Monthly Archives: April 2023

My Favourite Production Scene in 2023 So far

The way in which the production is able to portray such raw emotion within simple scenes and camera angles is amazing to me. As well the idea from which they’re placed within a wholesome room talking about such things as murder, offers an intriguing take on the religious or a cult experience. Although I truly haven’t seen the full show or even episode yet, the way in which this single four minute clip intrigues me is unlike any other. Or at least from what I’ve seen so far within tv shows this year.

FOOD RECOMMENDATION —— Liuzhou river snails rice noodle

I would like to recommend a Chinese delicacy to you. I personally like it very much. — Liuzhou river snails rice noodle

⚠ It’s extremely high in calories! (I’m sorry I was recommending a weight loss method not too long ago)

It’s an amazing dish because you feel an indescribable stench before you taste it. If you choose to eat it at home, please open the windows.

But it doesn’t affect its own deliciousness at all! It has a unique flavor of spicy, crisp, fresh, sour and hot. It’s also full of ingredients, including sour bamboo shoots, tofu skin, fungus, peanuts, dried radish, etc. These are just the basic ingredients in the instant food! If you can go to China to taste it, you can also diy your own toppings that you want to add.

Be sure to experience it once!

#POSIEL

The post FOOD RECOMMENDATION —— Liuzhou river snails rice noodle first appeared on My blog.

Process Post #12

Comments, oh the power they hold. We always want comments. We want to feel like people care about what we’re putting out into the world. On an instagram post the more comments correlate to your ‘popularity’ in a sense. We love to feel supported and have that validation that our content is good, but is that validation really worth the hate that can come with it? Hate comments have a real effect on people and their mental health. Major youtubers, social media influences, and many more have closed their comment sections, so that they can keep the hate comments from accumulating on their platforms. 

I have never received a hate comment on any of my social media accounts. This is probably because I’m no one when it comes to having a following on these platforms, and I’m not a controversial figure. Even though I have not been on the receiving end of these hate comments I don’t think the solution to these comments is to not allow these comments to be posted. 

It’s unfortunate that people feel the need to pick apart people on the internet, but I do think there is a solution to this after reading what Maria Konnokova had to say in her piece in the New Yorker. She stated that “a quarter of Internet users have posted comments anonymously” (Konnokova, 2013, para. 2). This makes me wonder if we were somehow able to prevent people from posting comments anonymously if they wouldn’t post hurtful comments in the first place. I have found in life, and I think it’s pretty commonly known that people are less likely to say negative things to your face. The trouble with the internet is that these people can hide behind their screens while having anonymous profiles. I personally will not deactivate comments on my media platforms, but if I do see comments that I don’t like I think it is fair that I have the option to take them down. I want my viewers to know that I value their opinions and I want them to be able to say what on their mind, just as I am doing.

I am a firm believer that everyone has the right to their own voice, so who is to say what you can and can’t say on the internet. I think the way to go about the hurtful comments is to educate people about what these comments can do to a person. I would say from my own experiences that people are usually pretty supportive of each other, heck if bots can say they love my posts why can’t humans do the same! I don’t think this is an internet issue, but rather a humanity problem. 

References

Konnikova, M. (2013b, October 23). The Psychology of Online Comments. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-psychology-of-online-comments

Neon Genesis Evangelion- Daddy Issues

our protagonist Shinji Ikari has a pretty complicated relationship with his father, Gendo. To say it’s strained would be an understatement. Gendo is the head honcho of the organization that’s fighting the Angels, and he’s also the one who brought Shinji in to pilot an Evangelion. But instead of being a loving and supportive father figure, Gendo is cold, distant, and creepy at times.

Shinji’s desperate need for his father’s approval and affection is a driving force behind much of his character development throughout the series. He’s constantly seeking validation from Gendo, even though he knows deep down that his father is unlikely to give it to him. This leads to some pretty intense emotional moments as Shinji grapples with his feelings of abandonment and inadequacy.

But Shinji isn’t the only character with daddy issues in this show. We also have Asuka Langley Soryu, another pilot who is driven by her desire to prove herself to her absent father. And even Gendo himself is revealed to have some pretty serious daddy issues when we learn about his past and his relationship with Shinji’s mother.

