#if our particular article got the most clicks

[jacquelinemerritt]

The Fascinating Minor Characters of Twilight

Originally posted on November 2nd, 2015

Screw Edward and Bella, these characters are actually interesting.

So, it’s 2015, which means that statistically, you’ve both heard of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series and the opinions of the incredibly vocal critics of the series. And to be sure, there is a lot to criticize about this novel series; Edward is creepy, Bella is boring, the story plays into sexist tropes and stereotypes, and there’s nothing particularly interesting about the series’ story unless you’re a teenager who buys into Meyer’s unhealthy vision of romance.

Except, that last point isn’t entirely true. See, Twilight is actually filled with some downright fascinating characters, whose existence bring up questions of the nature of violence, what love means in a hopeless context, and how limiting oneself can bring peace. I’m, of course, referring to one of her minor characters specifically, and the one character that these questions come through is Jasper.

A little background first: Jasper is part of the Cullen family, but unlike most of the family, he wasn’t turned by Carlisle. He was turned by Maria, a vampire he met while serving as a Major in the Confederate Army, and developed a psychic empathy, or the ability to feel other people’s emotions, upon turning. After a while, he turned on Maria, and fled north, where he eventually met Alice, whose visions led the both of them to the Cullen family.

Now, the concept of a Confederate Major being turned into a vampire is pretty damn cool on its own, but what’s particularly interesting about Jasper beyond that is the way his character arc relates to those three questions I mentioned above. First, his psychic empathy gives him the ability to feel and control every emotion the people around him feel, and as a result, he’s forced to deal with the true nature of violence and killing. Every single time he takes someone else’s life, he is forced to share in their fear, and forced to confront the horrific nature of the violent acts he commits. Of course, to his knowledge, he can’t stop killing, as there is no other way to feed, and so he is driven into a state of depression and hopelessness, until he meets Alice.

Alice is the first person to give Jasper hope. Her plucky and optimistic demeanor inspires him, and he falls in love with her, despite his hopeless situation*. She then shows him that he can survive off animal blood, giving him the ability to end his violent ways and become more peaceful.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that Japser becomes perfect, and we see in New Moon that he has to control his bloodlust more carefully than the rest of the Cullen family, as the sight of blood can still set him into a frenzy if he hasn’t fed in a while.

Of course, none of this comes through in the forefront of Meyer’s story; they’re only mentioned in passing when Jasper relays his story to Bella in Eclipse. But they are there regardless, and the fact that this interesting of a story is located in Twilight speaks to the unrealized potential of Meyer’s world.

After all, can you imagine a novel or film focused on the story of a Confederate vampire forced to experience the pain of everyone he kills? I sure can, and it makes me wish Meyer had had the sense to see how much more interesting Jasper’s story is when compared to anything that happens to Bella or Edward.

*I’m aware that this falls into the harmful stereotype of the “manic pixie dream girl” bringing “sad and depressed guy” out of a slump with her quirky happiness, and I find it just as problematic here as anywhere else.

[binaural-histolog]

Zotoro, Scihub, and more Cool Hypnosis Papers

CW: severe nerdery

I don't have an academic background, and while I've been poking around at hypnosis nerdery for a while, I was limited to an extent by what I could get my hands on.

This is especially important when it comes to the academic texts. There's only so many books out there on theory, and a bunch of it doesn't make sense until you go back and read the actual papers.

For example, I knew that Kirsch had something to do with placebo and expectations, but I only had a vague understanding of what and how. A paragraph critique in Theories of Hypnosis wasn't enough to give me the proper context.

Until I decided I was going to rewrite the newbie guide to explain hypnosis from a modern neuroscience perspective and then I was committed to pulling the citations and digging up the actual papers.

At first I was doing it by hand by pasting things into Scihub and downloading the PDFs. This sort of worked, but at some point there are just too many PDFs and it's work to keep them consistent.

This is where Zotero comes in. It's a PDF database that is set up to scan for academic fields and give you a UI for finding, reading and annotating the PDFs. It syncs between MacOS, Windows, and iOS and keeps the annotations and highlights. And even better, it's got plugins.

Specifically, it's got a plugin for Scihub. You can add a DOI number and it'll pull the abstract data for the paper, and then you can right click and it'll download the paper from Scihub automatically.

It doesn't cover everything. Some stuff is too new for Scihub, and I've had to fallback to https://reddit.com/r/scholar to request articles, but there's so much stuff.

In particular, you get the sense of how academic papers can be a conversation, an argument, or a lawsuit. You get to see the most brutal putdowns phrased as passing comments. And the grudges and ego can go on for decades.

There are a couple of papers that I recommend everyone read, because they're just great at summarizing the field and current thinking.

The response set theory of hypnosis reconsidered: toward an integrative model

I love this paper not just because it goes over response expectancy theory from the inception to the general whittling down from "Once expectancy effects are eliminated, there may be nothing left" to response expectancy as 25%-35% of suggestibility and the addition of a "readiness response set" to cover the rest of it... but also because despite Kirsch's hand in response set theory and response expectancies and being in a journal issue devoted to Kirsch's career and achievements, he is not an author to this paper that is reconsidering his work. Instead, he gets a hand clap.

In closing, Irving Kirsch has greatly advanced our understanding of hypnosis. The construct of expectancies that he articulated and championed for decades has well withstood the test of time and replication. We extend our personal gratitude to him for his shaping influence on our personal views of hypnosis and for his many contributions to the field of hypnosis that he so immensely enriched.

I'm not sure what I'm looking at, but I love it.

How Hypnotic Suggestions Work – A Systematic Review of Prominent Theories of Hypnosis

This is a preprint, but it's comprehensive not just in how it picks out theories of hypnosis that are more recent than the book, but also in how it pokes holes and points out weak points in the various theories. It's also recent enough to talk about fun new things like predictive coding and interoception and somatosensory feedback.

Hypnosis and top-down regulation of consciousness

Devin Terhune's papers are always good to read. His papers read like a story where every chapter builds on the last one. This one is a "synthesis of current knowledge regarding the characteristics and neurocognitive mechanisms of hypnosis" and I can't tell you how many times I've read through this paper by accident because I wanted to pick a point out of it and got sucked into it all over again.

[usafphantom2]

SR-71 pilot recalls when his RSO Flipped Off a French Air Force Mirage III Pilot (Then They lit their Blackbird’s Afterburners and Outran him)

The SR-71 Blackbird

The SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft was the world’s fastest jet-propelled aircraft and the most advanced member of the Blackbird family developed by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation’s clandestine “Skunk Works” division.

The Blackbird was in a different category from anything that had come before. “Everything had to be invented. Everything,” Skunk Works legendary aircraft designer Kelly Johnson recalled in an interesting article appeared on Lockheed Martin website.

The speed of the SR-71 exceeded 2,000 mph. Other planes of the era could, in theory, approximate that speed but only in short, after-burner-driven bursts. The Blackbird maintained a record-setting speed for hours at a time.

Cool Video Explains how SR-71 Blackbird’s J58 Turbo-Ramjet Engine Works

This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. SR-71A Blackbird 61-7972 “Skunkworks”

One of the most entertaining stories about flying the Blackbird comes from Lt. Colonel William Burk Jr., who shares about a particular mission he flew [according to SR-71 pilot Stormy Boudreaux, Tom Henichek was Burk’s RSO for that mission] over Lebanon back in 1982 in the book Skunk Works by Ben Rich.

Blackbird over Lebanon

‘In the fall of ’82, I flew from Mildenhall on a mission over Lebanon in response to the Marine barracks bombing. President Reagan ordered photo coverage of all the terrorist basis in the region. The French refused to allow us overfly, so our mission profile was to refuel off the south coast of England, a Mach 3 cruise leg down the coast of Portugal and Spain, left turn through the Straits of Gibraltar, refuel in the Western Mediterranean, right turn into Lebanon and fly right down main street Beirut, exit along the southern Mediterranean with another refueling over Malta, supersonic back out the straits, and return to England.

