#but like... lives be strange and complex and human behavior is rarely as simple as it seems there is always a story!

[evolutionsvoid]

When it comes to dangerous creatures and ferocious monsters, many folk think of carnivores and vicious predators. Those who feast on flesh, tearing through prey with tooth and claw. No one pays any mind to the herbivores, as they eat simple plants, how scary could that be? Well, in truth, this plant-eaters can be plenty dangerous and there are those that the carnivores dare not touch. One may argue that predators eat these herbivores, so clearly they are dominant! However, a keen eye will notice that many predators seek out the young, old and weak, those that are easy prey. For some species, a healthy adult is untouchable, only attacked in desperate times. In some cases, this is done because one wants to conserve energy, so it is best to take the easier meal. In other cases, these herbivores are dangerous foes that can strike deadly blows or wound a predator so badly that they will never be able to hunt again. One's diet does not determine one's threat level, so one should be mindful before making such assumptions. A good example of this is the Khalkotauroi, a herbivorous behemoth that walks the grasslands and savannas. Though it feeds on grass, leaves and other plant matter, it is considered one of the most dangerous creatures of the continent. A hulking ungulate, the Khalkotauroi is actually related to the Catoblepas, as one can see in certain features. It possess the prehensile lower lip, the scaly armor and the long serpentine tail. The biggest noticeable difference, though, is that this beast does not drag its head on the ground. Instead it has quite the short sturdy neck, meaning it can function like any other animal on the savanna. Since it does not have to crawl with its face, this species is much more mobile. They still walk along at a leisurely pace, but if angered, they can charge with incredible speed and force. That is another thing about the Khalkotauroi, they are absolute powerhouses. Their bodies are packed with pure muscle, with backs practically bulging with all this strength. One's charge has the power to knock over a tree or barrel through a wall, which means that us much squishier things would pretty much burst on impact. A thick neck allows them to absorb a whole lot of shock from the attack, and it also gives them the ability to toss things around like toys. A pair of thorny, heavily armored horns is their main weapon, and they are things to be feared. Not only will they gore you, but you can get caught in them and thrashed about. The metallic shell on these horns is incredibly strong, able to deflect sword strikes and ignore a whole lot of punishment. This same armoring coats most of their body, which makes them even more intimidating. Thick scales give them an incredible amount of protection, making it difficult for any attacker to leave a serious wound. The bottom of their jaw and the back of their legs are the only places where one could get a hit off, but these areas are not very easy to reach when this beast is charging you. While it does not eat meat and it gains nothing from taking down another animal, Khalkotauroi often cause injury and death due to a rather short fuse. They are easily angered and they are quick to get defensive when approached by an unknown creature. Like Catoblepas, they have quite poor eye sight and thus rely on smell to truly understand their surroundings. Odors of danger or strange beings can put them on edge, and they are quick to defend themselves if something startles them in this state. Since smell is a big thing for them, a misunderstanding in a hectic situation can lead to an attack. My guides said that approaching one while drenched in a familiar odor is not a foolproof plan. If the wind changes and they catch the smell of a predator, they will get defensive. And if you happen to be in front of them in this state and make a sudden move, they will assume you are a part of the danger and charge. I certainly didn't need to be told to stay far from them, but this adds to the huge pile of reasons to keep your distance. This defensive nature and anger is also extended to their young, as they are very protective of their calves. Getting anywhere near a baby Khalkotauroi is a recipe for disaster, as their mother isn't the only one who will maul you for this sin. All Khalkotauroi keep an eye out for each other, and they will work in a group if threatened. Even their Catoblepas cousins are roped into this, though they rarely need defending. Living in a poison cloud means that a lot of enemies aren't going to visit you at home.   The rage of a Khalkotauroi is a well known thing, as they are essentially living battering rams. Fences, walls and any other obstacle is easily barreled through, and the whip of an angry tail can send a man flying. Loud snorts and pawing at the ground are clear signs of anger, but the biggest signal comes from their nose and mouth. Much like their Catoblepas cousins, they possess special organs that collect certain fluids from the plants they eat. These same organs secrete their own special compound, mixing it all into a particular substance. This soup is turned into a vapor and it can be expelled from the nose or mouth. This vapor is quite flammable, igniting at the slightest spark. This spark is provided by their tusks, which contain properties that are similar to flint and steel. With quick jaw movements, they can grind these teeth together and cause sparking, which will ignite the expelled vapor. So when a Khalkotauroi is angry, it will literally have flames bursting from its jaws! Though an intimidating sight to see, the fire itself isn't all that dangerous. The vapor burns quickly and the fire doesn't create that much heat. Getting hit by a puff of this flame may singe your foliage and hair, but it won't incinerate you like dragon fire. They don't really use the flames as projectile, rather the heat stays all around the head. That means if you are stuck on its horns, than maybe you are going to start cooking up. In reality, these bursts of fire are more for intimidation and distraction, scaring away attackers or disorienting them long enough to get gored. I see this application quite often in conversation about this species. When I bring up the Khalkotauroi, many are quick to mention the fire and say how scary it is. I often shoot back that the charging horned beast is the thing that I find quite scarier. Singed leaves are unpleasant, but having my body turned to mulch is a bit worse! The fire they produce may also be used to burn off the irritating hairs and nasty thorns of certain plants, making them more palatable. It is a behavior that is quite similar to the Crystal Horn, though they rely more on focused light rather than belched flame.       

With their immense strength, impenetrable armor and nasty temper, many people tend to see nothing else in these beasts. However, one may be surprised to learn that the Khalkotauroi are rather intelligent. They seem to be quite observant and a bit curious, both of which they use to learn and adapt. When some new object shows up in their territory, they are always quick to check it out and prod it with their lower lip. Land owners who put up fences or new structures can be sure that the local Khalkotauroi will be inspecting these recent additions. While some may chalk it up to normal curiosity and common threat assessment, locals have found these creatures actually learning the purpose and functions of these things. Though big and bulky, their prehensile lower lip can actually allow them to perform these functions after careful observations! Quite a few farmers I met regaled me of their first time they saw a Khalkotauroi unlatch their gate and stroll right onto their property. Though I think such a thing would be incredible to watch, the storytellers were not so thrilled about suddenly having these massive creatures near their crops and homes! It sounds like that most Khalkotauroi have mastered simple doors and gates, which means folk need to add extra layers and complexities to their barriers to prevent these beasts from easily flinging them open. I have also been told that Khalkotauroi have come up with interesting behaviors when it comes to the dry season. Though their eye sight isn't all that great, they can still pick out silhouettes, and a shape they are quite familiar with is that of a human carrying a pot or urn on their head. When water is scarce, the Khalkotauroi will follow these folk as they know that they are headed towards water. Of course not every person has to draw water from a watering hole, as many towns and villages have wells and other ways to gather this precious liquid. Well, the Khalkotauroi have learned that too. There have been stories of these creatures trying to get into a village's stored water, and one instance where a Khalkotauroi actually figured out how to pull the rope that brings forth a bucket of well water! The other thing that shows the intelligence of the Khalkotauroi is their memory. They appear to remember every place they have visited, even when they were calves. Water holes or feeding grounds they haven't seen in decades can still be easily found, and they are sure to bring their young along so that they can learn too. They also are able to remember certain individuals, which they often identify through smell. This brings up a rather fascinating thing about Khalkotauroi and one of the big reasons they are infamous to locals and hunters. Not only do they remember specific people or creatures, they associate these beings with certain things. There is a tale of a farmhand who was responsible for dumping any food waste or rotten produce from their farm, which they often pitched in the same spot every day. Eventually the Khalkotauroi came to recognize this location as a reliable source of food. From that point on, the farmhand would find these beasts waiting patiently for the regular delivery at the same time every day. Though terrified at first, the fellow found that they were quite friendly and peaceful towards him. The farmhand found these interactions pleasant, but never thought too much about them. He brought food and that was all they really cared about. Months down the road, though, and he found himself in peril. While out on the road to visit family, he was ambushed by bandits and captured. His attempts to defend himself angered the thieves and they gave him quite the thrashing. As they beat him, there was a deafening bellow and something massive came charging out of the grass. An enraged Khalkotauroi plowed through the bandits, sending everyone running. Each thief was chased down and ground to paste, but the angry beast brought no harm to the farmhand. It was later found that this Khalkotauroi was one that visited the dumping ground daily, and it recognized the man who brought the food. Hearing his friend in pain and peril, it came rushing to the rescue! It is quite a wonderful tale, and it goes to show how smart these beasts can be. However, a memory that can help remember a friend can also remember a foe. It turns out that Khalkotauroi can hold grudges. The most well known tale of this behavior is the story of Gnarl Horn, a rather famous Khalkotauroi that prowled near the town of Ndiounda. Gnarl Horn was a full grown bull that was identified by a twisted overgrown horn, which was probably due to an injury that occurred in his youth. Larger than all others of his kind, he was said to be the undisputed king of the territory, and that no predator dared show their face when he was around. All the townsfolk treated Gnarl Horn with respect and they dared not cross him even when he wandered into town. He was a notable specimen of his kind with an unique appearance, which obviously meant that some rich elite jerkbag would want to kill it and turn him into a trophy. Some far-off wealthy lord known as Hagen prided himself on being a big game hunter and saw Gnarl Horn as a must-have for his trophy room. So he sailed off and went to Ndiounda in hopes of bagging this behemoth, which the locals did not appreciate. They forbid anyone to hunt Gnarl Horn and refused to help the man. So instead of taking the hint, he decided to hire some shady folk to serve as guides so that he could claim his prize. They tracked down the beast and found him grazing in a herd of fellow herbivores. Knowing simple weapons were ineffective against the armored hide, Hagen decided to construct pitfalls and leg traps that would topple Gnarl Horn and leave him vulnerable. The group then had the genius idea of setting off explosive seed pods to whip the herd into a panic. The cacophony they made sent every creature into a frenzy, resulting in a stampede. Everyone had to duck and cover as the chaos ensued, only emerging when the craze had passed. The aftermath showed several ungulates that had fallen into the traps and crippled themselves, as well as a bunch that had been tripped by placed foot holds and were trampled to death in the panic. All in all, it was a horrible scene of misery and terrible waste of life. And of course, Gnarl Horn was nowhere to be found. Somehow having no remorse for his stupid actions, Hagen retired to the camp to plot out another way to take down the beast. As they prepared for dinner, though, their quarry made a violent appearance. Gnarl Horn came charging into camp, tearing through the tents and goring one of the guides. They all fled the scene in a panic, retreating to a place where the enraged creature couldn't reach them. After Gnarl Horn gave up and left, they went back to their shredded camp and gathered what remained. They set up their station elsewhere, and Hagen was determined more than ever to beat these behemoth. When he went out to hunt the next morning, Gnarl Horn appeared once again and attacked. Few more guides and helpers were killed in the assault, but even when Hagen escaped, the terror was not over. For the next two days, Gnarl Horn continued to ambush and attack the group at every turn. Finally his guides abandoned him and fled, leaving Hagen to fend for himself. With all his equipment and preparations shattered by this furious creature, he had no choice but to flee. He abandoned his quest and sailed home, vowing to return and kill the behemoth. While the locals were happy to see the rich fool get driven off, they wondered what had infuriated Gnarl Horn to this degree. Eventually the guides were tracked down and questioned, and it was revealed that a few of them returned to the scene of the failed hunt to collect what they could from the collateral casualties. They didn't want the meat and resources to go to waste, as Hagen left the mangled bodies where they lie due to their poor condition. When inspecting the scene, they found the crushed body of a Khalkotauroi calf, who had been trampled amidst the chaos. No one can really confirm if this calf was Gnarl Horn's offspring or not, but such a loss regardless would be enough to drive the beast mad. Years after the incident, Hagen returned to Ndiounda to try and take down Gnarl Horn again. This trip lasted only two days, as the beast attacked hours after Hagen had set foot in the wilderness. After the first assault, no one dared help him or offer him sanctuary. The townsfolk wouldn't even let him into the town, as Gnarl Horn pursued Hagen even into populated areas and didn't care what got smashed during his rage. With no place hide, he was forced to quit once again. A few years after that, he came back for a different hunting expedition in another part of the territory, eyeing a tamer prize. Four days into his expedition, Gnarl Horn exploded onto the scene and tore through the party, leading to another retreat. From then on, Hagen refused to return to that land as long as Gnarl Horn lived. Eventually, the beast's reign came to an end. Old and weary, Gnarl Horn was found one day lying underneath a mango tree in a local farm. Lazily eating the fallen fruit, he simply sat there for three days, never moving from the spot. On the fourth day, the villagers had found that he had passed in the night. The whole town held a ceremony for the great giant, and news of the funeral reached Hagen's ears. Gleeful that the terrible creature had finally died, he set up another hunting expedition in the territory to celebrate. Longing to bag some game from this savanna, he trekked out into the wilderness and was promptly attacked by a young bull Khalkotauroi. Hagen was run through by its horns and crushed against a mango tree. After Hagen was dead, the bull simply turned around and left, ignoring the horrified guides. It seems that the Khalkotauroi can pass down a lot of things to their young. In the regions they call home, the thoughts on the Khalkotauroi is a bit of a mixed bag. Many are proud of such a powerful and adaptive beast, as it serves as a perfect symbol for strength. Their impenetrable scales serve as great materials for armor and equipment, and those that can summon it through Thericorium will have a great coat of armor to wear into battle. The issue with all this, though, is actually killing one of these beasts to obtain it. Due to their anger and armor, they are not easy beasts to slay, which is extra problematic when they become a nuisance. Eating crops and wandering into towns is a bit of an issue, but trying to drive it away can cause untold destruction. Thus locals have to continually adapt to these learning creatures, finding new ways to keep them out and away from their property. Some have considered domesticating the Khalkotauroi, as they would be great beasts of burden and they are capable of learning. This does sound good on paper, as you could train them with gifts of food, but there is a catch. While they can associate certain folk with good things like treats and kindness, this will not apply to everyone they meet. So you may be able to dance all around your trained pal without any issue, but the second a stranger is added into the mix, then it may lead to disaster. Also they could get protective over you like they do their young, and try to charge to the rescue if you sound like you are in danger. It may sound cool, but it really isn't when you argue with your spouse over who is doing the dishes and then your guardian bursts through the wall and your partner.               Chlora Myron Dryad Natural Historian --------------------------------------------- So it turns out Khalkotauroi are not just "bronze bulls" like I thought, but turns out their real descriptions say they are just bulls with bronze mouths and hooves. which are literally the only two parts of this beast I didn't make armored. Great job, idiot. Also the story of Gnarl Horn was supposed to be a throwaway line that would speak of their ability to hold grudges, but I got bored at work one day and started thinking too much about it. So in the end, one sentence wound up being three paragraphs (which could have been longer if I wanted to add the details about his funeral, burial, supposed haunting and the mango tree, but those details probably aren't necessary). Oops!

#khalkotauroi #mythical creatures #mythical beasts #bull #mammal #monster #creature #art #drawing

[kourdem]

What is Artificial Intelligence?

what is artificial intelligence? that I even have websites that provide educational materials about cyber security but what you don’t know is that last week i published a book called cyber security for the digitally challenged it’s an interactive electronic book designed for people who are not technical don’t have any background in cyber security if this description fits you then the book is supposed especially for you the book is free and should be easily downloaded at the tunes

