There are very few words to capture the ongoing conflict happening in Gaza, the photos don’t even encapsulate the sheer horror. Still, what the photographers on the ground there enable is for the world to see the human rights atrocities taking place. They spread awareness of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so that hopefully a resolution can be reached and humanitarian aid can be given.

The conflict is far more complex than one article can explain. Essays, books, and entire series have been written on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Still, we can all admit that what we are seeing is truly horrific and demoralizing on a human level.

The pictures and videos we see are due to the bravery of the photographers on the ground covering the conflict in Gaza. Without them, much more of the world would be silent. We pray for the people in this war-torn area. And we highlighted the photographers risking it all below.

Trigger Warning: Some of the images below are extremely distressing. Still, these instances are still occurring today. Who are we as members of the human race to turn away?

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Mohammed Abed

Mohammed Abed is a Palestinian photojournalist. He studied journalism at the Islamic University in Gaza, worked for Reuters from 1991-2001, and has been associated with AFP since 2003.

Photos from Gaza shot by @AFP photographers @mohmdabed @MahmudHams @saidkhatib. Our latest story is here: https://t.co/f0mnjdfcAK pic.twitter.com/T2LQSgb7dO

— Sara Hussein (@sarahussein) May 17, 2021

Being a Palestinian photojournalist, Abed has innate ties to the area. And he captures his photos of the Gaza conflict with poise and purpose.

Family mourning, children injured, homes destroyed and people crying out for help. Once again, these photos in Gaza are extremely distressing, but the world needs to see them.

And for Abed and all other photojournalists at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, they won’t seek praise, but we must commend their work in exposing the world to these brutal human rights violations.

بين أخبار غير مؤكدة عن وقوع وسائل إعلام ضحية "تلاعب" لإيهامها بدخول قوات إسرائيلية إلى #غزة وقصف مقار إعلامية داخل القطاع، يذكر التصعيد بين #إسرائيل وحركة #حماس بأن الحقيقة يمكن أن تكون "أولى ضحايا" الحرب.https://t.co/DPZ0ED0Kdf #فرانس_برس

✍️@LavalleeGL
📸@mohmdabed @MahmudHams pic.twitter.com/VFZBss98wZ

— فرانس برس بالعربية (@AFPar) May 17, 2021

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Khalil Hamra

Khalil Hamra is an Arab photojournalist and AP photographer. He won the Pulitzer Prize and was recognized by the Overseas Press Club of America with its Robert Capa Gold Medal for the series covering the war in Gaza 2009.

Given his extensive time covering the area, Hamra has an intrinsic feel for taking photos of the Gaza conflict.

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A post shared by Khalil Hamra (@khalilhamra)

Still, from what I can gather, Hamra does not make his personal feelings known. He just reports.

While impartiality is always strived for in journalism, of course that does not make that feat easy or always feasible. But Hamra showcasing the horror in Gaza without personal comment allows viewers to draw their own conclusions, which possibly has the chance to affect even greater change.

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Mahmud Hams

Hams is an AFP photographer stationed in Gaza. He has been showcasing the irreversible destruction the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has wrecked in Gaza.

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A post shared by Mahmud Hams (@mahmud_hams)

As are most photos in this harrowing chapter, many of Hams’ photographs are hard to stomach. Wounded children, parents praying and crying. Pure humanity on display in the most dire of times.

Though as a photographer, it is his job to capture the truth, and then viewers’ jobs to make judgements from there. Many of the photos have done just that for people, recognizing that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not so much a battle between two equal sides, but a conflict emerging from increasing apartheid tendencies by the Israeli government for over half a century.

But Hams does more than just capture destruction; he captures resolve. And by capturing the entirety of situations and keeping his eyes and mind ready to learn more, he fulfills his role as an essential photojournalist.

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Anas Baba

Anas Baba is another prominent AFP photographer. Like her peers, she has taken photographs at the heart of the Gaza conflict.

One of her photos of Israel’s defense system in action against Hamas’ rockets went viral, and for good reason. It showed a scale to the entire conflict that many people internationally did not yet know.

Remarkable photo from AFP's Anas Baba.

Israel's 'Iron Dome' defence system about to counter rockets fired from Gaza. pic.twitter.com/BSj7MGektL

— Barry Malone (@malonebarry) May 14, 2021

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Belal Khaled

Khaled is a Palestinian photographer and works as a senior videographer for TRT Arabi, an Arabic language channel for Turkey and the Middle East.

