#take my online database class

[onlineexamhelpers-tutor]

[rebeccathenaturalist]

So. ID apps. Do I use them in my classes? Yes, but only iNaturalist, because you get an additional layer of verification by actual human beings rather than just the initial algorithmic suggestions. And, more importantly, I stress again and again and again that apps are NOT to be the only tool you use, but need to be used in conjunction with field guides, online groups, and other tools, which we also discuss in class. This is especially true if you're planning to eat anything you pick.

I get incredibly frustrated by how ID apps are often touted as all you need to identify animals, plants, and fungi. (I've even seen them described as "a Master Naturalist in your pocket".) Yes, it's nice to have a convenient tool on your phone that allows you to take a picture of something and get a suggestion of what it is. But that's all it is--a suggestion. iNaturalist, Google Lens, PlantSnap, and other apps are incapable of critical thinking and observation skills. All they can do is take the visual, temporal, and location data that you give them and churn up suggestions based on whatever they already have in their databases.

Nature identification is a detail-oriented skill that takes time and practice to learn, and if you want to do it right there aren't any one-step shortcuts. Can an app potentially narrow down the possible species you're observing? Sure. But YOU still have to be the one to do the actual work in determining whether the species the app has suggested is the one you're looking at in person or not; you CANNOT just take the app at its word, because apps can often be wrong.

And this is even more the case when we're talking about edible mushrooms, many of which have lookalikes. (Trying to figure out which Little Brown Mushroom you have can be an exercise in frustration, to say the least.) While there are a lot of people getting into foraging who are willing to do the actual work needed to determine a given mushroom's species, there are unfortunately also those who just want quick and easy answers without a lot of effort, and those are the people who are going to go no further than the app's results. The articles that promote apps as the quick and easy answers these people want aren't helping, either.

By the way, I am ALWAYS happy to help people find resources to help them with identifying various beings in nature. I'm also fine with taking a look at photos and giving my perspective on what something may be (though, again, don't use me as your only source.) While I do teach foraging, I am first and foremost a nature identification instructor, and I want to help people go about learning the life forms around them correctly (and in the case of edible species, safely.)

[izicodes]

Hi! I’m a student currently learning computer science in college and would love it if you had any advice for a cool personal project to do? Thanks!

Personal Project Ideas

Hiya!! 💕

It's so cool that you're a computer science student, and with that, you have plenty of options for personal projects that can help with learning more from what they teach you at college. I don't have any experience being a university student however 😅

Someone asked me a very similar question before because I shared my projects list and they asked how I come up with project ideas - maybe this can inspire you too, here's the link to the post [LINK]

However, I'll be happy to share some ideas with you right now. Just a heads up: you can alter the projects to your own specific interests or goals in mind. Though it's a personal project meaning not an assignment from school, you can always personalise it to yourself as well! Also, I don't know the level you are, e.g. beginner or you're pretty confident in programming, if the project sounds hard, try to simplify it down - no need to go overboard!!

But here is the list I came up with (some are from my own list):

Personal Finance Tracker

A web app that tracks personal finances by integrating with bank APIs. You can use Python with Flask for the backend and React for the frontend. I think this would be great for learning how to work with APIs and how to build web applications 🏦

Online Food Ordering System

A web app that allows users to order food from a restaurant's menu. You can use PHP with Laravel for the backend and Vue.js for the frontend. This helps you learn how to work with databases (a key skill I believe) and how to build interactive user interfaces 🙌🏾

Movie Recommendation System

I see a lot of developers make this on Twitter and YouTube. It's a machine-learning project that recommends movies to users based on their past viewing habits. You can use Python with Pandas, Scikit-learn, and TensorFlow for the machine learning algorithms. Obviously, this helps you learn about how to build machine-learning models, and how to use libraries for data manipulation and analysis 📊

Image Recognition App

This is more geared towards app development if you're interested! It's an Android app that uses image recognition to identify objects in a photo. You can use Java or Kotlin for the Android development and TensorFlow for machine learning algorithms. Learning how to work with image recognition and how to build mobile applications - which is super cool 👀

Social Media Platform

(I really want to attempt this one soon) A web app that allows users to post, share, and interact with each other's content. Come up with a cool name for it! You can use Ruby on Rails for the backend and React for the frontend. This project would be great for learning how to build full-stack web applications (a plus cause that's a trend that companies are looking for in developers) and how to work with user authentication and authorization (another plus)! 🎭

Text-Based Adventure Game

If you're interested in game developments, you could make a simple game where users make choices and navigate through a story by typing text commands. You can use Python for the game logic and a library like Pygame for the graphics. This project would be great for learning how to build games and how to work with input/output. 🎮

Weather App

Pretty simple project - I did this for my apprenticeship and coding night classes! It's a web app that displays weather information for a user's location. You can use Node.js with Express for the backend and React for the frontend. Working with APIs again, how to handle asynchronous programming, and how to build responsive user interfaces! 🌈

Online Quiz Game

A web app that allows users to take quizzes and compete with other players. You could personalise it to a module you're studying right now - making a whole quiz application for it will definitely help you study! You can use PHP with Laravel for the backend and Vue.js for the frontend. You get to work with databases, build real-time applications, and maybe work with user authentication. 🧮

Chatbot

(My favourite, I'm currently planning for this one!) A chatbot that can answer user questions and provide information. You can use Python with Flask for the backend and a natural language processing library like NLTK for the chatbot logic. If you want to mauke it more beginner friendly, you could use HTML, CSS and JavaScript and have hard-coded answers set, maybe use a bunch of APIs for the answers etc! This project would be great because you get to learn how to build chatbots, and how to work with natural language processing - if you go that far! 🤖

Another place I get inspiration for more web frontend dev projects is on Behance and Pinterest - on Pinterest search for like "Web design" or "[Specific project] web design e.g. shopping web design" and I get inspiration from a bunch of pins I put together! Maybe try that out!

