The DailyXander

Scouting the target - Linux Video Tutorial | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

Join Lisa Bock for an in-depth discussion in this video, Scouting the target, part of Ethical Hacking: Footprinting and…

Ethical Hacking: Scanning Networks Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

Become an ethical hacker. Learn how to detect network vulnerabilities through scanning, and use tools and techniques…

Ethical Hacking: Enumeration Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

Learn about the basic methods of enumerating networks and target systems using the standard ethical hacking enumeration…

Ethical Hacking: Vulnerability Analysis Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

Manage risk by assessing vulnerabilities. Learn about the processes, methodologies, and tools you need to find and…

Ethical Hacking: System Hacking Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

Learn to detect, prevent, and counter system hacking, including password cracking, privilege escalation, spyware, and…

Ethical Hacking: The Complete Malware Analysis Process Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly…

Learn how to detect, analyze, and defeat different types of malware, from viruses and worms to Trojans and backdoors.

Ethical Hacking: Sniffers Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

Learn about ethical hacking, one of the most desired stills for any IT security professional.

Ethical Hacking: Social Engineering Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

Prevent identity theft and network intrusion by hackers. Learn what social engineering is, who is being targeted, and…

Ethical Hacking: Denial of Service Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

Prepare for the Certified Ethical Hacker exam. Learn about the most common types of denial-of-service (DoS) attacks and…

Ethical Hacking: Session Hijacking Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

Learn what session hijacking is, which protocols are vulnerable, and detect and shore up vulnerabilities in your…

Ethical Hacking: Evading IDS, Firewalls, and Honeypots Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly…

Take your first steps into testing client defenses. Learn about firewalls, network simulation using GNS3…

Ethical Hacking: Hacking Web Servers and Web Applications Online Class | LinkedIn Learning…

Find out about the protocols used to access websites, and how to test websites and web applications to prevent…

OpenPuff - Steganography & Watermarking

Recently, I came across an interesting concept known as steganography. It involves hiding a message within an image file by utilizing the least significant bits of each pixel. However, this may create suspicion if the image appears too perfect. I learned about several tools to achieve this technique, such as the following links listed:

OpenPuff steganography & watermarking. Steganography software, professional and safe, with a lot of data obfuscation…

embeddedsw.net

Xiao Steganography (Windows)

Download Xiao Steganography for Windows for free. Hide any confidential information in an image. The procedure that…

xiao-steganography.en.uptodown.com

SSuite Picsel Steganography Encryption

This free security software application uses steganography, an unbreakable encryption method using only images as your…

www.ssuiteoffice.com

The ethical hacking course is eye-opening, especially comparing the surface size of the web and the dark/deep web. It has given me a better understanding of how web applications work and the potential vulnerabilities in the system. Cybersecurity is an ever-growing field, especially with the widespread use of mobile devices. I want to explore potential security flaws in Apple Vision Pro or Metaverse projects. Recently, my girlfriend shared an article about chatbot accounts being sold on the dark web, which has occurred over the past decade with more and more people living digital lives. The article entitled “100,000 hacked ChatGPT accounts up for sale on the dark web” was written by Graham Cluley , an award-winning cybersecurity keynote speaker who has been involved in the cyber security industry since the 90s. I am excited to continue learning in the technology industry, specifically in cybersecurity, as there is a growing demand for solving problems in this field for numerous businesses.

Lastly, as I’m rewriting this article, I forgot to mention that a completed the LinkedIn Learning course Generative AI: The Evolution of Thoughtful Online Search , which highlights how we are in the early phase of seeing mainstream search engines incorporate Gentetive AI ability and in this course, it was referred to as responsive search functionality.

How finding and sharing information online has evolved - Generative AI: The Evolution of Thoughtful…

Join Ashley Kennedy for an in-depth discussion in this video, How finding and sharing information online has evolved…

https://www.linkedin.com/

I have recently gotten access to the Google search labs. However, I've had access for a little while in time without realizing as most of the time, I'm accessing the web. My IP address is from Colombia, and earlier this week, changing my IP address to the US, I realized I was representing the ability to use the Search Lab functionality to Google. This will present a pivot that many content creators in blogs and websites will need to understand how they will generate traffic to their website from this evolution of mainstream search engines continually adding to the user experience. I read a Medium article by Thomas Smith entitled, I Tried Google’s Generative Search. It Will Change Blogging Forever . highlights what this means for publishers and bloggers and how to adapt. I found this article a good gateway into understanding how online search advancements will create new problems that individuals who are used to the old way of the search will need to solve and fast.

The following week coming up.

I’ll be focusing on daily work for job searching and improving my skills for interview preparation and a side project while also assisting my girlfriend in helping with managing the work of several freelancers for designers to help with producing pitch decks for investors and other marketing materials.

We are excited to be going to Bogota in July for a day and a half and meet with a colleague of my girlfriend, another one of her friends she met from her time living in South Carolina, and also meeting with more members of her family while we get ready to fly to Spain and live in Europe until 2024. I’m excited to go to Bogota as this will be my first time. Thank you for your time in reading, and nos vamos el proximo. Below are my contact details. Ciao!

➡️ Linkedin

➡️ Website

➡️ YouTube

Week 18 — Sorting My Way Through Software Engineering: A Week of Learning and Action

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 03:44:29 GMT

This week marks the second to last week of the Hack Reactor coding Bootcamp ! The last of the project work and exams have been completed. This week we had our final exam and our team project presentations done. The last week of 19 is for career services, and everything now is dedicated to networking, keeping my skills sharp, applying for positions, and interviewing. On interviewing and applying, I have used to 50 jobs since just starting last week and got an interview within one day of applying. More details to follow on that interview are below. The following screenshot is from my Huntr dashboard.

Huntr has been provided to us by Hack Reactor for six months and is a job-searching management software tool to keep the process organized. My focus thus far has been applying for jobs on the following websites and along with LinkedIn:

https://app.listopro.com/en/

https://app.usebraintrust.com/talent/dashboard/welcome/

https://remote.co/remote-jobs/developer/

https://remoteok.com/remote-dev-jobs

https://www.revelo.com/

https://remotive.com/remote-jobs/software-dev

https://www.turing.com/

Revelo and Listopro are partnered and have a video assessment process. They have created 23 prerecorded interview questions that you can listen to and respond to in audio or video format. It took me about 3 hours to film myself replying to each technical question. At the very least, it helped me sharpen my perceptive more profoundly on topics or areas of being a software engineer that I hadn’t thought of before and understand the role and tasks on a deeper level.

My first interview from quickly stating the job interview process as a software engineer occurred at 11:30 PM here in Colombia as the CEO is based in Bali. This was for a startup that had just secured seed funding and was looking to have their minimal viable product ready by September and needed a full stack developer to the team instantly. I had a 25 min call with the CEO and founder of the company, and we chatted about the company, mission, management style, and my roles before developing software. The CEO confirmed that the pay for this position was substantially low at $1,500 a month until potentially securing the next round of funding, hopefully by January. Too many individuals in my cohort or other software engineers, and this would be a significant turnoff. However, I’m still interested in learning more about it and chatting with the development team to know more about the role and what they want to create. I already have a good idea of what it consists of, from reaching the company ahead of time and coming to understand the market they are in and what they are looking to create with an on-demand video mentorship plugin that can send and receive payments and built into the most popular social media and communication tools used in society.

I enjoyed chatting with the founder and connected with him about his idea and his goal. Since the call, I didn’t receive a follow-up email to contact his tech lead. Grateful for securing a quick interview from applying early in the job searching process, and I’m prepared for the journey ahead; lessons learned from this were a better understanding of how to address my management style, communicating my value, and learning more about the industry and market of software engineers and technology. I learned about the website https://wefunder.com/home , a platform for entrepreneurs to raise investments for their projects, and I have noted this for further entrepreneurial endeavors for myself in the future.

From the job searching process this week now to what was I learned from this week:

For starters, I have completed the following LinkedIn Learning Courses this week:

Introduction to AI foundations: Machine learning course - Artificial Intelligence Foundations…

After watching this video, you will understand the goals and objectives of the AI Foundations: Machine Learning course…

Overview - Negotiate Like a Lawyer Video Tutorial | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

Join EverCourse and Dana Robinson for an in-depth discussion in this video, Overview, part of Negotiate Like a Lawyer.

TensorFlow: Working with NLP Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

Learn about using transformers in natural language processing with TensorFlow.

Deep Learning Foundations: Natural Language Processing with TensorFlow Online Class | LinkedIn…

Learn foundational deep learning techniques to classify, predict, and generate text using different neural networks.

GPT-4: The New GPT Release and What You Need to Know Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly…

Get a sneak peek at GPT-4, the latest version of the popular AI software that interacts with large language models and…

Transformers: Text Classification for NLP Using BERT Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly…

Learn about transformers, the go-to architecture for NLP and computer vision tasks.

Applied AI: Building NLP Apps with Hugging Face Transformers Online Class | LinkedIn Learning…

Learn how to build natural language processing (NLP) applications with pretrained transformers in Hugging Face, the…

Introduction to Responsible AI Algorithm Design Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly…

Walk through the steps involved in designing responsible AI and to making responsible decisions. Along the way, check…

Generative AI: Working with Large Language Models Online Class | LinkedIn Learning, formerly…

Explore a user-friendly approach to working with transformers and large language models for natural language…

Jumpstart Your Skills with Large Language Models Learning Path | LinkedIn Learning, formerly…

Large language models are being used for many natural language processing tasks, and expertise in LLMs can give…

I’m an experienced CEO. I applied for 1001 positions. This is what happened.

This week I spent a majority of my LinkedIn Learning on educating myself about Machine Learning and Large Language Models and understanding how to build my models using the Google Cloud Platform and TensorFlow. It is pretty straightforward, and it is incredible what one can do with a computer and then understand processes. The more I learn, the more I know very little, but also, in working with software and various tech stacks or tools, learning is all about understanding processes and replicating those processes. What continues to pique my interest in Large Language Models is further understanding AI and where my skills as a software engineer need to be focused on to keep myself valuable to the marketplace and stay caught up. It is essential to recognize cycles. For example, AI has been around for quite some time. Since the 1950s and many times, AI has been seen as the hottest thing in the technology and capital market space, drastically changing society forever. If you look on Wikipedia (which has been a primary source for training many Large Language Models that researchers include in their models) in the article titled AI winter periods of hype and great interest in AI have existed before, only to see crashes of interest, funding, and advancements with seven different AI winter periods listed on the Wikipedia article with reduced funding and interest in artificial intelligence. I learned about this article when listening to an episode of The No-Adgenda Podcast by Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak and produced by people worldwide. Highly recommend!

Medium Articles

I read two medium articles this week that really stood out to me.

After Covid, enormously tough personal years, a devastating divorce, the full-scale war in my country, heartbreaking…

medium.com

Ted Skyba wrote this article on his documented job search after applying for over 1000 positions and still needs to be given offers. It is straightforward: Ted has over 20 years of growing companies’ products line to be massively successful and has deep experience with startups, mergers, and actions. Life is unfair when viewing Ted’s story because it doesn’t make sense that a company wouldn’t want to have him leading the vessel of their product or team, or maybe it is just life continually placing us on a trajectory of continual deeper learning, asking why are things the way there are and forcing us to sincerely view everything different potential perspective that could exist to a situation to extract and give meaning to the situation to have a deeper understanding of us and the human experience. Nonetheless, it was a read that taught me the importance of documentation in the job search career process and how Ted is making sense of his life, becoming displayed from the war in Ukraine and building himself a new network and the next outstanding chapter of his life. I would recommend reading Ted’s article and connecting with him on LinkedIn to learn more about business, career searching, entrepreneurship, and learnings from a CEO.

Dear Sam Altman- There was never an era of making models bigger

LLMs have never been revolutionary or as game-changing as gurus online would have pushed you to believe

medium.datadriveninvestor.com

This was an article written by a Software Engineer and Machine Learning specialist named Devansh. He highlights the history of how effective Large Language Models work. He calls out Sam Alman’s comments about big LLMs needing to stop developing LLMs and that Machine Learners have also known that throughout large parameters and data into a model doesn’t mean you will get good results and was always doomed to fail. I think this article is thought-provoking to highlight that Open AI has many competitors in a market that has quickly become saturated with numerous models for develops to use and not have to worry about the size of the data being experienced to use because when models have too many parameters to work with they become unscalable and too expensive to operate. This is what Devash is proposing, and consumers would quickly shift to alternative services of open-source models if OpenAI raises prices for the use of their model — a fascinating read after becoming more adept in unseating Machine Learning and LLMs from this past week.

Hacker Rank

This week we were guided to sign up for Hacker Rank and to start on the preparatory material for Python. The significant aspects of Hacker Rank are the number of materials they assist with preparing developers and creating preparatory kits depending on how far out your job/technical interview is taking place. In addition, they offer certification that we have been advised to take and then place on our website and Linkedin.

And now, onto the sorting algos that I learned in more detail this week. They are from questions I worked on earlier this week and understanding what two soring algos were displayed based on watching two Hungarian dance videos depicting a sorting algorithm.

Sorting Algos

Whch algo sorts by repeatedly finding the minimum element from the unsorted part and placing it at the beginning.

Selection Sort

A simple sorting algo that works by repeatedly swapping adjacent elements if they are in the wrong order.

Bubble Sort

Selects pivot element and partitions array around it. Algo is applied recursively to the two sublists.

Quicksort

Repeatedly puts items into different buckets while counting them, then arranges them back into order.

Radix Sort

Divide the list into two halves, calls itself for the two halves, and then joins the two sorted halves.

Merge Sort

Which algorithms use the divide-and-conquer method of sorting?

Merge Sort

Quicksort

Which algorithms should be used only to sort large data sets in practical use?

Bubble Sort

Selection Sort

Which sorting algorithm does the traditional Hungarian dance demonstrate from the above video?

Merge Sort

Is this a divide-and-conquer algorithm?

Yes

Is this algorithm a good choice for large data sets?

It is a very good choice for large, mostly-sorted data sets

Which sorting algorithm does the traditional Transylvanian dance demonstrate from above?

Bubble Sort

Is this a divide-and-conquer algorithm?

Is this algorithm a good choice for large data sets?

No, this algorithm should only be used will small data sets, no matter the state of the data

Identify this type of code

Merge Sort because the helper function is using four parameters: values, left, middle and right. This signifies a divide-and-conquer approach to sort an array and has two functions. However the merge sort doesn't always utilize two functions but is a common pattern I have come to recognize when identifying the merge sort.

Bubble sort because it takes one parameter and has a nested loop. However I know bubble sort doesn't always have just one parameters but these are two patterns that I have come to recognize when setting if a code is using a bubble sort algorithm. To note, it does seem bubble sort isn’t used in actual software development because it is very time complexity heavy and mainly is used as a education example in to first understanding sorting algorithms.

The reason why the radix sort algorithm above works is that it sorts the elements by processing them digit by digit.

Based on my understanding, it seems that this piece of code functions as a selection sort algorithm. It continuously sorts the array by identifying the minimum element in the unsorted section and relocating it to the start of the sorted section. This process is repeated until the entire array is sorted.

This is a quicksort method because it divides an array into two sub-arrays using a pivot element and sorts them recursively. The rightmost element is chosen as the pivot, and the array is split into two sub-arrays of smaller and larger values. The process repeats until the array is fully sorted.

Week 19 and time in Colombia

Next week marks the final week of the program and the conclusion to the coding Bootcamp and then transiting to being a full-time software engineer looking for work opportunities and keeping my skills sharp. The last week of the Hack Reactor course is for career services and working with the Career Services Team on interview strategies, job searching, stories and objections, cover letters, negotiating, and applying. This week was also four days, with a Friday and Monday off from the course. To take advantage of this, I spent time getting an extra hour of sleep and going with my family to a new town in Colombia to spend the night at called Cartago. I did not take any videos or photos of my time here. The following picture was from my girlfriend’s phone.

Cartago is a much warmer and dryer climate than Santa Rosa de Cabal, where temperatures in Cartago range from mid-80s degrees Fahrenheit in the day and mid-60s at nighttime. The weather is the same year-round but humid and dry. When visiting this type of clime located in a valley, your sweat all the time, and a pool and air conditioner would be necessary. The city is a great place to retire, and the economy is quite good by Colombian standards. With many residential projects being currently built on and a lively nighttime social scene of parks that have excellent outdoor food, and an area called Parque Lineal that is several blocks long that probably has over 20 different cafes company every sector of the park with chairs and a relaxing and safe scenery with all types of locals hanging out. I would deafeningly consider living there a portion of the year if it wasn’t for the intensely hot weather, as it is very affordable to live there, and according to https://livingcost.org/cost/colombia/cartago , it ranks in the top 5% of the least expensive cities in the world. We went this weekend to visit because my girlfriend’s uncle’s family is moving to this town and is even considering starting a restaurant there, so possibly55 we will be making future trips back to Cartago, especially once we have our car here in Colombia.

If you have taken the time to make it down this far in my write-up, I would appreciate a comment and a follow. To thank you in return I will follow you back. I would be grateful if you know of a software engineering role open; please send it my way! Thank you for your time and nos vemos!

From Alaska to Santa Rosa de Cabal, Colombia: My Baptism Experience in a New Culture

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 16:57:58 GMT

Okay, let me set the scene for you as to why an Alaskan in his 29th year of life has just now been baptized into the Catholic church in the small town of Santa Rosa de Cabal, Colombia. This idea started in February of 2023 when my girlfriend and I had just returned from a month-long stay in the United States and moved to live in Santa Rosa de Cabal with her parents. As I was in the process of helping with moving and getting situated in a full-time coding boot camp career pivot (more accurately to call), my suegra Gladys (my girlfriend’s mother) came home one day with excitement, saying that they were doing classes to become baptized at what is the largest and grandest church that exists in Santa Rosa de Cabal. Now, from here at this moment and numerous other follow-ups asking me if I wanted to do so, I said, “Si!” I say “of course” because after living in Latin America for nearly two years and planning to have a part of my life based in Colombia or another part of Latin America and additionally wanting to continually grow and evolve my relationship with my girlfriend Valeria, who is Colombian, this had to be done to support her in our relationship and follow through on a desire for her mom to see her daughter married. For this to work, it would be ideal in her eyes to have her daughter marry someone who loves her, has ties, and belongs to the same religion. Religion in her life plays a big part in how she processes and gives meaning to situations. This is the case for many Colombians.

According to the 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom , the U.S. government estimates that 73 percent of the Colombian population is Catholic.

Let’s say roughly 70% of the Colombian population is Catholic. This first came to my attention back in 2021 when I visited Guatemala and visited Antigua, Guatemala. When I was spending time researching the country and learning about one of the biggest and most spectacular processions that take place throughout all of Latin America during the Semana Santa, one of the holiest of weeks in the Catholic religion, it gave me the takeaway of how religion plays an integral part in society throughout many Latin American countries. Religion plays a prominent role in many individuals’ lives. When going through Colombia, it is widespread to see individuals wearing necklaces of crosses, seeing tattoos of symbols to the Catholic Church, seeing construction equipment with a photo of Jesus plastered on the equipment, taking a public bus, and seeing the large image of Jesus in view for all the passengers to see. A common saying I often experienced when I asked how someone is doing in Santa Rosa de Cabal is, “Bien, gracias a Dios.” The person is doing good and thanking God. My girlfriend and I agree that this is why the town we live in and many other towns in Colombia is very safe because numerous individuals live lives tied to morals and values from the Catholic church. This large collective following helps organize society. I like to think of the book “Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari and how religion was a primary factor in helping to organize and make it possible for large groups of people to be organized. Many people attend churches throughout Santa Rosa de Cabal, not just older adults but also young people. Santa Rosa de Cabal has a panadería (baker) and an Iglesia (church) on every corner. This is true for many towns in Colombia. A panadería and Iglesias go hand in hand in providing comfort to society and value.

Upon saying yes to my suegra, the wheels were set in motion to go to a class with a Father (well, I thought it was) at the large church in front of the town’s plaza. In my head, I didn’t do any research ahead of time to know what to expect. I treated this entire experience as going with the flow, beginner mindset, how I can find the GOOD throughout this process, and what value I’m adding to my relationship with Valeria. In my head, I thought this baptism would be as simple as me going one time to a church with a local Father here and getting water poured over my head with the Father saying numerous statements out loud. It turns out this wasn’t the case. I never grew up religious. I would occasionally attend a Christmas or holiday service with my family in Alaska or when visiting my family in California when I was little. My idea of what baptism would be came from when I would visit my Dad at the church he attends in Birchwood, Alaska, and how a baptism there consists of being dunked in the water or the lake in the summertime. In my head, a quick process. Well, this was different here in Colombia.

I started my weekly night class with my girlfriend and her mom with five other families with children ranging from several years to their early 20s. It is common for most people in Colombia to get baptized in their first few months of life. In this case, I quickly understood that I would be a far outlier in this process. From the classes I was taking here that lasted only three visits as myself, my girlfriend and my suegra felt the individual in charge of this class needed to be more organized and a better fit for my journey to becoming baptized.

In addition, I had a time frame of needing to get baptized before July of 2023, as this is when my Colombian visa expires, and Valeria and I would be leaving Colombia for the rest of the year. It was customary for individuals to pay the individual teaching this class I was first attending. I don’t know what you would call his position with the church, but in my last class with him, my suegra leaned over and told me that she would find someone better to help get me baptized and not pay this individual.

And that is just what happened. We didn’t pay, and within a week, my suegra talked with the Father, Ilder Andres Gomez Lopez of Parroquia Santa Maria del Monte Carmelo in Santa Rosa de Cabal. Valeria, Gladys, her husband Orlando, and I attended the 10 am service on a Sunday and met with the Father in his office afterward. My family explained that I wanted to get baptized to marry Valeria, and then I had to explain my intentions to get baptized to the Father. This was said to conform with beliefs and know that the Father is baptizing me with good intentions for him, as I’ve come to learn that he wouldn’t consider baptizing me if I didn’t have good intentions. Afterward, he agreed to help with facilitating my baptism, and we then decided that he would baptize me about five months later, in June of 2023, with the agreement that we would meet once a week after attending the Sunday service and discuss topics that he would assign to myself and Valeria to research and learn about.

These topics would consist of learning about the different archangels, different saints in the history of the Catholic Church, Catholic history, a documentary of the current pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio, and the process, symbolism, and history of baptism. From this, these meetings, days and nights, and writing in my journal in Spanish have helped increase my Spanish understanding as I would then have to speak with the Father on these topics. Although often, when communicating with the Father, I typically listen more and talk less as these topics are more challenging to speak of in Spanish. Nonetheless, I’m grateful for this experience in how it has helped strengthen my relationship with Valeria and her parents and another action taken to improve my Spanish, not to mention the Sundays sitting in church and listening to the service only in Spanish.

Let’s fast forward to June 4th, 2023. My family and our two friends, Rodrigo and Alvaluz, escort me. In addition to my baptism that day, three other families were with their daughters of no more than a few months who were also getting baptized. The ceremony lasted about 45 minutes, with the Father speaking about the importance of this baptism and how you are being cleansed of your original sins, welcoming us into the Catholic community, and showing that this is a sign of God’s grace and marks the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith. Let me take a pause and say that I see many positives in this case for the society in Santa Rosa de Cabal with the Catholic religion, but from me doing the act of becoming baptized doesn’t define my relationship with God or how I associate my morals, values, perspectives in how I choose to live my life. I’m respectful of other’s beliefs and understanding, in this case, what a large and main fabric of how society is, and if you want to have more resounding support and acceptance into living in a country, a deeper international relationship, then you need to be respectful and open to how others view life and the customs. I’m proud of my family for helping to support and create this life experience as it has allowed me a deeper understanding of the Colombian culture, the Santa Rosa de Cabal culture, another activity that brings us closer as a family as many times we will go to church on Sunday and then go for long walks and lunch meals outside.

For any extranjero that is in a Colombian relationship and wants it to be serious. It would help if you were involved with the parents as often as possible (so long as they aren’t crazy or negative to be around), as a family is essential. The level of connection is much deeper than in the United States in how often a Colombian woman communicates and is active with her parents. I’m sharing this from my experience with Valeria and her parents and observations. I know if her parents aren’t happy, it will make it very challenging for our relationship to continue growing.

After my baptism was over, we then proceeded to the Sunday service of the church, and numerous times Father Ilder said in front of several hundred individuals attending my church about myself getting baptized along with the other children. He would address me not as a baby (for a good reason) but as Joven (a young person), and that is how an individual is on the spiritual path, even at a later age than what is deemed normal. Another speaker commented on the positivity of myself getting baptized and starting my spiritual journey. Others afterward came up to me to congratulate me. Even one lady told me she was proud of what I was doing and plans on sharing my story with her older children who live in other areas of Colombia as an inspiration or perhaps an example if I was interpreting currently what she was saying.

Many times during the baptism or throughout this process, I am trying to figure out precisely what is going on and understand everything being said because it is in Spanish. I’ve been speaking and listening to Spanish for about 20 months and have yet to become fluent. So often in these moments, I practice mindfulness by observing my breath and thoughts and telling myself I can as a moniker to what I’m doing in life and aiming for. I will accomplish yet no matter the many moments that you need patience. And living in Colombia or other Latin American countries requires lots of patience.

What I have learned from this process

Our dog Almendra comes to church with us and sings certain songs during service.
One can accomplish tasks by staying focused on the bigger picture, drawing attention to your breath, and knowing that it is good to be uncomfortable and also comfortable not knowing.
How religion is of outstanding overall importance in Colombian society, but most of the time, you’re not having conversations about it throughout the day-to-day, and this is healthy in our family relationship as we spend most of the time together going for long walks, eating all of our meals together, joking, commenting on culture in Santa Rosa de Cabal, and just being in the moment.
The amount of commitment specific individuals make to a belief and how this becomes their one thing in life. I’m referring to the process that it takes to become a Father and how it is a nine-year commitment, and then once you’re a father, your entire life is dedicated to serving the Catholic Church. It showcases the endless iterations of how humans can live their lives, and there isn’t one lifestyle, belief, or perspective that is right for every individual.

Going forward

Now that I’m baptized, we are continually attending church here in Santa Rosa de Cabal, and going forward; I will be working on my first communion. Although I’m sure this won’t occur until Valeria and I return to Colombia in 2024. I also have a life goal that my Father would like to see me get baptized in Mirror Lake in Chugiak, Alaska, as I know this is an essential belief that my Father would like to see me do before he dies. And again, this is another experience I plan on doing for a loved one. Thanks for reading and taking the time to hear my thoughts! Nothing to promote other than following my documentation of life internationally and reinventing myself in the world of software and technology. Gracias por su atención y nos vemos en el próximo artículo.

Full stack application build out and other learning from week 17 of Hack Reactor.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 16:40:57 GMT

This week marks the completion of our group’s Module 3 full-stack web applications. I’m grateful to have been on a five-person team where members were focused on achieving our Minimal viable product delivered on the due date, and everyone played a part in the project’s design, building, and debugging. I now only have two weeks left of the program, which consists of a final exam on Monday, career service activities, applying for roles, and continual prepping and building upon interview strategies.

Module 3 Project Finalized and Summary on our application

https://gitlab.com/XanderRubio/clueless

For the module 3 final project, I worked with my team to develop a web application for clothing organization and planning. We began by identifying our users, developing high-level functionality, and identifying the APIs needed to bring our project to life. We then created a logo and wireframe and finalized our ideas with a project consultant. Throughout the project, we worked on developing our FastAPI, MongoDB database, and React frontend, focusing on tasks such as creating CRUD functionality for our bins, closet, and clothes models, implementing authentication, and integrating the Open Weather API for displaying weather data. We also spent time improving our CSS and designing our pages based on our wireframes. Throughout the project, we encountered challenges with various aspects of our application, including getting data to display correctly on the front end, but we worked collaboratively to overcome these obstacles. Overall, I contributed to various aspects of the project, including developing the frontend, building the MongoDB database, and working on the FastAPI.

Full stack application built with the following tech stack: Python, FastAPI, Mongo DB, React, Docker, and deployed using Cirrus by Galvanize. Group project completed during module 3 of the Hack Reactor Coding Bootcamp. Users can create an account, upload clothing images, view their images, see a five-day calendar displaying the weather, and select outfit combinations from the planner/calendar page based on the weather for each day.

Our Clueless application can be viewed at https://xanderrubio.gitlab.io/clueless/

The team (corporate-espionage��) behind this project is:

Jason Jang | LinkedIn | GitLab
Jeanette Gonzalez | LinkedIn | GitLab
Liland Pham | LinkedIn | GitLab
Sabrina Blinder | LinkedIn | GitLab
Xander Clemens | LinkedIn | GitLab

Clueless — Quickly create outfits based on the weather forecast.

Clueless — Clothing organizer categorized by hat, top, bottoms, and shoes.

Clueless — Stay stylish and organized, all in one place.

Design

can be viewed in detail on our teams repository for this application at: https://gitlab.com/XanderRubio/clueless/-/tree/main/docs

Intended Users

This application is perfect for individuals interested in fashion, organization, and saving time. Specifically, fashionistas who want to store images of their clothes, create outfits, and get weather forecasts for their area; organizers who need a visual way to organize their clothes and easily find the perfect outfit for any occasion; and time-savers who want to quickly create outfits by using the weather forecast to guide them. If you fall into any of these categories, this app is the ideal solution for you!

Functionality

Create an account: Users can create an account by providing their email address, password, username, and zip code.
Upload clothing images: Users can upload images of their clothes by clicking on the “Upload” button and selecting the images from their computer.
See images: Users can see the images they have uploaded by clicking on the “Images” tab.
View a five-day calendar: Users can view a five-day calendar to see the weather for their location based on their zip code. The calendar will display the date, temperature, and a weather description with the icon of the weather.
Select different outfit combinations: Users can select different outfit combinations from the planner/calendar page to take into consideration their outfit combination based on the weather for that day. To do this, users can click on the “Planner” tab and then select the outfit combinations they want to wear for each day.

Project Initialization

To fully enjoy this application on your local machine, please make sure to follow these steps:

Clone the repository down to your local machine
CD into the new project directory
Run docker volume create clueless-db
Run docker compose build
Run docker compose up

Enjoy your new wardrobe with I Wear Whatevr!

What is Agile in software engineering?

In my experience working with my team during the Module 3 project, Agile is a way to develop flexible software focused on making customers happy. Agile teams work together to create solutions that evolve over time. The Agile Manifesto is a set of values and principles that guide this approach. These include making customers happy, being open to change, delivering working software often, and prioritizing communication and teamwork.

How I describe the bubble sort

The bubble sort method is one of the first sorting methods taught to individuals when they are initially learning various ways to sort data. This is because it is easy to understand how the technique works. However, it is not a practical method for sorting large sets of data. The bubble sort is mainly used to teach and introduce engineers/developers to how sorting works in algorithms.

To implement the bubble sort method, we need an array with a list of numbers. In the function, we will use variables to access the elements in the array. We will compare two elements at a time from the array, so we need to iterate over the array until all elements have been reached. Since we will use a simple iteration of a for loop, we don’t need to have a recursive call because the data is not big enough to warrant breaking down the problem into smaller problems. Typically, developers represent these index variables with i for the outer loop and j for the inner loop, following best practices and industry standards.

The goal of the bubble sort is to compare two adjacent elements and determine which one is greater (or less) than the other, depending on the direction you need to sort the data. If the first element is greater (or less) than the second element, they are swapped to create the ordered sort. This process continues until the last two elements in the array are reached and sorted.

The name “bubble sort” comes from the sorting feature that moves or “bubbles” up the largest or smallest value to the end of the array. Think of a soda can and how liquid and bubbles are in the can. When you pour the soda into a glass (which represents looping over the array and comparing elements), the bubbles rise to the top of the liquid in the glass. In this case, the bubbles represent the largest or smallest elements needing sorting.

How I describe the Radix Sort (bucket sort)

Radix sort, also known as bucket sort, confidently sorts the individual digits of a number without the need for comparisons. This non-comparative sorting algorithm begins by grouping the digits of the numbers into buckets, each corresponding to a specific digit and sorted from least to most significant digit. For instance, if sorting a list of three-digit numbers, ten buckets representing the digits 0–9 would be created for each digit place value.

The algorithm then iterates through each digit place value of each number in the list (from right to left), placing the number into the corresponding bucket based on the digit at that value. Once all numbers are inducted into the buckets, the algorithm concatenates them to form the sorted list. This sorting process is repeated for each digit place value, starting from the least significant digit and iterating to the most significant digit. After sorting all the digits, the list is fully sorted.

Radix sort’s O(n) time complexity makes it a linear time sorting algorithm. Nonetheless, it requires extra space to create and maintain the buckets, which may not be practical for large datasets. To summarize, radix sort is an efficient non-comparative sorting algorithm that confidently sorts the digits of a number and groups them into buckets. It sorts each digit place value of each number in the list, starting from the least significant digit and iterating to the most significant digit. Radix sort has a time complexity of O(n) and requires additional space for bucket creation and maintenance.

How I describe the Selection Sort

Selection Sort is a basic algorithm for sorting an array. It works by repeatedly finding the smallest element from the unsorted part of the array and moving it to the beginning of the sorted part. This is done using two loops. The outer loop selects the leftmost unsorted element, while the inner loop finds the minimum element in the unsorted part of the array. Once the minimum element is found, it is swapped with the leftmost unsorted element. This process is repeated until the entire array is sorted.

Selection Sort differs from other sorting algorithms because it does not use recursive calls. Instead, it uses three variables to keep track of its state and perform the necessary comparisons and swaps. These variables are an index variable to keep track of the leftmost unsorted element, a minimum variable to keep track of the current minimum element, and a temporary variable for swapping elements.

In my mind the selection sort is a simple and efficient algorithm for sorting an array. It works by finding and moving the smallest element to the beginning of the sorted part of the array. It uses three variables to keep track of its state and does not use recursive calls.

How I describe the Quick Sort

Quick Sort is a sorting algorithm that divides an array into smaller sub-arrays based on a “pivot” element. The pivot element is chosen from the array, and all other elements are compared to it. Elements that are smaller than the pivot are moved to the left of it, while larger elements are transferred to the right of it. The pivot element is now in its final sorted position.

The algorithm is then applied recursively to the pivot’s sub-arrays on the left and right until the entire array is sorted. This process is repeated until there are no more sub-arrays to sort.

The recursive calls in Quick Sort are necessary for sorting the sub-arrays. The algorithm chooses a pivot element and partitions the array into two sub-arrays based on the pivot. The left sub-array contains all elements less than or equal to the pivot, while the right sub-array contains all elements greater than the pivot. The algorithm then applies itself recursively to both sub-arrays until the entire array is sorted.

Variables are used in Quick Sort to keep track of the pivot element, the left and right indices of the sub-arrays, and a temporary variable used for swapping elements. These variables serve to keep track of the algorithm’s state and perform the necessary comparisons and swaps.

This sorting algorithm chooses a pivot element and partitions the array into two sub-arrays based on the pivot. The algorithm then sorts the sub-arrays recursively until the entire array is sorted. Recursive calls are necessary to sort the sub-arrays, and variables are used to keep track of the algorithm’s state.

How I describe Binary Search

Binary Search is an algorithm used to find a specific value within a sorted array. It works by repeatedly dividing the array in half until the value is found or it is determined that the value is not in the array.

To start the algorithm, we need a sorted array and a target value to search for. We set two pointers, one at the beginning of the array and one at the end of the array. We then calculate the middle index of the array by taking the average of the two pointers. We compare the value at the middle index with the target value. If the central element is equal to the target value, we return the index of the middle element.

If the middle element is greater than the target value, we discard the right half of the array and repeat the algorithm on the left half of the array. If the middle element is less than the target value, we discard the left half of the array and repeat the algorithm on the right half of the array. We continue this process of dividing the array in half until we find the target value or determine that it is not in the array.

Binary Search is a recursive algorithm that calls itself repeatedly until the target value is found or it is determined that the value is not in the array. The recursive calls are necessary because the algorithm needs to search the left or right half of the array depending on whether the middle element is greater than or less than the target value.

Several variables are used in Binary Search, including pointers for the beginning and end of the array, a middle index variable, and a target value variable. These variables are used to keep track of the algorithm’s state and perform the necessary comparisons and calculations.

How I describe Looping Binary Search

Looping Binary Search is a search algorithm for a specific value within a sorted array. It works by repeatedly dividing the array in half until the value is found or it is determined that the value is not in the array. To start the algorithm, we need a sorted array and a target value to search for. We set two pointers, one at the beginning of the array and one at the end of the array. We then calculate the middle index of the array by taking the average of the two pointers. We compare the value at the middle index with the target value. If the middle element is equal to the target value, we return the index of the middle element. If the middle element exceeds the target value, we move the right pointer to the middle index and recalculate the middle index. If the middle element is less than the target value, we carry the left pointer to the middle index and recalculate the middle index. We continue this process of dividing the array in half and comparing the middle element with the target value until we find the target value or determine that it is not in the array. Looping Binary Search uses a loop to accomplish this task. The loop iterates through the array and recalculates the middle index on each iteration. The variables used include pointers to the beginning and end of the array, a middle index variable, and a target value variable. The purpose of these variables is to keep track of the algorithm’s state and perform the necessary comparisons and calculations. In summary, Looping Binary Search is a search algorithm to find a specific value within a sorted array. It works by dividing the array in half and comparing the middle element with the target value. Suppose the middle element is greater than or less than the target value. In that case, the algorithm continues the search in the appropriate half of the array by adjusting the pointers and recalculating the middle index. Looping Binary Search uses a loop to iterate through the array and has variables to keep track of the algorithm’s state.

How I describe Recursive Binary Search

Recursive Binary Search

Recursive Binary Search is an algorithm that finds a specific value within a sorted array. It does this by dividing the array in half and comparing the middle element with the target value. If the middle element is equal to the target value, the algorithm returns the index of the middle element. If the middle element is greater than the target value, the algorithm applies itself recursively to the left half of the array; otherwise, it applies itself recursively to the right half of the array.

The algorithm uses a pivot element to partition the array into two sub-arrays. The left sub-array contains all elements less than or equal to the pivot, while the right sub-array contains all elements greater than the pivot. The algorithm applies itself recursively to both sub-arrays until the entire array is sorted.

Recursive Binary Search uses variables to keep track of the algorithm’s state, including the pivot element, the left and right indices of the sub-arrays, and a temporary variable used for swapping elements. This helps the algorithm to perform necessary comparisons and swaps.

This search algorithm finds a specific value within a sorted array by dividing the array in half and comparing the middle element with the target value. Depending on the middle element’s value, it applies itself recursively to the left or right half of the array. It uses variables to keep track of its state and to perform necessary comparisons and swaps.

How I describe the merge sort

Sorting algorithms offer different methods to choose from, each with its pros and cons. One popular method is the merge sort algorithm, known for its efficiency and scalability. The merge sort algorithm follows the divide-and-conquer approach to problem-solving. It breaks down the problem into smaller, more manageable pieces, then recursively solved. To sort an array of elements, the merge sort algorithm divides the array into smaller arrays, each sorted recursively. The sorted sub-arrays are then merged to form the final sorted array. The merge step is where the real magic happens in the merge sort algorithm. This step allows the algorithm to be efficient and scalable. Two arrays are combined into a single sorted array using an auxiliary data structure, such as an accumulator list. The merge step compares the first element of each input array, selects the smaller element, and appends it to the accumulator list. The pointer of the smaller value is then incremented to the next element in the array. This process is repeated until one of the input arrays is empty. The remaining elements of the other input array are then appended to the accumulator list. The merge sort algorithm has an overall time complexity of O(n log n) and space complexity of O(n). The divide-and-conquer approach allows the algorithm to sort the array in a logarithmic time. The auxiliary data structure, such as an accumulator list, stores the sorted elements during the merge step, resulting in space complexity. The merge sort algorithm is a powerful and efficient sorting algorithm that follows the divide-and-conquer approach. It uses the merge step to combine sorted sub-arrays into a single sorted array. This step is what makes the algorithm efficient and scalable. The merge sort algorithm has an overall time complexity of O(n log n) and space complexity of O(n), making it a great choice for sorting large datasets.

How I describe the Big-O class and what it means for an algorithm to have O(log n) worst-case complexity.

O(log n) represents how long (the time) an algorithm will need to complete the function is determined logarithmically. In this case, it will be represented by the sizes of the data or inputs and growing more complex in time-solving described in the l measurement of og of n. To data scientists and algorithm experts, O(log n) represents how long (the time) an algorithm will need to complete the function is determined logarithmically. In this case, it will be represented by the sizes of the data or inputs and growing more complex in time-solving described in the l measurement of og of n. To data scientists and algorithm experts, this is considered a more efficient alternative than having a time complexity that grows in the complexity of (O(n)). It is called a quadratic growth of (O(n²)), which, quite frankly, I can’t wrap my head around the immense iterations that would need to be performed in an algorithm with a time complexity of quadratic growth.

For example, performing a sort algorithm that continually splits or divides an array in half until the value that has been set is found, also known as a binary search, would be an example of a time complexity of O(log n). In this case, the n would represent the time it takes to run the iteration or search through the list size. Therefore O(log n) is good because time grows slowly for running this function as more data or input is added. This is considered a more efficient alternative than having a time complexity that grows in the complexity of (O(n)). I believe it is called a quadratic growth of (O(n²)), which, quite frankly, I can’t wrap my head around the immense iterations that would need to be performed in an algorithm with a time complexity of quadratic growth. For example, performing a sort algorithm that continually splits or divides an array in half until the value that has been set is found, also known as a binary search, would be an example of a time complexity of O(log n). In this case, the n would represent the time it takes to run the iteration or search through the list size. Therefore O(log n) is good because time grows slowly for running this function as more data or input is added.

SQL Syntax

SELECT: used to retrieve data from one or more tables in a database
FROM: used to specify the table(s) the data is being retrieved from in a SELECT statement
WHERE: used to filter data based on a specific condition(s)
GROUP BY: used to group data based on one or more columns
HAVING: used to filter data based on a specific condition(s) after data has been grouped using GROUP BY
ORDER BY: used to sort data based on one or more columns
JOIN: used to combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column between them
UNION: used to combine the results of two or more SELECT statements into a single result set
INNER JOIN: returns only the rows that have matching values in both tables being joined
LEFT JOIN: returns all the rows from the left table and the matching rows from the right table being joined
RIGHT JOIN: returns all the rows from the right table and the matching rows from the left table being joined
FULL OUTER JOIN: returns all the rows from both tables being joined, including the ones that don’t have matching rows in the other table
CREATE: used to create a new table, view, or other database objects
ALTER: used to modify an existing table, view, or other database objects
DROP: used to delete an existing table, view, or other database objects
INSERT INTO: used to insert new rows into a table
UPDATE: used to update existing rows in a table
DELETE: used to delete existing rows from a table
COMMIT: used to save changes made to the database
ROLLBACK: used to undo changes made to the database since the last COMMIT
INDEX: used to speed up data retrieval by creating an index on one or more columns in a table
VIEW: a virtual table that is based on the result of a SELECT statement, used to simplify complex queries or restrict access to sensitive data
PROCEDURE: a stored program that can be called by other programs or scripts to perform a specific task
FUNCTION: a stored program that returns a value based on input parameters
TRIGGER: a special type of stored program that is automatically executed in response to specific events, such as INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements
CONSTRAINT: used to enforce specific rules or conditions on the data in a table
PRIMARY KEY: a column or group of columns that uniquely identifies each row in a table
FOREIGN KEY: a column or group of columns that refers to the primary key of another table, used to establish a relationship between two tables
UNIQUE: a column or group of columns that must contain unique values across all rows in a table
NOT NULL: a column constraint that specifies the column cannot contain NULL values
CHECK: a column constraint that specifies a condition that must be true for all rows in a table

Different types of joins.

In SQL, you can join two tables in different ways. We discussed two ways: inner join and left/right join. An inner join returns only the rows that have matching values in both tables, while a left or right join returns all the rows from one table and only matching rows from the other table.

When using the INNER JOIN, this will find the math meaning that it will return rows that only have the values that match the two tables that are being joined. With the LEFT/RIGHT JOIN, this will look for all the tables from the left/right table and then return a matching value from the right/left table depending on which join you use, left or right. In addition, when using left/right join, it will return a NULL if no match is found.

Example INNER JOIN: Let’s say you want to retrieve a chef’s name for the name of one of their recipes. You can select both tables of recipes. title and chefs. name and then use the INNER JOIN to combine the data from those two tables and display the chef and his recipe.

Example LEFT/RIGHT JOIN: Let’s say you need to retrieve all the chefs from the chef’s table. Then I could use the SQL query of SELECT chefs. name then FROM chefs, and LEFT JOIN recipes ON chef.id , and this will return all the chefs and their names even if they still need to register a recipe in the database.

Depth-first search

During a depth-first search of a tree data structure, we use a data structure to keep track of which nodes we’re currently searching. This data structure is a stack.

In software engineering, a stack is a data structure that stores a collection of elements and operates based on the last-in-first-out (LIFO) principle. Elements are pushed onto the stack and popped off the stack in reverse order. This data structure is commonly used in programming languages to manage function calls, as well as in other applications such as undo/redo functionality.

What are tree data structure

Trees are a type of graph that do not have cycles. A tree data structure is a specific type of graph that does not contain cycles. It consists of nodes with child nodes and a parent node (except for the root node). Trees are frequently used to model hierarchical structures, such as file directories, organizational charts, and family trees. In programming, trees are frequently used to implement search algorithms and other operations that involve organizing and retrieving data in a specific order.

What describes components of a graph that is the object that stores data?

This is a Node. In software engineering, a node is a fundamental component of many data structures, including trees and graphs. In a tree structure, a node represents a single element or object, such as a file in a file directory or a record in a database. In a graph, a node typically represents a point or object, and may be connected to other nodes via edges or links. Nodes can store data and metadata relevant to the structure they are a part of, and may also have associated functions or methods to manipulate the data or interact with other nodes in the structure.

LinkedIn Learning Courses completed for this week

LinkedIn's AI Academy Learning Path | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

AI is very important but seldom fully understood. It's changing the way we think about business, but it's changing so…

Digital marketing meets generative AI - Generative AI for Digital Marketers Video Tutorial |…

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Immediate benefits of arguing like a lawyer - Tips to Win Arguments and Influence Like a Lawyer…

From the course: Tips to Win Arguments and Influence Like a Lawyer - When was your last argument? Not that fun, right…

Acing your MAANG interview - Landing a MAANG Job: Behavioral Interview Questions Video Tutorial |…

From the course: Landing a MAANG Job: Behavioral Interview Questions - Welcome. If you're here, you're probably hoping…

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/introducing-s

emantic-kernel-building-ai-based-apps/introducing-semantic-kernel

DevOps foundations: CD/CI - DevOps Foundations: Continuous Delivery/Continuous Integration Video…

From the course: DevOps Foundations: Continuous Delivery/Continuous Integration - Are you troubled by strange ways that…

Understanding techniques - Software Testing Foundations: Test Techniques Video Tutorial | LinkedIn…

The moment you enter testing, you have to consider the arsenal of tools available to ensure a quality product will be…

Why you need to know about artificial intelligence — Build new artificial intelligence skills with free courses Video Tutorial | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

Going into Week 18

As I progress through the last two weeks of the Hack Reactor Bootcamp, I’m excited to soon move onto the phase of job searching, interviews, and reviewing offers. The program provides a six-month service for graduates to use the job-searching software called Huntr ( https://huntr.co/ ).

