Latest news with #Bud
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Buzz Feed
How a Drunk Driver Crash Changed My Identity Forever
On a Tuesday morning in 2006 in Dutchess County, New York, a woman ran out of beer. She was drunk at 10 a.m. but not as drunk as she wanted to be, so she stole a truck, procured a case of Bud, then crushed a parked car. I was in the parked car. EMTs pried me out. I woke up in a freezing room where techs were extracting sharp things from my skin. It was a Code 4 emergency, which means my life was threatened. Then it wasn't my life. The good news was that I survived. The bad news was brain damage. Years later, a neurologist said I suffered the same type of injury that former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords suffered when she was shot in the head. ,So were my legs and my arms and my feet. Post-truck, I was parked with trauma patients, rolling Play-Doh balls and pounding pegs in boards. We included a former physician, a former professor of psycholinguistics, a former custodian and a former owner of a kebab café. There's not much demand for brain-damaged writers. Since I couldn't comprehend — leave alone manage — business affairs, an attorney completed my last career financial transaction which was refunding a five-figure advance to a client known from Burundi to Beverly Hills. To pay mounting bills, he was forced to sell our home. This was all far above my new head. Movers I can't recall packed boxes I can't recall for a trip I could not wrap my head around. I landed in a sleepy southern town east of somewhere and west of somewhere else in a rambling wooden farmhouse peering out from tangled brush. It was nine hours south of my old life and my child. No trace of the move remains in my mind — it's like it didn't happen or I wasn't there. I rarely recalled I'd been moved to Virginia. This means I wondered if I should move to a place I already lived in, or leave a place I already left. My child stayed in college in New York while I spent one year in outpatient therapy. I relearned how to walk, how to talk, how to place my hands on a keyboard, how to read, how to write, how to make a cup of tea. Three years post-truck, the Social Security Disability Administration ruled my injuries were 'permanent and incurable.' Still, my daughter's 'diagnosis' was by far the worst. She said her mom disappeared. In my first life, I made sense of thousands of stories on global warming and lip gloss and sports bras and organized closets and candidates. Normal people do things like that, plus wake up, brush teeth, get dressed, eat breakfast, get kids to school, keep clients happy and clean dryer lint. It felt like I had been thrown from a plane. Then it felt like trying to piece together any remnants of the person I was before I was thrown out of the plane. And then? It kept feeling that way. Most of us lose people we love. I lost the person I was. The new 'me' had never read books I loved, never shared favorite times with my child. They tested my brain hundreds of times and found lots of things bit the dust, like the file that encodes new memories, and the file that integrates physical movements so you don't fly down the steps or fall out of your chair. I lost what happened a minute ago, a page ago, a lifetime ago. This is called amnesia. Amnesia can take anything and make it disappear. Your child's first words. Your mom's last words. Mine came with a side of aphasia. That means I couldn't find the words I needed or put them together so they made sense. I said stuff like 'white stuff sky,' which meant snow, or 'cow thing pants' which meant belt or 'green thing dirt,' which meant plant. Words often seemed to start mid-sentence — and end there, too. There are three stages of making a memory: encoding (which means you learn something), consolidation (which means you store it), and recall (which means you can find it again). Learning was hard. Storing was hard. Recall was almost impossible. I was impaired and could not be repaired. A doctor told me so. There's an irony: The drunk woman who hit me was impaired, too. You may wonder if 'insurers' covered health care bills or compensated me for pain and suffering. The answer is no. The drunk driver had three prior DUIs and no longer had a license or insurance. Because she had stolen the truck she was driving, the owner's insurance didn't pay either. The car I was in was parked and I was waiting for the woman who owned it to return, so she was not at fault and her insurer didn't pay. As a result, most of the massive medical bills were paid by me, or rather the power of attorney on my behalf. Health insurance did not/does not cover motor vehicle accidents. I encountered a Catch-22 that removed me from outpatient rehab at the end of year one, which may or may not have been linked to insurance, too. Or, rather, lack of it. The head guy (pun intended) in neuro rehab decided I was both too screwed-up and not screwed-up enough to keep receiving help. If I were more screwed up, they could do something. If I were less screwed-up, they could do something. But I wasn't, so they couldn't. And, so, I relearned to read under the patient care of no one at all. I achieved mixed results. In year two post-accident, I began trying to read a book. I read