Bob Oliver
Bio
Bob is a versatile writer & communicator passionate about exploring diverse topics & perspectives. I have written for various media outlets. And I believes in using words to inspire positive change. #writing #communication #passion
Stories (97/0)
The World's Greatest Scam
The world of cryptocurrencies, including NFTs, blockchains, and web 3.0, is being accused of being both a revolution for the internet and the biggest Ponzi scheme in human history. Despite eye-watering numbers and grandiose claims about their potential, cryptocurrencies have been described by some as decentralized Ponzi schemes. NFTs, in particular, have gained popularity, with even famous internet memes being sold for millions of dollars. However, skeptics warn of a mania driven by greed and mass delusion. Cryptocurrencies are being used to purchase these NFTs, and the purchase of one of the biggest sales in digital art history was made through cryptocurrency. Critics say that NFTs are just a component of a much bigger machine with a lot of moving pieces, and it may be a giant scam with large names, brands, and venture capital firms backing it, knowingly or not.
By Bob Oliverabout a year ago in Trader
A Puzzling Phenomenon
Have you ever discovered a $5 bill on the ground and felt like it was your lucky day? I know I have. But what if you found $500 or even $500,000? Recently, an entire country was faced with this exact question, but shockingly, none of them chose to take any of the money. Despite being extremely poor and struggling to afford food, they refused to take the free cash and some even threw it away. It's hard to explain, but keep watching to find out why this happened and how the money ended up on the street in the first place.
By Bob Oliverabout a year ago in Humans
How border transformed a subcontinent
The Golden Temple, located in the city of Amritsar in northern India, is a significant site for Sikhism, where people from around the world come to bathe in its waters, see the Holy Book inside the Golden Temple, and experience its sanctity. Kartarpur, another important Sikh site established over 500 years ago by the founder of Sikhism, is located nearby, and for centuries, Sikhs were able to travel freely between these two sites on pilgrimage. However, in 1947, the drawing of a border by a British lawyer divided British India into two new countries, India and Pakistan, with the Golden Temple on one side and Kartarpur on the other, resulting in Sikhs in India being cut off from their holy site. Today, many visit a platform set up by the Border Patrol to view their holy place, located just a few kilometers away, with the help of telescopes.
By Bob Oliverabout a year ago in Humans
The Island is split
I suggest we take a break at this moment. I am currently on a road that divides Haiti and the Dominican Republic, right at the border that distinguishes these two very dissimilar nations. If you were born in Haiti, statistics show that you are more than two times likely to die as an infant compared to those born in the Dominican Republic. You can also anticipate being nearly ten times poorer and having a much shorter life span. I am here to discover how these two countries, sharing the same island, can differ so vastly, with a tumultuous and impoverished Haiti on one side and a stable and relatively wealthy Dominican Republic on the other. How did this division create two completely distinct worlds?
By Bob Oliverabout a year ago in Earth
Arctic Meltdown
I am currently located on an island near the North Pole with the purpose of investigating the ownership of the Arctic. The melting ice in this region has caused a significant reduction in its size, and one country, Russia, has demonstrated their willingness to fight for their rights in the Arctic. This area is considered to be the Wild West, with investment opportunities emerging in the Russian Arctic, a region of strategic and economic significance. The rate of melting is only accelerating, and Russia is projecting its power in the area. Diplomacy should be used to avoid further conflict in the High North.
By Bob Oliverabout a year ago in Earth
Why Porcelain Is So Expensive?
Creating ceramics involves several labor-intensive processes, such as sculpting, glazing, and firing. Handmade ceramic dinnerware can be expensive, but porcelain dinnerware is even pricier. The cost of porcelain varies, but some dishware can cost over $400. Porcelain is the most commonly used material to make toilets because it is durable, non-porous, long-lasting, and easy to clean. Compared to other ceramics, porcelain has a distinct white color and some types are translucent. The clay used for porcelain contains a high percentage of kaolin, which is found all over the world but large, high-quality deposits are rare.
