#Characteristics of intelligence

[trendyingstories]

Artificial intelligence Breakdown - Don’t be afraid

Artificial Intelligence - It is very wrong to say that artificial intelligence has come at the present time.

[ofswordsandpens]

the show needs to let annabeth be a 12 yo girl more <3

[valzhangism]

i know i said i was happy about how mel's story went, but the more i think about it the less i'm sure about that. this is very much connected to how the themes of classism and wealth disappeared in s2, but mel in the beginning was the epitome of piltover. she wanted to advance piltover to prove herself to her mother. to "put piltover—" and by extension herself, "—on the map."

she wanted wealth just to have it. and i'm not blaming her for anything that happened, especially with hextech! she, just like jayce and viktor, could not have known what it would lead to. i mean yeah heimerdinger said so but who the hell listens to heimerdinger? but anyway i think mel changed throughout s1, much in thanks to jayce. by the end she's become more cognisant of the mistreatment of zaunites. she's the first to vote for their peace. she was a good person all along but now she knows how to act on it. it's also seen more in s2 act 1. when she covers her painting with gold, it's symbolic—she won't act according to what her mother might think. she won't let her desire for approval dictate her anymore.

so somehow i wish those themes were. continued, somehow? like again they were dropped not just with mel but the whole show and it makes her story a off to me. there's no meaningful commentary on war or classism or how her ideology stands opposite to her mother's. like some people have said, it feels like she doesn't have much agency, even if she is really cool. and that to me is a shame because agency felt like her thing. "to shape your own destiny" as she says to jayce in s1. i know her collaborating with the black rose (but not fully joining them) and learning magic is supposed to represent becoming independent from her mother, taking her own path, but some other aspects of her character were thrown away... the more i think about it the more i'm thinking they kind of #girlboss-ed her a little bit. maybe to sell another champion. i can't help but feel like even though i enjoyed seeing her on screen, the payoff didn't feel proportionally satisfying compared to her setup in s1.

[vulpinesaint]

they are so fucking silly it might be terminal

[weldedskeletons]

Some Aziraphale and Crowley appreciation because I’m very excited for the finale movie being shot now :D a lot of people are scared/nervous about it but honestly I’m more excited, and really I’ll be content with almost anything they give out given the circumstances, Anyways,

So, I also see a lot of people say that Aziraphale is great with kids. And I agree.

But what I personally think is that Crowley is better with them. Crowley adores the curiosity and innocence of children.

Aziraphale loves them too, of course, but admires and values the intelligence and imagination of adults more in relation.

(Adding onto why this is true: I think Crowley loves kids because he sees them as the world hasn’t corrupted them yet; they’ll still show innocent love and glee to the earth and most other things, possibly including him.

They’re bright and cheerful and, unconsciously, he sees a part of his old self in them, the part that looked at the stars that he created with wonder and amazement.

Azirphale’s reason is that he does value intelligence, yes, but he also sees adults that make art and are good as people who haven’t been corrupted by society, and still love enough to create something wonderful despite all the hardships that the world gives them.

Humans’ art, books, and inventions make him proud of how far we’ve come, emotionally and intelligently, and we are still good enough to make and teach clever things, and love those things too.)

[batsplat]

you’ve mentioned that vale and casey got nastier to each other during vale’s stint in ducati…..

feel like this is one of those situations where this ask has been kindaaaa answered on this blog in the few decades it took me to get around to it... BUT it is a fun topic so let's do a lil round-up. the relationship deteriorated 2010-ish around the time when valentino broke his leg (and their on-track rivalry was reaching its conclusion). you kinda have to read between the lines and do a lot of tenuous speculation about rider psychology about why this happened, because... it's not actually that obvious. with jorge/valentino in 2010, you have an actual paper trail and can construct the timeline for how things soured between them. specific incidents you can point to. with casey/valentino... there's none of that

