#not even because of the typical reasons its fully scientific curiosity

[arolesbianism]

If I was more of a fanfic writer I would totally write like 50 oni timeloop ai fics and Id have to fight myself so hard to not make Olivia a significant part of all of them. Just like yeah Quinn timeloop au. They and Olivia regular at the same bar actually. Don't worry abt it.

[sylph-feather]

Title: Ectoplasmic Fossils

Summary: "Actually, Dad?  I wanted to be a paleontologist."

Prompt: Prompt is the same as the summary. Prompter is gaunttwister, team halfa. 

Wordcount:  2453

Notes: Can you tell I was a dinosaur kid.....

For a Danny in familiar world, his first positive thought after becoming a ghost and learning ghosts existed (after, of course, a litany of terror), was as follows: imagine the new world I could explore. He considered this while staring into the swirling portal that lead to places unknown, and in his mind he compared it to the vast and beautiful unknown of space.

This Danny, in this less familiar universe, was less impressed by the portal itself; of course, he was in awe of it from a technical perspective, but nothing that deeply riveting, that personal spark of exploration— not from its wrought metal or whirling green center, that is. No, this was his thought, in replacement of the other spark: if ghosts exist, what things have been made ghosts over the years? What old life could be discovered? 

Danny, you see, did not desire to explore space in this universe. No. He was fascinated by paleontology. Star books were replaced by compendiums of dinosaur species, models of rockets and stations replaced by scientifically accurate models and bones, diagrams of ships replaced by diagrams of feathery, toothsome things. You get the picture. 

Where these obsessions came from… who was to say? Why one fixation over the other? Did this Danny latch onto his parent’s obsession with the dead and translate it into this, rather than translating it into the more vague idea of exploring the unknown? Or was it as simple as an exposure to different things; a cartoon with scientifically inaccurate dinosaurs rather than a ridiculous sci fi premise, or perhaps watching Jurassic Park too young rather than Star Wars…? The child’s mind is prone to flights of fancy that stick— that’s the  the final conclusion, no matter the exact cause of specifics. 

Regardless, his parents engaged in it; provided him with aforementioned objects— models, posters, etcetera— and generally encouraged his interests. The most annoying was when they tried to sell him on ghosts by using dinosaurs as a sort of bribery; they talked of the possibilities of discovering undocumented species and anatomy with the ghost forms of creatures from long ago, a sort of tempting what if, to lure Danny to their side. 

Up until today, when a portal had electrocuted half the life out of him, Danny didn’t believe it. 

Sam, Tucker, and Danny were all reclined in Danny’s bedroom— all fully human, though Danny still felt a bit… simultaneously charred and charged, which he supposed made sense given he’d just been fried by a nasty shock (to put it lightly). 

His two friends were sending him worried looks— also sensible, given not half an hour ago Danny was significantly ghostier, and significantly panic-ier. Now, though, while Sam and Tucker sent each other concerned glances to communicate wordlessly, Danny was simply considering the possibilities. Gooey species of jellyfish and slug-like creatures that hadn’t been preserved! Confirmation of the placement or use of bones, especially controversial ones like the hollowed crest of the Parasaurolophus or the gastralia of many beasts! Behavior that could only be guessed at via anatomical features! The degree to which feathers coated their body! Colors! 

...And so on and so forth. It was all enough to bring a wide grin to Danny’s face— which was a bit creepy given he’d just died. 

“Dude,” Tucker grimaced, snapping Danny out of his reverie, “are you, like, coping well—“ 

“We have to go into the Ghost Zone,” Danny cut him off with excited urgency. 

Sam blinked at him owlishly. “Now? Why?” 

“Not now, I guess, necessarily,” Danny brushed off, filled with excited energy. His eyes were shining when he turned them to his new friends— “imagine what ancient things we could find as ghosts.” 

Tucker facepalmed and groaned. “Of course the first thing you’re thinking of is dinosaurs.” 

Sam eased a bit, brushing off her initial assumption that Danny had some weird, ghostly pull to the green portal. “Well, at least you’re seeing the bright side,” she huffed sarcastically. 

Danny crossed his arms in a pout. “I’m not just thinking of dinosaurs.” No, he was thinking of other eras of ancient things too, of course. 

Tucker shot him a look, but broke it with a laugh and didn’t prod further. 

  xXx

  It was, of course, a disappointment when the first ghosts that came through were too formless to tell what they had been, if they were anything but raw emotion. It was an even bigger disappointment when the first fully-formed ghosts were largely human-shaped. With the exception of dragons— which Danny definitely did not count— there was nothing that bore any resemblance to extinct creatures. 

On top of this, Danny had sort of let go of the go find dinos in the Ghost Zone NOW mentality, because… well, despite insatiable curiosity, he didn’t know his way around the place at all. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting, or if he was even expecting it to be easy to begin with, but going into a directionless green abyss where orientation did not exist… well, needless to say that Danny knew he could not find his way to whatever ancient beast ghosts were there, if they did even exist in the first place. And he certainly didn’t want to risk his life knocking on doors of who-knows-what, or drifting around ghostly islands in the middle of who-knows-where. And that’s not even touching that technically Walker wants his arrest for a reason Danny only sort of remembers because it was so dumb. 

And so, for the first handful of months of his existence as a halfa, Danny contents himself with theorization. It’s hard to think too much about dinosaurs anyways, because it’s hard to think too much about anything— despite being a teen and thus being prone to sleep deprivation, the ghost fighting combined with high school has lead Danny to a new level of exhaustion, one that he is still adjusting to. His grades hurt for it, as do his passions. 

Slowly, though, he does adjust— enough to be confident to go in the Zone, and enough to have actually smart thoughts without his brain fizzling out. 

In the moment where Phantom and the Red Huntress found themselves in Skulker’s lair, Danny was largely scared and exasperated at alternating points. It wasn’t until that situation was… resolved (and thank goodness both hunters didn’t pulverize him) that Danny was slapped with a marvelous idea of tangential connections.

Skulker is a hunter. The Zone’s greatest hunter, he claimed, though Danny didn’t know if he believed that much. Still. The point still stood that it was a reasonable bet that Skulker was into rare and dangerous prey, if his arsenal and his fleet of pelts were anything to go by.

All this to say that Danny thought that maybe, just maybe, Skulker would know about dinosaur ghosts. That miniscule spark of hope was enough; Danny felt he deserved to see what he’d always so desperately wanted to see after the thought of dinosaur ghosts entered his mind as a believable thing. 

Danny had to ask— even if there was a high chance Skulker didn’t know or did know but wouldn’t tell, and the fact that asking Skulker was at great risk of being at best, involved in their typical scuffling, and at worst, captured. Danny only had dinos on the brain, though, and maybe he wasn’t awake enough to consider the full consequences of the impulsive thought. 

So he enacted his plan as a teen enacted anything: rashly, suddenly, and without much forethought. Even calling it a plan alone was generous; all the half-ghost did was float into the Zone in the general direction of Skulker’s island, foolishly calling out to Skulker as he floated through. Naturally, he came prepared— not with weapons, or maps, but with a bag containing his phone, a journal, and his comprehensive dinosaur book… just in case he did end up seeing any. 

The mechanical suit showed his flaming mug quite close to his island. Bright, solid green eyes blinked, and Skulker— who had not had the time to pull up hs egotistical Ghost Zone’s greatest hunter speech in his shock— said in a surprised tone, “don’t you have other things to do?” 

Danny did. He did this in favor of an important English essay on 1984 that he had— Danny had tried wrapping his mind around thought crime and contradictions, and once he put the book down he immediately decided I can think on all that and, I’d much rather find dinosaurs. So here he was. 

Skulker shook himself out of that surprise, and levelled a laser that popped out of his arm at Danny. “No matter! Prey is prey, and you are good prey!” 

“Wait!” Danny barked, confident enough (and strange and out of place enough) to give the other ghost pause, making Skulker lower the laser just slightly, a modicum of movement to say go on, or at least indicate curiosity. “I want to see dinosaurs,” Danny said authoritatively, simply. 

Skulker stared, weapon still whining slightly. His slightly slack jaw and slumped arm just screamed huh? 

And thus began a ramble— “I’ve always wanted to see dinosaurs, and once I realized ghosts existed, I figured ghost dinosaurs had to exist, right?” Not waiting for an answer, Danny ploughed ahead. “And I thought of all the ghosts I’ve met, you seem like you maybe, hopefully know where any ghost dinos are, with the whole hunting schtick—“ 

Skulker cut off Danny’s rambling with honesty: “I’m not sure if I should be amused, flattered, or honored, ghost child.”

