Resource - Blog Posts
Your Essential Guide to Python Libraries for Data Analysis
Here’s an essential guide to some of the most popular Python libraries for data analysis:
1. Pandas
- Overview: A powerful library for data manipulation and analysis, offering data structures like Series and DataFrames.
- Key Features:
- Easy handling of missing data
- Flexible reshaping and pivoting of datasets
- Label-based slicing, indexing, and subsetting of large datasets
- Support for reading and writing data in various formats (CSV, Excel, SQL, etc.)
2. NumPy
- Overview: The foundational package for numerical computing in Python. It provides support for large multi-dimensional arrays and matrices.
- Key Features:
- Powerful n-dimensional array object
- Broadcasting functions to perform operations on arrays of different shapes
- Comprehensive mathematical functions for array operations
3. Matplotlib
- Overview: A plotting library for creating static, animated, and interactive visualizations in Python.
- Key Features:
- Extensive range of plots (line, bar, scatter, histogram, etc.)
- Customization options for fonts, colors, and styles
- Integration with Jupyter notebooks for inline plotting
4. Seaborn
- Overview: Built on top of Matplotlib, Seaborn provides a high-level interface for drawing attractive statistical graphics.
- Key Features:
- Simplified syntax for complex visualizations
- Beautiful default themes for visualizations
- Support for statistical functions and data exploration
5. SciPy
- Overview: A library that builds on NumPy and provides a collection of algorithms and high-level commands for mathematical and scientific computing.
- Key Features:
- Modules for optimization, integration, interpolation, eigenvalue problems, and more
- Tools for working with linear algebra, Fourier transforms, and signal processing
6. Scikit-learn
- Overview: A machine learning library that provides simple and efficient tools for data mining and data analysis.
- Key Features:
- Easy-to-use interface for various algorithms (classification, regression, clustering)
- Support for model evaluation and selection
- Preprocessing tools for transforming data
7. Statsmodels
- Overview: A library that provides classes and functions for estimating and interpreting statistical models.
- Key Features:
- Support for linear regression, logistic regression, time series analysis, and more
- Tools for statistical tests and hypothesis testing
- Comprehensive output for model diagnostics
8. Dask
- Overview: A flexible parallel computing library for analytics that enables larger-than-memory computing.
- Key Features:
- Parallel computation across multiple cores or distributed systems
- Integrates seamlessly with Pandas and NumPy
- Lazy evaluation for optimized performance
9. Vaex
- Overview: A library designed for out-of-core DataFrames that allows you to work with large datasets (billions of rows) efficiently.
- Key Features:
- Fast exploration of big data without loading it into memory
- Support for filtering, aggregating, and joining large datasets
10. PySpark
- Overview: The Python API for Apache Spark, allowing you to leverage the capabilities of distributed computing for big data processing.
- Key Features:
- Fast processing of large datasets
- Built-in support for SQL, streaming data, and machine learning
Conclusion
These libraries form a robust ecosystem for data analysis in Python. Depending on your specific needs—be it data manipulation, statistical analysis, or visualization—you can choose the right combination of libraries to effectively analyze and visualize your data. As you explore these libraries, practice with real datasets to reinforce your understanding and improve your data analysis skills!
Duolingo Sucks, Now What?: A Guide
Now that the quality of Duolingo has fallen (even more) due to AI and people are more willing to make the jump here are just some alternative apps and what languages they have:
"I just want an identical experience to DL"
Busuu (Languages: Spanish, Japanese, French, English, German, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Polish, Turkish, Russian, Arabic, Korean)
"I want a good audio-based app"
Language Transfer (Languages: French, Swahili, Italian, Greek, German, Turkish, Arabic, Spanish, English for Spanish Speakers)
"I want a good audio-based app and money's no object"
Pimsleur (Literally so many languages)
Glossika (Also a lot of languages, but minority languages are free)
*anecdote: I borrowed my brother's Japanese Pimsleur CD as a kid and I still remember how to say the weather is nice over a decade later. You can find the CDs at libraries and "other" places I'm sure.
