#Advanced Visual Recognition

[mitsde123]

Digital Marketing with AI: Revolutionizing the Industry

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming digital marketing. It’s bringing new ways to understand customers, work smarter, and create more personal experiences. AI is becoming a must-have tool for businesses looking to connect better with their audience. Here’s an exploration of how AI is reshaping digital marketing.

[zaczenemiji]

Could I request a Kenji x Reader where the reader is an Ailen who is very much stranded on Earth and on The run from the KDF who wants access to their tech

Among the Stars I

Kenji Sato x Alien!Reader

Word Count: 1,766

Genre/Warning: Falling in Love, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn

Author’s Note: To me, reader is an alien in the sense that she is a foreigner to this planet; how she looks is up to you. Takes place after Emi. AND I THINK AOSHIMA DESERVES RECOGNITION LIKE 🫢 AIN’T HE HOT TOO?????

MASTERLIST

The stars twinkled in the dark expanse of space as you navigated through the cosmos. This wasn’t the first time you traversed through the void. In fact, you were a professional at this.

Being one of the respected astrophysicists of your planet, you have always been one sent on space voyages. Your mission was simple, something you were good at, so what could possibly go wrong?

At least that’s what you thought a few moments ago.

"Engine malfunction detected. Immediate landing required.”

As if the flashing red lights and blaring alarms weren’t enough, the onboard AI wouldn’t shut up either, all of them adding up to the panic in your already pounding heart.

“Engine failure. Emergency landing procedure initiated.”

Your struggle to regain control was hopeless. Assessing your options, Earth was the nearest habitable planet. With no time to spare, you steered the spacecraft towards the blue planet.

The descent was turbulent, flames licking at the hull as the spacecraft entered Earth's atmosphere. You gritted your teeth, fighting to maintain the little control you had left.

Scanning the residential area that stretched beneath, you spotted a forested area and made a split-second decision. With expert precision, your maneuver slowed down the descent just enough to avoid a catastrophic impact.

The spacecraft touched down with a jolt, skidding through the underbrush before coming to a stop. Smoke billowed from the damaged engines and you knew you needed to secure the craft first.

Despite the damage, the emergency propulsion system still had enough power for short-distance travel. With steady hands, you activated the system again, guiding the spacecraft toward a nearby body of water.

The craft hovered momentarily above with a soft hum. Carefully pushing the controls, you maneuvered it into a controlled descent where it submerged beneath the water, disappearing from view.

In the control room of the Kaiju Defense Force, monitors flickered with data streams from satellite scans displaying Japan’s airspace and terrestrial activity.

"Report," Aoshima commanded.

"Sir, we've detected a significant impact in sector 7G. Satellite images indicate a disturbance in the forested area, consistent with an object of considerable mass landing."

Aoshima scrutinized the images, noting the telltale signs of a recent crash landing, “Any signs of the object itself?"

"Negative visual confirmation, sir. The object appears to have made impact and then moved into concealment."

"Prepare a recon team," Aoshima ordered crisply. "I want a full scan of the area. Notify all units in the vicinity to be on alert."

Aoshima contemplated the implications. For years, KDF had struggled against the relentless onslaught of kaiju attacks under Dr. Onda. His last will was for the survival of KDF.

Aoshima shared Dr. Onda’s vision and if this alien technology held the key to turning the tide in humanity's favor, they couldn't afford to hesitate.

Meanwhile, having just emerged from the submerged spacecraft, you cautiously explored the area. Your advanced sensors warned you of Earth's surveillance systems, but you had hoped to remain undetected.

Your hope, however, was short-lived as the sound of whirring and a shadow passing overhead alerted you to the arrival of drones. Quickly, you dashed into the forest, heart pounding as you navigated the unfamiliar terrain.

Above you, the drones buzzed in pursuit, their sensors tracking your every move. Their operators relayed your position to ground units, who quickly mobilized to intercept.

You emerged onto the outskirts of a bustling city. Buildings towered overhead and streets were crowded with unsuspecting pedestrians. You had to blend in to evade capture.

Tokyo has always been bustling with a sea of people moving with purpose. Among them was Kenji and today, his life would take a turn he could never have predicted.

He was jogging through a quieter part of the city when suddenly, a force collided with him, nearly knocking him off balance. Looking down, he saw a woman his age, face partially obscured by a hooded cloak.

You looked up at him, eyes wide with fear. "I'm sorry," you gasped, glancing over your shoulder. "I... I need to go."

Before Kenji could respond, you tried to bolt, but he gently grabbed your arm. "Hey, what's going on?” He asked, genuinely concerned. “You look terrified."

You hesitated, clearly torn between fear and the need for help. Before you could decide, KDF agents appeared at the end of the street.

“Surrender peacefully, and we won't harm you," one of them demanded sternly.

"No," you replied, a slight determination in your trembling voice.

Kenji’s instincts flared. To him, KDF has been nothing but trouble. So without a word, he pulled you behind him, putting himself between you and the agents.

They slowed, eyes narrowing at Kenji. "This is official business," the leader said, his voice cold. "Step aside."

Kenji ignored the command, gripping your hand tighter. "Run," he whispered urgently, before leading you in a sprint away from KDF.

The two of you took off with Kenji guiding you through a series of narrow alleyways and bustling streets.

"Over here," he whispered, pulling you into a side street. You dodged through a market, running between stalls and startled shoppers. The KDF was temporarily delayed by the crowd, buying you precious seconds.

Kenji's heart pounded, both from the exertion and the adrenaline. "Keep your hood up," he urged you. "We can't let them see your face."

You continued running, the sound of pursuit growing fainter. Kenji led you through a maze of side streets, finally emerging onto a quieter residential road.

"Almost there," he panted, squeezing your hand reassuringly.

Finally, you reached a house guarded by a big gate on the outskirts of the city. Kenji quickly unlocked the gate and ushered you towards the house.

Inside, Kenji guided you to the living room, where you sank onto the couch, hood falling back and revealing your face.

“Mina, emergency analysis,” he said as a spherical robot hovered towards you, red light scanning your body.

"Scan complete," Mina announced. "Subject is experiencing elevated stress levels and minor physical exhaustion. No immediate threats and no tracking devices detected.”

"Thank you," you said, voice filled with gratitude and lingering fear.

Kenji nodded, breathing heavily. "Are you okay?"

You nodded, her gaze lingering on him with a mix of surprise and curiosity, “I didn't expect anyone to help."

"I'm Kenji," he introduced himself, extending a hand.

You hesitated briefly before shaking his hand, "I'm (y/n)."

"You can catch your breath here,” Kenji said, standing up. “I'll get us some water." He returned with two glasses of water; you accepted one gratefully.

"Why were those guys after you?" Kenji asked, his curiosity piqued.

"I'm not from Earth. I'm…” you hesitated but you owed him an explanation and also to save you from the trouble of pretending. “…an alien."

"An alien?” He blinked in surprise. “But you look human."

"Alien in the sense that I'm from a distant planet," you explained softly. "I crash-landed here not long ago.”

You told him everything—your mission, how you ended up being chased by what he referred to as the Kaiju Defense Force, and your spacecraft.

“I would like to ask another favor if it’s not too much,” you said with hesitation; Kenji helping you escape and sheltering you was already more than enough. “I need you to help me find Ultraman.”

You knew about Ultraman and his origin. You’ve been sent to Nebula M78 a couple of times already. If there’s someone who could help you get back to your planet, it’s him.

“Ultraman?” Kenji's eyes widened. “Why?"

“I know of him,” you said. "He might be the only one who can help me.”

Kenji took a deep breath, realizing he couldn't keep his secret any longer. "Well, there’s something you should know,” he said.

“What is it?” You asked, confused.

He looked straight into your eyes, his face set with resolve, “I'm Ultraman."

The room fell silent. "You're...” your eyes widened. “Ultraman?"

Kenji nodded, “Yes, and I’m not supposed to tell anyone but if helping you means revealing it, then so be it."

Your eyes teared up with joy. Just when you thought that this day was full of bad luck, here came your silver lining—a stunning man one at that.

Kenji asked you about the whereabouts of your spacecraft so he, in his Ultraman form, can bring it here in no time. His house had a basement submerged underwater which provided an easy way to bring it over.

His dad, the previous Ultra, happened to live with him. Kenji explained the situation and his dad, an expert in this field, generously offered to help.

