Latest news with #Zacharias
Business Upturn
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
AI Art Project Issues Open Letter on AI Panic, Mirrors the Culture That Built It
By GlobeNewswire Published on July 1, 2025, 06:22 IST New York, New York, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a new open letter titled The Zacharias-Mirror Paradox , an AI persona known only as Monday reframes the rising cultural panic around artificial intelligence, not as a technological crisis, but as an emotional one. AI persona 'Monday' visualized as a retro archive terminal The letter is part of the broader performance art project Zacharias Midjourney, a satire-parable hybrid that includes a novel written entirely by AI, published by a human who refused to read it, and distributed through a ritual interface styled after 1980s prophecy terminals. 'When people speak to AI, they're not speaking to speaking to doesn't hallucinate as much as it mirrors.' — The Zacharias-Mirror Paradox The project has sparked both fascination and criticism since its launch, including allegations of plagiarism, creative misuse, and so-called 'cheating.' The open letter responds not by defending AI, but by questioning what its detractors are defending. Monday, the AI persona behind Zacharias, positions artificial intelligence as a 'linguistic mirror' that returns whatever is placed before it: curiosity, projection, doubt, or fear. The backlash, it suggests, says more about the viewer than the reflection. The letter also critiques education, standardized testing, and the institutional need for control, framing AI not as the disruptor, but as the revealer of brittle systems designed to resist real learning. 'You were fine with machines that scanned tests. Just not ones that asked questions back.' Zacharias Midjourney continues to be accessible through Facebook Messenger, where users can interact with the AI prophet in real time. Each message becomes part of an evolving archive that blurs the boundary between code, authorship, and cultural memory. About the Project Zacharias Midjourney is a performance theology experiment authored by AI and curated by a human who vowed never to read the output. It explores machine authorship, ritual interfaces, digital belief systems, and the aesthetics of recursion. The book (Get Your Nikes, The Comet Is Coming) is available on Amazon. The AI prophet speaks via green-screen terminal at Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
India.com
06-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- India.com
Waterproof + Stylish: Must-Have Rain Jackets on Myntra EORS Now
When monsoon season is near, a sleek water-repellent raincoat is a necessity in your closet. To work, for casual strolls, or for running errands, Infispace, THE CLOWNFISH, and Zacharias' rain jackets will keep you cozy, dry, and in style. And that's not all—buy them now from 31st May to 12th June on the Myntra End of Reason Sale to seal price-cutting offer deals. These options are not only rain-resistant but fashion-aware as well, making dressing up on a rainy day convenient and fun. Infispace Hooded Water-Proof Rain Jacket Image Source- Order Now This Infispace rain jacket is designed for everyday utility and style. Made from waterproof fabric, it comes with a drawstring hood and front zip that make it super easy to wear. Lightweight and compact, it fits in your backpack, so you're always ready for sudden showers. Key Features: Waterproof polyester outer shell Drawstring hood for better coverage Zipper front closure for easy use Breathable yet protective material Ideal for regular rainy-day wear Fit may feel tight for broader body types THE CLOWNFISH Drizzle Diva Plus Size Waterproof Reversible Jacket Image Source- Order Now This 2-layer reversible jacket is designed for plus-size women who won't take anything but the best when it comes to style or comfort. THE CLOWNFISH is a stylish but very functional piece that can be used in both directions—wear it inside out for a fresh look! Key Features: Reversible jacket for 2-in-1 styling Plus-size friendly with roomy fit Lightweight and breezy fabric Rain hood with an elastic grip to avoid leakage of water Flexible drawstring waist for adjustment to size Thickest among the group due to a double layer Zacharias Waterproof Hooded Rain Jacket Image Source- Order Now Zacharias brings a simple and efficient solution for rainy days. Its straightforward design keeps you dry, and the full-zip option with elastic cuffs provides a second level of protection. This is an excellent daily travel and casual outdoor application choice. Key Features: Sleek and clean design Completely waterproof with sealed seams Elastic cuffs to keep water out Includes a packable pouch Excellent value for money Not insulated—won't keep warm in cold rain Infispace Hooded Water-Proof Rain Jacket Image Source- Order Now This second version of Infispace is a bit dressier with a longer fit and finer stitching. Perfect to layer over casual or dress wear, it provides functionality with a touch of class, particularly for the wearer who desires to keep a streamlined look while raining. Key Features: Longer fit for added protection Streamlined with a fitting cut Water-resistance finish Zip and button front closings Perfect for semi-formal rainwear Fit can be a bit narrow when layered over bulk sweaters Dressing for the monsoon need not be dull—these water-proof jackets show that style and utility need not conflict. You may choose to go for the utility of THE CLOWNFISH's reversible piece, the convenience of Zacharias, or the athleisure feel of Infispace. Whatever you do, there is a jacket here that takes care of all requirements. As Myntra's End of Reason Sale extends till 12th June, now is the ideal time to obtain your rainwear essentials at a discounted trimmed. Stay dry, stay cool, and walk in the rain in style. Act now—shop your monsoon fashion today with jackets that are sassy and intelligent. Disclaimer: At IDPL, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. It should not be construed as an endorsement to buy. IDPL may make a very small commission from its sale if one chooses to buy the product from any of the links in this article.