I hope this helps and good luck with your project!

[sincerely-sofie]

Check-in for 01/28/24

It's been a while since I did one of these. Time to remedy that!

I've been doing well in my assignments, but due to some registration issues at the start of the semester I was unable to sign up for any web development or programming classes :< It's nice to take a break, but I'm really worried about getting stagnant in those skills, and maybe even losing what I've learned over time.

This is where a couple of new projects come in: A blorbo database and a tool for drawing pokemon from memory. These things are going to keep me avoid stagnancy and help me develop my web dev and Python programming skills, and I'm real excited to talk about them.

First up, let's talk about that tool for drawing pokemon from memory. I love drawing pokemon from memory, but it's a bit of a struggle to find tools online that work well for a solo experience when you're doing this challenge alone. So I made a program in PyGame to solve this problem, and I've actually already completed it! It was a great learning experience when it came to getting a taste of APIs, and PokeAPI really helped me do all the heavy lifting with it. I also ended up using ChatGPT to help me understand how to phrase my questions and the things I needed to research. This is the end result:

If you click "Get Random Pokemon", the program will provide a pokemon's name. The point of it is to draw the pokemon as best as you remember it, and then click "Show Pokemon Image" to see how you did. You will then have the option to get a new random pokemon, which clears the image from the window.

There's a lot of stuff I don't understand about how the program works--- APIs evade my understanding, and Tkinter is a dark art beyond my comprehension. But I was able to make a program that solved a genuine problem for me for the first time, and that's super exciting to me!

Now, for web development--- long story short, I'm making a website dedicated to cataloguing my OCs that's very much inspired by tumblr user @snekkerdoodles's personal site on neocities, which I regularly stare at in an effort to motivate myself to make cool things like it (everyone reading this should check his page out IMMEDIATELY and tell him how cool it is). Here's the screenshots of the WIP I'm chipping away at right now:

I don't have much to say about it, as the interesting stuff will really be the content of the pages, and I still have yet to finish the template page I'll be filling with my OCs' information. However, I can say that I'm very upset with the lack of proper teaching that took place in the first (and currently only) college web dev class I've taken. I spent an entire semester doing my own research to learn everything they were supposed to be teaching us. I'm still very peeved about that.

To summarize this very rambling post I'm too sleepy to edit properly, I'm making a digital blorbo encyclopedia, and I finished making a little desktop app thingy, which means I need to summon a new programming project. I'm tempted to make it a video game... maybe I should turn back to that visual novel idea I had ages ago and boot up RenPy!

[misophoniatroubles]

Helpful Accommodations for Misophonia (WIP)

Please note! You don't need to ask for, want, or get every single one of these accommodations. This list is so you can browse ideas and see what may or may not help you.

General

Being allowed to leave if you need to (In school, teachers are in charge of your wellbeing, so you will have to tell them beforehand or set up a signal you can give for when you need to leave. At most jobs, especially ones that are dangerous, you likely aren't going to be able to do this.)

Being allowed to wear ear protection without being reprimanded

Easy and accessible communication through text

Things that trigger you being removed from your enviorment (gum/food, a clock, something that has running water like a sink, etc.) (This is more individual but, if possible, ask. I got gum banned from my shop class because I got triggered while handling an electric saw.)

Education Specific

Taking tests and exams in a quiet room

A note-taker (Some universities have this as an official accommodation, they will provide who will take notes so you are free to leave and decompress if needed. However, you could also ask a friend to share notes with you! This is why we tell loved ones what we need support with.)

Recording lessons (Put the recording device near the front of the class, away enough from students that it won't pick up any sounds, but it may still pick up louder triggers like sniffs and coughs.)

Teacher's notes (This can be anything from the powerpoint file to a list given by the teacher of what they went over and what to study at home.)

Smaller Classes (This is less likely to be accepted, but asking won't hurt.)

Replace group activities with an individual assignment

Special classroom seating

Being let out of classes earlier so you don't have to walk through loud hallways

Eating in a separate area (Not all schools require students to eat at a specific spot but some do, and this is helpful! Even if chewing doesn't trigger you, being allowed actual time to rest throughout the day is good for you.)

Online classes (Many cost money, but there are some states in the US that fund public online education. I took Spanish online because there was no getting around not talking to people in an in-person class.)

Workplace Specific

Having a break time at a different time than other employees.

Getting a quieter keyboard/mouse

Communicating with other employees through text or notes so you can continue to wear ear protection

Not allowing food into meetings

Being allowed to record meetings

All scheduling should be put into an online database like a shared calendar so you don't have to actively hear it being announced and risk getting triggered

[pouroverpaloma]

(putting this in your ask box instead of messages bc i'm sure this could be helpful to other people!!!)

how does one decide where to go for grad school? like for my program specifically but also in general??? i was thinking about my MLIS earlier today and looking thru the ALA database adn i got overwhelmed. thanks <3

Hi!! I've finally reached a conclusion, after thinking a lot, making it overly complex for myself, and throwing all that out.

