degrafa

[degrafa]

Bright Light In The Night Skies

There is night and day and with it comes darkness and light. It's something as natural as breathing – a natural phenomenon as old as time that dictates the world order. Well, it might have been true in the past but things have definitely changed since technology began to dominate the world more and more. If you look at the night sky nowadays, it is no longer as dark as it is supposed to be. While we like the idea of being able to do more now regardless if it is night or day, it may have a negative impact to the environment without us really knowing. After all, there is a reason why things happen the way they do and the more we meddle with how the planet works only spell disaster for everyone in the long run.

Artificial lights glimmer and sparkle in the night sky especially if you live in urban areas. But even in rural places right now, you can still see certain areas lighted more heavily than the others. What does this mean then? Of course, we know how much of an impact technology has over the environment. And while it is not immediately obvious, human health also suffers alongside most tech innovations as they change the way things should be in a perfect world. And we are not just talking about the conventional lights we use to make a room or certain place brighter but even the light (specifically blue light) emitted by most smart tech devices have a long list of negative effects to our health and overall well-being. Other living species likewise suffer because of the imbalance in the natural day/night cycle as they haven't evolved yet to adapt to these new and modern practices.

The distinction between day and night is disappearing in the most heavily populated regions of the Earth, a rapid shift with profound consequences for human health and the environment, according to a paper published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.

“We’re losing more and more of the night on a planetary scale,” journal editor Kip Hodges said in a teleconference on the paper’s findings.

From 2012 to 2016, the artificially lit area of the Earth’s surface grew by 2.2 percent per year, according to the study led by Christopher Kyba of the German Research Centre for Geosciences. Kyba and his team analyzed high-resolution satellite imagery to measure the extent of artificial outdoor lighting at night. The study also found that areas of the planet already lit grew even brighter, increasing in luminosity at a rate of 2.2 percent per year.

(Via: http://www.poconorecord.com/news/20171125/difference-between-night-and-day-is-disappearing-scientists-warn)

In the span of one century, a lot of things have really changed in society and you simply have to peek outside your home at night to see how much lively the world has become in the presence of artificial lighting. Sleep issues are increasingly reported. After all, how can you sleep when the room is so bright and you have modern distractions like smartphones and computers to keep you entertained all-night-long thereby ruining your natural body clock and throwing it into chaos? And we can only expect it to become brighter as the years go by as the world continues to embrace one technological advancement to the other.

Scientists say a "loss of night" in many countries is having negative consequences for "flora, fauna, and human well-being".

A team published the findings in the journal Science Advances.

Their study used data from a Nasa satellite radiometer - a device designed specifically to measure the brightness of night-time light.

It showed that changes in brightness over time varied greatly by country. Some of the world's "brightest nations", such as the US and Spain, remained the same. Most nations in South America, Africa and Asia grew brighter.

(Via: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-42059551)

Led light, while cost-effective and somehow environment-friendly, has its cons too that is seldom talked about by many. As its market grows, there will definitely be brands that aren't up to par as the gold standard and can compromise our health and safety even more. But it is only part and parcel of the problem. There are many more that dominates our life today we can only ponder in wonder how all these technologies are messing up our lives and the world at large. The world rotates each day for a reason but the more we use artificial lighting and brighten up the night sky, we unconsciously disrupt the natural world order and affect the lives of many other living species that do not share the same lifestyle as us humans. The good thing is that it is not yet too late and we can still correct the error of our ways and make up for all the bad things Mother Nature had to endure because we forgot the difference of night and day.

Bright Light In The Night Skies See more on: Degrafa.com

from https://www.degrafa.com/bright-light-in-the-night-skies/

[degrafa]

Staying Fashionable This Winter Season

We all know that fashion is ever evolving and the fashion this season may seem outdated on the next. Yet if there’s one unique thing about fashion is that old staples can appear cool again when they make a comeback. This is especially true with 90s fashion that has dominated the previous seasons as of late. But now that the last season for the year is fast approaching, what else can we do to revamp our closets with fashionable winter pieces without necessarily freezing in the cold. Of course, we want our fashion t be always on point. So, what are the things you need to remember this coming winter, so you always look fab and not drab because you are covered from head to toe?

You don’t always have to dress to impress, though, as long as you don’t look like a fashion victim and you don’t compromise your health and safety by (consciously) neglecting to wear proper winter clothing for the sake of looking fashionable. Unfortunately, many people are still clueless how to achieve that knack in dressing appropriately according to the season. Some prefer to take the easy way out and wear pieces that they have been wearing year in and year out regardless of the current trend. What many are now aware of is that there are certain staples you can use despite the passing of years and still look like such an eye-candy if you know how to mix and match what pieces. That way, you look in fashion without breaking the bank or suffering in the cold.

Leaving athletic-wear behind, there are infinite combinations of boots and outerwear, fabrics, and materials that can solve this issue. It can be difficult when choosing from so many options. However, there is one undoubted truth that must be observed when attempting to solve the paradox of fashion in the frigid cold. It is the use of complementary layers that will guide you through the winter months in style.

Let’s start from layer one. If you plan to be outside most of the time, your under layers can be an extremely useful tool in building an impressive outfit for the outdoors. While everyone loves a good down-coat, it’s hard to feel stunning when you’re walking around in a puffy jacket looking like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. By piling up your non-visible layers, you’re making way for slimmer, more attractive, form-fitting layers that will be seen by those you pass.

(Via: http://www.albanystudentpress.net/winter-fashion/)

Layering is crucial to fighting off the frigid temperatures of the cold winter months. The ability to layer equally fashionable and comfortable clothing to make you warm may even be considered a life skill because many don’t make an effort anymore in looking good and just simply put on the first comfortable piece of clothing they can find in their closet. Make sure you choose invisible items that won’t make you look any more bigger than your body frame and at the same time allow you to add on more outer layers that emphasizes your natural curves and not make you look extremely bulky. Certain color schemes can also enhance your appearance, so make sure you choose tans, beiges, and browns along with dark grays and blacks since they trim down your frame and provides a nice contrast to the sparkling white environment.

“Just as sunshine can make us happier for the [aforementioned] reasons, we can help to induce that hopeful feeling by wearing something yellow,” Eiseman said, adding that when other people see someone in a bright color, they, too, might feel happier. “It’s interesting that it can start a chain reaction that creates a more positive energy for the person wearing the colors as well as those who observe the color.” 

Harrington agreed that bright colors can stimulate both the person wearing them and those around them, creating a sort of cycle of positivity.

“Because [bright colors] usually aren’t the norm, they will attract attention and usually other people tend to like them and will comment to somebody, ‘Oh, you look great. I love that color,’” Harrington said. “That then feeds into this cycle of feeling good about ourselves.” 

(Via: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bright-colors-beat-the-winter-blues_us_5a0f1373e4b0e97dffed0723)

While we have been told to mirror the colors of the season, adding a pop of color can make all the difference as well. While not everyone can pull this fashion trick off, it definitely not only has aesthetics benefits but has a positive impact to your health and well-being as well. It’s fine if you want to avoid loud colors and stick to neutrals that are no-fails in the cold weather but some who don’t mind experimenting with their fashion can be that ball of sunshine that also lifts everyone’s mood aside from looking simply bright and bubbly during the most somber season of all. Color schemes aren’t entirely the golden rule in dressing. You can always break it and wear however you see it as long as you have the confidence to pull it off. After all, fashion and confidence often goes side by side and it’s still up to the person how comfortable they are in their own skin whatever items of clothing they are wearing.

Staying Fashionable This Winter Season Read more on: DeGrafa.com

from https://www.degrafa.com/staying-fashionable-this-winter-season/

[degrafa]

The Struggles Of Working Women

Men and women have been viewed differently for the longest time. Even until today when the world at large is more tolerant and accepting of gender diversity, we can’t deny the fact that men and women still play different roles in society. Technological innovations have been outstanding but there are certain things that never change. Sure, there may be more women in the workforce now but does that really reflect how much things have changed for the better for the more feminine of the sexes or are there still underlying gender issues that still plague modern-day women especially the working ones? At this day and age, what could possibly be the problems faced by all women regardless of what part of the world they live in and how do they cope with it are just some of the questions we are still seeking answers for.