Huntr - Job Application Tracker & CRM

No more messy job search spreadsheets. Huntr keeps track of every detail about your job opportunities regardless of…

huntr.co

Like most people in this space, I see the industry for individuals who work in it as needing to consistently learn and grind to stay on top of the tech stack or industry trends that change at the speed of light. The apparent trend is AI, which poses massive changes for humanity because of its constant operation. It doesn’t require rest, sleep, food, a comfortable workspace, a professional and productive team to work with, or professional communication. This rapid technological development can make it so that humans must continually reinvent themselves at a pace that has never existed. This became even more evident when I watched a recent talk that the well-known historian and philosopher, Yuval Noah Harari, gave at a live interview in Lisbon, Portugal ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hIlDiVDww4 ).

Anyways, I continue to learn as much as possible in my limited time while also prioritizing my mental health, physical movement, and relationships with my girlfriend and family. Moving onto week 18! Nos vemos en el próximo artículo.

Week 16 Bootcamp Learnings and Documentation - Hack Reactor

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 00:41:41 GMT

Welcome to Week 16 of my learning documentation in the Hack Reactor coding boot camp . I am eager to move on and begin searching for opportunities to work as a software engineer. However, two more weeks remain in the program before dedicating my work schedule to job searching and connecting with potential employers in Week 19.

Despite this, I remain level-headed and patient, no matter what experiences come my way. Of course, it’s easy to say this while sitting in the comfort of our home in Santa Rosa de Cabal, sipping my Colombian coffee (known as “tinto” or “americano” here, which means black coffee without any added ingredients) and enjoying good physical health. I remind myself that no matter what happens in my life, it could always be worse. I imagine what it would be like to not have mobility in one’s limbs (paralyzed or blind), be homeless, or live in an internment camp. Whatever challenges come my way, I have faith that I can succeed.

Okay, let’s focus on this week’s learnings:

Group Project on Gitlab :

Building unit tests
React for frontend build-out
Defining our models in MongoDB
Refining and working with FastAPI
CSS
Debugging
Docker
Gitlab and using Git in numerous collaboration situations

Most of our time was spent building the frontend React components, including the closet and bin views, navigation bar, login form, clothing form, and wardrobe form. We also created the planner page and unit tests for our endpoints and accounts.

Throughout the week, we faced various challenges, such as debugging issues with displaying data on the front end, adjusting the CSS for multiple pages, and working with the JWTdown authenticator library. However, we overcame these challenges by working collaboratively and seeking feedback from other engineers.

Overall, we learned much about building a web application from scratch, including React and FastAPI, working with MongoDB, and implementing authentication and authorization. We also learned the importance of effective communication and collaboration during group projects.

What is Continuous Integration?

Continuous Integration (CI) is a software development practice where we frequently and automatically test and build code changes. CI aims to identify and address issues early in development before they become more complex and expensive. By integrating our code changes frequently, we can ensure that our differences are compatible with the rest of the codebase and that the build remains stable.

What is Continuous Development?

Continuous Development (CD) is a practice that I use to deploy new features and updates to a live environment. The purpose of CD is to reduce the time between writing code and deploying it to production, allowing me to respond quickly to changing user needs and market conditions. By continuously delivering new features and updates, I can improve the user experience, increase customer satisfaction, and stay ahead of the competition.

What is a waterfall in Software Development?

The waterfall is a software development methodology in which each phase of the development process (requirements, design, implementation, testing, and deployment) is completed before moving on to the next. This methodology is linear, meaning each phase must be met before the next one begins. Unlike agile methods, the waterfall does not allow for changes to be made mid-process, which can lead to issues being discovered later in development when they are more complex and expensive to fix.

Big O Notation

A fundamental concept in computer science used to measure the performance of algorithms. It provides an upper bound on the time or space an algorithm requires regarding the input size. I first discovered that the choice of time series for Big O notation during Module 1 of the Hack Reactor course depends on the specific algorithm and the problem it is trying to solve. The most common time series include O(1), O(log n), O(n), O(n log n), O(n²), and O(2^n). The O(1) time series indicates that the algorithm takes constant time, regardless of the input size, making it the most efficient time series.

One advantage of using Big O notation is that it provides a standardized way to compare the efficiency of different algorithms, which can help developers choose the most appropriate algorithm for a given task. Developers can also optimize algorithms for specific jobs by selecting the most efficient time series. However, I have found that Big O notation has limitations. It does not consider other factors that can affect the performance of an algorithm, such as hardware limitations or network latency. Additionally, Big O notation only provides an upper bound on an algorithm’s time or space complexity, so it does not give a precise performance measurement.

Despite these limitations, Big O notation remains a valuable tool for analyzing and comparing the efficiency of different algorithms. It is used extensively in computer science and software engineering to design and optimize algorithms for various tasks. After all, since being in the Hack Reactor course, there have been numerous times time complexity is mentioned during coding challenges that we do almost every morning. Understanding Big O notation can help write more efficient and effective algorithms to handle more extensive and complex datasets. Thus, having a solid understanding of Big O notation and how it can be used to optimize the performance of algorithms is essential for software developers.

How Big O notation relates to algorithms

Big O notation is a way to measure the performance of algorithms in terms of input size. When it comes to sorting algorithms, I use Big O notation to compare the efficiency of different algorithms in terms of the number of comparisons or operations required to sort a list of a specific size. I know that sorting algorithms with a lower time complexity, such as O(n log n), require fewer operations and are generally more efficient than those with a higher time complexity, such as O(n²). By using Big O notation, I can choose the most appropriate sorting algorithm for a given task and optimize the performance of my code.

Recursive Algorithms

Recursive algorithms simplify my code and make it more readable and maintainable. Recursive algorithms involve breaking down a problem into smaller subproblems and solving each subproblem recursively. I use recursive algorithms in various applications, including searching, sorting, and data analysis. However, I am aware that recursive algorithms can be memory-intensive and may lead to stack overflow errors if the recursion depth is too large.

What is recursively Sort?

Recursively sorting means sorting a list by breaking it down into smaller and smaller pieces until they are sorted, then merging the sorted pieces back together.

Here is an example of how I can use recursive sorting:

I start with a list of numbers.
If the list has only one number, it is already sorted, so I return it.
Otherwise, I choose a pivot value, any number in the list.
I divide the list into two parts: the numbers smaller than the pivot value and those greater than or equal to the pivot value.
I recursively sort each of the two parts.
I merge the two sorted parts, putting the smaller numbers before the larger ones.
I returned the sorted list.

This process continues until the list is sorted.

Here is another way to think about recursive sorting:

Imagine that I have a list of numbers and want to sort them. I can do this by picking a number from the list and putting all the numbers smaller than that number before it and all of the numbers more significant than or equal to that number after it. Then, I can repeat this process on the two halves of the list, and so on, until the list is sorted.

What is Hash Map?

Using hash maps helps to map keys to values using a hash function. They are also known as hash tables or dictionaries. The hash function takes an input (the key) and returns a unique output (the hash code) representing the key. The hash code is then used to store and retrieve the corresponding value in the hash map. This allows for high-speed access to discounts based on their corresponding keys. Hash maps are commonly used in software engineering for caching, indexing, and searching tasks.

Sorting Algorithms

I use sorting algorithms to organize and arrange data in a specific order. Sorting algorithms are crucial in optimizing the performance of programs that deal with large amounts of data. Some standard sorting algorithms that I use include bubble sort, selection sort, insertion sort, and quicksort. Each algorithm has its strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of algorithm depends on the program’s specific requirements and goals. For example, I used quicksort when dealing with large datasets, while insertion sort seems more efficient for smaller datasets.

The below link provides a visual to help with interpreting and walking through the code structure of an algorithm.

Algorithm Visualizer
Algorithm Visualizer is an interactive online platform that visualizes algorithms from code.algorithm-visualizer.org

Bubble Sort

As a sorting algorithm, it arranges data in a specific order. I repeatedly compare adjacent elements in a list and swap them if they are in the wrong order. This process is repeated until the list is sorted. While bubble sort is not the most efficient sorting algorithm, with a time complexity of O(n²), it is easy to understand and implement. Bubble sorting is used mainly to introduce and teach the concept of a sorting algorithm.

Selection Sort

Selection sort is used to arrange data in a specific order. I repeatedly find and select the smallest element in a list and swap it with the first unsorted element. I repeat this process until the list is sorted. Selection sort has a time complexity of O(n²), making it less efficient than other sorting algorithms such as quicksort or merge sort. However, it is easy to understand and implement and can be helpful in certain situations where simplicity is more important than efficiency, which is the case mainly when I review code to be simple to understand.

Insertion Sort

Using the insertion sort to arrange data in a specific order. I do this by iterating through a list of items and inserting each item into its correct position in a new list. The new list is initially empty, and each item is inserted into its proper place by comparing it to the items already in the list. Insertion sort has a time complexity of O(n²).

Merge Sort

I use it by dividing a list of elements into two halves, sorting each half recursively, and then merging the two sorted halves back together. The merge sort algorithm has an O(n log n) time complexity, making it more efficient than other sorting algorithms such as bubble sort or selection sort. I see merge sort best when dealing with large datasets, as it can efficiently handle large amounts of data.

Quick Sort

It works by dividing a list of elements into two parts based on a pivot value, where the elements on one side of the pivot are less than the pivot, and the elements on the other side are more significant than the pivot. Then, I recursively sorted the two parts using quick rort until the entire list was sorted. Quick sort has an O(n log n) time complexity, making it more efficient than other sorting algorithms such as bubble sort or selection sort.

What are nodes?

Nodes are the basic building blocks of data structures. I use them to represent individual elements in a data structure, such as a linked list, tree, or graph, and contain data and a reference to the next node. In a linked list, for example, each node has a value and a reference to the next node. In a tree or graph, each node represents a specific element and includes references to its child nodes or adjacent nodes. Nodes are a fundamental concept in data structures used extensively in the industry of software engineers.

What are link trees?

Refer to a type of tree data structure where each node has a reference to its parent and child nodes. This contrasts with other tree structures, such as binary trees, where each node has at most two child nodes. Linked trees help model hierarchical data, such as file systems or organizational structures, and they are used in various applications, including database indexing and XML processing.

What are graphs?

Are a data structure consisting of nodes (also called vertices) and edges. Nodes represent individual elements, and edges represent their connections or relationships. Graphs can be directed or undirected, meaning the edges can have a specific direction or be bidirectional. I see myself using and interacting with graphs for various applications, including network analysis, data modeling, and pathfinding algorithms.

SQL

SQL stands for (Structured Query Language) to manage and manipulate data stored in relational databases. SQL is a critical tool for tasks such as data analysis, data mining, and data warehousing. I can write queries with SQL that retrieve, insert, update, and delete data from databases. This standardized way of managing and organizing data makes SQL an essential tool for me when working with large amounts of data.

What is dynamic programming?

It enables a programmer to use logic to break down a complex problem into smaller subproblems and solve each subproblem only once. This approach can significantly improve the efficiency of my algorithms by avoiding redundant computations. Dynamic programming is beneficial for optimization problems, where I must find the best solution among many possibilities.

Link to site that helps with coding interviews

Programming Interview Questions + Help Getting Job Offers | Interview Cake
Writing programming interview questions hasn't made me rich yet ... so I might give up and start trading Apple stocks…www.interviewcake.com

LinkedIn Learning Courses that I took this week to address the following: Using AI as a paired programmer, Data Structures, Algorithms, and SQL

Paired Programming with AI

Pair programming with AI - Pair Programming with AI Video Tutorial | LinkedIn Learning, formerly…
From the course: Pair Programming with AI - Generative AI tools can now write code but what does that mean for your…www.linkedin.com

The following text was from my LinkedIn post about this course.

Greetings, fellow programmers and tech enthusiasts,

I recently completed the Pair Programming with AI course and am excited to share my experience. The course was designed to enhance my perspective on software development, and it did not disappoint. Morten Rand-Hendriksen’s practical strategies and hands-on practice taught me how to leverage AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot to increase productivity and write better code.

One of the standout features of this course is how it is integrated with GitHub Codespaces. This feature allows you to practice from any machine at any time using a tool commonly used in the workplace. I recommend this excellent course for those looking to take their skills to the next level and stay ahead of the curve.

One of the most significant advantages of incorporating AI into the coding process is its pattern recognition capabilities. With AI’s assistance, you can supercharge your software development, write better code quickly, and fully understand the code you are writing. AI can be seen as an ambitious junior developer with vast knowledge of past coding techniques and patterns. However, it may lack experience in applying them to current projects, leading to moments of uncertainty and caution.

My biggest takeaway from this course was learning how to use the Codespaces visual code studio in the browser of Microsoft Bing. This feature lets you get responsive AI assistance directly within the Bing Chat interface without leaving your webpage. You can quickly receive helpful AI suggestions by copying portions of your code, making coding tasks more efficient and less cumbersome.

In conclusion, I recommend this course to anyone looking to improve their coding skills, stay ahead of the curve, and leverage AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot. Incorporating AI into the development process can help you write better code, increase productivity, and fully understand the code you are writing.

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, failing to keep up with new developments means risking being left behind or replaced in the workforce. It’s crucial to stay current and continue learning to remain competitive and relevant.

Programming Foundations: Algorithms

Algorithms power the world - Programming Foundations: Algorithms Video Tutorial | LinkedIn…
From the course: Programming Foundations: Algorithms - [Joe] The world that we live in is increasingly powered by…www.linkedin.com

The LinkedIn Learning course “Programming Foundations: Algorithms” provides a comprehensive introduction to algorithms and data structures for programming, helping developers to improve their programming skills and stay ahead of the curve. The course covers various topics, including popular algorithms for searching and sorting information, recursion, and shared data structures such as stacks, queues, and hash tables. The lessons are presented using Python, a popular programming language used in many industries, but the principles can be applied to any programming language.

One of the key highlights of the course is its emphasis on understanding the performance implications of different algorithms and how to evaluate the performance of a given algorithm. This skill is crucial for any software developer, as it allows them to optimize their code and improve efficiency.

The course also covers recursion, an important topic that teaches learners how to use it to solve complex problems. Recursion is a powerful technique that can simplify code and make it more efficient, making it an essential tool for any software developer.

The course is suitable for software developers of all levels, from beginners to experienced professionals, and it provides a solid foundation in algorithms and data structures for programming. By the end of the course, learners will have a strong understanding of how to implement and use algorithms in their software development projects, making their code more efficient and effective. This will help them stay ahead of the curve in today’s competitive job market.

In summary, the LinkedIn Learning course “Programming Foundations: Algorithms” is an excellent resource for software developers looking to improve their understanding of algorithms and data structures. The course covers all the essential topics clearly and concisely, making it suitable for learners of all levels.

Programming Foundations: Data Structure

Understand data structures - Python Video Tutorial | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com
From the course: Programming Foundations: Data Structures - Are you new to programming? Are you starting to work with…www.linkedin.com

The “Programming Foundations: Data Structures” course on LinkedIn Learning is a valuable resource for improving my programming skills. Throughout the course, I gained a deeper understanding of essential data structures used in modern programming and how they can optimize the performance and efficiency of applications.

As I progressed through the course, I learned the basics of data types, including numerical data types, Booleans, characters, and strings. This information was particularly insightful as it helped me understand how these data types are represented in code and how they can be used to store and manipulate data effectively.

I also learned about the differences between primitive and reference types in memory and how data structures can be used to organize and store multiple pieces of data. The course provided practical examples of each data structure, helping me understand how to use them in popular programming languages such as C#, Swift, JavaScript, Java, and Python. However, I am only familiar with JavaScript and Python now in my career.

One of the key takeaways from the course was the importance of data types in programming. Understanding the different data types and how they are represented in code is crucial for effective programming. I also gained a deeper understanding of how data structures work, which has helped me optimize the performance and efficiency of applications I work with and analyze.

Quick Start Guide to SQL

Introduction to RDBMS and SQL - Quick Start Guide to SQL Video Tutorial | LinkedIn Learning…
From the course: Quick Start Guide to SQL - [Instructor] Did you ever wonder how to work with databases or how to…www.linkedin.com

The “Quick Start Guide to SQL” course on LinkedIn Learning is a comprehensive resource that provides a fundamental understanding of SQL. It is an excellent starting point for anyone learning to fetch and filter data using select statements. The instructor, Deepa Maddala, does a fantastic job of breaking down core concepts and demonstrating how to apply them in practical scenarios.

One of the key takeaways from this excerpt is that SQL is a powerful tool for managing large datasets. The select statement is a crucial component of SQL because it allows users to extract specific data from tables. Choose statements can fetch data from one or multiple tables, and users can specify the columns to be retrieved and apply conditions to filter the data being fetched.

I also gained insight into the various comparison and logical conditions that can be used to filter data, including “AND,” “OR,” “LIKE,” and “IN,” among others. Understanding these conditions is essential for creating effective queries that retrieve the data a user needs. Additionally, I learned about the order of precedence for these conditions, which can impact the results returned by a select statement. By understanding the order of importance, users can create more sophisticated queries that filter data more effectively.

Going into Week 17

This coming Monday, we have a practice test consisting mainly of essay questions related to the following topics: Data Structures, Big O Notation, Algorithms, SQL, and solving a few sorting algorithms. Our minimal viable project is due on Friday, and my group and I are confident in meeting this deadline. In week 18, we plan to work on stretch goals for the project and improve its aesthetics.

In the first part of this week, I plan on developing unit tests to gain a better understanding of constructing them for our project. I will also explore why Unit Tests are essential for software applications going forward.

Happenings Outside Of Software Engineering Career

On Sunday, I was baptized into the Catholic Church, and my name was officially recorded in the church’s database for individuals who have been baptized. Religion isn’t a significant part of my life, but attending our church here in Santa Rosa de Cabal weekly has broadened my perspective on how important religion is in this town and Colombia.

During a conversation with my girlfriend, I realized that a large percentage of the population’s regular involvement in the Catholic religion at the many churches in Santa Rosa de Cabal has contributed to the town’s safety. I became baptized to support my girlfriend and her Colombian family and to be taken more seriously in their culture. Although I can’t entirely agree with all cultural norms and beliefs, I prioritize fitting into society rather than disagreeing with aspects of culture or society.

Traveling to 55 countries has taught me to be flexible and adaptable and to accept that we often have to do things that we don’t enjoy or agree with. My girlfriend and I have purchased tickets to leave Colombia in late July and will be living in La Coruna, Spain, for August and September before moving on to other parts of Europe. We’re excited about experiencing the warm weather in the north of Spain during summertime, and a must for Colombians. I’ll provide more updates soon, and I’m always excited to continue moving in life, questioning everything, and failing often. For example, I fail every day when speaking Spanish, but I’m gradually improving my understanding of the language and my speaking skills.

Week 15: Reflections on Learning and Living in Colombia

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 29 May 2023 04:09:11 GMT

Welcome to week 15 of the Hack Reactor documentation. I had many new learnings this week in Hack Reactor and outside Hack Reactor. In addition, our friend Andres Ospina visited us from Medellín, Colombia, and saw Val and me on Tuesday evening. We went to the Santa Rosa de Cabal hot springs, about a 20-minute drive outside of Santa Rosa De Cabal, and spent the evening soaking in a hot spring next to a beautiful waterfall for about four hours. The hot springs are open till midnight, and I can see us getting a car in the future and going there at least once or twice a week in the evening to relax.

Termales Santa Rosa de Cabal - termales.com.co

En termales Santa Rosa de Cabal podrás disfrutar de comodidades exclusivas mientras te cuidamos por medio de un…

termales.com.co

My other friend Raz who is from Scotland and lives in Medellin, spent Friday and Saturday here in Santa Rosa. We showed him around, took him to eat, and introduced him to Colombian culture! We spoke on numerous topics about the culture here, and he told us that this was his first time sitting down to eat with a Colombian family, my girlfriend, myself, and her parents. He enjoyed coming here and was interested in the much lower cost of living and highly affordable properties compared to Medllín.

Earlier this week, Santa Rosa De Cabal was without natural gas because one of the local gas companies had to turn off the gas line that provides over 300,000 residents with natural gas. This was due to an unusual heat reading where the gas line is located. Santa Rosa De Cabal was affected for several days. The entire town was without natural gas, involving all restaurants and inhabitants. We couldn’t cook on the stovetop because most things are just natural gas, which is cheaper. If you had an electric stove or a propane tank, you would be able to cook. This was also the case for restaurants that didn’t have propane tanks. We had to find a restaurant that had the means to cook. We went to celebrate my girlfriend’s recent promotion and had to spend time walking around and asking the staff of restaurants if they had gas to cook with.

Thankfully, after almost two days, natural gas was returned. However, I am still determining what will occur over the next several weeks if they must stop natural gas again. I found out through this process that many taxi drivers are using natural gas because it’s a more cost-effective alternative than just using regular vehicle gas. But as you can imagine, many taxi drivers get scared and frustrated when natural gas is shut off. I read one article that said 70% of taxi drivers switch their cars to natural gas because it’s more cost-effective for them.

Limitan suministro de gas en suroccidente del país por anomalía en un volcán

Los departamentos de Caldas, Tolima, Risaralda, Quindío, Valle del Cauca y Cauca en el suroccidente del país enfrentan…

www.elheraldo.co

We handled the situation with adaptability and perspective. Like everything, we find ways to adapt, and it’s just part of the living process. No matter where you are in the world, things will always happen. Infrastructure is never constant. The day infrastructure is built, it’s already depreciating. This isn’t necessarily the cause, but no one could say it’s not declining because it’s on top of the earth. The earth is constantly changing, evolving, and shifting, whether it’s an earthquake or, in this case, tied to a volcano.

Now, let’s get into this week’s learnings

React Redux

I’ve realized that React Redux libraries intend to manage the state in React applications. It offers a centralized and predictable solution for handling complex conditions. Redux simplifies the development and maintenance of large-scale React applications by keeping all application state in a single store and modifying it through dispatched actions. Moreover, Redux allows middleware to be applied, which can be utilized for tasks such as error handling, logging, or asynchronous data fetching. With components able to subscribe to the store and receive updates when the state changes, sharing the state between multiple components has become a breeze. React Redux has proven an indispensable tool for managing conditions in larger React apps.

When should you use React Redux?

I have discovered that React Redux is a valuable tool for large-scale React applications with complex state management requirements. This library can help share the state between multiple components and handle asynchronous data fetching. Additionally, Redux can improve debugging and testing processes since it provides predictable state changes that can be easily traced through actions and reducers.

During my research, I learned about the Redux Toolkit, a collection of tools and utilities for using Redux. One of its features is creating Redux slices, which are smaller pieces of the Redux store that handle a specific part of the state. The Redux Toolkit also simplifies creating a Redux store with middleware and other configuration options through the configure store function. The Redux Toolkit is designed to make writing Redux code more straightforward and faster, with fewer lines of code and less boilerplate. You can find more information about the Redux Toolkit in the official documentation, like all good libraries and frameworks��

Bubble Sort

I have learned that bubble sort is a basic sorting algorithm that involves swapping adjacent elements if they are not in the correct order. This process causes more minor details to “bubble” up to the top of the list as the algorithm runs. While bubble sort is straightforward to comprehend and execute, it could be more efficient for sorting large lists. Therefore, it is mainly used for educational purposes or when the list is already mostly sorted.

Merge Sort

I recently learned about merge sort, a sorting algorithm that breaks down the input array into smaller subarrays sorts them, and then merges them back together. This approach is highly effective for handling large lists and is widely utilized in computer science.

WebSockets

I learned that WebSockets is a protocol that enables real-time communication between a client and a server. With WebSockets, a client can establish a persistent connection to a server and communicate with it bi-directionally. This means the server can push data to the client as soon as it becomes available without the client requesting it. WebSockets are ideal for applications that require real-time updates, such as chat applications or online games.

However, I also discovered that WebSockets can have higher latency than traditional HTTP requests and require a persistent connection, which can be resource-intensive for both the client and server. Additionally, some proxies and firewalls may not support WebSockets, which can limit their usefulness in specific environments.

Disadvantages to WebSockets

I’ve researched WebSockets and found that certain drawbacks must be considered before implementing them. One significant disadvantage is the issue of security. Since WebSockets allow bidirectional communication, securing connections can be more challenging than standard HTTP requests. Moreover, WebSocket connections are kept open constantly, which can cause performance problems and make it hard to scale applications. Lastly, not all browsers support WebSockets, which can limit their usage in some environments. Despite these drawbacks, WebSockets are still a potent tool for developing real-time applications. To mitigate these issues, it’s crucial to follow security best practices like encryption and authentication, use a WebSocket library that can aid in developing secure and efficient WebSocket applications, and thoroughly test the app in all browsers to ensure compatibility.

Alternatives to a Websocket

There are several alternatives to WebSockets that you can consider, including:

Server-Sent Events (SSE): This simple protocol allows a server to send data to a client without the client having to request it. SSE can be useful for applications that need to send updates to the client in real-time, such as a chat application or a stock ticker.

Long polling: This technique allows you to keep a connection open to a server and wait for data to be available. Long polling can be helpful for applications that need to send updates to the client, but only occasionally, such as a weather application.

MQTT: This is a lightweight protocol that is designed for machine-to-machine communication. It is often used in IoT applications, such as smart home devices.

WebRTC: This is a technology that allows browsers to communicate with each other without the need for a server. WebRTC can be helpful for applications that need to send real-time audio or video data, such as a video chat application.

The best alternative to WebSockets will depend on the specific needs of your application. SSE or WebSockets are good options if you need to send updates to the client in real-time. Long polling may be a better option if you only need to send updates occasionally. MQTT may be a good choice if you are developing an IoT application. And if you need to send real-time audio or video data, then WebRTC may be the best option.

Can a server establish a WebSocket connection to a client?

In the WebSocket protocol, the client initiates the connection by sending a handshake request to the server. The server responds with a handshake response, and the connection is established. Once established, both the client and the server can send messages to each other.

Although it is possible to simulate a server-initiated WebSocket connection using workarounds, such as creating a long-polling request, this is not a genuine WebSocket connection. A long-polling request keeps the link open until the server has some data to send. At this point, the client can poll the server periodically to check for new data. However, this method can be less efficient than a real WebSocket connection.

Articles that I read this week

Nervous ChatGPT Will Steal Your Programming Job?

A Guide to Coping with AI for Anxious Software Developers

levelup.gitconnected.com

The article above intrigued me after first learning about

Adam Hughes, who discusses the potential impact of AI technology on the job market for software developers. His perspective is on ChatGPT and that this technology could decrease demand for human coders. But after a previous article that outlines the complete loss of demand for software engineers, this article shares his perspective on how developers/engineers are processing the anxiety and stress that comes from talk and news in the industry portraying the end of coders because of this technology. The article notes that while AI can automate some aspects of coding, it is likely to replace human programmers partially. It also emphasizes the importance of developing new skills and keeping up with technological advancements to remain competitive in the job market. I’m grateful for Adam taking the time to reply to my lengthy commitment, and I will follow up with him and his writings. I appreciate individuals who formulate their thoughts and present them for the public to learn and discuss.

ChatGPT spells the end of coding as we know it

When ChatGPT was released to the world in November, most of us marveled at its ability to write rap lyrics and cover…

www.businessinsider.com

This Business Insider article above is where I first learned of the article Adam had written on the doom for coders/programmers; This article discusses the potential impact of AI technology on the job market for software developers. Listening to all sides of a topic with profound implications is essential. In this case, we are talking about society and humanity radically changing. No one can predict the future, and history has many examples of incorrect predictions. At the same time, with data and knowing that history does react, many signals show that the world is in store for a change of life habits for being a human in the 21st century.

Two Informational Interviews this week

I chatted with Maximilian Kwok, founder of JobFit. This platform provides free company research for skilled operators from non-traditional backgrounds to showcase their value in a way that makes hiring managers hire them on the spot.

We discussed the importance of understanding the hiring manager’s needs and creating content that addresses those needs. We also discussed the similarities between building a pitch deck and a resume/cover letter and how to utilize tools best to communicate with investors and hiring managers.

Maximilian suggested that graduates should communicate their personal and capsule projects in a way that resonates with the hiring manager, such as by integrating tech stack elements into their experience section, creating solutions to the hiring manager’s problems, and framing their projects as if they are launching an app in the App Store. He also suggested networking by motivating the person asking for help, such as by offering a solution to a problem based on the company’s characteristics. We also discussed the importance of solving problems to get hired, the post-bootcamp depression, and Max’s upcoming program to help bootcamp graduates.

Here is my recommendation for Max that I wrote about him on LinkedIn:

"During my coaching session with Max, we explored the nuances and benefits of understanding the hiring manager’s perspective within the software engineering industry. Max’s insights were invaluable as he emphasized the importance of frequent and open communication channels to address current and relevant business challenges. He provided practical solutions that can be easily implemented.

As a passionate business owner with years of experience, Max is dedicated to helping boot camp graduates develop the communication skills they need to excel in the ever-evolving tech industry. He is committed to ensuring that they are well-prepared for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Max’s company is unique in that it provides value upfront, evident in its list of hiring companies and the current problems they need to solve. This empowering perspective in the business world shows that finding solutions to individuals’ problems is the language of “I will hire you” or “I will pay for your product or service.

I highly recommend Max for his practical insights, dedication to helping others succeed, and unique perspective in the tech industry and coding bootcamp graduates."

Max’s Linkedin Profile to connect

My other informational interview this week was with Joyce Ma on the topic of coding assessments and her experience with them in the past and currently, in additional helping to share her service when viewing work opportunities and what are good leads on Linkedin for assessing if a Hiring team manager is active on Linkedin and what is a good sign for when to send a direct message with a high likelihood of response. Here is J oyce’s LinkedIn . She also shared with me a company gaining more usage as a technical assessment provider for companies hiring software engineers called WovenTeams.

Technical Interview Software for Developers | Woven Teams

Our technical assessment is the only platform to evaluate the whole candidate and provide same-day feedback and results…

www.woventeams.com

Learning how to customize the Chrome DevTools

H ow to Customize Your Chrome DevTools to Have a Material Design Look

When you spend most of your working time on a computer, it’s essential to be able to customize visuals and color…

xanderclemens.medium.com

Thoughts going into next week

To sign off for this week, I am officially getting baptized in the Catholic Church. My name will be written somewhere, and the documentation will be entered into a database to show that I have been baptized. This by no means represents my beliefs regarding religion, but it’s more about being on good terms with my family here in Colombia. Nonetheless, I always find value in activities and experiences in my life, and I always look for the good in things.

As Jocko Willink, the former US Navy SEAL Commander says: “Good.” It’s an excellent time to gain a different perspective, meet individuals you wouldn’t usually meet, and have conversations with others or yourself. Next week, I’ll have some documentation and video footage showing that process. My girlfriend’s father, Orlando, may be able to sing at the event. Currently, it’s just another kid and me, as generally, for babies, this takes place within the first 40 days of life to get baptized. Nonetheless, it’s a unique experience to share.

Tomorrow, we’re going with some friends to a small town where the regional coffee of Colombia is called Silento. I’m looking forward to going as it will be my first time, and our team will be looking to develop more of the front end for our project. I’m also constantly learning and staying consistent with good, healthy habits.

My girlfriend and I celebrated a year of knowing each other and nine months together as a couple. We’re looking forward to another year of getting to know each other and another nine months together.

Thank you so much for reading, and if you have any comments, questions, or perspectives, please send them my way. Xander, the software engineer, is signing off for now.

How to Customize Your Chrome DevTools to Have a Material Design Look

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 28 May 2023 22:19:58 GMT

When you spend most of your working time on a computer, it’s essential to be able to customize visuals and color patterns in various software tools and throughout your operating system. Customization is one of the first components I look at when using multiple tools throughout my workflow.

As an individual who needs to dissect a web application and view the code, the developer tool in a web browser is used extensively. Earlier this week, after working with the developer tool on a daily or weekly basis for over eight months, I realized that if I can customize my visual code studio, my Mac OS, or my Google Chrome browser theme, why can’t I customize my developer tools in the Google Chrome browser? As it turns out, you can. This article will address the steps needed to customize your developer tools theme in Google Chrome.

When I initially searched for this, I noticed that there are a few videos that show up in the results, but they are a few years old, and the labeling of settings in dev tools is slightly different from how I had to go about doing so. Therefore, I want to provide an update. This reminds me of how everything we have today in society is built on the backs of others. Although this is a small example, my learning and sharing of customizing your dev tools is made possible by those who shared this knowledge by documenting it in video and writing. Thank you, and onward!

Summary of the Material DevTools Theme Chrome web extension

With the Material DevTools Theme Chrome extension, users can personalize the look of their Chrome DevTools. This handy tool provides a theme inspired by Material Design and is customizable to match individual preferences.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Install the Material DevTools Theme Chrome web extension from the Chrome Web Store

2. Open the Material DevTools Theme Chrome web extension from your extension list

3. Customize the theme by adjusting the following options:

- Selected Theme

- Font Family (Based on what font you have downloaded onto your operating system)

- Font Size

- Accent Color

- Accent Scrollbars

4. Click outside the Material Theme UI for DevTools customization window

5. Open Chrome DevTools by pressing F12, right-clicking on a web page, and selecting “Inspect” or command-option-j.

6. Click on the “Settings” tab in the DevTools window (this wheel be the wheel-shaped icon)

7. Scroll down to the “Experiments” section and either check or uncheck and then recheck “Allow extensions to load custom stylesheets.” After doing this the first time to get it checked you shouldn’t have to check it again.

8. Exit out of the experiments.

9. Click RELOAD DEVTOOLS

10. If changes don’t take effect, you will need to either refresh your page or open a new browser page and open up the dev tools.

That’s it! With these simple steps, you can customize the Material DevTools Theme to fit your preferences, make your Chrome DevTools look and feel the way you want them to, and add more colors throughout your workflow.

Week 14 coding authentication in our groups application

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 21 May 2023 01:01:49 GMT

Welcome to the week 14 thoughts and documentation. I am in the last five weeks of the program, and I’m very excited to be training most of my time to apply for roles as a software engineer in a remote situation. This week we had lectures on React Hooks, authenticating our application from a web library created by Galvanize, MongoDB, and learning more about Jason Web Tokens and algorithms.

Our group project for this week was focused on building out our login and logout, and create an account authentication, and also being able to successfully make an API call to our 3rd party API application with Open Weather. The following is the text from my journal of the work's last three group working days, including challenges and focuses for our project.

5/16/23

Today, I worked on the following:

Getting our Docker Containers running and our Authentication

I worked with Jeanette, Liland, and Sabrina as navigators for Jason, who was the driver for today. We built out our docker.compose.yml file to be able to run our FastAPI server, Mongo, Mongo Express, and React development servers. After getting our development servers to run, we built out the backend server portion for authenticating our users. We now have a queries and routers folder in our monolith (whatevr) directory that allows us to create, get, and list user accounts. Once implemented, our application now can:

Allow users to log in and log out.
Require a valid token for access to specific endpoints.
Get the current account data for a logged-in user.
Let users sign up for new accounts.

We learned that JWTdown for FastAPI provides two routes for logging in and out: The POST /token to log in using form data sets a cookie and returns a JSON token for you to use in your API calls. DELETE /token to log out, which deletes the cookie set with logging in. We can use the authenticator when requiring a valid token to access specific endpoints.get_current_account_data method as an injected dependency. This method will return the current account data for a logged-in user or None if the user is not logged in. We used the authenticator to get the current account data for a logged-in user.try_get_current_account_data method. This method will return the current account data for a logged-in user or None if the user is not logged in. Finally, we learned we can use the authenticator to let users sign up for new accounts. Login method. This method inputs an AccountForm object containing the new account's username and password. The method will return a Token object if the login is successful or raise an exception if the login is unsuccessful. We are excited to implement Authentication in my application using JWTdown for FastAPI, making our application more secure and user-friendly.

We plan on analyzing the code Violet provided us yesterday to further build our authentication section to the backend of our application and, later this week, integrate React hooks and frontend authentication.

5/17/23

Today, I worked on the following:

Updating our authentication functionality in our FastAPI and making sure users are authenticated, updated models, and worked on creating the API Open Weather fetch

Our group participated as a whole in updating the Authentication in our application and focusing on the query and router directory for our accounts(users), and starting the process of writing our API call for Open Weather API. Today I was the driver, writing most of the code and sharing my screen with the team. Everyone else was the navigator and provided guidance and insight for every line of code. We added a field to confirm passwords upon the creation of accounts. From there, we retested our login and logout and created account functionality. Afterward, we received consulting help from Violet on the structure of our files and directory in our project. After this, we spent the last 2 hours of our group work figuring out how to connect our database (MongoDB) to our Python environment. We want to return the weather for all our users based on the zip code they enter upon account creation.

We attempted numerous different codes in our weather.py file in our router directory in hopes that it would return the correct API call using the zip code that was created for each user in our database. We are left to return the fields created in our model, but, unfortunately, we are still not returning data from our database, which is blocking our ability to perform a correct API call from open weather's API. Last, I installed the pymongo library on a new and separate branch in hopes that this would help with creating a MongoClient object and then have the ability to connect to our MongoDB database. Unforently after an hour of attempting and numerous versions of playing the pymongo in my requirements.txt, I still needed help to import the pymongo library and have it recognized in my code. I will update the team on this attempt and spend the following working day focused on connecting our MongoDB database to our Python environment to use it in our FastAPI and, additionally, spending time working on React Hooks.

5/18/23

Today, I worked on the following:

Creating our MongoDB Compass Database, successfully fetching our API from Open Weather.

Jason was the driver today, and the rest of our group were the navigators. We, as a team, worked together on getting our accounts (users) to display in the MongoDB collection displayed on the MongoDB Compass (graphical user interface (GUI) for MongoDB that allows you to explore, query, and analyze your data). After getting this to work, we discussed a team and decided to focus on getting our API call to Open Weather to work on FastAPI. After seeing the data being returned in our API call, we successfully extracted the city, temperature (in Fahrenheit), description of the weather, time, and logo icon of the weather. In addition, we could return a five-day forecast of the weather data for a specific city. We still need to adjust the format for how the time is being produced and will do this later on the front-end side. From here, we discussed again and decided on working and building our models for the closet, clothes, and bins. We were still determining how to include some fields when using MongoDB, but after trial/error and research, we got our Bin model and created a bin to register an object id in our MongoDB compass. Our team has a three-day work break, and we have agreed to focus on Monday to progress our models further and get/post functionality to the three collections we need for our project: clothes, bins, and closets and our work day ended with the team feeling optimistic about our success in returning the correct data required from Open Weather. Our blockage is with MongoDB, and not fully grasping how it works, but every day this week, we learn more and more.

JWT - Jason Web Tokens

I've come to better understand JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) for Authentication and authorization in web applications since introducing the topic early on in Module 2. JWTs are a concise and secure way of transmitting information between parties without using cookies or sessions. They can be signed using a secret or public/private key pair and can contain a set of claims that include information about the user's ID, email, and authorization status.

One of the most significant advantages of using JWTs is that they are stateless, meaning that the server does not need to store any information about the user's session or login status. This makes JWT-based Authentication and authorization more scalable and efficient than traditional session-based approaches.

Numerous libraries and frameworks are available for implementing JWT-based Authentication and authorization in web applications, making it a widely used and well-supported technology. If you're interested in learning more about JWTs, many resources are available online, including official documentation and online courses and tutorials.

MongoDB

MongoDB is a popular NoSQL database I use to store data in flexible, JSON-like documents. This means that fields can vary from document to document, and the data structure can be changed over time, making it a good choice for applications with rapidly changing data requirements. Additionally, MongoDB is designed to scale horizontally across multiple servers, making it a good choice for applications that handle large amounts of data and high traffic levels.

MongoDB also offers a variety of features that make it a powerful tool for data management, including dynamic querying, indexing, and aggregation. With dynamic querying, I can query the data in MongoDB using a variety of operators and expressions without having to define a specific schema or data model ahead of time. Indexing allows me to create indexes on particular fields to improve query performance, while aggregation enables me to perform complex operations on large datasets, such as grouping, sorting, and filtering.

Furthermore, MongoDB has a robust ecosystem of tools and integrations that make it easy to work with and integrate into my existing applications. These include drivers for various programming languages and integrations with popular frameworks and tools, such as Django, with which I have become proficient while working in the Hack Reactor program.

Big O and Algorithms

Big O notation is a mathematical notation used to describe the upper bound of the time complexity of an algorithm. It is commonly used in computer science to analyze the performance of algorithms in terms of their input size. In essence, Big O notation helps me understand how an algorithm will perform as the size of its input grows.

For example, if I have an algorithm that takes n steps to complete, where n represents the size of the input, its time complexity is O(n). This means that the time it takes to run the algorithm is proportional to the input size.

By analyzing the time complexity of algorithms using Big O notation, I can choose the most efficient algorithm for a given problem and optimize my code for performance. This can be especially important when dealing with large datasets or complex algorithms, where even minor performance improvements can significantly impact.

Big O notation can be used to classify algorithms based on their efficiency. The most common classes of complexity are:

O(1) – constant time complexity
O(log n) – logarithmic time complexity
O(n) – linear time complexity
O(n log n) – linearithmic time complexity
O(n²) – quadratic time complexity
O(2ⁿ) – exponential time complexity

Understanding Big O notation helps identify bottlenecks in code and optimize algorithms for better performance. It can help me make informed decisions about which algorithm to use for a given problem and how to optimize my code for efficiency. When analyzing various codes from this perspective, it can get very complex in the logic of time spent and all the possibilities. I write this to remind myself that practicing this logic/perspective when creating and constructing code will allow me to understand algorithms more efficiently.

For example, I learned about economics in 1975, I learned about economics and MIT's Economic Projection and Policy Analysis (EPPA) model. The EPPA model is a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model that simulates the interactions of various economic agents, including households, firms, and governments. It is used to study economic issues such as climate change, resource depletion, and inequality.

The EPPA model has been used to predict changes in the world economy. In 2014, MIT economists used the model to predict a 20% chance of societal collapse by 2040 due to climate change, resource depletion, and inequality. I learned about this prediction from a recent Economics Explained video , which led me to ponder the individuals involved in creating this model and its time complexity.

React Hooks

React Hooks are a new feature added in React 16.8 that allows developers to use state and other React features in functional components. Before the introduction of hooks, functional components were limited in their ability to handle state and lifecycle methods, making them less flexible than their class-based counterparts. With hooks, developers can use features like useState, useEffect, and useContext to manage state, perform side effects, and share data between components. This simplifies the development process and makes it easier to manage complex components. Overall, React Hooks are a powerful tool that can significantly improve the functionality and efficiency of React applications.

One of the key benefits of using hooks is that they allow developers to write more declarative and less verbose code. By using hooks, developers can reduce the amount of boilerplate code needed to manage state and lifecycle methods, resulting in code that is easier to read and maintain. Additionally, hooks can help improve the performance of React applications by reducing the number of unnecessary re-renders that occur when the state is updated.

Going into week 15

Val and myself will be greeted by Andres Ospina this week here in Santa Rosa de Cabal to work on business tasks and have the opportunity to show him a little bit of the town. Also, I have another friend visiting us on Friday for a few days who will be visiting from Medellín. This week the focus for our group project will be enhancing our backend endpoints regarding the data we extract from our API calls and successfully connecting it with database collections created in our Mongo DB. In addition, since this is a five-day week as opposed to last week's four-day week, we will have time to work on our application's front-end build using React. Looking forward, and now I'm off to work on my documentation and homework to present to the Father of our church Parroquia Santa Maria del Monte Carmelo . Ciao!

From New York City and the start to Module 3

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 15 May 2023 03:10:09 GMT

Week 13 was the first time working in the Hack Reactor course while traveling to the United States. This week I accompanied my girlfriend Valeria to New York City for her work at her first conference with the company Family Office Club where she works with. I was super proud of her for creating more opportunities for herself professionally, growing her network, and facing and overcoming new challenges. It was a hot time in the Brooklyn area of New York City during our four days there. I was happy to have many opportunities to enjoy the sunshine and walk around Brooklyn Heights and downtown. Brooklyn area on the breaks I had away from the computer and even met a guest at the conference Val was working at who was also from Alaska! I'm incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to visit New York City for the first time and also be able to work from there, travel with Val, and continually grow our relationship together.

Moving onto this week's learnings and insights from the Week 13 of the Hack Reactor program.

This week was the start of module 3, which had us in groups of 4-5 people and building a complete stack application from incubation to fully working and operating at the end of the module. I'm excited to be in a diverse group of 5 people, and we have great chemistry for focusing on the task at hand and git along with each other, and joking around.

For our project this week, we worked on the first few days creating our idea for an application, wireframing the frontend design and functionality, defining our API endpoints and the data that needs to be returned, and creating issues for the various functions that need to be made for our application to function on the user experience side and doing so using the GitLab platform.

Moving into week 14, we will be bringing to code our project and defining the type of database we will use for our project. Speaking of our project, we are focusing on building an application that displays clothes recommended to a user based on the weather. We will be using, at the minimum, a weather open API with Open Weather and a fashion API or a calendar API. My group members and I are excited about the potential of improving our project after we have met our Minimum Viable Project functionality and have time to work on our stretch goals. I will document more about this and our group project progress over the next several weeks.

In addition to this project starting for Module 3, we are also being introduced to Data Structure and Algorithms. The reason is because of how often interviewees will ask questions relating to this topic, and it can trip up many interviewees. Also, this week we submitted our final resume to receive feedback and improvement from the career services team later in Module 3.

Topics learned this week:

What is a relational database?

A relational database stores and organizes data in tables, where each table represents a specific type of entity, and each row represents a unique instance of that entity. The tables are related by common attributes, allowing for complex queries and data retrieval. Relational databases are widely used in software engineering for their flexibility and scalability.

What is Mongo Database?

MongoDB is a document-oriented NoSQL database program that uses JSON-like documents with optional schemas. It is an open-source and flexible database system that allows for high scalability and performance. MongoDB is commonly used in web applications and provides dynamic queries, indexing, and replication features.

What is Redux?

Redux is an open-source JavaScript library for managing application states, and it works with React and other frontend frameworks to manage conditions predictably and efficiently. Redux is often used in large-scale applications to simplify complex state management and enable time-travel debugging.

What are WebSockets?

Websockets are a communication protocol used in software engineering to provide real-time, two-way communication between a client and a server. They allow for efficient and low-latency data transfer, making them ideal for applications that require continual updates, such as chat applications, multiplayer games, and financial trading platforms.

What are async functions?

Async functions are a type of function in JavaScript that are used to simplify the management of asynchronous code. They allow for more readable and maintainable code by using the await keyword to wait for the resolution of a Promise before moving on to the following line of code. Async functions can also use the try...catch syntax for error handling, making managing errors in asynchronous code more straightforward.

HTTP Request Message

An HTTP request message consists of three parts:

Request line: This contains the HTTP method, the requested resource, and the HTTP version being used, all separated by spaces.
Header fields: These optional fields provide additional information about the request, such as the type of data being sent or the user's authentication credentials.
Message body: This contains any data sent with the request, such as form data or JSON payloads.

In summary, the request line specifies the type of request being made and the resource being requested, the header fields provide additional information about the request, and the message body contains any data being sent with the request.

FastAPIs

FastAPI is a modern, fast (high-performance) web framework for building APIs with Python 3.7+ based on standard Python-type hints. It is designed to be easy to use and to provide high performance, with automatic validation of request and response data, automatic generation of API documentation, and support for asynchronous code. FastAPI is built on Starlette for the web and Pydantic's data parts. It is becoming increasingly popular due to its simplicity, speed, and ease of use.