First thing, APPLY FOR FAFSA. It's a pain but it's vital if you want to do any kind of work study or take out government loans. Similarly, make sure you check out the ALA website and see what scholarships you can apply for.

Then what I did, personally, was pick ten highly-ranked programs (according to US News and World Report) that appealed to me and make a spreadsheet with:

Price. The full price of what it would cost to complete a degree. Library school is very light on what you need to actually purchase (unsurprisingly), but you need to know ahead of time what the lump sum would be without financial aid or fellowships.

Program type. Do they offer in-person, online, or hybrid? If online, are classes synchronous (live zoom meetings) or asynchronous (video lectures and assignments)? I personally think synchronous programs are a LOT better for many reasons but hey, these all get you degrees

Interesting features. Do they have a specialization you think is cool? Do they have an on-campus museum or rare books library you could intern with?

Have you applied yet? I just make this a yes/no tick box to keep on top of what I've already done.

Are your letters of rec in yet? Same thing, just a tick box to keep track.

Then apply and see what comes your way! I got my MLIS from University of Illinois online, and I went to classes at night so I could keep working. It took me three years instead of two, because I was going part-time and taking summers off, but that didn't matter at all. I had a really great experience and I highly recommend that program. There are many other excellent ones, though!

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

On SEPTEMBER 24th, I'll be speaking IN PERSON at the BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY!

#20yrsago TSA OKs airport crotch-mauling https://joi.ito.com/weblog/2004/09/18/tighter-screeni.html

#20yrsago Haunted Mansion castmember’s remembrance https://web.archive.org/web/20040916234226/https://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_55663.asp

#15yrsago Teacher asks YA author if virtual visit can take place “with us being able to see you, but you not being able to see us” https://freerangekids.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/can-you-please-come-talk-to-my-class-but-not-look-at-anyone/

#15yrsago Britain’s postal-code database online at Wikileaks: produced at public expense, not owned by the public https://memex.craphound.com/2009/09/16/britains-postal-code-database-online-at-wikileaks-produced-at-public-expense-not-owned-by-the-public/

#15yrsago Working handcuff keys printed on a 3D printer https://blackbag.toool.nl/?p=940

#15yrsago Rich Seattle suburbs install ubiquitous surveillance cameras, cops follow all “suspicious” vehicles https://web.archive.org/web/20090922170058/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009873854_medina16m.html

#15yrsago XKCD book is out https://blog.xkcd.com/2009/09/15/xkcd-volume-0/

#15yrsago Game economy credit-crunch: mismanaged bank freezes player accounts https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2009/08/virtual-bank-in-eve-freezes-accounts-due-to-deficit/

#10yrsago How your smartphone betrays you all day long https://www.bitsoffreedom.nl/2014/07/30/how-your-innocent-smartphone-passes-on-almost-your-entire-life-to-the-secret-service/

#10yrsago Rightscorp cuts-and-runs as soon as it is challenged in court https://torrentfreak.com/u-s-internet-provider-refuses-to-expose-30000-alleged-pirates-140909/

#10yrsago Downvoting considered harmful https://cs.stanford.edu/people/jure/pubs/disqus-icwsm14.pdf

#10yrsago 3D printed book of bas relief from Art Institute of Chicago https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:463657

#5yrsago Tolkien’s Lobelia Sackville-Baggins is probably a misogynist satire of women’s rights campaigner Victoria Sackville-West https://twitter.com/Quatr_us/status/1173211758833668096

#1yrago Greenwashing set Canada on fire https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/16/murder-offsets/#pulped-and-papered

The paperback edition of The Lost Cause, my nationally bestselling, hopeful solarpunk novel is out this month!

[fuzzyfoe]

if pet hotel had little games and activities like neopets or club penguin puffle games, what would they be?

whatever would be within my skill level to program i guess

i think i would start out with a game where the pet is holding a basket beneath some trees and you have to catch falling fruit by moving the pet left and right. sounds nice and simple enough, and once i had enough of a variety of simple games i would then feel free to try and experiment with something more complex and take as much time as i need since the simple games are able to fill that space where something needs to be right now

if i made this a website-based virtual pet game like neopets and flight rising are, something that's gonna be tricky and would probably take me a long time is i would have to learn how to make an html5 application (which is what these games would be if this was the case, since flash is dead) that would be able to read pet information and user information from a database so the pet could appear in the minigame, be able to modify values like the amount of money the player has so the player can earn money by playing these games, and this database needs to be able to be read and written to by both these minigames and by regular pages like a player's profile page where you'd be able to see your current money balance, for instance. The only experience I have in regards to creating an html5 application is running the html dist Gradle command that libGDX has, which just converts all of your java code into javascript as its own contained thing when for this I would need to make something that actually has the ability to talk to other things. I would have to learn a ton of php in order to make this a thing as well, which I don't have a lot of experience with either.

