#Impact on Education

[ecoamerica]

Apply or nominate: https://ecoamerica.org/american-climate-leadership-awards-2025/

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[rajthebloggersblog]

How Digital Equity Can Help Education And Society In 2024 And Beyond?

In this blog, we’ll explore the concept of digital equity and its potential to transform education and society in 2024 and beyond. We’ll examine the challenges posed by the digital divide and propose solutions to bridge this gap, fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for all.  Introduction:  In today’s interconnected world, digital technology plays a pivotal role in shaping education…

[bananakeiky]

genshin be like trans kid with mommy issues gets a new mommy

[ignitesthestxrs]

there's something about the way people talk about john gaius (incl the way the author writes him) that is like. so absent of any connection to te ao māori that it's really discomforting. like even in posts that acknowledge him as not being white, they still talk about him like a white, american leftist guy in a way that makes it clear people just AREN'T perceiving him as a māori man from aotearoa.

and it's just really serves to hammer home how powerful and pervasive whiteness and american hegemony is. because TLT is probably the single most Kiwi series in years to explode on the global stage, and all the things i find fraught about it as a pākehā woman reading a series by a pākehā author are illegible to a greater fandom of americans discoursing about whether or not memes are a valid way of portraying queer love.

idk the part of my brain that lights up every time i see a capital Z printed somewhere because of the New Zealand Mentioned??? instinct will always be proud of these books and muir. but i find myself caught in this midpoint of excitement and validation over my culture finding a place on the global stage, frustration at how kiwi humour and means of conveying emotion is misinterpreted or declared facile by an international audience, frustrated also by how that international audience runs the characters in this book through a filter of american whiteness before it bothers to interpret them, and ESPECIALLY frustrated by how muir has done a pretty middling job of portraying te ao māori and the māoriness of her characters, but tht conversation doesn't circulate in the same way* because a big part of the audience doesn't even realise the conversation is there to be had.

which is not to say that muir has done a huge glaring racism that non-kiwis haven't noticed or anything, but rather that there are very definitely things that she has done well, things that she has done poorly, things that she didn't think about in the first book that she has tacked on or expanded upon in the later books, that are all worthy of discussion and critique that can't happen when the popular posts that float past my dash are about how this indigenous man is 'guy who won't shut up about having gone to oxford'

*to be clear here, i'm not saying these conversations have never happened, just that in terms of like, ambient posts that float round my very dykey dash, the discussions and meta that circulate on this the lesbian social media, are overwhelmingly stripped of any connection to aotearoa in general, let alone te ao māori in specific. and because of the nature of american internet hegemony this just,,,isn't noticed, because how does a fish know it's in the ocean u know? i have seen discussions along these lines come up, and it's there if i specifically go looking for it, but it's not present in the bulk of tlt content that has its own circulatory life and i jut find that grim and a part of why the fandom is difficult to engage with.

[asbestos-11]

that one post that's doing rounds on twitter is made for me and my fellow mpreg enjoyers.

the twitter post in question. made by user tarraerae

[indexvirus]

[m4ggotm0ld]

More reasons to not give your money to MiHoyo other than them being r@cist, because apparently thats not enough!!

in 2022, they joined the Chinese c0mmunist party, and that means some of the money they make goes to fund the g3nocide and intense labor of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.

[kaythefloppa]

You know what, fuck it, cringe culture is dead. Here are some highlights of the Lion Guard/Wild Kratts crossover AU that I had drafted out in my head as a 9-10 year old watching both shows in 2016, but never got around to publishing. Also note that the continuity is absolutely shit because once again, this was conceptualized by an elementary student who hadn't discovered what fanfiction was.

Kion and Bunga being the lion and honey badger that show up in Honey Seekers during a very rocky patch in their relationship. Bunga and Sweet-Tweet would be in an on-off relationship (this was before S3 so Binga didn't exist, and also this was before the honey badger/honey guide symbiosis thing was proven to be bullshit because it is bullshit.)

Fuli being Spot-Swat's mother after a much-needed glowup. Suffers post-traumatic stress due to natural selection taking one of her cubs (a very unfortunate fact of cheetahs). Given how Blur is shown to attack Zach upon mistaking him for a vulture (hmmm), the ammo is right there.

