#erasmus university rotterdam

[memenewsdotcom]

Rotterdam shootings

[architectureofdoom]

Tinbergen building, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Cornelis Elffer, 1963-70. Photography by Frank Hanswijk.

[mariacallous]

On September 28, Bowen Yang performed one of 2024’s most resonant pieces of political theater while dressed as a pygmy hippo.

Yang was behind the desk on Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” segment, dressed like Moo Deng, who at the time the show aired was the internet’s current fave. What he was saying, though, sounded more like comments by pop star Chappell Roan, who’d recently taken to social media to ask fans to be more respectful about approaching her in public or saying inappropriate things to her online. “Do not yell my name, or expect a photo, just because I’m your parasocial bestie, or because you appreciate my talent,” Yang said, encased in a rubbery Moo Deng costume.

The bit was played for laughs, but in 2024, the actions of fans—to each other, to the people they’re fans of, to the world at large—entered a whole new phase. More than half a century after John Lennon observed that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus, fandom, fueled by ever-churning social media platforms, has taken on a shape beyond religious furor.

During the US election, it was evident in the manosphere and MAGA hats. Also, in Vice President Kamala Harris’ embrace of the “brat” ethos. In pop culture, it was Taylor Swift stan accounts leaving X for Bluesky over frustrations with Elon Musk’s involvement in president-elect Donald Trump’s campaign. It was also the return of Gamergate, manifesting in a whole new harassment campaign against diversity and inclusion efforts in video game development. It was Kendrick Lamar turning his beef with Drake into a community event in Los Angeles.

Across mediums and interests, being a fan of someone or something didn’t just mean buying a T-shirt or a movie ticket, it meant choosing a side.

Superfans, Supersized

According to Simone Driessen, an assistant professor of media and popular culture at Erasmus University Rotterdam, 2024, more than anything, marks another year in which people acknowledge, or even reconcile with, the fact that fans have real power.

“The MAGA moment, for me, has its roots in the January 6 moment. It was almost as if they were cosplaying a coup—but it was very real and with very real consequences,” she says. “Brat summer, Swifties for Harris—they are attests, to me, of how these fannish skills one builds through being a fan (from hunting Easter eggs to creating a community) can also be politically valuable.”

Proof of this is everywhere. As my colleague Makena Kelly wrote this year, 2024’s campaign cycle was the influencer election. People with cameras, microphones, and large followings became, she wrote, “tastemakers, meme sharers, video creators, and organizers; they also wield significant power when it comes to encouraging their followers to vote.” People like Twitch streamer Hasan Piker and conservative YouTuber Ben Shapiro had the power to affect what happened at the polls. Whether or not a candidate did Joe Rogan’s podcast became headline-making news. (Trump did; Harris didn’t.)

Fandom’s influence on the world stage wasn’t just apparent in the US. In South Korea, protesters shouting for the removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared martial law in December have been doing so with lights and Christmas decorations. As the AP reported just a few days ago, labor unions and political parties have led the demonstrations, “but unlike previous protests, the forefront was left to the young with their light sticks and K-pop songs.”

Still, it was in the US that fandom’s influence on everything felt most astute. As Aja Romano wrote for Vox at the beginning of the year, people don’t just vote for Trump, they stan him—in a way that’s not that different from Beyoncé fans. While that might seem like an oversimplification, Romano wrote, “in both subcultures, the rise of social media echo chambers has fomented toxicity, extremism, and delusional thinking.” Disinformation and zealotry, then, serve to “distort and fracture our shared sense of reality, all in the name of what devotees believe to be a higher cause.”

It doesn’t help that more and more people get their news from social media—the same platforms where they share memes and theories about which song selections on Swift’s Eras Tour have secret meanings. According to a Pew Research Center report released in September, 54 percent of US adults get their news from social media at least some of the time, a bump from previous years. Facebook and YouTube tend to be their top sources—about a third of Americans report regularly getting news on each of these two sites—but 20 percent of respondents said they get news from Instagram, 17 percent on TikTok, and 12 percent on X.

When catching up on world events coincides with catching up on what Chappell Roan wore onstage last night, it makes sense that both forms of community engagement would live on equal footing.

Speaking of Roan, she and Yang made up. Some fans accused Yang of mocking Roan with his “Weekend Update” sketch after it aired. He flatly denied that was his intention, and when Roan appeared as the musical guest on SNL—the weekend before the election—the singer-songwriter held his hand during the show’s final goodbye as if all was well. If anything had ever been wrong at all.

Following Trump’s victory in the US election, the fandom didn’t really quiet down. The manosphere claimed a victory, and the brats and Swifties started taking a look at the platforms on which they were spending their time. Lots of folks have been leaving X for Bluesky. Fandom, it seems, is reentrenching.

To understand this, look no further than the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City in early December. In the hours following his death, a fascination grew around who his assailant might be, what the motives were. Lots of Americans have strong feelings about health care in the US—specifically feelings about health insurance companies like UHC. Many of those feelings wound up being projected onto Thompson. After police arrested suspect Luigi Mangione, fascination with him continued. Across TikTok, Instagram, X, and other platforms, interest in him intensified. Merch, fanfic, ballads popped up everywhere. What will happen in his case is still unknown. What will happen with his fandom will be a prelude of what’s to come.