If I were to turn the pet hotel into a fully-fledged automated and programmable game with my current knowledge and skillset, I think I'd have an easier time using libGDX and Java Swing to make it, and then people would have to download a jar file for it off of itch.io in order to play it. I feel like more people would play it if the game was entirely website-based because people don't really like to download things, which is kind of understandable, but learning web development is really hard and from what little I do know about it I'm kind of bad at it. I took a class where I learned how web sockets work in Java so I think I could be able to make something that connects online like this, but I would have to rent some server space in order to do this so the pet hotel would become something that starts actually costing me money to run if I did this. Also I already have a full-time job so the progress I would make on this would be pretty slow, and sometimes I struggle to muster up the motivation to even just make regular art during the time that I'm not working because my brain just kind of sucks like that. So for now i just run this thing that pretends to be a video game but is actually not because my brain prefers the instant gratification of watching youtube videos and playing video games that other people have already made instead of using that time to learn how to make a video game myself

[burningvelvet]

I love the Romantics (esp 2nd gen) and was wondering where you learn more about them outside an academic setting?

I am by no means an expert, but I will try to answer by using stuff that has helped me!

For books, I highly recommend Young Romantics: The Shelleys, Byron and Other Tangled Lives by Daisy Hay as an introduction to the second generation Romantics. My only complaint is that it leaves out a ton of entertaining stuff imo, but it’s meant to be brief. It isn’t available for free anywhere afaik, but it’s very worth buying. It gives an overview of the movement & explains how all the key figures are interrelated in a very clever way. For biographies imo the best on Byron is Byron: a Portrait by Marchand, most agree the best on Shelley is Shelley: The Pursuit by Richard Holmes, most agree the best on Mary is Miranda Seymour’s Mary Shelley, & the best on Keats is (more arguably?) John Keats by Walter Jackson Bates. For critical analysis on the works, it’s best to research on a case-by-case basis (there are literally thousands of books & papers analyzing Frankenstein… I shudder to think of attempting to read even half of them).

This link to the BARS Blog "Romanticism: online resources list" -- https://www.bars.ac.uk/blog/?p=2900 -- is a fantastic resource list by Dr. Anna Mercer who is an important Romanticist. She wrote a work called The Collaborative Literary Relationship of Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (2019) which is also one of my favorites & I highly highly recommend it as well.

Other good resource guides: 1 University of Texas at Arlington Romantic Resources under the internet & lib headings https://libguides.uta.edu/romantic/resources 2 Jack Lynch of Rutgers Romantic resources list https://jacklynch.net/Lit/romantic.html 3 Uni of Pittsburgh Romantic research guide under the links heading https://pitt.libguides.com/romanticism/links 4 Queen's Uni Romantic research guide https://guides.library.queensu.ca/engl340/websites

Having access to databases and libraries really helps, but those are academic (unless you have a public library—if so, pls use it). If I’m researching a broad topic I sometimes start through Wikipedia & go from there, searching for what information I need by “phrase searching” on Google.

IMPORTANT ADVICE: this will all feel very overwhelming and confusing at first! I highly suggest just picking a work or a writer, finding something that really interests you, then learn more about it/them if you’d like, & just continue from there as a starting point. For me: I knew a *little* about these writers, and I’ve always loved Frankenstein, but I didn’t start any heavy Romantic research until I read Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage by Lord Byron, specifically Canto III, which is considered one of his best works and one of the key Romantic works in general. It really shook me to my core. I believe I discovered it from the Wikipedia page on the “Byronic Hero” concept (which stemmed from Childe Harold). I really just went down the rabbit hole from there… and I don’t know how I got here…

Good luck on your journey, and thx for the ask!

Btw — despite being an English Lit major, I haven’t actually studied Romanticism in any of my classes sadly! I just haven’t had the opportunity or it hasn’t come up; my program is mainly based on modern topics though, and so most of us only get to take a few historical classes. But my research on this has been independent. The first gen Romantics have been briefly discussed in one or two of my classes, and Frankenstein has featured in a lot of my classes, but that’s in a league of it’s own really—it’s one of the very few classic novels that most Americans are familiar with tbh!

[elisgeorge]

Did you know there are services that offer free university-level modules, for free?

I am one of those people that are obsessed with learning, but structured courses are expensive. Not these. Here are some links if you, too, are obsessed with the pursuit of knowledge and want to learn something (for FREE!)

EdX is my personal favourite. It offers loads of subjects that are usually taken from university courses, and the ones that I have done are pretty good. These can all be taken for free, or you can pay £40 to take the assignments and recieve a graded certificate. Now, the catch here is that most of the courses are archived, which means that, occasionally, some of the links won't work and you have to be creative with the readings. I have found this to be a pretty minimal issue though, and it is worth it.

I recently took this EdX course about 19th Century literature and it was excellent. Some of the links were broken so I took some creative liberties with the readings, but I read all of the books discussed and used the course materials to critically analyse them as I did so. I didn't follow the course exactly, but it was still an enriching experience and something I wouldn't have thought to do otherwise.

Another good one is OpenLearn, which is a branch of the Open University. The OpenLearn courses are usually pretty good, although some can feel a bit lackluster and basic. Don't expect super in-depth courses, but they're good for an introduction to a subject, or to top up your skills in somethign you haven't done in a while. These offer free certificates of participation, so they're great if, say, you want a career change but you haven't studied data science since college. I enjoyed the classes I took, but I wouldn't say they were as challenging as EdX.

I recently took this OpenLearn course about Hadrian's Rome. Classical history is something I'm interested in and this was a great way to guide my study of an aspect of it.