“As long as you’re not violent?” Danny said slowly, tipping his head, still assessing Skulker as though to try to suss out whether he was a threat still or no 

Skulker himself was still trying to figure out the answer to that question— did he want to be a threat, want to hunt Phantom? Or did he want to pause and take a moment to indulge the bright, sparkling curiosity in his eyes…? 

Skulker gave an awkward cough, a sort of choked harumph sound. He started slowly, unsurely, “I suppose.” He added hurriedly— “to reward you for being such good prey.” 

Danny huffed. “Way to make it weird,” the halfa grumbled— but he wasn’t able to keep up a petulant persona for long, because the excitement shone through too brightly to conceal. Because dinosaurs. “That means you know where to find them?” Danny’s voice was approaching something that could only be described as a squeal. 

Skulker once again paused for contemplation, because those islands were one of his prized hunting spots… the dinosaurs regenerated (as most strong, full ghosts did), but they still were a great joy to hunt. Among the dinosaur-ridden chunks of land, there were also significantly less interesting hunts— the cambrian period areas, for example, didn’t have much that provided a very thrilling chase… they just sort of scooted around. Then again, it was clear the ghost child cared not for the hunt, so Skulker supposed he could share. 

Skulker made a gruff noise, internally considering that of course he would hunt down the halfa anyways, and Danny didn’t regenerate like full ghosts— so it wasn’t like he had to share for long. Granted, it wasn’t like a hunter to lead prey into anything but a trap, but Skulker didn’t have much to argue against that thought, so he just… didn’t think about it, justifying it with a vague “honor” tangent in his mind.

To answer the question after much internal debate on sharing, his own softness, etcetera, Skulker simply said, “yes, I know where to find them. Follow me.” 

The halfa was lost in excitement, doing flips in the air and going on a ramble that the mechanized ghost utterly drowned out as they jetsetted through the Zone at rapid speed. 

I could skewer him right now, Skulker thought over the whine of his jetpack. The thought had no heat to it, though, especially when Skulker took a pause to look at the exuberant teenager. 

It wasn’t long to consider thoughts of said skewering, anyways. The Ghost Zone was a strange place; once someone had been somewhere and knew the way, the green abyss would fold out of its own way to get them there again when they wanted it. Skulker had long stopped questioning it, if he ever questioned it in the first place, but Phantom was quite in awe of the quick travel, and the way their scenery had subtly compressed then stretched into a new horizon around them as they flew— only now was he realizing the complete change in surroundings. 

Skulker just hovered and watched as those luminous green eyes darted from unfamiliar door to unfamiliar door until they settled on the main attraction: a vast set of islands, incomprehensibly expansive and swirling around each other in a compressed way special to the Ghost Zone’s laws of space.

Danny’s eyes widened, and he let out a sound of pure, concentrated excitement. “This is it,” he said, and it was partially a question but mostly seemed to function as a statement to convince himself. 

Danny shot immediately to the nearest island, a chunk of land covered in a swampy rainforest and thick ferns. From the brush, a large thing burst forth, chittering and cawing. 

Danny took in the huge, feathered raptor— feathers of blue and green, as with all ghosts, but otherwise so… different. It was so different, seeing it in the… well, not flesh, ectoplasm, but the point still stood. Danny hovered above that island, frozen with awe, and the creature stared back at him with eyes that were not slit and were observant, and it clicked its lizard-like mouth around its sharp teeth and flared its feathers with some degree of fright… and Danny could think of nothing better than that moment of pure, extreme joy and awe and sheer wonder. 

Skulker saw all that on the teen’s face and thought again, this time with heat: I could skewer him right now. Their little agreement was over, the debt of providing a good chase repaid, and now it was time for the halfa to become prey once again. A laser charged up—

Beep, beep, beep. The laser cut off with the notification, and Skulker gave a surprised grunt. 

Danny made a noise. “You scared it off,” he groaned, but even that couldn’t get him down, because he went plummeting off towards the fern forest with a joyous laugh. 

Gorilla feeding time, Skulker’s suit informed him in the meanwhile. 

“No,” he barked uselessly, already jetting away, “I thought I’d gotten rid of this—!” 

The last thing the mechanical ghost saw was Phantom, plunging into the underbrush, crowing with laughter, dinosaur dreams fulfilled.

[human-resourccs]

He Just Likes The Rush - Ch. 3

In which Scarecrows are born and it gets sorta gay for like a second there

~1300 words

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Looking back on it, Jonathan struggled to remember exactly how long it took after that first visit to his home that his research…. Escalated. He'd been well aware of his declining mental state - on some level, he had. But the warnings, the concern, the thoughts of slowing down; all of those rational things he should've been thinking had been getting locked away in the back of his mind as he redoubled his efforts on his life's work.

It had started out fairly well, to be fair. Having already become desensitized to the Riddler's…. disposition, it became fairly easy to hold a conversation when he was in a decent mood. The first thing he'd found out was that his new acquaintance's name was actually Edward Nigma - 'Common knowledge, Jonathan! Pick up a newspaper once in a while! Mister Riddler, really?' - and barely batted an eyelid at the oddity of it. Honestly, it was one of the less excessive things he'd done for his aesthetic.

The arrangement had been thusly; the Riddler had provided him with the contacts he'd been looking for, put him in a position where he could now reliably access the more shady dealings of Gotham’s underground; and in return Edward would typically bother him - either in person or over the phone - whenever it took his fancy. It was mutually agreed that this arrangement would be promptly broken with no harboured grudges if it ended up they both found each other absolutely intolerable. They both had some small amount to gain from either eventuality. For Edward, his curiosity would be at rest and an interesting addition made to the criminal scene in Gotham; for Jonathan, he would maintain his contacts regardless and end up with more time to dedicate to research.

All in all, it really wasn't a bad deal. Especially since they had found one another mutually agreeable; on good days, they'd debate various scientific, sociological, and literary-based topics. Sometimes, these discussions even became quite heated; especially where the fields of psychology were broached. Sometimes Jonathan would swear that his acquaintance was trying to goad him into throttling him.

"All I'm saying, Jon, is that- technically- technically! the ancient Greeks weren't as far off as they thought they were with regards to the humours of the body."

"That is objectively absurd. "

"Well - what are the causes of most psychiatric disorders, if not an imbalance of chemicals in the brain? Riddle me that! Sure, they undershot the number of chemicals a little, and wildly misinterpreted their identities and locations - but the core concept still stands, now, doesn't it?"

Edward, of course, knew exactly what he was doing - he just delighted in getting a rise from him.

"Edward, I am warning you..."

"Is that a begrudging admission of defeat I see through those gritted teeth?"

Neither of them were sure how that one didn't end without a trip to the emergency ward.

Though the raising of hackles was not entirely one-sided, of course. Jonathan also took great pleasure in his petty tortures.

"Jesus, Jon, how long have those dishes been there?"

"Mh? Dunno. Couple weeks, maybe. Lost count. I'll do them when I run out of clean ones."

Sometimes it took all his effort not to break the deadpan tone in his voice when the inevitable exclamations of horror from Edward soon followed.

"I think I'm going to be sick."

"Throw up in the corner; the mould's getting hungry."

The sight of the sheer speed with which the Riddler's face blanched - speedily exiting the room so the rogue might regain his composure - finally broke the stony expression he'd been trying to maintain; that was the first time Edward heard Jonathan laugh, and really laugh. Low and hearty, head thrown back, laughing until he was pink in the cheeks.

For some reason, Edward wasn't able to muster up the energy to be mad at the sight.

And on bad days, the Riddler would simply rant about whatever had slighted him or taken his interest in that particular instance, waving his hands in grand gestures and even getting up from where he was seated on a few occasions; Jonathan would half-listen and nod emphatically now and then. The background noise served to make it slightly easier to concentrate when he was thinking.

It was an odd arrangement, but they were odd people.

It was after that - if he concentrated, it must've been about a month, a little less - that things went sideways, as they always do. Edward seemed to have sensed the change, the slight shift in his personality - he didn't say anything. Perhaps it was out of some sense of respect, or perhaps it was for fear of the reaction. Hell - maybe he just wanted to see what would happen. Jonathan couldn't say he blamed him because that would've made him a massive, massive hypocrite; he'd have done the exact same thing, were the roles reversed.

Their talks became restricted to just phone contact; then became less frequent; then stopped altogether as the situation came to a head.

