Latest news with #Alisa
Malaysian Reserve
22-07-2025
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
United Breast Cancer Foundation Expands Support in the Southeast with Major Mattress & Pink Bag Event in Tallahassee, FL
130 Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors Served During Five-Day Distribution of Donated Essentials TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — United Breast Cancer Foundation (UBCF) hosted a multi-day Mattress & Pink Bag Event at Governor's Square Mall in Tallahassee, FL, from June 26th through the 30th. The impactful event provided essential support to 130 breast cancer patients and survivors, distributing more than $1.45 million in donated goods including therapeutic mattresses, clothing, shoes, personal care products, household items, toys, and children's items and more. Attendees came from Florida and many surrounding states, with some coming from as far as Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania and Maine —underscoring the event's wide-reaching impact. This event marked UBCF's first time offering the Mattress & Pink Bag Program in a multi-day format. The expanded schedule increased accessibility, reduced wait times, and allowed for deeper engagement with participants. The days were filled with gratitude, hugs, tears, and connection—a meaningful experience for recipients, volunteers, and staff alike. Event attendee, Alisa wrote in to share her gratitude, 'Dear UBCF Team, I wanted to personally thank you for the generous gifts I received at the Florida Mattress & Pink Bag Shopping Event. I didn't want to miss the chance to reach out and express how much it truly means to me to go to sleep more comfortably at night without the aches and pains I experienced before getting my new mattress. The event was not only a beautiful experience, but also a powerful reminder that kindness and support still exist in 'abundance'. Receiving the gifts made me feel seen, supported, and genuinely cared for and I am so grateful for everything I received. Thank you again for all that you do for breast cancer patients and survivors. Your work makes a real difference, and I'm incredibly thankful to be one of the people impacted by your love and compassion. With heartfelt appreciation, Alisa' Kara shared this beautiful message, 'I wanted to be sure I reached out to say thank you a million times for the amazing experience you brought to Tallahassee. The mattress is the best mattress I have ever had in my life, and that dern pillow we got to pick out is insane. I have never loved a pillow so much lol. Everything was amazing especially the experience of being around others in a similar situation as myself. Thank you again and many blessings.' High-quality sleep is critical for breast cancer recovery. A 2025 study published in BMC Cancer reported that sleep disturbances are among the strongest predictors of reduced quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Additionally, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that better sleep efficiency was linked to significantly longer survival times—women with advanced breast cancer who slept well lived twice as long on average. Community support also plays a powerful role in survivorship. Research has shown that patients who feel supported and heard experience lower levels of depression, pain, and inflammation and improved long-term quality of life. Events like this are especially important in states like Florida, where breast cancer is a serious public health concern. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Florida, with over 19,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Florida also faces persistent disparities in late-stage diagnoses—particularly in underserved communities. A statewide analysis found that patients from high-poverty rural areas had 31% higher odds of being diagnosed at a late stage compared to patients from low-poverty urban areas. Patients in high-poverty areas often face barriers such as limited access to healthcare, financial challenges, lower awareness of breast cancer symptoms, and systemic healthcare inequities—all of which contribute to delays in screening and diagnosis. This makes outreach and support events like UBCF's Mattress & Pink Bag Event vital to helping bridge these gaps. UBCF extends its sincere gratitude to the community partners who made this event possible. Special thanks to Governor's Square Mall for generously donating the event space, Whole Foods Market for providing dedicated volunteers who brought compassion, and People Ready for supplying reliable staffing support throughout the multi-day event. Their contributions were essential to the event's success and the meaningful experiences shared by all who attended. UBCF's next Mattress & Pink Bag Event will take place in Jonesboro, Arkansas, from October 16–19, 2025. As always, the event is free to qualified breast cancer patients and survivors. To learn more about UBCF's programs, to apply for assistance, or to make a donation, visit About UBCF United Breast Cancer Foundation is a non-profit founded in 2000 with a mission to make a positive difference in the lives of those impacted by breast cancer. UBCF is committed to gifting helpful and supportive donated items, providing financial grants to those in need, and funding breast health and wellness services focused on education, screening, treatment, recovery, overall wellness, and beyond. The platinum rated, 4-star charity offers numerous life-supporting patient and family programs available to women, men, and families nationwide. Tax-deductible contributions (consult your tax advisor) may be made towards UBCF's programs. UBCF accepts contributions through Donor Advised Funds and vehicle and property donations as well.