Coursera is a very popular one. Similar to OpenLearn, these courses can sometimes be a little surface-level. These also have a much larger focus on building transferrable skills than developing cultural knowledge and learning for your own enrichment. Even so, there are some wonderful gems on there if you're willing to scroll through and find them. Coursera is also great because it has project-centred courses, where you work towards a finished product under the (virtual, recorded) guidance of an expert. Think of it like a corporate skillshare.

Last summer I took this Coursera course about screenwriting. It was project based, and I came out of it with a fully realised first draft of a pilot episode of a TV show. I realised through this process that maybe screenwriting wasn't for me, but it allowed me to get out of my comfort zone with writing and explore that avenue that I would have probably always wodered about.

OpenCulture is a good database of free courses that then redirects you to other websites, but you have to be willing to sift through the sludge with this one, as some are more worth your time than others.

Another good way to find free courses is to search for them on university websites. I have found that most US universities (and loads of UK ones too, though it is less common) offer free online courses. You have to be careful here, because sometimes they will say they are free but actually the 'free' part is viewing the syllabus.

You might be thinking 'what is the point of a course that doesn't get me a qualification?' and I'd say 'I get you, because I felt the same way,' but if you're anything like me and love learning, they're a godsend. Of course, there is nothing stopping you from finding all of the course content online, and I'd actually encourage you to do that alongside the courses, but knowing where to start is the difficult part. There is so much information to learn about any given topic that it can be overwhelming. These courses provide you with a structure that you can then use within your own wider research to learn about subjects you maybe don't want to commit to in a formal setting.

I'm not paid by any of these websites, I just think the monetisation of knowledge is wrong and awful and disgusting and anyway to beat that should be celebrated and shared and used as widely as possible.

Happy learning! :)

[the-devil-in-the-details-666]

In light of all the AI bullshit going around, I would like to offer a funny story about my school district’s attempt to integrate “”“AI”””.

So, in my junior year of high school (2019), my school district introduced a new “AI Plagiarism Detection Program” that they were basically requiring teachers to use for any essay or text that was submitted online, which would scan a database of academic articles and highlight any sections it found in the essay that matched something in the database. Now, there are 3 very important things to know about this plagiarism detection program:

1. It was installed on every single student and teacher device (which were given to us by the school and were cheap hot garbage that barely worked at the best of times) in the entire district. They did not do a test run of the program in one or two schools.

2. It was set up so that if it decided that 25% or more of a text was plagiarized, it would automatically send an email with the scanned essay to the teacher it was being submitted to and the administrator that oversaw Academic Integrity at whichever school the student went to.

3. It was, unequivocally, absolute dogshit.

Now, what the district administrators hoped would happen is that they’d catch a couple dozen people plagiarizing, make an example of them, and justify the absurd amounts of money they were making.

That is not what happened.

Instead, the program went live on Monday morning and people started submitting their essays through it. And suddenly, the administrators and teachers started getting absolutely fucking flooded with emails about plagiarism.

Because, you see, the program didn’t have a minimum limit on how many words needed to be strung together for something to be plagiarized.

And so it was indicating that every single word and punctuation mark of every single piece of text submitted was individually plagiarized. It was flagging student’s names, it was flagging commas, it was flagging the word “and”. Every single essay submitted was sent to the administrators and teachers with a little “100% Plagiarized” notice. And for 3 full days, the teachers and administrators were drowning in a deluge of emails.

And then the program crashed. It wasn’t designed to handle that kind of load, after all, and it went down like a fucking meteor.

And took every single device it was installed on down with it.

On the morning of the fourth day after the program was installed, everyone went to open their computers for class and was met with the blue screen of death.

In the end, they had to go through and individually uninstall the program from every device in order to get them working again, which ended up taking several weeks and cost them a boatload of money.

TLDR: My school district tried to implement a so-called plagiarism detection AI that flagged every single word as plagiarized and then crashed every computer it was installed on.

[izicodes]

Don't know if you've touched on this topic before, but do you have any advice on dealing with discrimination within comp sci (specifically sexism)? I have bad anxiety and have constant thoughts telling me how I'll never be good enough or don't belong. My brother who is a senior dev has had a passion for computers since a small child while I just developed an interest within the past two years. My family takes his career seriously but then turn around and tell me how great of a secretary I'll be lol. Thanks for your time!

Hiya 💗

Just some background on me: I haven't had any sexist experiences in during my whole journey of learning software development during my apprenticeship and now working as a Junior Web Dev. I'm the only girl in the Dev team (6 of us in total), the only other woman is the Manager of the Dev team but she does databases + business oriented work so she doesn't code at all. I'm the youngest in the team also so they see me as "oh let's teach the kid of the group" kind of thing. So at work I don't feel any type of sexism, the lads are really open to teach me a lot stuff which I am thankful!

I don't know any other irl developers besides work so I'll move on to online. Online I know a lot more women developers; Tumblr, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter (or X whatever it's called). Maybe it's because I've like cultured the content I see to them idk. I'm really glad to have that constantly on my timeline as it inspires me to push and do/become better because if those girlies can do it, so can I.

Though all the teachers/instructors I had were all men, they didn't make me feel small or not worthy to be in Computer Science, they were the opposite and pushed me to do it more. My Dad did Computer Science with CyberSecurity at university and he always pushed me to do computer science when I got older - not force but inspired me to do it (wanted to do medicine but too hard so switched to comp sci/programming)!

