It's Not February It's Fevruary

I’ll teach you to jump on the wind’s back and then away we go.

- J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

‘Those who don’t jump will never fly’ is a dictum drilled into me from an early age. It’s one I took literally when I learned when parachuting and then later dabbled in sky diving, well before I went into the British army as a combat pilot.

Skydiving provides a unique combination of adrenalin-fuelled exhilaration and perfectly calm tranquillity. While in free fall it’s all about the rush - but once the parachute opens and your heart rate steadies, you’ll take a moment to gaze around you and see the whole world in a new light. It’s beautiful up there, and the experience is about as close to actual flying as humans can actually get.

To the skydiver, ‘flying’ in a plane is akin to ‘swimming’ in a boat. As someone who has flown helicopters I would quible with that simple characterisation but eventually I’m okay to acknowledge there is some truth behind it.

As someone who used to parachute and sky dive as a recreational past time, I can empathise with those skydivers who live for the wind whipping past as they plummet toward the earth during free fall, and the thrill of floating on the air currents once their ‘chutes are safely open. They live on the edge, though not in danger - amid the elements, but not at their mercy.

In skydiving, it is the fear response that gradually weakens. During the precipitous descent, the amply tested parachutist can savour the thrill rather than endure the panic. You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation.

Five Timeless Techniques for Mastering Knowledge

1. Spaced Repetition

Steps:

Identify Key Information: Select the material you need to learn.

Create a Study Schedule: Space your study sessions over increasing intervals (e.g., 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks).

Review Regularly: Revisit the material at each scheduled session.

Scientific Basis: Spaced repetition leverages the spacing effect, a phenomenon where information is more easily recalled when study sessions are spaced out over time. Research shows this technique enhances long-term retention compared to cramming.

2. Cornell Method

Steps:

Prepare Your Paper: Divide your paper into three sections: a narrow left column for cues, a larger right column for notes, and a summary section at the bottom.

Take Notes: During lectures or readings, jot down key points in the right column.

Cue Column: After the session, fill in the left column with questions or keywords related to your notes.

Summarize: At the end of your notes, write a brief summary of the main points in the bottom section.

Review: Use the cues to test your recall and understanding.

Scientific Basis: The Cornell Method promotes active engagement with the material and encourages self-testing, which are both linked to improved memory and understanding through the retrieval practice effect.

3. SQ3R Method

Steps:

Survey: Quickly scan the material to get an overview.

Question: Formulate questions based on headings and subheadings.

Read: Read the material carefully to find answers to your questions.

Recite: Summarize the information in your own words.

Review: Go over the material again to reinforce learning.

Scientific Basis: SQ3R is based on principles of active reading and metacognition. By engaging with the material in multiple ways, learners can deepen their understanding and retention.

4. Priming

Steps:

Preview Material: Briefly look over the material before diving into a detailed study session.

Set Goals: Define what you want to achieve with your study session.

Contextual Exposure: Expose yourself to related concepts and ideas in everyday life.

Scientific Basis: Priming relies on the brain's ability to make connections between related pieces of information. It can enhance learning and recall by creating a mental framework that makes new information easier to integrate.

5. Metacognition

Steps:

Plan: Before starting, plan your approach to the study session.

Monitor: Keep track of your understanding and progress during study.

Evaluate: After the session, assess what you've learned and how well you understood it.

Scientific Basis: Metacognition involves thinking about one's own thinking processes. It encourages self-regulation and reflective practices, which research shows can significantly enhance learning outcomes by promoting deeper understanding and strategic use of cognitive resources.

A bit of a palate cleanser for everyone.

[image description: a digital art rendered in a semi realism style depicting a brown skinned, fancy shawl pow wow dancer. they sit down with their left knee propped up and their left arm resting on their knee. They have dark blue, black, and yellow colored regalia. They wear thin blue hair wraps around their braids, a yellow beaded choker, a yellow beaded headband, and blue beaded earrings with yellow accents. Their under dress has medium sleeves and is a shiny, dark fabric that glitters blue and purple in the light. a yellow shawl with a multicolored heart design rests on their right leg, with black fringes. a circular cropped image of an eastern tiger swallowtail resting on green leaves is overlaid next to the fancy shawl dancer, who's regalia and beadwork designs mimic the butterfly wings. end image description.]

"send me a butterfly or moth species and I'll draw a fancy shawl dancer inspired by it" art request series is back up & open again!

Eastern Tiger swallowtail fancy dancer for @crowtoed!

"This International Women’s Day we call on all who identify as feminists to engage in the lifelong unlearning of their biases and to be in solidarity with Palestinian women, Sudanese women, Congolese women who are experiencing an ongoing genocide." from The Slow Factory, 08/Mar/2024: caption cont. under images.

In Palestine, more than 9,000 women have been brutally killed by the Israeli Occupation. 63 women killed per day.

In Sudan, 4 million Sudanese women & girls are at risk of sexual violence.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, more than 1 million women have been survivors of sexual violence.

In Turtle Island aka the so called USA, 94% of fatal violence committed again Trans people are committed against Trans women.

This isn’t about the stats, the poverty porn or the constant shock doctrine the West desperately needs in order to be inclusive. This is a call for solidarity and collective action.

Access to feminine hygiene products, bodily autonomy and the access to necessary safe and caring spaces as women are all human rights.

be manipulative then genuine or vice vera?

Arches, 11/24

REALLY tough photo conditions in Arches, but worth it to be nearly alone in the park most days! When else do you get Delicate Arch to yourself for like 45 minutes than when it's like 15F and windy. Wish I could have made better use of that time but whatever.

I would like to feel the dirt wash from my hair, because I was courageous.

So, studying history and having role models while pursuing a just society is actually really important?

Looking more like a checklist these days. I want off this ride. 😭