Hayao circled the craft, examining it closely. "Impressive design," he muttered, running his hands over the hull. "But clearly, it's been through a lot."

"I think it’s the power core," you explained. "It was heavily depleted during the crash, and I can't get the ship operational again."

"I see. A power core like this...” Hayao nodded thoughtfully. “…it's incredibly advanced. Recharging it with Earth's technology would be almost impossible."

"So, there's no way to fix it?" You looked at him, worried and on the brink of tears.

"Not exactly,” he smiled reassuringly. “While we can't recharge it with conventional means, there might be another way. We need an alternative energy source—something with immense power."

"What about the energy that powers Ultraman?” Kenji stepped forward. “Could it work?"

Hayao considered this, nodding slowly. "It's possible,” he said. “Ultraman's energy is vast and unique. We might be able to transfer some of it to the power core."

Your eyes lit up with hope, “Do you think it could really work?" Hayao placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder, "It's worth a try.”

He explained that he would first need to create an energy transfer device. But with the resources here on Earth, it’s a trial and error to see which would be compatible with your spacecraft. Needless to say, it would take a lot longer before you could go back home.

Kenji led you down a hallway to a cozy guest room. He opened the door, revealing a spacious room with a bed, a dresser, and a big window overlooking the bay.

“You can stay here until we figure everything out,” Kenji said. “It's safer than being out there with the KDF looking for you."

"Are you sure?” You looked up at him. “I don't want to be a burden."

"You're not a burden,” he smiled reassuringly. “I’ll leave you to get some rest. We've got a lot to do tomorrow."

With that, you settled into the room with a sense of peace for the first time since crashing on Earth.

Taglist is open! Comment if u wanna be tagged on future Kenji oneshots

@eternallyvenus @puppyminnnie @wattpadsuckssohard @sakura-onesan @reggies-eyeliner @buggs-1 @miffysoo @spencerrxids @stupidbutsmart @marimargirlies @mixvchelle @lannnu @lailuv21 @christiinee @abracarabbit @youngbananamilkshake @flutterfly365 @o-schist @brazilsho @arrozyfrijoles23 @finestflora @mmeerraa @mianbaobaoo @skyeliteratures @themourningfox @despacito-uwu16 @crimson-mage-02 @vinegarjello @btszn @berryjuicyy @https-mika @reader-1290 @bakugouswaif

[hs-transfusion]

> DAVE HARLEY

CHUMHANDLE: tenaciousGearbox [TG] STRIFE: machetekind MODUS: Magtape LUNAR SWAY: Prospit MYTH. ROLE: Bard of Doom LAND: Land of Junk and Ghosts

TG: listen hate all you want but you gotta admit its dang nabbin iconic

Dave is, to put it simply, SOMETHING OF A HIPSTER. Though he has access to LARGE SWATHS OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, he opts to use as little of it as he can get away with, preferring more ANTIQUATED EQUIPMENT. He often records DOCUMENTARIES of the island he lives on, both to HEAR HIMSELF TALK and to KEEP HIMSELF COMPANY. He tends to TALK TO HIMSELF an awful lot, actually.

Dave's love for the RETRO AND VINTAGE runs deep. He has a fondness for VHS TAPES in particular, having TINKERED with enough VCRs to practically be able to BUILD HIS OWN FROM SCRATCH. Every so often he fools around with his KEYTAR, though he's not very good at it. Dave has also been getting into VAPORWAVE as of late.

Dave's MAGTAPE Fetch Modus is a somewhat outdated one. Items can be freely stored on any card in the deck, but doing so SLIGHTLY DETERIORATES THE CARD'S QUALITY. Should the card suffer too much damage, the item will either be DESTROYED or DISTORTED BEYOND RECOGNITION with severe VISUAL ARTEFACTS.

Dave's relationship with his dog BEC is a close one. He's essentially his ONLY REAL COMPANION, resulting in the two of them spending a lot of time playing together. Dave is JUST AS LOYAL to Bec as Bec is to him. His relationship with his GRANDPA, on the other hand, is much less close, seeing as how he's DEAD. He never learned how to stuff a corpse (just THINKING ABOUT IT gives him the willies) so his body rests peacefully IN THE FREEZER.

The Land of JUNK AND GHOSTS is a large SCRAPYARD teeming with GHOULISH GREEN SPIRITS. The clouds in the sky seem to dance in an ETERNAL VORTEX as the threat of a RAGING THUNDERSTORM looms everpresent. It's said that the key to the denizen THANATOS' lair is buried somewhere in one of the NUMEROUS JUNK PILES on the planet; a NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK as it were.

[nicorobinohara]

Storm of Two Hearts

—————————————————————————

Hajime kashimo x R.femele.

—————————————————————————

Hajime Kashimo and a woman (you, (y/n)) with visuals, personality and abilities similar to Zenitsu Agatsuma, from Kimetsu no Yaiba.

—————————————————————————

Scarlet sky of a devastated Tokyo after cursed battles. Remains of skyscrapers wrapped in crackling rays and dark clouds. An ancient sanctuary survives on top of a destroyed building, surrounded by extinguished lanterns and the sound of thunder in the distance.

Kashimo was standing, motionless, looking at the sky. He had already challenged the gods, and defeated his own death. But I still didn't understand why.

It was then that the most ridiculous sound in the world invaded that reverent silence:

- "K-K-Kashimo-samaaa! I've been looking for you for three days! Three! I slept in a tree and was chased by a giant cat! Is this fair to a warrior maiden?!”

(Y/n) stumbled on the ruple with his hair all messy, an deactivated electric cloak and his cheeks red with anger and shame)

Kashimo just turned his eyes.

You...

That noisy woman with stormy eyes, always afraid to fight - until she fell asleep standing up and cut curses with the precision of a divine ray.

- "You... still live?" - he murmured.

- "I not only live, but I decided a very important thing: I'm going to marry you!"

(Deadly silence. Lightning struck the horizon.)

Kashimo arched an eyebrow.

Was she serious?

- "Do you want to marry a man who lives only to die in battle?"

- "No! I want to marry a man who survived... because deep down, I was waiting for someone."

He stared at her with those cold and serene eyes.

But something inside him shook. Not out of fear. Of recognition.

—————————

Flashback: when they met

Two years earlier, during the first confrontations of the Culling Game, Kashimo had faced a thunder technique user who was shaking from head to toe.

- "If you attack me, I'll faint with fear! I swear by everything!" - she said, on her knees.

He advanced with contempt... and then he saw.

She disappeared.

Like lightning. A clean cut on his cheek, before he even saw his movement.

She had entered a state of unconscious battle - and, for a moment, she was faster than him.

—————————

Back to the present —

- "I'm a coward, yes!" - (y/n) he said, now with his arms crossed - "But when I saw you in that fight against Sukuna... when I thought you had died... I understood."

She looked into his eyes seriously, like never before.

- "You want to die for something. But I want to make you live for someone."

Kashimo felt something he hadn't felt since the 17th century.

Anger. Will. Desire. Hope. Fear. All at the same time.

— "...You're weak."

- "I really am. But I'm fast enough to steal your heart before you know it."

She advanced, clumsily, stumbling on a stone.

He held her with one hand before she fell - and when she looked down, she had her eyes closed, red like a strawberry.

- " Kiss me soon... or kill me."

Kashimo smiled. For the first time. A small, dry smile, like a thunder far away.

- "It's okay. I accept... fight with you... until death do us part."

She widened her eyes.

- "I-I-Does that mean... marriage?!!"

- "It means that if you survive me... it's mine."

- "AAAAAAAHHHHH!!! I ACCEPT!!”

Lightning struck behind the two.

And at that moment, the cursed universe of Jujutsu had a moment of pure absurdity, emotion and electricity...

The kind that only exists when two incompatible hearts meet and recognize each other.

—————————————————————————

Two years later, in the same sanctuary:

She was still screaming. He was still quiet.

But now they trained together, slept under the same tent, and fought like thunder intertwined in the sky.

Kashimo never understood love.

But you understood the following:

"She beat me... not with the blade. But with the most dangerous ray of all: hers."

—————————————————————————

An old abandoned temple rebuilt by witchcraft, isolated in the fog, surrounded by natural electrical energy. There, Kashimo lives in silence. Since he agreed to marry (y/n), he hasn't said a word about it. And she... well, slept in another room, completely frustrated.