So, in my experience, I never had a really bad sexist interaction because I did computer science. People are shocked I am in programming in general but more like "Oooooh that's cool! Didn't know you did that!" kind of thing!

Now, this doesn't mean I haven't seen sexist remarks online, because I have but more through memes. I always ignore. Everyone, man or woman, should ignore such remarks/meme and move on. Don't let a bunch of people determine what you want and what's best for you! If you did, they would be controlling your life and not you yourself.

I don't know if that's easier said than done for you because I'm a hard person on people saying bad things to me. I just ignore you literally. I'm polite yes, but what you will say to me will go through one ear and out the other if it's really negative. Pretty much a "I don't care about your opinion, I will do me anyways" kind of person. E.g. if my brothers were to tell me "oh you a girl, don't do computer science" I won't listen to them at all.

And at the end of the day, what are they gonna do? Will your family members that are saying those stuff to you physically stop you from learning computer science? Especially since it's so accessible online so all you need a is a computer? All around the world, women are leaning computer science one way or another to change their lives and/or the lives around them.

They are making so much effort so for me to say "oh well.. you know some lads in my comp sci class say I can't do comp sci so I shouldn't" or "oh well I don't think learning programming is a woman's thing yknow because it's so dominated by men" - excuse my language here but that's flipping ridiculous!

This isn't some feminist or even anti-feminist thing here, it's a plain simple human thing: proving yourself and even the people around you wrong. Go into it and succeed. You're not too old or too young.

Why are their programs like SheCodes or BGIT (black girl in tech) that are making effort to help women push into tech? There's more women in tech now than there has been ever so if you're a woman and want to go into Tech but some lads are saying no? Do it anyways.

If a company has lads like that in them, that's the company's fault for hiring a sexist non-team player - says a lot about that company.

As humans we are never good enough so just get that out of your mind, less stress. Good enough for a job? all you got to do is keep going out it. Keep learning the theory, keep building the projects, keep redoing your resume and applying for jobs - keep going.

You quit, you let yourself down - especially when programming/ computer science is your calling!

I went on a bit of a rant but I hope some of this helps 🥳👍🏾💗

[unfriendlyamazon]

okay but for real depending on the size budget and scope of your library things might be different but here are things in general i as a librarian have seen libraries offer

hotspots and chromebooks for people to use and even keep to help those who need services at home

my past library also did something called "enhanced library cards" which acted as a photo id for people who could not easily obtain one. does still require documents (check with your local library) and primarily benefited our immigrant community who struggled to get a state ID or do things like open up a bank account, but i will also give the aside that we were specifically told we were not allowed to ask for proof of gender, and it had multiple options available, and if you are a trans person looking for an ID that more closely matches your identity, it would be worth looking into.

online databases for research (ebscohost my beloved) and continued education (learning express library is a great one if you're getting any accreditation for future career)

language classes and programs, both ESL for those interested in improving their English, and online features like Mango which have such a wide option for languages, and I've even seen ones with indigenous languages

books, obviously, but usually a lot of ways to get books. for a long time i ran a blog where i read fear street books by rl stine and most of these are out of print 90s paperbacks that i could very easily request using our InterLibrary Loan system. if you are a library user who is not taking advantage of ILLs, find whatever obscure out of print book you want, or ancient edition, or just a book your library doesn't have, and ask to request it.

most libraries should have an online sign up to get a library card which will only verify if your address is in the system (and a pass work around i've used for people is to just enter the library's address). these often do not come with full service privileges but even if you aren't interested in going to an actual building, signing up for this will give you instant access to ebooks and online materials and you'll never have to talk to a person.

most libraries are putting on programs because they want to attract a younger adult crowd. people who use libraries tend to be either families and babies, or elders of the community. look up the closest branch and just see if they have an adult anime night, or book clubs, or art clubs. a lot of these also run as social groups, if you're in the market to meet new people.

early literacy programs and ways to help parents not just with story times, but individual reading hours, parenting classes, nutrition classes with actual experts, and more.

if your library has any online material like hoopla or kanopy you are motherfucking set. i kept hearing my coworkers refer to kanopy as a movie site with "movies that showed at cannes, things like that" NOT REALIZING they also have blockbusters, they have oldies, they have TV shows, documentaries, and not just big name ones but cool indie ones. i watched everything everywhere all at once on kanopy. the image on their login screen is moonlight. they have invasion of the body snatchers, barbarella, battle royale, the live action popeye movie!! they definitely center around "culturally relevant movies" but you would be surprised what that entails. (these apps are expensive for libraries to purchase action too, to the point that my last library got rid of hoopla even tho it rules, so if you like them, use them, let them know someone out there gains value from it)

oh yeah also some libraries check out video games!!!! this isn't going to be an everywhere thing but if you're curious just flip through their collection. if nothing else they can get you those massive legend of zelda art books to peruse at your pleasure.

there's like a million more ask a reference librarian a niche research question and you will make their day, download one of their apps just to play with it, give them use in some way. libraries are very reliant on statistics and if something isn't getting used it goes away. love your library, and even if you don't do anything more than check out a book, you are showing support by using their services. it does matter.

Destroy the myth that libraries are no longer relevant. If you use your library, please reblog.

