#you have a degree. you have a higher authority & higher pay & you have been here five years longer.

[thewingedwolf]

i’m home but one more complaint. she was asked for a book on how to write a memoir. took the lady to a section, clearly didn’t get any hits. came back and asked me “what should i do.” i literally just googled “dewey decimal for writing instructions” and said “try that section” while they were over there i checked the catalog & it’s not even a hard title to just blindly type for i could have put in “memoir writing” and got it by narrowing search parameters a bit. she has her mlis btw.

[mapsontheweb]

Religious Distribution in the Subdivisions (Nahiyas) of the Mount Lebanon Emirate in the 1540s according to Ottoman Tax Registries.

by u/R120Tunisia:

The map wasn't made by me. The original post is here though I modified it by adding a small graph that shows the overall percentages below.

The map uses various books that summarize the results of the tax registries as a source.

In case you might be wondering : "Wasn't Lebanon Christian majority ?" well at that point, no. The largest religious group at the time would have been the Druze followed by Shias. Note the Druze were technically part of the Muslim millet and didn't pay the Jizya so they were included in the Muslim category at the time.

The Druze though were far from united. They originated from the foothills of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains and were settled by the Ayyubids and Mamluks over the years along the central Levantine coast to guard from Crusader naval incursions and raids. In the absence of crusader threats, the various Druze clans started to fight among each other, with a divide appearing between Qaysi Druze clans (who claimed descent from Northern Arabian tribes) and Yamani Druze clans (who claimed descent from Southern Arabian tribes). The former were supported by local Sunnis and Shias while the latter had the support of local Ottoman authorities.

The Qaysis eventually gained the upper hand following the Battle of Ain Dara and most of the Yamani Druze were expelled from Lebanon with most moving into what is today Jabal al-Druze which was sparsely populated at the time (this was how Syria got most of its Druze as well). Meanwhile, the Qaysi clans that prevailed started to invite Christian peasants from the Mt Lebanon area as well as from all over the Levant into the area to repopulate the towns and villages left empty by the Yamanis and to become tenant farmers under them. These new immigrants were mainly Maronite but also Orthodox and Melkite to a lesser degree.

This Christian immigration would increase following the takeover of the Shihab dynasty, a Sunni family from the Anti-Lebanon Mountains, following the death of the last Druze Qaysi Ma'nid Emirs. The new dynasty were in frequent conflict with Druze landlords so to build a power base in the area they started to support the Maronite clergy and created local conditions friendly to Christian life (some Shihab Emirs would even convert to Christianity).

And finally two other factors : Christians tended to be poorer and rural (especially Maronites), and the rural poor tend to have higher birthrates, and at the time, there was a split among the local Orthodox population of the Levant that caused many to join the new Melkite Catholic Church leading to many members leaving their communities for sectarian reasons and moving into Lebanon to create new communities out of scratch (most notables of these is Zahlé, Lebanon's third largest city and the largest Christian majority town in the Middle East, which continues to have a Melkite majority to this day).

Tl;dr : in the late 17th and early 18th century following inter-Druze conflict and the takeover of the Shihab dynasty, a demographic shift occurred in what is today Lebanon that led to a huge decrease in the Druze population and an increase of the Christian population due to immigration (to re-populate areas emptied by the Druze who left and trigged by both the local conditions in the area as well as theological disputes within the Christian communities of the Levant) as well as higher birthrates, eventually leading to Christians becoming a slight majority in the area.

[britts-galaxy-brain]

Plenty has been done about Poppy. She's bleeding subscribers every time she posts a video. She's lost 20% of them in the span of a few months. Her discord is on lockdown and bleeding. Her name is asinine in the Lefty circles she used to be a respected figure in. She's in the process of being sued by multiple people.

On the other hand, Lily hasn't suffered anything like this. In fact, she has gained patrons. She has gained respect and sympathy in her community. Your efforts have put money into her pocket, and people in her corner.

Let's see, what's the difference here? Hmm...could it be that you've been hands off about Poppy for months and months?

Face it. You. Are. The. Problem. You stared into the the abyss too long, and it stared right back into you.

I'm assuming you're saddest-posts block evading. So let's break this down.

Poppy decided to tie her online activities in with her real life fucking career as a therapist. Poppy has profiles on Psychology Today and has to answer to an actual regulatory board. Poppy is watched by a lot more eyes than just people on the internet, and unlike Lily, Poppy can wave around a degree as a means to legitimize her authority over the subjects she talks about. Poppy is held to higher scrutiny than Lily.

Poppy is also way more impulsive than Lily. She doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut and not make her manipulation and lying obvious. Lily is just slightly better at playing the game than her because Lily's been playing it longer, and isn't watched by any official governing bodies. She also knows not to flaunt certain things in public like Poppy often does.

If you think Lily's reputation hasn't TANKED in the past several years, you haven't been paying attention. Mention Lily's name literally anywhere and she's immediately recognized as the one who wrote CP fanfiction, sexually assaulted her own sibling, publicly flaunts her incest obsession, and has a long line of former friends and partners that she's abused in one way or another. She's still relying on the audience turnover that naturally happens within her niche. Her main focus is kid's cartoons, which means new groups of younger people are going to be coming across her content without knowing who she is. That's why her audience has stayed roughly within the same age range since 2015. Meanwhile Poppy talks politics, which typically attracts an older audience.

I'm not saying this again, and I will not answer anything else you send after this. Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My. Inbox. I don't know what the fuck you've got up your ass about me, and at this point I don't care. Your paranoia has nothing to do with me.

[qqueenofhades]

Hello, I'm a second-year undergraduate student! My bachelor's is in International Studies, so I have various classes that span different disciplines but often touch on contemporary events. My first year was exciting, I was receiving a fairly nuanced array of perspectives and opinions on world conflicts, say, the war in Ukraine.

My university is generally understood to be a reputable and respected institution. Before last semester, I would have agreed.

However, their "nuanced approach" to teaching contemporary conflicts conveniently disappeared once Israel began its genocidal operations in Gaza. I've come to realise it has very close ties to Israel, and there is an obvious silencing of pro-Palestine voices. Faculty members feel surveilled (recorded lectures), and I've seen fellow students being harassed by others because they support a ceasefire.

I've talked to friends and acquaintances who support Palestine; we are all at a loss. We cannot voice our stance because of fear of being harassed, we are constantly fed Israeli propaganda, and our professors have begun to avoid touching on the topic. We learn international law, have a module on the Genocide Convention, yet we are told to ignore how Israel's actions are described in every article! Our degrees are supposed to be in International Relations! It's ridiculous.

We're trying to stay as informed as possible, doing what we can to subtly change other student's opinions by presenting them with information. But I've lost so much respect for the institution I pay to educate me and emit my degree, it's just enraging that they claim to form "critical thinkers" and "well-rounded" professionals when books written by pro-Palestinian authors aren't even available in our libraries.

I have no idea who else to ask for advice because professors have turned me down. Currently, my main concern is how to best stay immune to incessant propaganda in academic environments.