What we may be seeing right now of women being hired in more jobs across a variety of industries may very well just be a smokescreen of underlying issues that spam centuries ago. It is perhaps true that more women are hired in different jobs right now but many factors still prevent them from getting the recognition or promotion they deserve because those in senior level positions still believe that it is a man’s world out there and women should stay clear of top-tier management positions. Aside from gender, a woman’s ethnicity also plays a major role as to whether or not she’ll prosper in the workplace.

There’s little doubt that women have come a long way in the workplace — but just how far have they come? Your answer to that depends on whether you’re a man or a woman.

According to “Women in the Workplace 2017,” a research report from consulting giant McKinsey & Company in partnership with advocacy group Lean In, men think women are faring better in the workplace than they are.

Consider this: At organizations where only 10 percent of women are in senior-level positions, 50 percent of men surveyed said that women are well represented in leadership.

Nearly 60 percent of men said diversity was important to their company, versus 45 percent of women.

And 63 percent of men said their company was taking strides to improve gender diversity, compared to 49 percent of women.

(Via: http://www.businessadministrationinformation.com/general-business/how-organizations-are-failing-women-and-4-things-you-can-do-about-it)

Women may have achieved a lot over the years but gender-related issues haven’t completely died down. You don’t even have to look far to witness it personally as I am sure you are aware that these things happen in your own workplace or other institutions whether private or public. While this is a reality that we can all see nowadays, not all companies have the same practices. If you are a woman and want to pursue your own self-actualization in your chosen craft, try to be a little picky in choosing a job especially if you want to go high up the ladder and work at a company that does not discriminates men and women but give you what is due depending on your performance and results.

To start with, having more women employees, particularly in leadership roles, can reduce the incidence of harassment. Why? It’s not that women are somehow themselves preventing the behavior—in fact women too can be perpetrators—but that male-dominated organizations are more likely to have cultures characterizedby aggressive and competitive behaviors and so-called locker-room culture. In addition, compared with women, men tend to have more trouble recognizing when women are being treated in an unfair or sexist way. This sets the stage for harassment: In such contexts, norms of professionalism can give way to boorish interactions in which women are treated as sexualized pawns rather than as valued and competent work colleagues. And if men are less likely to label what their male colleagues are doing as inappropriate, it can make matters worse.

What’s more is that in these hypermasculine settings, when women rise up the ranks, men can feel that their dominance is being threatened. In fact, the most common form of harassment is not the solicitation of sex, but rather what’s called gender harassment—sexist comments, obscene gestures, publicly displayed pornography—which serve as tools for putting women “in their place.” Women who violate feminine ideals by having a “man’s job” or behaving in “masculine” ways such as expressing strong opinions, being assertive, and having supervisory roles are more likely to experience such harassment.

(Via: https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/11/organizations-sexual-harassment/546707/)

As if women don’t have a lot on their plates already, they also face an awful large amount of sexual advances from the opposite sex in the work setting. Even women in position aren’t exempted and may at times be the subject of a typical man’s harassment. Men sometimes fail to recognize when their behaviors border that of a pervert and therefore unacceptable. What a simple flirting is for them is actually sexual harassment already and can make the life of a female colleague unbearable. Some men even look down on women no matter how successful they are simply because these males think women are the weaker sex and is the subject of their own enjoyment like when they give uncalled for sexist comments and again, sexual harassment, for instance. This is truly still a work in progress and we can only hope for the time to come when everyone will be treated equally for real.

The Struggles Of Working Women Find more on: Degrafa.com Blog

from https://www.degrafa.com/the-struggles-of-working-women/

[degrafa]

Protecting Your Data While You Still Can

The web is an amazing place full of interesting contents that suit different tastes. There is essentially something that will catch your fancy. And the more the world progresses, the more intertwined our lives are to technology. The most obvious of all is the smartphone which almost never leaves our hands and is usually the first thing we look for upon waking up and the last thing we tinker with before drifting off to sleep at night. Then, most industries also use the computer in running their day-to-day operation. Whether it is a small, medium or a big business, a school, an institution, or even those stay-at-home employees and entrepreneurs use it in their day-to-day. Small and big data make our digital world go round.

Now, what happens when this data is compromised? Well, perhaps it can be the end for you and a sign to buy a new device. Sometimes, businesses close for good because they’re no longer able to recover from the inconvenience caused by lost files that are basically the backbone of their businesses. At times, it is still possible to recover lost data but not all the time. Backing up your files is a nice practice especially if you are the organized type who likes having a safety plan in place. Not all the time the cause of the data loss is because of your own doing like accidentally deleting files or the normal wear and tear of your device. The reason could be third-party that is after your data and perhaps more.

Next generation data storage technology is the need for the hour as everything today we use creates data. For instance our mobile phones, wearable electronics, smart battery, games, advertisements, movies, smart homes, smart city, smart homes i.e. almost everything creates data. The next generation data storage technology offers the storage and fast recovery of our data in an efficient manner. The conventional data storage technology cannot handle the large chunks of data that are being produced every day.

The increasing input-output devices are driving the next generation data storage market. Now data is being produced in virtually every sector that is the major growth driver for next generation data storage market. The growing demand for time-saving is a major driver of next generation data storage market. An example of time-saving technologies or system: smart technologies, automated systems, internet of things, online shopping, etc. has taken the next generation data storage market to a next level. 

(Via: https://www.latestmarketreports.com/2017/11/23/next-generation-data-storage-technology-market-size-to-expand-significantly-by-the-end-of-2021/)

Knowing the many dangers of the web, it is no longer an excuse that you weren’t able to safeguard your device from sneaky hackers that almost always find a way to compromise your system and access your device remotely. Whether you are using a handy mobile smartphone or a conventional computer or laptop, the risk is there and you have nobody else to blame but yourself if you don’t do something to protect your device while you still can. Don’t ever take for granted an antivirus software because it can come in handy although there are some newer viruses that can bypass known firewalls and antivirus without you ever knowing it is already on your device.

4.

Monitor data usage

Logging all access and usage data is also crucial. Organisations should be able to monitor which users are accessing what information, applications, and other resources, when they are being accessed, and from what devices and locations. These logs are also useful for auditing purposes: by identifying areas of concern and helping organisations understand where to strengthen protective measures when necessary. When an incident occurs, an audit trail can help to pinpoint precise entry points, determine the cause, and evaluate damages.

5.

Encrypt all data

Encryption is one of the most useful data protection methods for financial services organisations. If data is encrypted in transit and at rest, it becomes more difficult (almost impossible) for attackers to decipher sensitive information – even if they manage to gain access to the data. Furthermore, the General Data Protection Regulation states that all organisations will need to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect data, including pseudonymisation and encryption. 

(Via: http://www.bobsguide.com/guide/news/2017/Nov/24/getting-to-grips-with-data-security-10-tips-for-success/)

There are other measures you can take for bigger businesses that have more to lose in case their data is either compromised or lost especially now that malware is widespread and you can easily end up with a corrupted device right under your nose. Spending a little more on your data security and protection is worth the peace of mind it can give you and sparing yourself from all the hassles that data loss or a security breach can bring.

Remember that everyone is vulnerable whether you are a private individual or someone working in a big company. Educate yourself on these issues because ignorance about it will not save you from becoming a victim when worst comes to worst. When that happens, you not only suffer from lost files and everything else that goes along with it but you also have to pay for costly data recovery services in a last attempt to retrieve all your files back.

The blog article Protecting Your Data While You Still Can Find more on: The Degrafa Blog

from https://www.degrafa.com/protecting-your-data-while-you-still-can/

[degrafa]

Does A Diploma Equate Success In Life?

From a young age, we were always reprimanded by our parents to study hard and learn as much as you can from school. Some are obsessed in getting high marks and bringing home different awards (both academic and extra-curricular) while many are there to simply pass and learn whatever they need in order to find a job and earn their keep once they leave the four corners of the classroom for good. Yet as we go along in life, most of us realize that not all degree-holders really succeed later in life and there are those who haven’t finished their studies who eventually lead a more prosperous life than their educated counterparts.

Now, you may ask yourself, is a diploma necessary at all to become successful in your adult years? It’s a tricky question because the answer may vary depending on person to person. It is undeniable that you need to hold a degree in applying for certain jobs especially now that the world has gotten smaller because of the power of the Internet and that people from different parts of the world can actually compete for the same job. Meanwhile, there are individuals who are undeniably street-smart and have learned various life skills that have proven to be handy in helping them elevate their status in life. This is the case with some businessmen with rags-to-riches stories who took a risk and were well-rewarded later on.

