#Spaced Repetition for Terminology

[salti-thelatediagnosedautist]

The beginner autistic guide to common terms in our community (with extra context!).

*Disclaimer, I’m not a professional. This is just knowledge from my experience as an autistic person. Please feel free to correct anything :)

These definitions will include some of my own opinions and thoughts, especially on the more controversial terms. This is simply to help better prepare new autistic community members for conversations they become engaged in. Having all the perspective and context you can have can be very helpful when moving into new social spaces.

Autism (Or Autistic Spectrum Disorder, ASD): A neurodevelopmental disorder that is present from very early childhood. It’s mostly recognised through difficulties with social interaction and restricted and/or repetitive behaviours. The way it is referred to as “Autism Spectrum Disorder” is specifically referring to the fact that autism presents in countless ways. There are common traits and patterns, but the severity and complexity of those traits and symptoms is infinite.

NOTE: This does not mean that ‘everyone is a little bit autistic’. You are either autistic or you are not. It just means that if you have autism, it may present very differently to other autistic people you know.

Asperger’s Syndrome: Asperger’s syndrome is usually considered an older term for a ‘subtype’ of autism. The term is considered outdated by the DSM-5 and no longer used in that document. However it is still used in a lot of other countries. Now it is becoming more socially known that ‘Asperger’s syndrome’ is just a specific presentation of autism. Many autistics don’t like the use of the word ‘Asperger’s’ because of a couple reasons:

The term has a long history with NAZI’s and eugenics.

The term seems to basically mean ‘high functioning’ autistic, which simplifies the condition.

Asperger’s Syndrome is defined in a very similar way to autism, however people with “Asperger’s’ may be described as ‘gifted’ or ‘intellectual’.

It’s important to note that many people still identify themselves with the term ‘Asperger’s’. While it is good to be educated and up to date with terminology, some people have identified with this term their whole life and it’s not wrong to use the term for one-self. But either way, I do encourage you to do more research if you are comfortable.

Neurotype: Can be basically defined as the type of brain function one has. Some people consider autism a neurotype, and then neurotypical as another neurotype. However, many people claim that autism is ‘just another neurotype’. This is a harmful way of thinking about autism because autism is a disability. Labelling it as a ‘neurotype’ belittles all the struggles autistic people have that make them disabled. Autism is a spectrum and so some autistic people may not really consider themselves disabled, but many do.

Neurotypical (NT): A non-autistic person with no other mental conditions.

Allistic: A non-autistic person who can still have other mental conditions, such as depression or ADHD.

Neurodivergent (ND): Traditionally ‘Neurodivergent’ has been used to mean either autistic or ADHD. However in some contexts it is used to mean someone with any mental condition, including personality disorders or mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety.

Neurodiversity: a term used to describe the fact that there are many neurotypes in the world. It is used to imply that differences in brain development and function should be accepted as relatively normal. I think this is a good sentiment, but that some neurotypes should still be considered disabilities as well as a neurotype, so as not to diminish the struggles specific neurotypes go through.

High functioning/Low functioning: The labels of functioning are terms used to describe how independent an autistic (or other kind of disabled) person is able to be. Many autistics do NOT like the use of these terms for a couple reasons:

It tends to focus on the way an autistics disability affects the allistic people around them.

It simplifies the experience of the individual with autism to how independent they are, and is also not very descriptive for anyone trying to help the said autistic person.

High needs/Low needs: These are labels used to describe how much assistance an autistic (or other kind of disabled) person may need. It is slightly preferred by autistic people as the language is more centred to what the autistic person needs, rather than how independent they can be.

NOTE, many autistic people would argue that these terms are basically the same as high functioning and low functioning. I personally consider it to be best to just state someones highest needs or difficulties. For example “Olivia is nonverbal and highly sensitive to light and noise.”.

Masking: Masking is the act of hiding ones autistic traits to appear to be neurotypical. Masking is often a survival strategy developed by autistics to evade bullying or isolation. Masking can include suppressing the urge to stim, forcing oneself to make eye contact, learning how to ‘properly’ execute facial expressions, studying body language, etc. Masking can be an extremely vital skill for autistic people, but when an autistic person has to mask for long periods of time it can lead to negative consequences such as burn out or meltdowns. Masking can also be used in the context of other disabilities, such as ADHD.

Scripting: Scripting is a form of masking, when an autistic person pre-plans or practices responses or entire conversations. You may have a script you unconsciously follow for questions like “how are you?” Or “how is work?”, etc. It may be inspired from TV shows, movies or observing other people interact.

Burn out: Burn out is when an autistic person reaches their limit and has decreased energy for an extended period of time. Burn out may last anywhere between a couple days or a few years. Burn out is often caused by excessive masking, but can also be caused by repeated rejection, bullying or other mental conditions. Burn out is not the same as depression, but it can co-exist with depression.

Meltdown: A meltdown is when an autistic person experiences what might look like a ‘tantrum’. The person may be very angry, yelling, punching or hitting things (or themselves). They may be aggressively stimming or humming to themselves. A meltdown, internally, feels as if you are completely filled with negative energy, as if you might burst. It can feel like extreme irritation, or anger, or shame. Meltdowns can be caused by any number of stressful situations. For an autistic person this can be having a lot of social events, their routine being disrupted, having to eat foods they don’t like, being overstimulated, or even just negative social interactions.

Shutdown: A shutdown is very similar to a meltdown, in how it can be caused. For me personally, I tend to have a shutdown if I am not in a safe place to have a meltdown. From the outside it looks very similar to dissociation, and it can co-exist with dissociation. It typically feels like you are shutting down, turning off. You emotions were about to burst and then you just went numb. You may be unable to move, or go non-verbal. You may be crying quietly or you may simply just very suddenly feel the need to go home.

NOTE: Meltdowns and shutdowns can appear to feel like a panic attack, but they are different. Panic attacks come from intense feelings of dread or doom. Meltdowns and shutdowns come from repeated, or intense, stressful situations for an autistic.

Hypersensitive: Hypersensitivity is when the brain processes sensory input (such as touch, taste and smell) as much more intense than a neurotypical person would. This can mean that a slight cold breeze may feel painfully cold. Or looking outside a window can hurt ones eyes because it feels too bright. Or having to wear specific textures to stay calm.

Hyposensitive: Hyposensitivity is the opposite of hypersensitivity. It is when your brain inteprets sensory input as much less intense than a neurotypical would. Ways this can present in an autistic person include not realising when they hurt themselves, having a high pain tolerance, being unaware of temperature changes, etc. You may also not recognise your bodies hunger cues, dehydration or need for sleep.

NOTE: An autistic person can experience both hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity. It can also fluctuate day-to-day.

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD): SPD is basically the term for experiencing lots of variation in your sensory input. It is similar to Auditory processing disorder. Which is where your hearing is technically fine (you aren’t any form of deaf), but you have trouble distinguishing what specific sounds are, or listening to one, important sound, in an area with lots of different noises (for example, being unable to understand what someone is saying next to you, because the TV is on.)

Overstimulation: This is when an autistic person has been experiencing too many different sensations at once, or for an extended period of time. This may be caused by too many noises happening at once. Or even just one annoying sound repeating for a long time. It can also be triggered by touch, taste, sight and smell.

Executive function/dysfunction: Executive function is the term used to describe how the brain initiates tasks. For neurodivergent folk, our executive function is often dysfunctional. This means we can often find it difficult to start new tasks. A way you may experience it is when you are sitting down, you may be screaming internally that you need to go and get some food, but your body seems unwilling to co-operate. Having executive dysfunction does not mean you are lazy, or do not want to do the task, it means you may be unable  to do the task.

Autistic intertia: Autistic inertia is related to executive dysfunction, because it is a term that helps describe how autistic people struggle to switch or initiate tasks. “ An autistic at rest remains at rest, and an autistic in motion remains in motion”.

