#as a way of practicing using the tool in productive ways

[whentherewerebicycles]

ok just going to think aloud through this two-part AI workshop... i will need to spend more time actually mapping it out but i want to do some big picture brainstorming about purpose/outcomes. here are some of the messy ideas i have:

i like workshops where our activities and discussions are geared towards developing or creating something students can take with them at the end - ideally something they will find useful beyond just the class or workshop. so my idea was that maybe we think about these workshops as an opportunity to develop our own personal codes of conduct around using AI tools in research. the phrase "code of conduct" feels a little too "here are the RULES" to me so i want to think of a different thing to call it... but basically i want to frame our work together as: I'm not going to tell you what to think about AI or how to use it - I'm going to guide us through a series of activities, discussions, and reflections where you are going to wrestle with your own feelings/thoughts/assumptions about AI tools and decide what feels right for you, in your own context, given your own values and priorities. what i want them to produce is basically an articulation of those personal values and priorities, plus some guidelines or guiding ideas they can use as they make decisions about the use of AI in their research projects.

i'm not sure how this will fit in yet but i know i want us to also think about the underlying emotions that lead us to use AI in situations where we would maybe rather not use it, or where we feel sort of torn or guilty about using it. like idk this is probably a cliche in conversations around AI and pedagogy at this point, but i think a lot of students use it because they feel immense pressure to produce at a certain level and they doubt their ability to produce at that level, whether because of skill or confidence or just like, the deadline is imminent and they didn't manage their time well enough to produce good work. i think in mentored research projects, students would probably also be tempted to use it because they would feel unsure about how to ask their mentor questions... faculty are not always like, sooo good at giving clear instructions or maintaining open channels of communication or encouraging students to ask questions, esp when students are doing independent/self-directed projects, and so i can see lots of situations where students might be like i don't want to seem dumb or behind so it's easier to just ask the machine than to ask the expert i'm working with. our students in particular also have tons of demands on their time (they're usually taking way too many classes so they can graduate early to save $$ and they're almost always working off-campus jobs and commuting long distances) so i think they often feel pressured to prioritize efficiency, and see the slow slog of learning as really inefficient. which it kind of is! it's iterative, it takes a long time, you have to mess up a bunch and figure out how to fix it, you go down rabbitholes that just lead to dead ends and then have to retrace your steps to figure out where you're supposed to be, etc etc. even well-structured classroom learning can feel that way, and students doing research are often working in unstructured, self-directed learning environments where they are having to both learn complex new skills AND learn to handle the project management aspects in a setting where they don't have a syllabus and a rubric to tell them what to do when. ANYWAY I gotta think about how to structure this part (small group discussion plus some kind of mindmapping board activity maybe?) but i think it will be useful for us to dig into the emotions that maybe influence our decision-making around using AI as a learning shortcut.

but then also SIGH i think i have to actually help them think about the less horrible ways to use AI. i had a meeting with our instructional coach yesterday and while she politely heard me out on my own fears/hesitations i think she is like, pretty pro-AI as a learning tool and was pushing me to actually think about how to teach students to use it responsibly. like instead of using it to generate content (ie cheat/take a shortcut to avoid the messy hard work of learning), we should be teaching students to use it to do things like generate practice problems or essay prompts to help them study, or to get feedback on a piece of writing without rewriting the essay, or to generate possible research questions so that students can evaluate and synthesize different options and make decisions about what to pursue... idk she was saying all this and i think my face was visibly like I Really, Genuinely Hate This lol but i'm sorry i can't control my own reactions!!! but it WAS kind of helpful to get the framing of like... we can't just tell kids to avoid it because it is about to be integrated into absolutely every aspect of their academic and professional lives whether they/we want it to be or not, so we HAVE to give them tools for using it responsibly and making critical judgments about it blah blah blah. and i GUESS i can see that!! these are probably the same decisions i will have to make about phone/technology/social media use as a parent... like i can forbid him to use screens (honestly i wish someone would forbid ME from using screens) but if he's going to be in all these settings where its use is expected and normalized, i have to give him tools for figuring out how he feels about these tools and making reasoned, value-based decisions about how he wants to use them.

i guess it's also helpful to notice like... thinking about this is helping ME clarify my own ethical framework for making these decisions. if i want to, i can say that i do not want to outsource any of my thinking to generative AI because it is morally and ideologically important to me to continue doing the slow slog of thinking and working and researching and learning and brainstorming with other actual human people, even if that working style is less "efficient." i can say that and i can then proceed to make decisions around using AI that are guided by that commitment. but even saying that lights up a fear pathway for me where i'm afraid that if i continue to work slowly while everyone around me speeds up, i will fall behind professionally, or i won't be able to produce work at the intellectual level of people who are relying on these technological enhancements, or whatever. so i have to think about that and then decide like, am i okay with that as a possible outcome, how will i manage those fears, are there situations where the work i am doing can be automated without loss or do i really want to have a blanket No for myself, etc etc. and that is useful thinking to do, like to sift through the fears and worries and what-ifs, and ALSO in doing so to realize that my personal framework does not have to be everybody's framework. but we should all HAVE a framework, and we should be able to talk about it openly and explain why we are making the choices we are making. and that is what i think i want the students to do... like i want our activities/discussions/etc to move them towards that space of being able to say, this is what i think and feel and believe, this is how i want to make decisions and this is how i want to justify the decisions i make.

anyway much 2 think about... gotta sift through some of the AI literacy resources she shared with me and work on articulating some learning outcomes... and then i think i can dive into actually building out some in-class activities and prompts.

[redtsundere-writes]

Price's beard is famous around base—a rugged, full, and commanding presence that spoke to both discipline and masculinity. That type of beard that's hard to grow and maintain. And there's his hair. An immaculately cut, effortlessly styled, and somehow looking even better every time he comes back for a mission. Soldiers always pester him to tell them who his barber is, but he always gatekeeps it. He never cracks. It's his best well-kept secret.

After months of deployment, his beard needed a refresh. He knocked on his neighbor's door, a cute hairstylist that does her family and friend's hair on her free time. You opened the door with a huge smile to see Price was back home safe and sound.

“The usual?” You asked, pulling a chair from the kitchen for him to sit in. It was part of the routine. A warm hug after months of not seeing each other, letting him in your house, offer him something to drink, and putting his favorite tunes on the speaker.

“You know it. Just work your magic.” Price trusted you completely, almost blindly. You had been his barber for years now. “How's the family?”

“Pretty good, captain. My lil sister is getting married next week. I'll be doing her hair, such a huge honor.” You placed the cape around his neck, breathing in his intoxicating scent with notes of amber and musk.

“That's wonderful news. You better send my congrats.”

“Will do, captain.”

You prepared your tools—your shears, straight blade, a new leather strap you bought recently. You really like when Price came by, it was the perfect opportunity to use your barber kit and practice with a handsome model. “The usual” was simple. Price was meticulous about his grooming, already keeping his hair in check with the products you’d recommended. It was just cutting the top of his hair, cleaning the edges of his beard and carve out sharp lines that framed that unmistakably strong jaw.

But it wasn’t just the cut that brought him back, he liked the nice chats and to admire how you worked. He loved the way you worked—slow, steady, deliberate. The way your tongue peeked out to focus on the details. The gentle press of your soft fingertips as you tilted his head. Unlike other barbers, you never asked any questions about his work, he didn't like to think about that on his free time. When he sat in your chair, the world outside didn’t exist. It was just the sound of the scissors, the warmth of your presence, and a fleeting sense of home.

“And this dickhead even has the nerve to ask: 'Are we fucking or are we splitting the check?' Like, what the hell?!” You were telling him how your last blind date ended as you cut the sides of his hair, making sure it didn't touch his ears because the tickles bothered him.

“What a fucking pillock!” Price gasped angry.

“That's what I said!” You huffed. “Who is raising these boys? I swear to god, my 8-year-old nephew is more a man than that bastard.”