Acquire skills

Education is the best mentor. It can allow you to acquire different kinds of skills. The world is leading towards an innovative age where people are only valued if they have a certain set of skills. From writing and editing to speaking and debating, it teaches us all. Education will surely teach you how to acquire those expertise. Whether you want to become a doctor, an engineer, a lawyer or even a sportsmen, you need to educate yourself about the field.

Economic growth of a nation

Education is not only about personal development. There is a reason why the world is placing so much emphasis on global literacy rate. The primary reason is economic growth which will ultimately result into better standards of living. There are countries like Canada where the literacy rate is staggeringly high and this is why they are economically prosperous.

(Via: http://www.tgdaily.com/social/talent/why-is-education-so-important)

To educate yourself on the ways of the world is among the many reasons why you go to school. It may not be apparent to you at first especially when you are still young but you gradually learn over time why you need to learn certain things if you want to excel in life. Getting a good education is not all about the grades. What young students must keep in mind these days that while they strive to perform better than their peers, studying should always be about enriching your knowledge and honing your skills, so you can do well in life no matter what profession you have chosen to pursue.

On college affordability, 75 percent of adults say the price of attendance “keeps students who are qualified and motivated to go to college from doing so.” Along those lines, more than 60 percent of adults believe the state is not spending enough on higher education. However, about half the state’s adults say they are unwilling to pay more in taxes to raise money for public higher education.

On whether the state’s higher education system is “generally” going in the wrong direction, 45 percent of adults and 53 percent of likely voters say it is, while 46 percent of adults and 37 percent of likely voters believe the state is moving in the right direction.

(Via: https://edsource.org/2017/californians-worry-about-the-cost-of-college-though-many-say-college-is-not-needed-for-a-successful-life/589728)

Unfortunately, there is a major challenge that most students must overcome if they want to secure that highly coveted college diploma: the rising cost of tuition fee. Most students graduate with thousands of dollars in debt as they need to fund their studies just so they can graduate. And once they do, they struggle trying to make both ends meet and pay off their students loans. It is also perhaps the reason why many university graduates don’t really become successful right away as they need to pay off their loans first before they can even afford other necessities or luxuries in life. This is clearly the case that proves not all degree-holders become successful immediately or even in the long run. It still depends on the person on how they can rise above their issues and pursue their dreams no matter how crazy it may be regardless if they have a diploma or not.

The article Does A Diploma Equate Success In Life? was originally published on Degrafa.com Blog

from https://www.degrafa.com/does-a-diploma-equate-success-in-life/

[degrafa]

The Best Places To Shop For Christmas Presents

Can you feel it? The wind is a lot cooler now. Shops are filled with bright and festive decorations. It only means one thing. Christmas is fast approaching. I’m sure both young and old alike are looking forward to this merriest time of the year. With the holidays comes lots of free time to spend with the people you love and to forget about worries about life and work even for a short time. Aside from the sumptuous food and the joyous sound of carols everywhere, one of the highlights during the holidays is the sharing of Christmas presents. I’m sure everybody is thinking about what gifts to buy for Christmas as there is roughly a month left before the holidays.

You still have time to finish your Christmas list if you start shopping now and you can save yourself from all the hassles of last-minute shopping when malls are already crowded and most items are sold at a regular price. Truly what can save your wallet and your sanity is shopping early but the question is where? Most shoppers now actually shop online. It’s a very convenient way to buy for just about everything under the sun without having to put yourself through all the inconvenience of old-school shopping where you have to get out of the house, drive to the mall, and walk for hours looking for the perfect gift. Now you can simply do it all using your computer without incurring additional expenses on gas and food and save time too.

Amazon.com

Once thought of primarily as an online bookseller, Amazon.com now sells thousands of products in dozens of categories. Customers seem to love it, too: A consumer survey conducted after the 2012 holiday season named Amazon the "most satisfying website to shop." With discounts on many items and free shipping on orders over $25, Amazon can also help you maintain your holiday budget.

Well, it’s a no-brainer that the Amazon is the go-to place for online shopping. It sells virtually everything you can ever think of and likewise offers amazing deals. You can easily finish your Christmas shopping in a snap if you browse the long list of products sold on Amazon. You just filter your search and look up gift ideas that you think the recipient will like so you don’t have to go through their entire product portfolio.

Local Stores

What treasures does your own town hold? Local shops often offer unique products and personal attention. You can also avoid the hassles of parking and fighting the crowds you'll experience at malls. If you like to consider the impact of your purchases, when you shop locally you support small businesses and infuse money into the local economy. Take a drive or a walk through the shopping areas of your town, or if you're looking for something specific, try finding a local business online.

(Via: http://best.lovetoknow.com/Best_Place_to_Shop_for_Christmas_Gifts)

If you have the time, though, and don’t mind going out of the house for a breather and to see the wonderful sights of Christmas decorations adorning most public and local attractions, visiting shops and the mall is a no-fail way to do your Christmas shopping. But if you aren’t a big fan of long lines and the big crowds that usually frequent the mall, visit local shops first or outlet stores as the lines are definitely shorter and you don’t need to worry about issues like parking or putting up with a crowd of harassed strangers who also want to get ahead of their shopping list.

eBay just announced the launch of Collective, a part of its site that uses in-house curation and artificial intelligence to make sorting through its more than 1 billion listings a little more manageable. The curated collection features everything from contemporary design to furniture antiques in a Pinterest-like format. And as for the artificial intelligence part? View photographs of posh rooms and get suggestions for items that you see and want. 

If your goal this season is to get out-of-the-ordinary gifts, Uncommon Goods sorts them all into one website, so say farewell to scouring giant chain stores for something unique. In the gift section alone, the site sorts products into various categories, such as "By Interest" (music, wine, etc.), "For Couples" and "For Teens 15 And Up" to make finding the perfect gift easy.  

(Via: http://www.elledecor.com/life-culture/g3335/online-shopping-sites/)

But then, if you think you are stressed out already by just merely existing and trying to juggle multiple tasks and simply embracing adulating, then stop stressing yourself and do online shopping instead. The best part here is that you get your items delivered to your doorsteps and you don’t have to go through all the shopping horrors you’ve been through in the past. It has its cons especially when it comes to shipping the wrong or incomplete items or if you want something replaced but it definitely has its perks too. You are not alone as millions of people also resort to the web for gift inspirations and making sure nobody important gets lets behind. And if people accuse you of taking the easy way out, you can easily point out that you have other things that need your attention like Christmas parties to organize and attend to, travel plans for a few who wants to spend Christmas at home, and you just want to enjoy the coming holiday without pressuring yourself too much to do everything by yourself.

The Best Places To Shop For Christmas Presents was initially seen on https://www.degrafa.com

from https://www.degrafa.com/the-best-places-to-shop-for-christmas-presents/

[degrafa]

Intel’s Big AI Dreams

Many things in this world come and go. Not all have the capacity to last for centuries at the top of its games. Only a handful are capable of doing that and they are mostly big brands that have become household names and managed to ride the tide and survive the changing of trends and people’s interests. If there is one thing that truly defines today’s society, it has to do with the very strong presence of technology in just about every nook and cranny of this planet. Wherever you go, there is a tech device that is sure to take your fancy or catch you by surprise. Major opportunities are made or broken with tech. The advent of smartphones has also strengthened the power the Internet of Things has over us and it has brought the World Wide Web to the palm of our hands and as such we can only wonder what else is in store for all of us in the coming years.

But the journey of technology wasn’t a straight path to where it is now. There have been discoveries, breakthroughs, major embarrassments and disappointments and the cycle repeats itself year after year after year. Some companies that were once a part of the early days of the computer boom are nowhere to be heard of now or have taken the backseat as more popular and innovative brands take the center stage like Apple, Facebook, Google, Samsung, and many others. However, it does not mean that they can’t attempt to be relevant again and reclaim their old spot. It’s probably what Intel has in mind when it broadcasted its dream of taking part in the big AI boom through the use of its chips.

Intel might be an old-school computing company, but the chipmaker thinks the latest trends in artificial intelligence will keep it an important part of your high-tech life.

