Weekly Review
A gigantic flock of ravens flew up and out of Africa this week at Community DAO!!! Increasing focus turns towards refining our structures for incentivizing participation and scoring engagement with our content creators. More time is spent handling, curating, editing, and moderating incredible work efforts from individuals who show they are quite passionate about our organization and making it a success by spreading the word, and creating designs and writings on rotating themes, week by week.
On the writing front, we attracted new essays on “Memories of School,” this round. We received 14 original articles from our marketing squad, predominantly from Nigeria, Africa. This is the 3rd week in a row of capturing a similar amount of powerful content on real life experiences from this culture in a fascinating part of the developing world, especially in the areas of cryptocurrency trading and graphic designing. And it looks like this trend will continue.
Our editor Dr. Alina Okun, continues to build a database of all writings for CommDAO here: https://www.notion.so/pulsar-innovation/Community-DAO-ebaaa160c93040dd8c85b88af7a1ade0
And we also learned that CommDAO has been selected as one of Dr. Okun’s 3 ambitious projects for Fall of 2022!!! She plans to create an NFT book based on the memories and experiences flowing to us from Africa, which we are initially presenting, bit by bit here in Commlink. See the accounts she has selected for this issue. You will be deeply impressed by the sincere, insider’s glimpse of people growing up in a difficult environment in the developing world. There are tales of heartache and sadness but also many of the triumphs of life that we all hope to achieve through hard work and a joyful embrace of unique opportunities. These are wonderful stories. And Community DAO is at the forefront of supporting these individuals by providing contests for them to improve their arts as well as earn Ravencoin, our native C0MM, and weekly NFT bonuses. This supports their economy and also works towards spreading Ravencoin to the untapped market of 1.2 billion people.
On the graphics creation front, we issued a “Raven Design Theme” Contest which brought in 119 entries!!! That almost doubles the output from last week’s “Metaverse Game Design Theme.” We actually need more curators to assist us in handling this rather vast output now. Dr. Michael Gilchrist has now joined our Research team. And we are glad to have him back around! If you are interested in becoming a part of this exciting work effort, contact us through any avenue or public forum. We are easy to find.
List of Entries and Results for the Raven Design Theme Contest
A major function of CommDAO going forward is structuring and refining a series of weekly themed graphic design contests for active content creators. We think we have established a winning model! The top 15 picks from the Triumvirate Governance Body’s 3 sectors: Foundation, Marketing, and Research make up the primary judging activity. From there, we have some other goal points that create a more competitive spirit and help build momentum. Each pick receives 50 RVN/500 C0MM. Each sector picks 5 favorites. Top performer (most likes) wins 100 RVN/1000 C0MM. Top 3 performers have their design minted as an NFT on the Ravencoin blockchain, struck from our C0MM main asset token, and returned to the creators as trophies, collectibles, and tradable RVN based NFTs. In addition to these, we are also introducing a “Horsepower” Component based on the sheer # of output on a particular theme. The person who makes the most designs here wins 100 RVN/1000 C0MM, 2nd place 75 RVN/750 C0MM, and 3rd place 50 RVN/500 C0MM.
Here is how the Horsepower component works…
We also continue to make progress in our talks with Alterverse, concerning the Commtower. In a meeting with Jeff Lippert, CGO for Alterverse, this week, we discussed 3 primary activities we can foresee in the tower currently: 1) gaming, 2) NFT galleries/retail stores, 3) meetings (recreational/work). We view the Commtower as a gigantic lab testing a variety of fusion type interactions bringing gaming and crypto business worlds closer together. These were some of the ideas I threw at Jeff to consider for the lobby space…We want a variety of things on that ground floor: shops, information center, couple blackjack tables, some lounging cantine/bar/restaurant area, another rotating game or 2, some art for sale on the walls, teleport/elevator transport area, another rotating feature/game/show/event zone centrally located, some screens playing a variety of fare, etc.
Jeff has also confirmed that there will be a Raven monument on the 1st floor, centrally located, as well as a rooftop pool where we will be prototyping an exciting new game, only available at the Commtower. More to be announced in weeks to come!
Finally, we are quite flattered that the new Twitter banner of Alterverse contains the C0MMtower as the centerpiece of the whole setting. What a beautiful world!
Well, that is all, and I am exhausted this week, TBH. I hope that everyone enjoys the publication and has a great last week of Summer going forward.
Best,
Dow
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My School Days Memories
Going to school in Africa has been a challenging one. Lack of learning facilities has really affected the educational system, slow access to the internet and many other problems which are too many to mention.