Special interest/Hyperfixation: A special interest is a extremely long term interest/obsession with a particular topic. An example might be being really into pokemon. Learning all the different types of pokemon, playing all the games and collecting heaps of merch. A hyperfixation is a more short-lived interest that can be destructive in it’s severity (for example, it might get so extreme that it’s the only thing you can think about, to the point where you neglect your needs). Special interests are less likely to be destructive. But hyperfixations can be healthy and normal too.

Stimming: Stimming or self stimulation is the act of doing repetitive movements to help self regulate. Stimming can look like spinning, chewing, flapping hands, dancing, foot tapping, pen clicking, touch soft fabrics, using weighted blankets, lighting candles, eating crunchy snacks, etc. All of these forms of movement or repetitive sensory input can help us regulate our emotions better, prevent a meltdown or shutdown, or focus on a task easier.

NOTE: Echolalia is another term you may hear. It is a form of stimming in which an autistic person repeats sounds/phrases over and over.

ADHD: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder like autism, but it affects the brain in different ways. It often presents as having difficulties with paying attention, regulating emotions and hyperactivity (or, alternatively, it can present as being inattentive).

Savant or Savant syndrome: A condition when someone with some type of significant mental disability is an expert/’savant’ in a particular field, to the point of surpassing neurotypical experts. An example might be having photographic memory, or being able to learn languages extremely easily, or being an extraordinary mathematician. Autistic people often don’t like to hear the term ‘savant’ as we are often only valued by ‘society’ if we are savants. And if we are not, then we are often treated as lesser. This is kind of a form of eugenics.

Eugenics: Eugenics is a philosophy or belief that we can selectively breed humans to ‘improve’ humanity. Or create the ‘perfect race’. This was an idealogy practiced by Adolf Hitler during WWII, which lead to the holocaust. Eugenics is often a subtly underlying philosophy behind many statements that, on face value, seem relatively harmless. For example - “autism is the next step in evolution” is currently a popular statement. However, this implies that every other neurotype is not an improvement, which therefore implies that being autistic is superior. This would be considered a form of eugenics. Eugenics is considered a horrible philosophy because it encourages people to look down on others and dehumanise anyone not like themselves.

Co-morbidity: A co-morbidity is the term used for a condition that is regularly seen in conjunction with another condition. For example, autism and ADHD are often seen together. However, it can also be used to simply describe someone who has more than one condition (physical or mental).

AuDHDer: Someone with autism and ADHD. Just a shortened way to refer to people with both disabilities.

Selective mutism/Situational mutism: When an autistic person (or other neurotype) experiences periods of being unable to speak or communicate. This can often occur in stressful situations, like before tests or during doctors appointments. It is officially referred to as ‘selective mutism’ but many are trying to change it to ‘situational mutism’ as the individual does not willingly choose when they go non-verbal.

Alexithymia: Alexithymia is typically described as the inability to define and/or describe ones emotions. So you may often feel a type of discomfort, but not be able to label what it is. Not being able to distinguish between anger and irritability. Or not knowing if you feel sad or confused. It can make seeking professional help for many conditions really difficult, as you are unable to put your experience into words. It can also be similar to hyposensitivity in the way that it makes it difficult to understand what you body is feeling.

Dyspraxia: Dyspraxia is a disorder that affects co-ordination, movement and balance. It can make things such as sports, driving, cooking and writing difficult. It is fairly common in autistic people.

Prosopagnosia: The inability to recognise/remember faces. It is more common in autistic people.

Synesthesia: Synesthesia is when one form of sensory input is sometimes also experienced as another. For example, someone with this condition may see colours when they hear someones name. They may hear a song and get a taste in their mouth. This is also more common in autistic people.

FINAL NOTE: Autism is a spectrum and you may not experience all of these different terms, or you may not experience them in the way I described them. That does not mean you aren’t autistic. This is not a diagnostic tool. This is simply a guide to learning the terms you may often hear when discussing autism.

[mindutme]

Sdefa Sdaturday #8

I made a new script for Sdefa! It’s not a replacement for the other one, I just thought it would be nice to have more than one. They work in very different ways, and reflect different aspects of the structure of the language.

In this system, there are seven letters, plus two diacritics. Each letter represents either an interval or a note. The intervals are more often used, so let’s start there.

The first letter is for a unison, or repetition of the same note. If the standard terminology for intervals made any sense, it would be represented by 0, but since it doesn’t it’s 1. (In my own notes I use 0 for a unison, ±1 for seconds, ±2 for thirds, and so on, but that isn’t standard and can be confusing so for this post I’ll go from 1 to 7 instead of 0 to 6. For a unison, I’ll write -1 but it’s actually neither up nor down.) The second letter is for a second (step) up, or a seventh down. It doesn’t matter if it’s a major or minor second (whole or half step); that can be specified with diacritics later. Since a step up from C is D, a seventh down from C is also D, and meaning in Sdefa isn’t affected by octave, the same letter is used for both. The rest of the letters work the same way: the third letter is for a third up or a sixth down, the next for a fourth up or fifth down, and so on.

Normally when making a conlang script I don’t like to have more than a small handful of letters be reflections or rotations of other letters, let alone almost all of them. It can be visually confusing and hard to keep track of, but I think it makes sense in this case. I want there to be visual similarities between a scale up and a scale down, an arpeggio up and an arpeggio down, and so on. There are also not that many letters to keep track of, so that helps reduce potential confusion.

Within a word, a sequence of these letters will tell you the melodic contour. They can combine into ligatures, some of which are shown below:

In order to know what pitches we’re actually playing, though, we need a reference point. For that reason, the first letter of a text and the first letter after a space represent specific notes rather than intervals from the previous note:

These are the same notes that each letter would represent if the previous note was a C, so you can think of C as being an unwritten, unheard reference note between each word. This is useful because it can be very easy to lose track of where you are in a longer text, so having somewhat regular signposts for what the actual notes are is helpful.

I said “the first letter after a space” rather than “the first letter of a word” because prefixes are written separately from the words they are affixed to, in this notation system. This is done so that the first letter of a root word will always be the same, and the word will therefore be consistently recognizable. Because of the restrictions on the lengths of Sdefa roots and affixes, it’s never ambiguous as to whether a given string of letters is a prefix or sequence of prefixes or a root with one or more suffixes.

Here are some examples:

The first word begins with G, or a fifth above the reference pitch C. Then a third down is E, a step down is D, another step down is C, and a step up is D. So the whole word is G E D C D, which means “grass” (a reference to the finale of Sunday in the Park with George, the line “on the green purple yellow red grass”). The next word begins with a third above the reference pitch C, but the dot below means that we lower it from the expected E to E♭. Then we have a step down (D), a step up (E—accidentals only apply to the note they’re on), a step up (F), and a third up (A). That spells out E♭ D E F A, aka “Sdefa.” The third word begins with B, followed by a third down or sixth up (G), a step down, raised by a half step (F♯), and a step up (G). This is B G F♯ G, or “Sunday” (borrowed from the same song as before: “Sunday, by the blue purple yellow red water”).