The situation. He kept dancing around the topic in his head, never thinking about it - was it because he struggled to sort through the hazy memory, or because he was scared - scared of admitting that Jonathan Crane, sanest man in the room, might've been more of a madman than he thought?

The preceding few nights, the lack of Edward's - of anyone's - presence, and his stock of resources had allowed him to work feverishly through the twilight hours until the sun came up, broken up only by his obligations as a lecturer.

It did not take a psychology doctorate to see the clear issue with this, and yet somehow Jonathan remained oblivious. Something had to give.

It had been innocent enough, such a small thing. Jonathan was no stranger to the habits of the students that his class was comprised of; they were young adults, a demographic that was always going to be known for their perceived lack of respect and general rowdiness. But for some reason, that day, they had just been so much louder than usual, he thought. So much louder - look, there, those four aren't even facing the front - and she's eating in the middle of the lecture- is that little brat napping in my class? How dare he? How dare any of them? He was here, teaching-

Oh, he would teach them, alright. It all happened so fast; nobody was really sure what Professor Crane had actually done to the boy who'd been sleeping at his desk. He just stopped, mid-sentence. He had this... weird look on his face. Walked over to the desk. Planted his hands on either side of it. Leaned in, whispering something with heated fervour;  such a dark, dark expression on his face.

The boy just…. Started screaming. flailing around like a madman. Didn't stop until the paramedics showed up and sedated the poor bastard. They didn't find any drugs in his system - they weren't to know that the chemicals had long since been metabolised - no history of mental illness, nothing. Of course, though nobody could prove that Jonathan had actually done anything to him, action still had to be taken. There were furious parents, friends of friends, all directing their anger at the university that something be done about this!

And so, Jonathan Crane, at least on paper, willingly resigned from his position at the University. This, of course, left him with a great deal of extra time on his hands. He wasn't even angry - the opposite, he was pleased, now that he could dedicate so much more time to his work.

Within the week, everyone who had been in attendance of the class that day began to have strange, inexplicable mental breakdowns. One by one - no explanation. Screaming about monsters and spiders and fire and drowning; none of them ever recovered. Not fully.

Within the month, vendetta sated, fear had closed its cruel, icy fingers around the hearts of Gotham's inhabitants - and with that fear, the first appearance of the Scarecrow, and subsequent capture after a long arduous pursuit on the part of the GCPD and the batman.

But the damage was done.  No time for regrets, nor doubts - this was the path Jonathan had set himself down and he intended to walk it to its conclusion.

His short stint in Arkham would prove to be most interesting.

[dailykhaleej]

Is global coronavirus pandemic making you lazy?

Picture Credit score: Seyyed Llata/DailyKhaleej

‘Will do it tomorrow’, ‘Maybe next week’, ‘Will finish it soon’…we regularly hear these sentences, however that tomorrow, that subsequent week, seldom occurs for a lot of. With the appearance of COVID-19 and the global uncertainty persisting for the final six months, issues have solely change into bleaker for the much less decided. Endlessly to each the illness and unprecedented measures it has imposed on humanity like digital home arrests, social distancing and complete expertise dependence on the background, allow us to check out ‘laziness’ and its altering precepts.

Laziness: Learn how to outline it?

Some name it laziness, whereas others time period it procrastination. Each the phrases are fully completely different in which means, however have an effect on human growth and day-to-day actions virtually in a similar way.

This fixed postponement of adverse duties is widespread amongst some adults and youngsters alike. Whereas some individuals are goal oriented and targeted on what they wish to do, others fall on the wayside, taking the much less strenuous path to pleasure.

With global coronavirus pandemic driving up stress and nervousness ranges in human beings, motivation, an important issue that prompts human beings, is on the ebb.

Is it the genetic make-up of people or the environmental issue surrounding us that’s driving all of it? The image created by the scientific group is just not very clear but, however allow us to attempt to distill what is understood to date.

Anatomy of laziness

Picture Credit score: Seyyed Llata/DailyKhaleej

The psychological facet

Laziness is just not a trait however a set of states and habits. The Greeks termed it ‘akrasia’ (weak spot of the need).

“A person is said to be lazy if he/she has the potential to carry out some activity that ought to be carried out, but is unenthusiastic to do so because of the effort involved. Instead, he/she engages in some other, less strenuous activity; or just remains idle,” stated Marisa Lobo Biddappa, a Dubai-based scientific psychologist.

Most individuals might sometimes really feel lazy, however that isn’t a everlasting state. Nevertheless, “when this state is prolonged it could become a problem and interfere with the proper functioning of the individual,” stated Dr Andrea Tosatto, one other Dubai-based scientific psychologist.

An individual is claimed to be lazy if he/she has the potential to hold out some exercise that must be carried out, however is unenthusiastic to take action due to the hassle concerned. As a substitute, he/she engages in another, much less strenuous exercise; or simply stays idle

– Marisa Lobo Biddappa, scientific psychologist

The bodily facet

Is laziness solely psychological? It doesn’t appear to be, explains Dr Nishanth Sanalkumar, Sharjah-based Guide Endocrinologist: “In my clinical practice, one of the most common complaints that patients report is tiredness and low energy. Sometimes they call it ‘laziness’.”

Tiredness or low vitality will be brought on by lots of medical circumstances: Hormonal deficiency like hypothyroidism, pituitary and adrenal gland problems, electrolyte imbalances, dietary and vitamin deficiencies and power sickness can all end in low vitality ranges, stated Dr Nishanth Sanalkumar.

“Environmental factors like extreme temperature and humidity can also affect human energy levels. Over the last several decades, we have seen an alarming increase in the so called lifestyle diseases like Type2 diabetes, heart disease and cancers. This trend is closely related to increasing rates of obesity, which in turn is due to decreased physical activity and increased availability of unhealthy food choices,” Dr Nishanth Sanalkumar identified, clarifying the distinction between the bodily and psychological circumstances.

What’s procrastination?

To procrastinate is to place off doing a activity in favour of different duties, that are much less necessary however perceived as simpler or extra pleasurable.

“To postpone a task for a reason is not procrastination. It becomes procrastination when one postpones it with the intention of doing it later but because of poor planning, ends up doing it at the last hour, resulting with feeling stressed and guilty, besides not getting the best out of it,” defined Marisa Lobo Biddappa.

Is COVID-19 abetting laziness?

The sometimes-exaggerated response to COVID-19 and the lockdown measures taken by varied governments have triggered lack of belief sooner or later and created worry, sense of fragility and a improper notion of doable close to demise, stated Dr Andrea Tosatto.

This promoted depressive circumstances and states of extreme nervousness that made some lazy who weren’t lazy and a few others lazier who had been already lazy, the scientific psychologist stated.

Environmental components like excessive temperature and humidity can even have an effect on human vitality ranges. Over the past a number of many years, we now have seen an alarming enhance within the so referred to as way of life illnesses like Type2 diabetes, coronary heart illness and cancers. This pattern is carefully associated to rising charges of weight problems, which in flip is because of decreased bodily exercise and elevated availability of unhealthy meals selections.

– Dr Nishanth Sanalkumar, endocrinologist

Laziness, is it genetic or nurtured?

My son is lazy, my daughter gained’t do something; these are the complaints that we typically hear from mother and father. Why do kids of the identical mother and father present completely different traits: one is energetic, whereas the opposite inactive?

Human behaviour is managed by a mix of environmental and genetic components.

As an illustration, explaining the completely different attitudes of kids of the identical mother and father, Dr Andrea Tosatto, stated: “Two siblings share the same parents but not necessarily the same genes and they are exposed to daily stimulus that could be very different. Growing up, they interact more and more with different people and different environments.”

Highlighting the variations additional, Dr Nishanth Sanalkumar stated: “A growing body of research in humans and animal models suggest that the primary controller of physical activity may be genetic in nature. Although some potential genes that may be involved in controlling our physical activity have been identified, much work is needed to confirm and establish the mechanisms through which these genes function.”

Dopamine and reward system

People are wired to count on a reward for all our actions. Our mind has a reward system, which works by way of the dopamine neurotransmitters. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter related to bodily pleasure and reward.

Experiments on mice have proven that sure neurochemicals launched by the mind makes you energetic.

“Animal studies have shown that mice that run more have stronger dopamine reward system. After ten generations, the offspring of the group of mice that run outsmarted the other group. This suggests that motivation for physical activity is genetic. Other researchers have identified a gene for a type of dopamine receptor, which allows your brain to reward you and make you feel good when you take action. Absence of this receptor may decrease your motivation and make you feel lazy,” Dr Nishanth Sanalkumar defined.