In advance, thank you for your time and response.

I'm sorry to hear it, that is a tough situation. You have a few choices as to how to respond. I can't tell you what to do because they will all require different actions, decisions, and consequences from you, and I can't predict or guess which course of action you will feel to be best. So yes, this is offered as advice only and you can choose what comes next.

First, if your university is in fact directly doing this, there is probably an element of fear. High-profile universities such as Harvard and UPenn have been attacked particularly by bad-faith right-wing actors due to alleged antisemitism, even though the Republicans don't care about antisemitism either and just want an excuse to bash left-wing liberal higher education. It's true that some universities have handled this incredibly complex issue very badly, have allowed fairly open antisemitic hate speech on their campuses, and aren't sure how to course correct back to "neutral," because "neutral" doesn't really exist here. Either side you take, you will piss someone off, and very few people have the tools or competencies to teach a well-rounded view, even if they should if they're literally in International Relations. So your university may have decided it's not worth being attacked by the bad-faith camps on either side, particularly the Republicans. There may be grubby internal politics at play (i.e. a major donor threatening to withhold funds or a high-ranking official threatening to cause problems if they allow open criticism of Israel on campus). This is not admirable, and it clashes with the idea of universities as blissfully nonpartisan idealistic environments of pure learning, but American universities are now very much beholden to the corporate shareholder model, and if the shareholders want to influence what is being taught or talked about, they can.

Therefore: you can do one of a few things. One, you can just stick it out, finish your degree, get the diploma with the university's name on it, then go somewhere else for your career or grad study that will allow you to operate outside this restricted environment. Two, you can stay at the school and continue to address this conflict in a responsible and accurate way in your assignments, bearing in mind that it might lead you into conflict or lower your grades. (If you do this, it will help to have a group of people doing it with you, and keep track of paperwork, communications, and other materials in case you end up in academic or legal arbitration and need to argue that you have been unfairly penalized). This will obviously require a little more sacrifice on your part and it is difficult to say how it will play out. But if you feel strongly about standing up for yourself and arguing that this is integral to your degree and program of study, you can do it.

Last, as you're only a sophomore and thus still have time to transfer, you can think about doing that. It is difficult to uproot your life, plans, college setting, friends, etc, but it is still a choice. If you feel that it is not worth your time to continue to pursue an education in this environment, and/or that the effort it would take from you outweighs the benefit that it would confer, you can leave, and search for an international relations program that is more willing to take a nuanced perspective in this issue. As I said, only you can decide where the line is, and what qualifies as a total deal breaker. If you're still getting a good education in other classes/areas, and still feel like it's good value for your tuition money, then it might be worth it to just quietly disagree with what you're hearing in this realm and do your best to maintain perspective outside of class.

I know that many young people (and people overall, but especially those under 25) have strong opinions on Israel/Hamas, and I would lastly caution you to avoid getting swept too far in the other direction; i.e. ONLY surround yourself with people who call themselves pro-Palestine but are usually just only anti-Israel and more specifically, just antisemitic. It should also not be the case, or at least I hope it's not, that you are being peer pressured by your friends to leave your degree and university altogether just because their position on this one issue leaves a lot to be desired. As I have said before, life is complex. You will have to make choices about what you want out of a situation and weigh up what is best for you to do. You should certainly understand, as I noted above, that if this in fact an actual university policy and not just a few professors and classes who have decided to avoid it, it probably comes from fear of financial, political, or public consequences and is not because those involved are simply "bad people" and just love genocide. So yeah.

As I said, only you can decide what you want to do here. It may be that by this time next year, this issue (which has been dominating headlines/discussion since October) will have died down or at least moved into another phase, and the pressure for people to discuss and/or not discuss it in a certain way will have also died down. Be aware that you will always have to make choices about what you do and don't want to do, and there will never be a perfect environment that just supports everything with no complications. And be sure that whatever you do decide to do is what is best for you, and not pushed one way or the other by either professors or by peers. I know this can be difficult, but by asking for advice, I hope you're willing to put in the time to think and do what's right.

Good luck!

[hollowsart]

Cryptid Crawler Spiderverse info master post

Rogues Part 2 🔮⚡🤠

getting creative with a few since I didn’t have the info already written down for some of the rogues gallery, but that’s fine. that’s kinda what this is for.

Long post once again!

=============

==[[Mysterio]]==

Worked for years in the movie industry as a professional in the field of special and practical effects. a HUGE movie buff, has seen and collected many movies and posters over the years and knows all the ins and outs of various tricks and gadgets and all that has been used in movies from the first film pioneers to modern day movie makers. Working in movie production has been his job for years since graduating out of university in a different state (he got an idea later on from a guy he knew from university that was doing a study on fear).

Upon his sudden firing from his job as the times were changing and the higher ups deemed special/practical effects to be unnecessary with the rise of CGI being the new big thing. Safe to say.. he didn’t take it kindly. Luckily for him, though, he overheard the same people talk about a new superhero movie, but they didn’t have a villain yet.. Oh, so they need a villain? He’ll give them one.

Lives in a relatively small apartment, pays rent. It’s not the best living conditions, but it’s home to him. Like with everything, he makes do with what he has.

He may be stupid.

Great with robotics/engineering as well as chemistry and math. Created his own special gases and gadgets that he utilizes during his "performances" as Mysterio. He also used some when he was still doing movie work, but to a far lesser degree. He had a talent for it, but it sadly went underutilized during that work... at least now he's able to earn a decent enough pay for all the work he puts in and is able to do what he loves as well.

Outside of his Mysterio persona, Quentin Beck works a few spare jobs here and there for extra cash. One of which is a small restaurant favored by Acedia coincidentally. He never uses his real name while working these jobs as well his real identity has been kept unknown from the public. Still, it's best to be extra safe than sorry.

During one escape stunt away from authorities he encountered Phineas Mason, The Tinkerer, in hiding as well but for a different reason. Ever since this little encounter they’ve become an odd sort of duo, friends with similar technical skills they can bond over. Mason helps him with hiding out for limited periods of time by staying at his place while he relocates his theatrical lair. Mason helps out a lot with mass producing whatever little new gadgets he requires in exchange for his mathematical aid on his own projects.

Becomes a sort of fun uncle in a way to Mason’s granddaughter.

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

==[[Electra]]==

Maxine Dillon

Just a regular civilian trying to make a living. Never had a real chance to go to college. She works as an electrician and is very knowledgeable about the field, she is rather down to earth and mellow and looks up to a speedy red superhero in a distant city, definitely a role model.

She’s only had a few previous relationships, none ever lasted very long, she ended up being the one to break things off. I want to say around 3? 2 from her teen years and 1 during her college years.

She’s given up on putting herself out there since, focusing more on her job and being a little more at peace until the accident.

With how she is now, it’d be very difficult for her to have a relationship with someone. Doesn’t do much with her feelings of loneliness and isolation.