The daddy issues in Neon Genesis Evangelion are a pretty significant part of the show’s overarching themes of loneliness, isolation, and the human desire for connection. It’s not always easy to watch, but it adds an extra layer of complexity to an already fascinating series.

Parting with Posiel

Well… this is it! My last process post for PUB 101. I’ve learned so much about blogging, marketability, and the online self in this course, and hopefully it shows through melatonin gone missing.

Reflecting On The Process

Despite this course only being 13 weeks long, it feels like I’ve grown exponentially over the semester, probably because posting weekly has forced me to consistently critique and improve my site. It feels like decades ago when I was feeling frustrated trying to set up my site, which is mostly documented in my second process post From Pinterest to WordPress. At that time, I was completely uneducated about what it really meant to own a website. So when I slowly started to pick up on blog design, SEO, user experience, accessibility, readability, typeface, analytics, and everything else I’ve touched on in my process posts thus far, I was a little shocked that there was so much that went into the websites and media we interact with every single day. Even if at some point in the future I forget what the term “personal cyberinfrastructure” means (although highly unlikely), I will always perceive published media through a different lens. A more critical one, but also one with more respect for the effort that goes into actualizing every single detail we take for granted.

My blog feels a lot like a gallery or a scrapbook of the beginning of my publishing journey, and it always feels extremely rewarding and fulfilling to scroll through and see how far it has come. I’ve grown to be very fond of blogging, and I am quite proud of the site I’ve created. I mean, I made and own a whole website… that’s pretty cool. melatonin gone missing truly feels like my own digital garden, and I’m not quite ready to let it die!

Looking Forward

That being said, I’m excited to continue blogging and sharing my most unimportant thoughts here. I thought of a few ideas of ways to expand the site in my post Melatonin’s Many Channels, which are always paths I could look into pursuing (especially social media), but before going any further with expansion and development, it is important to establish community guidelines. An easy and effective way to ensure user safety and my own safety is to add a page outlining what users can expect and what they should abide by on my blog. Some of the things I would likely include in my community guidelines are:

  • Be respectful and kind
  • No spam or hateful comments
  • Respect people’s privacy
  • No personal promotion

By having these guidelines made explicit, it should hopefully prevent any uncourteous or unwanted behaviour from my blog, which is meant to be a safe and cozy space for all. From my list, it is clear that most of these guidelines are related to blog comments and social interactions. In the modern age of social media, the effects of online hate have proven to be a) very real, and b) severely damaging. As discussed in the Jon Ronson’s Ted Talk “When online shaming goes too far“, and the article “The dark side of Guardian comments“, people’s online behaviours can be incredibly harmful, and can escalate into dangerous and out of control situations. These guidelines essentially are to prevent these situations from arising on my site.

Against my expectations, there have been a few comments on my posts from my friends and classmates that have all been sweet and supportive. I’ve learned that blog comments are a really fun place to interact with others and trade complements and ideas, in a different way than the usual social media comment. I think this is because there is a sort of detachment from your personal life, since you can choose any name to display with your comments (on WordPress, at least). Maria Konnikova explains that anonymity encourages participation, which is further expanded on in John Suler’s discussion of facets of the online self, and I think this is demonstrated in the comments on my posts. For example, Tori Vega’s comment on Toe is Broken (Up).

Saying Farewell

And that’s it! To Dr. Norman and all my classmates, it’s been a pleasure getting to know you and making content for you to stalk. I’ve really enjoyed this class, and it’s sad to say goodbye.

Lastly, huge shoutout to Micky, who’s support means the world to me! I’m so lucky to have a TA who understands and appreciates my content posts on a personal level 😉

Alright, melatonin… officially going missing.