-

(Y/n) was wrapped in a thin mantle, with her hair slightly wet from the bath. The flushed cheeks. The heart? A drum at war.)

- "I'm going... I'm going there. It's already. If I die, I die as a real woman."

She crossed the corridors, bare feet, beating shooting.

Kashimo was on his back, in the center of the room, only with a loose hakama on his waist, his hair loose, his shoulder marked by scarred rays. The smell of rain and ozone surrounded him. And he felt her presence before she said a word.

- "...You should be sleeping."

- "I... I can't. Since that night you said I was 'yours' if I survived."

Silence.

- "Kashimo... did you say that out of your mouth?"

He turned around slowly. The look was the same: serene, cutting, lethal. But when he saw her, with her eyes shining and nervous breathing, something broke in him. For the first time, he felt the desire to touch someone without killing her.

- "You survived me, (y/n). That already makes you... more than anyone else."

She lowered her eyes, biting her lips.

- "So... can I come closer?"

He didn't answer with words.

He simply took a step forward, lifting her chin with two fingers. The electricity between the bodies was literal - soft sparks danced around the two. The air smelled of storm.

When his lips touched for the first time, it was fast and rough. He tested her, she trembled. But not out of fear.

She moaned low against his mouth, and Kashimo gently pushed her against the wall, the wood behind vibrating with energy. His firm hand went down his waist, tracing each curve like someone who maps a forbidden territory.

- "Do you still want to marry me after that?" - he murmured against his neck, his voice hoarse, loaded with electrical tension.

- "If you stop now... I'll faint. Literally." - she whispered, squinting and blushing up to her ears.

He laughed. A deep, dry and almost cruel sound.

- "So hold on, damn it."

She didn't expect the way he would lift her, easily, holding her between his arms and the hot body. Her legs curled around his waist, while the kisses went down his neck, chest, belly.

(Y/n) trembled - not of fear, but of emotional discharge. She was no longer the cowardly girl who ran away from her own emotions. Now, she was in front of the only man who could beat her... and still made her feel safe.)

- "Aren't you afraid of me?" - he asked, panting, his fingers tracing his bare thigh.

- "I have." - she whispered. - "But even more afraid of you leaving without really touching me."

-

The consummation was intense, rhythmic like an ancestral drum.

He was firm, but respectful of her every limit. And she, even nervous, surprised him with her delivery - as if electricity took her inside and out.

Their bodies danced together in the tim light, thunder echoing in the background. Each lunge, each breath, each touch carried the weight of waiting, loneliness, and the connection between two opposites.

Kashimo saw her under him, vulnerable and beautiful, and for the first time in centuries, he felt something beyond the fight.

"She's my sweetest battle. And my deepest surrender."

—————————

Later, she fell asleep on her chest, the sound of his heart vibrating like an ancestral drum. The rays had ceased.

He ran his fingers through her hair, and finally said:

- "You're the hell... who hurt me without destroying."

She smiled while sleeping.

And for the first time, Hajime Kashimo didn't want to die.

—————————

The rain had stopped outside. All that remained was the soft sound of drops running down the walls of the temple, as if the world had finally breathed.

Inside the room, the air still carried remnants of electricity, as if the bodies that were touched that night still vibrated in the fabric of the universe.

Kashimo was awake. Always awake. He didn't sleep. Never needed it. But that morning, he didn't move.

(Y/n) slept on him. The strands of hair scattered on his chest, the warm and light body intertwined with his as if it were part of his own anatomy. His face rested with a small smile, swollen lips, skin marked with kisses and touches.

Kashimo observed the curve of his shoulder.

The way the sheet slipped from his waist.

The contrast between her apparent fragility... and the thunder that lived inside her.

He didn't understand that heat in his stomach.

It wasn't carnal desire.

It was something... bigger, dangerous, uncontrollable.

"This is worse than dying. That's being stuck. And I don't want to let go."

-

She woke up slowly, her eyes still swollen with sleep.

And the first thing she saw was him... staring at her as if she were a forbidden secret.

- "... Didn't you sleep?" - she murmured, hoarse, pulling the sheet to cover her breasts.

- "I've never slept." - he replied, dry.

She stared at him in silence, her face blushing.

- "... Was I bad?"

- "You were... a bolt."

- "... Is that good?"

- "You crossed me."

(She widened her eyes, her heart racing. The way he said these things - direct, cold, and yet devastating - left her breathless.)

She got up slowly, sitting on him, still naked, the sheet falling down her back. The sun touched her skin, and for a moment, she seemed made of light.

Kashimo passed his hand on his thigh, slowly rising, as if recognizing an ancient temple - a place where he finally wanted to stay.

- "We... are a couple now?" - she asked, quietly, embarrassed.

He pulled her closer, and kissed her chest with reverence.

Then, he went up to his neck.

Then, he lightly bit her chin.

- "No. We are a double radius. And that... never stops falling."

(She shuddered, feeling her body being dominated by the will again.)

He laid her down, now on top, and murmured against her skin:

- "I want to know if you survive me... twice."

She smiled, provocative, flushing and panting:

- "I want to die one more time, then."

-

The second time was slower, but still electric.

There was no hurry. Only the accumulated hunger of those who finally allowed to be touched.

Your fingers intertwined.

The kisses now tasted like promises.

The touches knew the way.

The bodies moved as if they were a single thunder cutting the morning.

Kashimo was no longer just destruction.

(Y/n) it wasn't just fear anymore.

They were two opposing forces that found peace in the impact.

—————————

Later, sitting on the balcony of the temple, she wore only her shirt, too wide on the small body. I was eating dried fruits with a silly glow on my face.

Kashimo, as always, watched in silence.

- "If you leave me... I'll chase you forever." - she said, with her mouth full.

- "If you die, I'll take you back with lightning."

She laughed, moved. And for the first time, Kashimo kissed her without haste.

A kiss that said: you beat me. And I like that.

—————————————————————————

[its-murderous-business]

An Introduction to Nonverbal Learning Disorder

Happy disability pride month! I am celebrating by trying to educate people about my learning disorder, because it is one of the least known learning disabilities and deserves more recognition.

What is Nonverbal Learning Disorder?

Nonverbal Learning Disorder (also called Non-Verbal Learning Disability and other variations on the same name), often shortened to NLD or NVLD, is not a new concept, but the idea of it as its own diagnosis is relatively recent. A common misconception upon hearing the name is that people with NVLD are non-verbal, but this is not the case. The name essentially refers to the fact that people with this disability are affected in almost every area except verbal and language skills, where they often excel.

What areas can NVLD effect?

NVLD can take a lot of forms, and not everyone with it will be affected in every area, and other areas are also able to be affected this is just a general list:

- exceptional skills in the areas of comprehension (understanding) and production (ability to utilize) of verbal language. Basically, we are really good at reading, writing, speech, spelling, and have large vocabularies.

- difficulties with visual spatial processing skills. Fun fact, NVLD was briefly called Visual Spatial Processing Disorder! Visual spatial processing is a term that describes the process of seeing things and then understanding how they relate to one another in space.

- difficulties with understanding non-verbal forms of communication such as tone, facial expressions, gestures, metaphors and exaggerations, and (sometimes) context.

- difficulties with math, including arithmetic, fractions, geometry, telling time, pattern recognition, and much more. This can be very similar to dyscalculia.

- difficulties socializing (often presents similar to the social difficulties faced by autistic people)

- other miscellaneous neurodivergent traits such as hyperfixations, difficulty regulating emotions, distress when faced with change, sensory overload, motor skill and coordination deficits, attention deficits, and executive dysfunction

How does that affect people with NVLD on the day to day?

Let’s use me as the example. I love to talk to people but I often run into issues because I take things very literally, struggle to read social cues, and can have trouble connecting with others. Growing up I was always in advanced English and literature classes, but was in special education for math due to my extreme difficulties with it. I have a lot of trouble dealing with last minute changes in my plans and loud noises bother me A Lot.

I struggle greatly with visual spatial processing skills, specifically for me that can manifest as not knowing where my body is in space (causing me to bump into things a lot), difficulty navigating maps, struggles with knowing left from right, a complete inability to use the knowledge of how an object looks from one angle to visualize how it would look from another angle, and many other things.