When unconscious her electricity is put in a “powered down“ state and her appearance reverts back to normal. When enraged her light glows even brighter and hotter and her electricity is far more erratic.  Likewise, when deeply saddened her light dims and you can see her appearance through the electricity much more clearly.

Maxine accepts her fate and becomes ok with it after awhile, but she has her moments and does eventually get a cure to stop the electricity and help her return to a normal life again after so so long of needing to get used to a life with her electrical disability.

After all, it’s not very fun at first and then it’s only so fun for so long until it just becomes tiring and frustrating to constantly be conducting electricity.

She can’t control her appearance, unfortunately, so whenever she’s conscious her electricity sparks back up. To be safer to others she appreciates the electrical suit she was given to confine the electricity. Utilizing the gloves and hood/mask when she isn’t feeling too great or just wants to try and be normal again.

..Or when she just really needs a hug.

It takes some time, but she does forgive Shocker for what he did and for what happened to make her what she is today. She’s become friends with him and sometimes visits and hangs out at his bar.

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

==[[Shocker]]==

Real name: Montana Shultz

He makes a decent amount of cash doing what he does, but most of it goes to keeping his billiards bar in as good condition as it is. He lives a modest life, however, living in a small quaint apartment.

He created the shock gauntlets himself, took him a year to figure out and make and another of practice to get so good. The gauntlets sit in specially made holsters that rest on his hips from his belt. He can easily and quickly dip his arms in to pull them up and shoot them off as though they were like guns in an old spaghetti western.

Takes on some odd jobs being paid to perform acts such as sabotage and theft and the like. He’s good at his job, but he does have his own struct moral code to which he lives and works by. If anything involves direct physical harm to anyone innocent he is not going to be happy and will deny taking the payment. This.. leads to an accident with Maxine. She was innocent and fell victim as a side effect to him being paid to sabotage the Connors Lab, destroying the electrical breaker and cutting all power.. Caused a circuit breaker inside to explode and well.. He has many deep regrets about that. He does what he can to atone and make it up to Electra. He considers himself blessed with a miracle that she understood and forgave him.

He, along with a fair number of others, want to seek revenge on the likes of Norman Osborn and has joined The Vulture’s “Sinister Six” alongside Mysterio, Rhino, Sandlady, and Electra. He keeps the morale and order.

While Montana may have eventually become friends with Electra he is also kinda like a father. Him, along with his enforcer friends, Ox and Fancy Dan, they’re all like fathers to her once the other two are introduced and learn about her. She has 3 dads now. 3 dads and 3 friends all in one triple package.

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

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

Would you mind describing the process of applying for an MFA program or what you did to qualify? Also, when you say you’re going to grad school after, is that a PhD or a Masters in English Literature or something similar?

Let me just put both your anons here so I can get em both at once :) sorry for the confusion! I do not have an MFA, I am graduating from Boston University with my bachelors in creative writing. BU has a very old and prestigious MFA program that they don't shut the fuck up about and they writing pilled me so hard. Any writing workshop you take within the department is taught by someone currently getting an MFA or part of running the program. When I said MFA professor in that ask earlier, I was referring to my professor herself, who is an MFA grad and that's why she was there. She's not a teacher by trade, she teaches because she's there for the program. Does that make sense? I shouldn't have phrased it that way and I am so sorry for the confusion. There is such thing an an English PHD, I've only talked to three people who've ever gone higher than an MFA, and all were successful novelists while doing so. We cannot all be Leslie Epstein, and let us not aspire to be.

That being said, I hope I can still help, because I am applying to MFA programs in two years and started applying this year before eventually deciding to give it some time. Every workshop you take they literary pill you and they spend a whole class answering MFA questions and walking you through the process as well. I've never felt more knowledgable about a subject I have no authority on in my life, so let me try to answer your questions and I hope it helps! I apologize for how long as fuck it's going to be.

So qualifying for an MFA is easy; be good at writing. Like, really good. They really don't give a shit about anything else you have to turn in. If it's been a while since you've been in school, you'll be delighted to learn that no MFAs take GRE scores anymore, and every single one that asks for a 3.0gpa also includes a caveat where they're like "with exceptions." It's because if your writing is that good they legit do not care what else you bring to the table.

Bad news bears though, that means you gotta be really good. Not to be like, discouraging, but the general acceptance rate is about 3-5% for all programs across the board. I only know minute details about fully funded MFAs (my google spreadsheet could end lives) because I am of the mindset that paying extra education in this economy instead of being paid for extra education is insanity of the highest degree. That being said, if you expand to non fully funded program, I think your chances get a percentage higher? If you have the means and you want to, go for it, but I highly suggest the fully funded route. Every MFA grad I've every talked to has always said that they don't suggest getting one ever unless it's fully funded. That being said, I have a lovely mutual on here who got hers and it was not fully funded, and she loved her experience. I can definitely direct you to her as well.

More specifically on writing though, MFA's are incredibly literary writing places. If your style is more eclectic then an MFA program could be quite stifling. If you are more into genre fiction, romance, speculative fiction, sci-fi; most MFA programs are not for you. There are a few new highly competitive ones that specialize in genre fiction, but again, highly competitive.

Another super important point; writing in a workshop environment, especially an MFA, requires very thick skin. Creating a story for a workshop is like birthing a child, and then giving it to a classroom of 10-15 people to beat to death in front of you while they tell you how ugly it is and how you could've done better. But then you get to do it to them too it's literally my favorite thing in the world. I called someone's story gimicky last week, that's like a writing slur. But if that sounds like no fun at all, that's what the entirety of an MFA program will be. The crotchety 84 year old man who runs BU's MFA program (it's Leslie again), while a delight and a legend, referred to one of my pieces as having a "surprisingly homoerotic moment" and then the entire class informed him it was actually, very clear the entire time. I should include a list of meanest comments I've ever gotten after this, that's so fun.

Also also; each MFA program varies wildly, but most from what I can tell from my research require you to teach a class during your time there, and your final thesis is basically a completed manuscript of a novel.

I can tell you that I think there is absolutely nothing wrong at all with applying for an MFA program in your late twenties. In fact, they prefer it. I ending up holding off based on feedback I got from people I asked for rec letters and advise, all who told me applying right out of school is hard because they take you much less seriously. They like it when you've gone out, gotten real world experience, and proved you're committed. I know older people in the MFA program who were published authors and screenwriters, and people who got in right out of school and only published afterwards. Again, it's really all down to how good you are, everything else they don't care about as long as you are good enough to make anything else not important.

As for old writing connections; don't worry about that. MFAs require 2-3 rec letters. My professor advised that if it's been a while, you email to ask and you send along what classes you took with the professor, what year it was, and a current writing sample. It makes it as easy as possible on your rec. She argued about it a bit with another MFA grad who she brought to class; he said if they don't remember you they won't be a good rec. I don't really have a huge stance, thought I'd give both viewpoints they gave. It's hard to decide, I have a rec that would swing a lot of weight in the literary world but also I had a little beef with the professor so I'm on the fence about if his would be good or not. It's such a dumb problem but now I'm just venting every MFA related thought at you.