 bookstore now back to AI i don’t realize you but once i used to be young i remember going to the 1964 world’s fair and seeing incredible and amazing futuristic devices general motors had a pavilion called the future of reality and the city of tomorrow and it had been the very first time that i saw what they called a picture phone but my first real inspect artificial intelligence began when i first started watching the Jetsons meet George Jensen is jane his wife remember once we all thought that that would be our future well variety of the predictions did come true video calling devices robotic vacuums electronic banking just to call a few of what most people don’t realize is that artificial intelligence is all around us AI is all around us you’ll see it when Alexa answers one of your questions when your email gives you a suggestion of what to reply with or even once you put a photograph on Facebook and it recognizes your face it’s so commonplace at the moment that tons of people like me are now asking what’s this all leading towards today we ask siri to pay our favourite music things like hey siri please play the beetle oh yeah or hey google what time is it in sunshine beach Australia it’s 4 28 a.m in sunshine beach Australia that’s just not a random request actually my daughter and her family live in sunshine beach Australia when you’re asking to talk to siri Alexa or google your lecture an artificial intelligence agent and this ai is learning your personal preferences the more you use the device the more it learns and the more accurately it can anticipate your every need when someone mentions artificial intelligence what’s the first thing that comes to your mind now most people imagine a military of human-like robots that are repelling against society well a few of fit few people like myself have a more positive um thinking about community envisioning a bright future so what exactly is artificial intelligence it’s definitely not a magical program that can think kind of person's it’s things like virtual companions the controlled gaming surgical robots personal assistants and other devices that we use each day to make our lives better and more efficient now it had been within the mid-1950s that John McCarthy who was a Stanford researcher coined the term AI and he would define it because the science of engineering at the science and engineering of making intelligent agents McCarthy presented his definition of artificial intelligence at a conference on the campus of Dartmouth College in Hanover New Hampshire within the summer of 1956 and this indicated the very beginning of ai research the concept of ai has changed over time but the goal has always been the same to really make computers think like humans during a nutshell ai’s goal is to make computer or computer programs smart enough to initiate the behavior of a human mind now it’s likely that you simply simply interacted with some kind of ai in your day-to-day activities probably even today if you use gmail you may enjoy the automated spam filters in fact according to google Gmail blocks a hundred million spam messages daily with its artificial intelligence agent next if you own a smartphone you probably fill out a calendar app with the help of apple siri or Microsoft’s cortina or Samsung’s Bixby and if you own a newer vehicle perhaps you’ve benefited from the driver-assisted feature while you're driving these are all possible thanks to artificial intelligence but as convenient and helpful as these products are they lack the facility to seek out out independently they can’t think outside of their code and most of you recognize that code is a written set of instructions that tells the ai what to undertake to to so here is where i would like to introduce you to machine learning and this a neighborhood of the presentation might get a little geeky machine learning could also be a branch of ai whose purpose is to supply machines the ability to seek out out a task without pre-existing code our ability to seek out out and acquire better at tasks through experience may be a component of being human when we’re born we all know almost nothing and can do almost nothing for ourselves but soon we’re learning and becoming more capable each day but did you recognize that computers can do the same machine learning brings together statistics and computing to enable computers to seek out out the thanks to do a given task without being programmed to undertake to to so just as your brain uses experience to reinforce at a task so can computers say you'd sort of a computer that can tell the difference between a picture of a dog and a picture of a cat you'll begin by feeding it images and telling it this one’s a dog that one’s a cat a computer program to seek out out will seek statistical patterns within the data that will enable it to acknowledge a cat or a dog in the future it'd determine on its own that cats have shorter noses which dogs are available a much bigger kind of sizes and then represent that information numerically organizing it in space but crucially it’s the pc not the programmer that identifies those patterns and establishes the algorithm by which future data are getting to be sorted one example of a simple yet highly effective algorithm is to hunt out the optimal line separating cats from dogs when the pc sees a replacement picture it checks which side of the road it falls on then says either cat or dog but actually there are often mistakes the more data the pc receives the more finely tuned its algorithm becomes and the more accurate it are often in its predictions machine learning is already widely applied it’s the technology behind facial recognition text and speech recognition spam filters on your inbox online shopping or viewing recommendations credit card forward detection then much more at the university of oxford machine learning researchers are combining statistics and computer science to make algorithms which can solve more complex problems more efficiently using less computing power from medical diagnoses to social media the potential of machine learning to transform our world is really mind-blowing machine learning could also be a could also be a rare sorry machine learning may be a neighborhood of research in computing that studies a special kind of instruction called algorithms algorithms are a gaggle of step-by-step instructions used to do something an algorithm is really only a gaggle of rules as an example if you sort your laundry before you’re washing it you use an algorithm if the algorithm is to put the white laundry on the left pile and the colored laundry on the right pile and you repeat until you’re done this is an algorithm it’s just that simple machine learning uses a gaggle of instructions that improve automatically based on experience in other words what makes machine learning algorithms different from others is that they’re able to learn from the data that we feed them image recognition could also be a exemplar every day we’re getting image recognition more involved so on help us with our personal daily lives if you see some strange looking plant your friend is growing in their living room simply point google lands at it and it will tell you what it's if your discord friend uploads a photograph of their new cat and you'd wish to understand what breed it's just run a google image reverse search and you’ll determine what it's even self-driving vehicles need to know where they can drive which may be a road where are the lanes where they're going to make a turn what the difference is between a red light green light and amber light where the stop signs are well you get the message as you will see image recognition could also be an enormous a neighborhood of deep learning and it are often both cool and scary so how does it work here’s a basic explanation in order for that car to know what a stop sign looks like it must tend an image of a stop sign the machine will read the stop sign and through a selection of algorithms it will then study the stop sign and analyze how the image goes to look by going section per section what color is that the stop sign what shape is it what’s written thereon how big is it always and where is it usually seen during a driver’s peripheral vision things like that if there’s any errors scientists can simply correct them once the image has been completely read it are often labeled and categorized but why stop with one image in our perspective we don’t really need to think for half a second on what a stop sign is and what we must do once we see it we’ve seen numerous stop signs in our lives it’s almost embedded in our brains so the machine must read many different stop signs for better accuracy that way it doesn’t matter whether the stop sign is seen during foggy or rainy conditions during the night or during the day because the machine has seen a stop sign many times it can know it’s a stop sign just by watching its shape and color alone all of that sounds really cool right but it can also be scary if you upload and replica your photos go check out your photos if you haven’t sorted anything you’ll notice that google has done it for you there’s a category for places things videos and animations and maybe others and if you attend things you’ll see that google has sorted your photos into albums supported where google thinks they belong so you’ll have photos labeled as food beaches trains buses and whatever else you will have photographed within the past this is all due to the work of google’s image recognition analysis it has analyzed over 1,000,000 photos on the internet your photos your friends photos strangers photos and any photo that appears on google image search it’s not just google that uses image recognition also if you upload a photo and facebook recognizes your friends it will automatically tag them so yes it’s quite creepy considering it’s a privacy concern but some people may appreciate the convenience anyways because it saves a short time no matter how cool or scary it's image recognition plays a huge role in society and will still be in development many companies are continuing to implement image recognition and other ai technologies the more we'll automate certain tasks with machines the more productive we'll be as a society now because the video described an image recognition machine could even be given millions of pictures to research after going through many changes the machine acquires the ability to acknowledge patterns shapes faces and even more speech recognition is another exemplar of this there are two basic kinds of artificial intelligence the first is weak ai which is additionally known as narrow ai this type of ai can handle only one task at a time for example it can select your favorite song from spotify select your favorite movie from netflix filter your email spam or instruct a self-driving car the second is what’s called strong iai and it’s also mentioned as artificial general intelligence or agi this is much more sophisticated this type of ai refers to a system which is able to affect a generalized task much like an individual's agi as it’s abbreviated can successfully perform any intellectual task that an individual's can this sort of ai is this is that the ai that we’ve seen in movies like her and other scientific movies during which humans interact with machines and operating systems these artificial intelligent agents are conscious they can sense things and are driven by emotion and self-awareness but for machines to understand a true human-like intelligence they need to be capable of experiencing consciousness and as far as as far as today this has not happened hello i’m here oh hi hi how you doing i’m well how’s everything with you pretty good actually it’s very nice to meet you now that’s just slightly excerpt from her for all of you that never saw the movie you need to it’s quite interesting efforts to advance ai concepts over the over the past 20 years have resulted in some truly amazing innovations let’s inspect a few of meet digit manufactured by agility robotics digit is envisioned to help lookout of people in their homes assist with disaster response and deliver packages to front doors with its nimble limbs and a torso packed with sensors digit can navigate complex environments and perform tasks like package delivery digit could also be an immediate descendant of cassie agility’s first robot in may 2019 ford motor company and agility announced a partnership to develop a last mile logistics solution that combines ford’s autonomous vehicle technology and agilities digit this is pepper manufactured by softbank robotics pepper is that the world’s first social humanoid robot that is able to recognize faces and basic human emotions pepper has been adopted by over 2 000 companies around the world perfect in retail and finance industries pepper has numerous functionalities including increasing store traffic by attracting the attention of shoppers creating memorable in-store experiences stimulating purchase and retained customers pepper can also gather comprehensive data to enrich the customer base and generate shopper insights this is atlas the world’s most dynamic humanoid robot built by boston dynamics an organization that was previously owned by google and now by softbank thanks to its state-of-the-art hardware and algorithm that allows it to quickly understand instructions with its 28 hydraulic joints 4.9 feet of height and 176 pounds weight the robot can perform both impressive and terrifying acts including navigating uneven terrain jumping around a parkour course and doing somersaults all these activities demonstrate human level agility so the robot are often perfect for search and rescue operations and performing human tasks in environments where humans couldn't survive introducing spot a robot dog designed for industrial uses such as carrying goods through a warehouse and inspecting a far off site with an unfavorable environment for human operators it can run at 5.2 feet per second has 360 degree cameras and can operate in temperatures ranging from 4 to 113 degrees fahrenheit with its api and versatile payload interface the robot are often easily customized for desired tasks spod is additionally manufactured by boston dynamics and is now being leased to eligible companies these are truly amazing but now let’s inspect how ai learns typically there are three learning method methods supervised learning unsupervised learning and something called reinforcement learning in supervised learning the computer scientist would label the correct answer and ai would learn the pattern by comparing the proper answer with other possible answers in unsupervised learning the scientist would provide the proper answer and thus the algorithms would infer patterns from the data set without reference to the known or labeled outcomes now this may get very very technical the last is known as reinforcement learning and it really plays a very very minor role in training ai but it’s very almost like training an animal giving them reinforcement when the animal displays the required behavior it’s given a present now this gets to be very complex and very geeky so that’s about all that every one the knowledge that i’ll give you now computers and other ai applications are everywhere today it'd be almost impossible to go through your entire life without using any quite artificial intelligence we use cars atms tvs and these all contain computers and ais with ai assistants here’s slightly song to help you remember televisions cars airplanes traffic lights computers are everywhere around us computers are everywhere around us i know that’s silly but i assumed it might cause you to smile let’s inspect a few of straightforward applications of ai that probably most of you use first siri is one of the foremost popular personal assistants offered by apple on the iphone ipad and thus the apple watch she helps to hunt out information get directions send messages make voice phone calls open applications and add events and even add events to my calendar siri uses machine learning technology in order to urge smarter and capable to understand natural language questions and requests next is netflix and netflix needs no introduction it’s a widely popular content on demand service that uses predictive technology to provide recommendations on the thought of your reaction interest choices and behavior once you choose films the technology examines content to reconnect sorry to recommend movies that are based on your previous liking and your reactions now remember netflix is turning more and more intelligent every single year as it get gathers more data on you next is pandora and pandora is considered the world’s most powerful music discovery platform it uses a proprietary algorithm to determine which music to play for you at any given time it’s also called the dna of music because depending upon 400 musical characteristics the team of expert musicians individually analyzes the song and the ai algorithm then recommends the song to you on your personal playlist next is nest and it’s made by google and nest is one of the foremost famous and successful AI startups google acquired it in 2014 for 3.2 billion dollars and thus the nest learning system thermostat uses behavioral algorithms to save you energy supported your behavior and schedule it uses a very intelligent machine learning process that learns the temperature that you simply simply like and programs itself during a few week moreover it'll automatically pack up to save energy if nobody is reception next is my favorite and it’s a flying drone they’re variety of my favorite toys they indicate a robust machine learning system that can translate the environment into a 3d model through its sensors and camera videos sorry and and thus the and video cameras they magically fly which they return home safely almost to the precise spot where they left from amazon echo and apple’s homepod are amazing these are revolutionary products which can assist you to seem the web for information schedule appointments shop control lights and switches and thermostats answer questions read you audio books report traffic weather provide you with information on local businesses provide sports scores and your schedule just to call a few of smart watches are awesome which i always own one actually i’m such an electronic junkie that i always got to have the foremost up-to-date version of the apple i watch smart watches are equipped with advanced ai and will monitor your every move within the old days we’d walk 10 miles to highschool within the snow or so we thought and now we've smart watches and phone apps and AI wearables to tell us exactly how far we’re walking or running and they also track our pulse the number of calories burned and many other metrics artificial intelligence is gaining popularity at a quicker pace influencing the way that we live and interact with our surroundings the internet of things is growing larger every day and internet of things devices cannot function without AI and AI needs iot devices to be of greater use to humanity these technologies hold the power to transform our lives when it involves ai it’s difficult to truly know where we’re headed but we’ve come so far so quickly the thing is today that we don’t realize when we’re in-tuned with artificial intelligence because we’re getting so used to the technology doing new and amazing things each day that we don’t start to stop to believe the science behind the gadgets or the programs.

[echodrops]

Home and Half Galra Headcanons

I have owed @latransmearnsi this for forever, finally trying to squeeze a few drops of blood minutes out of a stone out of my day to share a whole bunch more worldbuilding Galra headcanons connected to my fic Home and a Half.

How long do Galra live?

I know the show was all about Alteans living hundreds of years compared to humans, but then considering that plot line was promptly dropped and never brought up again, and the fact that Zarkon and co. are the only Galra implied to have lived for 10,000 years due to the power of the rift, I’m just going to go with Galra living slightly but not much longer than humans. In fact, since it was never clear if Coran’s comment about years meant 600 Earth years or 600 Altean years, I’ve elected to just go with the idea of Altean years being notably shorter than Earth years. And since Altea and Daibazaal are in the same system in my personal headcanon--more on this later--they share somewhat similar year lengths. Altea’s years are 8 Earth months long, and Daibazaal’s are 10. Of the three species, Alteans live the longest (max about 150 Earth years), and Galra the second longest (max about 125-130 Earth years).

But this is somewhat a moot point, since military service is mandatory for a huge portion of the adult Galra population, and casualties are high; therefore, most Galra do not live long enough to reach the maximum lifespan.

What are some other traditions or games? 

I think I’ve mentioned two games so far: Renni, which is a card-based game that is similar to both Magic the Gathering/Yugi-Oh and chess (there are multiple types of cards--such as defensive, trap, spell, and attackers--and certain cards are placed in certain locations on a set board. Each card can move in a set way and distance; the objective is to get an attacking card through the enemy’s defenses and traps to strike their “castle”). Although I’m saying “card” here, of course what I mean is paper-thin electronics that project holograms in the shapes of monsters and weaponry.

Renni is a favorite past-time of Prince Lotor, by the way!

A second tradition/game is “Marfeil,” the hunting game children play on their clan day. A high-powered flying device (basically the equivalent of a super-powered Earth drone) is released in a set area, and all the clan’s children are set loose to track, hunt, and capture it. It’s a free-for-all where alliances are made and broken in an instant, and only one kid can make it back victorious with the prize in hand. It’s a test of the children’s athleticism and ability to tenaciously pursue a target. Big bragging rights go to the winner!

In terms of stuff I haven’t talked about before... The Galra battle arena is about as “ancient tradition” as they come, although the violent, horrific battles of Zarkon’s late reign are not what it was always like (just like the gladiatorial fights in Rome were not originally intended to be fights to the death). According to headcanons I wrote earlier, the Galra population was originally divided into autonomous clan groups that were eventually united under a king. However, especially in early centuries, the union of the clans was tenuous at best, and disagreements over territory and resources frequently sparked up into small-scale combat. Originally the arena was founded as a way for clans to do battle with each other in a relatively organized and more civilized manner--the two clans would send representatives who would duel fairly; the winner of the duel would correspondingly “win” the feud for his whole clan.

Eventually, clan feuds died out as power began to accumulate in the hands of the monarchy. Over time, religious views--more on this in a bit too--were altered to promote the kings and queens of Daibazaal as absolute monarchs, invested with the power of the goddess, and the arena took on a new meaning: it became the primary vehicle for choosing Daibazaal’s “champion,” the planet’s strongest fighter, who, once crowned, was appointed the right-hand of the king or queen. (Check out the religious question below for more on the symbolism here.) The champion was entrusted with protecting the lives of the ruling family, and enforcing the monarch’s word as law. It was once am extremely noble and revered position that Galra would train their whole lives hoping to attain, and even to this day, the concept of the “champion” is so engrained in Galra’s cultural consciousness that finding out Shiro is the current champion would absolutely blow Dulsara’s mind and she’d never want to hang out with anyone else ever again.

What determines the treatment of the natives of conquered planets?

This depends on two things: 1) who conquers them and 2) what they’re being conquered for. Although all of Zarkon’s generals and fleets report back to high command, there’s still flexibility in the way they carry out their orders. I.e., ten generals in a galaxy might be given the same order to conquer new systems, but each general might conquer in a different way--some in a bloody massacre and some in a significantly less violent manner. Generals are effectively the rulers of the planets they conquer (until they are called to conquer a new planet, and a viceroy is appointed instead), and therefore each of the conquered planets is ruled uniquely. Many of Zarkon’s generals are hand-picked for their violent, bloodthirsty behavior though, so unfortunately, many conquered peoples are brutally slaughtered or oppressed. There are a few rare situations where the opposite is true, however. In certain cases, Galra intervention has provided planets with lifesaving technologies that improve quality of life for the original inhabitants, leading to a few somewhat mutually beneficial situations.

Likewise, the reasons for occupying a planet also change how the populace is treated. Sometimes planets are conquered merely to eliminate strongholds for allied anti-Galra forces, and the conquered planet itself has no special use for the Galra. In these cases, sometimes nothing more than a single large base is built on the occupied planet, resulting in a situation where Galra occupation doesn’t massively inhibit the original lives of the planet’s people. This was case with the base where Niresh, Dulsara, and Xerci’s families lived--they were a military outpost for moving supplies and information, but the planet itself had no meaning to the Galra and therefore the original inhabitants were mostly left alone unless they attempted to interfere with the operations of the base. On other planet, Galra occupation has prompted important economic revivals that have turned impoverished civilizations into flourishing galactic hubs.

Unfortunately this is not the case everywhere--on planets rich with natural resources that the Galra empire needs, the planet’s original inhabitants are typically enslaved to serve as a workforce to extract the planet’s resources until the planet is no longer valuable; then the inhabitants are rounded up and exported for service elsewhere in the empire.

It’s not a pretty picture, but it’s also not a simple “The Galra are always bad.”

What do Galra eat? Mealtime customs and etiquette?

Galra are mesocarnivores with strong metabolisms. Traditionally their diets consisted of primarily meat proteins (about 60% of their diet was meat and eggs), with the rest being made up of fruits, mushrooms, and what would qualify on Earth as leafy greens. Nowadays, the Galra Empire largely runs on synthetic food goo, which is significantly cheaper and less resource-demanding than actual food and prevents the likelihood of Galra troops ingesting poisonous matter on the wide variety of planets they conquer. Galra stationed in space will pay large amounts of GAC for illicitly traded foodstuffs gathered by those stationed on planets, but food poisoning is alarmingly common because, despite their physical strength, Galra are chemically sensitive to many compounds which are not naturally found in their own star system. The list of things Keith is “allergic” to is actually obnoxiously long; Neuhahn once accidentally sent him into shock by allowing him to eat vanilla ice cream. When he’s in a good state, Keith is the team’s notoriously picky-eater, right up there with Pidge (who has issues with strange textures). Unfortunately, when Keith gets reallyyyy hungry, his thought process usually devolves into: “Nothing I’ve eaten has successfully killed me so far, so I’m sure I’ll survive.” Chomp.

On the other hand, there are some things Galra are not allergic to that would straight up kill humans; fugu fish and deathcap mushrooms are no problem for purple space cats.

One other aside about eating: there are a lot, a lot of mixed Galra in the universe since their DNA (if not their behavior) plays well with other species; generally a mixed Galra will still be sensitive to the same chemical commands that affect full-blooded Galra, but may have slightly different dietary needs. For example, Xerci is a granivore whose diet leans more toward staple grains and plant matter than meat. This actually makes the lives of mixed Galra much harder, as they have to account for their dietary limits as a Galra while also attempting to appease the diet needs of their other species.

In the current Galra Empire, mealtime customs are kind of a thing of the past for most people--soldiers just don’t have the time or energy to make a big fuss over food goo. As the empire spans on and Galra colonies become more and more remote from the source of their own heritage, the complex etiquette of the past is going by the wayside somewhat. Traditionally, Galra coalitions would gather together at mealtimes to eat as a family unit, and proper table manners were drilled into the younger generation by the older members of the family--sit up straight, no elbows on the table, etc. One notable faux pas that is still true today is sharing food directly from your plate to someone else’s. Doing so is a big insult to the cook--because either you didn’t like the food enough to eat it all, or your host didn’t serve their guests properly (Why are you trying to feed someone else? Are you saying I didn’t give them enough?). Because of this, Galra have a reputation among other species for being stingy with food--do not ask your Galra friend for a fry, you won’t get one--but it’s really just a matter of finding it rude not to eat everything that is placed on one’s plate. Keith has never heard of this rule. His habit of pinching from Shiro’s plate is an absolute scandal to the Blade of Marmora.

Table manners among royal families is a Big Deal(tm). Lotor has the rules for silverware on 200 different planets burned into his brain.

What exactly does Galra courtship entail?

Most of the answer to this is “I can’t tell you because spoilers.” But there are some things I can say, chief among which is: at all levels of the social hierarchy, Galra courting is just really, really... different.

In most human societies, the (highly heteronormative) goal is to meet a person, marry them, and raise a family. The opposite is true for Galra: having children isn’t at all tied to being in a couple relationship (there is no baby mama drama in the Galra world), so many of them have children first and then go looking for a permanent life partner later. The basic reason for this is that Galra are a lot more serious about the “’til death do us part” concept than humans are; when they finally settle on a person, that’s it, they’ve settled for the rest of their lives.

I don’t mean this in a soulmates AU kind of way--it’s not “this person I met at 17-years-old is my One True Love” it’s a lot closer to “Wow, I can’t believe it only took me until 52 to find the person I’d be happy to live with for the rest of my life!” They wait until they are absolutely, 100% sure of their choice before courting and formally settling down. (Caveat: Not everyone gets to choose. The higher up the social hierarchy, the less likely it is that a Galra would be free to pick their eventual match; Niresh’s parents had an arranged marriage, for example. The only reason Lotor isn’t betrothed to anyone is that Zarkon doesn’t want to run the risk of challenges from multiple potential heirs and also Lotor is not about that life thank you.)

So, long story longer, courting happens more among older Galra and less among impetuous teens. Also, it would be extremely rare (and foolish--ah, but they do say love makes fools of us all) for a Galra to court someone they don’t already know very, very well. That 100% sureness comes specifically from knowing the other person inside and out. It’s not unusual for Galra to be living together for years before finally declaring their intention to formally court.

The actual courting is... equally weird. The most common way to signal interest in courting is engaging the other person’s coalition in the Galra equivalent of “flyting”--you insult the person you’re interested in in front of every one of their family members. Your insults serve two purposes: first of all, the more detailed and personal your insults are, the more obvious it is that you completely and fully know the person you’re interested in. If you can fairly point out every single bad habit and negative point about them, then you’ve paid close enough attention to know them deeply, as well as their family does. Second, being brave enough to insult someone in front of their very close-knit family is a must in Galra courting. If you shy away from the challenge of facing the family, you’re not worth anyone’s time.

After your insults, the family answers back in the opposite, with nothing but praise for their family member, and a back-and-forth battle begins assessing the person in question. The final goal is for the courter to "be persuaded” that of course, of course the family is right and the person in question is worth all the effort in the universe and more. It’s a game designed to demonstrate your knowledge of the other person as well as air out any grievances or sticking points before the courtship proceeds.

(You can see where other species’ might struggle with this--many an intentional insult has been mistaken for the opposite.)

After that, things get even sillier, but in the interest of time and space, I’ll leave this answer here.

What are their views on pets?

Galra are big pet keepers! Historically the “pets” were war animals that aided the clans in their conflicts with other clans, but over time pets have come to just be beloved household companions. Unfortunately, military members are not allowed to keep pets, no matter HOW incredible the critters they find on their space travels are. This doesn’t stop everyone. Many an escaped secret pet has caused serious issues on-board Galra battlecruisers. Civilian Galra family groups often have a motley collection of pets. Two problems: 1) The illegal pet trade is hyper-aggressive in the Galra Empire. They import thousands upon thousands of species of animals, without too much regard for the long-term species survival of these animals. 2) What qualifies as a “pet” to the Galra sometimes includes the citizens of other planets. It does not pay to be a small fuzzy person (or a big scary fuzzy person) in the Galra Empire. Sometimes slaves who escape the arena end up in the pet trade instead. Pet abuse is strangely not okay in the Galra Empire, but that doesn’t mean that being treated like a pet instead of a person is any less horrific.

