3751

Animals / Re: A brown butterfly on a big green leaf

« on: April 25, 2020, 04:55:54 PM »

Yes, it's said when some animal like this is dead.

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Other topics / One of the simplest Chinese characters

« on: April 25, 2020, 04:47:57 PM »

 A simple Chinese character. It's one of the simplest. Here it is: "一". It means "one" (in Chinese).

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Other topics / Re: A topic about the easy things

« on: April 25, 2020, 04:43:51 PM »

I like it.

3754

Social network | SEO - Social network / My unemployment during COVID-19 (from January 2020 till now) - Part 2

« on: April 25, 2020, 04:29:08 AM »

 Now I'll continue it. I'm sorry that I can't finish it at once, because it's a story which is 3 months old already and it's not easy to summarize it in few sentences.
 So, the next comments under my topic ("How to earn some money NOW in China? Soon going to starve.") were as follows:
a person nicknamed "drguid" posted that "My heart bleeds for all the CCP sympathisers I used to work with and who chose to stay."
(It wasn't something that helps and probably it was ironic, I am not sure. But, at least, now we saw that CCP dealt with the COVID-19 much better than many other countries around the world; so now the hearts should bleed for those pity people in those many countries like the USA, Spain, Italy, Iran, Turkey, Russia and so on...)
 Another person, nicknamed "cuteshooter" said "PM me, I might be able to help but it would take some time." and I did, but after some time he just said: "Best i can do is send some wechat accounts of agencies: (the names I don't need to quote here, because it's nothing to make ads about)
good luck" (Well, as you know in these agencies currently it's practically/technically impossible to find a teaching job if you're not a native speaker. So, it was useless too.)
 A person nicknamed "LWM_on_RPAN" posted: "Your willing to stay but your going to starve. I would have gotten out of Dodge while the getting was good." (So, in fact, I was right to stay, so far, because as I noticed already, the coronavirus pandemic got worse in most of the other countries around the world. And, also, I don't need to repeat it, but I will: for me China is a motherland; I'd like to be here!)
 A similar, but more polite idea was given by a person nicknamed "stiffpenguin": "Can you afford a flight to Thailand right now? I don’t see things getting back to normal for quite a while. I’m visiting Thailand atm and everything is business as usual so it’s much better quality of life for the time being. On your way back bring some N95 masks to resell at a reasonable price and your vacation is paid for."
(I don't want to comment it, but as far as we can see the Thailand's situation changes; there are thousands of COVID-19 cases there already. About the masks selling, I have no permission to do so and I do avoid this kind of activities.)
 A person nicknamed "GorillaTr0n" suggested this: "Teaching online, Palfish, vipkid, or whales, there’s so many kids at home you can teach to online right now. Most kids are Chinese and you can make good money.
I’m a teacher in Vietnam, all schools shut for feb I’d say so most my friends are doing 30+ hours online now."
(Because I'm not a native English speaker, I didn't try them. Of course, I am thinking about it more and more currently, because the situation is getting hopeless. Even there is a 0.01% chance something like this to hire me, it's worth to try.)
 A guy nicknamed "Sweetguy88" asked "What is the average salary for teaching online?" but there wasn't an answer. (I don't know it too.)
 Another guy nicknamed "iduncan18" added: "The situation is getting worse by the day. I'd get the hell out of dodge.
There's going to be an economic depression as well. It's already begun. People aren't working. Factories aren't producing."
(True, but the problem is that in many other countries this will be harder than in China. And, let's say, even there are some countries where is better or will be better than in China, how a relatively poor person like me can go there, rent a house, find a job? It's not an easy process and later I'll show you what happened when I asked about jobs in Singapore and in the Philippines.)
 A person nicknamed "moqinna" decided that I'm not trying to save money, concretely he or she posted that: "Save more money next time? Emergency funds are supposed to last for about six months. If you’re in China you ought to know things are never really that stable.
You need to save money to save your own ass.
Ask your friends for money, I guess?"
(The truth is that I have some savings, but once you're a poor person and you haven't solid incomes, it's not that easy to save when you haven't what to save that much. I'd like to have emergency funds that can last more than 6 months, but the wishes and the reality are different things. In China the things are never really that stable? And where they are?! In my opinion here many of the things are more stable compared with other countries and usually the changes are not so sudden and so big. Of course, there may be bad surprises when something is changed.
A friend of mine offers me money, but I refuse it, because I have 0 debts already and I don't want to be in a debt anymore. What I need is not a new debt; I need some job, at least a part-time one!)
To be continued...

