Microsoft’s appetite to get Windows 10 on as many PCs as possible may have seen it extend an olive branch to those running stolen software, but it won’t be a free lunch. The software giant surprised many earlier this year with its promise of a complimentary update in the first year; now, tackling the thorny issue of whether those running … Continue reading
Lenovo introduced an update to its ThinkPad X240 this year, and it’s called the Lenovo ThinkPad X250. As with the last model, we’ve given the X250 a workout and detailed our experiences in a full review, which you can check out here. In case you missed it, though, we’re back with a handful of key points you’ll likely want to … Continue reading
All kinds of personal-sized, eco-minded rides have been popping up on the market ready to propel us through the streets. Whether it’s for a quick commute or a casual cruise, these electric rideables help save time and fossil fuels. Not only do they g…
Last year, professional modder Ed Zarick figured out how to make laptop versions of the PS4 and the Xbox One, and then topped both efforts by stuffing the two consoles into one laptop. It turns out the current gen console laptop trifecta was completed around the same time, thanks to ModRetro member Anthony aka RedmagnusX.
Anthony used a 17″ 1920×1200 Samsung laptop screen and the bezel from a Dell Inspiron 9300 for his mod. He stuffed the rest of the electronics – including the disc drive and stereo speakers – into a wooden case, which he then joined to the display using a pair of hinges. After some rewiring and soldering, Anthony vinyl wrapped the laptop to tidy up its appearance.
Here’s Anthony playing a bit of Super Smash Bros. on his Wii U laptop:
It’s well put together isn’t it? I bet Anthony is getting lots of requests for commissions. You can check out his build log and showcase threads on ModRetro for more on his project.
[via Hack A Day]
It gets notifications right. I’ve worn multiple Android Wear devices as well as a Pebble. I’ve also seen other devices like Martian and Geak come and go and none of them did exactly what smartwatches are supposed to do: send me notifications that I can either act on or ignore. Pebble came closest to that goal (and I did pre-order the color Pebble because I love the company) but… Read More
It is an unfortunate coincidence that this year’s graduates must experience both elation and trepidation at the same time. While they rightfully deserve to bask in their academic accomplishments and celebrate, these young men and women must also confront one of our biggest fears as they prepare to interview for jobs or graduate school. Speaking in front of others can be terrifying, especially when your audience is very explicitly evaluating and judging you. As comedian Jerry Seinfeld once joked, “At a funeral, people would rather be in the casket than deliver the eulogy.” The fear of presenting in front of others can be very limiting — in terms of career and future.
The good news is that with practice and persistence nervous and novice graduates can become more confident and compelling. In what follows, I present three easy-to-implement anxiety management techniques. The best way to become more confident and less anxious during interviews is to reframe your approach. This anxiety-reducing cognitive action can take one of three forms:
Acknowledge your fear. The first technique involves reframing the physical, emotional and mental anxiety reactions you experience prior to interviewing as typical and natural. These sensations do not show anything beyond your body’s normal response to something that is potentially threatening. Avoid giving these natural responses special significance. In fact, you can greet or accept these reactions by saying to yourself: “Here are those anxiety feelings again. It makes sense that I feel nervous; I am about to interview for a position I really want.” This type of acknowledgement is empowering and dampens your anxiety and increases your agency, rather than allowing your nervousness to make you even more nervous.
Converse rather than perform. Another reframing effort that helps relieve speaking anxiety has to do with seeing your interview as different from a performance. In performing, you place a tremendous amount of pressure on yourself “to get it right.” A less stressful and more engaging approach is to frame your interview as a conversation. How do you become conversational? First, when you practice (and you should practice), sit at a coffee table or at a coffee shop with friends or family to talk through common interview questions. Second, include the word “you” frequently when speaking. “You” provides a direct, verbal connection with your audience and leads to a more conversational tone and approach.
Put your interviewer’s needs before your own. The final reframing technique that can reduce interview anxiety involves changing the relationship you envision having with your interviewer. You likely approach an interview thinking “here’s what I need to tell my interviewer,” and then proceed to develop and ultimately deliver your thoughts and ideas. A better, more thorough approach to your interview would be to begin by asking the question: “What does my interviewer need to hear?” While this approach initially sounds similar to “here’s what I need to tell my interviewer,” the difference is striking. By embracing an interviewer-focused approach, you will not only engage your interviewer more — since you’re giving her what she needs, but you will take the spotlight — and stress — off of yourself, which will allow you to be less nervous.
The above anxiety management reframing techniques not only can bolster graduates’ confidence and connection during their interviews, but these techniques can also be employed during another common activity associated with graduations…giving congratulatory toasts. Delivering toasts are the most common speaking event for most people, and the anxiety they bring with them is palpable. By acknowledging that the jitters associated with toasting are normal and natural, using a conversational approach, and focusing the toast on the needs of the toast recipients needs, you can deliver an impactful and less stressful toast.
Here’s to the class of 2015! May they celebrate their accomplishments and communicate them confidently.