[thevirginwitch]

Terminus - The Roman God of Boundaries, Limits, and "Terminal Points"

This post released early to my supporters over on Patreon! You can join for as little as $1 a month, and with it, you'll gain access to tons of my posts (earlier than I post them to Tumblr), thoughts, ramblings, and other things!

[Image description: Design for a Stained Glass Window with Terminus. Pen and ink and brush, grey wash, watercolour, over preliminary chalk drawing, 31.5 × 25 cm, Kunstmuseum Basel. Holbein designed the window for the scholar and theologian Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, who lived in Basel at around the same time as the artist and commissioned portraits and other works from him. Erasmus gave the window itself to the university in Basel, where it was recorded in the 18th century as still in place. Often pictured as a bust on a boundary stone, Terminus was the Roman god of boundaries, endings, and death, whom Erasmus adopted as his emblem. Included in Holbein's design is Erasmus's motto concedo nulli (I concede to no one), taken from the myth of Terminus, who refused to concede his place on the Capitoline Hill to Jupiter. Holbein later incorporated the Terminus motif in a memorial woodcut after Erasmus's death (Müller, 342).]

History

Terminus is the Roman god of boundaries and, more broadly, of "limits" or "terminal points" in time and space.

The festival of Terminus, held on February 23rd, was the last festival feast day of the year before the Romans celebrated their new year on March 1st. The celebration of this festival involved sacrificing lambs or goats at the sixth mile marker from Rome along Via Laurentia. Other offerings to Terminus involved wine, honeycomb, and crops. These offerings were left on a stone bust of Terminus.

A story of Terminus's unyielding nature comes from before 509 BC, during the construction/dedication of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. Just before constructing the Temple, there were already several shrines to gods in the area (Terminus being one of them) that needed to be removed/relocated in order to make room for Jupiter. As each of the gods agreed to be removed/relocated, Terminus was the only one to refuse - therefore Terminus was left in the Temple, and Jupiter simply "moved in" around Terminus.

Below is a short poem by Ovid detailing this event:

The whole throng of gods yielded to Jupiter and made room: But as the ancients tell, Terminus remained in the shrine Where he was found, and shares the temple with great Jupiter, Even now there's a small hole in the temple roof, So he can see nothing above him but stars. Since then, Terminus, you've not been free to wander: Stay there, in the place where you've been put, And yield not an inch to your neighbour's prayers, Lest you seem to set men above Jupiter.

(Fasti: Book II, Feb. 23rd)

Terminus' statue standing within Jupiter's Temple, without conceding, was a good omen to the Romans as it proved the permanence of Rome's borders.

Historical Offerings

Wine

Honeycomb

Sacrificial blood, bones, and ashes

Crops

Modern Applications

While Terminus may have been considered the God of more physical boundaries — he is also the God of personal boundaries and limitations. Calling on Terminus when you need to set a personal boundary between yourself and others can be extremely beneficial and effective.

Additionally — as seen in the Wiccan (and other) traditions, when opening circles, more often than not, gods and/or goddesses are called on to protect the ritual circles. Terminus would be an excellent God to call upon in order to protect your ritual circle, or, general ritual working area (even if you are solitary, it would be worth it to call upon him to protect your altar space or spell working areas).

Lastly, Terminus would be effective for warding — your home, your workplace, or anywhere else you’d typically ward from danger/harm/intruders. Terminus essentially demands that the external world respects and acknowledges limits and boundaries that you set — so, if you set a personal boundary around your cubicle at work, for example, Terminus will help!

Now, while you may not be able to find sacrificial blood, bones or ashes to gift as an offering to Terminus -- his other preferred offerings (wine, honeycomb, and crops) are easily obtainable for the modern witch.

Something else to note -- many modern-day land surveyors venerate Terminus (whether they consider themselves polytheistic/witches or not)! The land surveying Subreddit showcases several instances of folks providing beer to property corners/monuments, as a way to thank Terminus for protecting property lines and boundaries. There are even a few folks who have gotten Terminus tattooed on themselves as a way to symbolize their appreciation for him, his history, and his relevance to the land surveying profession.

Personal Note

I went into a deep-dive about Terminus after reading about him in one of my land surveying textbooks (for those of you who don't know, I am currently studying/on track to become a licensed land surveyor) and found him, and his potential applications to modern witchcraft, incredibly interesting. Even though he is one of the lesser-known Roman gods, I feel he has an important place in history and in modern witchcraft applications!

Sources below the cut!

[victorysp]

Her Majesty Queen Máxima, honorary chair of MIND Us, was present at the presentation of the report ‘Performance pressure in secondary vocational education’ at Albeda in Rotterdam on Wednesday afternoon, 18 September.

The Trimbos Institute, Expertise Centre for Inclusive Education, Pharos, Utrecht University and the Erasmus SYNC Lab have conducted research into performance pressure and stress among students in secondary vocational education on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. In addition, a guideline has been developed with solutions for educational institutions, secondary vocational education students and the government to prevent or reduce performance pressure and stress.

📷 Royal House of Netherlands

[adarkrainbow]

Lost media quest: H&G Epic Tales (part 2)

In this second post (first one is here) I will collect and compile all the information I could find from the official outlets about "Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales".

First, the last "official" post of the Twitter account, in 2013, long before it got overtaken by some little girl, shared a link to an article on the Erasmus Rotterdam University website. The article is now gone, but it seems it was linked to the app being used in some sort of cultural program, because here was the title of the article, as described by the URL: www.eur.nl/ ese/ english/ information_for/ students/ bachelor_students/ bhc/ cultural_programme/ jagten_by_thomas_vinterberg/

There was also a certain big deal made on the official accounts about the price of the game being lowered "by popular demand" at 3.99 euros, 4.99 dollars.