Makuu being the mate of Crocodilla, and the biological father Frederica, Jawsana, Snappifer, Munchette, Crunchina, and Chompella. He happily accepts the soft-shell turtles as his daughters given his own upbringing where he was raised with turtles as his foster-brothers (that last bit was a headcanon I coined around a year or 2 ago, but inspired by the show).

Beshte being an expy for Tusker who is leading the pod (once again, waaay before S3 came in). He is not the friendly happy-go-lucky kid you see in the show. Has killed before. Will kill you. He figuratively and literally eats crocodiles for breakfast. Hippos are fucking assholes.

That being said, he could not be a more protective father towards Hipster O-Potamous.

I coined a headcanon of Ono being raised by a peregrine falcon since they live all over the world and thus would gain the knowledge that he does in the show. To add to that, I like to imagine Aviva creating a translation device to talk to an understand animals, and it becomes 2 hours of the brothers completely nerding out with Ono.

The WK villains often targeting the TLG characters. Donita capturing Dogo and his sibs to use as hats, Zach wanting Makuu and his float as Guard bots, Gourmand intending to cook Janja (karma?) and Paisley demolishing Ma Tembo's valley. Kion and the Lion Guard occasionally teaming up with the Kratts to beat the villains and both sides being utterly surprised by the others abilities.

Stomp the Secratarybird having this unexplained beef with Ushari, making it well known that he is his Nemesis.

Zooboomafoo making an appearance in the Pride Lands (cause why not) and he instantly becomes fresh meat for the monkeys of the Pride Lands and had to be guarded at all costs.

The Cheetah adopted episode but it's with Pumbaa and Fuli/Blur having a custody battle over Spot-Swat.

The vultures being captured by Gourmand in the S1 finale being Mzingo and his flock and although out they just have back and forth political banter with the other raptors.

Replace at least one of the servals with a caracal cat and have it be Hang Time.

[callistoscollection]

Impact Play: A Comprehensive Guide

Impact play is a form of sexual activity involving consensual striking or hitting of the body for pleasure. It can range from light spanking to more intense forms like flogging or caning. This guide will explore the basics of impact play, its various types, reasons for its appeal, associated risks, safety measures, and aftercare.

What is Impact Play?

Impact play is the practice of individuals receiving physical impact for sexual gratification. This can include being spanked, slapped, whipped, or flogged, among other forms. The pleasure derived from impact play can be purely physical, stemming from the sensation of pain, or it can be intertwined with psychological elements, such as power dynamics and role-playing.

The appeal of impact play varies from person to person. Some common reasons include:

- Physical Sensation: The sensation of pain, especially when controlled and consensual, can be highly arousing for some individuals.

- Power Dynamics: Impact play can be a way to explore power dynamics and role-playing, with one partner taking on a dominant role and the other a submissive one.

- Emotional Release: Impact play can be a cathartic experience, allowing individuals to release pent-up stress or tension.

- Exploration and Novelty: Engaging in impact play can be a way to add excitement and novelty to sexual experiences.

Types

Impact play encompasses a wide range of practices, each offering distinct sensations and levels of intensity. Some common types include:

- Spanking: The most common form, involving striking the buttocks with an open hand or a paddle.

- Paddling: Using a flat, rigid implement like a paddle, cane, or riding crop to deliver controlled strikes.

- Whipping: Employing a flexible implement like a whip or belt to create a stinging sensation.

- Flogging: Similar to whipping but using a flogger with multiple tails for a more intense impact.

- Caning: Using a cane, often made of wood or bamboo, to deliver forceful strikes.

- Slapping: Striking with an open hand, typically on the buttocks or thighs.

- Punching: Delivering a controlled punch, usually on the buttocks or thighs.

Tools

Here's a breakdown of common impact play tools, their characteristics, and considerations for choosing the right one:

Whips:

- Types: Single-tailed whips (like bullwhips or snake whips) and multi-tailed whips (known as floggers).

- Materials: Leather, vegan leather, paracord (waxed or unwaxed).

- Sensation: Stingy, with a sharp, focused impact.

- Considerations: Single-tailed whips offer a concentrated sting, while floggers provide a wider, more dispersed impact. The material choice affects the whip's flexibility, durability, and overall feel.

Paddles:

- Materials: Wood, silicone, leather, vegan leather.

- Sensation: Thuddy, with a solid, dispersed impact.

- Considerations: Paddles are wider and heavier than whips, delivering a more substantial feel. Some paddles have textured surfaces for additional stimulation.