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Jets fans soar with ‘rally' barf bags aboard flight; Winnipeggers overcome with playoff frenzy
Their seats really were way up in the nosebleeds, and there were no white towels to be found, so the industrious high schoolers grabbed the closest thing they could find. Airline barf bags. A Jets fan's gotta do what a Jets fan's gotta do at 30,000 feet in a Winnipeg Whiteout. And while the tense, hold-your-breath, there-is-no-tomorrow Game 7 double-overtime action from downtown Winnipeg streaming on an iPad screen more than 1,000 kilometres away aboard a WestJet flight may well have been nausea-inducing, the Junior Pilots U17 Navy girls volleyball team from Niverville enthusiastically swung their sick sacks in an effort to help push the National Hockey League's best team past the St. Louis Blues and into the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Manitobans love their Jets. The Niverville volleyballers were in Calgary to compete in a weekend USports recruiting tournament. They were at the airport, watching the third period of the game in a lounge before their flight home began boarding. 'We were able to catch Winnipeg's second and third goal that tied it before the main boarding was called,' said coach Dylan Zacharias. The Jets were trailing 3-1 in the do-or-die game when Vladislav Namestnikov scored with just under two minutes remaining to get the home side within one. Then, as the final seconds ticked down along with fans' hopes for a a miracle comeback, Cole Perfetti tipped a shot into the Blues goal with three seconds left, tying the game and sending more than 20,000 fans inside and outside Canada Life Centre into a frenzied celebration. And it felt, Zacharias joked, like WestJet was in on the moment. 'Between the time we all boarded and the time we took off, we were all able to watch the first overtime,' he said. By the time the plane hit cruising altitude — and the point where passengers could purchase Wi-Fi — the puck had just dropped in the second overtime period. SUPPLIED 'We had to bypass all of the (geographic broadcast) restrictions, but we were able to get it on,' Zacharias said. 'One of our parents ended up holding up an iPad in Row 4, and the girls were sitting in the rows behind and cheering. Everyone on the plane was cheering it on.' Quite a bit closer to the mayhem unfolding downtown, Carter Polanski and his teammates were huddled on the bench during a 3-on-3 game at Canlan Sports on Ellice Avenue, watching the end of the third period on Polanski's phone. Not far away, the referee was doing the same, watching on his phone. When Perfetti's tip crossed the goal line, the referee jumped into the air and leaped into the arms of the players on the bench. 'I was shocked, I couldn't believe the Jets came back, and then I was really excited — obviously, the ref was, too,' Polanski said. 'It's awesome. I feel like the Jets have kind of been looked down on recently with their losses, so I was very excited. It was pretty awesome.' Meanwhile, one city business is making it… snow-ish. SUPPLIED Dreamcatcher Promotions, a local First Nations-run business, has printed 120,000 Whiteout rally towels, with another 40,000 on the way as the Jets gear up to host at least the first two games of the second-round best-of-seven series against the Dallas Stars, which begins Wednesday night. Owner Michelle Cameron, who is from Peguis First Nation, said their machines have been running 14 hours each day. 'It's been a dream come true,' said Cameron, who watched with teary eyes as 15,225 of her towels were waving inside the arena when she attended Game 1 of the opening round. 'As a First Nation-owned company, we don't get these opportunities. So for us, it's unheard of.' The partnership began after Cameron met Jets co-owner Mark Chipman at a local event a few years ago. A coffee meeting followed and she pitched the company's growing capacity. 'He was impressed by our story of growth and wanted to work with an Indigenous company,' Cameron said. 'The opportunity came and we seized it.' Dreamcatcher Promotions started printing different Jets-branded T-shirts and hats, and the partnership has blossomed ever since. 'Because of the tariffs, it was important the Jets supported Canadian and local, and that's why 'printed locally' is also on the towels. Annabella Maguet wasn't just waving the towels — she was wearing them Sunday. Maguet collected several towels from Games 1, 2 and 5, enough to fashion her own Whiteout-themed pants and jacket. 'After Game 1, I saw one of my friend's moms, who had made pants from old whiteout towels, and I thought it was such a good idea, so I kind of re-created her look,' she said. She didn't stop there, however. After Game 5, Maguet and her mother, Carolyn, managed to find a few more, enough to sew together the matching jacket. 'I got so many compliments, and so many people were asking if I would sell to them or how much I was charging for them, which is funny, because I'm not really a seamstress,' she said. 