By Bob Oliverabout a year ago in FYI
Examining the potential candidates and scenarios for Russia's leadership post-Putin era
Vladimir Putin has governed Russia for almost two decades, and there are growing concerns about his health, with some speculating that he might be suffering from Parkinson's disease or another neurological disorder. As a result, the discussion about Putin's successor is now more focused on his biological age. The question is who will take his place once he's gone, and it is expected that Putin won't name a successor until the last minute. Experts have examined Putin's inner circle and opposition to identify potential candidates and what they might mean for Russia's future. One such candidate is Sergei Shoigu, Russia's defense minister and a key figure in the conflict with Ukraine. Shoigu is seen as representing the "deep Russia" that Putin has cultivated, with a strong connection to the Siberian tribes and a reputation for effectively managing emergency situations. However, at 67, he may not be young enough to be Putin's ideal successor. Another potential candidate is Dmitry Kovalev, the 36-year-old head of Putin's presidential administration department. He is a relatively new face in Putin's inner circle, which could work to his advantage. Putin has stated that he would prefer a younger successor, and age may be a crucial factor in the selection process.
By Bob Oliverabout a year ago in Humans
15 of the Most Terrifying Tourist Destinations Across the Globe
Roller coasters and other amusement park rides are typically exciting and enjoyable, but the attractions featured in today's video are on a whole other level of danger and terror. These death-defying and downright insane rides are among the scariest tourist destinations in the world. Let's take a look at the top 15.
By Bob Oliverabout a year ago in FYI
The Unprecedented Wealth Growth of the Super Rich Amidst a Global Crisis
This is the unemployment rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' net worth during the same period, from March to June 2020, increased by an estimated $48 billion. The founder of the video conferencing platform Zoom also saw his wealth grow by over $2.5 billion, while former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's net worth increased by $15.7 billion. While these examples may suggest that billionaires profit during a crisis merely due to the right place and time, it's not entirely true. Sheldon Adelson, a casino magnate, saw his wealth increase by $5 billion, while Elon Musk saw an increase of $17.2 billion. The net worth of billionaires in the United States increased by $637 billion during the COVID-19 pandemic so far, while more than 40 million Americans filed for unemployment. With tens of millions of Americans out of a paycheck and the stock market plummeting by 37% in March, how is it that the rich have continued to get richer?
By Bob Oliverabout a year ago in Humans
The Dark Side of Progress
Many people tend to believe that their current time period represents the pinnacle of human advancement, and that progress and change always move humanity forward. However, setbacks are a natural part of human history and our current modern age may not be as beneficial for us as we think. Our increasing reliance on technology has made us less self-sufficient and less capable of planning for the future.
By Bob Oliverabout a year ago in Humans
Insights from CERN Scientists
After a three-year hiatus for improvements, the Large Hadron Collider, the world's most powerful particle accelerator, reopened today. Its machinery sends beams of energy in a vast circle, so large that it would take nearly six hours to walk around it once. The nuclear research center in Switzerland successfully produced record-breaking high-energy particle collisions. CERN, the world-renowned particle physics laboratory, announced abnormal findings after turning on the Large Hadron Collider. Scientists observed anomalous readings suggesting something unusual is happening at the subatomic level. This has generated excitement and speculation among the scientific community about what this could mean for our understanding of the universe.
By Bob Oliverabout a year ago in FYI
The Unimaginable Atrocities Committed in the Name of Science
During World War II, Nazi doctors committed unimaginable atrocities in the name of science, sparing no one, not even the elderly, women, or children. These experiments were conducted on prisoners in concentration camps, where any sadistic acts were permissible. The University of Strasbourg even had its own laboratory, where they conducted experiments on murdered people, including the collection of skeletons for studying human structure. Witnesses documented these insane experiments, including the collection of stories in the book Beyond Human Endurance, where survivors of the women's concentration camp, Ravensburg, shared their experiences.
By Bob Oliverabout a year ago in Humans