“I always wondered why are you single, I think I have my answer now,” Price said.

“Look, I may be single, but I ain't desperate. I won't settle for anything less than a gentleman.” You scoffed as you finished the touch ups. “We are all done, handsome.”

You gave Price a mirror. He moved his head around to admire the details of your wonderful, usual, job. He felt like a new, clean man. You looked at him with a bright smile, satisfied with your job.

“I am telling ya, you were born for this,” Price said as you unbuttoned the cape.

“Aw, thanks, captain. You are always so sweet.” You blushed.

“How much do I owe you, luv?” Price pulled up his wallet.

“Oh, c'mon. You know it's always from the house.” You pushed the wallet from your sight, making him to put it back in his pocket.

“You can't be giving away your talent for free,” Price smiled. He liked the attention, but he didn't want to abuse of your kindness. “At least let me tip you.”

“Please, captain. I insist.” You looked at him straight to the eye. Your heart skipped a beat when he looked back at you with those dreamy eyes of him. He finally smiled in defeat.

“Fine, fine.” Price sighed, putting the wallet back in his pocket. “What about I take you out to dinner?”

“Captain, that's not necessary…” You chuckled.

“Not as payment,” Price interrupted you. “As a date. I can give you the real gentleman you want.”

Heat rushed to your cheeks, catching you completely off guard. You hadn’t expected that—hadn’t expected him to be so direct, so effortlessly charming. Price took your hand and kissed your knuckles softly, his beard tickling your skin lightly.

You met his gaze, your smile breaking through before you could even think to suppress it. How could you say no? The most handsome client to ever sit in your chair had just asked you out—and you accepted without hesitation.

Masterlist.

[ms-demeanor]

For those who are not aware: Bitlocker is encryption software, it encrypts your computer and makes it impossible to access the information on the computer unless you have the key.

It should be standard practice for IT companies to document the bitlocker keys as they are configuring bitlocker on a computer; generally you would do this by creating a record in your client management software for that specific device and putting the key in the record. Sometimes software can be used to extract that information in the event that it's necessary, but even if there's theoretically a way to extract the key, it should be documented somewhere *other* than on the encrypted computer.

This is something that a lot of IT people fuck up on kind of a lot (we've definitely had problems with missing bitlocker keys and I'm quite happy that the people who didn't document those keys aren't my coworkers anymore).

So what do you do if you want to use encryption software and you're NOT an IT company using a remote management tool that might be able to snag the keys?

When you are setting up encryption, put the encryption key in your password manager. Put it in your password manager. Document the important information that you cannot lose in your password manager. Your password manager is a good place to keep important things like your device encryption key, which you do not want lost or stolen. (If you run your password manager locally on an encrypted computer, export the data every once in a while, save it as an encrypted file, and put the file on your backup drive; you are going to have a bad time if your computer that hosts the only copies of your passwords shits the bed so *make a backup*)

This is my tip for home users for any kind of important recovery codes or software product keys: Print out the key and put it in your underwear drawer. Keep it there with your backup drive. That way you've got your important (small) computer shit in one place that is NOT your computer and is not likely to get shifted around and lost (the way that papers in desks often get shifted around and lost).

[neilsbeloved]

practice on me

summary: the one where you make excellent use of clark kent’s luscious lashes and incredible fingers

warnings: 18+ pure smut, established relationship, all legal aged characters, fingering, love bites, dirty talk, reader’s kinda a bitch to people aside from clark, semi-public sex (unlocked door), overstimulation, no use of y/n

It all started as a genuine way to let you get off some steam; you called Clark, ranting and raging all the way from the Talon after that one girl in your class came there only to piss you off.

You needed to hear his voice as soon as possible or else you would have thrown the whole coffee machine at her.

The moment he registers that tone of yours, he knows he needed to get you. Thankfully it was just thirty-minutes left 'til the end of your shift so he dashed to the back of the Talon. He couldn't take the truck since his parents were out of town for their anniversary.

Your shift ends and both of you head back to his house. Clark, being the concerned boyfriend he is, kept on pestering you about what happened. Knowing full well that there is something angering you even more considering how you were still brimming with rage.

A little bit of persuasion and bartering, you two finally agreed on something: you'll tell him everything, and he'll let you practice your mascara routine on his eyelashes.

So there you both now, on the couch of the Kent living room. You straddling his lap, only having on his shirt and some random boxers he had thrown you. Barely paying attention to the television playing some random football game at back.

Clark sports an amused smile as you grab his face, slotting his chin on the web between your thumb and pointer finger, tilted his head slightly up to get a better look at his eyelashes. One big hand resting on your hip, while the other was gently rubbing your bare thigh.

He had just gone through the torture of eyelash curling with that medieval tool you call eyelash curler. Inside his head, he's blaming the tool for nearly poking his eye out despite you being the one handling it—of course, he would never blame you for anything.

"See, I wouldn't care if she came by the Talon. Who cares? More money for the business—but get this, she literally kept following me like a damn dog with a bone. Me, I was the bone, Clark! She kept following me!" You let out exasperatedly. Waving your mascara around.

Clark chuckles, "Maybe she just wants to be friends with you."

"I don't want to be friends with her!" You reply back with irritation. The scowl on your face going even deeper as you remembered her bothering you when you were just trying to work.

"You don't want to be friends with anyone, baby." Clark says softly.

You glare at him. He always calls you baby at times like these where you're too heated up to think about anything else aside from picking apart someone until they're basically stripped and humiliated. He knows it flusters you, thus helping you calm down.

"Woah, easy there with the weapon." Clark cautiously holds your wrist. You had just taken out the wand from the tube, the extra product piling on the tip of the wand.

"I have people I want to be friends with, for your information." You say with an attitude. Lips pouting as you begin to swipe the first layer of mascara on his left eye.

Clark raises an eyebrow, "Really?"

You nod. Your forehead creases in concentration, ignoring the way his other hand went up to your hips too. Both of his hands now squeezing the flesh in a loving manner.

"And Jessica isn't one of those people?" The name of that girl from your class rings in your ears. You pull your hands away, making a move to fully withdraw from his lap when he pulls you back in with a teasing laugh.

He grabs the make-up bag from your hand and places it back beside him. "I'm just playin', baby. I know you hate Jessica. I hate her too." He pushes your hips closer to him, your core running against the semi-hard surface of his lap.

"You hate her?" You scoff indignantly. "Can't believe the Clark Kent, Smallville's nicest guy, the one who saved countless of people, hates a girl he hasn't even met."

Clark's hands removes themselves from your hips and moves to the top of your thighs. Moving them up and down, slowly moving closer and closer to the hem of your—his—shorts.

"Yeah, well, my baby hates 'em so I automatically do too." Your breath hitches. His hand sliding in the insides of your shorts to massage your cheeks over your panties.

Heat starts pooling in your core. The sensation hindering you from smoothly applying the same coat on his right eyelashes.

"What else bothers you, baby? Just that girl?" He furrows his eyebrows, the jut of his lips beckoning you to continue.

You swallow down on nothing. Inhaling sharply as you slot the wand back in its component only to swirl it around and get more product. When you pull it out, you feel his hands leave your shorts.

"T-There's this guy in Chemistry," you start. You lick your lips and decide to rest your free hand on his shoulder instead. "Damn know-it-all. He keeps on reciting in class. The teacher doesn't even notice me with how loud he keeps calling—Clark."

His hand daringly slides in the waistband of your shorts. Snaking directly to your panties and cupping your core. His fingers immediately playing with the wetness he's met with.

"What? Go on, baby. Tell me more. I'm listening." He rubs sweet soft circles on your bud. The feeling makes your hips twitch and your hand still. You only continue when he pinches your outer thigh with his other hand.

You let out a low and breathy moan. Doing your best to avoid giving him the satisfaction of not being able to finish your work on his eyes. And so with a steadying breath and will-power to prove him wrong, you continue swiping layers of mascara on his lashes.

