#diversity assessment tool

[stepseduworldblog]

Unlocking Opportunities: How a Trusted Education & Career Coach Facilitates Study in the UK

In the vibrant city of Dubai, where innovation meets tradition, the journey of Trusted Education & Career Coaches and consultants unfolds with promising opportunities and transformative innovations. As Dubai continues to position itself as a global hub for education and business, students in the region are witnessing a dynamic evolution in the way they learn, explore career paths, and prepare for the future. In this blog post, we delve into the multifaceted aspects of education and career opportunities for Dubai students, from emerging trends in learning to the diverse pathways in the professional realm.

Virtual Reality Classrooms: Stepping into Tomorrow

Imagine students donning VR headsets, transported to ancient civilizations or exploring molecular structures up close. Virtual reality classrooms are revolutionizing learning, turning textbooks into immersive experiences. In Dubai, where innovation is a way of life, VR classrooms are poised to reshape traditional learning paradigms.

One of the defining characteristics of modern education in Dubai is the integration of cutting-edge technologies that enhance learning experiences. Virtual reality (VR) classrooms have emerged as a game-changer, offering students immersive and interactive environments that transcend traditional teaching methods. Imagine a history lesson where students can virtually visit ancient civilizations or a science class where they explore complex molecular structures up close. VR classrooms not only make learning engaging but also foster deeper understanding and retention of concepts.

[mineaction]

Strengthening Shared Understanding on the Impact of the ATT in Addressing Risks of Diversion in Arms Transfers: A Compendium of Key Resources and Tools.

During 2020–22, the Consortium produced three Issue Briefs and launched a new Counter-Diversion Assessment Tool. This body of research aims at contributing to tackling diversion risks associated with poorly regulated arms transfers at the national, regional and multilateral levels and at informing the development of good policies and practices within the framework of the ATT and other relevant instruments. The Compendium presents key recommendations, resources and tools from the 4 publications mentioned above. It aims at providing a light overview of this work and an introduction to some of its key themes and findings.

[bestusaplumbingservice]

Navigating Plumbing Emergencies: A Comprehensive Guide to USA Plumbing Service Solutions

When unexpected plumbing issues strike, it can be a stressful experience for any homeowner. Leaky pipes, clogged drains, or malfunctioning water heaters can disrupt daily routines and lead to potential damage if not addressed promptly. In such crucial moments, having a reliable USA Plumbing Service at your disposal becomes paramount.

The USA Plumbing Service industry has evolved to meet the diverse needs of homeowners across the country. These professional services are equipped to handle a wide range of plumbing emergencies efficiently and effectively. Let's explore the comprehensive solutions they offer in times of crisis.

1. **Prompt Response:** One of the key advantages of relying on a reputable USA Plumbing Service is their swift response to emergencies. Whether it's a burst pipe or a sudden sewer backup, these professionals understand the urgency and act promptly to minimize damage and inconvenience. Their 24/7 availability ensures that assistance is just a phone call away, providing homeowners with much-needed peace of mind.

2. **Expert Diagnosis:** USA Plumbing Service oviders bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. When faced with a plumbing emergency, their skilled technicians conduct thorough assessments to identify the root cause of the issue. This diagnostic approach allows them to implement precise solutions, preventing recurring problems and ensuring a long-lasting fix.

3. **Comprehensive Repairs:** The term "emergency" implies the need for immediate and effective solutions. USA Plumbing Service professionals are well-equipped to handle a variety of repairs, from sealing leaks and replacing damaged pipes to unclogging stubborn drains. Their comprehensive approach addresses not only the visible symptoms but also the underlying issues, preventing future complications.

4. **State-of-the-Art Equipment:** To tackle plumbing emergencies efficiently, USA Plumbing Service providers leverage advanced tools and equipment. Whether it's using high-pressure hydro-jetting to clear stubborn blockages or employing sophisticated leak detection technology, these professionals utilize cutting-edge resources to deliver top-notch service.

5. **Transparent Communication:** A reliable USA Plumbing Service understands the importance of clear communication with homeowners. From explaining the nature of the problem to detailing the proposed solutions and associated costs, transparency is a hallmark of their service. This ensures that homeowners are well-informed and can make decisions based on a complete understanding of the situation.

In conclusion, when plumbing emergencies arise, enlisting the help of a reputable USA Plumbing Service is a wise decision. Their prompt response, expert diagnosis, comprehensive repairs, state-of-the-art equipment, and transparent communication make them invaluable partners in resolving plumbing issues swiftly and effectively. By having a reliable USA Plumbing Service on standby, homeowners can navigate emergencies with confidence, knowing that skilled professionals are ready to provide the necessary solutions.

