#online classes for engineering maths

[dlxxv-vetted-donations]

Tawfik needs to buy tent covers and other necessities.

My other promos

Updated: Nov 29

Member(s): @dev-tawfik (current), @devtawfik (shadowbanned), @tawfikblog, @90-tawfik (shadowbanned)

Verification: @/90-ghost

Payment methods:

Gfm for education: PayPal, Venmo, Google Pay, credit/debit (donation match $10 USD). Focus on Kofi instead until at least mid-December

Kofi for survival (mentioned here): PayPal, credit/debit. Focus on this until at least mid-December

Tawfik is a Palestinian currently taking online classes at an Egyptian university. His Kofi campaign needs to reach $3,000 to buy tent covers and other necessities for his family (see here). Any additional funds in the gfm and Kofi will go towards the next semester's payments and family care respectively.

More info:

Now he is focusing on getting his Kofi to $3,000 (fees included) to get his family tent covers and other survival needs. See here.

Nov 27: Tawfik has reached the Kofi goal to buy flu medication and a vaccine, so we are now focusing entirely on the gfm. His goal of $10,050 by Nov 28 (hard deadline) for his international student fees were also reached on the same day.

He plans to fundraise for this year's remaining academic fees (which will be significantly less than what we already raised), and hopes that the war will end by the next year so he can get a job and pay himself.

Update Nov 20: More details here. Tawfik has fallen ill with the flu and won't be online much. He needs USD $228 (fees included) for medications and a vaccine. This requires him to reach 71% of his goal on Kofi (which is specifically for non-education related needs). At the same time, he needs $10,050 in his gfm by Nov 28 to pay off his international student fees.

Update Nov 15: We reached the halfway goal for the international student fee of USD $9,050 by Nov 15. Now going for the full fee of $10,050 by Nov 28.

Update Nov 6:

Tawfik got an extension to Nov 30 to pay the international fee. New goals of USD $9,050 by Nov 15 and $10,050 by Nov 28 (to account for transfer time) were set. The final goal was reduced with some backup money. Grades will be withheld until payment is made.

Update Nov 5:

Currently, it seems impossible to raise the required funds ($10,050 - $10,150) by Nov 13. Tawfik has emailed his school to negotiate for more time.

Update Oct 29:

Now @dev-tawfik.

The next goal was $9,250 to pay off international student fees (due Nov 13, see math section below) that Tawfik just found out about.

The family urgently needed $1,000 for healthy food (Tawfik's father has health problems and needs vegetables).

Tawfik initially wanted to use the gfm money for education only as promised, but had to add the sum to the campaign goal (a total of $10,250) because the Kofi he made solely for his family wasn't receiving many donations early on.

There were some issues with the Kofi taking a few weeks to transfer funds, but that's been resolved. It is now for support of Tawfik's family and transfers money relatively quickly.

From Oct 17-27, we fundraised to $7,200 to buy some food for the family. This food money will last roughly 2 weeks.

We are focusing back on international student fees and set a short-term goal of $8,862 in the campaign by Nov 3. There will be another small goal set after this date.

We need roughly $10,050 (an estimate) in the campaign by Nov 13 (hard deadline). Again, this isn't a concrete number and involves some usage of Tawfik's backup money.

Campaign details:

Tawfik is a software engineering student in Palestine trying to continue his education by enrolling in online classes at an Egyptian university.

He already raised roughly USD $2,500 in late July through a now closed Paypal campaign and paid the school as an application and reservation fee. This is nonrefundable.

We fundraised $4,113 (5200 - 1087) and paid off his tuition for the year on Oct 7

The gfm is meant for education only. To support the family, donate to the Kofi. It no longer faces issues with long transfer times.

Tawfik has some extra leftover funds from paying off the tuition, but it isn't much and is to be used for emergencies.

Oct 17: Tawfik bought his textbooks ($800 incl fees → $6,000 in campaign) and got a small discount for being Palestinian. This money saved went into his emergency funds.

Math:

Please let me know if I screwed up the calculation somewhere.

The transfer fee is assumed to be ~$50 per $600 earned. My bad in earlier calculations where I set it after the bank fee rather than before.

Textbooks: base $600

Funds left after:

Gfm for 40 donations: 570.6

~$50 transfer fee: 520.13

12% Bank fee: 458.13

To cover the funds lost to fees, we need an extra $200 (assumed 15 donations). After fees on that, it's only $166 (enough to cover the short-term goal)

So we need 600 + 200 = $800 for the textbooks.

This is $6,000 in the campaign.

Slightly outdated: International student fees: base $2,423

900£ = USD $1,180.93

60k EGP = USD $1,241.29

Funds left after:

Gfm fees for 160 donations: 2304.74

Transfer fee, ~$200: 2,104.74

12% Bank fee: 1852.17

To cover the funds lost to fees, we need an extra $800 (assumed 55 donations). After fees on that, it's only $625 (enough to cover the short-term goal)

So we need 2423 + 800 = $3,223 for the international student fee.

This is $9,223 10,223 in the campaign, rounded up to $ 9,250 10,250

The rate of ~$100 daily is sufficient to get us to this goal before the deadline of Nov 13 (this accounts for the 2 days needed for transfers)

[call-me-casual]

(Also posted to the LK community)

Okay who’s interested in hearing about the school au I thought up in the shower

Keep in mind that all following information is based on my experience in British education, I have no clue how American schools run different

First we have the kids - James and Henri are both kids from the foster system, James has been adopted by Moses, whilst Henri is still technically a foster (ik ik not Franklin but maybe they’re neighbours). Henri is definitely the class clown whilst James is ambitious, but not too sure how to achieve his academic goals. Sarah is an exchange student from the UK living with Franklin, who is either a relative in this au or a family friend like in canon. She and James initially don’t get along but over time through the newspaper club and sharing most classes they grow closer. Sarah is an A+ student and she tutors James and Henri after school.

Most historical figures are teachers or general staff, except for named foot-soldiers like Joseph Plum Martin or other young historical figures like Sybil Ludington, who would be fellow students

Franklin - the kids’ (or at least James and Sarah’s) tutor (I think Americans call it home room?). He teaches science, and it’s his love of teaching that’s kept him from retiring (though he probably should have years ago). He runs the school newspaper (which James and Sarah are both a part of)

Moses - I can see him as a member of the site team or subject technician of some kind (basically helps to prepare stuff like experiments and maintain the school, but more responsibilities than a janitor). He’s also doing an online university course to get his teaching degree (he’d most likely go into either engineering/dt). The adopted Father for James and foster parent to Henri. Has known Franklin for years and the two are next door neighbours

Lafayette - French. Obviously. He’s a younger teacher popular with the students. His class is the only one Henri doesn’t goof around in, and the two are very close (spoilers: he may end up adopting him). Constantly asking the finance department to let him take a class trip to France. If anyone acts up enough to make him mad the class all turns on that one person (based on my mother’s experience (coincidentally she was also a languages teacher lol)). Often gossips and speaks with Hamilton in French.