the same pages for two years. At first, they meant nothing. Then they meant something, for a few seconds. If I began where I'd left off, say on page 5, and found a character was on a train, I had no idea why he was on it or where he was going. At the same time, I started scratching anything I could recall on any surface I could find — paper plates, paper cups, placemats, napkins, coffee stirrers and Popsicle sticks. I called them scraps. They were not in alphabetical order, not in numerical order, not in chronological order, but out of order, like me. I stuffed them in brown paper shopping bags and then stashed the bags in a closet. A few years ago, Google provided 115,000,000 ways to 'clear your mind.' These included clearing your mind of stress, clearing your mind of guilt, clearing your mind of clutter, clearing your mind of negative thoughts, clearing your cookies, clearing your cache, clearing your sinuses, and clearing your mind of all thought. I had. I also found 8,310,000 jokes about brain injury on Google. Plus, of course, in cartoons all over the planet, people like us are hilarious, especially when our skulls get smashed. Think baseball bats, rifle butts, and coconuts on craniums. The intact brain is amazing. The three-pound blob remembers the theme music for The Flintstones, the name of your fifth-grade French teacher, and your childhood phone number. But put it through a windshield at 70 miles an hour,r and then it's a crapshoot. You might remember something that happened a moment ago, or you might not. You might not walk or talk again. You might wake up as an entirely different person. Or you might never wake up. Seven years ago, I began attending a newly formed brain trauma group. One member, Daniel, 'came back' from two weeks in a coma. Daniel's counselor says that the 'old' Daniel is gone. The new Daniel has new frontal lobes and a new personality, as well as the wife of his former self and three kids he can't name. Another member, Mel, kept saying, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry,' like he did something wrong. We were told most of us were in the program due to someone driving while drunk. Brain trauma is not about the past: the successes, accomplishments, accolades. It's not even about losses. It's a muddy, rutty, hands and knees crawl up to the first rung of the ladder, and up each rung after that. There is no cure. I'm sharing this story not because I think it is exceptional, but because I know it is not. Many others with similar stories can't write because they're more disabled than I am or because they lost their lives. We all have plaque in our brain — some of us know it. Plaque can advance like armies in the night, taking more and more of us, leaving less and less. You take a detour when you see us coming, and think we don't notice, but we do. In 2021, the latest year for which there are numbers, the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHSTA) reported 401,520 Americans were killed or injured due to someone driving while drunk. Also according to NHSTA, two out of three Americans will be impacted by drunk driving in their lifetime. Every day, lives of adults and kids are taken by impaired drivers who gain a few seconds, then take a few lives. Each statistic is a person. Each death is preventable, as is each injury. According to a recent article in The New York Times Magazine, 'From 2020 to 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has since calculated, the number of crashes in the United States soared 16 percent, to more than six million, or roughly 16,500 wrecks a day.' The article goes on to point out that, 'For public-messaging reasons, vehicular wrecks are almost never referred to by experts as 'accidents,' wording that implies no culpability on the part of the participants.' The fatality figures were somehow even worse. In 2021, the latest year for which there are figures, 42,939 Americans died in car crashes, the highest toll in a decade and a half. 'Of those deaths, a sizable portion involved intoxicated or unrestrained drivers or vehicles traveling well in excess of local speed limits.' This would be a different story if I regained my former life, complete with my former mind. I didn't. Eighteen years post-accident. I still think with a stutter, speak with a limp, and have less usable space in my brain, so I run out of memory fast. Today I had two coins in my hand. One was a dime and one was a nickel, and I didn't know which was which. I can spackle all I want but underneath I'm still broken. I frustrate others by leaning on them and by not leaning on them, and baffle them when I seem normal and when I don't. It takes decades to build a life, and seconds to destroy it. The next time someone warns you to be careful when driving home from a night out, don't roll your eyes. Heed their warning. Disabled people are the single largest minority in the world, and likely the least heard from. We are also the only minority anyone can join at any time. Trust me, you won't want to be disabled — or to take someone's life. Judith Hannah Weiss freelanced for 25 years, writing print and broadcast promotion for New York, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Vogue and other major media. In 2006, she was hit by a drunk driver, which put things on a long pause. Her post-accident work has appeared on NBC News and in The Washington Post, The Oldster, Iowa Review, The Rumpus, Dorothy Parker's Ashes, Memoir Monday and The Pulse. You can find her on Substack at and at
