Well,2020 as it ends was Dreadful, Pathetic, Pandemic ridden – with unemployment Death overriding all human needs and emotions. .
I have not seen more people happy and celebrating the departure of an year they wish to forget? This post comes just 11 hours before the decks clear faster.
Our attitude which got driven by outside world, and these mostly become entangled. 2020 was provocative, and it persisted, insisted we change the we choose to tell out own story.
The reason this English Calendar was invented was to keep the outside world at bay as we gain currency over how we shall choose to act to respond instead of reacting.
Even the path of ten thousand miles begins with a single step. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. (Lao Tzu) ========== Everything you do today forms the seeds for what you harvest tomorrow. Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later. (Og Mandino)
“One of the best ways to influence people is to make them feel important. Most people enjoy those rare moments when others make them feel important. It is one of the deepest human desires.” – Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
All good comes from above. People of nature. We remember. Unity in diversity. Faster, better, stronger. Walking hand in hand. Peace, passion, compassion. From the grounds to the skies. For the people, by the people. Truth sets us free.
GewgawGYOO-gawPart of speech: nounOrigin: Middle English, unknown
1A showy thing, especially one that is useless or worthless.
Examples of Gewgaw in a sentence “Grandpa’s collection of gewgaws clashes with Grandma’s elegant taste.” “She bought a gewgaw whenever she went to the thrift store.”
The last few days of the year are always a time of clarity. Whether we like it or not, the past 12 months pass through our mind again, and we wonder: Did I make the right choices? Did I make progress? How would it have been if…?
Learning from the past is great, but the best thing we can do as 2020 draws to a close is accept it. Only once we accept can we look forward, and looking forward is what being human is all about.
I thought about how I could help you do that. Look forward. Grow. I came up with two things:
1. If you want to be a writer, I made something this year that will help you and that I’m really proud of: A free, 5-day email course.
The way it works is that you sign up, get 5 free lessons via email over the course of 5 days, and then, some sales information about my premium Write Like A Pro course follows. After that, however, there’s 6 more months of free, weekly material – all lessons to help you become a (better) writer.
These are the free course lessons:
The 4 Kinds of Writers
Hemingway’s 2 Best Writing Tricks
The Number One Variable All Bloggers Miss
Content Is King – But Who’s God?
Which Types of Writers Earn Money?
If you want to be a writer, well, that happens to be one thing we coincide in, and that’s why I can help you with that specifically. If you’d like to learn most of what I know about writing, you can sign up below.
2. If you don’t want to be a writer but still want to grow, Four Minute Books can be your learning companion, thanks to our current lifetime deal.
At over 800 book summaries, 600 audios, and now 9 videos and counting, it’s about time we aggregated all our many offerings into one central, focused product. In 2021, we hope to do that in the form of a Four Minute Books app and subscription.
Since you’re already a community member and supporter (thank you!), we’d like to offer you the benefits of a lifetime membership for $40 (we also offer 1- and 2-year subscriptions).
You’ll get access to all current and future Four Minute Books products, specifically PDFs of our summaries, mp3s of our audios, our 10 custom PDF guides, Evernote library, real-time Dropbox syncing, and more!
We’ll use the money from this deal to build the app and deliver everything one central, easy-to-access place – and of course create more and more awesome content that helps you save time on books!
1-Sentence-Summary:First They Killed My Father is Loung Ung’s account of the horrific events that she and her family had to go through while living in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s and explains how it devastated their country, the way it separated their family, and how Loung got through it all.
Read in: 4 minutes
Favorite quote from the author:
Only a little more than forty years ago, the brutal Khmer Rouge overtook the country of Cambodia. In just four years, this regime perpetrated the genocide of up two two million Cambodians in its horrific reign. However, we may never know the true extent of their crimes.
But through the first-hand account of Loung Ung in her book First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers, we get an intimate glimpse of what it was like. She was only five when Pol Pot and his regime took over the country. But her description of the war crimes and desperation she saw in her young years will make you feel like you are witnessing history with her.
You will find inspiration from the resilience of these Cambodians in the face of insurmountable trials. But the underlying message Ung beautifully shares is that no matter what happens, family bonds can never be broken.
Here’s the book summarized in just 3 lessons:
Loung Ung was a privileged child living in Cambodia until the Khmer Rouge showed up.
The reign of the Khmer Rouge dismantled and devastated the Ung family and Cambodian society.
Although her childhood was ravaged by war, Loung Ung got a second chance at life because of her mother’s bravery and her brother’s generosity.
Let’s get right into these lessons so we can understand the awfulness that some people have to go through.If you want to save this summary for later, download the free PDF and read it whenever you want.
Lesson 1: Life was good for Loung Ung and her family until the Khmer Rouge won the Cambodian civil war.