Finally; I will tell you what my current plans are for the two years before I apply to, idk, Rocky training montage myself for MFA applications. Basically my goals are to finish one of my books (generous goal that one is FLEXIBLE), get a few short stories published, and hopefully make a website. Every serious writer has a website and they all hate it. But, it's good to have things to actually put in your blurbs when you submit for publishing.

I am happy to give advice on the publishing process as well if that would help you, anon, or anyone else. I currently am a reader for a lit journal and I have worked for a WIDE variety of publishing companies, from lil baby indie ones to bigger editing companies. There is a market for everything if you know how to market yourself and where to look, and you do not need an MFA to do that. Stephanie Meyer would sooner have turned into a vampire herself than have been accepted into an MFA, but her ass is widely successful. Get ur bag.

[sepllucknow]

Understanding the HRD Attestation Process in Lucknow

The Human Resource Development (HRD) attestation process is a crucial step for individuals seeking to validate their educational documents for various purposes, such as employment, higher education, or immigration.

In Lucknow, this process is streamlined to ensure that applicants can navigate it efficiently. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the HRD attestation process in Lucknow.

What is HRD Attestation?

HRD attestation is the verification of educational documents by the HRD department of the respective state government. This process certifies that the documents are genuine and issued by recognized educational institutions.

It is often a prerequisite for further attestation by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the embassy of the country where the documents will be used.

Steps Involved in the HRD Attestation Process

Document Collection: Begin by gathering all necessary educational documents, including degrees, diplomas, and mark sheets. Ensure that these documents are original and in good condition.

Application Submission: Visit the HRD department office in Lucknow or their official website to obtain the application form. Fill out the form carefully, providing accurate details about your educational qualifications and the purpose of attestation.

Verification of Documents: Submit your filled application along with the required documents. The HRD department will verify the authenticity of your certificates. This process may involve contacting your educational institution to confirm that they issued the documents.

Payment of Fees: Pay the requisite fee for the attestation process. The fee structure may vary based on the type of documents and the urgency of the service.

Receiving the Attested Documents: Once the verification is complete, the HRD department will affix their seal and signature on your documents, indicating that they have been attested. You can collect the documents in person or request them to be sent to you via post.

Importance of HRD Attestation

HRD attestation serves as a safeguard against fraudulent documents, ensuring that your educational qualifications are recognized both domestically and internationally. This is particularly important for students aspiring to study abroad or professionals seeking job opportunities in foreign countries.

Conclusion

Navigating the HRD attestation process in Lucknow may seem daunting, but understanding the steps involved can simplify the experience. With the right preparation and a clear understanding of the requirements, individuals can efficiently obtain the necessary attestations for their educational documents.

Whether for employment or further studies, HRD attestation is a vital step toward achieving your goals. If you have any queries or need assistance, consider reaching out to attestation service providers in Lucknow, who can offer guidance throughout the process.

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[kingstoninstitute]

Why Polytechnic Courses Are the Smart Choice for Today’s Job Market

In today’s dynamic world of work opportunities, one thing is in higher demand – relevance and applicability of knowledge. Since conventional learners’ philosophy leaves university degrees more in theoretical prowess, most learners are transferring to polytechnic courses to obtain practical experience and techniques. This article seeks to share information on polytechnic education to embrace the idea, why you should consider it, and guide you in choosing the right college.

The Career Utility of Polytechnic Courses

Polytechnic courses have been developed to impart practical knowledge and training to the learners. Such programs teach practical skills and prepare their students for the job market in the shortest time possible. Most polytechnics offer internships, workshops, and industry projects to ensure that the students gain practical experience in the field that they have chosen.

Hands-On Learning: Unlike conventional degree programs, polytechnic courses emphasise vocational training. This approach enables the students to be flexible, apply their knowledge in a real-life setting, and thus be marketable.

Industry-Relevant Skills: Most polytechnic institutions collaborate closely with industries so that their curricula can be reviewed periodically to reflect current developments. This cooperation guarantees that the holders of credentials possess the skills necessary for the modern world.

Shorter Duration: Many polytechnic courses are shorter than full degree programs, enabling the learners to get to the workplace in a shorter period. This can enable one to secure a job much quicker and be debt-free, or at least with fewer educational loans to pay.

How to select the Right Polytechnic College

Before pursuing polytechnic education, choosing an excellent polytechnic college is very important. Here are some factors to consider when searching for the best polytechnic college in Kolkata:

Accreditation: Ensure that the polytechnic has accreditation from a reputable authority in this field. Accreditation ensures that the institution offers education to the required standards.

Facilities: Seek colleges with well-equipped modern laboratories, workshops and appliances for practical exercises.

Industry Connections: Listed colleges with tight linkages to industries can offer students better internships and employment opportunities.

Faculty: It is noteworthy that enhancing the quality of education and guidance is possible only with the help of the experienced and competent academic staff.

The Job Prospects of Polytechnic Education

The polytechnic courses produce graduates with many job prospects in the following ways. This focus on skills teaches them to be suitable for technical positions in diverse sectors. Here are some potential career paths:

Engineering Technician: Polytechnic courses are many, and most of them concentrate on areas such as mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering, making technicians in these fields.

IT and Computer Science: With the advancement in the technological sector, polytechnic graduates in information technology and computer science are common in the job market as software developers, network administrators, and IT support specialists.

Healthcare: Polytechnic courses offered in the health sector, including nursing, medical laboratory technology, and pharmacy, are among the most essential in the medical fraternity.

Manufacturing: The manufacturing sector usually requires polytechnic holders and may employ them as production, quality control or maintenance staff.

Conclusion

Therefore, polytechnic courses provide a functional and effective means of acquiring relevant competencies in today’s world and obtaining jobs. Since it is a vocationally orientated form of education and takes less time than conventional university degrees, polytechnics equip their learners to solve different markets’ challenges. However, to fully actualise the strengths of polytechnic education, selecting the right college to attend is crucial, and the college offering the polytechnic course of the chosen field must offer recognised, relevant, and current courses. Thus, by having accreditation, facilities, industry contacts, and faculty background information, students can make better decisions about their choices and future.

Polytechnic courses are, without a doubt, the way to go for those who want to gain an extra edge and be equipped with skills before employment.

[theoldhempfarmer]

Writing about Cannabis: Denial, Anger, Depression & Acceptance

Dateline: 7-24-24

The heat has broken here in Middle Tennessee and we finally have received a much needed rain. A tannish, brown color had started to creep into a lot of vegetation and crops were starting to show the signs of stress, so the precipitation was timely. This morning as is customary, Organic Coffee and Edibles with Tennessee homegrown extract are being consumed, while pursuing the masochistic endeavor that is writing about Cannabis. You see I’ve been compelled to grow, travel and write about Cannabis for about 40 years now. I’ve always written but nothing has been as interesting or compelling as the subject of Cannabis but that is starting to change. As Cannabis becomes more like any other business the more boring Cannabis becomes. Marketing, spread sheets and compliancy reports just aren’t that exciting. To make it more mind numbing, contemporary Cannabis seems to be stuck in a holding pattern of regulatory Hell, while waiting for the Feds and the states to get their act together. It’s hard to make any bold Cannabis decisions or head in new direction, when you don’t know the rules of the road. One thing I can assure you, is that the World of Cannabis was way more exciting (substitute illegal) and romantic, 40 years ago.