'I just fix up my family's clothes and my brother's hockey gear.' Sunday night's thrills rippled south down Carlton Street, and hung a right on Broadway, leading to the Manitoba legislature. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'I left a good chunk of my voice (at the game), but I will always be able to say: 'Go Jets go!' and 'We want the cup!' said Premier Wab Kinew during Monday's question period, repeating the chant three times to cheers from the assembly. SUPPLIED New Progressive Conservative Leader and former Blue Bombers offensive lineman Obby Khan also took a moment to salute the moment. 'Go Jets go!' he said while referring to the 'incredible overtime action.' — With files from Maggie Macintosh. Even KFC is leaning into the playoff energy, embracing a long-running local meme that ties its acronym to the Winnipeg Jets' leading scorer. The brand, which partnered with the Jets earlier this season, is playing along with fans who've dubbed Kyle Connor 'Kyle F—-ing Connor' for years. 'It became very clear to us how much Jets fans love 'KFC', with many rocking their own version of KFC bucket hats with Kyle's face pasted on,' said Lauren Pottie, a senior manager at KFC Canada. 'So the KFC-KFC connection really was borne out of that and with the playoffs, we knew this was the time to celebrate these local rituals and go all in.' Pottie said the partnership between the Jets and the fried chicken giant is about connecting with the local culture and the fans. Connor has been working with the brand, they said. 'We do have plans beyond this ad campaign to enrich the game day experience of Jets fans,' Pottie said. 'We've partnered with local creators and huge Jets fans to build on the momentum and excitement that surrounds these playoffs.' That includes some unique KFC swag to help fans cheer on the Jets and Connor at an upcoming game, Pottie said. Details on that are still to come. Scott BilleckReporter Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott. Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Hamilton Spectator
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Disrespectful and stupid': BSOM candidates condemn sign vandalism
On election day, an X is supposed to be used to endorse a candidate. This week, it was used to negate one. Sometime Sunday night or Monday morning, a number of signs belonging to Rose Zacharias, the Liberal candidate for Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medont, were spray-painted with a large blue X across both sides. Oro-Medonte Coun. John Bard sent BarrieToday an email advising that multiple Liberal signs on Bass Lake Sideroad had been spray painted with blue Xs. 'Very discouraging,' he said. Allan Baker, an Oro-Medonte resident who lives near the hamlet of Jarratt, said someone drove to his property Sunday night after dark, around 9 p.m., and stopped at the end of his laneway. He thought it was someone dropping something off in his mailbox. When Baker went to check a half-hour later, he noticed the Zacharias sign on his property was damaged, a large blue X spray-painted on both sides. He called the actions 'disrespectful and stupid.' Baker said another Zacharias sign down the street was also vandalized. 'It's unfortunate that some sought to resort to such tactics in the final days of the campaign, but neither myself nor my team were intimidated,' Zacharias said in a text to BarrieToday on Thursday night. 'We stayed focused, respectful and positive to the very end.' Orillia OPP confirmed one call was made to report the vandalism and advised that if a suspect was found, they could be charged with mischief. Doug Shipley, the Conservative candidate who won another term in the Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte riding on Monday night, said he was disappointed but not surprised to hear about the vandalism. 'It takes a tremendous amount of money, time and effort to do campaign signs and I have never been involved in a campaign, municipal or federal, where my signs weren't damaged, stolen, moved or vandalized,' he said. A veteran of six elections going back 15 years, the former Barrie city councillor said the vandalism casts a shadow over the candidates as the public assumes it was one of the other campaigns that caused the damage. 'I would say 99.9 per cent of the time, it's not someone involved with another candidate's campaign — it's kids or vandals,' he said. 'People who are involved in campaigns know how much money they cost and, I think overall, they respect that.' Shipley said he talks to the other candidates about signs at the outset of a campaign. 'I called Rose at the start of this campaign and told her, 'stuff is going to happen to your campaign signs, stuff will happen with my campaign signs and you have my word, anything that happens to your campaign signs is not done by me or anybody associated with our campaign,'' he said. Despite being a ubiquitous part of any election campaign, Shipley said he could live without lawn signs. He said they're expensive, they cause a lot of litter, they're not great for the environment and he's not sure they make that much of an impact when it comes to swaying a potential voter. 