So why use two systems in one writing system—why not have each letter represent a note all the time, instead of a note sometimes and an interval at other times? The reason is the affixes, which are determined based on intervals rather than notes. The first-person singular suffix is up a third and down a step, with the first note matching the last note of the word it’s affixed to. So if that starting note is A it could be any of {A C B}, {A C B♭}, {A C♯ B}, or {A C♯ B♯}. Affixed to a different word it might be any of {E♭ G F}, {E♭ G F♯}, {E♭ G♭ F}, or {E♭ G♭ F♭}, and there are just as many possibilities for every other starting pitch. If the different letters only represented notes, each of these possibilities would look completely different. But with this system, they all look like this, plus or minus some dots above and/or below the letters for the sharps and flats:

To wrap up, here’s the image from the beginning of the post again:

You may recognize the first word from the previous examples: it’s “Sdefa,” plus a suffix that goes A G F (-1-2-2 in terms of intervals). The next word is A B G D, meaning “Saturday,” followed by the suffix D C♯ D (-1-2+2). Both of these suffixes are third-person suffixes, used here to show which one will go with which noun. The final root is C B C B, which is the locative verb. It has two suffixes, the notes of which are B A G G F♯ G. In terms of intervals, that’s -1-2-2-1-2+2, the same two suffixes from before, showing that the noun corresponding to the first suffix is in, at, or on the noun corresponding to the second one. This therefore says “Sdefa is on Saturday(s),” aka “Sdefa Sdaturday.” You can see that written out musically here (with audio) and written in the other Sdefa script here.

[madsmilfelsen]

20 questions for fic writers

tagged by @thenookienostradamus, quyanaa!

1. How many works do you have on Ao3? 22 :)

2. What’s your total Ao3 word count? 237, 409, yeehaw!

3. What fandoms do you write for? Magic Mike (allegedly), Always Sunny (allegedly), Killer Joe, True Detective (season one, I get too weepy if I think about season four too long but someday!), Midnight Mass, Shadow & Bone, Tell Me Your Secrets, Loki, and I've got an original work snuck in there, too

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

5. Do you respond to comments? Typically! I have a habit of hoarding my favorites in my inbox so if I take a week or three months to answer you it's because I've been thinking about kissing you on the mouth. Comments really make my day so I do my best to show gratitude to those who take the time to make them.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Maybe Sinhound? I don't set out to write angst.................. ever, but ending with Mildred's funeral wasn't what I was expecting either.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? All of them :) I'm a sucker for love and happy endings :)))))

8. Do you get hate on fics? no and that gets more and more shocking each time I post a new work lately as my ao3 becomes a pit of depravity while I work through everything I can't put in my novel manuscript.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? hell yeah fuck yeah. I like playing in varying degrees of consent, unhealthy or unbalanced dynamics, girls who come too fast and have weird relationships with sex, yada yada. I have a really supportive husband who I am disgustingly, deeply in love with so a lot of genuine warm and fuzzy feelings for one old man in particular generates a lot of material.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written? I simply don't have the mind processes for it and admire those who can mix media like that.

11. free space / no question here, send me an ask with one instead please :)

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Not that I know of! would be awfully neat though.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? Oh man, I had a fun star wars piece I was writing with my dear friend, Jess, when impostor syndrome struck too hard to finish-- I still have the embroidery she did of our title (the inverse must also be true) in my office hanging below my first rejection letter :)

14. What’s your all time favorite ship? every goblin couple that make out nasty style, so uh, rust/sugar :( they're so special to me and pulled me out of a Hellacious writer's block

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? My only wip is Sunday School Dropout because I sort of forgot where I was going with it, it'll come back with light voyeurism, blood drinking, virginity taking, the usual order

16. What are your writing strengths? I feel like this is question to really sell myself but honestly, hell if I know, creating place? mannerisms maybe? Beyond my general insecurities, some of the nicest compliments I've gotten are for things I did unintentionally so hard to say! I have crafted some fuckin nonlinear bangers I'll give myself that much.

17. What are your writing weaknesses? I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAINTAIN TENSE and I HAVE NO WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF SENTENCE STRUCTURES, which annoy me and are my father's biggest complaints so I can't take them seriously enough to consciously attempt to improve on them yet. Lately, I've been smoking weed and flipping vocabulary flashcards before bed because my diction feels stagnant, a bit repetitive across pieces like.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? I can't even speak english well enough to write coherently I'm not going to fuck up further with google translate. I did some ballet au's a few years back that I know have some french in it but I think I did a firmly okay job with the sprinkles of dialogue-- I know damn well my terminology is correct.

19. First fandom you wrote for? technically game of thrones, I have a sansa/sandor reunion very angrily tapped out in my notes app when season eight skipped it. The first work I posted was Seduction of Odile after I saw a post here about the potential of a rey/kylo blackswan au, reached out and asked if I could give it a try and here I am 22 works and years later :)

20. Favorite fic you’ve written? I'm going to be corny but I have a soft spot for every fic that connected me with other writers who are so talented and inspiring and force me to be better so I feel like I can talk to them lmao

tagging tagging tagging @the-heartlines @labyrinthphanlivingafacade @littleredwritingcat @abeadofpoison @teeth-ing @itstendereye @barbie-nightmare-house

[witchcraftingboop]

Chthonic Undertakings

Funny title, I like it... moving on

I haven't talked much, or really almost ever, about how my path is pretty firmly rooted in experiencing different facets of the world via trespassing boundaries - in my UPG, I've adopted the Tartaros/kraters terminology, but I'm trying to use a bit more common terms here. So while I do work that is based on ouranic or grounded associations, more often than not, especially lately, I'm working with more chthonic essences or energies.

I think when people think of the chthonic, most often they think of death, necromancy, burial rites, etc. And while I have had to partake in a lot more death anniversaries and ancestral veneration and elevations as I grow older, I also have started associating my channelling/riding and dreamwalking practices with the chthonic as well.

In my mind, at the start of such workings, I find myself at a crossroads within myself that I've discussed with very few others. Not out of a desire to conceal anything or keep to myself what's not for others, but just because it rarely comes up. I am, as ever, the type to say little unless explicitly asked. However, I was speaking with the Sanse medium I met in PR, and she put into words, much better than I ever could, how crossroads and chthonic influences are present in such workings by their very nature. It was a conversation that I deeply cherish, even if looking back at my writings, I can tell that it was really just reaffirming what I'd already experienced.

Carrying knowledge and intention into even the most fundamental elements of a rite or spell or what-have-you, to my mind, paves the way to greater understanding and success. A couple years ago, I couldn't say much about dreamwalking or channelling. I performed the two without much know-how and was largely reliant upon intention and effort. My undertakings were successful but without much ability for solid repetition, and that was actually really frustrating to me. It was a large part of why I was so open to traveling back to the island, when the opportunity presented itself, in the first place. I wanted to know more, but I also didn't want to rely so heavily and blindly on books.

From my time experimenting and seeking guidance where my own efforts felt insufficient, I've come to see my path and myself in a fuller light. Previously, if you had asked me about my family's blurry history with the paranormal and esoteric, I would've readily regurgitated what I'd been told since I was very young. Now, I obviously am not only faced with the fact that my aunts lied to me about a lot of things hoping to scare me into, essentially, getting married and starting a family asap, but I also have to parse through the facts I've learned from engaging, sans those presumptions and mental baggage, with Spirit on top of that. It is one thing, I think, to be led to a path overrun with misunderstandings and quite another to watch time and space clear what lies ahead and behind you.

So, it is a basic fact: channelling, dreamwalking, and ancestral works are rooted, in my practice, within the chthonic and crossroads. But with coming to understand this fact, I've gained a perspective that has served to further my practice. Now, I can easily get myself to the headspace that is most conducive for these undertakings, and I feel proud of the ease with which such workings now come to me. There's something to be said about the saying: to know the form of a thing is not enough, you must contemplate its substance and learn its truth in its entirety. The mediums and santeros that I've come to know have shown me a lot, from the most basic to the more complex, but I am glad for their lack of heavy-handed dialogues and suggestions. Filling in the gaps for myself and knowing there is support should I need it, has been one of the best parts for me in quietly exploring my practice these past few years.

I have not talked much on this blog for a variety of reasons, some for promises made to people and others for promises made to spirits, but one is that I find verbalizing my experiences difficult. My perspective is less rigid than before when it was boxed in by things other's had told me and that I felt my practice had to conform to, and so my thoughts on things that were once akin to a downtrodden dirt path, now flow like water from one bank to the next. And while I can catch a cup-full at a time, to freeze it into place to present elsewhere is something I am still not very adept at. Half the time, my drafts read like a rambling hyper child caught my thoughts one by one and bashed them all together over a few sparse lines. This is the best I can do for now.