The Twitter account shared a video of the Dutch news during which their application appeared as part of an example of (what seems to be the digital market boom within Dutch startups?). The video is still available here but we don't see too much of the application, just the initial "tableau", the first chapter, during which Hansel and Gretel sit by the stream in front of thir house. What we do see is that during the entire scene their father is chopping wood in the background, and we can spot two interactions possible in the tableau: touching a bird will make it fly in circle while chirping, touching the stream will make a fish (a trout I think?) jump out.

The exact date of the application's release was the 20th of April, 2012.

The Twitter account also shared an official "Release announcement" article that was posted on PrWeb. The article is down since, but it is available through the Wayback Machine. Here is what it said:

From pesky gnomes to cunning witches; from witty and wacky humour to eloquent storytelling Award winning animation studio announces EPIC TALES™, a new interactive storybook developer that goes beyond the classic fairytales.

Award winning animation studio Anikey and Cloud Castle Interactive proudly announce: EPIC TALES™, the interactive storyteller.

EPIC TALES is a new developer and publisher of interactive storybooks for the iOS platform (IPad, IPhone) and delivers a unique interactive adaptation of the imaginative and magical stories found in fairytales, folklore and world mythology. EPIC TALES allows you to not only enjoy enchanting tales, but to experience their magical worlds more closely than ever before.

“Fairytales just never seem to lose their magic, but having said that, what we envisioned for EPIC TALES was not to merely reproduce them; we wanted to go beyond that,” says Paul Hanraets, founder of EPIC TALES. “To conjure up new worlds and the peculiar creatures that inhabit them: with characters ranging from pesky gnomes to witty dwarfs; from a brave woodsman to a cunning witch. And as much fun as it is to revamp the classics, we also want to find those unsung folktales that have not yet been exhausted, to reveal their magic, and breathe life into the world around them.”

Each of EPIC TALES storybooks are digitally hand-drawn and offer stunning 2d animations, professional voice actors, original music scores, and spellbinding interactive environments that are sure to draw readers deep into the story. The alternating witty and wacky humour, the high production value, and the high degree of interaction are amongst some of the things separates EPIC TALES from other storybooks; however, what ultimately distinguishes EPIC TALES is the implementation of a central storyteller.

“The tales are narrated by Silvertongue, a most likeable dwarf,” Says Albert ’t Hooft, co- founder and producer of EPIC TALES. “Silvertongue, who once travelled the world in search of the most intriguing tales and stories, now resides in his humble bookstore where he personally sees to your storybook collection. Silvertongue is a gifted storyteller who can take an audience from a gasp of fright to a roar of laughter in just the twist of a phrase".

For their first storybook release EPIC TALES has chosen to bring off their version of one of the Brothers Grimm’s most celebrated fairy tales. EPIC TALES; the tale of Hansel and Gretel is expected to hit the Appstore January 2012 and will be available for IPad and IPhone.

About EPIC TALES™

EPIC TALES™ is a The Hague (Netherlands) based developer and publisher of interactive storybooks for the iOS platform, and delivers a unique interactive adaptation of the imaginative and magical stories found in fairytales, folklore and world mythology. EPIC TALES™ is a joint venture between award winning animation studio Anikey and Cloud Castle interactive.

If you want to check yourself here is the url:https://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8981778.htm. The website on the Wayback Machine notably contains an in-article save of the EpicTales.com website... A website I will be looking at in a minute.

Here are two more articles that covered the app. Unfortunately they are only available on the Wayback Machine now. (I will put a "d" in front of the URLs so that Tumblr doesn't turn them into active links): dhttp://iheartthisapp.com/hansel-and-gretel-epic-tales-animated-storybook-classic-childrens-story/ ; and dhttp://www.theipadfan.com/review/review-hansel-gretel-epic-tales-animated-storybook

The official trailer for the animated storybook contains this exact description of the interactive projective:

From pesky gnomes to cunning witches; from witty and wacky humour to eloquent storytelling, EPIC TALES™ is a new interactive storybook developer that goes beyond the classic fairytales…

EPIC TALES™ brings off an original and humorous version of the Brothers Grimm's most celebrated fairy tale. The tale of Hansel and Gretel is an interactive storybook that offers a combination of prime storytelling, brilliantly animated scenes, and dynamic interactions!

The Tale of Hansel & Gretel Feature Set:

Classical tale, original adaption

2D animations and cut scenes from Award winning animators

Beautiful hand drawn environments

Dynamic interactive surprises on every page

Professional storytelling and voice acting

Original music score and sound effects

Intuitive navigation

The tale of Hansel & Gretel tells of a young boy and his soft spoken sister who have been abandoned in a gloomy and remote forest. After being lost for days the children are lured into a house constructed of delicious candy and sweets. Foolhardily, the children fall into a trap set up by an old and cunning witch.

The Facebook account doesn't offer any much new info, as it pretty much doubles the Twitter account... Though they did posts screenshots of the positive reviews of the app which propelled it to the #1 rank of the Dutch Appstore at one point:

Plus a list of positive reviews from the United-States (honestly with how many reviews and notes this got, which means tons of downloads, how come nobody seems to have preserved the app today? That's crazy, somebody MUST have it stored in their iPad or iPhone somewhere!)