AI technology called machine learning today is instrumental to taking good photos, translating languages, recognizing your friends on Facebook, delivering search results, screening out spam and many other chores. It usually uses an approach called neural networks that works something like a human brain, not a sequence of if-this-then-that steps as in traditional computing.

Lots of companies, including Apple, Google, Qualcomm and Nvidia, are designing chips to accelerate this sort of work. But on Tuesday, Intel Chief Executive Brian Krzanich promised a major speed increase through its own chips, designed from the ground up for neural processing.

(Via: https://www.cnet.com/news/intel-says-its-computer-chips-will-accelerate-ai-revolution/)

Perhaps neural processing is the future and it can be accelerated by Intel chips, who knows. They probably have the brainpower, the manpower, and the enthusiasm to make such a thing happen only if they have sufficient funding for it. Business is going downhill as they haven’t positioned themselves well in the smartphone business, the PC market is troubling, and their only dominance in the data center technology is constantly threatened. Their statement of going after AI as well is perhaps their attempt to keep the company afloat and keep the business going for as long as they can before everyone else has caught up.

Intel is ready to ship its long awaited computer chip used to power artificial intelligence projects by the end of the year.

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich explained the chip-maker’s foray into the red-hot field of artificial intelligence Tuesday and said that Facebook (FB, +0.06%) has assisted the company in prelude to its new chip’s debut.

“We are thrilled to have Facebook in close collaboration sharing its technical insights as we bring this new generation of AI hardware to market,” Krzanich wrote. An Intel spokesperson wrote to Fortune in an email that while the two companies are collaborating, they do not have a formal partnership.

(Via: http://fortune.com/2017/10/17/intel-facebook-artificial-intelligence-chip/)

With the system in place (Intel Nervana Neural Network Processor) to back them up, their big dreams of conquering the AI market may just be possible after all and their team up with Facebook may be a big boost to how the game is played and introduce an entirely new breed of AI hardware to the rest of the world. After all, this technology is needed in order to pursue deep learning related to how artificial intelligence works.

And this opportunity may really be the game changer for the company that is facing so many hardships right now after missing out on a lot of trends that took the world by storm in recent years. We are seeing history taking place in front of our eyes, so watch out because you’d be surprised that sooner rather than later, AI is already a part of the very fabric of our life like how smart technology crept steadily and changed the way we live our lives to date.

The following article Intel’s Big AI Dreams was first published to https://www.degrafa.com/

from https://www.degrafa.com/intels-big-ai-dreams/

[degrafa]

The Lost Art Of Cooking

Back in the days, people learned to cook by copying their elders, especially their mothers, aunts, grandmothers, or any mother figure in their household. You learn young basically because you are taught young too. Kids are expected to help with the household chores once they are big enough and these tasks become more complex as they age. So, people had no problems feeding themselves in the past as it was second nature for them to whip up delicious and healthy home-cooked meals for the entire family from sunrise to sunset. The problem with obesity was quite rare because kids seldom eat junks as they are well-fed from home or still had healthy snacks when they do indulge their sweet tooth.

Fast-forward many decades later and we have become an unhealthy population of obese people thriving on junks and do not know how to cook. What a shame, really. We have grown so accustomed to eating from fastfood, canned goods, and other ready-to-eat meals that require the most minimal of efforts from us. But how come we have been reduced to this species when we have all the technological means that are supposed to make our lives easier yet it seems that we lose time in doing the most important thing in life.

That’s never more evident than when you’ve got the hunger pangs. From snacking, to takeaway apps, to five-course meals, it’s never been easier to avoid the kitchen. It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, then, to find out that the majority of young Brits avoid the ‘heart of the home’ altogether.

A new YouGov survey has revealed just that, with a whopping one-in-eight Brits admitting that they don’t cook for themselves.

The survey found that 9% of Brits hardly ever cook for themselves from fresh ingredients, while 4% never do. Instead, they’re reliant on ready meals, frozen food and eating out.

One in five (19%) ‘almost always’ cook from scratch, while 25% make their own meals ‘most days’.

(Via: http://metro.co.uk/2017/09/18/one-in-eight-brits-dont-cook-for-themselves-6935827/)

Whether by choice or circumstance, we miss out on a lot of things by not being able to eat dishes prepared and cooked from home with the freshest ingredients from the market. You end up eating whatever you can get from the store if you don’t make a conscious effort of thinking what meal to cook for. For most of us and not just the Brits, we find it too time-consuming to cook up something. Why expend more energy when it is easier to buy a takeout or call for a delivery. You don’t have to do anything and you get to eat your food right away. The major downside here is that you have no idea what is in the food you are eating. So, don’t be surprised if obesity keeps on rising and cancer becomes as natural as the common cold and flu.

Four in ten (40%) millennials say the same but a slighter greater number say they disagree with how well standardize exams prepare students (47%). Americans between the age of 35-54 (54% of whom have children under 18, according to YouGov Profiles) are dead split in this view – 41% agreeing and disagreeing.

When asked if standardized tests prepare students for the tasks of daily life – like cooking for oneself or creating a budget and sticking to it – nearly six in ten adults said they didn’t (59%). YouGov also asked what abilities respondents would like a standardized test to measure and found that learning to budget (75%) and perform CPR (71%)were at the top. Over half of Americans (62%) wanted to test for memorization and creativity, two abilities that most standardized exams still measure, but life skills such as learning how to cook (63%), maintain a car (66%), and file taxes (68%) garnered much greater support.

(Via: https://today.yougov.com/news/2017/09/18/americans-want-skills-budgeting-and-cooking-added-/)

Even Americans these days finally understand the importance of life skills such as cooking and want to put more emphasis on it rather than rely on standardized testing in preparing students for what’s life outside of school. While it helps to know more about the major subjects related to your course, it won’t hurt if you also master life skills like cooking and making a budget for your daily expenses because they do matter in real life. It is not always about theory but more about the practical application of concepts. And what better way to do so than in feeding oneself. You don't just get sick if you don't eat right but you can die too.

The blog article The Lost Art Of Cooking is republished from Degrafa Blog

from https://www.degrafa.com/the-lost-art-of-cooking/

[degrafa]

Cybersecurity On The Web

You won’t run out of things to do on the World Wide Web. Whatever your interests are, you are sure to find something that will pique your interest; as if social media is not a good enough reason to force you to go online on a daily basis. You have shared several personal details on all your social networks because you need to disclose them when you create your account. However, hackers can steal your data once they gain access to the system and give you lots of headaches in the future.

Cybersecurity is no laughing issue. You’d be surprised at how sophisticated modern hackers and cyber criminals have become and you don’t stand a chance once they get into your system, corrupt your files, and steal valuable data – even your own identity. Cyber attacks often make it to the headline because such attacks are becoming far too prevalent these days.

It’s now clear that cyber attacks are a fact of life for corporations and governments. What’s less clear are the winners and losers among companies focused on stopping the digital break-ins.

News about the WannaCry digital extortion attack that crippled hundreds of thousands computers worldwide caused predictable stock market euphoria on Monday. As tends to happen when there is a highly public cyber attack, share prices of cyber security technology specialists such as Palo Alto Networks, Proofpoint and Fortinet climbed.

Many prominent digital attacks—such as those on Target, J.P. Morgan Chase and Sony’s movie studio—lift hopes of ringing cash registers at tech companies that make money from companies’ fear they’ll be the next victim. But even as computer attacks become more prevalent and damaging, they haven’t been a universal triumph for the cyber security industry.

(Via: http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/wGjEqObT3XIjx9OIEZe12O/Cyber-attacks-are-certain-cyber-security-business-is-not.html)

While individuals are also at risk of cyber attacks, it is the businesses, corporations and government agencies that are often the target of these cyber criminals because they get to extract countless valuable data using just one target.

The WannaCry malware that spread to more than 100 countries in a few hours is throwing up several surprises for cybersecurity researchers, including how it gained its initial foothold, how it spread so fast and why the hackers are not making much money from it.

Some researchers have found evidence they say could linkNorth Korea with the attack, but others are more cautious, saying that the first step is shedding light on even the most basic questions about the malware itself.

For one thing, said IBM Security's Caleb Barlow, researchers are still unsure exactly how the malware spread in the first place. Most cybersecurity companies have blamed phishing e-mails - e-mails containing malicious attachments or links to files - that download the ransomware.