‘Because Syria had a Soviet SA-5 missile system just west of Damascus that we would be penetrating (we were unsure of Syria’s intentions in this conflict), we programmed to fly above 80,000 feet and at Mach 3 plus to be on the safe side, knowing that this advanced missile had the range and speed to nail us.

SR-71 pilot recalls when his RSO Flipped Off a French Air Force Mirage III Pilot (Then They lit their Blackbird’s Afterburners and Outran him)

‘As we entered Lebanon’s airspace my Recon Systems Officer in the rear cockpit informed me that our defensive systems display showed we were being tracked by that SA-5. About 15 seconds later we got a warning of active guidance signals from the SA-5 site. We couldn’t tell whether there was an actual launch or the missile was still on the rails, but they were actively tracking us. We didn’t waste any time wondering, but climbed and pushed that throttle, and said a couple of “Hail Kellys.”

SR-71 crew flipping off a French Air Force Mirage III Pilot

‘We completed our pass over Beirut and turned toward Malta, when I got a warning low-oil-pressure light on my right engine. Even though the engine was running fine I slowed down and lowered our altitude and made a direct line for England. We decided to cross France without clearance instead of going the roundabout way.

‘We made it almost across, when I looked out the left window and saw a French Mirage III sitting ten feet off my left wing. He came up on our frequency and asked us for our Diplomatic Clearance Number. I had no idea what he was talking about, so I told him to stand by. I ask my backseater, who said, “Don’t worry about it. I just gave it to him.” What he had given him was “the bird” with his middle finger: I lit the afterburners and left that Mirage standing still. Two minutes later, we were crossing the Channel.’

Be sure to check out Linda Sheffield Miller (Col Richard (Butch) Sheffield’s daughter, Col. Sheffield was an SR-71 Reconnaissance Systems Officer) Twitter X Page Habubrats SR-71, Instagram Page SR71Habubrats and Facebook Page Born into the Wilde Blue Yonder Habubrats for awesome Blackbird’s photos and stories.

@Habubrats71 via X

[things-about-cars-in-posts]

We need to do most nonbinary cars next. Because it's obviously the NB miata. I mean come on

Alright then, let apostrophe s!

So, we already have one candidate - two if you split them between pre-and post facelift...

...but let's see if we can do better.

The first course of action was to ask an expert in nonbinary, my nonbinary ex. They suggested "that asymmetrical car from the commercial", and I immediately realized, oh right, the Hyundai Veloster!

Literally rejecting the binary between hatchbacks with rear doors and hatchbacks with none, as illustrated by quite a commercial if I do say so myself.

As the ad hints, yes indeed the Veloster's rear door was always opposite the driver's side, including in right hand drive cars - meaning yes, the Veloster's rear door changes side with the market it's sold in...

...a bit like what my ex was actually referring to: the third generation Nissan Cube, another asymmetric vehicle with two symmetrical versions, as explained in my Pike Cars post (and indeed, the Cube also got a spectacular campaign - you really gotta go have a look at that post right there).

So, having gotten their suggestion (and another unrelated pick that they did however approve...)

...I set about hitting up the Discord for completion's sake, where @chevyventure gave a couple suggestions of his own: the Kia Soul.

And let me tell you, the commercials just keep getting weirder.

And this is not even about the commercial itself, it's how long they kept rolling with the idea, and really, how far they took it too. From its debut...

...to its small restyling in 2012...

...to its redesign in 2014...

...and more: that's not even most of them! But I'll stick to suggesting you look them up on YouTube because we still have to get to our friend's other suggestions.

Luckily, the 5th generation Camry will be quick work, since the main argument for its nonbinariness is that swinging either particular way would imply some sort of characteristic, thus violating the spirit of the Camry, a car so committed to the bland that for years the most interesting thing about them have been their dents.

And so we get to the final suggestion, the second-gen Scion xB.

Okay, so, storytime, I was looking to get some pictures of the car going on, right? So I found this one which is of good quality, a well-representing angle and a color that compliments its enbyness, so I clicked on the Car And Driver article this is from to browse its gallery and find a rear shot and what do I not see as the first picture in the album.

I mean, that is on the nose for my standards.

And I'm not the only one who made interesting finds looking for these pictures...

So, what'll it be?

"But wait", I hear you think because not only can I hear the sounds you make yes even the farts but also your thoughts, "what was that Discord you were referring to, does this blog have a- wait even that silent one from a minute ago?". And, setting aside the serious work your definition of 'silent' needs, yes it does!!!! Click that blue link to find out more!

Links in blue are posts of mine about the topic in question - if you liked this post, you might like those!

[lego-man-speer]

It honestly baffles me that some people here apparently seem to have that little knowledge/interest in the Reich's history, like isn't this being a history "fandom" literally the entire point of it?? Like, I totally get it if people want to focus more on particular subsections or figures that interest them the most in their research or in what they post, I do that too, and it's totally okay not to be equally knowledgeable on everything - even actual studied historians have their specialisations, after all - but like ... I think a little bit beyond the most basic knowledge of general Third Reich history should be expected (I say "beyond" because I think the most basic of its history is something that actually everyone should be familiar with regardless of how much it interests you, like that's literally stuff you're supposed to learn in school). And if you don't know something that's not a shame, but take it as an opportunity to educate yourself further? Like, go watch a ww2 documentary or read a book or go on wikipedia - isn't learning new facts and finding out things you didn't know before what makes history research fun? (I don't know though, maybe that's just me because I probably spent wayyy too much time reading the most random wikipedia articles because something sparked my interest and I clicked on one link and then the next and then the next ...)

I honestly kind of get being tired of it, though I personally do not plan to leave the fandom anytime soon, but I also have zero interest getting involved in all the drama (hence I'm also writing this on anon). I'm just planning to stay in my own little corner and focus more on creating educational posts for the future. That being said I take absolutely no issue with the occasional shitpost or meme or jokingly "gushing" (for a lack of a better word) about our historical "favourites", I post those too especially when I don't have the energy for anything more elaborate, but recently I've been kind of missing the educational aspects a bit? By no means I'm expecting everyone to suddenly just post fully researched and cited essays or to write their master's thesis into a tumblr post. But an educational post can even be something more simple, for example a specific historical photo that you find interesting, maybe with a short description about the time, place, context it was taken in. <- This is meant more as an encouragement than a criticism for everyone reading this by the way (and I'm thankful that I'm already seeing these kinds of posts too), because isn't that also where the fun in it lies (if that's somehow appropriate to say it) , exchanging interesting material and info and anecdotes about our favourite historical figures with people who share our interests?

Anyway, I probably trailed off a bit. I hope this wasn't too bothersome, I wasn't sure if I should even say anything about this whole situation. However I thought if I'm already speaking on it, it probably reaches more people through your ask box than if I post it on my own account.

[also just for clarification, I'm using any "you" in this text not to address anyone specifically, but rather as a way of speaking to a general audience]

Your take is very much appreciated anon. And I completely agree with you.

I used to make shitpost content as well but I gradually moved away from it (at least on tumblr) because I didn’t want it to be the main focus of my account (my memes got more engagement than my educational works unfortunately). I’ve never discouraged people from making that content, I just take issue with people who make that the ONLY focus of their content.

Even if people don’t want to write themselves, they should at least engage with the educational side of the fandom (at the very least reblogging the educational content of others if you don’t want to make it yourself). There’s little to no excuse for not being educated or not spreading education in this fandom (especially because of its subject matter).

[qqueenofhades]

I keep thinking about the ask you answered a little while ago about people wanting a leftist version of Trump is so scarily true it's unsettling. People keep demanding he "do something" about abortion and gun violence but when anyone is like.... he can't, he doesn't have the votes to, they're like "he's the President he said he would do something why hasn't he done something" and it's like ???? what part of this are you not understanding if he doesn't have the votes he doesn't have the votes. Do they want like an EO or something? I'm just not sure what they expect him to do.