"I have a pretty neat library card"
Mango (Languages: So many and all endangered/Indigenous courses are free even if you don't have a library that has a partnership with Mango)
"I want SRS flashcards and have an android"
AnkiDroid: (Theoretically all languages, pre-made decks can be found easily)
"I want SRS flashcards and I have an iphone"
AnkiApp: It's almost as good as AnkiDroid and free compared to the official Anki app for iphone
"I don't mind ads and just want to learn Korean"
lingory
"I want an app made for Mandarin that's BETTER than DL and has multiple languages to learn Mandarin in"
ChineseSkill (You can use their older version of the course for free)
"I don't like any of these apps you mentioned already, give me one more"
Bunpo: (Languages: Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Korean, and Mandarin)
The questions I ask myself, roughly in this order, to interpret any* tarot spread:
How did the cards appear? Because I shuffle for jumpers, it matters whether cards pop from the deck together. They form pairs (or groups) which have stronger connections to each other than other cards in the spread.
What types of cards are on the field? Majors? Minors? All numerical cards? Court cards? What suits? What numbers? This is where I consider the raw, memorized meaning of individual cards and the archetypes they represent.
Are there obvious patterns or cadences in the order? Think like poetry, ABAB or AABB, but with the types of cards. In a hand of five, it's interesting if the order is Major-Minor-Major-Minor-Major. Or maybe the cards are in a descending numerical order, Nine-Eight-Seven-Six-Five. Or, perhaps Nine-Eight-Six-Five-Four -- the jump in the pattern matters.
Are there repeating numbers or suits? Repetition strengthens the significance of a number's or suit's meaning.
Are there repeating motifs in the card art? Again, repetition strengthens the significance. This includes colors, background details, people, animals, and so forth.
Where are figures in the art looking? Are they looking at other cards? At each other? Away from each other? The direction of figures' attention directs where that card's focus might be.
Is there a cohesion or flow in the spread, or is it interrupted and disorganized? Some spreads flow smoothly left to right, while others show disruption and a lack of coherency. This question looks a the spread as a whole again after all other questions have been asked to consider all elements together.
Does it make sense? Do the cards answer the question being asked? How do they apply? Is there something missing? Is there a deeper meaning to delve into? Do I need clarifiers? Do I need to try again with new cards? Can I explain these cards to the querent and have them understand my meaning?
And then I write out my analysis! There's obviously more to it than this, with a ton of nuance at every step, and I could probably write a whole essay about any individual part of this... and I probably still will, honestly. (And I started to, then decided to just write up a little list instead, lmao.)
*May not work for some tarot spreads, depending on the style.
Resources for Luciferians
Firstly, my asks are always open and you can search through my blog. The #information tag is full of info. My number one recommendation is to go on the r/DemonolatryPractices subreddit search bar and type key words for any questions you may have:
https://www.reddit.com/r/DemonolatryPractices/s/ulXKba2pO5
I made a post with a list of communities you can join. Each community has its own resources you may find helpful:
TikTok is full of a lot of misinformation surrounding demonolatry, but my personal favorite account on the subject is MadameFortune. I don’t agree with all of her gnosis, but she’s got some fantastic information and cites her sources. Her Geography of Hell series is my favorite: Edit: Apparently she scammed people so DO NOT send her money
Dancing Corpse Witch is a blog that I like. It has good information and experiences that line up with what I’ve experienced:
They also have an Instagram where they post channeled messages from the infernal divine on their stories:
https://www.instagram.com/dancing.corpse.witch?igsh=MW9yNmxzYTRrdzZkZA==
As for informative blogs here on Tumblr, these are my top three picks:
@astra-ravana
@thrashkink-coven
@siren-sovereign
Texts
These are just what I’ve read so far. I know there’s much more out there. I’ll get to them… eventually Edit: I would like to add Apotheosis and Bible of the Adversary both by Michael W. Ford, but it appears Tumblr won’t let me add more links here
The Lesser Key of Solomon:
http://www.labirintoermetico.com/06Numerologia_Cabala/Lemegeton_1_Goetia.pdf
The Complete Book of Demonolatry by S. Connolly:
Demonolater’s Handbook by Mirta Wake:
A Luciferian's View Deity Work and Ideas for Diversifying Your Practice by Mirta Wake:
Lucifer: Princeps by Peter Grey:
Rites of Lucifer by Temple of Ascending Flame:
The Diabolicon by Michael Aquino:
https://cdn.preterhuman.net/texts/religion.occult.new_age/occult_library/Aquino_M-Diabolicon.pdf
For historical literature, which can provide great context, I recommend Paradise Lost by John Milton, Dante’s Inferno, and Goethe’s Faust. These are all free on Apple Books and can probably be found at any public library.