[hiiragi7]

as a trans person in a system who understands how the sysmed/transmed connection works (especially with the fact both are seen as a mental illness that needs to be eradicated and that is harmful to Vulnerable UWU Teenagers on the internet and people experiencing them are dangerous and people who use rare labels are faking and making "real systems/trans people look bad" and so on), i want to understand why you believe the trans comparison is bad. can you explain your perspective?

About the comparison between being trans and being a system generally, I feel it is repetitive and really just gets us nowhere. I also do not find the same systemic, legal, and social implications in syscourse as I do with trans identity. I also don't find the same risk of widespread and systemic violent physical/sexual abuse and death in syscourse regarding non-medical systems as I do with trans identity.

That does not mean that one is necessarily worse than the other or that one doesn't matter, but instead that they are different enough that to compare them feels like it disrespects nuance and the bigger picture of all of this.

Regarding the word sysmed - I think it's moreso just... Well, unhelpful?

I have less issues with the specific terminology or the roots of the word than others, I feel - I find it to be maybe poor taste at most, but I do not think it is transphobic.

My issue is moreso that I feel it no longer really has a consistent definition (I have seen it applied to anti-endo systems who are not necessarily sysmedical, and I have seen singlet syscringers called sysmeds even though they were 100% anti-plural/anti-system, including anti-CDD systems) and I feel that discussions where the word sysmed is used very quickly get muddied because I feel that in a discourse setting the word is very emotionally charged even if that isn't always the intention.

Many well-known syscourse figures most commonly labelled sysmeds do not even fall under the traditional definition of sysmed - They believe non-medical systems and endos exist, but have different ideas about how this should be approached community-wise.

In my experience being in these spaces, it feels like sysmed has, functionally, just become another synonym for anti-endo or even anti-system and isn't used with specifically the stance of "all systems must be medical" in mind.

For me, it's a lot easier just to use anti-endo if that is what I mean instead of using a word with so much controversy - Using that word means nobody will listen to what you are saying because it is such an emotionally charged word, and in my opinion that emotional charge does come from a reasonable place, which I will talk about in the next few paragraphs.

I honestly just don't find it helpful to draw comparisons between online discourse and those which have extremely severe external impacts regarding discrimination - Such as being trans.

I don't really know of any legal consequences for being specifically a non-medical system - Not for being perceived as mentally ill or laws regarding general religious practices and restrictions, but very specifically being a non-medical system.

Yet I do see this in the vast difference in treatment and resources for medical binary transgender people vs. non-dysphoric trans people as well as trans people that are not 100% binary.

In many places, only dysphoric transgender people get help or official acknowledgement. You have to jump through many hoops to access treatment and that often involves documentation of "long-term, severe gender identity disorder/gender dysphoria".

Nonbinary people often have to "pick a side" in order to access hormone treatment, they still cannot pick "X" in many places as a gender marker legally, nonbinary people who do not medically transition go unacknowledged, so on.

There is also systemic erasure of these groups which transmeds feed into.

This is not, at all, to say that the issues of non-medical systems or endogenic systems are not important or that their issues are "lesser-than" or to play any kind of pain olympics (I do not believe there is any kind of "discrimination threshold" that necessarily needs to be met for it to matter) - Just that it feels like a different area of conversation which invites many messy implications.

Specifically, it is comparing a group of individuals who themselves have extremely high rates of identifying as transgender to their oppressors, and many of these systems themselves have been heavily and violently discriminated against for being transgender. So, yes, comparing them to a transphobic group such as transmeds is likely to shut down any conversation and potentially bring up very hurt feelings and memories of trauma.

And I am just... Not interested in doing that. I want to have discussions, not give someone an identity crisis or flashback.

I feel that when used publicly, the word sysmed is just used to villainize and seperate certain groups and concepts rather than as a genuine, good-faith communication tool - I cannot express the amount of times I have seen things such as fusion, the ToSD, parts language, dormancy, all language more traditionally associated with being a more medical-leaning system, called a "sysmed concept".

I find that unhelpful not only in general, but also as a pro-endo traumagenic DID system. I feel often I cannot describe how my system functions as a disordered system without adding many disclaimers about me speaking only on our personal experience because suspicion about us will be raised solely on the basis of being a medical system using medical language.

I have often found myself asked to censor discussion of my system's very natural functions or language for the comfort of others because it reminded them of sysmeds, and I have come across many people associating traumagenic inherently with sysmedical.

"Traumagenics are cool until they start being sysmeds."

"I wish traumagenics would just leave us endos alone."

"Most traumagenics are sysmeds."

So on.

When the phrase "sysmed" is associated with hatred, especially the level of hatred and violence transmeds perform, and when many people within the system community begin to call "sysmeds" a hate group, when the concept of being a system and medical becomes tied to connotations of such strong ideas about discourse and identity, well... It really is only the expected fallout of that to be that anyone who is a system and medical would be caught in the crossfire.

Long post, but that's my reasoning for not using it personally. I don't have strong enough feelings on its usage to actively strongly discourage others from using it completely, but to me, language is primarily a communication tool and if it is not helping me to communicate or get ideas across effectively then I don't really see a point in me using the word.

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

Ratmys are so pathetic 🤣🤣 wdym zero tweets about LC but trending HYUNG LINE TO 1B on the day LC is hitting 1 B ?

And are they doing a shit for hyung line in reality? Nope. Just yapping on tl for engagement from desperate ot7s who are salty about Jimin and hyung line solos who shade Jikook instead of doing something to prevent jhope from flopping.

The way Jimin making these bitches cry with a 1 year old song 🤣🤣🤣🤣

While I get the sentiment and I have seen the hypocrisy of that fandom many times, I feel the need to focus on something else. I could just ignore it, like I do with so many asks left in my inbox, but this is a pet peeve of mine.

"Ratmys", "yapping", "desperate", "salty", "shade", "flopping". Whilst I understand that this is all part of fandom vocabulary in its current forms today and as much as I do find interesting observing usage of specific terminology in online spaces, I also get so tired of it. To the point where it's getting difficult for me to care about what is being said. A lot of the times, it's the repetition that is the problem for me. It turns into a pattern, used left and right, to the point of being indistinguishable from the countless other tweets and posts and comments. It's turning into bot language. I know this might sound awfully pretentious of me, but I do wish we would talk/write in a form that resembles actual normal conversation. So it allows us to share our thoughts in our own individual way. That's all.

Anyway, cool for Jimin. It's definitely an accomplishment in the era of streaming and his fans did the work, whilst the BTS fandom is exhibiting a well-known and documented behavior that doesn't need any more debate.

[danisakay]

The iPad Kid In Question

In today's generation, the concept of "iPad kids" has gained popularity as a meme and cultural reference. It represents a generation of youngsters who have grown up surrounded by technology, specifically tablets like the iPad. It was an ongoing meme that can be coined as an insult that led me to deny that I am not an iPad kid. However, with how I deal with everyday life, I’ve realized that I cannot live without it. The iPad has played an important role in my life, especially in my academics and leisure activities.

Do I need my traditional nursing books? No, I have already downloaded them to my note-taking app (Goodnotes). I do not need to bring my thick nursing books to school because I have everything downloaded on my iPad. Do I need to bring tons of notebooks or pad paper when note-taking during lectures? No, I do not need to because I have a handy dandy iPad with me when I go to school.

One of the most significant advantages of utilizing an iPad for taking notes is its portability. iPads are lightweight and compact, allowing me to easily carry them wherever I go. Whether in a classroom, group meeting, or coffee shop, the iPad offers a convenient device for taking notes on the go without the need for heavy notebooks or stacks of paper. iPads also save notes digitally, removing the need for physical storage and minimizing clutter. I do not need to be stressed whenever I cannot find a certain reviewer of mine that I need to use to study for a quiz the next day. Moreover, I can organize my notes into folders, categories, or tags, making it simple to find specific information quickly and therefore saving me time and effort.