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The art of the selfie is under attack. From the Met Gala to the Cannes Film Festival to Coachella, high-profile events have recently instituted measures meant to limit or altogether delete the taking of selfies. But you can’t tell that to multimedia artist, Rafia Santana, with the debut of her SELFiE exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA).
RAFiA SANTANA, PAiNT ME PUKiNG (2014)
“Anybody who thinks selfies are only vain wants to reduce the importance of a human being. I am not sure where the judgment comes from,” she said. “We should all be reflective of ourselves whether we are in a good place or bad place. Selfies help to bring us out of a bad place to uplift ourselves and connect with others.”
RAFiA SANTANA, PAiNT ME (2014)
Resembling something out of an Afrofuturistic dreamscape, Santana’s work integrates digitally manipulated images with soundscapes that advance the selfie from candid shots to visual statements. Her process usually begins with a photograph of herself that is combined with other photos taken on her mobile device. The image is then enhanced via a tablet where she uses her hands to digitally paint and complete the work. Thematically the 25-year-old artist focuses on issues related to her self-identity as a young black woman dealing with daily reminders of race and gender challenges.
RAFiA SANTANA, RAFiA (Above), 2014
“As a small short black woman I have had to always affirm my existence and place. In academic and male dominated spaces I have to push myself twice as far to get recognized for the things that I do well,” she said. “So these images are indicative of me standing my ground on this planet and showing how important I feel I am, as we should all feel we are. In the media we only see black people as coons and thugs. We don’t get to tell our own story as human beings that have good and bad. Being a kid growing up on the internet I realized that a good selfie image of yourself can make others see you in a better light. So it’s important to show ourselves in positive imagery.”
RAFiA SANTANA, See Through (2015)
The public art exhibition, curated by Stephanie George, is on view until September 27.
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The weekly column, On the “A” w/Souleo, covers the intersection of the arts, culture entertainment and philanthropy in Harlem and beyond and is written by Souleo, founder and president of event/media content production company Souleo Enterprises, LLC.
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HuffPost Teen is proud to be a livestream host for this year’s TEDxTeen in New York City, which takes place on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at Scholastic’s global world headquarters.
Featuring talks from inspiring young people and their game-changing, #SimplyIrresistible ideas (including senior editor of Young Voices, Taylor Trudon), TEDxTeen will stream live around the world from 10:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. EST on HuffPost Teen and TEDxTeen.com.
To check out the full list of speakers and performers, head over to TEDxTeen.com. Follow along with #TEDxTeen.
Watch the livestream below:
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Recently, I wrote about the dismal publishing scene for Latino authors. Well, I was remiss in at least one aspect. I implied that Hispanic writers are limited only to pitching the big New York publishing houses or jumping into the self-publishing quagmire. There is another option.
Namely, it is the world of small presses. Now, in the past, the phrase “small press” invoked images of ink-stained loners cranking out bizarre manifestos. Well, you’ll be glad to know those guys have moved on to troll internet comment pages across the web.
The small presses that exist today are often professionally run, highly principled organizations that focus on marginalized or experimental writers. And when it comes to Latino authors, we may be entering a golden age.
I’m talking about presses like Arte Publico, Floricanto, and Editorial Trance, all of which have been doing great work for years. And there is also Aignos Publishing, co-founded by Jonathan Marcantoni and Zachary Oliver.
Marcantoni says that Aignos, and other small presses that have a similar focus, look for writers who push boundaries and challenge readers to question their worldviews. Authors who embrace their distinct cultures — something Latino writers are well-known for doing — may find a home at Aignos or a similar small press.
“A small press gives authors the legitimacy of being affiliated with a company, one that is taken seriously by media and festivals and awards, in a way writers never get as self-published authors,” Marcantoni says. “Well-established small presses have marketing plans and publicists, plus the distribution channels are on par with what large presses use.”
Indeed, I can speak to this issue, as my own self-published novel, Barrio Imbroglio, is selling somewhere between hot cakes and lukewarm waffles.
It would certainly help to have an established marketing team behind me (my current marketing team consists of me and my cats).
Marcantoni says that when it comes to small presses, “the Latino author gets the best of both worlds: world-class distribution, a company backing their efforts, and creative freedom.”
That combo often leads to great books. For example, Aignos recently published Nuno, by Carlos Aleman. The novel is a lyrical love story set in pre-Castro Cuba and the aftermath of the revolution. Marcantoni says that Nuno doesn’t fit into mainstream expectations of Latino literature. As such, it lines up with Aignos’ mission of pushing writers to develop their views and skills instead of pressuring them to make the bestseller lists.
“No one should be a writer to be famous,” Marcantoni says. “It should come from a desire to express yourself and touch the lives of others.
So will we see more Hispanic authors telling their unique stories via small presses, touching the lives of more and more readers? Well, there’s ample reason to be optimistic about such a future.
“The Latino community can stand out as one of artists seeking to raise the bar of what storytelling can be,” Marcantoni says. “And there are publishers out there who will support you.”
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Like a lot of queer people, Daniel K. Issac has a complicated relationship with his mother, Esther.
