#Learn Coding Online with Alpha Coding

[aphacoding]

Learn Coding Online with Alpha Coding | Top Programming Courses for Kids

Alpha Coding offers a fantastic way for kids to learn coding online with a wide variety of programming courses. Our courses are designed to be fun, engaging, and easy to follow for young learners. From basic coding concepts to advanced topics like web development and artificial intelligence, Alpha Coding provides an accessible platform for children to build their skills step by step. We use a project-based learning approach, where students not only grasp theoretical knowledge but also apply it by building their own games, websites, and apps. By learning to code online, kids develop essential skills that enhance creativity, logical thinking, and confidence in technology.

Website: https://alphacoding.com/

Email Us On- info@alphacoding.com

Contact- +1 647-559-2311

Address- 5000 Yonge Street, Suite 1901, Toronto, M2N 7E9

[masteri-0]

Just had a completely crack idea I really should've posted on April fool's instead, but nope I was working that day.

Svsss transmigration reveal, as a result of a system scenario or caused by some sort of artifact is uty, but not only does it reveal both Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu as transmigrators, there's also some sort of language translation thing going on. And they're panicking. They try to corroborate in English and realise, oh fuck the rest of the audience understands them, so what do they do? They start fucking talking with gen alpha slang. (It's not gen z, it's not.)

There is no language translation artifacts nor abilities in the world that can cross that barrier. None. Absolute confusion on the peak lords part. I need you to know that neither of the 2 transmigrators can keep a straight face throughout it. There's been at least one "what the fuck did you just say" thrown around (SQQ just cursed?!), or in SQH's case "bro, bro I literally do not understand what you just said" exchanged. This furthers everyone's confusion. Just, the slangs are low-key not even understandable to most people online, you think ancient china dweebs would stand a chance?

At the end, efforts are made to learn English in CQMS, a whole new language, it could be a secret code for just the sect members! SQH & SQQ refuse to teach whatever code they were using to communicate that could even get past the universal translator. People take that to mean they still don't trust them enough, efforts are made to grow closer to them, but it's understandable that they'd want their own secret code to remain between themselves (the scent of vinegar is pretty strong...)

In actual fact, they refuse to teach it because if any one of them hears that brainrot being spoken about casually they're going to lose it. Also how would they even explain it--

Heavily inspired by one scanlation grp posting April fools manhwa chapters, they replaced a chapter of dialogue with gen alpha slang and it was fucking hilarious. Truly doing gods work. (Unfortunately they took the gag chapters down after the day was over)

[1dmonthlyficroundup]

— 1D Monthly Fic Roundup —

Hi, and welcome to the 1D Monthly Fic Roundup for August 2024! Below you’ll find 1D fics that were all published this month. We hope you’ll check out these new fics! If you would like to submit your own fic, please check this post on how to submit or visit our blog @1dmonthlyficroundup​. You can find all our other posts here.

Happy reading!

＊ I've been here for days by @justanothershadeofblue [E, 18k, OT5]

Somewhere in the desert, a man is called by God to raise up a righteous generation, to bring forth the kingdom from his own seed and the wombs of his omegas.

He will do it by any means necessary.

A series in six parts. Part 1 of Keep Holding Me This Way

＊ i'm going out tonight by @disgruntledkittenface [M, 3k, Harry/Louis]

Louis hasn’t been appreciating his boyfriend Harry. He only realizes it when Harry takes matters into his own hands. Inspired by Bejeweled by Taylor Swift.

＊ And I'm Okay (with what i'm not) by red_panda28 / @red-pandaaa [T, 6k, Louis/Harry]

“So, speaking of steamy scenes.” The interviewer, Harry had already forgotten his name again, gestured with his mod cards between Harry and his co-star, Sam. “With all the intimacy going on on-set, was there ever a time that continued… off-camera?” He winked at the camera.

OR 3 times people make assumptions about Harry's sex life and the 1 time he snaps

＊ Gotta Feeling by @allwaswell16 [T, 2k, Harry/Louis]

When Harry's life in Manchester isn't turning out the way he thought it would, he decides to visit his best friend in Mexico City. Maybe Niall can convince him to move halfway around the world.

＊ HOT TO GO! by @allwaswell16 [T, 2k, Louis/Harry]

When Harry does something weird at the barricade, he leaves Louis’ show devastated and hoping he can somehow make things right.

Or the accidental pervert fic

＊ Let the Feeling Last by @allwaswell16 [T, 5k, Harry/Louis]

Omega Harry thinks the alpha at the grocery store buying a cart full of vegetables must be an amazing chef. He doesn't know that Alpha Louis is feeding all those vegetables to his pet pig.

＊ Stars over Amsterdam by @hellolovers13 [T, 4k, Louis/Harry]

Louis remembers how stressed they were, trying to get tickets at all. The waiting for the email with the code, which only Louis got, the actual On-sale. How Harry stood behind him, peeling at his nails nervously. Trying not to distract Louis.

But it had all gone smoothly and he had gotten the tickets within just a few minutes.

Harry had jumped around Louis’s chair in excitement like a bouncing ball. Already starting to plan their outfits.

A gold fringe dress for Harry, Fearless was his favourite album, after all, and a matching shirt he had found online for Louis. So people could tell right away they were an item.

That was their plan. Before it all went to shit.

or Fate in form of Eras Tour tickets forces Louis to meet up with his Ex.

Hopefully soon to be Ex-Ex.

＊ Stronger Than the Tide by @haztobegood [G, 3k, Harry & Louis]

The time Louis had spent talking with Harry in the cave had flown by. He was still unsure where the time had gone. Maybe it was because this was the first real connection Louis had made in years. Love and sex did not interest Louis, and it became harder to find good friends.

It was different with Harry. Their conversation flowed effortlessly without pressing for more. Despite the hours they spent together in the cave, Louis wanted to keep talking, to share more of himself, and to learn more about Harry. He hoped their paths would cross again soon.

＊ The Grundy County Drag Show Incident by @haztobegood [T, 3k, Zayn/Liam]

The instrumental opening of Beyoncé’s Halo filled the bar, and the crowd clapped in time to the beat. Holding a wireless mic in her gloved hand, Veronica Stardust owned the stage. She was one of the most vocally talented drag queens in the Midwest. Harry and Louis had seen this act a few times before and were always blown away at the power of her voice. Liam, however, was just experiencing it for the first time. He didn’t know what was yet to come. Part 2 of Grundy County Incidents

＊ Porcupine by sweetkalachuchi / @neverforpickles [E, 82k, Louis/Harry]

Louis, a broke omega librarian, finds his quiet life in Vienna turned upside down when he meets a charming four-year-old boy named Venus, who insists that Louis is his "Mama." When Venus's father, Harry—a powerful and dangerous mafia leader—offers Louis a lucrative job as the boy's full-time nanny, Louis steps into a world where love and danger are deeply intertwined.

As Louis grows closer to Harry and Venus, he discovers the perilous secrets of Harry's underworld life. Their unexpected connection sparks a passionate romance, but with Harry's enemies closing in, Louis must navigate a treacherous path where his heart and life are at risk. This is a thrilling tale of love, danger, and the irresistible pull of two souls drawn together against all odds.

＊ Miracles At Sunsets by sweetkalachuchi / @neverforpickles [T, 16k, Harry/Louis]

Harry and Louis are best friends bound by years of shared memories, but their relationship is complicated by a tangle of unspoken emotions. Harry, an Alpha, is deeply in love with Louis, an Omega, but fears revealing his true feelings might shatter the friendship they’ve built. When Harry decides it’s time to settle down and start a new chapter in his life, he turns to Louis, an interior designer, for help in finding the perfect home.

What begins as a light-hearted search for a house soon becomes a journey of self-discovery and emotional upheaval. As they explore potential homes, their bond is tested by the growing tension between what is said and what remains hidden. Can Harry find the courage to reveal his heart, or will their unspoken desires tear them apart?

＊ Symphony by sweetkalachuchi / @neverforpickles [T, 4k, Louis/Harry]

In the peaceful countryside, Harry Styles is a hardworking farmer who’s all about keeping things running smoothly on his farm. But when a routine check on his crops leads to a nasty fall from his horse, Harry finds himself seriously injured. Determined not to worry his pregnant omega, Louis, he stubbornly drives himself to the hospital, knowing full well that Louis would be frantic if he found out.

Meanwhile, Louis gets a call that sends him into a panic—Harry’s in the hospital. Rushing to his side, Louis is a mix of anger and worry, not sure whether to scold Harry or hug him. As they reunite, the two navigate their emotions, and despite the scare, their bond only deepens, proving that together, they can handle anything life throws at them.