References:

Basu, T. (2020, September 3). Digital Gardens let you cultivate your own little bit of the internet. MIT Technology Review. Retrieved March 2, 2023, from https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/09/03/1007716/digital-gardens-let-you-cultivate-your-own-little-bit-of-the-internet/

Campbell, G. (2009). A Personal Cyberinfrastructure. EDUCAUSE. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2009/9/a-personal-cyberinfrastructure

Gardiner, B., Mansfield, M., Anderson, I., Holder, J., Louter, D., & Ulmanu, M. (2016, April 12). The Dark Side of Guardian comments. The Guardian. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/12/the-dark-side-of-guardian-comments

Konnikova, M. (2013, October 23). The psychology of online comments. The New Yorker. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-psychology-of-online-comments

Ronson, J. (n.d.). When online shaming goes too far. Jon Ronson: When online shaming goes too far | TED Talk. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.ted.com/talks/jon_ronson_when_online_shaming_goes_too_far?language=en

Suler, J. (2001). The Online Disinhibition Effect. The Psychology of Cyberspace. https://truecenterpublishing.com/psycyber/disinhibit.html

Photo:

-, H. T., By, -, Heather TaylorIcon Researcher & Blogger at Advertising Week, Taylor, H., Icon Researcher & Blogger at Advertising Week, here, P. enter your name, & -, H. T. (2020, December 21). How celestial seasonings’ sleepytime bear became a tea icon. PopIcon.life. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://popicon.life/celestial-seasonings-sleepytime-bear-tea-icon/

Timing is everything

“Analytics (Google, Facebook, Twitter etc.) is a very valuable tool for building your audience. For content creators, knowing how your reader behaves on your website can help enormously with developing the best content, posting at the right time, and developing the appropriate engagement strategies. On the flip side, for the reader or user, it can be tiresome and even worrisome knowing you are providing data trails every where you go online“

When I was younger, I used to have a One Direction Instagram fan account. I think I was about 11-12.

I was able to gain between 5000-10k followers during that time (predominately other teen One Direction fans) and I was able to make a cool and functioning fan account.

However, A LOT of work went into making it. Firstly, the most important thing for Instagram engagement at the time is the use of hashtags. I had to make sure I used a bunch of different hashtags like #OneDirection #HarryStyles etc… and this was one of the ways I was able to gain followers.

Another tool I used was posting at the right times when my timeline was most busy. This made it possible for me to get a lot of likes at one time. For example, If I posted in the middle of the night I wouldn’t get many likes and my post would be hidden by the time everyone woke up. I found that posting around after school time was a good time to get good engagement on my posts.

This was all a lot of work, but for the engagement, I got it was worth it. I also gained skills that would be able to help me in the future if I pursue content creation especially with social media.

a collection

conquest

letting you in

was what made breaking so easy

trojan were your claims

yet i say come, i say-

maim

–

trash

i hope you find love

in used cigarettes

in embers that lit

and never digressed

in candy wrappers

rubbed with cocaine

and crushed pop cans

that all sing

my name

–

manic

your names tattooed onto my heart

and even if i rip it free

i’ll etch it onto swollen skin

and stitch it back with a safety pin

–

experience

surround my heart with spears and thorns

it changes shape

adjusts its form

stab right through

and i won’t feel

i am modeling clay

to your preemptive

zeal

–

sidewalk flower

i’d eat concrete if it made me metal

grind up pavement between teeth

ensuring its density

so i can feel the wear

on my molars

create rubble from slabs

those freshly laid

and fully set

a bloodied mouth

and slit gums

i’d eat concrete if it made me metal enough

to forget the sidewalks i walked

with you

– ammarah siddiqui

The post a collection appeared first on ammarah.

Process Post #12: Questions, comments, concerns? How about a comment?

Comments. You can find or hear them almost anywhere.

Under your posts on Instagram; under that YouTube video you watched a couple days ago; from the hairstylist you see every few months; or behind your back and you may not even know.

Now those are just comments in general, but I’m here to look at online comments in particular.

The realities of the Comment section

While the Comment section of a social media post or blog are there for readers and viewers to express their thoughts and opinions, they aren’t always the safest places to be on the internet.

Depending on your platform and audience, these types of spaces can fill with aggression and mockery, anonymity and false information, and more (Konnikova, 2023).