How to Study Resources
Many people in the modern day pagan/polytheist communities are young. As such, a majority of them are neurodivergent, like I am. For me, that means a majority of the language used in resources is difficult to understand. This was originally going to be a post about that, but the more I wrote, the more I realised that many people, neurodivergent or not, just... don't know how to study resources. So, if you are someone that also struggles, I now present to you... my full guide on how to study resources.
Little disclaimer: I myself am a hellenic polytheist, but this guide is for anyone that struggles with understanding information from resources, whether you are a hellenic polytheist, norse polytheist, kemetic polytheist, etc. Though do understand that I am writing from the perspective of a hellenic polytheist, so I am bound to make mistakes when it comes to religions I am less educated on. You are always welcome to adjust anything I say here to fit your own religion accordingly.
Let's get started.
Firstly, you have to find resources. Many people happen to get stuck here, unfortunately.
How do I know what to research to begin with? When starting out, the general consensus among the polytheist/pagan communities is to research the related historical practice. How the deities were worshipped, what contexts they were worshipped in, the history of the deities, etc etc... all of these are very important factors to consider as a beginner. Only by knowing the history can you then delve deeper into specific terms and specific paths that may be right for you!
How do I find resources? Unfortunately, a lot of resources are behind paywalls or just plain hard to find. Here is a list of websites that I personally use and recommend:
scholar.google.com
academia.edu
pdfdrive.com
library.memoryoftheworld.org
libcom.org
libretexts.org
standardebooks.org
By the way, just a reminder that if you find a resource but there is a pesky paywall in your way, you can probably find it on archive.org for free!
How do I choose a resource though? If you are part of hellenic polytheism, then theoi.com is a great resource, but I always like to add primary sources into my research + not everyone reading this will be part of helpol. Try to find primary sources, first and foremost. Then read historical accounts. Then read secondary sources. Also, make sure your author is reliable! (that link is only for hellenic polytheism though, apologies. If you are not part of hellenic polytheism, then looking into who the author is/was as a person and what sort of contributions they made and beliefs they held never failed me personally!)
Found your resource? Made sure the author is reliable? Wonderful! Now what?
This is usually where the procrastination hits for me. Either that, or I get hyperfocused for a while but never complete it and then lose interest.
To avoid that, break things down and establish a routine. You do not have to finish a book in a day, or understand everything you read straight away. Setting those kinds of expectations for yourself will only make things so much more difficult.
Instead, make a routine for yourself. Outlined below is my routine:
Getting into the mindset. I always like to get myself into the mindset of studying by praying, whether this is studying for school or studying a resource. Since my entire life is devoted to lord Apollon, I pray to Him for it. However, if I am researching a specific god, I will typically pray to them instead. However, sometimes I do not have the spoons to write out a prayer, so I typically just adjust my surroundings instead. Turning my LED lights to a warmer colour and putting on some lofi music usually helps me! The studyblr community has great tips for this part! I also recommend I Miss My Cafe.
