Latest news with #communication
Washington Post
an hour ago
- General
- Washington Post
Miss Manners: Stop with the group texts
Dear Miss Manners: I shared a cute photo of my daughter with several other mothers by creating a group text. It was a single picture of my daughter, not a mile-long text exchange. One of the mothers texted me separately not to include her in a text chain with people she does not know and then exited the group.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Communication is magical': Camp Bruce at ISU helps young people with significant needs
Four-year-old Karson Morge got to work his magic during Camp Bruce at Indiana State University. Magician Jason Brewer needed an assistant, and Morge stepped up to the task on Thursday. At first, Brewer showed his audience that his 'magic coloring book' was incomplete because all the pages were blank. But when Morge took some special wands, and did a little magic dance, the coloring book had colored pictures in it. Later, with Morge's assistance, the pictures disappeared —like magic. Morge was one of 16 children participating this week in Camp Bruce, which is for individuals with significant communication needs. Many of the campers are nonverbal and received assistance from ISU graduate students on how to better use communication devices. The theme for this year's Camp Bruce, which completed its 14th year, was 'Communication is magical.' The four-day program took place at ISU's Bayh College of Education. It is conducted by camp director April Newton, who also is a speech pathologist for the Vigo County School Corp. and teaches a graduate class at ISU called augmentative and alternative communication or AAC. For the graduate students, the camp provides a hands-on experience for them toward the end of the course, Newton said. Nineteen graduate students assisted with Camp Bruce this year. Campers benefit in many ways, as well. 'It's such a great experience for those kids, and they really benefit by seeing other kids using communication devices,' Newton said. 'They may be the only one in their school that uses it.' In addition, the campers 'make friends. They make connections,' Newton said. The kids rotate through different stations planned by the graduate students. This year, it included a magic room with science experiments; arts and crafts; and games. On Thursday, campers enjoyed a glow room that offered glow-in-the-dark bowling, hop scotch and ring toss; they also could receive tattoos that glowed in the dark. Among the campers this week was Caroline Barnett, age 5, who attended Camp Bruce for the first time. She received assistance in how to better use her communication device, an Accent 1000 eye gaze. Eye gaze technology uses specialized cameras that enable those with physical disabilities to control a computer using eye movements. Her mother, Madalyn Barnett, said, the camp 'has been amazing. She's had a great time and definitely gained some friendships and great experience learning with her tablet. They also have parent programs where we can learn more about their devices as well.' Thursday, the culminating day of camp, was also sibling day and Caroline's brother, Noah, participated in activities — and he was another who helped during Jason Brewer's magic show. It was Karson Morge's first year at Camp Bruce, said his grandmother, Rose Marie Morge, who was present for Thursday's culminating event in which campers received certificates and watched a video that highlighted their week at camp. 'I think it's a great resource for families to help with children work with these devices,' she said. Karson has looked forward to camp each day. Erica Barker, an ISU graduate student in speech language pathology, has worked closely with Karson during Camp Bruce. 'It's really awesome. We're obviously helping the students with their AAC devices and from my perspective as a graduate student, we are currently in an AAC class as well, so it's been really nice to take the information we are learning in class and apply it here in camp,' Barker said. Also, 'It's so rewarding to be making an impact on the children here by helping them use their devices,' said Barker, who is from Richmond. Veteran Camp Bruce camper Jack Magnuson proudly showed his glow-in-the-dark tattoos and shared that one of his favorite parts of camp was an interactive good-bye song at the end of each day. The program is funded through ARC of the Wabash Valley.
