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Technical.ly
11 hours ago
- General
- Technical.ly
From ‘useless' to unstoppable: Arts education empowers Baltimore students
The arts are not a luxury. To the contrary, arts education is vital to education itself. There is a body of research that makes this case unambiguously. Consider a 2022 study by Daniel H. Bowen, an assistant professor at Texas A&M University, and Brian Kisida, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri. In their research of over 10,000 students at 42 schools, they found that exposure to arts education led to fewer disciplinary infractions, greater engagement in school, improved emotional and cognitive empathy, and increased college aspirations. But no academic treatise will ever be quite as compelling on the importance of an arts education as, say, Selyna Williams, a senior at Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School. 'I never was like, 'Oh, I want to be an artist or anything like that.'' she told The Baltimore Banner. 'I didn't think I was capable of doing anything that good.' Nor will any study ever be quite as persuasive as Jefferson, a fifth grader at Abbottson Elementary School. 'I remember when I was six, I thought I was useless,' the young violinist told WYPR Radio, 'but when I started playing this thing, I felt actually useful.' 'I didn't think I was capable…' 'I thought I was useless…' And then they found the arts. For Selyna, it was her fourth-place finish in the ninth annual Courting Art Baltimore competition, which awards scholarships to high school students, a total of $20,500 to seven kids this year alone. The competition also offers wall space – exhibition at the Eastside District Court Building, bringing a splash of color and vibrancy to institutional corridors that usually bear witness only to traffic disputes and landlord/tenant battles. Jefferson, on the other hand, can trace the fact that he no longer feels 'useless' to a music program started largely out of pocket by two educators who were fed up with the lack of instrumental music education at their school. 'I bought a lot of stuff randomly,' music teacher Ariel Wirsching told WYPR, 'cheap little instruments from Target back in the day, anything and everything to put something in that room' Ideally, the voyages of self discovery made by Jefferson and Selyna would be unremarkable, the norm in a system that, by design, enabled young people to identify and explore the full range of their interests and talents. Unfortunately, we don't have such a system. Indeed, were it not for the inventiveness of the retired judge who founded Courting Art Baltimore and the scrappy determination of Wirsching and her former principal who scrounged for musical instruments, Selyna and Jefferson may never have found their artistry. And that would be a loss. So one hopes voters will keep in mind the criticality of arts education as they ponder their response to drastic budget cutbacks to the National Endowment for the Arts and the Department of Education. One hopes they will give serious consideration to the question of what we can and cannot afford as defense spending soars and ICE is awarded more money than it knows what to do with and America just saw a military parade roll through Washington at a reported cost of up to $45 million. One hopes the electorate will think of children like Selyna and Jefferson, young people struggling to come of age in an era that is conspicuously, even performatively, mean of spirit and short of sight. One hopes those voters will understand that the arts do not just uplift and ennoble us, are not simply a means of explaining ourselves to ourselves — although if they were only that, that would be plenty — but that they also are a means of success, a way up and out for young people living in limited spaces by limited means. Americans for the Arts, a 65-year-old non-profit organization with a mission to support the arts and arts education, would like us to know that low-income students who are 'highly engaged' in the arts are twice as likely to graduate college as their peers. And students of low socioeconomic status who are heavily involved in the arts drop out at a rate five times lower than other kids who share their socioeconomic challenges. Take it as a spur to demand a government of thoughtful priorities that will do right by our children. Because it bears repeating: the arts are not a luxury. Of course, military parades are another matter.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Ben Askren's wife? Ex-UFC star's spouse warns fans of scam accounts
Amy Askren, wife of former UFC and Olympic wrestler Ben Askren, is speaking out to protect fans. Amy Askren, a licensed realtor based in Wisconsin, studied finance at the University of Missouri and has been a steady support for Ben Askren since they married in 2010. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On July 21, 2025, she posted on Instagram and X about scam accounts pretending to be her. These fake profiles were using her name to ask for money while Ben recovers from a double lung transplant. Amy Askren shared screenshots of these phishing messages and stressed she would never request donations from personal accounts, asking followers to report imposters immediately. What Amy Askren said about fake accounts targeting Ben Askren's fans On Monday, July 21, Amy Askren alerted followers via her social media pages from their Wisconsin home, where Ben Askren is now recovering. She said, 'Someone made up a Twitter account under my name,' and added that people were using Ben Askren's health crisis to make fake money requests. Amy Askren spotted the scam after a fan received a message asking for funds. She responded, 'This is NOT me!!!' She asked people to block or report these fake accounts and to only trust messages that come directly from her verified profiles. Amy Askren explains why fans should be careful Amy Askren explained that scammers are targeting well-meaning fans who want to help. She said they create fake profiles that look real, then use heartfelt stories to get money. Amy Askren stressed that any donation request should come from official channels, like verified posts or the family's GoFundMe page. The transplant happened after Ben Askren was hospitalized on June 7, 2025, fighting severe pneumonia and a staph infection. On June 30, he received a double lung transplant at a Las Vegas hospital and has since been recovering at home. Amy Askren also thanked followers for their support and urged them to stay sharp. She wants everyone to know they are safe using trusted accounts only. The family appreciates the love and caution during this time as Ben Askren continues to heal. Also Read:
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
The 2025 AI Landscape: What Communicators Need To Know Now
Mark Dollins, President—North Star Communications Consulting and adjunct professor, University of Missouri School of Journalism. Let's face it, employee communicators: Our heads are spinning with AI. Read this, watch that, check out some new app. It seems like every time we feel we have our heads wrapped around what to do with AI, there's a new piece of research—a cool, new 'shiny thing' or application upgrade we should know, see and use. I know every time I see a new AI-driven app, I get an uneasy feeling, wondering how many other tools I might be missing that could make my work more efficient or help my clients do the same. A Digestible Look At What Matters In AI So how can we digest volumes of insights, data, trends and case studies about AI and employee communications in a weekend read? That's what our '2025 AI Landscape for Employee Communications' report is designed to do. For each of the past three years, we've combed through new AI apps, academic research and mainstream media reports to pull together a holistic view of AI through the lens of the employee communicator. Not surprisingly, our story continues to evolve; between 2023 and 2025, our global community has moved from resistance and mild curiosity to fully embracing and applying AI for productivity and creativity; in 2025, in particular, it is moving into more strategic applications. The Shift Toward Strategy And Sentiment I'm seeing far greater use of AI for sentiment analysis, and in analyzing employee feedback data from global CEO town halls. That, in turn, is driving more real-time adjustments in messaging refinement and internal communication strategies. The report goes beyond the numbers presented in this year's global survey results and connects them to broader trends, insights, case studies and recommended actions. The most surprising—and encouraging—trends show that communicators are increasingly warming up to the need to learn about and engage with machine learning as part of their competency development. There's also a deep understanding of the importance of applying change management discipline when rolling out AI technologies internally, along with the corresponding need for clear change management communications. From Skepticism To Strategic Adoption Initially met with skepticism and fear in 2023, AI now plays a significant role in enhancing productivity, creativity and strategic decision-making within employee communication functions. This year, 70% of communicators report they are using AI tools. Its greatest current value remains in improving efficiency and saving time in drafting materials, researching content and generating ideas. Personally, it's saving me two to three hours weekly in baseline research and content drafting, but I still need to pay close attention to accuracy, and validate everything ChatGPT produces. Prompt writing is one area in particular that I've focused on upskilling. I've learned that the more detail I provide early in prompt writing, the closer and faster I get to a solution that's workable. I've also learned the importance of asking ChatGPT to ask me 10 to 15 questions up front, even before I write the first version of a prompt. This helps me ensure I'm thinking holistically about what I want and what ChatGPT needs to deliver an optimal answer faster. In terms of strategy, AI is increasingly being used for data analysis, trend identification and predictive analytics—intended outcomes that require deeper collaboration with professionals outside of traditional communication roles. The ability to work with machine learning and deep learning technologies is necessary for communicators to make data-driven decisions that enhance engagement and communication effectiveness. I reached out to a machine learning engineer to learn what I didn't know about machine learning, and it was a lot. I recommend that every communicator take an IT partner in their organization to breakfast or lunch to do the same. Great partnerships start with the simplest actions. Leadership, Training And The Case For Governance Leadership's role