That's how most ransomware finds its way onto victims' computers.

The problem in the WannaCry case is that despite digging through the company's database of more than 1 billion e-mails dating back to March 1, Barlow's team could find none linked to the attack.

"Once one victim inside a network is infected it propagates," Boston-based Barlow said in a phone interview, describing a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows that allows the worm to move from one computer to another.

(Via: http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47845:oddities-in-wannacry-ransomware-puzzle-cybersecurity-researchers&catid=113:international-news&Itemid=248)

A single malware can do a lot of damage and you don’t want to put your device or your files at risk. Some may appear as inconspicuous emails and determining how others infect systems remains to be a mystery.

Making sure your computer has a reliable antivirus is one key precaution you can take to ensure no virus can ever make its way to your computer or laptop. Securing your device is a must considering how often you use it now to access the web and many companies have become victims of cyber attacks for a while now, temporarily putting a halt to their operations and crippling their system. You don’t want to be a part of the statistics, so just remain vigilant whenever using the web to protect yourself as well as your data from these faceless thieves.

The following article Cybersecurity On The Web Read more on: The Degrafa Blog

from https://www.degrafa.com/cybersecurity-on-the-web/

[degrafa]

Is Life In Space Possible?

Planet Earth has been our home for like forever. Of course, that’s our only reality. Man can’t survive living on other planets because of inhospitable conditions not conducive for man. But the state of our planet is deteriorating by the minute. Our very presence hastened global warming that greatly contributed to climate change. Mankind has been so good not only in populating the planet but also in polluting it and abusing its resources.

It’s no wonder that scientists are looking at ways on how we can possibly survive living on other planets when life on earth is beyond salvageable. Is there any planet out there that can resemble conditions on earth and can we possibly thrive in it like we do here on the planet? They’re just simple questions but have remained unanswerable for as long as we can remember.

The future of space exploration and technology is a hot topic these days, fueling blockbuster movies and heightening attention about travel to Mars and other planets one day.

On Friday and Saturday, the University of Massachusetts Lowell is convening scientists, former astronauts, and industry leaders for two days of talks on the topic. The symposium — Space Exploration in the Upcoming Decade: The Domestication of Space— is presented by the college’s Center for Space, Science, and Technology.

Much has changed since the center held an event 10 years ago to mark the 50-year anniversary of the start of the “Space Age,” a period begun by the famous 1957 launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik, said the center’s director, Supriya Chakrabarti.

(Via: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/20/umass-lowell-analyzes-future-space-travel/IasNUEy7rCAcJYxXTmgGkJ/story.html)

We’ve always seen blockbuster movies depicting what it is like to live on another planet. However, real life is far from their make-believe world and there are many factors to be considered before we can even consider stepping inside a rocket ship as we bid the planet goodbye (to hopefully greener pastures).

Members of Carnegie Mellon Student Pugwash attended the Student Pugwash Conference 2017 at Purdue University. The conference focused on space exploration and policy, ranging from topics like “Repeat Mars Missions” to the “Future of International Space Exploration”. Each of these talks had interesting angles on how the world could approach space exploration. This article focuses on the talk on international progress on space ight given by Dr. Daniel Dumbacher.

Dumbacher framed the entire presentation in the form of the past, present, and future. For the past, he focused on the progress of the United States in space exploration, starting with the last lunar mission and ending with the closing of the space shuttle program. He also noted that, at the moment, space exploration has ventured to every planet in the solar system. Dumbacher drew parallels between space exploration and the Lewis and Clark expeditions, suggesting that expeditions in unknown territory result in the eventual expansion.

He moved on to the current state of space exploration. At the moment, the International Space Station (ISS) remains one of the few international projects still in operation. There are also robotic exploration missions on Mars. Currently, the biggest movement in space exploration is commercial space ight. Companies are driving new and innovative technologies like reusable spacecraft.

(Via: https://thetartan.org/2017/4/17/scitech/pugwash)

As of now, a few people (professional astronauts) live in international space stations for an extended period of time to perform various functions. But their job isn’t just for anybody. Exceptionally smart and able individuals who pass the tests and training can board the next rocket out to space.

Think space travel is just for skilled astronauts and fictional characters from your favorite "Star Wars" films? Think again. You don't have to be a professional scientist to fly into suborbital space, but you will have to pay a steep price.

With a variety of pioneering companies competing to launch humans into space, lunar exploration is taking off. Take SpaceX, the brainchild of Elon Musk, which plans to transport two passengers aboard its SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket to cross over the moon and back in 2018. Or Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket company, which aspires to launch six lucky tourists into space via a capsule, and that's testing its New Shepard rocket ahead of plans for commercial suborbital journeys in 2018. For those more inclined to board a spaceship, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic aims to send tourists -- including world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking -- aboard the SpaceShipTwo (a six-passenger aircraft) into space this year.

If you're not interested in gliding into deep or suborbital space -- or you lack the funds to support a $250,000 journey aboard the Virgin Galactic -- you can enjoy epic space events from Earth this year, including watching the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, stargazing in prized national parks or even checking out the northern lights.

(Via: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/4-things-must-know-future-205536889.html)

Money happens to be the name of the game. Whoever has the dough can do as they wish and even reach for the stars quite literally if they wish to do so. Space travel tourism may be wishful thinking now but who knows in the future, right? After all, if there’s a will, there’s a way, especially if you have the cash to burn.

We can not tell yet whether mankind will be able to find a surrogate home somewhere out there in the vast realms of space but for sure, someone brilliant will find a way if it’s really meant to happen. But since there is a high probability it won’t happen in our lifetime, we should start cleaning up our act now and start saving what’s left of the planet before we have nowhere else to go.

Is Life In Space Possible? is courtesy of https://www.degrafa.com/

from https://www.degrafa.com/is-life-in-space-possible/

[degrafa]

No Retreat, No Surrender: Environmental Issues During Trump Era

The world is rapidly heating up. Thanks to the buildup of gasses, it advances global warming and climate change at a rate that has never been seen for centuries. The damage has been done. There’s no point denying that. However, we can still change our ways and reduce the damage we are currently inflicting on the world by supporting sustainable living among others.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of challenges facing all of us. For starters, the government agency that’s been trying to undo the damage of climate change and taking appropriate measures to prevent us from doing more harm will lose the government’s support and no longer be able to continue their existing environment-friendly programs. President Trump has been vocal in saying that climate change is a hoax, so it does not come out as a surprise that he is stripping the US Environmental Protection Agency of much-needed funds for its operation.

If there’s a silver lining to the toxic cloud hovering over the White House, it’s that our science-denying president hasn’t caused too much damage to the environment. Yet.

But nearly four months into the Trump administration, the risks to the nation’s air, land and water are large and looming, as is the threat to the country’s belated — and still insufficient — efforts to combat catastrophic global warming. If Trump supporters believe this is an over-regulated nation, they better prepare themselves and their descendants for unhealthier and more disrupted lives.

With help from Congress, President Trump rescinded an Obama administration rule that would have limited what coal mining operations could dump into waterways. The Senate wisely rejected a similar effort to eliminate a rule clamping down on methane releases from new wells on federal land. Trump also directed the Environmental Protection Agency to review President Obama’s marquee Clean Power Plan, which aimed to reduce emissions from power plants 32% below 2005 levels by 2030. (The plan has also been stalled by the courts.) He ordered a review of tough future fuel-economy standards for motor vehicles, as well as a government-wide reconsideration of regulations that affect job creation or “impose costs that exceed benefits.” And he wants to plant more oil and gas rigs along the U.S. coastline, including California’s.

(Via: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-trump-environment-overview-20170515-story.html)

The US is one of the progressive nations in the world with the highest carbon emission. However, the utter disregard of President Trump on many of these pressing environmental issues is putting the lives of millions of Americans at risk to deadly catastrophes once they hit.

It's common knowledge that individual harmful environmental exposures, such as radon, pesticides, and air pollution, may increase specific cancer risks in a city or region. However, new research reveals that the overall environmental quality of a geographic location is also associated with overall cancer incidence.

Counties in the United States with the poorest environmental quality rating had an average of 38 more cancer cases per 100,000 people than counties with the highest rating over the study period (2000 to 2010), report the authors, led by Jyotsna S. Jagai, PhD, MPH, from the University of Illinois, Chicago.