He captions one of his collection of posts on Twitter as:

In Gaza , we creat [sic] art from the middle of the death.

Belal Khaled

Ahmed and Nana fled the bombing as their homes were destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, but they're happy that they managed to save their fish.

📹: @BelalKhaled pic.twitter.com/EyYA8NNGZy

— • (@Alhamdhulillaah) May 17, 2021

Kahled has an artistic eye, and an innate understanding of how to authentically capture a moment. His photos teem with honesty. They scream the culture that they present.

الأمن اليوناني يُعذب اللاجئين ويعيدهم عراة إلى الأراضي التركية
تصوير : بلال خالد
Greek security forces force the refugees who crossed the border to return naked into Turkish territory
Photo : Belal Khaled pic.twitter.com/HglrdfEprd

— Belal Khaled (@BelalKhaled) March 6, 2020

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Use photos and historical text to educate yourself on the conflict in Gaza

Ultimately, we can only all draw our own conclusions. We must educate ourselves beyond what we see on social media. We must read historical texts, smart, honest current news articles, and analyze photographs like those captured by the aforementioned photographers.

What everyone should be able to agree on is that Palestinians are in danger, even if a ceasefire has been reached. The world needs to send humanitarian aid and work towards a long-term solution, because the situation is dire right now and has been for quite some time.

Sometimes prose is not enough to explain the horror and sadness on display. Poetry often has a greater chance at speaking to people. With that said, follow below for an honest reflection of how the youth feels.

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Poem by Chloé Sautereau

the youth will only ever be young once
to grow up and pursue what they dream to do
they are not responsible for precedent
and yet they are the ones to live through what ensues

wanting to help,
they are those made helpless
hoping to grow,
today, for them, the sun won’t glow
obscured by the fire, the pain, the hatred,
by the things we were taught were not to be perpetuated

while they are the richest
when it comes to perspective and depth
while they are the wisest
in knowing/drawing the line between love and theft
it is in smoke that they must witness their future dissolving
though it is these children that should be reaching for the stars, dreaming

In our world today, there is plenty of saturation. It seems that everybody wants a piece of the cultural pie. The way by which you stand out is through differentiation. Find something that interests people that not many people are doing and go forth tenfold! Why not become a skateboard photographer?

The motion of a skateboard can be difficult to keep up with. Maintaining control of the camera can be even harder. But where there is a will, there is a way. The hardest step is always getting started.

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A post shared by MARCHE HAUTE (@marchehaute)

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Necessities for skateboard photography

To become a skateboard photographer, you will need a few things. First things first, you’re going to want a camera.

Make sure that you invest the proper funds and allotment of resources to secure this pivotal tool. It will define your work. 

Here a few basic photography tips: 

• Always seek highest iso quality
• Adjust presets based upon lighting
• Ensure correct white balance
• Pre adjust the frames per second

Once the camera is in possession, you should always keep some other items on your person to be a successful skateboard photographer.

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More tools for skateboard photographers

Always bring along a skate tool and pliers for your subjects. This is a symbiotic relationship and if there is no skateboard, there is no photograph.

Also, this will allow your subject to adjust their settings and prepare for the shoot. Some tools you might need are pliers, a “skate tool,” a box cutter, and a multi-tool.

Additionally, use wax. A rail that is dry as the Sahara is not conducive to successful skateboarding photography. Rub the wax upon ledges or flat bars to smooth the surface and allow for greater yield and range of imagery.

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Pack extra/keep spare parts

Stay hydrated and promote yourself, fool!

Also, keep spare parts and shoelaces. This includes extra wheels, gears, screws, and first-aid. Therefore, you can be on the spot no matter what happens. Everyone knows skateboarding is a game of uncertainty.

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Finally, keep an external hard drive & charger

Always back up your work and make sure it is possible to continue working.

With this collection of items, you are sure to impress your subject and build strong rapport. Having these things shows that you are prepared, knowledgeable and willing to do what it takes. 

Above all else, network your tail off! Talk to anyone and everyone within the skateboarding subculture and be genuine. I can only give you so much game until it is time for you to go ten does down and dive into it. So what are you waiting for? Get to snappin’!

In a contemporary political moment fraught with violence, artists across mediums are collaborating to uplift their creative communities. The breakdancing world in particular has been gaining traction as a competitive sport on International Dance Day. And largely through the help of Red Bull Dance and breakdancing photography, the day has garnered global recognition for an art form created by and for BIPOC.