＊ Let Your Tears Fall (No I Won't Judge You) by LiveLaughLoveLarry / @loveislarryislove [E, 7k, Harry/Louis]

“I want to feel good," Harry says. "I want you to feel good. I just… I don’t know what that looks like.”Louis nods. “That’s fair,” he says. “Always a bit of a learning curve, figuring out what you like and what you don’t.” He rubs his chin. “What if we just… talk through it? Instead of doing it?”Harry blinks. “What do you mean?” he says. “I don’t – I just don’t know what-”“I know,” Louis says. “It’s okay.” He brushes his hand down Harry’s cheek, soft and gentle. “I can start,” he says. “Tell you about what I imagine us doing together. And anytime you feel like something isn’t right – you can stop me, and we can figure out a different path.”Harry nods slowly. “Okay,” he says. “I can try.”

Four times Harry cries during sex. And four times Louis is right there beside him, giving him all the comfort and support and validation he needs.

＊ Donatello by @jooles999 [M, 42k, Louis/Harry]

"GET OFF MY BUS!"

Louis neck bristled, he glared into the face of the man towering over him, his pupils black with unfiltered rage he opened his mouth ready to respond before hearing fast approaching footsteps from behind the curtain.

" Jeff, What's all the shouting about?"

Louis clamped his eyes shut gulping for air as a tightness gripped his chest.

No it can't be

Seconds felt like hours, he shivered as time stopped still. Louis opened up his now glistening eyes, he held his breath and bit tightly on his bottom lip trying to prepare himself for the moment he had so carefully avoided for 3 long years.

The curtain pulled back.

" Yes yes you have guessed right well done, it is indeed Harry Styles, you can close your gawping mouth now mate. Ill even be nice and give you a tour t-shirt, then you can get the hell off my fucking tour bus and back to...."

"L..Louis?"

Or One stormy night popstar Harry and accountant Louis are reunited after 3 long years apart. Harrys manager is dangerous and controlling can Louis save him before it's too late.

＊ I long for that feeling to not feel at all by @ineverateakiwi [NR, 2k, Harry/Louis]

When he is not around and Harry needs to feel more grounded, steady on his own feet, he thinks of Louis. It's probably not healthy to rely on someone this heavily, but it's better than nothing. It's what he has right now. And, right now, it's working. Is thinking about that feeling, the feeling of being real, being alive, that he whispers – without thinking – those two words. — "Hurt me."

Harry needs to feel something, even if it's pain. Louis gives what he needs.

- Fic Fests -

＊ 1D Aro/Ace Fic Fest / @1daroaceficfest [Masterpost]

A One Direction Fic Fest centred around all the identities on the aromantic and asexual spectrum

- Podfics -

＊ [Podfic] Write You A Song by by Rearviewdreamer / @all-these-larrythings read by Panda_Podfics / @pandapodfics [G, Louis/Harry]

Harry’s new flat is great but the acoustics are even better. They’re so good in fact that his daily shower concerts start to entertain an audience besides his shampoo bottle.

[writingquestionsanswered]

Hello! Do you have any advice on how to deal with the fear of bad-faith readers? Thanks to spending too much time online during Covid, my confidence took a huge hit, and now I’m quite worried about random online users discovering my writing and complaining that my writing is not good enough, not diverse enough, not social justicey enough, etc. It’s often made me hesitate a lot during my writing recently, so any advice to deal with this would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Fear of Negative Feedback/Reviews

Three things to keep in mind here:

#1 Reviews and comments aren't feedback. Unless you post your story to a place dedicated to writer feedback or where you're specifically asking for feedback, any commentary or review you receive is not there to educate you. It's either there as thanks and/or flattery, or it's there to let other readers know what to expect. On sites like AO3, for example, unless you specifically ask for concrit, you will probably only get neutral or positive commentary which isn't feedback. If you get negative comments, just ignore them if you didn't ask for them.

#2 Reviews are for readers. Let me say that again...

Reviews are for readers to let other readers know what they liked and didn't like about a book. They are not there for the author's harm or benefit. They're not there to educate the author. They're there for other readers, full stop.

Write the best story you can write, and if you can, utilize feedback tools meant for writers (alpha readers, writing groups, critique partners, sensitivity readers, beta readers, editors...) to ensure your story is everything you want it to be.

If your alpha readers, writing groups, critique partner/s, sensitivity readers, beta readers, or editors have concerns about representation in your story, those are the issues you need to address.

Once your story is out in the world, let it go, especially if negative reviews hurt your confidence and mental health. If you inadvertently do something terrible that blows up, listen, apologize, and take steps to do better next time. That's it.

#3 Everyone isn't going to love your story. All writers get bad reviews. If you expect to receive only glowing praise on every story, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes is a beloved classic that has sold an estimated 500 million copies worldwide since it was first published in 1605. Among the reviews on Amazon: "repetitive and frustrating," "book is trash, don't know why it's a classic," "I absolutely hated this book," "silly, lengthy, display of low humor."

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is another beloved classic, and it has sold an estimated 200 million copies worldwide since publication in 1859. Among the reviews on Amazon: "boring as heck," "incomprehensible jibberish," "has significant flaws," "great if you want a nice nap," "way too slow and boring."

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is a classic that is still very popular and beloved today, and has sold an estimated 100 million copies since its publication in 1937. Among the reviews on Amazon: "very slow paced and confusing," "I found it mind-numbingly dull," "the worst piece of writing ever," "zoned out because I was bored."

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown is a hugely popular contemporary book that has sold an estimated 80-million copies worldwide since its publication in 2003. Among the reviews on Amazon: "One of the worst, if not THE worst book I've read, ever," "much ado about not much," "couldn't overlook the shallow characters, boring car chases, and general lack of quality," "unnecessary ramblings about scenery," "horribly written, full of cliches."

All stories have people who don't like them. Period.

It's something we have to accept as writers.

As long as we're doing our best to put the best possible stories out there, and as long as we listen and learn when legitimate concerns are brought to our doorstep, we're doing all we can.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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[wethepixies]

✨About WTP✨

Your questions about the project itself will be answered here! ⠀ What is We The Pixies? We The Pixies (WTP for short) is a rewrite of Disney's Pixie Hollow online multiplayer game that ran from 2008 to 2013. WTP has been in development since 2018.

WTP is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company and/or the Disney Interactive Media Group. ⠀ Where can I play it? As WTP is still in alpha testing, you cannot play the full version of Pixie Hollow at the moment. You can give the demo a play at: https://www.wethepixies.net/ ⠀ When will new features be released? Watch the ⁠game-news channel in our Discord server for updates as soon as they happen!

We know it’s hard to wait for new game features, but please try not to nag the staff about updates. We’ll let you know when we release new features on all our socials. ⠀ When will WTP be completed? Unfortunately, there's no definite answer. WTP is a volunteer project, meaning that staff members have to find time in their busy schedules to work on it. The game essentially has to be rebuilt from scratch, which means that things may take a while to get finished.

Please be patient. We’re working our wings off to make WTP the best it can be. ⠀ When WTP is complete, will I have to pay for a membership to access all of the features? Not at all! Everything in WTP will be free for each & every player. ⠀ Will I be able to play as my old fairy from Pixie Hollow? No. WTP is in no way affiliated with Disney so, unfortunately, we cannot transfer old fairy accounts over from Disney’s game. ⠀ Will WTP be merging with other Pixie Hollow remakes? No. WTP has no plans to merge with any other Pixie-Hollow-related projects. ⠀ Will there be updates to the original game/new content? WTP’s number one priority is to bring the original game back to life. However, we are hoping to incorporate more original content (in accordance with Pixie Hollow’s aesthetic) sometime in the far future. ⠀ Will there be a website for WTP? If so, when will it be available? Yes! The team is hard at work creating an official website that reflects the magic of the original game. As the website is still under construction, we do not have an estimated time of release. ⠀ Will WTP begin accepting donations? No, WTP will not be accepting any donations. The game will be 100% funded by staff.

✨Current Game Features✨

Your questions about the current version of the demo will be answered here! ⠀ Can I make an account and save my fairy? Accounts aren't an option right now - to enjoy the demo, you'll have to create a new fairy every time or use a CaF code.

At the end of the Create-A-Fairy process, you can copy and save a CaF Code, which you can use to skip Create-A-Fairy while keeping your character's design. We suggest you save this code in a Word document so you can copy and paste it at the beginning of Create-A-Fairy next time you play. To learn more about CaF codes, click here. ⠀ What meadows can I explore? At the moment, players can explore three meadows: Dewdrop Vale, Palm Tree Cove, and Neverberry Thicket. Other classic meadows are being developed. ⠀ Where are the talent games? Only Bubble Bounce and Butterfly Painter are available for now; they are located in Dewdrop Vale and Palm Tree Cove respectively. More talent games are on the way! Can I go shopping? Yes - we currently have three stores in-game. Brook's Basics clothing store in Dewdrop Vale, Schelly's Shears hair salon in Palm Tree Cove and Harmony's Sweet Shop in Neverberry Thicket are open for business! More items and shops are in development. ⠀ I see other fairies, but I can't add them as friends! Adding fairy friends isn’t available right now, although we’re working on it!

