Icing On The Bytes
Icing on the Bytes
Icing on the Bytes
If you believe you have graduated from Korean dramas of the early 2000s or take pride in never having been part of the fandom, you would probably shrivel in mortification at yourself in the event you fall for the following tropes in 2013 web series Wind Chimes in a Bakery: cancer, amnesia and parental opposition to courtship. Few, though, would consider the symbolism of love through wind chimes a…
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nothing has made me feel like an ancient grumpy crone more than the “using chatgpt for school is fine actually” sentiment among youths
Purreaucracy
Course Title: Navigation of Bureaucracy with Felines: Strategies for Effective Governance through Collaboration between Human Leaders & Their Whiskered Companions
Overview: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to innovative governance models centered on collaborations between human leadership and felines. This unique approach highlights the advantages of integrating feline attributes and behaviors into decision-making processes to enhance organizational effectiveness and navigate complex bureaucratic systems. Students will gain practical strategies for effective collaboration and problem-solving while fostering harmonious relationships between human leaders and their furry companions.
Week One: Overview: Introduction to Feline-Human Relationships in Decision Making
Understanding Feline Social Structures, Hierarchy, and Communication
Investigate the impact of felines’ social dynamics on group cohesion and hierarchy maintenance
Identify methods to establish positive communication channels between cats and humans
Cultivating Resilience & Adaptability via Kittenhood Trials
Analyze kittens' experiences navigating challenges crucial for success in adulthood
Appraise the parallels between these developmental stages and organizational growth
Establishing Trustworthy Relationships for Efficient Governance
Discover the importance of trust and reciprocity among groups led by both humans and felines
Develop techniques for nurturing long-lasting partnerships founded upon mutual respect and benefit sharing
Week Two: Feline Fundamentals
Topic: Understanding Our Cohabitants: An Overview of Feline Physiology and Psychology Core Reading: “CATWISE: Why Cats Do What They Do,” by Nicky Hallucinochell – Chapter 4: "Body Language," pp. 78–93
Additional Readings / Watchlist:
Article: "Cat Body Language" - Decoding Signals from Meows to Postures [Helpful tips on interpreting cat body language] Video Tutorial Series: "Understanding Your Cat’s Emotions and Body Language" - by Dr. Sarah Ellisuedo [A series featuring expert advice on recognizing cats' emotional states and corresponding physical signals]
Activity Task:
Discussion Prompt: Evaluate the importance of recognizing feline psychological needs and behaviors when collaborating across species boundaries.
Week Three: Comparative Perspective: Human vs. Feline Societies
Topic: Building Shared Goals through Recognition of Parallel Motivations in Humans and Felines Core Reading: “The Way of the Cat: Lessons from Animal Welfare Science,” by Dennis C. Fictioner – Chapter 9: "Communication," pp. 117–134
Additional Readings / Watchlist:
Article: "How Cats and Humans Communicate?" - Insights into Nonverbal Exchange Techniques [Comparisons between human and feline communication styles] Interactive Chart: "Behavior Types Explained" - by PawCulture [Identify feline behaviors and compare them to human equivalents]
Activity Task: Create a table illustrating the parallels and contrasts between feline social structures and human organizational dynamics.
Case Study Discussion Question: Compare and contrast the effectiveness of individualistic and collaborative problem-solving strategies in both humans and felines under stressful conditions.
Week Four: Team Dynamics and Conflict Resolution Topic: Effective Management Practices for Cross-Species Interactions Core Reading: "Working With Cats: Guidelines and Best Practices," by Rachel Nonexistein – Chapter 4: "Handling Confrontation and Disagreement," pp. 107–144 Activity Tasks:
In-Class Activities: 1. Reflective writing exercise: Analyze conflicts from past group projects involving interspecies collaboration; 2. Role play exercises: Mock scenarios demonstrating effective techniques for resolving cross-species disagreements
Textbook Exercises and Quizzes: 1. Review questions evaluating understanding of chapter material; 2. Group quiz focusing on case studies analyzing team conflict resolution in multi-species settings
Week Five: Designing Accessible Spaces for Multifunctionality Topic: Ergonomics and Universal Design for Interspecies Living and Working Environments Core Reading: "Design for Life: The Art and Science Behind Creating Products People Love," by Hwan-sang A. Sova and Sōzō Ierardi-Kawauso – Chapter 7: "Creating Usable Solutions That Transcend Personal Preferences," pp. 115–139 Activity Tasks:
Class Exercise and Presentations: 1. Small groups develop accessibility prototypes addressing diverse needs and abilities within shared environments; 2. Peer presentations showcasing innovative design solutions incorporating universal principles
Research project exploring ergonomic modifications for improving multispecies living spaces (such as furniture adaptations promoting ease of movement, comfort, and safety). This may include interviews with professionals in fields such as veterinary science, zoology, and architectural design specializing in animal habitats or assistive technologies.