When Ung was five-years-old, her life as she knew it changed forever. Up until that point, she had enjoyed a comfortable middle-class life, as her father was a high ranking military official. They had a modern apartment in the city’s capital of Phnom Penh and even attended school, though most of the city’s inhabitants were not so fortunate.
But one day in 1975, from her balcony she saw a swarm of soldiers enter the city and everything changed. It was the Khmer Rouge, a communist rebel army who was at war with the incumbent democracy and they had won. They were coming to enforce communism that demanded everyone live simple peasant lives.
Her father’s job and wealth put a target on their backs and within hours they fled the capital and left their life behind to hide in the country. Now, as enemies of the state, they had to keep their identity a secret or they would lose their lives.
The regime also set out to persecute anyone who was not ethnically Cambodian. This put a target on their backs as well since her mother was half Chinese. So they left their old identities behind and set out to work in the fields.
Lesson 2: Tragedy after tragedy struck Cambodian society and the Ung family after the Khmer Rouge took over.
Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of their nightmare. The Khmer Rouge forced those who fled the cities to work in rural cities, where their masters took advantage of them. From dawn until dusk, they were forced to do back-breaking work digging, building, and planting.
But worse still was that there wasn’t enough food to go around. In just five months, two-thirds of the new workers had died of starvation or illness. As educated people from the city, they were considered the lowest class of all and they were treated horribly.
The only reason they avoided starvation was that her brother had a job at the village chief’s home. He endured beatings knowing he could bring table scraps to his starving family.
Soon she began losing members of her family. First her sister, who was taken to work in a camp and became ill and tragically was left to die in a “hospital” far from her family. Then her father, when the truth of his identity got out. The regime brutally murdered him and threw his body into a mass grave.
Lesson 3: Loung Ung’s future is in her hands now because of her generous brother and brave mother.
After the truth of their identity got out, Ung’s mother had to make a terrible decision. Knowing that the regime would soon find and execute the rest of the family, she told Ung and her siblings to flee to different cities. From there they were to say they were orphans, so they couldn’t be traced back.
So they left behind their mother and their four-year-old sister. Sadly, their once happy family was now in pieces. Ung went to a work camp for orphaned children. Soon after arriving, she found out that the regime had taken her mother and sister to be executed as well.
But thanks to the courage of her mother, she and her three remaining siblings were able to see the end of the regime as Vietnamese soldiers liberated much of Cambodia. Her oldest brother was able to save enough money to allow him and just one of his siblings to leave for the United States, and he chose Ung.
He felt that because of her young age, she still had a chance at an education and a new start. In the end, thanks to her courageous mother and generous brother, she was able to finally have freedom as a US citizen.
First They Killed My Father Review
Oh my gosh, this whole story of First They Killed My Father is just awful. These are the parts of history that they didn’t teach me about in school. Part of me wishes they had and another part of me wishes they hadn’t. The big question that I wonder now is how can we prevent terrible things like this from happening?
Who would I recommend the First They Killed My Father summary to?
The 56-year-old who has seen The Killing Fields and wants to learn more about it, the 33-year-old that is interested in history, and anyone who deals with first world problems that has no idea the horrors that some people experience.
AmbitAM-bətPart of speech: nounOrigin: Late Middle English, unknown
1The scope, extent, or bounds of something.
Examples of Ambit in a sentence “She tested the ambit of their friendship by asking for a ride to the airport.” “I was captivated by the ambit of the ocean, stretching in all directions.”
There’s no doubt that 2020 has been a whirlwind year; with many ups and downs. But December brings with it a change in the air. There’s a feeling of renewed hope as everyone looks forward to another year of fresh beginnings and all things wonderful. Use these thought-starters to spark new conversations with your readers, whether it’s the practical International Day of Banks or the joyful event of Christmas.
What’s new in December 2020?
Winter Tax Filing
An important financial step that you usually take in July every year has now been moved to December because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, what should your brand be talking about?
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: X Exemptions and deductions that can reduce your taxable income
Infographic idea: How to pick the right ITR form to file your taxes
Video idea: A quick guide on how to file your taxes online
Podcast idea: History of Income Tax worldwide
Virtual Christmas & New Year’s Eve
With plenty of festivities in store, it’s likely that many will let down their guard for parties and gatherings. Encouraging virtual celebrations could be a step in the right direction. And here are some conversations that your brand can initiate.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: X Innovative ideas for a socially distanced New Year’s Eve party at home
Infographic idea: The best movies to watch if you’re spending Christmas alone
Video idea: Can’t travel home? Here are some easy Christmas dishes you can try
Podcast idea: How can you keep yourself safe if you’re at a New Year event?
New wave of COVID-19
After a few months of relative normalcy, a new wave of COVID-19 is hitting different cities across the world. Closer to home, it is possible that certain states and cities could see new restrictions and lockdowns. So, what can your brand talk about during this time?