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
John Goodman shows off astonishing weight loss at Smurfs premiere; here's how Hollywood legend lost 200 pounds at age 73
Actor John Goodman has been the talk of the town due to his dramatic transformation. The 73-year-old actor attended the premiere of his new film, Smurfs, in Los Angeles on Sunday and showed off his astonishing weight loss. The veteran actor looked much slimmer and in shape as he posed for the cameras and even squatted animatedly, giving the world a glimpse of how fitter he has gotten of late. Actor John Goodman has lost 200 pounds in the last few years. John Goodman's 200-pound weight loss According to reports, over the last few years, since John Goodman went on his fitness path, the actor has lost 200 pounds (91 kg), dropping his weight from 392 pounds (179 kg) to 192 pounds (88 kg). This has been evident in his recent public appearances, as not only does he look fitter and leaner, but even younger and more active. John Goodman arrives at the premiere of Smurfs on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)(Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) How John Goodman got fit As fans hail John Goodman for his fitness turn, many have wondered just how the actor managed this dramatic turnaround, and that too, so late in his life. After all, Goodman did not start on his fitness journey until he was in his late 60s. According to the NY Post, Goodman employed the services of personal trainer Mackie Shilstone when he wanted to shed weight. The first change he made to his lifestyle was giving up alcohol. The actor also made several dietary changes, adopting a lighter Mediterranean diet, apart from starting a consistent workout routine. Despite being in his 70s, John Goodman hardly ever skips his workout. His exercise routine involves cardio, including taking 10,000 to 12,000 steps a day and using an elliptical bicycle and treadmill. Talking about his fitness journey, the actor told ABC, 'I'd have a handful of food and it'd go to my mouth. I was just eating all the time. I was just eating alcoholically. In the old days, I would take three months out, lose 60 or 70 pounds, and then reward myself with a 6-pack of Bud or whatever and just go back to my old habits. Then this time I wanted to do it slowly, move, exercise. I'm getting to the age where I can't afford to sit still anymore. And it gives me the energy to work, 'cause work is very draining.'
Finextra
08-07-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Nymbus and Bud team on AI-powered PFM services for banks
Nymbus, a full-stack banking platform for U.S. banks and credit unions, today announced a new agreement with Bud Financial ('Bud'), a leading provider of transaction data enrichment and AI-driven insights for the financial services industry. 4 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. Nymbus will integrate Bud's market-leading suite of personal financial management ('PFM') widgets. These capabilities will be embedded directly into the Nymbus Banking Platform, enhancing the digital banking experience and enabling smarter, more contextual customer engagement. With the integration, users will gain an enhanced ability to: ● Provide customers with a clear and intuitive view of their finances, and tools to help them gain full control of their money; ● Deliver proactive, relevant content and financial tools through Bud's ready-to-use PFM widgets; ● Tailor experiences across digital channels with categorized, contextual data. This announcement follows the recent launch of Nymbus Engage, a new customer engagement solution built to help community banks and credit unions activate data in smarter ways and drive more meaningful, long-term relationships. Bud's integration directly supports this strategy, providing additional capabilities for financial institutions to deliver hyper-personalized campaigns and experiences that deepen loyalty and boost retention. 'We're thrilled to be partnering with Nymbus as they continue to transform banking for community institutions across the U.S.,' said Edward Maslaveckas, CEO at Bud. 'Together, we're enabling their clients to move beyond legacy data into a new era of intelligent, insight- driven banking. This collaboration reflects our shared belief that better data leads to better outcomes — for financial institutions and their customers alike.' Bud has been a pioneer in applying AI to financial data since 2015, helping institutions around the world turn raw transaction streams into structured, actionable insights. 'This integration supports our mission of providing banks and credit unions with the tools they need to grow, differentiate, and deliver modern, personalized banking experiences,' said Jeffery Kendall, CEO and Chairman at Nymbus. 'Bud's AI-driven enrichment unlocks a new level of insight from transaction data, and we're excited to bring this to our clients.' The first Nymbus client deployment powered by Bud is currently underway, with broader rollout planned over the coming months.