[dei360]

Diversity Officers Must Have These Four Qualities

Google, known for having its finger on the pulse of the future, has an employee base that is only 2% black and 3% Hispanic. Apple, also known for building our future, has an employee base that is 70% male. These indisputable stats show that ethnic , racial , and gender imbalance are prominent in the U.S., despite best intentions.

Yet 92% of the net workforce growth over the next two decades will come from immigrants and their children. And according to census data, by 2050 there will be no racial or ethnic majority in the United States. So can organizations really survive without employing large swaths of the population? Future-focused leaders know the answer is no. They also know the well-documented value of having a diverse workforce.

In my last post, we discussed what these future-focused leaders already know—that attracting and retaining diverse talent is a strategic priority. Many are tackling this priority by adding a diversity officer to their leadership teams. This type of position is relatively new and leaves some organizations confused. What does a person in this role actually do? What kind of candidate is the best fit? Where does this role fit in the organizational structure?

Today I will answer those questions to help organizations see diversity officers as a real and necessary asset.

What Does a Diversity Officer Actually Do?

To better understand the role, here is eBay’s job description for a “Director, Diversity & Inclusion Programs,” a brand new position at the company. Director, Diversity & Inclusion Programs in San Jose, California

This role will assist in coordinating efforts to help members of eBay’s globally diverse workforce feel connected to eBay and will continue to make progress on the goal of creating an even more welcoming, and inclusive community. eBay seeks candidates whose education, perspectives, and experience enable them to provide vision, leadership and counsel on matters of diversity and inclusion, collaborate across functions to create a welcoming and respectful environment that embraces diversity as a dimension of excellence, and promotes a culture of openness and inclusion as we build the new eBay. The ideal candidate will have experience in the field; strong visibility and network; demonstrated experience in advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives and programs within a complex organization; possess administrative and programmatic experience including strategic planning and working within a budget; have a record of success in facilitating effective partnerships with and between constituencies; be experienced in large-scale change projects; and show proven success in—or aptitude for— external relations, communications, and development

Job Requirements:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Help to establish diversity and inclusion excellence as core values throughout all aspects of the population, and business practices, and in support of eBay’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action.

This individual will assist in diversity-oriented programs and initiatives, including the implementation of a strategic plan for diversity, inclusion, and giving programs.

Maintain strong collaborative working relationships among cross-functional teams.

Provide planning and implementation of a company-wide platform to ensure diversity, equity, and respect for all employees.

Aid in the ongoing progress of Diversity/Inclusion Working Groups, Communities of Interest and Inclusion, committees, and councils that enhance the understanding and bridge differences up, down, and across the Company.

Promote an inclusive work environment by supporting employee-initiated initiatives, and resource development, and provide advocacy for affinity groups that support initiatives promoting broader learning that is diverse and inclusive.

Promote a positive image and positive external relations for the Company by communicating and interacting with city, state, and other officials in matters related to eBay’s diversity efforts.

Collaborate with senior leaders (CHRO, President, Exec Leadership Team) to integrate diversity and equity practices into institutional employment and workplace practices including business practices and programs in support of eBay’s commitment to equal opportunity and affirmative action. Ensure compliance with applicable federal/state laws, policies, and procedures (e.g. Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity, Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, etc.).

Help drive diverse talent identification and retention strategies for our global employee population.

Assist with preparing a variety of reports and correspondence, including but not limited to employment, equity, and diversity/inclusion activities required by state and federal agencies.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Proven ability to:

Articulate thought leadership and a clear point of view

Navigate ambiguous situations successfully

Manage and execute complex projects, milestones, deliverables

Assist in developing executive presentations

Facilitate dialogue across multiple business units, functions, geographies

Excellent command of contemporary diversity, equity, inclusion, and multiculturalism concepts and issues

The ability to research, identify and implement best practices of diversity and inclusion

The ability to work effectively and collaboratively across a complex organization

Documentable evidence of negotiation skills and work with a wide range of constituencies

Bachelor’s degree required; Graduate degree is highly desirable, with qualifying experience

Candidates will possess at least 7-9 years of progressive responsibility in administration, preferably in a fast-paced, high-tech environment

Looking at this job description, you see words like connected, welcoming, vision, leadership, counsel, collaborate, development, core values, giving, relationships, collaborative, bridge differences, and positive image. These words hint toward a candidate with high emotional intelligence and empathy skills.