Week Six: Summative Project: Navigating Organizational Dynamics Utilizing Multifunctional Animal Competencies
Final capstone project requiring groups to draft a comprehensive proposal outlining their vision for applying multilayered skill sets from both human and feline team members to resolve current professional problems or optimize operations
Peer review and instructor evaluation grading the feasibility, efficiency, scalability, and innovativeness of submitted plans showcasing skills acquired during this course.
Extra Reading Assignments (optional):
Book: “Why Cats Pretend Not To See Each Other” by Rachel Nonexistein, PhD - Introduction, Chapter 1, and Chapter 7 (“Rules and Games”). Excerpts are available online. [Dr. Nonexistein discusses key elements of cat behavior relevant to interspecies collaboration.] Article: "Felines on Film" - Analyzing How Hollywood and International Cinema Portray Feline Behavior, Dynamics, and Persona [Analyze media representations of felines to gain insight into societal perspectives on cat personalities] Online Course/Tutorial: Ethogram Method
Assessment Activities:
Reflective Journal Entries: Throughout the course, students will maintain weekly reflective journal entries, exploring their thoughts, observations, and experiences related to the fusion of feline wisdom and human leadership practices. These entries will provide opportunities for introspection and self-assessment, enabling students to track their progress in comprehending and applying insights from feline co-leadership principles.
Group Project Presentations: See above. In small teams, participants will design creative presentations showcasing their understanding of feline behavioral patterns and how they contribute to effective governance within different contexts (e.g., government organizations, businesses, NGOs, local communities). These projects will facilitate peer interaction, active engagement, and knowledge exchange around real-life scenarios involving interspecies collaboration.
Examinations: There will be one midterm exam and one final exam which dates will be announced later. Examination formats will consist of multiple choice, short answer, and essay question sections, addressing topics such as:
Principles of Cat Cooperation & Communication
Comparison of Feline Social Structures & Hierarchies versus Human Organizations
Theoretical Frameworks Integrating Cat Wisdom with Leadership Practices
Challenges & Benefits Associated with Feline-Inclusive Management Systems
Case Studies Analysis: Application of Feline-Human Interaction Models in Real Life Settings
Formulation of Original Ideas for Augmented Coordination between Humans & Felines Across Divergent Contexts.
↑Link to a demo of model student behavior.
Classroom Decorum: No consumption of mustard, garlic or citrus-scented foods. No self-assuming tummy rubs on feline guest speakers. Catcallers face immediate expulsion, lifelong bans from campus grounds, as well as liability to repay all non-employment-based financial aid received to date.
Course Team:
Instructor: Dr. Henrietta J. Whiskerson, Larry-Stubbs Hall 417, Department of Political Science, Levchyk School of Public Affairs, Altama University
Office hours: Wednesday - Friday, 4 pm - 6 pm
Administrative assistant: Laion A. I., who drafted earlier versions of this handout.
This brief commentary was written after the conclusion of Beautiful Mind.
What have been pumping up The Asian Drama Philosopher (A-Philosopher)’s Chair all this while are writings and dramas that take their audiences in weird and wonderful directions. W – Two Worlds (available on Viki) tops all dramas in this category so far with twin universes where a faraway river surreally floats up to you in a restroom, taking the metaphorical red pill freezes everyone else and leaves you terrifyingly alone in your expansive, fabricated world, and going on rampage is a literally faceless killer who can take any form (including a vehicle!) and teleport anywhere at anytime without any reason to take down a target so long as Creator wants him to. But now that its webtoon protagonist and his killer have both become self-aware, the former asks why he should be an alcoholic artist's alternate self or a starry-eyed fangirl's plaything while the latter, flashing with pixels of anger, demands an identity. There are elements of shows like Stranger than Fiction, Pleasantville, Dollhouse and, of course, The Matrix here, but the overall setup is rare enough, particularly when it comes to nonwhite lead characters, that it still feels remarkably refreshing.