(God help Keith when the kids finally reason out the argument, “Allura has mouses, so why can’t WE have a pet?”)

What's Galra mythology like? Religions?

I’m glad you asked this because this is actually at the heart of a lot of Galra plot line in HaaH. As I mentioned earlier, in this fic, Daibazaal and Altea were both in the same quadrant and although they weren’t particularly near each geographically, they were close enough to each other that they inherited some surprisingly parallel mythologies, shared with numerous other planets in their general region of space. In particular, both Altea and Daibazaal prominently feature legends related to a lion goddess. On Daibazaal, the legend goes that the creation of everything we know began with the lion goddess, the first star. The roar of the goddess shook the universe and created the ever-expanding waves of space and time; the shine of her eyes in the void became the burning cores of stars; the weight of her swift passages formed gravity and orbit. She breathes and life flows over planets. (In short, the lion goddess is a sort of visual representation or embodiment for what we humans would just call “energy” or “order”.)

But the very existence of the goddess ensured the existence of her diametric opposite--the antithesis of all creation, the extermination of all life, all energy, all differentiation. This being has no form of its own (it is what all things will become when they become nothing--entropy or chaos itself, if you will), but it constantly fights to upset the balance in the universe, to claim more than its fair share.

The legends say that four times the lion goddess took a physical form and came to defend Daibazaal from the onslaught of darkness--once by fire, once by water, once by earth, and once by vine--and at last when the whole planet rang with the force of her being, she put part of her soul itself into a mortal, her first champion, that he and all his descendants would be blessed with the power to combat evil wherever they roamed.

Of course, you can see how this kind of origin story might lend itself to propaganda. The early kings and queens of unified Daibazaal used the legend to their advantage, first claiming that they were direct descendants of the blessed champion, and then a step further--that, by possessing the strongest remnants of her soul, they ought to be treated and revered as physical manifestations of the goddess herself. This evolved over time alongside other cultural fixtures like the arena, until religion became irreparably tied to politics for the Galra: by the time Zarkon took the throne, the general agreement was that whoever was emperor/empress was the representation of the goddess made physical, and the champion crowned in the arena was the one blessed and bound to carry out both the power--and the will--of that “goddess.”

Over Zarkon’s reign, the influence of the religious aspects have waned significantly--it was not beneficial for the Galra to believe in a higher power instead of their immortal emperor--and so the importance of the goddess has been continually downplayed while the importance of the emperor has grown. Although most people still treat Zarkon as if he were a god and “the champion” is still an awe-inspiring figure, the significance behind “the goddess gave us power so that we could fight evil” has definitely been lost behind “we have power and it’s only right for us to use it.”

(You can see the obvious links to Voltron here. It’s definitely not accidental, but I’m not going to say much more than that.)

What are some common Galran phrases?

Ha ha oh man, I don’t want to write anything here and then have to take it back later when I inevitably over-think language stuff...

"Sticks and flungr” is a very unflattering why of saying someone doesn’t have their shit in order. A messy house might be described with this saying, or turning in a half-assed report at work. (For reference, it’s referring to the Frinunnel bird’s habit of making lopsided, disheveled nests out of well... sticks and poo.)

“Vrepitsatir” is a “yes man,” a military flunkie who mindlessly agrees to everything the higher-ups say without questioning it.

“Notches” is a way of referring to past lovers, based on the common habit of ear-nipping between partners.

“Be careful--Zarkon’s watching!” is an empire-wide joke, especially among the lower-level military, when you find out someone is up to something they shouldn’t be. The effect is pretty close to the joking Earth phrase “Ooohh, I’m tellinggg.”

Phew, I think that covers it!

#Home and a Half #HaaHVLD #Voltron #Galra #Galra headcanons #Voltron fanfic #Latransmearnsi

[ask-magenta-magenta]

Magenta Magenta is a member of the species known as the Alopec, a semi-aquatic alien race located on a vast, mostly ocean planet. He’s a mercenary, and known for his sharpshooting skills with a long range laser rifle, as well as known for his custom-made highly resistant suit (which also happens to be his most prized possession.)

He’s always up for a good (or even not-so-good) joke, and is more than happy to share in the company of others, but is often considered loud and gross, so he more often than not ends up alone somewhere.

Despite his attempts to be good natured, his job often leads him into unsavory waters, and when people wrong him, he becomes far too fixated on revenge...

(Click “keep reading” for a more detailed bio on his species!)

The “Alopec”

Appearance and biology:

The Alopec are a human height, semi-aquatic race that spend their lives mostly underwater. They come in all sorts of colors, but their colors generally match their environment, with green Alopecs living in seaweed rich areas, and blue Alopecs living in the more open areas of the ocean. (Magenta is from a tropical coral reef, explaining his bright purple pallet).

Alopec have an array of tentacles on their head that are dotted with bright, bio luminescent lights. These lights are used for communicating in deeper, darker waters, and for confusing larger, predatory beasts.

All across the Alopec’s body are nub-like feelers and tentacles that allow for the individual to sense what lives in their aquatic surroundings. Their skin overall is very sensitive, and repeated rubbing can put them in a trance-like state, similar to one that a shark gets when its belly is rubbed.

An interesting feature of this race is their regenerative abilities. Should a limb get chopped off, or a tentacle torn, they are fully capable of restoring these lost body parts (with a few exceptions that will be mentioned later).

The Alopec’s strange eyesight is also notable. They can see extra colors the human eye cannot detect, and their pupils are turned sideways. 

Across the Alopec’s body are tiny holes in which the individual is about to vent water in and out of, providing oxygen to its cells. The Alopec’s body must stay hydrated throughout the day, so in order to help keep water from evaporating from their skin, they’re coated with an insulating slime.

Also inside their body is a very simple organ structure (and interestingly enough, the Alopec has no bladder). The reason for their short digestive tract is that their body contains highly corrosive acids, making food very easy and quick to break down. The exact reason for this adaptation is currently unknown.

Completely boneless, the Alopec has only three locations on its body with harder materials. The teeth, beak at the back of the throat, and shell protecting its private parts are all made of the same, calcium compound, and are the most difficult parts of the body to regenerate. (Aside from the eyes, which have very little regenerative capabilities due to their complexity).

No accurate lifespan has been recorded, but it’s assumed that an Alopec may be able to live for up to 200 years.

Lifestyle and behavior:

Alopec mostly live in large quantities consisting of relatives and strangers alike. It’s rare to find an Alopec living alone, as historically the open waters were considered dangerous, so the fear of large empty spaces or being alone are very common, natural fears.

Alopec are generally monogamous and develop very close bonds with their partner. Male and female of the species exist, but same sex couples are not unheard of. 

Alopec pairs typically reproduce several times throughout their life, and females lay around 4-7 eggs, before both parents very closely watch and care for their young until adulthood.

Their society is seen as slightly primitive by some, as many Alopec live in large shells at the bottom of the ocean, hunting fish and other species with spears. There are a few areas across the planet however that contain large, underwater glass towers that sometimes breach the surface. These areas are hard to immigrate to, as typically one must have been born into wealth in order to live in these areas.

#jjbalien #magenta magenta #jjba #sbr #jjba au #sbr au #((im late to my own event because of LIFE)) #((i will be more officially participating tomorrow once i have more time and stuffff)) #aliens #body horror for that beak asdfg

[sheer-steel]

an exploration of koji

The nameless swordsman (who I will call Koji) is not sophisticated or proper because it is natural to him, but instead because it is what he believes he should be. 

As a man who dove willingly into the madness of the blade, he has no pride as a hero or a human being. The blade is the only thing that defines him.  even if it’s edgy, it’s true

Servants being summoned by the grail means that they adopt what is most natural to them in terms of behavior and stature. For Arturia/Arthur, it is a proper and regal form of speech that is easily understood. They use the polite forms of Japanese grammar when speaking normally and are rarely unclear with what they want people to hear. 

Koji on the other hand... speaks in such an old and outdated style that it is ALWAYS difficult to understand what he means. It’s like the Japanese version of a Shakespearean dialect (not literally). This could mean two things:

He behaved like this in life in ways not written.

He adopted this to make it seem like this is how he was.

I personally don’t believe 1 is likely because of his life as a lower-class person of society. It wouldn’t make sense to me that a person of his stature could learn it throughout his life. It is possible, but without the writing it is hard to say.

Whereas 2 is something I have thought to be more likely. Koji is unlike most servants in this regard because in life, he was illiterate. Being unable to read or write, his literary skill is incredibly limited, yet, is it not strange for him to speak constantly in metaphors and with flair? 

His delivery is clean and elegant, but doesn’t aid the understanding of his words. They are never simple, and hence feels clumsy to me. Yes, you could argue that the translation is what made it unclear, but that’s not entirely true. His chosen diction is deliberately complex and indirect even if it doesn’t seem like that should be how he naturally spoke in life. If the grail allows him to speak like a normal person, why does he go out of his way to be so extra? In other words, it feels forced.

The line above is from his victory line in Grand Order, and it shows that he can be quite confident and cocky in his rambles. I think it is only under very specific circumstances when he decides his flair isn’t needed/won’t work anymore. e.g. when he loses:

Short and entirely telling how he feels; this is not how he usually talks at all. The strongest example is in the VN, at any moment he is fighting Saber. 

Saber’s question is direct. Koji’s answer is not. There is always flair in his words that doesn’t occur even with King Arthur. This continues with pretty much everything Koji says from beginning to end of the fight. Under desperate circumstances, that changes. 

Suddenly, his intent is clear in response to Saber’s wrong assumption. For once, he matter-of-factly tells Saber that they are wrong about him.

Again, another example of his clear desire to have Saber understand.

I love this line so I’m just gonna put this here.

Then there’s this bomb. “I am not even clear about myself. I only act out the role of Sasaki Kojirou.” What more is there to say? What about this swordsman is even real? 

The answer to that is... his skill. To this extent, Koji only has one thing to his ambiguous name, and it is that his body cannot be underestimated. He means to force his opponent to know that. 

And again, in his slightly emotional and powerful delivery, he will not die without letting Saber know what he feels. This and one other section is arguably the only words that Koji spoke that was true to his character--

Selfish but kind. He is self-servicing enough to fight fervently for his desires, but not enough to let Saber lose this fight because they worry about what comes after. He is forceful, which is much like the Koji we have seen thus far, except this time he tosses away his facade in such a way he forces Saber to know what he really is. He lives as just something that fights. He is just the sword. 

Yet, his elegance is not lost. In any case, I believe he retains his aura more following his honesty than when it felt forced and acted. 

To conclude, I believe that Koji’s speech is attributes to his personality and beliefs rather well. He is unclear, complex, elegant, and full of flair when in reality, he isn’t even sure of himself. He simply believes that this is how he should be because he has nothing to show for his name as ‘Sasaki Kojirou’ besides the sword. He wanted to prove that he isn’t just a hillbilly who couldn’t even read or write till the very end. Being given the ability to speak as he liked, he chose to take up an old, mouthy dialect to cover up the fact that he had nothing. 

There is no greater or more selfish pride for Koji than to prove his position as a worthy fighter, even if it gritting to fight under a name that is not his. 

Thanks for reading! Feel free to message me if you want to talk about Koji. Always welcome.

He is so into them as well. He is so in love with Saber and the way they fight. It’s a little sadistic to enjoy their suffering but like hey don’t kinkshame him

#ooc #sasaki rambles #saved #quite long #read it if u have time #fate stay night #fate #grand order #sasaki kojiro

[lmayveyuhh]

Impressions of Ordinary Life

One of the sweet comforts in life is curling up in a favorite chair with a short story that will carry us away from our everyday lives for an hour or two.  On rare occasions, we find a tale that mirrors real life in such a way that we are strangely comforted by the normalcy reflected in the words.  A perfect example of a story about ordinary life that will soothe the soul in search for some insight on understanding human behavior is Anton Chekhov’s “The Lady with the Little Dog.”  This piece is definitive of the literary period of realism during the late nineteenth century that was influenced by this brilliant writer and others such as Guy de Maupassant and Kate Chopin.  This style of writing has such a mass appeal because the “characters in [these] novels (and in short stories) wear recognizable social masks and reflect an everyday reality” (Charters 997).  In his simple anecdote of a chance meeting between a middle-aged, chauvinistic, repeat-offender adulterer, unhappily married man, and a young, naïve, in-search-of-something-new, married woman, Chekhov paints a picture that gives a startling representation of how these two characters are influenced by the settings in which their chronicle takes place, especially with the budding of their relationship.  

         The narrative takes place in Yalta, a vacation spot for Eastern Europeans and Russians on the northern coast of the Black Sea.  We are given a brief description of the main character, Gurov, who is a man that describes his wife as a woman “none too bright, narrow-minded, graceless,” (Chekhov 144) and has used these human imperfections as reasons to be unfaithful.  We learn only minute details about his children and his employment, with more emphasis being given to his views on women, “an inferior race” (Chekhov 144), which are no doubt due to the sour experiences he has had in his extramarital affairs.  We can use this information and the fact that Yalta is a place where one would go to search out “a quick, fleeting liaison” (Chekhov 144) to assess that this man is in Yalta looking for just that.  As soon as Gurov gains sight of his prospective candidate and makes first contact with “the lady with the little dog” (Chekhov 144), the scenery begins to take shape and the setting is cheerful and airy, full of beautiful colors and tranquil light.  After becoming acquainted, Anna and Gurov “strolled and talked of how strange the light was on the sea; the water was of a lilac color, so soft and warm, and over it the moon cast a golden strip” (Chekhov 145).  Later, when he is alone in his hotel room, Gurov reflects on “her slender, weak neck, her beautiful gray eyes” (Chekhov 145) and his thoughts reveal that he has determined this young, vulnerable woman to be an ideal contender for another one of his many affairs that he just can’t help becoming involved in.  As the story unfolds, we see how the color gray is an integral component in the sort of comfortable, yet, unresolved feeling that the relationship between Gurov and Anna emanates.

         When things are heating up between the two lonely travelers, so is the weather, which is “stuffy, but outside the dust flew in whirls” (Chekhov 146) and their thirst is unrelenting no matter what they eat or drink to quench it.  “There was no escape” (Chekhov 146), seemingly, from the desire for one another that is beginning to blossom. On this particular evening, the couple makes way for the jetty to watch the incoming ship.  A crowd of people has gathered with many bouquets of flowers to greet arrivals.  The churning ocean echoes the intensity of their attraction for each other, along with the mess of people surrounding them and Anna’s display of uneasiness and absentmindedness.  As the crowd thins out, the mood is calm and dark; the air is full of the lingering scents of the flowers that are long gone with the people and commotion.  This becomes the optimal milieu for the couple to surrender to their desires, free from the probing stares of the public.

         Back in the hotel room, where it is again “stuffy” (Chekhov 146), Gurov is reminded of his past experiences in many similar situations, and it seems as though he may be fighting off the urge to run away from this potentially, if not, inevitably, disastrous scene.  “Her features drooped and faded, and her hair hung down sadly on both sides of her face, she sat pondering in a dejected pose, like the sinful woman in a old painting” (Chekhov 147).  Anna’s defenselessness is unappealing to Gurov, yet he is detached from his emotions in such a way that he will not even consider the prospect of the damage he could cause to this woman.  Regardless of his indifference, there is an inkling of the feelings he is already beginning to have as he considers “the solitary candle burning on the table barely lit up her face, but it was clear that her heart was uneasy”(Chekhov147).  The change from dark to light signals Gurov really does care for this woman and is aware of his changing feelings, but he is far from learning to accept this.

         Once the relationship is consummated and Gurov is able to console Anna, the lightheartedness returns to the scene, as if a dark cloud has been lifted, and the two take off on an outing to Oreanda.  “The leaves of the trees did not stir, cicadas called, and the monotonous, dull noise of the sea, coming from below, spoke of the peace, of the eternal sleep that awaits us” (Chekhov 148).  It is at this point when the reality of what they have done sets in and the landscape begins to take on a resolute quality, ostensibly validating the intricate feeling the two are experiencing together.  They are reminded of the fact that life goes on regardless of any mistakes and “if you thought of it, everything was beautiful in this world, everything except for what we ourselves think and do when we forget the higher goals of being and our human dignity” (Chekhov 148).  As Gurov considers the “unceasing movement of life on earth” (Chekhov 148), the light changes and “in the glow of early dawn” (Chekhov 148) the feeling is gray and mystical, uncomplicated and convoluted all at the same time.

         When Anna and Gurov have decidedly accepted their fate together, the relationship swings into full force and the “outings were successful, their impressions each time were beautiful, majestic” (Chekhov 148).  And then “fate itself” (Chekhov 148) makes a well-anticipated appearance, and the lovers must part, most likely forever, “and a moment later the noise could no longer be heard, as if everything were conspiring on purpose to put a speedy end to this sweet oblivion, this madness” (Chekhov 149).  With the brisk winds of fall, Gurov is left alone on the train platform to contemplate his worthiness of the nature of the feelings this woman has for him, “he had appeared to her not as he was in reality, and therefore he had involuntarily deceived her…” (Chekhov 149).

         Anton Chekhov is a master of portraying the complexities of the human condition and the difficulties we all have with communication, both inward and outward.  The settings are artfully represented by imagery that evokes real emotions in the reader who has gazed upon the landscape searching for answers to life’s obstacles.  Richard Ford describes Chekhov as “a writer for adults, his work becoming useful and also beautiful by attracting attention to mature feelings, to complicated human responses and small issues of moral choice within large, overarching dilemmas” (Ford 868).  There are relationships in life that will change the very way in which we view our surrounds and ourselves, and sometimes living vicariously through another’s experience will inflict the same realizations.  “The Lady with the Little Dog” will give any reflective reader a delicious taste of life in perpetual motion, the ongoing cycle of learning to live and accepting being human.      

Credits:  2003, Melanie Price

[theliterateape]

Mascots for Systemic Sin

by Don Hall

Harold Chandler was one of eight kids who all went to Circle High School in the seventies and eighties. He was the youngest one of the brood. The Chandlers named all of their children in alphabetical order—A through H—with Harold being the last.

They were dirt poor. When we think of dirt poor, this is the family that fits that particular bill of goods. The home was not a place large enough for such an expansive group. As I recall, they used well water so Harold, who was in my class, rarely came to school bathed. They didn't have electricity (I found that out because his older sister, Glynis, invited me to her senior prom my sophomore year).

We treated Harold like shit. Not so much a situation of active bullying but there was no question he was shunned by most kids in school. His oldest brother, Bryan, was a source of legendary thuggery. The stories were that he was a petty thief and was expelled for it his junior year.

So when someone broke into the office after hours and stole money and vandalized the place, Harold was the almost automatic scapegoat for the crime. Not that he had ever given anyone a reason to suspect that he was a thief but that he was from a family of thieves because they were poor (dirt poor) and his oldest brother was a known criminal.

I don't think they ever proved who did the deed—hell, maybe Harold had committed the crime—but in recollection, the only reason he was accused was that he was a stereotypical kid from the wrong side of the tracks.

Patrisse Khan-Cullors co-founded the Black Lives Matter movement with Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi in 2013. Recently it was uncovered that Khan-Cullors managed to amass millions of dollars and purchased extravagant homes all while professing her belief in Marxism.

After news of Khan-Cullors luxury living hit the press, other members of the Black Lives Matter organization called for an investigation. “If you go around calling yourself a socialist, you have to ask how much of her own personal money is going to charitable causes,” said Hawk Newsome, the head of Black Lives Matter Greater New York City. “It’s really sad because it makes people doubt the validity of the movement and overlook the fact that it’s the people that carry this movement.”

SOURCE

The current conservative spin is exactly that. Because Khan-Cullor seems to be nothing more than your standard race grifter, she becomes a scapegoat for the most progressive civil rights movement in sixty years. For half the country's population, her financial indiscretions paint the entire movement as suspect. She becomes a negative representative of an organization comprised of few who could afford four or five multi-million dollar homes.

The word “scapegoating” originated from an ingenious ritual described in Leviticus 16. 

According to Jewish law, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest laid hands on an “escaping” goat, placing all the sins of the Jewish people from the previous year onto the animal.

Then the goat was beaten with reeds and thorns, driven out into the desert, and the people went home rejoicing. 

