omg-yogiesherbal-blog

[wh0re43van]

And they were roommates (Peter Maximoff X Reader)

Description: You and Peter are long time best friends and now roommates. Things take a weird turn when he admits that he found your sex toy drawer.

Word Count: 3k

Warnings: smut, oral (fem receiving)

A/n: this is based off this request! I’m sorry if this isn’t up to your expectations, I’ve been having writers block. I’ve also been a bit inactive bc college rawdogging me without lube rn :/ (also I left this open to possibly a pt 2 with pegging Peter?? 🙊)

Peter sits on the edge of the couch clad in nothing but a pair of sweatpants, playing that mindless video game that he loves so much. His skilled fingers move in a blur across the plastic controller, the sound of the rapid clicks on the joy stick and buttons are drowned out by the blaring music coming out of the stereo. The music is so loud in fact, that the boy doesn’t hear you stumble into your shared home, dropping groceries and cursing at him as you stagger towards the table.

“Goddamnit Peter!” You groan after dropping off the bags of food, stomping into the living room as you dodge empty bottles of soda and dirty clothes on the floor. “Peter!” You gripe, now completely out of patience. But Peter is so fixed on the game and the music is so loud that he isn’t even aware of your arrival.

You let out an irritated sigh before ripping the cord to the stereo out of the wall. “Peter Maximoff!” You shout, crossing your hands over chest. He jumps a bit, startled by your sudden appearance, but soon enough his signature smirk is plastered on his stupid face.

“Hey babe! Where’ve you been?” He asks nonchalantly-choosing to ignore your obviously pissed off stature- as he shifts his attention back to the video game.

“Are you- oh my god,” you groan, completely exasperated as you pinch the bridge your nose. “I’ve been out for three hours getting shit for my party tonight. The one thing I asked you to do was clean up this mess!” You pace infront of the tv like a disappointed mother- a feeling you’ve become all too familiar with since renting an apartment with your man-child of a best friend.

“I don’t think four girls in their 20s getting wine drunk and talking shit for hours on end counts as a party,” Peter snickers before he zooms around you, now between you and the television with his nose nearly pressed to the screen in attempt to finish his game. Your blood is boiling at at this point.

“Beats locking yourself in your room and playing with your dick to those old VHS tapes you still have from high school,” you roll your eyes. “Atleast get with the times and use the internet,” you add with your lips pulled taught in an unamused line, you reach down to unplug the console. Peter of course grabs your hand before you reach the plug, his eyes still glued to the screen.

“And abandon my girls? Come on babe, don’t be ridiculous. We have history!” Peter snickers, unfazed by your attempt to humble and embarrass him.

Peter finally beats the level, sounding off the victory music. With a proud smile, he sits down the controller, finally giving you his attention. “Plus, don’t act like I don’t know about your drawer of toys. Neither one of us are getting laid,” Peter laughs casually as he walks back over to the couch, leaving you with wide eyes and blushed cheeks.

“What the fuck! H-how-Peter! Dude! What-what the actual fuck!” You look at him dumbfounded, now twice as furious and extremely embarrassed.

“Oh, so you can go through my stuff, but I can’t go through yours?” He smirks as he takes a swig of soda out of a two liter bottle, looking at you with pure amusement on his face.

“I-I don’t go through your stuff, Peter!” You shriek, looking down at your feet in attempt to escape his gaze. When you do, you notice a bright orange plastic rectangle on the ground amidst various snack cake wrappers. “Th-there’s a tape literally laying right here!” You chuck the VHS at him, he catches it, sitting it on the couch beside him.

“Alright you’ve got me,” Peter holds his hands up in defense with playful grin. “But you can’t blame me for snooping. You don’t exactly make an effort to keep quiet. Our rooms are right across from each other ya know,” he chuckles as he settles into the couch, wiping his Cheeto covered fingers on his grey sweatpants. “So yeah, maybe I was curious to see the loud ass vibrator that you abuse most nights of the week, and maybe I found a lot more than I was looking for,” Peter laughs at how red your face is. He’s clearly enjoying your utter humiliation.

You feel mortified. You can’t believe he would just reveal that he knows you about your dirty habits so casually. Had he seen everything?

‘Why would I keep everything on the same place,’ you internally facepalm as you imagine Peter digging through your underwear draw to see your Hitachi, the vibrating dildo, the strap.

‘Jesus Christ does he know I have a strap on?’ Panic begins to set it. ‘How long has he known about this?’ Your mind is racing almost as fast as your heart.

You swear you’ve never felt so embarrassed in your life. Despite the snow on the ground outside, you feel like your skin is on fire. You’re a clammy, stuttering mess that wants nothing more than to vanish into thin air, but you can’t even will yourself to move.

“Y-you can hear it?” Is all you dare to ask sheepishly, your eyes still wide in horror at the conversation that’s unfolding between you and your best friend.

“Mhm,” Peter snickers as he stands up, nonchalantly stretching and flexing all the muscles in his bare torso. You think for a moment that he might be flexing on purpose as he walks over to inspect the groceries you’ve brought home. “And I Gotta say,” Peter hums as he pops open the new box of twinkies you got for your party. “I’m really not impressed with the settings on that thing,” he says through a mouth full of yellow sponge cake.

You don’t know what to think of the situation. You wrack your brain trying to figure out what he’s playing at, but to no avail. He seems to be amused more than anything; at the very least he doesn’t think any less of you.

You sigh, walking over to the boy, prying the blue hostess box out of his hands. “T-these are for tonight, Peter,” you make a meek attempt of scolding him, but you can’t even look him in the eyes right now as you trip over your words. This only fuels Peters teasing.

“I’m serious babe,” he grins as he slowly rests his hands on either side of you. His bare biceps and chest tense as he grips onto the table, trapping you right in front of him. “I can show ya real speed if you’d let me,” his voice is low and silky smooth as he lets out a small laugh. You blink at him, not sure if you’re understanding him right.

“I-uh…well… if-I uhm-” Your voice is shaky as you stare up at him with wide eyes. At this point you’re sure that your face is as red as those cherry slushies that Peter always gets from the corner store.

“Am I making you nervous?” Peter asks as he leans ever so slightly closer to you. His sultry tone sends heat straight to your core.

“N-no,” you whimper. As if your tone didn’t give you away, you instinctively pull your bottom lip between your teeth.

“You’re such a bad liar,” he says lightly as puts a gentle hand on your face, his thumb pulls your lip out from under your teeth. “This always gives it away,” Peter hums.

You feel ridiculous at how worked up Peter has managed to get you. You chalk it up to being dick deprived and attempt to pull yourself together before you literally start drooling. But before you speak, Peters next words make your mind go blank.

“These pretty lips of yours are always getting you in trouble, huh?” Peters voice is husky as he drags you lip down with his thumb, focusing on your mouth with a lust laced gaze.

He’s right. Your entire time growing up together your nervous habit of chewing on your lip has always gotten you caught in your lies. It’s a little weird to think about all the adolescent trouble you and Peter got into as he’s standing only inches away from you; very obviously not that little boy anymore. No, Peter is definitely a man now- his mind may not have matured past 15, but his body absolutely has.

He brings his other hand to the back of your head as he steps closer to you. You can feel his warm breath fanning on your face, as your knees begin to go weak.

“Okay Peter that’s enough teasing. You got me. j-just clean up your mess so I can get ready for my party,” you say quietly as you examine his face, taking in how truly handsome your best friend is.

“Oh come on, we have time,” he smiles. That seductive tone is one you never thought you’d hear from Peter, and it’s definitely going to get you in trouble.

Peter dips his head down, his nose brushing against yours, making your breath hitch. Butterflies erupt in your stomach from the small contact. He teases his lips over yours, gently ghosting over the skin as if testing the waters.

The moment your lips touch, you’re a goner. You wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him into an intense kiss. Peter laughs into the exchange as he grabs onto your hips.

You never thought of Peter in this way in all the years that you’ve known him. Sure, he’s an objectively attractive guy- anyone can see that- but he’s just never really been ‘your type’ and aside from casual flirting like he does with every woman he comes into contact with, he never showed any romantic interest in you- as far as you were aware at least. But right now, you’re completely desperate for your best friend.

The kiss quickly becomes anything from innocent as Peter grabs your ass, sitting you up on the table so he can stand between your legs. Your hands run through his hair, tugging on the silver stands as his grips onto your lower back, keeping you as close to him as possible.