Spectator
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Could Japan soon be governed by chatbots?
Tokyo Could Japan be the world's first -algocracy – government by algorithm? The concept has been flirted with elsewhere: in 2017 a chatbot called Alisa challenged Vladimir Putin for the Russian presidency. But there is reason to believe that if any major country is going to replace its politicians with AI, it will be Japan. The citizens of Yokosuka in Kanagawa have had a remarkably lifelike AI avatar of their mayor, Katsuaki Uechi, at their service for over a year now. It (he?) speaks perfect English with a slight Japanese accent, with Uechi's facial features manipulated to make it look as if he is pronouncing the words correctly. The avatar exists on the city's website and YouTube channel, standing at a podium, making speeches. The avatar's portfolio has expanded since it was launched and the phantom image will apparently be used during times of disaster to 'disseminate information' and spread a 'message of peace'. Meanwhile, the mayor of Sagamihara, Kentaro Motomura, has begun delivering responses to the city council based entirely on AI drafts. Politicians around the world have probably been doing this for a while in secret, but Motomura might be the first to boast about it. He claims that the software developed has been 'trained' with three years' worth of council responses and administrative terminology and can produce in seconds what salarymen used to toil late into the night for. However, these innovations seem minor compared with the ambitions of Michihito Matsuda, otherwise known as the 'AI mayor', who has stood for office several times, and promises to replace all politicians with AI. In Matsuda's hi-tech update of Athenian democracy, the people of Japan will register their views on all issues online. AI will then take over and formulate policy based on the resulting collective intelligence. The algorithms used will be available for all to scrutinise and revise should errors, biases or 'hallucinations' become apparent. The advantages of this, says Matsuda, are obvious. The whole political class can be removed at a stroke. Trust will be restored to democracy as people will be consulted on every issue and the process of how their views become policy will be transparent. Matsuda, who wears a mask in all his campaign videos, is formally running as a 'representative of AI' as the rules do not yet allow machines to stand for public office. This issue would be resolved in his AI dream world. What is remarkable about Matsuda, a somewhat controversial character with a colourful past (he is a former pro-wrestler), is how seriously he is taken. He has never come close to winning in his three mayoral and one gubernatorial contests, but he got 8 per cent in his first outing and nearly 3,000 votes when he ran for Tokyo governor, which is not bad in a contest with 56 candidates. He has also earned the endorsement of a major national party (Ishin – a sort of Japanese Reform). In interviews, Matsuda comes across as intelligent, amusing and entirely serious – a bit like a more upbeat and affable Dominic Cummings. It is not hard to understand why Japan is receptive to the idea of AI governance. In many ways, Japan already resembles an AI culture. Many aspects of everyday life and almost every professional (and even much personal) interaction are streamlined and formalised to eliminate all risk of spontaneity. This produces reliable but often robotic exchanges that do feel as if they have been crafted by an algorithm. Life can appear scripted (quick tip to visitors to Japan: do not engage shop staff in conversation; I tried this on my first week, asking a girl stacking shelves if she was having a busy day – she fled to the stockroom). Likewise, in politics, exchanges are often scripted to the word ahead of time. How much of what is left really needs a human? Matsuda did some research for one of his campaigns and concluded that 80 per cent of a mayor's duties could be completed by robots or eliminated entirely. The rest, the creative part, could be AI-generated. Even in the arts, the Japanese seem quite relaxed with the idea of AI taking over. When Rie Kudan won the prestigious Akutagawa prize for her novel Sympathy Tower Block and revealed part of it had been produced by ChatGPT, there was more criticism outside Japan than in. AI has been used to create the voiceovers in anime films and write some of the scripts. As for music, would anyone mind, or even notice, if the interchangeable manufactured J-pop girl bands were replaced by avatars? Matsuda looks for support from young voters. They have been excluded from Japan's so-called 'grey democracy', where everything is decided by and for the older generation, and are often resentful of it. Matsuda told a podcast interviewer that an algocracy was inevitable as soon as the over-seventies, who are heavily invested in the current system, die off. Politics seems not only irrelevant to the lives of young people but also unremittingly boring. This was brought home to me sharply when I was preparing to begin a university class and discovered that the former prime minister Shinzo Abe had just been assassinated. The news was greeted with a collective shrug; the students barely looked up from their phones. After all, with so many parts of young people's lives now governed by algorithms, why not politics? AI has worked its way into every aspect of life, even sex. Japan's dating drought, along with a near-obsession with anime, has caused a boom in virtual liaisons. More and more young men and women dream of saying 'I love you' to pixelated entities. A survey by the Japanese Association for Sex Education found that 15 per sent of young respondents were romantically attracted to anime and video game characters. If things get serious, there are even companies that issue marriage certificates for such unions. If you can fall in love with an avatar, you could surely vote for one.