In the 1980’s, a few pivotal things occurred that shaped the face of contemporary Cannabis. The biggest sea change was transitioning from seeded Cannabis buds to Sinsemilla. In the 1960’s and into 1970’s, Commercial Marijuana was dominated by mass produced seeded Cannabis coming primarily from Mexico and to a lesser degree Jamaica on the East Coast. In the late 70’s another Cannabis player came on the scene and shook up everything, Columbia. The gold and red thumb sized buds from South America with names like Punta Roja, Limon Verde and Santa Marta Gold were more expensive but this buddage was several notches above Commercial Mexican, in both bouquet and strength. Which put pressure on the Cartels in Mexico and the Rastas in Jamaica to raise the quality of their Cannabis or lose their customers. Another thing Columbian Cannabis showed was that people were willing to pay more money for higher quality Cannabis. At the same time, the folks that were growing “Homegrown” started realizing that if you grew out those Commercial Mexican seeds and didn’t let those Females get fertilized, it was some of the finest Cannabis, they had ever seen and smoked. At first Sinsemilla (seedless) marijuana was only stash, buds that were shared only with friends and family. Gradually as more domestic Cannabis growers started culling Males a domestic market for Sinsemilla developed and soon people that were complaining about paying $35 dollars for an ounce of Santa Marta Gold were paying $150 an ounce for lime green buds that smelled fantastic and got you high, real high. The other thing that happened in Cannabis during the 1980’s was the introduction of Cannabis Indica. Suddenly because there was a market for domestic high quality Sinsemilla and increasing pressure from DEA Helicopters for the first time Commercial Cannabis started being grown inside under lights. Almost all Cannabis Sativa wants to grow to 9 foot tall or more and take 10 weeks or more to fully mature. So when Cannabis Indica arrived in North America, it was welcomed with open arms. Outdoor growers appreciated the fact that their Cannabis crops matured quicker, in late August or September while pure Cannabis Sativa females matured late October or early November. Less time in the field, the less time for the authorities and “Rippers” to find your Cannabis crop. The indoor growers immediately adopted Cannabis Indica because it was shorter and matured under “12 & 12” in 8 weeks instead 10 or 11 weeks like the pure Cannabis Sativa. Because of being more “user” friendly, everyone started crossing their Cannabis Sativa cultivars with any Cannabis Indica they could find. It was also during this period that high THC seed companies that were producing hybrid Cannabis cultivars started to emerge in the Netherlands and to a lesser degree in Canada. (That’s why in 2024, it is almost impossible to find a pure land race Cannabis Sativa or Indica.) The present day model of indoor Cannabis grows is almost entirely based on technology, methods and genetics that started in the 1980’s. Yes, the grow lights are more efficient and multi-spectrum and the watering and feeding of Cannabis plants are more nuanced but if a Cannabis grower from the late 1980’s, woke up in a grow room in 2024, they would immediately feel at home. Is The Old Hemp Farmer guilty of waxing nostalgic about the 1980’s being a very exciting time in Cannabis? Yes, that’s what writers do. Hopefully someone that is starting to write about Cannabis in 2024 will have something to romanticize about in forty years but I seriously doubt it. Anyway as always, Hemp Dawgs and Hemp Puppies keep one eye on the weather and the other eye on the market.

Visit our Tennessee homegrown web site to try our great products: https://www.tnhomegrown.com

The Wife's web site: https://www.theoldhempfarmerswife.com

Our Podcast - Full Contact Cannabis: https://fullcontactcannabis.podbean.com

[edugoabroad]

France is the most famous tourist destination in the world for multiple reasons. Besides its natural and cultural beauty, France has an extensive background of intellectual strength. The country’s universities are well known for offering excellent education in various fields, attracting students from around the globe seeking a France Study Visa. 

In French universities, there is a wide range of programs that are both standard and unique, ranging from arts and humanities to science and engineering. 

Now you can ask why you should study in France. There are many reasons why one should study abroad in France, such as an opportunity to join a top university and be fully immersed in a language and society that is known worldwide. Living in a globally-minded community would enhance your education and broaden your perspectives.

But before relocating to France for higher study, students must complete the application process for a France student visa. In this piece of guide, we will discuss about the significant things to take care while applying for student Visa for France.

Here are nine important things you should keep in mind when applying for a visa to Study in France:

1) Right Business School or University

Getting into the right school sets the stage for your future academic and career goals. France has many well-known business schools and universities known for their creative programmes and high academic standards.

International students benefit from Studying abroad in France even without taking the IELTS or any English test. This makes visiting France easier for non-English speakers, making it a popular college destination.

2) Best Suitable Program to Study

For a fulfilling educational experience, it is important to look into programmes that match your academic interests and job goals. Many programmes in France are designed to meet the needs of international students. Business programmes are very common. Master of Management (MIM) degrees in Finance, HR, and Marketing prepare students for worldwide success.

Also, choosing an 18-month programme gives you plenty of time to focus on your studies and look for student jobs. In France, many schools offer internships or part-time jobs that give students important real-world experience and the chance to meet new people.

3) Your Documents Checklist

Visa applicants must pay great attention to every detail and have all the necessary papers. Documents that are often needed are:

Proof of being enrolled: A letter from the school you want to attend stating that you have been accepted into a programme.

Statements of money: Proof that you have enough money to pay for education, living costs, and other costs related to the programme.

Coverage for health insurance: Proof that you have full health insurance that covers your whole stay in France.

Passport that works: Check that your passport has two blank pages for visa stamps and is valid in France.

You must carefully examine the list of materials the French study abroad consultant or office provides to ensure the application procedure runs smoothly. For further details explore France VFS Checklist by Edugo Abroad, we are a top Europe education consultant located in India.

4) Post Study Work Option

Knowing what jobs, you can get after finishing school in France is important for planning your future career. France has policies are good for international students who want to find work after graduation. For example, you can stay longer to look for work or go to school for longer.

With the temporary residence card, students can stay in France and look for work for up to 24 months after graduation. During this time frame, graduates can work full-time in any area without needing any other work authorization. Additionally, graduates from French schools may be able to get a "Passport Talent" visa, which makes the transition from student to job easier.

5) Employment & Job Opportunities in France

France's strong economy and wide job opportunities are good news for skilled workers in many fields. Foreign graduates can employ their talents and knowledge in technology, healthcare, finance, and hospitality.

Make local connections and check your school's internship or job placement programmes to boost your chances of finding meaningful work in France. Speaking and writing French well can increase your work prospects and help you integrate into French culture.

