#criticalreflection

[punjabassignmenthelpaus]

Assessment task 3: Individual assessment of technical output and teamwork skills

Task description:

This assignment task is based on an individual evaluation and reflection of the technical output, learning experience, skills and behaviours as demonstrated during the team project. In Assignment 3, you will individually evaluate and highlight technical strengths and weaknesses of your output (leaning on your PDS, FMEA and iterative development and testing) and reflect on how well it meets the client’s /end-user’s expectations. You will also reflect on your collaborative efforts and address your peers’ review feedback throughout the trimester. This individual evaluation is to be completed using the template provided and submitted via dropbox in the Assignments folder on the Unit Site. Please note, completion of the formative activities within the unit, will facilitate completion of this Summative Assessment

This assessment has two components:

1: Individual completion of self-and-peer review of teamwork skills (completed via online tool at the time of the team video submission):

The online peer-and-self review (AT3.1) helps you to reflect on your team’s performance and your individual performance and behaviours within the team. When providing feedback, always be professional and transparent (data-driven comments). Your hard-working teammates might be able to use your positive comments in their resumés. On the other side, your constructive critique can help your peers to improve their skills (teamwork, communication, time management, etc.).

2: Individual assessmentof technical outputand teamwork skills using template provided and submitted viadropbox

Submit an individual reflective technical evaluation on the value proposition of your solution to the client via the provided template.

Below is a detailed list and descriptions of each of the assignment activities:

AT3Assignment: 3 — Individual assessment of technical output and teamwork skillsFormatIndividual originally written reflection of teamwork skills using the template providedWeight25% (graded andmarked)Due dateWednesday, 5th of February 2025 08.00pmMelbourne timeSubmission processComplete the assignment template provided and uploaded via CloudDeakin (Assignment 3 dropbox) as a PDF or DOCX document fileAssignment: 3 — Prescribed task quality

Technical assessment highlighting weaknesses of your solution and alignment to Stakeholders’ expectations

20%

Technical assessment of your specific output from a professional engineering standpoint (300 words use images and bulletpoints) (is yoursolution robust enoughfor an engineering output? — Whatis its readiness level and what does it need to reach the appropriate technical level?)

Criticalreflection about howwell your solution meets the stakeholders’ brief and expectations against design requirements and engineering considerations (align to the design challenge and your defined metrics or PDS) (200 words bullet points).

The evaluations must be contained in tables involving deep critical thinking and analysis as well as specific justifications demonstrating your critical thinking.

Reflective practice on EA Competencies 20%

Read The EA STAGE1 COMPETENCY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

Identify one (1) or more learning events that you have encountered whilst undertaking thisunit and chooseone (1) of the sixteen(16) Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies.

Discuss the learning event(s) you have identified with reference to the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency you have chosen(100 words). Your discussion must be contextualised to your specific output and process and demonstrate critical thinking and argumentative practice.

Individual reflection of

teamwork skills 60%

Evidence: GSF — Group Skills Factor, Self and Peer assessment ratio, Peer Feedback Comments (3.2, 2.1), Before Self-Evaluation (3.1), After Self-Evaluation (3.3)Reflection aboutwhat to be started (50 wordsbullet points) — Contextualise to your circumstances in line withthe content advocated within the unitReflection aboutwhat to be kept (50 wordsbullet points) — Contextualise to your circumstances in line withthe content advocated within the unitTeam experience summary (100 words) — Contextualise to your circumstances in line with the content advocated within the unit Assessment Tasks (AT)AssignmentsContentSubmissionAssignment weight

Duedate

(8pm Melbourne time)

3: Teamwork3.1: INDIVIDUAL teamwork experience comparison — BEFOREReflectionFeedbackfFruits

N/A

(part of Assignment 3)

Week 4: Wednesday

27th of November, 2024

3: Teamwork

3.2: INDIVIDUAL completion of self and

peer review of teamwork skills — CHECKIN

ReflectionFeedbackfFruits

N/A

(part of Assignment 3)

Week 8: Wednesday

8th of January, 2025

2: Team video

presentation and project files

2.1 INDIVIDUAL completion of self and peer review of teamwork skillsReflectionFeedbackfFruits

N/A

(part of Assignment 2–3)

Week 10: Tuesday

21st of January, 2025

3: Teamwork3.3: INDIVIDUAL teamwork experience comparison — AFTERReflectionFeedbackfFruits

N/A

(part of Assignment 3)

Week 10: Tuesday

21st of January, 2025

AT3: Unit Learning Outcomes assessed in this task

ULO2: Apply strategic thinking and design engineering methodologies to research and develop ideas and systems to engineer improvements to existing or new solutions.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | GLO3: Digital literacy | GLO4: Critical thinking

UL O3: Design sustainable and environmentally friendly engineering solutions that meet end-users and stakeholders’ expectations, as well as industry standards.

GL O1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | GLO5: Problem-solving

ULO4: Work as a team to evaluate and communicate the feasibility of an engineering solution and develop a value proposition from a strategic standpoint to address stakeholders’ requirements and overarching global impact.

GL O2: Communication| GL O3: Digital literacy | GL O7: Teamwork | GL O8: Global citizenship

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[hamoufitness]

From Honor to Disgrace: Joe Concha on Biden's Medal Makeover

Joe Concha takes a deep dive into President Biden's latest Presidential Medal of Freedom selections, arguing they reflect an Oprah-ization of this prestigious honor. He critically examines the merit of recent recipients, suggesting that their celebrity status may be overshadowing true, exceptional achievements. Concha raises the essential question: Are we diluting the significance of these medals by prioritizing fame over genuine contributions? Join the discussion as he calls for careful reflection on who we honor and the true value of these accolades. #JoeConcha #PresidentialMedalOfFreedom #Biden #Celebrities #TrueAchievements #CriticalReflection

[collectifreflection]

[printstudios]

