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Art, Music, and Humour: How Ukraine is Maintaining Public Morale Amid Conflict with Russia

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More than 13 million Ukrainians have fled their homes, including around five million who have gone to neighbouring countries and millions of others displaced within the country itself. Yet the flames of optimism and unity continue to burn bright among Ukrainian homes and abroad, sparked by art, music, and humour. Here’s how they do it.

Paint Brush Mightier than the Sword

Gamlet Zinkivskiy, a Ukrainian artist, has made headlines after the media took notice of his use of art in fighting back against Russian forces. He creates murals to boost morale in Ukraine’s battle-scarred Kharkiv and help thwart Russian forces.

Although he earns a living through his studio art and wishes to further develop his career in England, Zinkivskiy decided to hang back and participate in the fight by using what he has mastered the most — the paintbrush.

His recruiter, Kizhemyako, is a prominent Ukrainian businessman who founded a volunteer militia against Russia. He also supports other artists, such as celebrated poet and novelist Serhiy Zhadan.

Zinkivskiy’s latest work is a mural titled Hospitality from Hell. It is a 3-metre high painting depicting a gasoline can and petrol bombs, much like what Ukrainian Civilians used to fight back against Russia’s onslaughts against Kyiv and Kharkiv earlier in the year.

The title “Hospitality from Hell” was intentionally picked as a mockery of Russian soldiers that expected to be welcomed in Kharkiv and Kyiv but were met with Molotov cocktails instead.

Other works from Zinkivskiy include I Keep Balance, a painting on two large double doors featuring a man balanced on the edge of a white block, one hand holding body armour with a tourniquet attached, and the other arm supporting two birds.

Zinkivskiy’s work only became widely known recently, while other prominent artists across Europe were already making statements as soon as the war started.

For example, street artist Seth had his fresco, titled Onwards Ukraine, on Rue Biot in France just three days into the conflict. It depicted a young girl with a crown of flowers and ribbons, waving the Ukrainian flag and crushing Russian tanks under her shoes. Prints of the work would later sell out at $55 apiece.

Other artists who have shown support for Ukraine include Italian Tvboy, Andrea Villa, Harry Greb, as well as Big Ben from France, Stanislav Belovski from Bulgaria, and Polish Tuse.

Attention-Grabbing Eurovision Win

Ukraine’s recent success in the Eurovision came highly celebrated by citizens worldwide as it tipped the scales in the country’s favour. To Ukrainians, constantly reminding the world of their existence, music, and culture is vital. It shows that Ukraine matters.

The song that Ukraine’s flag bearer Kalush chose for the finals, Stefania, was a rallying cry cleverly disguised as a tribute to lead singer Oleh Psiuk’s mother.

For instance, Psiuk shouted at the end of the performance, calling for the world to help Ukraine. He also mentioned Mariupol and Azovstal steelworks. Many online users praised this bold way of attracting attention. At the same time, Zelenskyy congratulated Kalush Orchestra and pointed out that such courage from Ukraine impressed the world. A video would later surface, showing one of the soldiers deployed outside Azovstal steelworks singing the Stefania song.

Remaining amusingly human and showing the world that Ukraine matters while subtly resisting Russian forces has worked well for the country. We have seen almost 1,000 companies pull out of Russia to support Ukraine, including popular names such as Amazon, Apple, Starbucks, BMW, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi. Even some of the top online casinos and betting sites like bet365 have boycotted the country.

Dark Humour

There is no better adjective for Ukrainian humour than dark. Ukrainians love their jokes so much that they named April Fool’s Day Humorina, the city’s holiday of humour. In Odessa, it is a day of showing kindness and witty humour.

In the same spirit, Ukrainians have managed to use humour as part of their resistance against Russia. Even in the middle of an invasion, the internet is populated with images of Ukrainian civilians and farmers playing with abandoned Russian artillery.

For example, in one video titled “Ukrainian Tractors Versus Russian Armour,” farmers can be seen using a tractor to tow an abandoned Russian tank across the fields.

If that does not sound funny, wait till you hear these next examples. The country’s Twitter account posted a meme illustrating different types of headaches. There was a head with a red patch at the front for migraines, another had it at the back for hypertension, and for the highlight, one that was entirely red for living next to Russia.

In yet another meme, “Hawkeye” from The Avengers is seen asking a Ukrainian soldier: “Are you one of the Avengers?” The response goes: “No, I am from the Ukraine post,” coming from Serhiy Chizhikov, a postal worker who joined Ukrainian forces after the invasion and amazed the world when he shot down a Russian Su-35 plane.