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Plants / Re: A Corvax-like mango

« on: April 25, 2020, 02:53:08 AM »

One of my favorite English learning animations!

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Social network | SEO - Social network / My unemployment during COVID-19 (from January 2020 till now)

« on: April 24, 2020, 05:07:19 AM »

(My) unemployment during COVID-19

from January 2020 till now

 There is a big problem with the unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. I'll share my honest experience in this article. I'm a philosopher (Master's degree) and since 2004 I'm living (and working) in PRC. Because of no way to find a philosophy job in the province I live, I started to be a foreign language teacher (I have got a TEFL). Since January 2020, due to the COVID-19 problem the schools were locked. Till now, many of them, including the private schools, are still closed.
 Even in the pre-pandemic time, I wasn't rich. Many years I'm trying to develop some business, to earn more money, but it's not possible, because I lack of initial capital and I can't find people to support me, no matter how hard I'm trying it. Soon after the school closure I realized that the unemployment is going to seriously hurt my life, because if one is rich it's not a big deal, but when you're a comparatively poor person this kind of situation may hurt you and even destroy you. It's every time worse for the poorest people. So, as soon as I realized the problem I posted a note in Reddit (a social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website) in hope to find some help. What I posted was:

The person: A EU foreigner with many years teaching experience (foreign languages) in China (master's in Philosophy), almost middle aged, in good health, sporty, non-smoker, non-drinker, likes to read and learn. THE PROBLEM: Due to the virus outbreak all of the schools are closed and the private students don't want to go out or to accept tutor at home; they're also not willing to try online classes. Plus, most of the cafes, restaurants, shops, etc. are closed too. The streets are almost empty. The situation may remain like this till March or more according to some Chinese persons. No own business, the savings are not enough. Loves China and willing to stay here, but how to avoid the starving and to earn some normal amount of money?

A person nicknamed "marcopoloman" answered: "Try to find various local expat and teaching groups on WeChat. There are lots of video and online positions available as well."
 (This is something I do non-stop, but the problem is that nearly all of them need only "Native English speakers". One of the first questions is "Where are you from?" If you're not from the USA, GB, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or South Africa, it's practically impossible to get some attention.)
 A person nicknamed "fixerdave4redit" answered: "This is the ticking time-bomb. It's not just the OP... how many millions of people are in the same situation but without even the option of leaving?
How many landlords aren't getting the rent cheque? How many mortgages are going unpaid? How many restaurants aren't opening? How many cooks aren't working? Entire economic chains are fraying.
A lot of people live with very little financial buffer. Even if this thing went away right now, there will be a very large number of people with unraveled lives. It's not going to go away anytime soon."
 (Well, this is what we see all around the world currently, right? It's not only in China. So, he or she, is right, but it wasn't helpful for me to know that it's not just me. I know it, because I'm watching and reading news.)
 Another one nicknamed "cuteshooter" answered it: "Maybe the whole system of monthly rents will crumble!"
 (Something that also isn't helping me.)
 After that there were 2 political comments, which I will skip, because I'm trying to avoid politics as much as I can.
 A person nicknamed "mtb312000" offered me: "send me your wechat id, I can send you a few bucks"
 (I refused, of course, because I'm not willing to be a beggar. It was really touching and I appreciated it, but I answered: "I'm still OK, but THANKS for offering so!")
 A person nicknamed "sleepingbusy" suggested: "Intermittent fasting. You only need to eat once a day. Just eat hot pot.
But if you don't have any way of security, probably should move or sell some stuff."
 (This advice is logical, but in fact, most of the time I eat only 1-2 times a day, so it's nothing new to me. And the selling stuff is a temporarily solution. What I need is a stable, long-term income.)
 A person nicknamed "pocket_banana" posted: "vipkids, duh!" and another one, nicknamed "ChinaBounder" answered "He's not young, not female."
 (These were pretty unclear, so I didn't pay some special attention to them. All I supposed was that probably they're talking about online teaching for native English speakers which are young females. I don't know.)
 A person nicknamed "FeedMeFish" offered: "Which city are you in? I have a WeChat group that might have something, but it’s mostly in Shenzhen. Feel free to DM me if you’d like"
 (And I did, but I'm not in Shenzhen, so for me it wasn't very useful. Just those groups that usually post ads about native English speakers.)
 One (who is already deleted and I don't know his/her username) advised rudely: "Get the fuck out of China. The shit is gonna hit the fan soon"
 (Yes, it was rude and semi-wrong, semi-right. As you can see currently many other countries are in a worse condition than China. I know people who left China and now feel sorry, because over there, in those other countries the COVID-19 pandemic is making the people's life very hard.)
 Another person, nicknamed "hapigood", gave me a similar advice: "Japan. Korea. Get yourself out and ELSing somewhere reliable, it should take less than a month to get a place given the experience/qualification you state. In the meantime, beans and rice."
 (The problems here: 1) I'm not a native English speaker and it's not easy for me to find ELS jobs in Korea or Japan. And, by the way, I don't want to live in Japan, because of their radiation and earthquake problems, no matter how much I like the Japanese culture. 2) As you can see both countries are also having big problem with the coronavirus pandemic currently.)
  A person nicknamed "dopef123" shared a story: "A family friend got fired from his teaching job in China and the embassy for the US flew him home. He had to pay back the ticket cost though eventually.
It sounds like it'll take months for the virus to blow over. And it'll get worse before it gets better. If you don't want to leave china you might have to ask family back home for money or something."
 (First of all, I really don't want to leave China, because it was my childhood dream to live in an Eastern country and because I chose China and I spent here more than 16 years so far. Secondly, well, I'm not a young kid to ask for money and the so-called "family" is already not existing: grandpas, grandmas, mother -- all passed away. There is only an old father currently. He's not asking me for money and I do not ask him too; sounds in fair, right? Also, he's not a rich father. So, this option isn't for an option for me.)
 To be continued...
 