"I can't participate in class because of him. He's stealing... steal-stealing my... my credit points," you stammer. Head dropping down to look at his hand inside of your shorts as he has just inserted one thick finger inside of your cunt.

When you look back up, Clark's smirking at you.

"Clark, we're in your living room." You say lividly. Head snapping to glance at the locked—or unlocked, who knows—door.

Clark looks around with faux innocence. "So? Why don't you continue your work baby. C'mon. Keep going." He curls his finger upwards, lips stretching wider when you mewl out deliciously. Your hips involuntarily jerking.

You do the same routine of putting the wand back in and twirling it inside for some product. This time you move to his other eye. Gripping the wand tightly as you try to gather as much control as you can, trying to ignore the pleasure he's giving you with just a singular finger.

Your words of hatred to that guy in Chemistry spills out continuously albeit stopping and stammering at times. Clark inserts another finger, the stretch of his middle and ring finger inside your pussy making you moan out this time. His name leaving your lips like a broken plea.

"Oh shit, you're tightening up on my fingers, baby," he chuckles darkly, "All that anger got you so frustrated huh? My pretty baby's so fucking frustrated?" He moves forward to lick a stripe up your neck. Sucking on your favorite spot

"God—Clark, you're so irritating." You whimper, ryes rolling back. Unable to stop yourself now that you're fully riding his fingers. His other hand rubbing circles on your clit. All the sensations you're feeling at one making your head dizzy.

Clark laughs. "You hate me now too?"

He continues his attack on your neck. Nipping and licking at various spots. Not caring whether or not it'd blossom to a pretty bruise the next day. The pace of his fingers quicken when he hears that hitch in your breath. Curling them at the perfect angle as he hits your spot with practiced precision.

"You-You're not letting me work. I—fuck, right there, please. Clark, don't stop—More!" You cut yourself off mid-way with a wanton gasp. Mouth falling open as your eyes flutter shut. Your hips stuttering as you continue to ride his fingers to your climax.

Clark pulls his head away from your neck to look at the pleasured strain on your face. His canines making an appearance as he takes in the concentrated look on your face, eyes glued on the way your eyebrows furrowed upwards.

"Right here, baby?" He shifts his fingers in the subtlest angle. Your breath quickens. "And more too? Aren't you a greedy little baby." He inserts a third finger and you're done for.

Stars appear in your vision. The thin string holding you together finally snaps and you release all over Clark's hand. Riding out your high on his fingers—and you're sure it's dripping down that veiny forearm of his—as he helps you get through it. Mumbling sweet nothings in your ear as you let out screams and whimpers of his name.

Clark places soft kisses all over the column of your neck as you slowly drift back down onto Smallville. Tired eyes fluttering open only to see him grinning like a little shit.

He keeps his fingers inside of you while his other hand slips out of your shorts to massage your side.

“I didn’t get to finish your eyes!” You complain, glancing at the wand and component on your hands. You place the two together, about to unscrew them again when you feel Clark’s fingers move. again.

Your head shoots up in alarm. Clark licks his lips, the look on your face making his cock even harder than it was before.

You place both hands on his wrist, mascara dropping from your hands. “Clark.” You say as a warning.

“What?” he asks quietly, letting you hear the squelching of his fingers inside you. “You’re still not finished with your story and my make-up, baby.”

A distraught groan leaves your lips, mouth falling open again. Your lower stomach tightening as you clench involuntarily on his fingers. “H-how can I when you’re… you’re…”

“I’m what?” Clark tilts his head.

You close your eyes, finally letting go of his wrist after your feeble attempt at stopping him. You swing your arms around his neck, burying your head on the crook of his neck as he picked up the pace.

“God, just shut up—please.” Clark smiles victoriously as you finally surrender your whole self to him. Head empty with nothing but the pleasure in between your legs and the man in front of you. “Don’t stop.”

He cranes his head to yours, pressing a peck on your cheek. “Atta girl.”

hearts and reblogs are greatly appreciated ✸

[justladders]

To everyone in the art community, please:

Tracing is effective. But only as a learning tool. Telling people "never trace" can be robbing them of methods that could have been effective to their learning process if they'd known about them.

The "art of using tracing" is a bit looked over, so I have five points:

(it's a long one)

1: AS A RULE OF THUMB, DO NOT POST/SHARE TRACED AND STOLEN ARTWORK. This is not only lying to anyone you show it to, if you're trying to come off as, "I'm so good, look at what I did," but most importantly, it's lying to yourself. You'll trick yourself into not needing to get any better, and you will stagnate if you start to rely on tracing as a form of stealing. If you come to realize that you are, you should stop using any tracing methods altogether to keep yourself from abusing it. It's a slippery slope for beginners, and a big reason why you’ll hear almost everyone echo that you just shouldn’t trace at all. The issue is that this ignores the ways that tracing can actually be good.

2: Tracing sets the stage for motor skills/hand-eye coordination. I've seen so many early-stage beginner artists get upset that the art that they make of their favorite character/oc is messy, or maybe they just don't even know what they want to draw and can’t "make themselves mindlessly doodle.” These early arists then become completely disheartened and upset, especially if they start to look at other people for comparison. Tracing over work or even over photos is a way to train your hand to hold and wield a pencil/stylus properly without you being worried about the finished product. Think of it like a way to dip your toe into learning the process of what making art feels like, without having to get overwhelmed with searching up pointers and people telling you, "10 quick tips to become a master artist!!!!!!!" (<- please ignore those) If you’re just beginning, your hand-eye coordination needs to be trained, and you shouldn't bog yourself down so much thinking about end products just yet, so if tracing is the way to get you started, go for it. If you're a bit more experienced, tracing and drawing over reference can also help you warm up without being committal or stressing your art brain too much.

3: Practice "mindful tracing." While I said the previous point was targeted more at beginners, this point is actually about something that experts in their field use. Doing "mindful tracing" over art means that you aren't worried about getting the lines "correct," you're studying why those lines are there. You're taking note of where the shadows meet the highlights based on the light source, how it shows off the forms, and how sharp or soft the lighting is; you're going over the lines of action in the piece to see how your eye is guided by the artist's intention and planning; you're seeing how characters may be stylized into shapes and the feeling that those shapes can give; you're noting how the artist uses line weight or weird blocks of color or stark breaks to split up the art or separate ideas within it; you're experiencing the flow of the poses within the artwork to grasp how that kind of thing feels; you're breaking down the overall composition like in a thumbnail sketch; and the list goes on.

"Mindful tracing" ends up looking like you've marked up an English essay: it should be messy, because the intent with it is not to copy or replicate, it's to notate. It's like how literally writing notes on things helps you remember better than if you only read it. You're acknowledging instead of just looking. And you can always learn, even from styles that you don't intend on actually using. As you get to be more experienced, you may come to realize that you can do "mindful tracing" analyses on artwork without having to literally write over top of the piece, which is great: that means you're improving your creative brain, and prepping it to be able to break down your own works in this way as you make them.

4: Trace for specific character or style studying. For this point, I want to especially stress that this is what makes everyone say, "don't trace," because this is what tracing is most commonly associated with: art theft. There's really no excusable reason to repost someone's art in this way.

I feel like you have to be a bit more experienced to properly use tracing specifically for style studies. The benefits that come with tracing a certain style is that it can quite literally teach your hand/brain to recognize the patterns that are present. You get a feel for how far apart a specific characters eyes are, how big their hands are, how the shapes of the body make up their form, how the exaggeration in the expressions feel, and when traced you know you have all of these proportions correct. This makes it so much easier to start drawing the specific character on your own if you know that you have a correct baseline (and of course you should still use reference from then on). When you study many different characters of the same style, you can start to grasp what actually makes up this style that you're studying, where -similar to point #3- you train your art brain to recognize the original artists' intentions and ideas. I would even argue that doing this is MORE IMPORTANT than using reference at the very beginning of a style study, because it makes you worry less about if you're pulling from the reference correctly and instead lets you focus on the original art by thinking through it during the process; this kind of thing is done by professionals. Although tracing can net you these benefits for studies, it is not a way to get around the rest of the learning process, which is the pitfall that normally ends up making tracing ineffective.