Reality sets in as his lips trail down your neck where he stops to nip at sensitive skin. As you catch your breath you stutter, “W-what are we doing Peter? Are we really gonna risk our friendship just because neither of us have gotten laid in a while?”

While you are concerned for your platonic dynamic, you just can’t bring yourself to push him away. His warm lips on your skin and his strong grip on your body is too intoxicating.

“We aren’t risking anything, dude,” Peter smiles into the crook of your neck as his hands run up your thighs, his fingers disappearing under the hem of your short dress. “Just two friends helping eachother out. Nothing wrong with that,” he hums. You’re silent for a moment, considering his words.

Peter Steps aways from you, leaving you to whimper at the lack of contact.

“But if you don’t want this, I understand. I won’t press-“ he begins with a small grin as he continues to slowly back away. Without thinking, your hand shoots out, almost causing you to fall off the table. You grip his arm as you look up at him with desperate eyes.

“Please Peter,” is all you have to say before he’s back on you. Smashing his kiss bruised lips to yours.

Unbeknownst to you, Peter has been waiting for this moment for awhile. He wasn’t ‘totally in love with his best friend’ but you are the one person who knows him better than anything and his domestic partner and you’re smokin hot and he hears you masturbate in the room beside him a couple times a week- not to mention he hasn’t been with a woman in months. I mean, can you blame the guy?

You let out a small gasp as peters fingers brush against your clothed core. He gives you mischievous grin as he pulls you to the very edge of the table.

“Let’s get these out of the way,” he breaths as he slowly wraps his fingers around the waist band of your silk underwear. With in half a second, the thin fabric is gone- where to? You have no idea.- and Peter is on his knees below you, admiring your exposed core. “You must really be desperate. Damn,” the boy chuckles as he collects some of your wetness on his finger. You groan, kicking him in the arm gently. But you can’t argue with him.

“Ugh Peter if you’re going to-“ before you can finish whining, Peter has his arms wrapped around your thighs and mouth attached to your swollen clit, licking like his life depends on it. You let out a loud gasp at the sudden intense stimulation.

“At least now I know how to shut you up,” Peter chuckles against your core. Caught up in your own pleasure, you grab his hair and grind into his face. Peter let’s out a hum of satisfaction before he slips a finger in your entrance.

“Fuck,” you groan, throwing your head back. Peter is having the time of his life, struggling not to cum in his pants from how erotic you are. I mean yeah, he knew you were hot but he never would have guessed just how sexy your moans are or how good you taste. Call him a munch, but Peter could suffocate right here between your legs and die a happy man.

“Just like that Peter. Please don’t stop,” you pant out lowly, moving your hips faster against his face. You look down to see Peter who is already staring up at you. His silver strands of hair tickle the inside of your thighs as he laps at your clit desperately. The image of your best fiends head between your legs triggers a flash of embarrassment and guilt, but that’s soon forgotten as soon as you feel it.

Peter begins to vibrate his tongue as he sucks on your clit, his fingers curling directly into your g-spot with every thrust.

“Peter!” You shriek, pulling his hair. The sensation is nothing like you’ve felt before. You quickly melt into his touch as you revel in the pure pleasure shooting through every nerve in your body.

Peter replaces his tongue with his thumb before breathlessly pulling you into a kiss. You wrap your arms around his neck, your legs beginning to shake from how much pleasure is flooding you system.

“I want you to cum for me,” Peter growls against your lips. You whine into the kiss as you clench around his fingers. The tightly wound rubber band in your stomach finally snaps, releasing intense euphoria through your body. “That’s it. Good girl, fuck, just like that,” Peter coos into your ear as the unholiest string of profanities he’s ever heard falls from your kiss bruised lips. You collapse into his chest, your legs shaking, head spinning, chest heaving.

“You okay?” Peter chuckles as he rests a hand on your back. You simply nod your head, trying to catch your breath. After a minute or so of recovery, you open your mouth to speak but are quickly interrupted by a loud knocking at the door. You jump up from the table, looking at Peter in horror as your release drips down your legs.

“My friends,” you gasp. Peter chuckles as he gently stands you to your feet.

“We’re not done here,” your best friend winks before he’s gone with a fwip.

In a Silver Blur, Peter zooms around the apartment. Within five seconds, the living room is spotless, the groceries are put away, and there are four glasses of wine are poured and set at the table with an organized array of the snacks you’d bought.

“Come on in ladies, y/n is in the kitchen,” Peter answers the door, allowing your friends into your home.

“Ew, why is your face wet?” One of the girls ask Peter as they turn the corner into the kitchen.

“And where’s your shirt?” Another girl asks as they exchange confused glances with each other.

“Oh-“ Well I guess Peter forget a couple crucial pieces of evidence. He wipes his mouth and chin with the back of his hand. “What’s with the interrogation girls?” Peter chuckles as he holds his hands up.

Your face goes red in embarrassment as you walk over to great your group of friends on shaky legs- and with a bare core since you couldn’t seem to find your panties anywhere.

“Sorry, ignore him. Peters just leaving,” You smile at your friends then give peter a death glare.

“Oh, y/n, let me know once your little party is over. We need to finish that conversation,” he winks as he picks up a snack cake off the bar. As he ascends up the steps, you see your purple panties hanging out the pocket of his grey sweatpants. You send a silent prayer to every all-powerful incorporeal being you can think of that your friends did not see Peter with your underwear.

“Y/n, are you okay? What’s with-“ one of your friends begin to question.

“Wine!?” You cut her off as you offer-more or less force her to take- a glass of Pinot Grigio which thankfully is enough to shift the conversation.

You’re left in anticipation the rest of the night, half temped kick the girls out just so you and Peter can finish what you’ve started, but you decide against it. As you go commando for the next four hours, you think about how you’re going to get peter back.

[rboooks]

If you take requests can you do a dc x dp with dead tired ship?

I love requests~! I really hope I got dead tired, ship, right. I need to find out the ship names. It's Tim/Danny, right? If not, let me know, and I'll fix you another one.

Tim really wasn't looking forward to meeting the new heir to Vladco. Usually, his parents didn't want anything to do with new money, as they thought that new money was too close to no money, but Vlad Masters was different.

The difference? He bought out almost all of Drake Industries' shares, and now Tim honestly thinks he owns more of the family company than his parents. Jack and Janet hoped to make good connections with the man and slowly but surely trick him into selling the shares back to the Drakes.

Tim thought if he was smart enough to get the people that bought shares of his family company generations ago, not just once but at least eight times, then Vlad Masters wouldn't be as easy to trick as they thought.

Then again, his parents aren't the best businessmen around. If they were, they wouldn't be flying through the family wealth, leading them to bankruptcy.

Tim would know.

One day, he looked at their books when he was bored a few months after discovering Batman's identity. He tried to tell his mom about it, but she told him that he didn't understand the business well enough to tell.

So he signed himself into college-level business courses online to learn it. She didn't appreciate his initiative.

"Remember, Tim, Daniel Masters is who you must befriend," Janet says for the third time as they climb out of their car. " Friendships are the ladders to climbing up in the world."

"Yes, Mom." He tries to smile at her, but all Tim wants to do is go back to the roofs of Gotham and watch the Bats.

Jason is supposed to start his solo patrols tonight, which is a big deal, and he's missing it. His parents weren't supposed to be back for another month. However, their latest job was canceled due to locals complaining.

His dad grumbled about people getting in the way of history, but Tim thinks it has more to do with his parents wanting to dig up an old cemetery......apparently the locals like their grandparent's resting place to be left alone.

Tim also thinks it's not lovely to dig there just because the locals are poor, so he may have hacked into the country's files and flooded the internet with the disrespectful attempt that his parents were trying to make. It received the right amount of backlash to stop the whole operation.

He then sent the community an anonymous donation so they could fix it up, get the gravestones washed, and the stories of the buried people turned into a book. It's the least he could do.

Tim's parents didn't realize the loss of funds only because he carefully hid his tracks with shell companies.

They are greeted at the door by Vlad Masters. He gives his father a handshake, compliments his mother's dress, and even offers Tim a gentle hello. Masters is known for being a bit of a humble hermit, soft-spoken but with sharp, intelligent eyes.