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Other languages / Re: Лекуване на себореен дерматит

« on: April 23, 2020, 06:04:01 PM »

 Да опресня с нова информация. Дори и без въпросния метод, при мен подобренията (до почти пълно изчезване в дълги периоди от време) са, когато:
- няма много стрес
- ограничавам сладките, изкуствени напитки и пия основно вода и чай
- мия лицето по няколко пъти на ден (плюс ежедневното къпане, което също влиза в сметката).
 Това е.

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Other languages / Малумфилия

« on: April 23, 2020, 05:46:05 PM »

Малумфилия

  Преди дни се замислих за едно ново понятие - обичта към злото (харесването на злото). "Лошо", "зло" на латински е malum (малум), та така и се получава наименованието "малумфилия"/"malumphilia" (ако някой иска да е по-пуристично, може да го прилага като "злофилия" или още по-пуристично - "злолюбие". Последното, обаче, го има в църковни материали).
 Понятието може да се употребява в широк смисъл, не само в религиозен. Относителността на зло/добро позволява това. Например за някои проституцията е зло, а за други е професия, която е достойна за уважение. Друг пример - за някои комунизмът е висше благо, а за други е кошмарно зло.

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Other languages / U-образна рецесия

« on: April 23, 2020, 06:26:38 AM »

 Някои смятали, че ще има U-образна рецесия. Възможно е, според мен, но ако наистина няма втори, трети и пр. вълни на коронавирусната пандемия и на други такива проблеми. Има ли, нещата вместо на U-образни може да заприличат на W-образни, в по-добрия случай или на L-образни в най-лошия случай.

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Other languages / Re: На косъм от смъртта

« on: April 22, 2020, 06:10:48 AM »

 Засега все още не съм умрял, ако някой се чуди дали не ме е поразил новият коронавирус (КОВИД-19/КОВИБ-19), но вече с месеци няма работа (частната школа за английски език, където преподавах фалира след няколкомесечно спиране на учебните занятия), частните ученици, с едно изключение, не искат да излизат навън за уроци, нито онлайн уроци... прописах е-книги на английски, вече издадох 3, но продажбите не вървят... та, ако още 1-2 месеца така са нещата (безработност и безпаричие), може би няма да е лош вариант животът да приключи и по-рано за мен. Опитвам да търся работа ежедневно, но то поначало е трудно (особено след промяната на законите в Китай относно преподаването на английски език), да не говорим за времето на пандемията сега, когато още не са почнали частните школи и детските градини да работят... А за бизнес, както многократно съм писал - няма пари/капитал... Много ме е яд на всички онези, които имат пари да помогнат да стартираме нещо (ресторант, фризьорски салон, каквото и да е), че да се измъкна от немотията, както и те да спечелят, но какво да направя?!...)