5: Lastly, I actually kind of lied about tracing "only being good as a learning tool." The other case where tracing gets used is within the process of making hand drawn animation, and I do mean the professional stuff. Model guides are constantly used in classic animation as reference to keep by the animator's side so that characters stay on model, but sometimes there are unnoticeable parts of a character that just get straight-up traced from either the model sheet or a different scene that's already animated. When used smartly and sparingly, this keeps the character on model, is unidentifiable to the audience, and takes up less time for the animators to work (and by "used smartly" I don't mean moments where characters blatantly have 5 seconds of reused animation). I can basically guarantee that this practice was done throughout the making of any 2D project you can think of.

In digital hand drawn art, key frames between points in an animation may get the "shift and trace" treatment, where the tween frame is just a smudged-around-version of the key frames until it looks about right, and then it get traced over. Backgrounds get traced all the time by artists in the professional field through modelling a 3D render of the space, going over it so they have the layout, and then painting on top of it. When drawing characters, people will take photos of themselves and trace the pose, then keep it to the side as reference. And this is all without even mentioning rotoscoping.

When people say, "don't trace," what they actually mean is, "don't trace as a substitute for experience."

The issue is that people blanketly state, "x thing is bad," because then people that aren't learned in the field go, "oh, okay, x thing is bad, it will always be bad, I shouldn't look into it or consider it any more, and I should correct/disgrace anyone that thinks otherwise or does x thing."

So please. Trace. Tell other people to trace. But remember: trace mindfully. :)

[handweavers]

there is a specific type of politics that i find a lot among artists of colour of my generation living in the west where we talk a lot about war and empire and racism and it's a lot of like decolonization buzzwords and talking about "embodied approaches to collaboration and knowledge production" and bringing science and ecology and historic cultural practices into our art and there is this heavy emphasis on the mutual aid instagram infographics thing and it constantly feels Iike everyone around me is dancing around an understanding that is just outside of their grasp and i think its because everyone is afraid of marxism in an explicit sense, rather than just the vague defanged "leftist" sense, which isn't a coherent ideology at all nor an actual Foundation of tools through which we can seek to understand the world. the scientific method for understanding economics is dialectical materialism, and to truly understand how capitalism and colonialism and patriarchy function you need to be willing to learn materialist analysis. like to actually understand What imperialism is and how it differs from colonialism, the actual material function(s) of capitalism and Why things are the way they are, to see with clear eyes the roles of racism and homophobia and transphobia and ableism, and to write and make art about it in the way I think many people desire to, where you are not dancing around an understanding of the realities of the world but actually biting through the meat of it, you need to understand materialism, you need to understand that imperialism is not the same thing as colonialism it is the highest stage of capitalism, and really dig into that. otherwise my peers will just keep dancing in circles and saying things that not only do not reflect reality but actively benefit the systems that harm us as well as the billions of our people who do not live in the west, and all the jargon like "we are decolonizing our mindsets with multidisciplinary ecologies" or whatever will never actually like... have the impact that is desired because it's not touching the face of reality idk how else to say it. like what are we doing here lol

[estrellogy]

Astro Notes Pt. 3

I have a lot of thoughts and observations that I want to share 😭 If you have any recommendations, please let me know as well 🤍

- People often see 7th house as their ideal partner, but YOU are meant to embrace traits of that sign for growth.

For example, a Libra rising will begin to see more personal growth after learning positive traits from Aries e.g. Being more assertive, believing in themselves instead of looking for others’ approval, putting themselves first, etc.

- This might be a controversial opinion, but I don’t think minor asteroids influence your chart. Asteroids like Bride, Groom, and other very specific ones. The interpretations for them can usually be found somewhere in your main placements already. It can make you over complicate your chart and feel even more disconnected with yourself because you don’t focus on your core energy.

Not every small detail about you has to be explained by astrology. At the end of the day, you’re a person with free will and complex experiences that shape you beyond astrology. This is just a tool, not a determiner of your life.

- Pluto in 5th house 🤝 destroying/deleting your creative works when they’re not up to your standards

- The difference between Venus/Pluto hard versus soft aspects is in their expression. They all are intense, magnetic, and obsessive to some degree. However, hard aspects have a harder time owning these traits so they tend to swing between extremes (e.g. total obsession and then indifference). The soft aspects are just as intense and can have the same toxic tendencies as the hard aspects, BUT they have an easier time accepting it as a part of them and seem more ‘stable’.

- 6th house placements are so overlooked! That’s literally the house of your health and daily life. I notice that when you work with your 6th house energy effectively, other areas of your life also improve.

It’s interesting that 6th house comes right before 7th house of relationships. In order to be in a relationship with someone else, you have to take good care of yourself first!

- Aries and Mars aspects (especially hard ones) can overpower other aspects in your chart until you learn how to master that energy and channel them into something productive

- Jupiter in 12th house used to be seen as negative. But I think Jupiter here is one of the luckiest placements to have. This is the placements of coincidences happening in their favors, things lining up in crazy ways, book falling off the shelf right at the page they need to read. Their experiences feel divine.

They are very connected to the Universe, Source, Spirit Guides, or whatever you believe in! Anyone can with practice, but these things come more naturally for them.

- Shoutout to my Virgo Venus and Capricorn Mars for being the only things that stop me from going off the rails 😍

- Saturn in 11th house often feel unloved by the people around them due to earlier experiences with rejection. Saturn is trying to teach them to unconditionally accept themselves. Also, those bad experiences teach them how to read people a lot better and spot the ones with bad intentions. The reward from Saturn will be genuine, solid, and loyal friendships/connections.

I’m so glad you guys enjoy these silly notes! I have a ton of fun making them 😭

[astrolovecosmos]

How to Get in Touch with Your North Node

Aries NN: Play more games or join more competitions. Make a list of YOUR wants and needs. Go see a movie alone or do more errands alone to exercise independence. Allow yourself to experience anger and passion. Work on healthy anger management tools and skills. Embrace change and the new. Take action more. Don't be afraid to be a little more impulsive. Make a vision board. Focus on your interests from when you were much younger.

Taurus NN: Do some spring cleaning - and even more so, throwing away. Sit or lay on the ground more. How can you enjoy or incorporate nature into your life more? Forgive yourself from times you were tricked, betrayed, or made an ignorant decision. Practice routine. Take time to disconnect from social media. Address your insecurities in a direct or even tangible way. Remember to see the beauty and strengths in yourself. Lean into resourcefulness.

Gemini NN: Try journaling. Read - read - read. Appreciate or accept your inner child, your flaws, your insecurities. If you can't be honest with a friend, partner, or family member reconsider your boundaries with them. Speak your mind more often. Be open to changing your opinions. Take technology breaks. Yet a meditation or self-care app may be useful. Explore different methods of self-expression. Speak as much as you listen and vice versa. Try something new often.

Cancer NN: Take your mental health seriously. Self-care is worth it. Cook a new recipe or learn how to cook. Practice self-awareness/introspection more often. Consider therapy or self-help books and media. Appreciating and finding strength in your soft side will be a needed challenge. Taking care of something even if it is a plant or pet can be fulfilling. Listen to your intuition. Practicing gratitude and giving can be helpful. Go where you feel safe!

Leo NN: Always schedule time for enjoyment, pleasure, hobbies, indulgence. Hike. Spoil yourself but be sure to spoil others too. Go out to more parties and events. Channel your passion and anger into productivity. Stretch and practice yoga. Do breathing exercises. Get up early more often. Make art - create something. Be open minded to romance and/or affection. Take pride in yourself and life.