Everything he expects new money to be, down to his mannerism and even the way he stands. Tim would have been able to clock him miles away without even knowing his name.

"This is my son, Daniel," Masters says, patting the head of a frowning boy Tim's age. He stands just a bit away from Masters as if he does not want to be near him. Tim notes the way he shies away from Master's hand.

Interesting.

"It's Danny." The boy hisses. Mom's face tightens at his manners. She never liked children being heard instead of seen. Danny takes a small breath before smiling at the Drakes with a friendlier composure.

The hostility was only toward his father?

"Please call me Danny. It's my real name, not a nickname," He says, offering his hand for a shake. Tim fights a wince. As the son of a wealthy family and not the head, Danny is not supposed to initiate a greeting with Tim's dad.

He just told the Drakes he needs to be aware of high society rules, making him easy pickings. His parents jump onto that weakness like a lion on a trap gazelle.

"Daniel. It's lovely to meet you. " Mom's articulation is just a shade away from being mocking. Danny's smile falls off his face closing down into a near-emotionless mask. "How old are you, deary?"

"I'm old enough to still hear correctly, unlike you. That's not my name. It's Danny." He says much to mom's surprise. Tim guesses she's not used to people challenging her so directly. He learned that, too, while he was running Gotham.

The elites always made passive-aggressive backhanded comments to insult each other. The poor told you to fuck off to your face.

"You do not speak that way to my wife, Daniel-" His Dad starts, but Danny holds up his hand.

"You either call me Danny or don't talk to me." He says. "I don't need to waste my breath repeating myself."

Wow. Tim thinks, watching the red growing on Dad's face. He's cool.

"Are you going to let him talk to me like that?" Dad demands, turning to an amuse-looking Masters. The other man raises a brow, his gentle smile still on his face, but somehow it looks more....dismissive now. As if he was looking at a child demanding the impossible.

"Why ever do you mean?" Masters asks, "Your tone implies you were insulted, but that would mean you are upset with a child asking to be spoken to with respect. Surely, a man of your standing knows children deserve respect?"

"They need to respect their elders." Mom cuts in her voice like ice.

"He is my son, so I am his elder. Not you." Master counters, "But not to worry, I will remedy this issue. Danny will no longer be speaking to you disrespectfully, as I will not allow him to be near you."

His parents had a few seconds of looking smug until Masters waved his hand back towards the driveway. "Have a lovely night, Mr. and Mrs. Drake."

"Excuse me?" Mom cries, and Tim can't believe his eyes. The rest of the wealthy guests have caught on to the issue and have gathered near the windows and doorway to watch.

"That's Fruitloop for You can leave now." Danny chirps starting to look more like his father by the amusement on his face. "Except for him. He's cool."

He points to Tim, who flushes at the attention. He had been staring at Danny, taking in every detail of his expression and body language, fascinated by the fact he did not once seem intimidated. He didn't even look bored.

He seemed comfortable in his slightly slouched posture and confident in his skin and abilities. But his earlier behavior implied that just as he is confident in himself, he also doesn't think very highly of himself.

Tim's never seen anyone like that. It's strange. New. Exciting.

Heck, it was exhilarating.

Tim wanted to break Danny Masters' head open and figure everything about him out. It felt like a new case just begging him to uncover.

"I am?" He asks in a slight daze, and the other boy offers him a dazzling smile.

"Yeah, you respect the dead. The spirits adore you."

What?

"Oh, this is the young boy who protected that cemetery in Guatemala?" Masters asks with genuine warmth this time. "A fine job, Timithoy."

"It's Tim." He hears himself say, and Masters nods.

"A fine job Tim."

Danny offers him a wink, and Tim thinks his stomach just fell out of his body. What is this-?

"Timothy, we are leaving!" His mother screeches, tugging on his arm and yanking him away. The rest of the guests laugh as the Drakes are driven away. Tim knows he will never be allowed near Danny after this, so he turns his head around to give the boy one last look.

He meets the glowing green eyes of the Masters, who wave their fingers at him.

Tim starts following Danny around after that.

(Danny and Vlad know he's there and think it's cute. That's how ghost courts, so they don't see it as a problem. What is problem is getting along long enough for them to figure out a way back to their home dimension. Danny allowed Vlad to overshadow people just so they could have the means to eat, but he's getting really sick of Gotham. At least the soft clicking sound of a camera lures him to sleep at night.

Tim approaches Robin before his hero can go to Ethiopia. He doesn't understand what he is experiencing as his first crush and concludes that the Masters are aliens planning on luring small children by making them fall under a spell through their glowing eyes. Jason takes this very seriously and agrees to wait on his mission overseas. He realizes early on what's actually happening but, by that point, thinks Tim is hilarious and just edges him on.

He, too, thinks the Masters are aliens, but he's not about to tell Bruce.)

[cyberstudious]

Books for Learning Cybersecurity

I created this post for the Studyblr Masterpost Jam, check out the tag for more cool masterposts from folks in the studyblr community!

I'll admit that I've mostly used online resources and courses so far, but these are the handful of books that I've read and recommend!

Books About Cybersecurity History

The Cuckoo's Egg by Clifford Stoll: the story of how one man noticed an odd error in a computer at UC Berkely and traced it back to an international hacking scheme. a very fun & interesting read.

Cult of the Dead Cow by Joseph Menn: a look into hacker culture and how few people took computer security seriously at the beginning, and an exploration of how cybersecurity often becomes deeply and uncomfortably intertwined with geopolitics.

Books to Learn Cybersecurity

Practical Malware Analysis by Michael Sikorski and Andrew Honig: an oldie but a goodie for getting into malware analysis. I'm currently in the middle of working through this one and having a great time.

Serious Cryptography by Jean-Philippe Aumasson: a detailed guide for understanding the nuts and bolts of cryptography (the 2nd edition is coming out this month, so it might be worth checking out the newer version).

Cybersecurity Foundations Textbooks

Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (7th edition) by Kurose & Ross: this was the textbook we used in the computer networks class I took in college - I think this book does a good job of explaining how the internet works and breaking concepts down to the lowest level.

Operating System Concepts (10th edition) by Silberschatz, Galvin, and Gagne: this is the textbook from my operating systems course. This is a good book to go through if you want to learn how a computer Really Works.

Books I Haven't Read (Yet) - But I Know They'll Be Good

Cybersecurity Books from No Starch Press - many books have free chapters posted here that you can read as a preview!

Books by Bruce Schneier - books on society, technology, and cryptography

[the-burd-lord]

Heavily inspired by @deafenedsaltwater 's concepts. Idk what was in that post, but it sparked me to make a whole heap of sketches and ideas. Dunno how far I'm gonna roll with this concept, but for now it's rollin kinda far.

Loads of info below:

Four is the math teacher with X as his TA. Four's one of those teachers that really knows the material, but because they know it so well he thinks it should be easy for anyone to get. So they're kinda harsh with the students if they get something wrong.

Whereas X gives more positive reinforcements for students, and isn't as harsh with them. X doesn't know as much of the material, and probably looks to the teacher's textbook if they're lost. One of those teachers who kinda learns with the class.

Airy is the school's nurse and teaches the Home E.C. class, and he's awful at both jobs. When he's not starting fires or teaching the course like it's some kind of wilderness survival camp, he's mainly works as the nurse.

As a nurse, he misdiagnoses things constantly if it's not an obvious injury, and uses a bunch of herbal remedies for the few things he does know how to help with. Mainly scrapes and stomach aches.

Two often times subs in for him when Airy has to take care of a sick student, who often times will fake being sick so they can get Two to teach the class.

MePhone teaches coding and AutoCAD as an extra circular, and probably typing for lower grades. I keep slappin' a bunch of classes onto 'im cause I remember taking so many throughout high and middle school.

He doesn't enjoy teaching coding or typing since he doesn't see them as creative as making actual models for things in AutoCAD, even though the other two can be used creatively. MePad's kinda left to teach those classes despite being a TA.

Also it's a very hands off class where he gives them the basics of how to use the program, and the rest of the class is leaving the students to make whatever thing fits the assignment.

He's the kind of teacher who's real in tune with internet culture and reality tv so he uses a bunch of modern slang phrases or casually gives hot takes on shows if he overhears the students talking about them. Everyone thinks it's cause he wants to be "hip with the kids" when in reality he just has brain rot.