And it's also so fucking annoying to see them go after the Dems at every turn while letting the Republicans off the hook completely and not expecting shit from them. You may just want Biden to write them all off and govern like the GOP doesn't exist but he can't.....exactly do that. That's not how our system works. I wonder if they're just sorely misinformed from how rife Twitter is with complete bullshit or if they understand reality but are just saying this stuff for the outrage clicks.

Honestly, as I've said before, I'm not sure? I think it's a combination of willful ignorance and a desire not to learn anything, ever, that might challenge their deeply felt moral superiority. Just the other day, I had someone in my notes who, while otherwise agreeing with most of what I was saying, also insisted that Biden was "anti-trans." And like. The president who, while VP, famously came out for LGBTQ marriage before his boss, who specifically highlighted the violence suffered by trans women of color in his campaign platform, got the Violence Against Women Act reauthorized and passed with strong new protections especially for trans and gnc/queer victims, has issued statements on Transgender Day of Remembrance, made sure to repeatedly insist to trans Americans that they belong and their lives are valid, etc. etc., is definitely anti-trans, dontcha know?

However, I happen to know that recently, the Washington Post wrote a bad and misleading article about the Biden administration supposedly joining Republican state AGs to prevent trans girls from playing in women's sports. It was picked up by a big liberal account on Twitter and amplified as "a betrayal of everything the Biden administration has stood for since day 1" (which, you'll notice, implicitly agrees that the Biden administration HAS strongly supported trans rights). Then a few days later, the account holder actually read the policy, agreed that it wasn't what was being proposed and the WaPo had done a hatchet job on reporting it, and admitted that no, the Biden administration actually hadn't done a 180 on supporting trans rights. But if all you have is one Twitter account incorrectly reporting on a bad and misleading WaPo article, which is like... layers on layers of deliberately distorted and extremely out-of-context information, and you use that to decide that BIDEN IS ANTI-TRANS, it just. Doesn't make sense. And even if in the extremely likely event that Biden and/or his administration have missed some of the ideological benchmarks arbitrarily assigned to Demonstrate Absolute Purity On This Issue, like. HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE DOING??! HAVE YOU?!?!??!?!?!

I don't know if that is where that particular person got the idea or not, but it demonstrates how the left-wing online misinformation ecosystem works, and which is in some ways is extremely similar to the right-wing online misinformation ecosystem. It doesn't matter if the only piece of "evidence" supporting your belief is a single Tweet written by someone who hasn't read the actual policy based on a bad piece of reporting, that evidence is now to be preferred against every single empirical example to the contrary because it's "the real truth" (translation: it confirms what you already want to believe). That is the example that you will whip out every time someone tries to argue with you to the contrary, and you will never accept anything that contradicts and/or disproves it, because that's what you want to believe and now you will. You technically know that there is information out there which doesn't agree with your position, but it is the "wrong information" and therefore cannot be incorporated into your belief system. You likewise refuse to acknowledge any complexities, any other branches of government (once again, I am begging people to acknowledge both SCOTUS and how catastrophically it was fucked by allowing Trump to fill three seats), or anything other than insisting on the impossible and getting mad when it doesn't get done. Which doesn't sound very productive and/or useful to me, but hey. OUTRAGE. OUTRAAAAAAGE.

[sixty-silver-wishes]

So usually I don’t read the Daily Beast (often sensationalized news/tabloid outlet), but I clicked on this article today:

I can’t tell if I’m angry at the author of this article or feel extremely sorry for her. Essentially, she’s a lesbian conservative who’s feeling disillusioned by DeSantis’ anti-LGBT policies. But some of what she says is genuinely making my head spin:

DeSantis has been governor of Florida since 2018. He’s built a platform on being anti-LGBT since around 2020, and only now that he’s released an advertisement that makes absolutely no departure from his previous statements and actions, suddenly you’re shocked?

I’m sorry, but “limited government, personal responsibility, and individual liberties” like what? The government keeping themselves out of the decisions women and trans people make with their bodies? Personal responsibility like recognizing one’s place in systemic injustice and working to right it? Or do you mean “personal responsibility” in the conservative ideological belief of only looking out for oneself and not one’s community? Individual liberties? This woman lives openly as a lesbian, and it sure as hell wasn’t conservatives that gave her that right. By “individual liberties,” is she only talking about not caring about issues until they affect her own freedom? Because that’s exactly what’s happening. Conservatives have been working for years to oppress the LGBT+ community, but as long as this particular woman isn’t feeling threatened, it’s fine. She can even join them in oppressing members of her own community, until they actually turn on her, which, surprise, they did.

The ignorance here honestly breaks my heart. DeSantis “tarnishes the image of the conservative movement” by being homophobic? What image did the conservative movement even have in the first place that positions them as a champion of LGBT+ rights? DeSantis isn’t “going against conservative principles” by being a bigot; he’s embodying them. Those “conservative values” the author is championing are exactly what got him to where he is now. The author is shocked at his bigotry, but as of writing the article, she’s still ignorant to the fact that because she’s only looking out for her conservative “individual liberties,” she and the rest of our community are in danger.

Ms. Yvonne Dean Bailey, I doubt you’ll see this, but I feel sorry for you. But the truth is, DeSantis is not just one bad individual tarnishing your ideology. He is your ideology, and the only reason why you have the freedoms you speak of is because of generations of sacrifices by the LGBT community fighting against those “conservative values” to give you and the rest of us better lives than the ones they had. Conservatives may say they promote “individual liberties,” but what that means is stepping on the most convenient marginalized group to give more power to a privileged demographic that gets smaller and smaller the more they’re allowed to oppress people. Being a conservative lesbian woman is not going to stop them from seeing you as a lesbian woman, and therefore a target of homophobia and misogyny. Your ideology and “values” will not protect you from them.

I don’t hate you, Yvonne Dean Bailey. I think you’re ignorant, but I don’t hate you. I’m scared for you, just like I’m scared for myself and every other person in this country. I hope you take the long, painful, terrifying journey of introspection and deconstructing the harmful values you’ve spent so long supporting, because I want you and our whole community to be safe. You can do a lot of good if you keep questioning and thinking. But please, Yvonne Dean Bailey, as a queer person who lives in Florida, I want you to understand what’s going on, and despite what you’ve learned, bigotry doesn’t happen in a vacuum. You’ve taken the first step, but it’s not the end. Please keep moving.

[prep-in-everything]

Most of us Can easily Bring in Wealth in Our Lives

Everybody should have the ability to attract wealth at will. In this article I'll share 3 easy steps which make this process as simple and natural as it ought to be. We will discuss in this particular article two ways of knowing what you actually like. If you think click here to learn more about these 2 methods then you can know what you really like. Disregarding them would just about guarantee that whichever thing you attempt to manifest won't come true.

We've got a whole lot regarding needs. Quite a few folks wish of experiencing a prosperous vocation, Most of us Can easily Bring in Wealth in Our Lives Articles a well-off life-style, a safe and sound economic position, a risk-free relationship, or maybe simply of going to college or perhaps eating at that elegant cafe at some point. A very important factor is definitely that many of you could possibly not believe: Anyone can easily possess, end up being or perform whatever and almost everything you would like!

Now how do you do that? Almost certainly many people are actually hoping to become or maybe have what exactly they wished of their lives and ended up with absolutely nothing but failure. What I could state about that is you get or become what you think about - most of the time.

Therefore if you ever keep on seeking to accomplish or develop into something, you are in fact getting additional desiring towards your life. That’s the way in which the Law of Attraction functions. It is a law, thus it ought to materialize.

Almost certainly many of you have probably over heard with regards to the Law of Attraction. The motion picture “The Secret” has popularized it broadly. It is a superb motion picture, and it does tell the truth of the matter regarding precisely what the Law of Attraction is and exactly how it functions. However in relation to implementing the appropriate process for the Law of Attraction to operate like magic in your life, that’s where many people or trainers or coaches go drastically wrong.

