#also they require a level of skill at model making that i definitely do not possess. and yet i want them

[fritzllang]

saw these beauties in a model shop today wish i had almost 400 euros to spare

[loserboyfriendrjl]

no, i'm not joking, being rich and privileged plays an important factor in being "school gifted." lucius malfoy was said to be model student and brilliant at hogwarts as well, it all goes down to being millionaires with a higher level of education, i don't think there's any meritocracy in sirius and james being smart, bcs if anything, their personal choices and attitudes were anything but ravenclaw-ish. i insist, no single good decision other than willingly helping remus during the full moons, and sirius obviously drew entertainment from it, it was no selfless deed.

alright, i see where you’re coming from; obviously, having certain resources definitely can help with the level of education one has.

however, both james&sirius and remus&peter had the same studies, and sirius and james were described by multiple people as intelligent (remus, mcgonagall, slughorn) as well as having tangible proof that they were highly skilled and, in sirius’ case, he possessed a brilliant memory (i.e.: james was requested three times to join the order by voldemort himself, he and sirius were described as exceptionally bright / i.e.: sirius remembered information about dragons’ weakness in gof and escaping a maximum security guarded prison does require an amount of determination and intelligence, as well as ambition).

that’s not to say that remus and peter weren’t (becoming a professor, surviving with limited resources and being an emotionally mature person, as well as faking one’s murder and being able to disguise ones’ self for more than ten years are also clear displays of intelligence), but it’s a focus on j&s because in the fandom’s space their intelligence is often discredited.

i would also call joining the order a “good decision”, considering they were late teenagers /young adults during the war and they had a high chance of not making it out alive (which, as we know, is the case for james). sirius also decided to hang around hogsmeade (although in dog form) to be able to check up on harry and was clearly interested in his well-being, as well as he decided to offer his old house as headquarters for the order, despite the fact that we have been him being miserable and “sulking” multiple times.

of course, the prank is undeniable and sirius had no right of doing that, and the fact that they were privileged and had the funds that other people in the wizarding world did have an effect on the people they turned out to be.

[simlicious]

Use of AI in my patterns

I've got a comment on my latest post that I want to address properly:

"Please dont use image generators. They use a lot of water and power and just. Its disrespectful to us artists who had our works scraped and thrown into the sludge maker."

Thank you @cats-n-witchcraft for voicing your concerns in a friendly and respectful way.

I've thought about this a lot and also had a long talk with a friend to dive into the topic a bit more and mull everything over. Since it is a long answer, it's under the cut! There is also a poll at the end of the text.

The use of AI-generated images is a very divisive topic with extreme opinions on both ends, some pleading against and some for the use of AI. I do not have an extreme opinion but I am somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. Maybe it has to do something with my age or my personality type in that I always try to see things from different perspectives and like to find a middle ground in a lot of things. I understand both sides and think that both sides have some valid arguments pro and contra AI.

I definitely think AI use should be regulated and artist's work should be protected. But I also see merit in AI as a tool and in a way to enable creativity in people who aren't artists in the traditional sense with talent, years of practice, or formal training.

What I find horrible is people abusing AI to make fast money, image resource sites getting flooded with the stuff, people not disclosing the use of AI and just showing general scammy behavior. That's just not acceptable. I also think that AI companies have a huge responsibility to reinvest money in environmental projects to make up for the large use of resources. If this is not viable, then the whole business model should definitely be thought over.

Governments should step in and make clear rules regarding AI.

I will happily lend my signature to any ongoing petitions regarding this (feel free to link some in the comments if you have some).

I have always been a curious person and I like to try out new technologies. But I will now stop more often and think "do I need to use AI for this?" I might occasionally use it but I am by no means a power user. AI images are bad quality-wise and it takes work to make them usable or presentable and it does clash with my sense of perfectionism anyway. I only use two different AI image generators, the free Chatgpt with Dall-E 3 that comes integrated into Bing Copilot, and Photoshop's Firefly AI which Adobe claims was not trained on copyrighted materials (hopefully it's true). So far there are only a few occasions I've used them for. They include generating an avatar for a website, a few plumbob images, and a few bizarre Sims 4 caricatures because I was surprised that the AI knew the concept of Sims. I also thought that experiencing that and knowing how such images tend to look helps to spot them "in the wild" so you know what's AI and what isn't.

When I first tried AI, I was enticed by the novelty of making these unique images that I had not seen before anywhere else and was enveloped by the "wonder" of it (that has since worn off).

TBH it is super frustrating to have ideas but not to be able to execute them. I love making patterns for the Sims 3 but I really suck at making them from scratch, I tried a lot but I dislike the outcome of the majority of them and I do not seem to have the skills nor the patience to get to the level of surface pattern design skill required that would be acceptable quality for my perfectionistic brain. So figuring out this way of creating patterns without having to fear copyright strikes because I modified some assets (which is a really big thing in Germany where I live and people get made to pay a shitton of money for copyright infringement) was like a drug for my brain. It is hard to resist its satisfying pull.

I will try harder to find other ways that do not involve AI before considering AI as an option.

I'm sure lots of people try out something they are curious about and that is not really good for you, and we do not make good choices in our lives all the time. Maybe your personal questionable choice is in another department, but there are and will always be people who have different opinions and condemn our way of life in favor of another. I try to make choices that benefit the planet and environment and do not hurt people, but I am not 100% consistent, just like 99,9% of people on this planet, but I try and I care. Generally, I feel sad that we tend to accuse individuals of their behavior instead of accusing the big corporations and governments that are the real cause of the problems.

It can lower our self-esteem and make us feel inadequate because We can see so many areas in which we are not living up to someone else's standard. We have to choose our battles. Generally, I think we should not shame others for picking different battles or having different opinions. We never know the whole picture or reasons for other's opinions and behavior, especially of people we interact with online. We can engage in dialogue to foster understanding though and this is the way to go, and it is why I wrote this long wall of text. Thank you for reading my wall of text!

I want to close with a poll about what you think about the use of AI-generated images in my patterns.

Whenever I may use AI-generated assets/images in my patterns or other CCI will disclose this in the pattern download (if I know they are made by AI). In any case, I would only sporadically make use of AI!

[bitterlybisexualbard]

I mean, I get it, but I feel like this is less about people being dumb and more about the fact that the vast majority of people can't afford $100+ for one item of clothing, and the vast majority of people need multiple items of clothing in order to not die of exposure, be arrested for public indecency, or fired for being scruffy/not presenting a professional image.

The solution used to be that people could make their own or pay or barter someone locally to make them from durable fabrics also made by the local community and only really needed 2-3 outfits for everyday wear, though they had more where they were able. Unfortunately, the materials, time and skills required to do so has become untenable for for the vast majority of people, and even if they could manage those 2-3 outfits, wearing the same altered, repaired and patched outfits to work every day for years definitely won't help your career or social life in the modern era.

As skills, land and equipment being locally available becomes more and more of a thing of the past, meeting our own needs and those of our family and community becomes something we have to outsource for as little as possible, which means skills/training, land and equipment become less available locally as they arent financially sustainable and around it goes.

Same with our food. Same with our furniture. Same with our electronics. Same with literally everything because we don't (and generally cant) actually make or grow things for ourselves and our communities anymore. Necessities whose creation used to be a part of life and community are now commodities we don't think about beyond consuming

TL;DR people instinctively feel that a pair of good quality trousers SHOULDNT cost upwards of $100 just to make because that kind of labour (producing the materials as well as the crafting) being either an isolated individual effort or outsourced labour is a relatively new thing outside of very rich levels of society, and because they can't afford to pay that in our current model of society but still need clothes.

still thinking about the brainrot that fast fashion has caused in people, like i made this pair of pants that are black and white with a cool flowery design, and an acquaintance saw them and said "wow i'd pay like 20 dollars for you to make me a pair" and i could barely think with how utterly horrified i was at that; i told them that 20 dollars wouldn't even cover the materials, let alone the hours of work that went into cutting, sewing, ironing, hemming, altering, etc. they just had this look on their face when i told them that, when i said i wouldn't make them a pair for even 100 dollars because that was still way too low of an amount, a look that said "you're crazy for thinking that those cost 100 dollars" and maybe i am crazy but holy shit, 20 dollars for a pair of handmade, durable, lined pants fitted specifically to your measurements? 20 dollars for upwards of 60 hours of work? 20 dollars for several yards of high-quality fabric, thread, and buttons? 20 dollars???

[bagsbusiness]

Does a Hermès Bag Have Resale Value? Understanding the Investment Potential

Because of its classic style, fine craftsmanship, and rarity, Hermès bags are frequently considered to be among the most sought-after luxury goods in the fashion industry. Do Hermès bags have resale value, though, despite their appeal? The answer is definitely yes. Hermès bags are actually a great option for consumers who are looking to make an investment since they not only hold their worth over time, but also tend to increase in value.

Let’s explore why Hermès bags have such impressive resale value and the factors that contribute to it. Remember, that you can find the best place to sell a Birkin bag at Resellers Connector without commissions.

1. Exceptional Craftsmanship and Quality

Each Hermès bag is handcrafted by skilled artisans, often requiring several days to complete. This level of craftsmanship, combined with the highest-quality materials, is one reason these bags are valued so highly. Their durability and timeless design mean that Hermès bags can last for decades, retaining their appeal across generations. This long-lasting quality ensures that even pre-owned Hermès bags command high prices in the resale market and the Hermès resallers known it.

2. Exclusive and Limited Availability

Hermès maintains its exclusivity by strictly controlling the supply of its iconic bags, such as the Birkin and Kelly. Waiting lists can span months, even years, for certain designs, and Hermès is known for its “by-appointment-only” approach to bag sales. This rarity drives up demand, as many buyers are willing to pay a premium to skip the wait. Limited-edition releases and unique colors or materials make certain bags even more desirable, and these rare items often resell for double or even triple their original price.

3. Resale Market Performance

Unlike most luxury items that lose value over time, Hermès bags have a track record of performing well in the resale market. The resale value of popular models like the Birkin and Kelly has shown steady appreciation, sometimes outperforming traditional investments such as stocks or real estate. For instance, data shows that certain Birkin bags appreciate by 10% to 14% annually, particularly in rare leathers or colors. So, where can I sell my birkin?

4. Factors That Enhance Resale Value

If you’re considering an Hermès bag as an investment, keep in mind the factors that can enhance its resale value:

Condition: Bags in excellent or pristine condition, with minimal signs of wear, fetch the highest prices. Original packaging, receipts, and authentication certificates add credibility and appeal.

Material and Color: Unique colors, exotic leathers (like crocodile or ostrich), and limited-edition materials increase a bag’s desirability and resale value.

Reputable Platform: Selling on established platforms like Resellers Connector helps secure a good price and ensures authenticity.

In conclusion, Hermès bags not only hold their resale value but often appreciate, thanks to their quality, exclusivity, and strong demand in the resale market. For collectors and fashion enthusiasts, Hermès bags are as much a style statement as they are a solid investment.

[farer-dreamer]

Entry 1

Intro

(8/29/2024) - Welcome to the next roughly six+ months of my life! maybe more! oh boy!

Here is where I'm going to be documenting my overall thoughts and development on my senior thesis project, as it is required as a part of the grade that I keep a devlog. Posting it here wasn't a part of that requirement, but I thought it'd be easier to share. Whether you're a friend I sent this to or someone just happening upon my little corner of the web, welcome! I'm going to be doing a lot of yapping <3

For the time being I've named this project Farer Dreamer. In summary, it's a 3D (…maybe sometimes 2.5D) exploration game where you ride a subway car to… well wherever it decides to take you really. You'll explore the random levels the subway takes you to and maybe meet some interesting characters on your journey.

