1. Last 7 days
    1. I enjoyed reading your paper. It had me thinking about the range of applications that duckweed offers as a model system.

      A few questions: 1. I am curious how you settled on the 3h post-treatment sampling window? Was this based on a pilot time-course, or derived from prior literature on plant stress kinetics? 2. The histone kinase enrichment specific to TEMP+NH4 (Suppl. Fig. 6) is striking but undiscussed. Any hypothesis for the NH4-specificity? If there's any accessibility signal near these genes in your ATAC data, it could be a nice bridge between the transcriptional and chromatin sides of the story.

    1. The purpose of this guideline is to ensure that all non-text content is also available in text. "Text" refers to electronic text, not an image of text. Electronic text has the unique advantage that it is presentation neutral. That is, it can be rendered visually, auditorily, tactilely, or by any combination. As a result, information rendered in electronic text can be presented in whatever form best meets the needs of the user. It can also be easily enlarged, spoken aloud so that it is easier for people with reading disabilities to understand, or rendered in whatever tactile form best meets the needs of a user.

      This represents good practice because things that can't be seen can still be described, this is especially useful if someone has a screen reader and can't see images.

    1. Piano beats guitar because each instrument owns a different market. Split our queries by intent and guitar wins the self-taught forms ("learn guitar", "how to play"): 62% to piano's 38%. Piano wins the teacher-seeking forms ("lessons", "lessons near me"): 67% to 33%. Piano takes the overall crown because the teacher-seeking pool is three times larger: measured, not assumed, those queries carry about three quarters of the two instruments' combined volume. Guitar is the instrument people teach themselves. Piano is the instrument people find a teacher for.

      Another AI mess of writing. I read this many times to understand it. Needs to be broken up and explained differently. I would even suggest a treemap of the data to show the proportions of the five instruments in the three categories (learn, how to play, lessons). Treemap example: https://www.amcharts.com/demos/simple-treemap/

    2. Japan 4.1× Japan searches to learn an instrument 4.1 times as often as the 32-country average. Rank 1 of 32, even after correcting for Google's 60% market share there Ireland 1.6× Europe's highest, level with the Netherlands and 40% above the United Kingdom Colombia 0.22× The lowest measured, one eighteenth of Japan's 4.06

      Good to highlight countries and their topline numbers, but the text below is repetitive and leaves me with questions, not answers. I'd rather an explanation about what is happening at these countries. Why the heck do people not want to learn music in Colombia!?

    3. Japan wants it most

      Somewhere up high, there needs to a a brief explanation of what this study is measuring: searches for lessons or online instruction o how to play an instrument. It doesn't need to be long, but right now it's too far down.

    4. Across all 32 countries, piano is the single most-searched instrument to learn: 38% of the searches that name an instrument, ahead of guitar's 25%.

      Need to establish that you are looking at 5 instruments and how you picked those instruments. In the US, piano and guitar are not typically options at public school, so perhaps that's why these are more likely to be self taught? I do not know about Europe, but I feel like this needs to be addressed somewhere.

    5. And

      Overall, I wish this piece had more personality and better flow. I don't see a good flow. It feels like a bunch of different data findings put into one piece. But there is no natural transitions between the sections. I was genuinely surprised at each section because it felt like a hard pivot each time. I also generally wish there was more context about certain countries. This piece is very numbers heavy without saying much about the reasons behind the numbers. It kind of dumps a lot of stats and rankings and then leaves the reader with a lot of questions. I liked the mention of Norway's public music schools, but those tidbits are like crumbs buried under a heap of tables and data.

    6. .

      Comments about the chart (because I cannot highlight text in the chart): - Do not introduce the list of instruments in the description text. It should be in the main text first. - Needs a color key. Readers do not know what is red and what is purple. - Go out another decimal place, or plot at the tenths place. Right now some countries have different lengths but they have the same number value. - Right-align the countries and add country flags. Much easier to find your own flag in a list this long. - Use a vertical line at 1.0x so that it's easier to see which countries are above average and which are below average.

    7. Japan's lead is an old habit, not a boom. Yamaha's piano revenue fell 27% in the fiscal year to March 2025, and Japan's own search interest is falling: Google Trends puts searches for piano schools (ピアノ教室) 27% below their 2021 peak and still sliding in 2026. What keeps Japan first is the height it is falling from. And the habit is being renewed at the bottom: among Tokyo-area girls, piano is the most popular extracurricular activity in the first years of primary school (29%), and its share among preschoolers rose from 7.6% to 12.8% between 2017 and 2025 (Video Research, Kids/ex survey).

      Haha, this is AI writing at its worst. Very confusing to follow. Japan is in the lead, but all indicators show its population is not interested in music right now based on instrument sales. That completely undercuts the headline.