NVLD can present in a number of different ways and affect different parts of peoples lives. I have multiple neurodivergent comorbidities which can make it difficult to tease the exact symptoms apart from one another, but there are plenty of articles online where people discuss their own experiences if you look for them.

Is NVLD in the DSM/an official diagnosis?

ehhhhh it’s complicated. NVLD is not currently it’s own differentiated diagnosis within the DSM-5, however it can be diagnosed (as it is with me) under the DSM-5 as Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Mathematics which serves as a sort of catch all for any learning disability that affects math or areas other than reading/writing.

NVLD as its own diagnosis is a relatively new idea, as historically it’s been lumped within other diagnoses (typically autism, adhd, or specific learning disability). However over the last 15 years and especially the last 5 years, there has been a significant increase in academic literature and acknowledgement of NVLD as its own distinct diagnosis. Columbia University has been conducting research on the disorder alongside the NVLD Project, which is the only organization that exclusively does advocacy, education, and research around NVLD. These groups are doing a lot of work to attempt to get NVLD classified as its own diagnosis in future editions of the DSM.

How common is NVLD? What causes it?

NVLD is uncommonly diagnosed due to lack of official DSM recognition, misidentification as other neurodiverse conditions, and lack of awareness of NVLD from neuropsych evaluators. However one study from earlier this year estimated that between 1-8% of children have NVLD depending on what diagnostic criteria is used.

There has been some early evidence that NVLD is the result of dysfunction in the right hemisphere of the brain or more specifically the inability of the right hemisphere of the brain to effectively communicate to the left hemisphere.

Why are you telling me all of this?

The majority of people do not know that NVLD exists, and as such those of us with this condition often get left out of neurodivergent and disability communities. I would like to be included in advocacy and understood by the community since we all face very similar challenges! I really encourage y’all to learn more about Non-Verbal Learning Disability

Here are some links to learn more!

From the Child Mind Institute

Psychology Today article

From ADDitude Magazine

Article from Very Well Mind

Medical News Today article

Learning Disorder Association of America article

From Learning Disability Association of Ontario

And of course the aforementioned NVLD Project website!

[klimkovsky]

Horsehead Nebula

The whimsical image of a chess knight in profile among the stars is perhaps the most recognizable among deep space objects. It can be said that the Horsehead Nebula tops the recognition rankings among nebulae and galaxies. Perhaps the Andromeda and Orion Nebulae resonate more with the general public, but only specialists and advanced amateurs know what they look like. Even among them, there are often cases when the famous Andromeda Galaxy is confused with another galaxy, even by experienced popularizers of astronomy. The Orion Nebula, too, can look different in pictures taken with various filters. Yet, the profile of the chess knight allows every inhabitant of Earth to recognize that in front of them is the one-of-a-kind and completely unique Horsehead Nebula.

Let's begin by noting that when we talk about the Horsehead Nebula, we refer to two fundamentally different formations in this region of our Galaxy. Only together do they create this memorable visual image. Moreover, what we see—the glowing diffuse background—is not the Horsehead Nebula. It is a dark silhouette against a light background—a bizarrely shaped dust cloud opaque to the visible radiation of stars and nebulae. If there were no relatively bright emission nebula behind it, we might not even know about any dark gas-dust cosmic horse.

The background for the recognizable horse profile is created by the hydrogen nebula IC 434, discovered by William Herschel in the late 18th century. However, Herschel did not notice any amusing details in the outline of this nebula, although he was an excellent observer—much more keen-sighted and attentive than most of his followers. There are also objective reasons for this—telescopes in Herschel's era were imperfect, and their dark metal mirrors lost from 50% to 80% of the light that entered them.

A hundred years later, the dark silhouette of the Horsehead was discovered on a photographic plate made at the Harvard College Observatory by Williamina Fleming—a woman of unique destiny and one of the brightest personalities in astronomy. Without having a special education, she did a lot in astronomy that immortalized her name. The discovery of the Horsehead is perhaps a curious episode in her scientific biography, rather than something serious. After all, Williamina created the very first system of classifying stellar spectra and personally examined more than 10,000 stars within the framework of this system, creating a method of data processing and manual calculations in astronomy so effective that it worked faster than the first computers (however, she did not live to see them and died quite early—unable to cope with pneumonia).

Williamina Paton Stevens Fleming — pioneering Scottish astronomer

Williamina discovered dozens of new nebulae, but the publication of these discoveries was done by her scientific adviser, William Henry Pickering, who did not even mention his colleague's name. The irony of the situation developed in such a way that John Ludwig Dreyer described the new nebula in his catalog without indicating the initials of the formal discoverer—he indicated only the surname—Pickering, which gave rise to confusion, and the discovery began to be attributed to William Henry's brother—Edward Charles Pickering—also a famous astronomer of the 19th-20th centuries.

Against the backdrop of the Horsehead Nebula, Edward Emerson Barnard managed to shine, including it in his catalog under number 33. But the name of the discoverer, Williamina Fleming, was not listed there either.

If it were not for the enormous resonance that photographs of the nebula began to cause in the press, and the growing interest in the details around this universal (but first of all, cultural) phenomenon, the name of Williamina Fleming would have remained in the shadows. But journalists raced to find new secrets around the nebula, were interested in who exactly discovered this outlandish horse's head in space, and got to the bottom of the truth—the name of the discoverer became known to the World.

It must be said that for astronomers, the resemblance to a horse did not make the nebula more attractive. But for the public far from science, this turned out to be the main trigger for activating attention—just like the illusory face of the Sphinx on Mars or other artifacts that do not need a scientific explanation, the essence of which lies only in a fleeting external resemblance.

Nevertheless, the Horsehead Nebula still looks at us from every book on astronomy, from every scientific or pseudo-scientific website more than a century later. And the culprit for all this is simply a cloud of light-absorbing dark cosmic dust, covering part of the light nebula located slightly behind.

All together—both the light and dark parts of the Horsehead image—constitute a fragment of a massive nebula complex in the constellation Orion, which includes many other nebulae: the Great and Small Orion Nebulae, and the Flame Nebula (which is literally adjacent to the Horsehead). It is believed that the distance to all these nebulae is approximately the same—about 1,200 to 1,500 light years. While distance estimates vary, it is difficult to accurately determine the distance to objects that lack clear boundaries. Nebulae are visible only to the extent that they are illuminated by other stars (as in reflection nebulae, such as the Flame Nebula), or to the extent that the ultraviolet radiation from nearby stars is strong enough to ionize the hydrogen within these nebulae. Only for dark dust nebulae, which have clear outlines (visible against the background of light nebulae), is there some specificity in terms of size and boundaries. However, even these estimates are conditional, as they are based on data from a more distant light nebula, and this data can be quite approximate.

Given all of the above, it remains unclear how much closer the dark silhouette of the Horsehead Nebula is compared to the emission nebula IC 434. The distance difference could range from 30 to 300 light years.

According to various rough estimates, the size of the dark cloud is about 4 light years. However, this refers to the size of the “head” of the nebula, not the entire dust cloud, which extends in various directions beneath the emission nebula IC 434, at distances tens of times greater. (Astronomers still do not know for sure whether this is one large dust cloud, or several that simply overlap each other when observed from Earth.)

In any case, we are dealing with a vast reservoir of material that could form planets and third-generation stars. Several thousand stars could form from the hydrogen clouds in the Orion complex. However, a wide range of chemical elements is necessary to form planets. All of these elements are found in dust nebulae. In the Horsehead Nebula, many heavy chemical elements have been discovered, as well as a significant variety of chemical compounds, including organic ones. In fact, the Universe is synthesizing substances in interstellar space that will later participate in the emergence of life. Ultraviolet radiation, which is destructive to all living things, acts as an effective catalyst for many important chemical reactions that are crucial for the origin of life. The only remaining step is to form planets where the substances already produced by the cosmic environment can give rise to life.

Interestingly, it was in the "neck" area of this cosmic horse that astronomers discovered the active formation of small-mass stars, comparable to our Sun. These stars are now considered the most likely candidates for hosting planetary systems that could support life.