Photographers offer their unique skills to frame and capture the fluidity of breaking in a whole new light. The two art forms are naturally compatible, bringing out the dynamism of photo work and the electrifying movement of breaking.

From the streets of the Bronx to the 2024 Paris Olympic games, breaking has evolved in the last few decades. The community values that have remained on International Dance Day, however, have allowed activism to find a natural home in this creative space.

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Red Bull Dance

The recent spike in AAPI racism has rocked the diverse group of dancers at Red Bull Dance. Leaders and activists in their own right, Red Bull One dancers have continued their work with a renewed commitment to amplifying social change.

Red Bull BC One dancers are at the forefront of AAPI representation and continue to raise the bar for breakers. This is a curated group of sixteen b-boys and 16 b-girls chosen from thousands of breakers. These dancers will compete to represent at the Red Bull BC One World Final, which takes place in Poland this year.

In advance of International Dance Day, we spoke to breakdancing’s finest about what inspires them, and how breaking can be a vessel for change. 

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Logan Edra

This natural starlet has been at the top of the game for almost a decade now – despite being only 17 years old.

Logan Edra is an international dancer. She first made it into the public eye a few years ago when she appeared on the Ellen Degeneres show. Since then, the young artist has continued to hone her craft and put the platform it gives her towards the good of the community.

A natural-born dancer since she was just 8 years old, Edra is turning her attention towards mindful ways to make use of her platform. 

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KH: What inspires you to take your dancing to the next level?

LE: There are many things that inspire me to take my dancing to the next level; and it is always changing as I continue to evolve as a human, artist, and athlete. My main source of inspiration as of recently has been to simply be a voice for the voices that are silenced. There is too much suffering on this planet to not use our art to uplift others.

I find a powerful source of drive in alchemizing the negative energy I’ve had through countless moments of getting life thrown at me in ways that seem unfair and/or the multiple times of “not getting it” despite my hard work. It’s a way for me to release hard feelings and deal with tough emotions in a healthy way.

If I see some of my friends get a new move, take their footwork to the next level, or up their battle tactics, I take it as a reminder to see what I need to work on so that we can all consistently evolve and help the culture/dance evolve.

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Breakdancing’s effect on social change

KH: Can breakdancing amplify efforts towards activism and social change?

LE: Breakin in itself is one of the first elements of hip-hop.

Therefore, us being a community of mostly BIPOC who might have chosen this craft due to it’s low demand in expenses and have maybe come from/deal with marginalization in some way, we are already a walking symbol of social change, diversity, inclusion, things of this nature. Can we continue to evolve our ways of amplifying social justice? Yes, and we are.

KH: How do you stay committed to your craft when you’re faced with obstacles?

LE: One, I take a step back to look at my life as an observer before moving forward. Sometimes obstacles can cause confusion, so in order to find clarity I automatically know that I need to just “oversee” rather than being “in it”.

Two, I power through the obstacle(s) with the motivation to overcome what is trying to hold me down.

Perspective and alchemizing these emotions plus having healthy outlets—such as meditation, breathwork, and other Therapeutic techniques—have all helped me stay committed to my craft when facing obstacles.

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Victor Montalvo

No one in the game has more championships to their name than Victor Montalvo. Having toured around the world and won multiple solo competitions, Montalvo is the current record holder of most international titles in a year.

He is far from letting his notoriety get the better of his talent though. Thus, the world-renowned dancer is dedicated to the lifestyle, art, and community of breaking. 

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KH: What inspires you to take your dancing to the next level?

VM: What inspires me to take my breaking to the next level is just the art of breaking. It’s a never ending cycle of creativity and expression. I want to leave a legacy behind and become on of the best to ever do it! 

KH: Can breakdancing amplify efforts towards activism and social change?

VM: Definitely breaking can help towards social change. Breaking is a melting pot of different cultures, ethnicity’s and people. Hip hop in general is all about peace, love, unity and respect. That’s something we stand for. 

KH: How do you stay committed to your craft when you’re faced with obstacles?

VM: The way I stand committed to my craft is by becoming more open-minded getting inspired by not just breaking but things, places, music, concepts, ideas and implementing them into my breaking. Make it feel more exciting and new. 

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Ronnie Abaldonado

Abaldonado, a Red Bull BC One All-Star and member of multiple top dance crews, was originally an architect major.

Since he made the switch to breaking, Abaldonad has made a name for himself as a record-breaker with power moves. He’s been a member of Full Force, and Super Cr3w, a team that won the second season MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew.

