Photo: Photographee.eu (Shutterstock)

If you’ve ever dreamed of a tropical getaway from your office job, you are not alone. While you may not be able to leave your home or office if you crave the outdoors, surrounding yourself in some (or a lot) of greenery may be the next best thing to do. If you are looking for plants that will not only fit perfectly on your desk, but will also survive if you forget to water on a busy day or neglect on a long weekend, there are plenty of options. And if you want something fancy, we have that too –Aquaponics aquarium, someone?

Here are some plants that you will find resilient, adequately sized, and fun when creating your own workplace oasis.

Space-saving plants

The average desk is anywhere between 48 and 70 inches wide and 30 to 36 inches deep. That’s not a lot of space to work, so you have to think small when it comes to your desk.

Mini succulents are easy to care for, versatile, and adorable at first. A living stone succulent plant– so named because they look like real stones – never grows beyond its tiny pot. A Coffee mug juicy grows in a cup-shaped pot and fits into the stereotypical office culture. Another little plant option for your workplace is this bamboo– The leafwood handles are tough and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit on your desk.

Low-maintenance systems

In addition to succulents, there are other self-sufficient plants that you can choose to decorate your desk. Air plants, for example, do not need soil to live. They have tiny roots and spider-like leaf tendrils, and the soilless plant gets nutrients from the filth of dirt and moisture suspended in the air. It may sound like magic, but these little plants can be housed in glass bowls and do just fine with a simple spray two or three times a week. They also love filtered and indirect sunlight. So as long as your workstation has windows, you’re ready.

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The information page Small Business Trends are further innovative ideas for workplace systems. They recommend that Ecosphere, a round object filled with water, plants and fish. The approximately ten centimeter wide sphere is a self-contained ecosystem and therefore does not require any maintenance.

Another out-of-the-box option is one Aquaponic aquarium, that is an aquarium that serves as a reservoir for a living plant. They come very differently Shapes and sizes, and you can keep it fishless or put a beta fish in the small attached tank that combines an office plant with an office pet. As the planting agency Trees.com explains:

Water containing fish waste provides plants with the nutrients they need to grow vigorously. In return, the plants absorb excess nitrogen and provide purified water that is returned to the tank.

Fill your desk landscape with leafy green

Most of the time, smaller ones work better in an office setting – but if you have the space, designing your desk garden with a mix of smaller and larger plants offers nice visual variety. Plus, larger plants with green foliage can add a new lushness to your workplace garden.

Spider plants have green and white leaves that sprout like a bush. They love indirect light and prefer to dry out completely before the next watering. The same applies Devil’s ivy– Its light green, waxy leaves are bell-shaped and flow out of the pot, giving your workplace a tropical feel. Snake plants grow straight out of the pot with green and yellow leaves and add a touch of color to your office. Divide the roots and regular pruning ensures that a snake plant is the perfect size for your desk.

If you don’t have time to put together the perfect selection of desk plants, you can purchase a pre-made kit. If you have the means and want to go all out, you can treat yourself to a pre-made product Terrarium desk for about $ 350. But for a cheaper option, Plant sellers at The Sill offer a “Plant Parents” kit for $ 60. The set is aimed specifically at new system owners and contains five to seven low-maintenance systems. Sizes range from three to six inches wide, which is just right for an entry-level desk oasis.

During the pandemic, ChiChi Anyanwu made the brave decision to start their own talent management company, Chi talent management, Management of the careers of actors in theater, film and television. Your company is part of a small number of black women owned agencies so I chatted with ChiChi to see how she makes all of this possible.

How do we actually have a share in the game if we continue to earn money from other people? “

How did you come to the decision to start your own company?

I have interviewed various agencies [and] it came to a point where [I got] tired of working for people. I’m in my 30s now, just sick of working for people. And the sad part is that I don’t really see much [Black] Managers or agents who have their own businesses in New York, alas. There are quite a few people in LA, but in New York I can probably count on my hand [how many are] Obsessed with black.

How do we actually get a stake in the game if we keep making money for other people? In everything that happens in the world, I’ve always thought about property. I didn’t know if I was quite ready because in my head I want to[ed to first have] five series regulars, five people on Broadway. You want an established income to come in because it’s a bit risky. It was definitely hard because I get very impatient too.

What is an average day in ChiChi’s life?

I have a bad habit of not eating breakfast. I’ll check my cell phone [first thing], and as soon as I check my cell phone, my day can begin. I will now practice turning off my cell phone and maybe doing sports, having breakfast. It’s a busy day where you need to get messages, check in with customers, and make sure everyone has their tapes on time. I now have an intern which makes my life so much easier so get in touch with my intern and make sure things get done on a daily basis. To make sure I submit all projects, I do a pitching day. I am now adding a couple of consultations a day. I am just starting to promote my clients and find that they work.