or rather, there is an incident you can point to - the only problem is it happened two years earlier. obviously casey had neither forgiven nor forgotten laguna 2008, but he had apologised to valentino for his response in the immediate aftermath and they had publicly put their differences behind them. obviously there's still the occasional comment in 2009 that makes it pretty clear they're not 100% fine with each other... casey says he thinks valentino should have apologised and valentino says he thinks casey changed up towards him once he started winning in 2007... but this is minor stuff, said in larger interviews that aren't part of the weekend to weekend discourse. so, how come the vibes deteriorate in 2010 of all years? casey and valentino fight precisely once all year, a battle they both enjoyed, and neither of them are in the title fight. they have no major on-track or off-track clashes. and yet the tone did get markedly worse by the end of 2010 - if you look at what valentino was saying during this time period, he concurs with this assessment. 2010 is definitely the turning point. In My Opinion, there's several different factors you can point to. here's the sparknotes version:

valentino's injury (the literal injury): casey has tradition in being weird about his rivals' injuries - and had just gone through his 2009 mystery illness experience of a lot of the paddock not taking his sickness seriously (put a pin in that). casey was primed to draw a comparison between the reaction to valentino's leg break and his own condition. when valentino returned prematurely to racing (earlier than casey had incidentally predicted post mugello), casey was irritable about how valentino was being treated like a 'crippled hero'. we also know from the following year that he didn't take valentino's lingering shoulder injury particularly seriously either, so presumably he was just not particularly impressed by the valentino injury situation in 2010. that then becomes a symbol of casey's unfair treatment at the hands of the paddock and makes him ill-disposed towards valentino

valentino's injury (absence from paddock + changing power balance): casey had been sitting on his laguna 2008 grudge for two years and... well, perhaps he was a little more liberal about talking about that when valentino was no longer top of the world. not directly referencing laguna, MOSTLY - it's valentino who goes back to that as the root cause for casey's bitterness. which is partly obviously deliberate provocation but also... well, looking at how casey still isn't really over what happened in 2008, valentino did just read casey correctly. jorge talked in 2009 about having to learn from valentino's tendency to launch attacks from position of strength rather than weakness, and it seems like casey learned a similar lesson (better than jorge ever did, mind you). so, for instance, when casey talks about how much nicer the fans are when valentino is off with his broken leg... well, valentino isn't around to directly respond. valentino himself later that year said that both casey and jorge had gotten braver in their criticisms with his absence - though he didn't mind because he felt it was more honest. so casey did kinda confirm valentino's prior suspicions and those suspicions were more or less correct. and casey took advantage of being able to get away with a bit more, so he probably felt like he could be ruder about valentino with less provocation

competitive situation: the thing is, right, both casey and valentino did not have much fun in 2010. casey is more susceptible to this than valentino is, but sometimes you just read an interview excerpt and know casey was in a horrific mood when this interview was conducted. so for instance with that 'oh the fans are nicer' comment from casey, it's worth pointing out that this is not the only casey quote from silverstone 2010 that makes me go. steady on. so at a certain point it's just like... they're both irritable, casey kinda just wants the season to be over and valentino is cranky from being in pain... sometimes maybe it is just that simple. they're both kinda defensive, valentino somewhat uncharacteristically so - and when the ill will towards jorge also spirals, it's quite simple for valentino to just throw casey in the same category. it's a frustrating stretch of time for valentino and he's not in an actual title fight and it makes him prone to lashing out perhaps a little more than he would have in previous years. and casey is feeling particularly disillusioned with the paddock anyway so...

team switch: an obvious one. unpin that pin about the mystery illness - the worst culprits in the paddock's treatment of casey were ducati themselves, spreading false rumours about the causes of the illness to the press, as well as courting jorge for considerably more money than they were willing to pay casey. it pretty definitively broke that relationship and casey presented ducati an ultimatum in early 2010 they didn't really respond to, so he signed a deal with honda that was only openly confirmed a few months later. meanwhile, the internal power balance had pretty definitively changed within yamaha due to valentino's injuries, giving valentino the last push he needed to try and make the italian fairy tale happen. from casey's pov the enthusiasm and hype that met that announcement was obviously pretty galling - and just another sign of how much more valued valentino was than casey. this also set off some bitchiness - valentino made an ill-advised comment about casey not pushing enough to which casey responded valentino should focus on his internal yamaha battle. the real damage was done by valentino's crew chief jb, who pissed off casey so badly with his suggestion that the ducati had quite easily fixable set-up issues that casey regularly lashed out at jb over the following year (at times more so than at valentino) and spent quite a long paragraph recounting the comments in his autobiography. I imagine he's still not forgiven the man