Over the last decade, the dancer has expanded his work to include teaching breakdancing to children of all ages at his art studio, District Arts. 

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KH:What inspires you to take your dancing to the next level?

RA: The endless possibilities of creating new moves, and the evolution of dance continuing to reach new heights. 

KH: Can breakdancing amplify efforts towards activism and social change?

RA: Yes.

Since Breaking is part of the Hip Hop Culture we live by these words “Peace, Love, Unity and having fun.” 

Ronnie Abaldonado

KH: How do you stay committed to your craft when you’re faced with obstacles? 

RA: Breaking has actually helped me navigate through life’s obstacles. When times were tough, breaking was my remedy. 

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Support Red Bull Dance below

Today, on International Dance Day, we can draw strength and inspiration from these artists. Showcasing the beauty of photography and breaking, these dancers are keeping their craft alive.

Support Red Bull Dance and more breakdancing photography here.

After the impact that recent times have had on everyone’s mental health (with the pandemic and the ensuing restrictions), it would not be at all surprising if you are one of the many people eagerly searching their smartphones for their next holiday.

When thinking about these prospective holidays, it is nice to imagine them as being something where you can completely detach yourself from the day-to-day components that make up your standard schedule.

However, although you might be inclined to turn off your smartphone for the duration of your holiday, there are some ways in which your handheld device could prove useful for you while traveling.

Let it be Your Holiday Guide

One of the most famous and widely used aspects of smartphones is their ability to deliver accurate GPS services that can help you to become more familiar with unknown environments.

You do not need to look any further than how useful it can be in areas you already know, to see how much it could benefit you in a different space entirely.

The idea of being knowledgeable about your new surroundings before traveling to them is nothing new, maps have always been incredibly useful tools on holiday the only difference now is the means by which you access them.

Opting for the digital version instead of a physical map saves space and makes them easier to understand for those who struggle with orientation, only emphasizing the benefits further. 

You can also download a travel guide on your holiday destination so that you have tips on local customs, places to eat, and highlights for your trip all a few buttons away on your smartphone. You can look up recent reviews rather than having to rely on any research done before your holiday. 

A phone is also an easy way to stay in touch with news at home or in your local area – so that you can keep up to date as much as possible and not miss out on any exciting opportunities, if whales have been spotted off the shore for example. 

Do Not be Afraid to Cut Loose on Your Smartphone

This should go without saying due to the very nature of a holiday but sometimes people can feel as though one type of relaxation is more valuable than others, which is entirely subjective of course.

However, if you are someone who finds themselves very much enjoying the time that they spend on holiday or vacation on your smartphone then that should not stop you from taking it along with you to fill those quieter moments of the holiday.

Having it available to listen to music as you take scenic strolls in a new environment can help breathe life into old songs and entice you to go exploring.

Additionally, finding yourself with free time can be filled as it always is; playing games on your phone through the app store or on online casinos such as spin casino, where you can find the same kinds of games you would expect to see in such physical venues (Or you can Google pay casino).

It is your holiday and you should allow yourself to relax in whichever way feels most appropriate. 

It’s hard to get compensated to play competitive video games, and opportunity costs are not something many semi-pros can afford to neglect. One company, FirstBlood, aims to change all of this through their decentralized Dawn Protocol.

The world of professional e-sports has really taken off over the past decade, exploding onto the mainstream stage through live televised tournaments and — before the global COVID-19 pandemic — sold-out arenas.

This has helped legitimize playing video games competitively as a profession, but the market’s potential is still only emerging.

When it comes to the esports industry, the statistics speak for themselves. In 2016, alone, esports revenue totaled more than $492 million. In 2017, that figure had ballooned to nearly $700 million — with nearly 40% coming from sponsorships and more than 20% coming from advertising.

From 2018 to 2023, the total esports viewership was predicted to grow at a 9% compound annual growth rate, with revenue expected to top $1.5 billion in the United States, alone.

However, the esports industry is a firmly global one — with most of the revenue being generated in Asian countries, such as Vietnam, South Korea, and China. This global market has increased demand from advertisers seeking to expand their brands to other markets outside of their home territories.

Needless to say, esports is here — and it’s here to stay. However, at the moment, there exists a massive gap between the professional gaming industry and a talented pool of semi-pros who don’t have the funding to devote more time and energy into their craft.

It takes hours of dedication to become as good as the professionals, making having a full-time job — or even a part-time job — outside of gaming difficult.