The Facebook account also shared links to many dead articles and missing reviews - that however can be found back on the Wayback Machine (praise our lord the Internet Archive for saving us of the digital oblivion)! Mind you these reviews don't bring much but they're still evidence. One is here: dhttp://thesmartphoneappreview.com/ipad/ipad-mini-review-hansel-and-gretel-epic-tales/. Another is here, a list of Dutch releases: dhttps://www.metronieuws.nl/entertainment/zonder-deze-spullen-kun-je-niet-op-zomervakantie/SrZlgD!2tXHqyT0qzBsg/. Finally, the Daily App Show had a page for this app - which contained a video-review of the storybook. The article doesn't exist anymore, though it is on the Wayback Machine. As for the video, the Wayback Machine seems to not have preserved it? That or my computer can't download it... I'll try to fetch this one another day: dhttp://dailyappshow.com/hansel-and-gretel-epic-tales-animated-storybook.

Finally, let's conclude this post by looking at the defunct Epic Tales website thanks to the Wayback Machine.

Here is what we could read on the Home Page:

Available on the App Store for IPad and IPhone. Our first release; Hansel and Gretel - animated storybook brings off an original version of the Brothers Grimm’s most celebrated fairy tale. The tale of Hansel and Gretel tells of a young boy and his soft spoken sister who have been abandoned in a gloomy and remote forest. After being lost for days the children are lured into a house constructed of delicious candy and sweets. Foolhardily, the children fall into a trap set up by an old and cunning witch.

Hansel and Gretel - animated storybook offers a combination of prime storytelling, brilliantly animated scenes, and surprising interactions!

Hansel and Gretel Feature Set: Classical tale, original adaption Produced and animated by award winning animation studio Professional storytelling and voice acting 23 chapters filled with beautiful hand drawn environments Over a 100 interactive and dynamic surprises Cinematic cut scenes Original music score and sound effects Intuitive navigation Options : Read to me, Read by myself or Play around

There was a "Titles" page (the use of plural indicates the then hope of creating a full line of animated storybooks).

It repeats the text copy-pasted above, while adding this:

Silvertongue, the dwarf Storyteller, will welcome you into his magical bookstore hidden deep within the swampland forest. Once inside the bookstore, Silvertongue will gladly display you his collection of tales that are available for purchase or free demonstration. Once you’ve selected and purchased your book, it will be added to your private bookshelf where Silvertongue will keep them safe for future reading. Besides exploring the store, Silvertongue offers you the chance to engage in some challenging mini-games that can be unlocked as a reward for helping him catch the pesky gnomes that dwell throughout his magical storybooks.

EPIC TALES™ Storyteller App is our free App for the iPad and iPhone. Within the App you have direct access to the bookstore, your own bookshelf, and various mini games.

EPIC TALES - Storyteller Feature Set: EPIC TALES Bookstore, titles for purchase or demonstration Private bookshelf Gnome Mini games 2D animations from award winning animators Professional storytelling and voice acting Original music score and sound effects Intuitive navigation

There was also a "News" page which contained a very interesting article pointing out that the release of "Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales" was notably made to match the 200th birthday of the brothers Grimm fairytales!

Let me copy-paste this article, called "Epic Tales celebrates 200th Anniversary of Grimm's fairy tales with Hansel and Gretel animated storybook"

Collaboration Between Award-Winning Animation Studio and Game Design Veterans Brings Classic Tale to Life On iPad and iPhone

“This version of Hansel and Gretel is a fully immersive, wonderfully engaging romp of a tale, complete with just the right amount of multimedia, professionalism and upstanding quality." – Luke Patrick, TheiPhoneAppReview.com

March 18, 2013 – Two hundred years after first being published, the magical and undeniable Brothers Grimm fairy tales continue to enchant and entertain children worldwide. Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales animated storybook celebrates this bicenntenial with the first in a series of classic, interactive tales from award-winning animation studio, Anikey, and the game veterans at Cloud Castle Interactive. For the month of April, the app will be available on the Appstore for iPad and iPhone for a special 200th anniversary price of $1.99, and thereafter will be priced at $3.99.

This EPIC Tales adaption stays true to the original Grimm Brothers' "Household Tales” – folklore laced with trepidation, morality, great joy and fun – but propels it into the 21st century. The storybook is digitally hand-drawn by award winning animators, and offers 20 chapters filled with over 100 dynamic and interactive surprises, professional voice acting, original music scores and ambient sounds. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKvoy7QU_vc

Offering spellbinding interactive environments that will draw readers even deeper into the story, Epic Tales’ Hansel and Gretel’s world is filled with whimsical characters ranging from pesky gnomes to witty dwarfs; from brave children to wicked stepmothers and cunning witches. At its center is the narrator, Silvertongue, a truly gifted storyteller who can take an audience from a gasp of fright to a roar of laughter in just the twist of a phrase.