which ends up setting the scene for 2011. it was pretty clear valentino was struggling with the ducati from day one, but the shoulder injury and the off-season surgery was a confounding factor in that... which AGAIN pissed casey off because. well. I don't think you need to read between the lines too much to imagine casey saw it as valentino making cheap excuses. valentino certainly seemed to be of the impression casey had a lot of opinions about his shoulder. that particular story thread culminated in the jerez 2011 encounter. obviously no need to go over that again here - the thing about that incident is that it was a nice opportunity to fall into casey's lap for him to twist in the knife publicly, but like... casey and valentino had such a unique dynamic that this specific incident didn't worsen their relationship. it's not a turning point, it didn't even really change how they interacted in the short term. a flashpoint, but not one that actually changed anything

so then. who's responsible? well, obviously, both of them. but it does all go back to laguna 2008 - and I do think the party responsible for the timing of the relationship deterioration was casey more than valentino. like,, valentino's behaviour is more of a constant where he is obviously going to do his cute little mind games but... valentino had been minded to keep the relationship reasonably civil until that point, including by accepting casey's post laguna apology without too much fuss. escalating hostilities without any competitive justification doesn't really seem like his MO where casey is concerned. also, when you do enough valentino feud autopsies, you get pretty handy at it. valentino feuds have paper trails that include clear precipitating events! something should have HAPPENED in 2010 that can justify why valentino would change his rhetoric towards casey - but there isn't. instead... well, valentino seems to think casey changed. he thinks casey started being more 'honest' about him in the 2010 injury break, and then in early 2011 he again makes it sound like casey's switched up towards him. casey does not say the same about valentino

so, that's the theory of the case. out of the two of them, we know casey had the more deeply held grudge. 2010 was both frustrating enough and liberating enough from casey's pov that it makes sense for him to express that more. valentino keeps up his general stream of bullshit in casey's direction that is just part of the game to him, and when casey escalates he does (initially) follow suit. but he may have genuinely been somewhat blindsided by how casey adjusted his stance towards valentino during that time period. so yeah, valentino basically got the valentino experience from casey. fun

the pair had a completely unrelated spat about towing the following weekend after jerez and just fell into a bit of a rhythm of bickering with each other. some proper, proper stupid exchanges in there - but at a certain point none of them really mattered. they could just kinda say whatever about each other and it was really just another normal week. an intimacy to that kind of hatred... it really is almost liberating. valentino did kinda tail off more with the insults than casey did for obvious reasons related to competitive circumstance - but for casey I still reckon it provided quite a useful emotional release valve. casey tends to be quite rude about his fellow riders whenever he can get away with it but was also making a point of keeping the jorge/dani relationships as warm as possible... so at that point it kinda makes sense to occasionally have a go at valentino. get it out of your system! healthy

anyway, speaking of dumb exchanges, I did want to include one of my personal fave stupid ones that I think quite nicely illustrates the dynamic sketched out here. this was in summer of 2012 when casey's retirement had already been announced, just around when valentino's switch back to yamaha was confirmed

obviously a lot going on here - casey's era typical lap of schadenfreude, the extremely extremely disingenuous 'feeling sorry for ducati' bit... just this lovely nastiness that imo is still a trait valentino and casey share particularly strongly, even when compared to their fellow aliens. my personal favourite bit, however, is how like... hayden is a world champion,, who valentino was beating reasonably decisively in the championship standings AND who casey actively said he LIKED. wdym 'nothing to be proud of' lmao. just this implicit arrogance of going 'well if even nicky and hector can do well with the bike then clearly it's GOT to be good!!' and it's like. bless. he's not doing it on purpose but it is just very him