On the subject of being aware of the proper solutions and techniques to make the Law of Attraction work, and I mean genuinely work, you have to first ask oneself a question: “Who do I listen closely to? ” So who do you pay attention to?

Simple. Would you pay attention to a person who instructs you about obtaining what you need to accomplish in life or to come to be effective, if he himself has failed to become or accomplish precisely what he is striving to coach you? I hope your own answer would be “No. ”

What I'm trying to tell you is, for you to have the appropriate information in relation to applying the Law of Attraction to become productive, you have to pay attention to a coach who's become successful in the process. There are probably experts there who have made some money. However when you talk about the Law of Attraction, we don’t simply just talk about “some” money.

To have the correct awareness with regards to being effective applying the Law of Attraction, you have to listen to a guy who has made hundreds and hundreds or even hundreds of thousands of cash using the aid of the Law of Attraction.

[tanvishikaarchi]

Doom scrolling got us doomed

ALGORITHMS It is crazy how almost everyone you ask has experienced feeling that they are being spied on. As you are chatting with a friend over a new phone that has launched, a political event, or a bizarre conspiracy theory, that subject starts appearing on your social media feed. It's like your phone is eavesdropping on you. "Am I being watched?" Well, yes. But it's not only your phone or the demons inside you which is the issue; there are also algorithms. The algorithm is what shapes the worldview you possess. 

the last time you spent immeasurable hours lost in Instagram and its likes, shares, and comments, and all the content that came with it wasn't just a coincidence. Social media Apps use click, swipe, and like algorithms to know what you would most likely like. It just more or less rearranges the same content that you have liked or shown interest before. it is like a personalized curated feed that traps you in a bubble.

Sounds rather interesting at first, right? You will only see the items that intrigue you the most and you won't see random brain rot on your feed that you don't want to engage with. plot twist, it has its negative side. It leads to the existence of “echo chambers,” where you are constantly exposed to the same information that only serves to strengthen your beliefs, which sorry to say, may be false. but you wouldn't even know it because you're not exposed to ideas that contradict your beliefs. Have you lost your sense of time the last time you dove into YouTube, or perhaps hours went by as you stirred in narrow circles of photographs on Instagram that you had already liked, uploaded, or commented on? That is not a coincidence. Social network apps have algorithms that determine users' interests based on their every click, swipe, and like. It simply rearranges your feed to fit with increasing your interest in a specific subject.

It is not uncommon to notice that one of the most viral types of information around the web is not only disputable but downright nasty as well. Such information, be it in the form of political soap operas, inflammatory comments, or titillating images, draws us in and holds our gaze. While being angered or emotionally invested in something makes one go online more and for longer, the times when this is not the case are few and far between. As such, the urges which this algorithm requires in order to maintain addiction, are indeed the very urges within us that predispose us to negativity in the first place.

Your feed is a result of not only an anonymous crowd or some arbitrary influencer, sometimes structures, governments in particular, seek to highlight their own agenda. (and push their propaganda). You may have encountered instances whereby certain views or individuals are invisible to the public and this is called shadow banning. 

Sometimes, it can be a soft censorship. Let me ask you this: Do you recall any articles or films and how there's always the 'overkill' of relevant political content over some period, say elections or any time of relevance? All this makes public relations a part of strategic reputation management. In this case, it raises the question of whether such transformations must be viewed as something of 'natural nationalistic hype'.

if you're a dummy and you don't know what "shadow banning." is lemme explain it to you. so many pages on instagram supporting a particular political party get shadow banned so the content they post won't be visible to people unless someone searches for it in the search bar. If a certain topic or point of view is deemed unacceptable to the public, the agency may strategically undermine any other voice while pushing more 'sanctioned' content.

Now, let's talk about influencers, shall we? 'Influencers Should be seen in a larger perspective as the influence exerted by this class of people in society and their activities mean more to the society than that mere celebrity status in the social media.

Influencers talking about, discussing, and mainstreaming certain issues can significantly shift what becomes 'inappropriate', and what is claimed as 'mainstream'. This is because Influencers can give some subjects exposure and legitimacy whether they are in support of a business, an ideology or even a cause. "Well, that is one person's opinion," it can be argued, yet it becomes persuasive to the point of vertical thinking, as that viewpoint is soon echoed by hundreds and thousands of followers. Talk about any political issue, like the boycott for supporting Palestine, so many influences were expected to do that and if they didn't post about it they were mass-blocked at the Met Gala.

What would have once been weird or taboo may indeed be made less weird or more acceptable by the examples of famous people. Many times, it is actually the audience that begins to think in that manner once the influencer starts promoting such an extreme lifestyle or reaches out to some imaginary political concepts.

So, all things considered, we are constantly moulded and shaped. Our opinions aren't really our own. They are a product of our engagement with social media. 

Well, whether we like it or not, each of us has an algorithm that tunes our perception of the world, makes certain beliefs stick, and points us in the direction of the appropriate affective information. In this regard, while the tailored feeds and echo chambers make the content of what one consumes appeal to the pre-existing views, that kind of content and speakers with that appeal tend to find amplification that reaches the highest emotional quotient as well.

Being aware of this, and trying to put oneself in another's shoes, challenge one's biases, and reflect on what one is consuming from any media is required. Next time you are reading one of those pieces that gets you all emotionally charged or when you are feeling your phone is listening to you, remember it is not magic at work but the algorithm designed to keep your interest going, exactly what it was created to do. But will you allow it to lead you further down into its world of interest-gathering or take back the narrative? CANCEL CULTURE

Why do we call it the cancel culture? Simply put, cancel culture means encouraging or calling upon people to take action against an individual, more usually a public figure who has either uttered or committed an act that the society deems inappropriate. This often plays out on social media, where outrage spreads like wildfire. One tweet can lead to public shaming, calls for boycotts, and even job losses. It’s kind of like a digital witch hunt, just replace the torches and pitchforks with plenty of hashtags.

There are advantages and disadvantages to cancel culture and social media. For one, It gives marginalized voices a platform to call out harmful behavior, which is so important. But it can also lead to mob mentality, where people jump on the bandwagon without fully understanding the situation. I’ve seen this play out time and again.

Moving on let’s get down to The cases of celebrities at the Met Gala and of J.K. Rowling are two examples that perfectly demonstrate the difficulties arising from the so called cancel culture.

J. K. Rowling: The Woman With Too Many Fans

Day in day out, J.K. Rowling has made some gender specific comments that have attracted some controversies on the transgender issue. Different fans were disappointed When she made statements questioning the inclusion of trans women in women-only spaces.

She defends her viewpoints as a woman who has suffered domestic violence and drawing on those experiences to justify her beliefs. It should also be remembered that while advocating for women, Rowling says that this does not make her a transphobic person. Still, the backlash has been intense, fellow actors like Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have publicly supported transgender rights, leaving many fans feeling torn.

It’s hard in the sense that I want to advocate for the less privileged and support the artists that I love at the same time. This is an instance of how cancel culture can divide even the most united groups of fans. The Met Gala backlash

And then came the big fuss over this year’s Met Gala. With some of the stars being roasted for their failure to address global issues, especially the situation in Gaza, it was more than just pretty outfits for 2020. At such a classy event however, the likes of Zendaya and Nicki Minaj were criticized for failing to address the pertinent concerns.

Let me say this: I follow trends and pay attention to the fashion industry, so I get how this could be appealing, though sadly in this case. However, even with the ‘take everything, give nothing’ approach that is prevalent during the Met Gala, and many of us, myself included, chose to overlook the painful reality of the event, where celebrities flaunted expensive attires that ridiculed the suffering world around them, that made me sad for them as well.

These flames, however, have continued to ignite the discussion in recent times about the role of celebrities in social issues. But should they use their reach for activism? It made me remember that we can be anybody, known or not known, but we can always lend our voices to the call for doing something about injustice.