Psychological components that might result in Laziness

No fast gratification

Lack of motivation

Emotional state: despair, feeling down can all be a dampener

Concern of failure

Concern of success: Afraid of being profitable because it means taking up extra obligations

Hopelessness

Laziness: Video games, social media and reward abuse

Laziness is seen to be rising in kids. “Getting ‘hooked’ on video games and social media is said to be one of the contributing factors for this. When the child is engaged in gaming, dopamine, the ’feel-good’ chemical, is released. Studies have shown when reward pathways are overused, they become less sensitive, and need more and more stimulation to experience pleasure,” stated Marisa Lobo Biddappa.

Behavioural signs

Nevertheless, earlier than calling a toddler lazy it is very important rule out that the kid doesn’t have Consideration Deficit Dysfunction or Government Operate Deficit, which incorporates each neurocognitive and behavior signs, warns Marisa Lobo Biddappa.

“Those with an Attention Deficit Disorder may get distracted easily or daydream and forget to carry out the assigned tasks, while those with an Executive Function Deficit may be inflexible, find it hard to initiate, plan, organize and execute a given task and have a difficulty regulating their mood and behaviour. Hence this should be ruled out by a professional before one calls a child ‘lazy’.”

The sometimes-exaggerated response to COVID-19 and the lockdown measures taken by varied governments have triggered lack of belief sooner or later and created worry, sense of fragility and a improper notion of doable close to demise

– Dr Andrea Tosatto, scientific psychologist

Key signs

A number of the signs seen in kids and adolescents who’re lazy

Haven’t any sense of curiosity concerning the world

Have little curiosity in most actions

Passive and revel in actions that require little effort

Can not settle for a ‘No’

Have no idea how you can wait and wish fast gratification

All the time dissatisfied and simply pissed off

Might throw tantrums continually

Attempt to management everybody

Might have an inflated sense of self-worth

Don’t worth their possessions

Anticipate to be entertained or be given issues to maintain them pleased

Accomplish little regardless of being given lots

Lack empathy and keep away from serving to others

Are egocentric, don’t respect their mother and father

Dad and mom really feel the necessity to give in to pacify them

Might have mother and father who demand little and count on even much less

Keep away from partaking with the world regardless of having the potential

Can laziness be cured?

Picture Credit score: Seyyed Llata/DailyKhaleej

There are numerous methods wherein human being will be motivated and self-driven.

Components that might enhance motivation are: consciousness of our capabilities, receiving suggestions that progress has been made, realizing that the objective is inside our attain and social help from our family and friends, stated Dr Nishanth Sanalkumar.

“Motivation also depends on how we imagine, or mentally represent our goals.”

One approach to overcome laziness, urged Dr Nishanth Sanalkumar, is to create a reward system: Each time after you have taken some motion, reward your self together with your favourite beverage, a snack, a film or video games. “Thus, slowly train yourself to feel the sense of accomplishment and victory every time you achieved your target. Developing habits or specific plans can also help, as these behavioural patterns require lower levels of energy due to their automaticity.”

Learn how to sort out laziness in kids

Picture Credit score: Seyyed Llata/DailyKhaleej

Dad and mom play an important position in motivating kids. Listed here are some ideas urged by Marisa Lobo Biddappa, psychologist.

Be accessible on your baby

Be round on your baby, particularly when they’re younger and interact them in several actions, as an alternative of being in entrance of the display screen.

Give your children high quality time

Spending time with kids will assist to attach with them and perceive them higher. Be certain that you have household time, if doable on daily basis. Do issues collectively throughout the weekend. Get kids concerned in planning, like out of doors actions, inside the choices and price range you set. This helps in giving kids selections whereas mother and father are nonetheless in management.

Encourage communication within the household

It’s so necessary to have good inter-personal communication within the household. When communication strains are open kids will really feel extra assured to speak about their joys, conflicts, boredom and wishes.

Be a task mannequin

Kids are inclined to imitate what they see, be it good or unhealthy. It’s crucial to set an instance. If we spend the day on social media or in entrance of TV, as an alternative of attending to chores, exercising or enjoying a sport, it’s extremely doubtless kids will comply with swimsuit as they understand it as being regular. Be certain that to make bodily train a part of your day.

Get kids to benefit from the open air

Encourage kids to get pleasure from nature from a younger age (do take COVID-19 preventive measures whereas being open air, and comply with guidelines and rules set by the federal government).

Get kids to imagine in themselves

Encourage kids to have a objective and pursue it. Encourage kids by giving them suggestions. When kids are positively bolstered, they begin to imagine within the activity and really feel that it’s inside management.

Set achievable requirements

Know kids’s potential and set achievable requirements.

Educate kids to be accountable

Instill a way of self-discipline and duty in kids. Make kids perceive how necessary it’s to be accountable at house, college and in the neighborhood, how necessary it’s to stay to guidelines, full assigned chores, and fulfill commitments. Kids must be taught to be accountable each for themselves in addition to for others.

Educate kids the necessity to do what they don’t love to do

Kids will study what they need if you give in to them. The idea of ‘need to do’ or ‘have to do’ is absent in kids. With a purpose to obtain our targets, we now have to do what is critical, which can not at all times be what we wish to do. Make kids perceive that it is usually essential to do issues ‘we don’t like’.

Educate your baby to do mundane, on daily basis work

Get kids to do routine age applicable chores because it fosters taking obligations as an grownup.

Comply with by way of

If kids are assigned a activity or a chore, guarantee that it’s carried out. Deny privileges if the work is just not carried out, making the kid perceive the worth of commitments.

Set guidelines and expectations

Educate kids in a relaxed, optimistic method the significance of self-discipline, maintaining to limits set, cooperation and serving to one another if a household has to operate properly. Make a chart with household guidelines, chores and provides incentives initially to positively reinforce them.

Set limits

Kids must study to maintain limits. Educate kids to maintain to the bounds you set particularly with regard to make use of of devices.

Be constant in your disciplining

Consistency is essential. Be in step with disciplining, limits set, maintaining guarantees (make guarantees that you can hold), giving rewards and denying privileges.

Educate kids to just accept ‘No’

Don’t give in to all of the calls for of kids. Be certain that you are constant and keep agency together with your ‘No’ even when kids throw a tantrum or rebels.

Educate kids the worth of issues

You will need to educate kids the worth of issues. Don’t give them what they ask for simply.

Educate kids to attend

Be certain that you don’t give kids the issues they demand instantly. Kids will change into much less outfitted to take care of even minor stress if you give in to all their calls for and scale back kids’s ‘frustration tolerance’. The power to delay gratification is among the key components for future success. To have the ability to delay gratification means to have the ability to operate below stress and assist kids change into resilient.

Don’t use expertise as a child sitter

Get kids to interact in several actions from the time they’re younger. Play completely different indoor and out of doors video games. As kids get older get them to interact in free play and completely different actions, like portray, studying, making buildings out of clay and blocks.

Limit web and gaming time

Make a schedule for kids and youngsters, together with research, bodily exercise, sleep time, expertise time and free time.

Permit kids to be bored

If kids complain of boredom, ask them to think about one thing to do or entertain themselves apart from display screen time. Educate kids that boredom is a alternative. As soon as kids understand this, it is going to assist them to unleash their creativity. Boredom can result in self-discovery.

If you repeatedly inform kids that they’re lazy and but by no means present them other ways of considering or behaving, you will situation them to imagine that it’s out of their management

– Dr Melanie C. Schlatter, scientific psychologist

Educate kids conscious rest

Educate kids easy deep respiratory and rest workouts or yoga.

Interact in several actions together with your kids

Encourage kids to take up a interest

Get kids taken with cooking

Inculcate in kids the necessity to assist these in want

Encourage kids to interact in recycling

Keep away from telling kids they’re lazy

Nevertheless, if you repeatedly inform kids that they’re lazy and but by no means present them other ways of considering or behaving, you will situation them to imagine that it’s out of their management, which creates ingrained habits and unhelpful beliefs as an grownup, cautioned Dr Melanie C. Schlatter, a Dubai-based scientific psychologist.