Admittedly this project is more of a last minute decision as opposed to something that's been marinating in the back of my mind for the past four years, but maybe that's for the best. With how I'm currently envisioning this project going, this thesis is only the beginning of what could be a larger thing if I so choose to continue working on it after the due date. I can add as much or as little as I want, as long as I get the basic gameplay loop working I'll be happy. Of course I'll try to shoot for more than just that but I also am not going to bite off more than I can chew.

I can already foresee my biggest challenge with this project being the 3D elements, as most of the games I have made in the past have been 2D. I do have experience with 3D modeling, texturing, animation, and some rigging but it's definitely something I'd like to get better at and I think this would be a nice way of doing just that! But outside of using this as an opportunity to really polish the new skills I've accumulated throughout my time at school (3D, animation, and GASP! coding… the horror!)

Another thing I think I am going to struggle a bit with is with working collaboratively. Not in the sense that I'm opposed to that and haven't done collaborative work in the past, one of my finals last semester was a game the my entire game concepts 2 class worked on together, and I've happily helped out on numerous friends films. But my struggle here would be that this is the first time I'd be welcoming help on a project that I am directing, as my other projects in the past have been solo endeavors. I definitely have some trouble when it comes to reaching out for help outside of my friend group, but this will be a great opportunity for me to do just that I think.

I want this project to serve as a way for me to reconnect with art and why I do it. See, for awhile now I've been grappling with myself if I've made a mistake going down this path, fearing that I'm not cut out for the work, that I've lost my passion and that I should've pursued something else instead. Realistically, I know a lot of that is that annoying negative inner voice most of us have to battle, but there is a crumb of truth to all this moping: the loss of passion. As I've gotten closer and closer to entering the professional world, I've been noticing that I am almost restricting myself in my art and what I make and put out into the world in what I only assume to be an attempt to be AS appealing and corporate/professional as possible when that's just?? not me. at all. Though again I do feel like at least part of this is coming from that little internal voice that likes to chew me out for literally anything I find enjoyment in that's even remotely "cringe". POINT IS, this has lead to what I've been calling a "disconnect" between myself and my art and why I create, leading to me feeling shame for my work and it's been impacting my enthusiasm for art overall. I'm hoping by allowing myself to experiment and "play" with my art again through this project, that I'll be able to rekindle some of that passion I've been losing.

TLDR; The main core idea of my thesis is that you can really just sit down and make a thing and now that exists in the world, and even if it's not perfect.. if it's weird, messy, or whatever, that's pretty damn neat and deserves a place in the world. I've realized that more often than not with my projects I spend too much time stressing about them being perfect instead of enjoying the process of creating them and/or using them as opportunities to learn, explore, and maybe even get silly with it y'know? I feel like the projects where I've allowed myself to get silly with it often wind up being my favorite works, and I hope this winds up being one of those.

[jcmarchi]

Reinforcing the Value of Web Designers in the Age of AI

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/reinforcing-the-value-of-web-designers-in-the-age-of-ai/

Reinforcing the Value of Web Designers in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming for us all. Or at least that’s the current narrative.

The technology is already changing how web designers do their jobs. We’re using it to help us debug code and generate content. And who knows what will come next?

We’re also seeing prompt-based tools that promise to “design” for us. The idea is to turn a time-consuming process into one that takes minutes. Oh, and cut into our profits along with it.

Yes, it’s concerning. Even so, I don’t believe that AI will replace us. However, it may require us to reinforce the message of who we are and what we do.

It’s an opportunity to showcase our value to the world. It’s also a chance to re-introduce ourselves to website owners. We might even divert their attention away from these shiny new tools.

How does this look? Here are some ideas for repositioning web designers in the age of AI.

Personal Service and Better Communication

AI tools are user-friendly on the surface. Feed ChatGPT your instructions and watch the magic happen. Could it be that simple?

The reality is a bit different. Getting an accurate response from AI isn’t always easy. You’ll have to write prompts that are crystal clear. Accuracy also depends on the quality of the tool’s training data.

Interacting with a human expert is a better experience. We (hopefully) understand a conversation’s context better than a machine. We can offer solutions based on this information.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of personalized service. The web design industry has a plethora of tools for every need. Finding the right one for a given project is best left to those in the know.

Yes, humans make mistakes. Sometimes, we choose the wrong path. But we can correct course more readily. There’s no need for someone to reprogram us.

Relationship building is also an advantage for us humans. It’s a crucial part of developing a successful website. Try achieving this with a bot!

Web Designers Pay Attention to the Details

The little things often separate a brand from the competition. The same can be said for a website as well.

Human know-how is a factor here. Web designers can draw from experience. There are usability tweaks that an LLM (large language model) may not “think” of. Plus, they may not discern their level of appropriateness.

For example, let’s consider a contact form. Adding placeholder attributes can help guide users to provide the expected input. We’d also want to use HTML labels to improve accessibility. Will an AI design tool take this into account?

Website performance is another relevant example. Reading page speed test results and making appropriate changes is a skill. Sometimes, there are tradeoffs regarding compatibility and functionality. We can’t expect AI to act in our best interest.

There’s no guarantee an AI tool will consider these items. We can use it to help us generate and debug elements, though.

Web designers are better equipped to make these decisions. Plus, we know how to leverage tools to achieve the best result. The machine should be an assistant – not a project lead.

Paving a Path for Client Success

In some ways, the definition of a web designer hasn’t changed much. We’re still here to help clients get from Point A to Point B. We serve as a guide on the pathway to online success.

It’s akin to hiring a professional in other fields. For instance, an auto mechanic may have top-of-the-line tools. However, they still have to know how to do their job. Their education and experience are a big part of why we trust them.

The same is true for our industry. AI tools have massive capabilities – and we’re just scratching the surface. But how do we get the best results from them? That’s something an expert can do.

Perhaps it’s no different than the other DIY platforms out there. Many promise that anyone can build a website.

This is true when taken at face value. None of this speaks to quality or usability, though. That’s why some website owners return to us after an unsatisfactory experience.

Let’s go back to our mechanic analogy. Yes, we can install new brakes on our vehicle. But we may not have the expertise to do it correctly. Thus, it’s probably not worth the risk.

Website owners have a similar choice. They can trust that an AI platform will do everything they need. Or they can work with a professional – one who is committed to bringing their vision to life.

In that way, web designers are an essential piece of the puzzle. We should promote ourselves as such.

Related Topics

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[promiseiwillwrite]

I Blame Keanu Reeves.

So I listened to the most recent episode of Hidden Brain the other day. I love this podcast, and it really makes me think sometimes. This episode is called "Escaping the Matrix". This episode focuses on the model of the world that we have, that we often assume is universal.

(hint: it is Not, any more than international definitions of "good food" are universal)

The episode talks about how profoundly social media has influenced people's models, and directly contributed to a mental health crisis in young people by being instrumental in vastly expanding the continuum of harm on a psychosocial level.

There are thousands of new dimensions to identity. There is no respite from the constant presence and barrage of social comparison and performance required by the internet, especially for younger people who lack the boundaries, coping skills and discernment to hold their sense of self and interact in safe and healthy ways.

I know, because I didn't have my old adult shit together well enough to safely exist on Tumblr until the last few years.

It also talks about cultural values, and how some of the reasons we think and feel what we think and feel are like the water that a fish swims in. Fish probably don't have a concept of water.

And it would never occur to most people that you can express and experience values and beliefs differently.

Something like caring for others, or fairness fall in line with most human's ideas of right livelihood. These things are very likely a part of your model and deeply ingrained, no matter what your system or preferred value set might be called.

But if you elevate one element of a value system above all others, it can cause great discomfort and role strain, because mortality is not static. It changes situationally, it changes contextually. It changes socially and chronologically. It can even change inside one person from moment to moment.

The psychologist being interviewed on this program said that something like caring for others, when elevated too much in a personal paradigm can give rise to massive depression by creating an impossible standard of behavior. It can stoke continued outrage and a perception of callousness in anyone who fails to "care enough" or that is perceived as "actively harmful".

Sometimes well past the point where the agency and autonomy of people is disregarded, and challenges that bring growth and learning through adversity are undermined or seen as abuse.

I know after listening to this, that this is part of what has been wrong with me. I have known for a long time that I was obsessed with trying not to hurt others.

I am trying to tease out where the line is for me, between caring as much as feels intuitive to me, and staying offended by people who don't think the same way I do.

I understand the social contract. But I may indeed have been harmed by the ethereal nature of the goalposts it represents. The constant sense of Failure when faced with wanting to engage and connect, and not wanting to hurt others, and not being able to figure out how to do that.

I often feel painted into a corner by my own ethics, and safe interactions seem to constantly dwindle.

So how do you escape the Matrix?

By knowing that not everybody is going to like you. By knowing that just because someone doesn't think like you do it doesn't make them automatically a monster. They do not become impure by having a different value set, or a different value hierarchy, or different interpretations of the same values.

And we would all do well to keep that top of mind, and remain curious about why people think what they think, and be willing to be in uncomfortable conversations without deciding to nope out. Willingness to uphold the social contract whether or not others do still has merit, up to the point of meanness. And then I think your own boundaries should meet it with class, sass or brass, in proportion to the situation.

[thefinalrant]

Consistency in Quality Practices

What does it take to achieve consistency in software product quality across a large and geographically dispersed engineering organization while at the same time maintaining divisional autonomy so that you don’t stifle but rather foster innovation? It requires striking a delicate balance between centralized quality standards and decentralized execution.

Before we start, though, we have to think about why we would want consistency in the first place, though, right? In my case, I would like to align our distributed engineering force around a common definition of quality that is aligned with our company vision and goals. We have many vertical engineering teams whose focus is to develop software that is aligned with their specific divisions and business units all serving different markets.

In this article, I'll briefly describe one way of accomplishing this.

A structured approach

Agree on Clear, Unified Quality Standards

The first thing we have to do is establish clear, unified Quality Standards. You may think this may turn some folks off, and you are right in thinking that. Software development is more art than science and, as such, should not be constrained. But understand that I am talking about Quality Standards influencing development, not driving it. A standard in the context of the company is how your company views quality, what it means to it, and how it aligns with your company values.

This can be easily accomplished by developing a high-level framework (let's call it a Quality Framework) that defines what quality means across the organization. This includes in the realm of Quality Assurance and Quality Engineering, guidelines for Issue Management, Test Management, Test Environments, Reporting, Performance, and Automation.

Make all of these available via a "Good Practices Repository." This will be a central repository where all the good practices relative to the areas listed are documented, tracked, and easily accessible.

Decentralized Autonomy with Centralized Guidance

Division vertical teams are allowed to innovate and operate independently but within the framework of the established quality standards. They can adapt processes to fit their specific needs, provided they meet the overarching quality goals embodied in the standards.

Utilize the concept of a horizontal support team for Quality Engineering as a center of excellence that provides guidance, good practices, and support to the vertical teams. The CoEs help to bridge the gaps between divisions and ensure consistency in quality.