Leveraging Ethereum to help gamers go pro

Dawn aims to create career opportunities for gamers who otherwise would not have access to funding and the resources needed to improve their craft. It accomplishes this through decentralized rewarding and matchmaking technologies.

As the original blockchain-based esports token, Dawn is built on the Ethereum blockchain — the world’s most popular network for decentralized applications (dApps), decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Thanks to the popularity of Ethereum and its smart-contract capabilities, Dawn is well-positioned to bridge the gap between mainstream gamers looking to go pro and the world of decentralized payments and financing.

Dawn allows for rewards from a multitude of AAA titles to be earned, wagered and staked. Users may earn Dawn tokens for excelling in tournaments set up for their favorite competitive games.

They may freeze Dawn tokens in an Ethereum-based smart contract to gain access to exclusive benefits and rewards. At the same time, users may build their reputations in the hyper-competitive esports market and push their careers into the mainstream spotlight.

For example, FirstBlood recently partnered with MakerDAO to launch Call of Duty: Warzone tournaments — in which gamers may earn DAI and Dawn tokens for out-performing the competition.

Dawn tokens may also be staked in FirstBlood tournaments for multiplayer online battle arena Dota 2, online multiplayer battle royale PUBG, and popular mobile title Garena FreeFire.

Dawn opens the door for gamers all over the world to earn professionally, based on their skills and merit, thanks to its decentralized and borderless nature. However, it is also developer-friendly and easily enabled — allowing for additional revenue streams for video game developers.

So far, the FirstBlood platform has served more than 350,000 users from 200+ countries while facilitating more than 1.7 million matches and dozens of professional tournaments. This has led to the distribution of thousands of prize pools.

Securing the right partnerships

FirstBlood has enlisted the help of leading decentralized finance protocol MakerDAO to bring decentralized stablecoin integration to its platform.

MakerDAO is the protocol behind the most popular decentralized stablecoin, DAI. By integrating with the FirstBloof platform, both semi-pro and pro gamers are able to earn rewards in DAI while playing their favorite competitive games.

Thanks to the decentralized nature of DAI, gamers around the world are now able to gain access to the decentralized financial system and — based on their performance and abilities — potentially fund their passions while developing their skills to make it on the professional esports scene. 

Together with the Dawn token, DAI ensures that gamers everywhere may reap the rewards of their abilities.

In recent years, it’s only become more and more difficult to deny how critical it is for every company to have a CSR (corporate social responsibility) edge.

Simply put, it matters to consumers and can also help to solidify a company’s overarching brand. According to Fabrik Brands, “many businesses have found that CSR helps them to identify their brand purpose and create a personality that their customers can connect with on a deeper level.

According to one study by the Reputation Institute, 42% of how a person feels about a company is based on their knowledge of that firm’s CSR definition.”

“Definition” is a broad range that can encompass a company’s mission statement, how they give back financially, volunteer or pro bono hour requirements for employees, or otherwise.

The importance of this is simply in the need to do something social responsibility-geared to establish deeper trust with your target audience and further solidify your brand.

Consider the following tips to create a CSR that’s naturally aligned with your brand and give back while building deeper trust with your customer base.

Ask yourself what authentically matters to you as a founder

If you’ve created your company and brand from a place of alignment, it will naturally follow that what matters to you as a person or a founder will have a clear relationship to the value proposition of your company.

Say, for example, that you own a gardening company, and you naturally have a passion for sustainability and compost. These two elements align in a way that makes sense for a consumer. 

Ask yourself why you got into your business to begin with. What good were you hoping to serve? How can you apply your talents, skill sets, and your team’s strengths to benefit the world from a social responsibility standpoint?

This may take some brainstorming, but one thing is for sure: people can always tell if someone’s initiatives and intentions come from the heart. This authenticity will give your CSR that extra edge.

Relate a CSR initiative to your industry and a need 

Every industry has the potential for a social responsibility initiative. There will always be a group of people or a cause to serve. Here’s the key: if customers or clients are investing in your business, that shows where their values lie. They’re more likely to view you positively and continue investing if your initiative is also in this industry and serving a need that people can get behind.

One such example is eviivo, an all-in-one booking suite in the travel industry. In the light of COVID-19, eviivo created a #staylocal2021 campaign in lieu of their annual holiday party. To support the hotels and B&B’s their booking suite supports, they re-allocated the funds from the holiday party to provide for a night of stay accommodations for employees.