Nodes & Linked Lists

In software engineering, a node is an individual element in a linked list data structure. Each node contains a value and a pointer to the next node in the list. A linked list is a collection of nodes connected by these pointers. Linked lists are commonly used in computer science for their flexibility and efficiency in certain operations, such as inserting or deleting elements. They can also be used to implement other data structures, such as stacks and queues.

What is a data structure?

A data structure organizes and stores data in a computer to be accessed and used efficiently. Data structures provide a means to effectively manage large amounts of data for various purposes, such as searching and sorting. Data structures include arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, and trees.

What is a node?

In software engineering, a node is an individual element in a linked list data structure. Each node contains a value and a pointer to the next node in the list.

Moving onto next week, we have a short 4-day week and will be leaning more toward Authentication in application designs, inner joins with databases, data structure transversal, React hooks, and frontend authentication. For the rest of the Hack Reactor course, I will be in Santa Rosa de Cabal. I'm looking forward to staying disciplined and focused on the course and transitioning my time to applying for complete remote jobs and networking in the industry. On to week 14! Nos vemos el pronto!

WEEK 12 and the conclusion of Module 2

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 14 May 2023 03:48:38 GMT

This week 12 marks the finish of Module 2 and transitioning into our 4-5 person group projects that will be worked on throughout Module 3. This week we had our module 2 test that covered Domain Driven Design and Aggregate, pulling and pub/sub-methods, the differences between using direct DOM programming in Javascript, microservice integrations, and docker drawbacks, using React for front-end benefits, Python and Javascript coding challenges.

For example, key takes ways I had from this week were the following:

What is the Aggregate in Domain-Driven Design, and how it helps a team model a problem domain?

I define an aggregate as a collection of domain objects grouped as a single unit or a bigger whole. The purpose that aggregates beneficial in the design and archetype of a system is how they help make complex systems easier to create, design and perform maintenance to improve the code's lifecycle. Code outside of the aggregate will interact with the aggregate using the aggregate root. An example that was given to us in our Module 2 around week seven or eight from my memory is when our instructor first mentioned aggregates; he used the shopping cart and its methods associated with the shopping cart class would be an example. In addition, the shopping cart is an example of the aggregate root, and the aggregate source can only have one aggregate. If we wanted to change items in the cart, we would have to go through the aggregate root to access and change.

Defining the similarities and differences between the messaging methods for integrating microservices of polling and pub/sub.

For the similarities between Polling and pub/sub that I see:

-Both are messaging services that ensure transfer of data/messages can exist

-Both ensure that a user will receive the data/message

-Both send messages where the messenger doesn't have to wait for a response. This is known as decoupling in that the server side that is sending the message doesn't need to know the details about the receiver/subscriber, and for Polling, the client doesn't need to see how the server is working

-Both help with scaling your application and handling messages/data updates to your users

For the differences between Polling and pub/sub that I see:

-Size of subscribers/users. Polling is more useful when the system/app is for a smaller user base (for example, of the Module 2 project) and more inefficient with a large user base due to the mechanics of the user/subscriber needing to initiate the request from the publisher/sender. Pub/sub is a more practical implementation for systems/apps with large userbase/subscribers and will be a better alternative to ensure peak performance.

-The time of communication. Pub/sub sends out requests that need response times generated immediately. An example of a pub/sub-system is Apache Kafka. Polling is used in building systems where the response time back doesn't have to be immediate.

-Respective methods of implementation. Pub/sub is known as a push method. The messenger will send/push messages to their subscribers even when the subscriber hasn't requested to receive them. Polling uses a pulling form where the subscriber requests the information/data from the publisher.

What would be the drawbacks to using Docker when developing from my experience?

I've seen several drawbacks to using Docker as your development environment. The first would be, depending on your operating system; it can be a hassle to work with and not a smooth set-up. I am referring to if you're using a Windows operating system, but it will work and be figured out. In addition, using Docker as your development system takes time to understand how to use the working parts and then incorporate it as your tool to handle a full stack build-out of our backend, front end, messaging service, and database used in your project. Now to get more to my technical observations and experience. This is an issue when understanding how data is stored in my Docker container and what happens when the container isn't working and is shut down. I know the data is stored in my volumes; still, when continually needing to rebuild position in the development phase of a project, it seems like it could be smoother. Also, consider isn't completely safe when you need to delete containers or shutdown docker. In addition, from the perspective of security Docker is suitable for handling large-scale Docker environments that can monitor all the moving pieces effectively without any holes.

After completing our module 2 test this week, we moved on to set goals for our project Beta partner project. For this, I focused on improving the user experience and making sure all the forms and buttons were precise or, in other words, there were no errors in the console and the data was being posted successfully. By the end of the week, I had gotten everything except one item to work that I wanted, but overall a very focused week on understanding how my Django models connect to my views and how changes/updates in my database for one microservice communicate that change to another database in another microservice by using the poller.py file and then being able to reference what I have built on the backend through React and display this on the front end led to a productive week of understanding. As long as I work/practice/train on improving my skills daily, I am improving. I write this as my coding could be better, and I often need to fully 100% understand how it works under the hood. But attitude, consistency, healthy habits, and mindset will dictate what one creates for themselves in this field and industry. Now enough with the personal development perspective. Moving on to another stretch goal for this week.

I decided to follow my interest in harnessing the powers of the Google Cloud Vision API and have been able to execute the following functions when uploading photos successfully:

Detecting crop hints, seeing faces, detecting handwriting, detecting image properties, detecting logos, detecting multiple objects, detecting text in an image from my writing, displaying what is most likely an image with a probability, and returning other links of where that photo can be found, label detection and landmark detection. All of these functions can be viewed on my gitlab repository here, and I plan to take these functions and transitions them to a front-end buildup for myself and the user to interact with them and experience them easily. This experience demonstrated my ability to execute API calls by first reading effectively and understanding the API documentation for Google, then taking the code provided and tweaking it to output that I can understand. The google cloud vision API is a powerful machine learning model with the capital of taking images and returning data that can be used to continually expand this technical revolution of what computers are capable of.

Going into week 13, I will be traveling with my girlfriend to Brooklyn in New York City for a conference that my girlfriend is working at, and I'm very excited for her to have this opportunity and looking forward to staying disciplined with the Hack Reactor course and working from a different view and environment in New York City. Next week we will start our larger group projects, and I look forward to integrating FastAPI, a new database, and building out an idea from scratch with a team and making it come to life. Moving onto Module 3, I see that the course is seven weeks away from finishing, and I'm happy to have more time to dedicate to focus on networking and outreach on applications for companies that I would like to provide my services. On to week 13!

Week 11 AND Getting a better understanding of Docker and Module 2 concepts

Mon, 01 May 2023 00:35:36 GMT

Welcome to my Week 11 thoughts. The two main highlights for this week were our practice test for a module that consisted of 28 questions and our project for Module 2, which consisted of working with the same partner from our partner project and building the backend for two microservices, and then building out the front end our app using the React library framework to display forms and list that we created for our data.

The test consisted of 28 questions that covered concepts of Docker, React, Optimal messaging service (Polling, Pub/Sub, and Queue), solving Javascript and Python coding challenges, and questions regarding the context map and Domain Driven Design. Below are images of my designs for better understanding how Docker works under the hood.

Our following project, Module 2, can be viewed on our git repository for the project . For this project, we had to do the following for our workflow and how we approached this significant project that had us busy the entire week with my partner. We put about 40 hours into this project of work, researching and debugging by the end of the project.

I first approached my microservice by building out the models. As I progressed with my design, I would reference and draw out my plan using Excalidraw. This helped me better understand how my microservice would connect to our inventory and service microservices.

To begin with my design, I must identify how my Sales Microservice is connected with the Services and Inventory. This is done through the Automobile Value Object. Since every Automobile in our database has a 17-digit VIN specifically unique to each car, my partner and I used the Automobile Value Object. After identifying the Automobile as a Value Object, I constructed my sales models. I used four models: AutomobileVO, SalesPerson, Customer, and RecordOfSale.

For the AutomobileVO, I used two fields of VIN specific to each car in our database and sold. This is because if the car is sold. Users will know whether the vehicle has already been listed as sold and prevent a double selling situation. For the SalesPerson, I used the fields first name, last name, and the Employee's ID. For the customer, I used the fields first/last name, address, and phone number to collect our customer's contact info. Lastly, for the record of sales, I included the price field and, in addition, three foreign keys in the form of Automobile, salesperson, and Customer. The first foreign key, "automobile," was used to connect this model to my AutomobileVO model. This allows for easy access to the automobile data associated with the record of a sale. The second foreign key, "sales_person," was used to connect the model to the SalesPerson model, allowing easy access to the data related to the salesperson associated with the sale record. The third foreign key, "customer," connects the model to the Customer model, allowing easy access to the sales record data.

After considering what would happen if a customer or salesperson were deleted from our database, I set the on_delete parameter to PROTECT to save the sales record. I did this because I imagine that in a real word business situation, having complete sales records is an important metric to measure any data analysis for the business.

I moved on to my admin and encoders from these models to input my data into their respective Django Admin databases. From here, I created view functions to perform the following abilities of "POST," "GET," "PUT," and "DELETE" for my AutomobileVO, SalesPerson, Customer, and RecordOfSale. This allowed for my form functions to be able to Create a salesperson, customer, and a record of a sale. In addition, the ability to list a sales history, the sales team members, and customers.

After this, we worked on the front end with React and built our Javasctipt files in our ghi folder to develop our components, states, and props. We constructed components to display or create the data in our forms. My partner and I will work on improving our project with our customization the following week.

One of the big learning lessons for this week came from how we worked together on this project by ensuring we were developing on separate branches. Then we would have to switch to the primary component that held our working code and would then pull and merge into our working branches(sales or service) to have updated copies of the progress we were making. At first, this week, we had minor hiccups. However, overall we became more knowledgeable about working on two separate branches and committing, pushing, and pulling onto our Gitlab repository.

To begin developing my microservice, I started by building out the models. As I progressed with my design, I drew out my plan using Excalidraw to understand better how my microservice would connect to our inventory and service microservices.

To start my design, I needed to identify how my Sales Microservice was connected to the Services and Inventory. This was done through the Automobile Value Object, which is specific to each car in our database and sold. By identifying the Automobile as a Value Object, I constructed my sales models using four models: AutomobileVO, SalesPerson, Customer, and RecordOfSale.

For the AutomobileVO, I used two fields of VIN specific to each car in our database and sold. This is because if the car is sold, users will know whether the vehicle has already been listed as sold to prevent double-selling. For the SalesPerson, I used the fields first name, last name, and the Employee's ID. For the customer, I used the fields first/last name, address, and phone number to collect our customer's contact info. Lastly, for the Record of Sales, I included the price field and three foreign keys in the form of Automobile, SalesPerson, and Customer. The first foreign key, "automobile," was used to connect this model to my AutomobileVO model, allowing easy access to the automobile data associated with the sale record. The second foreign key, "sales_person," was used to connect the model to the SalesPerson model, allowing easy access to the data related to the salesperson associated with the sale record. The third foreign key, "customer," connects the model to the Customer model, allowing easy access to the sales record data.To ensure complete sales records, I set the "on_delete" parameter to "PROTECT" to save the sales record if a customer or salesperson was deleted from our database.

I moved on to my admin and encoders from these models to input my data into their respective Django Admin databases. From here, I created view functions to perform the abilities of "POST," "GET," "PUT," and "DELETE" for my AutomobileVO, SalesPerson, Customer, and RecordOfSale. This allowed for creating a salesperson, customer, and a record of a sale and listing a sales history, sales team members, and customers.

After this, we worked on the front end with React and built our Javascript files in our "ghi" folder to develop our components, states, and props. We constructed components to display or create the data in our forms. My partner and I will work on improving our project with our customization during week 12 of the course.

One of the big learning lessons for this week came from how we worked together on this project by ensuring we were developing on separate branches. We would switch to the primary component that held our working code and then pull and merge it into our working branches (sales or service) to have updated copies of our progress. At first, this week, we had minor hiccups. However, overall we became more knowledgeable about working on two separate branches and committing, pushing, and pulling onto our Gitlab repository.

Going into week 12, we have our final Module 2 test on Monday and then several days to work on our partner project to complete stretch goals and make creative adjustments. This will be the last week in Module 2 before moving on to Model 3 for Week 13.

This week in Santa Rosa de Cabal was quiet with a work routine all this week of HackReactor work on the computer from 8 am till 6:30-7 pm most nights and then assuring with either dinner or going out for dinner. Other addition, my girlfriend, her mom, and I made a trip to Pereira this weekend (the neighboring city that is about a 25 min drive away to go shopping for professional clothes for her for our New York City trip). Onto week 12 and continuing with the extensive learning and mindfulness habits. I marveled at the continued developments in AI generative technologies and the future impact that they will have on society and businesses. A website I have discovered from my continual research on AI is www.dataconomy.com , which has helped to increase my vocabulary and understanding of topics in AI. See you next week!

Week 10: Starting Our First Partner Coding Project - Backend Buildout and React Web Framework

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 03:24:23 GMT

Welcome to Week 10 of the Hack Reactor documentation. When I look back on how much I have been working, studying, and learning in Software Engineering since November 2022, it truly excites me at the possibilities this field can create for the flexibility of working from anywhere at any time and genuinely contributing massive value. More so, I had this idea of how creating code can be similar to art.

The same creative energy and imagination that produces art are also found in programming. Those who code, like artists, strive to make something beautiful, functional, and meaningful. Programming is often likened to being a masterful creator - much like an artist. It calls for an eye for innovation and originality, a capacity for precision, and the skill to turn indefinite thoughts into tangible objects. As a painter trades in brushes and canvas, a programmer calls on languages, frameworks, and tools to bring their ideas to life. Both must be experienced in their craft and have a profound comprehension of the medium they are working with, able to wield it like a prized author. Programmers must maintain their knowledge and stay current with the latest strategies and technologies. They need to feel comfortable with trial and error to create something innovative and one-of-a-kind. The same inventive brilliance that gives form to art breathes life into programming. Coders, similar to artists, work to make something special, effective, and meaningful.

Now this excitement in the field also has the perspective that this field will drastically look different in how we think about what are programming and coding as; the rapid advancement of AI tools for coding will transform a coder into needing to know the right and practical question or prompts, in addition, understand the direction to take when utilizing the highly accurate and effective AI assist coding tools that are becoming more and more effective at producing code for projects and tasks. I am in agreeance with numerous others in that AI will disrupt society as we know it for many people who are white-collar workers and; that one needs to learn how to utilize this technology to create value for others and themselves and also understand that history repeats itself, and this is another technological advancements in human history that will propel humans to another level of prosperity and capabilities.

This week's learning covered React framework in more depth than the first two days of this shorter week (we had Friday off as the program follows every second Friday there is no class). On Wednesday and Thursday, we had partner projects where we had to connect RESTful APIs to our microservices in the backend and then integrate our forms from our models in the front end using React. I'm very grateful to have a partner that is easy to work with, and we have a similar understanding of connecting everything in the project. I learned a lot working with her and utilizing git and working off several different working branches, and then committing to a main branch to save our work together. To continue for this week, here are this week's learnings:

React Javascript Destructuring

Array destructuring is a feature in JavaScript that allows you to extract elements from an array and assign them to variables in a single statement. It can save you from writing multiple lines of code to extract array elements and assign them to variables. You can destructure an array using square brackets on the left-hand side of an assignment expression.

Docker container deletes images

docker build command . -t “name of image”

docker run -it -v “$(pwd):/app” -p 3000:3000 “name of the image” bash

npx create-react-app blueberry

What is NPX?

NPX is a package runner tool that comes with NPM 5.2+ and higher. It allows you to execute a package you haven't installed globally easily. It can be used to run command-line tools, and scripts, or even install packages without the need to install them globally, making it a useful tool for development workflows.

What is state in React?

State in React is an object that represents the current state of a component. It can be updated by calling a function provided by React called setState() . When state is updated, React will re-render the component to reflect the new state.

What is the difference between input and textarea in JSX HTML?

In JSX HTML, the <input> element is used for single-line input fields, while the <textarea> element is used for multi-line input fields.

The on change handler for example textChanged

event.target.value inside the function that is going to handle the change event

Import React useState function from React and create a piece of State

Key takeaways for Use State -

using array restructuring, we create a variable to hold the initial state
we also create a variable to hold the function that we call to update the state
we pass the initial state as an argument to useState

Docker first then run the container and create react in a directory then cd into that directory and start the server

Why in React we don’t use “for”

React wants us to use htmlFor instead of for in JSX because for is a reserved keyword in JavaScript, and using it in JSX would cause an error. Instead, we use htmlFor to specify the for attribute on an HTML label element. This is important because using a label associated with an input element improves accessibility for users who rely on assistive technology.

Front End SPAs

Single Page Applications (SPAs) are a type of web application that loads a single HTML page and dynamically updates the page as the user interacts with the application. This is in contrast to traditional multi-page applications, which load a new HTML page for each interaction. React is particularly well-suited to developing SPAs due to its ability to efficiently manage state and handle dynamic updates to the UI.

React Router

React Router is a popular library for routing in React applications. It allows you to define routes in your application and map them to specific components. This enables you to create a more complex UI with multiple views, without having to reload the page. With React Router, you can easily navigate between different views, pass data between them, and handle dynamic route parameters.

What is Docker

How Docker Compose Works

How to interact with the collection URLs in a RESTFul API?

To interact with the collection URLs in a RESTful API, you can use the HTTP methods GET , POST , PUT , and DELETE . GET is used to retrieve a resource, POST is used to create a new resource, PUT is used to update an existing resource, and DELETE is used to delete a resource. The URL for a collection typically ends with a slash, and the URL for a single resource within the collection typically includes an ID or other unique identifier.

What is a collection APIs?

A collection API is an API that provides access to a collection of resources, such as a list of books or a set of user profiles. Collection APIs typically allow users to interact with the resources in the collection using HTTP methods such as GET , POST , PUT , and DELETE . The URL for a collection typically ends with a slash, and the URL for a single resource within the collection typically includes an ID or other unique identifier.

What are Single Object APIs?

Single Object APIs are APIs that provide access to a single resource, such as a single book or a user profile. Single Object APIs typically allow users to interact with the resource using HTTP methods such as GET , POST , PUT , and DELETE . The URL for a single resource typically includes an ID or other unique identifier.

React Components - how React uses components to turn them into HTML

In React, I use components to turn them into HTML. A React component is a reusable piece of code that can be used to build a user interface. Each component can have its own state and props, which are used to store data and pass data between components. When I render a component, React creates a virtual DOM, which is a lightweight representation of the actual DOM. The virtual DOM is used to determine which parts of the actual DOM need to be updated when the component's state or props change. This allows me to update the UI efficiently and without unnecessary re-renders. Once the virtual DOM has been updated, React uses it to create the real HTML DOM for my web application.

How React takes your components, turns them into something called the virtual DOM, then uses that to create the real HTML DOM for your Web application

When I create components in React, they are turned into something called the virtual DOM, which is a lightweight representation of the actual DOM. The virtual DOM is used to determine which parts of the actual DOM need to be updated when the component's state or props change. This allows me to update the UI efficiently and without unnecessary re-renders. Once the virtual DOM has been updated, React uses it to create the real HTML DOM for my web application.

How React Works

This week in Santa Rosa de Cabal

This week was full of time resting on my day off from class and sleeping in a few more hours on Friday off, and plenty of time with the family with meals together at a local sushi restaurant that was very good with excellent sauces on the various sushi they had that you never felt the need to apply soy sauce and a local restaurant that is well known in this area of Colombia called Don Julio .

My girlfriend and I on Saturday did a spa day at Santa Clara . A hotel and restaurant that is very close to where we live, and the scenery was very relaxing there and a very tranquil place to relax and recharge. On Sunday, we went to church, and we had homework early in the week to study more of the history and who was San Francisco and watched a recent documentary ( Amén. Francisco responde ) Pope Francisco sits with young people to have various common questions and factual issues that young people face when viewing their prescient on the Catholic Church. Moving on to later in the day, we went to a local river in the countryside for a cold swim and later had the uncle of my girlfriend and his family visit us for an additional outing of eating food and going out for wine, coffee, and tea at an elegant restaurant here.

This week is our practice test for Module 2 and the start of a five-day Module 2 partner project called Project Beta. I'm looking forward d to sharpening my perspective and skill with Git with my project partner and us improve our ability to get our backend up in running by integrating our microservices and successfully running our react server that can submit, update, list, and delete our forms for our web app this week. Looking forward to another week of enlightenment in understating how Docker, Insomnia, Visual Code Studio, Django, and React work.

Spring Break Week in Hack Reactor

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 22:43:15 GMT

This week was spring break, so a whole week off from the program as the employees for Hack Reactor/Galvanize had the same week off. While some individuals took the entire week off from being plugged into the world of using tech/coding/programming, I spent my week off getting an extra hour of sleep each day, meditating, completing LinkedIn learning courses on React, tech trends, API's and working on my side project managing work here in Colombia. The following are all the learnings this week and a section detailing what has been learned in Module 2 up until now. Let's dig into it!

Linkedin Prompt AI Generating

In the LinkedIn Learning course " Introduction to Prompt Engineering for Generative AI ," I learned about using natural language processing (NLP) in generative AI. The course covered the basics of NLP and how it can be used to generate text and other content. I also learned how to use prompt engineering to fine-tune generative AI models for specific tasks. The course provided me with a comprehensive overview of the use of NLP in generative AI and its potential applications in various industries. Overall, I came away from the course with a better understanding of how AI can automate tasks and create new content without human intervention.

React.js Essential Training

In the LinkedIn Learning course " React.js Essential Training, " I learned how to use React - a widely used JavaScript library - to create interactive web applications. The course is perfect for beginners or those with experience in web development, as it covers everything from the basics of React to more advanced topics such as React Router and Redux.

The course starts by introducing the core concepts of React, including components, props, states, and events. The instructor does an excellent job of breaking down each concept and providing real-world examples that help to reinforce the learning. I appreciated the course's hands-on approach, as I could follow along with the instructor and practice what I learned as I went.

As the course progresses, it covers more advanced topics such as React Router and Redux. These topics are essential to creating more complex and interactive web applications. The instructor provides clear explanations and examples, making it easy to follow even if you are new to these concepts.

One of the best things about this course is that it provides plenty of practice opportunities. The instructor includes multiple coding exercises throughout the course, allowing you to apply what you've learned and build your React applications. This hands-on learning approach helped me better understand how React works and how to use it to build real-world applications.

Overall, "React.js Essential Training" is an excellent course for anyone learning how to use React to build web applications. The instructor's clear explanations and hands-on approach make it easy to follow along, even for beginners. By the end of the course, I felt confident in my ability to build complex, interactive web applications with React, and I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to do the same.

Hands-on Introduction to React

In the "Hands-On Introduction to React" course on LinkedIn Learning, I gained valuable experience using React to create dynamic web applications. The course covered React's fundamentals, including components, props, and state, and how to create reusable UI components. In addition, I learned how to work with the React Router and Redux libraries to develop more complex applications.

The course balanced theory and practice, offering numerous coding exercises and examples to reinforce the learning. The instructor expertly broke down the core concepts of React and illustrated how they work together.

Overall, the course was incredibly helpful in learning how to use React to build modern web applications. The instructor's clear explanations and hands-on approach made it simple to follow along, even for someone with little experience in web development. I recommend this course to anyone seeking to learn how to use React.

JSX

JavaScript Syntax Extension
HTML & JSX
Templating

JSX is the language that you use to write React, it stands for JavaScript Syntax Extension, but also know and JavaScript XML since it's a combination of JavaScript and something that looks like the old XHTML version of HTML.

Basically it's a way to write HTML inside JavaScript. It has a few strange rules of it's own, but it works real well.

Basic Sample

function App() {

return <h1>Meet the StarGazers</h1>;

}

export default App;

Okay, so at first, it looks like regular JavaScript, but you can see that we're using an h1 tag. This is the beauty of JSX, it lets you use both, together in almost perfect harmony.

But, there's a lot of peculiarities to the language, so let's go further.

Single Parent

<hgroup>

<h1>Meet the StarGazers</h1>

<p>Members of an <b>intergalactic alliance</b>...</p>

</hgroup>

You are only allowed to use one parent element in your HTML. So, if I were to remove the hgroup tag here, I would get an error.

Let's take a look at this in CodeSpaces. I'm going to go to the URL for the codespace.

Sometimes, people use a fragment to solve this, so instead of the hgroup tag, you would use an empty element <></>.

Self Closing Tags

return (

<hgroup>

<img src="images/group.svg" alt="StarGazer Group" />

<hgroup>

<h1>Meet the <i>{name}</i></h1>

<p>Members of an <b>intergalactic alliance</b><br />

paving the way for peace and benevolence among all species...</p>

</hgroup>

);

<br /> or <img />
return with ()

In JSX, all tags have to self-close. So, if I were to remove the slash in thetag, I would get an error.

The same thing would happen in an image tag.

By the way, when you want to use multi line code in JSX, just like in JavaScript, the return statement can't be on a line by itself. So you have to use parenthesis otherwise your browser's compiler will add a semicolon and break the whole thing.

Reserved Keywords

<div className="container">

<article>

...

</article>

</div>

className instead of class
HTMLFor instead of for

You can't use reserved JavaScript keywords like class or for in jsx.

Instead of class, we use className and similarly with

for, we use HTMLFor. It's something you have to remember and annoy you a bit as you write in JSX.

Expressions

const name = 'StarGazers';

...

<h1>Meet the <i>{name}</i></h1>

You can use expressions in your code, so if you create a variable for an element, you can use it in the JSX.

The expressions can be a variable name and other valid JavaScript expressions.

In React, you can reuse bits of code called components...using of two styles: classes and hooks. Let's take a look at the differences and why hooks are more dominant.

Components

Reusable code
Accept props
Return display

Before we get into classes or hooks, lets define what a component is and does.

Components are a way to create reusable code. Think of them like functions that are a bit more flexible.

Components can accept any number of inputs called props

and they return what will be displayed as part of your application.

Class Components

Object syntax
Still valid
Harder to write

React has been around for quite a while and until recently, its exclusively used the object syntax to create components.

It's something that's fallen out of favor, but is still valid, but it's less familiar to modern developers.

Class Component

import React, { Component } from "react";

class Welcome extends React.Component {

constructor() {

super();

}

render() {

return <h1>Meet the StarGazers</h1>;

}

This is a basic class based components. Let's jump into our code.

It might look familiar if you're used to writing Class based JavaScript.

In order to use components, we import the React object and the component object from the React library.

Next we start by declaring a Class. Class names are always capitalized.

Next we use the class to extend the functionality of a React component.

We then use a special function called a constructor. The job of the constructor is to initialize the instance of the class when it is used.

Then we get into the render statement, where you output what you want React to show.

That seems like a lot for a simple component and that's the way components worked for a long time.

Passing Props

class Welcome extends React.Component {

constructor(props) {

super(props);

}

render() {

return <h1>Meet the <i>{this.props.name}</i></h1>

}

A component that just prints out some HTML is pretty useles, so let's take a look at how we can make it accept a parameter, like you would a function.

To do that, we can pass along props, or properties to the component, just like we would with a regular HTML tag.

In our return statement, we can use the this keyword to target the props we receive in the constructor and then display our name.

Hooks

const Welcome = (props) => {

return (

<h1>Meet the <i>{props.name}</i></h1>

)

}

Hooks allow you to use the function syntax you already know to create componets. Let's take a look at how you would use them to create this component. You'll see that it's a lot simpler.

Technically, just writing components at functions make a lot of sense, but in reality, that notation isn't what makes it a hook based component. Let's take a look at what does.

React Hooks

Hook into React
Access to state
Access to lifecycle

Hooks are special functions that allow you code to hook into React's objects.

They give you access to things like state, which is how we store data in React. We'll look at that in a minute when we learn about the useState hook.

They also give you access to lifecycle methods, which are methods called when certain events happen in your application.

The second most popular hook in react is the useEffect hook. Let's take a look at what it does and why you need it.

useEffect Hook

Side effects
Outside scope
Replaces lifecycles
After render

The useEffect hook is the second most popular hook in React.

It allows you manage side effects. I'm not a fan of the term "effect" here, but it makes sense if you think of it like this.

A side effect is anythihg that deals with something outside of the scope of the current component. Like when you take a medicine and sometimes they can have side effects. Things the medicine didn't intend to do to you.

The way these used to be managed in old React was with different lifecycles methods. So you had a method called something like componentDidMount for when the component mounted and a method called componentDidUpdate for when the component updated.

Basically think it as letting you do something after rendering. React guarantees that the DOM has been updated.

But that's enough talk. Let's jump into codespaces and try out this hook.

Most of your projects will use the useEffect hook and the useStateHook together to help manage state. We'll take a look at how you can use them together in the next video.

Alright, so now that we know how React works, let's take a look at how you can work with projects.

Adding React to a Site

Installation
CDN Code Sample

React has been around for so long that there's a lot of ways to work with it. You can install it into an existing page, create a new project or use a third party tool.

There's a pretty thorough installation page in the documentation with a breakdown of the different ways you can install it. The main difference is whether you want to use a tool or install it with a CDN.

The setup syntax is a bit different between the two. There are some good examples you can find that will show you how the code is different.

Create React App

npx create-react-app my-app

When you're building an application, you're going to need some tooling. Tooling includes a developer environment with Live Reloading and other features that make your life easier.

To use this, you'll need to have NodeJS installed, which you can find here.

Once you do that, you can use an npx command to create a new React App. Let's try this out. I'm not using CodeSpaces for this, I'm just using my local computer using a terminal.

Create React App is a nice way to add a development environment and get a decent starter template for your project.

However, it's not what I used for this project. Let's take a look at that.

Vite

Vite
HMR
Sass Support

npm create vite@latest my-react

For this project, I used a new tool called Vite. It's built on top of a bundler like Webpack called Rollup.

It has a lot of newer features like Hot Module Replacement or HMR, which makes it load super fast during development.

It also has built in support for Sass out of the box, which is particularly useful for this project, since PicoCSS can be customized with Sass.

You install it with an npm command, so you need nodejs as well, but it's a little gentler on the install and gives you more options.

Customizing Styles

So far, we've been using inline styles for customizing the css. Let's talk about how you can customize your React projects with regular CSS.

CSS Files

Although I've been using inline styles. Sometimes they don't make sense when using React. It makes more sense to use a separate CSS file when reusing styles or trying to affect entire tags.

For example, I wouldn't mind the headlines having a different color that's sort of a highlight.

We can do that with simple CSS.

h1,

h2,

h3,

h4,

h5,

h6,

b,

summary,

a {

color: #d81b60;

}

a {

color: #d81b60;

cursor: pointer;

}

The PicoCSS site also has a great place where you can control some of the basic colors for the site.

It smartly uses CSS variables that allow you to customize the colors of the site.

You can see all of the available variables at this URL

Now, I have forced the page to publish in light mode. It looks a bit better on these demos.

I did that by adding an attribute to the HTML tag in our index.html file.

<html lang="en" data-theme="light">

If you take that off, it will respond to the system settings.

Introduction to APIs

In the course "Introduction to Web APIs" on LinkedIn Learning, I learned about the basics of Web APIs and how they can be used to build modern web applications. The course covered HTTP requests and responses, JSON, and RESTful APIs. I appreciated the instructor's clear explanations and real-world examples, which helped me better understand how APIs work and how to use them in my projects.

The course started with an overview of HTTP requests and responses, which are the foundation of the web. The instructor did a great job of breaking down the different parts of an HTTP request and response and explaining how they work together. I also learned about JSON, a lightweight data format commonly used in APIs. The instructor provided reading and writing JSON data examples, which helped me understand how APIs work.

The course then moved on to RESTful APIs, a popular way to build APIs. The instructor explained the principles of REST and how to design RESTful APIs. I appreciated the course's hands-on approach, as I could follow along with the instructor and practice what I learned as I went.

Overall, "Introduction to Web APIs" is an excellent course for anyone learning about APIs and how to use them in modern web development. The instructor's clear explanations and practical examples make it easy to follow along, even for beginners. By the end of the course, I felt confident in my ability to build and use APIs in my projects, and I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to do the same.

LINKEDIN TECH TRENDS

According to the LinkedIn Learning Tech Trends course , generative AI is a technology that enables machines to generate new ideas, designs, and even stories through algorithms. This technology is becoming increasingly popular, allowing businesses and individuals to automate tasks and create new content without human intervention. However, there are also concerns about the ethical implications of generative AI, particularly regarding copyright and ownership of generated content. Despite these concerns, many experts predict that generative AI will continue to be a significant trend in the tech industry in the coming years. What stood out to me the most was hearing the phrase referenced repeatedly. That phrase was you wouldn't be replaced by AI but rather by someone who knows and uses AI effectively.

Zero To Mastery Ethical Hacking Course

What is ethical Hacking?

Ethical hacking, also known as "white hat" hacking or penetration testing, is the practice of using the same methods and techniques as malicious hackers, but in a lawful and legitimate manner. It is done in order to find and resolve computer security vulnerabilities and strengthen the security of an organization's networks and systems. In ethical hacking, the hacker does not intend to gain unauthorized access to systems or data, but instead focuses on identifying gaps in security and establishing safeguards against malicious attacks.

What is a virtual Machine?

A virtual machine is a software environment that emulates a physical machine, allowing you to run multiple operating systems or instances of the same operating system on a single physical machine. This can be useful for testing software, running legacy applications, or isolating different environments from one another.

Why Linux?

Linux is the operating system of choice for ethical hacking for a few reasons. Firstly, Linux is open source, which means that anyone can access and modify the source code. This makes it easier for ethical hackers to identify and patch vulnerabilities. Additionally, Linux is highly customizable, making it easier to configure for specific tasks. Finally, many of the tools and scripts used in ethical hacking are designed to run on Linux, making it a natural choice for those working in this field.

How do we create a virtual machine?

To create a virtual machine, you can use software like VirtualBox. First, download and install VirtualBox on your computer. Then, open the software and click on "New" to create a new virtual machine. Follow the prompts to select the operating system you want to install, allocate system resources like RAM and storage, and create a virtual hard disk. Once you have created your virtual machine, you can install the operating system and any necessary software just as you would on a physical machine.

To create a virtual machine with VMware Fusion, follow these steps:

Open VMware Fusion and click on "New" to create a new virtual machine.
Select the type of virtual machine you want to create, such as "Windows" or "Linux."
Choose the installation method you want to use, such as installing from a CD or DVD or using an ISO file.
Follow the prompts to set up your virtual machine, including selecting the operating system you want to install, allocating system resources like RAM and storage, and creating a virtual hard disk.
Once you have created your virtual machine, you can install the operating system and any necessary software just as you would on a physical machine.

Kali Linux and VMware Fusion

Kali Linux is a popular Linux distribution for ethical hacking and penetration testing. It comes preloaded with a variety of tools and scripts that are commonly used in this field. To use Kali Linux in a virtual machine, you can use software like VMware Fusion.

To set up Kali Linux in VMware Fusion, follow these steps:

Download the Kali Linux ISO file from the official website.
Open VMware Fusion and click on "New" to create a new virtual machine.
Select "Install from disc or image" and choose the Kali Linux ISO file as the installation source.
Follow the prompts to set up your virtual machine, including selecting the operating system you want to install, allocating system resources like RAM and storage, and creating a virtual hard disk.
Once you have created your virtual machine, you can install Kali Linux and any necessary software just as you would on a physical machine.

Using Kali Linux in a virtual machine allows you to experiment with different tools and techniques in a safe and controlled environment. It also allows you to easily create and restore snapshots of your virtual machine, so you can quickly revert back to a previous state if something goes wrong.

Documenting Module 2 Concepts

Link to my notes on Notion for key concepts we are learning in Module 2

Activities this week and Week 10 coming up

The weekend was filled with resting with my family and hanging out with Alaskan friends who have been living in Santa Rosa de Cabal for several years. We had the opportunity to visit them at their house in the country and enjoy a great barbecue hosted by them. We even found an excellent lot for sale, and I hope this could be a potential place to buy and build upon in the near future. At the event, we explored a little nightlife in Pereira, Colombia, and danced for 4 hours in a discoteca all music Colombia with the 90s, reggaeton, bachata, salsa, and of course, Shakira.

I'm looking forward to getting back into the routine of the Hack Reactor program and continually learning and utilizing my React skills, and generating positive momentum for our Module 2 exam.

Week 9 is an explostion of React

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 01:10:52 GMT

Notes and learnings for week 9

This week's learning focuses on JavaScript lessons, coding challenges, and understanding more of the syntactical differences between Python and JavaScript.

One difference is the location where both can be run from. JavaScript can be run in web browsers and runtime environments like Node.js, while Python can be run in desktop applications, web servers, Integrated Development Environment software, and web frameworks like Django.

The DOM: Document Object Model allows JavaScript code to interact with the structure and content of a web page. It gets loaded when a web page is loaded and represents all elements on the page.

JavaScript has a spread operator. An example is return Math.max(...numbers);. The "spread" operator (...) expands an array into its elements. In this case, it is being used to take the variety of numbers passed in and develop it into individual arguments for the Math.max function, which allows it to find the maximum number among the array elements.

Another method I learned and used when solving coding challenges this week was the hasOwnProperty method. This is a method belonging to the Object prototype. It allows you to check if an object has a property defined on itself (not on its prototype chain). It returns a boolean indicating whether the object has the specified property.

Python Functions and JavaScript Functions

Both Python and JavaScript have functions. You have now seen how to write them! Python defines a function using the "def" keyword, and JavaScript uses the "function" keyword.

Throughout this course, we have used analogies and explanations to describe what a function is, including:

A little value factory
A way to organize our code
A way to name many lines of code
A way to treat many lines of code as one thing

Nearly everything in Python is an object:

A dictionary, {"name": "Noor"}, is an object, an instance of the built-in dict class.
A list [1, 2, 3] is an object, an instance of the built-in list class.
A string, "Hello!", is an object, an instance of the built-in str class.
An integer, 3, is an object, an instance of the built-in int class.
An example of a custom-defined class Blog is an object.

What can you do with objects?

You can call methods on them.
You can pass them to functions as arguments.
You can return them as values from a function.

What is lexical scope, and how does it differ from a closure?

Lexical scope describes how nested (or "child") functions have access to variables defined in parent scopes.

What are anonymous functions?

This is the idea behind anonymous functions, which do not need a name because you will never directly reference them by their given name.

JavaScript is a language that lets you do multiple things at once without stopping other parts of the program. This is called asynchronous programming, and it is excellent when you are waiting for information from a server because you do not have to stop everything else you are doing. Instead, you use tools like callbacks, promises, and async/await functions to keep the program running smoothly while you wait for the information. This makes your program faster and more pleasant to use.

The fetch function returns a promise.

In JavaScript, a Promise is an object representing an asynchronous operation's eventual completion or failure. It allows you to write asynchronous code that looks more like synchronous code, avoiding the need for deep levels of nesting and callback functions.

A Promise has three states:

Pending: The initial state; the promise is neither fulfilled nor rejected.
Fulfilled: The operation was completed successfully, and the promise has a resulting value.
Rejected: The operation failed, and the promise has a reason for the failure.

Async needs to be in front of await for the code to work.

The JSON method returns a promise.

Value Objects don't have an identity; you can only refer to them by their properties. If I remember correctly, we have the names and abbreviations for states.

JWTs, Cookies, XSS, CSRF

JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) are digital signatures used to represent information between two parties securely. This information can be used to identify a user or to grant them access to specific resources. JWTs are encoded in a way that is compact and safe to transfer over the internet and is signed using an industry-standard process.

Cookies are small pieces of data that websites save on a user's computer. This data stores information about a user's activities on a website, such as login sessions and user preferences. Engineers use this data to make the user experience better. Advertisers can also use cookies to track user behavior and show ads tailored to their interests.

Cross-site scripting, or XSS, is a type of security vulnerability in web applications that allows attackers to inject malicious code into web pages viewed by other users. When this code is executed, it can give the attacker access to sensitive information, such as session cookies. XSS attacks occur when an attacker sends malicious code, usually in the form of a script, to the end user's browser, which the browser then runs without knowing it should not be trusted.

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is an attack that tricks an authenticated user into doing something they didn't intend on a web application. This could be something like transferring money from their account or deleting files, and it works by exploiting a website's trust in the user.

What is React and how does it work in a basic explanation

The React frontend framework is built on JavaScript and uses the concept of components. Components are blocks of code that allow developers to split up the application into independent and reusable pieces. The components hold all data and functions necessary to render the UI and define what should be generated. Each component is then rendered into the DOM (Document Object Model), and any changes to the component trigger a re-render in the DOM. The React framework then keeps track of any changes made and updates the DOM accordingly to ensure a seamless user experience. React supports data flow through unidirectional data binding, allowing developers to debug and test their code efficiently.

Why do we need keys for React lists?

Keys help React identify which items have changed, added, or removed. Keys should be given to the elements inside the array to provide the elements a stable identity: const numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]; const listItems = numbers.

Before incorporating React functionality into our Fearless Frontend project, we learned the React basics from the React documentation and the React tutorial for making a tic tac toe game .

Linkedin Learning course on Generative AI

This week I also completed the Linked Learning Course What Generative AI? by Pinar Seyhan Demirdag . My takeaways from this and where I view Artificial Intelligent with Generative AI are as follows.

Generative AI has been garnering attention as an advancing technology in digital transformation. Its significance is rising as it empowers machines to fabricate virtual objects or images with seemingly authentic characteristics. This article delves into Generative AI's potential and implementation across various industry sectors.

Remarkable strides have been made in Generative AI technology recently, with predictions estimating its impact on businesses to reach a staggering $3.9 trillion by 2022. Notable instances of Generative AI applications encompass commercial image generation services like Midjourney, DALL-E, and Stable Diffusion that excel at rendering virtual images with incredible realism.

The scope of Generative AI is limitless, offering utility across diverse industries such as film production, fashion, urban planning, engineering, and architecture. Its vast potential encompasses enhancing traffic patterns, forecasting material, and product outcomes, and devising novel products.

While Generative AI holds promise for revolutionizing an array of industries, it is imperative to acknowledge the pivotal role humans perform in its conception and utilization. Human experts manage the development and supervision of AI algorithms to ascertain the proper production of desired results. Consequently, it is vital to appreciate the importance of human involvement in AI development rather than attributing creations solely to artificial intelligence.

As Generative AI progresses, we must remain at the forefront and brace ourselves for upcoming advancements. The rapid growth and breakthroughs in AI technology assure a continual stream of new developments. Thus, engaging with these evolutions and preparing accordingly ensures we are primed for future challenges.

In summation, Generative AI can transform our lives and professional environments. Its applications are far-reaching and increasingly vital across an assortment of industries. However, it remains essential to appreciate the fundamental role of humans.

To summarize, this week was another great week of more profound insights from learning the technologies of Python, Javascript, React, and Docker. A positive for being enrolled in the Hack Reactor boot camp is the consistent daily work to improve your skills as a programmer and also understanding how to read code to incorporate new technological tools propelling society forward with efficiency.

Informational Interview

Last, I had an informational interview with Joyce Ma , who has worked as a Software Engineer at Twilio for over three years. She is a former Hack Reactor alumni who finished the program back in 2019, and I'm very grateful for her providing 90 mins of her time to have a video call with me and discuss topics of what a healthy and empowering work environment looks like to ensure positive feedback that leads to growth and professional advancement. I enjoyed learning about what aspects of Javascript she worked with to improve the API usage with Twilio clients. I consider her a precious source to understand and get more familiar with the industry as a Software Engineer. I highly recommend her as a knowledgeable source for Software Engineer and respect her for her explanations and personalization regarding teamwork and collaboration.

The coming week

Hack Reactor/Galvanize is on a company the comprehensive week of spring break the following week, and we will be starting week ten on April 17th. I'm looking forward to this spring break week by making more time for meditations, sleeping in an extra hour, taking advantage of more family outings, and spending time reflecting on everything I have learned up until this point in the course and also spending my time this week sharpening my skills with React.

The volcano Nevado del Ruiz still has yet to erupt and is being monitored closely and is expected to explode potentially within the next couple of weeks. This coming Saturday, my family and I have been invited to a barbecue of friends we recently met who live just north of Santa Rosa de Cabal and are from Alaska. I look forward to providing video footage of this meetup and documenting another area around the Santa Rosa de Cabal. Ciao for now!

Week 8 Simplify Your Development Workflow with Docker Containers

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 03:16:57 GMT

This week we learned about more depth in Docker, microservices, Rabbit MQ, and the difference between Javascript. Let's get into the learnings for this week.

Microservices

This week's goals allowed us to enhance our Conference Go application further. By adding microservices, we were able to make the application more modular and efficient, as each microservice can be developed independently with its own set of resources. Furthermore, by utilizing Docker containers, we could quickly deploy and manage our microservices, allowing us to scale our application quickly and efficiently. Additionally, by using polling, queues, and pub/sub, we could sync data between our microservices, ensuring that we have a consistent and reliable data set. Overall, this week's goals enabled us to take our Conference Go application to the next level.

Docker

I use Docker Compose to help me specify my Docker configurations as code. It's great for developers because it is a declarative system, which means it achieves the desired outcome and makes it easy for me to manage. I've used Docker Compose for local development, staging server, and Continuous integration testing environments. It has many valuable features like version control, self-documentation, and easy management. Although unsuitable for distributed systems or complex production environments, it is still instrumental for everyday tasks.

One helpful tool for managing clusters of nodes is Docker Swarm. It is already installed and enabled by default with Docker and provides users with functionality such as load balancing. Another popular docker orchestration tool is Kubernetes, a Google-made tool now the industry standard. Swarm and Kubernetes allow users to schedule and deploy clusters across multiple nodes.

Finally, Docker Compose, Docker Swarm, and Kubernetes are crucial tools for managing containers and optimizing applications. Each provides additional features and capabilities, but they all contribute to the modern Docker environment.

RabbitMQ

I'm a big fan of RabbitMQ, a popular open-source message broker software enabling applications to communicate. It's a central hub for sending and receiving messages and supports various messaging protocols, making it ideal for multiple use cases. Not only is RabbitMQ highly reliable in transmitting messages and easy to set up and configure, making it a perfect choice for distributed systems. It also supports clustering for scalability and availability, allowing me to use it in large-scale applications.

RabbitMQ is well suited to cloud computing environments, as it supports cloud-native features such as auto-scaling and multi-region deployments. This makes it perfect for applications hosted in the cloud, as I can easily configure and manage it without having to manage hardware or other infrastructure. Plus, with a strong community of developers actively contributing to the project, I am confident that RabbitMQ is always up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends. RabbitMQ is an excellent solution for building distributed, reliable, scalable applications. This all being said, after one week of working with this technology in the Hack Reactor course and taking a Linkedin Learning Course on RabbitMQ, I have much more to learn and understand how it can be implemented efficiently. The following link details more in depth RabbitMQ as a company to get a macro view of how they assist companies from all over the world.

Using Python and Javascript

I have been working with two of the most popular programming languages in the world - JavaScript and Python. They both are high-level, interpreted, and dynamically typed, meaning that I find them both easy to learn and use as a beginner. One of the main advantages of both languages is their versatility - they can be used for web development, data analysis, and machine learning. A large community of developers is working to create new tools, libraries, and frameworks that make coding more efficient.