Some of the teachers are not well to do while some who are well-to-do lack commitments. A teacher or lecturer could boldly inform the students that they will all fail his subject or course. Schools in Africa really need greater improvement. Besides, it is obvious that 'the largest room in the world is room for improvement.'
In some cases in Africa availability of good roads also affects the educational system.
Also, some parents are not really happy to send their children to school as some will say that 'education is a scam that anyone can survive without education'. This, however, affects education here as going to school has become an option and not a necessity.
My first memory in school is of my amiable lecturer, who eventually became my mentor.
There was always this argument between students and teachers that one can be the next richest man without an education. Some students remained lackadaisical in doing their assignments, while some never came to class or cared what the teacher said when lecturing. Some students told their parents that they don't want to learn, that they want to be free. They maintained that many world billionaires today are not graduates.
They liked to debate about this topic every day, but one day the lecturer came into class and overheard their argument.
The lecturer was very annoyed with such ruthless exigencies toward education. The lecturer was happy to see that there were some people who did not join the conversation, and I was among them. The lecturer looked at me, called on me, and asked why I did not join in their conversations. I told him that I believe in education, and I emphasized that education remains the key to success. I also stressed that all my mentors are erudite, and my parents are lovers of education.
The lecturer advised us in such a way that I will never forget in my life. He asked all of us to sit down and listen very attentively. "Education has nothing to be compared to in our society. I heard you saying that one can be a multi-billionaire without education. That might be true, but such a fellow will always depend on learned people to make his business top-notch. Yet, anything can happen to that business because the owner has no complete understanding of his or her source of wealth. Imagine owning a backing factory (bakery), and you don't know anything about it. That means you can be duped by the learned staff who knows that you are illiterate. Permit me to say that with this condition, it is the learned staff that is leading the owner of the factory. In fact, the owner is not just a follower but a stupid follower." What our lecturer said made all of us laugh wholeheartedly.
That day made me a memory I will never forget. From that day on, my colleagues stopped arguing and took their studies very seriously. They studied hard and did their assignments. They made sure to come to class on time and show respect for the lecturer. They knew if they didn't work hard, they would be nothing but stupid followers to the person that would be working for them if they happened to become a business owner.
The lecturer’s name was Professor Anthony Chike Adochie of Sociology department. One day, he told us that society is in dire need of graduates and that in days ahead, illiterates will find the world to be so uncomfortable for them lest they learn with time. I admired the lecturer and eventually became his big fan to the extent that I'm ready to fight anybody who backbites him. The lecturer made my school days impactful by advising us from time to time. He would tell us to be very serious and that we can not go anywhere in the world without education.
Based on how good the lecturer he was, I will acknowledge him during my defense in school.
The next memory in school is how we suffered due to la ack of learning facilities.
The lack of good facilities was an additional challenge to us when I was in school. I could remember that any time the engineering students had to go to the laboratory for experiments, there will be no complete apparatus. In most cases, our lecturer would make everything abstract, teaching us the meaning of words without a dictionary. To the engineering students, one of their lecturers always told them the names of chemicals and showed them the chemicals from the textbooks, which had black and white pictures. It wasn't easy for the engineering students, as many of them regretted that they were supposed to take another course that didn’t need practicals. I, on the other hand, was very happy because I was not a science-oriented student. Rather, I believe that my chosen course of study, Mass Communication, is the best course anybody could choose, as there are no laboratory courses required to be a top journalist.
Another interesting part was when we went on an excursion in a forest. We were all set for the trip on the D-day, but we ended up being disappointed. We entered the bus, and we were so happy when the driver said that he was the best driver ever to exist from Africa. Such hyperbole made us so anxious about the journey that we clapped when the driver wanted to move the bus until he realized that the bus had broken down. The excursion was suspended due to the faulty bus. We all got off the bus with facial expressions that even the devil could look more admirable than us. To our surprise, throughout our stay at the school, the excursion was not done.
The lack of good facilities really affected us, and it was an improvisation that saved us.
The third memory is of a strike during my study years.
In the country I come from, Nigeria, strikes by higher institutions have caused the dreams of many people to dwindle. This is a result of the fact that the government doesn't give education the needed attention and doesn't always release the funds needed to run schools smoothly. People overseeing the affairs of the institutions have no option but to embark on a strike. This affected us in no small measure. Personally, I spent 6 years on a 4-year course. It was only easy for the students in private universities as the strike only affected us who were in public universities. My parents almost lost hope that I would match my equals in private universities, given all the time delays. However, I always remembered what my mentor told me, “Strike is a time when a student could learn more or attain more skills.” So, I learned a trade that started paying me even before the strike was called off.