Nicely, an occasional break from the common rush of life is a wholesome step to recuperate and bounce again, however when that turns into the norm, it’s time for an in depth scrutiny and remedial measure.If you repeatedly inform kids that they’re lazy and but by no means present them other ways of considering or behaving, you will situation them to imagine that it’s out of their management

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[curtis-experience-blog]

Experience article #1

Before we begin --

Something among the many nothings I often think of is how a good number of advances in that or the other thing come about after such and such has long left the living. Is this true? I have no idea, and I don't have the ambition to find out if it's true. There are plenty of fun things to recite to ourselves, and as a result of propaganda, bias, and/or censorship, etc., we end up with various levels of comprehension, ignorance, and acceptance. I think how I want. Folks that want to do the same should go about that choice. You take all that stuff you're subjected to and figure out how it makes sense to you. Can I make sense of 2+2 and find an answer to the equation? Yes, on a good day. That concept is fairly certain, at least, for most things that I care to comprehend or show interest in. I'd like to underline: I don't go out of my way to spread misinformation. There are things like fact and opinion, and that's fantastic. The latter: funnily interpreted. Conversely, facts tend to stay the same. Then that's the purpose of the scientific method and all those learned people that seek the "Truth": to go and prove, whether out of curiosity or demand, that this, that, or the other thing make that thing do this thing, and the other things represented there do another thing, etc.

This paper's tone is heavily influenced by the writings of alchemists. This is gold before its purity has been restored; one half of natural gold. This is a passionate attempt to explain what exists without the means and devices and circumstances to extract any more of the Truth from within. So, there validity of happenings may be scrutinized. That is something that is unavoidable; however, a person who has lost their arm knows that their arm is no longer attached to their body. A portait of a blind person is drawn. A person inspecting it might not conclude they cannot see. Similarly, most organisms on this planet eat because they feel hunger. Parallels of these kinds present themselves everywhere. Specifically of the focus of this paper: it is something felt, not seen, and like hunger, there is no device to measure its sensation.*

All we can do is make use of the ~70 years we spend here. While the intent is to bring attention to a phenomenon that exists in nature, I can fully appreciate Their decision to ignore or dispel what is described below. There surely will be ramifications and much frustration felt in many groups when/if technology advances (if need be). On the bright side, there is no one out there that forces you to remember this stuff yet. I'm talking to you, Music Professors/Learned Professionals. Of course, there is always the reality that nothing spectacular happens from here on out. Either way, I'm not holding my breath. This thing can just sit here collecting dust, if that's the way it goes. What matters to me is that I took the time to write this out. Folks can take it or leave it as it is. Just know that Curtis experienced, documented, and offered his mentation on the matter. Need a name? Let's call it "pseudo-vocal science" for now.

Understanding the Full Potential of the Voice

   Understanding the full potential of the voice takes years to uncover. In this paper it will be attempted to both bring awareness to one's own voice and describe the complex, yet, simple theory of voice strength. Everything here is taken for granted as there are no research, documented experiences, or data available - period - to argue the finer points. Take what is written here as the understandings drawn from the shell of an idea from one person; no more, no less. There will be included some ideas for voice exercises to play with, though, the main focus herein is to contemplate a mysterious phenomenon that resides in each of our very bodies.

   It's called the Theory of Voice Strength. Each individual is born with their own unique voice, and additionally, there is an inherited strength-- voice strength (or voice energy) as well. It's uncertain whether the vocal chords themselves are the reason for the uniqueness of the sound of a person's voice or if it is result of the composition of their voice energy. It may very well be a combination of the two. It isn't too often you hear two voices that sound the same like those from younger twins, for instance. Previous generations typically have stronger voices because it was a necessity to have a strong voice to be heard across greater distances. In today's modern age, there are many reasons why humans don't require strong voices any longer, save for various industrial settings; a person is immersed in a noisy environment, and a fisherman comes to mind too. Instead of relying on our voices like the rest of the animal kingdom does, we have many technological devices to make our communications require much less effort, taking away any burden on our voices.

   Evolution is the observable change in organisms [usually] over long periods of time. As far as the observable change in human voices' power is concerned, it is more than apparent if one listens to older recordings. Now, maybe it isn't fair, but the disparity of voice strength between humans and those of animals in the "wild" is unmistakable. Without firsthand experience, it is hard to assert all tribes people surely have much stronger voices than your average city-going citizen. When there is not a necessity for biology to be loud, it simply stops putting in the effort. How else does one explain why change occurs in organisms than by surmising one thing or another was needed due to conditions in its environment; one thing or another was not needed because of the toll and demand on its parents' bodies versus quick, reliable maturation. Humans are quickly losing their voices!

   It is understood that our vocal folds grow as we age, thus, changing the deepness of its timbre. Voice strength is no different. From the time we are born to the time we are without life, the growth of this energy is constantly building from the force exerted on it: the desire or striving to be heard. Something that each one of us is familiar with is the wanting to sound "better." In what calibre this behavior manifests is purely a personalized matter. Parents, teachers, peers, those hard at hearing, coworkers-- "They need to hear," or "I want to be heard by," might ring true. These are the basic thoughts, at least, that drive our voices to extend out; and evolution has designed a tested and true device to do just that. Like the heart that which forever cycles the blood in our bodies, voice energy is always moving and compounding on itself by demand. In fact, sleep time may be the only time when it is not. It can only be speculated as to how the energy of the voice behaves during an unconscious period. Perhaps it does indeed accelerate, encouraged to do so from the nature of the dreams we have. So, then from this natural growth to what all this looks like.

The first three images are of (from left to right):The essentially spherical nature of voice energy and two images depicting one of the more common patterns that voice energy makes.

The two pairs of images on the far right are of (from top to bottom): Force exerted outward from below the jaw and the corresponding place an airy sensation is felt in the larynx to its right, leading to a great increase of voice energy, and its opposite counterpart, leading to a great decrease in voice energy.

   You are not seeing anything, really. The energy of the voice is obviously not seen but felt. It can be thought of as a large orb around the throat area in its entirety. When put into motion by force, the effects of its energy rotating or growing may be perceived in a limited way. "Waves of growth" is what the behavior of the patterns of the voice energy is called. Above there is illustrated a single fragment of a single piece of a common pattern that voice energy adheres to. It is impossible to record how complex the waves of growth are, and it will likely not ever be possible to properly document how they begin. The most anyone can do is feel them when and how they are felt. Plainly speaking, waves of growth are only perceivable when significant force is placed on the energy of the voice. This 'force' is not to be mistaken as yelling. Rather, it is usually, though not limited to, being felt from the intentional use of voice for a sustained period. One such way is to try to create a moderately high pitch and hold the note very firmly. A sort of pressure in the chest may present amidst any number of other sensations, and even noticeable aftereffects on the whole sound of the user's voice is possible. Examples are enhanced vocal fry, changes to resonance, more difficulty or ease to project the voice out. In any case, expect change when subjecting the voice to strenuous activity. Singers are probably the most aware of the changes in their voice because of certain waves of growth that directly affect the accessibility of their "established" vocal range. It should be noted: When any trait in quality of voice appears during or after any exercising, it is solely the fault of the waves of growth and the state that they've reached.

   There is perhaps some truth to 'warming' up the vocal folds; however, states of the voice are things that are ever present and immensely affect one's performance. Make note of how it is impossible to maintain the way your voice sounds at the time you wake up. That is a state. It is surmised that when one comes out of unconsciousness, they are subjected to a state vocal energy settles to. The sound your voice makes at this time is as if it were completely relaxed before transforming, readying itself for use. There are times when vocal fry is harsher or more easily accessed. That is a state. Just the same: after one has exercised or has spoken loudly for a time. These are all states that the voice goes through. It is continually added onto and built and transformed since the very materialization of his/her vocal folds.** It is both necessary and can be very frustrating, especially for a singer, for the states of the voice can only be manipulated so much. Remember: the states of this energy are formed inside the whole "orb" of a person's voice energy. The bigger the orb, the more densely packed the waves of growth are, leading to much longerlasting states. Vocal exercises are proven to work because the force transforms the state into one that is more appropriate for pitch ascent and descent. Beyond this, it is ignorant of wants because it is a natural construct - built to last, and not particularly for the purpose of maintaining a wide vocal range indefinitely. Once the overall orb of voice energy has been sufficiently packed so densely by the waves of growth, its state must change. For music appreciators, this happening is most often witnessed in the recordings of groups where the lead singer makes use of a gradually decreasing vocal range over the span of their career.