here's valentino's response

always very nice my friend Casey ah ah ah

listen. it's obviously not my favourite era of their rivalry because I prefer my rivals 'competing' in 'sports' and I do still think it's a shame casey didn't have to go through valentino for his 2011 title... BUT it is an era I am still kinda fond of because it was SO dumb. like they wouldn't have been doing this if they'd still been competing with each other - for various reasons, one of which being that they're both not massive fans of directly confronting each other (outside of exceptional circumstances)... so they would have both relapsed to civility if they'd spent enough time around each other to make this kind of thing a bit too awkward. losers. but because they're NOT directly competing, they can just kinda go at it! literally no stakes, just pure love of the game on display here. it'd maybe be going a bit far to characterise valentino's responses as 'playful' because post 2009 casey did also crack the code for how to actually get under valentino's skin, BUT from his end it was still kinda in the realm of 'not that serious'. which is pretty funny if you look at the sum totality of the stuff casey said about him - apparently if you just insult valentino well enough for long enough he stops taking it personally. why did nobody else ever try THAT approach, huh. and on casey's end to some extent it WAS that serious, but also none of their disputes in that era were really the stuff that had *truly* hurt casey. so then being fantastically rude about valentino is just a way of working through that, in a way. basically I'm glad they both got a weird kick out of whatever THAT was and I think they can be very proud of the oeuvre they provided the people (mainly me) over the course of that rivalry. good job

[fella-lovin-fella]

asshole voice: hmm how can i make this character sound stupid? oh i'll give them a lisp! maybe add a lazy eye too... perfect...

[actual-changeling]

Hi Alex, I saw your reply regarding sapiosexuality and ableism. I'm very curious. Could you please elaborate? If you are too busy, could you please link some sources so I can learn more? Thank you!

I mean, I don't really know what to tell you.

"Intelligence" as such isn't some sort of measurable characteristic a person has, it's an entirely subjective concept influenced by social and cultural values. IQ tests don't tell you anything except how well someone can do this specific kind of test. Anything related to academia falls under the same category, it tells you how well people can write standardized tests or study in a frankly horrible environment, but again, nothing else.

So attraction to - what? "Intelligence" by that person's own definition? Or to traits like pattern recognition? I'd argue that most people are attracted to others that have a similar mind, interests, favourite topics, etc. but that has zero to do with attraction to some sort of intelligence.

Historically, arguments about intelligence have been used to justify institutional violence and abuse against disabled people, especially intellectually disabled people, so turning it into some sort trait that makes someone more attractive only plays into that same rhetoric and contributes it to.

It's a lot easier and less loaded to say you're attracted to people you can have like-minded conversations with - which. again. most tend to be. Whatever you wanna call it, it's a common, usual preference people have not just when it comes to dating but also making friends etc.

Bottom line is, I recommend you think about what exactly a label like "sapiosexual" is supposed to accomplish or convey, because in my opinion it doesn't tell you shit and isn't a label that in any way falls under the queer umbrella.

[toontailsstudio]

Golden Retrievers: The Perfect Family Companion

Golden Retrievers, with their friendly disposition and golden coats, have captured the hearts of dog lovers worldwide. Their origin, characteristics, and endearing love for water and mud make them not just a favorite among pet owners but also an ideal family pet. Let’s delve into the history and qualities that make Golden Retrievers such a beloved breed.

The Origin of Golden Retrievers

The Golden Retriever breed originated in Scotland in the late 19th century. They were developed by crossing the Yellow Retriever with the now-extinct Tweed Water Spaniel, along with some influences from the Bloodhound, Irish Setter, and more Water Spaniel breeds. The aim was to create a dog with a gentle temperament, keen intelligence, and excellent retrieving abilities, particularly suited for the Scottish climate and terrain. Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, later known as Lord Tweedmouth, is credited with developing the breed. His meticulous breeding records from 1835 to 1890 reveal the deliberate creation of this versatile and affectionate dog.

Characteristics of Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers are medium to large-sized dogs, typically weighing between 55 to 75 pounds and standing 20 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder. They have a dense, water-repellent outer coat and a thick undercoat, which can range from light golden to dark golden hues. Their friendly eyes, intelligent expression, and wagging tails make them approachable and endearing.

One of the standout characteristics of Golden Retrievers is their temperament. They are known for their friendly, tolerant attitude, making them excellent companions for children and other pets. Their intelligence and eagerness to please make them highly trainable. They excel in obedience training and are often used as service dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and therapy dogs.