Aside from note-taking and storing my books, I can access a lot more websites and apps that are needed for my academic requirements. Apps like Quizlet and Anki, which I use for reviewing, especially for active recall and spaced repetitions, allow me to create custom flashcards using text, graphics, music, and even mathematical equations that fit my learning style. They include multimedia features to improve my retention. These kinds of apps are really helpful for me since nursing is a course that demands a lot of memorization of different concepts. They are my lifesaver when memorizing key terms, medical terminology, anatomy, pharmacology, and other nursing concepts.

Canva is also an app that helps me survive school, and without it, my non-creative self cannot live in the academic realm wherein creativity is a required skill in creating and finishing schoolwork. The ready-made presentations, infographics, posters, and other forms of media help me meet school deadlines. I still tweak its design, but the fact that there is a template that I can use as a guide makes me more productive. Regardless of background or expertise, a person can create graphic designs using the straightforward drag-and-drop interface and pre-designed templates of Canva.

Another app that is helpful in terms of video editing because of how accessible it is and easy to navigate is Capcut. It is an app that both my iPad and phone can access, making video editing for school tasks easier than before. The interface is well-organized, with tools and features that are easy to access and use, allowing me to efficiently edit videos without being overwhelmed by complex settings. CapCut provides a comprehensive range of editing tools and features that allow me to modify and enhance videos based on my preferences and the requirements of my subjects. When I was in high school, I needed to borrow my mother’s laptop to edit in a built-in video editing app that was hard to navigate because of its technicality and complicated interface. But with this particular app, I can finish my work within a small amount of time, which I can say is perfect for a student who crams video-type projects.

Google apps like Google Meet, Google Slides, Sheets, Drawings, and most especially Google Docs, have made my life easier. With just having a Gmail account, I can access my documents on all of my devices. If I forget to add something to my document and I already closed my laptop, I can use my iPad or phone to add more information to my paper without the need to assemble my laptop, especially when I’m already lying down in bed ready to sleep. If there is an urgent need to revise my work but I’m out of the house and do not have my laptop with me, I can use my iPad or even my phone and edit it through the Google apps. With an Internet connection, these apps or websites bring convenience and accessibility wherever I go or whatever circumstances I have.

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides also allow multiple users to work on the same document at once. This real-time collaboration function is especially useful for group projects, team meetings, and collaborative writing assignments. I can monitor changes and updates in real-time, thereby facilitating seamless communication and workflow efficiency. I also consider this a lifesaver to pinpoint my groupmates who have been neglecting group tasks and monitoring their contributions.

Moreover, the nerve-wracking experience of accidentally deleting one’s document is devastating and something I do not like to experience again. Google Apps are a lifesaver again in this aspect because they automatically save versions of documents, allowing me to track changes, return to previous versions, and discover who made specific modifications.

Last but not least, my favorite feature of the iPad is its size and how I can watch series and movies on a larger screen. I do not like the hassle of turning on my TV or my laptop, both of which I cannot bring to my bed whenever I need to rest. With the iPad, there is unlimited access to watching shows while lying comfortably in my bed. I have access to a vast library of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and original content, allowing me to explore a world of entertainment possibilities at any time and from any location. On top of that, I find it difficult to refrain from eating without watching something on my iPad. This behavior perfectly aligns with the concept of an 'iPad kid,' someone who eats while using their iPad. It is essential for me when I eat since if I do not distract myself through watching videos, I tend to eat too fast, therefore not being able to chew my food well.

Besides what I've mentioned above, the iPad's multitasking capabilities also enable me to view videos while also browsing the web, reading emails, or taking notes. Picture-in-Picture mode allows me to minimize the video player and continue watching content while using other programs, thereby increasing my productivity and multitasking effectiveness. I particularly enjoy this feature when I just need white noise or background noise whenever I need to finish something that does not require too much work or concentration. In addition, this feature is also useful whenever I need to write down notes during my online classes.

"my lifesaver"

My phone and laptop have features and strengths that I use depending on what I need, but my iPad is a mixture of them. With the help of my Apple Pencil, offers versatile features that make my life more productive. The iPad's combination of features and characteristics provides versatility and adaptation to various demands and preferences. Whether I use it for work, play, education, or creativity, the iPad is a versatile platform that adapts to my changing needs and lifestyle. At this point, I can say that I’ve already achieved a return on investment, or ROI, with my iPad.

A phrase that can describe the technology, in general, is ‘my lifesaver’. Throughout my narrative, I cannot count how many times I mentioned that phrase because indeed, these smart devices, digital services, and software applications offer convenience and accessibility that make life easier. They provide unprecedented convenience and accessibility in our daily lives. Whether it's ordering food online, booking transportation, or operating smart home gadgets with voice commands, technology makes tasks and routines easier, saving time and effort. As we manage the complicated aspects of modern life, technology is our constant friend, allowing us to prosper in an ever-changing digital landscape.

[etirabys]

me: [mentions doing Anki, spaced repetition flashcards, as one of my pre-bedtime rituals]

@lovelanguageisolate​: Ooh. What are you ankiing?

me: Everything I want to remember permanently. I'm trying to re-add Anki into my daily routine. Do you think you'll benefit from it as well?

LLI: Yes, I've been meaning to. One thing that stopped me was my old phone is buried under laundry and that has my Infinite Jest vocab cards on it.

me: It's usually a mishmash of stuff (vocab, carpentry terms, geography, emotional regulation insights) but I actually lost my Anki database earlier this year.  Currently the only thing there is driving manual stuff. But establishing the habit again will make me add new things because I'll trust that what I add will get reviewed.

LLI: Oh. You. 😶

LLI: Occasionally you describe a particularly Eti-typical thing. Such has just happened.

me: You might be wondering why carpentry terms are there. I got sick of not being able to do scene settings in fiction. Other writers will say "he entered a room with bevels in it" and I'll go, what's bevels, precious?

LLI: There's a lot of architecture terminology I wanted to learn for similar reasons. I crammed a bunch for an ancient Greece class and forgot like half of it in a month and a half.

me: Quick! What's a caryatid?

LLI: [grimace emoji reacts to that]

LLI: ...Look, ma'am, I realize my performance has not been up to snuff, but I really need to pass this class. I am prepared to go to lengths that might surprise you. Now, is there any way at all I can get some extra credit?

[who-is-page]

From my perspective, you don’t necessarily have to know your community’s history as bad or good to improve as a community. All you need to know is that you’re acting bad now, not the entire history behind it. For example, I know that our (the greater otherkin) community is fraught with people who insist on either gatekeeping other members of the community out because of certain issues, or controlling the language that *actual* otherkin use (if an actual otherkin wants to say words that aren’t entirely serious or aren’t grammatically correct, we should let them.), and that although it’s not necessarily *seen* as a big problem, the fact that a lot of people imply that you HAVE to have an explanation for how you’re otherkin isn’t good either. I know all of these need to be fixed, but at the same time I don’t know *why* these are a part of the community.

As for your quote… I mean, despite the fact that KFF initially took those terms from us, in their own community they use them to mean something different. And from their perspective, us trying to change their language would be as much of an imposition as them trying to change ours. What I’d prefer is if they could clarify that despite them using ‘kin’, their community isn’t the only community that uses those words, and that they could accept that Otherkin who actually believe they are who they say they are, well, aren’t delusional.

I can accept that this will take a lot of work, and maybe not even succeed. But I want to try.