Bangkok Post
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Bangkok Post
Tiffany's Show Pattaya marks 50 years with new production
Thailand's world-renowned Tiffany's Show Pattaya was celebrating its 50th anniversary and unveiled an entirely new performance,'Crystalise a Dream,' for the first time in its history, promising a world-class spectacle and a new dimension of entertainment. The first production revamp was created along with a new brand vision, 'Open Beyond the Eye,' encouraging people to embrace diversity that is beyond appearances. The new show concept highlights not only the performance, but also life and dreams, according to Alisa Phanthusak Kunpalin, Managing Director of Tiffany's Show Pattaya. She said millions of people who had experienced Tiffany's might have a certain image of the grand show without ever seeing what happens behind the scenes. 'It's not just the show that we have been doing. It's a stage of life where we try to make everyone's dreams come true,' Ms Alisa said. As dreams vary in shades like a crystal, Ms Alisa said she believes that the brand-new show Crystalise a Dream will reflect everyone's life experience and allow them to shine as whoever they want to be. Ms Alisa also honoured her father, Sutham Panthusak, the late founder of Tiffany's Show in 1974. Though having been challenged with struggles in fighting for acceptance, he had stood firm on his vision of thinking differently, said his successor. The stage, which also hosts Miss Tiffany's Universe and Miss International Queen, has received various guaranteed awards in Thailand and internationally, welcoming over 400,000 visitors in 2024. It is now ready to step on a new chapter. True change for present 'This is the first time we have changed the show 100%,' said Sakdipat Sangsuriyong, Show Production Director, who has been working at Tiffany's since 2003. In the past, the performance was slightly changed by replacing one act at a time–removing old ones and inserting new ones, Mr Sakdipat explained. He said the complete overhaul was the most challenging part in this transformation. The planning process took almost two years while still running the old programme at the same time. 'Normally, it should take at least six months, but we actually closed the house to build a new set and rehearse the new show for only three weeks,' the show director said. On the last day of the old set, staff and cast had to say goodbye to the show they have been performing daily for decades. Seeing costumes packed away and the set dismantled left them in tears. However, it was not the end but a new journey, he said. While retaining Tiffany's identity of transgender, Mr Sakdipat believed this was not an era of demanding for acceptance. Without mentioning a single word about gender, the performers would show and dazzle the world with their potential, and 'once tourists buy tickets and enjoy the show, it means acceptance,' he highlighted. For the 2025's edition, the team was also joined by Araya Indra, or Art Araya, best-known as a Thai drag performer, designer and stylist, who had the goal of making Tiffany's the show of the present. Positioned as Creative Consultant, she targeted the wider audience groups, especially young generations, who are expected to share the news. 'We wanted to bring back the exciting atmosphere like when the old show had done to the old generation,' Art Araya said. 'So, the production must go with the present.' The performance is beyond lipsync and dance, but the cast members were also trained to show with modern tools and technology. 'I did not intervene in their legacy, just shaking things up to make them more well-rounded,' Art Araya said, after joining the team for a year and a half. Backstage on the press preview day, the dressing room was filled up with much energy from show girls of all generations. 'I'm excited as the first day I was a performer here,' said Suphap Saengkhamchoo, known as Mae Ood, the first Tiffany's show girl who has been with the house for 50 years and now as Show Consultant. 'The feeling is also mixed with fears if the audience would get the new format,' Mae Ood said, hoping people would open their minds and be ready for this new transformation. Another veteran show girl with 24-year experience, Pop Tiffany's, promises the audience a new experience they would get from Crystalise a Dream. 'What challenged us was the depth of the show we have to portray. It's no longer just the appearance so I want people to see that potential,' she emphasised. 'This is my dream stage, where I can express myself and show my abilities,' said 23-year-old show girl, Cait Tiffany's, the youngest there. The show Crystalise a Dream runs 75 minutes, crafted through nine acts–Pattaya, To Dream, Butterfly Ball, Diverse-City, Fashionista, The Queens and Crystalise– with all new costumes designed by international teams and new original songs. The performance, welcoming audiences of all ages, are daily, with three rounds per day–6pm, 7.30pm and 9.30pm. Tickets can be booked at