      Then the paragraph shifts to preschoolers taking piano lessons, but the methodology to arrive at these numbers is only people over 15.

    1. However, there are some unwritten rules, or hidden curriculum, that are not likely to be communicated. Can you guess what they may be? Take a moment to write at least one potential unwritten rule.

      The Activity below "Some of What you will learn is "Hidden" provides a great sample on how to create a learning strategy. This can help me as a guide and also to be prepared for what's to come when taking classes. I will make it a priority to standardized the use of unwritten rules before, during and after classes.

    2. As you may now realize by reviewing the differences between high school and college, learning in college is your responsibility.

      This Sentence stood out to me because it showed me a concept of college of which I was unaware. When I first applied to college I was confident that it would go smoothly and all I had to do was be accepted. As I moved along and started going to the campus looking for recourses and help I was able to understand it takes more than just filling out a form and getting an acceptance email. This reading section has been an eye opening for me and has helped me answer some of the questions I have about college and my new journey. It also puts me at ease to know I'm not the first one or only one to experience all the emotions and self-doubts through this process. I'm confident that it will not be easy and it might challenge me in several ways. However, with the information obtained here I know now that there's lots of resources and people who I can count on and won't be on my own.

    1. Unguent, powdered, or liquid—troubled, confused And drowned the sense in odours; stirred by the air That freshened from the window, these ascended 90 In fattening the prolonged candle-flames,

      This connects to Hamlet and Ophillia drowning in how modern women are drowned, and individuality is taken by "strange synthetic perfumes, Unguent, powdered, or liquid." This drowning is different, but deep down is the same principle. Of women hiding their true selves by over loading alltimes of sents and liquids similar to how Ophillia drowns herself with water.

    1. 2 Análisis

      Creo que falta una descripción general de lo que se va a hacer en esta sección, tipo: En esta sección se procesarán y analizar los datos para generar tablas descriptivas que muestren los tiempos de respuesta de cada item y sección de la encuesta. De esta forma el lector puede ir entendiendo desde antes hacia donde va el informe

    1. Realism: Power and survival matter most. Liberalism: Cooperation and institutions matter. Constructivism: Ideas, identities, relationships, and shared beliefs shape how countries behave.

    1. O’Dell also cites a critical issue with YouTube’s automatic caption feature, which replaces any swear word with “[__].”

      I feel like this needs to be talked about more. This happens with some cable TV captions also I've noticed. Deaf people should have access to everything not just what other people want them to have access to. And you can't even blame it on "its so children don't read something they shouldn't". It's being put onto TV where any amount of kids can hear it, it makes no sense why it has to be censored from the CC.

    1. Those are pearls that were his eyes.

      Again, this is an allusion to Shakespeare's The Tempest. In Ariel's song, a drowned man's body undergoes a "sea-change", and his eyes supposedly become pearls. What's especially interesting is that the contents of what the narrator remembers- instead of remembering something personal or emotionally meaningful, the mind produces a fragment of Shakespeare. Thus connecting back to Eliot's larger techinque thorugh the Waste Land: the characters inhabit a world filled with fragments of the cultural past. Literature, myth, religion, and history survive, but often as disconnected peices that people repeat without being able to restore the coherent civilization they once represented. This line also introduces the possibility of transformation through death. Eyes becoming "pearls" turns something dead and decaying into something beautiful.

    2. And if you don’t give it him, there’s others will, I said.

      This line demonstrates a theme I noticed throughout the sources and within TWL. This pub scene of working-class women gossiping depicts an unhealthy, manipulative relationship. It shows that Eliot has a cynical view of marriage and love, believing that Albert's experience of death and war will eventually lead him to sabotage Lil. This is similar to how Polonius sabotaged Ophelia. Even unknowingly, his judgment was clouded by his grief over his own father, which led him to devastate Ophelia. This idea carries into the title of the section, a reference to Middleton's,"A Game of Chess," saying that love is simply a game and a negotiation that will result in one victor and one dejected opponent.

    3. 'What are you thinking of? What thinking? What? 'I never know what you are thinking. Think.'