Guiding the vertical teams

By establishing an assessment model that is based on the quality standards we've already defined, we arm the vertical teams with the tools needed to self-assess against the "gold standard" and identify what, if anything, they need to do to align with the given quality standard. In the graphic above I'm using Issue Management as an example. This allows them to visualize where they are now relative to the standard, as well as what they need to do in order to be aligned. These current/future state items can then be incorporated into the goals of individual contributors, managers, and executives so they become actionable items that have a good chance of being worked on, therefore getting us closer to achieving and maintaining alignment with the agreed upon Quality Gold Standards.

Management commitment

There is good news and bad news in this category. The good news is that this is a relatively straightforward and noninvasive way to get alignment on consistency. The bad news is that none of this will probably be possible unless it starts with buy-in at the top by being a vocal supporter and encouraging teams to incorporate the alignment work into their yearly goals. They must also establish clear metrics and corresponding accountability, empower team members to take ownership of the quality and success of their work and invest in ongoing training and mentorship to develop skills that promote a quality-centric culture. This is the work of an empowered CoE.

Conclusion

The key to achieving consistency in product quality across a large and diverse engineering organization without stifling innovation lies in establishing a balance between centralized quality standards and decentralized execution. By fostering a culture of quality, continuous improvement, and collaboration, your organization can maintain high standards of product quality while still encouraging innovation and autonomy within divisions.

What are your thoughts on this approach? Please share your feedback in the comments.

[deepestalpacaperson]

The Best Advice You Could Ever Get About mencari mainan

Having the ability to speak properly with Other people necessitates persons expertise, and here's 8 essential kinds:™

1. Understanding individuals

Folks not simply can be found in all styles and sizes, However they include unique personality sorts also. You might want to brush up regarding how to communicate with the four most important temperament varieties by reading this information. In fact, devoted students of conversation could do little much better than obtain Bem Allen's fantastic introduction to personality styles, 'Identity Theories'.

People are people, with as lots of similarities from a person human being to the following as variances. To speak most properly, each will require you to definitely communicate with them in their particular specific preference type, utilizing their language, their body gestures, as well as their rate and intonation.

So How will you Learn how very best to talk to somebody? Expend time with them! Will not hope to fulfill an individual off the road and speak intimately with them in just a minute. Comprehension a issue will take time -- regardless of whether that matter is an academic one particular or Yet another individual.

two. Expressing your feelings and feelings Obviously

Our brains can only just take much information and facts in at Anyone time. We've been bombarded with messages each individual second in the day, so to contend with the barrage of 'sound' someone faces, your message really should be obvious, succinct and also to The purpose.

It's very worthwhile using time for you to plan your conversation -- no matter by what system it truly is shipped -- to make sure that you are getting the the very least period of time to express the appropriate level of believed in the most receptively very simple way.

3. Speaking up when your requirements will not be being satisfied

Equally as important in business interactions as in domestic kinds, speaking up to ensure that your preferences are achieved is usually a elementary A part of any romance.

You may desire to read this article on assertive, not aggressive, conversation, but inside of a nutshell you will discover six various ways you can be assertive rather than intense as part of your communication: by rehearsing your behaviour ahead of the interaction; by repeating your conversation (the 'broken report' system); fogging; asking for detrimental comments; tentative arrangement with unfavorable responses; and making a workable compromise.

Assertiveness is actually a handy conversation Software. It is software is contextual and it's not suitable for being assertive in all circumstances. Remember, your sudden usage of assertiveness could be perceived as an act of aggression by others.

4. Asking for comments from others and offering high-quality suggestions in return

Alongside assertiveness techniques, the giving and receiving of feedback is actually a essential communication skill that should be learnt kereta api uap if you wish to have any hope of developing long-expression organization associations..

Toastmasters Intercontinental instruct a helpful comments and demanding overview technique -- first provide a sincere compliment, comply with this with any useful suggestions for advancement, then wrap up with even more honest praise. It is recognized as 'CRC', or 'Commend, Advise, Commend', a three-move model for excellence in offering quality responses.

Try to remember, as well, that truthfulness is often a subjective perspective. Whatever you might locate distasteful in an individual could be Similarly fascinating from another's perspective. As I learnt, by residing via a number of IRA atrocities in England and looking at the US political and media reactions, a person gentleman's terrorist is yet another person's freedom fighter.

five. Influencing how Other people Consider and act

All of us have the chance to affect how others Assume and act. All of the way from Cialdini's Persuasion principles all the way down to straightforward violence (of the verbal or physical mother nature), we are day-to-day in a position to condition the thoughts and steps of Individuals about us.

From anything so simple as smiling and saying, "Hi!" to be a technique for influencing somebody's mood, to top by case in point through an intensive duration of alter, there are lots of means of possibly resulting in or drawing away from Other individuals necessary behaviours and attitudes.

Do not forget that an Angle causes an emotion, which subsequently causes an motion. Shape the attitudes and you have a more trusted way of predicting actions.

six. Bringing conflicts to the floor and receiving them fixed

I confess: I'm not a 'pure' at handling conflict. It's taken marrying into an current household of a few young children to help this only boy or girl come to conditions with conflict.

It is really taken me a few many years of residing in my spouse and children to realise it's doable to co-exist in conflict and not get Individually involved. But it was not a fairly easy lesson to master, I can inform you!

But being a phase-father to teenage children has aided me master the necessity of bringing conflicts and resentments to the surface in which they are often extra effortlessly managed.

Your workers might be harbouring solution resentments of you, and Except you discover out the things they are, carry these 'dim insider secrets' out into the light of day, you are hardly ever heading to be able to successfully take care of them.

It's embarrassing, perhaps humiliating and needs a strong standard of endurance never to start straight right into a defensive manner, but offering individuals the chance to Convey their issues, disappointments and anger, confront-to-facial area, will give you incredible opportunity to put items proper, or help them see wherever their feelings and emotions are misplaced.

7. Collaborating with Other folks as opposed to executing things by oneself

I'm a shocker at this, but Studying to delegate and share continues to be instrumental in escalating my own enterprise.

The quickest method of burying you in excessive depth and workload is always to attempt to do all the things by yourself. Still sharing the workload could be the neatest point you might at any time do. This is why:

'Leverage'.

Leverage is having your abilities and abilities and enabling others to magnify your operate capacity. You prepare them to do Whatever you do and you simply do something else.

1 bricklayer can only lay a certain variety of bricks in one hour, but that same bricklayer can teach fifteen mates to lay bricks and out of the blue Those people fifteen bricklayers are building monuments when the main bricklayer is out securing a lot more work for them.

When the 15 are laying bricks, the original bricklayer is usually Finding out the way to perform Innovative bricklaying, or understand product sales procedures, or study supervision techniques.

The lesson is easy: try to do everything you plus the 'all' will bury you; educate Some others to carry out Anything you do and you make a monument.

Jesus taught eleven Gentlemen how you can do what he did. Then he left them to hold on although he moved on to other issues. From the simple act of one man instructing eleven Other individuals, a church and the most important, most influential spiritual motion the whole world has at any time known was born.

eight. Shifting gears when relationships are unproductive

Sometimes you should walk absent. In some cases you need to jettison unhealthy cargo. And often you must consider drastic techniques to regain harmony and momentum.

'Shifting gears' may be so simple as modifying the location of your supervision meeting from a dim Business office to a close-by cafe. From time to time it could be relocating the Conference from straight after lunch to very first thing upcoming morning, when clearer heads could prevail.

At times it may indicate increasing the extent of assertiveness in an effort to make sure the stage you're building is currently being been given. In some cases it would signify bringing Some others in the Assembly so that the opposite human being understands the implications in their attitudes or steps.

And often it could possibly suggest encouraging them discover a much more meaningful and enjoyable job outside of your sphere of influence.

To be a management psychologist I Plainly recall a single organisation I consulted to: the only way away from a team impasse was to eliminate the impediments to development. Which intended encouraging key protagonists come across new work outside of the organisation. Occasionally lifestyle modify can only be effected in A fast way by bringing in a complete new staff and throwing absent the lifeless Wooden. But only as A final resort.

Summary

The whole notion of currently being persons qualified is being aware of or obtaining how to convey out the best in Many others in any problem, as opposed to their worst. By mastering these 8 vital people today capabilities you considerably raise your chances of accomplishing the ideal outcomes out of your respective interactions and company challenges.

[postwell]

Commonly Answered Questions about Data Science in 2023 -Part 3

Where can I find the best Data Science Job?

The first site immediately comes to mind is the free job listings website. It is possible to use all job sites (LinkedIn Indeed, LinkedIn, Google for Jobs, SimplyHired, AngelList, Hired and so on.) as well as data science-related niche jobs boards ( KDNuggets, DataJobs, Amazon Jobs, StatsJobs and many more.). There are websites to help you find remote positions: Upwork, Remote, and JustRemote. We Work Remotely. You can also look into specific job boards, like outer join, which is solely focused on remote jobs within the field of data science.

Getting in touch with a business of interest is also possible. Go to the official site of their company, and explore the home page, careers webpage, and contact information. Explore their mission, values, and business model, and then consider whether you would be an ideal match for the company. With these details, you can mail them an email with your resume for data science included. While it is more time-consuming, it is beneficial than the previous one because it allows you to display a genuine interest in the organization and be different from other applicants.

To increase your chances of securing jobs in data science quickly, it is useful to go to data science events or events (both online and online) and make connections with the most relevant people on social networks and interact with professionals from the field and other learners through specialized communities of data science.  If you want to go beyond this article & dive deeper into Data Science, you can definitely master from Data Science with Python Course.

What skills and qualities do Employers Want in the Data Scientist?

The most basic technical abilities that employers generally look for in data scientists are:

A good grasp of Python as well as R (especially the most well-known data science modules in this language)

proficiency is a key component of SQL

the ability to work on the command line

understanding of statistical concepts

cleaning and wrangling data analysis and visualization abilities

Predictive modelling, model estimation with machine learning and deep-learning algorithms

working with data that is not structured

Storytelling

web scraping

debugging

It doesn't mean you'll need all these skills to succeed in any data science job. To know what each company is looking for in a data scientist, you must read the job description and create lists of the requirements for the technical skills and equipment they need.

For the abilities of data scientists, The most sought-after skills include:

critical thinking

team working

Knowledge of the business domain

efficient communication

the process of making a decision

Multitasking

Flexibility

curiosity

Creativity

ability to meet deadlines

What should I keep in mind when looking for a Data Science Job?

The first step is to create a portfolio of work. This is crucial for applicants who do not have actual experience working in this area. The portfolio should contain the projects you worked on as part of your data science course or Bootcamp course. Also, consider creating 3 or 4 additional projects to make your portfolio distinctive. If you are a data scientist at the entry-level or someone who is a career changer, It is fine to start with a portfolio that includes projects that cover a variety of subjects and methods. If you are applying to the job you are interested in, make sure you know what of your work highlights the top of the skills needed for that job.

The next important aspect is your resume for data science. Before you apply for various jobs, you should consider making a master copy of your resume in which you list all the relevant information about the education you have received, your work experiences (even when it isn't data-related), courses, boot camps or projects, as well as soft and technical skills as well as any other accomplishments which could be pertinent in some way. Be assured that the resume you've created is lengthy or consists of several sections and subsections. If you ever want to submit an application for a specific job in data science, you can use your resume master as a base. Create a duplicate of your resume, remove any redundant information and sections, and then customize your resume to fit the post based on your job's description. Remember that modifying your resume for each job is essential to your job search process. If you need more advice on writing an impressive, professional-looking resume for data science, then you will find the following article beneficial.