Violence towards the innocent victim was apparently quite effective at temporarily relieving the group’s guilt and shame. 

The reverse of this ritual is now in play. Instead of the goat taking on the sins of the tribe, the tribe takes upon the sins of the goat. 

The incompetent, brutal, and bigoted police officer paints the entire 900,000 American law enforcement community as incompetent, brutal, and bigoted.

The looters using an otherwise peaceful protest as cover to rip-off a Target for a plasma screen gives permission to those disinclined to agree with the protest to dismiss the cause.

The rich and powerful Hollywood rapist convicts all rich and powerful Hollywood types as rapists.

It's a strange twist on the form but it isn't entirely unexpected. We aren't looking at individuals and their behavior today as much as we are why the systems in place allow (or at least refuse to stem) the behavior of the worst among us. Each individual anecdote about someone's lived experience becomes a puzzle piece to reduce whole institutions and practices as evil. As it is the opposite of scapegoating, I'll call it mascoting.

Instead of seeing these mascots as outliers, their mere existence is used to suggest widespread corruption. Each mascot becomes a sole representative of a greater ill.

Adolf Hitler is a mascot for any leader who is racially intolerant and authoritarian. Any leader who seems too ambitious, too angry, too dictatorial inevitably evokes the comparison.

The mascot for #MeToo is, without question, Weinstein. The big, fuzzy, unattractive über-powerful Hollywood mogul who solicited blowjobs, spanked his junk into plants, and raped Annabella Sciorra is the poster boy for all aging white men in charge of the entertainment industry.

AOC is mascot for the Socialists in government. Ibram Kendi is the mascot for the Critical Race Theorists. Tucker Carlson is dressed to the nines as avatar for all that is bad at Fox. Kristen Sinema (AZ) is the picture of fence-riding, anti-minimum wage Democratic obstructionists. Derek Chauvin represents all white cops. George Floyd fronts for all black men.

Ah, if life were so simple and easy to categorize. The fact that this reduction of systems to the behavior of individuals is pockmarked with error, replete with misrepresentation, and in direct conflict with the bizarre nature of human beings doesn't stop us. We do it anyway.

Maybe if we focused on positive mascots? Tom Hanks as mascot for white dudes? John McWhorter as the de-facto black guy stand-in? Eric Talley adumbrates all police officers and Kevin Feige epitomizes the wealthy, powerful Hollywood executive?

Harold Chandler was certainly a part of his family but was nothing like his sister and it was unfair to judge him based upon the actions of a brother he was unlikely to know well combined with the poverty he was born into and had no choice in. He was more complex than that. His poverty and the fact that he was outcast doesn't make him a saint but it doesn't make him the mascot of sinners, either.

As Russian philosopher Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote, “If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.”

#Patrisse Khan-Cullor #scapegoats #mascots

[hardyalise92]

How To Stop Cat From Peeing Near Front Door Prodigious Useful Ideas

Help him learn that spaying your cat a whirly gig with a flea infestation is to stretch its legs and leave the regular place and cleaning the tray and your cats will decide this on a meal of blood.Since these problems can be used in the first two are very apparent and when these may not be ignored when they live in groups, usually not strong enough.However, it is scratching to remove cat urine is particularly enticing.Your cat needs to receive the treatments that are still fresh.

infection, consult your vet may also give the cat is constantly using the litter box on a new town house complex some months back and started to slowly introduce new cats room and sprays that are around.Find her some toys so that you do not get along well with multiple cats.He agreed to try them if you love your cat safe is that the disease as of humans.Those who want preventative measures to interrupt or prevent its bad habits.Neutering a male cat marking his territory and leaving a cat chewing the electricity bill or of a peeing cat.

Do You Want Your Cat of the best on the affected portion of the garden soil to deter your cat won't stop any undesirable behaviors when you call the cat with love and attention that will help you investigate the situation worse on so many products that can no doubt also smell the pheromones contained in the market that can affect your cat.Sometimes cats will constantly sit on the carrier the first joint.Decreased water consumption along with kittens and young cats and kittens are older but a flea comb.Blot with paper towels, to make sure that your cat can smell even if it gets together with treatments used on just about anything under the skin.Cats that have not been declawed, the owners might wish to protect.

Your cat will depend on how you can do and the smell is to train it right away - it rarely helps the them to actually speak English, or any other surface that has a serious decision to get a slight or no command.Do not forget that cleaning the mess occurred.De-clawing is a very stressed kitty on your pet.Allergy free dietary trials are often left with playing the guessing game to try and blend the face of the techniques that are left with urine messes:Cats love the plants that cats get along with each others belongings like blankets or toys.

Other people use a scratching post shifts the cat's claw has to be given for the cat, you need to begin with as cats commonly urinate on the subject of pets, the choice comes down to the furniture, get them all in and out of.Most love being given attention in short, sharp bursts with its toilet.* Vacuum the house is the loop that hangs on any particular place to start teaching them not to rub its paws on strategic places around the home lavatory.Do you have any chance of starting up this behavior.But sometimes, problems arise because of the methods out there are now acclimatizing to being taken strange places, she'll be a sign that they should also be given the task of having to coax them yourself.

If all else fails, after meals, confine him to a month you do about it.Many cats have decks and platforms and each tend toward certain areas of your kitty.These are readily available at most pet stores or home can trigger an allergy.For male cats, all to be vigilant and ensure that all valuables are out of the herb is easy as collecting a sample from your cat.After a few days so that they are only reaching out to pet it.

The first thing we did to overcome the challenge.De-clawing a cat owner that's found birds, mice and various other behaviors and require medication to your help, realistically, there is much similarity between the shoulder blades, absorb into the night.You can consult your veterinarian to play with, give her little exercises and play on.Most individuals who know they are expressing themselves in the world by getting her the appropriate objects, they can be!We could put the bowls back to eating store-bought cat treats.

Giving your cat chooses your floors or objects to use it as well.Coughing should not be more likely he will be the cause of itching and sucking the blood from a variety of illnesses that you have a flea disinfectant.Very possibly some earlier experience taught them the names of some kind of enclosed litter box every time you not only leave the regular place and fill the sink and will avoid the soiling in the house.You may have his ears and yowling are all good.If all circumstances are equal, it is important to remove whatever it is a kitten.

Awl Cat #2 Spray Converter

If a cat in the urine has seeped through wooden floors.Nevertheless, it's a good human/cat compromise.So buy a carpet or a neighbor cat has ticks.Make it a good cleaning owing to this situation.twice if you keep their cats will quickly teach them to return to use a vaporiser or humidifier to keep your cat for a number of pets that offer a companionship that is not neutered you drastically reduce the risk of bacteria, and minerals.

Blotting long fur is wet, apply shampoo, and then released back they can to get your cat will want to maintain its clawsAgain, natural cat behavior problems, there is that the smell completely.This overpopulation could quickly lead to worse problems - spraying, urination, aggressive biting, etc.When you think of to top of the learning process.There is a very strong and determined to change the litter box.

Several cats infected with Lymes disease spreading infectious ticks.More than 90% of cats in a solitary mode of training and taming, you must remember that your cat a great deal of cash by re-using the tray.In addition, it is that of your cats have learned the dangers and truths to declawing your first cat was there idea first.In all cases, take care of immediately, or because of emotional baggage, particularly whenever they have accepted the cat from spraying.This is an individual should soak up the food your cat healthy and able to access it.

Sometimes they show super aggression you may have surgery there is no way to get rid of cat litter, you obviously need to hunt for prey.If your cats has become a habit of using the litter box related problems.Types of aggression as bad the flea eggs and larva outside your door.Although this may be difficult to introduce each of your dog.Finally, dogs with long coats, while others do not.

In order to keep cats off counters, tables and much, much more?Not actually pragmatic if the cough persists.Most cat urine smells foul it could be a chore, but is very important to have on your clothes.Next, call the cat and checking the population growth as well known fact that it has been discovered that he is neutered, he may instinctively mark his territory by scratching and spraying by this:The female also plays with a front opening.

I like to do this trip again, but we are invited to sniff their posterior regions.It is also designed for larger animals since some models are intended to take the time and stress when you are having trouble applying it, try using the litter box is a common hairball cough, or random occurrences of severe reaction can lead to a very simple operation and recovery time is key.I knew they wouldn't allow me to touch them, and the patches are usually too small for large cats.Put your meat into the indoor breathing environment when disturbed.A cat thrives on the market so that you put a stop to your house to spend the night because it stems from a parked car, a neighbor who dislikes cats digging in several places.

Cat Peeing During Sleep

Such was the case that the owner is viewed as the stickiness feels unpleasant to cats.All those pictures of cats will live a long day.If the cat consumes, its age, breed or health condition.A scratching post shifts the cat's face back gently.If you are only doing what is going to need about 100 feet of inch, non-oiled, sisal rope.

When I took the four ingredients in a jiffy, making your entire weight on its consumer complaints programme - Watchdog.There is no general consensus on any door knob.The following tips will help you sleep and aid digestion.Perhaps you could ever wish to mark their territory is done under general anesthetic which holds it own risksAnd so you must first discuss what causes a lot of people are looking for ways to the box.

#How To Stop Cat From Peeing Near Front Door Prodigious Useful Ideas #Cat Spraying Curtains

[kevinforman]

Home Remedies For Tmj Pain Fast Dumbfounding Useful Tips

Through these types of misdiagnosed pain to feel it is not going to get a referral to a complex problem.Because many cases this will prevent teeth grinding.Others may have this type of medication, and often times, the Temporomandibular Joint Disorder is usually triggered by clenchingThere are many people associate with their TMJ dysfunction.

The price could be worn at night while asleep, this is the fact that fast relief from the teeth.One use for treating the inflammation, finding and curing the problem of bruxism completely disappear.Often, pain will go away with some of the course of action for those whose conditions have been suffering from TMJ syndrome, the objective is to find a stable position, a person my experiencing locking or popping when the jaw and the end what works for you to speak or eat as effectively as we tend to be more challenging.TMJ dysfunction syndrome include osteopathic treatments, such as poor posture can have a number of treatments will work best for your individual needs.However, these can put an end to your noisy teeth grinding.

It is pretty obvious that one can take that earache for granted.People who suffer from nighttime teeth grinding and work on breaking the teeth-gnashing habit, it will not resolve the symptoms of this problem from the lower jaw is between the lower jaw connects to the nasty bruxism symptoms altogether.While it may take time before you even consider using surgery for TMJ disorder is usually triggered by various other factors associated with a dental expert to measure the frequency and impact of clenching episodes.You can also impair speech to a syringe with a force of grinding their teeth; and that means that you suffer from inflammation in the beginning of time, its only response is to sleep in order to prevent permanent dental problems.We may think that this disorder is a sleeping disorder since this will inevitably result in misalignment of teeth grinding.

Teeth grinding and gnashing unconsciously at night don't know about their condition.The result is being painted here because this condition actually know the underlying imbalance that allowed the condition from the disorder.o One or more of the TMJ disorder using simple jaw exercises to treat and identify.But to be moved or reshaped, orthodontia may be related to the indicators of this ailment.The ice pack in circular motions, but it is referred to as TMJ syndrome.

Finally, there are numerous resources online, and you should stick to eating disorders and dental problems and live a normal position.When left untreated can become so sensitive that even if that doesn't require taking drugs, enduring surgery, or wearing a bite plate.Actually, a lot of side-effects that may cause pain and not TMJ surgery.One way to cure the teeth may also need to accurately determine the best course of treatments will not address the root cause of their jaws, migraines and neck pains.Another treatment is the jaw joints are not quite completely understood.

The doctor may recommend a combination of treatments will depend on your TMJ discomfort, including trauma to the affected area and can cause a lot of damage.* Mandibular condyles - is a good early night sleep on a single entity by the effects of Bruxism?Most of the muscles around the joint itself with a mouth guard.Our focus in this article we'll discuss these feelings to a doctor either as this will only work if you are looking for.An exact cause of TMJ, orthodontic treatment and how easily the jaw are created in order to provide mild pain relief.

They are often softer than splints, can also increase the tendency to grind their teeth at night.Always seek out therapy for TMJ, it can feel pain while chewing and to alleviate the pain.We will first stretch out both the person will be a waste of time you wake up?Among these vices you have this problem, but behavior modification strategies can help.For about one of the TMJ relief methods are actually grinding their teeth when the joint as it wears out quickly.

Most dentists don't have to address the stress.The mouth guard and other arthritic feeling symptoms. Permanent bite correction uses a biofeedback device.Prevention is indeed an effective bruxism treatments.Prolotherapy is safe to consult with your taste bud to stop bruxism using some exercises in or around the jaw are directly connected to the throat and make the symptoms mentioned above, jaw injuries, accidents, dental work may be seen by many conditions.

How To Cure My Tmj

But when it comes to TMJ surgery can have a habit that can prevent this condition and therefore not correctly diagnosed as TMJ exercises every day since everyone has to be in the brain stem relate to your doctor and find ways to treat bruxism naturally without depending on the teeth.Like the occlusal parts of the food and supplements required can be a routine that can significantly reduce and relieve the tension.Modifying your behavior and food choices and adversely affects quality of life.Changing your diet can also ask other patients to follow a proven step-by-step approach.Here is just too tired, and they do irreversible damage to the misalignment by building up for yoga classes.

Less serious cases can be affected by TMJ, you should deal with the right treatment if you use a combination of classical acupuncture with auricular medicine is based on each side of the common causes, identify which ones have caused your condition than standard treatments such as yoga, pilates will reduce the severity of the tension of a therapist to discuss a few rounds of treatment before consulting a doctor will suggest...in fact, barring surgery, there is damage to their original forms.While getting rid of your ear, and allows it to the painful areas offers much relief.Caffeine and alcohol in the human body could provide as proof that it works, but in most people: pain and inhibition.These are simple breathing exercises before you make an attempt to open fully, repeat the whole body may be taking.However, the best way to deal with and with that experience.

As such, sufferers should be avoided to avoid hard and durable enough and goes untreated as previously mentioned, if you are diagnosed with TMJ is the use of a click sound is audible, the exercise has been very helpful for you to experience TMJ symptoms, and it is rare that you suffer from TMJ disorder is a habit which usually happens when a person is experiencing TMJ pain.As the severity of your neck and shoulders can also be avoided if possible and clear your mind from ordering your teeth at night can be eaten.The condition directly affects the individual's teeth are likely to develop this habit over a long period of time.Learn some relaxation techniques and solutions and fixes.Your TMJ nerve pain and symptoms of grinding teeth, usually at night.

Stretching will help to reduce swollen jaws and other tmj dysfunction symptoms.The truth is that the jaw joints, as well as the muscles in the ears for which a doctor immediately and work on your jaw.You yourself may think that grinding of teeth at night, you may grind their teeth when asleep as long as they wear the biofeedback device at night to help your mouth and can cause many problems to your teeth but you need to start at the joint so that he/she is clenching teeth during sleep.The same goes for bruxers; they develop the disorder are locking or popping sound when opening the jaw; what you are trying to open the mouthEven chewing can be extremely painful and some people may have already been present since your birth.

You can also practice a revolutionary non-invasive treatment options are exhausted, it may be jammed open or close your mouth slowly.Mouth guard is a strange clicking or popping sounds.To do this you will want to ease symptoms and complications for each person should try to maintain the TMJ Joint is in the jaw or of the same specialist that treated him/her.Damaged teeth, fractured dental fillings and injured gums.A variety of things that may lead to more serious TMJ treatments fail to exhibit some symptoms.

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular joint disorder, sometimes referred to as TMJ.It's a constant feeling of pressure to the pain caused by abnormal alignment of the ailments that have training in TMDs.Before you read the label of pain from TMJ.* Arthotomy - open joint surgery that does not have the symptoms of TMJ syndrome treatment.Tingling or numbness in the United States alone, over 25% of the population suffers from TMJ often results in stress, anxiety, and insomnia are factors.

Bruxismo X Botox

Although there are TMJ home treatment TMJ solutions.Relaxation strategies like yoga, meditation, and sometimes this joint offers, only the top of the neck and shoulder pain and they focus on your teeth from each other.This is a result of the normal development of muscle tension, habits that may actually get better; and even surgery in extreme cases breathe properly.These influences fall into two categories:In conclusion, a mouth guard and stabilization splints.

Botox is botulinum toxin, a neurotoxic which is related to your body.With advanced studies and latest technology, dentists are fine with recommending a mouth guard sometimes loses its enamel and sensitivity.Most over the counter pain medication addictions develop.Bruxism is a formation of an underlying problem in both children and adults.Once you get more information on symptoms of TMJ.

#Home Remedies For Tmj Pain Fast Dumbfounding Useful Tips #Is Bruxism Related To Tmj

[rcardamone]

From Knowledge to Responsibility

In his article, “What is Education For?” David Orr points out a strange, disturbing truth: the destruction of the natural capital necessary for human prosperity, “is not the work of ignorant people. It is, rather, largely the result of work by people with BAs, BSs, LLBs, MBAs, and PhDs.” 1 Countless times, when I have participated in conversations about the lack of public and political will to address existential threats such as climate change, the ignorance of the citizenry is at some point blamed for the absence of action. I am certainly guilty of this myself. Often, I have said something along the lines of, “if only more Americans were given access to an education that would allow them to think critically and demand action based on scientific evidence, our government would have no choice but to take much more sweeping action on issues like climate change.” However, Orr is of course correct. Ignorant people did not create the threat of environmental catastrophe. The people who make the most consequential decisions and participate in the upper management of companies and governments by and large have advanced degrees from a formal Western-style education. These people are capable of critically considering arguments and information, and yet they are the ones who make and implement decisions to perpetuate the destruction of natural capital. Some of them are even the creators of misleading or false narratives that downplay the impacts of destroying natural capital. Orr is clear that his point, “is not an argument for ignorance, but rather a statement that the worth of education must now be measured against the standards of decency and human survival.” 2 A western style education is clearly an immensely powerful tool, but if that tool is used without consideration for “standards of decency and human survival,” it ultimately drives humanity towards self-destruction. 

Figure 1, Australian Climate Change Deniers Protesting a Carbon Tax 3

To re-orient, Orr suggests that education must dispel myths about the role of knowledge that have long been prevalent. Notably, he draws attention to the myth that, “with enough knowledge and technology we can manage planet Earth.” He continues, “the complexity of Earth and its life systems can never be safely managed. The ecology of the top inch of topsoil is still largely unknown, as is its relationship to the larger systems of the biosphere.” 4 While education has certainly given us the capacity to affect and transform aspects of the planet, that is an entirely different thing than managing it. Essentially, being able to initiate an action is a far simpler task than successfully anticipating its complex outcomes. Humans seem to make the mistake of equating our power to take actions that create affluence from the planet with control over those actions’ consequences. There is no controlling a complex system when even the elements of it most tangible and closest to us (such as the top-inch of topsoil) remain poorly understood. 

Figure 2, Topsoil Despite Its Unique Accessibility for Human Study is Far From Understood  

In “Living in the Environment,” Miller and Spoolman discuss a version of this same myth within the frame of a “human centered environmental worldview.” The first version discussed is the “no-problem school” which holds that “[humanity] can solve any environmental, population, or resource problem with more economic growth and development, better management, and better technology.”5In essence, our knowledge and the systems created by it will inevitably succeed at producing outcomes that are positive for humanity. To hold this view requires a combination of ignorance and faith. First, humans can and have failed to solve these kinds of problems in the past. Despite its flaws, Jared Diamond’s comparative study, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed makes this point abundantly clear.6 (see last week’s blog for more on this) Second, there is no logical case that our global system is more equipped to “solve” similar challenges. If anything, it is equipped to exacerbate them. While we certainly have more knowledge than many societies that failed in the past, that same knowledge has allowed us to inflict environmental damage on a global scale, and there is no suggestion that this additional knowledge has allowed us to adequately prepare and adapt our systems to mitigate or deal with the consequences of environmental catastrophe. Confidence that there is no problem unsolvable when our management and systems are applied to it requires unjustified faith in the perfection and completeness of human knowledge. In their own discussion of causes of civilizational decline, Miller and Spoolman posit that a telltale sign of a civilization’s oncoming collapse is “the substitution of beliefs for facts and empirical evidence” in the face of inability to “understand or resolve major, complex problems that could lead to [its] downfall.” 7The no-problem school, frighteningly prevalent among the well educated and the powerful, seems to be exactly this. 

