Technology

Key Concepts in Social Network Analysis 1 – Nodes and Links

A general understanding of the concept of social media has emerged in the past decade, primarily as a result of the popularity of social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. However, both the mobilization of social networks to achieve objectives and the study of the structure and function of these social arrangements have been carried out for much longer than the relatively recent and very rapid adoption of communication technologies seems to imply. enabling information and communication. . Social Media Analysis (SRA) is proving to be a powerful tool for understanding collective action. It has its origin in the sociological study of small groups and interpersonal relationships, especially as described in the works of Georg Simmel (1858-1918), and in the representative and analytical techniques developed in the branch of mathematics known as theory of graphs.

The two fundamental concepts at the core of SNA are nodes and links. Nodes are the discrete social objects that make up the network, such as individuals, communities, organizations, or countries. Links or ties identify and describe the relationships between nodes and can differ in at least four ways.

The quality of a link refers to the substantive nature of the relationship between the nodes, be it friendship, romance, teamwork, or membership in the same voluntary association. The amount of a tie refers to the relative strength of the relationship it represents. For example, we consider some of our friends to be better or closer than others, perhaps on the basis of a deeper emotional bond or some shared experience. Multiplexity represents the idea that the relationship between nodes can be based on more than one quality. So, for example, you may have a romantic relationship with someone you work with. Therefore, the tie between the two of you would have a multiplexity of two. Symmetry refers to the amount of reciprocity between nodes, with respect to a particular link. So if one of your friends assesses the strength of your friendship in the same way as you do, then this relationship is very symmetrical. However, if a friend or family member trusts you for moral support more than you trust them, then this is not a symmetrical relationship.

Social media can also differ in size and scale. The number of nodes can be limited to members of an immediate or extended family, or it can expand to the hundreds of thousands of followers that some celebrities have on Facebook. These fan-based links can be extremely asymmetrical, as in the case of fake news icon Stephen Colbert, who has more than four million followers on Twitter and yet doesn’t follow anyone. The size of the network tends to illustrate the phenomenon known as cumulative advantage, or what mathematicians call the power law. What this means is that as the number of your connections increases, you are likely to see a very dramatic increase in the number of connections, as if your initial set of connections is not establishing connections of its own.

The scale of a network is a measure of how geographically distributed the network is, whether it is limited to a neighborhood, for example, or covers a region, nation, or the world. Sticking with celebrities for a moment, authors like Paolo Coelho and Orhan Pamuk, whose novels have sold millions of copies in multiple languages, attract a huge following on social media sites around the world. In this way, individuals who would otherwise probably never know of the existence of others have the potential to interact through the node that represents their common interest in contemporary literature.

Moving away from social media and the type of highly asymmetric networks associated with celebrities, in 1973 Stanford University sociologist Mark Granovetter published an article called “The Strength of Weak Ties.” In this much-cited work, the author clearly demonstrates the potential of ANS when he can demonstrate that acquaintances are actually more important than close friends when it comes to job hunting.

The next article in the series will take a closer look at some characteristics of network connections.

Home Kitchen

5 ideas to build a spectacular outdoor kitchen

An outdoor kitchen is the ultimate dream for many people who enjoy backyard entertaining. Imagine gathering your friends or family for a summer barbecue or a cozy winter cocktail in the comfort of your own garden. Here are some great tips for designing your spectacular outdoor kitchen.

1. Design ideas

Pinterest is a great resource for finding design inspiration and compiling your plans. Just go to pinterest.com, register an account, and type in “outdoor kitchen ideas.” There are a multitude of design options. Take a look at some of these tips!

  • Moern and elegant

Richly colored concrete or woods are a great way to create a modern design aesthetic. Most classic or traditional kitchens use bleached or light-colored wood to create the look, so go modern! Minimal furniture and features also help create a modern feel. This also helps with maintenance and cleaning. Look at these pictures for inspiration.

  • Classic or Country

White wood, blue accents, and exposed stone are a great way to give your outdoor kitchen a rustic, classic appeal. Flowers and plants that grow along the sides of walls or pergolas are great for creating softness as well as traditional appeal. Think whitewashed cabinets, light wood benches, and large rustic dining room tables.

2. Grills

So many options for grilling! There are 6 main types of grills to consider for your outdoor kitchen. Think about what you like to cook the most and what you can get the most out of before choosing your grill.

  • Open grills

This is the simplest configuration of all the grills. It consists of a metal or stone box with a heating element (wood, charcoal, gas) and a metal grill on top of the box directly over the fire. Open grills are best for direct grilling over high heat and are best suited for quick-cook foods such as skewers, thin steaks and chops, and fish.

  • Covered grills

Add a lid to the open grill and it will allow you to add indirect grilling and smoking features to your outdoor grill. Covered racks are best for thicker steaks, ribs, or whole chickens and ducks. You can also add different types of wood to your grill, close the lid, and let the meat slowly absorb the aroma of the wood.