The last thing you need to know is the possibility that you will not immediately get employment in data science. If this occurs, don't be discouraged. It's normal to experience this if your job search is lengthy. Don't let rejections eventually annoy you and cause you to start believing that you're not an expert. Instead, work on improving your data science abilities and look at the areas that can be improved on your resume, project portfolio, and the application process as a whole. If you receive feedback from one of the companies you are applying to, Make the most of this feedback by working on the areas you have highlighted as areas of weakness.

[autisticnaga]

@relativestranger85

Hope it’s okay if I hop on a little as an educator in the UK who also uses aac myself sometimes.

In terms of receiving support, my understanding is you’ve got two paths to basically the same place.

Most children should receive support through school. If your child is in a SEN/ALN class or setting it should be easier, but I’d recommend speaking to their teacher about if there’s a way for them to receive Speech and Language Therapy through school.

The other option would be to go to your child’s GP and ask them for a referral to see a Speech and Language Therapist with the NHS. This will likely happen via CAMHS. When you go to the GP about it, it will help to have a clear rundown of your concerns. Also remember that in the UK you have a legal right to treatment within 18 weeks. If you hear nothing back, keep pressing.

I also want to make a quick mention that Makaton might be helpful. It’s a form of simplified BSL that follows spoken language and uses key word levels. It’s another form of AAC that can be helpful, and is an option that doesn’t require any physical resources to use. There are lots of videos on YouTube that can help with learning Makaton.

Worth noting also, with any AAC, it’s not going to be as simple as just giving it to your child. We learn to speak by copying those around us. The same applies to any alternative communication used. Use it with them to help develop those skills. While some people definitely do learn independently of any modelling, most need to be shown how.

Hope some of this is helpful, my inbox is always open too if there’s more I can help with!

from this post of mine receive this comment:

@relativestranger85 Please help. I'm in the UK and have a pseudo none verbal 7 year old and idk what aac is. The only things we've ever been offered is pecs which he absolutely does not like. (If you don't know pecs is pictures on a velcro board)

thank you for trust me with this question! try answer best i can. i know a lot abt AAC and nonverbal now and struggle with speech communication entire life but! not born nonverbal, so please take what i say grain of salt.

(gonna also tag @birdofmay , hope that okay, especially on perspective of nonverbal since birth & didn’t become aware of people & surroundings & communication until later? some nonverbal people very aware of surrounding since young, while others are very opposite. the “not aware” perspective am not good resource since i Don’t Remember.)

also, am in US, so not very familiar with UK laws. you may need to look into it. but even then not familiar with US laws - not lawyer.

AAC:

AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication. has many forms. low tech AAC is like communication book, picture cards, PECS is a form of low tech AAC (talk more abt later)! high tech AAC is probably what people think of, an iPad or a dedicated communication device that generates voice. with iPad, can download / buy AAC apps on it on your own.

in US, public schools or schools that receive federal funding is i think required to give students who need it an evaluation with speech therapist, which can include AAC evaluation. some schools may not like to do it may not do it on their own because high tech AAC device expensive, but it is your right as parents & your child’s right, should 100% ask and push if school resist. getting AAC device through school is through education perspective—does child need this for education success. if AAC device approved, you may get to keep it (ideal) but also may have to keep in school or give back to school once leave (not ideal). now, don’t know if same in UK.

in US, can also get high tech AAC device covered through insurance. speech therapist do evaluation on what AAC app and device best fit, then submit to insurance. if insurance covers it, it’s yours, get to keep. insurance look through a “medically necessary” perspective. again, don’t know if same in UK with NHS (i think that what it called).

otherwise, can also buy an iPad or android device and download/buy AAC apps on there. many AAC users have made list of good & robust apps recommendation, will link below. however, AAC apps can get expensive, and some most popular apps only support ios/iPad.

either way, really do recommend find speech therapist who specializes in AAC to help, if can afford & have someone near you. it’s possible to do it on own, but can be difficult. but sometimes also bad speech therapists give wrong advice or not up do date info, so either way recommend do own research. can be really really overwhelming, please take one step at a time.

important things to mention is using AAC does not hinder mouth speech development. in some ways it actually helps! doesn’t mean your child will always catch up and become fully verbal when older (happens sometimes, but not often). but really, goal for child is to give them way to communicate. speech is not inherently better form of communication, just more normalized. i know it can be hard to believe, because so many people say other wise, even clinicians! but really. communication is most important. speech just a form of communication.

sometimes nonverbal people struggle with more than just speech. may not speak because of many reasons. may be struggle with communication as a whole, expressive and/or receptive language disorders, maybe motor skills (childhood apraxia of speech), maybe not aware that sounds people make is communication, maybe not aware of people, maybe not aware they can & should communicate, maybe not understand. here is something i wrote about it, it not directed at parents but more so other lower support needs speaking autistics, but think info may be helpful, because know why child nonverbal can help with target intervention.

AAC, especially robust AAC apps, can be extremely overwhelming to even adults. if you as parent overwhelmed by amount of information and amount of buttons, it’s okay, it happens. may feel like running out of time, but time you take to learn to make sure support child in helpful way and time you take to rest is not wasted time.

there is always more to things write here. here is a more comprehensive thing (but of course, still missing things because cannot write everything):

a reddit post i once wrote to parents abt AAC (prefer for people to not dig through this reddit since don’t like use now)

additional:

once wrote a tumblr post with many AAC info and words by AAC user. lots of information so may be overwhelming so specifically highlight these things for you (semi-ranked):

genuinely the best intro to AAC resource out there, if read nothing else please please read all of this: https://www.assistiveware.com/learn-aac

a facebook group ask me, i’m an AAC user! (24 hour rule) - really recommend if want other AAC user perspective, and after 24 hours of a post, may also hear from parents of AAC users, SLPs/speech therapists, etc.

tiktok user AverageMillenial18 - an autistic parent to an nonspeaking autistic AAC user child. talks about own parenting experience, especially a lot of AAC modeling (very important!!!!) and presume competence. genuinely helpful, not just “silly tiktok bad.”

aac apps: a personal opinion review of AAC apps i tried, another thing of mine, not mine but All About AAC: A Guide to Augmentative and Alternative Communication Options!

gave you lots of information already, probably already overwhelmed you. hope didn’t come off too strong. remember it okay to take it slow.

p.s. you mention using PECS (picture exchange communication system). am assuming you talking abt the actual PECS system and not just picture exchange cards. (PECS is a type of picture exchange card with rules and stuff)

not here to say “PECS worst don’t use PECS” because don’t know your situation. think there more nuance than that. but do think you deserve know multiple perspective—the specific PECS system can have issues and problems, a professional explains here better. give you this so you can make informed decision! not here to shame you, many parents not given all information, you clearly care very much and want best for your child, and also - may still see improvements even if harmful elements, because not binary black and white. but considering you say he does not like, maybe sign that PECS not work out great with him.

hope you and your child the best and please, if have any questions feel free ask.

[nobodyfamousposts]

Chloe's Lament Part 2

Next part of Chloe's Lament. Chloe begins to learn of the changes to reality from her Wish.

She will not be happy about this.

____________________

When Chloe woke up, the first thing that struck her was the loud banging sounds from somewhere below her.

The second thing was pain.

“I have a headache!” She called out, laying an arm over her sleep mask-covered eyes. Her butler would hear her and respond accordingly, of course. He always did.

“And get them to stop that racket down there!” She flopped on her bed with a huff, waiting for the help to return with aid.

Really, the things she dealt with!

Normally, her butler would arrive immediately, with painkillers and fruit-infused water being presented to her within a minute.

But to her growing frustration, that minute came and passed.

Then two.

Three…

Not that Chloe was counting.

Eventually, it had been five minutes and there was still no word from the man. And to make matters worse, that damn banging from below was only getting louder and increasing her suffering.

“Ugh! Do I have to do everything myself?!”

She ripped off the sleep mask, only to wince at the level of brightness in the room. She was on the top floor with the best visibility but the windows were supposed to be tinted and covered to prevent this very thing!

Once her vision cleared, several things should have stood out as odd.

But the first thing to attract her notice was the sleep mask she had just removed—some cheapo dime-store brand. She tossed the rag away with a shriek.

“Is this a prank?!” She demanded. “That is not my personalized diamond-studded satin custom made facial mask! Jean? Jean!”

There was a ruckus from below. The sound of something being dropped. Footsteps—loud and fast and getting closer. Then the opening of a door.

“Precious! Is everything okay?”

She sneered at the sound of her father’s voice.

“No! My sleep mask was stolen, it’s too bright, my head is KILLING me and no one is getting me anything to help!”

He looked confused at that. “Are you out of Efferalgan in your bathroom cabinet?”

She gave him a look. Why would she have to get up and go to the bathroom for some painkillers when there should be someone to hand them to her?

He gave her a strange look in response. Like he was confused his daughter would expect someone to do something as simple as bringing her painkillers and water.

And water.

Preferably cherry-infused.

Was that really so much to ask? Or even require asking?

“Just…hang on a moment.” He said and left her her bathroom.

Finally.

With nothing to do but wait, she glanced around, noting that…this was not her room.

Not the one she knew, anyway.

The light that had blinded her before was from a central window overlooking the room that so obtrusively settled on her bed. In addition, there was a skylight placed above a nook set behind her bed, which brought more light into the room.

She vaguely recognized the room. Well, by its floor plan, at least. The layout and decor threw her off though. The furniture and items were clearly cheaper than her usual high end designer brands. But she saw aspects that were suited to her tastes. Minute indications of her own touch in the assortment of objects around her. Yellow and white as the themes. Black cushions and aesthetic.

It was…decent. But so beneath her it was embarrassing! These were cheap models! Practically plastic! The bedsheets were…ugh…cotton of all things! The lamps were dim! She was missing her boudoir! And her shoes! And her jewelry! She didn’t even want to imagine the nightmare that was her closet—it was practically a hole in the wall! There was no way it would fit everything!

“Here you are, dear!” Her father said, returning from her bathroom with a glass of water and a pill in hand.

She fought the grimace.

Was this tap water?

Gross!

By his expectant look, he clearly meant for her to drink it.

With her continuing headache and no better option for fast relief, Chloe reluctantly took the proffered items. She was unable to help the slightest grimace before she downed them both.

“Well, if that’s all, I’ll be getting back to setting up for the morning rush. Come downstairs to the bakery when you’re ready.” He looked almost relieved to be leaving.

Chloe barely took notice now that she had what she needed. Instead, she took to contemplating her situation and her new surroundings.

All the furniture aside, this room looked familiar. Not really well known, because Chloe was sure she had never been in such a place before. But…like she had seen it somewhere…TV maybe?

And her Daddykins was here. That meant…wherever she was, it was apparently expected for her to be here.

But where was here?

The last thing she remembered was…

She closed her eyes, straining to think past the pain.

That’s right! Hawk Moth’s offer! The Bee! She was Miracle Queen! And she had just won! She had Ladybug beaten…

Her fists clenched.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng…

It hit her.

This was just like her room!

She had only seen it a couple of times. Once for sure when Sabrina had snuck into her room per Chloe‘s instructions for blackmail material. She happened to glimpse a picture of the room here or there from other people’s phones of times that they had spent in this room—that she had really cared. It was a small and dingy room that had nothing on her glamorous abode at the hotel, which of course, was superior in every way.