[regimarksia]

How to Register a Trademark in Europe: A Complete Guide

Establishing a strong brand identity is crucial for any business, and one of the most effective ways to protect it is through trademark registration. A trademark ensures that your brand name, logo, or slogan is legally protected, preventing others from using similar identifiers. If you plan to expand your business in Europe, securing trademark rights in the region is essential. This guide will walk you through the process of registering a trademark in Europe, the benefits, and important considerations.

Why Trademark Registration in Europe is Important

Trademark registration provides legal protection against infringement, giving you exclusive rights to use your brand name or logo. It also enhances brand credibility and increases business valuation. For businesses eyeing expansion in Europe, obtaining a registered trademark is essential to establishing a strong market presence and preventing legal conflicts.

Steps to Register a Trademark in Europe

1. Conduct a Trademark Search

Before filing an application, it's crucial to check whether your desired trademark is already in use. You can perform a search through the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) database or consult a trademark attorney for a thorough assessment.

2. Choose the Right Trademark Class

Trademarks are categorized into different classes based on the type of goods or services they represent. Selecting the correct class is essential to ensure complete protection for your business. You can refer to the Nice Classification system to identify the appropriate class.

3. File an Application with EUIPO

To register trademark Europe – Regimark, you must submit an application to the EUIPO. This can be done online through their official website. The application requires details such as the trademark name, logo (if applicable), classification, and owner information.

4. Examination and Publication

Once the application is submitted, EUIPO examines it to ensure compliance with legal requirements. If no objections arise, the trademark is published in the EU Trademark Bulletin. This allows third parties to oppose the registration within three months if they believe it infringes on their rights.

5. Trademark Registration and Certification

If no oppositions are raised, or if disputes are resolved in your favor, your EU trademark will be officially registered. You will receive a registration certificate, granting you exclusive rights for ten years, with the option to renew indefinitely.

Benefits of Registering a Trademark in Europe

Legal Protection: Prevents unauthorized use of your brand identity.

Exclusive Rights: Grants you full control over your trademark across all EU member states.

Market Expansion: Strengthens your presence in the European market.

Enhanced Business Value: A registered trademark increases brand credibility and potential business valuation.

Enforcement Power: Enables legal action against counterfeiters and infringers.

Cost of Registering a Trademark in Europe

The cost of registering a trademark in Europe varies based on the number of classes selected. The base fee for one class is around €850, with additional fees for extra classes. Legal assistance fees may also apply if you hire a trademark attorney.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Trademark Registration

Not Conducting a Thorough Search: Failure to check existing trademarks can lead to application rejection.

Choosing the Wrong Class: Registering under an incorrect category limits protection.

Ignoring Opposition Notices: Third-party objections can delay or cancel registration.

Not Renewing the Trademark: Trademarks must be renewed every ten years to maintain protection.

FAQs

1. How long does it take to register a trademark in Europe?

The process typically takes between 4 to 6 months, provided there are no objections or oppositions.

2. Can I use my trademark immediately after filing the application?

Yes, but full legal protection is granted only after the registration is complete.

3. What happens if my trademark application is opposed?

You may negotiate with the opposing party, modify your application, or defend your case through legal channels.

4. Can I trademark my brand across all EU countries with one application?

Yes, an EU trademark registration covers all 27 EU member states.

5. How long is an EU trademark valid?

The trademark is valid for ten years, with the option to renew indefinitely.

Registering a trademark in Europe ensures that your brand is legally protected, giving your business a competitive edge in the European market. By following the right steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can successfully secure your brand’s identity and strengthen your market presence.

Resource: https://regimarksia.blogspot.com/2025/02/How-to-Register-a-Trademark%20in%20Europe-A-Complete-Guide.html

[sahraeyll]

Open Your Career Potential: Top Online Classes for Medical Billing and Coding in 2023

Unlock Your Career Potential: Top Online classes for ‍Medical Billing and Coding in 2023

If you’re looking to build a rewarding career in the healthcare industry, medical billing and​ coding is an excellent choice.⁣ With the​ growing need for skilled professionals in this sector, the right training can substantially enhance your career potential.This article ​explores ‍the ⁢top online classes for medical ‌billing and coding available in 2023 to help you make an informed decision.

What is Medical Billing and Coding?

Medical billing and coding is essential in the healthcare ⁤industry, involving the process of translating healthcare services and diagnoses into codes that healthcare providers use for‍ billing purposes. Accurate coding ensures healthcare providers are reimbursed correctly and enhances the overall efficiency of the billing process.

Benefits ⁢of Pursuing Medical Billing and Coding Online Classes

Flexible Learning: Online ‍classes allow you ‍to learn⁣ at⁣ your⁣ own pace, making it easier to ⁢balance other responsibilities.

Cost-Effective: Many online ⁤programs are less⁣ expensive than traditional college settings.

access to Resources: You’ll ‌typically receive‌ access to a⁢ wealth of online materials, from textbooks to databases and forums.

Career Advancement: ‍ Completing a course often enables you to apply for better positions ⁣and higher salaries in medical billing⁣ and coding.