      Chess is used as an allusion throughout this section, but chess is inherently an adversarial activity. As you plan he series of moves you believe will ultimately lead you to checkmate, your opponent does the same. One cannot know what one's opponent is thinking, and one profits from concealing that fact from their opponent. We can see here that life and relationships are not unlike chess matches. Here, the neurotic-seeming speaker attempts to see into the mind of her adversary, the person with whom she currently speaks. The two women speaking in the bar, speak of the chess match between Lil and her husband Albert. Subjects like abortions, aging, and the risk of infidelity define the tenuous nature of their relationship. Similarly, the conversation between Lil and her friend is itself a chess match. Pound utilizes chess as a metaphor for a glorious battle of wits. "This board is alive with light; these pieces are living in form." Middleton, however, uses chess as a metaphor for the more gritty and inglorious battles of human will. The chess match in Middleton is the attempt of the bishop to win the virginity of the pawn. Similarly, Lil must concern herself with marital relations and her husband's growing discontentment. Not all battles of will are simply a form of intellectual fun. Eliot notes, reusing chess imagery, that life is also a selection of inglorious battles. The conversation occurring at a bar also showcases the battle of will that chess can represent with oneself. It is only at the repeated insistence of the bartender that those inside the bar are willing to leave. Chess is not just a game of checkmate, but rather, the calculation of the thoughts and desires of a constantly changing opponent, and sometimes, one's inner self.

    4. It’s them pills I took, to bring it off, she said. (She’s had five already, and nearly died of young George.).

      Eliot’s portrayal of Lil references the Virgin White Queen’s Pawn in Thomas Middleton’s A Game at Chess. They both possess a vulnerability to the social system that treats women’s bodies as instruments rather than as their own. In the play, the Virgin Pawn is scared that obedience to male authority will require the sacrifice of her chastity, saying “When a virgin’s ruined / I see the great work of obedience / Is better than half finished,” (Middleton, 14). Her body becomes the site upon which religious and political power is exercised. Similarly, Lil’s body exemplifies the consequences of expectations surrounding marriage and reproduction. She has taken “pills...to bring it off” (end her pregnancy) and has “had five already” (five births) reduces the experience of childbirth to pub gossip (Eliot, 158). Rather than expressing concern for her suffering, the speakers focus on her obligation to remain attractive for Albert. In both texts, the worth of the female body is determined by social expectations. The Virgin Pawn views virginity as an act of obedience and Lil’s experiences are nothing more than a marital duty. The result is a world in which women are valued less for their well-being than for their ability to fulfill roles imposed upon them.

    1. Generations of students and activists have had to fight for the rights of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities to receive an education at all.

      Generations of students and activists have had to fight for the rights of Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities to receive an education at all

    2. It was not until the U.S. Supreme Court decided in 1954 in the Brown v. Board of Education case that racial segregation in public schools was outlawed nationwide.

      A 1954 Supreme Court case involving segregation in public schools.

    3. Native and Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island (a name for North and Central America used by various Indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere) have practiced educational pedagogies that center resistance, justice, and equity long before the introduction of Ethnic Studies as a phrase or academic field.

      Turtle Island is a name used by some Indigenous peoples for parts or all of North America, with origins in different Indigenous creation stories and traditions.

    1. ernazza, Diego. 2014. « Montesquieu et la problématique de l’inquiétude ». In (Re)lire L’Esprit des lois. Online access: OAPEN DOAB Directory of Open Access Books. Paris: Édition de la Sorbonne. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=edspub-live&scope=site&type=44&db=edspub&authtype=ip,guest&custid=ns011247

      ??? Par pitié, pour les grands classiques donnez une édition imprimée, disponible et critique.

    1. Attention is all you have
      • Modern platforms (YouTube, Spotify, LinkedIn, Reddit) actively hijack human attention via recommendation algorithms designed to maximize user engagement rather than serve human intent.
      • The essay invokes the "Tetris effect," illustrating how whatever one repeatedly focuses on for extended periods ultimately shapes mental patterns, perception, and thought processes.
      • Contemporary algorithmic feeds stand in stark contrast to the early web, which was characterized by intentional exploration, personal bookmarks, and independent niche websites.
      • The author urges readers to reclaim personal agency and executive function by shifting toward an intentional web—actively choosing slower, bounded content, independent blogs, and RSS feeds rather than passive, algorithmic feeds.

      Hacker News Discussion

      • The evolution and decline of bookmarks:
        • Commenters debated why browser bookmarks largely fell out of favor, pointing out issues like link rot, poor text search, and the lack of automated archival compared to early browsers (such as Mosaic's full-text history search).
        • Several noted that human friction and bookkeeping overhead naturally discourage manual filing systems, leading users to prefer global search engines over curating lists and folders.
      • Incentives and browser design:
        • Participants discussed whether commercial search engines deliberately disincentivized bookmarking and personal web navigation tools to prioritize ad-supported search queries, while former insiders argued that lack of maintenance was driven more by consumer indifference than deliberate sabotage.
      • Digital hygiene and intentionality:
        • Users shared personal workflows for regaining attention, including quitting mainstream social media, switching back to physical books, self-hosting privacy-first tools, and relying on RSS feeds or text-based feeds.
        • Others highlighted the trade-off between hyper-customized setups (de-Googling, manual data ownership) and modern convenience, noting that the general public consistently favors frictionless defaults.
    1. “We are not family,” he replied, and added a smiley face emoji that read like a middle finger.