According to The iPhone App Review’s Luke Patrick, “This eBook is a monument to what can be accomplished within the realm of iPad design. Hansel and Gretel doesn’t just offer pages of content, but rather a fully engaging experience. There’s incredibly good voice acting for each and every chapter, as well as Disney quality animations. You’ll also get fully animated trailer sequences for key plot points, in addition to interactive elements hidden within the pages. This version of Hansel and Gretel is a fully immersive, wonderfully engaging romp of a tale, complete with just the right amount of multimedia, professionalism and upstanding quality." http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2012/08/hansel-and-gretel-ipad-app-review/

EPIC Tales’ Hansel and Gretel features include:

Classical tale, original adaption

Produced and animated by award winning animation studio

Professional storytelling and voice acting

23 chapters filled with beautiful hand drawn environments

Over a 100 interactive and dynamic surprises

Cinematic cut scenes

Original music score and sound effects

Intuitive navigation

Three Options : Read to me, Read by myself or Play around

“It is wonderful that The Brothers Grimm anthology, a collection of 86 folktales, is still read and beloved by children today, 200 years after its first publication,” said Paul Hanraets, EPIC Tales founder and producer. “We are honored to celebrate the bicentennial of these enduring and highly entertaining fairy tales with the re-release of our animated version of one of its most popular stories, Hansel and Gretel.”

"We didn’t cut any corners with Hansel and Gretel, and it has paid off. We are pleased that initial reviews have highlighted its production value, the high quality of our animations and our alternating witty and wacky humor,” said creative director Albert ‘t Hooft. “And, the layout of the pages is clean and intuitive with hidden interactive elements offering lots of surprises.”

EPIC TALES™ is a series of high-quality, interactive fairytales that allows you to not only enjoy enchanting tales, but to experience their magical worlds more closely than ever before. Children will love the sense of wonder and discovery, while adults will certainly appreciate the clever and wacky humor.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY Hansel and Gretel - Epic Tales animated storybook will be available on the Appstore for iPad and iPhone for a special promotional price of $1.99 in April, and thereafter will be priced at $3.99.Review copies upon request.

ABOUT EPIC TALES™ EPIC TALES™ is a The Hague (Netherlands) based developer and publisher of interactive storybooks for the iOS platform, and delivers unique, interactive adaptations of the imaginative and magical stories found in fairytales, folklore and world mythology. EPIC TALES™ is a joint venture between award winning animation studio Anikey and Cloud Castle Interactive.

There was also a "Contact" page, and an "About" page - however I will keep the "About" segment for a third post, because this one is getting slightly too big for now.

[isadomna]

Jean Gossaert (copia): «Retrato de Mencía de Mendoza», 1532-1535. Musée Condé, Chantilly.

She was Marchioness of Zenete, Countess of Nassau, Duchess of Calabria and Vicereine of Valencia

She was a leading figure of the Renaissance in the Netherlands and known for her progressive opinions of the education of women.

A disciple of Juan Luis Vives, she was an admirer of Erasmus of Rotterdam. Mencia de Mendoza was called the most Erasmian woman in Spain.

However, the artistic patronage of Mencía de Mendoza did not stop at acquiring works of art, but included more public initiatives, such as the University of Valencia project or the patronage of students from Valencia, on whom she bestowed grants for studying at different Spanish and European universities. At the same time, the Marchioness of Zenete emerges as a key figure for analysing artistic‐cultural relations between Spain and the Low Countries in the first half of the sixteenth century. Her relationship with other Spaniards, both those living outside Spain, such as Felipe de Guevara or Juan Luis Vives, and those within, who acted as her intermediaries in the purchase of works of art, was also important in this respect. As patron and intermediary, Mencía de Mendoza acted as ‘cultural ambassador’ for Spanish art in Breda and for Flemish art in Castile and Aragon.

Noelia García Pérez, Mencía de Mendoza, Marquesa de Zenete: an art collector in sixteenth‐century Spain

[bpod-bpod]

Mousing Development

A fertilised egg divides until a human emerges. Developmental biologists study this intricate dance of cells to learn how bodies are built. But getting a peek at the earliest stages of development isn't easy, so they use scientific models. One of the most exciting is the ETX embryoid, which is constructed from mouse stem cells. It allows scientists to study events that they can't see in the uterus, and it doesn't involve experimenting on animals. But high-quality ETX embryoids are difficult to produce. Here, we see one made using a new, more efficient recipe – its pattern of fluorescent tags tells us that its cells are properly organised. By fine-tuning their procedure, the researchers were able to produce these embryos with a 40% success rate. This improvement makes working with ETX embryoids more feasible for scientists around the world, which may help them answer profound questions about how life starts.

Written by Henry Stennett

Image from work by Cathérine Dupont and colleagues

Department of Developmental Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Published in Science Advances, January 2023

You can also follow BPoD on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

[travelinfo120]

Earlier this week, feeling somewhat inundated with memes and social media posts about Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, I emailed Simone Driessen. She’s a professor of media and popular culture at Erasmus University Rotterdam and often has smart insights on the ways online commentary and real-world issues intersect. Mostly, I wanted to know: What was going on? Why had the internet anointed Mangione a folk hero?Driessen’s answer was the one lots of folks have come to: People in the US are frustrated with the health insurance industry, and posting responses about Thompson’s killing is a way to vent that frustration. Interest in the person behind that death, even before a suspect had been apprehended or named, reflected not necessarily support of the suspect or the act, but the idea of “someone trying to take on (or take down) the health care system,” she wrote. Memes help people make sense of that feeling.Still, Dreissen added, that didn’t necessarily explain all of the people thirsting after Mangione once he’d been identified as the alleged shooter. That, she wrote, “fits somewhat of a societal trend or media entertainment trend where we have this overall romanticized depiction of criminals” thanks to the recent popularity of true-crime series.It’s no surprise, then, that more than a few people online have been suggesting that the Mangione case could be the fodder for the next Ryan Murphy Netflix series like Dahmer or Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Some also suggest Dave Franco, who bears a striking resemblance to the suspect, could play Mangione.Yes, that does make sense, but does anyone need it? Fascination around the case, and Mangione as a person, has hit fever pitch, and while that may make a Hollywood dramatization an interesting prospect, it’s an idea that’s better left alone.While there are already those who have qualms about turning the stories of Jeffrey Dahmer or the Menendez brothers into miniseries, there’s also the fact that time has passed since those cases gripped America. Dahmer was sentenced to life in prison in 1992 in connection with the death of 15 people in Wisconsin; he was then extradited to Ohio where he was convicted of another murder. A jury convicted Lyle and Erik Menendez in the killing of their parents in 1996. Netflix’s series about them both came decades after those cases were essentially closed. Bonnie & Clyde came out in 1967; the duo went on their crime spree in the 1930s.