Virgo NN: Practice more realism and/or humility. Take part in puzzles, riddles, and anything that uses logic or critical thinking. Tap into your society's common sense and norms that can be most helpful to you. Volunteer or take part in charities. Be part of a team somehow. Reexamine your relationship with work. Surprise someone you care about with a gift, favor, trip, etc. Recognize your talents and skills. Learn a new skill or work on improving a craft. Practice healthy eating and exercise habits!

Libra NN: Be more mindful and selective of who you befriend and date. Practicing self-love is a must. Return favors often. Spend more quality time with that person you haven't seen lately. Be open to frequent date nights, couples counseling, couple events, and double dates if you have a partner. Balance alone time with social time. Get in touch with your romantic and artistic side. Practice objectivity when you can. Don't compare yourself to others. Embrace independence but don't forget to also embrace giving and receiving in relationships.

Scorpio NN: INTROSPECTION NEEDED. Distance yourself from media or people that cause anger, frustration, or heavy sadness or doubt. Self-control is important to practice. Don't lie to yourself! Journal, maybe try a dream journal. Don't underestimate your intuition. Go out in nature. Try something new based on your hunches. Examine yours and others intentions closely. Celebrate the small wins. Get out of your head and get out of your own way. Focus on your goals. Practice and enforce self-respect.

Sagittarius NN: Don't be afraid to explore beliefs and ideals that are very different from yours. Practice independence. Take a few more risks. Give yourself a pep talk. Try power poses. Stick to your morals and your gut. Be honest. Look at the big picture more often. Knowledge is power should be your motto. Learn something new. Speak confidently. Practice authenticity. Try to be present. Make a plan to accomplish small goals and eventually move onto larger goals.

Capricorn NN: Speak up more in meetings! Try going for that promotion or position. Understand the power and importance of money and materialism. Practice self-control and self-discipline. Be more patient. Study or look into history, economics, investments, politics, or business. Work on your boundaries actively. Practice decisiveness when you can. Put yourself first responsibly. Question authority often. Make moves that are more thoughtful or strategic. Pay attention to who supports you and who doesn't. Avoid rushing. Work on trusting yourself.

Aquarius NN: Understand and accept other's intentions. Let go of unhealthy attachments. Practice independence often. Explore themes of rebellion and empowerment. Practice cooperation. Don't resist change. Materialism is not your friend. Try to find what inspires you and be around it often. Cultivating healthy friendships is important. Explore unconventional ideas. Face the unknown when you can. Look at the big picture. Laugh when you can. Practice more tolerance.

Pisces NN: Tapping into your beliefs and exploring spirituality or religion is a major theme. Embrace sensitivity, empathy, and kindness. Give when you can. Don't just relate to others - see yourself in them. Find beauty in yours and others' flaws. Take the scenic route. Practice self-reflection. Practice flexibility and leave behind energy-draining goals or pursuits that don't offer personal fulfillment. Idealism and positive thinking can be helpful at times. Honestly... get lost in yourself or even another sometimes, just remember to come back up to the surface.

[ihyaasociety]

Very urgent call 💔

At a time when opportunities have decreased and challenges have increased, our youth humanitarian initiative has come to be a new ray of hope in the heart of Gaza. The initiative aims to empower young people and women through practical training and providing a safe space for creativity, work and production, but the beginning of this dream faces a big obstacle: we urgently need only $2,000 to start implementation.

We had prepared everything to start tomorrow – the place, the plan, the team, and the programs but we had to postpone the launch until Monday due to a financial deficit that we did not expect. The owner of the place understands the situation and gives us one last chance to complete the arrangements. These few days are the last chance to save this initiative from a long postponement and possibly cancellation.

Where will your donations go?

• Securing the first rental payment for the place.

• Preparation of basic materials and tools for programs.

• Covering the costs of primary logistics (electricity, water, simple equipment).

What will your donations achieve?

• The dream will save dozens of young people from loss.

• You will create a production and training space in an environment that lacks opportunities.

• Hope will be sown at a time when we desperately need it.

Contribute any amount – one dollar that may change lives, and your sharing of this message may convey to the person who makes the difference.

For inquiries or support in other ways: [ihyaa.foundation725@gmail.com]

#Gaza_gets up

#Support_the_initiative

#Hope_opportun

[ivi-prism]

I am still so passionately and genuinly baffled and annoyed by the Minecraft Movie.

Yes I have played Minecraft since 2011 and love the game and what I can see from the trailers it looks like an adaptation that I cannot see myself enjoying

But above that. It is infuriating to see yet again a movie that clearly displays the movie industry's worst practices regarding animation.

A Minecraft Movie is an animated movie. It is not Live Action just because it features human actors and it is stylized to accomplish a hyperrealistic look. To achieve its visual identity it is solely dependent on computer-generated images. A team of humans has to use their technical knowledge in design and animation to create this world while using digital tools. This movie is dependent on artist. This movie depends on animation to exist.

Perhaps not the same set of abilities and requirements needed to produce a 2d animated movie or a 3d animated movie or a stop motion animated movie. Each technique is vastly different. But it still demands a team of animators and a team of VFX artists.

Animators and artists that are being exploited by big studios. Studios that refuse to allocate money to other departments because is cheaper to underpay this artist that have to work in bad conditions and are being rushed to finish a movie to jump to the next one.

It is cheaper for studios to decide that all animated movies should be Hyperrealistic CGI because you can exploit these houses to make “Live-action” movies and also go and use their services for every other blockbuster movie. Like that, there is no need to deal with the pesky 2d animators demanding fair pay and their union. That way there is no need to pay those animators looking to make mixed-technique animated movies. Why would studios waste their money paying studios worth of artists with different focuses and technical abilities if they can strip it all down to all be Hyperrealistic CGI done by the three same underpaid and overworked CGI and VFX studios? They make money do they not? Why stop? It is simply good business for Hollywood to stamp out variety and risk from the products they create. It is cheaper to destroy the livelihood of thousands to focus on exploiting a few that can "make the work of all the other thousand people they fired" I am salty yes. A Minecraft Movie does not appeal to me visually, doubt it will have a story that interests me, it doesn't follow Minecraft lore, and as a fan of the game, I just think there were many other ways to do it better. But above all, it angers me because it is the latest installment that showcases how devoided of care and respect the industry is for the artists it needs to survive.

[isetfiretomyself]

Yandere Male Model X Photographer Reader G/N

Trigger warnings! Implications of an unhealthy relationship with fame, stalking, Jealous behaviour, drugging, This is all fictional I do not condone toxic behaviour irl!!!

📸 Yandere Model who's been doing this since he was a child. (That definitely benefited his mental health)

📸 He's been used as a tool, a product but he craves it. He needs to feel admired, he wants people to envy him!

📸 Yandere Model who was booked for another magazine cover, obviously. But you're there! Huh? You're not the normal guy...

📸 Yandere Model who doesn't like you're vibe! You're too bubbly and... kinda cute.

📸 Yandere Model who's used to being asked to take his shirt off or show his muscles but you just asked him to just smile. Blah blah something about joy or whatever.

📸 It was when you'd look away from your camera to look him in the eyes. He's never had someone double check on him.

📸 Yandere Model was a little embarrassed by his feelings he had about you. He just rushed off set after the shoot to avoid making eye contact with you.

📸 Yandere Model who looked into your portfolio and it's all cuties!

📸 Yandere Model booked you again for his social media. He wanted some one on one time with you. Understand you, surly there's something up with you!

📸 Yandere Model was bright red by the end of it! He couldn't tell if he was flustered or angry! You were so considerate!

"Felix?" You call out. Yandere model snaps out of his gaze. "I'm paying attention!" He almost says automatically. You giggled "right well then what do you want?" "Huh?" You laughed some more, you explained again that you were going to a coffee shop for a break and if he wants anything. He just turns his head embarrassed mumbling his "no thank you."