But they didn’t stop there: the purpose of the campaign was to encourage other companies to do the same, supporting independent hotels and B&B’s in the process. 

This proved to customers that eviivo truly cares about the hotels and B&B’s they feature and support on their booking suite, which adds an extra element of trust. And, from a strategy perspective, creating a timely (COVID-19 based) CSR initiative within the same industry simply made sense. This brand alignment created a win-win-win for all involved.

Partner with companies or nonprofits that share similar values

If you’re a smaller startup and you don’t have the capacity to build out a full initiative, consider joining forces with other nonprofits or foundations that do work related to your industry.

This piece of advice doesn’t just apply to smaller companies, though. This might be a way to go on your CSR front if there’s a cause you’re especially passionate about, and the way the foundation is going about serving specifically stands out to you. 

An example of this is GSK’s partnership with Save the Children. GSK is a healthcare pharmaceutical company, and Save the Children is a global nonprofit, considered today’s leading humanitarian organization for children.

Together, they’ve treated over 125,000 children for diseases like  malaria and pneumonia, and helped over 108,000 children during and after emergencies.

In addition to the significant work that’s been done, this partnership is an example of how large corporations can give back in a way that’s aligned with the work they do, without allocating manpower or time to do it. In many cases, putting your money where your mouth is is enough. 

If you’re feeling called to build a social responsibility initiative, look to local nonprofits you respect, or think through corporations that tug at your team’s heartstrings. Let that passion drive you to commit a certain percentage of your profits or team up for an event or fundraiser.

However you go about your own CSR, ensure that alignment comes first. There’s always a chance that the lines could get blurred and customers could get confused if you create an initiative that’s out of alignment or in a totally different industry.

The opportunity to do good, and to build trust and brand cohesion through these processes, is too powerful to pass up.

While performance-enhancing and the recreational drug culture is nothing new, you may have heard of a recently-trending class of drugs called “nootropics.”

Sometimes called a “smart drug,” these over-the-counter and prescription supplements are touted to boost brain performance, cognition, and memory skills. 

College students cramming for exams, dementia patients, and active professionals hoping for a promotion might see great benefits in the possibilities here.

There is, however, a lot of conflicting information surrounding these drugs. So, what are they and how do they work? And, most importantly, can they really help with focus and cognitive enhancement?

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What are nootropics?

The word “nootropic” is derived from two Greek words. “Nous,” which means mind, and “tropein,” which means to bend or turn.

They are currently defined as a substance that enhances cognition and memory and facilitates learning.

The term nootropic originally referred to synthetic substances that were purported to enhance mental abilities. But the name is now being used in a broader sense to apply to anything that supports cognitive function – including herbs and vitamins in dietary supplements.

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A brief history of nootropics

Despite their recent upsurge in popularity, nootropics are nothing new.

The term was originally coined by a Romanian chemist and psychologist, Dr. Corneliu Giurgea. This was decades ago, when he was trying to synthesize a new and improved sleeping pill.

Instead, he accidentally invented piracetam, which he labelled a nootropic.

Dr. Giurgea’s guidelines for what should be considered a nootropic are far more specific than current trends tend to include. He specified 5 factors that make a nootropic: 

1. Enhance memory
2. Improve behavior under adverse conditions
3. Protect the brain from injury by physical or chemical means
4. Improve tonic cortical/subcortical control mechanisms
5. Demonstrate a low toxicity and side-effect profile

Many of the “nootropics” on the market today would not meet the criteria he laid out 40 years ago. This is mostly due to the associated side effects and lack of demonstrable efficacy.

Although their effects are more subtle, vitamins and supplements might actually be more likely candidates for the term “nootropic” than their prescription cousins, due to their lack of withdrawal symptoms and long-term dependency.

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Types of nootropics

While caffeine gives you more access to several chemicals (neurotransmitters) in your brain such as acetylcholine, which helps with short-term memory and learning, most people looking for brain stimulation or cognitive enhancement are not simply sticking to coffee and tea. 

There are a number of different types of substances that fall within the broad category of nootropics. Some have higher proven efficacy than others. 

• Caffeine: in coffee, tea, or pill form
• Vitamins, Herbs, & Supplements: Bacopa Monnieri, Rhodiola Rosea, Panax Ginseng, Ginkgo Biloba, Nicotine
• Amino Acids: L-Theanine, Creatine
• Synthetic: Noopept, Piracetam, Phenotropil
• Prescription “smart drugs”: Modafinil (Provigil), Amphetamines (Adderall), Methylphenidate (Ritalin), Memantine (Axura)

Traditionally, many of the vitamins and botanicals on this list boasted substantial cognitive benefits. However, a 2015 study showed that there was no compelling evidence in favor of cognitive enhancement by any of the vitamins or supplements in this category.