in AI adoption remains crucial, with communication leaders—especially those leading employee communications—needing to lead AI strategy and policy development. However, many organizations still lack formal training programs, leaving employees to develop AI skills independently. I believe formal training on AI issues attached to governance and compliance is critical for the enterprise, but that individual learning for job- or function-specific benefits should be individually focused. Under any scenario, leadership should incorporate it into change management and employee communication strategies. Ethical concerns about AI, particularly in relation to bias, privacy and data protection, have become prominent. Communicators are increasingly tasked with ensuring that AI systems operate fairly and transparently, and they must be proactive in addressing concerns around accuracy, security and the ethical implications of AI use. An AI governance committee, with representation from IT, legal, HR and communications, is a good place to start. In fact, AI governance frameworks should establish clear policies and ensure AI tools are used in ways that align with company values and culture. As AI tools become more integrated into communication strategies, communicators need to focus on continuous learning and maintaining human oversight to ensure that AI serves to enhance, rather than replace, authentic communication. My team subscribes to daily feeds on AI that keep us in tune with trends and solutions. Ultimately, the future of employee communications will depend on the balance between leveraging AI for productivity and maintaining the human touch in communication. By developing AI competencies and embracing ethical principles, communicators can harness AI's potential to create more effective and engaging employee communication strategies. My Parting Advice Three pieces of advice I'd offer to ride this wave: First, stay engaged with time-saving, productivity apps that give you time to invest in more strategic uses like predictive analytics; keep exploring and testing. Second, make new friends with machine learning engineers and computer scientists who can advise and educate you on how to use AI more strategically to solve business issues. And third, lead AI assessment, policy, selection and application through partnership in governance with key functional leaders, and the budgets to which they have access. Forbes Communications Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Severe storms, rising temperatures: Climate change felt in KC area, experts say
Rising temperatures, more intense storms, and possible droughts mark the changing climate across the globe, including in both Kansas and Missouri, according to some climate experts. This week, Wednesday night storms that persisted until Thursday morning brought between 7 and 11 inches of rain to parts of the Kansas City metro. The flooding in Wyandotte County was called the worst seen since 1993, the Unified Government said in a press release. Across the metro, dozens of water rescues kept emergency crews busy. Kansas City doubled its own record for daily rainfall Wednesday with 2.78 inches, surpassing the previous record of 1.35 inches set in 1968, according to the National Weather Service. Some climate experts say it's all a sign of climate change. Climate change refers to the long-term shifts in weather patterns and temperatures as a result of human activity releasing carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, causing heat to stay trapped on Earth more easily, according to the United Nations. As atmospheric temperatures rise, ice from the polar caps melts, meaning less sunlight will reflect off the white surface and be absorbed by the Earth's oceans and ground. This positive feedback cycle is called the greenhouse effect. 'It does not really only have an impact on the polar bears, for example, right? It's happening in our backyard,' said Fengpeng Sun, PhD, an associate professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. NOAA predictions According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, since the beginning of the 20th century, temperatures in Missouri have risen by almost 1 degree, and by 1.5 degrees in Kansas. In terms of multi-year periods, this period is comparable to the extreme heat of the Dust Bowl era from the 1930s, according to NOAA. If high carbon emissions continue without mitigation, historically unprecedented high temperatures are predicted, NOAA officials predict. Even with mitigation, temperatures are likely to exceed record levels by 2050, according to NOAA. Missouri is experiencing an increase in frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events, meaning an increase in frequency and intensity of downstream flooding along rivers and streams from the lower river basins of several large midwestern rivers, said a Missouri climate summary by NOAA. In Kansas, the frequency of extreme precipitation is highly variable, but a general increase is predicted, and, in the eastern part of the state, increases in extreme precipitation are more pronounced, according to a Kansas climate summary by NOAA. Increases in soil evaporation rates attributed to higher temperatures can lead to an increase in naturally occurring droughts during dry spells in both Kansas and Missouri, NOAA also states. More frequent disasters From 1980 to 2024, the annual average of weather or climate disaster events, which