📸In your eyes Yandere Model was adorable! A hot guy who acted shy around you? He was a total dream boat (⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧

📸 Yandere Model followed you home after the photoshoot. For someone who takes photos of such high class people you're homes totally not it.

📸 Yandere Model who just so happens to bump into you when you do your shopping! What a coincidence!?

📸 Yandere Model insists you to let him carry your shopping home. These muscles aren't just for show!

📸 Yandere Model who acted humble when you asked him to come in for some tea. (He definitely planned this)

📸 When you weren't looking he stole a pen from you. He felt his heart thump in his chest, last time he felt this way was when he lost his last pageant as a child.

📸 Yandere Model who was part of a group photoshoot. And you're one of the photographers!? He's practically floating.

It was for a clothing brand with tuns of different styles. Including the whole cuties aesthetic, which was why you were hired. Yandere Model was in more of a dark academic style, they put the two models together to show the brands range. Watching you take photos of another start to get to him.

📸 Yandere Model saw the way you looked at this model. He felt the anger rise in him. He didn't want you to look at people like that!

📸 Yandere Model was sitting on stairs with the other models getting photos taken of them. He wanted nothing more then to shove them down those damn stairs but there's so many cameras he'd get caught for sure. So he did the next best thing!

📸 Yandere Model had sleeping pills, he was so paranoid about getting eye bags that he wasn't going to take any chances. So he put some in the others models drink! Then they'd get sleepy and look so ugly!

Eventually the sirens from the ambulances went away and the last of the models had been questioned and they were allowed to go. Okay so how was he supposed to know it would clash with other medications!?

📸 Yandere model walked over to you.

"Hey? (Reader)? You good?" You weren't responding. You watched the colour drain from this model before he just collapsed.

"Hey. Let me take care of you, okay?"

[theliteraryarchitect]

Hi, this is a really specific situation, but I'm at a loss. I had an accident that left me with lasting brain issues, and my writing has taken a hit. I went from being able to churn out a 3k word chapter in a day to needing an hour to write 50 words. I have so many ideas but can't express them, and I hate writing as a result. I know practice and just pushing through are going to be the main pieces of advice, but do you have any other suggestions or resources for someone who is having to re-learn how to be a writer?

Hey there! First off, I’m so sorry this response took me so long. Your Ask really stuck with me, and I wanted to give it the thought and care it deserves.

I can’t imagine how frustrating and heartbreaking it must be to go through such a big shift in your writing process. Losing that ease and flow—especially when you have so many ideas—is a huge adjustment. It’s a testament to your creativity and drive that you’re still thinking about how to keep writing despite the challenges.

You’re absolutely right that practice and pushing through are often the go-to advice, but I think it’s equally important to give yourself permission to grieve what’s changed. Writing can feel like such a core part of who we are, and when it’s harder than it used to be, it’s natural to feel a sense of loss.

Here are a few suggestions that might help as you navigate this:

1. Try Different Mediums: If typing feels like slogging through mud, maybe experiment with dictation software or voice-to-text tools. Speaking your ideas aloud could help you capture more words without the same strain.

2. Focus on Smaller Goals: Instead of trying to write full chapters, set tiny, manageable goals—like jotting down a single image or one sentence that excites you. Those little wins can add up and feel more achievable.

3. Explore New Ways of Outlining: If you’re struggling to get the words out, focus on the ideas instead. Create bullet points, mind maps, or even doodles to capture the essence of your story without the pressure of fully fleshed-out prose.

4. Be Kind to Yourself: This is the hardest one, but it’s so important. Writing isn’t just about the final product; it’s about the joy of creating. Even if the words come slower, every step you take is progress.

And don't forget to give yourself a ton of credit! Re-learning how to write in a way that works for you now is an incredible act of resilience. You’re still a writer, and your stories are still worth telling, even if the path looks different.

Hope this helps!

Bucket

/ / / / / / / / / / /

@theliteraryarchitect is a writing advice blog run by me, Bucket Siler, a writer and developmental editor. For more writing help, download my Free Resource Library for Fiction Writers, join my email list, or check out my book The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Fiction Writers.

[dragonnarrative-writes]

Generative AI Is Bad For Your Creative Brain

In the wake of early announcing that their blog will no longer be posting fanfiction, I wanted to offer a different perspective than the ones I’ve been seeing in the argument against the use of AI in fandom spaces. Often, I’m seeing the arguments that the use of generative AI or Large Language Models (LLMs) make creative expression more accessible. Certainly, putting a prompt into a chat box and refining the output as desired is faster than writing a 5000 word fanfiction or learning to draw digitally or traditionally. But I would argue that the use of chat bots and generative AI actually limits - and ultimately reduces - one’s ability to enjoy creativity.

Creativity, defined by the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus, is the ability to produce or use original and unusual ideas. By definition, the use of generative AI discourages the brain from engaging with thoughts creatively. ChatGPT, character bots, and other generative AI products have to be trained on already existing text. In order to produce something “usable,” LLMs analyzes patterns within text to organize information into what the computer has been trained to identify as “desirable” outputs. These outputs are not always accurate due to the fact that computers don’t “think” the way that human brains do. They don’t create. They take the most common and refined data points and combine them according to predetermined templates to assemble a product. In the case of chat bots that are fed writing samples from authors, the product is not original - it’s a mishmash of the writings that were fed into the system.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a therapy modality developed by Marsha M. Linehan based on the understanding that growth comes when we accept that we are doing our best and we can work to better ourselves further. Within this modality, a few core concepts are explored, but for this argument I want to focus on Mindfulness and Emotion Regulation. Mindfulness, put simply, is awareness of the information our senses are telling us about the present moment. Emotion regulation is our ability to identify, understand, validate, and control our reaction to the emotions that result from changes in our environment. One of the skills taught within emotion regulation is Building Mastery - putting forth effort into an activity or skill in order to experience the pleasure that comes with seeing the fruits of your labor. These are by no means the only mechanisms of growth or skill development, however, I believe that mindfulness, emotion regulation, and building mastery are a large part of the core of creativity. When someone uses generative AI to imitate fanfiction, roleplay, fanart, etc., the core experience of creative expression is undermined.

Creating engages the body. As a writer who uses pen and paper as well as word processors while drafting, I had to learn how my body best engages with my process. The ideal pen and paper, the fact that I need glasses to work on my computer, the height of the table all factor into how I create. I don’t use audio recordings or transcriptions because that’s not a skill I’ve cultivated, but other authors use those tools as a way to assist their creative process. I can’t speak with any authority to the experience of visual artists, but my understanding is that the feedback and feel of their physical tools, the programs they use, and many other factors are not just part of how they learned their craft, they are essential to their art.

Generative AI invites users to bypass mindfully engaging with the physical act of creating. Part of becoming a person who creates from the vision in one’s head is the physical act of practicing. How did I learn to write? By sitting down and making myself write, over and over, word after word. I had to learn the rhythms of my body, and to listen when pain tells me to stop. I do not consider myself a visual artist - I have not put in the hours to learn to consistently combine line and color and form to show the world the idea in my head.

But I could.

Learning a new skill is possible. But one must be able to regulate one’s unpleasant emotions to be able to get there. The emotion that gets in the way of most people starting their creative journey is anxiety. Instead of a focus on “fear,” I like to define this emotion as “unpleasant anticipation.” In Atlas of the Heart, Brene Brown identifies anxiety as both a trait (a long term characteristic) and a state (a temporary condition). That is, we can be naturally predisposed to be impacted by anxiety, and experience unpleasant anticipation in response to an event. And the action drive associated with anxiety is to avoid the unpleasant stimulus.