American Press
03-07-2025
- Business
- American Press
George E. Williams
It is with profound sadness we announce the death of George E. Williams. His family knew him as 'Bud,' professionally he was known as Junior Williams. Born in Hodge, La. on May 22, 1930, he was the beloved son of Ruben Daniel Williams and Ophelia Ferguson Williams. His family moved to Lake Charles in 1944, where he graduated from LaGrange High School in 1947. He went to work for Augenstein Construction Co., Inc. as a timekeeper and was the youngest employee at the time, thus he was named Junior. He later purchased the company, employing hundreds of construction workers over the years. Junior was also part owner of Sulphur Electric Co., Inc. and Buyer's Enterprises, Inc. In 1981, Junior founded West-Cal Construction Co., Inc. and diligently managed it until he began retirement in 1986. Bud enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially during his many trips to the Coastal Club with his friend, Bill King. His trophy room included many prized mounts from his adventures in the marshes of Southwest Louisiana and an African Safari. While Junior was a well-respected business owner in the community, his greatest accomplishment was his family. He conducted business and life with the utmost integrity, always placing his family first. Junior was appointed to the Board of the Lake Charles Port Commission, wherein he served as Treasurer for six years. He was a member of the Lake Charles chapter of Rotary International. Additionally, he was a member of the Lake Charles Country Club, The City Club of Lake Charles, and The Pioneer Club. George is survived by his wife of nearly 75 years, Ramona A. Williams; his sons, Ron Williams and wife, Kim, Dr. Ray Williams, and wife, Monica; his daughters, Susie Williams and husband, Bob Waggener, and Phyllis Foster and husband, Dr. Bill Foster. Affectionately known as 'PePaw,' he leaves a proud legacy for his grandchildren, Chris McGee and wife, Jessica, Joel D. McGee, Bryan Williams and wife, Anna, Kyle Williams and wife, Liz, Lindsey Perry and husband, Brooks, William Foster and wife, Ann, Angie Kinsel and husband, Scott, Amber Williams, Ricky Williams, Brittnei Boutte and husband, Marcus, Brooke Mouton, Josh Mouton and Emily Mouton, along with 19 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruben Daniel Williams and Ophelia Ferguson Williams, and his brothers, Gilbert Williams and Carl Williams. Bud's funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 6, 2025 in the Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles Chapel, with the Rev. Don Barrett presiding. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Saturday evening, resuming on Sunday from 12 p.m. until the start of the service at 2 p.m. Pallbearers are Dr. Ray Williams, Chris McGee, Joel McGee, Bryan Williams, Kyle Williams, and William Foster. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Samaritan's Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607. try/donate-online Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at
Finextra
30-06-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Bud Financial signs Fruition for transaction enrichment software
Fruition, the financial empowerment platform dedicated to bringing clarity to personal finance, has partnered with transaction enrichment and insights and analytics specialist Bud Financial ('Bud') to provide more richly personalized financial experiences for their members. 0 Through the power of Bud's Enrich and Engage products, Fruition will deliver enriched transaction data and intelligent, personalized financial insights to members making it possible for them to make even more informed financial decisions aligned with their financial goals. Fruition's Folio provides members with a comprehensive view of their financial landscape in a single, intuitive dashboard. With the enriched transaction data from Bud, Folio is even more powerful - illuminating category spending for members and making it easier than ever to budget. Additionally, Fruition will be able to deliver customized, targeted notifications for members based on the smartest transactional data available. The Fruition platform also bridges technology and human expertise. Leveraging Bud's capabilities, members will be able to share more accurate information in their mentor sessions and mentors will be able to offer tailored education and actionable guidance without wondering about the accuracy of a member's financial landscape. Fruition's ambitious roadmap will see the company become the first fintech to go live with Bud's Intelligent Search feature. Intelligent Search is Bud's new AI-powered tool which helps users get a handle on their transaction data by using natural language queries as part of a generative AI search experience. The engine understands the context of your keyword. When you search for Netflix, for example, it will not only list matching transactions, but also provide you with a quick summary of your spending in the streaming category, or even highlight the biggest merchants in this group - depending on the data and the question asked. 'This collaboration brings Fruition's members control over their financial futures by leveraging AI-driven insights, relevant education and expert guidance, all underpinned by Bud's market-leading financial models,' said Edward Maslaveckas, Co-founder and CEO at Bud. 'Fruition's commitment to providing smarter financial guidance makes them the perfect first client of our exciting Intelligent Search capability. We can't wait to see how Intelligent Search helps Fruition's members to take control of their financial data and smash their financial goals.' 'On average, we're seeing that 42.6% of all transactions are being enriched more accurately with Bud than with our previous enrichment provider,' said Elliott Beaty, VP of Engineering at Fruition. 'Our partnership with Bud helps us deliver on our promise of financial understanding and actionable insights. Better data for our members means more accurate understanding of their financial situation.'