W is not just a flashy show. Among other topics, it poses hard questions about the psychology of fiction creation. Thought policing can be repulsive and is as yet difficult to perform consistently with precision. Yet, in a strange turn of events, this freedom of thought also accommodates contemplation of the aesthetics of thought, for better or worse. With regards to such aesthetics in storytelling, W wonders if it is pathetic to live vicariously through a character who has everything—youth, success, strength of character—you do not have and if it is repugnant to, for the sake of dramatic tension and venting personal emotions, make a character go through traumatic experiences you would never wish for or be capable of enduring yourself.
Some viewers may not be used to the plot's bizarreness and sensational and slightly complicated twists, but, with sincere respect to fellow commentators who have expressed those views, if we cannot tolerate ideas that challenge the mind and defy conventions in an imaginary reality, how bleak is the prospect of us treating with civility someone who is "different" in our inescapable, physical reality? Fortunately, perhaps thanks to its intense cross-universe romance, W has been the rare mind-bending Korean drama in recent years to attain healthy ratings. All the best to it retaining the champion position for its time slot for the remaining episodes. Fanart creators would be happy to draw in a gigantic medal, and probably few would denounce this as vile.
News Box: Santa Clauses Past and Present and Content Theft
© open-arms, shared under the permission of CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Life is a fascinating yet somber journey in which we see the Santa Clauses of our childhood in the mirror as we age and our younger, gift-begging selves in our own little elves as they grow bigger. No true Santa Claus, however, ever gifts stolen goods. Neither do we need to be conversant in the native language of Rudolph the Red-nosed to become more civil and considerate members of the global online community. Before you share content that does not originate from you on social media and other places, verify its source and check out guidelines on proper citation practices. If you have been nice and awesome so far, have a MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH or just a GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON!
While the World Championship is underway, is anyone curious about the answer for the scenario below? It will be posted as a comment to the attached spinoff proposal if at least three people vote "YES," not counting the Cretaceous soapbender's own vote.
[Meteorizing Mondays] Expeditions
![[Meteorizing Mondays] Expeditions](https://64.media.tumblr.com/de2fc7444d775a34b17448c292d19039/9af407485e943c63-68/s500x750/52f6ba66abba63fad7c53a7f68027a195b8be163.png)
We're alien globes to each other remote-nursing other alien globes, so we don't really miss out that much stuck here in our seemingly little lives instead of roaming the globe.
Archives
Monday Purples
![[Meteorizing Mondays] Expeditions](https://64.media.tumblr.com/c226b529cdef3c934be1e7fb11999ac8/9af407485e943c63-af/s500x750/0f6f68f5eaaf310ce6cd2e2bd02ded51e1b3658c.jpg)
To someone, you may be the most compelling superhero.
Athletic / Aesthetic Passions
![[Meteorizing Mondays] Expeditions](https://64.media.tumblr.com/b9c85ec4e986cd907f6a3b8bfe82ea3f/9af407485e943c63-66/s500x750/53eeef7f4aa07931cbebd836df089d3591bfdb30.jpg)
Athletic and aesthetic passions normally won't feed you, they say. What they don't say is how these sides of yourself can funnel into you vibrant, imaginative energy that powers you through all the drudgery, provided that late-stage capitalist and chronobiological logics spare these tiny selves breathing space.
An entire series awaits. Check back on another Monday.
H Universe Awards 2024
Potential Lifesaver Award
Baby Reindeer [United Kingdom]
Care is not an invitation for possession. Self-hatred may get in the way of justice.
Most Meaningful Character
Squid Game Season 2's Player 120 Cho Hyun-ju [South Korea]
Discriminated people are more than their discriminated statuses and traits. Femininity does not lessen a person's capacity for toughness or leadership. We often don't fall neatly into one box or another conceived by society. So. Stop. Treating People. As. Little. Categorization. Games.
Hyun-ju cannot be mentioned without mention of the silver-haired mother, player 149 Jang Geum-ja. The ignorant elderly woman frowns upon gender transition yet she tenderly looks after the much taller and well-built Hyun-ju more than many trendy young people around you and I care about marginalized individuals in their midst.
Most Thought-Provoking Series
Hellbound / Hell Season 2 [South Korea]
Human hubris manifests not in defying divine forces, but in knowing that which you do not truly know.
