Photo: Igor Igorevich (Shutterstock)

If you haven’t completely avoided the news in the past few months, you’ve likely heard about the wild ride in the cryptocurrency market. Experience Bitcoin and Ether enormous fluctuations in value daily, while Dogecoin – created in 2013 as a joke –has become a very real (albeit volatile) asset Thanks in part to Elon Musk’s Twitter feed and his recent SNL appearance.

Meanwhile, China is Combating cryptocurrency deals and the IRS is Chasing Investors Anyone who has not reported profits from cryptocurrency holdings – so if you’ve sold or exchanged coins, you might be on the lookout for capital gains or income taxes.

If the excitement of playing chair watcher or amateur investor isn’t enough for you, you may be wondering if it’s possible to get into the action by creating your own cryptocurrency. The short answer is yes, but there are a few different options to consider – and caveats to keep in mind – before diving in.

Know the difference between a coin and a token

First of all, it is important to understand the difference between coins and tokens. Both are cryptocurrenciesWhile a coin – Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin – works with its own blockchain, a token lives on an existing blockchain infrastructure such as Ethereum.

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In the simplest case, a blockchain is a Record of transactions made and secured by a network. While coins have their own independent transaction books, tokens rely on the technology of the underlying network to verify and secure transactions and property. In general, coins are used to transfer wealth, while tokens can represent a “contract” for almost anything from physical objects to event tickets to loyalty points.

Tokens are often released via a crowdsale known as an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) in exchange for existing coins, which in turn finance projects such as gaming platforms or digital wallets. Similar to purchasing coins, you can continue to receive publicly available tokens after an ICO ends by using the underlying currency for the purchase.

Anyone can create a token and crowdsale, but ICOs can be murky with developers taking investors’ money and running. Some ICOs are considered securities and are therefore regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which warns investors to do their research before buying tokens introduced in an ICO. The SEC is increasingly taking action against fraudulent ICOs.

At the time of writing, CoinMarketCap is listing more than 5,200 coins and tokens available on public exchanges. Not all tokens made it to exchange, however – Etherscan, which provides Ethereum analytics, has more than 403,000 contracts in his archive. In April 2018 there were only 71,000.

The idea behind cryptocurrency is that the underlying code is available to everyone – but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to understand. Here are the ways to make your own coins and tokens.

Build your own blockchain – or share an existing one

Both methods require some technical knowledge or the help of an experienced developer. Since coins are on their own blockchains, you’ll either need to create a blockchain or change an existing one for your new coin.

The former requires serious programming skills, and that too Tutorials and Online courses exist They require a certain level of knowledge to guide you through the process, and you generally don’t end the process with a fully functional coin ready for public exchange.

Alternatively, you can Fork an existing blockchain by using the open source code found on Github, making some changes and starting a new blockchain with a new name (like garlicwhich is forked from Litecoin). Again, this assumes that you understand the code so that you know it what to change and why.

Start a coin or token on an existing blockchain

For the average person who doesn’t know the pros and cons of coding, a creation service that will do the technical work and return you your finished coin or token is an option. For example, WalletBuilders There is a free Coin Start Tool for those who just want to experiment with the process, as well as a paid package (0.0023 BTC at the time of this writing) that will create a working coin. rally is a pure invitation platform for creating coins based on the Ethereum blockchain.

You can also create a token – which is essentially a smart contract – with or without a public ICO. Since tokens can represent any asset, you can even create a token that has no real value or serious purpose other than sharing between friends.

It’s faster, easier, and cheaper than creating a coin because it doesn’t take the time and effort to create and maintain a new or forked blockchain. Instead, the technology that is already used for Bitcoin or Ethereum is used.

A common product is an ERC-20 token, the standard for those based on the Ethereum blockchain. The Code for these token contracts and Crowdsales is available even for the very ambitious, and there are user-friendly tutorials and YouTube videos as well Platforms to guide you through the process create a token with just a few clicks.

These Generator on GithubFor example, you just have to do this Install MetaMask (a blockchain utility to buy, exchange and store tokens) and fill in some details as described in this video tutorial about the token you start. There’s a free option if you’re not particularly interested in customization, and plans with more control costs up to 0.75 ETH as of now.

If you’re curious about crypto, there’s no penalty for experimenting with token contracts. Start with an ERC-20 token that you can hand out to your friends and then redeem to anyone who buys drinks at the bar. There is no financial value or obligation, but this will help you understand the technical aspect as well as how tokens work. An ICO is unlikely to be suitable for the casual observer due to SEC regulation and heavy misrepresentation penalties.