Reading. First, I try to read without annotating or taking notes. This is the time to take in the information, to try and grasp what I am reading. This is usually the most difficult part for me, because a lot of academic sources tend to use advanced language and sentence structures that are difficult for me to understand. Unfortunately, the only tip I have for this part is to read as slowly as you need. Do not be ashamed for taking your time. Typically, I only like to read one paragraph before I move onto the next step.
Annotation. This is where I re-read the paragraph I just read. Typically, I like to re-word the paragraph in a simpler way for me to understand. Sometimes I notice little patterns that may connect back to something I've read prior, whether in another book or earlier in the same book. When that happens, that is something I add too! Remember, you do not have to annotate. If it makes it easier, then perfect! If it does not, discard it.
Consult study tools. This is where I cross-reference with other resources. This is how the entire process repeats again. Though, you do not just have to use books for this part! YouTube videos, podcasts, online resources, etc etc...these always help too!
Application. After vetting the information, consider how it would apply to your life, if at all.
Of course, that's just my routine. You are always welcome to use it, but I also greatly encourage you to create your own routine so that you can cater it to your learning style!
I also recommend setting a time limit for yourself. If you have not completed a chapter within the time limit, that is okay! The most important thing about researching is making sure you are not guilting yourself into biting off more than you can chew. Take your time, you have a lot of it.
Research is vital to religions like ours, and research should be something everyone can do! Just because you may need some accommodations does not make you any less intelligent. We all learn differently. That is okay.
I hope this post can serve as something helpful for those who struggle in this area, and as a reminder that you are not alone in your struggles. If you have any questions or would like further clarification on some points, feel free to reach out!
Xaire ♡
When it comes to textured hair there’s many styles, here some I’ve seen at powwows. Braided locs have to be my favorite style so far 💖
(Edit)- i didn’t communicate this very well but this is a merging of cultures. Culturally/traditionally no we didn’t have cornrows/locs these are black hairstyles, and then mixed with our hairstyles because of the influence of Afro indigenous people (the two braids)💖 having two braids for some regalia is very important and so these are hairstyles I’ve seen Afro natives wear for powwows. Not saying two pigtails are just a native thing but cultural context is important
Reminder braids are not a universal hairstyle between tribes! I’m coming from the perspective of Great Plains tribes. I just thought I might share what braided hair means to my community and people. I see people trying to make ocs or redesigns of characters who are native but don’t actually represent us too good. Reminder to always research a tribe before making a character learn their protocols and at least try to learn something new! 🌸💖🍇
I just wanna say I love our hair! It means so much to us please take care of it🥺💖
It's done! You can find the Absolutely Ripping It Up pack here.
Tear your artwork. Decay it. Blast a giant hole into it. Go nuts. Note that these are compatible only with Clip Studio!
here’s 200+ freebie brushes | and my brush tag is here ✨
i think the near-extinction of people making fun, deep and/or unique interactive text-based browser games, projects and stories is catastrophic to the internet. i'm talking pre-itch.io era, nothing against it.
there are a lot of fun ones listed here and here but for the most part, they were made years ago and are now a dying breed. i get why. there's no money in it. factoring in the cost of web hosting and servers, it probably costs money. it's just sad that it's a dying art form.
anyway, here's some of my favorite browser-based interactive projects and games, if you're into that kind of thing. 90% of them are on the lists that i linked above.