The strike only delayed my study years but not my money years.
Although schooling in Africa can be cumbersome, every serious student can still make the best out of it.
As for me, no matter the challenges I faced, I stood strong and turned challenges into lesson-learning processes.
Professor Anthony Chike Adochie made me hopeful for a better future through education and got my fellow colleagues to believe that education is the key.
The lack of good facilities and learning materials was yet another challenge, but we managed to improvise.
The strike was another issue that posed challenges as I spent six years on a 4-year course, but learning a profitable trade made the seemingly wasted years into fruitful ones.
These memories of school are dear to me because the effects they had on me were positive, unlike the pessimistic way they are portrayed.
My Grandma’s Pencil
Education is the bedrock of any society. It’s very important to whoever has it, and not having it renders one almost useless. This avow is true as education is seen as the total development of an individual. It is a form of learning in which knowledge and skills are transferred from one generation to another. Education has played a major role in human existence, and I have my own share of that wonderful experience. Here I write down my three fantastic school memories from my first school through high school, or what we call a secondary school in Nigeria.
My First Day at School
Not surprised to know that I wasn't homeschooled. I actually attended public school from primary all the way through secondary or high school and then university. It was an interesting experience.
I started primary school at the age of six. I was a little boy who was left to stay with grandma, and I went to the public primary school, which was nowhere near the private nursery schools in terms of standard. My parents were in the city trying to survive. We were very poor, and grandma couldn’t even afford to buy me a school uniform. Throughout my primary school years, I wore my older brother’s oversized shirt. I walked barefoot to school, and I managed to use two exercise books to write all the subjects from my primary one to primary three until Universal Basic Education (UBE) visited our schools and shared some exercise books with us.
My first day at school was a traumatic experience. I was scared and nervous because I didn't know what to expect from my new environment. I remember this boy, Idaresit, who was from my neighboring village. He was already twelve by then, and he was fat and tall. He was too big to be in the same class as me.
It was my first day at school, and after the morning prayer in the Assembly hall, we were directed to our different classes. Behold, as I was sitting, this big boy came and sat at the same desk as me. I couldn’t breathe because I was so afraid of him, and his deep voice roaring like a lion scared me even more. Then, our class teacher came in and started introducing herself, but this boy was staring at me with a bad look in his eyes. I already felt it in my spirit that I was into this bad hell. He did not like me. Later, he started bullying me. He knocked my head not less than ten times that day. I couldn’t tell anyone, not even my class teacher or my grandma, because I was so afraid of him. I was so scared of him that I wished I had never started school. It was really a bad day for me.
Afterward, I skipped school many times because of him. Then, I started praying to God to help me, and he answered me. With time, I got used to it. And thank God, the boy later became my friend, and we became so close that he would even beat other students for me. Then, I wasn’t scared of going to school anymore.
My Grandma’s Pencil
Grandma’s love for me was beyond imagination. She was my best friend, father, sister, and mother. She would go the extra mile to see that I do well in school. She did not have enough, poor old woman, but she made sure that I had the little that she had.
After God had helped me out of the hand of bad boy Idaresit, I was finally able to enjoy myself at school. I did everything that other kids did. I walked barefoot on hot sand from school to the house, which was a long distance away, just like other kids, as there was no school bus. I learned to climb the mango tree, plug the fruits and eat both the ripe and unripe with others. We climbed the apple tree and ate the leaves. We played the football in the rain. We cut the school grass. We learned how to farm; we could even eat the raw cassava, palm kernel, and all kinds of amazing fruits found in the school compound. School was very interesting until that fateful day.
On this day, Grandma had given me the last pencil she removed from her hand bag and she said to me, “my son, this is the last pencil I have for you. Protect it with your life, and keep it safe.” So delighted, I took it. I loved grandma’s pencil so much because it was different from other pencils kids had. It had a colorful design like a rainbow. It was so nice that other kids got really jealous of it. I always had a pencil in my hand while I was in school, no matter what I was doing. Then this faithful day came. As I was playing football in the rain, I had to leave my grandma’s pencil with my exercise book in the classroom because of rain, but the most horrible thing happened to me. After I finished playing football, I returned to the classroom room, and behold, my grandma’s pencil was nowhere to be found. I cried myself out; what will I tell grandma, where will she even get money to buy me a new one, how would she find the same type and design again? These were the thoughts that I had.