Not all cryptocurrencies are worth real money

The technical creation of a cryptocurrency isn’t the hardest part of starting a successful crypto project. The real work is adding value to your coin or token, building the infrastructure, maintaining it, and persuading others to buy, which requires a team of developers and staff. With the right support and promotion, even Memecoins can achieve real value (think Dogecoin here, too).

Even so, many cryptocurrencies are legally unsuccessful or even questionable, be it because the ICO was not created in good faith or the coin did not arouse lasting interest.

Before you go all-in on a possible one Shitcoin, research all the details of the project for yourself. Don’t just rely on what’s popular on the news or what your friends are saying. Crowdsourced Online forums are a decent place to find up-to-date information on what is real and trustworthy and what is not – though ultimately common sense is king.

This article was originally published in April 2018 and updated on May 24, 2021 with an updated context about the crypto market, updated statistics, additional links and more detailed information on the coin creation process.

Photo: Rido (Shutterstock)

The word “crybaby” evokes a specific image: a child who seems to tear apart things of little importance several times a day for a few minutes per screaming session – and who seems too old to do so. There is a societal expectation that after a certain age, perhaps at the beginning of kindergarten or first grade, children should not melt together as much. After that they are officially “crybugs”.

Some children just cry more than others. They can of course be more sensitive, more emotionally intense or still learning how to regulate their emotions. However, the goal should never be to get rid of her crying. Boys in particular get the message from everyone around them that “big boys” don’t cry, that crying is a childish or girlish way of expressing feelings, or that crying means that they are weak. We need to be careful with the messages we give – and allow others to share – with our children about their crying, especially those who are more prone to tears.

As Sarah Hamaker writes for them Washington Post::

“Crying is normal, healthy behavior that has both a biological and a social basis,” said Cheryl Rode, vice president of clinical operations at the San Diego Center for Children and licensed child clinical psychologist. “It can relieve stress or emotional energy and serve as a means of communication to share emotions or seek solace.”

Rode said that tears are often a response to intense emotions. “The mechanisms that trigger crying are related to our limbic system – the part of our brain that controls emotions,” she said. “Childhood is a time when greater control over emotional regulation is developed.”

What should I say instead of “stop crying!” or “Don’t be a crybaby!”

When a child starts crying, which you think is a minor incident, especially if they are often moved to tears, it can be tempting to help them shake it off by saying something like, “It’ll be fine!” . or “You are okay!” But it’s not okay for them and they’re not okay. Just as you need to feel heard when you feel sad or overwhelmed, children need to acknowledge their feelings too.

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If you are not sure what to say instead, Cooks Hill Counseling’s blog offers these 10 suggestions:

1. It’s okay when you’re sad.

2. I know this is difficult.

3. I am there for you when you need me.

4. Tell me what makes you sad.

5. I see you and I hear you.

6. I listen to you.

7. I am here to help you solve this problem.

8. I will stay close so that you can find me when you need me.

9. That was a difficult situation.

10. Tell me what happened.

Teach them coping skills

What children who cry a lot need is not shame but coping skills. Choose a quieter time to talk about stronger emotions like everyone has and the transitory nature of an emotion, such as anger or sadness. If crying has become bothersome in their classroom, or if their peers start to tease them about it (or avoid playing with them), you can help them come up with new ways to deal with big emotions.

Clinical psychologist Eileen Kennedy-Moore offers these coping strategies Psychology today::

• Take a deep breath. Slow, deep breaths can be very calming. Help your child practice breathing slowly and quietly – through their nose, through their mouth.
• Number. Counting floor tiles silently, reciting even numbers, or doing math facts can be a good distraction to help your child get back on an even keel.
• Take a break. Sometimes the best way to regain control is to move away from the situation. Your child could go to the bathroom or drink some water.
• Self comfort. Tell your child to cross their arms and give each other a subtle hug while thinking of calming thoughts like “I’ll be fine,” “I can get through this,” or “I’ll be home soon and tell mom or dad about it . “

You can also speak to your teacher to develop other acceptable calming strategies that can be used in the classroom, such as: For example, put your head on your desk while you take a deep breath or count, or go to a calming corner for a few moments.

In time, you will be able to better control your tears without feeling ashamed of having shed them in the first place.

Too often, runners try to improve by focusing solely on their running. You are attempting a faster workout, higher mileage, faster overall pace, or more frequent workouts. This approach can lead to injury as more exercise is inherently risky. (We don’t call them “overuse injuries” for nothing!) Instead, if runners focus on their ability to exercise more, they can eventually run more.