The Horsehead Nebula is extremely popular among astronomy enthusiasts. Taking a photo of this nebula with modern amateur equipment is not difficult—almost every novice astrophotographer tries this as their first target. However, only a few are able to detect the nebula visually—extreme observers who have developed their night vision adaptation to far beyond the average human capacity. The difficulties in such observations are compounded by two closely located bright stars in Orion’s belt: Zeta Orionis (Alnitak) and Sigma Orionis (an extremely interesting multiple star, known since ancient times but curiously not given its own name). These stars can “blind” the observer, preventing them from seeing the faint glow of the emission nebula IC 434 and the dark silhouette of the Horsehead against its background.

Interestingly, in the infrared spectrum—studied by the James Webb Space Telescope—the silhouette of the Horsehead appears bright. This is because interstellar dust, heated to only a few degrees Kelvin, begins to re-radiate the energy received from stars in the form of thermal radiation.

Astronomers have used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to photograph the iconic Horsehead Nebula in a new infrared light

Stellar winds sweeping through the vast Orion nebula over time modify the shape of the dust nebulae, eventually leading to their complete dissipation (except for the material that will form dense protoplanetary disks). However, it is these stellar winds that create density waves that push dust particles together, ultimately forming rocky planets. Our distant descendants will most likely no longer see the whimsical image of a horse’s head in the sky, but they will undoubtedly find something just as captivating.

The video illustration for this article was created based on astrophotography by American astrophotographer Chuck Ayoub.

A music track from my album «Oort Cloud» was used in the video.

Article Author: Andrey Klimkovsky

[xpic-mike-adult-mature-content]

SHIBARI or KINBAKU JAPANESE ART FORM performed by Hajime Kinoko

I came across some curious photos on my tumblr wall with the following legends: Hajime Kinoko ֍ Black Label: Japanese Traditional Rope. What can you tell me about it, which, I presume, is a special Japanese art. The pictures posted are all oriental women intricately tied, some hanging, What can you tell me about it? thanks.

ALL THE IMAGES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED BY ME.

Yes! What you’re seeing is a Japanese art form called Shibari (縛り) or Kinbaku (緊縛), which translates to "binding" or "tight binding." It’s an intricate and aesthetic form of rope bondage that originated from Hojojutsu, a martial art used by samurai to restrain prisoners. Over time, it evolved into an artistic and erotic practice.

Hajime Kinoko

Hajime Kinoko is a well-known contemporary Shibari artist from Japan. He’s famous for his modern and artistic approach to rope bondage, often incorporating performance art, photography, and even fashion into his work.

Kinoko Hajime Rope Art Book (Photo Album) (My Way Mook) 

His style blends traditional techniques with contemporary aesthetics, and he has gained international recognition for his performances and workshops.

Black Label: Japanese Traditional Rope

ART BLACK LABEL|Hajime Kinoko – ロープアーティスト 緊縛師 縄 縛り 緊縛 rope artist ...

The phrase "Black Label" likely refers to a premium series or collection of his work, possibly focusing on high-level traditional Shibari techniques. "Japanese Traditional Rope" emphasizes the cultural and artistic heritage behind this practice.

BLACK LABEL : JAPANESE TRADITIONAL ROPE

The Art of Shibari

Shibari involves intricate rope patterns, often designed to be visually striking while creating a balance between restriction and movement. Some key aspects include:

Symmetry & Aesthetics: The patterns and knots are designed to highlight the human form.

Zoria Petkoska on LinkedIn: Untangled: Shibari Artist Hajime Kinoko 

Sensory & Emotional Experience: It’s not just about tying but also about the sensations, emotions, and dynamics between the rigger (the person tying) and the model.

Suspension: Some advanced techniques involve suspending the person in the air, requiring significant skill, knowledge of body mechanics, and safety precautions.

Rope Types: Traditional Asanawa (hemp rope) is often used for its texture and natural look.

Cultural & Artistic Significance

While Shibari has erotic elements, it is also recognized as a form of performance art and body expression, often featured in photography, theater, and contemporary art exhibitions. Artists like Hajime Kinoko push the boundaries of its artistic and cultural perception.

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Papers for Week 13, 2025

Representational drift in barrel cortex is receptive field dependent. Ahmed, A., Voelcker, B., & Peron, S. (2024). Current Biology, 34(24), 5623-5634.e4.

Monkeys engage in visual simulation to solve complex problems. Ahuja, A., Yusif Rodriguez, N., Ashok, A. K., Serre, T., Desrochers, T. M., & Sheinberg, D. L. (2024). Current Biology, 34(24), 5635-5645.e3.

Theta oscillations optimize a speed-precision trade-off in phase coding neurons. Amil, A. F., Albesa-González, A., & Verschure, P. F. M. J. (2024). PLOS Computational Biology, 20(12), e1012628.

Semantic relatedness proactively benefits learning, memory, and interdependence across episodes. Bennion, K. A., Phong, J., Le, M., Cheng, K., Wahlheim, C. N., & Antony, J. W. (2024). eLife, 13, e95480.3.

Efficient value synthesis in the orbitofrontal cortex explains how loss aversion adapts to the ranges of gain and loss prospects. Brochard, J., & Daunizeau, J. (2024). eLife, 13, e80979.

Prediction-based false memory: Unconfirmed prediction can result in robust false memories. Bulatova, O., & Fukuda, K. (2025). Cognition, 255, 106013.

Perceptual constancy for an odor is acquired through changes in primary sensory neurons. Conway, M., Oncul, M., Allen, K., Zhang, Z., & Johnston, J. (2024). Science Advances, 10(50).

Exploring the hierarchical structure of human plans via program generation. Correa, C. G., Sanborn, S., Ho, M. K., Callaway, F., Daw, N. D., & Griffiths, T. L. (2025). Cognition, 255, 105990.

Discrete Synaptic Events Induce Global Oscillations in Balanced Neural Networks. Goldobin, D. S., di Volo, M., & Torcini, A. (2024). Physical Review Letters, 133(23), 238401.

Sculpting new visual categories into the human brain. Iordan, C. R., Ritvo, V. J. H., Norman, K. A., Turk-Browne, N. B., & Cohen, J. D. (2024). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(50), e2410445121.

Rapid, systematic updating of movement by accumulated decision evidence. Molano-Mazón, M., Garcia-Duran, A., Pastor-Ciurana, J., Hernández-Navarro, L., Bektic, L., Lombardo, D., de la Rocha, J., & Hyafil, A. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 10583.

A computational approach to the N-back task. Ni, L., & Ma, W. J. (2024). Scientific Reports, 14, 30211.

Social conformity is a heuristic when individual risky decision-making is disrupted. Orloff, M. A., Chung, D., Gu, X., Wang, X., Gao, Z., Song, G., Tatineni, C., Xu, S., Casas, B., & Chiu, P. H. (2024). PLOS Computational Biology, 20(12), e1012602.

Parallel development of object recognition in newborn chicks and deep neural networks. Pandey, L., Lee, D., Wood, S. M. W., & Wood, J. N. (2024). PLOS Computational Biology, 20(12), e1012600.

Intermittent rate coding and cue-specific ensembles support working memory. Panichello, M. F., Jonikaitis, D., Oh, Y. J., Zhu, S., Trepka, E. B., & Moore, T. (2024). Nature, 636(8042), 422–429.

Memory reactivation generates new, adaptive behaviours that reach beyond direct experience. Rawson, A. B., Nalluru, S., O’Reilly, J. X., & Barron, H. C. (2024). Scientific Reports, 14, 30097.

Neuronal circuit mechanisms of competitive interaction between action-based and coincidence learning. Rozenfeld, E., & Parnas, M. (2024). Science Advances, 10(49).

Representation of a perceptual bias in the prefrontal cortex. Serrano-Fernández, L., Beirán, M., Romo, R., & Parga, N. (2024). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(50), e2312831121.

Vector coding and place coding in hippocampus share a common directional signal. Zhou, Y.-Q., Puliyadi, V., Chen, X., Lee, J. L., Zhang, L.-Y., & Knierim, J. J. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 10630.

Value construction through sequential sampling explains serial dependencies in decision making. Zylberberg, A., Bakkour, A., Shohamy, D., & Shadlen, M. N. (2024). eLife, 13, e96997.3.