Starting a new project, developing a new skill, and leaning into a creative endevor can inspire and cause people to react to anxiety. There is an unpleasant anticipation of things not turning out exactly correctly, of being judged negatively, of being unnoticed or even ignored. There is a lot less anxiety to be had in submitting a prompt to a machine than to look at a blank page and possibly make what could be a mistake. Unfortunately, the more something is avoided, the more anxiety is generated when it comes up again. Using generative AI doesn’t encourage starting a new project and learning a new skill - in fact, it makes the prospect more distressing to the mind, and encourages further avoidance of developing a personal creative process.

One of the best ways to reduce anxiety about a task, according to DBT, is for a person to do that task. Opposite action is a method of reducing the intensity of an emotion by going against its action urge. The action urge of anxiety is to avoid, and so opposite action encourages someone to approach the thing they are anxious about. This doesn’t mean that everyone who has anxiety about creating should make themselves write a 50k word fanfiction as their first project. But in order to reduce anxiety about dealing with a blank page, one must face and engage with a blank page. Even a single sentence fragment, two lines intersecting, an unintentional drop of ink means the page is no longer blank. If those are still difficult to approach a prompt, tutorial, or guided exercise can be used to reinforce the understanding that a blank page can be changed, slowly but surely by your own hand.

(As an aside, I would discourage the use of AI prompt generators - these often use prompts that were already created by a real person without credit. Prompt blogs and posts exist right here on tumblr, as well as imagines and headcannons that people often label “free to a good home.” These prompts can also often be specific to fandom, style, mood, etc., if you’re looking for something specific.)

In the current social media and content consumption culture, it’s easy to feel like the first attempt should be a perfect final product. But creating isn’t just about the final product. It’s about the process. Bo Burnam’s Inside is phenomenal, but I think the outtakes are just as important. We didn’t get That Funny Feeling and How the World Works and All Eyes on Me because Bo Burnham woke up and decided to write songs in the same day. We got them because he’s been been developing and honing his craft, as well as learning about himself as a person and artist, since he was a teenager. Building mastery in any skill takes time, and it’s often slow.

Slow is an important word, when it comes to creating. The fact that skill takes time to develop and a final piece of art takes time regardless of skill is it’s own source of anxiety. Compared to @sentientcave, who writes about 2k words per day, I’m very slow. And for all the time it takes me, my writing isn’t perfect - I find typos after posting and sometimes my phrasing is awkward. But my writing is better than it was, and my confidence is much higher. I can sit and write for longer and longer periods, my projects are more diverse, I’m sharing them with people, even before the final edits are done. And I only learned how to do this because I took the time to push through the discomfort of not being as fast or as skilled as I want to be in order to learn what works for me and what doesn’t.

Building mastery - getting better at a skill over time so that you can see your own progress - isn’t just about getting better. It’s about feeling better about your abilities. Confidence, excitement, and pride are important emotions to associate with our own actions. It teaches us that we are capable of making ourselves feel better by engaging with our creativity, a confidence that can be generalized to other activities.

Generative AI doesn’t encourage its users to try new things, to make mistakes, and to see what works. It doesn’t reward new accomplishments to encourage the building of new skills by connecting to old ones. The reward centers of the brain have nothing to respond to to associate with the action of the user. There is a short term input-reward pathway, but it’s only associated with using the AI prompter. It’s designed to encourage the user to come back over and over again, not develop the skill to think and create for themselves.

I don’t know that anyone will change their minds after reading this. It’s imperfect, and I’ve summarized concepts that can take months or years to learn. But I can say that I learned something from the process of writing it. I see some of the flaws, and I can see how my essay writing has changed over the years. This might have been faster to plug into AI as a prompt, but I can see how much more confidence I have in my own voice and opinions. And that’s not something chatGPT can ever replicate.

[do-you-have-a-flag]

i'm just gonna call it that we need to practice mindful tech usage and security and i don't mean screentime tracking apps and vpns or whatever i mean starting from early childhood and going into adult wellbeing culture to encourage tactile hobbies and long-form work and the understanding of online devices as commodifying the user with spyware

i'm talking throwback word processors with the same ergonomics as regular smart devices for general educational work and dedicated subjects for working with digital technologies so you have theory in practice and then applying that theory in a contemporary work context. that's where you learn applications, digital safety, and how to implement the generative tools. separately. once you've already developed the critical analysis and expressive skills first.

i have been basically addicted to the internet since i was 13, i've had ups and downs with it, but i've always had a little bit of over caution when it comes to information and identity online. i overshare what i chose to but i think the break down of privacy as a norm when it comes to personal data tracking is genuinely awful.

i like algorithms in some places but i do not think this super-customisation is worth this panopticon of tech.

have you heard about how phone locations can still be triangulated when the phone is off? this is incidentally why if you are gong to protests and you think you are in danger it might be best to leave it at home. but generally if you want to avoid audio and video being used to build a marketing profile you can just switch it off and pop it in a bag or the next room. but with fb trying to make voice command smart glasses a thing (after snapchat and google both failed to sustain the same product) it bears caution that so called wearable tech such as glasses, pendants, watches, earbuds, ect.... even outside of smart cars there's the risk of passive listening for user marketing profiles. we already have location based advertising, ads that track your useage to predict your menstrual cycle or life events, public ads that react to nearby phones

i am going off on this tangent to say that i am not naïve to the fact that we already have to constantly dig into 'dark patterns' of settings to opt out of surveillance and commodification. i'm aware that the easiest path is to do nothing and use the shortcut machines even when they don't actually help or save much time or effort beyond selling you tools that already exist with a new price tag. i'm aware that the plagiarism software with no idea what it's talking about and runs on resource wasting pollution and underpaid remote human labour that also gets slapped in every function role despite basically being fancy autofil and pixel pulp not only has all of those issues but the lay person is either unaware or does not care and companies only care that it is a new way to pretend they're innovating. i know all this just like i know that mass automation is just exploitation unless it is balanced with social structures for all that mean emancipation from the need for labour.

but while i think all tech can be used for good, facilitating human connection across physical distance, carefully trained data analysis on a rapid large scale, removing the tedium of technical drudgery where needed, just providing light entertainment. but we have gotta be better about legislating, moderating, and use culture.

use culture goes hand in hand with convenience. it's why vinyl records are still trendy, not only are they good at what they do, but there is enough cool factor that the inconvenience becomes a feature. CDs are also convenient still! but CDs do not have the cool factor so they get wiped out by the convenience of streaming. playlists in streaming have a cool factor that radio does not despite radio still being convenient. and remember no matter how much streaming claims you can pay to opt out of ads that's usually something that you get payment tiered out of eventually so the convenience facilitated by accessibility is debatable the longer time passes.

looping back to my original point, if we can encourage an understanding of digital privacy as something you shouldn't be complacent about, that you shouldn't have to pay for tools to get out of the spotlight, that it is immensely embarrassing to be too into exploitation by tech companies and make that the problem of everyone around you. user control should be synonymous with convenience. customisability/personalisation through individual control rather than passive scraping. you can still commodify decorative tech.

we gotta make slop and babying algorithm brained tech usage cringe. people don't care to hear that it's immoral so just make them feel uncool at this point. because it is embarrassing that you have the universe of resources at your fingertips and you're too scared to do anything with it other than beg it to put words in your mouth. who cares if you're chronically online or too busy irl to learn a new skill. you are like a little bird pecking at it's own reflection, that's sad. try saying something mediocre and honest. we gotta stop tap dancing into technofeudalism just because we're too complacent to actually talk to each-other.

[corvusblackk]

choose an image, get a message on what you need to know right now

1. 2. 3.