I know a black manager in New York who has her own company. “

How was starting your own business during the pandemic?

Because Broadway was closed at the time [and] There were no real TV and movie sets, it was really slow for a while. There were projects that would then release the collapse [say] oh we have to postpone this because of COVID. So it was a bit of a gamble, but at the same time [I felt] Well, let me just do this because there aren’t a lot of people who look like me.

That’s what sets me apart from everyone else. To be a management company owned by black women is [relatively] unheard of. I know a black manager in New York who has her own company; she’s the only one I know I am one of the very few; just let me do it.

What challenges did you master as a black woman in the industry?

What has frustrated me in the past – some people will say, “Oh, I only have so many seats for this type of actor.” Let’s say someone has five African American actors in their twenties. You have this whole thing about filling certain types. I wanted to be that company that wasn’t about guys but how to get the best actor [from] a heterogeneous group of actors? Most of my clients are African Americans, but there is so much diversity among African Americans. Everyone has different backgrounds. I don’t want to feel like I have just one type of customer.

If a person doesn’t have a great resume, this can be some kind of name game. Sometimes I sell my clients and someone says they’re looking for bigger names. The reality is, when you’re selling a new show, it’s about selling ads – which is what actors will bring in with the ad money, too. My job is to showcase my clients, but also to make sure we have the marketing materials [to say] Hey, I know she doesn’t have a really good résumé, but check out her work. Fortunately, I was able to attract many of the people who do not necessarily have a lot of experience in top offices because I developed them.

What do you say to entrepreneurs who also wear lots of hats?

It helps to focus. When I knew [then] what I know now, if I had joined the agency a little earlier. I was hopping around all over the place. I actually did casting for quite a while before I got into representation and management – I decided to get an assistant job at an agency and then eventually work for a management company. So it definitely helps to figure out what you want to do and then focus on it. But ironically, all of those contacts I made during the casting are still in touch today; they hired my clients. I had to work in casting first to get the contacts I need now when addressing my clients. I still have a lot of contacts that I made in college, I met directors while working at various companies in Pittsburgh, I networked a lot when I was working at the McArthur Theater, I have all these great black directors with met this internship that I did over 10 years ago. Even though it took me a while to get where I am, it helped to be someone who did a little bit of everything.

How important is it to you to highlight the People of Color resources?

I think it’s really important. People will complain that there are no options for it. gives [actors] Color, but what about the people behind the scenes? I am part of this diverse representative group and it is nice because they provide you with colored publicists, [and] Entertainment lawyers. There are literally resources now that we can share, where you can find people who look like you.

It’s not just about what we see on screen – it’s also about what’s going on behind the scenes. Even with Broadway. People complain that there isn’t enough diversity on Broadway. Who are the producers? Do you know the five best black producers? Do you know the top five black directors on Broadway? It’s also about making sure people have access to this information.

Personally, I am happy to share information. While I’m not necessarily going to represent you as an actor, I want to help be a resource. I do counseling sessions with actors because sometimes it’s about someone else looking at your material [and give] You feedback.

What advice would you give people when it comes to developing a work ethic in the media?

In any case, I think you have to be okay with long hours. In all honesty, I’ll work until I’m done, or actually until I fall asleep. I am multitasking. I probably do a lot of different things while I work. If you really want to work in the industry, you have to accept these long hours. When you book your television show, it will be a 12 hour day for a scene that may only last five minutes. You will be surprised when people finally get what they want, how they don’t want to put the work in. Even when you finally have what you want, it will still be a process. I respect all the kids on Broadway because you do eight shows a week – that’s a lot of work.

I will be quick to recommend a therapist to you because you are going to need something to help you. There is a lot of rejection. I have a few clients who get frustrated when they get involved in so many projects and [don’t get callbacks]. If you don’t get any callbacks, you’ll have to go back and do the homework. Let’s find a new coach, let’s find out what doesn’t land. Sometimes you just don’t fit the role, but sometimes it depends on the work and how hard you work.

Just make sure you want it. Make sure you are in a good place [and] that you have time to manage and manage the workload [the] Audition. Some people can’t juggle both and frankly, as a manager, I can’t wait to become [them to] quit their survival job. My goal is for everyone to quit their job so they can focus 100% on acting.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Image: Lightspring (Shutterstock)

The virus that causes COVID-19 has been an evolutionarily successful virus that got the world to see and expanded its small family tree. (It was successful in his view; not so much in our view.) This means that variants of the virus have appeared in several different places, and some are “worrying variants” that are more transmissible or could be potentially more harmful. Let’s do an overview of the ones you should know about.