I’ve been following #letstalktools with @cfpr_research and wanted to contribute by proposing three tools that have significance for my workshop-based art practice and in reference to my current interest in David Pye’s seminal publication ‘The Nature and Art of Workmanship’ . The hand-carving tool has been a staple tool in my printmaking toolbox for over fifteen years and represents the ‘Workmanship of Risk’. With direct access to a CNC router @fellesverkstedet I have recently acquired a two-bladed carving tool which represents the ‘Workmanship of Certainty’. The third tool is the ubiquitous smartphone, a digital device for documenting and disseminating, and represents the ‘Critical Reflection’ in my artistic research. @sofie.boons #davidpye #workmanshipofrisk #criticalreflection #artisticresearch @khio_printanddrawing @khio https://www.instagram.com/p/CDJG2ySJ-yh/?igshid=8t5y0ok6smwo

[nicolesthoughtsonconsumption]

The Role of Consumption in Structuring my Day-to-Day Existence & the Academic Study of Consumption

Consumption plays a significant role in our day-to-day existence because it allows us to meet and cater to our needs and desires. The act of consuming is defined as the act of using, eating and/or digesting resources or products. Moreover, we consume whether it is intentional or not. These can be in the form of consuming goods like food, information, shopping or travel for leisure and entertainment. “Consumers embody a simple modern logic, the right to choose.” (Gabriel, 1995). According to Gabriel, choice is a powerful tool that consumers have access to and that consumerism is able to drive the economy. In modern society, consumers are able to practise their ability to choose what they would like to consume and how much of it they consume. These choices are also often shaped and projected through one’s social and cultural backgrounds, as well as one’s personal autonomy. 

In the following paragraphs, I will discuss my own consumption in terms of food, shopping, information as well as entertainment with the aid of the unit readings and some sources of my own research. 

Firstly, as a basic human necessity, one has to eat food and drink beverages to quench one's hunger thirst. Since eating and drinking is already practised since young, oftentimes we do not think much of it anymore because it has become a natural part of our lives. However, what we may fail to realise is how our choices in consumption structures the way we live. On a daily basis, I get to choose what type of meal to consume for breakfast, lunch and dinner or the additional snacks I would consume throughout the day. However there are certain factors that affect my decisions. For example, as a consumer, I have the option of deciding whether I would like to purchase an affordable meal in a food court or if I would opt for a meal more costly than usual in a restaurant. My finances (at the time being) however, determine if I am able to treat myself to a dish that is slightly more expensive than my usual lunches throughout the week. As a student who still mainly relies on her parents for financial support, I have to check if the supposed meal is within budget and how often I can splurge a little bit more on food. This may not be an issue to someone of a higher socio-economic status and can thus have lesser limitations and have broader food experiences. Through this, we can observe that consumption can be an indicator of one’s social class. 

Next, I would like to talk about shopping. “Throughout most of recent history, shopping has been viewed as a laborious activity, one that must be undertaken as a means of survival. The activity rarely, if ever, possessed qualities that could be considered enjoyable” (Timothy, 2005). That is not the case for me though, shopping for clothes is a leisure activity for me and one that I particularly take in. I enjoy taking my time to browse through the store to select articles of clothing that strikes my attention. As I grow older, I find myself being more particular about the quality and price of clothes so I spend a bit of time roaming around different stores looking for the best deals and good quality fabric. As a teenager though, I used to impulsively buy clothes as I found myself influenced by trends online and I had wanted to dress similarly to my favourite artists. It was also some form of retail therapy for me. Looking back, I do not even wear these clothes anymore because of its quality and it is no longer my style of clothing. Unfortunately, mass produced fast fashion apparels were the most affordable option as opposed to ‘sustainably-produced’ clothes. Many individuals vilify people who buy fast-fashion clothes because it is produced unethically but sustainably produced clothes are not cost-friendly to most people. In a chapter by Littler (2014), it is questioned if ethical consumption is “...mainly used as a high-end status pursuit for the moneyed classes, a panacea for middle-class guilt?”. For instance, ethical consumption is marketed to the more affluent and ‘educated’ society, where they have the means to afford and live the eco-friendly or green lifestyle which then further divides the rich and poor, increasing inequality amongst society. 

Thankfully, I have realised that impulsively buying clothes in bulk is unnecessary and a waste of money. This change of mindset has reduced my spendings on clothes and has also lessened my tendency of over-consumption. I rarely visit retail stores nowadays but I still do find myself surfing the web to browse through clothes. Now, I am more selective of items I purchase and am trying to build a capsule wardrobe which consists of staples and long-wear clothes as opposed to buying ‘trendy’ clothes which I am only going to wear less than 10 times. 

“The problem is not that people own things: the problem is that things own people. It is not consuming but consumerism we criticise; not affluence but affluenza” (Hamilton, 2005, p8). To expand on this phrase, many struggle with conspicuous consumption where wealth and status is displayed through branded or materialised goods. Personally, I have yet to experience this because I currently do not have much interest in luxury items. It is however not unusual for one to see, especially in this age where almost everything is shared online. Through influencers and celebrities, we often see them decked from head-to-toe with branded items perhaps due to sponsorships or so as to present them of a higher socio-economic class from the masses. I can see why this form of consumption may be detrimental to those who fantasise about that certain lifestyle. 

For entertainment, I consume a lot of media to satiate my boredom and curiosity. To be frank, I could spend hours, mindlessly scrolling through social media platforms like TikTok, Twitter and Instagram. I also receive news information from these applications. I suppose that because the content is bite-sized, it is easier for me to digest and consume. Content that shows up on my timeline becomes more and more personalised because of the data collected through my likes. This would then send an instant gratification to my brain because the system shows me videos or pictures that I am interested in. However, I find that my social networking usage decreases my attention span. I find it harder to focus and sustain my attention during longer forms of media like 3-minute videos or long articles. I prefer watching TikTok videos because they are short-form content rather than long Youtube videos as it is difficult to sit through a whole video. From a scholarly journal, it is discussed that individuals are constantly on “an information overload from both the quantity of information available and the speed of which information gets into the hands of individuals through advertising and multimedia” (Carstens et al., 2018). This means that in an information and an attention economy, we are persistently exposed to information and it is unavoidable. Whereas attention of individuals are scarce or deficit because one has so many choices of consumption. The increase of social networking usage could be interlinked to the fact that human beings are social creatures who desire to be a part of a community (Lukinova et al., 2014). Since social media allows one to connect and communicate with people from all over the world, the human desire to interact with one another is fulfilled. Therefore, social media usage and consumption rises. 