She was vaguely reminded of that one show that Marinette hadn’t stopped talking about which had also apparently shown Marinette‘s room, but Chloe honestly hadn’t been bothered enough to watch it, so she didn’t have that to go on. But with what she did know, it was a safe bet to assume that this was some knockoff of Marinette‘s room.

So why was Chloe here? Why was her dad downstairs?

She… she had made the Wish, hadn’t she?

…

…

…

What…is this it?

She turned up her nose at the environment around her, completely unimpressed.

Was this dinky little room with its weird setup and tacky decor what the Wish gave her? Why would she be in any copy of Dupain-Cheng’s room layout anyway?

The Wish should have changed reality, that much was clear. There was no way she would be caught dead in Dupain-Cheng’s room otherwise—much less sleeping there like it was her own room!

…unless…it was her room?

Was it?

She had found some aspects of the room to her taste, but did that mean this was hers?

It would explain why she was there. And why her Daddy had come up. He had mentioned her bathroom earlier, then had gone through the nearby door to get a tablet and water from what she could only assume was the bathroom he had spoken of.

…he had mentioned a bakery.

Eyes wide, she stumbled out of bed and to the window. Sure enough, the school was just across the way. And there was a sign out front.

“Bourgeois Bakery”

Chloe stared.

Suddenly, it clicked. The banging from downstairs. Her Daddy talking about a ‘morning rush’. And to come down to the…

…no way!

This place was a bakery! Her Daddy was operating a bakery!

And given her location, it was the same bakery that Marinette’s parents owned originally!

This…

…wait…

…did this mean she was supposed to be Marinette?

She threw her pillow in a fury.

Stupid Wish! This wasn’t at all what she wanted!

You would think all-powerful Wish-granting artifacts would do it right!

“Where are those kwamis?!” She demanded, jumping out of the bed and looking around for anywhere she would keep such important jewels. “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind!”

She had a boudoir along with the various jewelry pieces kept there ranging among a variety of gold and diamonds—all fakes, much to her disappointment. And not a single Miraculous among them.

She slammed the final drawer in with a curse.

Nothing!

If she had the Miraculous, shouldn’t they still be with her? Do they just disappear after being used?

Ugh! Those things really were useless! Utterly useless!

It was when she stood back to full height that she noticed the monthly calendar. There were the standard holidays, but also a weekly appointment every Friday evening with some ‘Bridgette’. What was that? A spa day?

She shot a glance to her reflection in the mirror and grimaced. She definitely needed one. She could just feel all the oils on her skin!

But more to the point, there was one day circled on the calendar.

‘Start of School’

She grabbed her phone—an older, obsolete model with a glittery but fake casing—and checked the date.

That…

That was today.

It was the first day of school. A…

She checked the date again, and sure enough, it was a year ago!

Had the Wish taken her back in time?

She froze, realization hitting her.

This was the first day of school. The same day as the first akuma attack.

And when Ladybug first appeared.

That meant…she was sent back in time to the day Marinette would become Ladybug.

It was a year in the past. She wasn’t at the hotel. Her room was in a bakery. Her father was working as a baker. She was Marinette now.

That meant…

She giggled, feeling a giddiness rise within her.

Today was the day she becomes Ladybug!

It looks like the Wish did something right, after all!

Chloe grinned, spinning away from the mirror and to her closet.

She had to get ready! She had to prepare the perfect outfit! Something for the day she becomes a hero!

No. THE hero!

She knew how the Ladybug worked. Hell, she knew the akumas to come. With her prior knowledge and skills, she would know how to use the yoyo and how to use the Lucky Charm better than the old Ladybug ever did! She’d have every akuma in the bag!

Hell, maybe she could force the Ladybug kwami to tell her where the Guardian is so she can get the other Miraculous, too! That way, she could have both the Ladybug AND the Bee again.

And her Adrikens would be her partner! To support her! To stay by her side! Just as it should be!

She paused, something niggling at the back of her brain. There was something she was forgetting.

A glance around the room as she wondered

Of course, the full extent of the change and just what that meant didn’t really hit her until she went downstairs and actually saw her father.

The poor man was in the middle of retrieving a pan lined with croissants from the unbearably hot oven, his hair contained in…fishnet? Latex? Whatever the cafeteria cooks wore when she had no choice but to eat from the school’s lunchroom.

Gross! He looked like a lunch lady!

He didn’t seem to notice her, too busy dancing around the kitchen and checking over the…whatever pastries those were and just looking proud of himself.

Daddykins, no. You’re better than this! How could you be reduced to such a state?

He seemed to notice her staring. “Are you feeling better?” He asked, looking concerned.

“Er…yeah.” She replied. She wasn’t, really, but she couldn’t tell him that. He could try to have her stay home and how would she get to see the fruits of her labors from there?

“Ah good!” He said cheerfully. “It is the first day of the new school year, and you certainly want to…” He hesitated, “…start off on the right foot.”

A pause. He looked at her expectantly, but she had no idea what he was getting at.

He shook his head and turned away for a moment to grab a box before coming back and presenting it to her.

Clearly he wanted her to take it, so she sighed and took hold of the box. A peek inside revealed a number of macarons.

For her? Now this was what she was talking about!

“Oh, Daddykins! You shouldn’t have!”

“Yes,” he said with a nod. “I figured it would be a great way to start off the new year by sharing them with your classmates.”

Ugh. Seriously? All happy feelings vanished in an instant and she shot him a petulant look.

“Why should I have to share?” She demanded.

He hesitated.

She glared, tapping her foot in a clear indication of wanting an answer. Or preferably for him to just say they were all hers.

“It’s a new year and a new start.” Andre said, smiling nervously. “Maybe it’s time to just let bygones be bygones?“

It was a stupid question and she sure let him know it. She stared at him flatly, causing him to wilt.

Andre sighed.

“I know you don’t like her, but…” he hesitated. “Please, just try to get along?”

She blinked.

“Her?”

Wait.

Wait…

It suddenly struck her.

If she was Dupain-Cheng now…

That meant Marinette was in her shoes!

She grinned.

Marinette would be her bully! She’d be the rich bitch daughter of the Mayor and loathed by Paris while Chloe would be—

The one everyone rallied around.

The one Adrikens adored.

The one chosen as Ladybug!

She would have it all!

Part of her hoped the other girl would know about the previous reality…just so she could shove it in her face!

“Just take it slow,” he continued, unaware of her true thoughts. “And then you can report about it to Bridgette at your counseling session on Friday.”

Wait—counseling?

Seeing her expression, he held up his hands in a gesture of peace.

“I know you don’t like it, but it was part of the agreement. You need to make a better impression this year, sweetie.”

“What?”

“She’s the daughter of the Mayor. I’m not sure we can take another…” He trailed off before shaking his head and looking at her imploringly. “You understand, right?”

Oh.

Oh.

She got it!

“Of course, Daddykins!”

Clearly Dupain-Cheng was abusing her influence, just as she thought!

She had to hand it to the girl…a part of her hadn’t been quite convinced that she would go quite that far. But that just proof that Marinette Dupain-Cheng wasn’t so perfect and that even she would be the same as Chloe once in her position!

Chloe knew she would have to bear with the mistreatment for now. No matter how much it would grate her. It would suck to have to have to accept it for any period of time.

Still, it would be worth it! It just meant even more ammunition to use against her once Chloe was Ladybug!

She didn’t even notice the look of concern he gave her or his weak goodbye as she left the bakery with the box in hand. She was too wrapped up in her own thoughts. Particularly her plans.

And what plans they were!

So what if Maribrat had Chloe’s wealth? It wasn’t like she knew the first thing about status or being a symbol. No, Ladybug did that for her and she didn’t even use it right! Not like Chloe would.

She smirked to herself, imagining the future.

Well, as soon as she got the Miraculous, taking the pigtailed down a peg would be the first thing on her list. Maybe a dip in the Seine? Or ‘accidentally’ getting her hit by an akuma or two?

Why limit it to her personally? If Ladybug spoke out against the mayor, who would vote for him? From what she remembered of Marinette’s dad, that oaf had no business being in politics anyway! Then there was the hotel, which would no doubt be a mess with him in charge anyway.

And best of all, she thought with glee, with a word from Paris’s favorite hero, Dupain-Cheng could be implicated as an ally of Hawk Moth.

Who wouldn’t believe it? If Marinette was in Chloe’s place, that meant she had to be a brat despised by Paris. Everyone would likely jump at the excuse to run her out of the city!

It was slightly disappointing that the former Ladybug wouldn’t know why the new Ladybug was so against her or that she had even been replaced, but she didn’t deserve answers anyway.

For once, Chloe was getting everything she wanted. It was like the Universe itself was on her side! Chloe would be the hero with all the Miraculous and status just as she’d always deserved. And everyone would automatically see it and love her while they would already recognize Marinette as the selfish bitch Chloe always knew she was!

It was a win/win for Chloe and all her fans—which was the best kind of win for Chloe.

Sure, it meant she would have to suffer the loss of her basic comforts like a butler, the latest in fashion and accessories, and easy immediate access to a luxury spa for now…but it would be worth it in the long run.

…maybe not the luxury spa. She would kill for the hotel’s oils and masseuse. But she would just have to deal with, ugh, scheduling with a four star locale in the meantime.

It’s for the greatest good, she reminded herself, looking mournfully at her chipped nails.

And besides, she didn’t have to suffer for long.

Today was the first day of school, which signified the first appearance of Ladybug! This was the day she achieved her destiny! Once she became Ladybug, she would be back on top!

So what if her dad was a baker instead of a hotel owner this go around? Who said it had to stay that way? Just as she could use her position to defame the Dupain-Chengs and ruin Marinette, she could endorse the bakery for free publicity. Do special promotions and deals for money. Or even better! She could make the city pay her for her work!

After all, how much was her Miracle Cure worth, really? How much would the city be willing to pay for her to fix the damage caused by akuma fights? It was only what she was owed; the least they could do is compensate her for her time.

Really, it was Marinette’s own fault for not taking advantage while she could. She could’ve been an idol or the city’s star. She could have used the Miraculous to create an army. Hell, Hawk Moth should have been nothing against her! And instead, she just…wasted her potential. On things like loose zoo animals or out of control helicopters, no less!

Chloe wouldn’t make the same mistakes.

And now that Chloe was set to be the city’s hero…

Even if Marinette was rich (for now), it would be nothing compared to what Chloe would have. She would be Paris’s hero! The BEST hero! And unlike that has-been, she at least would use Ladybug’s power and status right!

She didn’t need to be the daughter of the Mayor! Her Mother was still THE Style Queen, Audrey Bourgeois. Adrien Agreste was still her best friend. She was still Chloe Bourgeois, the best thing to happen to Paris! And now as Ladybug, she would still be back on top and ruling Paris in no time!

And it would all start once she got to school.

“Get out of my way!” She exclaimed, shoving some old fart taking his sweet time walking, sending him to the ground and out of her way.

Move aside, peons!

Her destiny awaits!

Back at the intersection, Chloe never noticed the way the elderly gentleman cast her a judging stare from his position on the ground. Or his muttering.

“No, definitely not.”

“Are you okay?” Came a voice.

“Ah, yes!” He replied, accepting the offered hand and taking stock of the girl it belonged to. She was young. In college, likely. “Thank you, young lady!”

“Of course!” She smiled, handing him back his cane. “Do you need help getting home from here? That looked like quite a fall.”

“But don’t you have somewhere to be?” He asked.