I felt like my world was ending that day. A little boy who always followed grandma to church, who attended Sunday school, and heard of the amazing things that God could do, I was praying for a miracle. The bell rang, and it was time to go home. My class teacher tried everything to calm me down but couldn’t. I cried and shouted, “My grandma’s pencil, ooh, my grandma’s pencil!” I was taken to the headmaster’s office, and he did everything to calm me down too, but I couldn’t be consoled. I refused to go home. I was rolling and crying on the floor. By then, the news had already gotten to my grandma. It was late, and the other kids had gone home. When I saw my grandma, I cried more because I felt that I had disappointed her. I felt so unworthy that I couldn’t even protect the pencil she gave me. She wiped my tears with her Ankara wrapper, told me not to cry again, and took me home. The following day the headmaster gave me a packet of pencils and one exercise book. But I still wasn’t happy.
Two days later, two of the kids fought, and one confessed that the other was the one who took my pencil out of jealousy. Then it was reported to my class teacher, and my grandma’s pencil was retrieved. Behold, I got back “my grandma’s pencil,” happily I exclaimed. This became a name I answered to until I finished my first school. All the teachers and the kids never forgot the name “My Grandma’s Pencil.”
My High School Memory
My most fantastic memories in high school were in my first year. It was one of the best moments of my life because that's when I met my best friend for life. He always supported me, and he always made me laugh when things weren't going well for me.
I came from a public primary school where you could play as you like, make noise, and get your uniform dirty without being punished to a more disciplined environment with new faces. My high school life started smoothly until we were introduced to the school prefects. Then came Mr. Nkanta, who was the school's senior prefect. He welcomed me to the high school with serious flogging, just 3 days in school, for dirtying my uniform. With this, I knew I was in another hell.
Mr. Nkanta was the most feared prefect of all time. He had a baritone voice that sounded like Agbero (gangster). He was even more feared than the principal. I was flogged many times until I got used to flogging by this man, either for noise making, compound work, or for dirtying my uniform, or he would always find some reason to beat us. Bullying was a normal thing since it was just a government school. Senior students always treated the junior students as they liked and made it seem like it is part of the school curriculum. I got a bit relieved in my second year when Mr. Nkanta left the school for another position. It was a prayer answered for me.
Many fantastic memories kept flying through my head about my high school days, from being in the same class with bad teens who smoked and stayed in the bush to my love life with the most intelligent young girl in the class; my love letter to my English teacher, which she found inside her book years after she had been transferred from the school to becoming the school timekeeper and then the school senior prefect who changed the way the senior students related with the junior students in that school. These are the beautiful memories of my school days.
Conclusion
I recall all of the good and bad times I had whilst attending my first school and high school. I remember my first day of high school: how excited (and anxious) I was to finally start my teenage years. I remember all of the amazing friends I made and the fun (and often embarrassing) moments we shared together. Though I sometimes miss those carefree days, I am thankful for the lessons I have learned – both in and out of the classroom.
Regardless of the good or bad times, schools have a way of shaping who we become. We may not always appreciate it while we're going through it, but looking back, we can see that it's made us who we are today.
The Other Side Of Life
Staring at the school environment, I was certain that I had to be strong, at least for myself.
I was officially welcomed to the great Community Comprehensive Secondary School with six strokes of a cane. This is what happened. After my registration and two weeks of grace, I was given a portion of grass to cut, but due to the training I had at home, I felt I would be pardoned. It was not quite long when a dark huge man walked into our classroom with a long cane. I thought it was a joke that he would not beat us but was shocked when he brought out a long list with students' names and started calling. Guess what? He was calling the names of people who did not clear their portion, and my name was included. Seeing him beating others made me start crying, but that did not stop Mr. Edet from beating me. It reached my turn, and I was to bend so that I could feel the pain. Mr. Edet didn't look at my soft and pitiable face but continued unleashing the long cane on my back. At that point, I went to hell and back, saw death but couldn't die. Then, I was forced to beg him to give me a second chance, but he never listened until he was satisfied. After beating me severely, I quickly went back to my seat with tears in my eyes. I was ashamed and felt like not going back to school, but did I have a choice?
Boyfriend Saga
His name was Johnson, a tall, dark boy with a great future as a staunch Catholic. He was highly intelligent and good-looking, and we were in the same classroom SS1c. We were initially classmates before he started indicating interest. As a young, naive girl, I resisted but then accepted to be his girlfriend. Being a girlfriend to one of the most handsome guys in the classroom wasn't easy. I needed to live a fake life in order to meet his standards. My uniform was always neat, and socks were properly worn so he would like me but did that stop Johnson from going after other girls?