  • Ceramic grills

Ceramic grills are made of thick walls that allow heat to radiate down the sides of the walls for even cooking. Ceramic grills are usually much deeper than typical grills and are generally used to cook bread (such as flatbreads or Indian naan) directly on the side walls. The grill portion of ceramic grills is best suited for thinly sliced ​​meat, skewers, fish, or vegetables.

  • Grills for roasting

A roasting rack adds a rotisserie to the grill to allow even cooking of thick slabs of meat or whole animals. Food cooks slowly over several hours, resulting in crispy skin on the outside and tender, moist meat on the inside. Grilling racks are best suited for thick steaks, fatty meats, or whole animals like chickens, ducks, or even whole pigs (if your grill is big enough).

  • Smoking grills

A smoker grill cooks the meat over low heat for several hours over aromatic wood shavings for a tender and flavorful meat. The most common woods used by smokers include maple, hickory, mesquite, oak, and walnut. Smokers are best suited for tough cuts of meat that slowly soften while in the smoker. Meats like breasts and ribs are perfect for this.

  • Campfire grills

A firepit grill lets your whole family feel like camping in your backyard! Campfire grills are like campfires but with a metal grate placed over the fire to cook food. The grill racks are adjustable in height so that the food rises or falls to be closer or further away from the fire. This makes campfire grills extremely versatile and can handle delicate foods like fish, vegetables, and S’mores to thick cuts of beef and whole animals.

3. Household appliances

Take a look at these links for some ideas for buying your appliances.

  • Pizza ovens

Here’s an affordable and mobile outdoor pizza oven.

  • Roasting space

This is a complete and versatile grill specially designed for outdoor use.

  • Beverage center

This is a great option for those who really want to entertain! Store your drinks and beverage accessories in a stylish design.

4. Decorating ideas

There are so many options to consider when it comes to furnishing. Will you choose a table and chair configuration, or a bench and stool configuration? Consider what types of gatherings you will be using your kitchen for to help you decide which one is best.

  • Colour: Try to think about what color scheme you will like and enjoy throughout the years. You don’t want to go for a bold and crazy color palette that you end up getting tired of after a season. For a bold and bright touch, use interchangeable pillows, cushions, and blankets. You can choose bright appliances or flowers to add color as well. That way, your base palette stays neutral while adding pops of color that are easy to switch up.

  • Cloth: Obviously, you should choose a weather resistant fabric for your outdoor furniture, especially if there is a minimal top cover. Treated canvas and olefin fiber are good options for outdoor furniture.

  • Shade sails and covers: It is important to protect your appliances and furniture from the elements and potentially aggressive elements. If you live in an extreme climate, consider the type of protection you want to use for your outdoor kitchen. You can build canopies to shade the patio area, or you can build a structure, such as a gazebo or pergola. It basically has a sturdy roof and side pillars. You can also install weather resistant curtains on the side posts that you can close to act as walls if you want some privacy on your patio.

  • Finishing keys: With heavy appliances and furniture installed, take a step back and think about what else you need the space for. Here are some ideas for the finishing touches:

– ornaments

– Lamps

– Small side tables

– Decorative trays and bowls

– Vases and artificial flowers of good quality.

– Water resistant blankets and blankets for the winter months

5. DIY options to save money

You don’t need to rely on the expertise of others for every aspect of your outdoor kitchen needs. You can handle something yourself if you measure up!

  • Use recycled wood and old furniture / benches from thrift stores or yard sales. Recycle it yourself and get to work making your chairs, benches or shade sails.

  • Get out there and look for weather resistant fabrics at fabric stores or furniture dealers. You can reupholster your outdoor furniture to suit your own personal aesthetic.

Auto

CSR Classics – Fun, Addictive, and (Mostly) Free

NaturalMotion’s CSR Classics (iOS and Android) is a surprisingly addictive drag racing game brought to you by the same folks who made great strides with CSR Racing years before. I tried the original CSR Racing game many moons ago, but never stuck with it, mainly because, I think, collecting and racing the cars offered to the user did not interest me.

This problem is well solved in CSR Classics, where drag racing is put on a fictitious “strip” (think Las Vegas). Players buy, upgrade, and race cars from a vast catalog of classic cars, from traditional muscle (Ford Mustang, Chevy’s Corvair, and Nova, and the incredible Dodge Challenger, to name a few) to high-end classics like Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin. , and BMW, with a ton in between. Cars can be purchased in “loved” or “unloved” condition. Beloved cars look and perform much better than their unloved counterparts. As for me (and many people who have been involved with CSR Classics), I prefer to buy rusty, sweaty, hit and run relics to earn money to upgrade them, which makes CSR Classics much more than just a racing game, but rather one for collecting and building too.