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: X Apps that can keep you updated with the latest news
Infographic idea: Places that are most likely to be COVID-19 hotspots
Video idea: Here’s how a second wave of the COVID-19 infection could affect your body
Podcast idea: How can we handle the COVID-19 wave this time around?
Socially distanced wedding season
The wedding season is usually when hundreds of friends and relatives gather to celebrate their loved ones’ happy day. But with precautions and restrictions in place, how can you make the big day special?
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: Video platforms that can take your virtual wedding a notch higher
Infographic idea: Tips to make an attractive face mask to complement your ethnic outfit
Video idea: How to arrange a perfect (and safe) wedding ceremony in your home
Podcast idea: Celebration ideas for those who cannot physically attend your wedding
Fixed Days
World AIDS Day – 1 December
This day is celebrated to recognize the role that communities play in response to AIDS at the local, national, and international levels.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: How does AIDS affect pregnant women and their children?
Infographic idea: Who is at the greatest risk of contracting HIV?
Video idea: A history of the AIDS epidemic, starting from the 80s
Podcast idea: How far has treatment of AIDS come in the last two decades?
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery – 2 December
This day is observed to raise awareness of ‘modern slavery’, which includes forced labor, forced marriage, and human trafficking, and aims to highlight issues of exploitation.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: How are governments coming together to create laws to end modern slavery?
Infographic idea: Signs of modern slavery you can’t ignore
Video idea: What is the history of the first transatlantic slave trade?
Podcast idea: How many countries did slaves come from?
Brand campaign that worked
This video by Kent Police encourages everyone to be vigilant and look out for signs of human trafficking in our own communities.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities– 3 December
This day is observed to promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities from all spheres of life.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: What are ‘invisible disabilities’?
Infographic idea: What are the most common causes of mental disabilities?
Video idea: Real stories of people who overcame their disabilities
Podcast idea: Why are mental disabilities overlooked?
Brand campaign that worked
This heartwarming video by Apple shows how technology makes aspects of everyday life accessible to people with disabilities.
International Day of Banks – 4 December
This day is celebrated to recognize the role of multilateral development banks and the role of banking systems in contributing to the improvement of the standard of living.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: What are the safest banks to keep your savings in?
Infographic idea: X Things you need to keep in mind when applying for a loan
Video idea: How do banks make money?
Podcast idea: What should you look for when opening a bank account?
Brand campaign that worked
This ad by The Royal bank of Scotland shows the journey of £10 and the joy it brings to a variety of people.
International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development – 5 December
This day celebrates volunteers and organizations across the world and aims to share and promote their values.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: Here’s what you should know before becoming a volunteer
Infographic idea: How can being a volunteer benefit you?
Video idea: How is money raised at fundraisers for various causes?
Podcast idea: What will the future of volunteering look like?
World Soil Day – 5 December
This day is marked to bring to the attention of people the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for its sustainable management.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: X Ways you can improve garden soil
Infographic idea: X Compost ideas for your home garden
Video idea: How do insects improve soil quality?
Podcast idea: How can you compost effectively?
International Civil Aviation Day – 7 December
This day is meant to raise awareness about the importance of international aviation for the social and economic development of nations.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: What is a black box and how is it useful?
Infographic idea: Must-visit aviation museums around the world
Video idea: What went on behind the Wright Brothers’ first flight?
Podcast idea: What happens to aircraft that disappear in the ocean?
Brand campaign that worked
This ad by British Airways shows how an air hostess from the airline befriends an elderly woman on her flight and how it leads to a warm, rewarding relationship.
International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime – 9 December
This day is celebrated to commemorate and honor genocide victims and to raise awareness of the Genocide Convention and its role is combating and preventing genocide.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: Modern-day genocides you might not have heard of
Infographic idea: Genocide museums around the world
Video idea: How did Anne Frank’s diary change the world?
Podcast idea: How do genocide survivors cope with memory and trauma of the past?
International Anti-Corruption Day – 9 December
This day is commemorated to raise awareness against corruption, which is a barrier against social and economic development in societies.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: X Signs of a corrupt workplace you must watch out for
Infographic idea: A roundup of the sternest anti-corruption laws around the world
Video idea: People who are working to reform corrupt systems from the ground up
Podcast idea: How safe is the life of a whistleblower?
Brand campaign that worked:
This ad by Videocon shows how an elderly man subtly rebuffs a request to pay a bribe to get his work done.
Human Rights Day – 10 December
This day commemorates the adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN, which proclaims basic rights everyone human is entitled to, irrespective of race, religion, sex, language, and political or other opinion.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: X People below 20 who fight for human rights everyday
Infographic idea: Are you aware of the rights you have?
Video idea: Human rights movements that inspired a better future
Podcast idea: What does it mean to stand for human rights?