      Wow, this line really locks in my interest. I know all about the subliminal messages behind emojis and I do agree that the smiley face was used as a "F* you".

    1. describes men who benefit from hegemonic mas-culinity but do not enact it

      i.e. bystanders - men who let their friends tell sexist jokes/objectify women even if they may not agree with these behaviors

    1. We will start to see major advances in medicine. These advances will come from new and existing technologies. Trackers such as the Fitbit and Apple Watch actively monitor and upload our health informaiton. The more we are able to track and monitor our the health the more actionable the data becomes such predicting a heart attack. Wearables can also be used to notify us when to take our medicine or drink water to keep our bodies in optimal condition.

      I like technology and electronics, we also have to have good health, so applying technology will give us better health care.

    1. Krugman himself recognized he published things that were not correct, and that was part of a strategy to get published. In his words: By the early 1980s it was already common knowledge among people I hung out with that the only way to get non-crazy macroeconomics published was to wrap sensible assumptions about output and employment in something else, something that involved rational expectations and intertemporal stuff and made the paper respectable. And yes, that was conscious knowledge, which shaped the kinds of papers we wrote. [Italics added]

      Important

    1. My fundamental problem with the two books is that they miss the point that the strength of Austrian economics, perhaps its main advantage, is that it is a non-formalized, more or less accessible version of neoclassical economics, of marginalist economics.

      Good point

    1. Magician and surgeon compare to painter and cameraman. The painter maintains in his work a natural distance from reality, the cameraman penetrates deeply into its web. There is a tremendous difference between the pictures they obtain. That of the painter is a total one, that of the cameraman consists of multiple fragments which are assembled under a new law.

      it could be that the subject of a painting has greater agency in how their image would turn out, one which is suppressed when the image is captured instead by camera of which is rigid in the way it produces images, with no room for deviation from the process. A mass reproduction and reproducibility of art requires sacrificing the flexibility and freedom that classical art possesses, both of which lends different kinds of creativity and dynamics between artists and subjects.

    2. man has to operate with his whole living person, yet forgoing its aura. For aura is tied to his presence; there can be no replica of it. The aura which, on the stage, emanates from Macbeth, cannot be separated for the spectators from that of the actor. However, the singularity of the shot in the studio is that the camera is substituted for the public. Consequently, the aura that envelops the actor vanishes, and with it the aura of the figure he portrays

      referring to stage presence as aura is an interesting choice when comparing films (especially silent films) and stage plays. I wlll agree that mechanically/mass reproduced art lose some of its connection to its audience in mediums such as acting and performance despite its arguable functionality and accessibility.

    3. The destructiveness of war

      showcases war as an animate object that operates on its own, but later on in the paragraph, it talks about how society, or rather nature, pushes humans into the trenches.

    1. referring to stage presence as aura is an interesting choice when comparing films (especially silent films) and stage plays. I wlll agree that mechanically/mass reproduced art lose some of its connection to its audience in mediums such as acting and performance despite its arguable functionality and accessibility.

    1. Great job on the visualizations, especially in Figure 1. It's clear what the genetic components are, where they localize, and how they affect readouts and functions. I especially appreciate that each set of components appears in miniature next to the methods for that set's readout. I noticed MFα1/MFα2 appears in the figures but not explicitly in the text. Either removing the label form the figure or explaining it further in the text would be better. For the paracrine strain activations, I'd like to see a bit more evidence, especially since it might help debug any activation seen by other when growing strains in different conditions. Activation was measured at 10 h post-induction. What does it look like at higher ODs or with a longer induction? Overall, I found this paper and its claims to be well-evidenced, the applications exciting, and I think it was written very clearly.

    1. The mythic horror movie, like the sick joke, has a dirty job to do.It deliberately appeals to all that is worst in us. It is morbidity un-chained, our most base instincts let free, our nastiest fantasies real-ized ... and it all happens, fittingly enough, in the dark.

      The author says that those who enjoy horror do so because its a way to let their true self out. And that those who do not enjoy horror are "good liberals." The author also enjoys horror, and watches it to keep the bad hidden, so that only the good shows.

    2. We also go to re-establish our feelings of essential normality; thehorror movie is innately conservative, even reactionary. FredaJackson as the horrible melting woman in Die, Monster, Die! con-firms for us that no matter how far we may be removed from thebeauty of a Robert Redford or a Diana Ross, we are still light-yearsfrom true ugliness

      This supports how people watch horror movies to show normality and make them feel like they shouldn't do things like that.