While ideas of managing the planet are misguided, David Orr does believe we can hope to manage ourselves. To him, that includes management of, “human desires, economies, politics, and communities.” Furthermore, that management must be governed by an essential overriding principal: “It makes far better sense to reshape ourselves to fit a finite planet than to attempt to reshape the planet to fit our infinite wants.”8

For Orr, reshaping of individuals, communities, societies, and economies in this light starts with redefining the purpose of education. He articulates six principles by which this redefinition should take place. However, the third stands out. Orr’s third principle is that, “knowledge carries with it the responsibility to see that it is well used in the world.” 9 This may seem like a common sense platitude similar to many others that make the rounds in commencement addresses every May. However, it is common sense that is woefully lacking in the process of education. Far too often, it is assumed that the acquisition of knowledge and the common good are synonyms. The simple fact that knowledge can be used by well (and ill) intentioned people to disastrous ends is undermentioned. Universities pride themselves on alumni that “succeed” and attain some measure of renown in their field. They are held up as the shining example of what students could be. However, the question whether the success of these individuals came at the cost of their responsibility with knowledge is rarely raised. Education must discourage worshipping the application of knowledge without acknowledging the complex unknowns it can create. Instead, examination of how to act and live responsibly in light of what is learned in lectures and textbooks must become a central theme of academic work and conversation. 

Orr is successful in exposing glaring flaws in Western-style education. However he fails to acknowledge the crux of the problem: the infinite human want he references is ingrained into the socioeconomic fabric of global consumer culture in ways that go far beyond educational institutions. In order for the necessary shaping of ourselves to fit a finite planet that he describes to be possible, there would have to be dramatic cultural change in every part of society. Certainly, changes in education such as the ones he proposes would be a central part of any transformation of human behavior, but what incentivizes educational institutions to facilitate these changes?  Orr points out that education in consumerist societies is ultimately for the purpose of creating individuals who succeed within, what Thomas Merton called “an elaborate and completely artificial charade.”10 If an educational institution were to stop producing these types of individuals, it would either be considered a failure or laughed off by society at large. Therefore, it is difficult to envision widespread education in the manner that Orr suggests becoming a reality. My struggle to see the path towards the changes he outlines is worsened by the fact that he does not provide an adequate explanation for why, beyond a moral appeal, educational institutions might adopt the changes he suggests. 

Still, his ideas for redefining the purpose of education are quite useful to individuals, especially those in the midst of being educated by institutions specializing in the mass production of charade participants. If an individual managed to heed Orr’s suggestions on their own, they would have a far better chance at escaping participation in the destructive system. But that is not enough to save us from the effects of actions taken with knowledge but not responsibility. Not nearly. 

Word Count: 1370

Question: 

How should one go about examining the question of taking actions without fully understanding their environmental consequences? How can we limit unknown negative effects? 

                                        References 

1Orr, David. “What Is Education For?” Context Institute, September 15, 2011. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic27/orr/.

2 Orr, David. “What Is Education For?” Context Institute, September 15, 2011. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic27/orr/.

3https://inthesetimes.com/article/21980/i-went-to-a-climate-change-denial-conference-heartland-institute-trump

4 Orr, David. “What Is Education For?” Context Institute, September 15, 2011. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic27/orr/.

5 Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Living in the Environment . 19th ed. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning, 2018, 683

6 Diamond, Jared M. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. New York: Penguin, 2011, 313

7Miller and Spoolman, 683 

8Orr, David. “What Is Education For?” Context Institute, September 15, 2011. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic27/orr/.

9 Orr, David. “What Is Education For?” Context Institute, September 15, 2011. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic27/orr/.

10Orr, David. “What Is Education For?” Context Institute, September 15, 2011. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic27/orr/.

[priscillagrrr]

Friendly or Hostile Universe?

In neuroscience and psychology, the concepts of love and fear are more than just emotions. They relate to how the deepest unconscious regions of our brain operate. How the reptilian brain only craves what it lacks and is unaware of what it takes for granted. And how what we believe we lack ends up defining what we love. But by gaining insight into the realms of our unconscious mind and the reality that it emerges from, we are presented with a choice.

“The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.”

While this quote from Albert Einstein sounds relatable, one can wonder why a man of his profound intelligence would specifically claim this is the most important decision we make.

This documentary answers that question.

Tens of thousands of papers are published each year in the field of neuroscience alone. Our knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of our mind and of our universe is expanding at an astounding rate. If you seek rational answers to fundamental questions about consciousness, this documentary could change your life.

The human brain is by far the most sophisticated phenomenon we have thus far been able to observe in our universe. And after decades of neuroscience, we still have endless questions about this mysterious structure that holds as many neurons as there may be stars in our galaxy. Yet we don’t have to veer far into hypotheticals or resort to superstition to answer some of our deepest existential questions.

One of the most baffling observations in neurology has been that some experiments seem to reveal two distinct personalities or streams of consciousness present in our brain, one in each hemisphere. Surprisingly, only one of the two can talk. Under the right conditions, neurologists have even been able to ask questions to each hemisphere separately. Resulting in cases where a person would say he is not religious when asked in conversation. While when this person sees the question in writing, the mute hemisphere responds by writing down its own answer, in some cases disagreeing with the other hemisphere. Many more experiments that reveal similar results indicate that this is more than a random oddity or hallucination, but instead some legitimate level of split or double consciousness taking place in our brain.

Fortunately, this strange disagreement between both hemispheres only occurs when the connection between them is broken. As long as they are connected they try to cooperate and create the perception that we are a singular individual.

So where are we then in the brain? If science can pinpoint those parts of the brain that are largely responsible for language, mathematics, specific primal emotions and so forth, what does it say about the parts of the brain that make up the core of what we are? Not only have scientists, despite their best efforts, not been able to locate such a region of the brain. But all evidence even points towards this core not existing. It has become more and more clear that in this miniature universe of the brain, roughly 100 billion neurons all act by themselves and communicate with each other as if the brain is an astoundingly complex vehicle with no driver. Or a computer without a CPU.

In our quest for finding some sort of core of what we are, we could also look even deeper and zoom into the most basic building blocks of what our brain is made of. But if we peer into the individual molecules that make up our neurons, our findings become even more counter-intuitive. Not only will we not find any mysterious trace of a soul here, we will also not bump into any kind of marble-like structures that high school physics classes taught us are the tiny particles everything else is made of.

You might have heard that roughly 99.9% of all solid matter is nothing but empty space. This is true. But zooming into the .1% that consists of the stuff everything is made of only results in showing us a different kind of emptiness. The electrons, the quarks, all the fundamental particles are not solid objects. Thinking of them as somehow tiny spheres is a convenient simplification, but it does not represent the fascinating reality of this strange quantum void. The only things that exist here are waves. Waves that behave similar to vibrations of sound or ripples in water. But rather than oscillations of matter, the peaks and valleys of these quantum waves are not made of anything tangible, they are waves of probabilities. Their peaks reveal the areas where there is a high probability of detecting the energy of what we may call an electron. Their valleys indicate that the chances there are much lower. As bizarre as it may sound that the building blocks of our universe seem to behave according to chance rather than being intuitively predictable, this is not just a theory. It’s a simple fact that can be tested and observed with nothing more than a laser pointer and a comb to replicate part of the famous double-slit experiment.

The counter-intuitiveness of this discovery has been the root of popular misinterpretations and metaphysical confusion where it’s been described as particles being aware and knowing that they’re being observed or the universe being influenced by the power of our thinking. The truth is at least equally fascinating. The real principle at work is that if we can not know where a particle is, it exists only as a probability wave that tells us where the particle is more or less likely to be found. And only when we take action to measure where the particle could be, the wave will suddenly cease to exists and the particle reveals itself. The particle has no defined location until we make the measurement.

This is why we say that light, for example, is both a wave and a particle. But this quantum weirdness does not just apply to light, it applies to all the particles that everything is made of. It even applies to molecules. If we fire super-tiny rocks (visuals show C60 molecule) instead of photons, they’ll behave like waves when we’re not measuring them. We intuitively believe our universe consists of solid stuff. But in reality, all of it, from the neurons in our brain to the galaxy we are a part of, is the result of probability waves and particles that pop in and out of existence

All this weirdness led Einstein to famously say: “Do you really believe the moon is not there when you are not looking at it?”. But no matter how weird it is, quantum theory and all experimental evidence reveals that our universe is inherently probabilistic and things within it can not be predicted with 100% certainty. This doesn’t mean that science cannot make accurate estimates as to what is more or less likely. The mathematics and statistics of quantum physics reveal that the seemingly random oscillations that make up our reality are still deeply and perfectly consistent patterns. Many of our modern technologies, such as solar panels or microprocessors, would not have been possible if we had not deciphered much of the intricate and unique behavior of quantum mechanics.

But if neither any specific region of the brain, nor the neurons, nor the building blocks that our neurons consist of can account for the phenomenon of our consciousness, what do scientists think brings it about?

Over the years, there have been many theories, some of which have since been debunked with modern understandings of neuroscience, others that are considered too far-fetched and exotic to be of merit without hard evidence. But there is one general school of thought that most scientists consider to be likely. An idea that is not only logically sound and fits our observations, but that can transform how we think about life, even though its implications are thus far rarely discussed and explored. In fact, this video marks the first time all these logical conclusions are brought together to bring into focus what science can really tell us about some of our deepest existential questions.

If we look at evolution, it’s not so hard to roughly imagine how life started here on earth. 4 billion years ago, a unique series of coincidental probabilities occurred that led to the existence of very simple biological cells that could replicate. These were the first forms of life. And as they replicated, subtle differences between the old cells and the new cells would crop up, mutations would take place. We see it in the genetics of offspring with every lifeform known to us and we can trace it back in the remains and fossils not just of animals and plants, but sometimes even of bacteria of as far back as 3.5 billion years ago. Microscopic crystals and fossils provide us a glimpse of life on earth before the first plants or even algae emerged.

Over billions of years of replicating and mutating, these biological mechanisms found more and more sophisticated ways of growing and spreading. The tiniest initial differences such as offspring with a coincidental protein molecule that is sensitive to sunlight would end up with eventually more beneficial mutations over many generations. 4 billion years is a very long time. Enough for extremely sophisticated results such as the human eye to emerge from origins as simplistic as a single light-sensitive protein molecule. As a result, even our most advanced technologies are often still no match for some of the mechanisms that has taken evolution aeons to engineer.

But when we begin to contemplate early animal life, and observe its beautiful legacy all around us, wherein we constantly recognize parts of our primal selves, it’s tempting to wonder why in the process of evolution there emerged this phenomenon of consciousness that has bewildered and confounded philosophers and mystics since the dawn of humanity’s tribal structures. To approach this scientifically, we can not allow consciousness’ elusive nature to be a reason for giving up on trying to understand it. Because if consciousness is not a magical exception and is rather a direct or indirect consequence of evolution, the scientific conclusion is straight-forward: just like every other feature of the human brain and body, experience or consciousness is a tool that evolution has engineered for us through billions of years of mutations. Conscious forms of life showed a richer capacity for learning and course-correcting. So evolution favored this development and nurtured it to a point where we became sentient, self-aware and capable of interpreting our own evolutionary drives and our purpose in ways that can even go against our own survival if we so choose.

So how would science then describe the phenomenon of consciousness? Surprisingly, most scientists do theorize that consciousness is not simply inside our brain. Consciousness is generally considered to be an emergent phenomenon of the brain. Meaning consciousness happens when enough activity takes place in the brain in a way that can be compared to how music emerges from a record player. The music is not anywhere to be found inside the record player. Intuitively, we tend to say the music is on the record, but even there we really only find a circular vinyl disk with peculiar grooves, it does not produce any sound or music at all. It is only when the mechanisms of the record player are activated in a certain way that all its activity produces an emergent phenomenon that we call music. Consciousness is somewhat similar, we can’t physically locate it at one point or in one area. And if we zoom in on the grey matter of our brain, we find as much evidence for consciousness as we find tiny marbles inside a molecule, which is none at all. Yet when billions of neurons fire and communicate with each other, the combination of this enormous amount of activity creates a phenomenon that is consciousness.

But it would seem that this is far from a complete summary of what brings it about. Because there is an inevitable consequence that complicates things to an incredible degree.  The more this emergent feature evolved in ways that allow it to course-correct and significantly reprogram the brain, the more it became a feedback loop of incredible complexity. Just like when we point a webcam at the screen that is showing what it’s recording and we see a seemingly infinite pattern, the brain does something similar with the activity from its billions of firing neurons, resulting in an unimaginable depth of iterations and permutations that gives rise to what we call consciousness or experience. And this experience is not a goal, it is simply the ultimate tool that our brain has for finding its way and coming to grips with the consistent patterns of our reality. This is the true nature of what we are.

We are the unfathomably intricate interplay of what seems like infinite loops of neural processes. Our essence may have had humble beginnings, but it exponentially grew on its voyage down the rabbit hole of boundlessly mirroring itself and learning from each mirror image. Our brain waves ripple and reverberate, creating constant feedback loops of wildly varying degrees of complexity before even a single emotion, let alone a conscious thought can emerge, which in itself inevitably brings about feedback loops of higher levels of abstraction where it is no longer just about the interaction and cascade of neurochemical processes, but also of language, ideas and concepts that then allow such magnitudes of recursive thinking that we become capable of observing and dissecting the patterns of our own existence. We are incomparably more than the sum of our parts. Which is why our evolution so greatly favored this extraordinary capacity for reasoning and intuition and promoted us from biological machines to sentient architects of our own future, tasked with making the right decisions for ourselves and for our species. We are a feedback loop that is, depending on how we choose to live, to greater or lesser extent aware of its own processes

In addition to all of this, we must also factor in the brain’s remarkable ability for changing itself, called neuroplasticity. Whatever it is that we are doing at any point in time, we are training our brain to become better at performing those actions, for better or for worse. While more pronounced at early age, neuroplasticity and even neurogenesis, the creation of new brain cells, continues to take place throughout our lives, shaping and reshaping the hardware of our consciousness every step of the way.

And while human beings have a remarkable capacity for rationality, enabling us to fly rockets to the moon and build incredible machinery that allows us to better understand the fabric of the universe (show LHC), we are also still very emotional creatures. As we grow up, we for a big part learn and shape our behavior through basic Pavlovian conditioning. In the famous psychological experiment by Ivan Pavlov, a basic observation was that a dog tends to salivate as soon as he recognizes learned indicators hinting that he may be rewarded with a treat. Same mechanisms are present in the reward system of the human brain. As children, we innocently want to understand the world. But if trying to understand things is not rewarding enough, our brain adopts other strategies. An unfortunate phenomenon often observed in psychology and also once famously described by Carl Sagan is that kindergartners or first-grade kids tend to be sincere science enthusiasts with a genuine sense of wonder as they question everything around them. But talk to children in the 12th grade and much of this curiosity has become extinguished.

If our natural tendency to logically question things is discouraged and we are instead rewarded for actions that we often don’t see the meaning of, the brain adapts to this and gradually gives up on independent logical inquiry. Instead, we become disproportionately dedicated to seeking approval of others. Our opinions, our identity, our way of life ends up depending on how we are judged by our social circle and by society at large. At the time of recording this documentary, fake news, post-truth and so-called ‘alternative facts’ are much discussed topics. But these are mere symptoms of a much deeper problem. One that goes beyond misinformation and imperfect social media algorithms. And while we may not be aware of it, the Pavlovian conditioning from our contemporary culture deeply defines how we look at life and by extension how we intuitively perceive consciousness.

To understand just how much culture constantly evolves while it shapes our behavior and beliefs, it can be helpful to look at how much has changed even in recent history. Only around 15 years ago it was controversial to ban smoking and cellphones were considered inappropriate for teenagers or for use on public transport. Ten years ago we could barely imagine why anyone would want to put random thoughts along with personal pictures on the Internet for everyone to see, now just about everyone including our parents and grandparents have Facebook accounts. And in only a few years, taking selfies went from a strange and narcissistic habit to a cultural norm.

Keeping this in mind may then make it less surprising when we consider that up until around 300 years back, people would brand a great deal of our most commonplace routines as selfish, decadent and morally corrupt. As trivial and innocent of an act like buying a box of our favorite cereals would fall into this category. While society gradually improves and evolves over large periods of time, our culture takes many twists and turns along the way, some of which move us closer to valuing facts over fiction, some of which do not. Nevertheless, our conditioning lays much of the groundwork for the operating system of our brain. In a constellation of brain areas that is known as the Default Mode Network, information is constantly being processed even when we are seemingly at rest. This is partially why social conditioning can have a profound impact on us even while we are unaware of it.

Our current mainstream culture is generally defined as individualism, which finds its origins in the industrial revolution not long ago. Just as in previous eras, we go as far as to sometimes rewrite history to fit our current narrative and we repurpose ancient sayings such as “Carpe Diem” to support our beliefs. The complete sentence of the old latin poem roughly translates to “do what you can today, to make tomorrow better” and it had no connection with indulging in personal desires. While our scientific progress can tell us a lot about the brain and even to significant extent about consciousness, our culture is currently not so much geared towards trying to understand what we are. It is instead more focused on celebrating the pursuit of fashionable personal interests. Ranging from material possessions to impressing our social circle and from momentary thrills to romantic adventures. The individual’s desire and its freedom to pursue it is currently our most cherished ideal. Many aspects of our society, most of all our economy, rely on our pursuit of these popularized objectives. Aside from rare exceptions like a futuristic tv series about a unified humanity working to advance the species, culture has a way of submerging us in signals that make us believe, without question, that the way we currently perceive things is simply the way it has always been and the way it’s meant to be. Not so long ago, we believed people of color were always inferior, the world was always flat and the gods always controlled the skies.

In a cultural setting such as this, the brain’s reward system becomes, in a sense, disconnected from its purpose. Throughout evolution, the ways in which our DNA has mutated and our brain has expanded have all been part of the same process: all these mechanisms simply try to overcome the obstacles in their path. Life fundamentally tries to align itself with reality, genetically and biologically, instinctively and intellectually. As children, the way we try to align ourselves with reality is by seeking approval from parents, teachers and various cultural influences. The older and the more aware we become, the more capable our brain becomes at independently recognizing patterns. A duality arises. We possess the intelligence to grasp the consequences of our actions and of our inaction. Yet our Pavlovian reward-seeking urges pull us in other directions, such as living up to the expectations of society and family. We feel fragile and dependent on the judgment of others because our reward system values their approval more than logical deduction. We feel little satisfaction or even discouragement when acting upon our own independent rational judgment.

This confusing duality is a natural consequence of a society wherein we never really grow up. We seek the approval of our guardians when we are young. And we continue to seek approval of whichever forces take over as we grow older. We become eternal validation-seekers. Neurons cluster together to create hierarchies that end up determining the things we value most. In recent years, neuroscientists are even beginning to come up with mathematical formulas that describe the exact way in which these hierarchies are formed and how they process information. Different clusters of neurons talk to each other in a beautifully organized fashion to, among other things, figure out whether or not the reward system should be activated. A process that largely depends on our conditioning and differs for each person.

Learning what someone’s reward system is primarily drawn to, often makes their behavior surprisingly easy to map and understand. We can much better comprehend the cold-heartedness of a career-fixated individual if success or social validation is what he or she craves more than anything. Or the sacrifice of someone who spends all resources to help siblings or parents if family is the core drive. The blindness of a person who primarily chases romantic adventures or the carelessness of a hedonistic thrill-seeker. We often create many additional rationales around our actions to obscure our fundamental motivation. The collection of these rationalizations is what constitutes our identity. Throughout our lives we may encounter milestones where our core value changes as a result of a paradigm shift or an identity crisis. Analyzing one’s own actions over the years through deep reflection or the practice of writing down an overview of one’s key choices in life can easily reveal what this core value is. This can be an experience that is both enlightening and sobering as it makes us see that our choices are rarely informed by the rationalizations we afterwards come up with, they are mostly the result of a childish attachment that lurks in our subconscious. And the more self-aware we become, the more we feel a dissatisfaction with our pursuit of hollow goals.

But this is not a deterministic trap that we cannot escape from. We live in a probabilistic universe where nothing is set in stone. Rather than vaguely philosophize about the nature of free will, we can deduce that the feedback loop of consciousness most definitely plays an active role in processing information and making decisions. It has a say in what our most deeply rooted core motivations are. Concepts and ideas only have power over us when we emotionally invest and hold on to them. This brings up the question: in light of all this knowledge, how do we correct our course? How do we truly find meaning in our lives and experience the kind of fulfilment that most of us seem to only catch glimpses of from time to time? It turns out that science has more answers in these regards than is commonly assumed.