Adams - idk if they teach law or politics in American high schools but if not then he’s probably an English teacher. His students live in terror or presenting essays or debates because no one can beat the man. You either love him or hate him, there’s no in between with his classes. Probably head of the department

Hamilton - probably either English or history (though maths is also a contender because he was treasury secretary). Also a younger teacher popular with the students. Has almost gotten into a fight with other teachers. And students. Definitely runs the debate club. Expects assignments in a week before the deadline. Is one of the leaders in staff room gossip.

Washington - I know most people make him the head teacher but I’m not a huge fan of that. He’ll probably end up as the head eventually for this au, but for most of it I imagine him is a department head. I can see him teaching either history, maths or geography (he was a surveyor after all, I could see him being a really good geography teacher). He’s that teacher that looks intimidating but is actually very nice. Believes way more in practical than theory and WILL drag his class outside in any and all weather to do a study. He also looks after any of the animals the school owns. Sometimes brings his dog to class. Is DEFINITELY involved in staff room gossip

Abigail Adams - I can see her as either the school nurse or some sort of creative arts teacher

Phillis Wheatley - definitely either an English teacher (damn we got a lot of those) and if not then some sort of creative arts teacher who also runs a poetry club. If anyone acts up in her class the other students ensure the body is never found.

Please suggest what subjects and the sort other historical figures would teach or any other ideas you have relating to this! ^^ Idk if I’ll draw anything based on this but it’s fun to brainstorm!

[tearsinthemist]

Want to learn something new

Want to learn something new in 2022??

Absolute beginner adult ballet series (fabulous beginning teacher)

40 piano lessons for beginners (some of the best explanations for piano I’ve ever seen)

Excellent basic crochet video series

Basic knitting (probably the best how to knit video out there)

Pre-Free Figure Skate Levels A-D guides and practice activities (each video builds up with exercises to the actual moves!)

How to draw character faces video (very funny, surprisingly instructive?)

Another drawing character faces video

Literally my favorite art pose hack

Tutorial of how to make a whole ass Stardew Valley esque farming game in Gamemaker Studios 2??

Introduction to flying small aircrafts

French/Dutch/Fishtail braiding

Playing the guitar for beginners (well paced and excellent instructor)

Playing the violin for beginners (really good practical tips mixed in)

Color theory in digital art (not of the children’s hospital variety)

Retake classes you hated but now there’s zero stakes:

Calculus 1 (full semester class)

Learn basic statistics (free textbook)

Introduction to college physics (free textbook)

Introduction to accounting (free textbook)

Learn a language:

Ancient Greek

Latin

Spanish

German

Japanese (grammar guide) (for dummies)

French

Russian (pretty good cyrillic guide!)

Jan 2, 2023

Want to learn something new in 2023??

Cooking with flavor bootcamp (used what I learned in this a LOT this year)

Beekeeping 101

Learn Interior Design from the British Academy of Interior Design (free to audit course - just choose the free option when you register)

Video on learning to read music that actually helped me??

How to use and sew with a sewing machine

How to ride a bike (listen. some of us never learned, and that's okay.)

How to cornrow-braid hair (I have it on good authority that this video is a godsend for doing your baby niece's black hair)

Making mead at home (I actually did this last summer and it was SO good)

How to garden

Basics of snowboarding (proceed with caution)

How to draw for people who (think they) suck at art (I know this website looks like a 2003 monstrosity, but the tutorials are excellent)

Pixel art for beginners so you can make the next great indie game

Go (back) to school

Introduction to Astronomy (high school course - free textbook w/ practice problems)

Principals of Economics (high school course - free textbook w/ practice problems)

Introduction to philosophy (free college course)

Computer science basics (full-semester Harvard course free online)

Learn a language

Japanese for Dummies (link fix from 2022)

Ukrainian

Portuguese (Brazil)

American Sign Language (as somebody who works with Deaf people professionally, I also strongly advise you to read up on Deaf/HoH culture and history!)

Chinese (Mandarin, Simplified)

Quenya (LOTR fantasy elf language)

Dec 26, 2023

Want to learn something new in 2024??

Beginner-oriented video on how to sail

This guy has so many videos on baking different types of bread. SO very many.

Coding in Python - one of the most flexible and adaptable high-level programming languages out there - explained through projects making video games

Learn to swim! (for adult learners. I don’t care if you live in Kansas or Mali or wherever. LEARN TO SWIM.)

Learn how quantum mechanics works. Then read some more about it

[Learn about quantum mechanics again, but in a more advanced engineering/mathematics class. Then read more about the math and physics of it]

Poetry Handbook, by Mary Oliver

Something I learned this year: how to sew a quilt (Here’s a very easy beginning pattern that looks amazing and can be done with pre-cut fabric!)

How to hit the ball in softball

Tutorial video on what is under the hood of most (gas) cars + weird engine sounds and what they mean

Full beginner mechanics technical training, if you want to go more in depth

Playlist on how car engine physics work if you want to go ultra in depth

Lecture series on architecture design through study of buildings

How (American income) taxes & tax law work (choose “audit course” at checkout for free class)

Pickleball for beginners (so you can finally join your neighbor/friend/distant cousin who is always insisting you join their team)

+ Para-Pickleball for beginners (for mobility aid users!)

School is so much more fun when there’s no tests:

American Law - Contracts

Shakespeare’s Life and Plays

Fairy Tales: Meanings, Messages, and Morals

Modern Poetry

World History [Part 1, Part 2]

Learn a language:

Arabic + Resource Guide compiled from Reddit (includes info on different dialects)

Chinese (Cantonese) (audio)

Urdu (frequently recommended course on Reddit) + Resource Guide

Yucatec Maya

[donnerpartyofone]

I signed up for this online class co-taught by a woman I find maddeningly brilliant, where she lectures on her experience working with and studying people who are on the cutting edge of whatever their professional field is. She discovered this common thread where many of them claim that they don't come up with their innovations on their own--supposedly, ideas just enter their minds spontaneously, or even in a dream, and they follow these disciplined lifestyles (versions of monastic practices, generally) that they believe make them more receptive to those kinds of messages. A good clarifying example is that of a mathematician (Pattie Maes I think? I forgot to write it down) who claimed that as a young student, she would just-know the solutions to math problems without being able to explain the reasoning, so she was always in trouble with her teachers; eventually she got into analytical philosophy, which helped her reverse-engineer and understand the answers she mysteriously received. So anyway the class I'm taking allows you to offer up your own projects for feedback and advice about how you can invite a breakthrough to happen. There are some extremely interesting people in the group, including a couple of guys who are doing futuristic-sounding sustainable farming projects, someone who studies black holes, and just all stripes of scientists and artists. I'm hearing some pretty interesting things, but...