We've seen exactly why it's important to know fuck-ups in community history in the otherkin and related community: because not knowing the history behind poor behavior can lead the that behavior repeating in avoidable patterns. P-shifters are one easy example, among others. Also, not knowing why these problems exist means that you don't understand what their underlying cause is and how to fix them-- gatekeeping has been a repetitive problem in part because of of how harshly and cruel people have reacted to otherkin and therians in the past, which spiraled into gatekeeping and respectability politics in our own spaces. The way the community's been working on that in the last ten years has been by fighting against anti-otherkin's outrageously cruel bullshit, and by trying to create more welcoming and long-lasting community centers, and by promoting "weird and proud!" mindsets. The language issue ties into ghosts of the gatekeeping issue. The explanations issue ties into therian circles, with how that started separately from the otherkin community and tried to enforce itself as separate for so long, which is why it's still considered a more "conservative" alterhuman community in some places due to old guard ideology. In order to solve a problem, you have to know what the components behind it are. Not knowing can cause more problems, or solutions that end up not working whatsoever.

But Anon, I think you're completely missing the fact that they... stole terminology, twisted it into meaning things that it never meant for the sake of extremely malicious mockery, forgot that the original intention was mockery, and are still refusing to stop using the terminology that they took and misdefined, and they are now spreading that misdefined term as fact and erasing us entirely. There is no way to salvage this situation. Throw the whole suitcase out, because the entire thing is fucking noxious.

[rhpsdys]

ok here is the long-awaited post on bardic religion !! while this was constructed for urban fantasy, it works fine in any fantasy setting where religion isn't monotheistic... aka, it wasn't constructed for toh, but i am interested in exploring how it might fit in.

qhorhas, the god of music/storytelling is more of a patron — a deity with followers && practices ; one you pray to, but don't worship. while most of qhorhas' followers are bards, no one is excluded. however, the core tenets are center around the belief that qhorhas bestowed the ability to channel magic through music. while most magic-users who practice music-based magic are bards, anyone can learn it, && so anyone can be a follower of qhorhas.

qhorhas is most heavily associated with folk music && to a lesser degree classical/chamber music. in urban fantasy settings, other genres (like rock or rap or pop) aren't excluded from prayer && practice, && there are followers who do associate these genres with them, so it's not blasphemous, but it is less common, although it's being seen more && more among younger generations.

repetition, utilized in solo meditation (listening to music or practice), is central in all facets of qhorhas' following. folklore is built && developed because we tell stories over && over, the development of musical styles is an iterative process, && practicing art involves tons of repetition. repetitive movement is also used in some spiritual practices in "our" world to induce a transcendent or meditative state, so it stands to reason that the same could be applied here.

rather than formal places of worship, followers of qhorhas use their practical locations of their craft as sacred spaces for prayer && practice. think concert hall as cathedral, or a theatre as a temple, or even a small practice room as a makeshift area for individual reflection. these spaces’ relationship to acoustics—encouraging or restricting echoes and reverb—creates another form of repetition. the concert hall below the bardic library is the largest one, but many utilize practice rooms elsewhere in the library.

the sessions, either individual or structured, are quiet meditative time in the place of artistic practice, for reflection && mental && physical preparation. many rituals include practice with an instrument as well as either reading recorded folklore/mythology or listening to another storyteller recounting those stories. but there is an outreach aspect as well, which is sharing that music with other people (ie performance) as well as being a more public storyteller (think busking, with a story recitation accompanied by music), though the scope of how far one travels to spread these tales && inspire others varies from person to person. there are even some bards who ultimately end up becoming folk heroes in their own right, or even mythological figureheads — ones who ultimately end up with stories told about them, based on their deeds && accomplishments.

qhorhas is not a god who communicates through words or direct messages, but rather signs through sound ; a hum in the air, a whistle of the breeze, a wind chime or a timely bell toll, vibrations under feet, etc. all these signs are subject to interpretation, && the stronger relationship && rapport you build with them, the clearer these signs become.

the most dedicated followers of qhorhas eventually become leaders within their community ; they are the ones who have the most communication with qhorhas && are able to interpret signs with ease, as well as lead formalized gatherings. in many ways, they're more like public servants than religious leaders as we think of them, && are the ones spearheading outreach && the organization of public performance && education.

to utilize d&d language, since that's what this was originally created for, they will multiclass in cleric. i'll come up with terminology for the different rankings later, but the minimum level required to be a member of the "clergy" so to speak would be six — three levels in cleric, && three in bard. i would say 50% are in the college of creation, with about another 40% distributed between valor, eloquence, && spirits, && the remaining 10% are in other colleges, or in rare instances, not bards at all. the highest ranking have ten levels in cleric, meaning at the minimum level to achieve that rank is thirteen. i'm not sure if raine ultimately takes any levels in cleric... i think it's very likely, but that's something i need to think about more.

[devoqdesign]

Designing for Diversity: Incorporating Inclusive Design Practices in UI/UX for Web and Mobile Apps

In today's interconnected world, digital products and services reach a global audience with diverse backgrounds, abilities, and needs. As designers and developers, it's our responsibility to create inclusive user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX) that cater to this wide range of users. Inclusive design isn't just a moral imperative; it's a business necessity that can expand your user base and improve overall user satisfaction. This blog post will explore the importance of inclusive design and provide practical strategies for incorporating it into your web and mobile app development process.

Understanding Inclusive Design

Inclusive design is an approach that considers the full range of human diversity with respect to ability, language, culture, gender, age, and other forms of human difference. It aims to create products that are accessible and usable by as many people as possible, without the need for special adaptation or specialized design.

The benefits of inclusive design are numerous:

1. Increased user base: By designing for a diverse audience, you can reach more potential users.

2. Improved user satisfaction: Inclusive design often results in better experiences for all users, not just those with specific needs.

3. Legal compliance: Many countries have laws requiring digital accessibility, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States.

4. Enhanced brand reputation: Demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity can improve your brand image and customer loyalty.

Key Principles of Inclusive Design

1. Provide Equivalent Experiences

Ensure that your design provides comparable experiences for all users, regardless of their abilities or the technologies they use. This might mean providing alternative text for images, captions for videos, or keyboard navigation options.

2. Be Consistent

Maintain consistency in your design patterns, navigation, and terminology. This helps users learn and remember how to use your app, regardless of their cognitive abilities or familiarity with technology.

3. Give Control to the User

Allow users to customize their experience. This could include options to adjust text size, contrast, or the ability to turn off animations.

4. Prioritize Content

Structure your content hierarchically, with the most important information presented first. This helps users with cognitive impairments or those using screen readers to quickly access key information.

5. Add Value

Ensure that every design decision adds value to the user experience. Avoid unnecessary complexity or decorative elements that might confuse or distract users.

Practical Strategies for Inclusive UI/UX Design

1. Color and Contrast

- Use sufficient color contrast between text and background. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.

- Don't rely solely on color to convey information. Use additional cues like icons, patterns, or text labels.

- Provide a high-contrast mode option for users with visual impairments.

2. Typography and Readability

- Use clear, legible fonts. Sans-serif fonts are often easier to read on screens.

- Ensure adequate text size. A minimum of 16px for body text is recommended.

- Maintain proper line spacing and paragraph width for improved readability.

- Allow users to adjust text size without breaking the layout.

3. Navigation and Interaction

- Ensure all interactive elements are keyboard-accessible.

- Provide clear focus indicators for keyboard navigation.

- Use descriptive link text that makes sense out of context.

- Implement skip navigation links to help users bypass repetitive content.

4. Form Design

- Use clear, descriptive labels for form fields.

- Provide helpful error messages and validation feedback.

- Group related form elements logically.

- Use autocomplete attributes to assist users in filling out forms.

5. Multimedia Content

- Provide captions and transcripts for audio and video content.

- Ensure that audio doesn't autoplay, which can interfere with screen readers.

- Offer audio descriptions for important visual information in videos.

