#principles of learning

[aroaceleovaldez]

i had a thought of "do people not know what AUs are anymore?" and then i remembered nobody explains fandom stuff to new people anymore so it is entirely plausible people genuinely don't know what AUs are and nobody has explained it to them, so for today's lucky 10,000:

"AU" stands for "Alternate Universe" or "Alternative Universe" (same difference) and is basically any thought scenario for a fandom that isn't canon and can't fit within the canon universe. If it takes place in the canon universe but something is notably different, that is typically what's known as a "Canon divergent AU," because it diverges from canon.

an AU can be absolutely anything. There's a couple of widespread pan-fandom au scenarios that often get thrown around, like coffee shop aus, genderbend aus, hanahaki aus (hanahaki is a whole thing in itself i'd recommend researching on your own), etc. One you might hear sometimes is "crossover AU" which is when you have characters from one fandom interacting with characters from another.

You can have as many aus as you want. They can be whatever you want and you can do whatever you want in them. It's a sandbox for you to play around in and explore how things would be different or how the characters would act in those circumstances or environments. Maybe they have different relationships with each other. Maybe they behave slightly differently. Or you can just say "Okay, [x] is true. How did they get here? How would things have to be different for this to occur?" which can also be fun.

If you are ever confused about why people ship something that seems completely out of the blue or doesn't make sense to you in the canon setting, there's a good chance they like it in an AU setting! Not everything everybody is interacting with is necessarily the canon! Not everybody wants things to exist in canon and just want to explore playing dolls in a different sandbox and that's okay. And their sandbox might look a lot different than yours, and that's also okay. You have the freedom to make your sandbox whatever you please. Do whatever you want forever. Get funky with it. AUs are fun.

Okay that's my schpeal. everybody go have fun and play nice now.

[spring-ephemeral]

one of the funniest genres of tumblr post is and forever will be "i made a post about how we're all boycotting X that got 10k notes and X still made millions?? this must be the sole fault of this dying website's user base and/or hatewatchers"

[barely-getting-bi]

spock with his hair that looks like a lego piece taking in a child with really curly hair and having to figure out how to properly take care of her curls and then having to figure out how to get saavik to be still long enough for him to actually take care of them

[meatgiriii]

Hi baldi Fandom

IS IT TOO LATE TO JOIN OR

Uhm guys I think I'm obsessed with Principal of the thing now.. 😔

I FORGOT HIS LITTLE CHIN HAIRS GODDAMNITTTT

[rabbits-of-negative-euphoria]

i'm convinced the most elite artists are the ones who grasp the relationship between value and form most intuitively

[mageknife]

Cole: His face in the stands, watching as I pass the test. So proud there's tears in his eyes.

Cole: Anything to make him happy, anything.

Cole: Why isn't that true anymore?

/

Dorian: He says we’re alike. Too much pride. Once I would have been overjoyed to hear him say that. Now I’m not certain.

/

Halward: This is not what I wanted.

Dorian: I'm never what you wanted, Father, or had you forgotten?

/

Nightmare: Greetings, Dorian… It is Dorian, isn’t it? For a moment, I mistook you for your father.

[mohntilyet]

despite not feeling like illario should be a parent or mentor figure to absolutely anyone at all. and of course lots of media has done "unhappy mentor to a young child that ends up getting attached". but have we all considered the idea of illario finding a fledgling that's been tossed aside or had their house stripped from them, sees his failure reflected back at him . right . and before he knows what he's doing and against his better judgement and his arrogance and his pride, illario brings them into house dellamorte. to start it's just to piss off caterina. give it about a month and he'll start projecting his own desire to succeed and since he can't rise above his own humiliation then this fledgling HAS to. and then he gets attached. and then during particularly gruelling and horrible crow training, illario reminds himself of caterina. right then and there he would have to decide if he can stomach turning into her, or if he can finally begin to understand the unconditional love that lucanis has always felt towards him

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Wabi-Sabi

Wabi-sabi is a traditional Japanese aesthetic and worldview centered on the acceptance and appreciation of imperfection, impermanence, and the incomplete. It is deeply rooted in Buddhist teachings, particularly those relating to the transience of life. The philosophy of wabi-sabi celebrates the beauty found in simplicity, humility, and natural processes. Here’s an exploration of its core principles and concepts:

1. Impermanence (Mujō)

Transience of Life: Central to wabi-sabi is the Buddhist concept of impermanence (mujō), which acknowledges that all things are in a constant state of flux and decay. This perspective encourages an appreciation for the present moment and the beauty of fleeting experiences.

Natural Aging: Wabi-sabi finds beauty in the natural aging process. The patina of wear and the signs of use on objects are celebrated as they reveal the passage of time and the story of their existence.

2. Imperfection (Wabi)

Beauty in Flaws: Wabi-sabi embraces the idea that nothing is perfect, and it is in the imperfections that true beauty resides. This could be seen in asymmetry, roughness, and the uniqueness of handmade objects.

Simplicity and Humility: The wabi aspect emphasizes simplicity and humility. It values modest, rustic beauty over ostentatious or overly elaborate designs. This often translates to an aesthetic of minimalism and restraint.

3. Incompleteness (Sabi)

Unfinished and Evolving: The sabi aspect of wabi-sabi appreciates the incomplete and the evolving nature of things. It suggests that beauty is a process, not a fixed state, and that objects and experiences are always in a state of becoming.

Quietness and Serenity: Sabi also conveys a sense of quietness and serenity. It reflects a meditative quality, an appreciation for solitude and the tranquility found in understated beauty.

4. Connection to Nature

Natural Materials: Wabi-sabi often involves the use of natural materials that age gracefully over time, such as wood, stone, and clay. These materials reflect the organic processes of growth and decay inherent in nature.