    3. I think that we’re all mentally ill; those of us outside the asylumsonly hide it a little better — and maybe not all that much better, af-ter all.

      This shows pathos and how the quote causes emotion when spreading a message about mentally ill people and how some people may hide it better than others and have a good way at hiding their feelings.

    4. Love, friendship, loyalty, kindness — these are all theemotions that we applaud, emotions that have been immortalizedin the bad couplets of Hallmark cards and in the verses (I don’tdare call it poetry) of Leonard Nimoy.

      King uses pathos to appeal to the emotions he listed and playfully joke about them.

    5. “That’s what will happen to youif you’re bad!” It’s a sick joke, like the one about the truckload ofdead babies — or the one about the babes in the wood, which wecall “Hansel and Gretel.”

      The author uses an example of a mother making a messed up but harmless joke to show how some people view horror.

    6. we learn this even before we get out of diapers.When, as children, we hug our rotten little puke of a sister and giveher a kiss, all the aunts and uncles smile and twit and cry, “Isn’t hethe sweetest little thing?”

      I like how it shows some pathos here where there is a lot of emotion with family whether you like that family member or not.

    7. Why? Some of the reasons are simple and obvious. To show thatwe can, that we are not afraid, that we can ride this roller coaster.

      This shows ethos somewhat because a person is trying to prove they aren't scared of something which can be helpful in certain instances.

    1. Far-right populists and authoritarian leaders weaponise the language of tradition

      I find the polarization that has happed with Religion to be very frustrating.

      I do not like to hear the words of my faith weaponized or used to legitimize the far right, but I also don't like how the reputation becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.

      A far right reputation can diminish the moderate voice. When religion in general, is seen as far right; moderates, and or people on the left, either leave their religious communities or stop seeking out moderate communities. This leads to moderate religious communities shrinking. In some cases the only people who remain in them, are those who are on the far right. When communities reach this point, they become very entrenched due to a scarcity mindset. At that point, even if a new, socially progressive minister is placed in the community, change and rebuilding are very difficult, if not impossible.

      The reputation becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.

    2. with abortion banned or severely restricted in many states, a network of abortion funds and practical support groups expanded overnight to secure access through travel and medication sent by mail.

      When I read medication delivered through mail I thought about the risks that come with not having the support of medical supervision and facilities, while aborting a pregnancy. Than I saw the phrase volunteer drivers and hosts across state lines, and imagined all the logistics in trying to access to this network. I wonder what is being done to make this support safe.

      I am deeply upset that parts of the world have backtracked to where such complex underground networks are necessary. I feel confusion and wonder but struggle to find the words to ask my questions.

      If part of society needs such underground networks to access medical care, what other parts of life are going to require underground support?

    1. measurements of cell phone use should not be limited to only texting and calling but should take this wide array of activities into account.

      If the measurements were limited to only texting and calling it would leave out almost 50% of the other app uses depending on the generation.

    2. As such, it is an important variable to consider when exploring the relationship between potential distractors such as cell phones or other new media and academic performance

      There is a great list of potential distractors especially in the life of a college student that can affect a study.

    3. perceive the cell phone primarily as a leisure device,

      "an equipment, tool, or interactive item designed and intended for recreational use, relaxation, or play during free time" I honestly believe this statement more people have been using their devices more as a comfort/relaxation thing such as people In other generations would do with "tv time" people know use their phones more as "phone time" or a more common pop culture saying " scroll break."

    4. Interview data collected for the study explained the negative relationship by suggesting that cell phone use disrupts physical activity and encourages sedentary behavior.

      This statement is very strong and I strongly believe in. I could see this trend in my high school especially with the younger kids.

    1. In other words, leadership fosters legalization—the development of obligatory and precise rules implemented by third parties (Abbott et al. 2000). Leadership may take a wide variety of forms such as advancing a new area of customary law, negotiating a treaty formalizing a previous custom, establishing a new convention, or pursuing judicial rulings to set a legal precedent.

      in other words leadership

    2. Most notably, we gain leverage over the complex record of U.S. policy toward international law by disaggregating the concept of support along five dimensions: leadership, consent, internalization, compliance, and enforcement. Until recently, research on states’ support for international law focused largely on only two forms—their consent to be bound by treaties and compliance with the treaties they signed. Mark Pollack has advocated the study of two further dimensions of support—states’ leadership in creating international law and their internalization of its provisions into their domestic legal orders (Pollack 2015). We build on Pollack’s four-part conceptualization by adding a fifth dimension: enforcement—states’ efforts to compel other states to abide by international law.

      leadership, consent, internalization, compliance, and enforcement.