International Mountain Day – 11 December
This day celebrates the rich landscape of mountains and aims to raise awareness for their conservation. This year’s theme is ‘mountain biodiversity’.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: X Photography tips to capture the magnificence of mountains
Infographic idea: X Tools you need to start mountain climbing
Video idea: Here’s how indigenous cultures protect mountain ecosystems
Podcast idea: What kind of effort goes into organizing an expedition to Mt Everest?
International Day of Neutrality – 12 December
This day is celebrated to raise public awareness of the value of neutrality in international relations.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: How to make a career as a diplomat
Infographic idea: The most militarized places on Earth
Video idea: X Inspiring tales from the lives of frontline peacemakers
Podcast idea: What are the benefits of looking at both sides of an argument?
International Universal Health Coverage Day – 12 December
This day is commemorated to drive member nations to adopt universal healthcare by 2030.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: Steps Indian government has taken to move towards universal healthcare
Infographic idea: How can universal health coverage benefit you?
Video idea: What goes into the functioning of the best healthcare systems in the world?
Podcast idea: How will universal healthcare change post COVID?
Brand campaign that worked:
This video by the World Bank shows how a universal healthcare system can make a difference to a family, especially if they cannot afford to pay.
International Migrants Day – 18 December
This day is commemorated to strengthen the protection of migrants and refugees around the globe.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: X Compelling movies/documentaries on refugees
Infographic idea: Most supportive countries in the world for refugees
Video idea: How is Amnesty International trying to solve the world refugee crisis?
Podcast idea: How can cities be better prepared for interstate migration?
International Human Solidarity Day – 20 December
This day celebrates unity in diversity and raises awareness about the importance of solidarity and poverty eradication.
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: Ways to practice solidarity while enforcing social distancing
Infographic idea: Examples of peaceful protests around the world
Video idea: X Movements that went international
Podcast idea: How does social media unite people around the world?
Fun Days
International Ninja Day – 5 December
Worldwide Candle Lighting Day – 12 December
Monkey Day – 14 December
Games Day – 20 December
Crossword Puzzle Day – 21 December
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: Try these new games with your friends over the holidays
Infographic idea: Types of candles and the atmosphere they promote
Video idea: Do the way monkeys communicate differ from humans?
Podcast idea: Can solving crossword puzzles sharpen your brain?
Festivals
Kumbhalgarh Festival – 1-3 December
Chennai Music Festival – December 2020- Jan 2021
Hornbill Festival – 1-10 December
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: What are the best months to travel around India for local festivals?
Infographic idea: X Folk art that’s famous in Rajasthan
Video idea: The evolution of Indian classical music
Podcast idea: How diverse are music festivals in India?
Birthdays
Pablo Escobar –1 December
Britney Spears – 2 December
Shiva Ayyadurai – 2 December
Walt Disney – 5 December
Noam Chomsky – 7 December
Emily Dickinson – 10 December
Viswanathan Anand – 11 December
Dilip Kumar – 11 December
Rajinikanth – 12 December
Yuvraj Singh – 12 December
Taylor Swift – 13 December
Vijay Amritraj – 14 December
BKS Iyengar –14 December
Bhaichung Bhutia – 15 December
John Abraham – 17 December
Pope Francis – 17 December
Billie Eilish – 18 December
Brad Pitt – 18 December
Jake Gyllenhaal – 19 December
Govinda – 21 December
Srinivasa Ramanujan – 22 December
Anil Kapoor – 24 December
Mohammed Rafi – 24 December
Kit Harington – 26 December
Salman Khan – 27 December
Stan Lee – 28 December
Dhirubai Ambani – 28 December
Ratan Tata – 28 December
Twinkle Khanna – 29 December
LeBron James – 30 December
Rudyard Kipling – 30 December
Ben Kingsley – 31 December
Alex Ferguson – 31 December
Content marketing ideas
Listicle idea: What is the process to elect a new pope?
Infographic idea: Britney Spears’ greatest music video looks
Video idea: Easy yoga poses you can do every morning
Podcast idea: How can we encourage children to enjoy mathematics?
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Black Girl Thoughts addresses the dangers of racism in America, alongside the complacency and silence it brings...with a dash of my personal life experiences.
"I have enough time to rest, but I don't have a minute to waste". Come and catch me with your wise words and we will have some fun with our words of wisdom.
Black Girl Thoughts addresses the dangers of racism in America, alongside the complacency and silence it brings...with a dash of my personal life experiences.
"I have enough time to rest, but I don't have a minute to waste". Come and catch me with your wise words and we will have some fun with our words of wisdom.
Black Girl Thoughts addresses the dangers of racism in America, alongside the complacency and silence it brings...with a dash of my personal life experiences.
"I have enough time to rest, but I don't have a minute to waste". Come and catch me with your wise words and we will have some fun with our words of wisdom.