A Love for Water and Mud

Golden Retrievers have an innate love for water, which can be traced back to their breeding as hunting dogs for retrieving waterfowl. They possess strong swimming abilities and a natural affinity for water, making them enthusiastic participants in water activities. Whether it's swimming in a lake, playing fetch at the beach, or splashing in a backyard pool, Golden Retrievers are in their element when water is involved.

This love for water often extends to a fondness for mud. Golden Retrievers seem to have a natural radar for finding the muddiest spots to roll and play in. While this can mean extra baths and cleaning for owners, it also highlights the breed's playful and adventurous spirit.

Why Golden Retrievers Make Great Family Pets

Golden Retrievers are often hailed as the ideal family pet for several reasons:

Temperament: Their friendly and tolerant nature makes them great companions for children. They are patient, gentle, and rarely show aggression.

Intelligence: Golden Retrievers are highly intelligent and eager to please. They respond well to training and can learn a variety of commands and tricks. This intelligence also makes them suitable for various roles, from family pets to working dogs.

Activity Level: They are active and energetic, requiring regular exercise, which can encourage family members to stay active too. Their love for outdoor activities, especially swimming, can make family outings more fun and engaging.

Social Nature: Golden Retrievers are social dogs that thrive on interaction with their human family. They are known to form strong bonds and are happiest when they are included in family activities.

Versatility: Whether it's a hike in the mountains, a romp at the beach, or a cozy evening at home, Golden Retrievers adapt well to various lifestyles and environments. They are as happy playing fetch in the yard as they are cuddling on the couch.

Conclusion

Golden Retrievers, with their rich history, outstanding characteristics, and loving nature, truly make for the perfect family pet. Their loyalty, intelligence, and playful spirit ensure that they bring joy and companionship to any household. Whether you're looking for a running buddy, a swimming partner, or a furry friend to share your home with, a Golden Retriever is sure to fill that role with boundless enthusiasm and unconditional love.

[strawberrybrunette]

My Roman Empire has changed.

Idk how to feel about it.

[counselorssoapbox]

What are character strengths and virtues?

What are character strengths and virtues?Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com By David Joel Miller, MS, Licensed Therapist & Counselor. What are character strengths and virtues? The idea of character strengths and values comes from Peterson and Seligman’s book Character Strengths and Virtues, where I was first introduced to the concept of universal strengths and values. They studied a wide variety of…

[orteil42]

what nobody told me about having pets is you naturally start calling them any random name based on anything they do or any of their characteristics whatsoever. depending on the circumstances we've called these guys mister woof. mister baby. mister hungry. mister boops. mister hugs. mister banana. mister soft. mister fuzzy. mister handsome. mister gentleman. mister intelligent. mister jowls. mister waggy. mister smiley. mister drool. mister pukey. mister piss. mister shit. mister paws. mister hair. mister couch. mister socks. mister tail. mister nose. mister sweetheart. mister sweetiepie. mister orange. mister troublesome. mister sneaky. mister screamy. mister dreamy. mister ears. mister whiny. mister smelly. mister goofy. mister polite. mister darling. mister doe eyes. mister crossy paws. mister barks. mister itchy. mister pants. mister fries. mister sits. mister naps. mister licks. mister bag. mister box. mister pillow. mister ornery. mister meowy. mister bowtie. mister animal. mister dipshit. mister purrs. mister yawns. mister sleepy. mister baby. mister baby. mister baby

[mortalityplays]

there's something I find really instructive about the whole thing with the columnist who was scammed into handing over her savings in a shoebox, that I haven't seen many people talk about.

plenty of people have justifiably laughed at her credulity for just accepting that she was dealing with the cia and doing whatever they said, and she mentions herself in the article the sense of crushing mortification that she was so ready to bow to any perceived authority. other people have discussed the value of the piece being its "it could happen to anyone" message, coming from a financial analyst who has written about avoiding scams, which is fine and does have value.

but what I find fascinating is the way it illustrates the secret power of a good scam artist or charismatic leader: they don't have to look or sound convincing to 99% of observers. they just have to be talented at picking up on the specific cues that work on one person. this is why they move so quickly to isolate their targets from everyone around them, and maintain intense pressure with ticking clocks and regular check-ins. the scam is not designed to hold up under even 5 minutes of close scrutiny, it's designed to bypass scrutiny by hitting emotional buttons on a specific individual. the stupider you feel after you cool off, the better they've done their job.