Yet you also find words like strategic, complex, programmatic, administrative, budgets, effective partnerships, reports, correspondence, talent identification, institutional employment practices, business practices, retention strategies, and councils. These words suggest a high level of business acumen and administration experience.

It’s a tall order. Can you imagine the ideal person for this role? I propose that successful diversity officers have the following four qualities.

Successful Diversity Officers Have the Following Four Qualities

1.    HIGH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

This role requires emotional intelligence and empathy. Working with people who are unable, and often unwilling, to see their own biases takes a skilled and sensitive communicator. And communicating with multicultural groups, some feeling discriminated against, requires excellent listening skills, a core strength of a person with a high EQ.

2. ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET

Despite the EEOC and affirmative action plans, the U.S. still hasn’t balanced racial, ethnic, or gender inequality. A diversity leader must think outside the box because the box is what is holding these biased structures in place. With an entrepreneurial mindset, a person in this role will be able to approach problems creatively and search for innovative solutions.

3. CHAMPION OF PURPOSE-DRIVEN STRATEGY AND CULTURE

A more diverse workforce can be a boon to the bottom line. Sodexo reports that for every dollar they spend on mentorship programs, they get two dollars back. But measuring success simply on profit and loss is too limiting for diversity officers. They must also prioritize the personal development of employees and help create a sense of purpose in order to align the culture with its diversity and inclusion efforts.

4. LIFELONG LEARNER

The diversity officer position is new to the business world. That means the role is still developing and evolving. There is no set path; the officer will need to be constantly learning in order to face such systemic and long-held issues. There are quickly evolving technologies, like big data, that can help organizations facing a lack of diversity. A strong diversity officer will be aware of the available tools and resources and also learn the new tools and resources just around the bend.

In fact, all future leaders need these four qualities to thrive. The stale, pale, and male leadership contingency is not ideal for the (very different) future of work

Where Does a Diversity Officer Fit in the Organizational Structure?

Now you’ve seen an example of a diversity officer job description and a list of qualities a successful candidate must have. So where does a diversity officer fit in the organizational structure? This really depends on your current organization chart. Most diversity officers are located within the human resources (HR) department, which may or may not be the ideal place. Why? Because HR can be seen as more tactical than strategic and may not have a seat at the C-suite table. That is not to say that a diversity officer shouldn’t be part of the HR team. Some organizations have robust, strategic HR teams that are highly involved with the C-suite.

Holding Top Leadership Accountable for Bias is Not Always Easy

However, think about the fact that the diversity officer has to sit down with top leadership and hold them accountable for any (likely, unconscious) biases they may be perpetuating in the company culture or systems. That’s not always an easy thing to do, especially when numbers are tanking. The reality is a discrimination lawsuit won’t help the numbers either. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) secures about $404 million from employers each year. Ten percent of these cases result in $1 million settlements. If you’re talking about numbers, diversity initiatives are definitely a C-suite concern. So wherever you place your diversity office, make sure she or he is empowered enough to have real influence in the organization.

How important do you think the educational background is for a diversity officer candidate? What educational background would you expect in a candidate? I’d love to hear your opinion.

Let us share experiences. Leave a comment below, send us an email, or find us on Twitter.

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[gatheringbones]

[“A trans gaze can be an incredibly productive historiographical tool. A trans gaze is what allows us to look at a case of historical gender nonconformity and remain open to the full spectrum of possibilities it represents. A trans gaze is what allows us to read about an individual wearing a mixture of male- and female-coded clothing, and ask, ‘But what did that feel like?’ A trans gaze is what allows us to accept and take seriously the fact that a person’s gender can be a spiritual or sexual experience, in a way we can’t empathise with – or, indeed, that what looks like gender sometimes isn’t at all – because we know first-hand how it feels when people don’t take seriously how we articulate our selves. This is the gaze that I hope will continue to transform the way we think about the past.

The simple precept of knowing people on their own terms can transform more than history; it also has the power to liberate us in the present. I’ve shown throughout this book that the way we think about gender today is not natural or traditional but constructed and contingent; gender has always been open to disruption and challenge. This in itself is an important, potentially transformative realisation. But imagine if, alongside this, we could simply trust people to know their gendered selves – without prior assumptions, without constraining frameworks, without structures of assessment or judgement. When Faye argues that ‘The liberation of trans people would improve the lives of everyone in our society’; when Feinberg argues that ‘when [trans] lives are suppressed, everyone is denied an understanding of the rich diversity of sex and gender expression and experience that exist in human society’; this, I think, is key to what they mean.