Konnikova (2023) notes that this may have to do with the “online disinhibition effect” that John Suler coined and that I’ve brought up in conversation before. It’s that feeling of being able to say and do anything like nobody is watching because nobody knows who you are. Your identity is hidden by the shields of the internet, you could say.

At the same time, anonymity must be credited for its ability to encourage participation. Instead of fearing uniqueness and difference, commentors feel a sense of community. There is little to no fear in speaking one’s mind and the opportunities for creative thinking are practically endless.

Creating and implementing guidelines for commenting

To mitigate these potential issues, it would be good to create a set of guidelines for commenters and their commenting.

If I made a list for Two A.M. Thoughts, I’d make sure to include things like being respectful of others and their comments; keeping comments relevant to the post; using appropriate and clean language; and have fun with the discussion.

These guidelines are likely something you’ve read or seen before many times, but they are things that I would hope to see in the comment sections of my site too. They are values, if you want to call them those, that I uphold when I comment. So, it would be great to see that reciprocated.

In terms of implementing them, I would most likely create a page on my site dedicated to community guidelines. However, I wouldn’t expect every visitor to read that page before getting around to their commenting. Perhaps a disclaimer above comment forms with a link to the community guidelines page may do the job. Ultimately, it will have to be something moderated and reiterated until commentors catch on.

References

Konnikova, M. (2013, October 23). The psychology of online comments. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-psychology-of-online-comments

If I had all the time in the world… what would I do?

If I had all the time in the world, what would I do? 

I took a nap the other day—or what was supposed to be a nap—and woke up half a day later more refreshed than ever. 

That was probably more sleep than I had gotten int he past two months. 

But if I had all the time in the world, what would I do with it? 

Maybe, let’s narrow it down to a day—all the time in the day. 

1: Sleep 

Sleep could not be more valuable than now, but I know that I’ll need it even more 10 years from now. As a student, I could care less about my sleep. Like, yes I care about it a lot, but there’s not much I can do when I have a semester’s worth of assignments due in the next week or so. 

Plus I have to keep up with work and everything beyond school and work without completely botching it all. So for the time-being, I could care less about my sleep. It’s 12:53 AM and counting and I don’t have time to sleep. 

2: Travel 

Travelling is one of those long-term goals that I don’t need to fulfil right away, but I can definitely dream. 

If I could go anywhere in the world, it would be Europe. Just Europe. All of it. Don’t make me pick and choose specific countries because I cannot handle decision-making and this will only stress me out more than I already am. This is a discussion for years from now. 

Anyway, I don’t know if it’s the food, architecture, or aesthetic—it’s probably all three and more—but something about Europe just seems like a beautiful place to visit. Something about the landmarks, cobblestoned city roads, and European food just screams ‘chef’s kiss.’ 

3: Explore the city 

Now you might think that ‘explore the city’ and ‘travel’ are kind of the same thing… but they aren’t. Travel is a broad-scale, long-term goal-type of adventure. But explore the city is like a mini, everyday-type of adventure that I can easily manage on almost any given day. No need for advanced planning and extreme saving. Open mind and comfy shoes required, and that’s it. 

Though what would I explore? You name it: food spots, landmarks, places I’ve passed by a million times but have never actually stopped to see, you get the gist. 

4: Hobbies 

Whenever someone asks me what hobbies I have, I panic because I never know what to say. I am so busy with school, work, and everything else on top of that to the point where I don’t have time to get into traditional ‘hobbies.’ I have time to write papers, work, listen to music, transit place-to-place, and that is pretty much it. 

BUT with all the time in the day, I could probably relax and paint, read a book or two, try playing an instrument, or learn to origami-fold all my old homework because why not?

5: Spend time with friends and family 

As much as I hate to say this (especially because my parents think this too), I think I spend more time out at school and studying than I do at home with family. That’s just what the job responsibilities entail but it is just sad. I cannot even imagine being a full-time student working full-time at the same time. To the people who can do that, bravo. 

If I had all the time in the day, I’d meet up with friends who I haven’t seen in months—maybe go to dinner, go shopping, or just sit and chat in a café; watch movies with my family; take a group trip somewhere; the possibilities are endless. 