How do I complete the tasks in my journal? At the present moment the tasks listed in your journal are merely suggestions and not something that can be completed.

Can I play We The Pixies on mobile? Yes, We The Pixies is playable on mobile.

Which browser is the best to play We The Pixies on? We The Pixies works on all browsers, although some players have run into issues on Safari, so please be sure to include which browser/device you're playing on when submitting a bug report.

What’s up with the profiles? They look like they’re missing a lot of stuff. We’re working with fairly simple profiles right now - over time, we’ll add more features. Right now, you can use profiles to report and whisper to individual users. ⠀ How will the chat system be filtered to keep the game kid-friendly? All chat messages are filtered using a whitelist of allowable words, including: meadow names, fairy name combinations, and much more. In the future, we hope to take player recommendations of words to add to our whitelist!

✨Ways to Help✨

Interested in contributing? Your questions about volunteering will be answered here!

How can I help with the current bugs? 1) I'm trying to create a fairy but the avatar isn't showing up! 2) My fairy turned white! 3) Other bug not listed above These are bugs we're working on fixing. Please be sure to send in a bug report, and in the meantime we recommend refreshing your browser to see if that solves the issue.

Can I apply to help? Fly on over to ⁠the application-links channel in our Discord server to check which positions are open as we don't announce that on any of our socials & you need to have been in the Discord for some time to apply. ⠀ I don't know anything about developing. Can I still apply to help? Occasionally, other roles such as Moderator, Artist or Sound Designer will open up. Applications for these roles will be present in the ⁠application-links channel when they are available. Developer is the only staff position that is always accepting new members. However, everyone can help the staff by reporting bugs in the demo! ⠀ How can I report a bug? To report a bug, you can fill out this official bug report form: https://forms.gle/4NPZa5Rrq1q69zT99 Please be sure to include a clear and detailed description of the bug, exact steps to reproduce the bug, and screenshots (if possible). ⠀ What do artists and developers do? Together, our artists and developers work to rebuild the game from the ground up. Individually, they do a lot, but to summarize:

Artists restore art & assets from the original game, as well as create animations and spritesheets.

Developers are responsible for game development and/or web design. ⠀ I recently applied for a position and haven’t heard back. What should I do? Responses to application forms generally go out within the week, either via email or Discord. However, if you have any questions about your application, feel free to message any of the staff members on our Discord server.

Thank you for supporting the We The Pixies project! We look forward to flying with you at wethepixies.net!

[henry-winter-apologist]

i'm about a month late to the party but i still got some thoughts.

so our sims lord and savior got digitally/socialmedially murdered by the amount of computer illiteracy everywhere online these days. and im here to have a rant about it and pick a bone with the idiots who feel entitled to his time and skill. long post ahead, i'm in the mood to go full anadius on simmers' asses

this isn't me trying to defend anything or speak on his behalf. but this is the hill i'm willing to die on regarding piracy in general. anadius doesn't need anyone to defend him in any case lmao. nonetheless this is a good case study

facts i need everyone to actually get through their heads real quick:

as it stands now, the full sims 4 experience has reached over $1200. that's my entire living budget for almost half a year.

sims 4 is a pile of garbage spaghetti code that will never get fully fixed unless some sort of miracle happens

ea is incomprehensibly big

ea doesn't give a shit about you

game cracking is free labor

okay, rant starts under the cut. don't interact if, besides comp skills, you also lack reading comprehension and critical thinking

if you're willing to dunk on anadius for being a dick, you're not different from people who defend ea. am i willing to say for certain anadius doesn't sometimes get off on calling people stupid? i'm not and i honestly don't give a shit if he does cause it would be missing the entire fucking point of his work. so what if he does?

and before y'all call me an asskisser, i see your point and i'm not trying to hide it. i lurk in his server sometimes and i go over the help threads and lose my shit laughing at the conversations happening there. he does live in my head rent free. as i've been saying for the past few years, if anadius spits in your mouth, you say thank you. anyway

i won't even get into the "he's rude" thing because it's a nothing burger. yes, he is. there's no denying it. however, just because he's mean doesn't erase the fact that some simmers can't follow instructions - especially the ones who got into sims when sims 4 was released. and i say this as someone who's exclusively played sims 4. this is most likely due to comp literacy going down w late genz/gen alpha.

the fact is that if you took a few hours out of your life to understand his system, your problems would go away. unfortunately, some of you can't fucking read a text carefully because you're so goddamn used to skimming over shit. and that's how you miss important details. that's how you end up moving shit you're not supposed to. i know it hurts to find out you're illiterate, but someone has to humble you. you can't just fucking go around calling him toxic and abusive(??????????) and telling him he has anger management problems. besides the absolutely bonkers idea of diagnosing someone over twitter replies, anyone who's ever dealt with people who have never tried to learn the basics of compsci can tell you he's right

furthermore, another thing that grinds my fucking gears is "if he finds it so annoying why doesn't he stop replying🙄". maybe i know this because i enjoy reading help threads too much, but i can tell you why he keeps replying. if you have a problem that can't be fixed by instructions, he genuinely wants to help you. this also applies to people who get cursed at, but y'all refuse to see it. in any case, he really does offer his full support when something does go wrong with his tools. (don't ask me for proof. there's a reason the server isn't that easy to find). the reason he keeps replying is so very simple. he's genuinely trying to make his tools better. the thing he posted about finding very few real problems with his tools is evidence of that. actually, as far as i've seen, he also takes feedback on his instructions very well and he's used the feedback to make them more clear over the years. the thing is, you can't dumb it down more than this. there's a limit to how comp illiterate you have to be to pirate, especially if it's tools as complex as anadius'. again, you might not enjoy hearing this and i can't help you with that.

if you thought i wouldn't get more asskissy than this, here you go: the dude is simply a master in programming. not only that, but game cracking is a side of programming that won't be automated and/or taken over by ai any time soon, unlike many other code-monkey tasks, for obvious reasons. he does it all for free. he spends a huge amt of time trying to improve his tools and craft just to, most often, run into a wall with people unable to follow instructions or, even worse, lying to him about shit they did to fuck up their game then expecting him to read their mind.

you wanna speak about this in tiktok-y therapy talk? y'all are the ones abusing his time, then calling him names, then being pissed when he makes fun of you again (I'm fucking kidding, by the way, if it really has to be said. but that's not to say y'all aren't wasting his time)

the backlash he got over his "finally" reply is wild. y'all are wild. and entitled. you're so used to shitting on EA that it spills over in the modding&piracy communities.

it's so fucking obnoxious how much of a spoiled brat some of you can be over people who do insane amounts of work for FREE. do you understand that? do you understand that, if someone gives you something for free and you break it by "accident" (aka you don't use it as intended, then try to lie to them about it), then go to them for more free labor to fix it, they're allowed to be pissed and make fun of you? (is it the right thing to do? i don't really care, honestly. if that's how he deals with his work and time being exploited by spoiled brats, fine by me)

as much as some ppl insist piracy isn't a political statement, just because you keep saying it doesn't make it true, and it's very telling how people are more pissed at someone who does work for free than at the humongous company owning the thing. and, before you even think about it, no, you couldn't seriously share the same amount of outrage for both.

i could go on and on and on about how this kind of victimization on the internet won't bring you anywhere, but I'll just say this: people insulting you online because you can't follow instructions isn't abusive. and if you can't understand that i have no idea how you can live in this reality.

anyway. this whole thing applies to anyone who mods or cracks or provides for free something that companies make or would make offensive amounts of money from. i hope it doesn't ever drive anyone away from doing what they do, but especially anadius who, and i hope you understand this at some point, is indeed the reason EA doesn't own our entire asses with the bullshit they frequently pull

anadius, if this post finds you, nice work. really appreciate you. also, let's pretend i never said anything about anyone spitting in someone's mouth, thanks😗

[simslegacy5083]

Not So Berry (Straud Descendants) Gen 9

Today's (8/26/2024) Episode: A Little Harvestfest Fun

Jade had made her farewells after Skye’s party, and shortly after Valentina was saying her own goodbyes to the young Lawbournes at the homestead.

“G-ma go bye-bye?” Skye asked, clearly confused by this shake-up to his well-ordered world. Valentina picked him up and hugged him tight “Don’t worry, I’ll be back to visit, and you tell mommy and daddy to call me if you get lonely, OK?”

Skye smiled and nodded, snuggling in close. After one last kiss she gently put him down and turned to embrace her stepson. Well, I’m off to help Scott and Bria prepare my signature Huckleberry Tofurkey for our Tomorang Harvestfest. You take good care of my little man, you hear?”