    3. The U.S. relationship with international law is often seen as paradoxical at best, hypocritical at worst. The United States earned a reputation for leadership in international law after World War II, spearheading numerous international conventions and organizations as foundations for international order. Yet despite its steadily growing portfolio of international agreements (Krutz and Peake 2009, 2; U.S. Department of State 2020), the United States has prominently refused to ratify several major conventions that enjoy widespread international support—including some that its own negotiators helped produce. From nuclear weapons and anti-personnel land mines to carbon emissions and war crimes, U.S. leaders have repeatedly invested substantial resources in developing international law only to refuse to subject themselves to it, giving rise to accusations of hypocrisy and imperialism (Angie 2004; Nardin 2005; Monbiot 2012; Denyer 2016).

      leadership

    4. For example, the United States used financial aid to encourage Ukraine to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 1994. When peaceful incentives fail or when the situation is urgent, though, states may turn to more forceful means. For example, the UN Security Council authorized Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion in 1990, Israel and United States deployed Stuxnet to impair Iran’s nuclear proliferation efforts, and the United

      Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT),

    5. No mere instrument of foreign policy, international law helps constitute states’ identities and interests. Moreover, since moral persuasion is not dependent on material resources, constructivism opens the door for nonstate actors to shape international law on numerous issues, such as human rights (Klotz 1995; Keck and Sikkink 1998; Risse-Kappen, Ropp, and Sikkink 1999), chemical and nuclear weapons (Price 1997; Tannenwald 2007), landmines (Price 1998), and international criminal law (Deitelhoff 2009).

      constructivism

    6. Realism also struggles to explain why the United States has frequently sought to avoid overtly violating international law by pursuing covert interventions, even when doing so assumes greater strategic risk (Poznansky 2020)

      realism

    7. Realism thus has little trouble explaining why the United States might back out of international agreements—including those it helped create—if respecting those commitments would not serve its current strategic interests. It can also readily explain why the United States assumed a prominent leadership position in crafting a new international order after World War II, when its economic and military preeminence afforded an opportunity to shape the rules of the international system to best suit its interests moving forward.

      realism

    8. Challenging the material ontology and in some instances the positivist epistemology of realism and liberalism, constructivists emphasize the constitutive effects of internationalPage 6 → law on state identities, which interact with international norms to drive state behavior (Kratochwil 1989; Ruggie 1998; Hopf 1998; Checkel 1998).

      liberalism

    1. Most beginning writers work from an analytical mind-set and they overwrite the thoughts in their first drafts and underwrite the images.

      This makes me think that those who are just starting to read text and write over explain a lot more than they have to.

    2. Our job as writers is to create a living, moving image and to trust that the action that comes to life in the reader’s mind is fairly close to what we had in mind.

      This text reminds me that I need to clearly explain things so that readers are able to visualize exactly what I am writing.

    3. Practice close reading in order to distinguish the difference between knowing and seeing.

      I think that reading closely is very important because it allows you to be able to pay close attention to the text and think beyond what you already know

    4. hen children play, they are hooked into a live image. They are not pretending, they are riding a horse.

      I like this because it reminds me of being a kid and being able to imagine anything. I remember things like this would always feel so real and I was able to create anything.

    1. We usually picture instructions as a vertical numbered list, and most are, but the right structure depends on how the steps relate to one another:

      I haven't really considered the structure of lists before reading this section. I have always considered lists that weren't numbered to be harder to follow because I like being able to check things off as I go. However, this makes me realize that different structured lists actually give more freedom and flexibility to complete steps in whatever way is best for oneself. So, in some cases, if a numbered list were provided, it may make the reader think they have to follow a specific order when a different order may be better for them.

    2. As you revise, check that your instructions do the following: clearly describe the procedure to be explained provide an overview of the content indicate what the audience needs to know use the right kind of list for each situation (like numbered lists for sequential steps, bullets for non-sequential) use headings and subheadings to divide the sections logically use special notices where appropriate, and place them before the relevant step use graphics to illustrate key actions and objects, from the reader’s perspective supply supplementary explanation where it is needed without burying the step and list equipment and supplies when the procedure requires them.

      This checklist was extremely helpful. It gives clarification to some of the points mentioned throughout the chapter. It simplifies everything that I read and gives me easy access to the information that I read as I need it to revise what I have written

    1. Streaming Music Isn’t About Free and Easy Access Anymore

      More and more music streaming platforms have paywalls behind them. From monthly subscriptions, to special access being granted to paying users. With everything having a paywall behind them, more and more people will step away due to lack of funds and accessibility.