[duhoccunglinh]

Cuộc sống ở Hà Lan – Top thành phố lý tưởng cho du học sinh

 Cuộc sống ở Hà Lan luôn là điểm thu hút nhiều sinh viên quốc tế khi lựa chọn quốc gia du học. Bên cạnh nền giáo dục với chất lượng chuẩn châu Âu, thì đời sống thường ngày tại các thành phố lớn Hà Lan có rất nhiều điểm thú vị mà bạn nên biết. Trong bài viết này, EFP sẽ bật mí cho bạn danh sách những thành phố mà du học sinh nên lựa chọn nhé!

1. Thủ đô Amsterdam – Đại diện cho cuộc sống ở Hà Lan

Amsterdam là thủ đô của Hà Lan, luôn là sự lựa chọn ưu tiên hàng đầu của nhiều sinh viên quốc tế. Thành phố này không chỉ nổi tiếng với cảnh sắc thơ mộng mà còn là địa điểm tọa lạc của nhiều Đại học danh tiếng như:

– Đại học Amsterdam (top 1% thế giới – theo QS World University Ranking 2019)

– Đại học Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

– Đại học Khoa học ứng dụng Amsterdam

Amsterdam mang đên sự giao thoa giữa văn hóa truyền thống và hiện đại. Khi sinh sống ở đây, bạn có thể dễ dàng di chuyển bằng xe đạp để tham quan các địa điểm tổ chức lễ hội văn hóa đặc sắc. 

Tuy nhiên, chi phí sinh hoạt ở Amsterdam khá cao khi so sánh với các khu vực khác, nhưng bù lại, cơ hội nghề nghiệp lại rất rộng mở cho sinh viên quốc tế.

Xem thêm: https://efandpartners.com/cuoc-song-o-ha-lan-top-thanh-pho-ly-tuong-cho-du-hoc-sinh/

2. Rotterdam

Rotterdam là một trong những thành phố sôi đôi động nhất khi nhắc về cuộc sống ở Hà Lan, nổi tiếng với cuộc sống sầm uất khi sở hữu cảng biển lớn nhất châu Âu. Bên cạnh đó, Rotterdam luôn có mặt ở những vị trí cao trong các bảng xếp hạng về sức sáng tạo, cơ sở hạ tầng, chất lượng cuộc sống và an sinh xã hội. 

Rotterdam còn được mệnh danh là “bến cảng tri thức” khi là nơi khai sinh ra Đại học Erasmus Rotterdam, được nhiều tổ chức học thuật uy tín công nhận như ACCSB (tổ chức quy mô toàn thế giới kiểm định chất lượng các trường đào tạo về kinh tế), NVAO (tổ chức đảm bảo chất lượng đào tạo của các trường đại học Hà Lan), EQUIS (tổ chức đánh giá chất lượng, sự phát triển các trường đại học, học viện của châu Âu).

Hiện trường có khoảng 30.800 sinh viên, trong đó thu hút hơn 6.500 sinh viên quốc tế, đến từ 100 quốc gia khác nhau. Đây là sự khẳng định chắc nịch cho chất lượng giảng dạy và đào tạo của trường.

Xem thêm: Chi phí sinh hoạt khi du học Hà Lan

EFP là một trong những công ty chuyên tư vấn và đưa ra định hướng dịch vụ du học Úc, Đức, Mỹ, Hà Lan. Với những tiêu chí sau: 

- Định hướng ngành học vì tương lai của du học sinh, không vì hoa hồng từ trường

- Chăm lo cho các bạn du học sinh từ A-Z

- Hỗ trợ tìm việc làm, nhà ở phù hợp với nhu cầu của du học sinh

- Hơn nữa, Nhân sự EFP tại quốc gia sở tại hỗ trợ du học sinh làm quen, hòa nhập môi trường trong thời gian đầu

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Tư Vấn Du Học - Edu Future & Partners 

Website: https://efandpartners.com/ 

Địa chỉ: Lầu 2, 27 Tống Hữu Định, Thảo Đi���n, Quận 2, TP HCM

[thebridgeofdeaths]

The Start-Up Puzzle

@RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #TheStartUpPuzzle #RobertVanPappelendam #Business  Nonfiction / Business  There’s a lot of over-promises and incorrect advice being given online on starting a successful enterprise. This wrong advice could cost someone their life savings and importantly ruin their life ambition and dream. Therefore, in partnership with the Erasmus University Rotterdam, we decided…

[maettymae]

The fact that doctors are fundamentally unable to deal with patients is also shown very clearly in the following article, which can be read in the respected German newspaper "Die Welt".