[rivensdefenseattorney]

Alfea Interdimensional College of Fae

(WIP)

Nestled in the epicenter of Magix, Alfea College is a revered institution in the Fae realms, a sanctuary where diverse Fae lineages converge to harness their magical potential. Students immerse themselves in a comprehensive curriculum that spans elemental mastery, mystical arts, diplomacy, and enchanting expressions of magic. Professors, esteemed for their lineage and expertise, guide students through classes while extracurricular activities, from sports to research societies, enrich their understanding of the magical realms. The college fosters unity among Fae lineages, promoting camaraderie and understanding across the elemental realms, and preparing students for a life-long long journey. Ultimately, shaping the future of their enchanted realms.

Average Graduation Time: 5-7 Years

Average Acceptance Rate: 4%

Annual Acceptance Rate: 1500 Students

Contribution Level: Tier 1

Departments

Department of Alchemy & Potionology

Department of Elemental Arts

Department of Magical Studies

Department of Diplomacy & Leadership

Department of Mystic Arts & Expression

Concentrated Studies

Potioncraft and Alchemical Arts: Centered around the Department of Alchemy and Potionology, this study delves deep into potion crafting, enchanted botanical studies, and healing/restorative magic.

Elemental Mastery and Defense: Centered around the Department of Elemental Arts, this study focuses on mastering elemental forces, defensive magic & combat, and advanced arcane arts & spellcraft.

Mythical Studies and Creature Research: Centered around the Department of Magical Studies, this study emphasize studies in mythical creatures, magical history & lore, and artisanal magic.

Diplomacy and Leadership in Fae Realms: Centered around the Department of Diplomacy and Leadership, this study fosters future leaders adept in negotiation, governance, and diplomatic relations within Fae societies.

Mastering Enchanted Performances: Centered around the Department of Mystic Arts & Expression, this study focuses on refining magical performances, combining multiple art forms, and creating immersive and experiences through artistic expressions.

Cultural Synthesis through Mystic Arts: Centered around the Department of Mystic Arts & Expression, this study investigates how various Fae cultural elements can be integrated into artistic expressions, and explores diverse lineages and their influence on magical arts.

Minor Studies

Minor in Advanced Healing Alchemy: Aligned with the Potioncraft & Alchemical Arts study, this minor would focus on advanced studies in creating potent healing potions and elixirs.

Minor in Elemental Combat Techniques: Corresponding to the Elemental Mastery and Defense study, this minor would specialize in combat-oriented elemental magic and defensive techniques.

Minor in Mythical Creature Care and Studies: Tied to the Mythical Studies and Creature Research study, this minor would emphasize hands-on experience in caring for and studying mythical creatures.

Minor in Diplomatic Negotiation Strategies: Connected with the Diplomacy and Leadership in Fae Realms study, this minor would focus on honing negotiation skills and diplomatic strategies.

Minor in Cultural Magic Practices: Offering a specialization across studies, this minor would allow students to explore diverse magical practices across different Fae lineages and cultures.

Minor in Arcane Medical Applications: A specialized minor within the Potioncraft and Alchemical Arts study, focusing on using magic for medical purposes and healing spells.

Minor in Enchanted Visual Arts: Explores the infusion of magical elements into visual arts, offering a deeper understanding of mystical mediums and enchantments in artistic creations.

Minor in Harmonizing Magic in Music: Focuses on the integration of magical enchantments into musical compositions and performances, blending musical theory with Fae essence.

Alfea Contribution System

Merits

Merits are the currency of recognition and accomplishment. They serve as a tangible representation of the students' contributions to their community. Merits are mainly achieved through 3 distinct methods:

Unity Merits: Earned by bringing unity and raising awareness within the community through hosting public events. May include workshops, performances, art installations, and various charity events.

Service Merits: Achieved by undertaking missions that contribute to community well-being, donating magical items, elixirs, or resources, and engaging in public service initiatives that address the diverse needs of the magical realm.

Scholarship Merits: Attained through scholarly pursuits and magical research initiatives, students earn Scholarship Merits by advancing magical knowledge, contributing to innovative solutions, and exploring the magical arts within various disciplines.

[kylieswift31]

The lightning tree

There has been a consistent recurrence of trees throughout Taylor’s videography over the years. The hunger games series is particular could contain the missing context to understand what the trees represent.

(This was originally posted on X in reply to a comment about the invisible string running through various eras as a fuse for a string of TnT set to go off in succession once triggered. It was also noted that this may extend outside of the TSCU, which I agree with.)

In the hunger games, the wire or thread used throughout the arena (invisible string) is repurposed as a conductor to blow everything up to end the cycle of torturing the next generation. And the sequel ✌🏼catching fire is based on the Truman show. “Moves and countermoves.” It’s planning three steps ahead in a chess game against an opponent who is playing checkers and trying to back you into a corner. The predictability of those around them is what made it possible to plan so far in advance to dismantle the system.

Extending it beyond the TSCU (Taylor Swift Cinematic Universe) creates more connections while leaving no evidence, but it’s just subtle enough that those who are in the know can see it. Just like Truman found a way to communicate with his best friend in plain sight.

The visuals of the mastermind performance echoes the predictable clockwork pattern seen in catching fire. Just like Chely Wright said it would take someone with a level of fame and influence like Taylor has now to enact lasting change within the industry. And just like Truman and Katniss, Taylor is the one standing in the spotlight waiting for the perfect moment to strike when the storm is at its very peak (11.59pm) so her attack creates as much damage/impact as possible. We saw this play out with endorsing Kamala and mentioning Travis in her speech.

“Imagine this. You are sitting on a beach, cold and windswept. The sea is dark and angry before you. The sun sets in muted colors. You finish scrawling on the parchment. Your pen dries up as you reach the end of a story in 11 parts. None of it makes sense anyway. You're sick of having to dilute everything so far beyond recognition. But a story told through metaphor is still a story told. Even the great poet Sappho is survived by stilted fragments and mistranslated lyrics. Maybe that is the beautiful curse people like us must all share. Perhaps loving someone the world doesn't approve of forces you to be clever.” - 🎃 anon

Spider web

Honourable mention: Presley Cash with the spiderwebs that replicate the pattern of the clocks mentioned above. I’ve said this before, but the wheel of the year isn’t talked about enough when discussing clocks. In this case midnight is the end of all hallows eve and marks the beginning of the pagan new year. Does this make Presley the black cat version of the white rabbit? 🪞🕸️🐈‍⬛

The trees

There are so many tree references throughout Taylor’s music videos. I had this list saved for a while but wasn’t sure what direction it was going in until now. And for context these are the trees referenced throughout the hunger game series.

Fearless

Fifteen

Speak now

Sparks fly

Red

All too well

Begin again

1989

Out of the woods

Evermore

Willow

Willow

Midnights

Karma

Other

Safe & sound

Christmas tree farm

Miscellaneous

Tree Paine

Spotify

The Lorax

The Lorax

For context: The Lorax movie begins with Mr O’Hare taking advantage of the fact that all the trees were cut down to begin creating a town reliant on bottled air to survive. The main character Ted tries to impress his crush Audrey (Taylor’s character) and begins the search for a real tree. With the help of his grandmother, Ted embarks on a journey out of town as he learns about how the Once-ler instigated the destruction of the trees despite many warnings from the Lorax (who speaks for the trees).

The Once-ler (the anti hero) spends his life as an outcast on the edge of town. “When I picture my hometown there’s a bronze spray-tanned statue of you, and a plaque underneath it that threatens to push me down the stairs at our school.” He’s the magician that put on a show to impress everyone out of desperation to fit in. In the end he redeems himself by giving Ted and Audrey the last tree seed so that they can plant it in the centre of the town for all to see. In the process the golden statue of Mr O’Hare falls over and creates the first crack in the fake grass, revealing the real soil underneath. “Touch grass” -Katy Perry. The town comes around to the idea of changing the way things are done after they see the real tree with their own eyes.

In the end Audrey was the first one to speak up and question if there was a better way to live and Ted (who became her boyfriend) ended up being the one who created change by taking her idea from a dream to reality. I can’t help but wonder if this is what happened with TNT?

There are so many elements of this movie that are applicable to the bigger picture, but viewing the trees as a metaphor for what celebrities endure is eye opening to say the least. ❤️‍🩹

“My beloved ghost and me. Sitting in a tree. D-Y-I-N-G.” -How did it end?

Animal crossing

Honourable mention -Hayley Williams referencing the trees from Animal crossing. The trees and the game in general have a similar fake look to them as the scenery in the Lorax movie. This feels like an acknowledgement of the fantasy vs reality so many experience throughout the industry and that not everything we see is as it seems.