Clock's the history teacher. He discusses each history point with the same tone and enthusiasm, and remembers the years and eras with pinpoint accuracy. Kinda put too much emphasis on the dates, and how long events lasted, over the content of those events.

He's the teacher you can get to go on a long side tangent about something unrelated to the material, but they'd always find a way to bring it back to history.

Idk I also think it'd also be funny if he co-taught an economics class with Four (thinking there'd be a lot of math involved) when it's really more so about theories.

Out of all the teachers, Four and Clock are the most knowledgeable and could probably teach college level courses if they wanted to.

Animatic is the PE teacher with too much energy and gives the harshest workouts but thinks they're easy. Mainly cause he does them alongside the students and always has energy after to run laps around the school. Two would have probably told them to tone it down.

Speaking of-

Two is the health counselor and sub for Home Econ., but also has a bunch of unofficial jobs. They're the unofficial vice principal mainly cause the rest of the speaker boxes are kinda incompetent at their job, and they have to mediate not only students but teachers too (mainly Four and Animatic). As well as sub in for Airy, or even act as a supervisor, when need be.

Some other ones I haven't drawn yet are Daddy Long Legs as the music teacher, Popcorn as the theater teacher, and Hourglass as the English/Literature teacher.

The speaker boxes are the principle/VP/admin. They all kinda interchange with each other, considering how similar they all are also cause they switch out a lot in the original show.

Dunno who the science or art teacher would be, cause I'm mainly going after object shows I've seen. Honestly I may just swap some roles around.

Mainly doing this as a thing for funsies, but boy howdy is it a rapidly rolling snowball.

[ivie-ro]

As a young autistic child, I thought the only religious option for me was to be an evangelical Christian. I'm also a little shit and cannot accept things that don't make sense just because a figure of authority tells them to me. So here's the 6 steps I took doing a deep dive trying to make sense of things and save my faith.

Step 1.) Fully read an NIV copy of the Bible at 10 y/o and take notes about any questions. (The Internet is useful to define the words used.)

Step 2.) Observe the people in your church. What are they saying, doing, believing? Is it consistent with what you've read? Take notes on any questions.

Step 3.) Internet and library time! Research the theology and actual history of Christianity and the region at the time. Take notes on any questions.

Step 4.) Talk to your Church leaders, join a ton of Bible studies, and take a college level apologetics course to try and answer your questions. Take notes on any questions.

Step 5.) Become an atheist at 17 y/o because there are no good answers to your questions.

Step 6.) Spend the rest of your life knowing more about Christian theology, Biblical history, and Apologetics than the people trying to convert you.

[fireheartwraith]

I feel like I should explain ENEM, aka why the brazilians have been grieving since the date of the november 4th event was announced

ENEM stands for Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (National High School Exam). It happens once a year since 1998, and, although at first it was just to gage how the education was on a national level, it soon became a gateway to university.

The test takes place on two days (that are now two consecutive sundays), from 13:30 to 19:00, and each day the student has to answer 90 questions. The first day is always human sciences and languages (Portuguese language and literature, foreign language (English or Spanish), history, geography, sociology, and philosophy) plus an essay. Nobody knows what the essay is about until the moment of the exam, so there’s always a lot of speculation. The theme is always about a social issue: last year's, for exemple, was "the challenges for the appreciation/respect of the traditional communities and peoples of Brazil", like the quilombolas and natives. The second day tests the students' knowledge on maths and exact sciences (biology, physics, and chemistry).

ENEM is famously a very "read-y" test. Every question requires a lot of reading comprehension, interpretation, and interdisciplinarity. Maybe the internet has done americans wrong, but the SAT's look so easy in comparison. We always make fun of them by saying Harvard it's not actually hard, it's just expensive.

Which brings me to my next point: college! The grade you get on the ENEM can get you into a university using three different programs

SISU: gets you into a public (and free) university (the best university in the country is public btw, University of São Paulo - USP)

PROUNI: gets you a scholarship in a private university (it can get you a 100% scholarship but you need a VERY good grade)

FIES: student loans

And, obviously, the better your grades, the better your chances. You are graded from 0 to 1000 in every subject and also get a general grade. So if you want to study physics, you don’t need to do great in literature, but you should still try to get a decent grade. The more competitive courses, like medicine (there's no such thing was pre-med), can get down to the decimals, especially in prestigious schools.

ENEM isn't the only test you can do to get into a university, though! Some schools have their own test. USP, for exemple, has the FUVEST, so you can get in through either test, but FUVEST is always paid and you can only do it in, like, three cities in São Paulo, while the ENEM happens countrywide, which is why it's so important. The tests are called "vestibular" and the people taking them are "vestibulando".

Therefore, most 3rd year high school students take the test. It's basically a rule to do it if you want to get into a university, but if you are not on your last year of high school, you have to pay to take it (my case). Some people have to go to another city to take the test, it's a whole thing.

This year, the first day of ENEM is happening on Sunday, November 5th. And QSMP's most important event so far is happening on Saturday night, November 4th. May the Lord have mercy on our souls

You can check out the "atrasados do enem" for some giggles though. It's the "event" that happens because some people always arrive after the gates close at 13:00 and then break down crying in the middle of the street. It got so famous people started hiring actors to pose as vestibulandos just to go viral.

Now you know a bit more about brazilian culture!

Here's a link to download last year's exam if you want: first day | second day

[ipaaciir]

langblr (re)introduction

¡Hola! Since I started a new language journey, I decided to change my image and do a reintroduction!

Relevant info about me:

Aciir is the name I go by on the internet

(Mexican) Spanish is my native language

I’m in my last semester of my degree (pedagogy)

Main: @ardenenearde

“esperando las tortillas” [waiting for the tortillas] is my queue tag. You know… because you’re in the queue… for the tortillas…

Languages:

I got certified in English level B2 at the end of highschool, but I guess now I’m C1.

I'm currently learning German because I'd like to live and work in Germany or some other country that speaks that language in the future. I'm still on level A0.

I think I’m level A2 transitioning to B1 in Brazilian Portuguese.

LSM (Mexican Sign Language) is something I really want to study but I always find excuses.

I’m interested in minority languages and I also think conlangs are very cool :))

Interests and hobbies:

LINGUISTICS!!! This is something I’ve always loved but never realized until I was in college. And don’t get me wrong, I love my degree and don’t plan to change it, but when I finish, studying linguistics or smth related is definitely a possibility! (ipaaciir comes from IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) and my internet name)

History and anthropology. This is a passion I developed during my first year of college and it’s a class I would love to teach.

I also enjoy embroidery and sewing.

Podcasts. I haven't listened to many episodes this past year but I hope I can this year. Some of my favorites are Lingthusiasm, Field Notes, Linguistics Everyday, Life on Side B, Hablemos Arte, and The Cult of Pedagogy.

Arts and design. I actually wanted to study graphic design before I realized I like education way more.

Job:

I currently work as an online private English teacher. It has helped me a lot to improve my skills and get better at teaching languages.

I want to study a diploma course in the teaching of Spanish as a second language. This is because I want to work as a Spanish teacher here in my country or abroad.

Slowly preparing for an actual job. My goal is to get one in my field by the end of the year.

Some blogs I follow:

@theloveoflanguage

@langsandlit

@etymology-findings

@stepstofluency

@ravenlesslangblr

@aro-langblr

@thatswhywelovegermany

@languageslibrary

@fremder-freund

@lalala-languages

If you know more german (active) blogs I'd love to hear of them (I'm begging)

[messier-47]

How do you do research for ur fics?

I'm going to assume that you, dear anon, are also a writer and curious about how I do research, based upon my latest progress update being "need to go in a deep dive on subject"

Or how I do research because FUBAR is a massive undertaking and you might be inspired though daunted to start your own project.

Primarily, I read books. If I need a quick fact, I use the internet but other than the most surface level inquiries, I hate using any web page to do deep dives. Now let's get into it;

Of course, all research starts with a broad spectrum question. Let's say, "What is the theoretical culture of the people from Suna in Naruto?" That's a damn hard question to answer because I'm ignorant to desert culture.

But then input some limits. Exactly what sort of desert is Suna geographically? Is it a desert like Arizona, USA? Sahara desert? Gobi desert? The "Empty Quarter" of the middle east? Or the Atacama desert of Chile in South America? By personal choice, I narrow my field question to "What is the culture in the Middle Eastern desert?" But also "what is the culture in the Gobi desert?"