That is where it becomes tricky: cancel culture promotes accountability which is a positive aspect but creates a climate in which people are unable to express themselves freely. I have experienced this pressure as well, and at times, I even start to doubt what I really want. As we all navigate through these hazardous terrains inflicted with the curse of cancel culture, I think it’s essential to find a balance between holding individuals accountable and fostering understanding. Yes, when you witness unacceptable conduct, you should report it. However, if we desire tolerance levels to improve, then it should be permissible for people to slip up, as such mistakes provide a means for improvement. ECHO CHAMBERS

Social media has unfortunately become a breeding ground for stereotypes and falsehoods. This phenomenon, popularly referred to as the 'Mandela Effect' has elicited mixed reactions and generally befuddled many.

The misconception that Nelson Mandela died in prison or the nonexistent 'thief' and ‘seahorse' emojis are but a few instances of social media shaping perceptions.

a great number of people on the internet swear by it that there used to be a thief and a seahorse emoji but when you google this question it says that there was never a thief or seahorse emoji ever. while many people claim that they have themselves used these emojis it has become one of the most popular Mandela effects ever.

In this case, however, ill-considered information is not the only possible approach. Be an informed consumer of information. Seek out information, verify it whenever you can, and especially, know what to say about emotionally charged statements. Knowledge and understanding can help know when there is a need to act in order to curb the spread of false information and promote a more knowledgeable online populace.

The COVID-19 pandemic, besides being a public health menace, was primarily an information disaster. Stupid conspiracy theories, phony cures, and outright fake news inundated social media and went viral.

Based on my experience, there were tons of such misinformation. The ones ranged from pale alternative facts that were innocent to recommendations that could actually result in deaths. The aftermath was significant; it damaged the confidence of the people towards the leadership of public health, delayed action, and divided the people even further.

Banning fake news requires applying some critical thinking skills. Cross-reference data; confirm sources, and do not rush to conclude based on emotionally appealing facts. This way, we could contain the spread of false information and help in the wellbeing of every citizen by being vigilant and learning.

Those days are long gone when WhatsApp was only a simple messaging app. A place where everything or anything is up in the air for discussion, not limited to communication only, has turned into a modern-day Senate where all the transacting information is held. it has become one of the biggest sources of misinformation and disinformation. People, usually boomers and baby boomers believe any forwarded messages they see on the app.

Today, multitudes consider WhatsApp groups to be the quick and most convenient means of obtaining and distributing information��whether it is about work, the latest news or family secrets. 

Verifying the information, looking up the sources, and avoiding statements that have no substantial evidence is important to ensure all the information is credible. That is the point where we should learn to use WhatsApp against ourselves and be more careful of the information we disseminate and consume. We surveyed university students about their experiences with algorithms, echo chambers, emotional content, political influence, and influencers in order to learn more about how social media is influencing public opinion and received over 35 responses. The findings reveal a look at how people use social media and how these sites are influencing our thought processes. The survey reveals that almost 80% of people feel that they are being spied on by their social media apps and still continue to use them.

77% of people have been exposed to shadow bans across different social media platforms And 73% of people believe that influences have the power to amplify or normalise a topic https://forms.gle/DocuThd4cK3CjKRP8 Link to the questionnaire

A Little about us, Aarchi Undhad Hi, I'm 18 and currently pursuing a degree in computer science from Alliance University. Ishika Pandya Hii, I'm 17 and currently studying at Alliance University. I'm planning on becoming a psychologist :) Tanvi Pragya Tiwary Hi, I'm 18 and studying psychology at Alliance University

[barkoutloudseo]

Why BarkOut Loud is the Best Choice for Buying Cat Food Online 

As a cat owner, you will be used to the fact that your pet deserves the best. The softest bed and the most playful toys—everything counts. But their diet is the highest stake of them all. A cat's food doesn't mean the quench of hunger; it means fueling them with what will help them be the best versions of themselves. BarkOut Loud makes that ultimate place to buy cat food online.

This is why quality cat food is extremely important; it goes hand in paw with the health of your cat. Nutrient-releasing food is essential from their energy to the shine of their coat. Obesity, digestive problems, and even behavioral problems are some of the side effects a cat may develop from poor food.

Whether your cat has a simple or a complex digestive system, BarkOut Loud realizes that every feline has different dietary needs. That is why we have a carefully selected range of food that accommodates cats' varying stages in life, dietary preferences, and health requirements. Whether you've got a playful kitten, a fussy eater, or even a senior cat with special nutritional needs, you'll find the perfect food for them here at BarkOut Loud.

Why Buy Cat Food Online?

The variety, ease, and convenience in shopping for cat food online are unbeatable. No longer do you have to rush helter-skelter to the pet store or strain your back carrying bags from your car. With a few clicks, you can have your feline friend's favorite food delivered to your doorstep. But with thousands of online shops out there, here are some reasons BarkOut Loud stands out.

At BarkOut Loud, we believe in quality over quantity. We have selected only the best available brand names for our online shop. We believe in natural ingredients, balanced nutrition, and food that answers cats' specific needs. Grain-free or with added vitamins and minerals, each product in our store is selected with your cat's well-being in mind.

And as cat owners soon learn, cats can be particular about their food, so we offer so many flavors and textures, there will surely be something every kitty will love. Whether your feline prefers dry cat food, wet cat food or a combination of the two, we have a variety of healthy, nutritious options to suit every kitty.

Expert's Tips and Recommendations

One of the most typical drawbacks of purchasing cat food on the internet is making a choice. At BarkOut Loud, we don't just sell cat food; we guide you through the process. Our team of highly qualified pet nutrition experts will lend a helping hand in discovering the best food for your cat. We are ready to walk with you every step of the way with advice on which formula to pick and the process of transitioning to a new diet.

You will also find great articles and resources on our website to help you make well-informed choices regarding your cat's diet. We believe in the value of empowerment of pet parents with knowledge so they will provide the best for their furry friends.

Convenient Shopping Experience

You are aware that there are other things going on in life, and shopping for cat food is not always number one on the list. That's why we've designed our online store to be as user-friendly as possible. With an intuitive layout, easy navigation, and detailed product descriptions, finding the right cat food has never been easier.

Products selected, the order can be placed easily. What's more, we have a seamless check-out process. And when that's done, clients can rest assured knowing that all cat food products will be delivered in due time.

Competitive Pricing and Special Offers

The best cat food doesn't necessarily need to come at a premium cost at BarkOut Loud. We compete in price-place through the pricing of our products, giving you a satisfaction guarantee against your money. Moreover, we quite often give our customers special offers, discounts, and loyalty programs, which significantly cut down the cost of buying cat food online.

Keep an eye out for our exclusive deals, and you will find that feeding your cat the best foods does not necessarily have to be very expensive.

Sustainability Pledge

You take great care of the planet—just the way you take care of your cat. So do we, over here at BarkOut Loud. This is why, as a company, we concentrate on brands that adopt eco-friendly packaging and sustainable sourcing routes. In choosing to buy your cat food from us, you're not only giving your best friend the very best but also supporting a more sustainable future.

When you shop with BarkOut Loud, you're not a customer but part of our community. We strongly believe in creating a space where pet parents can not only shop and explore but also engage with one another. Whether it's our social media, blog, or customer support, we're always willing to listen, engage, and help with your journey as a cat parent.

 The Final Meow

One of the most critical decisions that will concern your cat is the food you provide. It is more than just how to feed your pet; it is all about nurturing its health, happiness, and general well-being. We are committed at BarkOut Loud to make that choice easier and more fulfilling. With our selection of premium cat food offering a curated experience, expert consulting services, competitive pricing, and commitment to sustainability, we are sure you have found whatever you might need to keep your cat purring with a smile.

So why wait? Hit up our online store today to learn why BarkOut Loud is top-shelf among your alternatives for buying cat food online: Your feline friend demands nothing less.