Although there are similarities between the two languages, there are also some key differences. A significant difference between JavaScript and Python is that JavaScript is mainly used for client-side development and is often used with other technologies like HTML and CSS, while Python is primarily used for back-end development and data analysis. Additionally, JavaScript has a more complex syntax and a steeper learning curve than Python, known for its simplicity and readability. Below are photos of the detailed comparisons between the two languages from my learnings this week.

Challenge for the week

As a developer, Docker presents some challenges. Managing multiple containers and their dependencies can be complex and requires careful planning and orchestration for everything to work together smoothly. Docker's new abstraction layer also makes it more challenging to identify and fix issues. Finally, because Docker is a relatively new technology, finding developers with experience working with it can be tricky. It is an excellent opportunity for me to evolve as a developer who understands Docker and knows how to utilize the technology.

Happenings in Colombia

I am concerned about development for this week in the Colombia that I live in, which is about the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, which lies just a short distance from Santa Rosa de Cabal. It has been moved to an orange level and will soon be transferred to a red one, indicating it could erupt. This is significant because this volcano is responsible for the November 13, 1985 eruption that caused the worst natural disaster in Colombian history, and it created a lahar that killed 25,000 people in the towns of Armero and Chinchiná.

In addition, I participated in Semana Santa this week, as many people in Latin America, particularly Colombia, observe the religious holiday. Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is the week leading up to Easter Sunday, commemorating Jesus Christ's resurrection. As part of the tradition, I participated in various prayers and ceremonies, fasted, and honored the Virgin Mary. Additionally, I attended special masses and processions.

I had the opportunity to assist the men carrying the wooden statue of Jesus in our town, and this was an experience I never thought I would do in my life. You can see this in my video and a few other activities/outings from this week in Santa Rosa de Cabal.

I am looking forward to Week 9 as this marks the halfway point and the week before a week off for spring break!

Week 7 a new module, Domain Driven Design and Building an API Backend

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 22:54:18 GMT

Week seven started a new module, which is the start of going deeper into backend buildouts. This week was all completed while living in Medellín, Colombia. The followings are the lessons and topics covered for this week. And a last note is that this has been the program's most rewarding and valuable week so far as we are going more in-depth in the backend buildout and learning new technologies that I have never worked with before.

Lessons For This Week

One of the major topics that I gained knowledge on was Docker . This platform enables developers to create, deploy, and run applications in containers, isolated environments that can be easily moved from one machine to another. Understanding how to use Docker is crucial for developing scalable and flexible web applications, and it allows developers to focus on building the application without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. Docker simplifies the deployment process, making it more efficient and less error-prone. Of course, this occurs once you have worked with the Language and are familiar with the use of the system. Since I've only been working with it for a few days, I have more time to practice and sharpen the process.

Another important topic that I learned about was API Request Basics. APIs are the backbone of modern software development, allowing applications to communicate with each other. Understanding how to make API requests is essential for building reliable and robust web applications. I learned about different types of requests, such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, and how to use them to retrieve and manipulate data. This was covered in Module one; however, we interacted with these requests differently in a Django web framework by creating forms.py folders and then relying on our urls.py folders. This week we have introduced a deeper buildout of our functions to incorporate the specific requests from the api_views.py folders. Additionally, I learned how to use tools like Insomnia to test and debug API requests. The image below is from our new Conference GO project incorporating API calls and additionally building into the project microservices and using Docker to allow each microservice to communicate with each other.

I also delved into the Ubiquitous Language, a shared language used by all software development team members to ensure they understand each other. The Ubiquitous Language is a critical concept in Domain-Driven Design (DDD), a methodology for developing software systems aligned with business goals. DDD emphasizes the importance of understanding the domain and using a common language to build software systems that solve real business problems. The Ubiquitous Language helps avoid confusion and misunderstandings, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

Another fundamental concept that I learned about was Entities vs. Value Objects, which are essential concepts in Domain Driven Design that can help build better software. Entities are objects with a unique identity, while value objects represent a value or concept but do not have a unique identity. Understanding the difference between entities and value objects is crucial for designing effective domain models that accurately reflect the business domain.

I also learned two approaches to building software systems: monolithic architecture and microservices. Monolithic architecture is an approach where all the application components are combined into a single codebase and deployed as a single unit. In contrast, microservices architecture is an approach where the application is divided into small, independent services that communicate with each other through APIs. Both methods have pros and cons; understanding them is essential for making informed decisions when designing software systems.

Additionally, I explored JSON, which is a lightweight data-interchange format. JSON is widely used in web applications to exchange data between the server and the client. Understanding how to work with JSON is essential for building robust and efficient web applications.

Finally, aggregates, data-driven Design, and the python debug console are all crucial topics in software engineering. Aggregates are a concept in DDD that represent a group of related objects. Understanding how to design aggregates is essential for building domain models that accurately reflect the business domain. I also gained knowledge of different types of designs, such as user interface design, database design, and software architecture design. Additionally, I learned about data-driven Design, an approach to designing software systems based on data analysis.

Overall, this week was packed with valuable insights into different aspects of software engineering. I look forward to applying this knowledge in my future projects and continuing to learn more about software development.

Additional learning outside the Hack Reactor course this week was learning more profoundly about the AI and Chat GPT space. I completed two further studies this week; the first was on Linkedin titled Generative AI for Business Leaders by Chief Product Officer at LinkedIn, Tomer Cohen , and the second was on the Zero to Mastery ChatGPT & Large Language Models (LLMs): A Practical Guide . The course Generative AI for Business Leaders provides a comprehensive look at generative models' various applications and valuable insights into their potential impacts on businesses. It examines how these technologies can create new products, enhance customer experiences, automate administrative tasks, personalize marketing campaigns, and improve decision-making processes. The course also explores critical deployment considerations, such as data architectures or ethical guidelines. It is valuable information for business leaders seeking practical advice about responsibly incorporating this technology in their operations. A significant takeaway is the importance of clear, strategic prompting and additional highlighting.

After completing the ChatGPT and Large Language Models (LLMs): A Practical Guide course, I now have a much deeper understanding of how to use these powerful tools for my purposes. It opened my eyes to concepts like Prompt Design and Fine-Tuning required for training large language models like ChatGPT. It gave me insight into its capabilities and limitations compared with other LLMs. The course also helped me clarify whether we can truly consider this model AGI - Artificial General Intelligence - because it is merely a fancy text generator. The advantages of completing such a comprehensive course are clear: there is already an incredible demand for Conversational AI jobs right now, let alone in the future! In addition to gaining valuable knowledge about building your own ML models from scratch using data scraped from Reddit as the course provides a Github starter file or other sources, understanding better than ever how they function will give you an extra edge over your competition; who's going be equipped enough even make decisions around these technologies initiated by top investors everywhere? You'll undoubtedly find yourself in good stead if you've thoroughly understood what was taught about LLM under the hood throughout this complete practical guide! This course made me realize that I can scrape my website for all the blog posts I have created and use my model so that Chat-GPT can respond to my tone. This is a new development I'm keeping in my head, and I want to expand upon this. Prompt Design is key with AI and GPT generative pre-trained transformers.

Challenges

This week, I faced some challenges while learning new technologies and concepts. One of the main difficulties I encountered was using the Insomnia REST client. Although it is a popular tool for testing and debugging RESTful APIs, it can be intimidating if you are new to it. However, with practice and further exposure, I am confident I can master this tool and take advantage of its many benefits. Another challenge I faced was gaining an understanding of Docker. Since Docker is a complex platform, getting it involves dedication and an investment of effort; however, many resources are available online that can help me better understand the platform to make full use of it. Finally, Domain Driven Design was another concept that presented difficulties for me this week. This methodology requires a different way of thinking when comparing traditional software development practices; understanding its Language more fluently and recognizing entities and value objects is critical in developing robust software systems using this approach. While the shift in thinking may be hard at first, the rewards reaped by implementing Domain Driven Design far outweigh any difficulties encountered during its adoption process - thus making it necessary for me to put extra effort into truly mastering this approach entirely. I encountered an error with Insomnia RESt client – "no such table". This was because I had not run the migrations. To do this, I used a command on my docker command line that included 'python manage.py migrate' at the end of it.

The Week Ahead

I had an incredible time living and working in Medellin, Colombia, with my girlfriend and our friend, Andres Ospina , this past week. As a professional speaker, trainer, and consultant specializing in personal growth and leadership development, Andres has worked with various clients, from large corporations to non-profit organizations. He has even given keynote speeches and training sessions all over the world. His Linkedin profile can be viewed here at https://www.linkedin.com/in/andresospina1018/ . Now looking toward next week, I have quite the agenda ahead of me; studying the topics assigned to me by the catholic father at Santa Rosa de Cabal on John Rick Miller and Saint Maximiliano Maria Kolbe will require significant focus. On top of that, I am also preparing for a trip with my girlfriend in May to New York for her conference. I must stay committed to my goals to stay caught up on coursework or other responsibilities related to these events. With all these exciting opportunities, I need to prioritize my time effectively! Next week we start on Microservices!

Week 6 Module 1 Exam and building a membership site functionality with Django

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 15:42:09 GMT

Week 6 Learnings

Week six started with our first module 1 exam covering material and topics in Django and Python. The following days after the test, I found it interesting that the instructor mentioned how the development team at Hack Reactor had built an ability to detect if students were answering with the help of ChatGPT, which was very interesting to note as this technology has only been around for several months and already has a large user base of over 100 million active users. Okay, so this week marks the end of Module 1 and starting next week working on models, JSON, and Javascript.

This week's learning covered the following: comparing Javascript differences to Python, Big O notation and how difficult algorithm building can be when factoring in efficiency, what technology the engineering team at Duolingo is using to help with building the most popular language app, informational interviews and building a Django backend project for a membership site using the API of Stripe.

Javascript differences to Python

We don't use var in Javascript, and the reason we don't has to be with updates during ES6 or since 2015. Additional note If a solution uses var, the code is much older.

Python is often referred to as computer programming for data. Here are facts that make it different than Javascript. It is a high-level programming language that is object-oriented. Guido van Rossum created Python and named it after the comedic group Monty Python. Python makes it simple to read and maintain code. You'll almost always need an interpreter to run dynamically typed Python code. For server-side scripting, Python is commonly used. By default, it is encoded as ASCII.

JS abbreviates Javascript. Brendan Eich (Netscape) created Javascript, which ECMA presently maintains. Because of its flexibility, Javascript does not provide easy code readability or maintainability. The ability to run Javascript code is built-in to most web browsers, and it's a dynamically typed language. Client-side scripting is the most common use of Javascript and has UTF-16 encoding.

The website simplelearn.com hi ghlights this even more in the article on the differences between the two programming languages.

Big O Notation

Learning about Big-O notation and how computer scientists compute the cost of an algorithm. This is measured by identifying how many simple and complex operations/steps are in the code. This is an important perspective to learn and always consider when developing code. Algorithms can get very large with the possible calculations to find the programmed solution. It is also recommended to avoid coding with a nested for loop inside another for loop, as this will create many steps in the number of calculations needed to be run. Outstanding articles highlighting the Big-O I found and read this week come from articles published on freecodecamp.org by Shen Huang and happycoders.eu , written by Sven Woltmann. In addition, one of the explorations this week used the example of the traveling salesperson problem, how it has been around for a while, and how computer scientists need help solving it. This is documented well in this YouTube video that covers all the ways to solve and how quickly the problem gets complex once you calculate for more than 20 cities to consider in your model.

Duolingo Github Article

I read this article published on Github that I first discovered on Linkedin. Duolingo, the world's largest language learning platform and my favorite way to learn and practice my Spanish speaking and understanding, heavily relies on GitHub products to keep its 300 developers organized and focused. The company's primary objective is to provide affordable and accessible language learning opportunities to everyone. Since its inception in 2011, Duolingo has grown exponentially, and in 2021, it went public with over 500 million users.

Initially, Duolingo's developers focused on developing mobile applications and infrastructure. However, the company realized it needed to expand its engineering power and hire machine learning and data science, experts. With over 300 developers, efficiency was critical to avoid distractions and irrelevant tasks. With its API , Copilot , and codespaces , GitHub enabled Duolingo to achieve this goal. The company has been using GitHub for source code management since 2011 and has adopted new services as GitHub added them, increasingly making GitHub the core of its development approaches. Custom GitHub bot implementations and Slack integrations using GitHub's APIs standardized workflows across repositories and projects, significantly reducing the median turnaround time for code reviews.

According to Jonathan Burket, a senior engineering manager at Duolingo, "GitHub enables us to enforce consistency and a standardized engineering culture that makes internal mobility easier." With the integration, the company has moved towards a microservice architecture with 400 repositories. Teams can easily contribute to each other's projects, and non-technical employees can make minor code changes without compromising quality. Customizations using GitHub's API ensure developers test their code before deployment, improving site stability.

Duolingo's adoption of GitHub Copilot has accelerated its workflow significantly. The AI-powered pair programmer provides autocomplete-style suggestions to developers while coding, reducing the need to produce boilerplate code manually and limiting context switching. Copilot can be used by writing code or natural language comments that describe what the code should do. For developers new to a specific repository or framework, the tool provides at least a 25% increase in developer speed and a 10% increase for those familiar with the codebase. Burket estimates that this increase in developer velocity comes from the fact that GitHub Copilot's suggestions can be built within the context of the codebase.

Duolingo has also found efficiency and consistency in Codespaces, GitHub's cloud-based development environment. It has enabled teams to configure a standardized yet customizable environment, making it easier for Duolingo to onboard developers into new projects. The power and efficiency of Codespaces have motivated teams within Duolingo to move entirely to Codespaces.

GitHub's products have allowed Duolingo's developers to spend more time improving the product experience and developing new apps learning the content instead of dealing with daily minutiae. By making the best use of its engineering time with the help of GitHub Copilot and Codespaces, Duolingo can reach its goals faster.

Duolingo is a company I will continually learn more about and how they operate, especially from the developer and business side.

Informational Interviews

My following thoughts and notes come from the following resources:

https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-steps-to-a-perfect-informational-interview

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/coffee-questions-what-should-we-asking-during-mukai-matsiga/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FsUm5noXEM&t=4s

https://www.livecareer.com/resources/interviews/prep/informational-interviewing

The best way to job search is to not job apply but conduct information interviews. The person-job seeking or junior in the conversation will lead the agenda and get the other person to talk about themselves. In this video , Steve Dalton shares his questioning algorithm that frames the interview as an expert. TRIRA - Trends, Insights, Advice, Resources, Assignments.

Trend: an open-ended question that asks about the current state of the company now.

Insights: what have been your successes while working at the company?

Advice: Remember what it was like to be me.

Resource: What do you do daily to stay updated on your industry and position?

It is critical to send a thank you note 24 hours after. Ben Franklin effect - people like you better if you ask them for favors and don't pay them off. Ask for further mentorship. What keeps you up at night with your position/job? Additionally, Mukai Matsiga article on networking questions is highly informative, and they used to work at Galvanize, the company that owns Hack Reactor.

Building The Backend Paid Membership Site

The following video is a sped-up version of myself working on the backend of my models, views, URLs, admin, and templates folders and also accepting the free Stripe API for test mode to hook the keys up to a web buildout. I started this project with starter files from the course provided on Linkedin , but I wrote all the code after the starter files myself and can prove from my commits done for this project on my GitLab . This project demonstrated and taught me how to do the following:

Using APIs
Leveraging the Stripe dashboard
Building a checkout page
Configuring payment periods
Working with the Stripe frontend
Handling data
Implementing a coupon system
Processing payments
Analyzing Stripe data
Creating user models
Allowing for subscription cancellations

Challenges For This Week

That would be identifying a "stretch goal" for this week to work on as a project during our class time dedicated to working independently. At first, I spent the first two days of this week primarily enhancing my project Alpha project and getting to the point where I considered working with the Google Maps API. Still, as I signed up for the premium version on my LinkedIn account, I discovered that Linkedin has many online technical courses and decided to work on a project from a Django course that I found instead. Another challenge was getting sick this week with a sore throat, but it could always be worse, and this only impacted my sleep. I'm grateful for my health, that I recover fast, and that my cold has quickly exited my body.

Lifestyle and Colombia update

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to the circus in Santa Rosa de Cabal with my family. The circus only cost five mill Colombina pesos (about $1). The show lasted an hour and a half with the performers being highly talented and also fabulous stand-up comedians and even included me in the show to their jokes and called me out in front of the entire crowd because I was the only gringo. We then had a great family Sunday by attending one of the most elegant lookout/restaurants/cafes in Santa Rosa de Cabal called finca del cafe . This week's video will share footage from our time here. In addition, I met for the second time with Father Andres, the father of a catholic church here in Santa Rosa de Cabal. I spent the previous week writing and researching my homework for learning about angels and archangels in the catholic church and writing my notes in Spanish. They can be viewed below.

The father then provided six names of saints with ties to the United States and learned about their history. So this is what I will be sharing with him when I see him again this coming Sunday. Val. I am leaving for Medellin, Colombia, on Sunday and will be there for an entire week for work purposes. This means I will be taking week seven from Medellín, Colombia, hoping to meet up with another student from the March cohort, as he lives there. Ciao for now!

Week 5 Practice Test, Django Project and Python

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 02:13:03 GMT

Almost done with the first Module and expanding my knowledge and efficiency working with the Django Web Framework.

This week we had our Module 1 practice exam. This exam consisted of 35 questions covering Django and solving functions in Python. Afterward, we started our minimal viable project, Project Alpha. The goal for Project Alpha is to develop the backend for a task manager application using the Django web framework. This process was done in 17 steps and can be seen in full detail in my video documentation of this project. This week was full of a deeper understanding of the Django Web Framework, python problem solving, and even attending a workshop by Codesmith to learn about Classes and Objects in Javascript. Lets me present to you my learnings for the week. Challenges and what I'm focusing on for next week are at the bottom of the article.

Learnings for the week

How does the Django model classes help a developer for writing a Web application?

Connects our Django application to our database
Organizes our data and connects different models
Allows us to utilize forms to input data
Allows us to type our data and set limits

How does a developer organize code in Python?

Using repositories. This allows us to have a snapshot of our code and store it in the cloud with the ability to have multiple different lifestyles of the code as it has been developed on.
Using functions. Allowing developers to make reusable pieces of code that can be called upon/executed whenever necessary.
Using Modules. Allowing developers to create organized code that can be imported and exported into other files.
Using packages. This allows developers to initiate a code quickly. They are user-friendly and enhance the user-interpreted code to execute smoothly in run time.
Sub-packages. Allows developers to place packages inside a package folder. This is done using the init.py file name.
Sub-modules. Allows developers to place the files inside the sub-package. (Reference the below image)

How do models, views, forms and templates in Django work together to make a working Web application that can show and accept data?

Models function to define our data for our database to interpret and accept.
Forms utilize the models to provide data to our database.
Views allow us to carry out functionality that allows us to achieve CRUD (Create, read, update, and delete data in our database)
Models, forms, and models work synergistically to produce what is displayed in our HTML template.

What function to use to add all numbers in a list together and also return none?

Sum() method

During coding interviews, ask about edge cases. Edge cases are scenarios if your input is an empty list. What should be returned? Should the function return 0? Take care of your edge functions at the very beginning. The initial data validation should be done first.

How to use the *args in Python?

“args” allows passing into a function a non-keyword argument. In the function itself, it is industry standard to use an “” before the parameter's name to pass a variable number of arguments. To note, the name of the argument doesn’t have to be args, and it can be anything. “args” is seen as a standard to use as the name when referencing an argument. The use of *args came into my learning this week when solving a python problem with “*numbers” as the parameter. The coding challenge was to solve a function that returns the sum of all its arguments. The inputs and expected outputs are the following:

Below is the function name and parameter given.

In python the use of the methods char() and ord().

For example, the char() method assigns a preset character from a set of the number range.

And the ord() method converts a character into an assigned Unicode integer for that character.

In Python, the use of the split() method.

Where each word in a string becomes its own list item. For example here is a split string function that I created this week.

How to create pairs from a list of items and return a list of pairs in consecutive items?

Note that if the list is odd, we don’t want to create a function that will return the last number in the list. For this function, we will add in our code a “look ahead.” This is where we write in our if statement to check and see if the following index is within our items list. It is saying that we have another item to pair with. Example function.

Joining strings with a separator.

Multiple strings exist in a list. We want to add a separator in between each string and be turned into one string.

How to display unique items from a list that has duplicates?

This is done by creating a dictionary and organizing in our code our key and value pairing. The following function will work.

What is a ZeroDivisionError and float(”nan”)?

ZeroDivisionError is built into python and is seen whenever a number is being divided by zero. In the world of mathematics, an infinite number is produced when dividing a number by zero.

How to solve the ZeroDivisionError? This is done by using a try except. For example.

And float(”nan”) is the equivalent of stating that we having missing value in the data and that it is not a number. In more technical reasons the IEEE 754 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) states that NaN as a float value.

What is casting?

I am referring to when you need to change all the items in a list to a str() or int(). This is also known as type conversion. It results in converting the data type to another data type.

What is negative indexing?

This is done so that we can target from the end of a string. Using the syntax of “[start:stop:step]” And when we say values[-1] this means we are counting from the last item from a list of items. This article from tutorialspoint high list in-depth the various syntax combinations Negative Indexing is used to stop and step. and how to reverse a string with negative indexing.

Will Django create an automated related_name in our models ForeignKey creation?

This is found in the Django documentation underneath the Following relationships “backward” section that Django by default will create a related name by default if not specified. It will do this by lowercasing your model name and adding the text “_set” to it. Using a user-friendly name following the input of “related_name.”

When creating fields in our Django model using the Charfield(), it is always required to add the parameter of how much the max length of the character field will have.

In addition, we don't need to add a parameter in our fields when using DatField(), PositiveIntegerField(), or EmailField().

How to delete a filed in our Django model?

This is done using Cascade deletes. Using on_delete=models.CASCADE will delete the object containing the ForeignKey that has been created.

When the “on_delete” is set to PROTECT or RESTRICT this will not delete the related items as well as CASCADE will do.

What is the parameter to add to the field in a Django model to update a field every time there is a change to the record?

This is done using the ".auto_now" attribute, which is useful when you want the field to automatically set the new field every time the object is saved. When using the ".auto_now_add" attribute, the field will be set to the current time when creating the object for the first time. Refer to the specific Django documentation for more information can be found here for this.

Python has a linear approach.

Python follows a top-to-bottom order. This becomes apparent when working with your database, updating a variable after saving and not saving your update. Your variable will be that new output you added for that variable, but the database will not have the updated variable because it hasn’t been saved yet.

What happens in Django if a field attribute is commented out or not included?

Django will respond with an error about not having a field or no input for attributes.

Why do we use form.save(False) in our create view function in Django?

This is done to create a pause to allow us to add more information before we send this information back to the database.

If we want to include information to be viewed on our HTML template, where does that come from in Django?

This comes from our passed-in dictionary called context in our created function from our views.py folder from our app folder. This will provide all the information we want to display on our template page.

Codesmith -JavaScript the Hard Parts: Classes and Prototypes

This is one of the challenging workshops in the JavaScript complex parts series. Every week Codesmith offers free workshops online and in person. This class had over 70 people on a Zoom call to learn about Classes, Prototypes, and Object-oriented programming. This was well-produced, and the content was precious. It highlights in depth the technical communication for JavaScript underneath the hood. It references how the language works with the call stack, improving memory efficiency, global execution context, garbage collection, bracket notation, dot notation, global execution, and thread of execution. Reid Klarsfeld is one of the best instructors I have seen and learned from when teaching how a coding language works under the hood and getting the audience involved and engaged. Highly recommend you connect with him on Linkedin .

Challenges for this week:

I am facing errors in the Django project when creating new files, viewing functions, or registering new paths. I wouldn’t be able to have the correct way identified on the response side of my application correctly displayed in the web browser.
I am developing effective pseudocode on specific Python problems to solve them effectively and efficiently. However, I am getting better at them and solving them.
However, I'm improving daily with a deeper understanding of dictionaries and for loops.
When going back into the Javascript world, having to recall concepts like the call stack and the global execution context and be able to understand deeper the object-oriented programing that is commonly used in Javascript and Python.

Focuses for next week

Monday is our Module 1 test, so I am preparing for my main weakness: solving functions by Monday for the exam. Then I shifted my time to networking, improving my LinkedIn presence, and researching companies and remote opportunities. My girlfriend's cousin is a software engineer in Colombia, and I'm hoping to meet him to talk shop and get his thoughts on the industry in Colombia. Also, my girlfriend and I will be heading to Medellin from March 19-26, and there, I'm hoping to meet another classmate starting in the Hack Reactor program in March. I used ChatGPT for the first time today when my girlfriend asked me for a technical PowerPoint presentation. I searched for a solution for numerous speakers working on a large PowerPoint file to prevent events. I was very impressed with the steps and documentation that responded to my specific questions, and this is a tool I plan on learning more about how to interact and see where I can extract value from. In addition, I am amazed at how fast it produced the seven videos I requested to learn about angels in the catholic religion, which are all under ten minutes. Please see the photos from below.

Lastly, I want to update you on my baptism process here in Santa Rosa de Cabal. We have switched churches and fathers. The father we met with last Sunday is named Andres, and he spoke very clearly and was personable. We chatted about the world history of religions and the different types of christianity and catholicism. We were later given homework to research angels in the faith and presented our notes to him the following week. Nonetheless, an experience and learning and understanding the culture deeper here in Colombia as most of the country follows a catholic faith. Moving on to next week! Ciao for now!

Week 4 Hack Reactor Coding Bootcamp with Django Web Framework

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 02:36:34 GMT

This week inroduced the Django Two Shot Porject

This week represents the first month and a fifth of the course completed, consisting of three Django Projects and reviewing python coding problems in the morning. Without further ado, let's get into my findings for this week.

What I Learned This Week

I want to share my thoughts on four python coding problems. The python coding problems are the area of my coding journey with which I am most challenged. The following issues were given during class, and I have provided the questions with my solution, along with writing a brief description of how to answer these questions.

Question 1 was about reviewing a dictionary. Here is the coding question.

Complete the function make_description below, which takes a person's name and a dictionary of their attributes and constructs a single string from them.

For example, say the person's name is "Lulu," and their attribute dictionary contains the following entries: { "hair": "red," "yes": "blue,"}.

Then, the return value of the function should be the string: Lulu, red hair, blue eyes

The return value should be the person's name if the dictionary has no entries.

Let's start by writing my pseudocode (it helps map out my structure to solving and keeps me organized in writing my code).

Now from the pseudocode code that I have written, I already know that I will need to create a loop because I have to perform an iteration. And in this case, it is for iterating over the dictionary. I made a variable with the name parameter from the m function since the directions ask to return the person's name first, followed by their attributes. f Before I added my return statement, I wrote out my variable set early to itself plus the attributes and formatted it correctly to agree with what was being asked. You want to avoid setting your variable equal to an empty string as this will create an error with how the testing is set for this problem, and you would end up repeating the name twice in your print statement. You add your name every time your looping through the attributes.sites(). See the error picture below for details.

The next problem was using the same dictionary inputs but, this time, reversing the output. Here is the question.

Question 2 Complete the function reverse_entries below that takes a dictionary and returns a new dictionary whose key-value pairs are the values and keys from the input.

For example, if the input is this dictionary: { "hair": "red", "eyes": "blue", }.

Then the output should be this dictionary: { "red": "hair", "blue": "eyes", }.

First, try solving this with a for loop.

Then, once you have that figured out, read about list comprehensions and then try it with a dictionary comprehension . You have to look at the third example in the "Dictionaries" section to see an example of a dictionary comprehension.

Let us start with my pseudocode. I will first need to create an empty dictionary as we will create and use a for a loop. Now how do we reverse this? Let's think about how we make a dictionary entry. There is a key and value. So I called my dictionary, changed the key to value, and I swapped the key with a deal. My final step is then to return my reverse dictionary.

The third python coding challenge was on classes and using the __str__ method. Here is the question:

Question 3 Create a Car class that has the required state of:

make , a string
model , a string
year , an integer

in that order.

Create a __str__ method on the class that returns the year, make, and model separated by spaces.

Example values:

make: Oldsmobile

model: Alero

year: 2001

__str__ would return "2001 Oldsmobile Alero"

I created a car class for my pseudocode and added the make/model/year attributes. Then I need to include a __str__ method and return the __STR__ string with the year, make, and model. I figured this out independently after conducting searches and referencing my notes. My answer is seen below, and I want to mention that you can use two versions of the return statement after my __str__(self) function. That is, use the f-strings included in Python version 3.6 and return with the self. instances. In this case, the self.year, self.make, and self.model. The other way is by returning your answer in a string and referencing the .format(self=self).

The last python question was the hardest for me: how to reverse a string and display the letters based on how many times they occur in a horizontal bar chart. Please see the following question.

Question 4 Complete the function horizontal_bar_chart below that takes in a string and creates a horizontal bar chart made out of the instances of the letters in that string based on the number of each letter.

The return value is a list of the strings of the letters in alphabetical order.

For example, given the sentence "abba has a banana", it would return this list of strings because there are seven "a", three "b", one "h", two "n", and one "s" letters in it:

All letters in the input will be lowercase letters.

You may want to look at the methods for dictionaries and the built-in functions. Remember, you can also compare strings with >= and <= .

Take note of my "if char >= "a" and char <= "z":" The question does ask to use the "<>+" operators. But one could use a count and strip methods to determine how many spaces exist in the string. When my first if statement is true, I know my char is a letter, and if the char doesn't already exist in my dictionary, I will create it in a key. To generate the dictionary key, you access the dictionary by typing dict[char]. The char represents the key. Now if the char is in the dictionary (dict) I will add it to the key value (char). At this point, we have successfully populated the dictionary with key-value pairs of letters and counts. The next step is to create an empty list and use our dictionary method with another for a loop. Now this will iterate through the dictionary and only grab the values for each value, it will be placed in my empty list named character_list. The last step is to return the character_list now and make sure to add the sorted method, or else this will create an error when the tests are run.

Continuing On To Learning Django For The Week

Now let's move on to what I learned from two Django projects for this week. The first Django project for this week was called Django-one-shot. this project was divided up into 13 steps building estienally the backend components of creating a Django project,

a Django app, writing two models, seven views, and seven templates. And lastly, including the configured paths of all seven views. This exercise of completing this Django project and doing so in one day helped further my understanding of the Web browser request and response with Django. Django has a built-in folder/steps to handle these requests and responses.

Django will first have the information being requested by the web browser through the URL dispatcher(located in the urls.py folders of a Django project). This will store the URL pathways for how the URL path is being named. Then the URL dispatcher passes this info to the view functions located in the views.py folder of an app, which is then tied into classes created in the model.py folder. The types are stored in the built database with the python web framework. This data can also be stored on another database outside the built Django database, but for now, let's use the perspective of the Django framework. Now wants the database has been accessed from the request, Django will now run through the same process but backward, starting with the model.py and repopulating the information being requested with the correct fields of date, for example, and then moving onto the view.py folder that housed where a webpage should be redirected to as well as the specific HTML template to display to the end user. This information will be directly shared with the web browser for the user to view. I'm grateful I could figure out my errors throughout this project, as they provided great insight into understanding the structure and order of how the Django Web framework worked. It is always a beautiful feeling to solve a debugging error after testing numerous fixes for three hours until you get the Django Project functioning correctly.

On to the Django two-shot project. The name is to signify that you only have two days to complete it; it is similar and built off of the Django shot steps. This project consisted of 15 steps and built-in tests to ensure your structure and coding are in the right direction. This project consisted of two main parts. The first is a Sign-up, logging-in, and logging-out functionality to the site. And the other an accounts, expenses, and receipts data management. This project was more complex and time intensive than the previous error, but the structure of building it on the Django web framework was all the same. Now there was some additional new add-on that I was familiar with when creating specific view functions and foreign keys. But by referencing the Django documentation of my other Django projects and viewing the Hack Reactor Slack channel of my Feb cohort, I could complete this project and understand everything I created. The main goal by the end was to Ensure you've signed up with two different users—functionality to develop accounts, expense categories, and receipts for one user. Then log out from that account and log in as the other user. Then ensure you cannot see the first user's information when logged into a different account. The following video from my screen sharing documents and highlights each step I completed on the backend of this Django project to achieve this goal.

An additional note that I learned this week was to practice going slow. By planning first, we go faster and only attempt a solution after I have a plan.

And to practice making atomic git commits. Outlined in this article by Aleksandr Hovhannisyan . I liked the Django projects we did this week because built into the steps were the directions to git add, commit, and push our code after every completed step—a great habit of having as a software engineer/developer.

The other article written by Sankalp Jonna I would like to reference about explaining the many-to-many relationship in a database.

The author explains that when remaining in a many-to-many relationship in a database between two tables. There is only one way to connect this with a third table, and this is done with a table called a "through" table. Then every entry in that table will link up with the other two tables.

Challenges

This week's challenges were understanding the flow of the Django web framework between an HTTP request in my web browser to then urls.py in the Django app or project folder to link up with the views, models, and forms folder. However, internalizing the database, however, it is accessible at the moment to work with the database since we only work with a handful of data points in our Django projects. The other additional challenges were my errors. Here are a few screenshots of my mistakes and my solutions to these errors.

This coming week

My focus will be refamiliarizing myself with python practice problems and reworking through the 80 practice problems given a few weeks ago. In addition, our first practice test for Module one is on Monday. Next week, we will also be working on our final project for this module, another Django project where we are not allowed to get assistance from our instructors or classmates. On to next week!

Also, my girlfriend started her new job with Family Office Club as a project manager role. I'm proud of her work, achievement, and continual growth as a professional, and very happy for her and the new opportunities she is creating for herself. And we are moving into a designated office space in another apartment that we will rent out for the next six months here in Santa Rosa De Cabal solely to use as a workspace. To give you an idea of how much rent is for the place I show in my video update for this week, it is about $600,000 mill Colombian pesos per month. This is roughly $125. So this is an affordable option for an office space!

And last, I attended my second class for going through the process of becoming baptized here in Santa Rosa de Cabal. After hearing about the course with my Suegra (mother of my GF), we agreed to find another program that is more organized and does not have a long time commitment of 1 year as the class structure. More details to follow.

Week 3 Documenting the Hack Reactor 19 Week Coding Bootcamp - Django Week!

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 01:51:19 GMT

It's Django developing time!

What I learned this week

By the end of week 3, I had completed the following: I built webpages using the Django framework for a recipe website to show five webpages (Main, Recipe Page, Create Recipe, Edit Recipe, and Admin). This week we covered additional CSS and started our Django project. This was a four-day week because of the President's Holiday on Monday. Let's get into it!

Before we started on Django we spent the first day and half continually working on CSS. For example CSS selectors - various selectors, css specificity, pseudo-classes, alternative layouts, and using properties. Why is CSS important? It is used to style elements provide interactivity, and create a visual language.I learned that placing a basic 'CSS Reset' at the start of your CSS file is recommended. Please see the image below, shared by one of our technical instructors in the HR course.

In addition, we spent time working on Box shadows, Transitions and transforms and going over the CSS stylesheet showcasing grids in CSS. CSS uses selectors (.,#, and tag) and combinators (>, +). The Specificity rules allow CSS to decide what takes precedence for design based on what is being compared in your stylesheet. Helpful tips that I noted are the following. Keep your CSS specificity as low as possible, setting your default layout for all your tags, creating a particular CSS class, and using those. It is okay to have a lot of CSS classes, and choosing specific classes rather than descendant combinators is better.

Packages and using other people's code

Using PIP (the package management system for Python) and how using other people's code is a good and widely accepted practice of software development. To access others' code, we need to import and from/import to gain access.

On the second day of class, one of the lectures was on time and how it is used in programming. Here is a list of untrue statements on time presented in class.

"Time has no beginning and no end" This statement brought up a lengthy discussion between individuals in my cohort and the instructor on how we perceive time and reversing other famous thinkers like Einstein and Stephen Hawkings, or in the philosopher world, that time is continuous. That we do not experience a stop or a start. There is agreed-upon directional order of time in that there is a past to present to a future order of events we see and experience. Nonetheless, computer programming, for example, in Python, uses the datetime library and allows us to format our code into what is universally recognized with how time is kept track. From here, I learned how to make a birthday time function and compare dates utilizing the DateTime function.

On the third day of the week, we preceded to start our Django project by learning and creating the necessary steps to implement a Django project by doing the following steps:

Creating a repository for the project GitLab/GitHub and cloning
Open the project up in VScode.
Creating a virtual environment by:
(In Terminal) python -m .venv
(In Terminal) source .venv/bin/activate
(In Terminal) pip install Django
(In Terminal) deactivate then source .venv/bin/activate
pip freeze > requirements.txt
Time to create our Django project. (In Terminal) Django-admin start project "NAME APP."
Create a django app. (In Terminal) python manage.py startapp “appname”. Then add appname in settings.py ) Example - ‘appname.apps.AppnameConfig’
Run migrations. (In Terminal) python manage.py migrate
Test it out. (In Terminal) python manage.py runserver

I learned how a request and response cycle is complete. See the photo below of my diagram. It starts with a browser (client) making a request (web address) to a server. This server then finds the address and contacts our Django app, which has stored URL paths in code to help locate the correct HTML template to display. The view file on a Django website is the remote control to flip or change the website to the requested webpage.

And in the world of Developers, they follow (CRUD). Which stands for create, read, update, and delete. This is how many applications and websites operate, with create being a POST function, a read function being a GET, an update function being PUT, and a delete function being DELETE.

I learned about an error in my Django project this week and the solution required.This error happened because I did not input the correct id for the function I had built to display each unique Recipe from my database. Below is a picture from my views.py from inside my app Recipe. I identified the key in my content dictionary on line nine as recipe_list. This is the id I should have been using for Django to understand that I want the URL to travel to my edit.html and do so by displaying the specific Recipe associated with clicking through my detail.html page.

Where I am currently at in my Django Project

I have built out my Django project to have a database on the admin page and show and display four web pages. I can add to my list of recipes without having to login into my admin page and for it to be listed on my home/list page automatically. I'm excited about this project from the standpoint of learning the steps necessary for a working application. This reminds me of my time working on an API React project for facial recognition in the Zero To Mastery Complete Web Developer Course . I do see similarities when working with React and Django. The main ones would be all the steps involved in getting everything up and running. Still, the more you work on it, the stronger and more efficient you become in debugging, creativity, and building and developing your code to make it easy to understand. It is written for scalability (it can handle a large amount of input data, many users, or many nodes.). I do show a quick walk thru of my code so far in my week 3 YouTube update.

Challenges for the week

I would have to debug error codes that I received when running my localthost:8000. I had two errors that took several hours to resolve fully. This led to a deeper understanding of my Django project, and I am grateful and welcome errors in my code. This also led me to ask two instructors and SEIRS(software engineer immersive residents) about the mistakes for them to be resolved. I will take screenshots of my errors to reference later in my documentation.

What I'm focusing on next week

I am continually building out my Django project and finishing getting the structure of my edit.html to display with the ability of a user to edit that Recipe. Improving my user interface, although I'm not very concerned with the appearance of my site, as I'm more focused on learning and understanding all the working gears that make the files in my Django app work and come together without errors. And lastly, creating a login ability for the user of the site. I see on the course calendar for this week, we will be learning about Django Two-Shot. I am still determining this at the time of writing, and it is another project.I look forward to sharing my findings and thoughts on this new and upcoming project next week! A reminder everything is "GOOD"! Referencing former Navy Seal Commander Jocko Willink .

Lifestyle updates

Every day this week, I'm blessed to have weather that is sunny or cloudy but not raining, giving me plenty of opportunities to get outside, breathe air, and enjoy being a human being. I appreciate the moments I have to sit in my thoughts or breathe. This week, I do anywhere from 2-5 meditations daily. They range from 5 mins to 25 mins per session. Sometimes I will do a morning or evening meditation with my girlfriend. We have found this helps with our current life stresses and also helps to strengthen our relationship as a couple. I'm excited for my girlfriend, as she will be starting a new job this week, and we are still looking for another apartment to rent and use for an office. I live with her and her parents in an apartment, working from home. More space and a separate room/apt specifically for work would benefit both of us and our productivity. My sleep and food intake have been good, with three meals around the same time and only drinking water, Colombian coffee, teas, and freshly made juices from the local fruits in Santa Rosa de Cabal. My favorite that my Suegra(my GF's mom) makes is pineapple and Guayaba .

Also, my working out habits are every day during breaks in the course, or when I wake up early, I walk over to the soccer court in our complex where we live and perform various circuits of bodyweight, trx, and cardio movements. My focus during this course is maintaining lean mass, flexibility, and good posture. Later after we travel and are living in another environment, I plan on doing more resistance/weight training as one of the many routines I enjoyed when living in Medellin was going to CrossFit class at PowerClub in Ciudad Del Rio . And lastly, for this week's reflection and documentation, I have found myself in the unique situation of having the opportunity to get baptized in Santa Rosa de Cabal. Now I'm not affiliated with any religious beliefs/ties. My view on god is one of believing there is something much bigger than any human as far as higher energy or power. I do not want to go any further with this for now (a good representation of my beliefs can be found in this Wayne Dyer speech ) , and I'll keep you updated next week to see if this is still possible during my time here in Santa Rosa de Cabal. Ciao y nos vemos!

Week 2 Documentation of the Hack Reactor 19 Week Bootcamp

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 03:57:46 GMT

Week 2 thoughts and visiting San Vicente Hot Springs

What I learned this week

I learned additional ways to solve harder and more complex python problems. However, this will transition to challenges for the week where just handling them and working through the 80 python problems I found challenging but also learned a lot for my problem-solving mind. It helped to review the solutions from the repository from which I cloned the problems to view a comparison. Once I got deeper and deeper into Python problem sets on the Learn Platform of Hack Reactor(a platform used for instructional material, coding challenges, and more for the course), it became quite difficult. I had to ask for help or take more breaks, demonstrating that my mind was being challenged, and I couldn't finish all of them. I did find myself, after working, the need to take a break and work on other projects during the course. After a certain point, it wasn't productive for me to work continually, and I needed to walk away. It's a good thing, though, because that means with that struggle, that's where I'm learning and making breakthroughs. There is a mix of my cohorts that can solve the more difficult problems quickly. This is only an observation and not a comparison. I only focus on my ability today compared to the previous day. For example, pseudocode is needed if it's fairly complex when considering the loops you need and your different options and factors. One of the problems was giving an input string password, completing the function valid_password to return the string good if it's a valid password or to return the string bad if it's an invalid password. After working on this problem and chatting with, others, I understood and completed this problem with two if statements and a for a loop.

We're focused primarily on Python and coding challenges for the first three days of the week. During the week, you would have lots of time to work on personal project time. Then on Thursday, we learned and spent time doing HTML and CSS. HTML is a markup language, and CSS is the language used for the design element. They are like the gateway or foundation when building websites and how web browsers read your code for displaying your website or app. Many of us enjoyed the CSS portion for this week because it allows a more creative option to be viewed immediately when running your code. One of the lectures on CSS focused on color and the various options for selecting colors with RGB, rgba, and HEX codes. You can also choose from a small list of pre-typed-out colors on a text editor like Visual Code studio, but these are very limited. RGB represents the degree or mixture of red, green, and blue. We also learned a detailed explanation of how Hex colors are expressed using the base-16 hexadecimal numbering system. Attached is a photo from the lecture to explain the breakdown.

This lecture made me curious to know just how many colors humans can see and select for use in code, and my search led me to conclude over 10 million colors. We can make this even more complex when we factor in the viewing conditions and surrounding colors, but let's not go there, as these are my thoughts on coding. I'm getting better and better at doing the Git commands and understanding how to push commits to my repository when editing my code. If something happens on my local computer, I will still have access to those files again.

Screenshots from my repository on my GitLab account are used to save and come back to code if I ever lose access to my local computer.

Other additional aspects this week and learning of good resources for when it comes to CSS which is the Mozilla Developer Network and the CSS tricks website . They have all the documentation you can use when doing CSS with naming, elements, and parent-child classes. Also, learning the quick command for when you're in VS code for how to quickly pop up to the basic structure you need for an HTML page by just typing "!" and then pressing "enter." This is called a boilerplate. We created two projects for this week's section of HTML and CSS pages. It's fundamental, of course, but the main thing was it allowed me time to explore, break the code and learn from it, which is advised during the course to grasp and learn the concepts. This week, I learned a great principle: not to be afraid of breaking your code. Plus, I want to note that I had the opportunity to speak with SEIR (Software Engineering Immersive Reisdents) Kornebari Nantah and alum Claudia Harrison and go over projects that will come later in the program. A SEIR is a Hack Reactor (HR) alumni who has recently finished the program and is hired by HR to answer questions and provide guidance to the cohorts in the program. I would also like to become an SEIR as this allows you to continually learn and resist the course and help others while getting paid as you are going about the job search as a Software Engineer, as this does take time. Shout out to Kornebari Nantah, I've known him since November, and he shared two hours of his time presenting his card game application that he has been working on for his side project and highlighting what parts of the back end will be presented in the course. He went into a deep explanation of problems he is facing with his project and solutions to his database. He wants to migrate from the Django framework to Mongo DB because the flexibility gives them more freedom in inputting different data. I am highly grateful for his sharing his time. I can speak highly of him as a teacher, an educator, and a fun person to interact with because he's always looking to get people to talk in having creative conversations in a playful and fun matter. He also speaks to the technical side in a not-boring way. He is a very astute engineer, and I can speak highly of his demonstration, knowledge, and charisma. Here's a link to his LinkedIn . I highly recommend you connect with him and reach out to him.

Challenges for the week

Main challenge this week has to be the python problems for me. I need help identifying the right pseudocode and implementing my coding structure on coding challenges involving multiple functions that need to be created. I plan to rework the 80 python problems. I have made a second branch on my code from my repository to start doing paired programming with other cohorts and code wars or Leetcode problems. I want to be programming with other engineers, walking through the problems, getting a new perspective, and talking out loud about the problem. Developing that weekly daily practice will help me tremendously and is something I look to implement.

Thoughts going into next week

This week was mainly focused on avoiding breakout sessions because I wanted to be entirely focused. Relating to my reflections for last week, I would get distracted and unproductive during breakout sessions and our cohort. Again these are my noticed feelings and thoughts, and it should not be interpreted that something is wrong with the course or the cohort. None of that is the case. The program and cohort are tremendous and valuable to my career development. I was figuring out how to work and the etiquette during breakout sessions. All good as it takes time, and it was becoming more and more productive during the end of the week when joining a few breakout sessions and everyone focused on the material and not too many off-topic conversations. That being said, I want to spend more time doing paired programming the following week so that I will take more decisive action. In addition, over the weekend, I will be learning Django to get a head start and understand how this gets incorporated with my python files, HTML, and CSS.

This week was the second week of the Hack Reactor program, meaning we get Friday off because of every second week. This was a four-day class week, and we had Friday off and the following Monday off because it was Presidents' Day, so we had a four-day weekend.