BreakingNews.ie
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Sophie Ellis-Bextor says she discusses toxic masculinity with her five sons
Pop singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor has said she has 'a lot of faith' in her five sons and has chatted to them about toxic masculinity. The Murder On The Dancefloor singer, 46, is mother to Mickey, Jesse, Ray, Kit and Sonny, whom she shares with her husband, musician Richard Jones. Advertisement Ellis-Bextor said while she will 'keep an eye on' their mobile phones, she does not demonise things that could 'shut down communication'. Sophie Ellis-Bextor appears in Good Housekeeping UK's August issue (Chris Craymer/Good Housekeeping UK) In recent months the success of hit Netflix show Adolescence has sparked conversations around misogyny among young boys online and the radicalisation of young men, with the creators discussing the topic in Parliament in April. Ellis-Bextor told Good Housekeeping UK: 'I've always had a lot of faith in my boys. We've openly chatted about toxic masculinity for a long time. 'My eldest is very articulate about these things, so none of it was new to my house. Sometimes people have an idea of what boys are like, as if they're a different species. Advertisement 'As I far as I'm concerned, I'm raising five people who happen to be boys. I keep an eye on (mobile phone screen time), because that's parenting, but if you start demonising things, you shut down communication. 'Then you're like those parents in the 1950s who made kids burn their rock 'n' roll albums.' Speaking about her husband, Ellis-Bextor added: 'When we got married, we'd already had our first baby. 'My mum said: 'Make sure you always choose each other over anything else, even the kids.' She was right. Even though the kids might roll their eyes if they see us hugging or whatever, they're happy that we're happy. Advertisement 'We have fun as a family, too. Last year, they came with us for a lot of the tour.' Sophie Ellis-Bextor discusses life with five sons in Good Housekeeping UK (Chris Craymer/Good Housekeeping UK) The singer also discussed her forthcoming album, Perimenopop, a play on the words perimenopause and pop. 'There's still this idea that only young people make pop music,' she said. 'As soon as I had the new album title, I felt like, 'Now I can literally be myself.' Advertisement 'This album is about poking fun at this gloomy chapter and the narrative around it that women should be quietening down and becoming invisible… I don't feel like that at all.' The full interview can be read now in the August issue of Good Housekeeping UK.
Associated Press
9 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Zipline Launches Exclusive AI Insights Beta Program to Empower the Frontline with Real-Time Intelligence
SAN FRANCISCO , CA, UNITED STATES, June 27, 2025 / / -- Zipline, the leading platform for retail communication, execution, and training today announced the launch of its Exclusive AI Insights Beta Program at its annual user conference, Summer Camp. This cutting-edge initiative brings powerful intelligence to the frontlines, harnessing AI to decode signals from millions of daily actions across tasking, messaging, training, and compliance, transforming them into actionable insights. Retail is fast-paced, complex, and constantly shifting. Store teams work across languages, shifts, and geographies, and frontline managers are under pressure to do more with less. In this dynamic environment, operational noise is high and clarity is rare. Zipline's AI Insights Beta addresses this head-on by surfacing what matters most, when it matters most. 'As we continue to evolve our platform, intelligence is quickly proving to be a force multiplier for our customers,' said Meagan Sobol, Senior VP of Product. 'By analyzing real-world usage data, we uncover recurring patterns which help us understand how the best operators communicate, execute tasks, and adapt to change. Those insights inform our ability to solve the unique complexities of retail, giving Zipline a clear competitive edge. We're already seeing promising results from early beta participants, and we can't wait to share more.' Insights from the Frontlines The beta program is already revealing breakthrough patterns that were previously invisible to most retailers. These insights include: - Which types of content drive action versus which stall workflows - Where engagement most strongly correlates with successful outcomes -How to proactively identify execution blockers before they impact the business By connecting frontline behaviors to measurable outcomes, Zipline is helping retailers translate engagement into revenue impact, operational efficiency, and time savings at scale. This level of visibility and insight into real-world performance is shaping a new standard for how retail brands drive execution, and it's a key reason why Zipline stands apart in the market. 'We're seeing how intelligence can reduce inefficiencies, increase speed-to-action, and ultimately drive revenue at scale,' said Nerea Ruiz de Gauna de Santiago, Lead Data Scientist. 'It's incredibly rewarding to watch our models identify signals that aren't obvious to humans, and to do so in ways that drive measurable impact.' Expanding the Beta, Raising the Bar Because of the strong early outcomes, Zipline is expanding the AI Insights Beta to more customers. This expansion reflects Zipline's commitment to rigorously validating new capabilities before releasing them to the broader market. This dedication to product excellence is one reason Zipline continues to lead the industry with a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 89, which is well above the industry benchmark. 'We believe great products come from great partnerships,' said Meagan Sobol, Senior VP of Product. 