The Herald Scotland
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
The Srebenica Tape: Horrors of a past war revisited
**** VIEWERS have grown used to seeing the Storyville label on documentaries as a mark of quality, but this account of a daughter's quest to know more about her late father casts a special glow of its own. The story starts as the Bosnian War begins. Alisa, the eight-year-old daughter of a Serbian mother and Bosnian father living in the town of Srebrenica, is sent to live with her grandparents in Serbia. Alisa will see her mother again but not her father, for he was one of more than 8000 Bosnian Muslims massacred in the town. A keen filmmaker throughout his life, all she has left of him is a VHS tape he sent her. Determined to learn more about the father she barely knew, she leaves her new home in America to venture into a grim past. There is something incredibly poignant about old VHS tape. It looks at once modern and ancient, rather like parts of the former Yugoslavia itself. If you took away the colour some of the images could be fresh from the First World War. Going on the information she has pieced together, Alisa traces the faces in the film. She sets up meetings with her dad's friends, relatives and neighbours. All are amazed to see the images, shocked and saddened, too. Her grandmother tells her it is best not to remember, but Alisa feels she has no choice. The family never spoke about the war then or after and she is determined that won't happen with her own daughter. The same question is asked again and again: how could such terrible things happen in the middle of modern Europe? There are no straightforward answers. Some are as bewildered now as they were then. The country was mixed, they say, integrated. Others keep their thoughts to themselves. From the start a shadow hangs over the film that's impossible to ignore. We know what is coming. At the same time, there is so much life on screen. People going about their business, trying to make the best of an increasingly grim situation. The inevitable comparisons will be with Ukraine but this is first and last a personal story, a portrait of a father and daughter. Alisa's mother features too, with the two women retracing the start of the escape through the forest that brought mum to safety. I would have liked to know more about Alisa's life in the US, but time and the edit did not allow. Alisa's quest eventually takes her to a ceremony of remembrance. Every year more remains are discovered and burials take place. The film is respectful throughout, nothing is exaggerated or dramatised because it does not need to be. Alisa is a thoughtful, considerate, but persistent interviewer. For ten years she had not known what happened to her father. She finds her answers, or at least some of them, but there will always be more to say. She even manages a few suprises at the end. Like her father she is a natural born filmmaker, and her story goes on.
DW
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- DW
The Srebrenica Tape - From Dad, for Alisa – DW – 06/30/2025
From 1993 to 1995, amateur filmmaker Sejfo films everyday life in Srebrenica during the war. He describes people's hopes and fears in the Bosnian-Muslim enclave. The movie is meant as a message for his young daughter, Alisa. April 1992: The Bosnian war breaks out. The ethnic conflict between Serbs and Muslim Bosnians escalates rapidly. Alisa, then nine years old, lives in the small Bosnian-Muslim town of Srebrenica. Her parents - her father is Bosnian, her mother Serbian - take her to safety. They bring her to her grandparents in Ljubovija, in Serbia. Then they return to Srebrenica without their daughter. Alisa has little contact with her parents until after the war. In the summer of 1995, Ratko Mladić's troops murder over 8,000 Muslim men in Srebenica within a few days. Sejfo is one of them. Almost 30 years later, Alisa returns to Bosnia. She tracks down the relatives and friends from her father's tape who survived the genocide in Srebrenica. She wants to understand the last months of her father's life. She also wants to know: What happened in the enclave between 1993 and 1995? Did people think they were safe? "The Srebrenica Tape' is an intimate search, conducted by a woman whose life was changed forever by one of the greatest crimes against humanity in modern Europe. DW English SAT 05.07.2025 – 10:30 UTC SAT 05.07.2025 – 21:30 UTC SUN 06.07.2025 – 04:30 UTC Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3 Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8 London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3 San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4