Capacity building training improves your ability to exercise even more, whether that means more volume, more intensity, or both. And the best way to improve your ability to run more is weight training.

A consistent strength program has many benefits for endurance runners:

• Faster end times, because you recruit more muscle fibers and therefore run more powerfully.
• Less injuries from overuse, because strength work improves the durability of your muscles, connective tissues and joints.
• Better running economy, because you are better coordinated.

In fact, strength training is so important to runners that it shouldn’t be considered cross-training – it’s part of the training that all runners must complete if their goal is to achieve their true potential.

But how do you start if you’re a runner who’s intimidated by the gym or has never done strength training?

It is important to keep the principle of progress in mind.

If you are new to weight training, where do I start?

Most runners understand that in order to improve, their training needs to get more challenging and complex over time. This is known as progression, and it helps runners gradually achieve more as they adjust to higher mileage and overall intensity.

Strength training is so important to runners that it shouldn’t be considered cross-training. It’s just part of the training runners need to do.

You can do this with your weight training as well. If you are new to strength work, start with relatively simple bodyweight exercises with an emphasis on consistency.

It is at this stage of your running career that it is most helpful to develop the habit of constant strength training. So start with a series of body weight workouts that follow each of your runs. When you finish each run with a small amount of basic resistance training, you build a long-term habit that will last.

Stick to basic exercises like:

• Squats (and their one-legged varieties)
• Deadlift (and one leg deadlift)
• boards
• bridges
• Lunges
• Step-ups
• pushups
• Press (and press)

The Mace single leg routine Below, many of these exercises are combined into a single workout that deals with the strength of a single leg:

And the Standard core routine is a “bread and butter” core workout specially developed for runners:

These routines will help you build strength in a way that will be challenging but accessible to most athletes. As you do a routine after each run, you build the basic strength required for a more advanced lift, if you so choose.

How to add weights and challenging movements

If you’re new to weight training, jumping into a series of heavy deadlifts on day one isn’t a good idea. Instead, start with the routines in the previous section, which are far more general.

General strength is the foundation on which gym runners can get to more advanced lifts. After 4 to 6 weeks of consistent body weight training, you can move on to more advanced exercises.

A valuable way to make the transition from bodyweight exercises to difficult workouts in the gym is to start with simpler equipment like bands, medicine balls, and kettlebells. These tools add weight to your body or only add a relatively small amount of weight.

Ultimately, runners don’t have to be afraid to lift weights. It doesn’t make you bulky or too stiff to run.

You practice many of the same movements that you did in the gym, but with less weight. Routines like that Tomahawk workout are great intermediate exercises when bodyweight exercises are too easy but you’re not ready to hit the gym.

After another 3 to 5 weeks of strength training with home equipment, you can move on to more advanced lifts in the gym. These more challenging gym workouts involve many of the same exercises (Squats, Deadlift, Press) but is done with a weighted barbell.

The planning is different too, as you can’t lift heavier weights every day, so you won’t keep track of every run with one of these workouts. Instead, you can lift fairly heavy weights at the gym twice a week and keep doing bodyweight training after your other runs during the week.

Strength building tips to remember

The goals of runners in weight training are simple: get strong, improve efficiency, improve injury resistance, and increase power to improve racing performance.

Rather than isolating specific muscles, runners should train movements.

Because of this, you don’t have to train like bodybuilders by focusing on single muscles and long workouts. It’s not that helpful for runners.

Rather than isolating specific muscles, runners should train movements. Compound multi-joint exercises like squats and deadlifts not only help runners get stronger, but also build coordination and general athleticism. So, skip the bicep curls and focus on the basic exercises.

And since our goals are efficiency and performance, you need to lift relatively heavy weights. Light weights don’t challenge your muscles and nervous system enough. You will need to lift challenging amounts of weight for these desired adjustments.

But with that said, prioritize your running. Lifting is secondary to running. When in doubt, lift a little less weight than you think. Runners do resistance coordination training when lifting weights, so the exact amount of weight is less important than good movement.

If you are too tired or sore to run from lifting weights, or if you are unable to get the pace or jumps you want while exercising, you are probably lifting too heavy. As you lose weight, you will likely find that your energy returns to running quickly.

Ultimately, runners don’t have to be afraid to lift weights. It doesn’t make you bulky or too stiff to run. But it makes you stronger, improves your body composition, increases your speed and running economy, makes you more efficient and reduces the risk of running injuries. And these are all things every runner wants.