It all started when I met Johnson and a junior student under a mango tree, which I thought, was a mere discussion as I had built trust with him. It was not quite long before Johnson started avoiding me. He stopped checking on me, which I suspected was unusual, being that I was engrossed with infatuation. I couldn't help but walk straight to him and ask why he had intentionally avoided me. You know, of course, what his response was going to be. He replied by saying that I was no longer his spec. The response alone made me sick for one week. I was always crying whenever I saw him. That drastically affected my first-term results. He was always seen walking with the girl after the end of school.
It got to a point where I was one day forced to walk up to the girl for further interrogation. It was during a break, and Johnson and his new girlfriend were not seen together, so I quickly seized the opportunity and moved straight to the girl. I started asking her a few questions, but the girl suspected that I was Johnson's former girlfriend and refused to answer me. I was so furious that I didn't hesitate to give her a slap, and I sternly warned her to stay away from my guy. Little did I know that I was doing myself harm. I immediately left the place after slapping her while she was still crying and holding her cheeks. Less than an hour later, Johnson stormed into the classroom and gave me a sound slap on my ear. The last thing I heard was, "If you ever touch her again, you will see what I will do to you." I was so embarrassed that my supposed guy I was fighting for is now against me. I was so ashamed and depressed until I saw failure in me. Thank God for some of my friends who helped me then. The memories are still fresh though Johnson is now a big boy.
School Fees/WAEC Challenge
Due to my parent's financial situation, I was always faced with the difficulty of paying school fees. I was not brought up with a silver spoon, but my parents tried to give me the best life they could. I vividly remember one of the days in school when I was sent home because of not paying my fees. The fees were small, but the money was not there. I didn't hesitate to rush home because I was always happy to stay at home and watch seasonal movies.
Reaching home, I met my mom, and she quickly understood why I was this early. Immediately, I stepped in to explain what happened. She turned her face to the wall with tears gushing out of her eyes. I was forced to join her in crying, but she later summoned courage and told me to go back to school. I was left with no other option but to rush back and pay the fees at my principal's office.
This same issue came up when I wanted to write my WAEC exams. I did not have the money to pay on time, and this affected my studies because I was becoming unserious. Thank God for the wisdom God gave my mother. She was told to pay in installments until she paid off everything. It was never easy, but it was worth it.
Most of the students whose parents were rich never understood this. Some would directly or indirectly mock you. There was a time that due to unavailability to pay for my NECO exams, my friend advised that I should get a boyfriend to help me financially. I did not respond but just smiled cause getting a boyfriend wasn't the solution. The solution was to be focused while praying and hoping that everything would be fine. She did not understand that life sometimes may not give you what you want, but you have to fight to get it.
My school days were never easy, but they were worth it.
My Favorite Memories
Memories are usually an amazing thing to remember. Some may bring tears, regret, sorrows, or sadness, while others bring a lot of laughter, happiness, joy, peace, and comfort. I’ll be sharing my three favorite memories below.
My NYSC Experience
My name is Inamete Victoria Dominic, and this is my memorable experience at the NYSC Orientation Camp. NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) is a program set up by the Nigerian government during the military regime. It was created for the nation’s Nigerian graduates to build and develop the country, and I had an opportunity to serve my country after I finished my BSc in physiology in 2019 from the University of Uyo.
I was posted to Osun state, which was the capital of Oshogbo in Nigeria. I heard some exciting and horrible news about the new environment I was posted to, and this made everything so memorable. The environment, the new language, the independence, freedom, and most of all, the making of new friends made everything so exciting. On my first day in the camp, I was welcomed with a long registration queue experience which started from the checking of my luggage by the NYSC personnel at the gate to the room queue to secure my bed space. My first week in camp was very stressful, and I had to cope with the activities which later became a routine. They included waking up to the sound of the bell, the struggle to fetch water, marching, eating different food that was new to me, etc. My second and third weeks were more interesting because I got used to the routine and bonded more with my camp friends and roommates, which made me more relaxed and made the environment comfortable.
I joined the marching squad, and I explored different food vendors in the maami market. I also joined SAED (Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Department) to acquire skills. It was under make-up, which I am still practicing today, and in the last week of my camping program, I was posted to a school (Anglican secondary commercial Grammar school, iyekere, IIe-Ife). I was so happy because I was given the privilege to meet with children and share knowledge with them. I left the camp and reported in my PPA (Place of primary assignment ), which I resumed fully the following week.