Okay, better, narrow it further; very specifically I want to know more about the nomadic people of the Middle East, those most famously known for their camel caravans. Turns out, one of the most well known people that I'm basing my research on is the Bedouin people. Now I know exactly what book subject I need to look into at both my local and college library. (For the Gobi Desert, I kinda want to research Mongols cause hell yeah)

Currently, my research is on central banking because holy shit, never realized until very recently that I have a potential leviathan for an enemy and I need to know more about how banks and the people who control the flow of money really work. The book I'll be reading is "The History of Central Banking and the Enslavement of Mankind" but also...realized that the main subject of F2:EB will be the war against the enslavement of shinobi. So I need to do alot more research on modern human trafficking in order to correctly set the tone and scene for arcs to come so I'll be reading "Unbroken Chains"

Hmmm I think this answers your questions adequately? Please let me know if I completely missed the mark so that I can rehash and give a proper answer.

[menlove]

i'm mandating everyone on the internet to take a sociology course before posting about identities because reading that post where OP thinks they're such hot shit for figuring out what a social construct is aged me 10 years

THIS IS WHAT I'M SAYINGGGGG

like listen college education needs to be free IMMEDIATELY. for so many reasons that are all very humanitarian but also bc i need everyone to take several intro level courses into sociology, philosophy, history, gender/sexuality, race, etc. it's so fucking dire out here.

like it's no one's fault if they haven't been exposed to these concepts before we all start somewhere but it gets vile when u use it to act superior

[okayto]

Sometimes I get comments on that how-to-research post insinuating that "of course 'they' don't want people to know how to research, keeping people from educating themselves is on purpose—"

NO you walnuts, keep your conspiracy theories off a good post about information literacy. There is no grand conspiracy to keep the masses 'functionally illiterate.' What there is are boring, mundane reasons like:

If it's left up to specific teachers/professors within a different subject (like English or history) instead of its own class, some of those people don't want to take any time away from their subjects.

Everyone knows how to use Google, so why teach them how to use Google-but-academic, right?

This is high school/college/grad school, surely students know this already, why waste time going over it again?

The person teaching uses this information all the time and honestly forgets that these skills and knowledge are not intuitive to everyone.

Research isn't that hard, why wouldn't students figure it out on their own? The librarians are there, so we can just assume students will recognize when they don't know things and will always reach out for help because they will always have preemptively looked into what resources and help are available in advance. And that they'll do it in a timely manner.

Infolit WAS taught but the students weren't paying attention because they know how to search the internet, why would this be any different?

If there is a problem, it's on a wider more cultural level: that information literacy and research skills are not commonly considered important enough that the majority of people will receive actual, correct instruction, and/or that people will recognize when they need this information. When it's not seen as a valuable thing, it gets de-prioritized.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Gregory Brown

Published: Sep 1, 2023

About the Author

Dr. Greg Brown is a professor of Exercise Science at the University of Nebraska at Kearney where he also serves as the Director of the LOPERs General Studies program. His primary teaching responsibilities are undergraduate and graduate courses in Exercise Physiology, but he has also taught courses in Introductory Anatomy & Physiology, Sports Nutrition, Research Methods, and Professional Development in Exercise Science. His research has evaluated the effects of nutritional supplements on the physiological response to exercise, the physiological responses to various types of exercise, effective teaching in the exercise science program, and sex-based differences in sports performance. He has authored or co-authored over 50 peer reviewed publications and serves as a peer-reviewer for over two dozen academic journals. He is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and the Association of American Educators (AAE). 

He and his wife (Amber) have two adult sons and one daughter-in-law. Sadly, both their cat and dog passed away in the past year. His hobbies include running, hunting, fishing, studying history, and watching movies. 

--

In the current battle over women’s and girls’ rights to female-only sports, a commonly heard mantra is that there are no sex-based differences in sports performance before puberty. Those who make this claim often contend that if a male is put on puberty blockers before age 12 (or Tanner development stage 2; whichever comes first), he can compete fairly in the female category. But is this really true?Are there really no differences in athletic performance between boys and girls before the onset of puberty? Do puberty blockers administered to children really erase male sex-based athletic advantages? Below, I’ll try to provide answers to these questions.

Like many things currently being put forth in public discourse as settled science, the presence or absence of sex-based athletic differences before puberty is not an open and shut case. There are few databases of records for children’s competitive sports performance and there has been limited scholarly research evaluating sex-based differences in competitive sports performance before puberty. Currently, there are no consensus statements from professional organizations such as the North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine (NASPEM), the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), or the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) stating that there are, or are not, sex-based differences in athletic performance before puberty.

Below, I will cover the main reasons our data on pre-pubertal sex differences in athletic performance is relatively poor, and draw some preliminary conclusions based on the data we do have that indicates such differences are actually quite significant.

Lack of Records

One challenge that arises when trying to determine whether there are sex-based differences in athletic performance before puberty is the limited availability of records documenting competitive athletic performance in children. For adults participating at the Olympic and collegiate levels, meticulous record-keeping is the norm, and these records are readily accessible online. A simple internet search yields numerous listings of Olympic and collegiate records spanning various sports such as swimming, track and field, cross country, bicycling, and more.

Similarly, records for sports in secondary schools are also carefully maintained. In the United States, it is fairly easy to obtain the results of the most recent state high school track championship from news sources and on the state scholastic athletic association websites. Most secondary schools additionally showcase records for track and field, cross country, and other sports. The abundant availability of records in the Olympic, college, and secondary school arena makes it very easy to compare male and female athletes competing in the same events at the same level of competition. Such comparisons vividly illustrate that once puberty sets in, males outperform females by 10-30 percent (depending on the sport and event).

However, most sports involving pre-pubertal children operate outside the jurisdiction of state scholastic athletic association or even the local primary school. Instead, these activities are typically organized by local clubs or community recreation departments. Children’s sports often prioritize recreation and skill development over competitiveness. As a result, records pertaining to race times, throwing distances, weightlifting achievements, or other athletic benchmarks for children are not as meticulously maintained or as readily accessible as records for high school, college, or Olympic sports. Some have interpreted the lack of records for children’s sport as an indication that any sex-based differences in athletic performance before puberty are negligible or insignificant.

Lack of Scholarly Attention

Adding to the challenge of limited records detailing competitive athletic performance before puberty is the constrained number of available scientific evaluations. For example, Handelsman [1] analyzed publicly accessible data on swimming, running, and jumping in children and adolescents. Although his data clearly illustrate that boys aged 10 and under run faster, swim faster, and jump farther than girls of comparable age, he published these findings in 2017 in a paper titled “Sex differences in athletic performance emerge coinciding with the onset of male puberty.”

In 2019 Senefeld et al. [2] drew upon data from USA Swimming and found that, before age 10, the top 5 girls swam faster than the top 5 boys. However, no disparities in swimming performance were observed between the 10th-50th ranked girls and boys. Additionally, in 2020, Huebner and Perperoglou [3] reported that there were no sex-based differences in competitive weightlifting performance before age 10. To my knowledge, these studies represent the only scholarly examinations of competitive performance in children before puberty.

Taken together, the scarcity of sports records for pre-pubertal children and the limited scholarly output on children’s competitive performance has led some to conclude that there are no differences in athletic performance between boys and girls before puberty. Some have even gone so far as to erroneously asserting that a broad consensus exists regarding the absence of sex-based differences in athletic performance before this developmental stage. However, this does not appear to be true, and in the sections below I will present information that demonstrates the existence of sex-based differences in athletic performance before puberty.

School Based Fitness Testing

In contrast to the limited records available for sports performance and the scarcity of scholarly evaluations regarding children’s competitive sports performance, there exists a plethora of scholarly evaluations focused on school-based physical fitness testing in children as young as six years old. Various tests, such as the Presidential Fitness Test, FitnessGram, Eurofit Fitness Test Battery, and other school-based physical fitness assessments, consistently show that boys tend to outperform girls of the same age in tests measuring muscular strength, muscular endurance, running speed, aerobic fitness, ball throwing, and kicking distance. On the other hand, girls tend to perform better than boys in tests assessing flexibility.