Top Online Classes for Medical Billing and Coding in 2023

Course Name

Provider

Duration

Cost

Medical‌ billing and‌ Coding Certificate Program

Coursera

4 months

$49/month

Medical coding Certification Training Course

Udemy

15.5 hours

$199.99⁤ (discounts available)

Certified Medical Billing Specialist

Allied Health

5 months

$1,299

Medical Billing and Coding Diploma Course

Southern Careers Institute

60 weeks

$15,000

Certified Professional Coder (CPC)

American Academy of‍ Professional Coders (AAPC)

6 ⁢months

$399 (Membership available)

Case Studies: Success Stories

Many⁤ individuals have ‌transformed their careers by undertaking medical billing and coding⁤ courses ⁣online. Here⁤ are a few stories:

Sarah Johnson: After completing a certificate‍ program on Coursera, Sarah transitioned from retail‌ to ‍a full-time medical billing position, ‍increasing her income by over 30%.

Mike Thompson: Mike took the medical coding course on Udemy, which​ allowed him to ‍get certified with AAPC and secure a coding job that offered flexibility and better‌ pay.

Practical Tips for⁤ Success in Online Medical Billing and Coding⁣ Classes

While online learning provides tremendous convenience, it‌ requires discipline. Here ⁤are some tips to help you succeed:

Create a structured Schedule: Set aside dedicated time ‌every week ⁣for studying and stick ⁣to it.

Engage with Peers: ⁤Join online forums or study groups to share knowledge and stay motivated.

Practice Coding: Use practice tests and coding exercises to hone your skills.

Utilize Provided Resources: Make ⁤the‌ most of any tools or resources⁢ provided by your course.

First-Hand Experience‍ in Medical Billing and Coding

Here’s what one of the⁢ recent graduates had to⁤ say:

‍ “Taking the medical coding course online changed‍ my life. I was skeptical at first,but‌ the material was engaging,and the instructors ⁢were incredibly supportive. I landed my first job within a month of completing the⁣ course.⁤ I never thought I could have a career in healthcare!” – Laura evans

Conclusion

The field of medical ⁢billing and coding is filled with opportunities for ⁤those ready to invest in their education. Online ⁣courses provide a flexible and effective way to gain‍ the necessary skills.By ⁣choosing one of the top programs discussed in this article, ‌you ‌can unlock⁢ your⁣ career potential and embark on ⁤a new ⁣journey in this ⁣thriving industry. Start today and take the first step towards a rewarding career!

https://medicalbillingcertificationprograms.org/open-your-career-potential-top-online-classes-for-medical-billing-and-coding-in-2023/

[infograins-tcs]

Unlock Your Career Potential with Java Training at InfoGrains tcs 

In the fast-paced world of technology, staying ahead requires mastering in-demand programming languages. Java, a robust, versatile, and widely-used language, has been a cornerstone of software development for decades. Whether you're a student, a budding developer, or an IT professional looking to expand your skill set, InfoGrains’ comprehensive Java training In Indore offers the perfect platform to unlock your career potential.

Why Learn Java?               

Java is more than just a programming language; it’s a gateway to numerous career opportunities. Here’s why Java continues to be a favorite among developers and employers alike:

Versatility: Java is used in web applications, mobile apps (especially Android), enterprise systems, and even IoT devices.

Platform Independence: The “write once, run anywhere” capability makes Java a go-to choice for cross-platform development.

High Demand: With millions of Java applications running globally, skilled Java developers are always in demand.

Extensive Community Support: A vast, active community ensures that resources, tools, and libraries are readily available for learners and professionals.

What Makes InfoGrains Java Internship in Indore Stand Out?

At InfoGrains, we understand the evolving demands of the tech industry. Our Java training program is designed to provide a comprehensive learning experience that combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on practice. Here’s what sets us apart:

Industry-Expert Trainers

Learn from experienced professionals who bring real-world insights into the classroom.

Comprehensive Curriculum

From Java basics to advanced concepts, our curriculum covers core Java, object-oriented programming, data structures, web development with Java, and frameworks like Spring and Hibernate.

Hands-On Projects

Work on real-world projects to solidify your understanding and build a portfolio that stands out to employers.

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Whether you prefer in-person classes or online sessions, we offer flexible training schedules to fit your needs.

Career Support

Receive guidance on resume building, interview preparation, and job placement to kickstart your career in Java development.

Who Can Join Our Java Training?

Our program is tailored for:

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What You’ll Learn

Here’s a glimpse of what our Java training program includes:

Core Java Concepts: Variables, data types, loops, arrays, and exception handling.

Object-Oriented Programming: Classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism, and interfaces.

Web Development: JSP, Servlets, and integrating Java with front-end technologies.

Advanced Java: Frameworks like Spring and Hibernate, RESTful APIs, and database connectivity with JDBC.

Debugging and Testing: Tools and techniques to write error-free, maintainable code.

Why Choose InfoGrains for Your Java Training?

With years of experience in IT consulting and training, InfoGrains has established itself as a trusted partner for individuals and businesses looking to harness the power of technology. Our Java training program is designed to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry requirements, ensuring our learners are job-ready from day one.

Testimonials from Our Learners

"The Java training at InfoGrains was a game-changer for my career. The hands-on projects and expert guidance gave me the confidence to excel in my job interviews." – Priya S.

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Get Started Today

Don’t let your career potential go untapped. Enroll in InfoGrains’ Java training program and take the first step towards a rewarding career in software development. Visit InfoGrains TCS to learn more and sign up for our upcoming sessions.

Empower your future with Java—the language of possibilities!