The class is co-taught by this woman who is also obviously brilliant, she has these insane credentials I barely understand involving venture capital and AI, she works with and for extremely high level companies and luminaries and her self-selected title is something like "singularity expert". And like, all of that is inherently interesting whether or not it sounds somewhat sinister to your ears, but I quickly realized that she's one of these people who is just fundamentally excited by the basic concept of Success, and she automatically thinks that any measure of fame and fortune, no matter what it's in aid of or where it came from, is evidence of genius. Which to me is like this incredibly dangerous trap, for what I think are really obvious reasons.

So one of us students brought up a manuscript she's been working on for decades that isn't going anywhere, and the singularity expert told her to just throw it out and do something else, basically. And in her justification for this, she started saying "I know a lot of you probably don't like Elon Musk, BUT" in this really bitter, cold tone of voice that let you know immediately that she's a huge fan and she thinks the resistance to him is just a bunch of ignorant liberal bullshit. And her example of his genius, which we should all imitate, is that when he wanted to make a big update to Tesla/Twitter/(some other shit he acquired from actual innovators), he found that the update was incompatible with all of foundational code, so he just threw out millions and millions of dollars' worth of code to force his new thing into place. And I mean, on one level I heard something useful and true: Don't sacrifice your future for the comforting stability of the past, beware of the sunk cost fallacy, etc. But the fact that Elon Musk did something that *appears* to represent that, depending on how you spin it, does not mean that he is a genius you should seek to imitate. First of all, I didn't leave knowing exactly what the consequences of his actions were, and second of all...millions of dollars doesn't mean anything to that guy. He's impossibly rich and he basically started out that way, and he's never going to wind up homeless or whatever even if he drives every single company he bought into the ground. He's just not a good example of someone with a high risk, high reward mindset that we should all emulate because he could lose hundreds of millions of dollars almost without noticing. The fact that he did this thing that in isolation looks heroic, that's only a tiny part of the picture with him.

(And that's without even getting into the impact that it has on the rest of the world, that he has so much power; like personally I think he's such a negative presence in the world that it's beyond just material effects, actually he's so corrosive that even talking about him is bad. Just contemplating the idea of him brings out the absolute worst in people, it's bad for people's moral fiber to even argue about him, but ANYWAY)

Unfortunately I find that a lot of people who have some kind of overlap with the self-help field will eventually come around to admitting that they're so blinded by the glamor of public, lucrative success that they don't really care where it comes from or who gets it or what people do with it. Damien Echols is someone I really enjoy, I just think it's undeniably interesting to hear from someone who spent almost 20 years on death row studying spirituality (to be glib about it) and pursuing all kinds of monastic disciplines; I mean that guy has things to say that you don't get from circulating in normal society. He practices something that has roots as far back as ancient Sumeria, he's not rich and he's not trying to get rich, but he often reminds people that poverty doesn't have an inherent moral quality and it's not inherently evil to pursue financial success. He'll say that if you have a phobic attitude toward money, if the very idea of it is tainted by guilt and fear in your mind, then it becomes a destructive force in your life--but if you think about money as energy, a resource you can channel into doing what's important to you, then it becomes something positive and supportive. And I can totally understand that. But then Echols will extrapolate that to the point that he's praising megachurch guys who are absolute crooks and scam artists and who definitely rob people through a form of psychological blackmail that tells them they're going to hell if they don't help buy Jim Bakker or whoever a private jet. And I'm like, man...ok so it's worth while to say that having a positive mindset about money can change your life for the better. But that doesn't mean that we have to then lionize every single person who ever got rich no matter how they got there and no matter what they did with their power, that's just fucking insane, right?

I could go on and on actually, about various people I've heard speak about how to break through your subconscious limitations and take a more authorial role in your own life, and how often even the most apparently well-meaning one of these speakers will come around to praising like the Monopoly guy, or some tepid pop star with an incredible marketing machine behind them, as ground-breaking geniuses who we all need to emulate. I mean a lot of people who are visibly successful get there by accident, or nepotism, or coattail riding, or plain ruthlessness. Many people in the big-success category turn out to be inarguably, unfathomably stupid (ironically I spotted the Elon Musk Pop Tart story the morning before I took this class), and some of them are only geniuses insofar as they have an abnormally well-developed predatory instinct that makes them able to think thoughts and perform actions that you really can't conceive of if you aren't, you know, a psychopath. Someone recently posted a bunch of advice on teaching from John Cale, and one of the things he said was "Suspect charisma", and I think THAT is a much more important piece of advice than like, "find someone who is rich and famous and do whatever that person appears to be doing without asking yourself how they got where they are, or just what is the real reason that you personally are so compelled by them." It seems like a lot of people respond to the aura of "success" so intensely that they just don't want to have to question it, and they'll bend over backwards crafting these speculative backstories and dialectic arguments to make their animal reaction to the spectacle of power sound like something intellectually sound. It smacks of stockholm syndrome, of people who fall in love with their own bullies. There's complicated reasons for that, some of which are what got Trump elected I think, but I don't wanna talk about that. I have to go to the doctor's now anyway, and stop thinking about this.

[m-erminea]

Currently kinda frustrated because like. I love going to my studio classes and focusing on developing my art in college (illustration major!) and all, but it's becoming increasingly obvious that being a Working Artist is not really a viable career path for me. I just do not want to market myself like that and turn my one main creative outlet into a job if I'm being honest. I don't want this to be my real adult job. So I'm trying to switch majors to some sort of STEM instead for this fall (leaning towards computer science/software engineering? maybe statistics? perhaps even a foreign language minor? idk i need to talk to people first) which I think is more reasonable as a career choice and broadly applicable and also won't make me miserable. It feels much more promising than my previous plan of working retail for an unknown number of years until I can make good money off my art.

The main reason I chose fine arts in the first place was because I convinced myself I was fundamentally bad at math and I was only really good at drawing by the end of high school, which is just not true. I simply was depressed, did not study well, and was comparing myself to people who learned much faster. I'm realizing now that I can learn it I just gotta study. My analytical thinking isn't bad, I just need to use it more. I'm taking programming lessons online and relearning some math and it's going pretty well so far. I'm starting to like math for the first time which is exciting. Fortunately I'm only two semesters in and I got a good amount of credit already so I won't be too far behind as long as I take a couple summer classes.