I want to maximize my study/exploration time and take advantage of healthy habits, physical exercise, and quality time spent with my loved ones. For example, my girlfriend and I plan to spend the night at San Vicente , a thermal resort about an hour's drive away from our city and completely immersed in nature. To learn more, watch my YouTube video for this week's documentation on additional info on the thermal resort. It is good to have quality time and detach from programming. You sometimes do things unrelated to software engineering and career goals because it's a good break for your mind. When the brain is unfocused, we can make breakthroughs in creativity, logic, and perspective. If you do this with intention, you feel refreshed, and your ideas will become clearer. I learned this more thoroughly when taking a Zero to Mastery Learning Effectively . They mentioned making sure you prioritize and have those times throughout your weekday to detach from your working goals into activities that are good for your mental and physical health. My great example in this course highlighted the importance of having time when we are bored and not stimulated. This help with strengthening brain connections and creativity. Please see this video on the benefits and importance of being bored. This is why I keep my smartphone in black and white, and during our time in San Vicente, having my phone on airplane mode the entire time, taking minimal photos and videos, and just being there present and observing myself and the world around me and switching from a state of doing into a state of just being. Working on goals for your programming is essential. In the game plan of becoming a better program, make sure you make time for your eyes to have a break from your screen and give your mind a break with tasks that don't involve deep hyper-focused thought. On to week 3!

Footage of my HTML and CSS code on VS Code and showing the basic look once loaded onto Google Chrome web browser.

Review of Week 1 in the Hack Reactor Coding Bootcamp

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 01:43:20 GMT

Sharing my thoughts after week one complete and excited to be moving into a new office environment.

What I learned this week

OK, from a technical standpoint, the first week was dedicated to learning the terminal, getting commands, and going into Python. So, for example, with our GitLab account, we know how to fork and clone different repositories enter the proper commands to get those repositories copied into our Visual Studio Code, and thus work on them, saving the documents for keeping the code, and then being able to go through the terminal push those commits to our get lab repository. In addition, with Python, we learned the basic structure of the language this week. This would include going over the primary form of Python syntax, variables, data types, strings, boolean(True/False), lists, dictionaries, if...else, while loops, for loops, functions, and classes. On the last day of the week, we were given 80 python problems from a repository on GitLab and then were prompted to clone onto our Visual Studio Code and to make branches. The reason to make branches is once we have completed all 80 problems and committed them to our first created branch, we can create a new branch with the same problems, solve them again, and compare to see how we answered them the first time. And a large part of the module 1 test for Python was explained to us that these problems would be on there. Side note on branches - to the best of my ability, branches act as another version of your code as a copy/or create another version. This allows you to have multiple versions to experiment with your code and not lose the original code you were working on. It is a time machine for you to access your code at various points in your working timeline of the code. The great thing about coding is there's more than one way to arrive at a solution. I learned there's a joke in the industry that given a problem and 10 software engineers, you will get back 12 different answers. This highlights numerous ways to go about a solution, and that's the beautiful thing about problem-solving in an engineer's mind or in general. You can solve the problem multiple, multiple modes. It always has various solutions, so it goes back to the uniqueness of the problem you're solving. The solution that has the best-solved ability is that it is sustainable and scalable for future use. I enjoy the structure of the classes. Generally, lecturers will be about 25-30 minutes long with a 5 min break afterward. I would say this follows a pomodoro technique . There are lots of breaks throughout the day. There's a breakout session scheduled for opportunities to do pair programming.

In addition, the instructors are high-level. They come from numerous years in the industry, can speak in detail, and use simplistic explanations. Some of the main takeaways this week was learning about a chrome extension called Dark Reader that allows me to turn any webpage automatically dark. This helps to alleviate eye strain—also, some Visual Studio Code shortcuts. I'm getting my head more wrapped around how to go about the structure of problem-solving python problems and writing pseudocode. This is a skill that I am working on. I will use the deliberate practice approach to improve my skill. Another takeaway this week was setting up a virtual environment in the terminal and VS code and understanding the bigger picture of creating branches and running commits in the terminal and the repository. Whether it's on GitLab or GitHub. The course itself utilizes GitLab. Still, I also have a GitHub from other courses I've taken, and I plan on getting commits to my GitHub account for some repositories that I can contribute to on open-source projects.

Commands learned for Git and in addition a screen shot of the 80 practice problems opened up in my Visual Code Studio.

Challenges

OK, the challenges for this week, well, first off, challenges will always exist in life. The purpose of this is to share what I noticed. This week I noticed my eyes feeling tired from long hours on a computer. Reflecting on this emphasizes for myself to prioritize healthy mental and physical habits. Another challenge I had was when going into breakout rooms. It was distracting working in breakout rooms because there could be a lot of talk throughout the sessions. I find myself just being in the zone, listening to music, such as binary beats, lofi, or music developed and catered for programming or just classical music to help focus. I must wrap my mind around what's being demonstrated as a new skill. I value the paired programming aspect tremendously, and that's where you make significant big breakthroughs in the material, discuss the material and get a good sense of the language because you're talking the lingo. You're teaching others and yourself out loud. For this week and going into the following week to get my head around the foundation basics. I want to emphasize my time and learn what I need to know. Overall I can get over my challenges through patience, resilience, and not being afraid to ask for help. Learning coding and SWE skills is a journey, and I will attain the skills with time and consistency of practice. I want to introduce an article I learned from taking the Zero to Mastery course of Learning to Learn , and in it, one of the sections in the course mentioned a medium article by Michael Simmons .

We can't predict the future and the best one can do is learn and know the fundamentals. This is called the trunk technique. Before we focus on the leaves/details, you must first observe and understand a tree's trunk and branches. In my case, I need to understand the working and fundamentals of how information and code work, get translated, built, and shared. From this, there will always be a demand for this skill, and I will always be able to grow new leaves. I want to add the quote from Warren Buffet "Predicting rain doesn't count. Building arks does." I will be wise and intentional with the money I earn as a software engineer. It's a side note, and I'm getting off-topic here as I want to invest the money into properties and stable income-earning assets like storage units. As this is something that humans will always need. An area to store their stuff. And of course, this can be based on countries and cultures, but still, this would be my ark from the quote of Warren Buffet. We can't predict the future, but focusing on things you know that are always going to be a need and that comes from fundamentals will, in this case, be the foundation for working with computers and understanding the structure of how things are built in an online digital/metaverse space is going to be around 10-20 years from now. The time and effort I put into learning coding is a valuable skill. OK, time to get back on track for thoughts for my first week.

Thoughts going into next week

OK, thoughts going in next week. Well, I'm going to emphasize when we have breakout sessions. I go into a quiet room on the Zoom call, put music on, and focus entirely so that when I do the explorations, I don't spend more than two hours working on them. Hack Reactor does say not to spend more than three hours on the explorations, and I want to work no more than two hours because it becomes a long time to be on a computer. Also, there's a life I want and need to live outside of this program. That is with my family. Granted, I understand the time commitment and sacrifice I need to make, but one can't ignore loved ones, especially those helping contribute to my success in my career and life. In addition, doing some side work only takes a little of my time, but I still want to be on top of that. See you in the next update!

Starting Hack Reactor 19 Week Bootcamp for learning Python and Javascript

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 21:28:10 GMT

My thoughts before the first week of class starting on Feb. 6, 2023

After doing lots of research and due diligence, I enrolled in the Hack Reactor 19-week Boot Camp. I'll learn Python and JavaScript as computer languages, take those languages, and build and complete fullstack development projects and apps through frameworks (like Django and React). I'm very excited to pursue being a software engineer, working remotely anywhere in the world, and taking my skills and providing them as a valuable service to other businesses and my entrepreneurial creations. Today marks my first write-up of thoughts before my cohort start date of February 6. This blog aims to provide my thoughts leading up to the start of the Hack Reactor program and to mark the beginning of documenting my comprehensive journey as a software engineer.

My Research And Networking For The Program

I started my research by visiting several coding boot camp websites, beginning with Codeacademy, and quickly deciding no because I did not qualify for their financial options. Then I found Hack Reactor and was invited to their slack channel where a former alumni, Jason Wesson , hosts weekly Sunday meetups to talk shop, get career advice, and network with other alums, and current students, and none students alike. This meetup is solely on Jason's time and isn't affiliated with the Hack Reactor program. This is where I received a genuine perspective of the good, bad, great, and ugly of all things boot camps, life as a developer, coding, and networking. This has been one of my primary forms of research: the weekly calls where I would always end the meeting with a long list of resources to dig further into the industry and skill set. Jason Wesson is a former hack actor alumni who has since graduated from the program in 2021 and has had two Software Engineering (SWE) jobs. The first was for Code of America, and his current work at the time of writing is as a Software Engineer II at 2U,

I want to state that there are other options than coding boot camps. It all depends on your unique circumstance. One can succeed as a developer without going the boot camp route. I've completed nine other courses already before doing this. I do have the discipline to do things on my own. Still, I enjoy working with others for the next five months to create projects together, and expanding my network, and get access to the career services of Hack Reactor. During my research, I came across a video of a panel of former Hack Reactor alumni , and one of them, in particular, was talking about how he ripped up his certificate from hack reactor because at the end of the day that is all it is. What you do with these skills is what truly matters, and the stories you tell yourself in your head and the habits you develop are more important and valuable than any paper you receive. Haha, all that said, besides spending months talking to alums of the program in an environment not affiliated with the program, the financing option I could do with Hack Reactor drew me into the program. I decided to do the income share agreement, so once I earn over $60,000 as a software engineer, I'll make reoccurring monthly payments. I've attached the payment table from my loan agreement to know the monthly payment amounts. This is very doable and affordable given that I plan on living in countries where the cost of living is much cheaper than other Western countries and the quality of life can be easily the same if not better for how far your money goes, hence why I have been living in Colombia for the past 18 months!

I did apply for the Galvanize scholarship . Unfortunately, I did not get it, but please feel free to look at the video to get ideas for making your scholarship video. I highly recommend applying for the scholarship because Galvanize gives out several scholarships every new cohort, so individuals do not have to pay any tuition for the entire program. It is my understanding from alumni and individuals in the Galvanize community that there's not that big of a pool of applicants that apply every round, so your opportunity for winning a scholarship is relatively high, so I would recommend investing time and energy into your application in creating a video that you believe is worthy of winning a scholarship.

Courses And My Prep Material

Okay, now the fun stuff of naming sources. This is my research, my education, practicing, and sharpening my skills. Taking classes before the start of Hack Reactor is optional. Still, I wanted to spend my time back in November 2022 until the program start date of February 6 to start programming. So this is a list that I have to demonstrate of all the courses and educational material. I have done until this point; these courses were either suggested to me through Jason Wesson or my research, in addition to talking to alums. On another side note, thousands of courses and programs are out there. The main thing we can do is learn every day. More importantly, are you learning and going over the basic foundation of the skill every day, and even if it's just for a short duration of the day, are you building consistency and habit? This is more critical.

HackReactor - Prep Course Immersive for the 12 Week Program
Hack Reactor - Prep Course Bonus (Module 0: Beta and Module 0: Building Blocks Intro)
Udacity - Intro to JavaScript
Udemy - JavaScript: Understanding the Weird Parts
Mimo - Web Development for JavaScript, SQL, and Python - A great way to practice coding on the go and especially when flying or on long bus rides in Colombia��.
Zero to Mastery Complete Web Developer Course 2023 -I highly recommend serious people who want to work outside a boot camp and have the support and high-level content, project, and community check out Zero to Mastery. More affable and able to go at your own pace.
Zero to Mastery Complete Python Developer in 2023
Zero to Mastery Learning to Meditate [Productivity & Focus] - I highly recommend this and the learning-to-learn course! These should be skills either learned or refreshed in your mind before starting a new skill and consuming lots of information, practice, and studying, such as coding.
Zero to Mastery Learning to Learn [Efficient Learning]

Okay, I know I said my opinion on certification, but I wanted to provide these as documentation to prove that I have done these courses.

Current Work Setup

Here is my current setup as far as what I'm using for the computer. I have a MacBook Air M1 2020 on top of it with a portable side monitor from ThinkVision. This is an excellent setup for traveling and being remote and flexible to work from most desk setups. Then I have two wireless mice with two Apple earbuds and a wireless Apple wireless keyboard. I am taking the course remotely outside of the US, so I'll take it for five months in the small town of Santa Rosa de Cabal in Colombia. We're right now in the middle of moving homes, so what you see in the video uploaded to YouTube is the old house we lived in. Unfortunately, things in the town of Santa Rosa de Cabal can operate on "manana time." We can't get working wifi installed in our new home, so the first week of the Hack Reactor program will be from our old house with working Wifi until Wifi is installed in our new home. I hope to have it installed shortly! It can be expected that it takes weeks to get a scheduled appointment and for a service provider to assist when living in a small town in Colombia. There are plenty of positive tradeoffs, though.

Weekly Updates And Learnings

The purpose of this documentation is to show what I've been learning, so I can look back. It reflects on how far I've come, as well as continue to increase my network, practice continuously speaking and writing about the industry, in addition to providing documentation for others to learn from, and know that there are no boundaries when it comes to a new skill where are you are living in another country. My documentation of my time and this course will be done in weekly updates on a YouTube video and a weekly blog post. I'll be sharing what I've been learning in the class projects I worked on and also quick lifestyle, updates on what I'm doing for my own mental health physical health, and attaching myself away from the computer as I do going forward and I am not glued to the computer 12 hours a day. I want a healthy balance when it comes to prioritizing my mental health, knowing there's a world outside of my laptop, and prioritizing the relationships in my life with my girlfriend, her family, my family, and others.

I look forward to showing you a little bit of the area of Colombia I am living in for the next six months. Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions. I look forward to sharing my journey!

How to make Colombian hot chocolate

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 16:04:45 GMT

Chocolate Caliente Con Queso en Colombia ��

Living in Colombia for the past two years, I’ve immersed myself in learning Spanish and gaining a great appreciation for the people and culture. From participating in the dancing of salsa, bachata, and merengue at house parties and discotecas (clubs), eating arepas with most meals and practicing patience with a slower pace of life, including relaxing with a delicious cup of Colombian hot chocolate. Now, Colombian hot chocolate is special for several reasons. First, the chocolate in Colombia is considered by many to be one of the world's best-tasting chocolates due to the climate and geography. Second, the hot chocolate flavor is enhanced with a mild salty taste - from cheese. That’s right, cheese. For most people not familiar with Colombian culture, this can sound odd. In Spanish, this is known as chocolate caliente con queso. When I first learned about this drink, I thought it was a joke. But sure enough, there is a long tradition of drinking cocoa, made with either water or milk, and adding cheese. I've learned that Colombians have rich resources in coffee, cheese, and chocolate. I find it easy to consume 1-2 cups of hot chocolate daily because it is offered at most coffee shops, restaurants, and homes .

Columbian-made hot chocolate is less sweet of a cup than one might enjoy in the U.S. or Europe. However, its combination with higher levels of cocoa, less sugar, and the added cheese ingredient provides comfort and relaxation when drinking (and eating) with friends and family. This has become one of my favorite pleasures when living in Colombia, especially for staying warm in the colder areas of the country. While living in Santa Rosa de Cabal, a small town in the west central part of Colombia, having a cup of hot chocolate in the morning or evening provides moments in my day to more fully appreciate where I live and my life.

To enjoy your own hot chocolate with cheese mindfulness moments, here is the recipe (this example is for four servings, which can easily be adapted to make fewer or more servings):

Recipe for chocolate caliente con queso estilo de Colombia (Columbian style)

Ingredients and Items needed to make four servings:

Chocolate (100%) cacao produced in Colombia - used four small bars of chocolate
Shredded chocolate - used two small bars of chocolate
Milk - (about 4 cups) Whole milk (preferable)
Cinnamon - 1/2 teaspoons
Mozzarella cheese - cut into sixteen cubes and placed into cups (a variety of cheeses work. For best results, a cheese that is both creamy and firm)
Drinking mugs/cups - 4 cups
Chocolatera - used to place the hot chocolate for whisking. You can also use a pan or pitcher for mixing. A Chocolatera is a high-necked metal pitcher used to prepare hot chocolate drinks in Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines.
Molinillo - used to whisk the hot chocolate. Traditionally a tool used in Latin America and the Philippines. A blender will also work well.
Saucepan - used for warming up the hot chocolate before placing it into the chocolatera
Stove - to make this Colombian tradition come to life, I will harness the power of the stove.

Now that we have covered our items, here are the steps to produce the hot chocolate with cheese that Willie Wonka wishes he sold at his chocolate factory.

Steps

Step 1 - Cut cheese into sixteen cubes and place four cubes into each cup.

Step 2 - Add milk into the saucepan and turn on the burner to medium heat.

Step 3 - As the milk begins to simmer, add the four chocolate bars and cinnamon, and continue simmering and stirring until the chocolate is fully melted and all is mixed together.

Step 4 - Once the chocolate bars are fully melted, and the milk is at a low boil, turn the burner off and pour the milk from the saucepan into the Chocolatera. It is time to use our molinillo to whip and create a nice frothy texture. I like to think of the motion of molinillo as rubbing your hands together when your hands are freezing to warm them up. Or if you ever had to make a fire by hand, it is a similar motion, ensuring you continually transfer your energy from your hands to the molinillo.

Step 5 - Now that our hot chocolate is nice and frothy, pour it into the cups over the cheese and wait a few minutes for the cheese to melt before serving.

Step 6 - While the cheese melts, sprinkle the shredded chocolate on top.

Step 7 - Now the drink is ready, and time for the best part! Enjoy this hot chocolate with friends and family! When having it for breakfast, I recommend having it with eggs and arepas , and croissants- good for drinking! Vamos! And in case you are unfamiliar with it, an arepa is found throughout Colombia and Venezuela; a traditional arepa is made out of ground corn, cooked and in the shape of a circle that can have filling inside of cheese, potatoes, and meats. Enjoy!

Today's Six Word Story: Seasons of change

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 02:52:38 GMT

Six Word Story - T he sea son of L IF E always c ha nges

MY " Sea son s of C ha nge " SON ,

I took my mind for a w al k aro u nd G oo se Lake recently and fo u nd YOU standing in t he sa me pl ac e b u t at d if ferent ti me s.

Ti me ha s a way of c ha nging L IF E .

T ha t's probably be ca u se ti me goes in one direction and me mories anot he r.

F AL L is my favorite favorite sea son of L IF E t ha t al ways inspires me .

T he c o l o r s of nat u re are smiling in al l directions with d is tinctive lines t ha t separate t he sea son s.

Today's World Class Ph o t o graphical Six - Word " Sea son s of C ha nge " ph o t o shows YOU greeting t he new sea son with YOUR

signat u re smile and al ways u niq u e way of ha ving f u n.

A new sea son is on t he way, and with IT , c ha nges, opport u n it ies, r is ks, prom is es, my stery.

L IF E sea son s are al ways c ha nging for t ha t is t he way nat u re works.

In every sea son YOU will d is cover new ways to find JOY to live, new work t ha t inspires YOU , and e x citing progress to be ma de.

Ma y t hi s new sea son provide YOU with more p u rpose, love , kindness , and generos it y, filled with a joy t ha t no pa ssing sea son can ever take away.

L IF E is c ha nge......growth is option al ......choose w is ely.

" Na t u re ha s IT 's own way of sea son al c ha nge."

T he Cannonb al l DAD

T he sea son of L IF E al ways c ha nges . (6 Sea son c ha nging words )

T he re is a ti me for everyt hi ng. (Ecclesiastes 3:1) 6 GOD created sea son s for a p u rpose words from t he ch u rch of DAD .

AL ways with love ,

DAD

Helpful dance and entrepreneur tips from Jonny Cann of 🔥Life Ignited🔥

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 15:28:01 GMT

Six Word Story : Live To Dance A Life Ignited

*****Quick note, anytime I write and create content for someone, I do it because I believe in this person, and I have spent time with them on numerous occasions to learn more about them, their values, and morals. I want to clarify that my goal for this content creation for Jonny is out of my time, effort, and idea to create content for him. Jonny didn't ask or pay me to create content for him in no way. I'm mentioning this because I want my video and write-up for Jonny to serve as an authentic recommendation and review of who he is and all the value he created through his dance and entrepreneurial projects. For anyone who found this article and video because you met Jonny or attended a Life Ignited event, please watch and read. You will see that you are spending time with a positive and progressive person who will help create rewarding experiences in your life. Also, the location we filmed the conversation and Jonny dancing was at the Academia de Baile El Candombe in Medellín, Colombia.*****

Who is Jonny Cann?

Jonny Cann is a professional dancer, instructor, and choreographer. He is also the organizer and creator of Life Ignited, a social club for entrepreneurs. I met Jonny at my friend's house (Andres Ospina) at 4 in the morning as this was when Jonny's flight arrived. Jonny was visiting from Tampa Bay, Florida, here in Medellín, Colombia. I got to know Jonny better by attending a networking event together, going out dancing, hiking, and eating Venezuelan arepas at my favorite Venezuelan restaurant. In my short week of having numerous times sitting down with him to discuss life, projects, business, investing, relationships, dance, and the human experience, I can conclude that he is a genuine person who has a passion for continually growing throughout life and bringing people value in the process. From what I can describe, Jonny brings tremendous value to others through his dance and personal connection with others. I know this will continue to make him successful in his current endeavors and future projects that he creates to add value.

When you get to know Jonny, he will be traveling around with what appears to be a scarf, but it has multi-functions that can be used as a hat or additional fashion appearance. I believe he first got this in Indonesia, and from what I have come to understand is a token or acts like a symbol of good energy that he likes to travel and carry with him wherever he goes in the world. I can recall him having this with him when we were at the club one night, and he was completely immersed in the music and dancing away.

Jonny first started dancing when he was in high school and learned to teach himself as well as learn from others. He quickly became talented with lots of hard work and eventually opened his dance school, performing with professional dancers and working with large brands and networks like Nickelodeon. In my time traveling to seven continents working on two cruise ships and, meeting thousands of people, immersing myself in the tango and salsa world here in Colombia, I can say that Johnny is one of the best dancers I have had the opportunity to dance side by side.

Along with his dancing, Jonny has excellent communication skills. This is evident in how he interacts with others and the everlasting fire of energy he has to share with whatever projects he chooses to invest himself in. Jonny can lead a group of people with his charismatic energy and be a listener. I'm highly hopeful that Jonny will succeed with continually growing the quality of individuals in his current project with Life Ignited and connecting high-performance individuals to create a worldwide organization of entrepreneurs able to learn, help and grow from each other.

I was very impressed with how effortless he can make his dance moves with moves that remind me of break dancing and, of course, his ability to do back flips.

What is Life Ignited?

Over the past several years, Jonny has been working on and creating a top-level event networking meetup called Life Ignited. A meetup for entrepreneurs and individuals who are action takers and at the top of their field for business, investing, health, and mindset. Life Ignited produces experiences that bring people together that choose to live differently. Life Ignited will hold monthly events where you will have the remarkable opportunity only to be surrounded by diverse and highly progressive people. These individuals choose to create, achieve, and add value, along with hearing from a wide array of successful speakers invited to the event to have the platform to share their wisdom and know-how in a particular field to help with your growth, mindset, and lifestyle.

The following text has been copied from the Life Ignighted website for me to provide and communicate their messaging of what their events are like to be a part of and experience.

"Tangible and unique perspectives around money, real estate, crypto, building relationships with high net-worth people, capital investment raising, steps to leveraging off business credit, branding & marketing, strategic business skills, mental, physical, and emotional intelligence, speaker training, and much more.

Enjoying this experience with delicious hors d'oeuvres, craft cocktails,

phenomenal live DJs, new contacts, unforgettable speakers,

professional photography + video, and an overall inspiring night!

Adding value to all walks of life attend, from your average Joe to wealthy entrepreneurs, creative artists, and all people interested in continuing designing their best self, however, that may look. No matter what walk of life you pursue, there is a power and unseen value when we surround ourselves in a room with others who choose to live a life of progression and understand the importance of building meaningful connections.

Many people don't, and that's okay, but we choose to live differently, and Life Ignited provides that space.

Open discussions allow attendees to obtain information and receive feedback which serves as guidance in gaining clarity to take ideas, awareness, personal skills, life habits, and businesses to the next level. Access your strengths, connect with others, share your visions, accept accountability and reach your peak potential in a supportive, positive, and impactful environment." - lifeignitedct.com Home Page

Closing Remarks

I had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with Jonny Cann in Medellin, Colombia, and getting to know more about him and his passion and perspective on dance, his entrepreneurial projects, and of course, his view on life and infectious laugh. I'm grateful for this opportunity, and whenever we meet again, there will be plenty of laughing, dancing, and celebrating life. When first meeting Jonny it doesn't take long to learn that this guy knows how to move his body to any music he hears, and it looks magically pleasing. Jonny's passion for dancing came from his upbringing in Connecticut and transferred that ability into the various places he lived. He eventually worked on his craft to have the talent to be dancing and get paid in collaboration with top performers and companies. Jonny has an exquisite mind for producing unique and fun choreography for dancing. In combination with his personality, he delivers a motivating, fun, and rewarding time dancing and training in his dance classes. I believe it would be an excellent opportunity for him to put on a dance class in Medellin, Colombia, and bring his dance style to the city of Eternal Spring. Thank you, Jonny, for impacting my life by showing me how you live your life.

Please get in touch with me if you have comments or want to know more about Jonny, Medellín, or discuss business.

How to get in contact with Jonny Cann

Life Ignited Instagram Profile

Life Ignited Website

How to get in contact with Academia de Baile El Candombe

Facebook Page

Email: contacto@elcandombe.com

Youtube Profile

WhatsApp:+57 310 8459557

Medellín Spotlight with Samed Kavak (Samed Guitars) featuring Sergio Moreno from Insiders Foundation

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 05:33:14 GMT

My guest is one of the best acoustic guitarists I have had the opportunity to hear live and hang out with in numerous fun activities in Medellín. This is a little about who Samed is as a person, his first ever song recorded, and our filming video in Comuna 13.

Who is Samed Guitars (Samed Kavak)?

I know Sam from our first meeting and playing a weekly men's football group at Premium Plaza in Medellin, Colombia. From first meeting him, we struck a good connection and often would joke about life and be very light-hearted. Sam has spent over three years living and traveling on and off again in Medellín and other parts of Colombia. Sam is Turkish-German and has spent most of his life living in Germany. And has traveled to numerous places around the world and enjoys traveling when he goes to an area with excellent waves for surfing. Sam is a digital nomad specializing in websites and search engine optimization (SEO). I have worked with Sam on several projects and can vouch for his expertise and knowledge in this space.

From meeting in the same football group, we became friends. We often hung out together by playing ping-pong in the park and going for cigars at High Coffee in Medellín. Most recently, helping Sam create a professional acoustic guitar video during his last week in Medellín.

Since the age of 16, he has had a deep passion for guitars and specializes in playing the acoustic guitar. His website, percussive-guitar.de, is a great place to go for an aspiring guitarist who wants to learn or improve their percussive guitar playing. Sam shares his tips to show you what you can get out of your guitar instead of just pulling chords up and down. His guitar blog has a percussive guitar tutorial, an introductory guitar video, and articles on choosing the right thumbpick to use and the hammer-on technique and percussion. Sam has been in several bands back in German y and carries his guitar with him whenever he travels. The acoustic guitar he played in Comuna 13 is a song he has created from some of his recent travel over the past year and life experiences. I've asked him on numerous occasions, and he doesn't have a name for the song. So at this point, it is nameless, and I hope he has a reputation for this beautiful song that he wrote and plays.

The last thing about Sam is that he is a big Elmo fan, and you would have noticed in his video either the Elmo logo making an appearance or him having a fanny pack with Elmo on it. On top of that, Sam has an Elmo tattoo, which speaks to Sam's easy-going and funny personality.

I can recommend Sam to listen numerous times in front of him. His talent is playing the acoustic guitar, and if anyone is thinking about working with Sam, he has my recommendation for the skills he brings with his guitar and also in SEO and websites.

Who is Sergio Moreno from Comuna 13?

Sergio is a lifelong resident of Comuna 13, and if anyone can explain the last 30 years of what it has been like to live in Comuna 13, he is the man. Sergio owns and operates a tour guide company for Comuna 13, and at the time of writing, his Airbnb Comuna 13 experience has 1,355 reviews with a rating of 4.98! It is the highest-rated tour with the most reviews you can find in Medellín on the Airbnb experiences platform and one of the highest-rated experiences in all of Latin America with that many reviews. Super proud of you, Sergio! I've sent over 20 different people to Sergio in my time living in Medellín. They all loved his tour and appreciated all the history and information he had to share about historic Comuna 13 in the history of Medellín. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND SERGIO FOR THE BEST COMUNA 13 TOUR IN MEDELLÍN! And follow him on his social media channels to see the impact he is making in elevating the prosperity and empowerment f his community and see how you can assist in the journey, especially after visiting Comuna 13 and learning about the struggles that exist today for so many of the inhabitants.

Sergio is the founder of Insiders Foundation. The following text has been taken from the about page on insidersfoundation.org to best explain the aim of the non-profit:

"Insiders Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides social and cultural programs to youth in the territory of Comuna 13, one of the most vulnerable and underserved neighborhoods in Medellin, Colombia. Founded in 2019 by Sergio Moreno, born and raised in Comuna 13, the foundation was inspired by the strength and resilience of the people of Comuna 13, who overcame a violent past and transformed their community into a thriving cultural hub. Tourism over the past 5+years has provided economic stability and opportunities to the people. Insiders Foundation focuses on giving back to the community and helping to create a better future.

The programs offered in the community help inspire and provide confidence to the youth, creating new opportunities for them for a brighter future. The history and transformation of Comuna 13 is a daily reminder of what's possible when we come together.

We provide tours in this area to help raise awareness and generate resources that will be invested in the community. We walk the streets of our beloved neighborhood every day with tourists who leave with knowledge of our history and transformation and feel inspired by our story."

The last thing I want to add is that Sergio is a highly skilled football player, and usually, when he plays on the field in our organized football matches, he is the player that dominates with the ball and will score the most goals. Lucky for me, he will at times provide football tips to help with improving my game.

Filming in Comuna 13

A few weeks back, Sam asked me one of the last things he wanted to do before he left Medellín was to film a professional guitar video so he could always show people his acoustic guitar talent. When he asked me, I agreed immediately, and we talked about how to make this project work. After discussing, I shortly realized due to time constraints and needing specific filming equipment, the best person I know that can help with this project is Sergio. After contacting Sergio and meeting with him, we agreed on a date to film in the studio that Sergio has. Side note Sergio has created his studio space for producing several podcast shows out of this space to be able to share with the world conversations on culture, history, and empowerment for Comuna 13 and Colombia. Once we made it to Comuna 13, we had a local menú del día with Sergio at a local tienda. We preceded to get filming set-up and film the video for the next 4 hours before finishing up our accomplishment by enjoying views of the city from a local cafe and having beers that have coffee. Thanks, Sergio, for sharing your time and space to help Sam and me to create a professional acoustic guitar video with great sound and imagery. And Sam, thank you for allowing me to help produce a professional guitar video for yourself. And I hope you can share your beautiful sound with others wherever you go in the world!

Contact Info For Samed Guitars:

Website for Samed Guitars: https://www.percussive-guitar.de/

Facebook page

Youtube Channel

Email : kontakt@percussive-guitar.de

Work Email for SEO and Websites: samedk.kavak@gmail.com

Whatsapp: +49 176 56823689

Facebook profile of Samed

Contact Info For Sergio Moreno:

Website for Insider Foundation: https://insidersfoundation.org/

Youtube channel for Insider Foundation

Instagram Insider Foundation page

Email for Insider Foundation: contact@insidersfoundation.org

WhatsApp for Insider Foundation: +57 314 548 1075

Comuna 13 Tour hosted by Sergio

Sergio Moreno Instagram page

Medellín, Colombia Spotlight - Juliana Gaviria Architect for your next job!

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 18:57:43 GMT

Medellín and Colombia's next big architect

What is an architect?

Architects will develop designs for new building projects and provide changes and adjustments to previous concepts. They will use their knowledge and skillfulness to design and draw practical, secure, sustainable, and pleasing structures to live in and look at.

What kind of software do architects use?

Digital design software is essential for an architect to be familiar with and proficient. Clients desire to see virtual models that show more detail. With 3D modeling, you can develop interiors and create your buildings. Architectural software will allow you to adjust lighting effects and consider how external forces will influence the edifice of a building.

The design software helps with automating standard processes. This allows the architect to save time, get designs to clients faster, and enjoy a more efficient way to produce results.

The software AutoCAD has been around since 1982 and is one of the most popular software for architects because of its simplicity and moving on to being able to transfer files into creating 3D models with ease. Architects can configure preferences and use them to understand the foundations of design layers and line weights, allowing for a more efficient drawing of base models.

What do you need 2D Floor plans for?

A 2D floor plan will assist in adding details to your property, for example, the measurements of rooms and the location of electrical outlets. A 2D floor plan can help clients/buyers envision the building better to evaluate if the place they're looking at will be the right fit. The price of a 2D floor plan is more economical than a 3D floor plan. Included in a 2D floor will consider the building structure, the weight that the walls will bear, the type of walls, the direction walls open up, and the positioning of the doors and windows. All this will help to understand the costs of the construction or renovation of the project.

What does a good architect do?

Speak effectively with their clients to create structures that meet their requirements. Able to handle budgeting and manage projects

Summarize their ideas into 2D and 3D drawings and documents to convey their message. Capable of translating details into the design like the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing and working around and considering the local building codes and zoning regulations from the authorities. Need an architect that can do this and then more? Well, Juliana can do all this and then more. She can compose construction documents with detailed information on the building's material and structure. Obtain the project's approval with permits and protect the future building's occupant's safety, health, and welfare.

Juliana can do everything listed in this article, and I recommend her for your next architectural job. To get in contact with her, check out her profiles on Fiverr , Upwork , Freelancer.com , and Instagram profile .

Practicing Spanish reading a legend of the Wayúu tribe of Colombia and Venezuela

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 04:11:43 GMT

The following is a video I filmed in several components to practice my Spanish pronunciation. In addition, I filmed everything while using the Filmic Pro DoubleTake app to use two cameras on my phone at the same time of filming.

In my most recent Spanish class, we learned about an indigenous group called the Wayúu in Colombia and Venezuela. My professor asked me to perform homework by making audio and sending it to him to hear me reading it aloud and helping me improve my Spanish pronunciation. I, of course, decided to make a video because why not and test out what it is like to film using the Filmic Pro DoubleTake app. This app's main feature is that it can simultaneously use your selfie camera and front camera when filming. A neat function that I believe has many benefits to the ability to capture the expressions of the person taking the video for the viewer in a more profound viewer experience than when watching videos on video sharing sites.

Below is a picture of the text I was reading, and for any Spanish speaker that reads this, please get in touch with me; I would be grateful for your feedback on my video pronunciation. Also, to learn more, here is an article from the Organization of Indigenous in Colombia about the Wayúu.

Thoughts on using the Filmic Pro DoubleTake App

Overall I like it very much. It is straightforward to use, and I wanted how I could look into my phone's screen and read from the split screen on an option I never had before when you can typically only film in one camera mode at a time. I look forward to seeing how I continually incorporate camera filming into my documentation. I don't have any downsides for the situations I have used it for so far. At the time of writing this, the app costs $3.99, and I believe it is worth purchasing for the value you receive to add filming capabilities to your phone. To learn more go the there website for DoubleTake .

At the moment, I am currently in a B2 level Spanish class at OLSA (Official Language Schools of The Americas) in Medellín, Colombia and my goal is to become a fluent Spanish speaker to use for business opportunities and to make Spanish videos on various topics continuously, for example, culture, dance (tango, salsa, bachata), business, and health.

Experienced Tango dancers of "Tangolombia" from Medellín, Colombia, are on their way to competing in the world's largest dance competition in Buenos Aires.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 07:23:23 GMT

Tangolombia Bailate tu vida (dance your life)

The Tango Culture in Medellín

Medellin has many things it is known for. For starters, it became more popular on the world map as a spot for drugs and receiving affordable medical tourism care or perhaps the world's largest flower festival every August. Many people think of Pablo Escobar when they think of Medellin or Colombia. But just like any place around the world that we think of and have stereotypes for Colombia and Medellin are so much more than that. I have lived in Medellin for 11 months, and since this time, I have been learning Spanish (currently about to finish my B-1 of my Spanish program) and taking eight months of tango classes. When going to the Memory House Museum (Museo Casa de la Memoria) in Medellin, I quickly learned about the violence that makes up a lot of the history of this city, especially over the past 70 years. And how much of the city was formed from this violence, but what many westerners or those not highly familiar with the history of Colombia and South America are that Medellin has had a long cultural tradition of embracing and dancing to Tango. Medellin revised more attention on the world scale when Carlos Gardel (considered one of the most inflectional and prominent figures in Tango) died when attempting to leave in a plane in the airport of Medellin back in 1935. My interpretations and sharing of this story will be later shared in another blog write-up. But in the meantime, let's fast forward 87 years, and Medellín is a city thriving in tango activity and culture.

Who are the dancers of Tangolombia?

And this is where my guests Laura and David of Tangolombia come in. They are the proud owners of Tangolombia, and they are currently in the process of training and preparing for their biggest tango competition yet. In Buenos Aires, this September is home to the world's largest Tango event where not only are they competing, but they will be sharing their brand of Tango with people who appreciate the art and aim to inspire the numerous benefits that they have gotten from Tango with others along with their unique addition to Tango of embracing and combining with Neuro-Linguistic Porgmmaing (NLP) practices.

I was so grateful to have gotten the time to have the evening spent with Laura, David, and their daughter Isabella. I was welcomed into their family by sharing in a long car ride in the Medellin traffic, where I had the opportunity to hear their entire tango story and share in many laughs. Then be invited to their house in Envigado (a different city just south of Medellin), where we had pizza from a local pizzeria and made our way to the local Theater a quick walk away. I forgot to mention that their daughter Isabella owns Dulce Bella Arte Comestible (art edibles). At their home, Isabella showed me her baking set-up and some of her favorite cakes and other pastries she has created for clients. Once we were at the theatre, I could film a close-up on stage four rounds of Laura and David dancing Tango together. After which, we had a 32 min conversation going into more details about their brand of Tango and how they use NLP tactics for their own lives and in Tango. David and Laura have received training in NLP and offer their skills for service and incorporate Tango into their practice. We also talked about what Tango means to them in their life, why they take pictures of them making Tango poses everywhere they travel together, and their latest upcoming project in Buenos Aires for Tango. If you haven't watched my video, I recommend you watch it now to learn more about this professional tango couple. Since I last saw David on June 15, he has left Medellin on his Suzuki VStream motorcycle and has ridden it to Argentina when writing this post. This means very soon, he will arrive in the city of Buenos Aires to begin his intense training in Tango dancing.

I initially connected and met David at one of the Tango milongas in Medellin at El Candombe dance school in the Manila neighborhood of Poblado. Owned by Johny Blandon , this dance school has a long history of teaching Tango and other Latin dances and is my home for learning dance. This is where David first told me of his idea that he would travel on a motorcycle from Colombia to Argentina. I could see the look of excitement and adventure on his face, and I'm so happy to receive a Whatapp message from Laura just now saying that David has made it across the Argentina border. They are one step closer to improving their tango level as a Tango partner and knowing that David is safe because his Wife, Laura, and daughter Isabella won't be seeing him for three months.

David has been dancing Tango for just six years, and Laura has been dancing Tango for over 25 years and has been a National Tango Champion in Colombia. The two of them embrace the tango culture and their brand of Tango by entering dance competitions, making media appearances, holding seminars and classes to teach Tango and NLP, and continually growing their brand to spread the beautiful and elegant art of Tango dancing.

Laura and David are beautiful human beings living through Tango's teachings and are genuine people. David is an engineer, and Laura is a gastronomic chef. I highly recommend them for any of their services in the area of Tango for putting on shows and their teachings on Tango and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. If you have any questions about Tangolombia, please feel free to contact me, and I will be more than happy to share my thoughts from my interactions with Laura and David.

Why Medellín is a better Tango culture than Buenos Aires?

One last thought from the previous conversation I had with David over a cappuccino (by the way, David has a deep love for cafes and is an excellent barista). David highlighted the difference in Tango culture in Buenos Aires and Medellín. Buenos Aires, a city of over 15 million people, will have on any given night 25-30 Tango Milongas or shows that you can attend (this number is only counting the ones that are listed, and I'm sure there are many more that aren't publicly listed or easily found on a directory). Although Medellín is smaller in size, David commented that people who are from and grow up in the city get exposed to Tango without ever having to look for it. He meant that although most people will never dance the Tango (many of the most talented Tango dancers in all of Colombia come from Medellín), it is common to sit at any local corner tienda (shop), restaurant, or bar and hear Tango playing on the speakers with people drinking and listening to it. Locals here get exposed to it all the time without ever having to go searching for it, and this is one of the many unique and exciting aspects of the culture of Medellin that most people who travel or live here that are foreigners miss out on. Of course, Buenos Aires is the pinnacle of Tango culture point. I wanted to point out that Medellín has a lot to offer to the Tango enthusiast, and an ever-growing scene of Tango is thriving here in Medellín.

You can support Tangolombia, Laura David, and Isabella through the following links to be able to connect with them:

�� Tangolombia Website: https://www.tangolombia.com/

��InstagramTangolombia: tangolombia

��Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tangolombia/

�� Email: tangolombia@gmail.com

��‍�� Youtube Tangolombia Channel : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7R5Y5LKidzfwopgTNZ-9Yw

�� WhatsApp: +57 322 762 13 75

��Tangolombia Airbnb Experience: https://www.airbnb.com.co/experiences/952082?_set_bev_on_new_domain=1546748952_7wh%2FJ1oCY%2BFmwoiX

��Instagram David Alarcón: daalabe

��Instagram Laura Marín: lauritango

��Instagram Dulce Bella Pastires: dulcebella.reposteria

Today's Six Word Story: Challenge YOURSELF

Tue, 24 May 2022 07:15:13 GMT

Give your best to the challenges.

MY " Ch al lenge YOURSELF" SON .

School is o u t, s u m me r projects are u nderway and t he re is a break be fore baseb al l sea son starts J u ne 8.

I've co me b ac k to L IF E today after a power o u tage of ti me and energy.

L IF E is often b u sy and c ha llenging .

B u t those ch al lenges often reve al who we are and w ha t we are capable of.

Today's world class photograp hi c AL Six -Word " Ch al lenge YOURSELF " ph o t o p u ts YOU in sever a l pl ac es at once, w he re YOU ha ve be en be fore,

and te ac he s YOU a v al u able L IF E 's les son .

E ac h ch al lenge provided YOU a rewarding e x perience t ha t ha s me aning to YOU and al igns YOU with YOUR p u rpose.

Contin u e to give YOURSELF so me t hi ng ch al lenging to do, t he n find joy and f u lfill me nt in working YOUR way thro u gh IT .

Ch al lenge YOURSELF , t he n step u p to t he ch al lenge.

"So me t hi ngs are me ant to try u s. Step u p to t he ch al lenge and receive YOUR reward."

Cannonb al l DAD

Give YOUR be st to t he ch al lenges . (6 Ch al lenging words)

Do not be anxio u s abo u t t o m o rr o w. (Matthew 6:34) Rejoice in t hi s day t ha t t he LORD ha s made words from t he church of DAD .

AL ways with LOVE ,

Dad

Today's Six Word Story: Coffee

Fri, 20 May 2022 04:47:46 GMT

Morning thoughts from my father highlighting the importance of coffee

MY " Coffee " SON .

T ha nks for he lping me start my day.

Coffee is pa rt of the mix t ha t gets my brain f u n ctioning e ac h morning

Today's world class photographicAL Six-Word " Coffee " ph o t o is proof t hat a great day starts with coffee .

" Coffee ma kes IT possible for me to get o u t of be d and do great things."

-Cannonb al l DAD

A great day starts with coffee . (6 Coffee words)

T he LORD ha s made t hi s day. (Ps al m 118:24) Rejoice in t hi s day words from t he church of DAD .

AL ways with LOVE ,

Dad

Viewing life with an Antifragility perspective. My book review of Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb🦢

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 20:23:51 GMT

SIX WORD �� SUMMARY: Viewing Life With Anti-fragility In Mind

Now and then, you can freshen your reading up with a bunch of dogs. Make no woofs about it; these dogs and one mouse were a pleasure to keep me company when reading The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. For individuals keen or interested in getting a viewpoint outside the box or by no means conventional, look to observing Nicholas Taleb's insights from his extensive background in finance and thought. I've read Professor Taleb's Skin in the Game and have found value in noting his viewpoints. His support in seeing chaos and unpredictable events empowering society on human evolution can be valuable for an individual to discern. One hundred and one revivifying thoughts came from reading this book! I began reading this book when it was recommended to me by my good friend Dan Grossman, who met Nassim at a conference he attended.

Nassim's quotes that made an impact on me from reading

"If you survive until tomorrow, it could mean that either a) you are more likely to be immortal or b) that you are closer to death."

"If you want to get an idea of a friend's temperament, ethics, and personal elegance, you need to look at him under the tests of severe circumstances, not under the regular rosy glow of daily life."

"Missing a train is only painful if you run after it! Likewise, not matching the idea of success others expect from you is only painful if that's what you are seeking."

TOP FAVORITE QUOTE OF MINE!

"Read books are far less valuable than unread ones. The library should contain as much of what you don't know as your financial means, mortgage rates, and the currently tight real-estate market allows you to put there. As you grow older, you will accumulate more knowledge and books, and the growing number of unread books on the shelves will look at you menacingly. Indeed, the more you know, the larger the rows of unread books. Let us call this collection of unread books an anti-library."

Book Review The Better Angels of our Nature by Steven Pinker

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 21:20:28 GMT

SIX WORD �� SUMMARY: Noting Life Quality From Various Perspectives

The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker is a presentation of viewing the world from the lens of how our society has dramatically improved over the centuries and how we live in a more (haha, by no means perfect) civilized society. Steven Pinker's book does just that for individuals who like to have reliable data presented when observing another's point of view. Bill Gates called this book, "My favorite book of the last decade is [Steven] Pinker's Better Angels of Our Nature. It is a long but profound look at reducing violence and discrimination over time." I've enjoyed learning from Mr. Pinker through several of his books, speeches, and debates. Side note to stay warm in the snow, read a book.

"It's natural to think that living things must be the handiwork of a designer. But it was also natural to think that the sun went around the earth. Overcoming naive impressions to figure out how things work is one of humanity's highest callings." - Steven Pinker.

"The only people who should be allowed to govern countries with nuclear weapons are mothers, those who are still breastfeeding their babies."--Tsutomu Yamaguchi, the only survivor of both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings."- Steven Pinker

Capturing WWII in a diary and sharing it with the world. Book review of The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 22:50:25 GMT

SIX WORD ��SUMMARY: Put Yourself In Minds From Others

One can always find individuals who have suffered more than you have experienced, and it is always an enlightening self-realization mind practice to discover the minds of others. Rather than compare, observe, and view with the thought of what takeaways I can apply to my mental processing. There are too many individuals to name that have detailed their experiences from one of the most significant events of the 20th Century (WWII). The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank is one of those individuals celebrated for her diary writings recounting her experiences as the Nazis invaded The Netherlands and arrested Anne and her family in Amsterdam. And one of the stand-out historical buildings in Sofia, Bulgaria, The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

My favorite quotes from Anne Frank

" I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear; my courage is reborn."

" Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands."

" There's only one rule you need to remember: laugh at everything and forget everybody else! It sounds egotistical, but it's actually the only cure for those suffering from self-pity."