Because if doctors could deal with patients, it would be a win-win situation for both sides.

1. the patients would be helped

2. the doctors would also have more money in their pockets.

Now, to the article in question with the very striking title:

Those who annoy doctors endanger their own health

As a precaution, you have already consulted Dr. Google and consider doctors to be overrated per se: such patients annoy doctors. But they are also more often misdiagnosed, say psychologists.

There is one person who really gets on every colleague's nerves, says Johannes Wimmer. A type of patient. Wimmer is a doctor who works in the emergency department of a Hamburg hospital, among other places. The universally unpopular patient is: the know-it-all. The know-it-all constantly lectures and corrects the doctor. The know-it-all has read something on the Internet, which he considers no worse a source than years of medical school. "And he doesn't do what I advise him to do."

After talking to Wimmer and reading two new studies from the Netherlands, it has to be said that the know-it-all is not only a danger to his doctors' nerves. Above all, he is putting himself in danger. Patients who are considered difficult by doctors are more likely to be misdiagnosed.

Silvia Mamede and Henk Schmidt, psychologists at Erasmus University Rotterdam, have shown this in experiments with more than 130 trainee doctors. The danger exists above all if the patients do not have a common illness, but a rare condition.

"We know that encounters between doctor and patient are often emotionally charged," says Silvia Mamede, who also studied medicine. But what effect does the emotional atmosphere have? There have been no empirical studies on this, says Mamede. Only descriptions of "difficult patients" in the specialist literature.

[mariacallous]

Taylor Swift remains inescapable. Tales of her reign are legion, as are her fans. Next to Beyoncé, her power and influence have reached heights so unbridled it’s almost unfathomable. Her Eras Tour made nearly a billion dollars in 2023, and the concert film of that tour has brought in nearly $250 million worldwide. When rumors started swirling in the fall that she was dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, they upended American football. Still, when Time named her Person of the Year, conspiracy theorists saw only one explanation. They allege Swift is a psyop.

If you’ve lived on the internet long enough, you will have heard this kind of thing before. Back in 2016, when she was largely apolitical in her public life, Swift was a hero of the so-called alt-right who some believed was actually red-pilling America to further a racist, conservative agenda. When she piped up about politics in 2018, some people online (somewhat jokingly) theorized she’d been replaced by an NPC. The latest twist? “The regime has plans to weaponize her just in time for 2024,” the @EndWokeness account posted on X Wednesday, adding that if you didn’t find this plausible “you clearly have not been paying attention.”

@EndWokeness has 1.9 million followers, and, as of Monday morning, the post had more than 788,000 views. On Telegram, a QAnon influencer account posted that “we need to wake the next generation up to the occult forces colluding with their favorite celebrities.” Right-wing commentator Jack Posobiec posted on X that “the Taylor Swift girlboss psyop has been fully activated.”

Last week’s Person of the Year honor was also followed by resurfaced allegations that Swift is performing witchcraft to further her success and that the left is using her to influence the 2024 US presidential election. Stephen Miller, a senior adviser during Donald Trump’s presidency, posted a message on X saying that “what’s happening with Taylor Swift is not organic.”

All of this happened the same week WIRED reporter David Gilbert published an investigation into a pro-Russia campaign that used fake Swift quotes in a series of Facebook and X posts attempting to seed anti-Ukraine sentiment, reinforcing—in a totally different way—that celebrity is a powerful tool for manipulation. A few days later, Microsoft researchers revealed a similar effort by an unknown Russian group to alter Cameo videos by celebs like Elijah Wood and Mike Tyson to make it look like they were being critical of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Swift exists as a unique example of the intersection of celebrity and politics, and how it operates globally, says Jonathan Dean, a professor of politics at the University of Leeds. “An important feature of culture and politics over the past 10 years, certainly in the UK and the US and I think probably more broadly as well, is that there’s been a significant convergence in the grammar and style and mode, if you like, of pop culture fandom and political citizenship,” he says, referencing the similar ways fandoms and political parties can operate. “Taylor Swift is interesting in that sense because I think she’s a real embodiment of those convergences.”

Simone Driessen, an assistant professor of media and popular culture at Erasmus University Rotterdam, agrees, noting that as the message-spreading of fandom has merged with that of politics, support can be mobilized readily. As Driessen puts it, “fandom(s), particularly the practices of what fans do, can be weaponized.” What’s weird is that to those who believe these claims, Swift has risen to a level where she can be a powerful political pawn—all without her input. (Swift’s rep did not respond to an email seeking comment on whether or not the singer was part of a psyop.)

Well, maybe not entirely without her input. Swift herself knows how to plant seeds. Her lyrics are written to be decoded by listeners. Her fans have their own theories, like those espoused by Gaylors who decode every image and message from Swift through a queer lens, powered by their belief that the singer is trying to signal that she’s in some way into women. (She could be! But also, who cares?) Some people believe she showed up at Kelce’s game against the New York Jets just to alter Google Search results away from her use of private planes.

Swift’s name draws attention, and that’s power. It’s why the State of Israel often tags her in social media posts, and why #SwiftiesForPalestine have been asking for her to speak up about the Israel–Hamas war.

Celebrity has been used by political movements for centuries. Politicians are celebrities. Swifties are simultaneously like every fandom before them, but they’re also unique. By remaining largely apolitical for the first half of her career, her acolytes were able to project whatever values they held onto her. When she finally came out in support of women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and Joe Biden during the past few years, she alienated some and brought others to the fold.