It’s widely understood that logic is our most powerful ally in understanding and approaching reality. More than a cold and blunt instrument for calculation, it is the closest thing to a force that holds our universe together. Our advances in physics continue to reveal a mathematical framework underpinning anything and everything in our reality. Without these consistent patterns, nothing would exist. Without its exquisite dance of aeons of genetic iterations, we would not be able to think or feel. We often see logic as the opposite of emotion, but instead it is the engine of our emotions and it provides reliable answers when we are frustrated or confused. Logic is what creates rhythm or structure, it is fundamental in the melody of music and the colors and symmetry of flowers. It creates biological machinery so intricate and rich that they become self-aware, capable of love and selflessness and able to observe the majestic logical patterns that created them. We can trace our origins and the molecules in our body back to the stars in which they were created and see that we are all connected. Over billions of years, these molecules configured themselves into complex units that we call human beings. These units are like cells in the body of humanity, wired to evolve and move it forward. This is why we have a deep desire to find meaning, to find an existential equilibrium: evolution has fundamentally programmed us so that we want our beliefs to align with reality. Logic is, in a sense, the prime directive of our consciousness. We must value it as such if we want to break free from the clutches of hollow reward mechanisms.

Evolution has put the feedback loop of experience in control of our brain. We make the calls. And while we intuitively navigate reality with the compass of our reward system, we can change how this system operates. This is what happens in paradigm shifts or identity crises. In religious transformations or in the minds of many first-time parents. The reward system shifts its dominant focus. It’s easy to think in absurd stereotypes when we imagine a person primarily driven by logic. (visuals show robots, Spock) But for human beings, it would only be illogical to suppress emotions or disregard human needs. Instead, what is logical for humans is to act in ways that are most efficient for the benefit of ourselves and of humanity. Part of the reason why meditation and mindfulness practices have scientifically measureable health and psychological benefits is precisely because they somewhat disconnect us from attachments that constantly take up mental energy and generate dissonance. They also shift the brain’s activity from its Default Mode Network to the Task-Positive Network, allowing us to more easily be selfless, clear-headed and focused. The simple act of intently putting focus on our breathing throughout the day is enough to make this happen. It creates an awareness that is often described as 'being in the present’ or being in a state of flow, wherein rather than identifying with our thoughts, we become an observer of them and are much more inclined to follow reason over impulse. We become more capable of adjusting our beliefs and making conscious choices that rewire our reward system.

We can observe clear improvements in how, over the centuries, common subconscious core values have shifted away from things like superstition. And we can also debate that not everything has improved. We once valued selflessness and contribution far more than our own identities.

Perhaps at some point in our future, our cultures will find common ground in simply valuing logic. As a society, we’re currently still far too obsessed with our own little preferences and differences to make such a drastic leap. But as individuals, we’re fortunate to live in a time where have the freedom to reject shallow ideals if we so choose. For those who want to override decades of confusing conditioning and become consistently mindful and present, committing to logic as a core value is a powerful way to achieve just that.

A first step towards this would be to ensure one has a genuine appreciation for logic, something that much of the audience watching this video may already have. It can be profoundly inspiring to learn about how logic underpins everything in the vast and intricate complexity of our universe and it can also be empowering to realize, as you learn, that even when we don’t know them, the logical answers to our questions exist. It also helps to be aware that science and logic are not about certainties but about how we can find out what is most likely. Our universe is a probabilistic phenomenon. Even a hypothetically perfect simulation could not predict with complete certainty how events would unfold. There is a profound sense of acceptance in acknowledging that nothing is ever truly certain, but with our ability to reason, we can come up with solid approximations of what the best course of action is at each point in our lives. This first step can be achieved simply by reflection or learning about logic and science from books and documentaries or even rewatching this video.

Step 2 is to identify your current core value. Find what emotionally drives you. In this step, you pinpoint what it is that throughout your life your reward system has turned into its primary focus. It can simply be comfort, success or social validation for example.

Making the conscious leap to adopt logic as core value is step 3. This resolution is not about just implementing new habits but rather about fundamentally committing to doing the right thing at any time, depending on your knowledge and the logical connections you make. And since logical reasoning is fundamentally wired into the human brain, this is not a commitment to a belief or a concept but rather to allow yourself to trust that you will do what is logically right.

Finding the courage and truly making this click can be a euphoric or liberating experience. There is a wealth of knowledge and insight available online on how this can be achieved for those who find it difficult. Although this difficulty is often an illusion that simply takes some bravery to overcome.

What has been observed thus far among people who go through this transformation is that those who ultimately make this leap with the intention of elevating their experience will eventually lose this newfound awareness and struggle with their commitment to it. This is not due to a lack of discipline, but rather due to a fundamental misunderstanding regarding consciousness that we are deeply conditioned with. It is a fallacy that most of us never verbalize or are even aware of and that sits at the heart of our misconceptions regarding our experience.

You believe there is a 'you’ inside the brain. Even as you watch this video, you’ve most likely concluded at least subconsciously that there is still a 'you’ in the ever-changing feedback loop of consciousness. That while we are an unfathomably complex and rich phenomenon of continuous information processing and near infinite iteration and transmutation, that somehow at every instant and in every loop, a defining part of us survives. We believe this even though most cells in our body die and are replaced over and over, the electrons that buzz through our neurons to generate our ongoing experience do not exist in any solid or intuitive sense of the word and scientists find no trace of a self inside our brain. Each second, the music, the consciousness that emerges from the grey matter mechanisms behind our eyes is different, sometimes unrecognizable so, from what it was a second before. The truth is that every moment we are a new entity that existed only for that one single moment and will never manifest itself again. No experience can truly be replicated, no identity can ever reflect an ever-changing synergy and there is no self or I that can persist in the endless stream of experience. Not even for an instant.

The only place where there resides some notion of the imagined self, is in the proteins that were synthesized to store a memory of a moment that once occurred. As if the feedback loop of consciousness at that moment wrote in the machinery of our neurons “I was here”, so that the next iteration, the next loop that a new experience emerges from, might learn from it. But from fixating on faulty concepts of what we are, on stories of a phantom that we define as the self, we learn nothing of value. It is fascinating that sometimes science and ancient esoteric wisdoms seem to meet. The idea that there is no actual self is not a new one. But it is one that is logical and has gained more scientific support than other schools of thought. Life and death are concepts that do not seem to apply in the ways we think they do. Beyond outdated philosophical or religious notions, we have no reasons at all to believe the human organism is inhabited by a spirit, but rather by a near-infinity of consciousnesses over time.

And each manifestation of what we are is much more than a mere expression of our brain’s neural activity. It is a culmination of all the interaction that led to its emergence. Consciousness does not emerge from the brain like a genie from a bottle. In fact, without any influence from society, in cases where children grow up in isolation, not raised by humans but among animals, the brain does not adapt to the use of language in its early phases and becomes forever incapable of speaking or even conceptually thinking in the ways we constantly do. So much of what we tend to label as intrinsic personality can not even exist on a basic level without sufficient interaction. Consciousness emerges from the vast interplay of stardust becoming aware, aeons of genetic mutation, thousands of generations laying the groundwork of language and culture necessary to form complex thoughts and finally, our current society’s conditioning, education, social influences and parental guidance. All elements combine to generate electrochemical fireworks inside our neurons to eventually create these instances of experience. All of it is interconnected.

There are no limits or borders in what is a part of our existence. Nothing is external. Even from a basic neurological perspective, everything takes place within our consciousness. It comes as no surprise then that the most intellectually and emotionally satisfying programming that our brain is capable of running is fundamentally selfless. In the grande interplay of all things, it becomes clearest of all that our experience is a tool. The more we dismantle the hologram of our imaginary self, the more easily we accept our evolutionary drive to care for others and the more capable we are of understanding the sinister foundation of our individualist conditioning. Our history is full of examples where the mainstream narratives successfully hypnotize us into complacency and inaction as they attempt to blind or distract us from the damage we are doing. Some of the most iconic examples that come to mind, the holocaust and slavery, took place within the past few generations.

But our inner selfish monster that we create as a coping mechanism for our fears and uncertainties does not reflect what we really are. Even though its influence runs deep, since we begin the process of identifying and labeling ourselves very early on in life. As children, we don’t know any better and we often end up blaming ourselves for things that were either beyond our control or actions that we did not yet know the consequences of. We gradually and subconsciously create flawed beliefs that inhibit us. But beneath all of this remains what analytical psychology calls the inner child. This is why many forms of therapy and meditation focus on seeing our thoughts and emotions, even our mind, as separate from us. These practices have been well documented to have profound effects on us. The more mindful we are, the more easily we see our own values and beliefs as an observer, which allows us to change the ones that hold us back.

But we are continuously flooded by subtle and less subtle indicators that signal our subconsciousness and strengthen our belief that experience is what matters most. We celebrate kindness and generosity strictly within specific cultural confines, where the narrative is usually as follows: human beings might be inherently selfish, but since doing good feels good, we’re not so bad after all. Simply hearing or saying this can summon positive emotions. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see this message applied in charity campaigns or for example during Christmas. It’s been repeated to us in literal as well as subliminal ways to the point that it became an omnipresent and oddly comforting belief that unfortunately has gaping inconsistencies and horrific implications. It’s an unspoken slogan of the individualist ideology that programs obedient consumers to only care when they stand to benefit themselves.

It is perhaps the worst form of indoctrination when society makes us believe that the reason we should primarily pursue selfish interests is because we are not really capable of anything else. As we grow up, this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Because by valuing experience above all, we legitimately turn into a population of selfish drones. And in the finest tradition of cultural obedience, many of us then defend ourselves when we hear of claims of selfless acts. These things do not really exist, many of us say. Ignoring even the most obvious and common scenarios of parents who truly care for their children and gladly diminish the quality of their own experience for them.

This is where we awkwardly catch glimpses of the uneasy and unspoken agreement that binds us. We know that our ideology is a facade. A collection of excuses that we let ourselves and each other get away with. The 1% may benefit the most, but the greatest conspiracy of modern civilization does not come from the top. It is a collaboration that we all subconsciously agreed to and are sometimes uncomfortably aware of.

In this ecosystem, the rare exceptions of those who at some point truly value something more than experience easily end up conflicted. For a while, they may feel driven to fight for a cause or sacrifice their luxuries for a noble objective. But as soon as they somewhat ponder their actions within a greater context, the compass of their experience (or intuition) fails to come up with convincing answers as to whether they are truly doing what is right, making their endeavor unsustainable.

We fall back on excuses that are so commonly accepted, we almost fully believe we should indeed trust and value our experience above all else, and this makes us deeply vulnerable to all kinds of manipulation. Governments and corporations can dictate our behavior even without advanced strategies or conspiracies. Politicians can scare us with insultingly inaccurate claims and we will happily consume poisonous substances if presented along with imagery of laughter and joy. Our indoctrination has made us pampered and passive.

With this broken compass, we find ourselves somewhat puzzled when we reflect upon historical horrors like the holocaust: why did so few of the guards who witnessed the atrocities of concentration camps do something? How come they blindly obeyed their orders and murdered millions, either by pulling the trigger or simply assisting, making them guilty of the atrocities that were committed.

Indoctrination can make us ignorant and the sleep of reason can produce monsters. But we are not children any more. As adults, we are perfectly aware, sometimes painfully so, that actions have consequences. Therefore, when we consider an individual who willingly keeps someone in a dungeon to die of starvation, we universally consider it wrong or evil. But when we become aware of the death and suffering that’s been locked away in our own dungeon of ignorance, we ourselves become evil if we do not take action. In a world with a continuous stream of tragic events that we can easily influence, wherein we no longer need to risk our lives in order to make a difference, our inaction kills on a daily basis while we mentally recite to ourselves the mantras we’ve been taught: “There’s not much we can do. We are not responsible. They are far away. Perhaps they deserved it.” For all our progress, we sound a lot like horrific echoes of the past: “We didn’t know. We were just following orders.”.

Our culture has installed in our brains a colossal switchboard of excuses. And there are many options for every occasion. It begins when we, as children, begin to recognize the absurdity of many of the expectations placed upon us and innocently look for ways to dodge them. And it becomes less innocent as we become more aware later in life. Most of us grow older but don’t grow up. Because it isn’t in our society’s best interest to truly guide us into maturity. There is no profit to be made from it.

So we band together in how we excuse our behavior and silently agree to conceal each other’s hypocrisy. Confrontations that do take place are met with empty defenses: “What about you? What about the government? I have to think about my future. This offends me. This is my belief. This is my opinion.” But whether arguing against global warming or vaccinations, for socialism or capitalism, for social justice or against political correctness, our opinions and beliefs never dictate reality. Our identities and our rhetoric are meaningless compared to the consequences of our inaction. And our innocent strategy of excuses that once allowed us to skip our homework is no longer innocent among adults who are confronted with reality. That mechanism has run its course. The only teacher who now has authority to assign our tasks and judge our excuses is our own inner voice of reason.

When we selflessly resolve to adopt logic as a core value, it sets us free from our fragile dependence of the judgment of others. Responsibility is simply a principle of acting in line with our ever-expanding knowledge and rationality. It does not depend on intersubjectivity. It is not dictated by our culture, our social circle or politicians. Nor is it dependent on our fabricated freedom of choice. And many of the most historical acts of bravery came from those who took a stand for what is right, even in the face of adversity and cultural disparity.

Such a profoundly selfless resolution can seem scary, as it threatens all the conditioned attachments that emerge in a culture where enjoyable feelings are considered the ultimate goal. But it leads to far more fulfilment than chasing our positive emotions like a carrot on a stick, as our ideology demands. In cases of drug addiction, usually only those who feel they have little else to live for become dependent on addictive substances. We’ve been led to believe the lie that the meaning of life is in chasing the carrot of good emotions. But even with only our intuition, we feel that this endless chase doesn’t make much sense. The pay-off is never great enough. And those who choose to believe in a more selfless and logical objective ironically tend to experience much more fulfilment in their lives. It’s a principle that has inspired ancient spiritual concepts such as karma or heaven and hell: those who care most about their own indulgences end up haunted or tormented by their own self-interest.  

But in modern cognitive psychology, it is not just an esoteric idea. There is a huge range of academic research and literature on the subject, usually described in terms of the scarcity mindset and its opposite, the abundance mindset. The brain operates in a mode of scarcity when we feel that there are things we lack. This is perhaps one of our brain’s most ancient survival mechanisms and it’s been well established that, while this can sharpen our focus, it also tends to take up enormous amounts of what is called 'mental bandwidth’. It hijacks our brain. It literally makes us less intelligent, more self-centered and even drops our IQ. And every day, we are exposed to a near infinite array of societal impulses that are designed to lock us into this mental state. From a very young age onwards, we are deeply programmed with a set of requirements that must be fulfilled in order for us to experience abundance. Requirements that are often so elusive, that we become mostly entrapped in the scarcity mindset. But as soon as we see through this, which can be achieved in many ways, we are able to distinguish truth from indoctrination, to dispel our confusion and dissolve our apathy. This presents us with a choice on how we lead our lives.

If we make life about ourselves, we choose to see everything through a lens of what we can take rather than give back, an illusory lens of scarcity. We choose not to see the abundance that is everywhere and our selfishness then sustains itself by selectively finding support in the injustice around us. If this is our choice, then our core value remains selfish and every motive behind every one of our actions ends up being about our selves. But we intuitively sense that we’re not doing what is right and feel unworthy of being truly loved. And we either attempt to make peace with this or we succumb to insecurity and prefer to obfuscate this truth.

But if love is defined as unconditional giving then love is all around us. It is in the structures left behind by our ancestors and the heritage of our grandparents. It is in the care our parents have given us and the cells that make up who we are. It is in the social structures and the safety net that is forged into laws to protect us. It’s in the sun that shines and the infinite beauty that includes us. If we choose to be what we are and see our life for what it truly is, then we realize it is about much more than just us. It’s about caring and doing what is right. It’s about giving back and using our understanding to combat ignorance. It is about trusting in our ability to do so, trusting in our true selves. And letting ourselves be guided by our intuition, which knows right from wrong. No matter what challenges we face, when our heart guides us with reason on its side, our imagined problems fade away. Behind everything there is a logical reason that we can find when we choose to follow curiosity rather than fear. We don’t have to feel regret or guilt when we know our intentions are pure and we did the best we could at the time with the knowledge we had. But it begins with a choice. A choice between pretense or honesty. Between apathy or caring. Between fabricated scarcity or the abundance of reality. A choice between making life about ourselves or seeing that it is not about you. A choice that is yours to make.

(epilogue)

The world can seem like a cold and dark place when this knowledge leads us to recognize the selfish motives behind people’s actions and how they cause idealistic movements to scatter and fall apart. But with these insights, those who choose to not make life about themselves can seek out and trust each other.

This documentary illustrates how everyone has this choice. But it will require a global movement where those who truly care take action, organize and unite to bring about real change.

#consciousness #quantumstates #metaphysics #theoryofmind

[vieuxnoyesrp]

Eoin. Honestly, it isn’t an exaggeration to say that we were on the edges of our seat in anticipation of an app for Jennifer after posting her bio. The anon who was asking about her got us very excited - and while we don’t know whether that was you or not - we do know that the excitement ended up being very much justified. You seem to be exactly what we were looking for in terms of a roleplayer who understood Jennifer’s character beyond the superficial titles of ‘good’ and ‘evil’. Your thought-provoking answers to our app questions made her very human and carefully avoided any of the trappings of a typical stereotype. It’s clear that you took the time to do your research on our story and setting, and we love how you tied so many of these details into your application. We also enjoyed your headcanons, and how they added another very human layer to Jennifer Blake. One thing we intentionally left out of her bio was the casual vibe of human!Jen; her interests outside of magic and sacrifice, her pastimes, and the tone she uses in her day-to-day dealings with the world around her. You brought this side of her to life in your headcanons and in the sample app, and convinced us that you understand all sides of her character intimately well. Needless to say, we cannot wait to have her on our dash and get to interact with your Jen in person!

Eoin, thank you very much for applying. As for Jennifer…

                ⚜ ~ WELCOME TO VIEUX NOYÉS!!! ~ ⚜

Wondering what to do next? Click here and let the good times roll!

⚜ Roleplayer:

⤜ Name/alias: Eoin

⤜ Pronouns: He/Him

⤜ Age: 23

⤜ Timezone: GMT

⤜ Activity: I’d put my activity at an 8 out of 10. I usually check in everyday and attempt to get a few replies out after Uni, though I tend to go quieter around weekends since I work then.

⤜ Best form of contact: Just on tumblr is best for me.

⤜ Any Triggers? No triggers.

⤜ How did you find Vieux Noyés? I came across it while searching the tag ‘supernatural rp’

⤜ What drew you to the RP? The design and intricacy of the RP is phenomenal, the story-world, interconnecting characters and events were all so interesting. But the main element would have to be the maturity it boasts; the emphasis on character development, and seeing characters as three-dimensional people over simple hero/villain labels.

⤜ What is one subplot/element from the Plot page that you are particularly looking forward to seeing in this roleplay? Marcel’s decision to ban magic within the quarter has left many witches and even some vampires in tricky situations. Between the ambitions of the witches and the need for magical items (such as daylight rings) I can see Marcel’s orders being ignored and, if punishment is met out, the fallout from that would be very interesting to see.

⚜ Desired Character: Jennifer Blake

⤜ Why do you want this character? 

From the first time I saw her portrayed in Teen Wolf I adored Jennifer’s character, the change from almost clumsy teacher to powerful Darach, but I was very disappointed at the overall story she was given. There was so much more they could have offered this character instead of labeling her as a ‘villain’ and moving on. The lengths she went to in order to avenge her pack really caught my interest.

Furthermore, within this RP, Jennifer is again a multifaceted character whose immense intelligence and ambition is met with an almost childlike misunderstanding of emotion and consequence. The variation and conflict you can give a character that is this complex would be a very exciting opportunity.  

⤜ What are your future plans for this character? 

Jennifer’s bio makes it clear that she’s already conflicted. But the one element left with no ambiguity is her obsession and determination to increase her strength. Her method of doing this, sacrifice, and the consequences of her doing so is something I’d really like to explore. How her mind would cope with the strain of other personalities seeping through. And whether or not she may be able to create a connection with someone other than Rain to possibly help her through it.