Slappers:

- Design: Similar to paddles but with an additional flexible blade for a slapping sound.

- Sensation: Thuddy with a distinct slapping sound.

- Considerations: Slappers are more controllable than whips and floggers, making them suitable for beginners[2].

Riding Crops:

- Design: Long, slim handle with a tip (popper) made of silicone, leather, or vegan leather.

- Sensation: Precise strikes, ranging from gentle caresses to firm smacks.

- Considerations: Riding crops offer control over the force applied, making them versatile for different levels of intensity.

Canes:

- Materials: Wood (bamboo), acrylic, metal.

- Sensation: Sharp, stinging impact, with a smaller surface area for a more concentrated sensation.

- Considerations: The material affects the cane's flexibility and the intensity of the impact. Bamboo canes offer a thuddy feel, while acrylic canes provide a sharp sting. Metal canes are typically used by experienced individuals due to their harsher impact.

Other Implements:

- Hands: The most basic and versatile tool, allowing for a range of impacts from gentle spanking to forceful slapping.

- Feet: Can be used for light kicks or more forceful strikes, depending on the desired sensation.

- Belts: Can be used for whipping or spanking, offering a different feel than dedicated whips or paddles.

- Spoons: Wooden spoons can be used for spanking or slapping, providing a unique sensation.

When choosing an impact tool, consider the following factors:

- Desired Sensation: Do you prefer a thuddy, solid impact or a sharp, stinging sensation?

- Intensity Level: Are you a beginner or an experienced player?

- Material Preferences: Do you have any allergies or sensitivities to certain materials?

- Control and Accuracy: How important is it for you to have precise control over the force and location of the impact?

- Visual Appeal: Do you have any aesthetic preferences for the tool?

Risks

While impact play can be enjoyable and fulfilling, it also carries inherent risks if not practiced safely and responsibly. Some potential risks include:

- Injury: Improper technique or excessive force can lead to bruises, welts, cuts, or even more serious injuries like bone fractures.

- Internal Damage: Striking sensitive areas like the kidneys, neck, or tailbone can cause internal injuries.

- Emotional Distress: If boundaries are not respected or communication is lacking, impact play can lead to emotional distress or even trauma.

Mitigating Risks

To minimize risks and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, it is crucial to prioritize communication, consent, and proper technique. Here are some essential steps:

- Open and Honest Communication: Discuss your desires, boundaries, and limits with your partner. This includes areas you are comfortable being struck, the level of intensity you prefer, and any pre-existing injuries or sensitivities.

- Clear Consent: Explicitly consent to each action and ensure that both parties are comfortable with the chosen activities and implements.

- Safewords: Establish a safeword or gesture that either partner can use to stop the activity immediately if they feel uncomfortable or the intensity becomes too much.

- Proper Technique: Learn the proper techniques for using different implements and practice on inanimate objects before engaging with a partner.

- Safe Zones: Focus on striking fleshy areas like the buttocks, thighs, and calves, avoiding bony areas or sensitive regions.

(I can't remember the original artist cred to them!)

Aftercare

Aftercare is an essential part of impact play, ensuring both partners' well-being and comfort after the session. Aftercare looks different for everyone but here's are some examples:

Physical aftercare:

- Assess for Injuries: Gently examine the areas that were impacted for any signs of bruising, welts, cuts, or other injuries.

- Apply Cold Therapy: Applying a cold compress or ice pack wrapped in a towel to the impacted areas can help reduce swelling and inflammation.

- Moisturize: Use a gentle moisturizer to soothe and hydrate the skin, especially if it's dry or irritated.

- Pain Relief: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage any discomfort.

- Avoid Irritants: Avoid using harsh soaps, perfumes, or lotions on the impacted areas, as they can further irritate the skin.

Emotional aftercare:

- Check-In: Communicate with your partner about how they're feeling.

- Offer Support: Provide emotional support and reassurance.

- Process the Experience: If desired, engage in a discussion about the session, reflecting on what felt good, what could be improved, and any boundaries that need to be revisited.

- Debriefing: If the session involved intense or emotionally charged elements, allow time for both partners to debrief and process their feelings.

- Respect Boundaries: Be mindful of your partner's needs and boundaries. If they need space or time to themselves, respect their wishes.

[meimyr-dawn]

Haven’t really been engaging with that much Genshin stuff because I’m so bummed about natlan…..