“Just school, but I can spare a few minutes if you need…?”

“There is no need for that.” He shook his head. “I will be fine, thank you for your concern.”

Yes, he decided with a smile as he watched her go, this one will do.

_________________

Ugh, walking. Who invented such a thing? She couldn’t wait until she had a personal limo again. This was so not good for her!

Chloe continued plotting as she walked, magnanimously choosing to consider this as part of the reason for revenge instead of its own thing.

And speaking of revenge! Let’s see…

She scrunched her face, trying to remember the events of the first day of school.

There had been that fight with Marinette over her seat. ‘My seat now’, she realized with glee. ‘Which means I’ll be back next to Adrikens!’

Where she should be.

And if she and Dupain-Cheng were now supposed to be switched, that meant ‘the horrible bully Marinette’ would be picking on ‘poor sweet little Chloe’.

She couldn’t wait!

‘Let’s see how you handle being in my shoes, Dupain-Cheng!’

She giggled to herself, ignoring the weirded out looks she was getting from some passing students.

Or the way the other students in general seemed to give her a wide berth.

As they should for the real Queen Bee of this school!

She was already imagining how this was going to go. And with the classroom only a few feet ahead, her vindication was already so close she could taste it!

Except when she finally arrived at the class, it was immediately clear that something wasn’t right.

Dupain-Cheng was there as expected. With her same kiddie pigtails and her pink and grey ensemble with polka-dots—what kind of designer was she anyway?

What wasn’t expected, however, was that Cesaire was already was there as well.

Originally, Cesaire defended Dupain-Cheng and they became friends. If things played out the same, shouldn’t Cesaire be coming in late? Or standing up to Dupain-Cheng here? If anything, they already seemed to be friends.

Unless Cesaire was Dupain-Cheng’s tool like Sabrina had been for her?

It made sense that this new reality would swap more around, she reasoned.

Except…

Chloe frowned. Now that she was actually close enough to the classroom, she could see the classmates gathered into a sort of half circle around Dupain-Cheng and her follower. And as she reached the doorway, she could more clearly hear what they were saying.

“—at the Le Grand Paris.” Marinette said, gesturing to Alya with a smile.

“Wow!”

“So cool!”

“That’s awesome! So you’ve just been staying at the hotel until you can get settled in?”

Alya nodded, smiling. “Yeah. At least for a little while until we could get our own apartment. Mr. Dupain-Cheng was really accommodating. Luckily, we didn’t need it for long before Mom found something. She didn’t want to take advantage of his generosity, but it’s just really amazing that he was willing to offer us room and board just to have Mom as part of his staff!”

Chloe raised a nose in disgust.

Who ever heard of such a thing?! What hotel made any profit letting people stay for free?

“We met when I was cleaning rooms and she offered to help!” Marinette explained brightly.

Chloe nearly gagged.

Cleaned?

Marinette…actually cleaned the hotel?

Why do something that gross?

That’s what the help was for! And Sabrina.

Speaking of, where was she?

Chloe glanced around, but Sabrina was nowhere to be seen amongst the classmates.

Maybe the Wish had done more than switch her with Dupain-Cheng? Maybe Cesaire and Sabrina had been switched as well? So that meant Sabrina should be the new transfer, right?

No wait, that didn’t add up. She had just walked in on Cesaire being introduced.

Sabrina was probably just her best friend, then.

She nodded.

That was good enough, she supposed. At least if she couldn’t have her necessities from the hotel, she still had Sabrina to take care of the more mundane tasks for her.

Unaware of her thoughts, Marinette had continued talking to the others unhindered.

“—said she would be coming to Francios Dupont, and I knew I had to introduce her. She’s new, so be nice.” She instructed, giving a stare to Kim in particular. “Kim.”

The taller boy raised his hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. I’ll give her a week before any challenges.”

Alya raised an eyebrow. “Challenges? Dare I ask?”

Everyone groaned.

“No dares.” Nino begged, covering his face with his hat. “Please. Kim is bad enough every year. I still can’t look at the hotel without remembering what happened last time…”

“Yeah, your dumb dare got us banned from the hotel’s pool for a month!” Alix said, pointing at Kim, who shrugged helplessly.

“Speaking of the hotel!” Marinette cut in, pulling out her tablet. “I convinced my dad to let us do this year’s work study at the hotel.” She tapped her tablet. “I have a little bit of influence over what they’ll choose as assignments, so we can try to come up with roles everyone will like.”

“Hey yeah! That sounds awesome!”

The classmates crowded the desk, chatting excitedly.

“So where will everyone go?”

“Maybe Kim and Max in security? Or Alix and Max in security, so Kim could work the pool area.”

“As a lifeguard?” Kim asked cheerfully. “I’ve done some training, after all.”

Marinette sent him a wry look and pretended to be thinking it over. “Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe as a pool cleaner?”

Kim pouted. “No fair, Mari!”

“Hey, it would do you some good to learn the cleaning process for the pools you use so much.” Mylene said, half jokingly and half pointedly, making Kim lower his head and groan.

Marinette giggled a little. “Well at any rate, I’ve set up a list of all the different jobs at the hotel so people can mark their top preferences. Between all the options, everyone is bound to find something that’ll suit them best.”

She sent Adrien a knowing look. “And of course Adrien will be in the kitchen.”

Adrien beamed at that.

Not that Chloe noticed.

“Kitchen?!” Chloe squawked. “You’re going to make my Adrikens work in a dirty old kitchen?!”

She had known Marinette would be bad, but how dare she punish Adrikens like that? She could just see it now! Her poor Adrikens, forced to slave away in a room meant for servants like…like he was a servant! Where he could get covered in grime and burn his precious skin!

Everyone frowned at her, as if she was the one being ridiculous!

The boy in question raised his hand.

“But I want to—”

“That is a flagrant abuse of power!” Chloe shouted, slamming a hand on the desk. “She’s making Adrikens work like a maid! What if his father hears about this?!”

Adrien wilted in on himself.

“The kitchen isn’t dirty or old.” Marinette said, sounding annoyingly calm with a terseness in her tone that Chloe had heard some service workers use when dealing with particularly difficult customers—though why they used it with her was beyond her. It was as if Marinette was acting like she the reasonable one dealing with an unreasonable customer or something. “They just finished the remodeling three months ago, we clean it regularly, and all of our utensils and equipment are taken good care of.”

“That’s not the point!” Chloe shouted. “How could you use my Adrikens in such a way? Gabriel Agreste would never approve when he hears about this!”

Because he would be hearing about this! Chloe would make sure of it!

“I could just explain to Mr. Agreste that this would be for good publicity.” Marinette suggested. “I’m sure he would allow it.”

She knew it! There were really no lows she wouldn’t go to!

“You’re really pushing this! And you call yourself Adrikens’ friend!” Chloe pointed at Marinette accusingly. “Just because your Daddy’s the Mayor doesn’t mean you can treat people like they’re lesser than you!”

Marinette frowned, looking uncertain as her gaze flickered between the others.

Hah! Even in Chloe’s position, Marinette still wavered easily and she couldn’t hide her insecurities to save her life. It was why she always gave in in the end! Anyone would roll over someone showing such an obvious weakness!

Hell, she may not even need to wait to see her taken down. This was a perfect opportunity to lead everyone in rising up against her tyranny.

After a few seconds, she turned back to face Chloe, no doubt to attack her for challenging her and show her true colors—

“Chloe, are you okay?”

Huh?

“My Dad just runs the Hotel. He isn’t the Mayor.”

What?!

“My Mom is. You met her at your…” She hesitated, sending the others a glance before lowering her voice, “…meeting, remember?”

She had to bite her tongue regarding the ridiculousness of Dupain-Cheng’s mother being the Mayor. Was that woman even a French citizen?

But it was the other part of Marinette’s statement that concerned her. What meeting? What was she even getting at? Why was she trying to be quiet about it.

Nevermind! She’d worry about that later!

“It doesn’t matter!” Chloe shouted, forcing Marinette to back away. “The fact is that you can’t just throw your weight around to get your way and treat people however you like! And I’m not the only one who feels that way!” She exclaimed, turning to the classmates in expectation.

…only to get a number of blank or confused stares in response.

“Um, what are you even talking about?” Alya asked incredulously.

What?

“Yeah, dude! Marinette doesn’t treat anyone that way.” Nino added.

What?

“The only one who pulls that sort of thing is you.” Said Nathaniel bitingly.

Since when does that loser talk?

And also, what?!

“And aren’t you supposed to be leaving Marinette alone?” Alix asked, giving Chloe a pointed look.

What even was that about?

“I thought that was the agreement.” Mylene said quietly.

Seriously?! Was everyone on her side?

They were supposed to be silent! Or judging the Mayor’s brat! That’s what they did with Chloe! Instead, they were jumping to her defense!

“Are you serious?” She demanded. “Like she doesn’t abuse her power and authority to push people around!”

“Of course not!” Marinette insisted. And then to Chloe’s rage, seemed to draw herself up even more, actually looking confident and self assured in a way Chloe herself had never felt in her place. “As the daughter of the mayor, I have to set a good example.”

Ex…

Example?

What even was that?

Unaware of Chloe’s short-circuiting, she continued. “And Chloe, I wouldn’t force anyone to do a role that they don’t want. That’s why I brought the list here for the class to review first.” She gestured to her tablet. “That way everyone has a chance to pick what roles they want and we can avoid the ones no one wants to do. How is that a bad thing?”

It wasn’t, admittedly. But Marinette wasn’t supposed to be the one doing it! That was the problem!

“And who put you in charge?!” Chloe demanded of Marinette. “Why are you deciding where we’ll do the work study? What, are you using the Class Rep position to flaunt your family’s hotel?”

It would make sense. Chloe had been the Class Rep for years originally. If Marinette was her…

Marinette just gave her a strange look.

“No. I’m not Class Rep, remember?”

Chloe balked.

“What?”

“Chloe, did you hit your head?” Marinette asked, sounding worried. She held a hand out in offering. “Do you need to go to the Nurse’s Office?”

Chloe jerked away from the girl’s outreached hand. Why would Dupain-Cheng still be acting…nice?

Clearly she must still be pretending!

“Nevermind that! If you aren’t the Class Rep, then who is?”

“Your benevolent dictator is here!” Came a voice. A familiar voice. The last one Chloe expected.

“Hey, Class Rep.” Marinette said, giving Chloe a pointed look while waving to the person behind her.

Chloe turned slowly. She had to force herself to move. The strain made it feel like her bones were creaking.

Behind her, Sabrina stood tall with a tablet in hand and looking…surprisingly well for a new reality as a lackey of someone other than Chloe. She almost didn’t recognize her.

Chloe stood straight, expecting the standard greeting.

To her shock, Sabrina didn’t even look at her, instead moving past her to…

“Wow, Marinette! Nice jacket!” Sabrina said first thing in greeting as she moved over to the other girl in interest.

Marinette blushed at the praise. “Thanks! My dad got me some new fabric and I was inspired to try this style!” She gave a wink. “Now this is just a test run to see how it works out.”

“It certainly looks comfortable.” Sabrina said in awe.

Were…were they ignoring her?

“I have some of the material left.” Marinette said. “I could make you your own for your birthday if you want?”

Oh gag! Why would anyone want Marinette’s tacky creations instead of the latest in season creation?

And there was Sabrina looking like that was something to be excited about!

