Musings of an Archaeological Witch

Follow for the journey of a wannabe witch, semi-professional archaeologist, and author.

[fluffyplushiesworld]

Happy Pride Month Tumblr ✨

[luulapants]

Story time:

In middle school biology, we did an experiment. We were given yams, which we would sprout in cups of water. We then had to make hypotheses about how the yams would grow, based on descriptions of yam plants in our books, and make notes of our observations as they grew.

Here’s what was supposed to happen: we were supposed to see that the actual growth of the plant did not resemble our hypotheses. We were then supposed to figure out that these were, in fact, sweet potatoes.

What actually happened was that every single student in every single class lied in their notes so that their observations perfectly matched their hypotheses. See, everyone assumed the mismatch meant they had done something wrong in the process of growing the plant or that they had misunderstood the dichotomous key or the plant identification terminology. And, thanks to the wonders of a public school education, everyone assumed the wrong results would get us a failing grade. We were trying to pass. We didn’t want to get bitched out by the teacher. Curiosity, learning, science - that had nothing to do with why we were sitting in that classroom. So we all lied.

The teacher was furious. She tried to fail every student, but the administration stepped in and told her she wasn’t allowed to because a 100% fail rate is recognized as a failure of the teacher, not the class. It wasn’t even her fault, really, though her being a notorious hard-ass didn’t help. It was a failure of the entire educational system.

So whenever I see crap like Elizabeth Holmes’s blood test scam or pharmaceutical trials which are unable to be replicated or industry-funded research that reaches wildly unscientific conclusions, I just remember those fucking sweet potatoes. I remember that curiosity dies when people are just trying to give their superiors the “right” answers, so they can get the grade, get the job, get the paycheck. It’s not about truth when it’s about paying rent. There’s no scientific integrity if you can’t control for human desperation.

[odyver]

alright I've got to do some quick math to explain attitudes towards AI to my boss.

we're looking to create an AI policy, and when we were talking about this, my boss (older millennial) was genuinely shocked to hear that younger people do not (seem) to view AI positively (a la the recent commencement speakers being booed)

please rb for larger sample size!

Question 1/3

What is your age, and do you feel AI is a net positive or net negative in our lives today?

under 18, AI is a net positive

under 18, AI is a net negative

18-29, AI is a net positive

18-29, AI is a net negative

30-45, AI is a net positive

30-45, AI is a net negative

46-60, AI is a net positive

46-60, AI is a net negative

over 60, AI is a net postive

over 60, AI is a net negative

Remaining time: 3 days 9 hours

[odyver]

Question 2/3

How often do you visit or interact with museums/archives (whether in person or online)?

Frequently (multiple times per month)

Often (multiple times per year)

Occasionally (a couple times per year)

Rarely (once every couple of years)

Never :(

Remaining time: 3 days 10 hours

[odyver]

Question 3/3

If you saw a museum was using AI in exhibits, marketing, research, etc., would you be more or less inclined to visit that museum?

under 18, more inclined

under 18, less inclined

18-29, more inclined

18-29, less inclined

30-45, more inclined

30-45, less inclined

46-60, more inclined

46-60, less inclined

over 60, more inclined

over 60, less inclined

Remaining time: 3 days 10 hours

Thank you for helping with this data collection. Please rb for as big a sample as possible!

🫶

[thatdisasterauthor]

I'm going to throw just a little nuance in here, based on that last question.

Generative AI being used to do things like develop exhibits, create marketing materials, etc.: bad. Do not want. I will not go to that museum.

Analytical, specialized AI used for research methods: totally fine with that. It's what AI SHOULD be used for. Counting cancer cells, identifying areas of interest in thousands of satellite photos, organizing mass amounts of data, etc. The sort of tedious mass tasks that are too extensive for humans to do on their own due to sheer volume.

[preserving-tiktok]

[taraljc]

This is an awesome use of what is probably a master's degree if not a doctorate and I am 100% thrilled that she shared it even though it was embarrassing and she squeaked.

[liminalbeauty]

Thank you, adorable scientist, for making people's lives better.

[punchspeedchunk]

As an Australian, THIS WOMAN IS A FUCKING GODSEND.

[notasapleasure]

this is Hannah Fry, Professor of the Public Understanding of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge and president of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.

[apolladay]

Which PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) will you be rooting for in the 2026-2027 season?

- Montreal Victoire

- Ottawa Charge

- Boston Fleet

- New York Sirens

- Toronto Sceptres

- Minnesota Frost

- Vancouver Goldeneyes

- Seattle Torrent

- PWHL Detroit

- PWHL Hamilton

- PWHL Las Vegas

- PWHL San Jose

- I don’t care about Hockey

- I don’t care about Women’s Hockey (Misogyny Option)

Which PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) will you be rooting for in the 2026-2027 season?

Montreal Victoire

Ottawa Charge

Boston Fleet

New York Sirens

Toronto Sceptres

Minnesota Frost

Vancouver Goldeneyes

Seattle Torrent

PWHL Detroit

PWHL Hamilton

PWHL Las Vegas

PWHL San Jose

Remaining time: 2 days 9 hours

Too many options to include a results button so if this isn't your thing (no judgement if it's not btw) just keep scrolling.. scrolling.. scrolling.. scrolling..

[thearchaeologicalwitch]

Gotta support the homegirls in Michigan. But lowkey, Seattle and Minnesota have kick ass teams already.

[apolladay]

Which PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) will you be rooting for in the 2026-2027 season?