6: Alone Time 

Lastly, I couldn’t forget to have some time for myself. Take a break from my phone; go on a walk first thing in the morning; paint my nails; read a book; bake a cake; clean my room; enjoy a movie; watch a sunset; or just sit in the comfort of my own presence without a worry. 

I could add lots more to this list, but I can’t get too ahead of myself. There’s too much for me to get done right now, but in the meantime, I can always dream.  

Enhancing Your Eye Color Through Clothing Choices Part 2

Enhancing your eye color through clothing choices Part 2 is finally here! To recap, in part 1 we explored the best colors to wear if you have…

  1. Hazel Eyes
  2. Brown Eyes
  3. Dark Brown Eyes
  4. Green Eyes

For the second part of this post, we will take a look at which colors will best compliment the eye colors of blue, grey, and amber! Let’s get started.

Amber Eyes

To sort of start where we left off, we’ll take a look at complimentary colors for amber eyes. Amber eyes are a beautiful mix of yellow, orange, and brown, that create a very warm tone as well as a golden look. This eye color is not very common, with about only 5% of the population reported to have this unique color!  

Wearing copper and golden browns will intensify your eye color, and it will magnify the yellow and brown tones in your eyes, which will really make them pop. One colour that you may not expect to have been complimentary to amber eyes is blue. Blue is on the opposite side of orange on the color wheel, making them complimentary colors. Wearing shades of blue will lighten your eyes and intensify the lighter yellow, golden tones that make the colour so distinctive!

Blue Eyes

Next, we’ll take a look at the most desired eye color in the world! I know I’ve definitely found myself saying “I wish I had blue eyes” a few times before. Some of my friends have gorgeous blue eyes, and that is a characteristic of theirs that I have always admired. There is something about blue eyes that makes them special and so pretty!

The best way to bring out the blue in your eyes is to wear blue! This could be any shade of blue, but I have found that when my blue-eyed friends wear a color that is a similar shade to their eyes, it really makes them stand out. White is also a great color to wear if you have blue eyes. The bright white color highlights the blue in your eyes as well as the lighter undertones, which really makes the color stand out. Because there is no competing color when you are wearing white, anyone with vibrant coloured eyes such as blue or green will be able to benefit greatly!

Grey is also a great option to wear if you have blue eyes. The soft and deep tones that you can find in different shades of grey highlight the deeper undertones in your eyes, allowing for them to appear more striking and noticeable. Lastly, this one may come as a surprise, but wearing pastel shades of orange is a great way to compliment the blue in your eyes if you are looking to wear a pop of color!

Grey Eyes

The last eye colour we will be looking at for this series of Exploring Style is grey. Grey is another very unique eye color. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone with grey eyes! But nonetheless, from the pictures I have seen it is a beautiful, soft color.

Like I mentioned, grey is a soft color and therefore it will stand out best when paired with more colourful soft tones. Sage and Olive green are perfect examples of this. Both shades of green will bring out the lighter undertones to your eyes, making them appear a much lighter and vibrant grey. Soft shades of blue and particularly denim blue will be able to do this also, and make your grey eyes pop! Lastly, wearing shades of dark grey or even silver will compliment your eyes well. Wearing the same color scheme to your eye color or a a similar shade is a great way to emphasize the color of your eyes as they will almost “match” your outfit.

Overall, you can and should wear any color that you like! This guide is just meant to demonstrate that you are able to emphasize some of your natural features/characteristics through the use of fashion. This week, try and put together an outfit that will enhance your eye color. See if you can notice any differences in the appearance in your eyes, and be ready for lots of compliments!

References

Featured Image Generated by DALL-E

Transformation #12-Mindful Eating

The Power of Mindful Eating: How It Changed My Life for the BetterThe Power of Mindful Eating: How It Changed My Life for the Better

photo 1607522154179 da1c051ed109
Image Source: Unsplash

 

Mindful eating has transformed my life as someone who used to eat a lot of sugar. It’s been a journey, but today I feel healthier, happier, and more in tune with my body than ever before. In this article, I’d like to share my experience with mindful eating, how it’s helped me overcome binge eating and sugar addiction, and its benefits to my mental and physical health.