Furthermore, a meme depicting a Ukrainian soldier flipping off Russia’s Moskva warship was turned into a postage stamp and sold out in days, then started reselling at $100 a piece.

Humour is a big part of Ukrainians’ survival strategies and an important aspect of their national characteristic. Even president Zelenskyy was big on jokes back when he headed Kvartal 95 Studio (which he helped found). The group ridiculed Putin and high-ranking Russian politicians for years. For instance, they once described Putin as a baby who could control his gas. They also ridiculed Prime Minister Medvedev, claiming he supported Facebook’s presence in Russia because the platform was the only place he could get friendships.

Humour is working out well for Ukraine and seems to be a crucial part of preserving the country’s individuality and independence in the face of Russia’s invasion. In any case, humour triggers positive mental and physical changes that offer stress relief. In the meantime, we hope for peace and things to go back to normal as soon as possible.

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Entertainment

How to Verify Megapari Account in India?

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Every user will eventually have to go through the account verification process. The necessity of the firm itself is the primary reason for this situation.

  • The accessibility of the vast majority of the offered functions;
  • The completion of financial transactions without interruption;
  • A higher overall degree of trust is provided by the platform in addition to much more!

Every player, without exception, attempts to complete this process at Megapari india as quickly as humanly possible. Because there are so few stages involved and the process is so straightforward, anyone can comprehend it.

Verification procedures for the megapari account

There are a few different methods that you may contribute to the verification of your account. The majority of the time, it does not take a lot of time and does not involve any more work on your behalf. You may accomplish this by using:

  • Email;
  • Mobile phone number;
  • Providing personal documents.

The platform retains the right to inquire about your identification and request documentation from you at any time. It is imperative that you do so in order to demonstrate that you are of a specific age and that there is not another account in your name.

How can a user check that his account is legitimate?

The procedure of verifying an account is not a difficult one, as has been said previously. To do this, you will need to carry out the following stages in their entirety:

  1. Launch the mobile application or the official website for the Megapari platform;
  2. To register, simply click the button provided;
  3. Choose the method that is the most convenient for you, whether it be email, a cell phone number, or social networks.

What steps you need to do next will be determined by which of the two options you select.

Verification by Email

The use of e-mail as a verification technique is by far the most common practise among gamers. To do this, you will need to carry out the following steps:

  1. When you register your account, you are required to enter a valid address.
  2. Open the email as soon as it is delivered to your inbox;
  3. Always make sure you follow the directions exactly as they are given in the paper.

In most cases, you will be asked to either click on the button that is necessary or on the link that is supplied. After that, you will be sent to the website where you may register immediately.

Verification using the contact number on the phone

The usage of a phone number is the next available choice, and it’s certainly not the least crucial one. The following is a list of the instructions:

  1. During the registration process for the page, make sure to include your current phone number;
  2. Watch for a notice through text message;
  3. Always ensure that you are following the given directions.

You will, as a matter of course, be obliged to additionally click on the URL that is indicated in the message. 

Verification via social media

Verification using the player’s social media accounts is the quickest and easiest method. In this particular scenario, you will be expected to complete the following:

  1. On the page for registering, choose one of the social media alternatives that are presented to you;
  2. Verify the action you took;
  3. Please indicate that you are okay with the platforms communicating with you.

In the event that you forget either your username or password, you will still be able to access your account by using this option.

FAQ

Is it possible for a player to utilise the platform’s services without first authenticating his account?

Yes, he can. However, in this situation, access to numerous functionalities may be blocked. You may be requested for proof of identity when depositing or withdrawing from an unverified player. Furthermore, the platform will frequently remind you that this step is required.

If you verify an account in India, are you breaking any laws?

Indeed, doing so is not against the law. The laws that are in effect in India do not, in general, restrict people from making use of the services offered by the Megapari platform. In addition to this, the presence of a licence has an influence on the overall quality of the services that are rendered.

The user should validate the account by what means.

It is up to each user to decide for themselves which approach is going to work best for them. The selection of the choice will not be impacted in any way by the platform.

How much time does it take to have the account verified?

In most cases, the effect is immediate. To be more specific, just at the point where you affirm the action in the manner of your choosing.

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Home Improvement

Green Features You Can Find In Modern Washing Machines

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When it comes to washing your clothes, using a washing machine is very useful. However, despite how effectively it can clean your clothes, it can use up a lot of energy through electricity and water usage.

