with rich American citizens).
I choose this article, because it catches my eye with a picture of weird red, mushrooms and an interesting title "When Disney got trippy".
A lot of people really like the newer Disney movies, but for me some of them feel too commercial and calculated to appeal to everyone (Frozen for example) but this article reminded me about movies like Fantasia. Most of you probably seen it or at least heard about it. I know I'll gladly re-watch it in the near future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzCUEQxOT3U
The article shows us the beginnings of Walt Disney's work in the 30s and 40s. Fantasia can serve as proof that Disney in fact was a "futurist, surrealist and an abstract artist", even thou the first thing that comes to our minds when we think about him is simple, family friendly fun. I think that things an artist creates in his early days can be the most true and defining pieces, that show his fascinations - an attempt to define oneself as an artist.
Snow White (1937), Pinokio (1940), Fantasia (1940) and Dumbo (1941) are one of Disney's first feature length animations. Fantasia is one of the most interesting movies in Disney's portfolio. It consists of seven separate segments, in witch animation visualizes classical music or such artists like Jan Sebastian Bach, Piotr Czajkowski or Ludwig van Beethoven. Fantasia is also an unrestrained expression of imagination, inspiring awe with it's vibrant colors and fluent animation. It's one of those works that feels like it was created with passion and gave it's creators a lot of joy.
The article mentions Disney's acquaintance with Salvatore Dali, witch resulted in a short animation "Destino". Dali provided concepts but unfortunately it went unfinished for many years until Disney's nephew Roy E Disney.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w38cerphic4
After the success of Cinderella in 1950 Disney's works became more and more audience oriented. Wider audience expected less abstract and easier to read movies. Now we see Fantasia as an animation marvel that inspires us but when it was released it met with mixed opinions. Disney himself said about it:
'Fantasia merely makes our other pictures look immature and suggests for the first time what the future of this medium may well turn out to be. What I see way off there is too nebulous to describe. But it looks big and glittering. That's what I like about this business, the certainty that there is something bigger and more exciting just around the bend; and the uncertainty of everything else.'
I would like to present article about internet trolls. We can hear about multiple situations every week when people write something inappropriate in the internet. In out case the most popular are comments about president and people like Tomasz Lis or other journalist and what they just wrote on twitter. Even Dick Costolo, former CEO of Twitter wrote in the article that they are dealing with trolls for many years.
Surprisingly in the article we can read that over half of young people are bullied online and thats overwhelming number. But what is important there are some steps that can prevent it. We can use computers and intelligent algorithms that can search through all comments and find those inappropriate. The other idea is to publicising knowledge but it requires more effort.
In my opinion the second idea is much better. It does not focus on deleting what already exists but tries to remove the problem which are unfortunately people and their's behaviour.
The last part of article focuses on examples of already existing projects like Stop Online Abuse or Zero Tolerance. But honestly is only creating websites enough to stop people from trolling?
I think that the problem exists much deeper and it will be hard to tell people to stop judge each other. Everyone is judging but to say something in real life to someone is much harder and requires to be brave, so choosing online trolling is much easier.
(http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160422-why-the-image-of-a-mystery-veteran-keeps-going-viral)
I am not going to talk about this particular photo but the general idea of photos that goes viral.
We all know Demotywatory, tens of Facebook pages with crazy photos that people comment and like. For those who don’t know such term Viral photos are photos that becomes popular through a viral process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email. Viral videos often contain humorous content. But what are the reasons for the popularity? Due to their societal impact and marketability, viral photos attract attention. Several theories exist. Some of them exists for promotion of music band, product, movie of campaign. Some of them are made for educational purpose. And some of them are just Meme - an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture.
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