A small sampling of publications evaluating school-based physical fitness testing includes a longitudinal evaluation of 240 German boys and girls aged 9-12 years [4], an analysis of 85,347 fitness test results among Australian boys and girls aged 9-17 years [5], an evaluation of 424,328 Greek boys and girls aged 6-18 years [6], a study examining 1,142,026 performances in a 20-meter shuttle run among boys and girls aged 9-17 year from 50 countries [7], and an assessment of 2,779,165 Eurofit performances among boys and girls aged 9-17 year from 30 countries [8]. 

Collectively, these studies (along with many others not listed here) indicate a consistent pattern: before puberty, boys tend to outperform girls of the same age in tests measuring muscular strength, muscular endurance, running speed, aerobic fitness, ball throwing, and kicking distance. Conversely, girls typically exhibit better performance in tests focused on flexibility. While physical fitness tests do not always accurately predict success in competitive sports, physical fitness is often a prerequisite for success in sports.

Sports Records

USA Track and Field (USATF) sanctions youth track and field meets in most states, including regional and national championship events. The youngest age categories in USATF are the 8-and-under and the 9-10-year-old age groups, both of which can reasonably be assumed to represent pre-pubertal athletes. Upon evaluating the performances at the USATF state-level Junior Olympics, it becomes apparent that boys frequently jump and throw farther, and run faster than comparably aged girls.

For instance, if we examine the race times for the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m races, along with the distances achieved in shot put, javelin, and long jump events in the 2023 USATF Nebraska Association Junior Olympics [9], for both boys and girls in the 8-and-under age group, we find that no girl would have outperformed a boy to secure the gold, silver, or bronze medals in any of these events. For the same events in the 9-10-year-old age group, only one girl would have secured a gold medal (out of a possible 8), while two girls would have clinched silver medals (out of 8), and another two girls would have won bronze medals (out of 8). Of course, one could reasonably argue that data from a single youth track meet in Nebraska may not be representative data for pre-pubertal athletic performance as a whole.

So, if we make the same comparison in the same events (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m races, and the distances for shot put, javelin, and long jump) in the 2023 USATF Arizona Association Junior Olympics [10], we observe that girls in the 8-and-under age group would have secured zero gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals. In the 9-10-year-old category, a girl would have tied with a boy for a single gold medal, and three girls would have taken home bronze medals. Yet, once again, one could reasonably argue that the combined data from track meets in Nebraska and Arizona may not accurately represent the broader spectrum of pre-pubertal athletic performance.

So, if we make the same comparison for the same events (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m races, and the distances for shot put, javelin, and long jump) at the 2023 USATF National Youth Outdoor Championships [11]—an event that includes athletes from many different states—we discover that girls in the 8-and-under age group would have won two gold medals (out of 8), three silver medals (out of 8), and no bronze medals. Girls in the 9-10-year-old age group would have won a single gold medal, two silver medals, and two bronze medals. Collectively, looking at these three track meets, placing side by side the race times for the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m races, as well as the distances for shot put, javelin, and long jump for boys and girls in the 8-and-under and 9-10-year-old age groups, it’s clear that if girls were to compete against boys, they would have secured only 23 out of 144 medals. Within this tally, girls would have received only five out of 48 gold medals.

Of course, one could reasonably argue that the examples above represent only a single year and only three specific track meets. However, if we evaluate the overall youth records for the best performances in running, throwing, and jumping from USATF [12], the USATF National Junior Olympics [13], and the School Sport Australia Track & Field Championships [14], they collectively indicate that boys aged 10 and under outperform girls of the same age across all recorded events. On average, boys outperform girls by 3 percent in running, 9 percent in jumping, and 16 percent in throwing events. Similarly, records for boys aged 10 and under in USA Swimming show faster times than girls' records in 18 out of 22 events [15].

While examining medal counts at specific track meets offers valuable, albeit somewhat anecdotal, insights into performance differences between boys and girls before puberty, these counts do not qualify as a rigorous scientific evaluation. Though scholars often use evaluations of overall records for best performances to showcase sex-based differences in adult athletic performance, disparities in pre-pubertal children’s performance are frequently dismissed as being too small to be meaningful. Moreover, the overall youth records from USATF have not been updated since 2018, the records from the USATF National Junior Olympics have not been updated since 2019, and the School Sport Australia Track & Field Championship records have not seen updates since 2016. It’s unclear why these records have not been updated, but it does raise some questions about the accuracy of these records.

Nonetheless, by considering scholarly assessments of school-based fitness test data, several youth track meets, track and field best performance records, and swimming best performance records, it certainly seems like there is an emerging pattern of pre-pubertal male sex-based athletic advantages.

Scholarly Evidence for Sex-Based Sports Differences Before Puberty

Some colleagues and I have recently presented an assessment of sex-based differences in athletic performance before puberty at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine [16]. Drawing upon a national database of track and field performance (athletic.net) and evaluating the top 10 performances for boys and girls in the 8-and-under and 9-10-year-old age groups over a 5-year period, we observed consistent trends. Boys consistently (and statistically) ran almost 5 percent faster, long jumped 6 percent farther, threw the shot put 20 percent farther, and threw the javelin 40 percent farther than girls of the same age. At the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, a separate team of researchers from a different university used the same database, albeit with slightly different evaluation methods, and came to similar conclusions regarding the pre-pubertal advantages of male athletes [17].

In light of these findings, it is reasonable to conclude that male athletes indeed possess advantages in sports performance before reaching puberty. This conclusion is founded on extensive scholarly evaluations of fitness tests in schools, data gleaned from youth track meets and records, as well as youth swimming records for best performances. My personal analysis of the top 10 national track and field performances for boys and girls within the 8-and-under and 9-10-year-old age groups across a 5-year period supports this, further corroborated by similar outcomes from another team of researchers. Admittedly, the sex-based disparities before puberty are less pronounced than after puberty, but they exhibit a consistent pattern that yields a statistically significant difference favoring male athletes.

What about Puberty Blockers?

Whether there are, or are not, sex-based differences in athletic performance before puberty still leaves questions about how puberty blockers affect athletic performance. The truth is, we don’t have enough information to answer questions about how puberty blockers affect athletic performance. There are no published studies evaluating the effects of puberty blockers on muscle strength, muscle endurance, running speed, aerobic fitness, as well as throwing or kicking distance in children, whether in school or laboratory settings. Similarly, there is no research on how puberty blockers might impact performance in competitive sports. Limited studies have touched upon the effects of puberty blockers on body composition and height.

Two long-term studies investigating the impact of puberty blockers on body composition and height indicate that the sex-based differences in lean body mass [18] and height [19] persist even after 2 years on puberty blockers followed by an additional 6 years of so-called “gender-affirming hormone therapy.” It is undeniable that male advantages in lean body mass and body height translate to athletic advantages as adults. It’s reasonable to assume that these advantages also extend to athletic performance among children and adolescents. The sex-based differences in performance in children may be smaller than in adults, but small differences can mean the difference between a gold medal and no medal in sports.

Conclusion

Readers of Reality’s Last Stand will be familiar with the important sex-based differences between males and females. These differences begin at conception and continue throughout one’s life. Sex-based anatomical and physiological differences confer inherent athletic advantages to males when compared to females of the same age, possessing similar talents and undergoing similar training, across all age groups, even before puberty. Having a transgender identity, with or without the use of cross-sex hormones, does not eliminate sex-based differences in anatomy and physiology, nor does it erase sex-based differences in athletic performance.

It is my opinion that, in order to maintain a level playing field for female athletic competition, transgender identified males (i.e., “transgirls” and “transwomen”) should not be allowed to participate in the female sports category before or after puberty even when puberty blockers are used.