'By inviting customers into the development process, we not only deliver better outcomes, we also build tools that feel intuitive, powerful, and built for the way frontline teams actually work.' Learn more about Zipline's platform and AI-powered insights. About Zipline Zipline is the leading platform for frontline execution and communication. Purpose-built by retail veterans, Zipline helps more than 150 of the world's best brands — including Sephora, The Fresh Market, and AEO Inc.— bring their brand strategies to life in stores. By unifying task management, communication, learning, and operational insights, Zipline Keeps Today On Track for field leaders, store managers, and frontline associates alike. Consistently recognized for excellence, Zipline holds an industry-leading Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 89, a 4.9/5 customer satisfaction rating, and was named Overall Store Management Platform of the Year by the Retail Breakthrough Awards. Zipline was also recognized as a Top 100 B2B Retail Tech Company by CB Insights. Dan Parker Zipline [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
13 'Micro' Rejections That Are Killing Your Marriage
It's easy to dismiss certain habits in a relationship as no big deal. A sarcastic jab here, a little white lie there—after all, nobody's perfect. However, some of the most damaging behaviors don't present themselves as dramatic red flags; they creep in subtly and erode the connection over time. You chalk it up to stress, personality quirks, or just 'how things are,' until the intimacy starts to evaporate quietly. The truth? What you overlook now might be what breaks you later. It feels playful, even flirty—those quick-witted jabs and ironic comments that pass for banter. But when sarcasm becomes your baseline mode of interaction, it can leave one or both partners feeling misunderstood or belittled. What's framed as 'just a joke' can chip away at trust, especially if it touches on insecurities or emotional sore spots. Over time, the line between humor and hostility blurs, and what once felt like fun starts to feel like avoidance. Many couples use sarcasm as a way to avoid vulnerability. It creates emotional distance while preserving the illusion of closeness. But relationships built on mutual safety don't thrive in a space filled with passive digs and veiled criticism. According to psychologist Clifford N. Lazarus, Ph.D., sarcasm can subtly undermine trust and create a barrier to genuine communication, making it a clever mask for resentment that doesn't go unnoticed. In a world dominated by screens, it's alarmingly easy to give your phone more attention than your partner. The allure of instant information, work emails, or social media notifications can seduce you away from meaningful face-to-face interactions. When screen time consistently takes precedence, the message is clear: your partner isn't as important as the digital world. This micro-rejection chips away at the sense of being valued, leaving your partner feeling second-best. This silent dismissal can lead to a slow but steady erosion of intimacy. When your partner feels like they're competing with a device for your attention, it breeds frustration and resentment. The antidote is simple yet profound—be present. Put down your phone, look them in the eyes, and engage in the art of conversation, treating their presence as something sacred and worthy of your full attention. It's easy to take for granted the little things your partner does each day, from doing the dishes to picking up the kids. These might seem mundane, but acknowledging them is crucial for sustaining a positive connection. Research by Amie M. Gordon from the University of California, Berkeley, shows that expressing gratitude is linked to higher relationship satisfaction. Recognizing these efforts is more than just politeness; it's a powerful way to communicate respect and appreciation. When these daily acts go unnoticed, it sends a subtle message of indifference. Over time, your partner might feel unappreciated and invisible, leading to a slow erosion of goodwill. Reversing this trend is easy—it starts with a simple acknowledgment. A heartfelt thank you can transform the mundane into a gesture of love, reinforcing the bond between you. Difficult conversations are, by nature, uncomfortable. But avoiding them is a silent marriage killer, allowing issues to fester unchecked. When you sidestep uncomfortable topics, you're inadvertently telling your partner that their concerns aren't worth addressing. This avoidance fosters a culture of silence, where underlying problems are never resolved and resentment has space to grow. Engaging in these discussions requires courage and a willingness to be vulnerable. It's about creating a safe space where both partners can express their emotions without fear of judgment. While it might feel easier to sweep things under the rug, doing so only postpones the inevitable. Embrace the discomfort as an opportunity to grow closer, transforming conflict into connection. Physical touch is an essential component of intimacy, but it often becomes one of the first casualties in a busy life. A lack of spontaneous hugs, kisses, or hand-holding can leave your partner feeling unloved and undesired. According to a study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, regular physical affection is positively correlated with relationship satisfaction and stability. When physical touch dwindles, it doesn't just signal a cooling of passion—it speaks to a deeper disconnect. The absence of affection can create a void that grows over time, leading to feelings of loneliness within the relationship. It's crucial to remember that touch is a language of its own, speaking volumes where words might fail. Reignite this physical connection with small gestures that show love and care. A simple touch can convey warmth, reassurance, and a sense of belonging, revitalizing