...I just wish I could keep going to studios like this regularly while pursuing a STEM bachelors. There are community center classes and clubs at my university I could go to, but it's not the same as being in a college studio class with other professional artists!!!! My art has been improving a ton in just my first year and it's very personally fulfilling even if I don't want to do it for a living. I will continue making art regardless, and I think choosing something else to study is the right choice for me! It's just disappointing to have to leave the studio environment for it.

TLDR studio art is so enriching to my soul but [redacted] university won't let me go to studios if I study science instead 👎👎👎

[theatozclasses]

The atoz classes Review — “Transforming Math Anxiety into Achievement: Our Online Classroom Success Stories”

For many children, math is more than just a challenging subject — it’s a source of stress and anxiety. The fear of numbers, the pressure to keep up with peers, and the frustration of not understanding can make math seem like an impossible mountain to climb. At The AtoZ Classes, we’ve seen these struggles firsthand, but we’ve also witnessed something truly beautiful: the moment when a student’s fear turns into understanding, and anxiety turns into achievement. I’d like to share the stories of a few students whose lives have been touched by our approach.

Riya’s Story: Finding Her Voice Through Math

Riya, a 6th grader from Delhi, had always been a quiet, thoughtful child. But when it came to math, her quietness turned into withdrawal. She’d sit at the back of the class, hoping she wouldn’t be called on, and her once-bright eyes would dim with every math lesson. Her parents, concerned and heartbroken, reached out to us at The AtoZ Classes, hoping we could help their daughter rediscover her love for learning.

Aarav’s Journey: Rebuilding Confidence, One Step at a Time

Aarav, a 10th grader from Bengaluru, was a student with big dreams. He wanted to pursue engineering, but math felt like a giant roadblock standing in his way. Despite his best efforts, the complex equations and new concepts left him feeling defeated. Aarav’s parents knew he was capable, but they also knew he needed more than just tutoring; he needed someone who believed in him.

When Aarav joined The AtoZ Classes, I knew that rebuilding his confidence was just as important as teaching him the material. We started with the basics, ensuring that he had a strong foundation to build on. But we also took the time to listen to his frustrations and fears. I remember many late-night sessions where we’d talk through problems, not just math problems, but the doubts and worries that were holding him back. Slowly, Aarav began to see math not as an obstacle, but as a challenge he could overcome. His grades improved, but more importantly, he started to believe in himself again. When Aarav aced his final exams, the smile on his face said it all — he knew he was back on track to achieving his dreams.

Ananya’s Transformation: Learning to Love Math

Ananya, a sweet 3rd grader from Mumbai, was struggling to keep up with her math lessons at school. The fast pace and the pressure to keep up left her feeling lost and frustrated. Her parents, worried that she might fall behind, reached out to The AtoZ Classes, hoping that a different approach might help.

From the moment I met Ananya, I knew she needed patience, encouragement, and a lot of positive reinforcement. We took our time, revisiting lessons as often as she needed, using fun, interactive methods to keep her engaged. I’ll never forget the day Ananya solved her first problem all by herself — she looked up at me with wide eyes, a mix of surprise and pride, and whispered, “I did it!” That moment was the turning point. From then on, Ananya approached math with a newfound curiosity and eagerness. Her parents couldn’t believe the transformation — they saw their little girl go from dreading math to eagerly looking forward to her lessons. Today, Ananya is excelling in math, and the joy on her face every time she solves a problem is a reminder of why we do what we do.

The Heart of The AtoZ Classes

These stories of Riya, Aarav, and Ananya are just a few examples of the countless students who’ve found not just success, but joy in learning math through The AtoZ Classes. What sets us apart is our belief that every child can succeed in math, given the right support and encouragement. We don’t just teach math; we build confidence, nurture curiosity, and celebrate every step of progress, no matter how small.

At The AtoZ Classes, we’re more than just educators — we’re mentors, cheerleaders, and sometimes, a shoulder to lean on. We know that math can be challenging, but we also know that with patience, understanding, and a personalized approach, every student can overcome those challenges. Watching our students transform from anxious learners to confident achievers is the most rewarding part of our journey.

If your child is struggling with math or needs a little extra support, we’re here to help. At The AtoZ Classes, we’re committed to turning math anxiety into achievement, one student at a time more info visit our website theatozclasses.com

[its-a-hil]

okay so teaching like sucks. at least early in your career.

like you have to learn how to do teaching well instinctually while also doing lots of work to make lesson plans

in a few years i'll be a better teacher just generally and i'll *also* have a bank of lesson plans to use.

and teachers who have taught for more years get paid more (note: i don't think this is a bad thing, but it's just a critique of the incentives at play. i also recognize that this is the case across many different industries where new employees do more work for less pay, it's not specific to teaching in any way)

can someone just like. slip meth into my water bottle so i can be competent without having to know the reason and thus not being addicted in a way that prevents me from stopping

also fuck baltimore city for squishing math classes to be ~80 min every day for one semester. it's clearly bad for academic outcomes to have students forget how math works after the ~8 months they spend not learning it, but also it's so much fucking work for me to plan two 80 min classes every single day. stop it. give me a fucking odd/even day so i can fucking rest half the time like i did last year.

genuinely i feel more stressed getting to my apt at 15:30 this year than i did getting home at 20:30 multiple days per week last year. and i have *significantly fewer* total student-hours (this year.

literally the only guidance i have is to just. deal with it until next semester when ive already taught the curriculum. and like yeah. it is nice to have something to look forward to (and i know i have the job security for it even if i'm not great this semester)

but like this sucks!! an executively dysfunctional girlie should not have to fucking do this! seriously i could become an engineer right now and my life would become so much easier for a like 80% instant pay raise once i managed to make myself submit applications

also the assumption from essentially all involved parties that my students will have access to laptops is. fucking disturbing

"just go to this google form to request a laptop!" also we didn't let you into the school unless you gave us a phone so you actually have no means of filling out that form unless you: (a) take an extra fucking phone with you into school, which a bunch of my students do because **of course** they want access to online and their families (b) write down the fucking url and take it home (c) have someone else give you access to their computer (i love security!) (d) remember both that it's a thing you can do and that the link is on the google classroom that you *definitely* joined and fill it out at home. you of course have a computer at home, everyone has one of those. what do you mean a bunch of these kids are homeless. that doesn't matter. just transfer them to a worse school then, that'll solve the problem.

oh my god aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[sublimepizzastarfish]

Pirate Software's "rearchitecture" for Stop Killing Games

There's been a lot of fascinating drama around Stop Killing Games. Go read the initiative here:

It is a good initiative, and anyone who is a consumer that can, should absolutely go support it.

Jason "Thor" Hall, CEO of Pirate Software, recently had a few, let's say, "takes" on the matter (I'm trying and failing to remain neutral), which began on a stream. The stream's VOD has since deleted on his YouTube channel.