   In the illustration above there is reference to airy sensations felt in the larynx region when a technique is used to force voice energy to accelerate its growth. The sensation itself is airy, though, it is also so condensed to feel sharp as it rises up. It is not pain. It, also, is not felt in the actual tissue of the larynx but to the left or to its right. To explain this behavior, one may need to fully comprehend the true shapes of the waves of growth in their most rudimentary stages. Until technology has developed to the point where it can measure voice strength and more, we can only guess at the hidden equation that makes it all work. Keep in mind: the one technique known to experience this for one's self comes with significant weight. While it is possible to very quickly "grow" the voice, the potential to weaken it is apparent too. All that can be told of this technique will be available in the following section of this paper.

   We've now explored all the new relevant information for the theory of voice strength. Complete technological reliance may not cause biology to do away completely with our voices. The voice, in all probability, will likely merely become the next appendix; worst case scenario. Surely, when the people of human civilization find more confidence in their voices through understanding and the knowledge that this golden age can bring, they will make even the animal kingdom envious. From then on, expect voices as strong and stronger than the vehicles they operate. This is one prospective future mankind has. Although there is so much to learn, the fundamentals of communication is inspired by, first, discovery, and then change.

Technique and some theory

   So, basically, the theory behind why this works is that as with the states talked about earlier, a particular state is required from the energy of the voice to allow it to "skip." There is no way to actually know how strong one's voice must be before this technique is possible to perform. All I know is that it took about seven years of singing before the question of what might be possible came to mind. I specify how long it was because it is known that a certain voice strength is needed. Whether it was possible at an earlier time is completely up in the air; though, I am skeptical to believe I could have done it much sooner, given the way my voice had begun to behave in months preceding success. So, yes, there are a couple prerequisites. Among the words I use as terminology, "critical mass" seems to work well with labeling the moment when rapidly accelerating the growth of the voice can be done.

   To go about readying your voice you'll need to practice glottal stops while making an uh. I recommend listening to music, uttering to the beat or however it works well for you. Do this for upwards of two hours. Though I have no evidence to support the claim, I do believe it does take some time for the state to come about. You think about how long it takes to "warm up" in vocal exercises to advance the energy so much. An hour may be the minimal time invested. All that is up in the air. Keep in mind: the purpose of these grunts, if you will, isn't to do them haphazardly. You must be trying to make each uniform and the same in every way. You must pay close attention to how it feels when you're doing this too. If they feel different from one to the next, I suspect that is an indicator that the voice isn't strong enough. Furthermore, the purpose of the glottal stops is to have a place to focus on and compare. My vocal experimentation had been going on for about a month with the grunting. Additionally, I found it very helpful to hear the singing of my favourite singers as I was doing this. It served as the catalyst for my epiphany: to try to push the sound of the glottal stop out. It was from hearing the "impact," for lack of a better word, during their singing that made me wonder if the answer was so simple. It was, honestly, the next day after the thought came to mind that I tried to do this and succeeded. It pretty well just feels like your voice skips out from your mouth, along with the sharp, airy type feeling rising up the right side of the larynx.

   I want to go over how I think you avoid weakening your voice too. Essentially, you just talk (and/or sing) like normal. Don't let the waves of growth or abrupt change of states make you think you need to change anything in the focus of your speech. I found they really confused me when I was feeling them. For instance, there seemed to be a sort of sweet spot that you reach just a little ways up to during the technique. Of course, I'm not talking about pitch. That led me to try to speak that way; to try to achieve that same spot during regular speech. The best advice I can give is: don't do that. Talk regularly and save the change in focus for when you're out exercising, if you do this at all.

   You know, I'll admit, I do have the worry that there will be those that are successful, and then succumb to weakening their voices. Whether it's on purpose or accident, it really doesn't matter. The bottom line is: the effects are permanent; or they'd may as well be seen that way. The rapid development of voice energy you experienced while you were in the womb is not possible once you're out and about. You can expect to never be able to recover the power you once had. So, don't fool around. This technique is basically like taking nature in your hands and modifying it at will. It's not something to take lightly.

Q & A

Q: I've been yelling like you said and nothing is happening. What am I doing wrong?

A: There is no yelling involved in any of this. People have been yelling with all their hearts for centuries. Don't expect anything miraculous to happen doing that.

Q: What does all this mean?

A: This paper explains why some people are naturally louder than others (not just loud personalities), why many people that try to sing, can't, and by extension, why voices change the way they do as we age.

Q: Can anyone do this?

A: I don't know. Probably.

Q: Are you sure you're not just the only person in the world with this ability to make your voice louder?

A: While that's a cute thought, I do have the suspicion that someone somewhere has accidentally done it.

Q: Why are you posting this on Tumblr instead of to a peer-review what'cha-ma-call-it place?

A: Because this is part of my thoughts and experience program. Besides, would you take a submission like this completely unscientific, completely lacking data and evidence with bad grammar paper as anything more than some crazy shenanigans?

A: Please don't answer a question with another question.

Q: Is this meant to be serious?

A: Yes. It was my intent to write out what I've come to understand (as rationally as possible) after experiencing what I have with voice experimentation.

Q: How does this affect me?

A: Think about it like driving a car. You don't know how the car works, but it drives around just the same. ut if you want to be able to understand how the car works, you'll read about it.

Q: Do you believe in ghosts?

A: Kind of, I guess. I don't really care. If they exist, then that's good for them.

Q: What are your thoughts on measuring voice strength?

A: I have a couple ideas. My first idea was using burps, as ridiculous as that sounds. The issue being that no burp is the same as another. Not to mention you can push a burp out with the abdomen. The second idea is vocalizing while inhaling. There's only so much anyone can do to force air in and vocalize at the same time, so it's fairly sure to give okay results. The disparity in voice strengths might be noticeable for someone hearing for it. Under these circumstances it is unmistakable.

Q: If this picks up and lots of singers begin to take advantage of this, what do you think would happen?

A: Well, that would be up to them. There might be those that want to have voices stronger than a jet engine. Others might be satisfied with just not needing a mic any more. I can't help but wonder what it feels like to have a voice (as modest as it sounds) as strong as an elephant or other large animal. I'm sure it feels unreal, especially when the strength of a regular voice feels pretty cool by itself.

*There may be a device to measure the sensation of hunger

** Probably

9.9 experience out of 10 experience points.

[bharatiyamedia-blog]