These messages are noted over imagery shuffling on pinterest because I wanted to try something new. I love divination in any way so I’d love to start experimenting with different ways and tools to practice it, so here I am!

so, it is important for me if you tell me if it works and it resonated with you, because I also used my intuition, I’m still learning.

thank you! 🦉

———————————————————————

Pile 1:

I want to remind you that finding a hobby and diving deeper into studying the laws of the universe will pay off in ways you can’t fully comprehend yet, your future self will thank you for it because the more you explore and learn the more you’ll grow into the person you’re meant to be (aka who you WANT to be).

the universe encourages you to start believing in people again despite everything you’ve been through, people can surprise you and there’s still good in the world, even if it’s hard to see sometimes, just trust the process and rebuild your faith even if it’s slowly step by step.

finally focus on building consistency while still having fun, because life isn’t just about the grind, it’s about enjoying the journey, learning, and embracing who you’re becoming, so shift your identity to align with your dreams and remember that it’s okay to evolve along the way.

if you care about what you do, keep doing it.

some other short and specific messages for a few of you who will know:

do you have a cat? I see lots of related imagery, so take care and give all of your love to them (this goes for other pets too though!)

feeling like a bird in a cage? know that it’s open, you’re just blinded by your limiting beliefs, so work on that “why are you still here? fly away now”.

are you in a band or want to be a musician? (maybe you play electric guitar, bass or piano) you’re definitely on the right path but you have to practice more and be truly dedicated to it.

———————————————————————

Pile 2:

it’s time to start focusing on finding your ideal daily routine, I know some of you hate those organising tasks BUT trust, find one that works specifically for you, cause it’s not about following someone elses blueprint but about discovering what helps you feel energized, productive and at peace, so experiment with different habits until you find your flow and remember that it’s all about consistency.

also, it’s important to work on socializing more, especially with people who can support and uplift you, some of you shouldn’t shy away from building healthier relationships with men (even tho I understand). sometimes healing and growth take time but your mindset will make all the difference.

believe in the impossible/unrealistic because you truly can achieve anything if you put in the discipline, trust that your efforts will lead you to places you never imagined, and never doubt your ability to create the life you want.

some other short and specific messages for a few of you who will know:

are you struggling with intrusive thoughts? I see you waking up in the morning with your cup of tea/coffee and getting flooded already with those, and this is your reminder that those are just thoughts and they’re not you, you’re not them

some of you really want to travel the world, I see you, and you should never decline this dream, take your stuff and go, find some friends who want to go along the way with you if you want but alone is so valid (just be safe please)

some of you I sense that are overachieving or have great dreams but feel in a slump from time to time, just remember why you started, oh and you’re so smart I promise you

———————————————————————

Pile 3:

I want you to remember that the only opinion that truly matters is your own so don’t waste energy worrying about what others think of you, “there’s no audience to perform for, just you” so focus on your own journey and growth.

take time to work on your wisdom, dive into spiritual books, explore new ideas and build a stronger soul, cause the more you nourish your inner self the more resilient and centered you’ll become.

NEVER settle for less than what you deserve, it’s all destined to happen if you truly choose it, so trust your choices, stay aligned with your vision, and believe that the best is yet to come.

some other short and specific messages for a few of you who will know:

you should give witchcraft a try (if you already practice then go on, make a spell!), learn deeply about protection first thing and then study the rest, and use it to reach your goals (this is a big topic so I won’t focus on it on this post, but I might make a series if any of you is interested, just let me know)

do you have libra placements? (specifically in your moon?) this reading was for you, I sense your beauty and desires to build your life from here lol, you have my respect

sometimes you forget about how EASY and SIMPLE manifestation/shifting is, so I’m here to remind you: 1. decide 2. done

[akaiitoru]

Musings on a skin loving Boothill ~

Yeah, bath thoughts. They kept coming and I was like aaaaa write them down. cws: nsfw suggestions, nothing explicit, mentions boobs but could easily be pecks, Boothill's dodgy and excessively charming use of language, he feels.

Boothill who has become increasingly attracted to and fascinated by skin and flesh since he's become a cyborg, his own replaced with flexible but firm metal plating. Initially, he shrugged it off, the fleeting moments of interest he found himself having when encountered with some bare skin, his eyes lingering a touch longer than usual. He ain't got no muddle-fudgin' time for pond'rin that hodgepodge. But now he has you, a sweet thing he likes a bit too much, and who seems suspiciously receptive to his weird affections. So butter my fudge 'n' call me a biscuit he might as well indulge a little hm?

Freckles and moles ~ whenever they're visible, wherever, he finds himself a touch distracted. It's usually if you're relaxed together somewhere, on the bed, the couch, which isn't extremely often so it just increases the intensity of it. He'll run the smooth metal pads of his fingertips over the small darkened speckles of skin, bullseye pupil following the movements with a strange sort of determined affection. He doesn't have these, anymore, other than the ones on his cheek, and they're all the more beautiful to him because of it, small dots of cuteness. If he was some sappy forker like Argenti he would probably make some simile about the stars...or somethin' like that.

(addition, he'll get all blushy and awkward when you notice his fascination and you make a gentle comment about the small nicks and scratches on his metal being his freckles, and that you love tracing those too. He sees them in a whole new light when he takes a glance in the mirror, catching a curl on his lips before shaking his head and moving on. He's a tough guy you hear?)

The way it bends and curves around clothing, his fingers, anything ~ like I said his metal is flexible enough for him to move almost like normal. Enough to pull those way-too-attractive and very unnecessary poses as he shoots, or threatens to. But it doesn't act the same. It doesn't squish slightly under tighter clothing, making the skin puff ever so slightly either side of whatevers obstructing it's usual gorgeous curve. It doesn't leave indents afterwards either. And he loves the way yours does that, his metallic fingers twitching slightly with the urge to squish it himself.

(addition because HEHE ~ I like to think he's a boobs and an ass guy, well he's an all of you guy, tbh, but: he likes boobs the most, or tends to them, because they're in front when he's talking or doing other very fun things, and he can see the way they squish and bulge under his fingers easier.)

Spreading moisturiser onto you ~ okay, so he loves the way it squishes and moves under his touch. That naturally shifts to when he sees you spreading cream or any products you use on your skin, especially your body other than your face. He wants to watch the skin move subtly under his direct movements, the cream making his metal slightly slick and slide softly against you. It's so intimate, and often he's not even thinking about the sexual implications that could be applied here, just enjoying not only the feel and sight of your skin, but helping you do something, tending to you and your body which he adores.

Saying that, I think his perception of bodies might have shifted too. The man decided to change his own, seeing his body as a tool. And while it is deep rooted in survivors guilt and vengeance, I think it would have likely rubbed off on his perceptions of bodies in general. Now I don't think he'd view yours as a tool the way he does his, no. Quite the opposite perhaps. He sees it as almost a vessel for you, a 'temple' but in a practical sense. It's the thing that keeps you here, represents you, enables you. Therefore it must be looked after, treated with upmost care and respect, like a well used and well cared for piece of equipment, which it essentially is. But also not in a dainty goddess type of way, I feel. He's a strong man, a hardened one, taught respect for life and the strength and beauty of life, and taking it, from a young age. And he knows how quickly it can be taken away. So he sees your body that way, too, as strong, capable, but less so than his ol' metal one. Cute :3

Biting ~ okay back to the stuff that doesn't make me feel like crying - he likes to nom on your skin. The feel of it bending underneath his sharpened teeth, the act itself just being so him and cheeky. He won't hurt you, unless it's an accident or you ask him to, though he might need some convincing. But he just likes nibbling you like a puppy with their baby needle teeth. Is he teething permanently? Maybe. You don't mind.

Falling asleep on you and then tracing the faint imprints left by his plates ~ that's the point. He'll wake up all sleepy, you still tucked underneath him, and shift slightly, moving his arm or middle that was rested cosily onto you, the plates now warmed from your body heat, and notice the faint lines across your skin that the indents of his metal pieces left. There is a small cheeky flash of hehe-i-made-those in his little sleepy grin as he'll trace them with his fingers, trying not to wake you up.

Ultimately - the way your skin moves, the imperfections across it, the way it feels, they remind him you're alive. Something he felt he parted with a long time ago. And fudge me sideways he'd rather keep it that way.