Through the readings, one is able to critically analyse the semiotics and reasons of consumption. Consumption is complex and comes in a variety of forms. We not only consume physical, tangible goods but we also consume experiences whether it be in consumption of food or through our shopping experiences. In restaurants, one takes in the ambience of eating in a store, usually in the presence of other people who are dining in. There are unique visual and audio elements when one sits and dines in a restaurant as opposed to eating at home. The same goes for physically travelling to the shopping centre. Shopping malls are designed to attract consumers of all different profiles. Even though it may be unsaid, one can recognise that certain shops or shopping malls are targeted to a particular group of people (especially the rich and more privileged) because their consumption of goods drives the sales for such luxury stores. 

However, consumption should not be polarised to “purely negative” nor should one categorise it as “purely positive” (De Solier, 2013). One should not automatically criticise an individual for being unable to use ethically-produced goods because for many, they are not affordable. From Littler (2011), ethical consumption may be used by the government and corporations to push the narrative of responsibility to individuals on making an environmental change and ‘go green’. Whereas these big organisations do not take the accountability for making real change given the power they have yet are profit-making through the supposed ‘pro-environment’ products they sell to consumers. 

To conclude, the academic study of consumption helps to define how acts of consumption could be influenced through social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. It acts as a guide for me to be more conscious and critical of what I consume. The concepts I have learned allows me to realise and be more aware of the negative implications of consumption on an individual and societal basis. Although we have a choice as the consumer in what we consume, it also makes me question whether this so-called ‘power’ is just manipulated and curated by companies in order to profit off of us. Lastly, it also helped me realise that pursuing our consumption habits may be a means to better one’s life, one’s formation of self-identity, as well as in pursuit of happiness. 

[nicholasandriani]

Review, Seven Levers for Social Change through Games: From Settlers of Catan to Autonomía Zapatista. Issue 17 of Game Environments Journal

Cati Hernández, Noemí Blanch, Pablo Garaizar, Emiliano Labrador, 428-448, 2022 The article “Seven Levers for Social Change through Games: From Settlers of Catan to Autonomía Zapatista” by Cati Hernández, Noemí Blanch, Pablo Garaizar, and Emiliano Labrador, published in the Gaming Journal, provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential for games to promote social change. The authors argue…

[grad503-kayleigherwee]

Reflection

Since I’ve only just learnt Illustrator and Photoshop, I am happy with what I can create with it now, but I want to improve it to become professional and efficient in it.

I enjoyed creating vectors and icons and would like to improve upon it because I think it’s quite a useful skill to be good at.

I have improved with the pen tool in Illustrator, but I am at a beginner level and struggle to make objects unless I’m tracing something for it. I managed the in-class and SDL activities fine, but once I wanted to create my own designs or without tracing, I struggle to control the lines and anchor points the way I would like. I think what I can do with it is good enough for my designs so far, but if I were to go further in adobe and create more complex and professional designs it would be good to be better with it. I also haven’t used clipping masks except for the in-class activity, I would like to further my skills on it.

I also noticed a few times when I remove backgrounds or subjects in photoshop, I still get jagged lines or bits from the removed part left, I'd normally use an eraser or spot healer to remove it. With more knowledge on photoshop tools and effects I think I can fix this.

At first, I didn’t use grids at all, I can make square and rectangle grids easily, but not circular and I struggled to use them efficiently. I would like to improve upon this for future work and better incorporate them into layouts.

From the past weeks I’ve learnt how to use the basic toolkit of both Illustrator and Photoshop, I learnt how to use layers efficiently and to my own liking. I was introduced to the pen tool but would like to improve my skills with it, and I learnt how to use Photoshop and Illustrator hand in hand, and a few other skills within each program.

I know I can improve on my poster, but I am proud with how it came out and I think it combines Swiss poster styles and Herbert Matter’s Poster styles well enough. Next time I would like to try starting by recreating reference poster designs or basing my designs from them, and then turn it into my own design from there, instead of starting from nothing and trying to match up the desired style when the poster is already laid out.

In the beginning of week 5, I started getting stuck with my poster designs and not having enough ideas for it or liking what I had. I eventually came to design I liked after many changes, edits and hours in Illustrator and Photoshop. After receiving feedback, I explored a more Swiss design approach, and I wasn’t exploring different paths and ideas or using grids very much until then. The brainstorming helped with finding more ideas, I went back to the previous ideas I had documented and written down and experimented from there.

When I started designing posters, I realized I didn’t have a very large source of relevant assets, I had to create as I designed, which worked out fine, but if I had more to work with from the start I wouldn’t have to create and test, and then create more after seeing if it worked or not. I think I could’ve saved myself some time and stress if I had planned my assets a bit better.

I’ve been homeschooled my whole life, so everything is quite new to me. I am proud of myself for what I have already achieved and learnt in all the courses.

I’m really enjoying everything, thank you to everyone involved!😊

[hollyoxleylevel4]

Transition - Week 8

For my final task for Transitions, I needed to create a 100 word critical reflection one one of the themes I have learnt in this unit. I found this helpful because it started my 500 word critical reflection that I needed to submit at the end of this unit.

[mineofilms]

Absurdus Definimus

In my last essay, we unpacked Two-Step Flow Theory, the decay of clarity, a concept born in the 1940s, which revealed how information doesn't directly influence the masses but filters first through self-proclaimed opinion leaders who regurgitate and pass it along. In today's age of influencers, podcasters, and thought leaders, this phenomenon has metastasized. Original thought has been replaced by shoddy car salesperson mentality, replaced by shallow echo chambers where ideas are regurgitated, not questioned and often inaccurate. People cling to out of context soundbites and follow trends, mimicking the opinions of those they admire without ever stopping to ask, “Does this even make sense?” The result? A fax-machine effect: the original message distorted beyond recognition as each copy is passed through the same fax machine, again and again to the point it cannot even be called an imitation of reality. In this deep-dive, quasi-sequel to Trickle-Down Influence, we’ll explore how this shift has fundamentally changed the way we label and define the very concepts we live by—self-image, relationships, energy and vibes, people in leadership roles, social media's outlook on reality, news and politics, the philosophy of lying to oneself, and even black hole logic as it relates to nihilism and existentialism.