"Research focusing on single environmental exposures in cancer development may not address the broader environmental context in which cancers develop," observe the authors.

Their new study, which relied heavily on data from the now-embattled US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was published online May 8 in Cancer.

The team also showed that specific cancers may be tied to overall environmental conditions. Prostate and breast cancers demonstrated the strongest positive associations with poor environmental quality, they report.

(Via: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/879760)

Aside from the scary disasters that are waiting to happen, the health of every American is also compromised from the pollutants that circulate around us and even puts us at higher risk of developing cancer over time. Some businesses have already changed. While further proof is still needed to establish the relationship between cancer and an unhealthy environment, we have long since acknowledged the fact that our health deteriorates when living in a highly populated and polluted city.

Many Americans are worried how the US will fare in the face of such devastating calamities when ruled by a leader who thinks that climate change is just a hoax. It is a tough time indeed, so we need to unite and make our voices heard. If nothing works, we can take the initiative to make these changes happen with or without the support of the government for the sake of everyone.

No Retreat, No Surrender: Environmental Issues During Trump Era is republished from The Degrafa.com Blog

from https://www.degrafa.com/no-retreat-no-surrender-environmental-issues-during-trump-era/

[degrafa]

What Does Science Mean To You?

As kids, we had to take science classes from first grade until high school. All these classes taught us all the basic science concepts and many other important things in life, from the origins of life, how the human body works, and other more complex topics such as chemistry and physics. The subject wasn’t always easy but many times we have enjoyed understanding scientific concepts come to life and understood by our simple brain.

Much has changed today when it comes to science and technology. There are newer discoveries that have strengthened previous scientific theories or some that have entirely refuted them. It is likewise easier for us to gain access to a vast amount of knowledge on the web, something that we didn’t have access to in the past. It’s funny, though, that our understanding of what science really is about have become clouded regardless of how much we know about it now.

APOLOGIES TO MERRIAM, Webster, and everyone else who has ever assigned themselves the chore of cataloging how English speakers use words, but science is not a noun. I mean, yes, technically it is.1 But conversationally, most people use ‘science’ like Mark Watney did in The Martian, when he said he would “science the shit” out of the problem of growing food on Mars.

Science the verb is a process of questioning, hypothesizing, experimenting, and—so, so often—being wrong. Again and again and again. Until you get it mostly right. (Because no science [n] is ever complete.) Ideally, the process is democratic: Anybody can science the shit out of anything. In reality, most people “do” science vicariously—by reading about new discoveries and having faith that the discoverers aren’t charlatans. Though it’s not quite faith: We trust them because scientists argue in public.

These arguments happen all the time. Sometimes they last decades. Scientists curse one another out, hold grudges, and stop speaking altogether. But even in the nastiest of arguments, scientists generally tacitly agree that they are all Doing Science. Not Doing Science is an insult, usually reserved for fringe individuals who falsify data or host daytime nutrition shows. In terms of nerd fights, one mainstream scientist accusing another mainstream scientist of Not Doing Science is akin to Kanye West storming Taylor Swift’s 2009 VMA speech to imply that she didn’t deserve Best Female Video.

(Via: https://www.wired.com/2017/05/physicists-cant-agree-science-even-means-anymore/)

We may have a few misconceptions now on what science is really about because we have been bombarded with too much information we don’t really know what to believe anymore. Even scientists themselves are always in an argument but that is not entirely new because they have been bickering all throughout history and it’s what allowed them to make all these diverse discoveries and inventions, after all.

"Science" in the phrase "science is settled" is a misuse of the word.  Science is a methodology – it is not a theory, nor is it a conclusion or result.  Example: It would be an accurate statement to say the following: "many scientists agree that industrialized human culture is causing changes in climate" – this statement, although accurate, is not generally conclusive with regard to the question about human causation of climatic change.

The leftists are masterful at manipulating language in order to seem morally superior, and to quell any potential arguments against their narratives – "climate change" being one of their favorites.  In reading the above statement, anyone who is predisposed to think human beings (especially Western industrialized human culture) are intrinsically harmful to the Earth would take that statement to be conclusive – to believe in a truly nonsensical way that "science is settled" on the matter.

The primary explanation for how and why the leftists are successful at manipulating massive numbers of people is that a very small percentage of the population is inclined to use critical thinking (logic) when presented with a narrative that "sounds" high-minded and of a higher level of morality.

(Via: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/05/settled_science_lets_settle_the_argument.html)

Human behavior likewise plays a big role in just about everything there is in this world. Even with complex yet age-old concepts like science, our opinions can get in the way of our experience and new learning. The main challenge here is the nature of science itself. While these brilliant scientists do their best in trying to understand the way the cosmos works, they are basically just sharing their well thought-out opinion on a certain topic they have studied in-depth for quite some time. It’s not always set in wood or stone. There are a lot of mysteries and contradictions all around us and it’s what makes science such an interesting yet frustrating field of study.

Whatever science means to all of us today are all a product of the brilliant minds of scientists of yesteryears and today who have dedicated their entire lives to understanding the world around us and where we fit in the equation. One thing for sure is that we’ll keep on discovering and learning new things and even debunk some old beliefs we had but we’ll never fully decipher the mysterious nature of science but we’ll live with that knowledge like our ancestors did in the past.

What Does Science Mean To You? was originally published to https://www.degrafa.com

from https://www.degrafa.com/what-does-science-mean-to-you/

[degrafa]

Leading France In The New Millennium

France has always been a great country from then until now. It is home to a rich culture and the arts and many notable people in history hail from this picturesque country. The place in itself is known for famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, making it a premier destination among tourists both local and foreign.

Like any sovereign nation, politics in France is not far from different from that of the rest of the world. Leaders come and go but some leave a permanent mark that the people and the world won’t forget. France will soon elect its new leader and everyone is restless. Over the years, terrorist threats have claimed lives in the country’s capital and many other issues plaguing the nation as of late.

France will head to the polls not once, but twice, to decide their next president. And whoever wins will take over from the most unpopular president in French history - Francois Hollande.

The second European country to vote in the ‘super year of elections’, the French election doesn’t start until April 23, but has already seen plenty of drama with allegations of fraud surrounding right-wing Republican leader Francois Fillon – once the favourite to be the next President.

Also in the mix is anti-immigration and anti-Islam National Front leader Marine Le Pen, and former economic adviser to President Hollande turned independent candidate, Emmanuel Macron – who is now seen as a favourite with political analysts.

The economy, European Union and immigration are key issues this election.

(Via: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/03/09/france-votes-what-impact-will-le-pen-trump-and-brexit-have)

There is actually more at stake than just electing a new leader.

In four weeks, Marine Le Pen — with her program of raising social spending, renationalising key industries, imposing a protectionist tariff and slashing immigration by 90 per cent, while threatening to leave the EU and the euro — therefore may be the president of continental Europe’s second largest economy, potentially triggering a collapse in world financial markets.

But even if Macron wins, the country’s future is far from being plain sailing. The immediate challenge for Macron will be forming a stable government. Although Charles de Gaulle believed the constitution of the Fifth Republic, which he was instrumental in designing, gave the president a high degree of control, the reality is that the presidency and the legislature share power.

However, nothing in France’s constitution guarantees that the president and the parliamentary majority will come from the same party. As a result, since the constitution came into effect in 1958, there have been three periods in which a president from one side of politics has had to work with a legislature (and hence prime minister) from another. The experience never proved a happy one: rather, in each episode of what the French call “cohabitation”, policy differences undermined the government’s ability to function, creating political deadlock.

(Via: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/if-macron-beats-le-pen-he-will-still-face-a-divided-france/news-story/9f2dcf0e0db805e4d219aaf693b4b696)

French citizens are not only torn as who to vote but highly doubtful of the system itself when neither of the two seem like the answer to all of France’s problems and other issues affecting the world like pointless wars that claims thousands of lives.

France today warned against military strikes on the Syrian regime based on a “rush of blood” by Donald Trump after dozens were killed in a suspected chemical weapons attack.

French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault also accused Washington of sending mixed messages over how it would respond to the alleged war crime by tyrant Bashar Assad’s forces.

The priority at this stage, he added, was to pursue diplomatic talks to try to reach a United Nations Security Council resolution on Syria.