 

My journey with food and how it led me to mindful eating

I’ve always had a sweet tooth. As a child, I would beg my parents for candy and chocolate. I continued to indulge in sugary treats throughout my teenage years and adulthood. However, my love of sugar soon turned into an addiction. I always craved sweets, and I often binge on candy, cookies, and ice cream until I felt sick.

At first, I didn’t see a problem with my eating habits. I thought it was just a harmless indulgence. But as time passed, I began noticing the adverse effects on my health. I gained weight, my energy levels were low, and I struggled with mood swings and anxiety.

 

The problem with sugar and binge eating

It wasn’t until I started researching the effects of sugar on the body that I realized just how harmful my eating habits had become. Not only does sugar contribute to weight gain and obesity, but it’s also linked to a host of other health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Binge eating, too, can have severe consequences for both physical and mental health. It leads to weight gain and other health problems and can also cause feelings of guilt, shame, and low self-esteem.

 

What is mindful eating, and how does it work?

Mindful eating is a practice that involves paying attention to the present moment and being fully aware of the food you’re eating. It’s about tuning into your body’s hunger and fullness signals and eating in a way that nourishes both your body and mind.

To practice mindful eating, you need to slow down and savour each bite. Take the time to notice your food’s texture, flavour, and aroma, and pay attention to how your body feels as you eat. This can help you become more aware of your eating habits and make healthier choices.

 

My experience practicing mindful eating during the Covid pandemic

I started practicing mindful eating during the Covid pandemic when I struggled with anxiety and stress. I realized that my eating habits were making things worse, and I decided to make a change.

At first, it wasn’t easy. First, I had to learn to resist the urge to binge on sugary treats and retrain my brain to crave healthier foods. But as I continued to practice mindful eating, I found it easier and more natural.

 

The benefits of mindful eating on mental and physical health

The benefits of mindful eating are numerous and far-reaching. Not only can it help you lose weight and improve your physical health, but it can also have a positive impact on your mental well-being.

For me, one of the biggest benefits of mindful eating is reduced anxiety and stress. By tuning into my body’s hunger signals and eating in a way that nourishes me, I feel more relaxed and centred.

 

Saying goodbye to fast food and embracing a low-carb diet

As I continued to practice mindful eating, I found that my taste buds began to change. I started to crave healthier foods, like fruits and vegetables, and I began to lose my taste for sugary treats.

I also started to say goodbye to fast food and embrace a low-carb diet. This helped me lose weight, improved my energy levels, and gave me a greater sense of overall well-being.

 

The impact of mindful eating on my hair and skin

Another unexpected benefit of mindful eating has been the impact on my hair and skin. By eating a healthy, balanced diet, I’ve noticed that my skin is clearer and more radiant, and my hair is stronger and shinier.

 

Tips for practicing mindful eating

If you’re interested in trying mindful eating for yourself, here are a few tips to get started:

 

·       Slow down: Take the time to savour each bite and fully experience your food.

·       Tune in to your body: Pay attention to your hunger and fullness signals, and eat in a way that nourishes you.

·       Avoid distractions: Turn off the TV and put away your phone while you eat.

·       Listen to your cravings: If you’re craving something sweet, try satisfying it with a piece of fruit or dark chocolate.

 

Overcoming challenges and staying committed to mindful eating

Like any new habit, practicing mindful eating can be challenging at first. But with persistence and dedication, it can become a natural part of your daily routine.

To stay committed to mindful eating, it’s essential to be kind to yourself and not beat yourself up if you slip up. Remember that every meal is a new opportunity to practice mindfulness and make healthy choices.

 

Conclusion: The transformative power of mindful eating

In conclusion, mindful eating has truly transformed my life for the better. By paying attention to the present moment and being fully aware of my food, I’ve overcome binge eating and sugar addiction and improved my mental and physical health.

If you’re struggling with your eating habits, I encourage you to try mindful eating. It may take some time to get used to, but the benefits are well worth the effort.

So why not start today? Take a deep breath and savour the first bite of your next meal. You always need to find out where it might take you.