People often ask me if I think we should aim for a future without gender, and while I usually feel a tinge of frustration at this kind of speculative enquiry (maybe we should, but we have gender now, so how do we pursue trans liberation in this society?), I always say that while the experience of having a gender is important to many people, there are lots of things about institutionalised, state-sanctioned gender that we could certainly do without. As Malatino puts it, ‘There are genders and there is Gender and I believe we can have the former without the latter’]

kit heyam, from before we were trans: a new history of gender, 2022

[srbachchan]

DAY 5782

Jalsa, Mumbai Dec 16/17, 2023 Sat/Sun 1:51 AM

I tried , but could not .. so up and about and here with the most desired .. my Ef .. in non sleep condition ..

when work is absent , the desire is absent too .. to be occupied, to contribute to do some work differently or bring change ..

OR

study ..

With time now there is keenness to devote to some of the left over important tasks .. learning recording and satisfying the long cherished absolute firmed intent to preserve that which has been inherited , to leave and acknowledge legacy ..

the desire remains potent .. shared often with many .. but then it remains dormant in their thoughts and minds and unfinished attention less modes erupt ..

gravity respectability need judgement by them that can give it what it truly deserves is perhaps not readily ready .. that judgement shall be and should be of the 'me' .. I feel ..

But the hesitancy to execute it , and the desire at times merge into an abyss of unlimited depth .. and that is when time takes over and we are done .. for the moment ..

pushing a substance down your throat is a process, understood by the one feeding you .. there are many that profess that but the morsels are scarce and diffident .. assessed as an absence of desired grace and meaning ..

that shall ever be the gravitational pull of sensibility ..

works fine .. mostly does not work - disaster !

the fear of not working is immense , for when shared the feel is ever that the value of its commerce comes first in the mind of the proposer, not its intensity of the gravios ..

and that stops me in the tracks .. philosophical

do it your own sense and privacy .. do not give or share .. what you think and create, if that is what can be defined, then keep it closeted within ..

If the linked wires of the soul and the verbiage live apart in oblivion , then best to be in ONE than in the company that may have been desired or proposed .. to the OTHER ..

and the OTHER has a remarkable dissertative potential of doctorate assessment ..

It does .. seems odd and insignificant but it does .. the annals of the language say so and debrief ..

The word "other" is a linguistic prism refracting the complexities of identity, inclusion, and the nuanced interplay of differences. It serves as a vessel through which we navigate the multifaceted landscape of human experience, illuminating the myriad shades that define our relationships, perceptions, and understanding of the world. At its core, "other" denotes that which exists beyond the scope of the self or the familiar. It embodies the essence of contrast, highlighting distinctions and delineating boundaries. In societal discourse, it often assumes a role that transcends mere semantics, assuming a position of immense significance in discussions of diversity, belonging, and the fabric of human interactions. The concept of the "other" is intrinsic to our social dynamics. It molds our perspectives and influences our attitudes toward those perceived as different or dissimilar. This construct, while inherently dichotomous, blurs the lines between inclusion and exclusion, often reflecting societal norms and power structures. The "other" can be a means of fostering unity through appreciation of diversity or a tool for marginalization and alienation. One of its most profound implications lies in its ability to shape our understanding of identity. It is instrumental in the formation of self-identity, as individuals often define themselves in relation to the "other." This comparative element contributes to the tapestry of personal identity, underscoring the significance of context and interaction in shaping who we are. Moreover, the "other" extends beyond the human realm, permeating fields such as philosophy and anthropology. Philosophically, it raises questions about the nature of existence and the boundaries of perception. Anthropologically, it serves as a lens through which societies classify and understand different cultures, practices, and belief systems. In contemporary discourse, the notion of the "other" has garnered heightened attention in discussions surrounding inclusivity, equity, and social justice. Embracing the "other" involves transcending biases, dismantling stereotypes, and fostering empathy. It calls for a recognition of shared humanity while honoring the richness of diverse perspectives and experiences. However, navigating the terrain of the "other" is not devoid of challenges. It requires a conscious effort to transcend preconceived notions and embrace pluralism. Genuine understanding necessitates active engagement, empathy, and a willingness to celebrate the diverse tapestry of existence. In essence, the word "other" encapsulates a paradoxical duality – a divider and a unifier, a source of both division and enrichment. It compels us to confront the multifaceted nature of our reality, urging us to embrace the richness of diversity while acknowledging the inherent complexities within our shared human experience. Embracing the "other" opens gateways to profound insights, fostering a more inclusive and compassionate world.

😂

a reading to last you an entire weekend ..