Louis Rossmann, who you might know as the largest Right to Repair activist in the US, made a response to a section of the releevant stream here:

Thor, CEO of Pirate Software, made two videos to clarify his points:

There is an argument in the video at the 2:08 mark that I will reference later.

(I recommend watching all these videos on 2x speed. You will get the same info out of them all, because especially video 2 is a lot of repetition)

Now, as mentioned above, there is one particular technical argument that bugs me about what Thor, CEO of Pirate Software, is making. Here is the full quote:

How would you keep League of Legends in a functional, playable state? You'd have to rearchitect the entire game. The game is what is called "client-server". So, in client-server models, there's a server, there's a client, and all of the math, all of the game, everything happens on the server. The client just displays it. And the reason we want to do it that way is so that you can't teleport around and do a billion damage. You don't trust the client. You trust the server. The client just displays what it's told. Right? So, if we wanted to rearchitect this, we would have to take all of that server logic, push it back out into the client, and somehow make that playable in a multiplayer-only video game. That doesn't make sense to me. So this doesn't work for all games. Why is [the initiative] calling out all games?

So, first off, yes, most games do client-server architecture for multiplayer logic, because you do trust the servers. It is an important step to curbing an entire class of cheats. It doesn't necessarily mean the client isn't malicious (for example, there are cheats for League of Legends that show a growing circle when an enemy leaves the fog of war in the minimap). However, it does mean the client doesn't know 100% of the game at any time when information is selectively fed to each client based on something like the fog of war. That's awesome.

Some games, like PlanetSide (rest in peace) and Overwatch (2) use what's called client-side hit detection. Some games, like Halo 1, employ more selective hit detection models, where only certain weapons use client-side hit detection (see https://c20.reclaimers.net/h1/engine/netcode/). Client-side versus server-side hit detection can change the overall feel of a game, and it's one of the things game developers decide on in multiplayer-only games that require it. In the case of an massively multiplayer online first person shooter (MMOFPS) like PlanetSide (2), the server simply can't calculate thousands of people's math in a reasonable amount of time, because otherwise the hit detection would otherwise feel very crappy to play, and so the math is offloaded to the client and the client says "hit" when they hit.

However, there are a few counterexamples to the specific technical argument that keeping the game playable after end-of-lifing it requires rearchitecting:

Games with dedicated servers exist - Command & Conquer: Renegade, Starsiege: TRIBES

Games where one client also hosts the multiplayer server exist - Half Life 2, Warhammer 40k: Space Marine

Private server hosting exists - World of Warcraft

Some of these games, particularly the examples with dedicated servers that can be run on user hardware, can also run as the second example.

To say keeping a multiplayer-only online game requires rearchitecting a game like League of Legends means a lack of imagination. More relevantly, it means a lack of systems thinking.

To me, it is very strange for someone such as Thor, CEO of Pirate Software, who is self-described as being a 20 year veteran of the games industry to say. I won't say skill issue, because I think there is an ulterior motive at play.

Just to hammer the point home, I drew up some crappy diagrams in Inkscape because this extremely wrong technical argument bugged me so, so much.

Here is what a client-server model looks like:

Here, you have 10 clients, each being a player of the game. Then, you have the server, run by Riot, the developer and maintainer of League of Legends.

Here is the imagination of Thor, CEO of Pirate Software, had to say on the matter on the required way rearchitect it:

Those who know their network models would understand this looks very much like a mesh network, or a peer-to-peer model. And, to be fair, some games might attempt it.

However, this isn't *usually* how games described using a peer-to-peer (P2P) model work. Most peer-to-peer models, like the architecture used in Space Marines, are often used for matchmaking. Once you are in a game, one of the clients also serves as the host (selecting by some algorithm, like randomly or whoever has the best hardware).

P2P is nice, because the company doesn't have to run servers for matchmaking at all during their lifespan (and sometimes a matchmaking server might be spun up to serve as a relay to help with network issues or help other clients find clients quickly). As we'll get into later, a client machine will also serve as the host machine. It is a perfectly fair and valid, although it comes with it's frustrations (mainly in the realm of network address translation (NAT) traversal, because your computer behind a router is not usually exposed to the wider Internet, though sometimes routers have universal plug-and-play (UPnP) set up, which makes NAT traversal much easier here).

If you've ever seen a message in the game "migrating host" because the host left, they likely use P2P matchmaking, but still use a client-server model. They can just migrate the game data to a new host using the data on the other clients as a seed for the data.

This is likely their setup for actual gameplay:

One of the clients now has a server on the same machine. Sometimes, this could be the game itself that would serve in singleplayer. However, most often, this is just a server that's lightweight enough for the client to connect to and they play that way (it's also really nice to develop and QA this way, because many server bugs will also be seen by the client).

Now, one of the disadvantages here is: Can all remote clients connect to the host that the server (and one of the clients) is running on? Again, NAT traversal issues usually play a role here. In the first few days of any game that uses this, and only this, there will likely be a lot of issues with connectivity.

Another disadvantage: The host won't have latency issues. This is why in the case of, for example, Among Us, the client host can see certain things happening (like someone is dead the moment they hit a button or reported a body), but remote player hosts might not.

Okay, so, maybe it's not possible to rearchitect something like League of Legends like this. It could reasonably be a lot of work. Here is another solution:

Looks very similar to the first architecture, doesn't it? It is! The difference is that the text "Riot" was changed to "not Riot".

This is how World of Warcraft and Pokemon Go private servers work.

The vast majority of games that would not run without private servers simply do not require rearchitecting to keep in a reasonably playable state when the servers shut down.

[magicmindless]

Headcanons for Iggy?

Yes!