Post mortem results have revealed that chemical weapons were used in the attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Syria’s Idlib province which killed at least 70 people including 20 children, Turkish justice minister Bekir Bozdag said today.

(Via: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/france-issues-warning-against-military-action-in-syria-a3508806.html)

Like any other progressive nation, issues of corruption and political infighting plague France today. As the election nears, it is obvious how the two presidential candidates are poles apart, which makes voting even harder for the French voters, even when it comes to special issues. Regardless of their reasoning, they should learn from the mistakes of the past or that of other nations in choosing their new leader. Americans have broken convention and elected a totally inexperienced leader in the highest office of the land and it has caused a rift within the nation. Does France want to be next and become the laughingstock of the international community?

The blog article Leading France In The New Millennium See more on: Degrafa.com

from https://www.degrafa.com/leading-france-in-the-new-millennium/

[degrafa]

Trading Issues In Trump’s America

President Trump is a great businessman. How could he build such an empire if he knew nothing about the trade, right? However, his new position as the U.S. president is not a business gamble. For four years, his decision will shape the nation and everyone else living in it. Soon after assuming office, he already made quite a few daring moves involving travel bans and more travel bans in his serious stance against terrorists and illegal immigrants. Well, it does not come as a surprise since he has been very vocal about his position on it for years now.

But other aspects of nation building are also affected by his unorthodox policies. While he gives utmost priority to defense, immigration and safety and security of everyone, he gives less importance to other equally important issues like education, trade, the arts, and many others. As a businessman himself, he should be a genius already when it comes to business policies that can help boost the country’s economy. However, it seems like his business acumen isn’t manifesting yet in his unprecedented leadership.

The United States broke with other large industrial nations over trade on Saturday as the Trump administration rejected concerns among allies about spreading protectionism and made clear that it would seek new approaches to managing global commerce.

At a meeting of finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 industrialized and emerging nations and the European Union, Steven Mnuchin, attending his first major international gathering as Treasury secretary, signaled that American policy would follow the campaign promises made by President Trump to put “America first” and review existing trade agreements to seek better deals for the United States.

As a result, the ministers’ joint statement, normally a study in blandness, became an unlikely focus of controversy here. The representatives could agree only on a tortured compromise stating, in effect, that trade is a good thing. Adjectives like “open” were dropped, and the ministers omitted language used in previous communiqués that condemned protectionism, repudiating decades of free trade doctrine.

(Via: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/18/business/group-of-20-summit-us-trade.html?_r=0)

No matter how powerful the U.S. may be, it still needs to maintain positive business and political relations with other countries or risk suffering from big unforeseen losses. Take for instance dealing business with the mammoth that is China.

For years, American politicians and business leaders have demanded China approach its economic policy in a manner more similar to the United States. They have pushed the nominally communist country to cut support to its state-run enterprises, drop barriers against foreign goods and level the playing field between Chinese companies and their foreign competitors.

But as President Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Mar-a-Lago this week, he may take a markedly different approach: threatening that the United States will soon act more like China.

Trump's campaign tapped into deep skepticism about free trade, and as president he's promising to govern with an "America first" economic nationalism that includes using government resources to help domestic industry and leveraging trade policy to help insulate American businesses from foreign competition. It's an approach that sets Trump apart from traditional Republican allies who have championed free markets and looks surprisingly similar to the Chinese tactics Americans have criticized in the past.

“Mr. Trump seems to want to move the U.S. toward China’s approach, rather than move China toward the U.S. approach of open trade and globalization,” says Eswar Prasad, a professor of trade at Cornell University. That represents a shift in strategy from the past, when U.S. leaders aggressively proselytized the benefit of open markets, even if they didn't always wholly achieve them at home.

“He seems to want the U.S. to be more like China than China to be more like the U.S. And I’m not sure that’s the best path for the U.S. to go down,” Prasad says.

(Via: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/04/06/why-trump-wants-the-u-s-to-act-more-like-china/?utm_term=.78607fe0167e)

Doubts shadow many of the policies of the Trump administration including that of free trade. Even the Wall Street feels the tension after the recent Syria bombing and the U.S. economy that still appears to be in a slump. Trump practically won by gaining the sentiments of Pro-Americans especially the ones living in rural areas with a mantra to put Americans first in everything the government does including employment and business opportunities. But regardless of our personal opinions, the best thing we can do right now is to support the policies during this Trump era to help him realize his promise of making America great again.

Trading Issues In Trump’s America is available on The Degrafa Blog

from https://www.degrafa.com/trading-issues-in-trumps-america/

[degrafa]

Keep Your Health In Check While Traveling

To travel is to feed your senses and make lasting memories to last a lifetime. Not everyone is comfortable in leaving their homes and going somewhere new for a certain period of time. We all thrive in the safety and comfort offered by our homes but it is hard to pass up on the adventure of a lifetime. Traveling is so much easier now with cheaper airline flights and the convenience offered by the World Wide Web. You can easily book an Airbnb in any part of the world without breaking the bank. You can also come up with your travel itinerary months ahead before your big trip since you can find all the details you need on the web.

With the advent of smartphones, all these perks are now in the palm of your hand. You can do so many things all at once with no sweat at all, wherever you may be. As you feed your wanderlust, it is unavoidable to fall ill during your travels. It may be just a common cold or flu or a bout of diarrhea from all the street and exotic foods you have consumed the day before but getting sick is inevitable. So, how can you make sure you remain in great shape as you wander around?

Nothing can ruin a good traveling experience than catching the flu or getting a cold. Although bringing a lot of prescription meds can sometimes do the trick, it's better to stay healthy while you're on the go to avoid so much intake of medicine.

Here are some handy tips to keep healthy while on travel:

Always bring a sanitizer. Do not just lug that pack of sanitizer in your bag, use it regularly! 

Don't forget to eat breakfast. You might be excited to explore your new surroundings as soon as you wake up, but don't forget to eat your breakfast first before going out! 

Choose glasses over contact lenses. Contact lenses may be handier, but you are more prone to eye dry-outs if you wear them during travel. 

Wear skin-protecting lotions. Don't forget to pack your sunblock when going to the beach, and if you're on the way to a tropical country, make sure to bring good insect repellent. 

Try to get as much sleep as you can. Traveling can be really tiring, and treating your body to a good night's sleep will help you replenish the energy you spent during the day.

(Via: http://www.travelerstoday.com/articles/42342/20170309/stay-healthy-during-travel.htm)

A little common sense can go a long way when traveling. While vacations and international travels will likely be always full of surprises, a little precaution will make sure you enjoy every single day of your trip and not leave you sick in bed and miss out on a lot of things.

MANY people book their flights, pack their bags, and head out without having a health check. To enjoy a healthy, worry-free trip, it is highly recommended to make an appointment with your doctor for a preventive health check around six to eight weeks before your trip.

Most of us prepare for the big trip weeks to months ahead. Only a very few go on a trip in such short notice. Hence, you still have time to plan and prepare every aspect of your travel.

1 It’s important that you discuss your personal travel plans with your doctor to ensure you have the correct medications and/or vaccinations for your trip.

2 Don’t settle for the basic diagnostic tests like a one-time CBC, X-ray, or ECG check without seeing your doctor. 

3 For instance, persons with diabetes are generally recommended to undergo a glycosylated hemoglobin (Hba1c) test.  This helps your doctor gauge how controlled your sugars are.

4 For people taking maintenance medications, liver and kidney function tests are also recommended.

5 If your trip involves a lot of walking, or other possibly strenuous activities (e.g. mountain-climbing), securing a cardio-pulmonary and fitness evaluation is important.  

6 Long periods of immobility during long periods of travel can lead to a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Travelers with any of these conditions should be aware of the possibility of developing DVT and should see their doctors before their trip for additional recommendations on how to prevent its onset.

8 If you are traveling to parts of the world where certain diseases are endemic (e.g. malaria), you could also be at risk for these. Visit your doctor for preventive treatments like immunization and prophylactic medication.

(Via: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/health-checks-before-and-after-a-long-trip/)

Going somewhere new for the first time is an exhilarating feeling but can leave you jittery too. You should bear in mind that half of the trip is already won by planning ahead so you have nothing left to do but to enjoy your vacation once the time comes. Do your homework. Find out what the weather will be like in the place you are visiting so you can bring the right set of clothes and footwear. Plan enough clothes but not too much or risk paying thousands on excess baggage.