Dancing with the Absurd. The musings on meaninglessness, masks, and the relentless march of time. Life is, at its core, an absurd comedy—an elaborate joke whose punchline remains stubbornly blurry. And yet, here we are, desperately trying to decipher its meaning. We cling to relationships, careers, beliefs, and labels as if they might redeem the madness of it all. Spoiler Alert: they don’t and won’t. Take relationships, for instance. A good one should make you feel loved, protected, and free—key ingredients for the human experience. But how often do we find ourselves knotted in something far from that ideal? Instead of freedom, there’s codependency. Instead of love, an exchange of obligations. Instead of protection, an emotional minefield. Yet we persist, convincing ourselves that one time in many this person is actually good to you that a shared Netflix account is enough to justify the charade. It’s not. Break up. Immediately. Save your coffee budget and your sanity.

A relationship is supposed to make you feel loved, protected, and free. If you do not feel these things in your relationship. Break up with them immediately. Next to codependency this is probably the number two main reason why I am single and haven't thought about it differently in over a decade. No amount of purchased coffees will change that till I can see it for myself. Words with no intention is just as meaningless and damaging than lies are. Let that sink in for a minute or two.

But let’s talk about labels because, boy, do we love those. They’re the cliff notes of definition, the shorthand for understanding a thing—or pretending to. Yet how often does the definition match the reality? We call society "civilized" despite its starvation for systemic decay and casual cruelty. We slap words like “progress” on actions that stagnate or regress, go backward. A thing is what we label it until the mask slips and reveals its true, ugly face. That’s the absurdity of it. The process doesn’t matter, right? Wrong!!! How we arrive at our definitions is everything. Otherwise, we’re just spinning tales to distract ourselves from the gaping void beneath.

Speaking of masks, have you noticed how people wear them like armor? We mirror each other, perform authenticity dances, and play the roles expected of us. But anger peels that mask off faster than that “Smile” demon at the end of the first “Smile” movie. When someone’s mad, you see the real them. And trust me, it’s rarely a pretty sight. It’s like staring into a human black hole—a singularity of resentment, narcissistic-sociopathy and self-deception. You can spot them easily: always angry, always playing the victim, always blaming someone else for their garbage life. Never introspective, never reflecting. They’ll drain you of energy, of hope, of patience, of house and home and your bank account. If they’re not actively draining you, they’re just waiting for the right moment to flip the switch and siphon what’s left. Your gut screams to run, your brain tries to reason and your heart will lie to you because that one time if felt good from this person’s actions. Listen to your gut, not your heart because your heart will trick your brain. It cannot trick your gut. You just ignored it.

“If it jiggles, its fat…” —Arnold Schwarzenegger

Labels are important. They are definitions for whatever 'a thing' or 'this thing' is, it is its attributes. However, when the definition of the label doesn't actually match up to what the thing is and/or represents is when delusion creeps into it. Beware of such things. We live in a (cult)ture where a thing is a thing till it is not. How we got there is unimportant. Oh, but it actually is, it actually is. It is important when said process has no logical basis for existence other than a feeling, which is a belief, which is an opinion. While truth and facts can be generated in this way it is NOT always, nor even most of the time or even "some" of the time. This desire isn't to evolve or expand in anyway. It is to control, devolve and keep in a box, the origins and original state of the concept... So does this statement say the hard truths? It sure does. It can also motivate, but if it triggers, we should ask why that is. You cannot blanket statement a thing into conception. It must be labeled and that label must have a logical definition for it to take hold.

Ah, energy. The universe’s currency. Mine’s literal currency of the universe, and I’ve learned to guard it fiercely. Most people are counterfeit—a lesson I’ve learned from hanging around the wrong crowds. You can and will lose parts of yourself. It’s a bleak equation, but it’s also liberating. Cut them off. Be ruthless about that. The fewer black holes in your orbit, the better. Anger can bring out both the absolute truth of who a person is and those brief moments can undo a lifetime of work and possibly a lifetime of lying to one’s self. I have seen this first hand. I have also experienced it to such a level, above all else, I do my very best to stay away from situations and people that bring that out of me. My personal ability when I lash out in this type of anger can make one believe I am a personification of Satan itself. I am not that bad a human being when compared to most that have been a victim of the system of one’s emotional and mental turmoil. You know what’s hilarious? The way people act like relationships are some mystical bond when really it’s just a glorified energy exchange. Surround yourself with the wrong people, and suddenly you’re broke—emotionally, mentally, physically. The modern women that complain why they are single should really pay attention to deep dives like this... The most unattractive thing I see in women is codependency. The big red flag? I ever tell you all how much I hate the color red outside the aesthetic? A color that looks great but always seems to represent something that a person or a group of people will find something negative about. How you feel after hanging out with them. Do you feel lighter, happy, maybe even inspired? Cool, they’re probably not terrible. Do you feel drained, stressed, like you need a nap and a stiff drink just to recover? Yeah, they’re bad news. And you know your gut is screaming it before your brain catches up. Listen to it. Honestly, my circle’s tiny for a reason. Less drama. Less noise. Less emotional-vampires. Just people I know, I can trust to have my back, and I do the same for them. If it’s not mutual support, it’s not worth my time and my universal currency. Nova… Something New…