6) Settlement Options with Family After Study

Everyone needs to know the visa rules of Student Visa for France from India and how to reconnect with family if they want to live in France permanently or bring family members. Family reunions and long-stay visas for dependent children and spouses are available in France.

To reconcile with your family, you must have a stable salary, a suitable home, and enough health insurance for everyone. Planning and talking to immigration officials or lawyers can speed up family reunification and help your loved ones adjust.

7) Diplomatic Relationship of France with India

France and India have diplomatic links, including working together, sharing culture, and making strategic partnerships in many areas. High-level visits and projects led by leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi have strengthened relations between the two countries and encouraged them to work together in areas like defence, science, education, and more.

These diplomatic ties help Indian students learn in France through academic exchange programmes, scholarships, and cultural projects. The fact that there are Indian societies and cultural groups in France also helps Indian students get used to living in a new country.

8) Affordability of Cost in France

Even though France has a high standard of life and a world-class school system, you need to know how much it costs to live there to prepare your money. The cost of living varies by city; Paris costs more than other cities.

Lodging, transportation, food, medical bills, and personal expenses are crucial. Live in student accommodation or shared apartments, travel the bus or train, and cook to cut costs. Another way for international students to get money is to look into scholarship programmes, part-time jobs, and financial aid programmes.

9) Choosing the right Application & Visa Advisor

Applying for a French student Visa can be difficult, especially for international students who don't know how French immigration works. Selecting a reputable application and visa consultant or guide can be very helpful and supportive during the application process.

When hiring an advisor, consider experience, name, success record, and cost and service transparency. A skilled advisor from France visa consultants in Ahmedabad will help you gather papers, fill out visa application forms, schedule visa interviews, and address any concerns.

Moving Forward

A journey to France in September 2024 is a unique opportunity to enhance your educational grades, learn about another culture, and boost your career openings. With us at Edugo Abroad, a study in France consultant in India, you can apply to the top universities in France.

Putting the above factors first and applying for a visa carefully can help you navigate the rigorous immigration process and have a fulfilling educational experience in France.

So, if you plan well and make sensible choices, your education in France will be life-changing. If you want comprehensive assistance book a free consultation appointment with us at Edugo Abroad, a French Study Visa Specialist.

[speed-seo]

Google Asserts Its Search Quality Keeps Improving in Court Filing

Search engine giant Google recently made some bold claims about its search quality in a court filing responding to an antitrust lawsuit. The company ardently argued that its search engine quality has steadily improved over the years thanks to continuous innovation and enhancements. This article will analyze Google's statements on search quality, assess whether the claims hold up, provide context on the antitrust case, and consider what it means for the search landscape going forward. Google's Statements on Improving Quality In its filing with the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, Google asserted that it operates the highest quality general search engine in the United States. The company stated, "Google's search engine today is of remarkably high quality - higher than it was 10 years ago, and dramatically better than its peers." Google went on to describe having an "unrelenting focus on improving search quality" and highlighted setting explicit quality goals to measure progress each year. Some of the sample annual search quality goals mentioned include improving spelling correction, understanding conversational queries, and ranking authoritative healthcare information higher. The filing specifically called out innovations like Google's RankBrain algorithm, Knowledge Graph, intuitive voice searching, and improvements in local search as key drivers of enhancing search quality over time. Google argued that continuous advancement of its search algorithms, along with growing its index of web pages, has steadily made its results more comprehensive, relevant, and useful for those searching online. Responses to Monopoly Power Claims A significant motivation behind Google's search quality assertions appears to be responding to monopoly power allegations. The company forcefully rejected claims that it has illegally maintained its dominant position in the search market, arguing there has been no degradation in quality. Google stated that barriers to entry are decreasing, not increasing, in the internet search ecosystem. The filing points to search services like Microsoft's Bing, along with specialized vertical search engines, as evidence that competition continues to grow. Google believes this dynamic marketplace will organically prevent any potential decline in the quality of its search product. You can read Google´s response Here Assessing Google's Search Quality Claims But does the available data back up Google's bold claims that its search quality keeps dramatically improving year after year? There are a few ways to evaluate: - Benchmarking Studies - Organizations like NIST periodically conduct academic studies comparing Google against competitors on metrics like relevance, freshness, and accuracy. The latest studies give Google high marks but do not show conclusively improving quality over time. - User Surveys - Statista Research suggest ~80% of US search engine users rate Google as a good or excellent resource, on par with previous years. Satisfaction and engagement levels appear stable. - Webmaster Community Feedback - Sentiment from the SEO community on webmaster forums points to frustrations with certain algorithm updates. But many believe core search relevancy has stayed consistent. - Search Analytics - Click-through rates and other metrics indicate Google has maintained its dominant popularity with users, indirectly suggesting sustained quality. But metrics do not show obvious improvement trends. - Financial Performance - Google's ongoing growth in advertising revenue points to a satisfied customer base willing to pay more for clicks. However, revenue expansion alone does not confirm the degree of quality enhancement. - Industry Experts - Leading search marketing authorities like Rand Fishkin of SparkToro and Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Land agree Google continues to innovate but question claims of revolutionary leaps in quality. Overall, there are no smoking gun data points validating or invalidating Google's claims that search quality improves significantly year after year. The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle. While innovations occur, Google search today behaves much like the Google search of a decade ago for most queries. Complementary article: The Economic Rationale of United States v. Google Evaluating Google's Market Dominance Google linking its search quality assertions to monopoly debates prompts deeper consideration of its dominance. Google holds an undisputed leading position in general search, with ~90% market share in the US. Competitors like Microsoft's Bing have single-digit share. This dominance forms the crux of the antitrust lawsuit Google aims to appeal. The case alleges Google unlawfully maintains its monopolistic position through exclusionary agreements locking out rivals, violating antitrust laws. But Google claims competition is thriving and anything less than its best quality will lose users. Most experts agree Google initially gained its commanding position through delivering a superior product. But there are concerns its scale now creates insurmountable competitive barriers, even if challengers build a better mousetrap. Key points in assessing Google's market power: - Scale advantages in data, infrastructure make matching Google's quality difficult for new entrants. - Lack of portability in search queries/history across engines creates inertia in switching. - Google properties like YouTube increasingly keep users within its ecosystem. - Billions spent annually on advertising and default mobile deals solidify Google's reach. - Alternative search engines represent thin slivers of market share. In spite of these advantages, Google does face a long-term threat: The rise of voice search and assistants like Alexa. Over 40% of searches will be voice-initiated by 2022. As the gatekeeper, Amazon holds power in the voice ecosystem, potentially challenging Google. This emerging dynamic will take years to play out but illustrates the competitive forces still constraining Google from abusing its market power in traditional search. The threat of voice assistants rising further reinforces that barriers to entry may not be as impermeable as critics contend. The Road Ahead Google's forceful defense of its search quality improvements provides an insightful window into its mindset on competition issues. Few would argue Google has not pushed web search technology forward in meaningful ways. But claims of continuous, dramatic gains should be evaluated with healthy skepticism. Ongoing legal action and regulatory scrutiny of Google's dominance can be expected. But the clearest test of Google's search quality will be the daily choices of its billions of users. If Google traffic and engagement wane substantially over time, it would signal a degradation in meeting searcher needs. Google's public commitments to improving search quality also necessitate increased transparency. Providing third parties access to evaluate search algorithm updates and releasing metrics on quality KPIs could bolster trust and accountability. But in the absence of such steps, Google merits the benefit of the doubt that its search team remains dedicated to evolving an engine people choose to use because it makes their lives easier. If Google's future innovations match its past contributions to pioneering web search, searchers worldwide stand to benefit. Key Takeaways - Google claims its search quality has steadily improved over time but supporting data is inconclusive. - Legal pressure around Google's market dominance contributed to its quality claims. - Voice search rise poses a long-term threat though barriers to entry still limit competition. - Ongoing scrutiny expected but users' collective actions will determine if Google's quality regresses. The coming years will reveal whether Google can maintain its position that developing the world's best web search engine precludes being a monopoly. But if search quality truly remains Google's north star, the future of finding information online appears promising. Read the full article