[groovesnjams]

gRººv333S,,,n,,,J▲M§ ▬|s|!|O|!| ❤︎|!|t|!|y|▬{{mmxxii}}  

..................number25 ....................of50

“ALIEN SUPERSTAR” by Beyoncé

DV:

It feels as though the conventional wisdom is now that the feminism wave of the early 2010s was an embarrassment - and while in some sense I agree (coverage was surface-level and quickly commodified; the more optimistic of us hoped representation was an actual victory), I also remember how it felt to see Beyoncé flash a giant “FEMINIST” behind her on stage for the first time, how it sounded to hear the biggest artist in the world sample Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie speaking about the concept on one of the year’s biggest pop songs. Ultimately it was a case study in the limitations of art as a political force, but it was also a demonstration of the power that art has to shift the Overton window and bring a concept firmly into the mainstream: like, yes it was ultimately silly to see every woman artist asked to say whether she was a feminist, but it was also an illustration of how long musicians and music coverage had elided politics that these questions felt new and exciting for a moment. Beyoncé’s choices - who she platforms, who she aligns herself with - make a statement about what matters. So it’s significant that on “ALIEN SUPERSTAR” she’s digging deeper to sample a quote from Barbara Ann Teer; it’s significant that the boldest track on one of the year’s biggest albums is co-produced by Honey Dijon, a trans artist  who’s been a key figure in the club scene for years but who’s never had a platform like this. Because ultimately only Beyoncé has this platform. And in a time of increased attacks against trans people in the US, I’m under no illusions that putting more of us in prominent positions will increase our safety. But it does make an undeniable statement about where you stand. And I’m glad to have Bey on our side, especially when the result is a massive fucking banger like "ALIEN SUPERSTAR.”

MG:

I did not grow up in a dance house. I not only had no appreciation for Michael Jackson, I had no reference for him at all. When I listened to him decades removed from his dominance what I heard was pure boredom. I feel this way about a lot of supposedly wildly influential and exceptionally creative projects -- Smile by The Beach Boys, Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart, Loveless by My Bloody Valentine, Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. Maybe you had to be there, alive at the time, to really appreciate the heft and ambition. Or maybe there are flaws in the fabric of my taste. 

The very idea of interpolating a history of modern dance music in a single album sets my teeth on edge. What artist could possibly be vibrant enough, witness enough, and precise enough to weave through time and string all these complex reference points together -- not as a mash up of obvious signifiers, not as a pedantic lesson,  not as a dexterous flex of personal wit and talent -- as a mosaic, as poetry, as folk art. Only Beyoncé, of course. Renaissance is so complex, vital, alive, and so much a product of its contributors (including the artists sampled, the producers tapped, and the layering of personal biography and pop culture) that I long for an annotated version.

Like most of what was missing from my home and my childhood, I discovered the absence through the internet or in college classes. In college I was introduced to T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland, and it’s still my benchmark for how great and how vast a single piece of art can be. Its working title was “He Do the Police in Different Voices” -- a title I am pleased was scrapped in favor of portent and doom -- and it was a reference to the multiplicity of speakers present in the poem. Eliot made it all fit together in a way I still find truly mystical; single words are capable of reaching off the page and strangling the breath in my throat. Well, I compare a lot of what I like to The Wasteland but I’m always careful to note it falls short. Not here. What Beyoncé does with her voice on Renaissance is what Eliot does with the pen on The Wasteland. It is her voice, above all else, that gives this work its life. I do worry that in twenty or thirty years there will be another girl who grows up with half the world missing, who listens to Renaissance too late and dismisses it as boring, but I have to believe that when the production starts to sound dated and the concept feels bloated that Beyoncé’s voice will remain peerless.

[maigamal]

Exploring the Best Places to Learn Arabic

Learning Arabic can be an enriching journey, opening doors to a rich culture and history. Whether you want to connect with the language for personal reasons, professional growth, or spiritual exploration, many resources are available to help you along the way. So, where to learn Arabic? Let’s explore various options to get you started.

1. Language Schools

One of the most traditional ways to learn Arabic is through language schools. Many cities around the world offer programs tailored for different levels of proficiency. These schools often have experienced teachers who can guide you through the complexities of Arabic grammar and pronunciation. You can find both in-person and online classes that accommodate various schedules.

Example: If you live in a multicultural city, search for local language institutes. They often offer beginner to advanced courses, and you can even practice speaking with fellow students.

2. Online Courses

The internet has made learning languages more accessible than ever. Many platforms offer structured online courses for Arabic learners. Websites like Duolingo, Babbel, and Rosetta Stone provide interactive lessons, quizzes, and exercises that cater to various learning styles. These platforms usually allow you to learn at your own pace, making them ideal for busy individuals.

3. Mobile Apps

For those on the go, mobile apps can be a fantastic way to learn Arabic. Apps such as Memrise and Drops focus on vocabulary and phrase memorization through engaging exercises and gamified learning. These can be great supplements to more formal classes, allowing you to practice daily.

4. Community Colleges and Universities

Many community colleges and universities offer Arabic language programs. Enrolling in these courses can provide a structured learning environment with professional instructors. You’ll likely find courses ranging from introductory to advanced levels, often focusing on both spoken and written Arabic.

5. Language Exchange Programs

Connecting with native Arabic speakers can significantly enhance your learning experience. Language exchange programs or conversation partners allow you to practice speaking while helping others learn your language. Websites like Tandem and HelloTalk can connect you with Arabic speakers worldwide. This real-world practice is invaluable in developing fluency and confidence.

6. Cultural Immersion

If possible, consider immersing yourself in an Arabic-speaking country. Spending time in places like Egypt, Jordan, or Morocco allows you to practice the language daily while experiencing the culture firsthand. Even short trips can be transformative, as you’ll pick up phrases and nuances that formal classes might not cover.

7. Online Quran Learning

For those interested in spiritual growth, learning Arabic through Quran study can be particularly meaningful. Websites like Shaykhi.com offer programs focusing on reading and understanding the Quran in Arabic. This approach not only teaches you the language but also connects you to a deeper understanding of its significance in Islamic tradition. The site provides various resources to help learners at all levels, making it a great option for anyone looking to enrich their language skills spiritually.

Conclusion

With various options available, finding the right method for you depends on your learning style, goals, and schedule. Whether you choose a formal classroom, an online course, or a more immersive approach, the key is to stay engaged and consistent. By exploring these avenues, you’ll be well on your way to mastering Arabic and enjoying the journey that comes with it. So, if you're pondering where to learn Arabic, consider these options and start your adventure today!

[digitalclassroomdiaries]

How Will Education Change in the Future?

The education landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by technological advancements, shifting societal needs, and the growing demand for personalized learning experiences.

In the future, we will likely witness a significant transformation in the way education is delivered and consumed. Let’s explore some key trends shaping the future of education.

How Will Education Change in the Future?

1. The Rise of Online Learning and Virtual Classrooms

The rise of the internet has already revolutionized how we access information, and education is no exception. Online courses for students have become a cornerstone of modern learning, allowing learners to study at their own pace and on their schedule. In the future, virtual classrooms are expected to become more interactive, immersive, and tailored to individual learning styles.

With advancements in artificial intelligence and virtual reality, students will be able to attend classes in simulated environments, interact with 3D objects, and even participate in virtual field trips. Online platforms will offer real-time feedback, enabling students to grasp complex concepts with greater ease. These virtual learning environments will create new opportunities for students who may not have access to traditional classroom settings.

2. Personalized Learning with AI-Based Platforms

One of the most significant changes we can expect is the personalization of education. AI-based platforms, like Fast Learner, are already leading the charge in tailoring learning experiences to the unique needs of each student. These platforms use advanced algorithms to analyze student behavior, learning preferences, and progress to provide customized learning pathways.

The Fast Learner AI-based platform, for instance, uses exclusive AI tools for skill development and knowledge enhancement, ensuring that students receive the right content at the right time. This level of personalization makes learning more effective and engaging. As AI technology advances, the ability to adapt lessons in real-time based on student feedback will further revolutionize how we approach education.

3. Lifelong Learning and Skill Development

In the future, education will no longer be confined to traditional K-12 or college experiences. The demand for lifelong learning will grow as people constantly need to update their skills in response to the fast-changing job market. Online platforms will play a crucial role in offering accessible and relevant learning opportunities for professionals at all stages of their careers.

Online courses for students will evolve to provide targeted skill development modules, which can be completed in shorter periods. Whether it’s learning a new programming language or mastering digital marketing strategies, education will become more flexible, modular, and career-oriented.

4. Collaborative Learning in a Global Classroom

The future of education will also be defined by the concept of a global classroom, where students from different parts of the world can collaborate on projects, share ideas, and learn from diverse perspectives. Online platforms will provide tools for real-time collaboration, enabling students to work together on assignments, even when they’re miles apart.