Best Ending
Self-love-themed finale of Eternal Night Star River / Eye-Rolling Official English Title [Mainland China]
You're capable of tapping your full strengths to give important people in your life your all only if you are comfortable in your own skin. The other side of the coin, though, is Murder Mindfully. Ziqi's problem is not that he is a demon in the conventional sense of the term, but that the him beneath it all wrongly identifies as one.
Geekiest Series
Avatar: The Last Airbender [United States]
Diverse cultural elements and martial arts galore.
Best Aesthetics
Blossoms Shanghai / Luxuriant Blossoms [Mainland China and Hong Kong in relation to the cinematography]
Wong Kar-wai did not compromise for the small screen. The question is whether any scene is overdone. It's also a pity he could not get the color grading perfected in time for the CCTV broadcast. A "director color-graded version" with richer colors in at least various scenes was later released.
Best Music
What Comes After Love [South Korea and Japan in relation to the soundtrack]
What comes after that? Fragrance notes-like music that takes you places, of course.
Notes
There is plenty of online discussion revolving around acting, directing and writing, so awards in those areas are unnecessary. The acceptability of acting, moreover, is perhaps particularly vulnerable to cultural differences. Also subjective is the weights and combinations of factors that should go into the assignment of any Best Drama award. On a gut level, the drama that worked best for H this year is China's beautifully-shot sci-fi adventure series Tibetan Sea Flower / Adventure Behind The Bronze Door, but why should it be important to anyone reading this? Is it as thematically meaningful as various dramas above? Is its adrenaline-pumping, breathtaking directing and writing close enough to flawless, given its repetition of a certain trick and choosing to tell instead of show when unveiling the secrets to certain mysteries? How important is it for everyone to accept like H does that some choices can be justified by its place in a larger network of stories (the Lost Tomb franchise) apt for Easter egg hunts and jigsaw puzzle games? A more level-headed personal pick in any event would be any drama conferred the honor of Potential Lifesaver Award.
Beware of sampling errors that may contribute to the appraisal of shortlisted dramas. This unspecified shortlist, in turn, is subject to marketing prowess and social media reach.
A note of repentance!
Floral Bomb Bowling
Physical experience idea: For a touch of nature and a grit-cultivating element of unpredictability, players in medieval village garb or animal mascot costumes take turns to pick from a cart of transparent balloons stuffed with flower heads and petal powder. Complicated impact dynamics are introduced as the balloon selected for the turn may burst as it is rolled down the bowling lane. The elevated cost is justified because watching the jolly but starvation anxiety-inducing original game, Netflix's cabbage-bowling challenge (scroll to the bottom) for cast members of Avatar: The Last Airbender, sets off waves of warmth and guilt in relation to a tomato tennis tournament few know about. Food insecurity and crop wastage are real issues a double major in air-castle bending and soap bending readily overlooks until they see the real thing.
Note that Soap 4.0 is so far a text AI-free zone.
Bard's Dark Forest Cuisine
Soon to be dramatized. Spoiler alert.
Black Forest cake. This is a rich and decadent chocolate cake that is filled with cherries and whipped cream. The dark color of the cake is a symbol of the dark forest, while the cherries represent the stars.
Shrimp cocktail. This is a classic appetizer that is made with shrimp that are cooked in a cocktail sauce. The shrimp represent the civilizations that are hiding in the dark forest, while the cocktail sauce represents the fear and paranoia that exists between them.
Oysters Rockefeller. These are oysters that are topped with a creamy sauce that is made with spinach, bacon, and Parmesan cheese. The oysters represent the civilizations that are trying to survive in the dark forest, while the sauce represents the hope and determination that they have for the future.
Black bean soup. This is a hearty and flavorful soup that is made with black beans, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. The black color of the soup is a symbol of the dark forest, while the beans represent the civilizations that are trying to survive in it.
Take the AI definitions with a pinch of Himalayan black salt, however. Numerous variants of a dish often exist. With that in mind, bon appétit.
– if no one has ever told you, (via pinterest)
An energy economy intubated, intercepted and interrogated by its multiverse escape game, TikTok-addicted black holes, go-getting cerebral vampires and healing rice ball spirits. Originally an extension of The Asian Drama Philosopher (A-Philosopher)’s Chair, a site examining literature, art and ideas featured in East Asian series.
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