Of course, the absurdity extends beyond personal relationships. Our broader systems and political affiliations are just as flawed, just as blind to their own contradictions. People tend to associate and/or glorify hard work, duty and service with a positive outcome. That also just isn't real or true. Tell that to the 30-year habitual smoker who gets lung cancer and dies a horrible death. Now, do they deserve this horrible death? No, of course not. No one actually "deserves" this. However, they earned it... They did the "hard work." They did their duty as a loyal smoker. They serve blindly to the Tabaco companies to get there though. Tell that to the minimum-wage workers drowning in debt and can’t pay their rent. Tell that to medically ill or injured patients who cannot even get their insurance companies that they payout each month to keep their mandate to its customer-base, (us).  The truth is that effort doesn’t always yield positive reward—it just creates momentum, and not all momentum leads uphill. Momentum doesn’t have feelings. It’s just a thing we have a misunderstood relationship with and that thing does not care whether you believe it is real or not. Logic simply does not care. ‘It’s, logic…’ It makes sense whether you want it to or not. It just is. 1+1 does not equal 3. And yet, we label ourselves a civilized society. We wear it like a badge of honor while shoving our collective heads in the sand. Is it any wonder that people snap under the weight of this hypocrisy? Violence is never justifiable, but it’s often understandable. That’s the uncomfortable truth. We’re a species teetering on the edge of chaos, pretending that prayer will keep the facade of civility holding on. It won’t. Not forever. People of today really do not understand dimensional thinking or appreciate the concept of infinity in relation to finite time, like a human lifespan. They do not understand it nor do they respect it.

On December 4th, 2024, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was stalked, shot, and killed in a shocking act of violence outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel. The alleged shooter, Luigi Mangione, was captured shortly after and found to have penned a manifesto rallying against the injustices of the healthcare system—an industry he accused of thriving on greed at the expense of human lives. While the act itself was horrifying, it illuminated an uncomfortable truth: society's lie of civility is wearing thin, and the systems we rely on to define fairness and justice are unraveling. People are reaching a breaking point, and the cracks are showing not just in the extreme actions of individuals but in the very fabric of how we function as a collective. The question isn’t just what led to this specific tragedy—it’s how we, as a society, got here in the first place. What does it mean to be "civilized" when the very systems we champion often push people to the brink?

I am like some or even most of you, in some medical way or another. I have been denied twice for Social Security by people who literally have NO Real Understanding with people with real disabilities. How it affects their ability to gain jobs they can do, feel comfortable doing and do not add additional stresses upon that could adversely affect their disabilities.  I am sorry this happened to this person. However, I understand it. I usually would have a little more real human compassion and/or value with violence in general, but when I look at what this one guy represents. I am surprised how rare this actually happens. Granted this one person may or may not be directly responsible. However, he is the captain of the ship and the captain of a ship assumes all responsibilities of the people and policies they govern over. How many people under this CEO work very hard at finding some sort of logical loophole in their contracts to keep the customer-base, (us) paying their monthly fees while denying as many claims as possible. That’s right. Instead of hiring people to find out whether or not the claim is legitimate. They hire people with the core mission to find a way to deny these people. Sounds like that is exactly what America needs and what the American people pay for. No, we pay insurance to handle our messes when they happen. We paid into the system and when we need the system to keep their mandate they find some way to deny all accountability. Is it really a surprise someone, anyone, one or more would not see this for what it is and then take action about it? Regardless if we look at the act of murder as right or wrong is irrelevant. The question is: How did we get here to begin with? Not whether the act taken, and the reason for the action of a gunshot to the back of the head is justifiable or not. I say: what did you think was going to happen? Did anyone, anywhere really think this wasn’t going to happen, eventually?

If it were I in a situation where I ran a billion dollar company that gains most of its profits off the misery of others. I'd be really scared. I’d be scare for others like this, their families. Shit, their kids. If the government doesn't laydown hard punishments for these actions more people are going to do this. I have seen both the left and right-sided media saying that this isn't how civilized humanity behaves. Oh, do they have this half-ass backwards very misled idea of where we are right now. I can debate this one all day and night. This is what they do though. They will get deep on a subject contextually when it benefits them but when it shatters their control, they apply their one-size-fits-ALL approach and hide behind that. Plain and simple we do not live in a civilized society. We say we do. We label it as such, but in actual practice we are one step away from the edge of the singularity. A place where once you are in it you can never escape it. Human's as a whole are almost at the edge of that point. After that it is a slow death till all of humanity is gone.

As I have said, I have seen both the left and right-sided news media doing this but it was FOX news putting the political spin on this where they shouldn’t have. They immediately pointed at the left media for glorifying this but they really weren’t. They were trying to explain why it is understandable while not acceptable, but understandable. Because the left media is so left biased their spin on everything tends to make the right-sided news media react to it. I just didn’t agree that the right looked at the left and pointed fingers when both sides of the news and the people that follow them said virtually the same thing but in different rhetoric which does not require facts or truth in its wording to be labeled as rhetoric. People of all makes, models, and yes, political affiliations are saying good riddance. While I do not support acts of violence like this, I do understand it. One can understand something and even agree to an "extent" and not be "for" the murdering of CEOs who represent pain and misery for many Americans. I don't just pick on the Left. Here is a clear virtue signal from the right media, probably and mostly FOX news. I really hate when both sides of the media paint this trash up for all of us to consume and then turn around and all those alleged facts, news, being considered "informed." TRASH...

I feel the same about the UnitedHealthcare CEO. He may not have “deserved” what happened to him but damn it, he did the work to get there. If one makes their living off the backs of others and that work causes massive amounts of pain and suffering to its own customer-base is it really a surprise this happened? I am surprised it hasn't happened, I don’t know, daily... It would not be a surprise that terminally ill people out there frustrated, fantasizing about plotting and now the media just gave a pass for others to do this. Granted they are not saying it directly. The left is playing the hero card while the right is disgusted by anything the left does or says, which is exactly what the left did for the last decade to the right. This is why I am cynical about this stuff. It is a hideous fashion show in and of itself. It isn’t even self-aware enough to notice what it is doing. Or maybe it is... So while I do not directly think it is cool to make waves like this, it isn’t at all a surprise either. It’s understood, just people do not want to have uncomfortable conversations about where we are as a society and why these things happen. I have found over time with my interactions with people with money is they lack situational awareness about the implications of what they represent. When you're the captain of a ship, you're responsible for everything that happens on it—good or bad. This includes the actions of the crew because their behavior reflects directly on you as the leader. Now apply that to big business, especially tech, pharma and the media. That concept always stuck with me.