Moreover, collaborative learning will extend beyond peer-to-peer interactions. Platforms like Fast Learner will integrate AI-powered mentors and chatbots to guide students through challenges, offer feedback, and provide support. These virtual assistants will be available 24/7, ensuring that students have access to learning resources whenever they need them.

5. The Integration of Gamification and Immersive Technologies

Gamification in education is on the rise, and this trend is set to continue growing. Incorporating game-based learning and immersive technologies, such as augmented and virtual reality, makes education more engaging and enjoyable for students.

Imagine students exploring history by virtually visiting ancient civilizations or tackling math problems in a game-like setting. These interactive methods not only make learning more fun but also boost retention and understanding. Tech blog and platforms like Fast Learner can utilize AI to integrate these immersive technologies, creating a dynamic and interactive educational experience."

6. Redefining the Role of Teachers

While technology will play an increasingly significant role in education, teachers will continue to be vital to the learning process. However, their role will evolve from being the sole source of information to becoming facilitators, mentors, and coaches.

In the future, teachers will focus more on fostering critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and emotional intelligence, while AI-based platforms like Fast Learner handle the administrative and content delivery aspects of education. This will free up more time for teachers to engage with students on a deeper level, addressing their individual needs and helping them develop essential life skills.

7. The Shift towards Microlearning

As attention spans decrease and the need for flexibility increases, microlearning—small, bite-sized learning modules—will become more prevalent. Online platforms will offer short courses that students can complete in minutes rather than hours. This shift will allow students to fit learning into their busy lives more easily and maintain their engagement over time.

AI-based platforms like Fast Learner can curate these microlearning experiences, delivering personalized lessons based on each student’s learning journey. These platforms will help students stay motivated by breaking down complex topics into manageable chunks and offering immediate feedback.

In a Nutshell

The future of education is bright, dynamic, and increasingly driven by technology. As online courses for students become more immersive and AI-based platforms like Fast Learner continue to personalize learning experiences, students worldwide will benefit from a more flexible, engaging, and effective education system.

From lifelong learning to virtual classrooms, the coming years will witness a profound transformation in how we learn and grow, preparing individuals for a rapidly changing world.

[shraddhamatre]

BPCL Exam Mastery: Your Complete Success Guide

The Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) examination serves as a means of gaining entry into one of India's top public sector companies and a fulfilling career. Because of the increasing level of competition every year, passing this exam calls for careful planning and concentrated effort. Regardless of your degree in engineering, this book will assist you in comprehending the essential components needed to pass the BPCL test.

Recognize the syllabus and exam pattern Understanding the material and test pattern in their whole is the first step to aceing the BPCL exam. Technical/Professional Knowledge, General Aptitude, Reasoning, and English Language are typical test components. It's important to become familiar with the major question types because each segment calls for a different strategy. Pay particular attention to the engineering discipline-specific technical portion, since it is very important.

Establish a Study Schedule An organized study schedule is the foundation of your readiness. Set aside time for each subject according to your degree of expertise and how challenging it is. Give the technical courses top priority, but don't ignore the aptitude and reasoning tests—they're important for your final grade. Break down your study plan into daily, weekly, and monthly goals, ensuring that you cover the entire syllabus well before the exam date. This approach will also give you ample time for revision.

Reinforce Your Fundamental Ideas The BPCL exam measures how well you comprehend fundamental technological ideas. Regardless of your engineering specialty—electrical, mechanical, chemical, or civil—be sure your foundation is solid. Go over your college textbooks again and concentrate on the important subjects covered in the course. To clear up any confusion, use reference materials, video courses, and internet resources. Recall that you can answer complicated issues more quickly if you have a solid understanding of the fundamentals.

Utilize past year's practice questions Solving last year's question papers is one of the best strategies to get ready for the BPCL test. This will help you understand the format of the test, the degree of difficulty of the questions, and the areas in which you need to improve. Try to solve these papers within the stipulated time to enhance your time management skills. Analyzing your performance after each test will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to fine-tune your preparation strategy.

Conduct Practice Exams Frequently A crucial component of your preparation process is taking mock exams. They assist you in developing the confidence necessary to perform well under pressure by simulating the real test setting. Frequent practice exams can help you not only become more accurate and fast, but also build a plan for handling various areas of the examination. With every exam, concentrate on strengthening your areas of weakness and strive for steady development.ZXCQW3

Pay attention to current events and general awareness The BPCL exam's General Awareness part has the potential to change everything. Keep up with the most recent developments, particularly in the energy sector where BPCL is a major participant. Read newspapers, follow news portals, and use mobile apps to stay informed about national and international events. Additionally, revise important topics related to history, geography, and general science, as they are often covered in this section.

Develop Your Fluency in English The English Language portion assesses your grammar, vocabulary, and understanding. Regular reading of books, periodicals, and newspapers can help you do well in this part. Reread grammatical principles, practice comprehension passages, and complete vocabulary-building activities. Not only can having good communication skills help you do well in this part, but they will also help you in your career.

Continue to Lead a Healthful Lifestyle As vital as thorough planning is, sustaining a healthy lifestyle is just as crucial. Make sure you consume a balanced diet, exercise frequently, and get adequate sleep. Your capacity to concentrate and remember information is greatly influenced by your level of physical and mental health. Avoid cramming at the last minute since it might cause needless tension.

Maintain your optimism and self-assurance Ultimately, the way you approach things can determine how successful you are. Remain upbeat, self-assured, and driven over the course of your preparation. Be in the company of encouraging individuals and don't be afraid to ask for assistance when you need it. Always remember that the secret to passing the BPCL exam is persistence and consistency. 

In summary Becoming a BPCL exam cracker is a difficult but attainable objective. It is possible to guarantee your spot in this esteemed organization if you have a well-defined plan, diligent preparation, and an optimistic outlook. Employ the advice provided in this article to expedite your readiness and set off on the route to a prosperous career with BPCL.

Start Your Preparation With: https://gameacademy.in/ / https://clppenny.page.link/cTBm

Recommended: https://www.youtube.com/@gblions / https://www.youtube.com/@gblionsaeje 

[manybcdthings]

Name: Felix Ranström

Age & Birthday: 32 years old, November 3rd

Gender/Pronouns: Cis Male He/Him

Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA

Job/Role in LA: Actor

Positive Personality Traits: level headed, observant, realistic

Negative Personality Traits: brooding, removed, cynical

ABOUT

The Ranström name has a history of impressive wealth, starting from Sweden before working its way to the United States. They made their fortune within the world of banking and finance and Zenith Capital Management was formed in the 1920s when Hollywood was booming. It quickly became a trusted name for handling company and celebrity finances and remains so to this day.

Olaf Ranström met Agneta Nilsson, an aspiring actress, and the two were quickly married. Felix was their first child, and a few years later, their second son Jakob was born. But, the Ranström household was void of most warmth and affection. From a young age, Felix exhibited signs of turbulent emotions, often feeling things deeply and intensely which made him feel like an outsider in the cold opulence his parents created.

Like most things in the Ranström home, the choice of careers weren't outright said but were heavily implied. Felix grew older and faced either working with numbers or following in his mother's footsteps and becoming an actor. He knew instantly that the latter would be where escapism was most likely. After studying at college and earning a PhD in Philosophy, Felix embarked as an actor.

He doesn't care that his career was boosted because of his family's connections, but he also isn't grateful. A bitter resentment for his parents dug it's claws into him deeply, and as soon as he was traveling due to work, Felix began to distance himself from his mother and father.

Many temptations entered his life over the years and he quickly fell into the clutches of a hedonistic lifestyle, convinced he had his substance abuse under control. However, many interviews and press said otherwise as Felix's behavior became chaotic for many to see. Of course, Olaf and Agneta considered this an embarrassment and it further fractured his relationship with them.

Felix's sobriety comes in waves, sometimes he can last months or even a year and other times only for a few weeks. He knows that he can't continue to live this way for the rest of his life, but he also can't seem to see the positive side of sorting his act out for once and for all. He also can't see the positive side to most things.

He met Isabella Westwood while filming The Crow and all Felix knows is that there's an inexplicable feeling to do better and be better now she's in his life. They are dating, despite this not being available knowledge even the internet claims their "undeniable chemistry." But, his habits keep winning and causing Felix to self destruct, feeling undeserving of her. In the same token, his behaviors keep causing Isabella to pull back too. A cycle that he wants to break, but unfortunately, it's one of many in his life.