How a blind man traveled the distance of the moon 🌕

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 22:04:17 GMT

SIX WORD �� SUMMARY: Joyfully Awake To The Path Itself

The moon is 238,900 miles away. What if I told you before flight transportation even existed, a blind traveler named James Holman circumnavigated the world and covered the same distance as that of the moon? All while being blind since the age of 25. James Holman was the Original Gangster of world traveling and doing it regardless of his circumstances. I’m still blown away that he only once had a travel companion who was himself deaf! In A Sense of the World by Jason Roberts, historical documentation and telling of James Holman displays the feats of what humans are extraordinarily capable of accomplishing/doing through the unique and vast stressors that can impact how humans choose to live. This has been a great book to read and see the importance of belief and the endurance of the human spirit. I found out the cover of this book is from the 18th-century painting Wanderer Above The Sea Of Fog elicits the traveler spirit by Casper Friedrich. And shout out to Mr. Gugu & Miss Go for the making of this artwork on a sweater.

My favorite James Holman Quotes

“Some difficulties meet, full many. I find them not, nor seek for any.” - James Holman.

“The beauties of the beautiful

Are veiled before the blind,

Not so the graces and the bloom

That blossom in the mind.

The beauties of the finest form

Are sentenced to decay;

Not so the beauties of the mind,

They never fade away .” - James Holman

Just how are humans shaping the world? A book review on The Human Age by Diane Ackerman

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 15:24:17 GMT

SIX WORD ��SUMMARY: THE AGE OF IMAGINATION IS TIMELESS

Picture was taken in Seward, Alaska next to the “Salmon Double Take” mural by Kwangsook Schaefermeyer . The Human Age: The World Shaped By Us by Diane Ackerman led to many insights, one of which was the different species involved in wars. For example, glowworms were used to light soldiers' maps in WWI and carry pigeons like Cher Ami, who delivered 12 messages before being shot down and receiving a war medal from the French for her heroic actions. In addition, dolphins are trained to detect mines and remote-controlled insects. I believe in reading and exposing your mind to books outside your regular study habit, and this book fits that description. I purchased this book at Title Wave in Anchorage, Alaska, a great place to go and spend an afternoon browsing for books to read.

Favorite Diane Ackerman Quote

"These days, startling though the thought is, we control our legacy. We're not passive, and we're not helpless. We're earth-movers. We can become Earth-restorers and Earth-guardians. We still have time and talent, and we have a great many choices. As I said at the beginning of this mental caravan, our mistakes are legion, but our imagination is immeasurable."

What does the future hold for humanity? A book review on Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 23:04:34 GMT

SIX WORD ��SUMMARY: The Future May Be Human God

"RAVEN STEALS THE SUN, MOON AND STARS" Mural by Jennifer Headtke is located in Alaska's Mural Capital of Seward. The second book was written by Yuval Noah Harari , Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. Just as easily readable as Sapiens, without the jargon and simultaneously providing a positive challenge for one's thoughts. I immensely enjoyed Chapter 5 on the role of stories among human societies and Chapter 11 on dataism being a crucial part of society. I believe it is essential to have time to reflect on society and how it operates. Your role in the picture of where you live and do and how studying history helps aid in the possibilities, we have to create for ourselves in our lives.

My favorite quotes from Yuval Noah Harari

"This is the best reason to learn history: not in order to predict the future but to free yourself of the past and imagine alternative destinies. Of course, this is not total freedom – we cannot avoid being shaped by the past. But some freedom is better than none."

"The greatest scientific discovery was the discovery of ignorance. Once humans realized how little they knew about the world, they suddenly had a very good reason to seek new knowledge, which opened up the scientific road to progress."

Review of the Nobel Prize-winning author's book Thinking Fast and Slow

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 22:26:58 GMT

SIX WORD �� SUMMARY: Endlessly Intrigued By The Human Mind

Shout out to artists James Temte and Michael Conti for your creating of the "The Eyes of Spenard" mural. Located on the corner of Spenard Road and 30th Ave in Anchorage, Alaska. A mural that could reinforce human behavior from the notion of being watched. Thinking Fast and Slow by 2002 Nobel Prize Winner Daniel Kahneman will deliver value to a reader looking to go deeper into the understanding of our mind and utilize the path of least resistance when making different decisions. By making sense of how our minds work, we can better adjust our attention to our thoughts and behaviors. That being said, that is a lifetime mental mindful practice. I enjoyed the breakdown of anchoring for the mind, availability science, loss aversion, framing, and sunk costs mentioned in the book. Not to mention the bevy of interesting people I learned about from reading this book, which I didn't know about before.

My favorite quotes from Daniel Kahneman

"This is the essence of intuitive heuristics: when faced with a difficult question, we often answer an easier one instead, usually without noticing the substitution."

"The confidence that individuals have in their beliefs depends mostly on the quality of the story they can tell about what they see, even if they see little."

"You are more likely to learn something by finding surprises in your own behavior than by hearing surprising facts about people in general."

"Nothing in life is as important as you think it is, while you are thinking about it"

"Intelligence is not only the ability to reason; it is also the ability to find relevant material in memory and to deploy attention when needed."

Looking for a novel from the 20th century? Please read the book by Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov and his book Lolita

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 16:17:04 GMT

SIX WORD ��SUMMARY: FICTITIOUS MEMOIR MAN GIRL THE DISCLOSURE

This photo was taken from Seward at the Alaska SeaLife Center. I posed in front of the mural "Widows to the Bay" by Liza McElroy. By far the most dazzling use of words by an author I've come across, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. Thank you, Nicklas Remington Bajema for originally articulating (and the occasional facetious thoughts ) your admirable thoughts of one of your most favorite authors Vladimir Nabokov, to me during our time working together on the Celebrity Solstice cruise ship. A testing read dealing with a controversial subject matter expanded the value of knowing what is possible with the combination of the written language.

Favorite Quotes From Vladimir Nabokov

"I need you, the reader, to imagine us, for we don't really exist if you don't."

"Literature was not born the day when a boy crying "wolf, wolf" came running out of the Neanderthal valley with a big gray wolf at his heels; literature was born on the day when a boy came crying "wolf, wolf" and there was no wolf behind him."

"Literature and butterflies are the two sweetest passions known to man."

What is fitness, and where did our perspective on fitness come from over centuries of humans improving themselves physically? Book review on Lift by Daniel Kunitz

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 23:29:44 GMT

SIX WORD �� SUMMARY: Time And Trial Produces Self Fitness��

The mural was done in 2012 by Eric Okdeh and is located on the side of 10 North Market St., in Wailuku, Hawaii. Shout out to Maui Henna Lounge and Nicole for the original artistic tattoo creation and your stellar artistic flow ability! Mahalo! I received my first tattoo inspired by the aquatic environment surrounding me. But this wasn't a real tattoo as I decided to get my first arm sleeve tattoo but with henna ink. And I can say I felt like one of the greek athletes mentioned in Daniel Kunitz's book, solid and athletic ready for any challenge my way. On a more serious note, this was a surprise read about fitness history, and I highly enjoyed it.

What does it mean to be fit? The human perspective on fitness has evolved over the centuries. It hasn't always been big box gyms, yoga studios, CrossFit boxes, SealFit centers, obstacle courses, and the many other diverse avenues one can seek out in pursuit of fitness in today's 21st century period. Lift - Fitness Culture, from Naked Greeks and Acrobats to Jazzercise and Ninja Warriors by Daniel Kunitz, is a book that provides historical research on humans' ever-changing outlook on fitness throughout our history, referencing the Western Zhou Chinese Dynasty and the ancient greeks. Thank you, Daniel Kunitz, for your writing and historical research! It made for an enlightening read on understanding fitness approaches from various civilizations throughout history.

My favorite quotes from Daniel Kunitz

"We temporarily withdraw from the rush of existence in order to rehearse its most fundamental aspects--movement, the interplay of neuron and muscle, the presentness and oblivion of concentration--and, bettered by his training, slip back into the stream of life."

"....the state of the body isn't something you choose to care about, or leave be, for your body never just is - it is always either decaying or getting stronger. Not choosing is still a choice."

The importance of staying quiet and listening. A book review on Susan Cain's book Quiet 🤫

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 14:49:22 GMT

SIX WORD �� SUMMARY: Lifetime Of Wearing Extraversion Introversion Masks

Want to feel at peace, stillness, the sound of the wind, observe the clouds moving ...all while staring at a volcanic crater and the endless ocean all around? Then get 10,000 feet high and head to Haleakalā National Park to experience quiet above the clouds. This picture was taken in Hawaii at the national park and is the perfect ideal quiet environment. This segues into perfectly about a book on quiet.

Former Wall Street lawyer Susan Cain’s book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking presents seven years of research to share her ideas on why which human personality types like small talk, in a majority of Western cultures, being extroverted is presented as one of the ideals to success, and companies having the awareness to adapt the workplace to allow for introverts to make their best contribution of value possible. A read that gave me insight on not only myself but, more importantly, how and why others will think and act the way they do.

My favorite quotes from Susan Cain

“Spend your free time the way you like, not the way you think you’re supposed to.”

“Whoever you are, bear in mind that appearance is not reality. Some people act like extroverts, but the effort costs them energy, authenticity, and even physical health. Others seem aloof or self-contained, but their inner landscapes are rich and full of drama. So the next time you see a person with a composed face and a soft voice, remember that inside her mind, she might be solving an equation, composing a sonnet, designing a hat. She might, that is, be deploying the powers of quiet.”

“(Finland is a famously introverted nation. Finnish joke: How can you tell if a Finn likes you? He’s staring at your shoes instead of his own.).”

Use your attitude and your thinking to empower yourself through every situation you face 💪🏻

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 21:50:38 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: My Thoughts Will Forever Be Positive

Finished the first book of this three-part book of The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. Thank you Jodi Gooddaz Fi Dem , for gifting this book to me. I have gained tremendous value from reading and continue to read the remaining two books. This pic is, of course, a little while ago in time and was in Budapest, Hungary on Margaret Island.

As I write this, I’m on the airplane, and when I look around, how many individuals use their time on the flight to watch mindless entertainment or sleep. I’ve consciously decided to invest in myself while many miles above land. This doesn’t mean that these individuals aren’t or won’t be successful. It does mean that I’ve decided to use my time to grow every day, knowing that it is only a matter of time before my visions, dreams, and endeavors become a reality and never having a doubtful thought of why I won’t be successful in my pursuits!

My favorite quote from the book The Power of Positive Thinking

“Feelings of confidence depend upon the type of thoughts that habitually occupy YOUr mind. Think defeat and YOU are bound to feel defeated. But practice thinking confident thoughts, make it a dominating habit, and YOU will develop such a strong sense of capacity that regardless of what difficulties arise YOU will be able to overcome them.”....“There is no problem, difficulty, or defeat that YOU cannot solve or overcome by faith, positive thinking and prayer” - Norman Vincent Peale

Are you having a bad day? Teleport your mind to experiencing WWII on the Pacific Islands, and your day will instantly become brighter☀️

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 19:59:30 GMT

SIX-WORD ��SUMMARY: OLD BREED TEACHES THE NEW BREED

Suppose you're ever Looking for a defining memoir on an enlisted man in WWII, read WITH THE OLD BREED by E.B. Sledge. Shout out to Susan C. Swiderski and the other contributing artists for the "Mount Marathon" Mural in Seward, Alaska.

Grateful to live in the safest period ever in human existence. An authentic raw take of a WWII veteran soldier, E.B. Sledge, and his experience serving in the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa in the Pacific Islands. A vivid glimpse into war throughout the book. Acting as a bridge to the best documentation of understanding the emotions and thought processes in Mr. Sledge's head during some of the most emotionally strenuous circumstances a human being can experience. On every page, I continually thought of how fortunate I am to have never fought in a war and all the events, emotions, and unpredictable scenarios one would experience. This read instills the mental reps of "could always be worse" into the thoughts of one's mind.

My favorite and valuable quotes from Eugene Sledge

"Lying in a foxhole sweating out an enemy artillery or mortar barrage or waiting to dash across open ground under machine-gun or artillery fire defied any concept of time."

"The other veteran said, "Listen, mate, everybody gets scared, and anybody says he doesn't is a damn liar."

"As the sun disappeared below the horizon and its glare no longer reflected off a glassy sea, I thought of how beautiful the sunsets always were in the Pacific. They were even more beautiful than over Mobile Bay. Suddenly a thought hit me like a thunderbolt. Would I live to see the sunset tomorrow?"

How are human beings doing and how is the overall quality of life for us? Check out the book Enlightenment Now to learn on the prosperity of humans 🌎

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 10 Nov 2019 15:42:41 GMT

SIX-WORD �� SUMMARY: The Earth’s Cup Is Half Full

It seems you are never far from finding salmon on the streets in Alaska. This picture was taken while visiting Seward, Alaska. Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker (cognitive scientist and linguist) details the status of how humans live in the safest and prosperous time as of now through intellectual depth of data referenced and artistic verve. That being said the book concludes with the rational statement of, “we will never have a perfect world, and it would be dangerous to seek one. But there is no limit to the betterments we can attain if we continue to apply knowledge to enhance human flourishing." -Steven Pinker

Favorite Steven Pinker Quotes

“As we care about more of humanity, we’re apt to mistake the harms around us for signs of how low the world has sunk rather than how high our standards have risen.”

“There can be no question of which was the greatest era for culture; the answer has to be today, until it is superseded by tomorrow.”

“My new favorite book of all time” - Bill Gates

Why you should keep listening to your favorite music and understand why it is good for your brain🧠 Review 📚This is Your Brain on Music

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 21:00:45 GMT

SIX-WORD �� SUMMARY - Without Music It Would Change History

Shout out to Rustam QBic for his mural Star Catcher, located right next to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, Oregon. I recently finished reading This is Your Brain on Music, written by Neuroscientist and Musician/Producer Daniel Levitin. A book that will dissect how our brain interprets the sounds we call music from the perspective of an individual who has an extensive background in the music industry and a prominent scientific background. Funny enough, Rustam QBIC mentioned in an interview that he avoids using music when painting his murals as it will interfere with the feeling of being accessible and on his own. This book again highlights the importance of your brain and feeds it positivity with words, music, and ideas.

My favorite quotes from Daniel Levitin

“For the artist, the goal of the painting or musical composition is not to convey literal truth, but an aspect of a universal truth that if successful, will continue to move and to touch people even as contexts, societies and cultures change. For the scientist, the goal of a theory is to convey "truth for now"--to replace an old truth, while accepting that someday this theory, too, will be replaced by a new "truth," because that is the way science advances.”

“The number of combinations possible and hence the number of different thoughts or brain states each of us can have exceeds the number of known particles in the entire known universe.”

Need to understand the history of humans up until the 21st Century? Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari is your next book📖

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 20:22:10 GMT

Six Word Story: History Repeats. So Why Not Study?

A modern take on a complex topic to capture in one book, the history of the world! Sapiens A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari . “Statehood” Mural by Justine Pechusal. Thank you, Yuval Noah Harari, for writing Sapiens! Communicating your wealth of history and perspective had me enthralled with the continual enlightened hit of dopamine from the first page to the utmost end. This book gave me valued mental reps that aided in conditioning thoughts of perspective for humans and a sense of a better understanding of others. Cheers, and keep being curious!

I have read this book three times, and I'm always finding nuggets of gold that help connect the dots in my head for understanding how humans have arrived at the point we are in a given time. Yuval Noah Harari sees the current agricultural treatment of animals as one of the worst crimes in our history. He questions whether our incredible material advancements had made humans any happier than when they were in the past. He considers modern capitalism as hideous, and soon, humans will evolve from the tremendous advances in biology to lead humans to become different species and beings that are god-like.

My favorite quotes from Yuval Noah Harari

“So why study history? Unlike physics or economics, history is not a means for making accurate predictions. We study history not to know the future but to widen our horizons, to understand that our present situation is neither natural nor inevitable and that we consequently have many more possibilities before us than we can imagine.”

“The romantic contrast between modern industry that “destroys nature” and our ancestors who “lived in harmony with nature” is groundless. Long before the Industrial Revolution, Homo sapiens held the record among all organisms for driving the most plant and animal species to their extinctions. We have the dubious distinction of being the deadliest species in the annals of life.”

One way to be brave is to read a Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 📚

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 21:37:49 GMT

SIX-WORD �� SUMMARY: One Sees Dystopia, Another Sees Utopia

Jump into the world of Clyde the Glyde. Located on the side of the Helium Comedy Club in Portland, Oregon. You have a mural of former Portland Trail Blazers basketball star Clyde Drexler painted by Mark Paul Deren and Japanese Italian visual artist Enrico Isamu Oyama.

Jump into the world of Brave New World, written by Aldous Huxley back in 1931. A book that poses the question is it better to be happy or free? A book with a pretty memorable ending, and fascinating to learn of Aldous Huxley's career and how he continually reinvented his mental outlook for himself throughout his career. This book considers how important freedom is to one's life and the importance of individualism versus collectivism. In many ways, A Brave New World is a book that has you wondering if your life is perfect, but you don't know what exists under the surface that makes it perfect is it a life to live at all? It has a similar feel to when you watch the movie Matrix in that humans have been sucked for their life force by having their minds uploaded to a computer program to create this perfect false reality when in the words of Jordan Peterson, "Life is very difficult. One of the most ancient of religious ideas that emerges everywhere, I would say, is that life is essentially suffering". When we face reality, it causes suffering, but in these moments of despair are true human selves, and lessons are to be learned to forge our best selves.

My favorite quotes from Aldous Huxley

"Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly -- they'll go through anything. You read and you're pierced."

"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."

Put the script down and live your life unscripted. Book review for MJ DeMarco

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 07:04:41 GMT

SIX-WORD �� SUMMARY: Transform Ones Conventional Wisdom To Nonconformist

A historical route gained fame in 1925 when 20 dog sled teams traveled from Nenana to Nome, Alaska, to deliver life-saving diphtheria serum that prevented the village from an entire outbreak. "THE IDITAROD TRAIL" Mural by Jon Van Zyle (artist and dog musher) located in Seward, Alaska. Unscripted: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship by MJ DeMarco Thank you for sharing your perspective and added value. I have read two of MJ DeMarco's books and enjoyed reading about his life experiences that highlight the importance of recognizing the fastlane to wealth, health, and freedom. Think outside the box, and don't follow the crowd.

My favorite quotes from the Unscripted: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship

"If you want to make millions, impact millions."- M.J. DeMarco

"Each one of us is gifted with twenty-four or 86,400 seconds per day. No one gets more, not gets less. How you honor (or dishonor) these life rations make the difference between further entrenched into the SCRIPT dogma or not." - M.J. DeMarco

"Those who are able to see beyond the shadows and lies of their culture will never be understood, let alone believed, by the masses." ~ Plato, Philosopher

How to feed your brain for optimal energy and focus. Genius Foods by Max Lugavere and Paul Grewal MD 🍏

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 18:32:07 GMT

SIX WORD �� SUMMARY: Fuel With Brain Food And Neuroplasticity

This photo was taken when I was in Anchorage, Alaska. The mural is “Glacier Disappearing into the Sea” by Cheryl Chesnut located off Elmore Rd. Genius Foods by Max Lugavere and Paul Grewal MD is a book from the perspective of a science journalist who dedicated research time to finding effective, scientifically proven ways of enhancing cognitive function throughout life after his mother developed a form of dementia as well as oversight from a Dr. Paul Grewal who specializes in holistic and preventative disease in NYC. Thank you for your time in writing this book. I recommend that anyone always takes at least one actionable step you can implement in your life to become a little bit better every day. With this book, I would recommend identifying one food to eat more of in your regular diet and implementing longer durations without eating food for your body to gain the benefits from fasting and continue to enhance mental focus.

My favorite quote from the book Genius Foods

“In a study out of UCLA, rats were given the amount of fructose equivalent to drinking a one-liter bottle of soda every day.22 After six weeks, they began to show specific derangements: they had escalating blood sugar levels, triglycerides, and insulin, and their cognition began to break down. Compared to mice fed only water, the fructose-drinking mice took double the time to find their way out of a maze. But what surprised the researchers most was that close to one thousand genes in the brains of the fructose-fed rats were altered…..they were comparable to human genes, having links to Parkinson’s disease, depression, bipolar disorder, and others. The degree of gene disruption was so profound that head researcher Fernando Gomez-Pinilla commented in the UCLA release: “Food is like a pharmaceutical compound” in terms of its effect on the brain. But that power also swings in the other direction—the negative impact that fructose had on both cognition and gene expression was attenuated by feeding the rats DHA omega-3 fat.”- Max Lugavere

In need of life advice and principles that you can use to elevate your way of thinking. Look no further than learning from Jordan B Peterson, a clinical psychologist.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 17:04:07 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: From Quora Came Twelve Rule Principles

Shout out and thank you to Виталий Мухин for gifting me the book back in 2018, "12 Rules For Life An Antidote to Chaos" by Jordan B Peterson. A book that will aid with a deeper understanding of things you know that you did not know. I ended up finishing this book when I used to deliver Newspapers in Alaska from 12 am to 5 am and would listen to audiobooks. Since the first chapter, I have done my best always to put the principle Stand up with your shoulders straight into practice. This chapter mentions the example of lobsters and how they constantly battle for space and status in the animal world. From this, winners and losers emerge. We can't all be as wealthy and successful as the ones we admire, but we can always stand tall with our shoulders back and project our body posture in an orderly manner while focusing on what we can control, which is our body posture. Jordan Peterson supports taking extreme ownership, and I will always stand by this principle. Je mentions that we are all on this earth to suffer, and we all need to learn how to suffer like a man and come to terms that we all can't be like each other in achieving and having the same things. I describe Jordan Peterson as someone telling like it is and saying thoughts without considering who will get upset. I will never agree with someone 100 percent of the time, and I believe it is essential to expose yourself to people with outside-the-box thinking than the majority of people you see. Jordan B Peterson is a great person to learn from and grow your mind from listening and reading.

My favorite Jordan Peterson Quotes

"Intolerance of others' views (no matter how ignorant or incoherent they may be) is not simply wrong; in a world where there is no right or wrong, it is worse: it is a sign you are embarrassingly unsophisticated or, possibly, dangerous."

"The successful among us delay gratification. The successful among us bargain with the future."

"Always place your becoming above your current being."

"if you cannot understand why someone did something, look at the consequences—and infer the motivation."

Welcome to the City of Roses and how death is one of the great life lessons. Book review of Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 07:20:34 GMT

SIX WORD��SUMMARY: From Perspective Comes A Choosing Death

For any individual involved in the medical field, have experienced/ going through a near-death in your family/ relationships, or are a curious being wanting to know more on the aspects of how death can be perceived from reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande (CEO of Haven Healthcare and Surgeon). I related immensely to this book from working in a hospice during my time in Florida. Also, I am grateful to have had meetings in Portland with Dan Grossman (a mentor I’ve been able to have meetings with several times this year), who is on the board of Compassion & Choices (non-profit) as Treasurer. The mission of this organization relates strongly to what is described in Being Mortal. Thank you, Dr. Atul Gawande, for writing this book and giving me value.

My favorite quote from Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

“When you are young and healthy, you believe you will live forever. You do not worry about losing any of your capabilities. People tell you “the world is your oyster,” “the sky is the limit,” and so on. And you are willing to delay gratification—to invest years, for example, in gaining skills and resources for a brighter future. You seek to plug into bigger streams of knowledge and information. You widen your networks of friends and connections, instead of hanging out with your mother. When horizons are measured in decades, which might as well be infinity to human beings, you most desire all that stuff at the top of Maslow’s pyramid—achievement, creativity, and other attributes of “self-actualization.” But as your horizons contract—when you see the future ahead of you as finite and uncertain—your focus shifts to the here and now, to everyday pleasures and the people closest to you.” - Atul Gawande

Go into the mind of the man who popularized sitting on a couch, and a psychiatrist listens to you, Sigmund Freud 📚

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:14:07 GMT

Six-Word ��Book Summary: Look Often Deep Into Our Thoughts

When you stumble across a waterfall in Fiji, always be prepared with a book. These photos were taken during my second cruise contract on the Celebrity Solstice . I finished the autobiography "How To Think Like Sigmund Freud" by Daniel Smith. An unbiased look into his theories. Although much of his work is incomplete and sometimes wrong, he brought a fresh perspective to the field of psychology that has helped with the evolution of the area and currently benefits us. Thank you to Nicklas Remington Bajema for using your photography skills, taking the Fiji photos, and your excellent photography skills!

I became interested in learning more about Sigmund Fred when I happened to walk to where his museum and his old practice are in Vienna, Austria. I had the opportunity to see up close his desk and his original couch displayed in the museum. From this experience, I didn't know much about who Sigmund Freud was, and after learning about him, he certainly helped draw my interest in psychology and learning more about how the mind operates and thinks.

My favorite quotes from the book How To Think Like Sigmund Freud

"Arguably no other notable figure in history was so fantastically wrong about nearly every important thing he had to say." -Todd Dufresne.

While great swathes of his ideas have been discredited and debunked, he achieved great things in certain fundamentals. The detail of his model of the unconscious may be scientifically unsupportable, but he brought the role of the unconscious out into the light. His interpretation of dreams is not the full story, but he showed that our dreams could provide us with clues to our underlying mental processes... And without him, our understanding of the human psyche would likely be light years behind where it is now." - Daniel Smith.

"They may abuse my doctrines by day, but I am sure they dream of them by night." Sigmund Freud

Looking for how to destress and relax? Go for a walk and read How To Walk by Thich Nhat Hanh 📚

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 20:51:17 GMT

SIX-WORD �� SUMMARY - When Waling Move With Beautiful Observation

When going to the top of Mt. Roberts in Juneau, Alaska, one needs to hike, which means walking. This is why I read HOW TO WALK by Thich Nhat Hanh. A mindfulness book on the walking activity (one that just about every human can perform). This book highlights how to get nourished by life by living in the present moment. The biggest takeaway I received from this book is to remind myself that we all can be in the moment when we walk throughout our day, take notice of the earth, the weather, our surroundings, and other animals, and breathe.

My favorite quote from How To Walk

“When we notice the presence of anger, fear, and agitation in us, we don’t need to throw them away. We only have to breathe in and out consciously and take a mindful step. Allow yourself to sink deeply into the here and the now because life is available only in the present moment. This alone is enough to calm the storm." - Thich Nhat Hanh

Fear is a greater obstacle than the obstacle itself. Learn from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho to embrace your life and strive to be a better human being💪🏻

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 27 Apr 2019 01:07:00 GMT

Six-Word �� Summary: Spend Life Pursuing YOUR Personal Legend

I first learned about this book when listening to an interview with Will Smith talking about living your life and shaping what you do, similar to the premise of the story of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. The report depicts the themes of living our dreams, embracing the uncertainty of life, and rising to meet our unique destiny. Thank you, Emily Beam , for sharing your book with me. It a quite an enjoyable read. Many individuals widely regard The Alchemist as one of the top 10 books of the 20th century. Without prejudice, I would recommend a read for the emotional and spiritual perspective. And blessed to have watched an hour of sunset in beautiful Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia. I read this book while working on the Celebrity Solstice cruise ship.

I want to do my best and put at least one thing I learn from reading into action and avoid being a consumer of knowledge and never putting it into action (I call this a prosumer or a producer). It is so easy to say positive things and tell others positive statements or requote what you read in a book or listen to and find yourself in a limbo of feeling like you are doing the right thing by saying all this stuff when at the end of the day you either generated momentum for yourself by growing from taking action or you slowly withered away and inching closer to death. I will always choose growth. I mention this for my thoughts and understanding, but I don't want just to read. I want to read to put what I read into motion. For me, this book represents that I alone am responsible for my life and getting what I want in life and doing everything I possibly can with every situation I experience and face, always taking action, getting back up, and finding/creating the empowering meanings to EVERY situation that comes my way!

My favorite Paulo Coelho quotes

"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting."

"And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure."

You can have the world's thinkers at your fingertips with the book Great Thinkers by The School of Life

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 00:17:10 GMT

Six Word��Summary: Great Thinkers Come From Great Thinkers

Novelist Leo Tolstoy believed in the novel not as a source of entertainment but as a tool for psychological education and reform. It is the supreme medium by which we can get to know others, especially those who might seem unappealing from the outside, and expand our humanity and tolerance. Highly recommend Great Thinkers by The School of Life, sharing a collection of 60 individuals who represent some of the most important ideas of Eastern and Western culture - drawn from philosophers, political theorists, sociologists, artists, and novelists.

This was one of my top reads in the past year, and I highly recommend checking out The School of Life for developing emotional intelligence. Some of the thinkers that this book will share are the following:

Plato
Aristotle
Friedrich Nietzsche
Niccolo Machiavelli
John Ruskin
Confucius
Lao Tzu
Max Weber
Margaret Mead
Sigmund Freud
Coco Chanel
Andy Warhol
Jane Austen

Grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book while cruising around New Zealand and Australia. Thank you to Emily Beam and Nicklas Remington Bajema for taking the fantastic pics! And what a beautiful area of the world being Milford Sounds, New Zealand. Highly reccomend taking the time in your life to make it to Milford Sounds and experience the majesticness.

My favorite Quote from Great Thinkers

"Remembering that we all must die Should move the hardest heart to tenderness; Are we not required to show others The best kindness we ourselves have known?" - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Looking for Happiness? The Art of Happiness is your book for nuggets of happiness😊

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 22:23:36 GMT

Six-Word �� Summary: Pain And Suffering, A Blossoming Flower��.

One's happiness is based on thoughts and what goes into them. Great insight from "The Art of Happiness" from His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler. Happiness was created on a hike in Akaroa, New Zealand, and then riding a rhinoceros. Great book to intentionally readjust our mindset in regards to experiencing suffering and pain. Thank you to International Photographer Nicklas Remington Bajema for the picture taking! This book reminds me of what Jordan Pederson and Victor Frankl (author of Man's Search for Meaning) promote and that we will always experience suffering and our reaction to the suffering is the most important to how we continue to live daily. These book pictures were taken when I was working on the Celebrity Solstice.

My favorite quotes from the The Art of Happiness

"Our attitude towards suffering becomes very important because it can affect how we cope with suffering when it arises. Now, our usual attitude consists of an intense aversion and intolerance of our pain and suffering.... we can transform our attitude towards suffering, adopt an attitude that allows us greater tolerance of it, then this can do much to help counteract feelings of mental unhappiness, dissatisfaction, and discontent."

"I think that how you perceive life as a whole plays a role in your attitude about suffering. For instance, if your basic outlook is that suffering is negative and must be avoided at all costs and in some sense is a sign of failure, this will add a distinct psychological component of anxiety and intolerance when you encounter difficult circumstances, a feeling of being overwhelmed. On the other hand, if your basic outlook accepts that suffering is natural part of your existence, this will undoubtedly make you more tolerant towards the adversities of life."

"We often hear people say that all human beings are equal. By this we mean that everyone has the obvious desire of happiness. Everybody has the right to be a happy person. And everyone has the right to overcome suffering. So if someone is deriving happiness or benefit from a particular religious tradition, it becomes important to respect the rights of others; thus we must learn to respect all these major religious traditions. That is clear."

Where does confidence come from? The School Of Life has the answers!

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 18:01:27 GMT

Six-Word �� Story: Despite Fears, Survive A Hopeless Loss

Grateful to have made it to Apia, Samoa, during my second cruise contract on the Celebrity Solstice. I finished reading the book “ On Confidence” by TheschoolofLife , A short 93-page read highlighting emotional intelligence development by enhancing self-understanding, compassion, and communication. The distinction between triumph and defeat often hinges on the notion that many people are not taught the concept of confidence. Key issues that will prevent us from achieving more of our potential are the impostor syndrome, the knowledge of imagining the great in their mirrors, and what Friedrich Nietzsche shares on strength and bravery. We frequently remain stuck with a specific confidence level because of our beliefs about the need to be lucky. This book will highlight that confidence is a belief in yourself and how you view the world.

My favorite quotes from On Confidence

“We finally pay others a strange but valid compliment when we accept them as versions of the same complex and imperfect creatures we know ourselves to be.”

“Maturity means going from the myth of a person to a full recognition of their humanity.”

Many of the best minds on leadership and discipline can be from Marines, and First Fast Fearless proves that exceptionally🫡

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 18:40:01 GMT

Six-Word �� Summary: Hooyah. Be Cause, Not Effect. Hooyah.

First Fast Fearless, How To Lead Like A Navy Seal by Brian “Iron Ed” Hiner gives an in-depth perspective of the ethos of the navy seals and deconstructs the brotherhood of what makes some of the most highly successful human beings perform the most uncertain missions known to man. You are probably not enemies found similar in this book for U.S. Navy Seals. Still, just as SEALs rely on him, Brian Hiner, to guide them on successful missions and safe transportation home, the people in your life depend on you to uplift them, conquer the competition, and develop paths to tremendous victory.Thank you, Nicklas Remington Bajema , for the photography! Fitting to read this book in the water. Highly recommend visiting Adelphi Hotel Melbourne in Australia and their Infiniti pool on the top of the hotel. Beautiful scenery in the middle of the city.

My favorite quotes from the book First Fast Fearless

“Those who have a “why” to live can bear with almost any “how.” - Friedrich Nietzsche.

“We take candidates directly from the streets, not the conventional forces. About 10,000 apply each year; 1,200 are accepted into training; and at most, 250 make it through.” -Brian Hiner.

The best path to greatness is a direct line from Earl Nightingale

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 03:15:18 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: Continual Seek And One Will Succeed

This photo was taken in Sydney, Australia, during my second cruise contract on the Celebrity Solstice. Thank you, Nicklas Remington Bajema , for the photography. Mind programming by finishing reading The Direct Line by Earl Nightingale. A read that was quick glancing over the success or failures of a person depends on the way they manage themself. I have been a big fan of Earl Nightingale since I began listening to speeches of him speak back in 2018 as I worked on the Seabourn Quest cruise ship. Reading Earl Nightingale helped me understand how to overcome fear, think more creatively, and find practical ways to continue to grow personally. I don't believe there is one person out there that everyone will connect with to learn from and help improve their life. I always look and allow listening to a person and see if they resonate with me to learn from and be a positive influence in my life. Author and speaker Earl Nightingale is a positive influence in my life. I have studied this thought on several occasions over the past year to help with guiding me in how to handle and react to situations in my life. I encourage you to do the same and find that person, program, and/or positive messages that can help guide you and keep you on the path of continual improvement and goodness.

My favorite quotes from Earl Nightingale

"You need an interest, a motive, a center for your thoughts. You need a star to steer by, a course, a creed, an idea, a passionate attachment... Something must beckon you or nothing is accomplished, something about which you ask no questions. Thought needs a fulcrum for its lever. Effort demands an incentive or an aim." - Earl Nightingale

Baruch Spinoza said, "You understand something is to be delivered of it." So then, it is not their circumstances that control them. It is their lack of understanding that their fortunes are the fruit of their character. - Earl Nightingale

The legend of UCLA basketball coach John Wooden and how he lived his life of success

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 07:48:28 GMT

Six Word ��Summary: Legends Aren't Born. They Are Made.

Coach Wooden by Pat Williams focuses on the seven principles that shaped his life and will change yours. This photo was taken while working on my second cruise ship, the Celebrity Solstice, and the ship was anchored in Esperance, Western Australia. My father, Alan Clemens , was a coach for every sport in high school throughout the United States. He was a strong belief in following his principles of coaching his athletes by modeling after highly successful coaches, one of which was John Wooden. The former UCLA basketball coach has a record of ten national champions teams he has led to a victory that I am still untouched at the time of writing this post. No matter what the industry or area a person is massively successful in when studying that individual, you can always find data to help better your life and if you are ever in a tuff place throughout your life, find someone you look up to and study them and learn about the failures and how this propelled them and their massive success. I am not perfect, and reading books doesn't mean I'm always making the best decisions in my life. Still, I know that many humans before me have done incredible things with their life by digging deep, not giving up, flexing discipline, taking action, and just caring about the momentum. So my momentum is rising north on the up. Sometimes my ship will get blown down south by the wind, but I will always find a way to move my ship and steer it north on the up and up. And I am never losing sight of others and doing my best to help and empower others. I am grateful I take the time to write my thoughts out on my website to help with my mental health and be able to express myself. I hope that my words can help set an example that I am not perfect, but I strive every day with my energy to continue to push forward in improving every day.

Coach John Wooden's seven principles:

1. Be true to yourself.

2. Help others.

3. Make each day your masterpiece.

4. Drink deeply from good books, especially the bible.

5. Make friendship a fine art.

6. Build a shelter against a rainy day by the life you live.

7. Pray for guidance and counsel, and give thanks for your blessings each day.

My favorite quotes from Coach Wooden by Pat Williams

Books are not "lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves. From each of them goes out its voice... and just as the touch of a button on our set will fill the room with music, so by taking down one of these volumes and opening it, one can call into range the voice of a man far distant in time and space, and hear him speaking to us, mind to mind, heart to heart."- Gilbert Higher.

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." - Charles W. Eliot.

Handshake #28 -What is down under in Hobart, Tasmania, with Nicklas Remington Bajema for a handshake

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 06:19:37 GMT

6 Word Handshake story #28: Get Shook Taking Hobart Street Pics

I'm currently sailing the seas on the Celebrity Solstice. It is a massive ship compared to my first ship contract, where the number of passengers has multiplied to several thousand, and it becomes a floating city with the feel of the boat. I'm now working in a new department on the ship, and that is with Park West Gallery. I first boarded the ship in Auckland, New Zealand, and we are currently sailing in and around the Tasman Sea.

I have four other teammates on my team, and one of my teams is also my ship roommate, that being Nicklas (Nick) Remington Bajema. Nick is a gifted salesman and is on track to becoming a star art auctioneer for the company Park West Gallery very soon. I'm highly impressed with his skills as he makes it look like being can sell a Rembrandt or a Dali work of art on the cruise ship.

Nick is originally from Florida and has his own photography company called Bajema Photography. His love for art and especially taking photos is evident when working with Nickas. Many times, he teleports about a different world when he is working with a subject or talent and is completely immersed in the process. My interests range from photography to travel, international politics, arts, design, and entrepreneurship. I have completed work all over the US. I speak Spanish fluently and have experience in editorial writing and photography. Add to the abilities Nick has, in addition, are stand-up comedy, international politics, entrepreneurship, and can speak Spanish fluently. Thank you to Nicklas Remington Bajema for the Tasmania handshake and pics! Let's have a killer contract together and wishing so much success!

I highly recommend hiring Nick for any photography work as he is more than capable of delivering top-notch results with a personal touch!

Post update December 21, 2021: Nick is happily engaged and is continually crushing his time on cruise ships! Congratulations, and keep getting it!

How to contact Nicklas (Nick) Remington Bajema

Instagram profile for bajemaphotography

Facebook Page for Bajema Photography

Photography Gallery

Handshake #27 - Who is Banksy? In Miami, Florida with Meg and Clayton for a Banksy handshake.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 02:13:07 GMT

6 Word Handshake story #27: Embracing Police Hats and Banksy Bananas

I'm in the process of going through my second training to be able to work on a cruise contract. The company I am contracting for is Park West Gallery, and Park West Gallery offers art auctions on cruise ships and at luxury hotels and resorts. The training started a few days ago with arriving in Detroit and going to the Park West main gallery in Southfield, Michigan. Now I am in Miami at their large framing and training facility, working on becoming an art associate and eventually an art auctioneer. After several weeks at the training, several of my colleagues went on a break to check out a Banksy exhibit that was being put on in the neighborhood of Wynwood. The exhibit was full of many of Banksy's works ad not entirely sure if this exhibit was put on with their permission, but it was pretty interesting.

Who Banksy?

It doesn't take long from a quick internet search to see all the many accumulated murals Banksy has completed around the world in public spaces to see that this individual has been creating art in the public eye for a while now. And still, the identity of the artist is not 100% entirely certain of who this individual is. When running a search online, you will see results claiming that it is believed to be an individual named Banksy, commonly thought to be Robin Gunningham, as first identified by The Mail on Sunday in 2008. The reality is that this individual is still not been identified. I hope it remains this way as this is what adds to this artist's work of displaying many topics and themes in their artwork of anti-authoritative art coming from an unidentified person as if to represent there are. The message is more significant than their name and brand themselves. Quite spectacular to view his art in person, and most people who have seen and been exposed to various forms of the artist in modern times will always be able to recognize the uniqueness of Banksy's style immediately.

Thank you to Megan Badger and Clayton Van Dyk for a great time seeing the Banksy Exhibit in Miami, Florida, and for the Banksy handshake! Thank you both for tagging along and bringing good art vibes! Blessed to have the opportunity to have seen a Banksy exhibit and get a better sense of what this artist has created and more of the "why" behind his being genuine self creations. Highly recommend this exhibit that is put on by Banksy's ex-manager.

A glimpse at how art has come into existence, from the Mona Lisa to contemporary art🖼

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 18:22:04 GMT

Six-Word �� story: Live With Art On The Mind

I am grateful to have put my reading material towards a topic outside the usual Alex collection of books, The Annotated Mona Lisa: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to Post-Modern by Carol Strickland and John Boswell. Walking around Vancouver and taking in the neat street art near Main Street is enjoyable, and I recommend this as an activity to explore Vancouver. This book went toughly into art history, and for me, it was hard to comprehend or relate to as art comes in many different mediums, not just paintings or photos, and most of this book focused on these types of mediums. However, I was shocked to learn that in 1917 the artist Marcel Duchamp constructed a standard urinal that went on display with the words R. Mutt and the date written on the toilet. This gives new meaning to beauty in the eye of the beholder, and one person's trash is another's treasure. I encourage you to look at this video to quickly understand how this urinal impacted art in the twentieth century.

My favorite quotes from the book The Annotated Mona Lisa

"Eat well, kiss well, work ditto and you'll die happy." - Paul Gauguin

"I would rather die of passion than boredom." - Vincent Van Gogh

Handshake #26 - Can you have a handshake with your father? In Phoenix with Alan Clemens

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 06:32:09 GMT

6 Word Handshake story #26: Practicing Staying Calm Before Airport Drop-off

After having the opportunity to perform a handshake with my mom back in Alaska, it only made sense to follow up and create a handshake with my father. This time the location was in Phoenix, Arizona, as I'm in transit to go to Detroit for training to work on another cruise ship for Park West Gallery . Earlier on my website, I created a video that tells the story of one of my father's ongoing life projects. That is of the "Six Word Story." This is a project where my father has been writing daily emails formulating a theme and telling a story on life and lessons and having a six-word message to go along with it and sharing them with me every day almost for the past decade of my life and more.

Who is Alan Clemens?

My father is originally from Jamestown, North Dakota and the reason I was born in Alaska is that he was drafted into the U.S. Military towards the end of the Vietnam War. Most of his professional working life was a sports coach for every sport and a gym and math teacher at the middle and high school levels. My father amazes me with his contribution to his community in the Eagle River/Chugiak area with his service in the church, substitute teaching at Chugiak High School, his devotion to his marriage with my stepmother Jackie and his continual involvement with being a prison mentor for inmates in the Alaska penal system. Many of the handshakes I have done up until this point aren't planned out when I will do them, and this handshake I did with my father wasn't planned. As I was in the car with my dad and stepmother to the airport, I told them that I wanted to film a handshake once we got to the airport, and that is what we did. I love how my father gives a funny look at the begging of the video as I'm introducing the handshake, and he is standing holding my suitcase, wondering what will happen.

I encourage you to read my father's six-word story blog here, where he posts his thoughts on life, being a father, and his perspectives in the format that Ernest Hemmingway popularized; however, no evidence can sustain this claim). To read messages on spirituality, a father's perspective on having a son, and words of wisdom, check out his writing here.

To contact Alan Clemens, you can reach him at his email address

Handshake #25 - How do you paint Sleeping Lady? Handshake in Anchorage with Janet Clemens (akpots)

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 00:56:59 GMT

6 Word Handshake story #25: Painting The Snowy Sleeping Lady Masterpiece

Welcome to the Last Frontier of Alaska! Alaska is the place I was born and spent the majority of my first 18 years of life living at. Alaska is an abundance of nature and breathtaking landscape. On this clear January day, the temperature was warm at four degrees Fahrenheit and enjoying the beautiful view of Sleeping Lady (Mount Susitna) at Point Woronzof near the Anchorage International Airport. The best part of all this is that I had the opportunity to create a moment with my mother, enjoy the scenery, and have fun by performing a handshake. For this handshake, we symbolized my mother's favorite hobby of painting and used her paint brushes to make it look like she was painting Mount Susitna. My mom Janet has sold her paintings at First Friday Art shows and enjoys painting wildlife and landscape. I chose Point Woronzof for the handshake location to capture in the camera background the snow and outline of the sleeping lady. Now Sleeping Lady is known to many locals in Alaska, and the legend is even taught in schools.

The legend of the sleeping lady

*Please note that there are several versions of this legend, and I will be explaining the version that Nancy Lesh and Ann Dixon have documented.*

A long time ago, a clan of peaceful giants settled in the land now called Alaska. Among the giants was a gorgeous young lady and a handsome young gentleman who were intensely in love with each other. Their passion was so joyful that all the locals marveled at them and highly anticipated the marriage. The day before the wedding, a message was delivered that violent war-like barbarians from the north were overrunning the country and crushing everything in their way. The town assembled in council to determine what to do. Some indicated heading north to attack. The young love-filled giant proposed carrying gifts to the barbarians instead of violence, showing their intent for peace, not avoiding a blood bath.

The next day the courageous soldiers were ready to depart. The young lady had great sadness with tears running down her face when her lover came to say goodbye. He stared into her eyes and whispered how he would return with peace between the two groups and to meet near the large body of water known today as Susitna River. After that, the two kissed, and the giant left to join his men. The young lady rushed to the river's body and started to wait, convinced she would soon be back in her lover's arms. For much time she would keep herself busy while waiting until she finally grew tired and laid down to rest and slipped into a deep slumber. While she rested, sad word arrived in the village that the young lady's lover's requests for peace had been rejected, and a dreadful war had begun. Most of the town's giant men were killed or seized. When women from the village attempted to pass along the message to the young lady, they couldn't follow through. It was too dreadful of news to tell the young lady that her lover had been killed and see her devasted. She was never disturbed and awakened from her sleep. To the present day, the sleeping lady lies there, desiring the moment her beloved returns to her side and she can care on with her life of peace and love.

Thank you, Janet Clemens, for taking part in our mother-son handshake and being my first handshake for 2019!

If you would like to get in contact with Janet Clemens and her artwork, you can do so through the following links:

Facebook profile

Flickr Profile Page

Flickr Painting Gallery

Looking for how to improve your life with actionable steps? Check out If Life Is A Game, These Are The Rules by Cherie Carter-Scott

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 22:20:19 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: Friends Recommendation Growing Perspective With Koala ��

Thank you to my friend Shayana Galliher for gifting me the book If Life Is A Game, These Are The Rules by Cherie Carter-Scott. I highly enjoyed the book touching on always being a learner in the school of life, unattached, perspective, and self-esteem outlook. Many of the books I am currently ready for are of similar personal development themes and daily bettering yourself. I choose to surround my thoughts and mind with positivity and action steps to create the maximum energy I can have to see all the opportunities I have in front of me.

My favorite quotes from Cherie Carter-Scott

“Find out what makes you kinder, what opens you up and brings out the most loving, generous and unafraid version of you - and go after those things as if nothing else matters. Because, actually, nothing else does.” - George Saunders. Thank you, Shay, for sharing this quote!

“Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects you something you love or hate about yourself.”

“Remind yourself often that self-esteem is ephemeral. You will have it, lose it, cultivate it, nurture it, and be forced to rebuild it over and over again.”

To sell to others, start by selling your mind on ways to connect with your audience. Learn from Jeffrey Gitomer's 12.5 principles of selling.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 08:15:12 GMT

Six Word Story - A Little Red Book For Selling

Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer has been finished! Thank you for sharing YOUr knowledge, and it will be put to practical use. Thank you, Janet Clemens for your hands, contributions, and art. This book was recommended when I was going thru the Part West training program to work on cruise ships and sell fine artwork. There are many sales books out there, and at the end of the day, you look for a sales book that you can relate to and focus on tactics and discipline to improve yourself in every situation. I am not an expert salesperson, but you will always hear genuine, authentic, and passionate about life. That is me and my sales process from learning from numerous books, work, and life experiences and understanding what works well with my approach.

I've highly appreciated principle #7 in the book: Practice Creativity. I liked the examples of getting creative with your voicemail and how to interrupt your customers, the people you are selling yourself, or a product or service. For instance, Jeffrey Gitomer speaks of using a customer or a family member to talk on your behalf and interject humor and sincerity. I think of evolving this tactic from voicemail to social media intros and other digital platforms where I place my message.

My favorite quote from Jeffrey Gitomer

"People always blame their attitude on the day. I'm having a bad day is baloney. What you're really saying is: I've let other people get to my attitude, I've let other circumstances get to my attitude. That's not only unjustifiable, it's a sign of mental weakness. If you tell yourself you're having a bad day, I promise you will have one, and if you tell yourself you're having a great day, I promise you will have one. The day is not bad unless you name it bad." - Jeffrey Gitomer.

Your attitude directly impacts your experiences. Enthusiasm Makes The Difference by Norman Vincent Peale.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 22:47:50 GMT

SIX WORD �� SUMMARY: Enthusiasm For Life Abundance Of Joy

The final third book, Enthusiasm Makes The Difference by Norman Vincent Peale, has been completed! This three-book series has been traveling with me for the past several months throughout Eastern Canada, all over the U.S., Europe, The Middle East, Asia, and Alaska! Thank YOU, Jodi Gooddaz Fi Dem , for the book again! I especially like Norman Vincent Peale's philosophy for handling problems, which can be read in the following points. The picture of me reading was taken on a cold day in Anchorage, Alaska, in January.

1. Don't panic. Stay calm. Use your head.

2. Don't be overwhelmed by your problem. Don't get dramatic. Just tell yourself confidently, "God and I can handle it.

3. A problem usually becomes surrounded by confusion. So de-confuse it. Take a pencil and paper and write down every element of the problem.

4. Skip the post-mortems. Don't look back and second-guess. Take the problem from where you are now.

5. Look for a solution, not for the whole problem but the next step. One step leads to another, and so on, to the complete solution. Be content with tackling the next step.

6. Always consider the right thing to do in any situation.

7. Keep praying. Keep thinking. Keep believing. Keep Enthusiasm going, for Enthusiasm works miracles with problems.

My favorite quotes from the book Enthusiasm Makes The Difference

"Enthusiasm is the all-essential human jet propeller. It is the driving force that elevates men to miracle workers. It begets boldness, courage; kindles confidence; overcome doubts. It creates endless energy, the source of all accomplishments" - B.C. Forbes

"Certainly the world is full of trouble and problems, but the world is also full of the overcoming of trouble and the solving of problems." -Norman Vincent Peale.

What can positivity in your every day do for you and what you accomplish?

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 18:44:00 GMT

SIX WORD �� SUMMARY: Live Life and Forget Your Age

Book number two, " The Positive Principle Today " by Norman Vincent Peale, has been fed into my mind and is used to add value to others. Thank YOU, Jodi Gooddaz Fi Dem , for the book again! This picture was taken when visiting Dubai United Arab Emitres and standing in front of the world's largest Burj Khalifa building. An awee dropping structure that took a positive attitude and outlook for the concept to be imagined and for the structure to be erected. Dubai is a land filled with positivity in how society continually develops and builds prosperity for itself.

My favorite quotes from The Positive Principle Today

"Maturity of experience, proves that no setback is final. "- Frank Wangerman

"With in-depth faith, one can keep on going, regardless of resistance, until finally all difficulties are overcome." - Norman Vincent Peale

"At this moment, YOU are what YOUr dominant thought pattern has been, shall we say, over the past ten years or so. If YOU and I want to know what we will be ten years from this date, the answer can very well be in terms of what YOU and I think over the coming decade. Fear thoughts can destroy creative capacity, and what is of even more sinister effect, they can bring to pass things that are constantly feared. By persistently fearing some trouble or illness or accident or failure, and by keeping that fear vital and active or a length of time, forces are encouraged, perhaps even created, that actualize those things so long feared. Things that have long been believed, things like good outcomes and health and achievement and success, can also come upon us. While fear and negativism can destroy, faith and positivism can create and develop. It is therefore of extraordinary importance to practice persistently, doggedly, and assiduously dynamic faith attitudes." - Norman Vincent Peale

In Berlin, Germany🇩🇪, having a conversation with Anna Fischer.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 19:50:00 GMT

Six Word Story - Keep On Walking. See The City.

After spending time in Munich visiting Christopher Ger, I made it to Berlin, Germany. I had the opportunity for several days to experience and see Berlin, Germany, with my friend and my sister, who look like Anna Fischer . Anna is an artistic individual, where music, painting, drawing, and other art forms represent who she is. The days spent together in Berlin were highly connective as we spent most of it walking around the city immersed in conversation. It was great to see Anna for the third time (the first was in Australia, the second in Ireland and Iceland). I was captivated by the scenes of people in Berlin and how different it was compared to my time in Munich, Germany. Berlin has so much history that is seen in the architecture and layout of the city over the past century from the two world wars and is one of the most liberal cities I have visited so far in my life. Anna, thank you for sharing your time with me, and let's keep on being genuine and always walking!

Connect with Anna Fischer

The wealthiest man in Babylon didn't just randomly get wealthy. How did he do it?

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 23:46:39 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: Read And YOUr Life Lifts Off

I am blessed to have taken action and finished the book The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Clason during my travels flying from Alaska to Washington, DC. Thank YOU to my mother, Janet Clemens , for taking this picture. This picture was taken outside the Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska. You speak and think your future into existence—value how you feed your thoughts and speech. Where the determination is, the way can be found.

My favorite quotes from George Clason

"Wealth, like a tree, grows from a tiny seed. The first copper you save is the seed from which your tree of wealth shall grow. The sooner you plant that seed the sooner shall the tree grow. And the more faithfully you nourish and water that tree with consistent savings, the sooner may you bask in contentment beneath its shade."

"Yet, I do not discourage borrowing gold. I encourage it. I recommend it if it be for a wise purpose."

"Cultivate thy own powers to study and become wiser, to become more skillful to so act as to respect thyself."

"Remember, work well done does good to the man who does it. It makes him a better man."

In Anchorage, Alaska 🥶🇺🇸, having a conversation with my father, Alan "Cannonball Clemens."

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 19:38:21 GMT

Six Word Story - Show Up And Make A Difference

It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with my father, Alan "Cannonball" Clemens , while visiting my home in Anchorage, Alaska. Originally his nickname "Cannonball" came from his time playing college football and playing the position of running back and his quick, explosive speed being similar to a cannonball shooting out a cannon. This particular conversation that I had with my father was on the topic of hospice. Hospice care is when an individual is terminally ill and will die in a specific health care facility where the goal is to prioritize comfort and quality of life and reducing pain and suffering during the dying process. My dad was a volunteer in the hospice program in Anchorage and our conversation centered around him sharing his perspectives and lessons learned and how he views his own life about how much time he has left on earth. This conversation highlighted that my dad mentioned he only has about 1,400 days left, according to the average human having around 25,000 days on earth. Of course, there are many variables when it comes to the lifespan of a human. Regardless, having my dad share his thoughts again makes me grateful and appreciative for the moment we created and had during our conversation and numerous moments of laughter. Thank you, Dad, for being my father and sharing your time with me. Let's keep creating moments of opportunity to serve and add value to others.

Connect with Alan Clemens

To contact Alan Clemens, you can reach him at his email address

Love doesn't come easy, and maintaining a loving relationship is a code. Here are the secrets from Janet O'Neal.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 22:41:45 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: Conceiving, Contentment, Connecting, Chemistry, Conviction, Commitment

Another book completed throughout my travels. This time Cracking the Love Code by Janet O'Neal. Thank you Jodi Gooddaz Fi Dem , for passing this book to me! And shout out to Thomas Back for taking this picture. Relationships will always be a part of our life, from when we are children to the time leading up to our eventual moment of death. I believe our experience throughout life is based on the quality of relationships we have. Of course, we have a relationship with ourselves, a relationship with our friends and family, and a relationship with our partners. As human beings, we are not born automatically knowing what to do or say in a relationship. The more time and effort we can put into studying and learning about the different perspectives in a relationship will significantly help and grow the relationship you have in your life.

Cracking the Love Code by Janet O'Neal is organized into six principles following the C's as created in the practice system to follow by Janet O'neal.

CONCEIVING: Identifying what you want in a partner, understanding your value in a relationship, and setting your goal for the short and long term of your relationship.

CONTENTMENT: The top seven needs of men and women; how to have yours satisfied; how to meet your partner's.

CONNECTING: Turn-ons and turn-offs on dates; spotting "critical flaws" in potential partners; practicing connection skills.

CHEMISTRY: This section is vital as Janet will review how to maintain an enjoyable and satisfying sex life.

CONVICTION: Understanding when and if an individual is ideal for you and what to do if you're uncertain.

COMMITMENT: Fixing commitment anxieties and preparing yourself for when you are ready to commit.

My favorite quotes from Janet O'Neal

"The Top factor making people successful and allowing them to achieve is not their capability....but their state of mind."

"Everything begins with knowing what YOU want. Before YOU can have anything in life - including a fulfilling relationship - YOU have to know exactly what YOU want. Many people seem to have a pretty clear idea of what they don't want, but starting out on such a negative note will not get YOU where YOU want to go."

In Sunnyvale, California🇺🇸, having a conversation with Thomas Back.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 19:08:56 GMT

Six Word Story - Path To Playing The Piano Masterfully

I am pleased to have my old roommate from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, Thomas Back. Thomas Back was one of my excellent friends that I knew throughout my three and half years attending Northern Arizona University. Thomas is from Sunnyvale, California, and is an individual that grew up around numerous different Asian cultures. This impacted him when he had the opportunity in high school to live in Japan for eight months and learn Japanese. Thomas is a very creative individual when it comes to music, photography, and interpretation of art. I am grateful to have gotten to know Thomas throughout my university studies. This has led to numerous trips together in Arizona and California and experiencing more of the US together. Thomas, I'm cheering and wishing you the best for your following job selection, and thank you for sharing your time with me and taking part in creating a moment together while filming our conversation. Keep on the path to becoming a master at playing the piano!

Connect with Thomas Back

Handshake #24 - What to drink on the Seabourn Quest? A tea 🍵 and a handshake with Kelly Morris

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 02:15:17 GMT

6 Word Handshake Story #24: Dancing with an intention of tea ��

Another handshake in the crew mess on the Seabourn Quest with a handshake made sense to create. Lots of my time on the ship has been spent in this crew area and socializing with crew members from all over the world. It has been an enriching and deep experience to have many interactions with these individuals to share my thoughts and opinions and, more importantly, to listen and learn from these individuals.

My handshake guest this time around is Kelly Morris. Kelly is from Manchester, England, and is a massage therapist aboard the Seabourn Quest. She has been a great team addition to the spa department with her funny and quirky personality and her caring qualities. In numerous instances, Kelly runs or bumps into objects on the ships and then, in turn, develops bruises from these accidents. There were several times we had laughs over these accidents. It has been great to share travel to other countries with Kelly as she is relatively new to traveling outside of Europe. In addition to being a massage therapist, Kelly has a fantastic singing voice, and I know if she continues practicing and training for singing, she will be in live performances of magnitude in no time. Kelly, thank you for the fun and imagination!

Connect with Kelly on her Instagram Profile

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸, having a conversation with singer Amanda Marie for the third time.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 18:55:59 GMT

Six Word Story - Amanda Marie's Authentic Song On Life

It was an absolute pleasure to see Amanda Marie after a year since we last saw each other and to have the time to sit down and discuss life topics over a filmed conversation. I admire Amanda for her drive and push to continually grow her career and ambition while being a loving, caring, and highly involved single mother. Thank you, Amanda, for letting me laugh and learn more about you and your life. I am intrigued to know the mystery of your painting from the mansion. Below is a video of Amanda's performance at a country music festival in Ormond Beach. Keep rocking and being you, Amanda!

Connect with Amanda Marie

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸, having a conversation with the Sicario brothers Jet Ray King and Christian Burgos

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 18:46:30 GMT

Six Word Story - Two Brothers On The Positive Path

After almost a year of last working out together and filming a podcast, I had the opportunity to fly back to Orlando, Florida, and connect with Jet Ray King and Christian Burgos again and find out what they have been up to for the past year. It was great to see the excitement in both of their eyes with the direction they are going through in their lives. I wish the best to Jet Ray King and Christian for continually getting after it in life and creating the most positive life they can both achieve. Let's keep getting after it, gentleman!

Connect with Christian Burgos

Instagram Profile - Trainer Account

Connect With Jet Ray King

Happiness has been found in visiting a bookstore while in Canada

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 00:18:02 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: Letting Go, Acceptance; To Live Freely

Grateful to have trained my mind on the tracks of life through traveling and reading. A challenging read for me was The Meaning of Happiness by Alan Watts, and I became curious when seeing this book in the Charlottetown, Canada bookstore. I'm grateful for the freedom to feed positive input into my thoughts to lead me in reaping my desires. We all deserve happiness and should encourage others toward their happiness. Stand up with you and promote happiness! Shout out to Sue McCowan for your gift of the unique bright orange shirt! Much love, and I hope you're enjoying your traveling and living in the land of the HAKA!

My favorite Alan Watts quote

"when one's very life becomes an expression of gratitude, and this is the greatest happiness, for the meaning of happiness consists in three elements - freedom, gratitude, and the sense of wonder...these elements can be present in the most ordinary of lives" - Alan Watts.

A classic book that many millionaires have read. Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 02:53:50 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: My Thoughts, Imagination, Desire: My Riches

A continual thought-enhancing book read in Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. A big takeaway from the book was embracing new mental habits through auto-suggestion, to train the subconscious mind in the evening and morning by listening to my “planting the seed” recorded audio statement of myself. Embrace a reflective practice of empowering thoughts made up of the seven primary POSITIVE EMOTIONS: Desire, Faith, Love, Sex, Enthusiasm, Romance, and Hope. The photo was taken while the Seabourn Quest was docked in Saint John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

My favorite quotes from Napoleon Hill

“There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge.” - Napoleon Hill.

“I am the Master of my fate, I am the Captain of my Soul.” - W.C. Henley.

“One of the blessings of maturity is that it sometimes brings one greater courage to be truthful, regardless of what those who do not understand may think or say.” - Napoleon Hill.

In Saguenay, Canada🇨🇦 having a conversation with Chris Gonzalez🇬🇧

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 18:20:31 GMT

Six Word Story - We Have A Sponsor With Subway

During my cruise contract and ship life, it is always about finding good wifi when out and about in port. After randomly bumping into Chris Gonzalez, my old ship roommate, I decided to create a fun moment and film our moment together when we ate at Subway in Saguenay, Canada. I want to note that Chris has excellent humor and is also a student of personal development and a fan of Tony Robbins. I will always be grateful for him sharing and gifting me audios from Tony Robbins, which has led me to discover the quote from Tony Robbins, "Nothing has any meaning except the meaning that I give it." Chris is a shop manager on cruise ships, and because of his decision to work on cruise ships and be intentional in his life has allowed him to purchase and pay off the home he owns. That is awesome, and it was a pleasure getting to hang out with Chris while working and living on the Seabourn Quest. Cheer, mate, and wishing you all the best on your continual cruise contract!

Connect with Chris Gonzalez

Forgiveness is the tool for your life, and Richard Halloway will explain why

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 05:22:00 GMT

SIX WORD �� SUMMARY: Gain Perspective From Travel and Books

I finished reading On Forgiveness by Richard Holloway. Many of the topics of forgiveness in the book utilize real-world examples from the following: September 11th, situations in South Africa, and the continuing disagreements in Palestine/Israel, Northern Ireland, and Serbia. This book explains how forgiveness works and how the need to embrace it is more significant than ever if we are to liberate ourselves from the shackles of the past. This picture was taken during my time on the Seabourn Quest and, more specifically, on an embarkation day where new passengers were coming on the hip. This meant I had more time in the morning to explore the city and made it into downtown Montreal to stop and take a moment to read and observe my surroundings.

My favorite quote by Richard Holloway

“Our private human concerns appear to be dwarfed and made meaningless by the immensity of the universe.....

The reason we want to forgive individuals, while retaining the important ability to judge their actions is that we know that personal action is the fruit of character and that character is largely predetermined by factors that are not in our control.”

How to be an influential person from the lessons of Dale Carnegie

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 17:29:55 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: What A Person Reads They Become

Grateful to have had the opportunity to re-read for a third time “How To Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. The photo was taken while working on the Seabourn Quest and docked in Quebec City, Canada.

My favorite quotes from How To Win Friends and Influence People

“The man who can put himself in the place of other men, who can understand the workings of their minds, need never worry about what the future has in store for him.”- Owen D. Young.

“Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” -William Shakespeare

My video book reviews of How To Win Friends And Influence People

In Quebec City, Canada 🇨🇦 having a conversation with the Cruise Director of the Seabourn Quest Ross Roberts

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 18:09:19 GMT

Six Word Story - What You Spend. How You Live.

This time I am in Quebec City, Canada, where it truly feels like the Seabourn Quest is still in France. Today's guest is the cruise ship director and a master at getting you to smile, Ross Roberts. I have known Ross since we first met back in February, and he is a favorite crew member to have the opportunity to chat with him and share in laughs. Ross has been working on cruise ships for over a decade, and I can tell when observing guests on the Seabourn Quest that he is loved and appreciated by the guests. I am grateful to Ross for sharing his time with me this afternoon and being genuine and authentic with everything he shared today during our conversation. Especially when he shared his experience with processing death in his life. Ross, keep on inspiring the guests and crew members on the ship with your entertainment and humor, and I look forward to seeing you perform at the Royal Albert Hall someday! The following video is of Ross Roberts performing while on the Seabourn Quest.

Connect with Ross Roberts

BellAmore Hair Salon Facebook Page

Short review on "7 Ways To Be Her Hero" by Doug Fields

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 05:54:00 GMT

My thoughts on reading a relationship book when working on a cruise ship

Artwork in the background created by Jason Botkin . Finished reading “7 Ways To Be Her Hero” by Doug Field s. Thank YOU for the value YOUr book provided for me in continually growing me. I happen to pick this book up while on a run in Corner Brook, Canada and stumbled upon a bookshop and was looking for purchasing a relationship self-development book.

“YOU must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from YOUr life... Hurry is not just a disordered schedule. Hurry is a disordered heart.” - John Ortberg

Value YOUr time with YOU and with YOUr relationships .

Who YOU become, know one can take away.

At the time of writing this in 2018, I intentionally got this book because I was currently involved in a long-distance relationship with my girlfriend, who was away from the cruise ship that I was working on. I felt interested in continually priming my mind with content related to improving and strengthening relationships. It is interesting to note that I read a relationship book now and am interested in reading it. Still, as I grow and develop as a person, my focus will shift to other topics and interests I would like to improve upon myself.

May 24, 2022 New Input

One of the biggest takeaways I still carry from my experience reading this book is the importance of what Doug Field highlighted in every chapter about perspective and how you can be viewed and interpreted in a relationship with your partner or spouse. Relationships will have their ever-changing dynamics and friction. And knowing that I was grateful to read a relationship book at a younger age teaching me that whenever I'm experiencing relationship difficulties, I can seek guidance from relationship books to bring into focus perspective and help with allowing my mind to process what I am experiencing and giving meaning to a situation in a relationship. And most importantly, finding the best way to associate a sense of empowerment with what I experience in my relationships.

I can also add that one of the last longer relationships that I had in 2021 was handled poorly because, for that year, I stopped reading and being intentional with what I was reading to help whenever I experienced friction in my life. I know because this relationship brought about new perspectives and scenarios, with coming from different cultures and in a new country myself, I truly felt I could have handled the situation more maturely and with a more profound view if I had searched out books and content to what Doug Files writes about.

The time to be mindful is now and can be done without excuses 🧘‍♂️

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 04:31:22 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: Go Beyond Mainstream Conventions, Never Imitate.

I finished reading Wherever YOU Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Grateful to continually be feeding positive messages to my mind

"The Dalai Lama shows no anger toward the Chinese, even though the policy of the Chinese government for years has been to practice genocide toward Tibetans, culturicide toward their institutions, beliefs, and everything they hold dear, and genocide toward the very land they live on. When asked about his apparent lack of anger toward the Chinese by a skeptical reporter at the time he won the Nobel Peace Prize, the Dalai Lama replied something to the effect: "They have taken everything from us; should I let them take my mind as well?" - Wherever you Go, There you are, page 49. Your thoughts that YOU have to lead to what you experience. Value the messages that go into your mind! One of the primary keys to this book is no matter how busy you are or whoever you are in this world, you can always make time to be mindful and reflective and look for the quiet moments in your day. Since I work on a cruise ship and I'm always working seven days a week for nine months straight. I found this book to be a great wake-up call for looking for how I can be reflective in the moments I have to myself, even in a crowded and loud crew mess during my breaks. I would often do this by carrying a book and my journal to take notes from my readings whenever I had little moments throughout the day on the ship, especially hustling to the crew deck to get as much fresh air and sun as possible. The photo was taken on top of the crew deck on the Seabourn Quest, an area of the ship I would often spend during the moments I have to myself while working on the Seabourn Quest.

Learning how to live a rebalanced life through a book

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 23:09:57 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: Value The Messages Into Your Head

Another growth-enhancing book has been completed while working on the Seabourn Quest. Thank YOU to Ashley Marlow for lending me Rebalanced Thinking Rebalanced Living. Much appreciated! After reading this book, I found and thought about the following:

A focused awareness of my thoughts and their usefulness.
More in-depth learning of my true uniqueness, worth, and purpose.
My life with healthy risk-taking and for me to have the ability to learn from mistakes.
I have higher-quality relationships with those who matter the most in my life.
The practice of having thoughts that are less negative, judgmental, and blaming.
A sufficient understanding of my friends, co-workers, and family members.

My favorite quotes from the book Rebalanced Thinking Rebalanced Living

“Failure is something we do; it is not who we are. However, the mindset of so many people is the exact opposite. Our culture highlights failures through mockery. When failures are mocked in many public spotlights, it ignites our fear to a point where failure is no longer a option. Failure is something we do, not who we are, we will never develop our potential and accomplish what is possible.” - Rebalanced Thinking Rebalanced Living.

“Failure is an event, not a person” - Zig Ziglar.

The mind is the gateway into who you perceive yourself to be, and Dr. Joseph Murphy can explain why

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 17:51:07 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: Be A Life Long Mind Learner

Grateful to have made time and read The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Dr. Joseph Murphy while on the Seabourn Quest while working as a personal trainer on board. This book has inspired me to develop audio messaging that I listen to before bed and after waking up. This powerful book highlights the power of your thoughts and being mindful of everything you think about, especially before and after you go to bed. This photo was taken while the Seabourn Quest was docked in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada.

My favorite quote from Dr. Joseph Murphy

“It has been said that a person’s greatest enemy is fear. Fear is behind failure, sickness, and poor human relations. Millions of people are afraid of the past, the future, old age, insanity, and death. But fear is a thought in your mind. This means that YOU are afraid of YOUr own thoughts. If YOU are in the prison of fear, YOU desire freedom. Expect the good. Mentally concentrate on the good, and know YOUr subconscious mind answers YOU always. It never fails” - Joseph Murphy.

Handshake #23 - In the piano bar🎹 of the Seabourn Quest with Bruno Aguilar 🎤

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 22 Jul 2018 22:22:44 GMT

Six Word Handshake #18: Laughing Under Lights With The Pianoman.

The piano bar or also referred to as the observation bar is located on deck 10 of the Seabourn Quest and offers gorgeous 270 degrees views and an intimate bar and piano set that lights up in the evening time as a nightclub. The website cruisedeckplans.com has pictures and the observation bar's layout and can be viewed here . Guests have invited me to accompany them and join them for a pleasant evening at the piano bar, sharing a drink and listening to the music played by the musician and singer. Many times this singer and piano player was nonother than Bruno Aguilar . Bruno is from Funchal, Portugal. He is the piano bar entertainer on the Seabourn Quest. On numerous occasions, I've listened to Bruno play from shows he does for the crew, and I've chatted with him about how many songs he knows off the top of his head, and he has told me that he knows over 1,000 pieces to sing and play. Quite an impressive arsenal of musical talents to share on any given night when passengers have the opportunity to listen to him play.

I always see Bruno out in the ports, enjoying his time in the sun and being active. Bruno is an avid snorkeler and swimmer, and he is always doing his best to get as much time in the ports as possible and enjoy the ports of call. When you watch our handshake, you will notice that part of the choreography is both of us presenting we are swimming, which is symbolic of Bruno's passion for the water and swimming. Also, Bruno and a few other crewmembers have adopted to call me Alexcito. In Latin America and Portuguese culture, add "cito" or "cita" to the end of a name or even an object to be funny or cute when expressing yourself. Thank you, Bruno (Have a GREAT vacation and continual success) for the camera work and the musical handshake!

To get in contact with Bruno:

Facebook profile

Instagram page

Understand who you are? And the importance the thought of our death can have on our life with Michael Singer

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 19:15:51 GMT

Six Word �� Story: The Soul Comes From Having Perspective

Blessed to make the time to have the habit of intentional reading throughout my cruise ship contract. This book was gifted to me by a client of mine while working at the Center of Recovery and Exercise in Orlando, Florida . I highly enjoyed the chapter on depth and approaching death, knowing it will happen to you and have the perspective on the following points:

The sooner, the better for allowing death into your life to be a teacher
A person should realize that they might not breathe in again after breathing out
Whenever I am struggling with something, I will remind myself about my death.
Whatever I am doing right now at the moment I need to remind myself that someone was doing that before they died
No matter what I am doing, I can be sure someone died that way.

From this, I have the perspective that death is always on my door and don't think about the moments of pain, suffering, or struggle as these are all feelings and experiences to remind myself that I am alive and that at some point, my understanding of myself in my current body will be no more. And when this happens, I'm looking forward to the next journey or adventure my way after. Until then, I use death on my doorsteps to empower me and the decisions I make and create for others. The photos were taken during my time on the Seabourn Quest while the ship was docked on the Isle of Bute, Scotland.

My favorite quote from Michael Singer

"In order to grow, YOU must give up the struggle to remain he same and learn to embrace change at all times. Real Transformation begins when YOU embrace your problems as agents for growth."

Handshake #22 - A boxing handshake on the Seabourn Quest with Serenity Rennie🥊

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 19:28:22 GMT

SIX WORD HANDSHAKE STORY #22: Workout Video Laughing and Vacation Soon!

Another gym session was done and dusted on the Seabourn Quest. This time with Serenity Rennie, a housekeeper from South Africa��. Serenity attends my group classes for crewmembers and always has fun and lively energy to make the coaching enjoyable. Serenity and I often joke around and make silly videos using Snapchat and Instagram filters. Thank you for your time Serenity and energy for the workout and the boxing handshake! Much love, and continue being your best self on vacation and in life!

You can contact Serenity on her Instagram page .

Handshake #21 - Who has the best hair on Seabourn Quest? Handshake with David van Branden 🔥

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 16:05:55 GMT

Six Word Handshake Story #21: Skateboarding with the man Danish Style!

I have been told numerous times on my cruise contract that my blond hair is unique, and I suppose it is in certain parts of the world. In my opinion, my fellow crewmember David van Branden has the best hair on the ship and, in the past, had dreadlocks to accurately represent his personality with his positive and good nature self.

Another embarkation day and the Seabourn Quest is in Copenhagen, Denmark. A city that is charming and well designed with its urban planning. Coopehenagen reminds me a lot of Amsterdam with bikes all around and the friendliness of streets accessible by bike. I do have to mention that just like Iceland, Copenhagen is an expensive city if one were to live there.

I originally went out with a crew member from the spa department and later after spending the morning walking aorund the city. I ended up in a cafe shop where just outside, David was coming up on his skateboard. This was the perfect opportunity to create a handshake with David on the fly and share good laughs. David is originally from South Africa and is the sound technician on the Seabourn Quest. Thank you, David Van Branden , for your time and your positive “Bob Marley” vibes!

You can get in contact with David on his Facebook page or his Instagram page.

Handshake #20 - Looking for what to do in Reykjavík, Iceland? Have a handshake with Sonja van Wyk

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 12:59:27 GMT

Six Word Handshake Story #20: One Year Later New Crew Shake!

I had the opportunity to walk around the city of Reykjavik in Iceland on an embarkation day on the Seabourn Quest. Embarkation days are days when the previous guest passengers have concluded their cruise and left the ship. For about 4-6 hours, there are mainly only crew members on board the vessel preparing cabins and getting the boat ready for the following passengers to arrive. On this day, I had the morning off with a few other colleagues, and we spent the morning walking around the city for coffee and to find props for a handshake video. The two crew members I was with were Emily Worsnop and Sonja van Wyk. Emily is the Mindful Living Coach on the ship, and Sonja is the hairdresser and my hairstylist. After going to one of my favorite cafes after visiting Reykjavik numerous times called Café Babalú . We went to a convenience store and found two overly priced plastic Viking swords to use in an impromptu uncoordinated handshake video in front of the famous Iglesia Hallgrímskirkja. I was impressed with Sonja that we were able to do our handshake video in one take with the swords, and funny that we were both able to time throw our swords over our shoulders at the same time.

Who is Sonja van Wyk?

Sonja is from the beautiful country of South Africa and, more specifically, from the coast being, Jeffrey's Bay. When first meeting Sonja, I could tell she had an endless amount of life stories and would easily be able to fit those into a book. She is the mix of a deep hippie soul with a full laugh that is always passing off good energy to those she has the opportunity to share her energy. Sonja is around 30 years older than me, and I refer to her as my ship mother and often would help me out when I would spend too much time on the crew deck receiving sun and sunburned. She has all these top-notch and creative remedies on the spot to help, for instance, using a bicarbonate paste on my sunburn, and she is always excited to make it to shore off the crew ship and explore the ship's destinations.

When updating this post, Sonja is the proud owner of BellAmore Hair Salon in Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa. Keep up your passion for hair and spread value to your community.

How to get in contact with Sonja van Wyk:

Facebook personal page

Email: sonnieblommie@gmail.com

Handshake #19 - Where is Seydisfjorður, Iceland? With Mhark and Jomari from the Seabourn Quest!

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 29 May 2018 18:15:34 GMT

Six Word Handshake Story #20: Icelandic waterfall with the Filipino Squad!

Where is Seydisfjorður, Iceland?

If you were to ask anyone on the Seabourn Quest, they wouldn't be able to tell you much about Seydisfjorður, other than it has a waterfall. And that is probably better than anyone else you were to ask outside of the cruise ship I am working on. Seydisfjörður is a small town of under 700 people in East Iceland. The economy and history are tied to the fishing industry, and in recent times, like the time I was there, is increasing in tourism. And the reason a large ship like the Seabourn Quest was able to dock here is because the town has a large harbor. You can find a write-up of the history and culture of this town on guidetoiceland.is . It is most certainly a town surrounded by nature, mountains waterfalls, and views of the harbor and the sea to make it a peaceful and tranquil place to visit and spend time immersed in and around nature. An excellent website world-of-waterfalls.com that documents the waterfalls here and all over the world, Bryan Cheng wrote a great article on the waterfalls that exist in Seydisfjorður .

Who are Mhark and Jomari?

Mhark Almodal and Jomari Daep are from the Philippines and work in the Housekeeping Department. I have gotten to know them from working with them and seeing them on the different ship decks. There would be numerous times I would have the honor of training them in one of my group fitness classes for crew members in the evening. Much thanks to Mhark Almodal and Jomari Daep for the creative lunchtime handshake! Very appreciative of your gentleman's time and glad you enjoyed the waterfall with epic jumping pics. Thank you, Filipino Gangster Squad!

You can connect with Jomari Daep on his Facebook page or Instagram profile

You can connect with Mhark Almodal on his Facebook page

Handshake #18- What should you do in Greenock, Scotland? A handshake with Daniela Dume

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 24 May 2018 04:56:46 GMT

Six Word Handshake Story #19: Two Hours Off with Miss Romania��!

Daniela Dume is the massage therapist on the Seabourn Quest from Oradea, Romania. I had the opportunity of creating a superhero-like handshake in Scotland with an epic punch from Daniela! This handshake, I feel, fits her personality well, and she was often one of the top performing masseuses on the ships, consistently achieving her financial target on most cruises and had strong communication skills for being direct in her communication style. This is all a good thing and makes her unique and a pleasure to work with. Her dodging my punches and then throwing a superman punch at me represent her ability to be resilient and overcome challenges. This is evident in that she has done over five cruise contracts, making her a veteran working on the high seas.

One particular memory I have of Daniela is when she helped me to film a video of myself in the jacuzzi on the top deck of the Seabourn Quest with bubbles and a breathtaking view of the ocean and the mountain in Scotland. I've enjoyed learning more about the Romanian culture from Daniela and especially about the strong personalities that many Romanians have. Thanks Daniela for the creative punching handshake and speedy walk in Greenock, Scotland!

You can get in contact with Daniela on her Facebook page or Instagram page .

Handshake #17 - Waving for the Queen of England with Jodi Gooddaz Fi Dem in Dover, England

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 18 May 2018 07:54:22 GMT

Six Word Handshake Story #17: The Queen Wave Waiting For Taxi.

Dover, England, is home to iconic white cliffs and is a common stopover for many cruise ships starting or ending a cruise. On this particular day, the Seabourn Quest was docked in Dover, and I went outside with four other crew members, and we made our way to the center of town. Once in the center of town, I decided to finally create a handshake with "Miss Jamaica" herself, Jodi Gooddaz. Including themes of the local location include England with the Queen hand wave and the Jamaican bolt pose during the handshake because Jodi is from Jamaica. Jodi is a nail technician on the ship and provides top-notch service with manicures and pedicures. Jodi gave me a pedicure one time where I requested to have her paint my toenail yellow and then paint a smiley face. I ended up doing this because this is something my father, Alan "Cannonball" Clemens , did when he was dating my mother-in-law Jackie early on in their relationship. Thank you Jodi for the smooth and quick Jamaican handshake!

If you would like to connect with Jodi you can do so on her Facebook page and her Instagram page .

Handshake #16 - I see Paris. I see France. I see a handshake with Reiko Mitani.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 15 May 2018 22:43:40 GMT

Six Word Handshake Story #16: Midnight Lights in Paris with Macaroons.

Adventure to Paris, France for a handshake

It started like any other time during my cruise contract. I went to my cabin in the Seabourn Quest. I changed into my street clothes to leave the ship and explore the city the ship was currently docked in (the location Rouen, France). As I was leaving the ship, I met up with several colleagues from the spa (my department on the Seabourn Quest). I talked to these crew members, and we discussed what city area we would like to visit. As we left and walked around the town, I was with two crew members, Reiko Manti and Gill Grier. Reiko is the acupuncturist on the ship and is originally from Japan. Gill is the hairdresser on the Seabourn Quest and is from Ireland.

After hanging out with them for some time in Rouen, we continually discussed the possibility of traveling to Paris as Rouen was located a little less than 2 hours away. We had time to do so because we didn't have to be back on the ship until the following morning. After all, the ship had an overnight in Rouen. And like any other crew member that works on cruise ships, "overnights" are to be taken advantage of by spending as much time as possible off the boat.

What transpired for our adventure was Gill getting looked at and shouted out in French by a tall, muscular french man criticizing her for the fur outfit she had on that was given to her by her ship roommate—then taking a bus from Rouen to a town slightly in between Rouen and Paris to make it to our next area of transportation, a train. Now this particle time of year, Pairs and parts of France were experiencing a labor shortage or strikes from the individuals working on trains. This made it extra hard to find many options to make it to Paris, but we managed. Once at the station in Paris, we took a car to the Eifel Tower and proceeded to walk up the tower for the next hour and get as high as possible. There is a restaurant on the second floor of the building. The view was a spectacle at night with all the prominent landmarks lit up, making for a picturesque nighttime view. The tower lit up with lights during our descent, and a big light show began. This led me to get the idea of finding a place where I could take a video of a handshake with the tower in the background. After finding a location, Reiko and I quickly devised choreography and made our handshake video. What you see in both of our hands are macarons.

Who is Reiko Mitani?

Reiko is from Tokyo, Japan, and is the acupuncturist on the ship. Upon updating this article in 2022. Reiko is the proud owner and founder of "Rophe Tokyo," a private acupuncture and treatment salon for therapists with 20 years of experience as an esthetician, cosmetology school instructor, and cruise ship acupuncturist. They are celebrating their third year of business, and I wish you continual success, Reiko!

While working with Reiko on the cruise ship, it became a common practice for spa crew members to trade services with each other. For example, I would give a private gym training session one-on-one in exchange for an acupuncture session. This led me to have acupuncture on my back, face, and ears. The most interesting session of acupuncture I have had with Reiko was having cupping done to me on my back. Pictures see below. Reiko used these silicone cups, which helped improve blood circulation, swelling, and sensitivity to cold. Additional benefits can be improving the range of motion of joints, such as enhancing fascial adhesions.

Thank you, Reiko Mitani , for the handshake and sharing in the macarons! I wish you continued success and thank you for the acupuncture services. You are an expert in your field, and I highly recommend your acupuncture service.

If you want to contact Reiko, you can go to her Facebook page , her acupuncture company's Rophe.tokyo Facebook page and their website https://rophe.tokyo/ .

Handshake #15 - Porto, Portugal olá com um aperto de mão with Baleseng Suzan Kolobe

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 11 May 2018 01:35:49 GMT

Six Word Handshake Story #15: Laugher During A Windy Bump In.

The first time I made it to Portugal was spent in Porto, Portugal. Only a few months early was the Seabourn Quest in Brazil, and I heard Brazilian Portuguese everywhere I would walk. This time, I made it to the beach from where the Seabourn Quest was docked and had the opportunity to perform a clever handshake with crew member Baleseng Suzan Kolobe (Suzan). Suzan was a housekeeper on the cruise ship and is from South Africa. I know Suzan from her showing up to my exercise classes and having great energy when performing my class exercises. Thank you, Suzan, for your quick, creative handshake collaboration! Laughter is a human experience that we all have the gift to create and share with EVERYONE!

You can connect with Suzan on her Facebook page and Instagram page .

Handshake #14 - In Bandul, France 🇫🇷 with Ardita Çela performing a bonjour handshake

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 04:47:58 GMT

Six Word Handshake Story #14: Bonjour Baguette Nutella Waffle and Bellydancing

Bandal is a city in France located in the south of France along the Mediterranean Sea. It has under 10,000 for a population. Notably, it is recognized highly for the wine produced in this region of France. I was grateful that I had the opportunity to get off the ship for this port. I couldn't always get off at every port because there always had to be crew members from each department of the vessel consistently onboard. I spent the early morning walking around the town, following the cycling and walking paths that mirrored the coastline. After that, I met with a fellow crew member named Artida Çela. Atrida works in the food and beverage department and has done modeling in photos and videos. We spent the morning together walking around the town, going into a local bakery and absorbing the fresh smell of baguettes coming out of the oven and ordering baguettes, making our way to the beach to meet other crew members, performing a handshake, and lastly, stopping for waffles with Nutella. Thank you, Artida, for the creative handshake!

You can connect with Artida on her Facebook profile or Instagram profile .

Handshake #13 - Visiting Manaus, Brazil? Have a handshake with Kriszta Szabo🫱🏼‍🫲🏻

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 04:16:29 GMT

Six Word Handshake Story #13: In Manaus, ups, downs, twists, growth.

What is Manaus, Brazil known for?

Manaus, Brazil, is the largest city in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil with over 2 million inhabitants. A fascinating number to me because the entire population of Alaska (where I grew up as a child) only has about 730,000 people). When the Seabourn Quest began the Brazil cruise, I had marked the time spent in Manaus on my calendar because we had several overnights in Manuals. "Overnights" in the cruise world is when the ship stays docked overnight in port, which is rare for a cruise ship's itinerary. As usual, most ships will not have overnight as it will be more expensive for cruise companies to pay the docking fee to the port.

Manus is famous for being the center for studying the Amazon rainforest and has a pink opera house that was initially built during the economic boom from the rubber boom in the economy of Manaus back in 1884. The opera house is referenced by many as one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world.

Manaus isn't a prosperous city, as I experienced on my first night exploring the city. On one of the first overnights in Manaus, I had the opportunity to go and walk around the town with a crew member of the ship Kriszta Szabo, a housekeeper. We went to the famous pink opera house, "Amazon Theatre," to parks, street markets, and a pizzeria. It was one of the first places where there were areas we walked, and everyone was staring at us for our experience for several blocks, and it highlighted for me to be on my guard and be observant of y surroundings. It is a great experience to have as so many human beings experience being in a situation where everyone directs their attention and stares at that person mainly for them to look different and stick out easy from the crowd. From this walk about myself, Krista processed to a park and performed our handshake.

Experiencing my first robbery with Kriszta

I initially met Kriszta from hosting my weekly crewmember fitness classes. She enjoyed working out and fitness while working on the Seabourn Quest. She is originally from Budapest, Hungary, and has taught me several Hungarian words like egészségedre. This is used for toasting when drinking.

Later in the evening, Krista decided to leave the ship overnight and walk the city after midnight. The town had a empty and eerie feeling. All the shops were closed, and there weren't many people around the port. We walked to the plaza next to the opera house. It was beautiful as the opera house was lit up at night and looked magnificent, and at this moment, I would have loved to attend a show in the evening and take in this unique place with the energy it creates with live performers. After we spent time walking around the opera house, Kriszta and I sat on a park bench, where Krista then took out her phone to show me pictures.

And then it happened!

Within a split second, we were surrounded by three strangers. All three were shouting at us in Portuguese, and one was holding a knife and pointing at us. They were asking for the purse of Kriszta and anything else we had on us. My initial in-the-moment reaction was to remain calm and give the attacker's body language to stay calm. Then one of the attackers reached into my pockets and forced himself upon me to grab my cellphone. I then stood up, protected my pockets, and attempted to push him off. The other attacker then joined me, and they both began to kick me in the legs, and I became separated from Kriszta.

Kriszta then was left with the attacker with the knife and was holding on to her purse while the attacker was attempting to pull it from her. I eventually pushed and distanced myself from the two attackers, and while doing so, the attacker with the knife pulled the purse from Kriszta and ran. I did my best to chase him and even thought about finding and picking up an object off the ground, a rock to throw at him, but he was too far ahead of me. I followed him through the street until he left my sight, and then a random motorcycle pulled up in front of me. The driver was a man, and the rider on the back was a woman. The woman got off and could speak English. she told me she heard screaming from our direction and wanted to see what happened. I quickly explained what happened, and she told me her boyfriend on the motorcycle was a police offer and had him lift his shirt to show me he had a gun. They then offered to drive Kriszta on the back of the motorcycle to see if they could find the attacker, but I quickly responded by saying that she won't go. And told the boyfriend and girlfriend to go looking in the direction where I last saw the attacker. They did and returned, saying they didn't see anyone who would be our attackers. Fortunately, I didn't lose any of my possession during the attack. Although Kriszta had items from her purse taken and her phone, she canceled her bank cards before anyone unauthorized could use them and could continue her travels to India (as this was her last night working on the Seabourn Quest before vacation).

What can be learned from experiencing a robbery?

This experience provided me with understanding and mindfulness to not be mad at our attackers and to give thought to why these attackers would attack us. It speaks to the limited economic opportunities in Manaus, and the attacker's only financial option at that moment was to aim at stealing possessions from tourists and hope whatever they stole could be sold or used to turn into cash. This can occur anywhere in the world but certainly is more common anytime you are in part with less economic opportunity or activity. I'm grateful for this experience and the lessons it proved, along with teaching me to take responsibility for my life and decisions. If you want to walk the street of Manaus at midnight, you have to be ready and expect that you are going to face a higher likelihood of being targeted and potentially robbed. Robberies happen in cities all the time all over the world. Manaus is no different, and it shouldn't prevent one from wanting to explore the area. There is so much rich cultural and scientific research in this area of Brazil, and it is well located to access the Amazon river. I ended up going on a night tour the following evening after the robbery and did a river tour for finding and holding caimans (a predator of the crocodile family). I hope you get the opportunity to travel to the Amazon rainforest and see this part of the world to learn more about yourself and gain a deeper perspective on human beings.

You can connect with Kriszta on her Facebook page and Instagram page .

Also, Kriszta has a baby crochet brand that are handmade in Croatia and are of baby safe materials only (OEKO-TEX Standard 100). Check our her crochet brand Baby Star Line on instagram .

What is a leaning handshake at the Leaning Tower of Pisa with Michelle Samuels?

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 15:26:11 GMT

Six-Word Story #12: Having fun and smiling while leaning!

Making it to Pisa, Italy and seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa

When I first found out that I was assigned to the Seabourn Quest in early 2018, I immediately looked at the schedule of where this cruise ship was heading and imagined all the places I would be able to see. However, my focus was mainly on seeing that it was going to be in South America and Antarctica for me to have the opportunity to travel to this part of the world. I knew I would be traveling to Europe later on while on the Seabourn Quest but gave little thought to where and what I would see while visiting the European continent. And thus, the surprise of making it to the Leaning Tower of Pisa was made in about a 40 min van ride from where the Seabourn Quest was docked in Livorno, Italy. I ended up traveling with seven other crew members, hustling from the ship into the town, and finding a driver to make it to the tower and back. So grateful I had the opportunity to make it as I don't believe I would have made it to this site with a fascinating architectural history and seeing the iconic lean in the tower.

The handshake and who is Michelle?

Michelle Samuels is a coworker from the spa department and is a masseuse and facialist. She is originally from South Africa, and we have shared many laughs from chatting about ship life and hearing her share her culture and phrases spoken in South Africa. I first met Michelle when I had the opportunity for her to be one of the first crew members she met while she boarded the Seabourn Quest in Chile with all her pink luggage. I believe anytime we see each other throughout life, we will always have this silly memory of me carrying her pink luggage and first meeting this way and laughing. Michelle, thank you for the creative handshake.

During the handshake, I loved the randomness of how we introduced Italian hand gestures and incorporated a lean in our handshake and how we timed it perfectly to when random people were by us that the handshake ended at the ideal time for us to lean to the left and miss the couple that was walking past us.