Organic Forms: The aesthetic favors organic, irregular forms that mimic the irregularities found in nature, as opposed to geometric perfection.

5. Mindfulness and Presence

Living Mindfully: Embracing wabi-sabi encourages living mindfully and being present in the moment. It’s about appreciating the here and now, and finding contentment in the current state of things, despite (or because of) their imperfections.

Acceptance: Wabi-sabi involves accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay, and finding peace and contentment in this acceptance. It’s about letting go of the pursuit of perfection and embracing the reality of impermanence.

Examples in Practice

Tea Ceremony: The Japanese tea ceremony is a quintessential example of wabi-sabi in practice. The ceremony emphasizes simplicity, natural materials, and the appreciation of imperfections in the tea utensils, such as a crack in a teacup that adds character and history.

Kintsugi: The art of kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold or silver lacquer, highlights the philosophy of wabi-sabi. It transforms damage into beauty, celebrating the history and imperfection of the object.

Gardens: Traditional Japanese gardens often embody wabi-sabi principles with their asymmetrical layouts, natural elements, and deliberate incorporation of aged or weathered features.

The philosophy of wabi-sabi offers a profound shift in how we perceive beauty and value in the world. By embracing imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness, wabi-sabi encourages us to find beauty in the everyday, to appreciate the simple and humble aspects of life, and to cultivate a deep connection with the natural world. It is a reminder to live mindfully, to cherish the present moment, and to find peace in the ebb and flow of life’s inevitable changes.

[fishboysthings]

My stupidest head canon is that Percy Weasley would absolutely kill at rhythm videogames or Tetris. Like world championships kind of skill. If presented with a formulaic and focus based activity, Percy will try again and again until he’s become an expert.

Also, when Oliver shows Percy Pokémon (because his muggle cousins have gotten a Gameboy, and Oliver thinks Percy will find it neat the same way he did television) Percy watches him play through it a bit. Two weeks later, after Percy has settled into a nightly routine of playing while relaxing, he gives Oliver back the Gameboy— and Percy Weasley has, in fact, caught them all.

[clowningaroundmars]

my personal atsv hobie brown hc is that this boy can build a watch that enables the wearer to travel to any dimension they want to, made entirely out of cobbled up parts he "finds"

but anytime anyone brings up AI or algorithms or social media he pretends to be 100 years old

hobie: what's a bloody "snapchat"? fuckin 'ell those effects are nightmarish, mate

miles, exasperated: hobie, you BUILD TECH that astrophysicists in my dimension can't even replicate. how are filters on a phone trippin you up?

hobie: dunno, everyone's got their strengths n weaknesses, i 'spose... 🙄😒

[queenangst]

one of the things i love about wha is how clearly the magic and ideas the girls learn and have build on top of each other over time. the continuing theme of magic as solutions, and your own spells can be made by adapting what you know into something new.

in one of her first uses of magic, coco uses fabric to sail through the air at the dagda mountains; she later creates the mantle of flight. the air twisting seal she learns to use to pick fruit becomes part of a spell to create rain underneath the sea. agott uses a bird of light to distract people at the river; later, we learn her love for the decorative seals, and her knowledge comes in use to bring people joy, and to help with the curtain leech. every person has their own magic, and everyone's magic connects together to create new things.

no magic is useless; no magic is too small or too basic. no magic is unloved.

[kandicon]

I love the "he asked for no pickles" meme with doorkeay bc I've only ever seen it with Gerry being the one talking and u just KNOW it's not bc Michael doesn't want to correct the food staff, but that it wants to correct them a little too much. Gerry has to step in otherwise they'll be there for at least another hour of Michael spinning some philosophical bullshit and scaring some poor fast food worker, and while Gerry doesn't necessarily mind Michael doing that in and of itself (he knows the thing he's in love with), as the only one of the two of them who actually needs material food he would like to eat that food before it gets cold tyvm.

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

Okay I'm a little afraid to post this because of how ridiculous the discourse is right now, but I figured I'd ask anyway.

I am NOT looking to discuss politics or current events on this post.

Can anyone recommend to me reputable, fact-based resources (ideally books, articles, or websites) that can help me learn more about Palestinian history and culture? Pretty much everything I have ever learned about the Palestinian people has been in the context of the conflict with Jews and with Israel, and I would really love to know what is unique to their culture and who they are separate and apart from the conflict. When I've gone looking for this myself I've found: (1) lots of materials that define them as one half of a conflict and only discussing them in those terms, (2) lots of materials that function as Zionist propaganda that erases their history, connection to the land, and unique culture, and (3) lots of materials that function as Anti-Zionist propaganda that demonize Israelis and/or totally erase Jewish history and delegitimize Jewish connections to the land.

I just want to know more about, idk, if they have a specific dialect of Arabic, or the history of their beautiful textile art, their naming culture, music trends, or their olive orchard cultivation. Idk, anything that doesn't involve explosives and bloodshed.

I refuse to accept a political narrative that erases the humanity of Palestinians or their neighbors, but I don't know enough about Palestinians as people and want to fix that.

[purple-iris]

Vulcan playing baseball (Saavik) and giving the ball a tap of their finger before a throw, because they saw a human kiss it before throwing and decided to do it too. 🖖⚾️

[asukiess]

nathalie sancoeur would looooooove hobby lobby

[umathurwin]

i’m sure we all have fond memories of this scene but it’s always been funny to me because i read “let me stop before i get my shit rocked” on jj’s face

he’s got that ava coleman logic. “the key to not getting your ass beat? knowing when someone can beat your ass”