“Absolutely” her stepson replied, “After all, I learned from the best, and he’ll be having a grand time at Don’s with his cousin Adelaide tonight.”

Adelaide was Great Grandpa Don’s firstborn with the latest Mrs. Lothario. He had indeed married Rhea, the sim he’d told Luigi all about during their last Geekcon adventure. In an effort to bond with her husband’s extended family the young heiress had invited Luigi and Denton over to the couple’s stately Glimmerbrook estate for Harvestfest.

Rhea had assumed she’d have the most in common with the other mother of a toddler, but Noemi’s social awkwardness made small talk an uphill battle, and their young ones didn’t start off instant buds either.

Over in Don’s downstairs office things were going much better. Denton and Luigi were taking advantage of the time before dinner to host a special dual player modded Sims Forever Charity event: “Harvestfest Turducken – A Sims Forever Holiday meal streaming live from the Lothario mansion”

“I’ll go wrangle our guests” Luigi told his cousin once they were online. “Can you get our “very special” (and possibly deadly) dinner prepped and ready? The poll is open to decide which sims will be the “lucky” ones to join us this evening!”

While the boys were happily putting together a virtual dinner party, Bridget had followed Don into the actual kitchen. With the aide of Luigi’s drone Yoshi, she was “supervising” (and streaming) the immortal chef’s preparation of the feast they’d all be enjoying that night.

Luigi cut back and forth between game footage and the live documentary, until Don finished up and called everyone to the grand meal.

The in-game Pufferfish wound up being as well prepared as Don’s impeccable Lamb dish, so after the pair of streamers completed their virtual event (without culinary tragedy) and uploaded a last few high-quality shots of Don’s savory masterpiece, everyone sat down to eat.

Noemi was much more relaxed during the meal than she’d been before it, settling across from gaming savvy Denton in the kitchen and happily striking up a conversation about Project Daisy. He was excited to get his hands on an early access copy of the game as soon as it was ready.

“With you two at the helm this thing is sure to be a hit” he told her as he served himself and Markus a second slice of lamb.

“Luigi appreciates my outsider perspective on the game as much as my technical work,” she said, “but making sure he actually rests his hand is my most important job.” At Denton’s grimace, she nodded. “Exactly. Dealing with his Carpel Tunnel has been hard on him. He wants to do more, but I keep reminding him that overdoing it will just make it harder to work, play, or code that alpha version of the game you’re dying to try out.”

Meanwhile in the dining room, Luigi thanked his grandfather for the delicious meal that met his anemia and diabetes related dietary requirements.

“Making healthy food tasty and tasty food healthy is the highest calling of a chef.” Don said. “I hear you’re becoming a pretty good cook yourself.”

“I’m headed that way.” Luigi replied “Cooking was dad’s favorite activity, not mine, but Noemi has my “mouse time” tightly regulated to protect my wrist, so I’m in the kitchen more often. Now that the stream is over, I promised her I’d be offline for the rest of the day. I know she’s trying to help, but I tell you, there’s only so much “resting” a sim can take!”

After dinner the adults were preparing to leave when they discovered Skye and Adelaide happily playing “queens of the castle”.

Not wanting to disturb them Don turned to his grandson. “If you need to be offline anyway, and Yoshi is all warmed up, why don’t we leave these two alone and record that cosmetic promo we had planned for next week right now?”

“Sounds good to me!” Luigi nodded, and the men left Noemi and Rhea to once again attempt small talk while they headed upstairs to get started.

View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Fics Written in 2015 (3) Masterlist

part one, part two

1000 Post-it Notes (ao3) - phansparent (lestershoweller)

Summary: Phil bets Dan that he can use up all the Sword Art Online post-it notes in one year. Whoever wins can make any request from the other, and the other will be forced to oblige.

A Flaw in the Code (ao3) - Emejig16

Summary: So money and power is what you seek? How much do you want it though; what are you willing to go through to seize it for yourself? Dan is the criminal mastermind behind the world’s largest and most powerful computer hacking company. All he sees are numbers and coding, however something else glints in his eyes. Over the course of his career he’s become very interested in a set of four special computer chips, and although he has three of them, his collection is not quite complete yet. Unfortunately, getting this fourth and final item is not something he can do on his own. So, he employs the help of former top MI6 Agent Phil Lester to aid him in his quest. Dan quickly learns that someone else has been scheming, and that having an elite partner is extremely advantageous in keeping ahead.

A Tattoo Of Your Name (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: “If it was wrong, why did you do it?”

His voice is tiny, barely a whisper compared to Phil’s, but it makes Phil’s head shoot up like he hadn’t expected Dan to say anything and to be honest, he probably hadn’t. Dan glances away quickly, feeling like running again but knowing the nurse would stop him before he got out.

“Because- ‘cause,” Phil stutters and Dan has to look up now. Phil never stutters. “You hit a little too close to home.”

After School Special (ao3) - garconrouge

Summary: Dan's never liked his next door neighour. He's loud, obnoxious, and brings home too many guys. Dan's witnessed countless drunken encounters through his bedroom window- and he wishes he hadn't. But when a string of events leads to Dan playing host to a drunken Phil every night for a month, he can't help but fall for the constant slurred suggestions.

Andromeda (ao3) - cityofphanchester

Summary: The year is 2204, and Dan Howell, unfulfilled on planet Earth, wants to find freedom elsewhere. That elsewhere will be Andromeda, a space colony far out of the solar system. On the fifteen-month voyage there, he meets Phil, starry-eyed and looking for life’s great adventure.

Are We Good Now? (ao3) - thatsthephan

Summary: Dan almost dies under mysterious circumstances, and when Phil panics and tells Dan how he really feels, he doesn’t think he’ll remember it when-or if-he wakes up. But what happens tests the two friends relationships in ways that they didn’t expect, and the darkness in one’s heart fights to win against the love he feels for the other

Atmosphere (ao3) - thespianhowell

Summary: Sometimes, having sex with Phil feels like coming home.

(a.k.a., slow sappy morning sex.)

Baby It's Cold Outside, But I'll Keep You Warm (ao3) - Emejig16

Summary: It’s Dan’s first time and he’s nervous, but Phil comforts him.

Closed Eyes (ao3) - Phanallamallama

Summary: Dan thought that brushing those few hairs out of Phil’s eyes would be nice, maybe placing their lips together and just lying with him as more than friends would be good too. But then he remembered Phil wasn’t there. Now those feelings felt bitter and the side of his bed that used to be owned was empty and colder than he remembered.

dishwasher safe (ao3) - quietlyposts

Summary: the guy at the sex store told me that my new dildo was dishwasher safe and you’re my poor, traumatized roommate.

Don't Be Shy Love (ao3) - Emejig16

Summary: Dan walks in on Phil in the shower.

Everything You Never Wanted (ao3) - embarrassing_myself

Summary: Phil is an omega, he's spent nearly his entire life going to Eastbrook, an omega only school. When his parents make the decision to transfer him into an alpha,beta,omega school his whole life is turned upside down. Especially when he meets Dan Howell, an alpha who can't seem to stand him. No matter how hard the two try to avoid each other the universe seems to keep pulling them together.

Fanfiction Writing (ao3) - SkiesOfSilver

Summary: Dan gets hard all the time. How does he deal with it? Simply, masturbating to thoughts on his best friend and writing phanfics based on his desires. But when Phil walked in as he did so, Dan felt like his world was crumbling down.

(TW) Forgive Me (ao3) - FollowYourDreams

Summary: The year is 2224. Dan Howell is the prince of Pacis, living in the lavish Community, dreading his 21st birthday. Phil Lester is a servant at the Community, and has been for 6 years ever since he was taken from his home. On a fateful day, Dan and Phil lock eyes for the first time, and everything changes, but neither of them know if it’s for better or worse.

Greedy (ao3) - thespianhowell

Summary: At first, it was just sex. Friends with benefits. Really, it hadn’t meant anything. But then Dan got greedy.

Hearing You (ao3) - centroid (orphan_account)

Summary: They were laying on Phil’s couch, watching a movie. Maybe watching was a bad choice of words.

“You look so beautiful like this. Cheeks flushed, hair messed up, eyes blown. I love it.” Phil breathed, and Dan blushed more. A smile tugging at his lips, Dan brought his own to meet Phil’s once more in a single kiss.

‘I want you.’ Dan signed with a seductive glint in his eye.

“You look so pretty, sprawled out for me. Do you know how sexy you look?”

“Ah- Phil”

I lilac you (ao3) - Grab_My_Assbutt

Summary: for the tumblr prompt that Phil's a shy Tattoo artist who has a crush on the florist across the street.

This is something of that sort.

i was a king (under your control) (ao3) - internetakeover (nymhciv)

Summary: Dan wakes up hard and decides to reciprocate the morning blowjob Phil had gifted him for his last birthday. He may not have realised quite what he was getting into, but it's safe to say he doesn't regret a thing.