A HC list but it’s just Iggy

I think he needs more attention. He’s adorable :3

- Diligent, polite, and kind of shy but can talk a lot if he’s comfortable around certain people. Tends to be passive-aggressive whenever he’s upset

- I’m in for the hcs that he’s asexual and nonbinary (he/they). He found out he was asexual when he was in the seventh grade and found out he was nonbinary in the eighth grade

- He’s 15 years old, a high school freshman (ik some people see him as being younger (like middle or elementary school even) but he’s still a minor)

- He’s passive aggressive in the way that he expresses his anger silently. He’ll refuse to talk to anyone but he’ll do things like slam doors or throw things where they need to be or hit things. When he’s like this it’s best to leave him alone until he calms down (Or get Professor Fitz to talk to him)

- Also tends to cry easily if he’s upset, but he also keeps it silent to the point where it hurts his throat

- Based from Aronora’s Fitz family AU: Petrona is his mother. Neither of them are as close as they wish to be due to Petrona’s work and any time they do spend time together is sparse. Usually just movie nights and that’s about it (if you’re wondering about the father read this)

- Looks younger than he actually is which sometimes annoys him. People have assumed he was an elementary schooler

- He likes bunnies and would like one as a pet some day, but he has to wait to move out if he wants a pet since Petrona doesn’t really like pets (not that she hates animals she just doesn’t wanna live with one)

- Has an artistic side to him. He can make his own costume pieces like his glasses for his Comet Con costume and the alien mask for his Halloween costume. He’s even made prop pieces like his own model space ray inspired from Meteor Blaster X

- His mini lab which Fitz built for him has things like a model of the solar system, a clear dome roof, a telescope, and a tv to entertain himself with. His favorite thing is a giant-ass book about the solar system and space which sits on a book stand for him to read through whenever he feels like it

- More of a comic person than a book person. He just likes pictures

- I’m not saying that he’s a STEM kid but he is totally a STEM kid (Science, technology, engineering, and math)

- He believes that aliens exists. It does sound strange but knowing that space is infinite why wouldn’t there be other life out there? It makes sense to him

- He has fidget toys like pop-its and wooden puzzles because he gets bored kind of easily. He even has a Rubik’s cube which he can’t solve without a YouTube tutorial (can’t be good at everything now)

- Sleep with a stuffed astronaut penguin named Marshall every night

- He has a few close friends in school he likes to geek out about fandoms with. He was one of the introverts who were adopted by the extroverted kids but he likes them a lot

- Is online friends with Treble. They met online when Iggy was 12 and Treble was 14. The arranged a time and place to meet each other during Cluckeria’s Comet Con. Fitz and Petrona were wary about Iggy meeting Treble because of stranger danger and stuff like that but they ended up liking Treble since they were pretty much harmless (they didn’t trust Treble to drive Iggy around though)

- His favorite school subject is science of course, though his least favorite is gym class. He’s not very good at sports. Once was playing volleyball for class and he was so terrible at it he cried (based on a true story)

- He has a swear jar, though it’s not exactly for him, it’s for Petrona and Fitz. Iggy doesn’t swear but if Petrona or Fitz do they have to give him a quarter

- During Mocharia he sometimes came along with Petrona or came by himself to visit her. Petrona never talked about herself to almost anyone on set so some didn’t even know she had a son. There were very few people who were told Iggy was her son, a few people picked it up on their own, but some didn’t pay attention enough to notice at all

[big-parma]

The Absolute State of Maths Education rn

Yo so the bigwigs at VCAA (the guys who write the curriculum for all education in Victoria, Australia) have been coming out with new study designs for almost all VCE classes that’ll be implemented at different points over the next 3 years. The VCE is considered relatively prestigious-ish in the sense there’s a fair few people in other countries who send their kids to Victoria to do it (Australia’s biggest export is education after all) so it’s a big deal when major changes happen to how important courses run. Context = understood.

So I’m a maths (…and science) teacher now and the major changes to the three maths streams since I graduated in 2012 can be summed up like this:

Spesh (the highest tier of maths, scales up the most out of any course except stuff like Latin) - Kinematics are less of a thing but they added in Proofs and hypothesis tests(?!) instead

Methods (still high scaling, but more like uni engineering maths instead of theoretical crazy hard stuff) - Stats removed, some more “calculus but if you can’t do calculus to that particular thing” included instead

Further Maths (General maths, scales down(?!) and is the “ya got a mortgage here’s a maths problem” class that a commerce degree at uni usually means by saying you need at least one maths background to get in) - the stats from methods is here now and they call it General Maths to stop the confusion with it and methods

and there’s also now a fourth tier of maths called foundation

I’m assuming foundation is the barebones “pay your bills with x income And do your taxes” class your relatives keep saying they should’ve been taught how to do in school

So that’s all the changes across a decade of education. When they announced “big changes are coming to the way things will work across VCE maths” I think I’m safe to say most of us took it as the usual reordering and in/out for content as described above. Since I’m a good boy (read “I wanted to put on a good front to make sure I got my contract extension” - I’m permanent now dw) I attended the online seminars (lmao webex) that they presented as information sessions on the changes.

First one was Spesh. No biggie, exactly what you’d expect, some stuff’s swapped again, hang on Pseudocode is in..? But that’s just any code that could do any maths?! And they’re mentioning that it’s in methods too??? The chat at this point’s asking a lot of questions, mostly “how can we know what’s examinable so we can actually teach this??” But thankfully they have an example that should satisfy you:

This is not even a half step above “hello world” and it’s in the hardest maths course? How hard does this get? What do they consider legit? Is there an example exam question that they have as a reference? How will they be able to write textbooks on this if that’s all they have?

No answer. Oh well methods is the next day maybe that will elaborate on it.

Methods opens with the same spiel on things, negligible changes imo on actual content… and he acknowledges some confusion from yesterday on Pseudocode! Has he got an answer? What’s the example this time…

Oh. And it’s definitely examinable and we might elaborate on that later but for now that’s all we got.

That was all 2022. Recently (2023) they did the same thing for “revisions” which was for FurtherGeneral Maths’ course (all of these are being phased in kinda since changing a year 12 course when year 11s are running on the old one makes no sense). Guess what showed up in the General Maths study design!

It’s ya boi 21st century life skills!

I’ll be honest, I was a little suss on this from the Meth/Spesh presentations but I think this confirms what I was thinking: this is some boomers pulling the “kids need to learn how to computer” card isn’t it? Don’t get me wrong, kids do need to learn to computer, but lol as if they’ve got this as their only example to show off across all three variety of maths!

But wait, there’s more!

They’ve got a page about it now! Yay! There’s some more examples - harder ones now - but there’s still no actual information on how this topic can be presented on the actual end of year exams. What do i teach them? What constitutes legit Pseudocode vs nonsense pretend code? Is this basic computer science 101 or are the kids going to be presented with a max level spesh question through the lenses of a guy saying “yeah but make it code”

eh I’ll just teach them excel :)

[jonathan-samuel-smith]

Hello everyone, I come offering the outtakes from chapter 3 of my wip jondami arranged marriage au. I wrote them texting and i was talking with my mom and i realized "I could literally have written only a handful of texts and then alluded to them texting later in dialogue." But a lot of people like chatfics so here's what I got, most of it i'll be cutting.

Damian: Flight training Wed.? We could go for boba after.

Jon: Okay! I can’t sleep over tho.

Damian: That is fine.

Jon: Okay! Hey thanks for helping me with the piano and stuff. 

Damian: No thanks are necessary. I enjoy spending time with you.

Jon: 🙂 Goodnight!

Damian: Goodnight.

Damian went to bed and woke up at 4am as usual, did his morning training, ran with the dogs, and checked his phone.