Photo: Skumer (Shutterstock)

By the end of week three, I try to learn how to like to run – something I’ve hated for most of my life – for my entire month. “Lifehacker Fitness ChallengeI have to report a few hiccups and an incredible, practically incredible success.

First, the hiccups, of which there were several. I ran exactly once last week, even though I gave myself one Goal of three runs last week::

My goals for the next week are three runs, at least one of which is on a scenic trail. My longest run / walk this week was just over 20 minutes. So if I can get that down to 25 minutes it would feel like progress. And I hope that at least one run will appear on or near a “two” on the mood card.

There are legitimate reasons for this, namely that my parents and my grandfather came to visit the city last weekend. It was the first time in a year that I had seen her in person. And then, because I told myself I could train in a way that I enjoy, I decided on my elliptical trainer on Monday.

On Tuesday, Lifehacker’s editor-in-chief Jordan Calhoun and I interviewed each other Jason Fitzgerald of Strength Running for Lifehackers Podcast, The upgrade. (This episode is scheduled to be released on Monday. Then I’ll come back and drop the link here.) We were talking about this very subject – how do you get started as an adult? – and Jason was very kind and encouraging to me, even after Jordan told him how My ankles don’t bend properly.

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There were some important personal lessons for me from this conversation. First, in order for you to start running happily, you need to give him 30 days. (I ran into just the right time!) Second, that you’ll probably hate it for the first two – maybe three – weeks. (I had just that much time and still wasn’t a fan!) And then there would be a turning point; My body would feel different. My legs would feel stronger and the whole thing would become a little more natural and I would be on my way to enjoy it. I could tell that he really believed that, I could see that he wanted this for me, and I allowed myself to believe that it might actually be possible. After all, he’s the expert.

Newly motivated, I left the Zoom meeting, laced up my sneakers and started running. I needed a change of scene, so I went to the neighborhood next to me – one that’s beautifully bordered by huge sycamore trees and a little hilly but not quite as hilly as mine. I walked for a few minutes and then started jogging. I had the tight-fitting thing back and I said, “Oh, damn it, here we are again,” but then they loosened up and I left.

After a few minutes, I began to wonder if I should slow down as my body usually insisted that I do it after a few minutes. And yet I felt pretty good. I wasn’t particularly out of breath or unwell, so I just kept running. I haven’t timed myself, but my best guess is I ran 12-13 minutes in a row without stopping. And if I hadn’t had to turn around to go uphill at this point, I probably could have continued for longer. Walking a few minutes at the beginning and end took me to 20 minutes and I got home feeling pretty happy with myself.

Jason was right. My body felt different. My legs felt stronger. I felt less like I was running than I was actually running. And I kind of liked that feeling.

I gave myself a “two” from 1-5 on my Running Moods Scale. (In case you don’t remember, five is, “Fuck that shit right to hell” and one is, “Yay! Running is the best!”) Two was another goal of mine for this week, and it’s the one of that I didn’t think I’d reach

Now back to the hiccups (the figurative kind). Like I said, this was the only run I’ve done this week – although in fairness it’s only Thursday when I write this. The main reason I didn’t run yesterday or today is because my right ankle was a bit sore when I woke up yesterday. Not like an injured type of wound, but tight enough that I’m nervous about running on it. It’s my own fault; I haven’t warmed up enough, even though I know my ankles aren’t flexible. Jason also stressed that people try to do too much too soon and can make injuries worse. So I’ll give it another day or two before trying a run.

Asinine ankle or not, I call this week a win.

Do you remember HDTV? Full 1080p? Well those days are long gone baby Now 4k is the minimum acceptable definition that you want to see. What else are you doing with your eyes?

4K is also known as UHD (“Ultra High Definition”) or 2160p (that’s double 1080p for you math whizzes out there). This means that the screen you are currently viewing is 3840 x 2160 pixels. Most new televisions and computer monitors currently support this resolution. However, there are a few extra steps you need to take to ensure that the content you’re viewing is actually playing in all of its 4K glory.

First, make sure that the platform you’re streaming from actually supports 4K. For example, HBO Max only recently started streaming 4K content. If you’re using a FireTV Stick, you’ll need to make sure you have a 4K model. Netflix lets you upgrade your plan for the full UHD experience.

Then you need to check that the show you want to see is in 4K. Some older shows weren’t up-converted and sometimes you have the option to choose the HD version or the 4K version.

Finally, make sure that all of your cables, connections, and ports support 4K. Some TVs only have dedicated HDMI connections for 4K. So be sure to connect them. Have fun streaming!

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