Oh no! Without Chloe to guide her, she had lost any sense of fashion! No matter how much fuller her hair was or how she no longer looked like a strong wind could blow her away!

Clearly, her life was a tragedy without Chloe!

“And I checked like you asked.” Marinette continued, unaware of Chloe’s glare. “My Dad said we could do the work study at his hotel.”

“Thank you!” Sabrina cheered. “That’ll be one less thing to worry about.”

“Yeah, we were talking about that when you came in.” Marinette explained.

Chloe glared pointedly at the girl over the way she was blatantly ignoring that they had been in the middle of Chloe calling her out! Seriously, what was the point of getting to tell people off for their flaws if they were going to ignore you and pretend it never happened! Really! You can’t just ignore the truth like that!

“We were discussing what positions everyone wanted.” Mylene said. “Even if we can’t get the exact ones we’d like, there’ll at least be options.”

“Juleka and I can clean the ball room!” Rose exclaimed. “It will give us a chance to check the acoustics of the room. We’ve been wondering about the effects and what to expect if our band ever plays in such an area.“

Nino looked intrigued at that. “Hey, that does sound like a good idea. Maybe sign me up for that as well?” He asked, turning to Marinette before mumbling to himself about the echo effect on his beats.

Marinette gave him a nod before turning back to Rose. “I heard you guys just started, didn’t you?“

Rose nodded, beaming. “It’s so much fun!”

Marinette smiled and marked it down on her list. “Then I’ll suggest that for you.”

She paused for a moment, hesitating in clear unwillingness to continue before giving a strained smile.

“And Chloe...”

“How about trash cleanup?” Alix snarked, giving the girl a dark look.

“Excuse you?!” Chloe shouted in outrage. “Do you know who my daddy is?!”

The looks she was given were completely unimpressed.

“A baker?”

“And not even a good one.”

"Hey, his croissants are all right."

Chloe blanched, remembering that her father wasn’t the mayor in this world.

He wasn’t even rich.

He was just a baker now. A simple ordinary not even very good baker who was barely keeping his head above water trying to maintain his business and manage his teenage daughter.

And that made Chloe…

Nothing.

Her go to tactic now had no power.

But…but Sabrina! She realized in a flash that her minion was apparently the Class Rep! She could have her back her!

But when she spun around to look, the girl had actually just abandoned her and the gathering altogether to sit next to Mylene of all people! Mylene! And they were just…chatting! Since when did those two spend time together! And why wasn’t Sabrina there for her?!

“Chloe!” Came the only voice worth listening to.

Oh, Adrikens! Of course you would always be there for her!

She spun to him in expectation. Because of course her Adrikens would be on her side! Her savior! Her only ally against such cruel tyranny—

But he didn’t look happy. Or in any way amicable to her. “Don’t forget!” He whispered sharply to her. “You’re still on probation! You can’t start another commotion before the first class of the school year has even started!”

Chloe blinked.

Pro…

Probation?

…

…

…

Her?!

“How am I on—?!”

It was impossible! She had never had a criminal record! She’d never even committed a crime! Or anything that warranted getting in trouble over!

Regardless of what Ladybug said, since she clearly had it out for her.

“Just leave Marinette alone.” Adrien whispered, turning her away from the rest of the group and…her. “Please.”

She didn’t want to. There were so many questions and so many things she wanted to demand right now. She was very well inclined to make demands regardless, because she didn’t know what was going on and she needed answers.

But it was her Adrikens asking.

And she didn’t have much chance to say anything else as Bustier had chosen that time to arrive.

“Welcome back, everyone!” The woman greeted cheerfully. Her arrival cut off all other discussion as the students made their way to their desks. “I hope everyone had a good break and that we’re all ready to start the new year.”

A chorus of affirmations followed as everyone took their seats.

Everyone except Chloe, who was glancing around the room in confusion.

None of this was right.

She had expected to fight with Marinette over her seat to get to sit behind Adrien, but he was sitting at the back next to Nathaniel. And Marinette was sitting in the mid row on the other side from him, pulling Alya to sit next to her. But if she wasn’t sitting behind Adrien, what was even the point of challenging her for her seat?

…where even was Chloe’s seat?

She would have sad next to Sabrina, but that traitor hadn’t moved from her spot next to Mylene and left no room for Chloe! And nobody else was calling Chloe over—so if someone else had taken Sabrina’s place as her best friend, she had no way of even knowing who it was!

“Chloe,” Bustier called to her, ever so gently. “Your seat is up at the front, remember? As we discussed the last time we met.” She gestured to the bench at the front.

It was across the one Chloe had sat at previously, being the front desk closest to the door. And to her frustration, there was no one sitting with her! How else was she supposed to get her assignments copied? And wasn’t that the seat that loser, Nino, had been put in because he got in trouble? Chloe wasn’t in trouble though!

Adrien’s words about probation hit her, making her wince.

…was she?

She wanted to ask. She wanted to stomp her foot and demand the answers she deserved.

But Bustier was staring at her expectantly. And she could hear some giggles and snickering from behind her the longer she waited. She glanced back to Adrikens, but…he wasn’t even looking at her! He was conversing with Nathaniel over something on his sketchbook!

How could a sketchbook be more important than his best friend?!

With little other choice, Chloe slid into the front desk, blushing furiously in humiliation and trying to ignore everyone behind her.

It didn’t matter.

None of them mattered!

None of this would matter once she got the Miraculous and put Dupain-Cheng in her place! Then everyone would know SHE was the Queen Bee!

She was sure of it!

[nevermindirah]

Do you have any thoughts on the use of AAVE for Nile (or lack thereof) in TOG fanfiction? I've been reading some Book of Nile fic and some writers seem to write her as a Millennial™ (using words like "fave" and "woke") but never acknowledge her Blackness in her patterns of speech. I know we don't see her use as much AAVE in the films, but I would argue she's in situations where code-switching would be valued (first in a "professional" environment in the army, then around a group of non-Black strangers).

Hi anon! I have many thoughts on this and I'm honored you asked me! But I should start by saying I'm white and any thoughts Black fans and especially Black American fans have on this that they want to share would be beyond lovely. (I'm not gonna tag anybody bc that feels rude but please add onto this post if any of y'all see this and want to!)

The main reason I personally avoid AAVE for Nile in my own fics is because I'm not Black. But Nile-centric fics by Black writers tend to avoid using much of it too, at least from what I've noticed/understood, and my guess is it's largely for the reason you mention, that she's in situations that encourage code-switching.

In movie canon Nile is highly competent at tailoring her language to each situation she finds herself in. This fantastic linguistics analysis meta shows how skillfully Nile chooses her vocabulary and grammar to meet her goals with different conversation partners in different contexts. In comics canon Nile had a bunch of different civilian jobs before joining the Marines, so she would've had experience code-switching in the ways that made sense for all those different contexts as well as the Marines and her family and high school and wherever else she spent her time before we met her. And now she's spending her time with a handful of immortals none of whom are native English speakers and a fellow Black American but one with a Queen's English UK accent whose professional experience is in the CIA where high-status code-switching is often an absolute must for success or even survival.

Fics featuring Nile are charged with extrapolating from that to how it might show up in her use of language that she's coping with a traumatic separation from her family and her career and pretty much everything she's ever known and now she needs to be able to make herself understood to people who seem to care about her and each other but are super duper in crisis, three (soon to be four) of whom predate Modern English entirely and the only one who's anywhere near her contemporary she's not supposed to talk to for a century. All of these people are telling her that pretty much any contact with any mortals poses an existential threat to her and the rest of the group. How the FUCK is she supposed to cope with that, like, generally? And would it be a more effective way for her to cope if she talked to Andy Joe and Nicky using the speech patterns that she used to use with her mom and brother, to at least retain that part of her identity even if it means having to do a lot of explaining, or would it meet her needs better to prioritize Andy Joe and Nicky understanding what she means with her words over using the particular words and grammar forms she used with her family?

I've seen several fics, both Nile-centric / BoN and otherwise, explore this a little bit in how/whether Nile uses Millennial™ speak. It's often a theme in Nile texting Booker despite the exile because of the popular headcanon that he as The Tech Guy is the only other immortal who understands memes. But Nile's much-younger-than-Booker mom probably uses Boomer and/or Gen X memes and Andy has been adapting to new communication styles for forever as evidenced by her canon high level of fluency with standard-American-accented English.

Which brings us back to people avoiding AAVE because they're not Black and they don't want to make mistakes (or they're not Black and they don't want to get yelled at for making mistakes, though I think many people overestimate how much they'll get yelled at while underestimating how much these mistakes can hurt). I can imagine some Black fans hold back from using much AAVE in fic because they don't want to share in-group stuff with white people who are likely to then adopt and ruin it, as white people so often do with Black cultural stuff. Some links about this including a great Khadija Mbowe video. I'm saying this gently, anon, because you might not know: woke, an example you cited as Millennial™ speak, is AAVE, and that's gotten erased by so many white people appropriating it and using it incorrectly online.

And also there's the part where fandom is a hobby and you never know when you're reading a fic that's the very first thing someone's ever written outside of a school assignment. This cultural considerations of language shit takes a level of effort and skill that not everybody puts into every fic, or even could if they wanted to because they haven't had time to build their skills yet. It's definitely easier for non-Black fans to project our millennial feels onto Nile than to do the layers of research and self-reflection it requires to depict what Blackness might mean to Nile, and it's not surprising that often people sharing their hobby creations on the internet have gone the easier route. There's not even necessarily shame in doing what's easier. It's just frustrating and often hurtful when structural white supremacy means that 3-dimensional Black characters are rare in media and thoughtful explorations of them in fandom are seen by the majority of fans as not-easy to make and therefore Nile Freeman, the main character in The Old Guard (2020) dir. Gina Prince-Bythewood, has the least fic and meta and art made about her of our 5 main immortals.

I've been active in different fandoms off and on for twenty years and I barely managed to write 5,000 words about Sam Wilson across multiple different fics in the 7 years since I fell in love with him. There's an alchemy to which characters we connect with, and on top of that which characters we connect with in a way that causes us to create stuff about them. Something about Nile Freeman finally tipped me over the edge from a voracious reader to a voracious writer. It's not for me to judge which characters speak to other individuals to the level of creating content about them, but I do think it's important for us to notice, and then work to fight, the pattern where across this fandom as a whole Nile gets way less content, and way less depth in so much of the content that's in theory about her, than any of these other characters.

Anyway, back to language. My two long fics feature Nile with several Black friends — Copley and OCs and cameos from other media — but all of those characters except Alec Hardison from Leverage aren't American. It's very possible I'm guilty of stereotyping Black British speech patterns in I See Your Eyes Seek a Distant Shore. I watched hours and hours of Black haircare YouTube videos in the research for that fic and I modeled my OCs' speech patterns on what I heard from some of those YouTubers as well as what I've heard people like John Boyega and Idris Elba saying in interviews, but the thing about doing your best is you still might fuck up.

I'm slowly making progress on my WIP where Nile and Sam Wilson are cousins, and what ways of talking with a family member might be authentic for Nile is a major question I need to figure out. For that, I'm largely modeling my writing choices on how I hear my Black friends and colleagues talking to each other. I haven't overheard colleagues talking in an office in a long-ass time, but back when that was a thing, I remember seeing a ton of nuance in the different ways many of my Black colleagues would talk to each other. Different people have different personalities! And backgrounds! And priorities! A few jobs ago my department was about 1/3 Black and we worked closely with Obama administration staff many of whom were Black and there was SO MUCH VARIETY in how Black people talked to each other, about work and workplace-appropriate personal stuff, where I and other white coworkers could hear. There are a few work friends in particular who I have in my head when I'm trying to imagine how Sam and Nile might talk to each other. From the outside looking in, God DAMN is shit complicated, intellectually and interpersonally and spiritually, for Black people who are devoting their professional lives to public service in the United States.