I am a firm believer of black hole logic. That if you get too close to the singularity no matter what you do, you are getting sucked into it. Situations, feelings and even people can be like that too. They are black holes. If you happen to notice them the best you can do for yourself is ignore them. Don't even let them know you noticed them or their actions. NOTHING... They can grab onto anything and once close enough the hole does its thing... Consumes... If you know a person, situation or have feelings like this and you are close to them. You will probably never be able to do enough for them and that is the point. Black holes disallow that functionality by default and nothing natural can change that as black holes are not natural within our reality to begin with. That is why reality itself vanishes in and around black holes as we know it. What can you do that will actually defy those odds?

The opinions of the minorities tends to get ignored because the message is usually nonsensical and doesn’t make a lot of common sense to the majority. The majority doesn’t understand because the message is to bring minority-sentiment up and majority-sentiment down. It doesn’t benefit the majority. Now couple that with the volume being extremely loud and what do you have? A very loud, nonsensical opinion that only favors the very few, takes from the very many, which is the backbone, and creates even more chaos, because the underqualified minority cannot qualify to be part of the majority; so they bring the standards of what the majority is, down to fit in the minority. That is why their opinion doesn’t matter. Instead of going back and re-evaluating, re-organizing their opinion to make sense to the larger majority, they just double down and get louder, using the same nonsensical ideas they had before. Except now they are screaming it. Getting angry and screaming your very poorly thought out idea that the majority finds poorly thought out does not make the idea any more important, right, accurate or correct. It is exactly what it is. A very poorly thought out idea, now with the volume turned up so loud one cannot even hear the message. They just want it to stop. Their opinion never mattered and it matters even less now. Before it was just a loud scream and now it’s a quiet whisper due to their literally not being enough of them since Social Media pulled the plug on the mass delusion that is modern-day woke, liberal, progressivism. Volume has never been, nor will it ever be, a measure of quality and its always been about quality over quantity. They support murderers because they themselves are the murderers. They do support shit and it’s not from a bull. They may be disguised as ‘thinking-people.’ Their version of thinking can only be defined as ‘pseudo-intellect’ where the word ‘pseudo’ literally means made-up. Even the Punk Rock movement of the late 1970s, all of the 1980s and in a different way, the 1990s, isn’t even punk rock anymore. It’s a memory of a time when being loud and noisy worked to gain the attention of those that did not understand two to three generations of teenagers that later became adults and learned the system they hated was fake the whole time, but becomes real, for a price if and when they sell out to the corporate punk of today’s society. The punk of today is Jimmy Kimmel, a corporate troll that says they are punk but really just a talking head of bullshit that’s paid and taken care of by the very people punk was supposed to hate.

So yeah, those people that literally creep into some of your all’s direct messages, belittling you in the DMs is because they do not want others to know of how much a lazy piece of shit human they really are. People who do things in shadows are cowards. If they really believe what they believe about you or the winning side of this single snake with two heads facing each other would not be afraid to announce that on the public side of the platform. No; they do it in private, because they do not want the masses to know who they are, how petty they are, and what they are really about. Only weak losers want to dictate to others from the back.

They cannot lead from the back. You have to be in the front and to get to the front you have to endure a lot of crap from extremely superficial and weak-minded narcissistic-sociopathic people that actually hate themselves more than they hate you. Something about people who attempt to lead from the back with rhetoric, which is just fancy talk to make things that do not add up, add up. Rhetoric does not require facts in its words to be true or real, just that phrases sound like they are true or real. One cannot lead from the back because leadership requires setting the direction and being out front to guide others. If one or many are always behind, they can't inspire, make quick decisions, or effectively address challenges as they arise. Leadership is about being visible and proactive, not passive or hidden. Most people doing things in the shadows are shady, up to no good. Want to cheat you and you not know it is them. I do not know what is more cowardice than that? So taking a little bully jab here and there disguising it as a joke is someone working, dealing in the shadows. One cannot explain logic, common sense or even critical thinking to others that live in the shadows. They have their own goals of being miserable and their only motivation is to make you and others not like them, just as miserable as they are, if not more.

"Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love, and in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures, and sinks to bestiality in his vices, all from continual lying to other men and to himself. The man who lies to himself can be more easily offended than anyone. You know it is sometimes very pleasant to take offense, isn't it? A man may know that nobody has insulted him, but that he has invented the insult for himself, has lied and exaggerated to make it picturesque, has caught at a word and made a mountain out of a molehill—he knows that himself, yet he will be the first to take offense, and will revel in his resentment till he feels great pleasure in it, and so pass to genuine vindictiveness." — Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel “The Brothers Karamazov.” In this passage, the character Father Zosima advises against self-deception, emphasizing that lying to oneself leads to an inability to distinguish truth, resulting in a loss of self-respect and the capacity to love. This self-deception can cause individuals to take offense easily, even inventing insults, leading to genuine hostility.

What’s left, then? Why keep going when every step feels like walking a treadmill pointed toward entropy? Because even in the absurdity, there are moments—tiny, fleeting sparks of meaning. A shared laugh. A kind gesture. Perhaps the best sex you ever had and from the least person you expected it from and where. A rare connection that doesn’t drain but fills. These moments matter, even if they’re doomed to decay. So, what’s the point? Maybe there isn’t one. Or maybe the point is simply to keep dancing with the absurd—to find joy in the futility, meaning in the nonsense, and connection in the chaos. It’s not much, but it’s enough. And if it’s not? Well, at least it’s honest. Above all, don’t lie to yourself. Reality is already cruel enough without the weight of self-deception. In the end, we’re all just cosmic dust swirling in the vast absurdity of the universe. But for a brief moment, we’re here. So why not laugh at the joke, even if we don’t understand the punchline? For the love of sanity start loving yourself more…

“Then I glanced at the ring on my finger. The Snake That Eats Its Own Tail, Forever and Ever. I know where I came from - but where did all you zombies come from?” —Robert A. Heinlein, "'—All You Zombies—'"

Absurdus Definimus Latin for We Define Absurdity by David-Angelo Mineo 1/22/2025 4397 Words

[punjabassignmenthelpaus]

GDECE 102 Learning and Development birth Assessment

Assessment 2 rubric

Task description:

Based on analysis of the case study provided, design appropriate learning and teaching strategies for the child in an early childhood education setting. The needs of the child should be understood through Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. The learning and teaching strategies should also be justified through ecological systems theory. Draw upon a range of literature to support your analysis and decision making.