The last time we wrote about the variants, they had hard-to-remember code names, and scientists often talked about the codes for the mutations they contained, which created a lot of confusion when we tried to keep it clear which was which. As a result, people often used geographic nicknames (e.g., “the South African variant”) what problematic on many levels– not least because viruses travel, so that any place name quickly becomes out of date.

COVID Variants of Concern

The variants have now been renamed according to Greek lettersto make it easier to talk about and keep track of. The first four are considered “worrying variants,” which means they may be more communicable, more virulent, or better suited to bypassing public health measures than the other versions of the virus. There are four:

alpha

The “Alpha” variant B.1.1.7 was first discovered in September 2020 in Great Britain. It was among the first to hit the headlines, and it’s estimated to be 50% more transmissible than previous versions of the virus. It is currently the dominant variety in the USA. Fortunately, people vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna, or who previously had a different strain of COVID, seem to can fight it well. Tests with other vaccines have not yet been published, but the data we have is reassuring. For example, the study on the Pfizer vaccine found that it was 90% effective against this variant.

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beta

The “Beta” variant B.1.351 was first discovered in May 2020 in South Africa. It has been linked to higher hospital admissions and deaths than the original COVID. The effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine against beta is only 75%, however that jumps up to 97.4% when you look at severe or fatal cases, so the vaccine is still very helpful.

gamma

The “Gamma” variant P.1 was first detected in November 2020 in Brazil. Gamma is more transmissible than the original COVID, but less than alpha. Previous infection with COVID may offer less protection from gamma than other varieties. Fortunately, it doesn’t spread as quickly as other varieties. Studies in areas with both alpha and gamma found that alpha became more common over time, while gamma did not.

delta

The “Delta” variant, B.1.617.2, was first discovered in October 2020 in India. In April of this year it was considered an interesting variant – more on this category below – and was upgraded to a worrying variant in May. This is currently the most worrying variant.

Delta is more transmissible than the other variants (even compared to Alpha) and is more likely to cause serious illness. The Pfizer vaccine appears to be slightly less effective against Delta than it does against Alpha, however It’s still very protective after both doses.

Variants of Interest

Interesting variations aren’t as important as worrying variations – not yet. They have mutations that are “found or suspected” to cause the virus to behave differently, and to be detected they must also spread to the community or otherwise be judged of interest to scientists (that is, an isolated virus not qualified in the laboratory or in a few individual cases). These include:

• The “Epsilon” variants B.1.427 and B.1.429, to be seen for the first time in March 2020 in the USA
• The variant “Zeta”, P.2, seen for the first time in Brazil in April 2020
• The “Eta” variant, B.1.525, will be seen for the first time in several countries in December 2020
• The “Theta” variant, P.3, was first seen in January 2021 in the Philippines
• The “Iota” variant, B.1.526, will be seen for the first time in the USA in November 2020
• The “Kappa” variant, B.1.617.1, will be seen for the first time in October 2020 in India
• The “Lambda” variant, B.1.617.1, will be seen for the first time in Peru in August 2020

How Much Should I Worry?

So far, none of the variants differ drastically from the original COVID; our vaccines and public health interventions seem to work well against the variants, although some may be a little less effective. These are not game changers, just reasons to be extra careful. Scientists pay close attention to how these variants spread and how well we are protected from them.

Right now, it’s still best to get vaccinated when you can, and wear masks and other public health measures when you aren’t vaccinated. You can also choose to continue wearing masks while vaccinated if you feel extra careful, but the risk of developing any variant is still likely to be very small.

In addition to the interesting and worrying variants, there are another category, according to the CDC: “Variants with high consistency”. This would be used for any variant that could bypass diagnostic tests, significantly reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine, or lead to much more serious illnesses. So far, none of the COVID variants have qualified.

Image: Nintendo

It can be difficult to work in silence, but it can also be challenging to find music that doesn’t distract you from highly focused tasks like writing. But it turns out that video game tunes could be the perfect background music when you need to focus. No seriously.

Than this Reddit post points this out, Video game music is usually instrumental so it is less intrusive and is specially composed to keep you focused and motivated. You may be skeptical about not playing games, but I assure you that game music is much more than silly beeps and bloops. This NPR radio segment from 2014 explains that video game composers are often classically trained musicians who apply the same techniques to their work as any classical composer.

For a lifelong gamer like me, this isn’t exactly surprising – I often listen to game soundtracks as I work. However, as a newbie, it will be difficult to find a good soundtrack for concentration – there are thousands of games, and if you don’t already have a list of favorites, wading into the world of video game music can be overwhelming.

To save you the hassle, I’ve compiled a list of 10 of my favorite video game soundtracks for you to listen to while writing, studying, drawing, or whatever you’re doing. The list gathers popular classics and personal favorites, but it’s in no way final – if your favorite soundtrack is missing, it’s not because we don’t think it’s worthy, so be sure to mention it in the comments.