A formal introduction was done by the principal, and I was given a section (Guidance and counseling unit) with which I was very happy. I resumed duties the following week at the guidance and counseling unit under the supervision of Mrs Grace. She was a very beautiful, nice, neat, and smart woman. I assisted her with the office work, and I learned carefully and fast from her.
Over time, I was able to assist her in going around to guide and advise the students. She instructed me to go around and monitor the student activities every day and to ensure no one is being bullied by the senior student. Being a fast learner and a committed corp member, my supervisor had confidence in me and handed over the responsibilities of counseling the junior secondary students, which comprise of Jss1 A, Jss1 B, Jss1 C, Jss2 A, Jss2 B, Jss2 C, Jss3 A,Jss3 B and Jss3 C, being the total of nine classes. It was tedious initially as I had to go about sensitizing and advising them on a weekly basis, but I became appreciative of the job as I noticed that the students developed some level of trust and confidence in me and started to open up and confide in me.
Those who had pressure from their parents and those who struggled with peer pressure often came to me with their complaints, and I was glad to be able to advise and counsel them. This made them see me as a friend and a sister. I also advised them against engaging in sex at their tender age and the dangers of involving in cultism and hard drugs. I interacted with them so well, and they always looked forward to having me around every day except on Thursday, which was our weekly community development service (CDS) and on days of our monthly clearance. Aside from my place of primary assignment (PPA), I also had a wonderful time during the CDS days as I got to meet with friends from other PPA that were not staying close to my lodge while serving. I joined the anti-corruption CDS group (EFCC), where we had meetings and discussed strategies to add to the development of the community and sensitize against corruption and consumption of hard drugs. We also went to secondary school to create groups in each school among the students and staff and also inaugurated excos to help the movement run smoothly in each school. We visited different schools every month. My NYSC was fun and one of the most memorable times of my life.
My First Time at the Beach
My first time at the beach was so exciting. It was two years ago. It even made me have sleepless nights. I kept on dreaming and praying for the day to break, and when it finally did, I woke up with lots of anxiety which made me not want to eat. I packed my bags with some snacks and swimming wear and headed to the beach.
The beach was more colorful than I expected. I quickly located a comfortable spot for me and my friends, unpacked our bags, and went ahead sightseeing. The beach was lively and colorful with the presence of natural vegetation. I collected a lot of seashells and built a shed along the shoreline.
The atmosphere was fully intensified by the aroma produced by the buoyant sea flowers, but what I didn’t like about it was the disgusting scene of plastic bags, food wrappers, cigarette butts, and beer bottles along the beach because these items pollute the entire shoreline and seawater. Beautiful creatures hovered all over the beach and on the deep sea waters. I was so excited to ride on a horse for the first time. I met with some friends, and we took turns in snapping pictures. The sea really had a perfect view. This left a lot of sweet memories that I still remember.
My Favorite Holiday
The most interesting thing about the holiday is that I get to meet some of my family whom I haven’t seen for years. On this particular holiday, my cousins, nieces, and nephew came home, and we had a lot of activities. We had a family party, played a hide-and-seek game, cooked a lot of nice dishes, and did a general thanksgiving service in the church for a life well spent. During the last week of the holiday, we did a general prayer session, and my cousins traveled back the next day. My holiday left a lot of impact on my life because I had this inner joy within me being around my loved ones, and I’ll be grateful to see them again.
My Three Favorite Memories
The most important part of my life is my memories from childhood. All through my childhood, I had the happiest, incredible and unforgettable memories, which are quite very difficult to stop remembering. I feel childhood should be the best part of everybody’s life too. The stage of human life where one can spend time without any fear and stress is childhood, and of course, it's the best. I believe that most people have had that wonderful time during this stage. One excellent and interesting part of my childhood is spending time with fellow kids. All of us have some good and some horrific memories that we can’t forget from childhood.
There are plenty of memories that we’ve forgotten and some we can recall slightly. I’m going to share some memories from my childhood that I still can’t forget. I assume these are golden memories, and the time turned into valuable. Childhood is the most exciting and exquisite experience part of our life. It’s far from that phase of our lives now while we were free from sorrows and issues. We didn't have a job or anything else to worry about.
Our cherished ones were around us all the time. Mother was there to feed and hug us when we were unwell, dad was there to bring our favorite toys, and our buddies lived next to our house. The whole thing was perfect and excellent.
You can never forget childhood memories with friends. If someone remembers the happiest and funniest childhood memories or just thinks best 10 childhood memories, there are plenty of them! The great experience in our life, if we’ve ever had one, is the childhood period.