Criteria:

Explain your understanding of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (300–500 words)

Apply the theory to analyse the focus child in the case study provided. (300–500 words)

Develop a range of teaching and learning strategies to address the developmental needs of the child (800–1000 words) This assignment should include a brief introduction and conclusion.

Word count: 2000 words +/- 10%

NOTE: SCEI-HE requires its students to observe the highest ethical standards in every aspect of their academic work. SCEI-HE actively demonstrates its commitment to academic integrity by recognising scholarly work and penalising all forms of academic dishonesty. Please refer to the Institute’s HEPP01 Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure for further information or speak to your lecturer, Academic Support Coordinator or Librarian.

Formatting: 12-point serif font (eg. Times New Roman). 1.5 or double line spacing.

Referencing: APA7 (please refer to this guide for referencing guidelines)

Due Date: Week 12

Grading Scale:

Grade

Criteria

High DistinctionDistinctionCreditPassNot Meeting Requirements

C1.

Explain your understanding of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological

systems theory (15 marks)

1.1

Bronfen- brenner’s ecological

systems theory is explained in

detail, with some critical reflection.

1.2

Bronfen- brenner’s ecological

systems theory is clearly explained.

1.3

Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory is clearly described.

1.4

Bronfen- brenner’s ecological

systems theory is accurately outlined but may lack detail.

1.5

Bronfen- brenner’s ecological

systems theoryis outlined, may contain minor mis-

understandings.

1.6

Bronfen- brenner’s ecological

systems theoryis discussed but contains key mis- understandings and/or

inaccuracies.

1.7

Bronfen- brenner’s ecological

systems theoryis absent, or barely mentioned.

C2.

Apply the theory to analyse the focus child in the case study provided.

2.1

Child is clearly introduced, and ecological

systems theory is applied to the case with

detailed explanation and criticalreflection.

2.2

Child is clearly introduced, and ecological

systems theory isapplied to the case with

detailed explanation.

2.3

Child is clearly introduced, and

ecological systems theory is clearly applied to the case, with relevant

details included to support

understanding.

2.4

Child is clearly introduced, and ecological

systems theory is clearly applied to the case.

2.5

Child is clearly

introduced, and a clear attempt has been made to analyse the case through

ecological

systems theory.

2.6

Discussion of the child is brief, with no reference to the theory.

2.7

Discussionof the child is either absent or mostly inaccurate.

(10 marks) C3.3.13.23.33.43.53.63.7Develop a rangeTeaching andTeaching andTeaching andTeaching andTeaching andTeaching andTeaching andof teaching andlearninglearninglearning strategieslearninglearninglearninglearninglearningstrategies arestrategies areare clearlystrategies arestrategies arestrategies arestrategies arestrategies toexplained inclearlyexplained andclearlystated but maynoted, butabsent or mostly

address the

needs of the child

detail in terms of

ecological

explained in

terms of

connected to the

analysis of thecase.

described and

not clearly

address the

unclear or

irrelevant.

inaccurate.

(15 marks)systems theory and connected to the analysis of the case. Critical reflection on the strategies included.

ecological

systems theory and connected to the analysis of the case.

meet the needs of the child.needs of the child.

C.4

Relevant academic literature is drawn upon to support explanations and arguments

presented.

(5 marks)

4.1

A broadrange of academic

literature is drawn upon to justify

argument

4.2

A broadrange of academic

literature is

drawn upon to clarify argument

4.3

A rangeof academic literature is drawn upon to support

argument.

4.4

A rangeof academic

literature is

drawn upon, but only superficially supports

argument.

4.5

Minimal academic literature drawn upon.

4.6

Academic

literature drawn upon, but

irrelevant to target content.

4.7

No literature

drawn upon or

literature drawn upon is not from appropriate

sources.

C5. Assignment is formatted

according to

requirements and written clearly and cohesively. APA 7 referencing is used.

Word limitis adhered to.

C4.1 The assignment is clear and free of typographical and structural features that hinder understanding. There is no confusion between author voice and that of sources. The assignment is formatted according to stated

requirements. The assignment is formatted according to stated

requirements. Accurate mechanics of in-text and end-of-text APA (7th Ed.) referencing style were used.

Word limitmet.

C4.2 The assignment is clear with minor typographical and structural features that may hinder

understanding. There is minimal confusion between authorvoice and that of sources. The assignment is mostly formatted

according to stated requirements.

Accurate mechanics of in-text and end-of- text APA (7th Ed.) referencing style

C4.3 The

assignment is clear with typographical and structural

features thatmay hinder

understanding. There is minor confusion

between author voice and thatof sources. The

assignment is partlyformatted according to

stated

C4.4 The

assignment has typographical and structural features that significantly

hinder

understanding.

There is confusion between author voice and that of sources.

The assignment is minimally formatted

according to stated requirements.

Mechanics of in-

C4.5 The assignment has typographical and structural features that prohibit understanding. There is confusion

between authorvoice and that of

sources, or author’s voice is absent. The assignment is not formatted according to stated requirements.

Mechanics of in-textand end-of-text APA (7th Ed.) referencing stylewere not used appropriately.

Word limit not met.

(5 marks)

were used with minor inconsistencies (no more than 2 errors). Word limit met.

requirements. Mechanics of in- text and end-of- text APA (7th Ed.) referencing style were used with inconsistencies (no more than 4 errors).

Word limit met.

text and end-of- text APA (7th Ed.) referencing

containseveral errors.

Word limit met.

“Choose Punjab Assignment Help for expert guidance on GDECE 102 Learning and Development Birth assignments. We deliver top-quality, plagiarism-free solutions tailored to your academic needs, ensuring your success every step of the way!”