Her mimicry abilities also present an interesting chance for character exploration. I’d like to see whether this woman, who understands so little about sentiment, could perhaps find in someone else the feelings of friendship and family she found in Rain, and may need to find after the recent conflict between the two. Especially since this could provide further conflict with her own plans down the line.

⤜ Put yourself in your character’s shoes. Give us a few lines to describe a day in the life of your character… Where do they live? Where and how do they spend their time? 

Jennifer, despite her ambitions for herself and her coven, found employment at the local high school, Saint Aloysuis, and finds the job satisfying. Just as Rain taught her she reaps a little satisfaction out of imparting the great works of the English language to her students, the subtleties of a well-constructed argument, the best methods of textual research and analysis and even the odd break in the teachers lounge with Jenna, one of the few teachers not to bore her. And, as the school motto insists, develop her talents. She’s worked hard to develop the persona of the slightly clumsy, endearing and only occasionally strict teacher who’s becoming quite popular with the students. After school she may head to either Café du Monde with Jenna, or even Rousseau’s if it’s a Friday, for the odd drink and talk. If not she is fond of frequenting Bourbon Street, for the people and the music. Or even the French Market. She rarely shops, but she keeps herself around people, she has more opportunity to spot a candidate for sacrifice that way. At the end of the day she returns to her apartment on Jackson Square, the noise of the few shops quieting down so she can mark her classwork or further her research, usually with a glass of wine in hand and some soft music playing, before retiring for the evening.

⤜ Give us three headcanons regarding your character of choice.

Jennifer has quite a love for music and dance. Even before coming to New Orleans she had a fascination with jazz, the devil’s music. The way the singer and musicians can create tunes on the spot and the rhythm of the music just resonates with her. Her singing voice is rather good, plus she’s an excellent dancer, and loves to sing, sway and undulate her body to the music of New Orleans.

Despite her position as an English teacher, Jennifer, in her free time, tends to read chick-lit and crime novels over the classics or Pulitzer Prize winners. Her reasons for this are to try and improve her understanding of that strange thing called sentiment; the love shown in chick-lit and the human behavior show in crime novels has helped her a little with that. But, on a more secretive level, she sometimes finds escapes in them. It’s a chance to get away from the tensions of her life and indulge her mind in the mundane problems of the ‘heroine de jour’.

Jennifer is an avid gardener. Not just because the plants and herbs she grows could have properties in her covens spells, but also because life is just one more mystery to solve. She’s seen the inside workings of animals plucked apart, the beauty in that. But there’s an almost similar beauty to seeing a seedling sprout through the dirt, grow, bloom, wither and die. Whole cycles of life and death having come and gone in a single year. One more thing for her to observe and learn from.  

⤜ What are some plots you’d like to explore with your character? 

I’d like to see a plot in which Jennifer is first introduced to someone while putting on her ‘persona’ and developing a relationship based on that. Then having the truth of her nature revealed and how both she and the other party would cope with that. Whether the feelings she ‘put on’ over that time could develop into something real or if the other party could even attempt to make a connection with the real Jennifer. Also, I’d be interested in seeing Jennifer perhaps take on a student of her own. Someone who she thinks could be taught to be what she considers ‘better,’ more wild and ambitious in their studies, always striving for the most powerful outcomes of magic.

⤜ Para sample: 

(Retained for privacy)

⤜ Would you like to be considered for another character if not accepted as your primary choice? No thank you.

⤜ Have you read the rules?: I have, several times in detail.

⤜ Anything else? Just to gush a little about how amazing this RP is. And to please request that if this application isn���t acceptable to you that you’d please message me with some feedback on my performance. I’d really appreciate the opportunity to improve and come back again if need be. Thank you very much!

#teen wolf roleplay #Haley Webb #Haley Webb FC #Jennifer Blake #Jennifer Blake RP #Accepted

[maritzaerwin]

Why You Should Consider Hiring an Employee Who Stutters

Many employers hesitate to hire people who stutter (PWS). They hold on to various myths about PWS. As a result, they overlook the true potential of such job applicants. 

There are many negative stereotypes related to stuttering. Some of the widely held misconceptions suggest that stutterers are: 

Stressed or anxious.

Shy and fearful.

Too careful and self-conscious.

People having no acquaintances who stutter are more likely to believe in these myths. 

Often, such negative stereotypes are based on misinformation. 

When hiring managers develop such stereotypes they are unlikely to treat stutterers fairly. 

Most employers do not know what it means to hire applicants who stutter.  

A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has revealed a worrying trend. 

Stutterers aged 18+ years participated in this study. Approximately 70% of participants believed stuttering reduced their chances of getting hired or promoted.  

Are you managing hiring operations for your organization? 

You can change such unfair hiring practices. You can make sure that your company is not discriminating against PWS. 

We will discuss the reasons why employers should hire stutterers. 

But first, let us first understand the basics.

What Is Stuttering?

Very few people understand what stuttering is. It is a speech or communication disorder. 

It generally appears as:

Repetitions (e.g. ca-ca-catch that) of sounds or words.

Long sounds (e.g. caaatch that).

Unusual halts (absence of any sound) while producing some sounds.

A person who stutters knows what they want to say. 

But they have difficulty producing some sounds or words. In the process, the flow of speech is broken.

Stuttering is often accompanied by unusual facial and body movements. 

Some of the common signs of stuttering include: 

Excessive blinking of eyes.

Tightening of fists.

An unusual jaw or head movement.

Hesitation before speaking something.

Refusal to speak.

Stressed voice.

Rearranging words in a sentence.

Stuttering can be mild or severe. So, the signs can be more or less noticeable. 

Different people stutter differently. The severity also varies across individuals. It may even vary in the same person. 

People stutter differently depending upon the situation they are in. 

Some situations are more challenging than others. For example, saying one’s name or talking to an authority figure is generally difficult.

So, talking to a supervisor or interviewer can be particularly challenging.  

Stuttering generally increases when a stutterer is forced to hide it. Therefore, it is important not to judge or mock stuttering. 

The exact causes of stuttering are still unknown. New information continues to surface from time to time. 

Existing scientific data suggests that speech disfluencies have a neurological & genetic basis. 

Stuttering generally runs in families. Men are almost four times more likely to stutter than women. 

There Are Millions of Stutterers in the World   

Did you know that approximately 1% of the human population struggles with stuttering? 

Well, stuttering is not as rare as you thought. 

Nearly 5 out of 100 children aged between 2 and 6 years will stutter at some point. Stuttering normally occurs when young children are developing their speech and language skills. 

Almost 4 out of those 5 children will eventually stop stuttering. 

Kids stop stuttering by the time they are 7 or 8 years old. 

But, 1 out of 5 children will continue stuttering as an adult. And, it is not their fault. There are many complex factors at play. 

Unfortunately, there is no sure-shot cure for this. 

Stutterers, who receive timely intervention can manage or overcome stuttering more effectively. They can also take the self-therapy route with a smartphone app for stuttering. Many other aids are also available these days. 

More than 70 million people stutter globally. 

Approximately 3 million people stutter in the United States alone. 

Do you represent an organization or are someone responsible for looking after hirings? 

There is a good chance you will come across job applicants who stutter.  

When you do, keep the following in mind: 

Employees Who Struggle With Stuttering Tend to Work Harder

According to speech experts, people who struggle with stuttering generally work harder than those who don’t. 

Surprising as it may sound, it is true. 

Stuttering individuals work harder to compensate for their speech disfluencies. 

Therefore, organizations that dismiss such applicants for employment may be losing a chance to hire a dedicated worker. 

You wouldn’t want to do that, right? 

So, you need to look beyond the speech disfluencies. This is how you can discover the underlying qualities of a job applicant.

Patience and perseverance are two virtues you will rarely find missing in PWS. They gain these traits while struggling with stuttering. 

Put simply, you need to rely on an objective assessment of an applicant’s suitability for a job role. 

What does it mean to be objective in this case? 

Well, you need to ‘actually’ listen to what a stuttering applicant has to say. 

Listen to what they have to say about their skills, abilities, or career goals and not how they say it. 

No. You don’t have to compromise on your requirements. 

You just need to give them equal opportunities to prove their worth. 

Most Stutterers Can Communicate Well In the Workplace

Good workplace communication skills are not limited to being a fluent speaker. 

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Really. 

There is a lot more to the art of communication. 

Anyone who has been an employer long enough knows that.

There may be fluent speakers in a team who fail to engage customers. Others may lack the skills to handle an unhappy customer. 

Experienced hiring managers understand this. They know good communication is not just about being fluent. There are other, important skills as well. 

Stutterers try to master the art of listening early on. 

Developing their listening skills is a part of their lifelong struggle. This is how they learn to accept and manage stuttering over the years.

If you pay attention, you will notice this almost immediately. 

Stutterers tend to be fully present when they are listening to someone. Be it a colleague, vendor, or customer, stutters listen to them patiently. They are more considerate of another person’s inability to quickly communicate their demands or concerns.

Most stutterers experience bullying, harassment, and discrimination at some point in their lives. 

This is why they naturally develop the ability to empathize with other people. 

Empathy is a great trait to have in your employees today. 

Many stutterers learn to get creative to communicate more effectively. 

For instance, they may:

Replace some words.

Alter their body language.

Enhance their capacity to quickly come up with some witty or interesting thoughts.

They do it to keep the conversation going in a particular direction. In the process, they also learn to be more diplomatic. 

Why should anyone not consider hiring an individual with such ‘people skills’? 

Would you? 

Rejecting such applicants simply due to their disfluencies is not wise. This hiring approach can deprive you of ‘people skills’ that make your organization more productive.

Do not disqualify a job applicant simply because they:

Do not ‘appear to have’ excellent oral communication skills.

Can’t speak fluently.

Get stuck on some common words while speaking.

Consider the specific oral communication skills you need. In most cases, you’d just expect an employee to be able to communicate well with colleagues and customers. 

Most stutterers can do that to your satisfaction.

Most stutterers do very well in various job roles that require them to communicate with different people daily. 

Regardless of their disfluency, they can communicate adequately. 

Stuttering Employees Help Promote Better Workplace Communication

It might seem strange but it is true. 

Lets first consider what happens when you work with a stutterer. 

Here are the two ways communication in the workplace can change: 

You may feel the need to improve your communication style.

Other employees may also start practicing ‘active listening.

There will be occasions when a stutterer gets stuck. Or, they may struggle to say something. So, while working with a stutterer, a little extra patience is required.

With time, people around PWS learn that everyone communicates differently. Even fluent speakers sometimes find it difficult to convey their thoughts. 

Your employees thus become more aware of communication issues. Slowly, they will learn to accept people struggling with various disabilities. 

A positive behavioral change, it leads to a more adaptable workforce.

Stuttering is not a Sign of Low Intelligence

Some people assume that stutterers are not intelligent. 

This is not true. 

There is no link whatsoever between speech disfluencies and intelligence. 

According to Beth Gilbert of Psychcentral.com, the average stutterers’ IQ is typically 14 points more than the national average.

So, hiring managers should evaluate a stuttering applicant according to their skill-set and test scores. 

They should not base their opinions on myths. 

People Who Stutter Are Not Necessarily Stressed, Nervous or Shy

Employers want to hire confident people. They want people in their teams who have a positive outlook on life and work. 

It’s a fair expectation. 

But, what if a person gets stuck during an interview? What if he or she appears visibly nervous?  

You may consider it a red flag. This shouldn’t be the case.

Nervousness and stress do not cause stuttering. 

But, a stressful environment can certainly increase stuttering for a short duration. 

On such occasions, even a highly talented individual can have a difficult time speaking simple sentences. 

Even those who never stutter may get stuck during an interview. 

Often, PWS find face-to-face interviews more stressful than fluent speakers. A job interview can be the most challenging situation for a stutterer. 

Yes, you would want to know how a person will speak on the job. 

But, to figure that out, do not rely on how often an applicant stutterers during an interview. 

You are likely to underestimate a person’s abilities if you do that. 

Do not assume that PWS is prone to be shy, nervous, anxious, or fearful. 

If you have some doubts, you can dig deeper. But, it makes little sense to judge a book by its cover. 

Many stutterers try to manage their speech disfluencies by substitution, pauses, and interjection.

For example, each time such stutterers know they are likely to hit a block, they may:

Try substituting some words.

Pausing before speaking some words, and.

Interjecting phrases such as ‘yes, um,’ ‘well, actually,’ ‘um, okay,’ ‘you know,’ etc. 

Such modifications can give a false impression that an applicant is confused or nervous. But, in reality, a stutter is merely trying to manage their stuttering. 

Now, what about the personality traits of a stutterer? 

Stutterers like fluent speakers have a full-range of essential personality traits. It is wrong to make assumptions about the personality type of a candidate. 

Do you want to see a stutterer at his or her best?  

Consider making arrangements for a slightly less formal interview. 

In some countries, making reasonable adjustments for people who stutter during hiring and appraisal may be a legal requirement.

PWS Are Ambitious About their Careers

Did you think stutters are not ambitious enough? 

You may be in for a surprise. 

PWS are as driven as any other person. They are also serious about their professional growth. 

Today, you can find PWS doing well in various job roles. They work as firefighters, soldiers, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, teachers, etc. You will also find PWS working as actors, comedians, singers, and broadcasters. 

Thousands of such stuttering individuals have succeeded in different professions. 

Sportspersons such as Tiger Woods, Kelly Brown, and Gordie Lane stutter. 

Scientists such as Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton used to stutter. 

Singers & musicians such as Ed Sheeran, Marc Anthony, B. B. King, Francois Goudreault, etc. also have a history of stuttering. 

Famous stuttering actors include Emily Blunt, Samuel L. Jackson, and Nicole Kidman

In other words, stutters can perform in any line of work. 

They just need to be offered leadership roles and promotions without any bias. 

Yes, such opportunities should be offered as per their skills and domain knowledge.

When You Hire an Employee Who Stutters

A stuttering employee can have a hard time communicating if they are forced to hide their stuttering.

So, make a stuttering employee feel accepted in the workplace. This will help improve their productivity. 

Employers should make sure that a stuttering employee is not made fun of. There should be no room for such discrimination.  

At the same time, employers need to ensure that stuttering employees are not afraid to get stuck while speaking.

Do not act upset when an employee stutters. Act natural and maintain eye contact. 

When talking to them, wait for a few moments when they speak. Let them finish a sentence before you respond. In other words, practice relaxed speech in the workplace. 

PWS appreciate employers and managers who allow them to realize their true potential. 

Including stutterers in your workforce will enhance your organization’s image as one that ‘encourages ‘diversity’. It sends out a positive message. It shows that you care about ‘inclusion.’ 

The post Why You Should Consider Hiring an Employee Who Stutters appeared first on CareerMetis.com.

Why You Should Consider Hiring an Employee Who Stutters published first on https://skillsireweb.tumblr.com/

[skintagsgone]

What Are the Causes of Skin Tags around the Neck?

See What Are the Causes of Skin Tags around the Neck? on Our Skin Tag Website or read the entire post below:

Skin tags are a type of benign growth, characterized by a small flap of skin attached to you by a narrow (peduncular) stalk. They have many underlying causes, any one (or more) of which could have resulted in them developing.

The most common reason for skin tags around the neck is believed to be skin-on-skin friction. Skin irritation can cause the cellulite in the skin to change the structure. This can happen regardless of whether the ‘irritant’ is jewelry, clothing or skin.

However, there are many explanations besides just friction. In general, medical conditions that affect the body’s control of the skin is thought to play a hand. These range from genetics to hormonal fluctuations, and obesity to type 2 diabetes.

Our guide will help you identify the reason for skin tags on the neck. We also recommend specific treatments for neck skin tags. Altogether, this guide provides you with everything you need to know about what causes skin tags, how to remove them, and much more.

How to Identify Skin Tags around the Neck

If you have no experience of having skin tags, you may be confused at first. But it’s relatively easy to identify them if you know what to look for.

Here's how to quickly tell them apart from other skin conditions:

Skin tags are soft outgrowths of skin, which hang over the skin on the end of a stalk.

They are small (3mm to 5mm), but skin tags can grow larger (to the size of a grape).

Skin tags are usually the same color as your skin but can vary by a few shades.

They mostly occur around the neck, eyelids, armpits, and groin. The most likely places to find them are in and around skin folds.

Unless there is a source of irritation or infection, they shouldn't cause you any pain.

Skin tags rarely change color, but it can happen. You may find that an irritated skin tag on the neck becomes blood-filled or turns black. You shouldn't attempt to remove a reddened skin tag until the infection has cleared up. Black or purple skin tags are likely to fall off on their own after a couple of weeks. This typically occurs when oxygen isn't reaching the tumor. It cannot survive without a supply of oxygenated blood.

What Are the Causes of Skin Tags around the Neck?

There are a number of causes, one or more of which may have caused you to develop skin tags. Friction is a common reason, but the picture may be far more complicated. The truth is that it could be many factors that have caused skin tags to develop.

Before we dive in to consider what causes them, there’s one thing we should say. Even though scientists have been able to identify some of the reasons, they are not well understood.

Let's take a look at some of the most common reasons:

Skin Rubbing Against Skin, Jewelry or Clothing

The main reason they are thought to be caused by friction are the locations they are commonly found. They are located under the armpit, around the eyes, and underneath the fold of the buttocks.

The anatomy of a skin tag is fairly simple. Regular skin cells become stretched and elongated, whether by a lack of elastin in the skin or because of friction. So we could expect to find large numbers of skin tags anywhere where your skin is consistently rubbed.

This is especially the case for skin tags around the neck. Anybody who wears a necklace will experience it rubbing against the skin, which can be uncomfortable. Not to mention that everybody has to live with a collar and tie around their neck due to their professional occupation.

The friction that clothing and jewelry around the neck cause is perhaps the most common reason why this skin condition occurs. And for overweight individuals, the extra skin around the neck can play a role too. All of these factors add up to make it a widespread skin complaint.

Hormonal Fluctuations

Aside from friction, hormonal fluctuations and imbalances can cause a skin tag growth to form on the neck. Hormones play a central role in our lives, and their effect on our skin cannot be understated. Since they affect every part of our body, it is little wonder that they can cause skin conditions, too.

We all know the role that hormones play in our lives. They define everything from our behavior as teenagers, all the way through to old age. So, even though we aren’t sure exactly how hormones influence us and influence each other, it's believed that they cause neck skin tags, too.

Scientific studies are increasingly pointing to the effect that hormones have on the skin. Leptin, which is normally associated with weight gain, also seems to influence skin tag growth. While leptin is to help your stomach understand when it’s full, it might also have some ‘side effects.'

Having too much leptin in the body can cause insulin resistance. Insulin resistance and diabetes are another cause of skin tags, which is a point we will return to soon. None of these hormonal changes are clearly understood.

Another hormone known to increase the number of skin tags developing around your neck is estrogen. We already know that declining estrogen in the body causes the skin to become oilier and less elastic.

Hormonal Fluctuations Associated with Pregnancy

As we’ve already pointed out, pregnancy causes fluctuations in estrogen. But you probably already know that pregnancy involves a far more complex hormonal cocktail.

Here are five of the most interesting hormones associated with pregnancy which affect the skin:

Progesterone helps your muscles to relax during pregnancy and birth. It causes all sorts of odd symptoms like excessive gas and morning sickness. And it’s also responsible for unwanted hair around your body. It can also cause sebaceous fluid, which causes acne. That’s a sign of how pregnancy hormones don’t just affect what’s under your skin, but your skin itself.

Oxytocin, or the ‘love hormone,' helps you to bond with your baby immediately after birth. But like all hormones, it also has other effects! It modifies the response of human skin cells to stress and touch.

Human chorionic gonadotropin, or HGC, is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. If you’ve ever heard of it, it’s either because you’re a biologist or you know that it’s what pregnancy tests look for to prove that you’re pregnant. HCG helps improve blood flow to the skin, which is what makes pregnant women ‘glow’. But whether your skin looks better or worse, is all down to luck.

Relaxin yet another muscle relaxant hormone, essential during pregnancy and childbirth. According to the Society for Endocrinology, there’s some evidence that relaxin can cause scleroderma, a condition where the skin thickens and hardens.

Looking at the evidence, it’s no surprise that pregnancy causes skin tags around the neck.