Implementing Inclusive Design in Your Workflow

1. Start Early: Consider inclusivity from the beginning of your design process, not as an afterthought.

2. Educate Your Team: Ensure all team members understand the importance of inclusive design and are trained in best practices.

3. Create Inclusive Personas: Develop user personas that represent a diverse range of abilities, backgrounds, and needs.

4. Use Inclusive Design Tools: Utilize tools like color contrast checkers, accessibility evaluation tools, and screen reader simulators throughout your design process.

5. Document Your Approach: Create and maintain accessibility guidelines specific to your project or organization.

Conclusion

Incorporating inclusive design practices in UI/UX for web and mobile apps is not just about compliance or reaching a wider audience; it's about creating digital experiences that truly serve all users. By embracing diversity and designing with empathy, we can create products that are not only more accessible but also more innovative and user-friendly for everyone.

Remember, inclusive design is an ongoing process. As technology evolves and we gain new insights into user needs, our approach to inclusive design must also evolve. By committing to this process, we can create digital experiences that are truly universal, empowering all users regardless of their abilities or backgrounds.

Devoq Design Company is a leading UI/UX Design Agency in Jamnagar and UI/UX Design Agency in Gandhinagar, offering tailored design solutions that address the unique needs of businesses in these cities. By focusing on creating intuitive and visually appealing interfaces, Devoq Design Company helps clients in Jamnagar and Gandhinagar enhance their digital presence and achieve superior user experiences.

[english-proficiency-learning]

Advance Vocabulary for Non-native Duolingo English Test Takers

If you're a non-English speaker preparing for the Duolingo English Test, mastering advanced vocabulary can make a significant difference in your test performance. Advanced vocabulary not only enhances your language skills but also boosts your confidence and ability to tackle complex questions. In this blog, we’ll explore effective strategies to improve your advanced vocabulary and excel in the Duolingo English Test.

Understanding the Importance of Advanced Vocabulary

Advanced vocabulary is crucial for several reasons:

Improved Comprehension: Knowing advanced words helps you understand complex texts and instructions more effectively.

Enhanced Expression: It allows you to articulate your thoughts and ideas more precisely.

Higher Test Scores: A strong vocabulary can lead to better performance in reading and writing sections.

Strategies to Build Advanced Vocabulary

Leverage Duolingo’s Vocabulary ListsDuolingo offers curated vocabulary lists tailored to different proficiency levels. Focus on the advanced vocabulary sections, and practice these words regularly. Utilize Duolingo’s spaced repetition system to reinforce your learning and ensure long-term retention.

Read ExtensivelyReading diverse materials such as articles, novels, and academic journals exposes you to advanced vocabulary in context. Choose texts related to topics covered in the Duolingo English Test to familiarize yourself with relevant terminology.

Use Vocabulary AppsIncorporate vocabulary-building apps like Quizlet or Anki into your study routine. Create flashcards with advanced vocabulary words and their definitions, and review them frequently to reinforce your knowledge.

Practice with Sample QuestionsEngage with sample Duolingo English Test questions that require advanced vocabulary. This practice helps you understand how these words are used in test scenarios and improves your ability to recall them under pressure.

Engage in Active Writing and SpeakingIncorporate advanced vocabulary into your writing and speaking exercises. Write essays or journal entries using new words, and practice speaking about various topics using advanced vocabulary. This active use of words helps solidify your understanding and application.

Join Language Exchange GroupsParticipate in language exchange groups or online forums where you can practice English with native speakers or other learners. These interactions provide real-life contexts for using advanced vocabulary and offer opportunities for feedback and improvement.

Use Mnemonics and AssociationsCreate mnemonic devices or associations to remember advanced vocabulary more easily. Associating words with images, stories, or familiar concepts can make them more memorable.

Recommended Advanced Vocabulary Resources

"Word Power Made Easy" by Norman Lewis: A comprehensive vocabulary-building book that includes advanced words and their usage.

Vocabulary.com: An online platform that offers vocabulary lists and quizzes tailored to various proficiency levels.

Merriam-Webster’s Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary: A useful tool for understanding advanced vocabulary with detailed definitions and examples.

Conclusion

Mastering advanced vocabulary is a key component of succeeding in the Duolingo English Test. By employing strategies such as leveraging Duolingo’s resources, reading extensively, using vocabulary apps, and practicing actively, you can enhance your vocabulary skills and improve your test performance. Remember, consistent practice and application are essential for making advanced vocabulary a natural part of your English language skills. Good luck with your preparation!

[nichesitebuilders]

Understanding the Learning Curve of Website Builders

In an age where digital storefronts often make the first (and sometimes, lasting) impression, a robust online presence is paramount for small businesses. Website builders have democratized the web design process, making it accessible to those without a background in coding or designing. This article aims to demystify the learning curve of website builders for small business owners, enabling them to take control of their online narrative.

The Importance of Website Builders for Small Businesses

Small business owners often wear many hats, but web designer doesn't need to be one of them. A professional, engaging website can be a game-changer, enhancing brand visibility, building trust, and serving as a powerful marketing tool. Website builders offer an intuitive solution for creating and maintaining a business's digital space, and mastering these tools can significantly impact the bottom line.

Read more at here

Website Builder Basics

A website builder is a software tool that allows individuals to assemble a website without the need for manual code editing. There are various types, including online proprietary tools offered by web hosting companies and open-source software (such as WordPress) that can be self-hosted or hosted by a service provider.

Regardless of the type, website builders come with pre-designed templates and a drag-and-drop interface, simplifying the design process. This ease of use has made them a popular choice for small businesses looking to establish an online presence.

Factors Affecting the Learning Curve

User-Friendliness:

The level of intuitiveness in a website builder's interface can significantly impact how quickly a user can learn the ropes. Some platforms, like Wix or Squarespace, are renowned for their user-friendly approach, while others might have a steeper initial learning curve.

Customization Options:

Small businesses often require a level of customization to reflect their unique branding and offerings. A website builder with a high degree of customizability can mean a more complex initial setup but a site that better meets the business's needs.

Technical Support:

The availability and quality of technical support from the website builder are crucial in aiding users through any hiccups as they learn. Look for builders with extensive knowledge bases, customer support channels, and even user forums for community assistance.

Navigating the Learning Curve

Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners:

Newcomers should start by familiarizing themselves with the platform's layout and terminology. Then, it’s all about working through simple tasks, such as changing text, adding images, and creating pages.

Choosing the Right Template:

Selecting a template close to what you envision for your site can give you a head start. From there, tweak and adjust as needed, slowly working towards your ideal design.

Learning the Drag-and-Drop Interface:

Mastering the drag-and-drop interface is key to building a website efficiently. Spend time understanding how different elements interact and where they can be placed for the best effect.

Tips for Efficient Learning:

Break it Down:

Don't try to become a website builder expert in a day. Break your learning process into manageable steps, focusing on specific aspects of the website at a time.

Take Advantage of Resources:

Most website builders offer tutorials and documentation. Don't shy away from digging in; these resources are your best friend as you learn the platform.

Practice, Practice, Practice:

Repetition is crucial for learning any new skill. Manipulating different elements of your site repeatedly will solidify your understanding.

Benefits of Mastering Website Builders

Cost-Effectiveness:

Hiring a professional web designer can be costly, especially for small businesses with limited budgets. Becoming adept with a website builder can save on these expenses while still yielding high-quality results.

Control Over Website Design:

You know your business's branding better than anyone. With a website builder, you have the power to showcase it exactly as you see fit, ensuring a cohesive representation across all platforms.

SEO Advantages:

A website builder often comes with built-in SEO features or plug-ins, which, when used effectively, can boost your site's visibility in search engine rankings.

Conclusion

Website builders put the power of online storefront creation into the hands of small business owners. While the learning curve may feel intimidating at first, the benefits of mastering a website builder are clear. Businesses should set aside the time to learn these valuable tools, or assign the task to team members with relevant skills. A well-crafted, user-friendly website is not just a luxury—it's a necessity for success in the digital marketplace.