    2. For example, Taylor Swift’s album “Midnights” saw multiple tracks dominate the streaming charts all at the same time.

      I remember the amount of separate, deluxe, remix, etc. albums Taylor Swift would release of the exact same album, all to up her streams and make her way up in the charts.

      Many people called her out for wanting to top the charts and overthrow Billie Eilish and Charli XCX"s spots on the charts, calling her selfish, greedy, and unprofessional.

      Nowadays, it's becoming increasingly common for musicians to care more about streams and topping charts than about making art and using music as a form of art and storytelling.

    3. Financial Challenges and Opportunities: While streaming has increased accessibility, it has also introduced complex royalty models that often leave artists with less income compared to traditional sales, prompting ongoing adjustments in business models and revenue distribution.

      This is a really interesting take, as it shows how despite how popular someone may be online, their streaming numbers may not equate to how much money or revenue they receive from their music. It's unfortunately becoming quite common for musicians--and other artists who are in acting or writing--to not be able to afford to live, One example is when Chappell Roan said during her Grammy speech, "I told myself, if I ever won a Grammy and I got to stand up here, I would demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a livable wage and health care, especially to developing artists." And more recently, actor Jack Haven, has spoken out about they are in desperate need of a job in order to afford health insurance.

    4. For example, in 2023, Taylor Swift used her megastardom to speak out, emphasizing that while streaming provides exposure, the royalty rates are still insufficient for many artists.

      I once learned that if you used 30 seconds or less of a song, you did not have to pay. Around the 2023 timeline was when TikTok really saw a "boom" in business all with videos less than 30 seconds long. It makes me question how much artists like Taylor Swift would have made had this not been a rule. (Taylor has since removed her own music fron Tik Tok but there are still plenty of copies out there.)

    5. Today, streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music have shifted this dynamic significantly.

      With the introduction of TikTok, I'm convinced this shift would be mountains higher than the jump from not streaming to streaming. Artists need to be active 24/7 on social media to keep their music on the FYPs of their targeted audiences.

    6. Curated playlists and personalized recommendations have transformed how music is discovered, creating new revenue streams for artists through subscription fees and streaming royalties.

      The impact of AI on these platforms too has made major shifts in their streaming abilities and playlist curations. I'm not very familiar with Apple Music but the Spotify DJ has simplified the app for thousands of users making it easier than ever to "create" a playlist.

    7. Music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music have revolutionized the industry, providing new revenue streams and democratizing access to music for both major labels and independent artists.

      Incredibly true! The impact these two platform alone have had on music has come significant leaps and bounds from when the iPod was invented. The subscriptions, inclusions, and marketing alone have made these platforms a social media for music and artists.

    1. First, dimensions describe tendencies across groups, not individuals; treating them as personality predictions replaces one stereotype with another. Second, cultures are not monoliths or museum pieces; workplaces mix professional, regional, generational, and organizational cultures at once.

      This idea made me realize the importance of cultural impact on communication. Cultural differences don't only influence how people communicate, but can help others understand how they may communicate. However, this doesn't provide a reason to make assumptions about an individual. I have always considered culture a way of sorting stereotypes, but it really is a guide to communication.

    1. Sleep deprivation leads to decreased mental alertness and cognitive function. Also, -Depression-like symptoms -Obesity -Increased blood pressure -Higher stress hormone levels -Reduced immune functioning. AFFECTS MOTOR+COGNITIVE FUNCTION MORE THAN ALCOHOL. If someone stays awake for 48 consecutive hours, they could hallucinate.

    2. suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) -Located in hypothalamus (homeostasis) -light sensitive neurons in retina to try to synchronize our internal clock with our day-night cycle.

    3. Circadian Rhythm: One of many biological rhythms, which occur in cyclical patterns. CR is a bio-rhythm that takes place over a 24 hour period. Sleep-wake cycle, warm-cool body temperature cycle, etc.

    4. Consciousness describes our awareness of internal (pain, hunger, thirst, sleepiness, thoughts, emotions) and external (seeing the light from the sun, feeling warmth of a room, hearing voice of a friend) stimuli.

    1. They returned with news of trade routes extending from oasis city-states ringing the forbidding deserts of the Taklamakan Desert to countries lying beyond the Pamir Mountains. What they were speaking of were the earliest Silk Roads (see Map 4.9.2). Merchants had been using camels to carry such goods as silk from China to distant civilizations while bringing back gold, horses, and various handicrafts and foodstuffs. For that reason, beginning in 104 BCE, Emperor Wu dispatched armies to subdue the region as far as the Pamir Mountains, making the Han Dynasty overlords to Central Asian states, which were now obligated to send tribute and hostages.

      The Silk Roads stood out to me because they allowed China to connect and trade with civilizations that were really far away.