#ifiwasinatimeloop (ao3) - nekoma

Summary: Dan is stuck in a time loop, and of all the days he could be stuck in, he’s stuck in the day when his best friend kisses him.

in between are doors (ao3) - frostbitten_cheeks

Summary: It takes Phil a very long time to notice how frequently Dan steals his clothes, but the moment he does, he decides something has to be done. Dan, while reluctantly amused, is not impressed

Into the Woods (ao3) - dont-tell-them-i-write-phan (QueenJunoTheGreat)

Summary: Dan had never meant anything to anybody his whole life, and he was actually pretty okay with that. He had two stable jobs (one which he hated, but it’s whatever), a little old lady that believed in every superstition ever, a friend who listened to him complain, and a dog that followed him home every day and ate his leftovers. However, a week after his twenty fifth birthday, when he’s cornered by something most definitely not of this world he learns that he may be a little more important than he thought. Also that his dog is actually a man with wings. That was a shock.

Its In the Stars to Make Our Own Destiny (ao3) - auroraphilealis (peachrayne)

Summary: Dan and Phil meet at a support group for those whose soulmates have had their soulmarks removed, but Phil’s got a secret that could get him kicked out, and Dan’s only there because his parents are trying to force him to find his match. In the end, they’ll find happiness in each other – and maybe a little more.

Just the Beat of My Own Heart (ao3) - howellhaze

Summary: Dan and Phil are rivals in every sense of the word. The problem is that they're already madly in love.

Or, where Dan and Phil fall in love on tumblr, unaware that the person they're talking to online is the person they hate in real life. A "You’ve Got Mail" AU.

Keep On Moving (ao3) - bientist

Summary: After filming their three-legged DDR video, there is a lot of sex. And there was much rejoicing.

London Tragedy (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: Phil Lester's an artist who can't feel the same shades of colours that other normal people can. When a job proposal from the BBC comes into sight, he ends up meeting a firework of palette that'd much rather mute his spark with pastel clothing and a floral fascination.

make a wish when your childhood dies (ao3) - tinydragon (tiny_dragon)

Summary: Things could be going better for librarian Phil Lester. He’s discontent with his life and his job when an episode of accidental magic lands him in a seemingly different world, which nobody else seems aware of other than the neighbour he never knew he had, Dan Howell. Together, they must find a way to return home to their ordinary cities and lives, but there’s something about Dan that’s strange, in that he seems eerily similar to Phil’s favourite childhood storybook character.

Pacman 300 (ao3) - Icandigelvis

Summary: When there's a package delivered to Daniel Howell on the morning of 6th of May, year 2345, Dan's world is slowly turned upside down. Phil or PHI001LES001ep29 as his name is, knows how to make Dan smile, how to tie and slink his cords and other radioactivity, as Dan proclaims Phil is filled with, into Dan's mind and makes the evil thoughts go away. As a model of the new generation of Hubots, or pacmans as the resistance calls them, Phil is one of 100, personalized, no one like the other, model of the name 300.

Reasons Why Phil's Body is a Fail (ao3) - dizzy

Summary: Phil didn't exactly draw the best numbers in the gene pool lottery, and here are a few reasons why.

Start With Your Lips (ao3) - thespianhowell

Summary: It's ten days until they're going to meet in person, but Dan's impatient and frisky, and Phil really isn't much better.

Stop and Stare (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: Phil Lester considered his job at the coffee shop pretty normal, but that was until this cute, punk guy with red hair and snake bites came in and asked for a large caramel macchiato.

Testing the Waters (ao3) - thatsmistertoyou

Summary: Dan joins the Lester clan on their semi-annual vacation to Florida. The phandom takes notice.

The People We Meet At the End of the World (ao3) - auroraphilealis (peachrayne), notanannoyingfangirl

Summary: The year is 1934, and the Great Depression is in full swing. Seven years previously, Phil Lester’s family had come to America hoping to find their fortune; what they found instead was much worse. Forced to ride the rails in search of work, Phil meets up with Dan Howell. The two brits are alone in a foreign country, separated from their families after they lost their life savings in the stock market crash. Together, they decide to find work out west - but the west has problems of its own. The dust storms are raging, and every day has become a desperate struggle for survival.

the person next to me in my life (ao3) - moloch

Summary: Dan has spent the last six years of his life loving Phil and stealing all of his clothing.

Like, even his socks.

(or: dan tries to find an outlet for what he feels when he looks at phil and it feels like looking into the sun and falling in love all at once)

The Prince and the Youtuber (ao3) - koleen

Summary: Dan Howell is the Prince of England and the first grandson of a late King, and Phil Lester is a famous Youtuber who turns out to be the first grandson of a late King’s Hand, the best friend of the late King. On one night of celebration of their daughters’ pregnancies 18 years ago, the best friends made a drunken pact to marry their first grandchildren to each other the year they both turn 18, completely forgetting to consider that their first grandchildren could both be male.

Tried to do headstands for you (every time I fell on you) (ao3) - popsongnation

Summary: “I’m not always this clumsy and accident prone, I swear,” Dan says, and maybe he’s lying, but Phil doesn’t have to know that. How hard can it be not to injure yourself at a coffee shop? He just needs to remember which way the doors open, and buy new shoes. He’ll be fine.

Or: coffee shop/uni AU in which Dan keeps injuring himself in increasingly ridiculous ways, Phil regularly has to patch him up, and it’s Christmas time.

Won't Even Wish For Snow (ao3) - dandrogynous

Summary: “You've got, um.” Dan reaches over and brushes his gloved hands across Phil’s shoulders, then down his chest. “Like, sorry, snow? It would have melted I guess but then, like, you would have gotten wet, so.” All his smoothness has disappeared and his cheeks have gone pink. Phil can't tell if it's from the cold or from how they're standing nearly on top of each other in the tiny lift.

“Thanks,” he says. His voice is slightly raspy and his body feels very warm where Dan touched him. The lift door opens and they pile out. Dan nods, smiling just enough that his dimple pops as he fumbles in his pocket for his key. He shoves it into the keyhole and rattles the doorknob until it twists and the door falls open.

“Welcome,” he says, gesturing his way into the flat dramatically, “to my humble abode.”

Worth the Risk (ao3) - passionfruitwriter

Summary: Dan moves with his conservative mother and stubborn little sister to a new neighbourhood. Here, his mother decides to force his sister into dating the classy Phil. When she doesn’t want to, Dan accidentally volunteers to become her understudy, so that he has to do all the awkward dating. After a while though, Dan realises those dates aren’t so bad.

[motorclit]

Got some advice for a lot of Gen Z and Gen Alpha: learn your technology.

No. I mean actually LEARN it, not just how to navigate it. Learn how it works, why it works the way it does, learn to code, learn even the laws, what it's like to run a website, servers, etc.

Cuz if you want online alternatives to the same 5 websites or some shit, you're gonna have to be the ones who come together and do it. If you got time to scroll endless hours on Twitter and tiktok, you got time to ban together with like-minded people and learn how to take back the internet. (Fellow Millennials who remember MySpace, take note as well!)

I advise you learn the history of what the internet has been like. Don't just read blog posts, articles, and watch YouTube videos. Talk to us Millennials about it! Many of us learned very basic coding from just wanting a better-looking MySpace profile! YOU CAN STILL CODE YOUR TUMBLR BLOG TO LOOK COOL FOR WEB BROWSERS.

Learn to understand that the internet is more than touchscreens and apps! The internet was NEVER supposed to be what it is today! Several people sounded the alarm about big companies creeping into the internet! What we are living through is why! Because guess what: THE INTERNET USED TO BE FUN!

Please please PLEASE try this for a while! I'm even trying to learn more basic coding myself! This book from 2006 helps break down the basics into something that's understandable:

If the pic doesn't load, the book is called "Head First: HTML with CSS and XHTML", a learner's guide to creating standards-based web pages. The authors listed on the cover are Elisabeth Freeman and Eric Freeman.

Yes, this teaches you how to make a very simple web pages from the mid-00s and it only works on a web browser, but my gods, the sense of satisfaction you get from making this shit work...

YOU ALSO DONT NEED FANCY FUCKING SOFTWARE. EVERY COMPUTER COMES WITH THE PROGRAM TO MAKE WEBPAGES.

AND THAT PROGRAM IS CALLED NOTEPAD.

I AM NOT KIDDING. NOTEPAD IS SPECIFICALLY FOR CODING. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET TO DO THIS EITHER. YOU CAN MAKE IT AND TWEAK IT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT UNTIL IT'S READY TO GO ONTO THE INTERNET!

Be aware: the server thing you can upload your practice website to listed in this book is defunct. The images for examples in this book might be, too. With this in mind, I chose a subject I knew something about for practice, and that was simply the topic of sunflowers. (I didn't upload it to the internet. I liked practicing with it as I learned in this book... and I gotta revise while I get back into it.)