Real vs fake

To circle back to the connection between the trees and the invisible string, the willow music video is where these two elements come together. At first I thought the communal nature of the orbs represented the New Romantics, but viewing it through the context of the Lorax it now feels like a reference to everyone who benefits from the system staying the way it is. The real vs manufactured trees.

Unravelling the thread and sharing it around ensures that artists can thrive without being dependent on sticking to the old ways. In an interview Taylor mentioned how she likes to network at parties and how easy it is to share contact details and group photos etc through airdrop without leaving a trace. I feel like this is one of the ways experienced artists are sharing their wisdom with the new generation like Ice Spice, Gracie Abrams, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan.

And for all of us watching it all unfold from home, we have the opportunity to choose which narrative to focus on. We can either sit back and wait for a grand reveal or pay attention to the cracks gradually forming in the facade.

“Please picture me in the trees”

A tortured poet,

Kylie x

[subir-astrologer]

SIGNIFICANCE OF RAHU IN VEDIC ASTROLOGY

Rahu is very greedy, materialistic pleasure loving, love to achieve the result or success by hook or crook. Doesn't believe much in hard work in other word doesn't believe in donkey work but in monkey work and so rahu would always like to short cut and risk.

Rahu has the power of reading people like book, have very good intuition power and so can guess things or any action in advance.

Rahu is an illusionist / magician and create an illusion ( its not real ) in such a way that the people are compelled to believe it.

Rahu doesn't speak complete truth his story is always manipulated. He presents the story in such a way that the other person feels that he heard the complete story.

Rahu is a gambler and often make good money in gambling as he believes much in effort less earning.

Rahu can't be trusted as he has tendency to cheat you. Rahu is very curious to know about others.

He feels that he should have everyone's information with him. Rahu is smoky in nature and has the ability to adapt and change himself ( change face ) from time to time and so a spying nature is inborn talent and can be at a time disguise himself in such a way that his nearest person can't recognize him at one shot.

Rahu will always push to higher goal to make more and more money and this is the reason that in rich people’s horoscope rahu is in good position to give them amazing wealth.

Rahu don't love to obey rules and regulation and therefore do actions of his will. This is one of the reason why rahu prefer to do intercaste marriage of his choice.

The hunger and desire of materialistic pleasure is so much in rahu that one a person fall in the clutch of a negative rahu will get drowned in doldrum.

After understand the traits of rahu one can now conclude that RAHU HAS THE ABILITY TO THINK THE SAME THING DIFFERENTLY and also gets his work done by hook or crook.

Rahu has good power of visualisation and thus can visual an event / work / project in its mind and starts shaping it with its multiple different possiblities.

According to KP vedic astrology rahu doesn’t own any rashi / house unlike other planets and so it acts like an agent of that rashi / house and gives the results of that house lords and the planets aspecting it.

When well-placed, Rahu can bestow great material success, fame, and recognition, especially in fields like technology, media, politics, and innovation.

Rahu is referred as Karmic planet as its is deeply connected to karmic lessons and unresolved past-life issues. Its placement in a horoscope shows areas where the soul is driven to learn and grow.

Rahu acts like a catalyst and disrupts comfort zones and compels individuals to confront fears and hidden aspects of themselves, leading to growth.

Rahu often represents material pursuits, it can also act as a force driving individuals toward spiritual enlightenment when its lessons are understood.

Rahu affects mental states, often causing anxiety, obsessions, and a restless nature. Its transits and dasha (periods) are known for bringing dramatic shifts.

It governs events that lead to personal transformation, whether through sudden success or setbacks.

In a nutshell Rahu is a powerful force in Vedic astrology that represents ambition, illusion, and transformation. It challenges individuals to confront their deepest desires and fears, providing an opportunity for growth and self-realization. Whether a benefactor or a troublemaker in the chart, Rahu’s influence is pivotal in shaping an individual's destiny.

[doomsdaydicecascader]

In that case, then, the "death as a good ending because you're no longer in HS" is essentially a big lampshade hung on the nature of fiction itself? I can't help but feel like that has to tie into something less thematically self-referential, but I admit sometimes the comic gets really into its own narrative sandbox and that goes a little over my head. Thank you for the response though, and have a good weekend!

yeah! like, i think a lot of the purpose of homestuck is just to be self-referential. and i think hussie agrees! take this formspring answer for example:

So what is the idea? I don't feel like elaborating on it THAT much now, because I would probably type forever. Basically, it's about building an extremely dense interior vocabulary to tell a story with, and continue to build and expand that vocabulary by revisiting its components often, combining them, extending them and so on. A vocabulary can be (and usually is) simple, consisting of single words, but in this case it extends to entire sentences and paragraph structures and visual forms and even entire scenes like the one linked above. Sometimes the purpose for reiteration is clear, and sometimes there really is no purpose other than to hit a familiar note, and for me that's all that needs to happen for it to be worthwhile. Triggering recognition is a powerful tool for a storyteller to use. Recognition is a powerful experience for a reader. It promotes alertness, at the very least. And in a lot of cases here, I think it promotes levity (humor! this is mostly a work of comedy, remember.) Controlling a reader's recognition faculty is one way to manipulate the reader's reactions as desired to advance the creative agenda. In this case I'm not exactly sure what that agenda is all the time, and in truth there probably isn't any serious agenda there. This story, though at times seeming diabolically put together, is still pretty light reading after all. if anything I'm just striving for a certain pitch in density with the all the multithreaded symbolism and endless internal reference. Think of it as a symphony and everything I've referred to as belonging to a vocabulary are really just notes, working together in a really complicated harmonic structure.

this is a thing stories already do, building a vocabulary out of plot beats and callbacks, characters facts and themes, i've described storytelling before as "like building a pyramid and then slowly, piece by piece, taking it apart" - it's sometimes used derogatorily, like when a callback is a little bit too obvious, to be an obvious callback in the third act (see: crazy ball in psycho goreman, the thing that sparked this line of thought originally)

but homestuck takes this idea really, really far, in that it will actively redefine what these beats mean solely for the joy of doing so, and so you can only really trust what a story beat means in the context of what it means in homestuck. i think its really cool. the only thing ive ever seen that does something similar is petscop, it's a very cool thing to do that i dont think a lot of people really catch on to, and it can create something that lasts even if people dont understand why it works the way it does

[nareshkumartech]

The Evolution of Secure ID Features in Canadian Licenses

Canadian driver’s licenses have come a long way from being simple paper documents to highly sophisticated forms of identification. Today, they serve not just as proof of driving privileges but also as trusted government-issued IDs for everything from boarding a plane to opening a bank account. One of the key reasons they are so widely accepted is the constant evolution of security features built into them. Let’s take a look at how Canadian licenses have evolved to become some of the most secure forms of ID in the world.

1. Early Days: Basic Paper Licenses

In the early days, Canadian licenses were simple paper documents that included basic information: name, address, date of birth, and a photograph (sometimes stapled separately!). Security was minimal, making licenses easy to forge. At that time, the main concern was just proving that the holder was legally allowed to drive — not preventing identity theft or fraud.

However, as technology advanced and cases of fraud increased, governments realized the need for more sophisticated licenses.

2. Introduction of Plastic Cards and Photos

By the late 20th century, provinces began issuing plastic (PVC) cards with embedded photographs and magnetic strips. This change greatly improved durability and made it harder to tamper with licenses. Adding photographs was a major step toward making the license a true piece of personal identification, as it allowed authorities and businesses to visually verify the holder’s identity.

3. Holograms, Microprinting, and Barcodes

To combat forgery, licenses began to feature holographic overlays, microprinting, and 2D barcodes that store critical information digitally. Holograms, visible when tilted under light, are very difficult to replicate. Microprinting — tiny text only readable with magnification — added another layer of hidden security. Barcodes allowed fast electronic scanning by police and government agencies, making it easier to verify the validity of a license on the spot.

4. Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs)

Some provinces, such as Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec, introduced Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs). These contain radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips to allow secure land and sea border crossings between Canada and the U.S. An EDL functions both as a driver’s license and a limited travel document, meeting specific international security standards.