4 Seasons Launching Manta Belief Expeditions Aboard 3-Deck Catamaran

http://tinyurl.com/y2f8rs3m As vacationers flock in growing numbers to this island paradise, a conservation mission primarily based at considered one of its prime resorts is defending the nation’s most celebrated residents. I used to be surveying the impossibly white sand and Technicolor-turquoise Indian Ocean outdoors my seaside villa on the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru—a blinding, 44-acre island resort within the nation’s distant northern Baa Atoll—when the ring of the cell phone I’d obtained at check-in solely 20 minutes earlier than shattered my paradisiacal revelry. “The workforce simply noticed them,” stated a pleasant voice from reception. “Please head to the pier as quickly as potential in the event you’d like to affix.” I pulled on my swimsuit and hopped on my monogrammed cruiser bike, peddling to the dock alongside the sprawling resort’s sandy lanes within the shadow of towering coconut palms and emerald jungle foliage. Quickly a small group of friends and I have been aboard a speedboat, snorkel gear in hand, as we whizzed towards Hanifaru Bay, one of many world’s most vital feeding websites for reef manta rays. We jumped into the cool, crystalline water, following our information with eyes educated under the floor. Immediately, a dozen reef mantas emerged from the sun-streaked blue depths as if from one other universe, drifting towards us slowly via the shifting currents. Recognized collectively (together with oceanic manta rays and satan rays) as mobulids, reef mantas are among the world’s most enigmatic creatures, with a decidedly imposing anatomy—their wingspan can attain over 13 ft—that contrasts starkly with their consummately mild nature. As they have to maintain water flowing over their gills as a way to breathe, manta rays are born into an existence of perpetual movement; in a mean 50-year lifetime, they journey tens of hundreds of miles feeding on zooplankton, among the smallest animals within the sea. Light Giants The mind and inquisitiveness of manta rays, which have the biggest mind of all fish, makes for actually mesmerizing encounters with these benevolent behemoths. Floating facedown just a few ft under the ocean’s floor, I attempted to remain stock-still as one swam straight towards me as if taking part in a recreation of rooster, its colossal, winglike pectoral fins flapping hypnotically. When some six ft away, my curious new pal subtly modified course, dipping just a few ft under me as I stared down at its again in sheer awe. To look at reef mantas on this pristine habitat is to look at an underwater ballet choreographed by nature, these achingly swish “birds of the ocean” gliding and somersaulting via the cerulean depths to a soundtrack of silence. At about 5,000 rays and counting, the Maldivian reef manta inhabitants is the largest-known on earth by a measurable margin. The truth that a wealth of scientific information about them exists in any respect owes nearly fully to the Maldivian Manta Ray Project (MMRP), the flagship analysis mission of the Manta Trust, a U.Okay.-based charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of those charismatic creatures. Based in 2005 and headquartered within the Marine Discovery Centre at 4 Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, the MMRP collects information in regards to the nation’s manta inhabitants, their actions, and the way the surroundings, tourism, and human interactions have an effect on them. It’s the brainchild of Manta Belief CEO and founder Man Stevens, who’s working diligently together with his workforce to guard these singular animals because the vacationer inflow to this idyllic island nation continues to develop. Stevens first encountered the Maldivian reef mantas when he was employed as a marine biologist and dive information on the Four Seasons Explorer, the model’s Maldivian luxurious liveaboard yacht, in 2003. “I used to be captivated,” says Stevens, a British marine biologist and now one of many world’s foremost consultants on the species. Wanting to study extra, he searched on-line for fundamental details about mantas—reminiscent of their life-span and the way typically they reproduce—to just about no avail. “I keep in mind considering, ‘Perhaps I can begin a analysis mission on them,’” he remembers. 4 Seasons Resort Maldives In 2005, Stevens approached Armando Kraenzlin, at present regional vp of 4 Seasons Maldives who was then normal supervisor of Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa, to gauge Kraenzlin’s curiosity in supporting a potential mission. Kraenzlin informed him that 4 Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, then below building, would have an on-site marine analysis middle that might function command central for Stevens’s analysis. Shortly thereafter, the Maldivian Manta Ray Undertaking was born. “4 Seasons Maldives has been our greatest supporter for the reason that starting,” Stevens says. “With out them, we’d by no means have been in a position to launch the mission.” A Shifting Panorama Amid New Challenges Since its inception, the MMRP has recognized some 4,700 reef manta rays (by way of the distinctive spot patterns on their undersides) from 60,000 photo-identification sightings. Moreover making a research-backed code of conduct and multimedia toolkit to teach vacationers and operators about how you can swim with manta rays, the MMRP’s notable record of achievements, together with the designation of the Baa Atoll as a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in 2011—the one one within the 1,200-island nation—and the inclusion of all manta and satan rays within the Appendices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (the Bonn Convention) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The MMRP’s efforts have additionally led to the designation of Hanifaru Bay and Anga Faru as two of 42 marine protected areas (MPAs) within the Maldives. Hanifaru Bay—whose distinctive form concentrates planktonic meals, thus attracting massive numbers of manta rays and whale sharks—has turn into one thing of a mannequin for sustainable manta tourism within the nation. As soon as overrun by boats stuffed with snorkelers and divers—“it was an absolute zoo,” says Stevens—the bay is now strictly monitored by rangers, funded via a charge guests pay to entry the MPA, which is usually dealt with straight by the resorts. Hanifaru’s administration coverage has banned diving fully and limits the variety of vacationer boats on-site to 5 at a time, with a most of 80 vacationers within the water concurrently. With tourism momentum within the Maldives exhibiting no indicators of abating—1.5 million guests are anticipated this 12 months, in contrast with 1 million in 2013—the MMRP’s subsequent lofty aim is to work with the Maldivian authorities to implement government-sanctioned laws, just like the plan in place at Hanifaru, that may apply to all 300-plus manta aggregation websites throughout the nation’s 26 atolls. Presently, the vast majority of these websites—which embody 73 “cleansing stations,” distinguished spots alongside the reef the place mantas collect to have parasites faraway from their our bodies by small fish known as cleaner wrasses—stay fully unregulated. In consequence, divers congregate at these viewing hotspots to watch the motion and take pictures, typically scaring off the mantas and damaging coral reefs within the course of. “These locations are the place tourism pressures are at their biggest,” Stevens says. “We have to take a carrot-and-stick method that rewards conscientious operators with certifications and different methods to advertise themselves and penalizes people who behave badly.” A big colony of orange solar coral (Tubastraea faulkneri) on an outcrop surrounded by reef fish. North Malé Atoll, Maldives. Adam Broadbent On condition that manta tourism already generates over $8.1 million in direct income for the Maldivian financial system—which is 80% depending on tourism—the nation’s vested curiosity in defending this inhabitants appears clear. However contemplating the litany of different challenges dealing with the creating nation, together with local weather change (because the world’s lowest-lying nation, a majority of the Maldives’ 1,200 islands could also be underwater inside a long time) and coral reef bleaching (which has severely broken the vast majority of its reefs since 2014), Stevens acknowledges that it’s more likely to be a sluggish course of. “We’ve a great relationship with the Ministry of Setting, and I’m hopeful that one thing will occur within the subsequent few years,” Stevens says. “However I don’t count on miracles both.” Within the meantime, friends at 4 Seasons Landaa Giraavaru can work together with these mild giants throughout manta season, which spans from June via early November, by way of a spread of singular actions together with Manta Ray Scientist for a Day and its Manta on Name service. For the latter, you’ll obtain a devoted “manta cellphone” (as I did), get a name each time the MMRP workforce alerts resort employees to a sighting close by, after which have 30 minutes to move to the dock and be whisked off to swim amongst them. A seaside villa on the 4 Seasons Landaa Giraavaru within the Maldives. 4 Seasons Resort Maldives In September, 4 Seasons will even launch Manta Belief Expeditions aboard the 4 Seasons Explorer, its three-deck, 22-person catamaran, which is the Maldives’ quickest and most luxurious floating resort. Accompanied by Stevens and different MMRP workforce members, you’ll partake in each side of the manta analysis expertise, together with taking ID pictures and recording important environmental info. The MMRP employees now quantity 15 within the Maldives and have expanded into different atolls via their work with a handful of different high-end resorts, together with Six Senses Laamu in Laamu Atoll. “We solely wish to work with operators which are genuinely invested in serving to the surroundings,” Stevens says. As well as, the Manta Belief is at present collaborating on 25 affiliate tasks in international locations together with Mexico, Brazil, and New Zealand. In the meantime, the wealth of unprecedented information the MMRP has collected informs the mantas’ ongoing safety, each within the Maldives and different far-flung corners of the world. “In the event you don’t know what number of people comprise a inhabitants, or how typically they’re in a position to reproduce, you possibly can’t decide the influence of the threats they face,” Stevens explains. “This information permits us to reply key life historical past questions which are important to the administration and conservation of the whole species.” Extra must-read tales from Fortune: —Meet the trailblazer who needs to carry a sake trail to Arkansas —This island escape is Italy’s best-kept secret —These are the best and worst airlines, in response to J.D. Energy —Summer time Journey Information: must-have gadgets and accessories for jetsetters —Take heed to our new audio briefing, Fortune 500 Daily Follow Fortune on Flipboard to remain up-to-date on the newest information and evaluation. Source link

[callmemoprah]

University Students as Media Shoppers

University Students as Media Shoppers

I have a propensityAndnbsp;toAndnbsp;gush about experiments right from Job Details Literacy. Alison Travel and her researching associates have created the most thorough diverse-slope lenses about the incredibly idea I’ve been puzzling more than for my full employment: how college students strategy homework as well as how libraries supports their mastering. Scientific studies precisely how trainees use data are plentiful, but not any have methodological style or breadth because research PIL has made in earlier times years, addressing from the changeover to university from what transpires right after graduation.

ThereAndrsquo;sAndnbsp;an exciting new learnAndnbsp;just published using a timely target Andndash; how students engage with news flash. (100 % disclosure: in August I became asked with an interdisciplinary obtaining to debate earlier information of this particular analyze, an item I published aboutAndnbsp;listed here. I even receive a section of my during the record.) This is the neglecting piece which has been on my own mind just about the most in recent years. Do the kinds of inquiry we check with individuals to do for classes relocate for some other circumstances? Can learners add up of knowledge they run into beyond type? Does the things we caused by guide students turn out to be facts literate really situation beyond graduation?

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As with past scientific studies, the level is actually legendary. Close to 6,000 individuals have been interviewed at eleven establishments. Pre-online survey emphasis communities, opened-finished reactions and telephone interview put in more experience. At last, through 700 Myspace feeds of university students who volunteered their takes care of ended up being examined and as opposed to a current panel of over 100,000 college time Twitting buyers. It’s no surprise small amount of librarian-researchers can method the scale for these reports Andndash; it’s an enormous project.