Pick a topic for the sake of practice because you'll wanna learn how to link your custom pages together in order to navigate your own site and such.

I PROMISE YOU that this will feel very satisfactory if you give this a shot!

LET THIS BE YOUR GATEWAY INTO TRULY LEARNING HOW THE TECH YOU GREW UP WITH WORKS SO THAT YOU CAN POTENTIALLY HELP THE INTERNET AS A WHOLE! BECAUSE TECH KNOWLEDGE IS MORE THAN JUST NAVIGATING AN APP!

Please consider this. Help make the internet a less shitty place. Get together with friends (in person or online) and learn together!

We are the internet!

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Papers for Week 24, 2024

Dissociable online integration processes in visual working memory. Balaban, H., Drew, T., & Luria, R. (2023). Cerebral Cortex, 33(23), 11420–11430.

Interactions between specialized gain control mechanisms in olfactory processing. Barth-Maron, A., D’Alessandro, I., & Wilson, R. I. (2023). Current Biology, 33(23), 5109-5120.e7.

Beyond spiking networks: The computational advantages of dendritic amplification and input segregation. Capone, C., Lupo, C., Muratore, P., & Paolucci, P. S. (2023). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(49), e2220743120.

Adaptive oscillators support Bayesian prediction in temporal processing. Doelling, K. B., Arnal, L. H., & Assaneo, M. F. (2023). PLOS Computational Biology, 19(11), e1011669.

Targeted V1 comodulation supports task-adaptive sensory decisions. Haimerl, C., Ruff, D. A., Cohen, M. R., Savin, C., & Simoncelli, E. P. (2023). Nature Communications, 14, 7879.

Meta-reinforcement learning via orbitofrontal cortex. Hattori, R., Hedrick, N. G., Jain, A., Chen, S., You, H., Hattori, M., … Komiyama, T. (2023). Nature Neuroscience, 26(12), 2182–2191.

Sensory cortical ensembles exhibit differential coupling to ripples in distinct hippocampal subregions. Jeong, H., Namboodiri, V. M. K., Jung, M. W., & Andermann, M. L. (2023). Current Biology, 33(23), 5185-5198.e4.

Corrective feedback guides human perceptual decision-making by informing about the world state rather than rewarding its choice. Lee, H.-J., Lee, H., Lim, C. Y., Rhim, I., & Lee, S.-H. (2023). PLOS Biology, 21(11), e3002373.

Alpha oscillations encode Bayesian belief updating underlying attentional allocation in dynamic environments. Li, S., Seger, C. A., Zhang, J., Liu, M., Dong, W., Liu, W., & Chen, Q. (2023). NeuroImage, 284, 120464.

Item-specific neural representations during human sleep support long-term memory. Liu, J., Xia, T., Chen, D., Yao, Z., Zhu, M., Antony, J. W., … Hu, X. (2023). PLOS Biology, 21(11), e3002399.

Behavioral read-out from population value signals in primate orbitofrontal cortex. McGinty, V. B., & Lupkin, S. M. (2023). Nature Neuroscience, 26(12), 2203–2212.

Catecholaminergic neuromodulation and selective attention jointly shape perceptual decision-making. Nuiten, S. A., de Gee, J. W., Zantvoord, J. B., Fahrenfort, J. J., & van Gaal, S. (2023). eLife, 12, e87022.3.

Neural patterns differentiate traumatic from sad autobiographical memories in PTSD. Perl, O., Duek, O., Kulkarni, K. R., Gordon, C., Krystal, J. H., Levy, I., … Schiller, D. (2023). Nature Neuroscience, 26(12), 2226–2236.

Neural substrates of parallel devaluation-sensitive and devaluation-insensitive Pavlovian learning in humans. Pool, E. R., Pauli, W. M., Cross, L., & O’Doherty, J. P. (2023). Nature Communications, 14, 8057.

Age-related dysregulation of homeostatic control in neuronal microcircuits. Radulescu, C. I., Doostdar, N., Zabouri, N., Melgosa-Ecenarro, L., Wang, X., Sadeh, S., … Barnes, S. J. (2023). Nature Neuroscience, 26(12), 2158–2170.

Topological analysis of sharp-wave ripple waveforms reveals input mechanisms behind feature variations. Sebastian, E. R., Quintanilla, J. P., Sánchez-Aguilera, A., Esparza, J., Cid, E., & de la Prida, L. M. (2023). Nature Neuroscience, 26(12), 2171–2181.

Parietal cortical alpha/beta suppression during prospective memory retrieval. Villafane Barraza, V., Voegtle, A., de Matos Mansur, B., Reichert, C., Nasuto, S. J., & Sweeney-Reed, C. M. (2023). Cerebral Cortex, 33(23), 11235–11246.

Modeling the diverse effects of divisive normalization on noise correlations. Weiss, O., Bounds, H. A., Adesnik, H., & Coen-Cagli, R. (2023). PLOS Computational Biology, 19(11), e1011667.

Melanopsin enhances image persistence. Woelders, T., Allen, A. E., & Lucas, R. J. (2023). Current Biology, 33(23), 5048-5056.e4.

A corticoamygdalar pathway controls reward devaluation and depression using dynamic inhibition code. Yuan, Z., Qi, Z., Wang, R., Cui, Y., An, S., Wu, G., … Luo, M. (2023). Neuron, 111(23), 3837-3853.e5.

[pitbullwithawig]

As a member of Gen Z I have something I would like to say, which is a lot more serious I feel like than a lot of the things I reblog or post or whatever. But it's something that I feel like needs to be talked about, which is the mockery of Gen Alpha for rudeness and ignoring social rules and politeness and all that. And so I am going to attempt to explain my thoughts in a way that other people can understand which can be hard for me if the thought has already formed in my head and isn't spontaneous as I type. So bear with me.

So like many people I am on Instagram and Twitter and all that and I see a lot of videos and posts and everything about the "brattiness" of Gen Alpha kids and how they're rude and unsocialised. And lots of these people, calling these twelve year old children out for these issues, have placed their finger exactly on the real problem, though I don't think they really have processed that. If they did they wouldn't be making fun of it.

The reality is that these children who at this point are now twelve years old and beginning to interact with the world in a meaningful way, are the first generation of kids who were fully raised with high speed and stronger technology. These are the iPad kids in the wild. Like, even me and my younger brother who are on the lower end of Gen Z were born at a time when the Internet was in its MySpace and maybe early years of Facebook era. Nobody was giving these things to children just because they were still always considered new. New and constantly changing. But now we have the kids who were born in the twenty teens, when technology was a fact of life and yes a handy way to distract small kids. What's more, nobody was aware of the harm screen's like IPad and phone screens can do to a brain in its very important early stages of development.

So here are these kids now, entering the world. And their entire life they've had a archive of information and other people and things to do literally at their fingertips. Since birth even! And these technologies have interfered with their brain development right smack dab in the crucial years where kids learn about language and social interactions and how the bloody world works. But they learned it looking through or around the skewed filter of a phone screen. So here was the first stage of messed up brain development where they learned that the world works the way it does on chatrooms and in movies and tv shows, where people speak to eachother the way they do online, where their brain is always stimulated by something new just a few taps away. I mean, they learned this skewed version of the world as toddlers! This, for lack of a better description, human code has been embedded at the very base of their brain and everything else that comes after is just building off of that.

Then a few years later comes the pandemic. The big bad pandemic that ruined lives and fucked everyone over, especially the people who were still developing. And suddenly the order of the world has changed and their brains are developing around that strange new order. And this causes them to miss milestones in their brain development.

They're not in a classroom anymore. They can't connect with friends. They can't physically connect with people outside their bubble, in any way. No roughhousing on the playground, no visiting parks to swing around in. Their class is squares on a screen, and if they want to say something without other people hearing there's always the mute button. My point is that already limited social interaction (something essential in reaching many milestones in neural development and learning how to interact with the world) has just dropped to almost zero. Now EVERYTHING is filtered through a screen. Right smack dab in the most developmentally important years of these kids lives.

Even people my age have missed milestones! People in Grade 9 and 10 were far too grabby and overactive because we missed the developmental period where we learned how much touching is too much touching, characterized by people wrestling eachother and poking eachother excessively. AKA middle school boys. Yes, that is an essential part of development. And we missed that because of the pandemic.

So these kids' already fucked up neural pathways get wired in all the wrong ways. And we're surprised when they do not have the capacity to behave as a functioning human beings!?

Yes they are being rude. Yes they are being gross and unnecessarily mean. No I am not excusing them (or their parents) for that. But these poor human beings have the wrong base code! Their brains were built wrong, in the wrong way and the wrong order and to the wrong extents! Maybe, instead of making fun of and putting these literal children down for something they can't help (aka their literal brain development), maybe we should be putting effort into explaining why this is happening and Finding A Way To Fix It. AT THE SOURCE! Inform new parents about neural development and natural milestones. Explain why screen's are not good for literal babies. Educate, educate, educate.