Our childhood memories play an essential role in our life. They form our destiny and perspective towards life. If a person experiences an amazing childhood, then his personality could be jolly and happy. If a person has an awful experience in his childhood, then that experience will stay with him even in adulthood. What a person learns in his childhood usually stays with him. If he has been taught the significance of discipline, punctuality, ethics, and values since childhood, then these values will stay with him throughout his life. Childhood memories are highly inspired by family and their values, experiences, and interests. They frequently reflect a child’s early skill for remembering things. They can range from the banal to the elegant, from fun to touch, however, most of them are fuzzy and elusive, often misguided and sometimes downright fabricated.
I was raised in a big family with lots of loving individuals. I’ve all the lovely memories with them. I especially need to mention my grandmother. She turned into an awesome lady. I have one sibling, and we used to play in the park in front of my house.
My father bought us different kinds of toys and playing gadgets. I loved playing basketball since childhood and still play that regularly. My little brother was like my assistant. He used to be a part of every activity I did.
We used to steal fruits from my grandma’s garden. I still can sense the smell and taste of those fruits when I look back at the memories. My dad was a very busy man, but still, he spent sufficient time with us. I can recall a picnic at a zoo where the whole family went. My mother took some delicious food items there. I can’t recall what precisely the dishes were, but they were great in taste. That was an exceptional day. We sometimes visited our native village, and that was a fine moment for me and my cousins. We got sufficient space to run, play soccer, and do all the stuff that we can’t do in the town. When I think back to my childhood, I recall many fond memories of village life.
The first day at my primary school was a lovely memory that I can recall clearly. The day was a very special event for me. I was very excited. I was getting ready for school and working very hard for three months. My mother was also working very hard to teach me all the simple things, including the alphabet and a few things I needed to know about my new school. I was quite confident, and I got my new school dress, school bag, some books, and new shoes. Finally, the day came when I went to school.
It was a pretty famous school in the city. My parents took me to the principal’s room. He was a gentleman who greeted us properly and asked us to sit down. I can recall him asking me some simple questions and I answered them confidently. He called an assistant staff and sent me to my classroom. A class was already in session when I joined it. There were many boys and girls my age, and I made a few friends on the first day. I went back and found my parents awaiting me. That was a pleasant experience for me. I will never forget that day. My parents were very supportive, and that’s why the whole thing was easy for me.
My adulthood memory I can't forget.
Gaining admission into the university has also been one of the most valued memories of my life. There was so much discouragement and talk about how the university standards are corrupt, and admission was always given on slot, not on merit. Although I was very scared, I decided to put in all my best to ensure I merited admission into a federal university. I was about to write jamb. I prayed so hard to be able to get the cutoff mark or even higher. I had already cleared my WASSCE and NECO, and I had this strong belief that JAMB would be a workover for me. On the day of my examination, I was so nervous. A lot of thoughts were running through my mind on whether I was going to make it or pass the exam. I got to the hall, and I was visibly shaking. I did my best and left the rest for God.
A few days later, the results were released, and again I was scared, but this time I was very scared. I began to be afraid of my parents because I felt that I was not going to pass. I was surprised when my dad showed me my result. I made 250 out of 400; I was so glad. I started preparing for my screening at the university which wasn't that smooth. Some months later, I received my admission letter from JAMB and the university's board. I screamed for joy when I found out that I had been admitted to the university and would be able to study History and International Studies.
Danoskie’s Development
Cryptocurrency Regulations and Circulation Crisis
For everything made by man, there is always an abuse of use in one way or another. Cryptocurrency, or to be more precise, the blockchain industry, has yet to pass the barriers set before it towards becoming a stable financial solution, even with the high rate of money transferred through its different channels currently.
A financial institution is usually a type of bank that provides centralized services as intermediaries for different types of monetary transactions such as funding, cash transfer, savings, and loans. There are other less significant services offered by these banks which are dependent on various strategies in order to either make profits from their prospective customers’ money or through investment loans to applicants, usually with many strings attached.
Things are different when it comes to cryptocurrency, as there are less middle men and 3rd parties. Buyers are directly connected to sellers. This has alerted the eyes and ears of the government to set up a regulatory body to monitor the rate at which cryptos are mined, minted, and distributed to anonymous users for circulation.
In making that a reality for the stock exchange, the United States of America originally set up a unit known as SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) to govern stock/equity market regulation, and now, crypto-related activity in order to curtail crimes and the abuse of the blockchain by criminals.