One more aspect of this that I have big thoughts on but I need to take extra care in talking about is the idea of acknowledging Nile's Blackness in her patterns of speech. There's no one right way to be Black, and Nile's a fictional character created by a white dude but there are plenty of real-life Black Americans who don't use much or even any AAVE, for reasons that are complicated because of white supremacy. (Highly highly recommend this video by Shanspeare on the harms of the Oreo stereotype.)

Something that's not the same but has enough similarity that I think it's worth talking about is my personal experience with authenticity and American Jewish speech patterns. My Jewish family members don't talk like they're in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and I've known lots of people who do talk that way (or the millennial version of it), some of whom have questioned my Jewishness because I don't talk that way. That hurts me. Sometimes when another Jew tells me some shit like "I've never heard a Jew say y'all'd've," I can respond with "well now you have asshole, bless your Yankee-ass heart," because the myth of Dixie is a racist lie but I will totally call white Northerners Yankees when they're being shitty to me for being Southern, and this particular Jew fucking revels in using "bless your heart" with maximum polite aggression, especially with said Yankees. But sometimes I don't have it in me to say anything and it just quietly hurts having an important part of me disbelieved by someone who shares that important part of me. The sting isn't quite the same when non-Jews disbelieve or discount my Jewishness, but that hurts too.

Who counts as authentically Jewish is a messy in-group conversation and it doesn't really make sense to explain it all here. Who counts as authentically Jewish is a matter of legal status for immigration, citizenship, and civil rights in Israel, and it's my number 2 reason after horrific treatment of Palestinians that I'm antizionist. But outside that extremely high-stakes legal situation, it can just feel really shitty to not be recognized as One Of Us, especially by your own people.

It can also feel really shitty to be The Only One of Your Kind in a group, even if that group is an immortal chosen family who all loves each other dearly. Sometimes especially in a situation like that where you know those people love you but there are certain things they don't get about you and will never quite be able to. I'm definitely projecting at least a little bit of my "lonely Jew who will be alone again for yet another Jewish holiday" stuff onto Nile when at the end of I See Your Eyes Seek a Distant Shore she's thinking about being the only Black immortal and moving away from the community she'd built with a mostly-Black group of mortals in that fic. Maybe that tracks, or maybe that's fucked up of me.

Basically, this got very long but it's complicated, writing about experiences that aren't your own takes skill which in turn takes time and practice to build, writing about experiences not your own that our society maligns can cause a lot of harm if done badly, it can also cause a lot of harm when a large enough portion of a fandom just decides to nope out of something that's difficult and risky because then there's just not much content about a character who deserves just a shit ton of loving and nuanced content, people are individuals and two people who come from the exact same cultural context might show that influence in all kinds of different ways, identity is complicated, language is complicated, writing is hard, and empathy and humility and doing our best aren't a guarantee of avoiding harm but they do go a long way in helping people create thoughtful content about a character as awesome and powerful and kind and messy and scared and curious and WORTHY as Nile Freeman.

[thed4rkhand]

BTS Future Spouse’s Careers

Hey! So we’re back again, and since I’ve recently realized I’m far too lazy to update this blog frequently with long analysis’ of BTS members, we’re doing a super simple and easy one. We’re going to be seeing their future spouse’s profession.

Now for those of you who are just here for readings, some warnings.

A two hour difference can change the orientation of the chart completely, so the lords and positions change. This can totally alter the readings, but we’ll go ahead and do it for the rumored birth time anyway.

There are a gazillion ways of knowing the spouse’s profession, from Nakshatras, to divisional charts, to darakarka, to god knows how many ways. So we’ll be doing the easiest one today, and I might do another way some other time if someone asks. This is 90% because I’m lazy, but I’ll still do the best possible I can!

So without further delay, let’s get into the reading!

So today’s method is super duper simple, its to calculate the future spouse’s profession. Now if you’ve read the third guide on houses(find it through my master list if you wish), you would already know this through one of the examples. Since I know most of you haven’t read it, I’ll quickly reiterate the point.

The 10th house is the house of profession and job (among gazillion other things) and the 7th house is of the spouse. Combining these, we can calculate the 10th from the 7th house, which lands us at the 4th house, which would now signify the spouse’s career. We can analyse the lord and house for details now!

Let’s start for real this time around -

Kim Seokjin

This man has a pisces first house, making the fourth house Gemini here. His 4th lord mercury is in the 8th house in libra, within Vishaka Nakshatra’s 3rd quadrant, the sub ruler being mercury here.

So, from here we see that his spouse will be in a job requiring communication skills, research as well as social skills. As Jupiter is the lord of vishaka, and the sub-lord of the third pada is mercury, the person could very well be a scientist or professor, or in a field requiring heavy academic backgrounds. Since it falls into libra here, a lawyer or barrister may also be possible with such a placement. Given it falls into the 8th house, this will be a routine job, and not one where one is an entrepreneur themselves.

Min Yoongi

This man also has a pisces first house, making the fourth house gemini. His 4th house is occupied by mars, and mercury is sitting in the 12th house with Saturn and sun, within the second quadrant of poorvabhadrpada nakshatra.

Given mars in his chart is the ruler of 9th and 2nd house, and is seated in the 4th house, this can suggest an array of careers. Firstly, the second lord in Gemini may mean a person who produces or composes or even sings for a living. Given that mars is in Adra nakshtra here, in the 4th house, may suggest a doctor actually, or someone involved in engineering. Now this gets supported by mercury in 12th. However, a conjunction with Saturn and Sun may also represent a public career such as a politician or civil servant. There is a huge scope of professions here, and it definitely needs to be looked at through other methods to really detail it down, but I do think these are the professions coming out strongly.

Jung Hoseok

This man has an Aries first house, making the fourth house cancer. His lord, moon sits in the 1st house in kritika nakshatra, quadrant 1.

Such a person may have a famous spouse actually, or someone who is at the very least popular. Two career come to mind immediately, the first being someone who works with their body for a living, such as a model or dancer. The second job that immediately comes to mind with this is a job that requires looking after children, such as a counsellor, teacher or psychologist, due to the direct Jupiter aspect here.

Kim Namjoon

This man has a gemini first house, making the fourth house virgo. The lord is also seated in the fourth house itself, in hasta Nakshatra’s quadrant 3.

Such a person would definitely have a job either in communications or in a technical field. Given that the lord itself is exalted here, this would give great business acumen to the professional. Within the third pada, jolted by mercury, we usually see people within business related fields and consultancies, or even banks. Since hasta is all about hands, such a person may work in job related to programming too. Such a person is likely to be an entrepreneur themselves or have their own business.

Park Jimin

This man also has a gemini first house, making the fourth house virgo. Here mercury and sun are seated, with mercury in hasta nakshatra and retrograde, and the sun in Chitra nakshatra.

Such a person may have a spouse in either of the two career fields. The first profession could be a famous author with such a position, or even a mathematician (so we’re looking at academic/teaching fields also here). The second one, with the Chitra sun, could be someone involved in either creating animation, or even an actor, as Chitra is all about pictures. further, given sun is the 3rd lord, we can definitely see the spouse working in a communications related field, and I think its highly possible they might be an actor or theatre personality. However, many people may also end up in architecture with such a positioning. (could also be real estate, as Chitra denotes properties)

Kim Taehyung

This man has a libra first house, making the fourth house Capricorn. Here, the ruler, Saturn in positioned in the fifth house in Aquarius. The lord is in purvabhadrapada nakshtara. Venus and mercury are in the fourth house here, in sravana and uttarashadha Nakshatras respectively.

Here, we can firstly see, it is likely that the person he marries is well established in their field, or will go on to be famous within their field. This person may have a high level of education or vocational training for their fields. Such a person may even have a phD. As for jobs, such a placement can indicate someone in public service, such as a politician or administrator, with the mercury and Saturn placements here. However with the Venus and moon placements, we can also definitely see that such a person might be within the creative fields, but will do a routine job here. So you can imagine a public speaker or policy maker too. The moon positioning along with sravana Venus may also suggest an unlikely profession of occult actives, such as an astrologer, or even an author in the horror genre.

Jeon Jungkook

This man has virgo in his first house, which makes his 4th house Sagittarius. Here, the lord is sitting in the 5th house, here it is also retrograde and in Capricorn, I.e debilated. It is within the fourth pada of sravana nakshatra.

Here we see a few possible careers honestly. firstly, a job that could cause them to travel extensively and even live abroad for long periods. They could be in a teaching or counseling related profession, or could be involved in a family business related to real estate and management of it. Since it falls into the 4th pada of moon, they could work in hospitality related business, or be psychiatrists and psychologists (supported by moon in 12th, in libra here). They could even be neurologists with such a placement. With the moon in magha nakshatra, it is likely such a person may be within the entertainment industry too, or will simply be/is extremely famously, either within their own field or in general.

Anywhooo, this was my analysis! Let me know if you enjoyed it! We can totally do something else, small and easy next time too, as I’m a bit busy these days!!

[anstey5345969]

Week 8 - Digital Iteration

The focus for this week was experimenting and developing our CAD skills specifically with 3ds max. This was achieved through a series of steps that helped me to better understand the program somewhat. However I ended up finding that my own research into tutorials was most beneficial.

Watching Andrew Simpson's video on the development of a razor, its clear the importance of the design process of testing out lots of different elements and ideas to best create a solution. It was informative to hear about the ways different materials effected the weight and ergonomics of the product and is something to always have in mind. Andrew talks about low-fidelity and high-fidelity as different levels of the model making quality. This is in context to an explanation about how the design process isn't always linear with the development of quality and sometimes lower quality models can be made after higher quality models to test out different ideas.

Part 1 "The introduction":

For the first part of this task, we made a simple sphere (done with the sphere tool) which we then played around with in order to explore the effects of the different tools available on 3ds. Personally I find there to be an initially overwhelming amount of different commands that made it difficult to work with. It was interesting seeing what some of them did, but frustrating trying to figure out how to do anything you wanted to achieve. This process was a lot of trial and error, just throwing myself into the depths of this program.

Part 2 "The learning":

Part 2 is where I really took the initiative on figuring out how to make even the most basic of things I could normally create in a few seconds on other CAD programs. I started out creating a bottle like shape, trying to use everything I had learnt from my experimentation of the different tools with the sphere. The result was something very organic and asymmetrical. Fairly happy with this as a basis, and it definitely looks wieldable so that's nice too.

I wanted to move onto something that looked like it had more intention and structure behind it. I ended up looking through numerous youtube tutorials that better explained the process of making different kinds of objects. I would highly recommend just following a tutorial like this as it helped me a great deal to better understand the specific tools which are actually helpful for average tasks. I ended up following a tutorial to create an omnitrix which I thought of as a complex shape that would require a diverse use of tools to further my learning. I figured out how to properly warp shapes how I wanted to as well as combining/subtracting new parts to add to the form. I also finished the design by adding more fitting colours and am really happy with both how it turned out, and how much I learned from the process. Its very evident the difference in level of intentional design between the bottle and the omnitrix as a result of the research done for it.