anyone interested in charismatic manipulation, whether scams, cults, or abusive relationships, has heard people say "I'd never fall for something like that". and every victim, in retrospect, says "I never thought I'd fall for something like that". there is no special pattern of stupidity, intelligence, vulnerability or confidence. the pattern is that the perpetrator recognises a thought or behaviour characteristic they can take advantage of. they're the ones selecting you. and that's why teaching people the underlying social mechanics of charismatic abuse is more effective than telling them about lists of individual scams to watch out for. the thing that works on you won't look like anything you've scoffed at, by nature. survival bias plane dot jpeg.

[littlecornerinbrooklyn]

Divorced Dean sucks and Rory should have ended the marriage and gotten out of dodge she’s so bad at making choices around boyfriends it’s kind of bonkers

[yzegem]

Sirens of Encounters in the Frontier.

In my setting, sirens are a kind of shark, descendants of a creature most similar to an epaulette shark, wich adapted to hunt fish and mollusks trapped during the low tide and eventually evolved to be fully lunged and mostly amphibian.

There are 3 species of sirens, all 6 limbed.

-The continental mernewt is native to the vast beaches and coral reefs of the southeastern coast of the continent. It's similar in bodyplan to a mudskipper and just as agile. They have jaws strong enough to open shellfish and don a venomous spur next to their tail fin, wich can kill small animals and cause pain, swelling and even necrosis of the limbs in larger animals like humans.

Male mernewts are known to "fence" each other as they are very territorial during mating season. This fights envolve leaps into the air, stabbing with their spurs, biting and their characteristic shriek.

These animals are very important in the culture of the warrior caste in the Sun Empire and represent masculine violence and war, sometimes positively (they are kept in artificial ponds ocasionally) or as a critique in poetry of the futility of war, since the mernewts are vulnerable to birds of prey or other predators while exhausted after a fight.

-The lesser siren is the most terrestrial of all sirens. Its native to the eastern and southern coast of the continent, the north of alwaysummer and the Twisted Islands.

These creatures feed mostly on fish stranded during low tides but many hunt seabirds by staying still between rocks in the shore until the perfect ocasion to leap and catch its prey with their clawed pectoral fins. They usually drag their prey to the water and drown it there. They are very capable of climbing rocks and can be quite fast in short bursts of speed.

They can get quite large and pose a significant danger to some cattle and humans.

-Sirens are native to the Twisted Islands and are the most aquatic of the three, even though they can still return to the sea if they get stranded.

They spend most of the day in underwater caves and are actually quite good at hunting in the sea floor, as they use their long arm like pectoral fins to move rocks and expose mollusks and other small prey. Still, their prey of choice are terrestrial animals. Sirens are indeed quite intelligent animals, though far from sapient, as they resemble the intelect of a marine crocodile, wich manifests in very specialiced hunting tactics.

They have learned to attract land animals close enough to the water by leaving small pieces of fish in the shore as bait for seabirds or imitating animal cries for help to attract unsuspecting predators or worried members of the imitated species. When they get the chance, they rapidly extend their arm-like fins and drag the animal to the sea.

Some sirens have specialiced in hunting humans, specially those on boats, wich is a big problem given how common reed boats and low canoes are for transport in the twisted islands, often used to also transport cattle.

Sirens can easily climb on top of these boats or colaborate between many to topple a ship.

They don't hunt in organized groups, rather they all hunt individually but at the same time, if that makes sense, and later fight for the prey.

These human eating sirens have learn to stand on small islands or unlit shores ar night and waive their arm-like fins while screaming (they can imitate a great variety of sounds) to lure humans closer to them.

The Iliryi people (those native of the twisted islands) have developed many methods to sail safely, such as covering their boats with down facing spikes, tying themselves to the boat or just carrying harpoons and being ready for action. Still, these tactics are not very efective when overwhelmed by a large group of sirens.

The government of the twisted islands hires whalers and fishermen from all across the eastern sea during their low season to work as sirens hunters, wich escort other ships and keep the siren population at bay. This is a high risk high reward job for these fishermen.