And maybe we can save the disaster that is becoming the human race.

[useoftoysforchildsdevelop]

Unlocking Knowledge: Top Engaging Educational Resources for Successful Home-Based Learning

  Certainly! Successful home-based learning requires access to engaging educational resources that cater to various learning styles and subjects. Here's a list of top resources across different categories:

1. Online Learning Platforms:

a. Khan Academy: Provides free online courses, lessons, and practice in various subjects.

 b. Coursera: Offers courses from universities and colleges around the world on a wide range of topics.

c. edX: Similar to Coursera, with courses from universities and institutions globally.

2. Interactive Learning Websites:

a. Code.org: Teaches coding and computer science in an interactive and engaging way.

b. Duolingo: A fun and gamified platform for learning languages.

c. BBC Bitesize: Offers resources for various subjects, especially useful for UK curriculum.

3. Virtual Museums and Tours:

a. Google Arts & Culture: Virtual tours of museums and historical sites worldwide.

b. Smithsonian Learning Lab: Educational resources and virtual tours from the Smithsonian Institution.

4. Educational YouTube Channels:

a. CrashCourse: Quick, entertaining lessons on various subjects.

b. TED-Ed: Engaging lessons worth sharing on a variety of topics.

c. National Geographic Kids: Educational videos about science, nature, and more.

5. Reading and Literature:

a. Project Gutenberg: Offers over 60,000 free eBooks, including many classic literary works.

b. CommonLit: Provides free reading passages and literacy resources for grades 3-12.

6. Mathematics Resources:

a. IXL: Adaptive learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies.

b. Wolfram Alpha: A computational search engine that helps with mathematics and other subjects.

7. Science and STEM:

a. NASA's STEM Engagement: Educational resources and activities related to space and science.

b. Mystery Science: Free science lessons with hands-on activities.

8. Coding and Computer Science:

a. Scratch: A block-based visual programming language designed for kids.

b. Codecademy: Interactive coding lessons for various programming languages.

9. Homeschooling Resources:

a. Homeschool.com: Offers a variety of resources, curriculum reviews, and support.

b. Time4Learning: Online curriculum for preK-12th grade.

10. Educational Games:

a. Prodigy: A math platform that uses gamification to make learning fun.

b. ABCmouse: Early learning academy for ages 2-8 with a variety of educational games.

11. Art and Creativity:

a. Art for Kids Hub: Provides art lessons for kids on drawing and crafting.

b. TinkerCAD: An online platform for 3D design, electronics, and coding.

12. Podcasts for Learning:

a. Brains On!: Science podcast for kids and curious adults.

b. Stuff You Should Know: Explores a wide range of interesting topics for older learners.

13. Educational Apps:

a. Quizlet: Flashcards and study tools for a variety of subjects.

b. Anki: A powerful flashcard app for learning and memorization.

14. Virtual Learning Communities:

a. Outschool: Offers live online classes for a variety of subjects and age groups.

b. Scholastic Learn at Home: Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing.

Remember to tailor these resources based on the age and interests of the learner. Additionally, maintaining a balance between screen time and hands-on activities is crucial for a well-rounded learning experience.

READ FOR MORE DEFFERENT CATEGORIES  SO PLEASE CLICK HERE & VISIT OUR MAIN WEB PORTAL  OR  CLICK HERE & VISIT OUR SUB WEB PORTAL

[the-war-is-over]

Alpha Trion

[ Image from "Orion's Gambit", a campaign in the Transformers Legends mobile game. Artists unknown. ]

If you asked a human what they thought an “old” Cybertronian would look like, Alpha Trion would be a prime example. They wouldn’t be wrong — Alpha Trion was indeed forged long, long, long ago — but of the Primes, Trion was actually one of the last to come online (second only to The Arisen).

Perhaps this was why they were subjected to so many pranks from the more mischievous members of the family… or maybe it’s because they’re just a bit insufferable.

Alpha Trion is intelligent, and a voracious consumer of information. They’re obsessed with knowing all there is to know, and will not hesitate to weaponize that knowledge in order to correct others when they’re wrong. They take themselves and their work very seriously, which makes them easy to get a rise out of — and an irresistible target for the likes of Liege, Amalgamous, and Alchemist, who peppered Trion with pranks.

Alpha Trion had a hard time making connections with the others. They were still loved by their family, but their personalities often clashed — in particular, the playful nature of the aforementioned pranksters and the rowdiness of Nexus, Megatronus, and Onyx.

Alpha did enjoy the company of Alchemist when Alchemist was actually working on something worthwhile instead of goofing off, and the two of them (along with Solus and Quintus) made for an efficient team when tasked with a project. Alpha Trion’s drive to ensure that everyone moved along the proper course to achieve their shared goals meant that he was often found in council with Prima, the Arisen, and Vector; Alpha appreciated that they treated their duties as leaders with the respect and weight they deserved.

Whenever Alpha Trion struggled to find a place among their peers socially, they would retreat into their writings. The first datapads were created by Solus for Alpha’s use, so that Alpha could fulfill their self-proclaimed duty as the archivist of the Primes. Though these storage devices were invaluable in the archival of data, they were quite hefty and unwieldy to carry about; when Trion filled one, they would store it and start in on another.

These tomes would come to be known as The Covenant(s) of Primus — but for now, they were simply the journals and diaries of Alpha Trion, their attempt at putting to record everything they learned.

One day, however, the nature of these writings changed. Solus produced a tool that wildly changed what Alpha Trion was capable of — the Quill.

Alpha was able to use the Quill to enhance their notetaking and archival capabilities. By using it on their datapad library, they were able to access that information from wherever they were, without having to lug it around everywhere. They could also use it to transfer that information to other receptacles, or alter the library’s contents on the go. Though these more mundane abilities were appreciated by Alpha Trion on their own, the Quill held a greater purpose — it was the key to Vector Sigma.

As the wielder of the Quill, Alpha Trion was not only responsible for the preservation of knowledge among the Primes, but also of Primus — Cybertron itself — and therefore held great influence over the planet. When utilized on Vector Sigma, the Quill could be used to tap into the mind of Primus and manipulate its control over the entirety of Cybertron.

The Quill’s most significant use came into play on the day the Arisen stepped into and ignited the Well of Allsparks. Each of the Primes submitted data to Vector Sigma, who then used the collected coding to bring forth new life on Cybertron — the first new Cybertronians since the Titans. With Cybertron’s potential unlocked, the key, too, unlocked new features. When Alpha Trion began to use the Quill to write as they had before, their writings took on a life of their own. They wrote in languages that were foreign to them; while Alpha was writing, nothing seemed amiss… but upon later reflection, they would find it impossible to understand what was written. Only after eras had passed — and time had changed the language of their people — did Alpha Trion realize that the Quill allowed them to record history in any era of Cybertron.

With the Quill in hand, Trion could recall events from the ancient past or prophesy the future. It could even record events on other planets that Cybertronians would touch (or have touched). Unfortunately, all records would be written in the languages spoken or written in the time and location of its subject.

That… complicated things. But Alpha Trion realized that the responsibility of providing windows into the future and past outweighed the immediate usefulness of such records. And so, Alpha Trion wrote, and wrote, and wrote and wrote and wrote… with the belief that their records would one day find their mark, even if that day was not today.

There came a time when the Primes decided to give up the identities they had held since their creation. They would adopt new names, perhaps new frames, and slip into the crowd of Cybertronians that had come after them. They thought it better to live among their people rather than above them.

Everyone, that is, except for Alpha Trion.

Trion may have been able to see where the others were coming from, but that didn’t mean he had to agree with it. He thought that the best way to provide for his people was to continue guiding them with his counsel, and the best way to do that was to remain a Prime.

Alpha Trion’s name would go on to appear in the scattered histories of Cybertron throughout the ages. He lent his wisdom to tribes and councils and senates and future “Primes” (they may have been pretenders, but they were leaders nonetheless), and did so rather publicly. He would disappear from the spotlight from time to time, but always seemed to return.

The legends of the Primes had become an obscure religion at best, but more often than not (if they were even thought of at all) they were more akin to fairy tales and fables. Trion’s continued insistence (and presence throughout history) perhaps lent some credence to their existence, though many chalked it up to the ramblings of an old mech. Sure, his wisdom may have proven useful, but it’s not as if he’s some demigod.

When Cybertron went to war once more — the Second Cybertronian Civil War, between the Autobots and the Decepticons — Alpha Trion voiced his support for the Autobots, particularly placing his weight behind the leader that would arise among them: Optimus Prime.