Like it all sucks, but speaking about something I have personal connection to:

I want to like Mualani (the white-hair, shark girl)….her name is from on a real Hawaiian chieftess, it’s also very close to my IRL name (Meilani)….also I freaking love sharks.

I want to be excited at cultural representation. But as an (admittedly white passing) mixed-Hawaiian myself—I’m just sad—not even at my palest in the midst of winter am I that pale. It feels like a betrayal to reference different cultures but not earnestly portray the people within.

Anyway, no hate to anyone who does like her, but please keep an open heart for your POC genshin friends or content creators who are sad and angry.

[ecoamerica]

Watch the 2024 American Climate Leadership Awards for High School Students now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C-bb9PoRLc

@ecoamerica was excited to announce the ACLA24 High School Student winner, Adah Crandall! Early high school graduate Adah is a climate justice organizer who focuses on the intersection of climate and transportation. Watch the student finalists, Aishah-Nyeta Brown, Jerome Foster II, and more in the ACLA24 for High School Students Broadcast Recording!

[pinkiepie20000]

IM GONNA GFYCKING SQYIRTTTTTTTTT

[oidheadh-con-culainn]

strongly dislike the hyperbolic violence of a punitive justice system that seems to be how the internet responds to any bad thing because. the implications of being like "the person who cut down this tree should be tortured to death/put through a wood chipper/hanged/locked up forever"... do you really think that would help? do you think a tree, however special, is worth more than a human life? do you think an act like this negates the possibility of that person ever doing anything good and contributing to the world? do you think it is your right to declare somebody irredeemable?

you're being hyperbolic, i hope, but the underlying mindset of "bad thing = physically hurt this person and take away their future" could use some interrogating, actually! that's not an effective way of dealing with things! it's not going to put the tree back up, it's not going to help the environment, it's only going to cause additional harm. and that is the thing that gets me, how everything always seems to be about PUNISHMENT and hurting wrongdoers and not about minimising harm, not about reducing future damage, not about actual, real justice that might put some goddamn good into this world

this is ESPECIALLY true for crimes that, while shocking and cruel, don't actually physically harm any human beings. like cutting down a special tree. our response to a bad thing should not be to add more, worse things to the world, to be honest. and i am concerned that the tone of these jokes/hyperbolic remarks normalises a mindset and an approach to justice that should not, in fact, be normalised

[retro-stars]

ON TODAY'S EPISODE OF: I Have Too Much Free Time, Free-Will, And A Pair Of Hands

(Og/Pre-edit versions below the cut)

[soracities]

Your account is absolutely wonderful.. I am assuming that it takes a lot of time and dedication to absorb so much art... I find myself drifting away, always exhausted from my job... So I guess my question is what do you do for work and how do you stay inspired?

most of my time is spent child-minding and while that has left me with very little time to read and watch the things i want--and can be quite exhausting in and of itself--i think there is a little trade-off in that children keep you attentive to the world around you in a way you would not otherwise be, if only because you have to be that attentive to answer all their countless questions. so in a sense there is some inspiration i glean from that.

otherwise, i think this blog sometimes does give off the impression that i'm more well-read than i actually am; in reality, i dance on the surface of a lot of artworks but am passionate about maybe a tiny handful of works, and maybe, like, two painters. i have a "to watch" list that far exceeds my lifespan given that i actually watch, maybe, 3 movies a year. i have finished one (short) book since 2023 started and it took me six months to read that. the books that i've managed to read over the years, i've read chiefly in bursts and almost always in time periods where i was lucky enough in that i didn't have much to occupy me; even then, i'm aware i didn't read as much as i could have done with the time i had, but i'm also the kind of person who cannot devour book after book endlessly, either--i have a very clear saturation point, after which i need to do something different.

i think this blog, more than anything else, is a kind of repository of all the little fragments of thoughts or books or the world that interest and catch me and that i want to keep, but what i actually spend time with and dive into makes up an absolutely miniscule fraction of that. there have been long months (and years) where i did not have it in me to maintain any kind of sustained attention to reading or poetry, but i think the ability to do so is a huge, often unacknowledged, priviliege that requires not just time and economic security, but also mental clarity. i'm saying this to stress that what you feel, especially with whatever demands your job makes on you, is entirely normal and not anything to be ashamed of: the toll bills take, that laundry takes, that cooking and cleaning and countless other errands take are not to be underestimated when you go into them already sapped of most of your reserves in the first place.