Swift also created a vacuum in which anyone could claim she was an agent for any cause. It’s hard to imagine Swifties believing she said Ukrainians “behave like charlatans,” so the odds that a pro-Russia campaign could successfully weaponize her fame are slim. Where she stands on the 2024 US election may be more indecipherable. Perhaps that is the real psyop.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 9.28 (after 1920)

1924 – The first aerial circumnavigation is completed by a team from the US Army. 1928 – Alexander Fleming notices a bacteria-killing mold growing in his laboratory, discovering what later became known as penicillin. 1939 – World War II: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union agree on a division of Poland. 1939 – World War II: The siege of Warsaw comes to an end. 1941 – World War II: The Drama uprising against the Bulgarian occupation in northern Greece begins. 1941 – Ted Williams achieves a .406 batting average for the season, and becomes the last major league baseball player to bat .400 or better. 1944 – World War II: Soviet Army troops liberate Klooga concentration camp in Estonia. 1951 – CBS makes the first color televisions available for sale to the general public, but the product is discontinued less than a month later. 1961 – A military coup in Damascus effectively ends the United Arab Republic, the union between Egypt and Syria. 1970 – Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser dies of a heart attack in Cairo. 1973 – The ITT Building in New York City is bombed in protest at ITT's alleged involvement in the coup d'état in Chile. 1975 – The Spaghetti House siege, in which nine people are taken hostage, takes place in London. 1986 – The Democratic Progressive Party becomes the first opposition party in Taiwan. 1992 – A Pakistan International Airlines flight crashes into a hill in Nepal, killing all 167 passengers and crew. 1994 – The cruise ferry MS Estonia sinks in the Baltic Sea, killing 852 people. 1995 – Bob Denard and a group of mercenaries take the islands of the Comoros in a coup. 1995 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat sign the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 2000 – Al-Aqsa Intifada: Ariel Sharon visits Al-Aqsa Mosque known to Jews as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. 2008 – Falcon 1 becomes the first privately developed liquid-fuel ground-launched vehicle to put a payload into orbit by the RatSat mission. 2008 – The Singapore Grand Prix is held as Formula One's inaugural night race, with Fernando Alonso winning the event. Almost a year later it was revealed that Alonso's team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr. had been ordered to crash his car to help bring out the safety car and give Alonso the advantage and win. 2009 – The military junta leading Guinea attacks a protest rally, killing or wounding 1,400 people. 2012 – Somali and African Union forces launch a coordinated assault on the Somali port of Kismayo to take back the city from al-Shabaab militants. 2012 – Sita Air Flight 601 crashes in Madhyapur Thimi, Nepal, killing all 19 passengers and crew. 2014 – The 2014 Hong Kong protests begin in response to restrictive political reforms imposed by the NPC in Beijing. 2016 – The 2016 South Australian blackout occurs, lasting up to three days in some areas. 2018 – The 7.5 Mw 2018 Sulawesi earthquake, which triggered a large tsunami, leaves 4,340 dead and 10,679 injured. 2023 – The 2023 Rotterdam shootings occurred, during which two people were killed in a shooting and arson incident at a residence in Delfshaven, Rotterdam. Additionally, one person lost their life in a classroom at the Erasmus University Medical Center.

[beyon005]

Why the Netherlands is the Best Study Destination for Indian Students in 2024

When considering a study destination abroad, Indian students are increasingly looking toward the Netherlands. With a reputation for academic excellence, a welcoming international atmosphere, and affordable living costs, the Netherlands has become a top choice for higher education. Here’s why:

1. High-Quality Education System

The Netherlands is home to some of the world’s most reputable universities, including Delft University of Technology, Utrecht University, and Erasmus University Rotterdam. These institutions are ranked highly for their research facilities, academic programs, and student support services. Most importantly, a wide array of courses is offered in English, making it accessible for Indian students.

2. Affordable Tuition and Scholarships

Compared to other European nations, the Netherlands offers affordable tuition fees for international students. The average tuition for EU and non-EU students is lower, and numerous scholarships, such as the Holland Scholarship and Orange Tulip Scholarship, are available to help Indian students manage their financial burdens.

3. Post-Study Work Visa

A major advantage for Indian students is the post-study “Orientation Year” visa that allows graduates to live in the Netherlands for a year while seeking employment. With the country’s strong economy and high demand for skilled workers, finding a job post-graduation is feasible, particularly in sectors like engineering, IT, business, and healthcare.

4. Multicultural Environment

The Dutch are known for being open-minded and welcoming to internationals. Most Dutch people speak fluent English, making it easier for Indian students to adjust to their new environment. The country’s multicultural environment, paired with its cosmopolitan cities, ensures a rich and diverse study experience.

5. Quality of Life

The Netherlands is known for its high quality of life, with a strong healthcare system, excellent public transport, and a rich cultural scene. Whether you’re cycling through Amsterdam’s historic streets or visiting the tulip fields in the countryside, life in the Netherlands is both exciting and comfortable.

6. Strong Indian Community

The Netherlands is home to a growing Indian community, offering a sense of familiarity for Indian students. Indian cultural events, restaurants, and communities are thriving, making the transition to life in the Netherlands smoother.

Studying in the Netherlands can be a life-changing experience that sets you up for success in your academic and professional future. To learn more about universities, scholarships, and living in the Netherlands, visit Beyon Education for personalized guidance.