the emotional bond. Everyone wants to feel heard, understood, and validated. When you dismiss your partner's emotions, you're telling them that their feelings don't matter. This rejection can be as subtle as an eye roll or as overt as changing the subject. Over time, these dismissals accumulate, creating a chasm of misunderstanding and resentment. Empathy, not judgment, is the antidote to emotional dismissal. Make a conscious effort to listen actively and validate your partner's feelings, even if you don't agree with them. Communication is about more than just words; it's about connection and understanding. By honoring your partner's emotional world, you affirm their worth and strengthen the relational foundation. Couples often share burdens, but joy needs to be shared as well. Celebrating each other's successes, no matter how small, is vital for a thriving relationship. Positive psychologist Shelley Gable, Ph.D., found that sharing good news with your partner can boost relationship satisfaction and intimacy. When you fail to celebrate joyful moments, you miss an opportunity to build positive memories and reinforce your connection. Neglecting to share joy can make life feel monotonous, draining the relationship of excitement and vitality. Make it a point to celebrate each milestone, whether it's a work achievement or a personal victory. These moments of shared happiness act as glue, binding you together through good times and bad. Invite joy into your relationship, and watch it flourish. Criticism is easy, but it's often destructive. When critiques are framed harshly, even with the best intentions, they can feel like personal attacks. Over time, constant criticism erodes self-esteem and damages the relational bond. What begins as an attempt to improve can quickly devolve into a cycle of defensiveness and hurt feelings. Constructive critique, on the other hand, is a form of support. It involves focusing on behaviors and offering solutions rather than attacking the person. Approach conversations with empathy and a genuine desire to help your partner grow. This approach fosters a collaborative environment where both partners feel valued and respected. Grudges are like emotional clutter, taking up space and weighing down the heart. When you hold onto past grievances, you prevent healing and growth. This emotional baggage can stifle the relationship, leading to a persistent undercurrent of tension and resentment. The energy spent on maintaining these grudges could be redirected towards healing and reconnection. Letting go of grudges requires a conscious decision to forgive and move forward. It's not about forgetting the hurt but about choosing peace over continued conflict. This process involves open communication and a willingness to understand each other's perspectives. By releasing these emotional anchors, you create space for growth and renewed intimacy. Vulnerability is the cornerstone of intimacy, yet it often feels risky. By withholding your true feelings, you create a barrier to deeper connection. Your partner might sense this reluctance but not understand its source, leading to misunderstanding and distance. The irony is that by avoiding vulnerability, you protect yourself from pain while simultaneously denying yourself true closeness. Embracing vulnerability means opening up about your fears, hopes, and dreams. It's about letting your partner see the real you, unfiltered and authentic. This openness invites reciprocity, encouraging your partner to share their vulnerabilities as well. In this mutual exchange, you build a resilient bond that can weather life's inevitable challenges. Emotional labor is the invisible work of caring for the emotional well-being of others. When one partner consistently manages the emotional landscape of the relationship without acknowledgment, it leads to burnout and resentment. This invisible effort is often undervalued, leaving the burdened partner feeling unappreciated and exhausted. Over time, this imbalance erodes the foundation of the partnership. Recognition and redistribution of emotional labor are key to maintaining relational balance. Start by acknowledging the work your partner does to maintain a healthy emotional relationship. Engage in open conversations about sharing this responsibility equitably. By valuing and participating in emotional labor, you create a partnership characterized by mutual respect and shared effort. Boundaries with others safeguard the intimacy between you and your partner. Failing to establish these limits can open the door to external influences that disrupt your relationship harmony. This could be in the form of an overbearing family, demanding work obligations, or friendships that overstep. Without boundaries, your partner may feel sidelined and undervalued. Establishing boundaries is an act of love and respect for your relationship. It involves clear communication and a united front in prioritizing your partnership. By actively protecting your shared space, you affirm its importance and strengthen your bond. Boundaries are not barriers but bridges to deeper connection and understanding. Expecting your partner to intuitively know your needs or desires sets the stage for disappointment. When these unspoken expectations go unmet, it breeds frustration and disconnect. This assumption disregards the complexity of human communication and the uniqueness of individual perspectives. Over time, the gap between expectation and reality widens, leading to resentment. Clear and open communication is the antidote to mind-reading assumptions. Share your thoughts, needs, and desires explicitly with your partner. This practice not only clarifies misunderstandings but also enriches the relationship by building trust and intimacy. By articulating your inner world, you invite your partner to know you, fostering a deeper connection.