It may be a failure of US regulation of the supplement industry, allowing for ineffective formulas or containing low-doses of the active ingredients.

Modafinil is intended to sustain “wakefulness” in people with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, or shift work disorder, according to the FDA.

But when people without those conditions take it, it has been linked with improvements in alertness, energy, focus and decision-making.

A 2017 study found evidence that modafinil may enhance some aspects of brain connectivity, which could further explain these benefits.

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Do nootropics work?

The way nootropics function in humans is by causing a shift in the brain’s levels of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters. It’s not entirely clear that the effects are uniform in all users or that they are any more effective than a placebo. 

While some young people have reported a significant “brain boost” with the use of Modafinil, there is no current consensus on what effects these shifts may have on a person’s health in the long run.

Also, some research on young people who use modafinil has found changes in brain plasticity, which could contribute to poor cognition down the road.

Because there are so many different supplements in the broader category of “nootropics,” it’s hard to give a definitive answer to the question of whether or not nootropics actually work.

The lack of widespread research on over-the-counter nootropics prohibits experts from confidently asserting the efficacy of these drugs improve thinking or brain function. Or that everyone can safely use them. 

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Not a magic pill

The idea that nootropics will magically make you smarter or increase your odds at a casino are sadly, unfounded.

Slots and online casino players, in general, won’t necessarily benefit from the use of nootropics. But they can increase their chances by utilizing free spin offers that require no real money risk to them. 

There are, of course, serious side effects associated with nootropics. These include headaches, anxiety, insomnia, hallucinations, seizures, heart trouble, and even sudden death.

Therefore, nootropics should be taken with extreme care. While nootropics can (and do) provide many benefits for some users, anyone considering taking them should consult with a doctor before starting any new regimen. 

Sports and big money is the perfect combination for a lot of people. In another trend that has taken over the world, the work of cryptocurrency continues to change the landscape of economics. Most recently, that is with NBA NFTs, with NBA Top Shot dominating the crypto sphere.

In a cryptocurrency world that has been filled with the likes of Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc., a new groundbreaking cryptocurrency has now hit the blockchain, basically the marketplace for cryptocurrency.

It is NBA Top Shot. Yes, you read that sentence correctly, the NBA, as in the National Basketball Association, is now a part of the cryptocurrency world.

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The NBA enters the NFT space — NBA Top Shot

As with anything that has taken over the world, it is hard to find an angle that has not been discussed at length already. The same is the case for NBA Top Shot.

However, one angle that we feel doesn’t get discussed enough with new trends, is the reason(s) why they are trending? Why has NBA Top Shot created life-changing fortunes for many consumers?

The way that the pandemic has reacted with sports and big money is our answer here.

They are simply the three key reasons that the NBA has entered the NFT space. And why NBA Top Shot has pushed its way to the top of the world. 

Let’s start with #1: The pandemic.

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The pandemic’s effect on sports betting and NBA Top Shot

Anything in the world can be linked to COVID-19. But NBA Top Shot, like any cryptocurrency, has had a significant boost in popularity since the pandemic began.

The likes of Dave Portnoy at Barstool Sports, the rise of BitCoin, and the strange rise in GameStop stock all prove the tangible excitement and passion for something like NBA Top Shot.

Where does this passion come from? Well, with the pandemic causing people to live an insufferable amount of time in their homes, new hobbies will then arise. One of those hobbies, for many, is the Stock Market/Cryptocurrency world. 

It seems that every other week a new cryptocurrency is taking over the world. It was Bitcoin three weeks ago, NBA Top Shot last week, and Dogecoin this week.

Now for the sports side of things…

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Sports betting like with NBA NFTs is only going to get more popular

For many people, sports are a big part of our lives. But as of yet, at least for me, cryptocurrency has had no importance in my life. However, that has now changed.

It takes a lot for people to try and understand the ins and outs of the cryptocurrency world because let us be honest, it is very confusing.

However, when an already established passion is involved, people will get excited, and in this case, sports is that passion.

For the sake of this argument, I will use myself as an example.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I told one of my friends I wanted to invest in the stock market. I tried to watch YouTube videos to understand what in the world was going on in the stock market, and simply how to make an investment.