The Securities and Exchange Commission was founded on June 6th, 1934. The SEC, as it is widely known, was established by the passage of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. It was enacted into law after the stock market crash of 1929, which led directly to what is commonly known as the Great Depression.
Since then, the stock market and its users have gained back their standing and trust while trading with their preferred channels. This preceded the use of cryptocurrency, the world's most utilized digital asset.
The SEC stood by its aim and objectives simply by categorizing the market and its operations along with the most suitable tools to be used when monitoring the events that take place in the trading and holding of any amount.
A typical example is SEC and Market Data: an open government Initiative data listing (json) or the SEC Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, which contains well scrutinized data of registered blockchain industries as surveyed by the staff of SEC.
To further explore the efficiency of the SEC, there are a series of reports and publications which consist of different listings of common periodic SEC reports from the stone age of cryptos to today.
In combating fraud and abuse of cryptocurrency, the SEC carries out surveys regularly to identify registered and unregistered crypto projects which abuse the use of cryptocurrency, illegal price dives, and other fraudulent activities. They publish the name of the project, the owner, or the company in charge in their "Crypto Assets and Cyber Enforcement Actions" list for the whole world to see. This list also contains the total amount of funds displaced.
Other categories of charges on cryptocurrency-based companies include:
Hacking/Insider Trading
Market Manipulation/False Tweets/Fake Websites/Dark Web
Regulated Entities – Cybersecurity Controls and Safeguarding Customer Information
Public Company Disclosure and Controls and
Trading Suspensions. (Source)
SEC And Cryptocurrency Crisis
News found on the internet has shown how powerful the SEC has become when it comes to dealing with offenders. In July, SEC listed 9 cryptos as 'Securities' in an insider trading case in which Coinbase, one of the world's most used cryptocurrency wallet and exchange sites, was called out and fined for illegal trading of assets.
In a retaliation case filing, Coinbase on its own filed a petition with the SEC requesting an invitation to a possible rulemaking process to detail how it would apply federal securities laws to crypto assets since no set of guidelines regarding new currencies/assets exists currently.
In general, these laws set for stock market trading are not suitable to govern digital assets. This is so because it creates more unsolvable problems when compared to the number of cautions the SEC has put in place. Too much bureaucracy and red tape. The situation risks over-regulating a burgeoning market still trying to grow into something real.
Going back, consider the days of Ripple (Xrp). The fast and easy-to-use token faced its end simply because the people in charge minted more tokens than the allowed limit for circulation. It was very serious to the extent that major holders of the competitive Ripple dumped it to curtail losses, delisting from major exchange sites.
SEC AND ITS A-MUST-ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY
In the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) leads the way in confining cryptocurrency to suit its definition, whereby every new and existing crypto project must be registered and pay a certain amount as tax to the IRS.
Undoubtedly, many cryptocurrency projects are operating in the shadows of their country’s regulatory agencies and wouldn't want to be noticed for any potential transgressions. Could such organizations or businesses show any desire to comply under a restructuring of circumstances?
SEC Chairman Gary Gensler made a strict move in April 2022, insisting that the top five exchanges, which accounted for about 99% of cryptocurrency traded, should proceed to registration with the SEC in order to comply with applicable laws to all cryptocurrencies, as companies on the stock market have done for the past 90 years. But is it really their business?
SEC On DAOs
Decentralization Autonomous Organizations (DAO) have been confirmed by the SEC as investment tokens that should not partake in Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), after the market boom in 2017.
In April of 2022, the SEC looked into decentralized finance (DeFi) and nonfungible tokens (NFTs), which have become of valued interest and investment for many crypto lovers and traders. The total amount of money invested in these new forms of tokens is hard to track since it's an asset owned by anonymous users from around the world from unidentifiable locations around the world.
In a statement released by Hester Peirce, who has been identified as one of the crypto-friendly commissioners in regards to the SEC, he warned investors that some NFTs have a great likelihood of generating more troubles for them instead of making fund transfers easier and safer.
Conclusion
There's no doubt that there will continue to be more laws set forth to guide the use of digital assets by the SEC and other governmental bodies in an attempt to identify the bad eggs in the crypto space. The question is, won't there always be more ways to override SEC and its laws by project developers? Why not just let the market regulate itself?
Ambassador Report
With one voice and the same understanding, we have created many wonderful blog contents circulating on different popular social media platforms for the first DAO project operating on the Ravencoin blockchain. The deal is not yet over, even after the launch of our CommTower drive at the Sky City main plaza. This means that we're ever ready to carry the symbol of Our DAO project everywhere. Below is the summary of activities carried out this week.
Leaderboard/Ranking
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