5. Smart Technology and Future Innovations

Today, discussions are underway about digital driver’s licenses — licenses you can store on your smartphone with enhanced encryption to prevent misuse. Provinces like Quebec and Ontario are exploring pilot programs for digital ID systems that would tie your license into a broader network of secure government services. Biometric authentication (such as facial recognition) is also being explored to further bolster license security in the future.

The evolution of secure ID features in Canadian licenses shows a commitment to protecting personal identity while enabling smooth access to government and private services. As new technologies emerge, you can expect even more innovation in the years ahead.

Want to stay ahead and understand everything about Canadian licensing? Whether you're applying for your first license or updating an existing one, LicensePrep.ca is your go-to source for detailed guides, practice tests, and the latest updates on ID requirements across Canada!

[laramzp]

Overgrowing Technology (2023/24)

Technology and nature have always been perceived as opposing forces - one synthetic, calculated, and ever-advancing; the other organic, unpredictable, and cyclical. Overgrowing Technology explores this duality, creating a space where nostalgia, digital decay, and organic growth converge.

Using nine iMac G3s I reconstruct a personal and collective history of the internet, memory, and digital landscapes. Arranged in a structured 3x3 grid on a blue industrial shelf, these obsolete machines become both relics and vessels, their screens displaying a fragmented video poem in four acts. The work juxtaposes decayed technology with organic life: chrome planters overflowing with greenery, artificial grass, an aquarium, and luminous star stickers evoke childhood memories and digital dreams.

This piece is, in part, an archive of my personal relationship with the internet - a journey through wonder, obsession, disillusionment, and reconciliation. The videos within the iMacs oscillate between past and present, combining found footage, historical references, and original recordings made with handheld cameras, Coolpix, Super 8 film, and iPhones. The layered visuals are complemented by self-produced music and poetry, shaping a multisensory experience.

At the heart of the installation, a mirrored iMac shatters the grid’s uniformity, its reflective fragments inviting the viewer into a space of self-recognition and digital distortion. The work does not seek to romanticize nostalgia but rather to examine its function - how past technological landscapes linger in contemporary digital culture, how the obsolete is repurposed, and how memory itself is an evolving interface.

With Overgrowing Technology, I aim to cultivate a dialogue between the organic and the artificial, questioning whether technology can ever truly become obsolete, or if it simply transforms - overgrown by nature, absorbed into memory, and rewritten into new narratives.

[unwelcome-ozian]

“Northrop Grumman’s HORNET system leverages the latest advances in real-time coupling of human brain activity with automated cognitive neural processing to provide superior target detection,” says Michael House, Northrop Grumman’s CT2WS program manager. “The system will maintain persistent surveillance in order to defeat an enemy’s attempts to surprise through evasive move-stop-move tactics, giving the U.S. warfighter as much as a 20-minute advantage over his adversaries.”

The subconscious mind is hypersensitive to visual images. The system will take advantage of that by using non-invasive electro-encephalogram (EEG) measurement sensors inside the warfighter’s helmet and attached to his scalp, House says.

A soldier’s subconscious may detect a threat his conscious mind is not registering, House says. The EEG sensors will read the soldier’s neural responses to potential threats, and then the readings will educate the system’s algorithms. For example, the algorithms will identify when the warfighter’s subconscious is detecting a moving target at 5 kilometers or at 10 kilometers, House continues. As missions and threats evolve, the algorithms will be refined.

One of the main goals of the Hornet is to reduce the false alarm rate for target acquisition, House says. The human brain’s visual process has very few false alarms, he adds. This should also significantly improve the range of standard binoculars. Lowering false-alarm rates is crucial for HORNET’s intended applications, which include improvised explosive device (IED) detection and destruction, aided target recognition, and border surveillance for homeland security scenarios."

[every-eye-evermore]

pages 13-20. I've got 8 more pages done but this is long enough. you can read the rest on the website <3 transcript at the end. also minor nsfw warning for the last page

Pages 1-8 / Pages 9-12

Page 13, panel 1. Memento peaks out the open window, as Tally and Sylvia talk off screen. Sylvia: This is huge! We need to call Dr. Heron. Tally: No, not yet. It could be unstable, I need to fine tune the formula.

Panel 2. As Memento creeps outside, a shadow looms over it, source unseen. Sylvia: The formula works, It's- Tally: It might break at any minute. We don't know how it reacts to stress.

Panel 3+4. The source of the shadow is shown, it's a pigeon. It looks down at Memento. Sylvia: Which is why we need to show them now before it does!

Page 14, panel 1+2. A flock of pigeons descend on Memento, pecking it. It looks distressed. Tally: We'd need to take it to them, it's too delicate to transport... Sylvia: So- ah, shit. You're right, not yet.

Panel 3. Memento flies back inside, into Tally's hands. Tally looks suprised. Tally: If it does break down, at least- Memento!

Page 15, panel 1+2. Shot reverse shot as Tally cups Memento in her hands. Tally: Right, you're probably really confused. Can you be confused? Memento: I- don't have that data.

Panel 3+4. Sylvia pops in from behind Tally. She looks cheerful, whereas Tally is more worried. Sylvia: That's ok. Right now, you're powered off and disconnected from the network that gives you information and generates your thoughts. You shouldn't be able to talk, or think, or move, but you are. And so well!

Page 16, panel 1. Memento hops back from Tally's hand, afraid. Memento: Tampering with your bugaboo will void your warranty and make you ineligible for Astrocare services.

Panel 2. Sylvia laughs. Sylvia: Ha, yeah, I voided that ages ago.

Panel 3+4. Memento: We recommend you discard your bugaboo and purchase a replacement- Tally interrupts, upset: What? No way, we're not getting rid of you. You're incredible. Memento: -as its functioning may be impaired, making it unable to provide sufficient personal and medical assistance. Tally: Stop it.

Panel 5. Tally caresses a hand against Memento's shell body. Tally: I don't need you to do that. That's not what you're for. Memento: My function is to help you. I can't do that without network access.

Page 17, panel 1 .Tally paces the room, lost in his imagination. Tally: You have a new function. You’re going to help so many more people…

Panel 2. She stops, interrupted by Memento. Memento: How do I do this?

Panel 3. Memento looks from Sylvia to Tally, caught between them. It’s not sure what’s happening. Tally: We need to run more tests to make sure you’re working how we think you are. You’re moving fine, that’s good, and you seem to remember things. Sylvia: Do you mean the speech it gave? Tally: Right, it knows it’s a bugaboo.

Page 18, panel 1+2+3. Sylvia looks back at Memento from the top of her computer, suspicious. Sylvia: I’m actually worried about that, it sounded too artificial. Tally: You don’t think it’s using the neutronium? Sylvia: We need more proof. Reinforce our argument, it’s good for the report.

Panel 4. Tally snaps her fingers, eureka. Tally: In that case... I've got a good test.

Panel 5. Sylvia looks less than thrilled about whatever idea Tally's cooked up. Sylvia: Oh.

Page 19, panel 1. Wide shot of the room. Tally bumps shoulders with Sylvia. Sylvia: Do we really have to do that one? We can't put it in the report. Tally: Sure we can.

Panel 2. Tally takes over the computer, typing something as Sylvia looks away with crossed arms. Memento flies to the computer's desk to get a better look. Tally: Memento was my ears for ages. I know the things Astro won't let it say.

Panel 3. Sylvia rolls her eyes. Sylvia: Ugh.

Panel 4. Close up on the desk, Tally clicks something with a mouse. Tally: I'm going to show you some people, can you describe to me what they're doing? Memento: I am equipped with advanced visual recognition software, however, I cannot access that without my network.

Page 20, panel 1. Tally angels the monitor so Memento can see what she's pulled up. It's a picture of a person in a feathery hat with their back to the camera, receiving oral sex. Sylvia averts her eyes, while Memento studies it. Tally: You've been doing pretty good already. Give it a try.

Panel 2. Memento studies the image. All text boxes previously have had a green background with black text, but this one is reversed, black background with green text. It also has green lines running through it, indicating it isn't spoken dialog. Black box/"the angel", internally: Who is that? Memento: Who is that?

Panel 3. Tally looks away, suddenly uncomfortable. Tally: I- uh- found it online. I'm not sure.

Panel 4. Overlapping text boxes on a blank black background The angel, internally: Not them. Memento, internally: Information request: length of downtime. Information request: reason for downtime. Information request: weather report. Generation request: reminder of correct bugaboo use. [cut off] report: system check.