include flooding, severe weather, tornadoes, hail, droughts, heat waves, tropical cyclones, winter storms and wildfires, in Missouri was 2.7 per year. But from 2020 to 2024, the average skyrocketed to 8.2 per year in Missouri, according to data from the National Centers for Environmental Information, a government agency that monitors U.S. and global climates and archives atmospheric, coastal, geophysical and oceanic data. Out of 120 of these events spanning 44 years, 41 of them took place in the last four years of the study. In Kansas, the annual average of weather or climate disaster events from 1980 to 2024 was 2.3 per year, while from 2020 to 2024, the average climbed to 5.6 events per year. Out of the 102 weather or climate events in Kansas, 24 took place in the last four years of the study. Think globally, plan locally, act individually There's no sure way experts can predict the future, but they know that actions taken now can make an impact, said Sun. His research is finding ways to address human activity that adds to the impacts of climate change. The use of darker construction materials, like asphalt and concrete, causes heat to be absorbed into the ground rather than reflected, making urban neighborhoods typically hotter, while areas with green spaces have trees to reflect the heat, making them cooler overall . Although planting trees is a good way to mitigate climate change impact, his research found that simply using lighter colored material, like white paint on rooftops, can reduce local temperatures by more than 10°F almost immediately, whereas trees can take years to mature. 'What we can do right now, actually determines what our future might be,' said Sun. 'You might think one person does not really do anything, right? But I think that you need to do something.' Ways that everybody can participate in making a difference, he said, include making active choices in their everyday lives and staying educated. Climate change mitigation can be done on an individual level with lifestyle changes such as saving energy and taking public transportation when possible, said Sun. Solve the daily Crossword
The Mainichi
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Japan puppetry troupe led by former US professor to debut comedic adaptation in Tokushima
TOKUSHIMA -- A puppetry troupe led by a former U.S. university professor who relocated to west Japan's Tokushima Prefecture, the home of traditional "ningyo joruri" puppetry, will perform on July 19 at the Tokushima Prefectural Folk Culture Hall in this prefectural capital. The Tokubei-za theater troupe, headed by 67-year-old Martin Holman, plans to debut its puppet adaptation of the "kyogen" traditional comedic play "Kaminari" (thunder) at the 79th Awa Ningyo Joruri Summer Festival. "I want it to be a show the entire family can enjoy, filled with laughter," Holman said enthusiastically. "Kaminari" is a comedy that begins as the Thunder God falls from the sky to earth with a thunderclap. After sustaining a back injury, the deity encounters a quack doctor who treats him with acupuncture and is demanded to pay. The god, having no money, promises to provide 800 years of perfect weather without droughts or floods instead. Holman's passion for puppetry began in childhood, and he first encountered "Kaminari" as a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, in a Japanese literature class. Deeply moved by the story's appeal "to all family members, from children to the elderly," he had dreamed of turning it into a puppet show ever since. In 2017, Holman retired from his position at the University of Missouri and relocated to the city of Tokushima in September 2019. The following month, he founded the Tokubei-za troupe, crafting his own puppets to perform traditional pieces such as "Sanbaso" and Japanese lion dances in puppet form. Just as he was preparing to adapt "Kaminari" into a puppet show in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe. Tokubei-za's activities were suddenly halted, and the troupe, which once had 11 members, eventually disbanded due to individual circumstances, leaving Holman as the sole remaining member. As the pandemic eased, Holman started recruitment efforts for new members. Inspired by his enthusiasm for "Kaminari," new members, including several non-Japanese performers, gradually joined. In February 2024, Holman attended a performance by Warotena! Kyogen Club in the Tokushima Prefecture town of Aizumi, and recruited two members to serve as narrators for the puppet show. By spring, the troupe had finally resumed joint rehearsals with the new lineup. Holman himself handcrafted some of the puppets for "Kaminari," sculpting the heads from clay and sewing the costumes with a sewing machine. The Thunder God puppet, with its large round eyes, has a cute design reminiscent of characters from the American children's educational show "Sesame Street." Holman wrote the script in English, which was then translated into Japanese by other troupe members. The narrators from the kyogen club apparently further adjusted it to better suit their performing styles. Yoko Hashimoto, a 71-year-old resident of the city of Tokushima who manipulates the puppets, said, "I operate them (the puppets) while thinking about how to make the movements expressive and fun. I want the audience to enjoy it." Tokubei-za is currently recruiting new members, and welcomes beginners. For inquiries, please contact Holman at 080-4562-8319.