Explore our collection of cat food here 

[usafphantom2]

Blackbird Pilot recalls when his RSO ‘gave the birdie’ to a French Air Force Mirage III pilot (Then They lit their SR-71’s Afterburners and Outran him)

By Linda Sheffield Miller

Jun 11 2023

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‘My RSO had given him “the bird” with his middle finger: I lit the afterburners and left that Mirage standing still. Two minutes later, we were crossing the Channel,’ Lt. Colonel William Burk Jr., former SR-71 Blackbird pilot.

The SR-71, unofficially known as the “Blackbird,” is a long-range, advanced, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A aircraft. The first flight of an SR-71 took place on Dec. 22, 1964, and the first SR-71 to enter service was delivered to the 4200th (later 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., in January 1966. The US Air Force (USAF) retired its fleet of SR-71s on Jan. 26, 1990.

Throughout its nearly 24-year career, the SR-71 remained the world’s fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft. From 80,000 feet, it could survey 100,000 square miles of Earth’s surface per hour.

One of the most entertaining stories about flying the SR-71 comes from Lt. Colonel William Burk Jr., who shares about a particular mission he flew [according to SR-71 pilot Stormy Boudreaux, Tom Henichek was Burk’s RSO for that mission] over Lebanon back in 1982.

The story is featured in the book Skunk Works by Ben Rich and in the video in this post.

That time a French Mirage III unintentionally buzzed (and scared) a U-2 flying at 65,000ft during a mission aimed to monitor France’s nuclear facilities

‘In the fall of ’82, I flew from Mildenhall on a mission over Lebanon in response to the Marine barracks bombing. President Reagan ordered photo coverage of all the terrorist basis in the region. The French refused to allow us overfly, so our mission profile was to refuel off the south coast of England, a Mach 3 cruise leg down the coast of Portugal and Spain, left turn through the Straits of Gibraltar, refuel in the Western Mediterranean, right turn into Lebanon and fly right down main street Beirut, exit along the southern Mediterranean with another refueling over Malta, supersonic back out the straits, and return to England. Because Syria had a Soviet SA-5 missile system just west of Damascus that we would be penetrating (we were unsure of Syria’s intentions in this conflict), we programmed to fly above 80,000 feet and at Mach 3 plus to be on the safe side, knowing that this advanced missile had the range and speed to nail us.

‘As we entered Lebanon’s airspace my Recon Systems Officer in the rear cockpit informed me that our defensive systems display showed we were being tracked by that SA-5. About 15 seconds later we got a warning of active guidance signals from the SA-5 site. We couldn’t tell whether there was an actual launch or the missile was still on the rails, but they were actively tracking us. We didn’t waste any time wondering, but climbed and pushed that throttle, and said a couple of “Hail Kellys.”

SR-71 print

This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. SR-71A Blackbird 61-7972 “Skunkworks”

‘We completed our pass over Beirut and turned toward Malta, when I got a warning low-oil-pressure light on my right engine. Even though the engine was running fine I slowed down and lowered our altitude and made a direct line for England. We decided to cross France without clearance instead of going the roundabout way.

‘We made it almost across, when I looked out the left window and saw a French Mirage III sitting ten feet off my left wing. He came up on our frequency and asked us for our Diplomatic Clearance Number. I had no idea what he was talking about, so I told him to stand by. I ask my backseater, who said, “Don’t worry about it. I just gave it to him.” What he had given him was “the bird” with his middle finger: I lit the afterburners and left that Mirage standing still. Two minutes later, we were crossing the Channel.’

TAP ARROW BUTTON TO VIEW 👆

Be sure to check out Linda Sheffield Miller (Col Richard (Butch) Sheffield’s daughter, Col. Sheffield was an SR-71 Reconnaissance Systems Officer) Facebook Pages Habubrats SR-71 and Born into the Wilde Blue Yonder for awesome Blackbird’s photos and stories.

[analyticsrockstar]

Debugging Failed Dataset Records in Experience Platform

Let's face it, sometimes our implementation isn't perfect. Even with the most meticulously designed data layer, a completely up to date Web SDK implementation utilizing the latest data object logic and server-side forwarding and Datastreams, you're bound to occasionally see the dreaded Failed Record in your Adobe Experience Platform dataset. So what options do we have to find and fix these problems?

Discovering Records That Failed Experience Platform Ingestion Into A Dataset

So this article is specific to customers that are ingesting data into an Experience Platform Dataset. This means it'll be helpful for customers ingesting data for use by Customer Journey Analytics, Real-Time CDP, or Journey Optimizer. In my example, I'm ingesting data into a Dataset via the Web SDK. And evvvvery once in a while I see a Failed batch in the Dataset, like this:

The occasional Failed Batch of data into Experience Platform

If you click the links in the left, you'll often times get a little more information about why the record didn't pass the automated, built-in validation when data is ingested into Experience Platform. These errors are often due to formatting, type mismatches, etc. Here's some helpful documentation on types of Experience Platform Validation.

I've been trying to figure out this specific error lately, but it's difficult to debug without additional information. Here's a screenshot of the validation error:

Looks like something is getting passed into an XDM field meant to capture email address, but it's either a null array or something and it's unclear

Getting Additional Context On When Your Ingestion Validation Errors Are Happening

OK so sometimes the error is easy to debug and resolve. But this one in particular has been bugging me. I need additional context to understand when this is happening in the data collection process. I was told that I can easily access the full XDM object that failed by using the Data Access API for Adobe Experience Platform but API work is my least favorite kind of work. So I went digging into the UI. And guess what! I found something amazing:

Check out all that glorious, glorious XDM Context 🤤

Imagine what I can do with this information. I can see exactly what URL the user was on when this XDM record failed, and all of their details that are included in XDM: location, events, ECID, and more! Of course, I threw that ECID into Customer Journey Analytics, found the exact journey the user was on, and resolved the issue with a little bit of cleanup in my Launch rule.

Oh wait, you probably want to know how I got there? OK fine, I'll share my secret.

Click on Sources, then Dataflows:

Get out of Datasets and get into Sources > Dataflows

Then, apply a Filter to Adobe Data Collection (or if you're not using the Web SDK / Mobile SDK, whatever Source you used instead)

Mmmm, filters....

Then, you'll want to scroll through the Dataflows in the listing to find the one associated with the Dataset that you care about and click it. You'll now see a similar list of Batches ingested into your Dataset with a list of any that have Records that Failed due to Validation:

Oh no! A failed record!

Simply click any "Dataflow" that has a Failed Record included in it, and you'll see a page that looks very similar to what we saw earlier, but with one additional (amazing) button: Preview Error Diagnostics

I've subtly identified the button for you

AND THIS, my friends, is how I found the complete XDM object that failed without having to understand what a Bearer Access Token is! 

Use this information wisely - for those of you using the Web SDK to ingest data for Customer Journey Analytics, Real-Time CDP, or Journey Optimizer, I'm confident you'll find it to be incredibly useful!

[mindrivwebsolutions]

Innovative Content Marketing Services for Small Businesses

In today’s digital age, content marketing has emerged as a crucial strategy for businesses of all sizes. For small businesses, in particular, it offers a cost-effective way to reach and engage with their target audience. At Mindriv, we understand the unique challenges small businesses face and are committed to providing innovative content marketing services tailored to their needs. In this blog post, we’ll explore the various ways to help your small business thrive through effective content marketing.

Understanding Content Marketing

Content marketing is more than just creating and sharing content. It’s about providing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience, ultimately driving profitable customer action. This approach helps build trust and loyalty with your audience, positioning your small business as an authority in your industry.

The Importance of Content Marketing for Small Businesses

For small businesses, content marketing is essential for several reasons:

Cost-Effective: Compared to traditional advertising methods, content marketing is more affordable. It allows small businesses to compete with larger companies without breaking the bank.

Brand Awareness: Consistently publishing high-quality content increases your brand’s visibility and awareness.