[captainmdhridoyhossain-blog]

[ad_1] Slightly hours after India's two giant cellular provider suppliers - Reliance Jio and Airtel - started a price cutting war over their pay as you go plans, the rustic's telecom regulator cried foul and ordered the operators to chorus from providing differential tariff to shoppers as a trap to port them over. In its order, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) described such provides as a trap to "induce churn from the competition' community" and stated it used to be performing on few proceedings from telecom products and services suppliers towards every different. The corporations had means the regulator claiming that the cellular quantity portability provides have been most effective triggered via third-party channel companions with out consent of the provider suppliers. Below the regulation, cell phone subscribers can shift from one provider supplier to the opposite with no need to let pass in their quantity. Alternatively, prior to now it used to be seen that when a subscriber raised a bunch portability request, that provider supplier's channel companions would bombard the person with provides. TRAI's newest order, available on their website, reiterates that telecom operators will have to now not introduce provides that have not been up to now reported to the regulator. So the order is in fact supposed to implement an previous order that sought to create a degree enjoying box among the provider suppliers. India has witnessed a three-pronged struggle for cellular subscriptions between Jio, Airtel and Vodafone-IDEA. The order additional stated that it expects provider suppliers to reinforce transparency with a view of casting off unfair business practices and make sure non-discrimination in tariff orders. Most effective price lists reported to TRAI will have to be presented thru telecom operators' channel companions, vendors, shops, third-party apps, and others, it says whilst striking the onus of compliance at the provider suppliers.  Previous this week, Reliance Jio presented with  a brand new vary of pay as you go plans that got here bundled with unrestricted get right of entry to to all content material on Disney+ Hotstar, ranging from Rs 499. Jio’s new plans, along with providing 1 yr subscription of Disney+ Hotstar, has limitless voice, information, SMS, Jio Apps and different advantages. Proper on cue, Airtel introduced its personal counter, providing a one-year subscription to Disney+ Hotstar for a similar Rs.499 with 3GB of day by day information, limitless voice calls and 100 SMS messages in keeping with day for 28 days. It is still noticed whether or not the present order from the regulator creates a big have an effect on at the buyer acquisition methods followed via the foremost gamers. Previously, a equivalent order from TRAI had fallen flat because the provider suppliers delegated the offer-making actions to the channel companions. By means of solving duty of this behind-the-scenes process squarely at the provider suppliers, TRAI is now anticipating higher compliance. “The providing of differential tariff to the subscriber porting from the community of alternative provider supplier isn't legitimate and cheap classification because the cause at the back of such classification is it appears to urge churn from the competition community and which is discriminatory and contravenes the provisions of clause 10 of TTO, 1999,” it says in the most recent order.Wish to learn about the most recent happenings in tech? Observe TechRadar India on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram [ad_2] #Indias #telecom #regulator #cracks #pay as you go #cellular #plans #customers #receive advantages,raj.narayan@trivone.com , 2021-09-03 08:40:46 ,

[vivacapital19]

Truck Factoring Companies Texas

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[bolbianddolanhouse]

GahDam where did the time go?

Hi Tumblr, Palma-sama here.....or if you know my irl name, you know what tf up.

It has come to my attention that I’ve been on this hell-site for 9 years and BOY does that make me feel old. But where have I been for months at a time, I know the fics stopped coming regularly as I usually promise in the tags. Well... I’m a working (semi) professional! If you looked at the tags in the last two updates of my fics, I was going sicko mode on my studies while doing some work-study. Things turned out really well for me and I got a higher position and pay since graduating with my three degrees. Granted, associate degrees BUT they got me my current job and all the other tangent side gigs. I’m a co-professor at the college I graduated from, a hired judge for Speech and Debate competitions and a small business owner. So you can say I’ve been a bit busy. I even changed my icon to one of my favorite graduation pictures. Right now I’m in the process of applying to transfer to finish my bachelors. And the more I pause and think about my past self, the more I’m reminded that I thought I wasn’t ever going to make it this far. I was a bad student and constantly told that I wasn’t worth the resources to help because I wasn’t finishing in the expected 2 years. Guys, it took me 7 YEARS to finish community college! Tumblr was there for me while I was barely skating by in college and beyond. Thankfully, it was a happier ending than predicted!

What does that mean for the fic? Just that it’ll take longer to hash out. I have the whole thing written down in a timeline type format, I just fill out the details on here in 7k-10k words at a time. I hate when authors rush their works to meet the quota or when things take too long, I’m going to release things the way I wanted to. Even if it takes me another 2 years to do so, just ride it out with me! Also thanks for checking in on me every now and then, it makes me feel cared for and that you actually like what I write and it’s not entirely self-indulgent. I started writing to escape my responsibilities, then to hone my writing skills, turned into something to do to keep myself sane during lockdown and now sometimes it’s to fill in the unplanned free time/sleepless nights. Either way, it brings in the anime/manga only crowd every time something fucky happens in the canon. Hello to the new folks and a very loud YEEEERRRR to the day 1 readers. 

Whatever reason you came to my blog for, I just wanted to share my irl accomplishments to justify my months of non-updates. Hope you stick around for a while more. 

Until then!

- Palma-sama 

P.S. My ask is open for any questions! It doesn’t have to be fic related :)

[the-wizard-zietgiest]

2023-05-25

Finally tried jhana meditation and it’s all it’s cracked up to be. Initially decided to investigate based on recommendation from [C.Q.AGE.], found general information online. Of interest, a practitioner in thailand, who goes by [RDCT] and makes some interesting claims.

This is a report of two separate sessions, [S.20230524] and [S.20230525].