That search got me nowhere, besides having even more questions than when I started.

However, now with Top Shot, I have found my passion for stocks and investments reinvigorated, because not only do I enjoy the NBA, but I understand that world.

I have no understanding of stocks, and what shares I should purchase. However, I know that a player like LeBron James is a good player, and is someone I should invest money in.

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Big money means sports betting like NBA Top Shot will continue

Money is the most obvious answer to the rise in NBA Top Shot popularity. People are making an exorbitant amount of money from buying and selling sports highlights. 

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According to Dapper Labs, as of February 28th, people have spent more than $230 million buying and selling these NBA highlights. As of now, I can only imagine how high that price has reached.

This is not a fad, Top Shot will not go away for a while. Even more, with more sports leagues closing in on an affiliation with NFTs, this world will begin to take on a new version of trading cards. And the popularity is not expected to dissipate worldwide.

The interest is there, the excitement is at an all-time high, and the money just keeps on building.

Don’t be surprised if, in 10 years, Top Shot is still around and thriving more than ever.

From a birds-eye view, New York City’s architecture could be seen as pretty systematic. The city’s grid layout and prevalence of buildings could leave you believing that NYC architecture is too homogenous. But photography of some of the most stunning buildings proves otherwise.

We’ve taken the liberty of shouting out some of the most stand-out architecture in NYC. The buildings are organized from more niche to basic locations.

Hopefully, city photographers will use this beautiful photography of magnificent NYC architecture to their advantage and let it serve as an inspiration to want to be great!

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Belvedere Castle, Central Park

This stunning castle was completed in 1871. It’s one of the most hidden pieces of NYC architecture, and this photography proves that.

Now, the castle is used as an observation deck and exhibition site. And, its surrounding nature can take your images back in time to a stunning dated Gothic era.

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Gracie Mansion

The Gracie Mansion embodies some of the least stereotypical NYC architecture on the island.

The mansion has been situated as NYC’s mayoral residence since 1942 by Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia. It is overlooking the water on East End Ave. and 88th St.

The photography of this exquisite piece of NYC architecture is almost just as beautiful as the stunning building itself.

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Moynihan Train Hall

Not to mention, on January 1st, Penn Station unveiled its newest addition: the Moynihan Train Hall.

The project took three years and now showcases an astonishing, modern, industrial interior proving the aesthetic effects of minimalistic design.

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Woolworth Building

Still, located downtown near the corner of Park Pl. and Broadway, The Woolworth building is an NYC architecture classic.

The building opened in 1913 and was known as the tallest building in the world until 1930. In fact, the 792 ft. tall skyscraper is now a residential building that hosts tours of the beautifully ornate lobby.

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Grace Church

Furthermore, Grace Church feels like a castle that was accidentally placed in Manhattan. Built-in 1847, the Church occupies 43,560 sq. ft. with enamoring gardens, fountains, and also several theological buildings.

When photographing this building, make sure to completely circle around it to get the full scope of magnitude. As far as photography goes for NYC architecture, it doesn’t quite get more historic than this.

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United Nations Headquarters

Then, situated on FDR Dr. and E 42nd St. overlooking the East River, the UN New York Headquarters is one of the more culturally significant landmarks of our time.

The front’s reflective capacity serves also as a noble backdrop for the pridefully standing flags at the Headquarters forefront.

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The Guggenheim

Of course, you can’t go wrong photographing both the interior and exterior of the glorious nyc architecture that is The Guggenheim.

In 1943, architect Frank Lloyd Wright was then commissioned to design the museum. One of the requirements was that it must be unlike any other museum; and to this day, it’s held up to that standard.

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TWA Terminal Hotel

Indeed, the TWA Terminal Hotel takes guests back to some of the most iconic elements of the 50s and 60s America.

It was modeled after the gorgeous structure of JFK in the 1960s. The hotel is a spitting image of the peak luxury that air travel used to be.

Not to mention, this is one of the latest NYC architecture additions, and the photography of it does not disappoint.

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56 Leonard Building

Finally, the shimmering building is visible virtually everywhere in Tribeca.

In addition, the reflective nature of the tower mirrors the sky, making the tower look like a pixelated version of its surroundings.

And, the building feels like Tetris pieces placed atop one another and is truly one of NYC architecture’s most breathtaking buildings, as this photography makes clear.

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Honorable mentions of NYC architecture photography:

The Met Steps

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The Occulus

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The Vessel

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Flatiron Building

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The Plaza Hotel