Those are just some of the tips any traveler needs to remember when going out on a trip. It is not always easy and you may face challenges along the way such as financial issues and visa problems but as long as you have enough time on your hands, you’d be ale to work things out. Nothing compares to the joy traveling can give you. It gives a new meaning to your life and memories that can last you a lifetime aside from having an excuse to escape the daily grind if only for a while.

Keep Your Health In Check While Traveling is republished from Degrafa.com

from https://www.degrafa.com/keep-your-health-in-check-while-traveling/

[degrafa]

Dance To The Music Of The Times

Dancing is like art in motion. Similar to spoken poetry, the grace and fluid body movements of dancers captivate the hearts and attention of the audience. Not everyone is gifted with such a talent. And if you are among the gifted, you need to hone your talent through the years because it can get rusty over time. Like singers, most dancers start to train young. They join dance classes and dance groups to build their familiarity with the different grooves and build their confidence on stage as well.

Dancers invest their time and effort in perfecting their craft. However, like with any other aspects of the arts in the country today, it is at serious risk of budget cuts that can affect productions and so much more. President Trump does not fully support the arts in his federal budget plans, so is education, free trade, etc. Will the industry ever cope with such a lack of support from the federal government or is it the end for everyone involved?

On Thursday, the Trump administration released a preliminary 2018 budget proposal, which details many of the changes the president wants to make to the federal government’s spending. The proposal covers only discretionary, not mandatory, spending.

To pay for an increase in defense spending, a down payment on the border wall and school voucher programs, among other things, funding was cut from the discretionary budgets of other executive departments and agencies. The Environmental Protection Agency, the State Department and the Agriculture Department took the hardest hits. The proposal also eliminates funding for 19 agencies.

(Via: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-presidential-budget-2018-proposal/?utm_term=.c5fe656dfa0a)

There will be dance protests in an effort to raise awareness and catch the attention of the administration. What they seek is for Trump to allocate sufficient budget in all aspects of governance and not just pool all the resources on a select few.

So, on Thursday, the Dance Liberation Network and NYC Artist Coalition will host an event called "Let NYC Dance" in Brooklyn that aims to raise awareness about the outdated law and encourages people to sign a petition asking the Department of Cultural Affairs for its repeal.

"This law should have been taken off the books years ago," said Let NYC Dance organizer Adam Snead. "The fact that it remains is not only an ugly blemish on a city that is seen as the cultural capital of America, but also a reminder that we are still not truly free to live out loud. If we cannot express ourselves through the simple, natural movement of dance, then how can we claim to truly be free?"

(Via: http://www.wmagazine.com/story/let-nyc-dance-repeal-new-york-cabaret-law)

While we see dance as an art and as a form of entertainment, it actually generates a lot of profit from tourists both here and abroad. Without enough budget, local initiatives may also be affected in a big way.

Bush argues that access to arts and culture should not be determined by an individual’s financial state. “Everyone should have access and opportunities to experience the arts regardless of their economic status, where they live, ethnicity or disability,” he said. “This budget proposal must not be approved. ASC, the cultural community and its supporters are reaching out to their representatives in Congress now and advocate to keep funding the NEA. It is my hope that fellow residents will do the same.” TheU.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and NEA data from 2013 indicate that the arts provided America’s economy with $704 billion, and 4.2 percent of the country’s annual gross domestic product. The arts also provided 4.7 million jobs. “Funding to the NEA serves as a significant leveraging tool that has helped create an entire industry of locally based small businesses and jobs that cannot be outsourced,” Bush said. “Investment in the NEA provides funding that promotes artistic innovation and addresses access social, technological and healthcare issues.”

(Via: http://www.thecharlottepost.com/news/2017/03/20/arts-and-entertainment/trump-budget-would-hurt-local-arts/)

Dance is an artistic and graceful expression of a nation’s rich history and culture. Although we could not put a monetary value on its impact to everyone, we could never put a price on its contribution to society in general. The threat of Trump’s budget cuts feels more real as the days go by. It is why artists all over the country unite in asking the president to make changes to his policies and consider the impact of the arts on the development of America as a first-world country from then until now.

Dance To The Music Of The Times is available on The Degrafa.com Blog

from https://www.degrafa.com/dance-to-the-music-of-the-times/

[degrafa]

How To Capture Instagram-Worthy Photos

With the growing popularity of social media today, there is a need to constantly update your family, friends, and acquaintance about what’s new in your life on a daily basis. Hence, the term “selfie” became a sensational hit and was even added to dictionaries. Other words that are related to taking photos also appeared like groufie, for instance. It simply means a group selfie.

We only realized how narcissistic we all are with the advent of smartphones and social media. And you don’t even need to purchase an expensive DSLR camera to capture Instagram-worthy photos. Your personal smartphone will do. You can copy popular poses on Instagram and fill your feed with amateur photos that look professional to the untrained eye. And mind you, people make a living from their social media accounts. You’ll be surprised on how much they make just posting photos, videos, and updates about themselves.

It's a hard life. 21 years old, 300,000 followers, traveling the world for a living, posting your photographic results to Instagram. That's the day-to-day of Jacob Riglin, who is instantly likeable no matter how much you want to begrudge his seemingly perfect life. Instagram has made him a star, and, if you follow his guidance, maybe it can amp up your social appeal too.

You're not going to become an Instagram sensation by posting endless selfies and snaps of your bezzies on a night out, though. You need a hook, you need commitment and, most importantly, you need something people want to look at. Want to become a photographic hit? Follow these rules and you'll take a significant step closer to that goal.

Instagram's got millions of users, all sharing their snaps and pushing the internet to the point of image overload. If you're going to stand out from the masses, you're going to need to be doing something unique. Riglin suggests the best way to do this is to hunt for a new angle and perspective on the shots you're sharing.

"I very much go after the unique perspective, the perspective that hasn't been seen, the angle that hasn't been shot," he explains. "I look at a location, I see what's been shot and I work out how I can do that differently. I find that my followers really like when they see a location that's been shot a hundred times but I've found a different angle that no one else has seen."

(Via: http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/cameras/feature/a799821/how-to-become-an-instagram-success-7-photography-tips-from-one-of-instagrams-biggest-stars/)

Maintaining a social media account like Instagram, though, entails a lot of hard work. For the average people who find adulting hard, you might struggle to try to post unique photos and stories on your social media feed daily.

With the rising popularity of digital technology, social media has become a tempting platform for photographers to promote their talents online. Disseminated by Facebook, Instagram on smart phones, tablets and home computers, photography today thrives online. Even though the effectiveness of a social media platform totally depends on every photographer's goals and objectives, it definitely has proven to be a valuable medium for promoting many businesses.

Believe it or not, posting a photograph on Instagram has definitely much more eternal feel than any other social media platform. Capturing a successful snapshot for Instagram entails effective planning that can successfully catch attention of the audience.  While I no longer use the Instagram square format - when I did, I enjoyed finding the right photograph that I could recompose to that format.

The Instagram square format gives a photographer a chance to recompose an existing shot a second time - not all photos work in this format, so it was a welcome challenge to curate the right shots for the feed.  I will often post the same photo that I post on other sites to Instagram, but I also use it to post mobile shots, behind the scenes photos that I take while exploring, or other shots that I decide to take just for the Instagram crowd.

(Via: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/freaktography-/social-media-photographer_b_9481126.html)

You don’t have to be a pro to have an Instagram account with thousands of followers. You just have to keep all these tips in mind in capturing and sharing interesting and unique photos that will keep your followers captivated and looking forward to your every post. Also, remember to post daily so people will have something to look out for every day.

And most of all, have fun. While many people take social media seriously because of the potential to make lots of money from it, don’t lose yourself in the process. Posting all these amazing photos can give you a new perspective on life but not all are real. There are many tricks that photographers do to make their photos look more enticing but are far from the truth. Don’t be like them and just enjoy your time while on social media. Remember that before social media marketers came, these platforms were used to connect people (family, friends, acquaintance and colleagues) and likewise help them connect with like-minded individuals.

How To Capture Instagram-Worthy Photos was initially published to The Degrafa.com Blog

from https://www.degrafa.com/how-to-capture-instagram-worthy-photos/