Trion prided himself on being the first to recognize the potential in the newly-forged Orion Pax. He watched him from a distance for a while, then began to guide Orion to what Alpha was sure was his destiny. After taking the mantle of Prime, Orion — now Optimus — received further counsel from Alpha Trion… for a while, at least.

Around the time the war left Cybertron, Trion vanished yet again. There were a few reported sightings here and there, but his reappearance has not been confirmed in millennia. Some assume he died in the war, but others are certain he’ll pop back up one of these days like he always has.

At the close of the war, Cybertron was rebuilding. Not only were colonies reuniting, but so were the Primes… although some had already been in touch for some time. They decided to continue living as they had been, lest the presence of Primes deter the will of the people as they sought to rebuild their planet.

If that was going to be the case (for real, this time), something had to be done about Alpha Trion. Though he had been away from the public eye for years, it was only a matter of time before he returned to start dictating the way this new era should unfold; and so, they decided to stash him away with a mission — and a new moniker. Alpha Trion — now grudgingly going by Elderus Ambus — was tasked with looking out for Optimus, who had chosen to remain in hiding following the events that led to the war’s end, lest his presence reignite it. Al—Elderus and his protege — his family — now share in their self-imposed (well, mostly) isolation, tucked away in some remote part of Cybertron… at least for now.

[ Image from The Transformers: Ironhide #3, "Ironing Out the Details" ]

[allysdelta]

Palia!

I was one of a very lucky few to get to help Singularity 6 playtest Palia, their nonviolent MMO, back in its alpha stages, and now the game is in open beta!

Palia is a farming and community sim with online multiplayer elements, taking place in a high fantasy world where humans, long thought extinct, have began to emerge all over the world. Your character has landed in the village of Kilima, and the locals set you up with a housing plot and teach you some basic farming and survival skills.

As you hunt, fish, forage, and mine your way through Kilima and the neighboring Bahari Bay, you will learn more about your new friends and their place in Palian society, adapt to a world that has moved on without you, and help uncover the mystery of your long-lost people's disappearance and sudden reappearance. Oh, and you can romance some of the NPCs after you get friendly enough.

If this sounds like a game you might enjoy and you're interested in trying it out, sign up as a playtester HERE. You should be able to register an account without an invite, but just in case you can't, message me and I'll supply you a code.

See you there. Give Einar some shiny pebbles for me.

[hayleymedbil]

Learning Medical Coding and Billing: Essential Insights for Healthcare Professionals

Mastering ​Medical Coding and ⁤Billing:‍ Essential Insights ⁤for Healthcare Professionals

Introduction

‍ ‌ ​ ⁣ ⁣ In today’s complex healthcare habitat,mastering medical coding ‌and billing is not just beneficial—it’s essential. Healthcare professionals must accurately translate medical procedures,⁤ diagnoses, and services ​into global codes to ensure smooth operations and optimal‍ reimbursements. This complete guide explores the critical aspects of medical ⁣coding and billing, ⁢offering vital insights for your career development in the healthcare sector.

Understanding Medical⁣ Coding and Billing

What is Medical Coding?

⁢ ‌ Medical coding is the process of converting healthcare​ procedures, ‌diagnoses, medical services, and equipment into universal alpha-numeric codes. Coders use standardized codes such as ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases), CPT (Current Procedural Terminology), and HCPCS (healthcare common Procedure Coding System).

The Importance of ⁤Medical Billing

​ ‍ ⁢ ‌ Medical ⁣billing, on the other hand, involves ⁢the submission and⁢ follow-up of⁢ claims with health insurance companies in order to receive payment for services rendered‍ by ‍healthcare providers. Billing ensures that the healthcare organization is compensated promptly and accurately.

Benefits of Mastering Medical Coding and Billing

Increased Accuracy: Proper coding reduces billing errors and ​ensures compliance with regulations.

Career ⁣Advancement: Mastery of​ coding⁢ and billing can lead to better job opportunities and‌ higher salaries.

Enhanced Efficiency: Streamlined processes improve workflow ⁢and reduce the time spent on administrative tasks.

Improved Patient Care: Accurate billing practices ensure that patients receive the correct services and insurance coverage.

Practical Tips for Success in Medical Coding and Billing

Stay Updated with Coding ⁢Guidelines

Healthcare regulations and⁤ coding standards frequently change. Subscribe to updates from organizations like the American ​Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and ⁢the American Health‌ details Management Association‍ (AHIMA) to stay informed.

Utilize Quality ‌Resources

Consider using coding books, online courses, ‍and certification programs to enhance your knowledge. Tools such as coding software can also be beneficial.

Network with Other⁣ Professionals

Engaging with peers⁤ at workshops ⁣and ‌seminars can provide valuable insights ⁢and promote best practices in coding and billing.

Case Studies: Real-World Experiences in Medical Coding and Billing

Case Study 1: Improving Efficiency through Automation

A regional clinic implemented a new medical billing software that‌ automatically ⁤generated claims based on coded data. Within six ‌months,billing errors decreased by⁣ 30%,leading to faster reimbursements and less stress for the billing department.

Case Study 2: Training for Transition to ICD-10

A hospital conducted a full training program for its coding team before shifting to the ICD-10​ coding system. Thanks to hands-on workshops and regular ‍assessments, the⁢ transition was smooth,​ and the hospital experienced only a 5% drop in revenue during the initial months post-transition.

Common Challenges‍ in Medical Coding and‌ Billing

⁤ ⁤ ⁢ ‍ As healthcare evolves, professionals face challenges ​in coding and billing, including:

Complex Regulations: Keeping abreast of frequent changes in codes and billing regulations can be daunting.

Data Accuracy: Errors in coding ‌can lead ⁣to claim denials and delays in reimbursement.

Technology Integration: Adapting to new software ‌and‍ digital tools can be‌ a hurdle for some workers.

Conclusion

​ ‌ ‌ ‌ Mastering medical⁣ coding​ and billing requires dedication, ongoing education, and practical submission of skills. By understanding the intricacies of coding, staying informed of changes ⁢in the healthcare landscape, and leveraging technology, healthcare professionals​ can‍ optimize their coding⁢ accuracy and billing efficiency.⁣ This mastery not‌ only benefits your⁢ career trajectory but ‍also the overall quality of care provided‍ in the healthcare system.

https://medicalcodingandbillingclasses.net/learning-medical-coding-and-billing-essential-insights-for-healthcare-professionals/

[quantcoaching]

Can I Do Quant Trading on My Own?

Quantitative trading, or quant trading, uses mathematical and statistical models to make investment decisions. Many believe it’s reserved for experts with advanced degrees and access to vast resources, but with the right approach, you can start quant trading independently. Here's how you can navigate the world of quant trading and determine if it’s something you can manage on your own.

Understanding Quant Trading 101

At its core, quant trading involves creating strategies based on data and algorithms. Unlike traditional trading, which relies on intuition or market sentiment, quant trading focuses on identifying patterns and using those insights to make trades. This method can help minimize emotional biases, offering a more systematic approach to investing.

To start on your own, you’ll need a basic understanding of Quant Trading 101:

Data: Quant trading relies on historical and real-time data. You'll need access to market data that can be cleaned and analyzed to create strategies.

Algorithms: You must learn to code or use platforms that allow you to build algorithms. Python is a popular language for this, thanks to its libraries for data analysis and trading.

Testing: Backtesting strategies on historical data is essential to ensure they work before applying them in real markets.

Can You Really Do It Alone?

Yes, you can, but it depends on your willingness to learn and experiment. Here's what you need to consider:

Skills

To succeed, you'll need a combination of programming, statistical analysis, and trading knowledge. If you're starting from scratch, begin by learning Python and exploring financial datasets. Many online courses and free resources cover Quant Trading 101, offering beginner-friendly tutorials.

Resources

Independent quant traders often use open-source tools and free data sources to keep costs low. Platforms like QuantConnect and Alpha Vantage provide access to data and testing environments. While professional firms have large teams and high-end infrastructure, independent traders can still achieve success by focusing on smaller, niche strategies.

Challenges

Quant trading requires discipline, patience, and a strong focus on detail. You’ll face challenges like data quality issues, programming errors, and the ever-changing nature of markets. Building strategies that consistently perform well is no small feat, and it may take months or even years to refine your approach.

Steps to Get Started

Learn the Basics: Start with Quant Trading 101 by reading books, taking courses, or exploring online tutorials.

Set Up Your Tools: Install Python, download libraries like Pandas and NumPy, and find a data source to work with.

Build a Simple Strategy: Focus on one idea, like moving averages, and code a basic trading strategy.

Backtest: Test your strategy on historical data to see how it would have performed.

Refine: Adjust your approach based on the results and continue learning.

Conclusion

While quant trading may seem complex, it’s accessible to those willing to put in the effort. By starting small, leveraging free resources, and continually improving your skills, you can take steps toward becoming an independent quant trader. Remember, persistence and a desire to learn are key to mastering this field.