The great news is students may not be indifferent to media, neither is he or she gullible. Only 8 per-cent mentioned they put onAndrsquo;t adhere to reports at all, 1 outlining it appeared a distraction from academics. This has been pushing. I’ve informally polled pupils concerning their reports lifestyle for a long time, and also their fascination feels larger now than that it was 10 years or two ago, possibly mainly because info of all sorts is a lot more all-pervasive than it actually was before social websites and You tube, perhaps for the reason that college students truly feel more stricken by situations now in comparison with calmer circumstances. College students get news flash as a result of their friends and from faculty together with from a number of solutions, normally on-line.

A large majority of college students think journalism is critical to democracy, and the majority think these people have a civic duty being prepared, but approximately about half feel journalists inject prejudice into their reports. Potentially that disbelief is exacerbated considering that headlines arrives through various channels that have distinct bonuses. Advertising location can be a income supplier for typical reports organizations, nevertheless it’s not their intention. Particular marketing and advertising is Myspace’s organization, and the review respondents are more inclined to see information on Facebook or myspace or any other social network channels than on headlines companies’ individual online sites. (Receiving news reports by social sites isAndnbsp;a specific thing consumers of any age do.) University students look like conscious of the interest market has inspired the manner in which media is presented. Consternation about Andldquo;fraudulent media,” whether or not this’s politically-inspired fabrications, hyped-up clickbait, as well as directorAndrsquo;s insistence that the complete headlines institutions are fraudulent, has very likely led to wariness. Interestingly, all students stated Andldquo;looking through laterally” Andndash; taking a look at a number of providers and looking for level of quality reports organizations’ revealing when they need to fully understand a concern. And despite stereotype, they put onAndrsquo;t unthinkingly share reports devoid of verifying its applicability. Their standing are at stake once they advocate a narrative thus to their close friends.

The studyAndrsquo;s editors have a number of recommendations, which includes observations for press organizations and social websites corporations. Of certain curiosity to librarians and faculty from the disciplines are the first two to three: give trainees process searching through and generating a feeling of details in numerous formats, look at recent gatherings from the class to model type proposal and vital understanding of news flash, and develop considerably better techniques for instructing the examination of information. Supplied college students believe that news is critical and, like most people, they can be daunted with the quantity and variability of it, it is an ability to improve their info literacy.

This means we have to retool our personal abilities and methods. It’s not enough to expose college students to scholarly suppliers and disciplinary talks. We will need to put together connectors concerning the way you pinpoint credibility in scholarly conversations and exactly how we make sense these days’s news reports. If we’re in anyway set on information literacy and growing individualsAndrsquo; ability to engage with all the globe, this is often perform we have to do. And then have data files from our most educational homework job to aid us retract it into our instructional goals.

Source: http://mobimatic.io/2018/10/16/university-students-as-media-shoppers-5/

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'Monkey Selfie' Heads to Appeals Court Amid Legal Circus Between PETA and Primate Expert

http://styleveryday.com/2017/07/12/monkey-selfie-heads-to-appeals-court-amid-legal-circus-between-peta-and-primate-expert/

'Monkey Selfie' Heads to Appeals Court Amid Legal Circus Between PETA and Primate Expert

Non-human copyright ownership issues are swamped by a jungle of legal oddities.

There’s no case law that suggests a monkey has standing to bring a lawsuit — but that could soon change, as the 9th Circuit considers arguments over a “selfie” of an Indonesian crested macaque named Naruto.

Before looking at the big picture, let’s consider the framing: wildlife photographer David Slater set up his camera in an Indonesian forest in 2011 and Naruto allegedly snapped a self-portrait. Slater included the viral photo in a book of images called Wildlife Personalities. Under U.S. copyright law, the author of a photo — typically whoever pressed the shutter — owns the rights to it. PETA says just because Naruto isn’t human doesn’t mean he isn’t an author and sued Slater for copyright infringement on the monkey’s behalf. 

Antje Engelhardt, a U.K.-based primatologist familiar with Naruto, stepped in to serve as his “next friend” — a status usually used to support children and people with developmental disabilities who would be unable to sue without the assistance of someone close to them. She’s been studying macaques since the mid-1990’s and says she’s known Naruto since his birth in 2008. Engelhardt decided to join the suit after being approached by PETA because she understood, if the organization won and Naruto owned the copyright, it would ensure any proceeds from the monkey selfie were used to protect his species — which is endangered and at risk of extinction.

In Jan. 2016, U.S. District Judge William Orrick found Naruto lacked standing to sue, but didn’t reach the issue of whether or not an animal could own a copyright. PETA appealed, arguing that the U.S. Copyright Act doesn’t expressly require human ownership and that this matter could impact future cases involving works created by artificial intelligence. Slater fired back arguing that it’s clear Naruto lacks standing — and says PETA no longer has standing either because Engelhardt dropped out of the case, a decision she says she didn’t make lightly. She explained her reasoning in detail over several months of correspondence with The Hollywood Reporter, but that’s a story for another day. In short, she felt she wasn’t being taken seriously as a scientific expert and that PETA was using Naruto for self-promotion.

“I still fully believe that Naruto should receive copyright, should that be possible by U.S. law,” Engelhardt told THR. “I have always felt that one of my duties as Naruto’s Next Friend was to ensure that he/his case does not get exploited for other purposes than getting him the copyright.”

PETA general counsel Jeff Kerr wouldn’t comment on her decision to withdraw when THR reached out in October. Instead, he sent a statement about the case itself through a PETA media liaison. 

“Naruto remains the plaintiff, and PETA is serving as his next friend, which is sufficient for the case,” said Kerr in an Oct. 14 statement. “Until recently, humans had no idea that monkeys are intelligent problem-solvers who use language and have the ability to learn, maintain complex relationships, and sometimes even outsmart us — and human understanding of monkeys continues to evolve. In this case, Naruto the macaque — who has been accustomed to cameras throughout his life — intentionally picked up a camera, watched his reflection in the lens, and made various faces while continually pressing the shutter button, which resulted in many photos. By granting ownership of the images to this monkey, the court could — for the first time in history — declare an animal the owner of property rather than a piece of property himself.”

Whether PETA is fit to serve as Naruto’s next friend is a key legal issue, but it’s hardly the most interesting facet of the case now — as a personal dispute between Engelhardt and Kerr has been brought to the 9th Circuit’s attention.

After stepping down, Engelhardt wanted to speak with Kerr but says he wouldn’t respond to calls or emails. So, she messaged him saying she would stop by his home, where she understood he often works, while she was in the U.S. on other business. When she arrived on April 22, Kerr called the cops. Engelhardt was arrested, and the police report cites ringing the doorbell, walking into the backyard and communicating “in a manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm, specifically by sending an text message stating that she was gonna stop by the victim’s residence at an know time and date.”

Slater’s attorney Andrew Dhuey in May filed a request for judicial notice of the matter, writing “Regardless of the merits or outcome of the criminal case against Dr. Engelhardt, its very existence is a relevant consideration on whether PETA can adequately represent the interests of Naruto, notwithstanding the documented animosity that has developed between PETA and Dr. Engelhardt.”

PETA’s outside counsel David Schwartz filed an opposition, arguing the “unauthenticated” complaint has nothing to do with the copyright dispute and doesn’t involve any of the current parties to the appeal. “This Motion isn’t Slater’s first attempt to smuggle irrelevant or disputed factual allegations into the appellate record,” he writes. “The Court may or may not be sufficiently ‘curious’ so as to take up Slater’s invitation to visit his website in order to learn the ‘true story’ of how he made ‘critical artistic decisions’ ‘in the course of several grueling days in an Indonesian jungle,’ which ‘resulted in a photographic work adored by millions worldwide.’ Curiosity is not a proxy for relevance.”

Dhuey didn’t pull any punches in his reply.

“How can PETA, having alleged no relationship with Naruto, be a suitable ‘next friend’ for him when PETA’s relationship with the primatologist who does allege a lifelong relationship with him has soured to the point that PETA’s general counsel had her arrested for criminal trespass and harassment?” he writes, adding that it’s PETA’s burden to show it is a suitable next friend despite the animosity, not Slater’s to prove it isn’t fit.

Oral arguments before the 9th Circuit begin at 9:00 Wednesday, and can be streamed live here. Naruto v. Slater is the fourth item on the calendar. Each side is tentatively given 15 minutes to argue the appeal, and it remains to be seen how much of that time, if any, will be dedicated to the incident.

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