Customer Engagement: Engaging content keeps your audience interested and encourages interaction, fostering a sense of community around your brand.

SEO Benefits: Quality content helps improve your search engine rankings, making it easier for potential customers to find you online.

Innovative Content Marketing Services by Mindriv

At Mindriv, we offer a range of innovative content marketing services designed to help small businesses succeed. Here’s how we can support your content marketing efforts:

1. Content Strategy Development

A well-defined content strategy is the foundation of successful content marketing. Our team will work closely with you to understand your business goals, target audience, and unique selling points. We’ll develop a comprehensive content strategy that aligns with your objectives and ensures consistent, high-quality content production.

2. Blogging and Article Writing

Blogs and articles are powerful tools for engaging your audience and driving traffic to your website. Our experienced writers will create compelling, informative, and SEO-optimized content that resonates with your target audience. Whether you need industry insights, how-to guides, or thought leadership pieces, we’ve got you covered.

3. Social Media Content

Social media is a vital platform for small businesses to connect with their audience. Our social media experts will create engaging and shareable content tailored to each platform. We’ll help you build a strong social media presence, foster engagement, and drive traffic to your website.

4. Video Marketing

Video content is increasingly popular and highly effective in capturing attention. We offer video production services to create engaging and professional videos that showcase your products, services, or brand story. From promotional videos to tutorials and customer testimonials, we’ll help you leverage the power of video marketing.

5. Email Marketing

Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to nurture leads and maintain customer relationships. Our team will design and execute email marketing campaigns that deliver value to your subscribers. We’ll craft compelling email content, design eye-catching templates, and implement strategies to improve open and click-through rates.

6. Infographics and Visual Content

Visual content, such as infographics, is a great way to present information in an easily digestible format. Our designers will create visually appealing and informative infographics that enhance your content and engage your audience. Visual content can help simplify complex topics and make your message more memorable.

7. Content Distribution and Promotion

Creating great content is just the beginning; promoting it effectively is equally important. We will develop a content distribution and promotion plan to ensure your content reaches the right audience. We’ll leverage various channels, including social media, email marketing, and influencer partnerships, to maximize your content’s reach and impact.

Get Started with Mindriv

If you’re a small business looking for Content Marketing Services, Mindriv is here to help. Our innovative content marketing services are designed to meet your unique needs and drive your business forward. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your content marketing journey.

Resource: https://mindriv.blogspot.com/2024/07/innovative-content-marketing-services-for-small-businesses.html

[fwoopersongs]

Poetry + Names? :D!!!! Can't resist adding ~

Stacking on to Hunxi's 晓星尘 example

How to search for possible poetry references Another great resource that I love a lot besides gushicimingju and gushiwen (highly recommend the gushiwen app for its clean and user friendly interface if you're interested in reading poetry/exploring classics and keeping track of what you've learnt) is sou-yun.cn, which is particularly useful for searching up names and possible references because there are lots of parameters for advanced searching to chose from - like exact vs approximate match, position, dynasty etc.

Results are returned in their full poems with the text highlighted per the image below this paragraph. With the textual instability of ancient poems and all, you sometimes get alternate words - this site also displays them and their source, as you can see in the first example.

What's even cooler is that, hey, they may recognize me but I sure don't know them! What do these characters mean together? Click into the poem, select the word and you get both the pinyin and examples of usages in other poetry.

(I try to look at this only after doing the legwork for poetry club though, because this is seriously too much of a golden finger and my searching skills may grow rusty LOL)

Gushicimingju is fantastic for the purpose of telling us how many instances does the word show up. Gushiwen actually returns results from texts as well as poetry which is also desirable because name inspo for Chinese characters is not limited to poetry and auspiciousness. If you select the 古籍 tab (indicated with a red dot below) and if the search term actually exists in any of the texts within the site's archive, then it will turn up. In this case for 星尘, there is none.

But besides all these bells and whistles, the difference between these sites is the pool of works available. Gushiwen only returned 5 results with 星尘 across the Song to Qing Dynasties. Sou-yun.cn gave me 9 from Song to Late Qing, and a further 7 from the Republican Era to our times. See below xD

/got sidetracked LOL

Oh, ctext is another of my fav go-tos as well!!!! But we all know that the search function there can be a little bit broken sometimes. So when you suspect that it's not working for you, a workaround is googling like this: "the characters you're looking for" ctext.

But let's say we're looking for something different, so you want to search within the site. And if for some reason, you want to know if a particular usage of a word was more popular in older texts (like Pre-Qin and Han) or later ones (like Wei-Jin and after), then use the search box like this!

星辰 with 'Pre-Qin and Han' selected returns 177 results. 星辰 with 'Post Han' selected returns 385 results.

Another method of researching a name Looking at the words themselves! Sometimes a return to simplicity works just as well (or maybe I just like digging many rabbit holes).

The Chinese baike.baidu (like wikipedia) these days has this cool etymology section 字源解说 at the beginning of the article for most words.

If you've ever wondered how people from the Shang Dynasty wrote the same word (ok it's not as simple as that xD but for the sake of not making this a long ramble let's go with this), there we go.

For 晓

And since this is a surname, don't forget to check out its origins!

For 星

For 尘

What did the words mean originally? How did they extend and drift to other meanings and when were these drifts becoming popular? Does it fit in with what you know of the character?

Does the conclusion you're drawing about the meaning of their name feel a bit forced, or does it make perfect sense and you're happy to make this your headcanon / share it as a possible fun fact?

Happy searching!

so I know that a lot of chinese names are references to specific poems. Is there a way to determine this (vs general auspicious meaning) and which poem specifically? I'd love to be able to figure this out for character names and I haven't been able to find any resources (in case it's helpful, I'd say I'm my understanding is maybe HSK4-level so I can clumsily make my way through the chinese internet with the help of a dictionary)

feel free to make this public so that others can benefit if you have any suggestions

oof... unfortunately I suspect that this, along with one's repertoire of chengyu, is something that one simply Just Learns with reading more. my personal repertoire of poetry is embarrassingly thin, so the horrible horrible process I've been going through is, well, throwing the name into a search bar and hoping for the best.

here's an example of how I (think I) went about doing this for Xiao Xingchen's name, way back when I wrote this post:

I went ahead and dropped "星尘 诗词" ("Xingchen poetry") into the search bar, which turned up this:

Generally speaking, I'll only put the name (minus the surname) because putting the character's full name into a search bar will probably turn up the character themselves, and if someone's name is being derived from a poem, it's usually independent of the surname anyway.

Xiao Xingchen's name is an interesting example because it doesn't quite come from a poem, but it doesn't not come from a poem. you can see that the search engine has automatically assumed that I am looking for poems about constellations, as "星辰" and "星尘" are homonyms, and one of these is more commonly seen. I usually consider that a solid indication that "星尘" (the name) is a novel formation of characters in a name, and not likely a poetic reference.

but! in for a penny, etc. I'm a huge fan of the first search result, gushicimingju, since it's a solid database of poetry and some prose. clicking into that listing informs me that gushicimingju is turning up. oh my. 119 possible matches:

note that these are matches for "星辰" (constellation), not actually our character's name. still! you can click in and peruse the selection if you'd like.

now that you're on gushicimingju's site, you can also use the search function within the site to search for more exact matches, without worrying that you'll accidentally activate the fandom itself.

looks like there's a few matches for "晓星," but nothing for the full name.

so! gushicimingju is a solid database I like to refer to most of the time. if for some reason I'm feeling particularly academically rigorous, I might also do some searches on ctext as sometimes names will come out of famous turns of phrases (a la Zhao Yun 赵云 / Zhao Zilong 赵子龙 from that post I linked earlier) rather than poems. searching the dictionary sometimes (Pleco, or zdic) doesn't hurt either. basically, I throw spaghetti at the search engine wall to see what results come back for these characters in this particular order to try and get the original referent (if any) to show up; I'll probably give up after a few permutations of search terms if nothing is actively jumping out at me

but back to the search results: sometimes, if your character is famous enough, straight up searching for "what poem is this character's name from?" will help you find like-minded people on baidu zhidao (basically yahoo answers):

although of course, take baidu zhidao result with all of the salt you would take with any yahoo answers (look for alternate sources to validate, good for a laugh most of the time)

best of luck!