- Montreal Victoire

- Ottawa Charge

- Boston Fleet

- New York Sirens

- Toronto Sceptres

- Minnesota Frost

- Vancouver Goldeneyes

- Seattle Torrent

- PWHL Detroit

- PWHL Hamilton

- PWHL Las Vegas

- PWHL San Jose

- I don’t care about Hockey

- I don’t care about Women’s Hockey (Misogyny Option)

Which PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) will you be rooting for in the 2026-2027 season?

Montreal Victoire

Ottawa Charge

Boston Fleet

New York Sirens

Toronto Sceptres

Minnesota Frost

Vancouver Goldeneyes

Seattle Torrent

PWHL Detroit

PWHL Hamilton

PWHL Las Vegas

PWHL San Jose

Remaining time: 2 days 9 hours

Too many options to include a results button so if this isn't your thing (no judgement if it's not btw) just keep scrolling.. scrolling.. scrolling.. scrolling..

[accras]

[discitemori]

Traditional Georgian dancing.

[lionhearrt-deactivated20170920]

date a man who

[wizardshark]

i cannot even imagine how fit these people are they could kick my ass they could kick muhammad ali’s ass

[northeastartist]

Let me show you the Aggression of my people… through dance.

[inthroughthesunroof]

If your dance doesn’t require knee pads and posing en pointe it isn’t worth doing.

[bonehandledknife]

@dadvans I feel like you can do Things with this

[arrghigiveup]

So the last time I reblogged this, someone reblogged from me with a comment along the lines of “wait till you see them with swords”. So I went to search it up, and… guys. GUYS.

There are actual sparks flying holy shit =O

[shabbytigers]

this went big about halfway through holy shit

[pardonmewhileipanic]

It really did. When the swords started REALLY connecting around 3:20 literal sparks are flying

[fancysheepnacho]

[goingrampant]

This is a good option for replacing "AI slop," which is problematic for originating with Nazi slang.

[garashir]

hey friends where is that picture of boromir with the gondor flag except its a pride flag?

[lesbiansforboromir]

Couldn’t find it so I made another because you’re right that it’s a crime and it’s definitely my duty to remedy it

[stormwaterwitch]

Rabbits Rabbits Rabbits

Reblog this on the first of the month for good luck all month long!

[dumbbbunnnyy-deactivated2021021]

[thearchaeologicalwitch]

My lil one loves bunnies. So I will do it for her.

[dailyhistoryposts]

The Original Rainbow Pride Flag (1978) by Gilbert Baker.

[ororium-z]

Happy Pride!

[rootbeergoddess]

Every pride, you must reblog this. No exceptions

[thesaltofcarthage]

I love that four different people on my feed scheduled this joyous person to reblog by 8am on June 1. I look forward to seeing this a dozen more times today.

[socialjusticeinamerica]

[db-1986]

They say socialism is bad because their masters told them to believe it and they do so without question. They don't actually know what half the shit they say means. And when confronted, they just make shit up and call you a leftist puppet when you prove them wrong.

Honestly though, I'd rather be a leftist puppet then a pedo supporter. But what do I know? I'm just a Canadian that know more about American politics then the average Republican.

[photoboybg1969]

You know what they haven’t given us in the United States? EMS as an essential service everywhere in all 50 states. Wake up everyone! When it comes to public safety, we need more than just POLICE and Fire.

[gay-lien-from-space]

Hello fanfiction community,

Just wanted to bring to your attention that the term whump was actually coined by the Stargate fandom specifically to describe making this guy suffer. He is the original Mr. Whump (no that's not his actual name). That's how torturable this guy is.

Everyone say mean things about him.

Here is a non exhaustive list of what he goes through in canon btw:

His parents get crushed to death right in front of him when he is a kid

He is forced to relive the memory of his parents death countless times

He dies and gets resurrected

His wife gets possessed

He fails to save her and she dies in his arms

He dies and gets resurrected again

He gets infected by a virus that makes him act crazy and gets put in an insane asylum

He dies and gets resurrected again

His ex gets possessed

He is exposed to a lethal dose of radiation

He dies and ascends to a higher plane, then gets kicked out of the higher plane and his memory is wiped

He gets kidnapped by a princess

He gets kidnapped by a fish alien

He gets kidnapped and tortured by some terrorists

He gets kidnapped and tortured by another alien

He is driven to insanity by an alien device

He dies and gets resurrected again

He dies and gets resurrected again

[archaeo-geek]

Don’t forget:

-He’s an archaeologist and when we first meet him, he’s an outcast because nobody believes his theory that the pyramids are landing sites for aliens.

[luntfontanne]

everything is truly so terrible but i just remembered doreen ketchens playing clarinet for her infant grandson and then i was kind of okay again for 36 seconds

[1xtralmillz-deactivated20250209]

I have to reblog this when it comes back around.

[apatheticfluorescence]

some hyper famous artists like Van Gogh transcend overratedness and become underrated because they're so normalized. Like I'll look at a van Gogh and I'm like wait this really is amazing you guys don't get it

[headspace-hotel]

Shakespeare is like this

[insufferablepirate]

Every time I see a Van Gogh that’s not one of his better known pieces it absolutely blows me away

Have you seen this shit my liege? smh unreal

[vibraph0ny]

Everyone's all "ohhh 2026 bring back physical media" until I start talking illuminated manuscripts and then suddenly we're not on the same page anymore

[somewhere-south-of-neutral]

Actually we are on the same page. We've been on the same page for a week because these things take forever to make