[drraptjr]

Reposted from @drcourtneyrose Still reflecting on the depth of the discussions I had with students after the assumption activity (check out my latest IGTV video). This piece by Jason Irizarry highlights just how intricate and unique the identity development process is and how limiting superficial, race-/ethnicity-based understandings of culture. For educators, and really those of us working in any field, it is necessary to be explore the nuances in the way culture is developed and performed and how this should inform our work. * * * #teachersofinstagram #culturallyrelevantteaching #culturallyrelevantpedagogy #teachereducation #classroommanagement #blackteachersmatter #urbaneducation #teacherssupportingteachers #teacherselfcare #selfcare #teacher #criticalreflection #selfreflection #dialogue #voice #love #teacherquotes #educationquotes #quotes #educationalequity #reflection #hiphoped #mindfulness #passion #creativityfound #identity #culture #hybrid #race https://www.instagram.com/p/B7z47gJAQJW/?igshid=11qlhce12dpmo

[collectifreflection]

a meditation on the body as a political tool & 

how we can reflect on each other / self & recognize they are always changing 

[cinematicquack]

Critical Reflection - Single-shot dialogue film

‘Call’

An over-worked, young woman is struggling to keep her life together when her absent mother calls her

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

Over the past few weeks, I have been developing a script for a single shot dialogue film. It began from a stimuli image that I picked at the beginning of the term.

(Gregory Crewdson’s, ‘Cathedral of the Pines’)

The image has an unsettling atmosphere and makes the viewer feel like an outsider observing this girl. The composition also drew me in as it distances the audience due to the framing of the walls, making them feel like an unwanted observer.

I then began to create some ideas for a dialogue screenplay. I liked the idea of spectating a painful moment to make the audience both uncomfortable about the situation, and sympathetic to the character. My idea was to capture an argument between a girl and her unsupportive mother over the phone, only hearing the girl’s side of the conversation so we can sympathise more with her. I wanted to challenge myself by creating a one-sided argument. When writing the screenplay I struggled to create a naturalistic conversation; I improvised and also watched many scenes from films to try and create the realistic dialogue, however, I still feel that my final draft isn’t as natural as I want it to be. I sat in my kitchen whilst writing my script as that is where I wanted the film to be set. I feel this helped me as I could plan out movement. I also created a floor plan to help document the movements I wanted.

Link to watch ‘Call’ on google drive:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LcuZTQAea8zPijlxC3DLKum4v2k4qOxQ/view?usp=sharing

For the actual film, I wanted a dulled-down Wes Anderson style shot. I love vibrant colours and I feel that utilising colours will create a more appealing shot. I also feel that the use of colour will help emphasise how the young woman is being treated like a child by her parent. I was originally going to make the shot super vibrant, however, my cinematographer Euan suggested we make it a bit duller to emphasise the unsettling atmosphere. I feel this really worked as it made the bright colours seem a lot sadder and gave the scene a bleaker tone which allows the conflict to shine through.

Before university, I have never worked on a proper film set with a crew, so I have very little experience. This term I really wanted to gain an understanding of the process of working in a crew and I feel I have achieved this. This was also my first time directing and I feel I managed well, I was able to direct in a constructive way whilst still being strict enough to get across my vision. I really benefited from the hard work of both Euan (who helped me get the shot I wanted) as well as Molly (who did a great job acting).

I feel that most of my team were very committed and enthusiastic. However, Josh had a huge lack of communication and didn’t do anything on set apart from hold the boom mic. I feel he made the process a lot more stressful than it had to be. Fortunately, everyone else was very enjoyable to work with. All of them gave creative input and communicated well. They also put up with me having panic attacks which is very much appreciated. I would in future like to be stricter on my crew so that communication issues do not occur again. The most satisfying element was watching the final cut, I am super proud of it even if there are a few things I would change.

I feel that the final product is good. I would’ve liked to develop my script more so that the dialogue flowed better and was more naturalistic. I also feel that the footage is a bit flat, however, I don’t necessarily mind this as I feel it gives a more observational style to the scene. I feel that Molly’s acting is amazing, she manages to convey the frustration and also guilt that the character feels. The moment of silence at the end of the scene is really striking and I feel Molly’s acting is a key part in how successful the final product is.

I really wanted to create this film as I wanted to challenge the idea of ‘respecting our elders’. I feel that in life we should not have to feel guilty for being angry at our elders as a lot of the time, they have done something to warrant that anger. This is based on my own experiences and feelings and based on the feedback I got from the class; they also resonate with the emotions.

Moving forward, I will make sure my future groups understand the importance of communication as I do not want this stress in future endeavours. I will also focus on making my scripts more naturalistic in dialogue. I also would love to try to direct again as I want to gain more experience in production roles.

[nicholasandriani]

Review: This Time it’s for all the Marbles. Social Injustice in Digital Gaming, Issue 17 (2022)

As a games studies scholar, I must say that Issue 17 (2022) of the Gaming Journal truly stands out as a remarkable addition to the field. Titled “This Time it’s for all the Marbles: Social Injustice in Digital Gaming,” the special issue offers a critical examination of the complex intersections between digital gaming and social injustice. The introduction to the special issue is particularly…

[sticksandstoneseducation]

So excited. This is coming! We're publishing a reflective journal unlike anything else. #sticksandstoneseducation #phoenixsupportforeducators #reflectivepractice #eylfreflections #criticalreflections #learningthroughplay #earlychildhoodeducation #earlychildhoodteacher #earlychildhoodeducator #eylf #earlyyears #earlyyearslearningframework #smallbiz #playmatters #playideas #imaginativeplay #preschool #preschooleducation #kindy #kindergarten

[psychnstatstutor]

#PsychnStatsTutor #Cairns #PeaseSt #sign is #go ! Will bring it in at night given the rate of silly-bugger in the hood. #tutor #psychology #statistics #SPSS #Excel #online #facetoface #phone #university #criticalessay #researchreport #literaturereview #criticalreflection #presentation #researchproposal #thesis #researchmethods #stats #analysis #distancestudents #tutorlife #studentlife #graduatepreneur #education #appliedpsychology #student #tertiary #highered (at Cairns, Queensland, Australia)