[rizaoliviaa]

Helpful Tools and Application in My Daily Routine as a Student

With the help of technology, we students have access to learning opportunities that allow us to study whenever and wherever we want, as well as at a speed that is convenient for each individual. Teachers can instruct us either inside the conventional classroom, or "the brick-and-mortar," or from other locations anywhere in the world. We can use these kinds of tools at any time and use them as needed to access pre-recorded, shared, or live lessons. The availability of tools that enable greater interaction between the teacher and us—and the content—can help the students' understanding of the material to develop. 

The best aspect about the alternatives is that there are so many that it is feasible to select something that satisfies the requirements of each class and each student. Learning is more differentiated and personalized when using digital tools.

By using these technologies to create and share lessons, we can give all students access to more materials. Alternately, take the chance to create something to engage students in a more meaningful and genuine way as they study the topic.

Let me share with you the helpful applications and tools that I use in my daily learning and activities as a student who is studying in the modern day with the aid of technology! (See each photo for caption)

Google Meet. I am aware that since online classes began, we have all used this technology. I conduct every lecture, discussion, and meeting through Google Meet. It is free and simple to use.

Canva. What a life saver! It is a design tool that enables the creation of presentations, infographics, pubmats, and much more, all of which can be published anywhere. They also provide a student account, which is advantageous to any students who cannot afford to buy a pro account.

GoodNotes. As an Ipad girly, GoodNotes is essential. I use this app to write digital notes whenever I am in a lecture. Aside from that, I can upload my documents or transes and highlight or write on them without any hassle.

Notion. It provides administrative capabilities including bookmarking, task management, project monitoring, to-do lists, and more. I primarily use it for my to-do lists to keep track of the things I have to get done each day and each week. I sense relief as I cross things off my list.

Anki. As a pre-med student who needs a lot of memorization of terminologies and identification of diseases, Anki makes remembering things easy. It is a free and open-source flashcard program using spaced repetition, a technique from cognitive science for memorization.

Procreate. We are accustomed to using microscopes to examine specimens frequently as medical technology students. With the photographs we take throughout our practical operations, we produce numerous plates. I don't consider myself to be particularly artistic, thus I find drawing to be really difficult. I greatly benefit from the ease of providing digital artwork thanks to Procreate.

[k00287270]

Composition Seminar Notes (Part 1 & Part 2):

Composition is the arrangement of visual elements such as line, shape, positive and negative space. I learned it is...

• The foundation of image making.

• The spatial relationship between all of the parts of an image.

• Compositional variation is limitless and...

How a piece of art is composed determines its look, feel and meaning.

The main elements of composition are Line, Shape, Texture, Value and Form!

Texture – refers to surface quality or physical feel of an object (smooth, rough, etc) these can be both physical textures like in 3d work or visual textures like in 2d work.

Value – the lightness or darkness of an area, or a shape within the picture.

Form – the dimensional quality of an object.

The principles of composition are balance, emphasis, harmony/unity, movement and depth!

Balance – the way elements in a piece are arranged to create stability.

Emphasis – the dominance given to an element in an artwork.

Harmony and Unity – the ordering of all elements in an image to contribute to a unified aesthetic effect so that an image is seen as whole (like how we add filters to images or videos through colour grading in the professional world and Instagram on social media.

Movement – arranging and combining elements within a piece to create visual action and guide the eyes through a piece.

Depth – creating a three dimensional effect.

Terminology referring to composition:

Rhythm – the repetition of an element through out a piece of art.

Proportion – how one part of an image compares to another.

Coherence – how elements are balanced against one another.

Some examples of good composition and composition being studied and reapplied to new artwork include...

A Dance to the Music of Time by Nicolas Poussin (1634-1636)

And

Les Mains by Paul Delvaux (1941)

These are great examples of composition as they feature action that leads the eye throughout the piece through movement, as well as perspective creating a three dimensional quality through depth.

Main Takeaway:

Always try to understand how the elements of composition figure into your piece, especially in the early stages such as thumbnailing, refrain from progressing further without figuring out your composition.

Observation is critical in the development of an artist. Recognising patterns in both natural and man-made objects benefits how we choose to compose our own work. The composition of our world can greatly inform our art, and structure is all around us.

[worstloki]

Some Tesseroki HCs

- Tess picked up eye-rolling from Loki and does not hesitate to over-use the gesture when around ones close to it

- Loki learns to appreciate his post-sceptre blue eyes because they remind him of Tess (and now they match!)

- Tess’ eyes frequent all the various colours of space, but seem to spend much more time with shades of green when Loki is around

- Tess likes the action genre and shorter pieces of media!! Loki prefers longer serials like dramas, so long as it doesn’t get too repetitive. Tess doesn’t like reading, unless Loki is doing it aloud.

- They both find it fun to mix their magic together! It happens involuntarily sometimes, they’ll be sitting together or watching the stars and then realise oh, we’re not holding hands, our magic is just tangling together again, whoops,

- Tess intrinsically knows... everything about space and the universe itself even. What he does not know is the terminology different people use. This makes for interesting discussions and Tess soaking up new words whenever Loki is talking about something, and Tess describing phenomenons in very abstract unrecognisable ways leaving Loki confused over such things as a description of the sun. Astronomy conversations turn into guessing games.

- Loki is genuinely surprised when Tess respects that he doesn’t like overt displays of affection in public (and sometimes not in private either) !

- Tess doesn’t need to sleep and never did in humanoid form before but since they started sharing a bed has started to!!

- Loki suspects Tess has a blood kink but doesn’t know enough about kinks or what’s typically considered hot to be sure

- Running semi-gag of kissing each other’s hand when apologising

- Tess gets very flustered when cuddling. Not used to people holding them for the sake of holding them/just being close.

- Loki finds it easier to sleep soundly when someone else is near. It can be Thor, it can be Tess, on a few notable occasions it’s been Val, but it’s a surefire way to avoid bad dreams and he’d much rather avoid those. The people in question either are used to the clinging (Thor) will never get used to it (Tess) are convinced he does it on purpose to mess with people (Val).

- Tess loves hard candy!! For the texture and colours. Not sure if she has tastebuds, but she says they taste great so who knows!!

- Tess likes long swishy robes/flowy outfits but also isn’t fond of wearing layers !

- Loki annoyedly muttering about where he left a specific knife and Tess knowing exactly where it is, or teleporting it to her hand

- they have different definitions of what a mortal is but will use the other’s one when conversing together—this does sometimes leave other people confused though

- Tess uses a staff/spear if anything at all, Loki sticks to knives. They know how to use each other’s weapons to a point where doing a fancy move correctly will have them looking at the other mid-fight expecting praise/acknowledgment lmao

- Tess obviously has constellation freckles and gives off variable amounts of various radiation

- (either of those can have a deteriorating effect on Loki, but he kind of doesn’t care.)

- Loki makes so many space related puns. A lot fly over Tess’ head but its getting used to picking up on the tone/peculiar phrasing’s when they’re said and asks! When it actually recognises a word and understands the wordplay on its own is a momentous occasion and you bet Loki’s smiling so hard

- they have a collection of small cube and knife shaped objects that have been gifted to each other under the guise of ‘it reminded me of you 🥺’

- people often ask how the sex works if Tess is technically a cube and may not even have a gender or blood etc. lots of snickering and no answers ensues.

- Tess changing their size for various tasks. That’s it. That’s the headcanon. Tess goes giant and Loki’s got hearteyes. Tess goes tiny and Loki’s got hearteyes.

- Loki introducing Tess to coffee. Obviously, she loves it. Even though she likes very little ‘mortal’ food and drink. Loki hates coffee. It’s too bitter. He was giving it to her as an attempted prank. It backfired. Now they always have coffee available at home. All the time.