Jon: Good morning! How did you sleep?

Damian: Uninterrupted for 6 hours, as I prefer it.

Jon: U only sleep 6 hours a night?

Damian: Yes. I microsleep during the day to keep well rested.

Jon: Oh. Is that some sort of assassin training thing?

Damian: Yes.

Jon: I’m hungry

Damian: Would you like me to order you some food?

Jon: U don’t have to do that! I will just get a banana

Damian: If you are sure. You should eat more than that.

Jon: I’ll get some yogurt too.

Damian: Good.

Damian thought it was odd that Jon kept texting him for non-urgent reasons, but he wasn’t displeased.

Jon: What are you gonna have for breakfast?

Damian: Khadi soup.

Jon: Ooo what’s that?

Damian: Yogurt as well. I assume you are not asking for the entire recipe. It is a tangy, spicy soup.

Jon: Interesting! I’d try it. Sounds good.

Damian: It is good. Many Americans think it is weird.

Jon: I don’t think it’s weird! [Jon is typing…]

Jon: What is your plan for today?

Damian: I have online classes for veterinary school. After that I will be volunteering at the animal shelter. 

Jon: How do online classes work with vet school? 

Damian: I have a few in-person classes and exams, and I have to have volunteer hours logged.

Jon: Cool! Sounds like a lot of work.

Damian: It is something I enjoy doing.

Jon: Then I am glad you are able to do it!

Damian stopped checking his phone so he could focus on his classes, and Jon did the same. 

Jon: Just got out of math. Math is so hard! Why did I think being a scientist was a good idea? T~T

Damian: You are being dramatic.

Jon: Yes. Do you not approve?

Damian: It does not bother me.

Jon: Cafeteria food is so bland :( 

Jon: GTG class again!

Damian: I have not tried it.

Jon: That class was so interesting! We are learning about thermodynamics. Damian: I’ve built my own internal combustion engine.

Jon: Oh, wow, cool! Can I see it?

Damian: I suppose. I will get you a picture when I get home from volunteering.

Jon: Okay! Have fun with the animals!

Damian: [Picture Sent]

Damian: Here it is. It powers the version of the batmobile that I built.

Jon: So. Cool. Can I show this to my teacher?

Damian: You cannot. 

Jon: Aw, OK. No problem!

Damian: [Picture Sent] Jon: OMG is that you at the animal shelter?

Damian: Yes. I am bottle feeding these kittens currently because the mother cannot breastfeed them.

Jon: Soooo cute! ��

Damian: Yes, they are.

Jon: You, too!

Damian: Oh.

Damian: Thank you.

Jon: You look so happy!

Damian: I’m heading home now.

Jon: I’m already at home! Studying. Stu-DYING.

Damian: Needlessly dramatic, again.

Jon: Yep!

Jon: [Picture Sent]

Jon: Me with Krypto! And Kon. Kon says hi.

Damian: Tell him I said hello as well.

Jon: Done! Don’t you think we look cute too?

Damian: Yes, you and the dog. No comment on Kon.

Jon: 😂

Damian: I’m going on patrol now, Goodnight.

Jon: Goodnight!

[sophiyablogs]

The Future of Learning: Thriving with Online Assignment Assistance

In the rapidly evolving landscape of education, the conventional methods of learning are making way for innovative and tech-driven approaches.   One such transformative force that is reshaping the way students engage with their academic pursuits is the rise of online assignment assistance. There are some situations which make the students think can someone take my mechanical engineering class for me to complete my projects easily? worry not! As we step into the future of learning, the role of digital platforms in academic success cannot be overstated.

Embracing Change in Education

Gone are the days when learning was confined to the walls of a classroom. The future of education lies in the dynamic realm of the internet, where students can access a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips. Online assignment assistance is at the forefront of this revolution, offering personalized support to learners around the globe.

Breaking Barriers with Accessibility

One of the key advantages of online assignment assistance is its ability to break down geographical barriers. Students no longer need to be in the same physical location as their tutors or classmates. The digital platform transcends borders, enabling collaboration and knowledge exchange on a global scale. This newfound accessibility empowers students to connect with experts, access resources, and participate in a diverse learning community.

Tailored Learning Experiences

The future of learning is all about customization, and online assignment assistance excels in providing tailored learning experiences. With adaptive learning technologies, students can receive assistance that is specifically designed to address their individual needs and learning styles. Whether it's tackling complex math problems or refining essay writing skills, online platforms offer personalized guidance to ensure every student thrives academically.

24/7 Support for Student Success

The traditional education model often limits students to specific hours of interaction with teachers. However, online assignment assistance transcends time constraints by offering 24/7 support. This means that students can seek help whenever they need it, fostering a more flexible and adaptive learning environment. The future of education is not confined to a rigid schedule; it's about providing continuous support to help students succeed at their own pace.

Harnessing Technology for Academic Excellence

In the future, technology will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape. Online assignment assistance leverages cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide instant feedback, identify learning gaps, and offer targeted resources. These tools empower students to enhance their critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and overall academic performance.

Joining the Revolution

As we navigate the future of learning, it's clear that online assignment assistance is not just a trend; it's a fundamental shift in the way education is approached. Students, educators, and institutions alike are recognizing the transformative power of digital platforms in fostering academic success.

To thrive in this ever-evolving educational landscape, embracing online assignment assistance is not just an option; it's a strategic decision. The future of learning is here, and it's about seizing the opportunities that technology brings to the forefront of education.

Are you ready to embrace the future of learning? Join the revolution, explore the possibilities, and empower yourself with online assignment assistance for a brighter academic journey. The world of education is changing, and those who adapt to the digital wave are not just learning; they're thriving.

[useoftoysforchildsdevelop]

Unlocking Knowledge: Top Engaging Educational Resources for Successful Home-Based Learning

  Certainly! Successful home-based learning requires access to engaging educational resources that cater to various learning styles and subjects. Here's a list of top resources across different categories:

1. Online Learning Platforms:

a. Khan Academy: Provides free online courses, lessons, and practice in various subjects.

 b. Coursera: Offers courses from universities and colleges around the world on a wide range of topics.

c. edX: Similar to Coursera, with courses from universities and institutions globally.

2. Interactive Learning Websites:

a. Code.org: Teaches coding and computer science in an interactive and engaging way.

b. Duolingo: A fun and gamified platform for learning languages.

c. BBC Bitesize: Offers resources for various subjects, especially useful for UK curriculum.

3. Virtual Museums and Tours:

a. Google Arts & Culture: Virtual tours of museums and historical sites worldwide.

b. Smithsonian Learning Lab: Educational resources and virtual tours from the Smithsonian Institution.