SESSION 1 -

Time: 2023-05-24 1205h

After the point in entry level meditation where the breath becomes very shallow and infrequent, I shifted my attention to a pleasant sensation in my hands, as per traditional first-time instructions. I payed attention to the pleasant quality of the pleasant sensation. After long conversations with [C.Q.AGE] and [C.Q.NC] it has become clear to me that qualia, or the specific individual qualities of qualitative conscious experiences, is the vast depth that must be plumbed if a world free from suffering is to be created. The claim that specific subjective conscious states have objective mathematical descriptions carries the implication that with the right technique a mathematical description of a conscious state may someday be imported to an experiential consciousness.

Leaving aside for now the “mathematical description” portion, one can easily see why jhana practice is spoken of by Gautama Buddha as a necessary companion to insight meditation, or vipassanabhavana. Jhana practice produces extraordinary states of consciousness in a predictable and linear way, and does so without the confounding variables of psychoactive substances or group settings. It is by studying, or meditating on the experiences produced by these states that one gains insight into the nature of reality and consciousness. This insight is what will eventually allow the creation of the aforementioned mathematical descriptions of conscious states.

But enough discussion of the future, let us return to the session at hand:

In this session the sensation of piti was clearly experienced and was present in fluctuating intensity, but did not seem to reach a critical point or point of total saturation with piti. Because of this, I cannot claim to have experienced in full the 1st jhana, but I have seen enough to know that the 1st jhana can be achieved, which leads me to suspect the other jhanas may likewise be achievable for me. This possibility excites me.

As Ram Dass would say, “You don’t worship the gate, you go into the inner temple.”

“Ah, so. Ah, so.”

[technical notes and session description elsewhere]

SESSION 2 -

Time: 2023-05-25 2130h

Session 2 was performed at my place of work, quite late into the evening. I found an empty conference room and set a timer for 26 minutes. I was able to sense the nested toroidal structure of energy around my body, but again found that the degree to which i was able to experience that sensation, whatever it was [the experience being described here took quite some time to articulate in the author’s handwritten notes, but essentially what is being described is a visual synesthetic representation of a tactile experience of some high-charge electromagnetic field permeating the body, similar to static electricity but produced bio-electrically] fluctuated throughout the session but did not reach a peak or total saturation point. I’ve attempted a few drawings of the visual stimuli but will need repeat sessions to correctly draw it.

Again, the sensation of piti came and went in waves, but the waves had higher peaks, and it did feel at many points as though a critical point or point of saturation was just over the horizon. Even so, the sensation of piti was quite intense and present for much of the meditation period. The experience was intensely positive, high valence, and medium arousal. OF NOTE, upon returning to normal consciousness I found my body moving fluidly and feeling painless, energized, and limber, even though prior to the session I had been on my feet working in a high-stress environment for quite some time.

[technical notes and session description elsewhere]

[uesp]

Are Argonians the only sentient (black souled) beings on Nirn that aren't descendant from the Ehlnofey? Argonians have the souls of Hist trees that they get from the sap.

Not to dodge your question, but there isn't really a good answer here. Souls don't make any sense, and the rules of soul magic have never stayed the same for a single game.

For example.

Daggerfall: If an item enchanted with a bound soul breaks, the creature who you stole a soul from will return to physical form and attack you. You also don't need soul gems to enchant.

Morrowind: You can only soul trap creatures. However, since unique characters are put into this category, you can soul trap some people who really shouldn't count. So while you can't soul trap Fargoth, you can soul trap literal gods, Daedra, and people like Yagrum Bagarn.

Oblivion: Some changes make this system more logical. Now sapient creatures have their own soul category. Lesser creatures have white souls, while people have black souls. Except the strength of the strongest white souls is equal to a black soul, so why can't we hold black souls in white soul gems? What is the difference? Well I have an answer to that, and it is... ABSOLUTE MADNESS. We'll get to that shortly.

Souls are also effected by Oblivion's leveling mechanics, meaning creatures can start to have higher leveled souls as your own level raises.

Skyrim: Basically works the same, except the soul level is now based on the creature's level.

ESO: Souls used to be leveled, but that was removed. There is no division between White or Black souls... yet. BECAUSE A GUILD PROPOSAL IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF BEING ACCEPTED.

Mages Guild Memorandum: Confidential, Magisters Only

From Vanus Galerion, Archmagister Emeritus

If you pay attention to the popular fads and fashions of spellcasting in your guildhalls, you have doubtless noticed the recent surge of interest in the discipline of "soul trapping." Unlike most of the passing fancies that come and go among the magical fraternity, I consider this particular vogue alarming and dangerous.

There are reasons why soul trapping has never been part of the core curriculum of the Mages Guild, taught to only the most experienced and dependable wizards, and then only for certain specific uses. First of all, it is technically a subset of necromancy, and on that basis alone it should be abhorred. (Except, as mentioned, for certain special cases, and then only under controlled conditions.) Second, it is a magical technology that practically invites abuse, especially when employed to trap the souls of sentient mortals. It is the sort of arcane practice that the public fears most, and is likely to result in local bans on the organized teaching of magic, and if that happens all our work in establishing the Guild will have been in vain.

The fact that soul trapping is now common knowledge among Tamriel's magery, to the point where so-called "Mystics" sell soul gems of various sizes in every market and bazaar, is a problem that can be laid squarely at the feet of the iniquitous Mannimarco and his Order of the Black Worm. It is all part of his program to make necromancy seem commonplace and almost harmless. In some parts of Tamriel, notably Cyrodiil, the vile practice of necromancy has even become accepted as a valid, and legally tolerated, magical discipline. What our old mentor Iachesis would have to say about this pernicious development I hate to think.

So what are we to do about it? I have been giving the matter some hard thought, in between rooting out cells of the ever-burgeoning Worm Cult, and I think at this point the only way to gain control over soul-trapping is to co-opt the practice. Therefore I propose the Mages Guild codify and systematize the various soul-trapping magics into a common grimoire of a few reliable spells, and then teach our members that these, and only these, are the legal and authorized methods for trapping souls.

Furthermore, I propose that for the purposes of soul trapping we categorize all souls into two classes: the legal, or "White" souls, those smaller essences that are captured from beasts and animals, and illegal, or "Black" souls, which are derived from sentient mortals. And we will teach only those spells that can capture White souls, forbidding our students to use the larger soul gems on sentients.

It will take several generations, and the suppression of the Worm Cult, for this dichotomy to become the pan-Tamrielic standard for soul trapping. But if the Mages Guild can't take the long view for the good of Tamriel, who can?

So we have trouble soul trapping because we were taught deliberately bad spells while the Mages Guild successfully suppressed all knowledge of the previously superior soul trapping methods. The differences between white and black souls are arbitrary, put into place by the Mages Guild.

So to give you a very poor quality answer: I'm not even sure if there is a real difference between white and black souls, and it isn't just magic DRM put in place by our boy Vanus. It gets even more complicated with the presence of black soul gems, which have even more confusing lore. Beyond that, we lack information on many creatures and people that I would want before answering this with any degree of certainty for Argonian souls.