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Other languages / "Коронакризата"

« on: April 22, 2020, 05:43:13 AM »

 Попаднаха ми словосъчетания като "коронакриза" (и, на английски, "corona crisis"). Примерно, че коронакризата можела да проправи пътя към универсален базов доход (съживила призивите за универсалния базов доход). В тази връзка - аз отдавна, още преди коронавирусната криза, говоря че е не просто социално, но и хуманна да има такова нещо (универсален базов доход), защото не всеки може да има работа. Сред тези, които могат, но не искат да работят, има не само обикновени мързеливци, а просто творчески натури, които биха искали да творят нещо, което им харесва, а не да работят нещо, което ги подтиска (например някой иска да си стои вкъщи и да пише книги, а друг - да рисува картини, вместо да ходят да чистят тоалетни или да продават кафе). Дори и за тези, които биха искали да работят, такива "безплатни пари" (универсален базов доход) няма да им дойдат зле, нали? Ако някой чак толкова не иска тези допълнителни пари, нека ги дава за дарения - не е проблем!
 За много хора това е необходимост, защото са работещи бедни. Някои казват, че било утопия (утопично), обаче не са прави и може да си го докажат като се запитат: "Как има милиони и милиарди за толкова много други неща, а за обикновения човек няма?!" (Пример може да се даде с наливането на колосални парични суми за оръжия. Аз, като пацифист, имам неприязън/фобия към това нещо.) Може да се заделят пари - пари, на повечето места, има, но желание няма да дадат част от тях на хората просто така!

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Other languages / Re: Всичко за коронавируса (COVID-19; КОВИД-19; Ковид-19)

« on: April 21, 2020, 02:39:40 AM »

 Във Виетнам сложили "оризови банкомати" (на английски - "Rice ATMs") за бедните хора по време на коронавирусната пандемия.
Източник: https://vietnamnet.vn/en/photos/rice-atm-machines-support-deprived-people-nationwide-633865.html.

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Other languages / Re: Всичко за коронавируса (COVID-19; КОВИД-19; Ковид-19)

« on: April 21, 2020, 01:21:48 AM »

 Африкански репорер от Киншаса (Конго, Африка) по CGTN (Сиджитиен) за Африка преди минути говори как там разни африканци си викали, че КОВИД-19 (КОВИБ-19) е болест, която хващала само белите хора; при тях било топло и нямало такива неща. Човекът правилно отбеляза, че ако не си променят такива поведението, нещата ще станат бедствени. Много е прав човекът! (Те в момента имат над 300 случая на коронавирусната болест регистрирани (според worldometers.info); представям си колко са нерегистрираните! И преди е ставало дума, че няма как да се регистрират всички заболели.)
 Опасяват се някои, че Африка може да стане следващото голямо огнище на зараза (коронавирусна зараза) и аз съм също сред тях.

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Other languages / Какво значи "куртовска капия"

« on: April 20, 2020, 05:18:29 AM »

За "куртовска капия"

  Ето и за още един сорт чушки - куртовска капия. Това е известен сорт пипер, който образува едри плодове.

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Other languages / Какво означава "слоново ухо" ("слонско ухо")

« on: April 20, 2020, 04:56:41 AM »

Слоново ухо

  Ето нещо ново - слоново ухо. Буквално, това словосъчетание, означава "ухо на слон". Да, обаче, това се е превърнало и в название на нещо друго - на вид чушка (пипер) с много едри и месести плодове.

Слонско ухо

Има и вариант слонско ухо. И под него се разбира същото. Само че, да добавя, и под него и под по-горното се разбира и едно стайно цвете.
 Както виждате, поне досега, имаме 3 значения на "слоново/слонско ухо":

• ухо на слон
• вид пипер/вид чушка
• вид стайно растение/саксийно цвете

.
 Толкова.