However, thanks to recent innovations and the development of technology, the use of modern washing machines means that you can use less energy than before thanks to green technology that these appliances now use. So what are these features, how are they used in your day-to-day washing and what terms should you be looking out for when shopping for a new washing machine?

Washing a 20°C or 30°C

Thanks to the advances in washing efficiency, you no longer need to wash your clothes at a high, warm temperature in order to clean them effectively. Most, if not all, washing machines you find at retailers today have a setting – or a range of washing programmes – that allow you to wash your clothes at 30°C.

Detergents and fabric softeners have been designed to work at 30°C too, meaning your t-shirts, trousers and dresses can benefit from a high level of cleaning without the need for your machine to warm up the water to a higher temperature.

Load Detection

A feature you can find on an increasing number of washing machines is load detection, which detects the weight of the laundry you put in your machine, and it adjusts the amount of water used accordingly. This is especially beneficial if you need to wash a handful of items but don’t want to use a disproportionate amount of water.

Saving the amount of water you use can help you save on water bills, and it also means you’ll be using up less water in general, meaning it’s better for the environment. It also means that your washing machine will need to heat up less water, allowing the appliance to use less energy.

Energy Ratings

Every appliance should come with an energy rating that allows you to assess how efficient each appliance is. In the UK, the energy ratings range from A to G, with A being the most efficient and G being the least. The energy ratings used to range from from A+++ to G, however this has been changed due to advancements and developments in technology which have made appliances more efficient than ever. So, for example, appliances that used to be rated A+++ are likely now rated as B or C, A++ as D or E, and A+ as F or G.

Don’t Forget, Recycle Your Old Washing Machine

If you’re looking to buy a new washing machine, then there’s a decent chance that you have an old one that you’re looking to get rid of. You won’t have space for it and you won’t use it, so why keep it? No matter the reason for you getting a new one – whether it’s broken, run-down or still in decent working order – you should look to have it recycled.

There are many washing machine component parts that can be reused either as replacement parts or to serve a different function altogether. And even the raw materials can be broken down and repurposed to be used in something else.

Throwing your washing machine away outside can be ugly and also bad for the environment, so recycling is the best way to go. Many appliance retailers will include a removal and recycling service that will take your appliance away for a small fee to ensure the machine is out of your hands, freeing up space in your home and is also being recycled in the right way.

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Life Tips

Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

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Buying a home for the first time, whether on your own, with a partner, as a family, or maybe just as an investment is a landmark moment in your life.

It is an exciting time that is for sure, but it can also be pretty daunting because of the lengthy list of considerations to make.

Right now it is a particularly fraught time for first-time buyers due to the cost of living crisis, with interest rates at 4.5 per cent as of May 2023.

It makes for testing times when applying for mortgages, let alone the cost of solicitors, surveyors, new furniture, and utility bills to think about.

So, what is the current state of the housing market and what can you do to get yourselves on the property ladder?

State of the housing market

With inflation rates in the UK staying stubbornly above 10 per cent, it is not an easy to time to be buying.

The average house price in the UK right now is around £288,000, around £16,000 more than it was in February 2022.

Indeed, the increase in average house prices year on year from February 2022 to 2023 was 5.5 per cent, down from 6.5 per cent in January 2023.

A property purchase boom occurred in 2021 due to the temporary cut to stamp duty, though levels have now returned to roughly what they were pre-pandemic.

With demand for houses falling, the property market has cooled – so for sellers there is not a great incentive, making it even more difficult for first-time buyers.

Handy tips for first-time buyers

But do not be totally discouraged. There will always be a demand for buying houses, and there will always be a need to sell. The traditional reasons for selling up such as death, divorce and relocating for jobs will always exist.

First of all, look into existing schemes that can help you get on the ladder such as Help to Buy ISAs and Help to Buy Equity loans.

Next, make sure you have your finances figured out. How much do you have for your deposit? Some lenders will accept a five per cent deposit for instance. But then consider what furniture you will need, and what new utility bills you will have to purchase.

Talk to mortgage advisors about the different types; variable, fixed, cashback, offset. See which one works best for your personal situation and get several mortgage quotes.

Think also about the type of property you need, how many bedrooms, detached or semi-detached, and be willing to widen your search area as you might find cheaper alternatives to your first choice.

You will need a good solicitor and a reliable conveyancer. Solicitor fees will be around the £1,000 to £1,500 mark but having a competent solicitor will help when issues around purchasing arise.

Lastly, get your head around all the extra costs you are about to take on, and save, save, save. Do you need to have that takeaway or extra cup of chain-brand coffee? Making the smaller sacrifices in the short term will help with your long-term goals.

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