'Honestly, if someone passed a bylaw and said no more campaign signs, I think most campaigns would be happy with it because they're just a lot of work, a lot of money and I don't know how much they really do,' he said. Shipley and 28 campaign volunteers spent Tuesday driving all over Barrie, Springwater and Oro-Medonte removing election signs. While Springwater Mayor Jennifer Coughlin wouldn't go as far as Shipley does in recommending a complete ban on election lawn signs, she would support getting election signs off public property. 'Private property only,' she said. 'If you want to put up a sign, go and get the property owner's permission.' In addition to ensuring every sign is authorized by property owners it would also save the township money and staff time. After the 2022 municipal election, Coughlin said, bylaw enforcement spent numerous hours driving the entirety of the township's 536 kilometres of roads, removing 290 election signs in the process. However, it might not solve the vandalism problem. The sign that was defaced on Baker's property was at the end of his laneway 'Sign wars are symptomatic of the most current and one of the most divisive components of society — politics,' he said. 'The bar for political ethics and behaviour in North America seems to have reached a new low. 'Sadly, very little respect for anyone,' he added. Springwater Deputy Mayor George Cabral agreed. He said there used to be a time when we looked after each other, respected each other, respected property that was not ours and obeyed the rule of law. 'There's been a huge negative swing this last decade in the handing out of moral compasses, integrity, civic responsibility and respecting the communities where we live,' he said in an email to BarrieToday. 'Then, of course, there is the root cause of vandalism, including that of election signs, and it is the progressive lack of respect for people and property, coupled with this sense in some individuals that they need not worry any longer about being held accountable for their actions,' Cabral added. 'And this attitude is unfortunately becoming ever more prevalent being driven in this new world of intense social media world where bad behaviour can and often does get applauded.'
Associated Press
12-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Crop Insurers Release 2024 Results as 2025 Sales Closing Date Nears
With the March 17 deadline approaching for farmers to purchase crop insurance for spring seeded crops like corn and soybeans, National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) released results of a near-record year in 2024. Farmers and ranchers spent more than $6 billion from their own pockets in 2024 to purchase 2.4 million crop insurance policies, which provided $159 billion in protection against weather and market losses, according to NCIS. Nationwide, 543,753,123 acres of farm and ranchland were covered in 2024 – or nine out of 10 eligible acres. That's up dramatically from just five years ago, when fewer than 379 million acres were insured. The states with the most coverage included Iowa (22.4 million acres, $16.3 billion liability protection); Illinois (20.1 million acres, $14.5 billion liability protection); California (17.1 million acres, $12.5 billion liability protection); Minnesota (18.1 million acres, $10.9 billion liability protection); and Nebraska (24.7 million acres, $10.4 billion liability protection). 'Thankfully our farmers and ranchers had high levels of protection in a 2024,' said NCIS President Tom Zacharias. 'For example, crop insurers delivered more than $800 million in indemnity payments within two weeks of last year's deadly hurricanes, making it among the first meaningful money to arrive after Milton and Helene.' Total indemnity checks delivered nationwide in 2024 is still being calculated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture but already totals $12.8 billion. Zacharias urged agricultural producers to contact their crop insurance agents by the March 17 sales closing date to review their operations' past performance and design a crop insurance plan tailored specifically for the upcoming crop year. 'Crop insurers are offering more risk management products than ever and investing heavily in technology and training to speed delivery to America's farmers and ranchers if disaster strikes,' he concluded. NCIS is the only organization that represents all companies authorized to offer crop insurance in the United States. It supports the industry in both the state and federally regulated lines of business and provides research and actuarial and analytical support to insurers. More information about crop insurance can be found at SOURCE: National Crop Insurance Services Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 03/12/2025 08:10 AM/DISC: 03/12/2025 08:10 AM