    1. The First Emperor of Qin and his advisors invented the title used by all subsequent rulers. They made newly conquered territory a part of their centralized bureaucracy. From his royal court and central administration, the emperor governed a land organized into a hierarchical system of commanderies (provinces that began as military outposts) and counties. His regime standardized currency and the system of writing, and issued regulations for uniform weights and measures.

      I found it interesting that even though the Qin Dynasty did not last very long, it had a huge impact on china. Standardizing things like money, writing, and measurements probably made it much easier for different parts of china to communicate and trade.

    1. But there is more to these centuries than high politics. Again, the Gupta era is often labeled as a classical age for India. A period in the history of a civilization’s being labeled as classical generally means it was a time of artistic and intellectual excellence, with its having attained standard-setting achievements in a number of fields. Classical also suggests a certain level of maturation for a civilization. It should be noted, however, that some scholars question the use of this term because all ages produce great works, and sometimes choosing one period as classical simply represents the biased judgment of a later time.

      I think it is interesting that Gupta period is considered a classical age because India made so many advancements during tis time. It shows that their achievements were not only political, but also involved art, literature, science, and education.

    1. He and his son Bindusara (r. 287 – 273 BCE) and grandson Ashoka (r. 268 – 232 BCE) were destined to forge the first large empire in India’s history, one that would inspire the imagination of later empire builders in South Asia. The Mauryan Empire included most of the subcontinent and lasted for 140 years (see Map 3.9.1)

      I found it interesting that the Mauryan Empire was the first large empire in India. It shows how much India changed politically during this time.

    1. The ruins of Mohenjo-Daro and other Indus cities dating to this mature phase suggest a vibrant society thriving in competently planned and managed urban areas. Some of the principal purposes of these urban settlements included coordinating the distribution of local surplus resources, obtaining desired goods from more distant places, and turning raw materials into commodities for trade. Mohenjo-Daro, for instance, was located along the lower reaches of the Indus (see Figure 3.6.1). That meant it was conveniently built amidst an abundance of resources: fertile flood plains for agriculture, pasture for grazing domesticated animals, and waters for fishing and fowling. The city itself consisted of several mounds—elevated areas upon which structures and roads were built. A larger mound served as a core, fortified area where public functions likely took place. It contained a wall and large buildings, including what archaeologists call a Great Bath and Great Hall. Other mounds were the location of the residential and commercial sectors of the city. Major avenues laid out on a grid created city blocks. Within a block, multistory dwellings opening up to interior courtyards were constructed out of mudbricks or bricks baked in kilns. Particular attention was paid to public sanitation. Residences not only had private wells and baths, but also toilets drained by earthenware pipes that ushered the sewage into covered drains located under the streets.

      I think it is interesting how advanced these cities were for their time. The way they planned their streets and buildings shows that the Indus Valley civilization was very organized.

    1. IV. THE CYLINDER OPENS.

      someone watches as the cylinder opens and a terrifying martian comes out. the creature looks weird and scary which makes the people panic and run away. they are scared but watch from a distance as another martian comes out and the shopman disappears into the pit

    1. Another is to instruct the program to engage in style mimicry, emulating the choices made by a specific writer, which produces a highly derivative story. In neither case is it creating interesting art.I think the same underlying principle applies to visual art, although it’s harder to quantify the choices that a painter might ma

      The authors use of algorithmic languages to distinguish its fallacies for unfinished prompts over works of fiction/literature, and all sorts of art. And this distinction highlights the absence of complex human experience and comprehension. It’s emulating and rewriting all sorts of art and excessively refining them and pawning it off at its own; and in this case, the user.

    1. California endures as the world’s leading center of technological innovation because of its exceptional universities, skilled workforce, access to capital and a culture that rewards bold thinking. These advantages have helped California companies develop lifesaving medicines, cleaner energy and technologies that improve daily life.

      Author argues that tax impositions on these industries will impact significant areas of citizens' lives, such as medicine, environmental concerns, and technology

    1. The first written mention of Barbara Allen was made by Samuel Pepys who sang it with friends on New Year’s Eve in 1665, and since then hundreds of versions have been recorded by collectors over the years from all round the British Isles and across North America.

      .

    2. Barbara Allen is the story of a rather bossy man who on his death bed sends a servant out to get Barbara Allen, the woman he says he loves, saying that one kiss from her will save his life. When she refuses, accusing him of flirting with all sorts of women, he simply gives up and dies, but not before laying a guilt trip on her by giving her some of his most treasured possessions. Barbara Allen then, with a similar lack of resilience, also gives up the ghost as it turns out she can’t in fact face life without him after all.

      he loved a women very much but she didn't seem to love him back, he then died, after he died she realized she did love him and then died from guilt