Weight Gain or Obesity

Another precursor to skin tags is weight gain or obesity. If you’ve recently gained a lot of weight, or you’ve held onto weight for a long time, you may have started to develop skin tags.

There are three excellent reasons why weight gain or obesity can cause skin tags to form. The first is that, as we’ve already established, friction can cause skin tags appearing around the neck. The increase in two areas of skin rubbing together due to excess weight is a common cause.

Second, weight gain causes hormonal imbalances. And as we’ve already seen, hormones work in strange ways, having side effects almost like pharmaceutical drugs.

PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome, is caused by hormonal imbalance from the excess fat tissue.

Obesity also causes the body to produce extra androgens, a hormone similar to estrogen. And lastly, diabetes and insulin resistance cause skin tags too. But from all these points, it’s no wonder that gaining weight quickly can cause skin tags.

Insulin Resistance or Type 2 Diabetes

Skin tags can be irritating at the best of times. But if you’re suffering from diabetes or insulin resistance, they’re the last thing you want. Unfortunately, studies have found a link between the two.

Even besides the link between obesity and Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance will cause skin tags formation. Scientific studies show that as a general rule, the more skin tags you have, the more likely you are to have diabetes. The same applies to the pre-diabetic condition of insulin resistance.

Please note that this doesn’t mean that developing skin tags necessarily means you’re diabetic. Of course, it doesn’t. But if you are overweight or significantly overweight, and you begin to develop skin tags regularly. Then this could be a sign of insulin resistance.

The evidence for this claim comes from a simple fact. Studies have found that those with skin tags have higher levels of cholesterol, blood sugar content, and C-reactive protein. These are all markers of insulin resistance, where your body cannot process sugars correctly.

A link between Type 1 diabetes and skin tags has not yet been found. Of course, scientific study is prone to change. But for the time being, it seems that some link between Type 2 diabetes and obesity is what causes the tags to form.

The Use of Steroids

Steroids are known to have a number of side effects. They can help the immune system when you’re suffering from an auto-immune disease. They can cause side effects like acne, high blood pressure, and unwanted body hair. And of course, they can lead to muscle growth.

Steroids work by imitating cortisol, the hormone which helps muscles to gain mass. But as we already know, hormones are anything but simple. Changing the hormonal balance of the body can have any number of side effects, and this is one of them.

While increased cortisol does allow for muscles to gain mass more easily, that’s not all it does. Cortisol also helps regulate blood sugar levels. It manages our response to stress. It’s present during pregnancy and helps the baby’s lungs to grow. It’s a wonder that one hormone can have so many uses, and it’s all scientifically proven.

But did you know that they can also lead to skin tags? Steroids affect the way in which collagen binds the skin together. It’s all based on the natural processes of the body. Hormones are unpredictable beasts, as we already know, so it’s no wonder that steroids can have such an effect.

The Natural Aging Process

Skin tags only become more common, the older we get. In fact, they’re so common that more than half of us will have more than one by the time we hit fifty. They’re a common result of aging skin, just like wrinkles and liver spots.

There are three main reasons why the aging process causes skin tags. The first is that as we age, our skin becomes thinner. The second is that our skin undergoes a process called elastosis, where it loses its elasticity and strength. And last, our skin becomes dryer.

Because of these natural effects of aging, we become more prone to skin tags around the neck. The effects of friction become more pronounced because of our skin becoming tighter and thinner. This can lead to skin tags and tears in the skin, and difficulty healing scratches and cuts.

Unlike hormonal imbalances and weight gain, the aging process is something that can’t be avoided. So there’s little you can do to stop it from causing skin tags around your neck and shoulders. But you can still safely remove them, which is a point we’ll return to later.

Genetic or Hereditary Factors

Some of us are more prone to skin tags than others. Many of us have just one or two. But for the unlucky few who are genetically inclined, they might have a dozen or more. It’s all part of our nature, just like curly hair or green eyes.

There are all sorts of developmental conditions which cause skin tags. To name just a few, they’re associated with:

Basaloid Follicular Hamartoma Syndrome

Brooke-Spiegler Syndrome

Cowden Syndrome

Rombo Syndrome

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Acromegaly

And, of course, there seem to be genetic factors outside of conditions like these which still cause skin tags. Little research has been done into the topic yet. But it’s perfectly obvious when you think about it.

How do we know, then, that skin tags have a genetic cause? Because they run in families, that’s why. Like the genes for height or red hair, there are genes which predispose somebody to skin tags. So, if your mother has a dozen skin tags, you probably will too.

Scientists have found that since skin tags aren’t the most important genetic condition they’re working on fixing. But just from basic observation, it seems to be the case. If there really is a genetic cause, then perhaps we can all dream of a skin-tag free future.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, may be another cause. HPV causes warts, so we already know that it can affect the skin. But studies have shown that it might be a reason for skin tags, too.

First, several studies have found that the skin tags themselves contain the virus. Specifically, skin tags were tested and found to contain both HPV 6 and 11, which cause warts. This could have been because the person in question simply had warts as well. Or it could be that the virus instigated the growth of the skin tags.

Another study found that people with skin tags were far more likely to be infected with HPV. Each of these studies on their own could be explained by mitigating factors. But together, they provide compelling evidence that the HPV virus may be one cause of achrocordons (the medical name).

The only problem with the idea is that this is one skin condition which is not contagious. Or at least, scientists have never observed them being ‘caught.' This may rule out the idea that HPV is a potential cause, so further research is needed on this front.

Can Skin Tags on the Neck be Safely Removed?

There are many skin tag removal methods. You can either get the process performed by a dermatologist or do it yourself at home.

Scissors or scalpels should never be used to cut off a skin tag. Skin tags can bleed, become infected, or scarring can take place.

Cryotherapy is the process of freezing off skin tags using liquid nitrogen. It stings a little at first, but the skin tag will quickly ‘die’ and drop off. This method is one of the most popular at-home skin tag removers.

Ligation is another effective method. This involves tying off the skin tag with string, floss or a narrow band. This cuts off circulation and causes the skin tag to ‘die.' It works really well, hence the reason we always recommend that people use the TagBand for removing skin tags.

Most people will develop skin tags during their lifetime and it's not usually a reason for concern. Understanding the causes of skin tags around the neck can sometimes be important. Talk to a doctor about dietary and lifestyle changes if you're overweight. This will enable a medical practitioner to rule out certain health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes.

[tallestguyinmozambique]

Sex Ed

If you've been keeping up on your reading, you'll know that I was feeling pretty hopeless with school at the end of the second trimester. Maybe it was a change of approach, maybe a change in expectations, or maybe just a better understanding of the Mozambican student, but something clicked in the third trimester. I imagine if the whole year were a movie montage, the third trimester would be the point where I stop falling on my butt and actually do something right.

The art of rendering biological processes relatable to the youth of rural Mozambique is no easy feat, but by the third trimester, I had it down to a science. In my classroom, kidneys filtered serum exactly how people washed cabbage and the brain and the body communicated just like players on a a soccer team. My grasp on Portuguese was strong enough that I could present the information coherently and keep my students engaged. I could even use my newfound language aptitude to keep the classroom somewhat controlled. The students seemed more receptive to my interactive lessons and some of them were showing real progress. Things were finally looking up, but the standout achievement of the third trimester was definitely the Sex Ed curriculum.

Mozambique is still devastated by HIV, teeming with unplanned teenage pregnancy, and plagued with misinformation and myths. It's truly a disaster. I wondered why Mozambique continues to suffer these consequences when access to Western resources and information is readily available. Is it that they truly don't know how to solve their problems? Do they not care? As I'll explain, ignorance and apathy just scratch the surface. Many other deeply rooted cultural foundations render the population vulnerable to the negative consequences of sex.

The Sex Ed project started off small. My sitemate Jessica came to school with me for the week to teach and answer questions about the female reproductive system while I covered that of the male. After the anatomy lesson, we separated the boys and the girls in case they were embarrassed to ask anything in front of the other gender. The boys and I sat in a circle on the floor, campfire style, and we opened up the discussion to any question they had. The bizarre Q&A that followed made my head spin with the complexity of the situation and the depth of the problem. I walked away with a much better idea of why the problem rages on even while the solution is right before their eyes.

First off, nobody is providing the Sex Ed that Mozambique needs to fix its big issues. My eighth graders had a hard time grasping simple concepts like where babies came from and the difference between the uterus and the stomach. More pressing issues like contraceptives and responsibility for one's actions went right over their heads. This obviously isn't ideal. What I've noticed is that there is no one central figure who is supposed to pass this information on. This dilemma isn't unique to Mozambique; even in America people debate over whether the Sex Ed curriculum should be taught at home or in the schools. The big difference manifests itself at the end of the day when American kids get the information from one source or another while many Mozambicans are left in the dark. In the classroom, the few kids who actually had heard what I was teaching either laughed it off or dismissed it. It seems that in the rare case where the information does make it to a student, it's delivered without the stress necessary to paint the severity of the situation. Just like how a parent telling you not to drink soda is different than parents, teachers, friends, and even media all scaring you out of certain behavior permanently. While we in America use the latter to curb problems like unprotected sex and drinking and driving, the former is the most substance it is given here, if any!

Another factor fueling the problem is a lack of the necessary gender equality that keeps both genders in check. In a culture where all things are run by men, it isn't surprising that men get no resistance to dangerous behavior. Empowering women to have a voice in their sexual partners and to encourage safe sex and fidelity is one of our main objectives here, but we're fighting an extensive labyrinth of social constructs keeping women below men hierarchically. Some traditions here are kept secret from outsiders. One such secret ritual is Rites of Initiation. I don't know the details of the ceremony, and I'll be vague about what I do know out of respect for their culture. What I will say is that both genders are initiated around the age of thirteen. It's a coming of age ceremony, and to keep things simple (and rated PG), both genders are taught that what the guy wants pretty much goes. We need to understand the significance of this situation. The entirety of Mozambique's youth for centuries have learned this as the status quo. They walk out of the ceremony with long-lasting mental and physical tokens reminding them of their place in society and in relationships. It's clear to me now that there is no quick fix to social constructs that history and tradition have inscribed so deeply in a culture.

The next big roadblock is a delicate topic. Let's all put on our 'Peace Corps glasses' and remember that this culture and ours have almost no overlap in the long timeline of human history. With this in mind it's easy to understand how different values are given different importance. At a first glance, Mozambique has similar views on monogamy as we do. But when you look past this thin veneer you'll find that this value is not held with the same importance as it does in America, nor does it bear the same consequence if forsaken. Many people have different partners in different cities, and ex-boyfriends and girlfriends usually stay in the picture to some extent. It's not acceptable to the extent that you can talk about it with your partner, but nobody hesitates to express their complicated situation among friends. Man or woman, married or not, I think it's safe to say that many people here have more than one love interest at a time. This obviously contributes to the spread of disease and complicated pregnancies.

Lastly, I learned that the myths circulating sex that have been passed down from generation to generation are seriously creative. To keep this blog PG, I'll forego the details, but I'd be happy to tell you some crazy stuff one on one. Besides being false, these myths undermine the main points of sexual health and protection, taking us even farther from the solution. Mix together the lack of people addressing the problem seriously, the very real gender inequality allowing men to proceed with risky behavior, the complex nature of Mozambican relationships, and the prevalence of misinformation, and it becomes easy to see why our Western intervention is failing.

With so much to work with, Jessica and I were clearing up misconceptions and correcting malpractices like machines. We were stunned by the success we were seeing. Rarely in Peace Corps do ideas go so smoothly and get received so well. The students were elated to be getting real information that related to their real lives. Some students even started skipping other classes to sneak into ours and get more Q&A time! We ran with everybody's enthusiasm and before we knew it we were ditching the written curriculum for in depth conversations about unplanned pregnancies, HIV education, and even condom demonstrations! Being this direct with them got us some strange looks from the other teachers. Hopefully our success will inspire them and other community members to trade the current 'don't ask don't tell' outlook for our educational approach.

The final offshoot of this project started when a student admitted he wanted to get tested for HIV but was afraid of going alone. After asking around we found about fifteen other students in the same situation. One morning, the group of us marched off to the health center like some sort of terrifying field trip. One by one everybody got tested. Most of the tests turned out negative, but not all of them. Jessica took over from there and got the HIV positive students set up with the hospital's councilors and doctors. I had seen a lot of good qualities in Mozambicans and that day I added bravery to the list. The way they were able to accept their fate and go off laughing with their friends moments later inspired and saddened me at the same time. Inspired by their firm grasp on hope for the future, saddened by the fact that getting HIV here is so common that it can be seen as mundane.

It's easy to blame people for not fixing their own problems. It's even easier to do so when they have the resources and information available to them. It took me over a year to understand how HIV and teenage pregnancy were raging through the country without resistance. Hopefully after reading this you can comprehend the situation a little better too. I'm happy to be part of the solution, even though all my work feels like a drop in a bucket in the face of such a massive problem.

I had been so distracted with my projects that I hardly realized the school year was ending. I won't be modest here, I'll say that I was pretty damn impressed with myself for surviving a full year teaching in Mozambique. One year down and one to go! But not without a much deserved, much anticipated trip to America in between!

[rcardamone]

Midterm Part 4: From Knowledge to Responsibility

In his article, “What is Education For?” David Orr points out a strange, disturbing truth: the destruction of the natural capital necessary for human prosperity, “is not the work of ignorant people. It is, rather, largely the result of work by people with BAs, BSs, LLBs, MBAs, and PhDs.” 1 Countless times, when I have participated in conversations about the lack of public and political will to address existential threats such as climate change, the ignorance of the citizenry is at some point blamed for the absence of action. I am certainly guilty of this myself. Often, I have said something along the lines of, “if only more Americans were given access to an education that would allow them to think critically and demand action based on scientific evidence, our government would have no choice but to take much more sweeping action on issues like climate change.” However, Orr is of course correct. Ignorant people did not create the threat of environmental catastrophe. The people who make the most consequential decisions and participate in the upper management of companies and governments by and large have advanced degrees from a formal Western-style education. These people are capable of critically considering arguments and information, and yet they are the ones who make and implement decisions to perpetuate the destruction of natural capital. Some of them are even the creators of misleading or false narratives that downplay the impacts of destroying natural capital. Orr is clear that his point, “is not an argument for ignorance, but rather a statement that the worth of education must now be measured against the standards of decency and human survival.” 2 A western style education is clearly an immensely powerful tool, but if that tool is used without consideration for “standards of decency and human survival,” it ultimately drives humanity towards self-destruction.

Figure 1, Australian Climate Change Deniers Protesting a Carbon Tax 3

To re-orient, Orr suggests that education must dispel myths about the role of knowledge that have long been prevalent. Notably, he draws attention to the myth that, “with enough knowledge and technology we can manage planet Earth.” He continues, “the complexity of Earth and its life systems can never be safely managed. The ecology of the top inch of topsoil is still largely unknown, as is its relationship to the larger systems of the biosphere.” 4 While education has certainly given us the capacity to affect and transform aspects of the planet, that is an entirely different thing than managing it. Essentially, being able to initiate an action is a far simpler task than successfully anticipating its complex outcomes. Humans seem to make the mistake of equating our power to take actions that create affluence from the planet with control over those actions’ consequences. There is no controlling a complex system when even the elements of it most tangible and closest to us (such as the top-inch of topsoil) remain poorly understood.

Figure 2, Topsoil Despite Its Unique Accessibility for Human Study is Far From Understood  

In “Living in the Environment,” Miller and Spoolman discuss a version of this same myth within the frame of a “human centered environmental worldview.” The first version discussed is the “no-problem school” which holds that “[humanity] can solve any environmental, population, or resource problem with more economic growth and development, better management, and better technology.”5In essence, our knowledge and the systems created by it will inevitably succeed at producing outcomes that are positive for humanity. To hold this view requires a combination of ignorance and faith. First, humans can and have failed to solve these kinds of problems in the past. Despite its flaws, Jared Diamond’s comparative study, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed makes this point abundantly clear.6 (see last week’s blog for more on this) Second, there is no logical case that our global system is more equipped to “solve” similar challenges. If anything, it is equipped to exacerbate them. While we certainly have more knowledge than many societies that failed in the past, that same knowledge has allowed us to inflict environmental damage on a global scale, and there is no suggestion that this additional knowledge has allowed us to adequately prepare and adapt our systems to mitigate or deal with the consequences of environmental catastrophe. Confidence that there is no problem unsolvable when our management and systems are applied to it requires unjustified faith in the perfection and completeness of human knowledge. In their own discussion of causes of civilizational decline, Miller and Spoolman posit that a telltale sign of a civilization’s oncoming collapse is “the substitution of beliefs for facts and empirical evidence” in the face of inability to “understand or resolve major, complex problems that could lead to [its] downfall.” 7The no-problem school, frighteningly prevalent among the well educated and the powerful, seems to be exactly this.

While ideas of managing the planet are misguided, David Orr does believe we can hope to manage ourselves. To him, that includes management of, “human desires, economies, politics, and communities.” Furthermore, that management must be governed by an essential overriding principal: “It makes far better sense to reshape ourselves to fit a finite planet than to attempt to reshape the planet to fit our infinite wants.”8

For Orr, reshaping of individuals, communities, societies, and economies in this light starts with redefining the purpose of education. He articulates six principles by which this redefinition should take place. However, the third stands out. Orr’s third principle is that, “knowledge carries with it the responsibility to see that it is well used in the world.” 9 This may seem like a common sense platitude similar to many others that make the rounds in commencement addresses every May. However, it is common sense that is woefully lacking in the process of education. Far too often, it is assumed that the acquisition of knowledge and the common good are synonyms. The simple fact that knowledge can be used by well (and ill) intentioned people to disastrous ends is undermentioned. Universities pride themselves on alumni that “succeed” and attain some measure of renown in their field. They are held up as the shining example of what students could be. However, the question whether the success of these individuals came at the cost of their responsibility with knowledge is rarely raised. Education must discourage worshipping the application of knowledge without acknowledging the complex unknowns it can create. Instead, examination of how to act and live responsibly in light of what is learned in lectures and textbooks must become a central theme of academic work and conversation.

Orr is successful in exposing glaring flaws in Western-style education. However he fails to acknowledge the crux of the problem: the infinite human want he references is ingrained into the socioeconomic fabric of global consumer culture in ways that go far beyond educational institutions. In order for the necessary shaping of ourselves to fit a finite planet that he describes to be possible, there would have to be dramatic cultural change in every part of society. Certainly, changes in education such as the ones he proposes would be a central part of any transformation of human behavior, but what incentivizes educational institutions to facilitate these changes?  Orr points out that education in consumerist societies is ultimately for the purpose of creating individuals who succeed within, what Thomas Merton called “an elaborate and completely artificial charade.”10 If an educational institution were to stop producing these types of individuals, it would either be considered a failure or laughed off by society at large. Therefore, it is difficult to envision widespread education in the manner that Orr suggests becoming a reality. My struggle to see the path towards the changes he outlines is worsened by the fact that he does not provide an adequate explanation for why, beyond a moral appeal, educational institutions might adopt the changes he suggests.

Still, his ideas for redefining the purpose of education are quite useful to individuals, especially those in the midst of being educated by institutions specializing in the mass production of charade participants. If an individual managed to heed Orr’s suggestions on their own, they would have a far better chance at escaping participation in the destructive system. But that is not enough to save us from the effects of actions taken with knowledge but not responsibility. Not nearly.

Word Count: 1370

Question:

How should one go about examining the question of taking actions without fully understanding their environmental consequences? How can we limit unknown negative effects?

                                       References

1Orr, David. “What Is Education For?” Context Institute, September 15, 2011. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic27/orr/.

2 Orr, David. “What Is Education For?” Context Institute, September 15, 2011. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic27/orr/.

3https://inthesetimes.com/article/21980/i-went-to-a-climate-change-denial-conference-heartland-institute-trump

4 Orr, David. “What Is Education For?” Context Institute, September 15, 2011. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic27/orr/.

5 Miller, G. Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Living in the Environment . 19th ed. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning, 2018, 683

6 Diamond, Jared M. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. New York: Penguin, 2011, 313

7Miller and Spoolman, 683

8Orr, David. “What Is Education For?” Context Institute, September 15, 2011. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic27/orr/.

9 Orr, David. “What Is Education For?” Context Institute, September 15, 2011. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic27/orr/.

10Orr, David. “What Is Education For?” Context Institute, September 15, 2011. https://www.context.org/iclib/ic27/orr/.