it's something i've felt quite often (and still do); carving out the time to read as much or as often as i would like to does require dedication which i do not always have the energy for. but i think for me, to answer your question regarding inspiration, especially during the times when i'm not reading anything, inspiration is in paying as much attention as i can to the world around me, no matter how tiny the details are. there's a quote by william stafford where he talks about the ability to have "one vivid morning" and then "chain myself to it for fifty years". i don't have any set "philosophy" on life, but that is one thing i have always lived by: i still remember a single razor of light i saw on the railway tracks one morning a year ago which caught me by surprise, or the time on the bus when the setting sun filled the top deck and i knew then by the colour of it that summer was coming, or when i got up close to a patch of damp moss to see all its tiny little hairs more clearly, or one afternoon five years or so ago when i bought some loose pears from a corner shop and they were the sweetest, most-melt-in-the-mouth-juiciest pears i'd ever had....i can obsess over the light through a window over and over and over again no matter how often i see it. my mother put some lilies in a vase in the living room a few weeks ago and the entire time i was enraptured with how the scent hit me everytime i'd come into that room. even after more than a week they still enraptured me; each time was like i discovered them all over again and that brightened my mood so immeasurably.

for me inspiration is chiefly about recognizing the things that bring me joy and then holding them as closely as i can. there's a game i've started playing if i'm on a long bus trip where i take the number of a random bus stop i pass and if it's lower than 2020 i google what events happened in that year and pick the one that interests me most: if i'm going to be on my phone anyway, i will be on it in a way that aligns with what i already enjoy (FACTS!) and won't drain me (social media). when i don't have the energy to finish or even pick up a book, i'm subscribed to sites like Aeon, Ordinary Plots, Diaries of Note, or grieftolight on instagram (shoutout to forever beloved @firstfullmoon doing the lord's work with that account, truly), or podcasts i like, which allow me to read or experience little bits and pieces here and there without the pressure or anxiety-inducing commitment. if there is a poem i love i try to spend as much time with it as i can, which often just takes the form of me writing it down (by hand, usually-- that part is important) into a ledger of poems i keep which i can return to whenever i want, underlining my favourite parts or just rereading what spoke to me (i also love going to exhibits or museums (which, luckily, are mostly free where i live) or taking note of all the random bits of street art i see)

a year or so ago i also started, and this has changed my life, to copy down some of my favourite quotes i've reblogged onto little cue cards and stick them on the wall by my bed. some are poems, some are bits of novels or scraps of philosophy, some are motivational tidbits, but all of them are things i want to be reminded of. it helps me remember the lines i most want to keep and also grounds me in an odd way, but more than that, it just makes me happy. if i'm doom-scrolling, or having a rough evening, i can turn to that wall and read the things that mean most to me.

i don't know if any of this helps, and i'm conscious of not putting these out there as a cure-all because i'm very aware of how quickly, and how easily, this society and its set-up can drain you. i am, though, a staunch proponent of approaching art (any kind) and your engagement with it from a place and a pace that is true to you, before anything else, and that includes taking into account your own circumstances and what would bring you the most enjoyment within the means you have available to you: sometimes that's a 20 minute radio interview about blackholes, sometimes it's counting how many birds you pass as you walk through the park, sometimes it's 150 page novella it takes you half a year to finish. whatever it may look like, center your own pleasure first. i hope this can give you something, anon ♡

[mahamatra-cyno]

Is gay marriage legal in Sumeru? Would you face any issues with the Academiya for dating or marrying a man?

Sumeru is a nation focused almost entirely on the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. As such, it is well within our interests as a nation to reject nonsensical traditional views and policies. Especially now, with the corrupt sages removed from power, that has been realized in its entirety. Akademiya is expanding to the desert, healthcare is free, artistic expression is encouraged. Even then, all of the previously existing stereotypes and biases have stemmed from academic disparities, misconceptions, and influence from the people in power—rather than mass discrimination for sexuality or gender, like some other nations might face. This is not to say that some people don’t experience those biases on an individual level—they just aren’t systemic. The discrimination against desert dwellers, on the other hand, are an entirely different issue, and will likely take years to deconstruct.

In terms of gay marriage, I cannot recall such a preventative law existing in the time that I’ve been General Mahamatra, but if it had, I have no doubt that either Lesser Lord Kusanali or Alhaitham himself would have eradicated it from our legislature by now. You are free to marry who you want in Sumeru.