The racing dynamics at CSR Classics are deceptively simple. To start a race, the driver (that’s you!) Hits the gas pedal to bring the needle into the “green zone” of the tachometer, trying to keep it there while the counter runs out and the race begins. Starting a career in the green zone provides a “perfect start”, which makes life that much easier. If the needle is too low in RPM, your car struggles to get up to speed, while overrunning the engine before start-up causes the wheels to spin, wasting valuable time until the wheels find their grip on the pavement.

Once the race starts, everything is time-based, as you must try to achieve a “perfect shift” through the gears. A fraction of a second sooner or later can cost a race, especially when competing with tougher opponents. The difficulty of the race varies between Easy (you can make a lot of mistakes and still come out on top), Challenging (a mistake here or there is surmountable, but don’t make it a habit), Hard (being at the top of your game or you you’ll go home a loser) and Extreme (I’ve never beat one of these and don’t even bother trying anymore.

As I said, timing is everything in CSR Classics while on the brake, as there is no need to worry about steering, braking, or acceleration (except when starting). However, the variety of career difficulties helps keep your interest, as do the different types of careers available.

In “career” mode, you try to rank up in better and stronger cars, spending your cash to upgrade what you have and buy new vehicles. Within each level are a variety of races, including ladder races, restriction races, crew races, and manufacturer or car specific events. CSR Racing also offers an “online” mode in which the developers say that you can compete against real life opponents. This is somewhat untrue, as you actually compete against other real-life players in ladder events for money, reputation, and prizes. However, what you can’t do is participate in a real-time endurance race against real-life opponents, which is a bit tricky (pun intended).

Like all games, CSR Classics has some problems. The two most obvious are the replay factor, which I’ve run into every now and then if I’ve played a lot recently, but I keep coming back. Let’s face it, there is only one time limit and tapping a guy can do before things get a little boring. But, for me, a bit of free time and the appeal of new cars (which NaturalMotion regularly adds) brings me back.

The other big drawback is a common one in all the “free” games I have played, namely that at some point the developers make it very frustrating NOT to invest money in the game. CSR Racing does this by using “gold”, which CAN be earned in races or by completing free offers, but that is an extremely time consuming and tedious process, especially since there are some really amazing cars that can only be bought with large amounts of gold. .

Overall though, CSR Classics gets a big “thumbs up” from this gaming gourmand as it has provided me, and I believe it will continue to, hours of good play.

Digital Marketing

WordPress Development – Shopify Development Company

For an entrepreneur or an organization growing there, any business must keep its production creation practical, marketing strategies, and growth plans. Website building includes certain areas such as colors, style guide, redesign, typography, responsive, and SEO.

A recent study led by Harvard Business Review is that the strategies should be used to attract buyers to buy the products and services of a specific website that can help to obtain the integrity from that buyer.

What is Web Design Architecture?

That means everything about your website. It consists of a content process such as; the way it looks, the way it works, logo design, construction, web development, conceptualization, layouts, colors, graphics, text style.

There are many options for creating a professional website. If someone does not have any knowledge of design and development applications, or HTML programming language, then it does not mean that they cannot create a website with many other options and forms that can help to create a good professional design:

  • You can hire a professional web design expert, who can help you create a unique website.

  • Use software like Dream Weaver or FrontPage, but the software is like a professional expert who has knowledge of that software to create a website.

  • There are different online tools available for customizable web design templates that help you customize your business graphics, styles, and text.

Developing a professional website design for your online business

When developing a website, you need a solid domain name like Amazon, eBay. The professional finds the need of his clients / visitors. The web design must be user friendly to understand its content, which results in building a good relationship with your visitors.

It doesn’t matter how attractive and tempting your website is; It should be coded in such a way that SEO can read it and appear on search engine operating pages. All pages should be simple and tell visitors what they are really looking for; instead of adding confusing and unnecessary elements.

Different elements

  • Colors: The best color for a website should be a simple design, black and white or multi-color, use web safe colors for your professional website.
  • Sources: Use web-safe fonts because most web browsers read the selective number of fonts.
  • Graphics: Included graphics of logos, clipart, icons or photos that can enhance the front look of the website.
  • Designs: In designs, advertisements, graphics and texts must be well organized.

User friendly web design

User friendly web design can be created with the following factors in mind:

  • Mobile / Navigation Compatibility: Nowadays, people use mobile devices and tablets for their internet access devices, which is why a website optimized for mobile devices is necessary. Use a Google mobile site tester to see how your website appears on mobile devices, if it does not appear then you can use the mobile device design approach first.
  • Multimedia: Related audios and videos should be used in the web design that can benefit the visitors so that they squeeze the information in an easy way. This way the visitor will spend more time on your website.
  • Easy content: The language should be simple, short, bullet points, headings, subheadings, and other techniques and the formatting should be included to make your website easy for readers.

Web design plays an important role in the success of your business. Web Design professionals use good planning and analysis with customer specifications in mind and try to create a simple but elegant Web Design.