History of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The story of the Leaning Tower of Pisa goes back to the 12th century. The ground where the Leaning Tower of Pisa is built is on a marsh meaning that the environment is very soft, and depending on the weight of the building, it would be very challenging for the group to support the structure. And this is the cause for why the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans. When the project began and was in progress, the tower's foundation started to shift, sink into the ground, and then lean to one particular side. The builders did their best to compensate for the flaw in the building by adding additional weight to the building on the opposite side. This only led to the building eventually sinking further into the ground. Many experts in engineering have stated that it was nothing short of a miracle. The project was completed in 1360, and up until 1990, it attracted over million people visiting the tower before it was closed for 11 years to work on repairs and for engineers to provide more excellent structural support to prevent the building from collapsing. And also, maintaining the iconic lean, if you would like to learn more, check out this article on the history of the Leaning Tower of Pisa from history.com.

You can connect with Michelle on her Facebook page or Instagram page .

Not in Monaco for the Formula 1 Grand Prix but a handshake with Emily Worsnop

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 23:08:26 GMT

Six Word Handshake Story #11: In Blue Overalls, Whimsical in Monaco.

Emly is from Hull, England, the yoga and mindful living coach on the Seabourn Quest. You will notice that Emily and myself are wearing blue work suits. This is because, at the time of filming this, the ship was preparing to go into drydock, where the ship would receive maintenance and repairs. The blue suits were for every crew member to wear for protection and to signify that you were a crew member on the ship. Emily is a high-level yoga teacher with over 500 hours of yoga teaching. I continuously have some of the funniest laughs with her on the ship from silly situations we experience together while working on the Seabourn Quest.

Monaco is a unique part of the world where many of the world's wealthiest live from a financial perspective. The architecture and small charm of the city is elegant. It was an enjoyable city to walk around in the daytime and the evening and to the top where the Prince's Palace of Monaco exists. And we were just a week away from the start of the Formula One Grand Prix, where we could already see the race course being played out and constructed in the city.

Thank you, Emily, for your time in the handshake and for helping with the creation of the handshake! Also, thank you to Sonia van Wyk (the hair stylist) for filming.

You can connect with Emily on her Facebook , Instagram , and YouTube pages.

You can find additional info for contacting Emily on her Linktree .

To find out more information on Emily's yoga visit her website at www.emilyworsnopyoga.com

Myself and Emily in Barcelona practicing meditation and yoga.

Who wants vegemite? Creating a handshake with Kayla Pothan on the Seabourn Quest

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 06:39:04 GMT

Six Word Handshake Story #9: Vegemite Shake Throwing Down NZ Haka.

My first tasting of vegemite was when I lived in Australia in 2016. I can recall it not being a food item I would go out of my way to purchase or eat. In this case, my New Zealand coworker and hair stylist Kayla Pothon had some on board the Seabourn Quest, and we decided to incorporate it into our quick and creative handshake. After Kayla hands me the vegemite, the handshake concludes with both of us mimicking a haka seen at New Zealand All Blacks rugby games. The haka is a war chant performed in front of their rugby opponent before games. We came up with this idea because Kayla is from Taupo, New Zealand. My other work colleague Sarah is a pedicurist and manicurist who can be seen in the back of the video walking in at the ideal time.

Thank you, Kayla, for sharing vegemite and the haircuts YOU provided me, as well as helping me with my first “Sea Sickness” experience! And, of course, appreciative of Sarah (Ashley) in the back, who gave me my first pedicure and manicure while in Chile. Thank YOU!

Connect with Kayla on her Facebook page and her Instagram Page .

At the Estoril Club in Genoa, Italy with Resu Shang

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 17:01:18 GMT

Six Word Handshake Story #10: Estoril Beach Club Celebrating Genuine Friendship.

When the Seabourn Quest was docked in Genoa, Italy, for one week for repairs and renovations, many crew members and I had a long time exploring the city of Genoa. This led to one night, most of the crew members from the ship meeting up with others from another cruise ship that was docked in Genoa for a large party at the Estoril Club. It was delightful with lots of laughing and learning from each other in exchanging the different cultures and world perspectives many crew members had. One of those crew members was Resu Shang. A housekeeper who was a person I would always have jokes with whenever our paths crossed on the ship. Resu is originally from Senapati, India. I appreciate her taking the time to help create our more extended choreographed handshake and adding her creative spin to our handshake. I also began to develop a friendship with her as she was a regular crewman who would attend my training sessions for crew members weekly.

You can connect with Resu on her Facebook page or Instagram page .

From the mess hall on the Seabourn Quest. Creating a handshake with Kasandra Majiet.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 19:25:29 GMT

Six Word Handshake Story #8: Crew Mess Being Our Playful Selves.

The mess hall on the Seabourn Quest is where crew members go two or three times a day to take a break and eat. It isn't open 24/7 but follows a strict schedule of being open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and midnight snacks and usually following a window of being open 3 hours at a time. Many times, crew members meet up with other crew members to eat, play games, and relax. It is a commonplace meeting space where you can see most crew members on the ship.

Kasandra Majiet is from South Africa and works as a bedroom steward. Thank you, Kasandra, for your time participating in a handshake, and wishing YOU the best!

Crew mess on the Seabourn Quest

First time in Brazil and creating a handshake on the beach of Ilhabela with Emil Kotrri.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 04:44:46 GMT

SIX WORD HANDSHAKE STORY #7 : Happy Birthday Emil In Ilhabela Brazil.

After participating in three Antarctica cruises, I had the opportunity to visit Uruguay, Argentina, The Falkland Islands, and Chile. It was time for several long cruises only around Brazil! The crew needed this change of scenery because we had the unfortunate experience of having the captain die at sea, and I never thought this would happen while on a cruise ship. I was very impressed by how the officers handled this unfortunate situation, conducted themselves professionally, and gave their total effort to ensure things continually ran smoothly.

The first port that we stopped in was a place called Ilhabela. A small coastal town of only about 35,000 people. After seeing plenty of icebergs and snow, it was a delight to experience a sunny and sandy beach for a change. I was pleased to go out to the beach with several other crew members from different departments, including Emil. On the day, it turned out to be also his birthday. When doing this handshake, it made sense to keep it as simple as possible after all, we are on a beach, and everybody wants to relax by drinking a beer or cerveza. Emil works in the restaurant department as a server and is an easy-going person when hanging out with him off the ship.

Here on this beach was the first glance I got for how music and dance play such a profound role in the culture of Brazilian people. For example, dance and music are other languages. A universal language is shared and welcomed for others to participate in to have fun and connect. I walked up to this gorgeous Brazilian DJ on the beach and first complimented her on her beauty and then took in a mindful moment of observing someone enjoying themselves and living in the moment through dancing and playing music. By the way, she had no idea what I said in English, so that is good:)

Emil thank you for your time and collaborating for a handshake! Happy Birthday!

To connect with Emil Kotrri visit his Facebook page and his Instagram page

Antarctica

Chile

A smooth handshake with Iris Mhlanga in the spa and gym of the Seabourn Quest

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 20:26:12 GMT

SIX WORD HANDSHAKE STORY #6: The Shumba Handshake With Electric Flow.

Iris is one of my colleagues on the Seabourn Quest, as we both work in the spa department. Iris is a masseuse, and I am a personal trainer. I was impressed when she changed her hair style early on to where she now has a cool fluff in her hair. Not sure how to describe it, but in our handshake video, there is a part where we both brush our hands through our hands because of our hairstyle. This was created in the handshake to be symbolic of what Iris said. It was noted that you naturally want to brush your hands through. Although the exact meaning escapes me many times when I would hangout with Iris, she taught me either the name of a tribe or a local word that was deeply meaningful and symbolic of where she is from. Iris is from Mutare, Zimbabwe, and she is the first person who I have met that is from Zimbabwe. She is a person that has a cool head on their shoulders, and I respect her for how she carries herself on the ship and handles her emotional intelligence throughout ship life.

Also, this might be too much information to share about myself, but Iris is the first person ever to wax my nose, and I am very grateful for her helping me breathe better. Thank you, Iris, for your collaboration in the handshake! Much appreciation! Along with being the first person to wax my nose!

Connect with Iris on her Facebook profile

At the Piazza De Ferrari in Genoa, Italy with @highlightgotwings performing "The Jamaican Bolt"

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 19:30:44 GMT

SIX WORD HANDSHAKE STORY #4 : Genova Lights, Shake and Jamaican Bolt.

During my contract, I had the great pleasure of getting to know one of the best dancers on the Seabourn Quest. That was @highlightgotwings . He went by Onique on the ship, and I have learned many new dance moves from this man. When we were in Antarctica, we would help host ping-pong matches with crew members. We would often watch the matches together, pretend that we were the announcers for the game, and make silly and witty comments throughout the match. Onique is from Jamaica and has the style and flair to back it up. @highlightgotwings , much love for collaborating with the handshake!

Connect with Onique on his Instagram profile

A Twenty One Pilots like handshake with Daniel Pepper

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 18:00:46 GMT

Genoa, Italy, at Stadio Luigi Ferraris

Like any creative activity, handshakes can have a variety of different degrees of creativity, from the quick two or three second handshakes with a simple sequence to taking time to practice, rehearse and look to perfect an elaborate arrangement that, when performing, you're not thinking about anything else it that very moment. I feel for myself when I feel in the flow and at peace, which is a great feeling to experience when sharing a moment with another human being. This special handshake that I performed with my friend Daniel Pepper was rehearsed for numerous days. It made it a bit easy to rehearse since Daniel was my roommate on the MV Seabourn Quest cruise ship in 2018, and we would see each other every day. Daniel had initially come up with the idea to model after the musical group Twenty One Pilots and their own handshake video .

Once Daniel had the idea, it made sense to perform our handshake at one of Daniel's passions to follow. That passion is football. Daniel is from Leeds, England, where football runs deep in the culture and society, and he is a lifelong Leeds United Football supporter. The cruise ship we were both working on had to spend one week in Genoa, Italy, for repairs, so all the crew members spent a week here. Because football is a world sport, we decided to make one of the many activities we did in Genoa an outing to a Genoa C.F.C versus Crotone Serie A football match on April 14.

After the game was over, we decided then and there to capture this shared moment of spending the afternoon with our friends and hanging out to perform our handshake and create a moment. Thank you, Daniel, for introducing me more profoundly to the culture of football and its immense importance for so many people in the world. Keep on being yourself by sharing your passions with others and spreading your wealth of knowledge regarding gems and jewelry.

You can connect with Daniel Pepper on his Facebook Profile and his LinkedIn Profile

At sea on the Seabourn Quest with a handshake and a hug with Nonji (Cee Cee)

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 17:56:28 GMT

SIX WORD Handshake #3 STORY : Miss Africa The Boxer Handshake Hug!

I know Nonji from the private personal training sessions I would put on for other crew members and a specific small group of other crew members from the housekeeping department. Nonji enjoys the boxing workout during class, and she has a mean right hand.

On days that we are at sea all day, and night is important to get time outside on the top deck for fresh air and the opportunity to move or in this case perform a handshake :)

Thank you, Nonji, for sharing in a handshake and creative project!

You can connect with Nonji on her Facebook Page or on her YouTube Channel

In the streets of Montevideo with Lennin Chaps performing our energetic handshake

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 16:06:04 GMT

SIX WORD Handshake #2 STORY : Ukulele Roommate In Public Greeting Freely.

My first roommate on the Seabourn Quest was a gentleman from South Africa named Lennin Chaps, "The Chef," and one of my favorite laughing human beings. Lennin and I would wake many other crewmembers up at 5 or 6 in the morning with our laughter and joking. It was a unique experience where upon waking up, we would instantly be performing jokes and doing skits similar to exercises one would experience in an improved class. Two of our next-door neighbors on the ships would often bang on the cabin walls to tell us we were being too loud and that we were waking them up. One time we both rose out of bed and instantly went into preaching as if we were both talking to a large congregation about how we would conquer and give value to others in the day.

Lennin and I worked in different departments on the ship, and I worked in the spa and Lennin in the cruise ship galley. Lenin is a talented chef, and he has told me many times how he would love to have his restaurant back in South Africa. Because we worked in different departments and on different working hours, we would only ever see each other on days we both had time off from the ship when we were docked or early in the morning in our cabin. When we first met, we always had good energy for performing silly handshakes and making jokes with each other.

We had the opportunity to cruise the street of Montevideo, and one of the stores we found was a music store that sold ukeleles. I had never thought about it before, but at that moment, I wanted to buy a ukelele and learn how to play it. I ended up buying a blue ukelele that I learned how to play for a little bit over the next few months before gifting it to another crew member. The handshake that Lennin and I came up with gives me a sense of feeling energized, as when we do three claps together reminds me of what you might see with a professional sports team.

Thanks, Lenin, for being a fabulous and fun roommate who always enjoyed our morning laughing sessions! Much love to Lenin for your consistent handshakes throughout being on ship!

You can connect with Lennin on his Facebook profile or Instagram profile .

On The Seabourn Quest cruise ship having a handshake with Qiana XU "The Acupuncturist"

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 11:36:56 GMT

In Montevideo, Uruguay after cruising Antartica.

During my first cruise ship contract on the Seabourn Quest, I had the great pleasure of having a creative handshake with my first guest Qiana XU (everyone calls her XU on the ship), while the cruise ship was docked in Montevideo, Uruguay. I work as a personal trainer and know Xu because she is my colleague as an acupuncturist in the spa where we share the same working space. XU has a bubbly and peaceful personality to her that made it fun to create a unique handshake. I'm not exactly sure where our "tickle, tickle" part of the handshake came from, but as you can imagine working and living on a cruise ship for nine months, you end up developing silly and quirky gestures with colleagues and crew members.

SIX-WORD STORY : CRUISE ADVENTURE, NOW THE HANDSHAKES BEGIN! Much love goes to XU (acupuncturist), who I had the honor of working with for a couple of months during my time in Antarctica and South America—wishing YOU all the best and your future studies!

Thanks, XU, for being the first to participate in my handshake project, and YOU have my positive thoughts and wishes for YOU and where your travels take YOU. I always enjoyed doing random handshakes throughout our time working together.

I know Johnson from working at the Center of Recovery and Exercise in Altamonte Springs, Florida . I am grateful that during my travels to arrive in Watford, England, for training to work on a cruise ship, I had the opportunity to stop in Fort Lauderdale. Hanging out with Johnson, talking about life, and getting caught up on his current doings. Johnson is a fitness professional, an exercise physiologist who works at a chiropractor's office in Boca Roton, Florida. Thank you to Johnson for your hospitality, for sharing your time and thoughts on life with me, and for being an awesome co-worker to work with at CORE. Let's keep on rocking it!

Connect with Johnson François

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸 having a conversation with Lauren Shevcheck and her dog Wesley🐾.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 01:00:21 GMT

Six Word Story - Sharing In Memories And Life Moments

I have known Lauren while at the Center of Recovery and Exercise (CORE) in Altamonte Springs, Florida . As one of her trainers, while training at CORE, Lauren is massively in astrology and has assured my astrology report numerous times. He is also the first person to introduce me to the Game of Thrones storyline. Wesley is Laura's trusted companion, a four-year-old havanese and her service animal. He is the number one cuddle buddy.

Laura is an individual that has had a tremendous impact on my life after knowing her since last December. She carries her life and lives her life by never losing her personality and sense of humor. Always taking her day with knowing why she is doing the activist she is. Laura is a quadriplegic who sustained a spinal cord injury when she was 19. What impresses me the most about her is her love, humor, and desire to learn continuously, which helps with her continually living in her current physical circumstances. There are many times Laura will do 3 hours of physical training daily to help with her recovery and fitness. Laura introduced me to numerous spiritual practices and deep talks during our training sessions and hanging out at her home in Altamonte Springs, Florida. I am highly grateful for her and her mom (Janis) always welcoming me over and their hospitality with warm meals, laughing sessions, movie nights, and sharing genuine moments. They allowed me to stay with them for 4 days when Hurricane Irma hit Florida in September.

We filmed this conversation a day before I left Orlando to make my way to England to start my training to become a personal trainer on a cruise ship. Before leaving, Laura gifted me with one of my most prized possessions, a goodbye card I will always have in my life. I am so grateful to have met, trained, hung out, and been genuine friends with Laura during my time in Orlando, and I will always be rooting for her in life and her endeavors. She will be somebody I will carry her spirit and memories wherever I go and do in life. Laura, thank you for impacting my life and helping me understand freedom, gratitude, helping others, taking care of yourself, giving value, and loving others. Keep constantly training your thoughts and brain to do your best to respond to empowering meaning for all the situations you face in life. Hoorah and a heartfelt thank you! Laura has a fantastic voice; the following videos will demonstrate her singing and photos of her modeling abilities. Keep on rocking it! By the way she stared in her first movie and was spectacular��

Connect with Lauren Shevcheck

Facebook Profile - Personal

Facebook Profile - Stay Strong Shev

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 20:19:27 GMT

In Altamonte Springs, we share our thoughts on life and "why's" for being purposeful.

In my last few months spent in Orlando, Florida, I valued the deep and present conversations I had with individuals. I appreciated them so much because I knew that it could be a very long time before I saw those individuals again because of my travel lifestyle and continual shifting of my interests and endeavors into ways where I would be living in faraway places from these people. I can say I never had the belief that I wouldn't see these people again. Still, I truly value my time with these individuals, especially Jesse Walker, also known as "My Florida Brother," because we look like we could be brothers. Jesse and I share similar interests when it comes to health and fitness. Jesse is a gym owner for Train For Warriors in Lake Mary, Florida, and I am a personal trainer at Center of Recovery and Exercise in Orlando, Florida.

Update for 2022 - Jesse is now the proud owner of Ascend Fitness in Lake Mary upon updating this post. Awesome Jesse!

I had the pleasure of first meeting Jesse at Whole Foods when you asked, "Are you the guy that is always skateboarding and whistling?". Thus our friendship began, and we proceeded to have numerous meetups at his house, at his gym, active meditations, watching the Fourth of July Fireworks at Cranes Roost Park, and of course, doing podcasts together, which allowed us to get better to know each other and hear on topics and perspectives that matter deeply to one another.

I learned a lot from Jesse in this conversation, and it allowed me to share my different "Whys" in life with him.

The importance of dance as a deep means for humans to express themselves.
Highlighting Jesse's why of embracing health and fitness to share with others.
Writing items down and saying it on the video to create external results.
What is your precise goal, and how do you want to live that goal?
Our limits start where our vision ends.
How to be open, listen to others, and be a lifelong learner.

Jesse has a soul filled with wanting to provide value for others and help others grow and transform themselves with health and fitness habits. I know from my numerous conversations that Jesse is a genuine and authentic human being that will continue to have innumerable amounts of success in life wherever he decides to put his energy. Keep on getting it, "Florida Brother," and may you continue to have a life filled with health and wellness.

You can follow and connect with Jesse by doing the following:

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 04:20:39 GMT

Six Word Story - Discussing The Why With The Brothers

This is the fourth time I have had the opportunity to sit down with Jesse Walker for a video conversation. At the same time, we attended a tech hub meetup in a coworking office in downtown Orlando, Florida. Also in the podcast was Daniel Walker, the older brother of Jesse Walker, and he happened to give a tech talk to the audience at the event that Jesse and myself watched. Super grateful to both of these gentlemen for giving me their time and fun energy, diving into the deep thoughts on purpose, and knowing you're why. Thank you for sharing in the moments with me, gentleman, and let's keep on moving, growing, and rocking!

Connect with Daniel Walker

Connect with Jesse Walker

His Gym Ascend Fitness

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸 with Colby Perry, Katie Yergler, and Jon Espinosa, having a conversation.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 01:03:49 GMT

Six Word Story - 4 Employees. Deep and Fun Conversation.

After attending a wedding with my work colleagues, we returned to Orlando and created the moment of sitting down and having a filmed conversation to get to know each other even more. Colby Perry, Katie Yergler, Jon Espinosa, and I have worked together for over ten months at the Center of Recovery and Exercise. I am grateful to have spent this evening with three of my work colleagues, who I respect tremendously for their service to what they do for work, as well as they are all great human beings. Colby, Katie, and John are all personal trainers and train individuals with physical disabilities such as spinal cord injuries and strokes. Colby and Jon both served in the military, and Katie is in the process of becoming a lawyer. I can speak highly of each one of them for how they carry themselves in a work environment and how they carry themselves out in public. Thank you all for sharing your time in our conversation; let's keep getting after it in life!

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸, asking Michael Anthony Armatino, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 03:14:29 GMT

Six Word Story - Just Travel and Be A Backpacker

I met Mike one night when I was walking on the street of Orlando, and we both stopped passing by and pointed out and asked if we both lived in the same apartment complex. I'm grateful to Mike for sharing his time with me in a Hilton hotel for a video conversation and for sharing his thoughts and experiences in life. That is awesome that he wants to do backpacking and travel. I'm rooting for you to make this happen and live your life, brother! Let's go!

Connect with Michael Armatino

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸 with Michael Anthony Armatino, having a conversation.

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 22:43:30 GMT

Six Word Story - In A Hilton. Hearing Each Other.

I met Michael Armatino (Mike) one night when I was roaming the streets of Orlando, and we both halted passing by and asked if we both lived in the same apartment complex. I'm grateful to Mike for sharing his time with me in a Hilton hotel for a video conversation and for sharing his thoughts and experiences in life. It was a trip down memory lane when we began talking about the game and story of Pokemon and the craze of Pokemon GO. After all, not too far from where we had this conversation is Cranes Roost Park, which is known to see many people on their phones playing Pokemon GO. Respect to Ike for working two jobs. I'm rooting for your travels and the backswing you would like to do. I'm cheering for you to make this happen and live your life, brother! Let's go!

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸 with Kwandre Caldwell, aka "Dre," having a conversation.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 06:08:22 GMT

Six Word Story - First Float Tank. Bliss And Peaceful

I have come to know Kwandre Caldwell, who also goes by Dre, from training with him to becoming a personal trainer at the National Personal Training Institute in Orlando, Florida , back in 2016. Dre is spiritual because he meditates, follows chakras, believes in higher energy, and reminds me of a buff version of Jimmi Hendrix. Dre and I are on our way to the Imagine Music Festival in Atlanta Motor Speedway. Before we made it to the music festival, I had the opportunity to help Dre partake in his first float tank experience, which is what this video conversation was about. He reflected on and allowed his thoughts and feeling from experiencing a 90-minute float tank session in the Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta. Thank you, Dre, for sharing your time, and let's keep rocking out by sharing our good vibes wherever we go with others. I've included one video from my channel that has a brief introduction form the music venue and want to see more, just search from the Daily Xander episode 338 or 339 to see more documented footage from the event.

Connect with Kwandre Caldwell "Dre"

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸, asking James Villanueva, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 01:07:08 GMT

Six Word Story - Always Question Everything And Inspire Others

I met James Villanueva while working out of Whole Foods in Altamonte Springs, Florida. He and his friend both saw that I had the book Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink next to me, and we started a conversation between him and his friend Avery Hart . They both were super enthusiastic and sincere about life, business, entrepreneurship, and discipline. Our initial conversation at that moment led me to ask him and his friend what they wanted to do before they died. I enjoyed hearing about all the places James intends to visit, and his answer has taught me that so many human beings want to be heard and feel that they are inspiring others in their life. This is important for me to note, and from now on, it will help me to understand what people want; many people wish to do things related to their family, the ability to travel, and the ability to feel like they are making an impact on their community or the world.

Connect with James Villanueva

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸, asking Avery Hart, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 00:28:16 GMT

Six Word Story - Travel To 70 Countries Impact Millions

I met Avery Hart while working out of Whole Foods in Altamonte Springs, Florida. He and his friend both saw that I had the book Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink next to me, and we started a conversation between him and his friend James Villanueva . They both were super energetic and passionate about life, business, entrepreneurship, and discipline. Our initial conversation at that moment led me to ask him and his friend what they wanted to do before they died. I highly enjoyed Avery's answer and our inspiring chat about life. Keep getting after it!

Connect with Avery Hart

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸 with Frank Perez having a conversation.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 05:12:14 GMT

Six Word Story - In A Constant State Of Change

I have gotten to know Frank through initially knowing one of my mentors, Desmond Garcia . I always enjoy stimulating conversations with Frank because they are so enlightening. Frank has quotes and deep insight into psychology, self-development, mindset, and spirituality. During our discussion, I enjoyed hearing the moments we were created compared to a canvas being touched by the bristles of a paintbrush, thus making the moment to be seen on the canvas. Also, I highly enjoyed hearing the quote from Albert Einstein, "Many times a day I realize how much my own life is built on the labors of my fellowmen, and how earnestly I must exert myself to give in return as much as I have received.". Also, I need to mention that when I first met up with Frank, he showed me all the books he had recently bought and how he felt outstanding from these purchases, like a G. Thank you, Frank, for your time and presence in sharing in our deep and mindful conversation. Let's keep rocking and adding value to others.

Connect with Frank Perez

In Louisville, Kentucky🇺🇸, asking Frank Perez, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 00:04:29 GMT

Six Word Story - A Life Of Donating To Cuba��

I have gotten to know Frank Perez from being introduced by a mentor of mine, Desmond Garcia . Frank is from Miami, Florida, and is an avid reader and student of psychology and business. I am blessed for every moment I get to hang out with Frank, as we will talk non-stop about deep topics of personal development and continual growth. I always leave our conversations stoked and energetic about life. Frank and I were attending a personal development conference in Louisville, Kentucky. We would sit next to each other throughout the conference, writing notes and sharing our insights. I admire Frank's mission before he dies with wanting to donate to his family's home country of Cuba and assist with the foundational principles of The United States of America and its entrepreneurial values to assist and help empower the people that live in Cuba. Frank will always be known to me as "The Powerful" Frank Perez, and I know he will make his missions happen before he dies. Frank, let us get after it and do that podcast!

Connect with Frank Perez

In Louisville, Kentucky🇺🇸, asking Joey Williams, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 23:17:06 GMT

Six Word Story - Wrestling ��‍♂️ In Orlando, Florida, at Wrestlemania

I have gotten to know Joey Williams from being introduced by a mentor of mine, Desmond Garcia . Joey is from Orlando, Florida, and is a massive WWE and football fan. He has had one of my favorite answers so far, sharing his response to my question, "what do you want to do before you die?" with specifics that were fun to listen to. I especially like when he said he knows what he wants. I believe it is essential for anyone to know what they want in life. I sometimes don't always know what I want in life; however, when I spend time around people who have certainty and conviction in doing what they want t do, this energizes me, and I feel more confident in what I am doing in my life. Thank you, Joey, for sharing, and looking forward to hearing your wrestle stage name for walkout in the areas for Wrestlemania. Keep being certain and grinding!

Connect with Joey Williams

In Louisville, Kentucky🇺🇸, asking Bryan Acosta, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 22:25:40 GMT

S ix Word Story - Face My Fears Before I Die

I have gotten to know Bryan from being introduced by a mentor of mine, Desmond Garcia . Bryan is a young and ambitious individual who is in the process of going to a University in Pennsylvania to play collegiate basketball. I wish him well with his athletic endeavors and, most importantly, living a life facing his fears and being able to travel the world to broaden his perspective. Keep grinding!

Connect with Bryan Acosta

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸 with Chuck Allen having a conversation.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 01:28:33 GMT

Six Word Story - Create And Facilitate A Genuine Conversation

I have known Chuck Allen from working at the Center of Recovery and Exercise . It was a pleasure to have this long conversation with Chuck at Whole Foods for over an hour and go into depth about life and approaching life and his activities. Chuck is from Orlando and went to the University of Central Florida for nursing. Thank you for your time, Chuck, and keep rocking it and being blessed!

Connect with Chuck Allen

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸, asking Chuck Allen, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 22:05:35 GMT

Six Word Story - Inspire People With Positivity And Family

I have known Chuck since my one year at The Center of Recovery and Exercise in Altamonte Springs, Florida . Chuck worked there part-time, and we often worked closely with the various clients. I would lead workouts and training sessions. I have highly enjoyed getting to get t know Chuck both at work and outside work and sitting down with him to understand his earlier life had lots of negativity. Now he lives a life with positivity and aims to be an inspiration for others. I hope Chuck asks others the question, "What do you want to do before you die?". Chuck has become a good buddy of mine while living in Orlando, and I wish him nothing but the best on his life path.

Connect with Chuck Allen

The best thinkers and doers think big! Book review for The Magic of Thinking Big

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 22:08:07 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: To Be The Best Think Big��

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸 with Robbie Rockwell having a conversation.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 23:33:17 GMT

Six Word Story - I'm Good. You Must Be Great.

I know Robbie Rockwell from Uber and rode in his car when he was the Uber driver. I invited Robbie into my apartment for a filmed conversation after stopping in Safeway to pick up fruits and coffee. We then spent the next hour talking about life and mind exploring where Robbie shared this story of a client he had while working at the hospital where the client was physically disabled and was a quadriplegic and how an outlook on life made me think and that reminded me that if all my limbs work and function I have nothing to complain about. Thank you, Robbie, for sharing your time and perspectives. Also, I had the opportunity to hear what Robbie wants to do before he dies and created a video and article on his answer . Let's keep on rocking and living a healthy lifestyle to serve others!

Connect with Robbie Rockwell

Instagram Profile - DreamRock Visions LLC

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸, asking Robbie Rockwell, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 21:13:54 GMT

Six Word Story - Creating A Helpful Movement Of Well-Being

I med Robbie Rockwell the same way I met Jameek . In a Uber! One night in Orlando, Florida, I grabbed an Uber, and Robbie Rockwell was my Uber driver. Robbie had a daytime job not too far from where I lived at one of the local hospitals, and upon exchanging contact info, we later met up for a workout at Cranes Roost Park and a podcast. I can tell Robbie will create what he wants to do for others through the medium of health and wellness, and it is only a matter of time. I wish you the best, Robbie, and thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with me. The following videos are from our workout together at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

Connect with Robbie Rockwell

Instagram Profile - DreamRock Visions LLC

At Whole Foods in Orlando, Florida🇺🇸 with Amanda Marie having a conversation.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 22:43:45 GMT

Six Word Story - Amanda Sharing Her Story And Light

I know Amanda from knowing Jesse Walker . I had the pleasure of hearing from Amanda about what she would like to do before she dies, and I have written an article and filmed a video from this conversation . When recording this conversation, this was the first time I had filmed a long-form conversation with Amanda. We filmed at Whole Foods in Orlando, Florida, and Amanda shared with me for the first time her near-death experiences from a car crash and how this experience had shifted and changed her perspective in life. Along with sharing about her daughter and her music and so much more! I highly enjoyed having the opportunity to sit down with Amanda, have a genuine conversation, and learn more about her. Thank you, Amanda, for sharing your time with me. The following video is from 2018 and Amanda performing at the Ormond beach Live Music Festival. An additional note is Amanda's kind words for me after our meetup and conversation shown in the image below. Thank you, Amanda!

Connect with Amanda Marie

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸, asking Amanda Marie🎤, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 20:05:39 GMT

Six Word Story - Life Can Be So Much More

I had the honor of first meeting Amanda Marie through a workout I did with Jesse Walker . I'm genuinely grateful to have been connected to Amanda because after meeting with Amanda and learning more about her and how she had a near-death experience from a car accident, this has drastically impacted the direction and what she wants to do in her life and that of her daughter Savanna. Amanda is a warm and kind soul who shares her thoughts, spirit, and beliefs through her music. After sitting down with her on several occasions and having video discussions, I highly recommend Amanda as she is true to everything she presents herself as and is doing valuable projects she puts her energy into. Open up others to life through your music, Amanda! Video below⬇️ is of Amanda singing��!!!

Connect with Amanda Marie

Connect with Abel Navarro of Abel Body Fitness

Instagram Profile Abel Body Wellness

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 19:45:51 GMT

Six Word Story - Biking To The Gym. Genuine Conversation.

This is the third time having a filmed video conversation with Jesse Walker . We had this conversation in Jesse's Lake Mary, Florida gym. He and his wide have just gotten back from a fitness conference, sharing his perspective on the vent and applying what he learned. We later talk about principles conveyed in the book Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink , yoga and meditation practice, and what we are grateful for. I went biking for about an hour to get to Jesse's gym as I lived far away. Train on and keep on with the discipline.

Connect with Jesse Walker

His Gym Ascend Fitness

In London, England🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿asking Magnolia Wheel, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 03:12:09 GMT

Six Word Story - Be A Part Of Something Bigger

I had the pleasure of meeting with Magnolia Wheel in London, England. I know Magnolia because we are both recent graduates of the London Real Life Accelerator Course . Magnolia and I both had interviews with Brian Rose of London Real, and upon waiting for our turns to speak, we got to talk longer to get to know each other. She is looking to create or be a part of a project that is bigger than herself and wants to have a family. I appreciate her sharing this with me, and I view Magnolia as someone who is conscious of the decisions they make in their life and sees the bigger picture in what their action today will impact in the future.

Connect with Magnolia Wheel

In London, England🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿asking Joost, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 01:13:45 GMT

Six Word Story - House With A Hammock And Children

I had the pleasure of meeting with Joost in London, England. I know Joost because we are both recent graduates of the London Real Life Accelerator Course . Joost completely fooled me as I thought he already had a girlfriend upon him sharing his answer to my profound question. He has on his mind the goal of having a family, and I can tell he is motivated to be a family man and will make it happen. Thank you, Joost, for taking the time to share, and I appreciate your good energy throughout our time together in the Life Accelerator Course. Find that girlfriend and get that hammock to watch your kids play! Let go!

In London, England🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿asking Toni Riding, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 00:49:02 GMT

Six Word Story - Opening Peoples Eyes From The Norm

I had the pleasure of meeting with Toni Riding in London, England. I know Toni because we are both recent graduates of the London Real Life Accelerator Course . Toni is about continually improving herself and taking a step back from situations to ask herself if this is the best solution or if there is a better way for herself and others to proceed throughout life. Thank you, Toni, for sharing, and I wish you well in your journey throughout life and opening yourself to all the experiences you have in your life.

What is the business for the 21st Century? Robert Kiyosaki knows 👍🏻

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 03:05:23 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: Always Learning Is Best For Business

Don't be a consumer. Be a prosumer! Book review of Pro-Sumer Power II by Bill Quain

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 20:24:47 GMT

Six Word �� Summary: People Consume. Be A Pro Sumer!

Video book Reviews on Pro-Sumer Power II

Six Word Story - Workout And Conversation With The King

I had a blast working out with Jet Ray King and filming a podcast right after our workout. He was well experienced withhold in the mitts for our boxing workout, and I appreciate him sharing his time with me to sit down and share more on his current fitness training with boxing and his appreciation for his everyday living circumstances after growing up in Hamilton, Canada. The Video below is of a workout we did together in the same location where we filmed our podcast. Let's keep getting it Jet and training consistently!

Connect With Jet Ray King

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸 asking Jet Ray King, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 20:07:56 GMT

Six Word Story - Dreams Goals Inspiring Accomplishments Mentoring Healing

It is with great enthusiasm I introduce to you Jet Ray King. Jet has recently moved to Orlando, Florida, after growing up in a toxic and negative environment in Hamilton, Canada. Jet loves boxing, fitness, living a positive life, bettering himself every day, and performing vigilance by calling out people involved in child pedophilia. I contacted Jet when he noticed that I would train at the Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs on Instagram. It was a delight to hear from Jet and the goals and visions he has for himself and wants to talk over the world. I interpreted it as he feels like he is in a much more positive environment in Orlando than where he was in Hamilton, Canada. He was to use his experiences and future growth to inspire others to learn and be uplifted into more positive human beings. He even mentioned that he is open to the idea of later in life becoming a pastor. Jet, thank you for sharing your time, and I am genuinely looking forward to our future workout sessions. The videos below are a few exercises to give you an idea of the creative outdoor workout we would do in the good Florida sunshine.

Connect With Jet Ray King

In Orlando, Florida🇺🇸 asking Lisa, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 19:19:56 GMT

Six Word Story - Laugh Travel Be Happy Serve Enjoy

Lisa is another person I had the opportunity to meet randomly while shopping at Whole Foods in Orlando, Florida, and browsing around the organic berries section. Lisa is a kind soul, and we talked for over an hour about life and focusing on the positivity in one's life. I appreciate her wanting to take the time to listen to my question and for her to share her genuine thoughts on the moment of enjoying life by laughing and serving others. The more I do of these. I realize I say the word lovely a lot��

In London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 asking Sienna Dutton-Jones and Ivana, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 08:45:40 GMT

Six Word Story - Jumping From A Plane To LIVE

Thank you to Sienna and Ivana for sharing their time and embracing the spontaneous moment of communicating in a deeper conversation with strangers on the street being myself and William Maisey. Upon walking the streets of London after leaving a birthday party very late at night, we had a random conversation with three ladies, and this led to having the opportunity to listen and hear two of them their thoughts on the question, "What do you want to do be foe you die?". I'm all for both answers that Sienna and Ivana gave. Especially the response "to live, before I die." I appreciate these moments n my life as they teach me how to connect with individuals I just met right away and get to more meaningful topics and conversations.

Connect with Sienna Dutton-Jones

In London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 asking Phil, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:21:22 GMT

Six Word Story - How Phil Is Living His Life 2AM

Phil is from Edmonton, Canada, and has done lots of traveling in his life up until this point. I'm super grateful to hear his sharing his thoughts at 2 am on the streets of London. I wish you all the best with traveling to 5 continents, owning two properties on separate continents, having a family, and building your legacy! Get it!

In London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 asking Tariye, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 08:03:03 GMT

Six Word Story - Surpassing Colin Farrell As An Actor

I had the pleasure of quickly getting to meet and hang out with Tariye in London and was able to ask my question, "what do you want to do before you die?' after leaving the club on a London evening. After reviewing the video, it was funny that I realized I had mixed up her answer of Colin Ferrel with Colin Firth and made a Kings Speech joke when Tariye wasn't talking about the actor Colin Firth. I appreciate her sharing that she would like to improve upon her patience, and I wish her the best in her acting journey. Thank you, Tariye, for sharing your time and your answer!

In London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 asking Libby, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 07:01:44 GMT

Six Word Story - Find The Love Of My Life

I had the pleasure of having dinner sitting next to Libby during a friend's birthday party in London, England. Libby answered fast and with conviction upon hearing my question for her, "what do you want to do before you die"?. She wants to find the love of her life and travel the world tasting and enjoying all the fantastic food across the globe! I love hearing her conviction in the tone of her voice. It was funny to have during the video; a group of girls arrived at our table asking a question about a group they were looking for. It was fun that I left the video recording to capture that moment and said on camera that I would edit that out. It just made sense to go ahead and leave all of that in as I'm all about being authentic and genuine, and this is me capturing the moment I had with Libby in those nearly 7 mins talking at the table we were sitting at about what we wanted to do before we die.

When I ask this question for this project, many people have answers regarding travel, and it was great to have the opportunity with Libby to go more in-depth into what she wants to do with her life and the objectives and goals she has for herself. I especially loved the part of our conversation from listening to Libby describe the plan and map she was following for her life and that she would like randomness to come into her life and interrupt her path. I wish Libby nothing but the best with her life and shout out to her for turning my question from her onto me and asking me on camera what I want to do before I die. I genuinely respect that move! Let's go!

In London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 asking William Maisey, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 05:46:36 GMT

Six Word Story - Die With A Smile�� Happy Fulfilled

One of my favorite human beings and my best friend on earth, William Maisey. A genuine human being who is an authentic and humble human with compassion and curiosity. I've known Will since my time studying at the University of New South Wales(UNSW) in Sydney, Australia, back in 2016. I initially met him while attending a workout at the UNSW Fitness club workout group; at the time, he was an instructor. I showed up to get my sweat on and quickly blew through the workout, and from then on, our friendship was born! Will has been part of some of the most rewarding travel adventures and living abroad experiences I have had.

Will is originally from England and is an avid fan of cricket and sports and chilling out in his off time when he is not being social. Will has an infectious extroverted personality; when we hang out doing any activity, we continually attract others around us. I am incredibly blessed and honored to call Will my friend, and I wish him the utmost success with his life's journey and can't wait to travel with you again!

Will has accompanied me to every country I've traveled to during my first Europe trip (England, Ireland, Iceland, and the Netherlands). One of the most impressive acts of the character of William that I witnessed was when we were waiting for the next performer to get ready for their music set in Reykjavik, Iceland. Without talking to anyone, Will suddenly found a large plastic trash bag and began picking up the trash covering the festival ground where the crowd would be standing later for the music set. This led me to tell him that we will be the 1% in life. What I meant by that is we are going to live a life of extreme value and service to others when we can and be better than the people around us that want to live an average unconscious life. Will has immensely impacted my life and how I carry myself. I will take with me wherever I go and do in the world. Will, you are a shining star in my life anytime we can hang out together. Be blessed, and to our next travels together!

Connect with William Maisey

In London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 asking Ese, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 04:14:29 GMT

Six Word Story - Using Her Law Skills For Value

I had the pleasure of attending a friend's birthday party at a rooftop restaurant in the neighborhood of Kensington in London, England. At the party, I met Ese. Upon asking her my question, she responded by sharing that she really cares about impacting the world with her skills and contribution to those in need. She is a law student and wants to help with defending people who don't understand the law. It was a pleasure to meet her at this rooftop party I went to in London, England, and it was a pleasure chatting with her.

In Exeter, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 asking British Alex, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 03:50:03 GMT

Six Word Story - Workout�� See The Most You Can

The beauty of working out and having fun as you do it with my best friend William Maisey is we attract others to us to work out alongside us. This was the case with Alex, who had just finished school and graduated with a degree in biological medicinal chemistry. Alex was a pleasure to chat with and workout out and join in on the spontaneous circuit workout William Maisey and I had created while working out at the gym on the campus of the University of Exeter. Alex has lost over 14 pounds in the past month, and he is continually losing more. Keep it going and see more of the world! That is awesome!

In Exeter, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 asking Nikita F-John, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 24 Jun 2017 03:23:00 GMT

Six Word Story -Travel Americas, Win First Bobsledding Race

I just met Nikita through my great friend William Maisey. They both studied at the University of Exeter. Nikita has a plethora of athletic accomplishments and plays rugby at a high competitive level, and is in the process of representing England in the sport of bobsledding. This leads me to send her wishes for winning her first bobsledding race and always making and traveling to Central and South America. Thank you for sharing an epic time together having pizza, and thank you for sharing your answer.

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In Amsterdam, Netherlands🇳🇱 asking Christoph Ger🇩🇪, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 24 Jun 2017 02:54:56 GMT

Six Word Story - Experience Life With Friends And Travel

I have known Christopher Ger (Christoph) since my time studying at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, back in 2016. Christoph would attend the fitness classes that I would run for the fitness club on campus. Christoph is a good friend of mine who is involved in the finance world and has a really good head on his shoulders. He is from Germany originally, and I hope to travel to where he is from in the future. Thanks, Christoph, for hanging with William Maisey and me in Amsterdam and sharing good laughs and bright outlooks on life. Congratulations on your new job with KPMG!

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In Amsterdam, Netherlands🇳🇱 asking Conado, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Sat, 24 Jun 2017 02:23:03 GMT

Six Word Story - Cruising The World With His Family

Travel hard! I had the pleasure of meeting Conado while myself and William Maisey were at a cafe in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Conado is a photographer, and upon asking him my question, he shared with me his plan to spend quality time with his family by sailing the world. I didn't exchange contact info with him, so I don't know no any more information about him. I wish him well in his pursuit to sail around the world.

In Amsterdam, Netherlands🇳🇱 asking Catherine 🇨🇦, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 00:19:58 GMT

Six Word Story - A Family Is My Top Priority

I met Catherine while at the same time meeting her sister Nina in the streets of Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the red light district with one of my best friends William Maisey. I first asked Nina the question, and Catherine was able to hear the question and have a little time to herself and prepare her thoughts and answers before I asked her. Catherine really values having a family in her life, and it is clearly important to how she goes about living her life over the next few years, I would imagine. The same as her sister Nina little is known about Catherine as I wasn't able to exchange contact info with her. I wish her the best and hope she is able to have a loving family in her life.

In Amsterdam, Netherlands🇳🇱 asking Nina🇨🇦, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 23:49:07 GMT

Six Word Story - Falling From The Sky Is Bliss

I met Nina and her sister while myself and William Maisey were sightseeing in the red light district in Amsterdam, Netherlands. We met them while sitting on a park bench in one of the canals close to the district. Nina is from Canada and spoke enthusiastically about sky diving. Since I just met Nina in the street and we didn't exchange contact info, there is little known about her. I hope she gets the opportunity to go skydiving and have a beautiful view of our earth from high above.

In Amsterdam, Netherlands🇳🇱 asking Daniël Heijtel, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 23:33:55 GMT

Six Word Story - Traveling And Seeing Is My Life

I came to know Daniël Heijtel while studying at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, in 2016. During my time not studying, I was a trainer for the school's fitness club. Often I would do lunchtime workouts for fellow students, and Daniël was one of the members that would come to my class to train. I then went on a trip with Daniël and other friends that took us up the east coast of Australia to Byron Bay. Daniël is from the Netherlands and is an economist. Thank you for taking the time to hear and film your answer to my question, and I hope Daniël lives a life full of travels around the world!

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In Reykjavik, Iceland🇮🇸, with Karin Dahlqvist asking, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 22:53:35 GMT

Six Word Story - Whale ��Watching Is The Next Adventure

I have come to know Karin Dahlqvist from meeting her and her friend Saga at the Secret Solstice Musics festival here in Reykavik, Iceland. Karin is from Sweden and is a nutritionist. Karin surprised me by her answer as, at first laughing, I thought it was a simple answer, but upon reflecting, it is quite a bieuful human experience to see whales out of the water and especially up close. Karin is a nutritionist back in Sweden, and it has been a pleasure getting to hang with her here and see her perform handstand pushups also. Thank you for sharing, and I hope Karin will one day see whales from numerous places on our beautiful earth.

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In Reykjavik, Iceland 🇮🇸 asking Brett Soderholm, "What do you want to do before you die?".

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 20:46:44 GMT

Six Word Story - ❄️ With Great Challenge Comes Great Reward❄️

Brett Soderholm is another friend I have had the pleasure of getting to ask my question and also hang out with him during my time in Reykjavik, Iceland for the Music festival Secret Solstice. Brett is from Ontario, Canada, and works as a meteorologist back in Canada. He is an avid rock climber and also loves and appreciates. I hope he is able and makes it happen in his life to visit the South Pole and, of course, spend that first night running around naked as it is a tradition. Thank you, Brett, for sharing your thoughts!

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In Reykjavik, Iceland, at the Lebowski Bar, hearing from Saga Greiborn and Anna Fischer on thoughts on Iceland and movies.

voxanderllc@gmail.com (Alexander Clemens) — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 23:11:19 GMT

Six Word Story - Dude! A Conversation From A Bar

We stumbled upon the Lebowski Bar while walking with Saga Grieborn and Anna Fischer in Reykjavik. This bar has themes closely resembling the movie The Big Lebowski . And from walking into the bar and checking out the place, it made sense to stop ordering a White Russian and have a video podcast with Saga and Anna. We met Saga while attending the Secret Solstice Music Festival. Saga and her friend Karin Dahlqvist have remained with us while traveling in Iceland. It was a fun and stimulating conversation about our thoughts on our time in Iceland and sharing of movies that have a deep meaning to us. Ladies, it was a pleasure, and thank you for sharing your time. And go check out the Lebowski Bar in Reykjavik, Iceland !

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William Maisey is one of my best friends I know from staying at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, back n 2016. I am in Exeter, England, to meet with Will as we start a roughly two-week trip to several European countries and go to a music festival in Reykjavik, Iceland. Super excited, and thank you, Will, for sharing your time and helping me with my second video podcast. Keep it going with the positive vibes!

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