[44gamez]

Soul Knight codes for March 2024

This checklist of all the brand new Soul Knight codes is a welcome boon on this fast-paced, bullet hell rogue-like, providing heaps of supplies, gems, and extra. And, to assist make your subsequent run simpler, we’ve gathered all the energetic SK codes right here for you. Not every thing in a rogue-like must be laborious in any case. In case you’re trying to bag some extra free stuff in your cell video games, take a look at our Pokémon Go promo codes, Genshin Influence codes, Shindo Life codes, Anime Adventures codes, and Rage Mage codes to restock on provides. New Soul Knight codes: - 3QPlayer – 666 gems, weapon attachment voucher, and two infinite vitality vouches - 100000 – 500 gems  - 2THANIV – 1,000 gems  - BIGMOUTH – titum arum, fertilizer, and 500 gems  - BYETIGER – 777 gems  - DRUID – 999 gems  - DUOSHOU – 500 gems  - FLOWERS – 5 heptacolor viola  - GARDEN – oak tree, ironwood, gear flower, and trumpet flower  - IROBOT – 5 components, 5 battery, and 515 gems  - JINKELA – three fertilizer  - MIAO – 555 gems  - NEWHALL – 999 gems  - QDKYS – 577 gems  - SKBACK – 999 gems  - SKGIFT – 500 gems  - SKNIGHT – 488 gems  - SUPER5 – 555 gems and three free trial vouchers  - TDY8E – 888 gems  - TDY8ET – gems  - WEAPONS – vine, inexperienced onions, and carrot  - WIERD – iron stone, timber, and 888 gems  - WISH – 500 gems, one heptacolor viola, and one fertiliser Expired codes: - 18NTDRO - 18NTD - LWYXZYBGX - GDX6KK - ZSDHMK - 6KKNTQE - GOSDAD

How do I redeem Soul Knight codes?

Redeeming Soul Knight codes is simple when you observe these steps: Boot up Soul Knight Press the cog button to entry the settings menu Click on ‘Present code enter’ which seems to be like a tiny padlock Plug in your code Get pleasure from your free items!

What are Soul Knight codes?

Soul Knight codes are freebies given out by the developer, ChillyRoom, that will help you out in-game, providing quite a lot of goodies akin to gems, fertilizers, and different useful supplies. Chillyroom normally releases new codes to have a good time recent updates or particular milestones. However you don’t have to fret about that – merely verify again right here infrequently, as we collect all of them up for you.  There you have got it, every thing you must learn about Soul Knight codes. For extra weapons ‘n’ funs, take a look at our lists of the most effective FPS video games, the most effective cell battle video games, or the most effective cell video games general. Source link Read the full article

[fiftysevenacademics]

I'm disappointed about this cancelation because I enjoyed Kaos a lot. But I don't think Netflix making these decisions even has all that much to do with the audience, critics, etc. Their business model doesn't actually involve cultivating large, loyal audiences for hit shows so much as having a constant, enormous supply of stuff, just, stuff to percolate up to the top of your recommendation algorithm.

I think of it like this. I got sucked into watching cooking reels on Facebook for a while. This made them start feeding me videos of street vendors preparing large amounts of food in India, Thailand, and China. This was still pretty interesting, so I'd watch them, even though it wasn't what I really wanted to see. But that inevitably led to mukbang and asmr, which I do not want to see. On Instagram, something similar happened except it went from useful cooking demonstrations to boring videos of finished plates or displays of food.

Netflix's goal isn't to retain audiences for successful shows, as we might assume. The goal is to keep the audience hungry, wanting, in a constant state of clicking on things that surface in their recommendations. Shows like Kaos function more like ads that draw customers in. Or, like an Uber ride you summon when you want and forget about when you get where you're going. Want to go somewhere else? Just summon a new ride. Netflix doesn't even really care that much if you stick around, any more than your Uber driver depends on your particular business.

I'm don't know enough about business to say whether or not this is a good strategy for long-term success, though I strongly suspect it isn't. The New York Times Magazine has an interesting article about Netflix (non-paywalled link) that discusses Netflix's own data showing it's most successful shows are obscure titles most of us have never even heard of. We think shows like Kaos are really huge, but they're dismal failures by Netflix standards. From the article I mentioned above:

In December of last year, Netflix provided an unprecedented map of its library by releasing a comprehensive look at its viewer data for the very first time. It comes as an Excel file, less than a megabyte, and ranks 18,214 pieces of content in Netflix’s gargantuan library by the number of hours viewed during the first six months of 2023, rounded to the nearest 100,000. In fact, this rounding means that it doesn’t even capture the entirety of the thing, because Netflix excluded titles with fewer than 50,000 viewer hours. At the top was “The Night Agent,” a sub-Clancy-quality thriller about an F.B.I. guy, with more than 812 million hours viewed. At the bottom was “선생 김봉두 (My Teacher, Mr. Kim),” a South Korean comedy from 2003 with 100,000 hours, though this placement is an artifact of Excel’s sorting through the vastness of the catalog. Roughly the last four thousand entries all have 100,000 hours viewed — this is as low as the scale goes — and are arranged alphabetically. Thanks to Netflix’s considerable international offerings, the bottom of the 100,000-hour club fills up with titles in other alphabets: Arabic, Japanese, Korean.

Outside the very top, which is dominated by Netflix Originals and kids’ movies, it’s not totally clear why anything winds up anywhere. Why is “Memento” down in the 300,000-hours ghetto, while “Coach Carter” has 21 million viewer hours? Perhaps “Memento” was only available in, say, Slovakia — or maybe it got bad placement in the app. Or maybe it never triggered whatever algorithmic-cultural tripwire turns back-catalog titles into contemporary hits. The chart doesn’t say. And to scan through it is to appreciate how the library’s sheer size has heightened the importance of chance in our consumption habits.

Your view into the catalog may feel like a grand vista, but in actuality you are peering through a keyhole. When I open up Netflix on my TV, I am immediately met with a carousel of 75 shows and movies New on Netflix; then the Top 10 TV Shows in the U.S. Today; beneath that a carousel of another 75 suggestions Because You Watched “Rebel Ridge”; beyond that, an algorithmic selection of 33 Today’s Top Picks for You; then Bingeworthy TV Dramas, 75 of them. Then there’s Your Next Watch, a combination of stuff my kid watches and stuff I might, 75 more. Next: The last 10 things we didn’t finish; then, a list of 75 more titles because I watched “Shot Caller.” Beyond that, no fewer than 30 more carousels of about 75 titles each. That’s a whole lot of TV, but it’s still just a small slice of the catalog.

What we’re paying for, in the end, is not any one show, or any three or 10 or 50 shows, but rather this fathomless sense of abundance. Which in turn means that any given show just doesn’t matter quite as much as it could in the era of broadcast TV. In this context, even an undeniable hit can wind up feeling like a sort of failure. Take “Triple Frontier,” the 2019 action thriller starring Ben Affleck and Oscar Isaac: It was one of the platform’s most popular movies that year, but as Lotz points out in her book, that doesn’t mean it’s any more valuable to the company. A $115 million movie budget is hard for Netflix to justify at almost any level of viewership, given that at the end of the day it supplies just two hours of content for a subscriber base that’s paying for a sense of infinity. And indeed, Lotz’s skepticism was confirmed: Ted Sarandos, the company’s chief content officer, reportedly singled out the title in an internal meeting, calling for a better calibration between budget and audience. This was in the middle of 2019, when the financial press was starting to ask questions about the sustainability of Netflix’s debt-financed growth.

Wait, what??

...I haven't even seen it yet!!