4. Educational YouTube Channels:

a. CrashCourse: Quick, entertaining lessons on various subjects.

b. TED-Ed: Engaging lessons worth sharing on a variety of topics.

c. National Geographic Kids: Educational videos about science, nature, and more.

5. Reading and Literature:

a. Project Gutenberg: Offers over 60,000 free eBooks, including many classic literary works.

b. CommonLit: Provides free reading passages and literacy resources for grades 3-12.

6. Mathematics Resources:

a. IXL: Adaptive learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies.

b. Wolfram Alpha: A computational search engine that helps with mathematics and other subjects.

7. Science and STEM:

a. NASA's STEM Engagement: Educational resources and activities related to space and science.

b. Mystery Science: Free science lessons with hands-on activities.

8. Coding and Computer Science:

a. Scratch: A block-based visual programming language designed for kids.

b. Codecademy: Interactive coding lessons for various programming languages.

9. Homeschooling Resources:

a. Homeschool.com: Offers a variety of resources, curriculum reviews, and support.

b. Time4Learning: Online curriculum for preK-12th grade.

10. Educational Games:

a. Prodigy: A math platform that uses gamification to make learning fun.

b. ABCmouse: Early learning academy for ages 2-8 with a variety of educational games.

11. Art and Creativity:

a. Art for Kids Hub: Provides art lessons for kids on drawing and crafting.

b. TinkerCAD: An online platform for 3D design, electronics, and coding.

12. Podcasts for Learning:

a. Brains On!: Science podcast for kids and curious adults.

b. Stuff You Should Know: Explores a wide range of interesting topics for older learners.

13. Educational Apps:

a. Quizlet: Flashcards and study tools for a variety of subjects.

b. Anki: A powerful flashcard app for learning and memorization.

14. Virtual Learning Communities:

a. Outschool: Offers live online classes for a variety of subjects and age groups.

b. Scholastic Learn at Home: Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing.

Remember to tailor these resources based on the age and interests of the learner. Additionally, maintaining a balance between screen time and hands-on activities is crucial for a well-rounded learning experience.

READ FOR MORE DEFFERENT CATEGORIES  SO PLEASE CLICK HERE & VISIT OUR MAIN WEB PORTAL  OR  CLICK HERE & VISIT OUR SUB WEB PORTAL

[occasionally-normal-things-here]

get to know me

Thanks for the tag @scripted-downfall!!

Nicknames: (Unfortunately?) The only nicknames I have gained are random shortenings of my first name.

Zodiac: Aries

Height: 5’3 ish? Yes I get called short a lot

Favorite music: I don’t think there’s a type of music I haven’t listened to during a random phase, but my most consistent genres are indie, rock, country (fight me it’s amazing), some pop, and folk.

Followers: 6 I’m pretty sure most of them are awesome mutuals! it’s my first year on tumblr so I’ll probably slowly interact with more people and reach a large following by the time the sun explodes.

Following: 34

Do you get asks?: nope, but I would have a super fun time answering some!

Amount of sleep: uhh probably around 7 hours a night right now but that’ll definitely change come FRC season (if you know you know)

What are you wearing?: super soft black shorts, and a yellow t-shirt that’s probably more than a decade old. It is definitely the weekend.

Dream job: Ooo tough question. I’m really interested in a lot of STEM programs, specifically marine biology, engineering, astronomy, physics, chemistry. (I say specifically than name off like 5 different fields) I really do need to narrow down my options soon but for now I’m just chilling with taking an extreme amount of math and science classes.

Languages: English is the only language I speak fluently, I took just enough Spanish to get the credit, and was learning French on Duolingo during the pandemic. Right now I’m taking some online courses for ASL and dipping my toes into Irish.

Random Fact: I know a weird amount of things about lavender. Don’t ask why, but I do.

Aesthetic: Tired student who wears a lot of the same jeans and sweatshirts but rotates them enough that people can’t comment. At home you could say more of a country/farmer aesthetic. I do wear a lot of straw hats and overalls when working in the summer. (I also love flannel)

No pressure tagging: @akariana317, @badgerqueen07, @audoimage

[juteanworld]

October 4, 2023

Good afternoon fellow blue app perusers!

Today's post is a bit late because at my planned time, at lunch, I had to finish some homework I had meant to do two days ago already. But at least I got it done! Unlike last night's post because I had procrastinated too much. But also did a bit of some things!

• Did some food and cuisine worldbuilding for the tropical island country of Jute (see @tropical-saa for more)

• researched Vanuatu's national food laplap for that, and I would honestly want to try it

• Added a short story, a just-story about humans learning language from a bird to the collaborative worldbuilding wiki (also on @tropical-saa) and gave some in-universe context to it

• Added an article on traditional approaches to mental health on Jute to the same wiki, based on blog posts (again on @tropical-saa)

Today!

I had a class on machines. These green perhaps inscrutable pieces of technology are supposed to help break up the soil, a bit similar to those machines that break twigs and branches into small parts (woodchippers is apparently the word). They are relatively heavy and have bunch of dials and functions I still don't understand.

Apparently they are made by Ferrari in Italy, the same company that makes the famous sports and Formula 1 cars!

A tractor for moving large amounts of grass. But cleaning the blades is difficult, and you sit right behind the engine, so you might breathe in toxic fumes.

That's why these "riders" are preferred, where the engine is in the back and preparing to clean the blades is a walk in the park. I tried it after observing it being done once, and I had no issues at all, and just needed about 4 minutes to do all the steps and then undo them to make the vehicle ready again.

Both the tractor and rider have height-adjustable blades, you use what looks a bit like a gearbox on the right to change it.

Today I also got a free plush bun! 😊

Goals!

• Once again, reading and writing. 2 x 10 pages and 15 minutes.

I really have to internalize the fact that my books are actually much more interesting than aimlessly scrolling through feeds online, hoping to find something. Instead, my books are interesting right away, I just need to remember them and push through any weird excuses I have to not open them. Then I also have more to talk about here and my feed scrolling will actually have a purpose, trying to find people with similar interests, who have read similar books etc.

As for writing, not many seemed to have had an interest in voting, so I will do what I would want personally, which is to combine option 1, 2 and 4. Posting on my website, a new side-blog and reblogging here.

Be excited for the return of the courtroom drama with a transgender protagonist!

• Finally do the plant blog updates.

I am ready to do this exciting work that I have been told has been well regarded by many. It's really not hard or takes a lot of time. My plan for the first new post is to go over the garden cosmos flower, and add heights and other missing basic data to other entries.

• Math club and sewing club!

To be honest my main motivation here is to meet and talk to more people and have a new opportunity or two to share my cookies, but I also am interested in both mathematics and sewing enough that I want to give both a try!

See you later!