Esther is a devoutly religious Korean-American who doesn’t approve of her son’s sexuality — and she isn’t shy about telling him so. For a long time, Isaac grappled with how to deal with his mother’s disapproval and constant comments about his sexuality. But then friends made him realize something powerful — the way his mother communicated her feelings about his life and sexuality are actually hilarious.
Like…
And…
They’re so funny, in fact, that Daniel created a hashtag, #AccordingToMyMother, which became a viral Internet sensation. This happened not only because of the comedic nature of their communication, but because of the visible exploration of the love between a mother and child, despite the way that cultural and religious differences can serve as a wedge in their relationships.
Now, Isaac plans to turn the #AccordingToMyMother sensation into a film, funded through a Kickstarter campaign. While his mother is embarrassed by the online attention she has received, especially with her living in California and Daniel in New York, she is fully supportive of the film and embraces the idea that art can be therapeutic.
The Huffington Post spoke with Isaac this week about why he decided to start sharing his relationship with his mom with the public, and what he hopes can be achieved achieve through this film.
The Huffington Post: What made you want to start sharing your mom’s quotes?
Daniel K. Isaac: Living on opposite sides of the country, the main form of communication my mom and I have is by phone. In order to limit the duration of these conversations, I often call my mom on my way to something: the subway station, work, rehearsal, or home. On many occasions, I would arrive at a destination while finishing up a call in front of my friends or castmates or coworkers and they would ask why I was in whatever emotional state my mother had put me in. I would recount the conversation, and rather than finding empathy or compassion for my plight, I would be met with laughter or utter shock and disbelief. It took an outsider’s perspective for me to realize how ridiculous or absurd and downright comical my mom sounded. When I learned to observe the hilarity rather than the negative arguments themselves, I didn’t mind calling my mom as much. In fact, I looked forward to it. I realized maybe other people would enjoy hearing about this too and see how a different perspective can radically change a relationship dynamic. So I took to Facebook and received more “likes” on those snippets of conversations than I ever did on a new profile picture. And that led to a Tumblr and an Instagram account and now a movie!
HP: What has the reaction been like?
I can no longer have a “mom-free” conversation. Instead of being introduced as Daniel the actor, I now hear, “You should add Daniel as a Facebook friend so you can read more about his mom.” People I haven’t spoken to in years will share embarrassing and intimate details about their family and their parental relationships or how they have been meaning to start their own hashtag or blog for “According To My Southern Mother” or “Sh*t My German Mom Says.”
I have a handful of friends and old acquaintances who are reticent to express their support. I’ve been told #accordingtomymother is improper. Or I am airing my dirty laundry. Or disrespecting my elders. Or dishonoring a familial bond or parent-child confidentiality (is that a thing?). I counter these points with stories about friends/acquaintances/strangers who tell me about their idiosyncratic families, who share potentially traumatic anecdotes for the first time, who are given permission and a platform to express their personal experiences and how they empathize with their own family backgrounds. And that makes it worth it — to at least help start the conversation.
What do you think your relationship with your mom can show us about understanding and love between people who maybe don’t see eye to eye?
When my mom disowned me for being gay, it was my freshman year of college. I remember going to the Financial Aid Office to consider my options as a suddenly-and-unexpectedly financially-independent 16-year-old, and they had me fill out some surprisingly simple paperwork and register for ten sessions of therapy. The therapist I was assigned ended up being the best thing to come from the Financial Aid Office — of all places! He really helped me find a new way to approach my relationship with my mother.
He said I could be “White,” “Black” or “Gray.” “White” meant I could go back in the closet as my mom hoped and prayed and return to the church and fight this “sin” and have the old relationship I had with my mother. “Black” meant resuming our silence, letting the rift grow larger and learning to live without a relationship with my mother because neither of us was going to change. I was always going to be gay. She was always going to believe that homosexuality was a choice and a sin. Or I could try to find the “Gray.” He highlighted the fact that my mother was a single parent and I was an only child and that our relationship, while incredibly messy, was important to each of us. And perhaps we could find a gray area in which I would accept the likelihood that she was never going to change her belief system, but I would learn to have compassion in the face of her homophobia, or ignore her ignorance, and let her words that were meant to hurt just go through one ear and out the other. Love by example, even when it may never be reciprocated in the same fashion. Am I always successful at this? No. I mean, I find a weird form of catharsis by writing about it and sharing it with the world. But I think the intention is pure. And maybe if we found the gray area in our extreme points of view a little bit more, then maybe we could have a little more understanding in the world. A little more love.
What’s the one thing you want people to take away from your experience?
I think by writing #accordingtomymother, I’ve learned the importance of trying to find laughter and comedy when there’s seemingly none to be found. I think humor is part of my healing and coping process and I hope to be able to share that with these posts and with this movie. I hope that, past the hilarity and the absurdity of it all, you can see one guy’s “resilience,” which sounds like too strong a word, but basically this is how I work with the cards I’ve been dealt and maybe that can help someone else through their own journey.
Oh, and, call your mom.
Head here to visit the Kickstarter campaign for “According To My Mother.”
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