A Better World - create an alternate history timeline
Alter Ego - abandonware birth-to-death life simulator game
Seedship - text-based game about colonizing a new planet
Sandboxels or ThisIsSand - free-falling sand physics games
Little Alchemy 2 - combine various elements to make new ones
Infinite Craft - kind of the same as Little Alchemy
ZenGM - simulate sports
Tamajoji - browser-based tamagotchi
IFDB - interactive fiction database (text adventure games)
Written Realms - more text adventure games with a user interface
The Cafe & Diner - mystery game
The New Campaign Trail - US presidential campaign game
Money Simulator - simulate financial decisions
Genesis - text-based adventure/fantasy game
Level 13 - text-based science fiction adventure game
Miniconomy - player driven economy game
Checkbox Olympics - games involving clicking checkboxes
BrantSteele.net - game show and Hunger Games simulators
Murder Games - fight to the death simulator by Orteil
Cookie Clicker - different but felt weird not including it. by Orteil.
if you're ever thinking about making a niche project that only a select number of individuals will be nerdy enough to enjoy, keep in mind i've been playing some of these games off and on for 20~ years (Alter Ego, for example). quite literally a lifetime of replayability.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day... 💔
Ready to break up with Google?
So are we!
We’ve rounded up a bunch of privacy-centric alternatives for everything Google.
Check out the full list over on the blog!
- The Ellipsus Team xo
How to Argue Like an Asshole
Good evening, friends, let me tell you some Secrets on how to argue like (and with) assholes. I’m writing this because I keep running into a particular asshole, and I need to stop engaging with them, and so this is an instruction sheet for myself as well as you guys.
First, try to avoid assholes; they don’t deserve your time and energy. But, if an Argument is unavoidable, here are a few tips on how to emerge unscathed.
Let go of the idea that you’re going to win.
You’re not gonna win. Nobody wins in an argument with an asshole. But, on the other hand, you can make them lose. You can deprive them of their entertainment and their triumph.
How???
Do not present your side of this debate.
This is so counter-intuitive for most of us who believe in things like, oh, science, or real facts, or the idea that real facts can be determined by science. Here’s a cool terrible thing about humans: certainty has nothing to do with facts. And when people are certain, that is when they become assholes.
When someone’s only goal is to win an argument, any real evidence or facts you give them is just ammunition for them to turn against you.
You will not convince them. So what should you be doing?
Destroy their arguments.
This is a thing of joy, because it’s what assholes are used to doing. They are, at heart, morons who don’t know how to construct, only how to destroy.
I used to be super emotional about arguments like this. I couldn’t think of anything to say while the other person ranted on about their horrifying bigotry. Now I’m a lawyer, and I’ve learned to weaponize my essentially nitpicky nature. For money.
So here are some easy tactics you can remember and deploy:
- Make them define the words they use. Nitpick the definitions.
- Turn questions back on them. If they ask you “why do you believe x”, ask them why they believe y. If they pull some “I asked first” shit, ask them why they’re afraid to defend their beliefs.
- Call them emotional. If possible, pick out specific emotions. This is especially devastating when you’re debating a man, as he will get more emotional as a result.
- “Why is that funny? I don’t get it.” Making people explain mean jokes can be a delight; they just wilt the more you question them about the underlying assumptions.
- Laugh at any especially dumb shit. Like they use some slogan or catchphrase that’s obviously untrue, due to science, or essentially ridiculous, like “we’ve made America great again,” and you just blurt out laughing. If they get mad, tell them – oh, so sorry, I’ll shut up, I’m giving you the floor to talk about your beliefs. I’m respecting you. This is a goddamn power move. It gives you the high ground, and also the implied control over the situation. The floor belongs to you, but you are yielding it to someone because you can.
- If they make an awkward exit, let them. Especially if they call the discussion “political.” It means they’re feeling attacked. Graciously allow them to retreat with their tail between their legs. If they storm off, allow them to do that too. Congratulations; you’ve ended the argument and you don’t have to deal with it anymore.
Basically: hand the asshole a shovel, and let ‘em dig. Relieve yourself of the burden to convince them they are wrong, and just sour their fun instead.
–
Additionally, these are the tactics that assholes use, consciously or subconsciously, all the time. Recognize them. Once you know what they are, you can become immune to the intimidation and belittling tactics.
Good luck.