🤣

Amitabh Bachchan

[covid-safer-hotties]

Long COVID continues to evade diagnosis through lab tests - Published Aug 12, 2024

NEW YORK, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Blood and urine tests are ineffective for diagnosing long COVID -- a constellation of long-term symptoms such as chronic pain, brain fog, shortness of breath and intense fatigue, a new study shows.

Without a clear tool to detect and treat the lingering illness, it remains "a major public health burden," researchers noted, affecting millions of people worldwide and significantly altering quality of life.

The new study, funded by the National Institutes of Health Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative, was published Monday in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Because few large studies looked at standardized laboratory tests as a way to help diagnose long COVID, researchers decided to examine results of 25 measurements in more of than 10,000 adults enrolled in the RECOVER trial. Launched in 2021, this trial received $1.15 billion in congressional funding. At the outset, participants underwent blood tests and were deemed eligible whether or not they had a previous infection of SARS-CoV-2.

Researchers followed them with surveys every three months and laboratory samples at six, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months after infection or the date of a negative test result.

In comparing responses to questionnaires and routine test outcomes, researchers assessed whether SARS-CoV-2 resulted in repeated laboratory abnormalities regardless if participants had symptoms.

The findings basically revealed little, said the study's lead author, Dr. Kristine Erlandson, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. That's because the laboratory results were inconclusive.

However, she and co-researchers recommended in their study report that clinicians still perform routine clinical tests to rule out other treatable causes of the symptoms in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, the scientific name for long COVID.

Researchers also uncovered evidence to bolster the notion that SARS-CoV-2 could contribute to the risk of diabetes independent of long COVID -- a link found early in the pandemic.

Individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 also had higher urine albumin to creatinine ratio. This indicator of early kidney disease has shown an association with cardiovascular conditions in other populations.

Continuing inflammation may be a possible explanation for smell and taste disruptions and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, researchers said.

"The diversity of symptoms may be one of the reasons that we have difficulty in truly understanding why some people develop long COVID and ultimately how we can treat it," Erlandson said.

"Long COVID is a condition currently defined by symptoms and physical exam findings, not by abnormal routine laboratory measures," she added.

"Similarly, providers should certainly not dismiss a diagnosis of long COVID based on normal clinical laboratory values."

In an accompanying editorial, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore noted that most significant unsolved enigmas of the COVID-19 pandemic pertain to the knowledge, diagnosis and treatment of long COVID.

"When [it is] severe, long COVID can be disabling, resulting in job loss or inconsistent ability to perform other roles, such as caregiving. Even in 2024, long COVID remains common," Drs. Paul Auwaerter and Annukka Antar wrote in the editorial.

"Approximately 1 in 20 U.S. adults reported persisting symptoms after COVID-19 in June 2024, with 1.4% reporting significant limitations The incidence of long COVID is 3.5% among immunized people in the Omicron era, and it can occur after reinfection."

The editorial's writers added that "importantly, acknowledging symptoms with empathy and creating a symptom management plan provides a basis for trust and hope amidst uncertainty."

Read the rest of the report at either link!

[bumblebeeappletree]

We have deployed 2000 structures to patch up a reef in Indonesia and the results were immediate!

🪸 To support our work you can become a member here: https://mossy.earth

To build this project from the ground up we needed the stability of the constant support that our members give us. Nothing we do is possible without you. We hope you will consider joining us in creating more coral reefs!

🙌 And if you are already a member you can pay for an extra structure (or more!) to be deployed here: https://www.mossy.eart...

MOSSY EARTH MEMBERSHIP

===============================

The rewilding membership that restores nature across a wide range of ecosystems.

🌲 Support a diversity of ecosystems

🐺 Rewild habitats to bring back biodiversity

🦫 Fund neglected species & ecosystems

Learn more and become a member here: https://mossy.earth

⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️

===============================

0:00 Intro

1:00 Our project area

4:20 First deployment

9:08 Boat name

9:50 Zip ties!

12:10 Scaling up

🔎 ABOUT THIS PROJECT

===============================

Coral reefs are known as “the rainforests of the sea”. These vibrantly complex ecosystems harbour the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem globally. An estimated 25% of all marine species depend on reefs. They are also crucial for millions of people, providing food, livelihoods, resources and coastal protection.

Major threats, such as over-exploitation and climate change, are jeopardising the future of coral reefs. In the last few decades, sharp declines in reef cover have occurred worldwide. This is our first coral reef project to restore damaged reefs in the northern waters of Nusa Penida, Indonesia.

Our long-term goal is to improve resilience by enhancing connectivity of fragmented reefs whilst protecting and preserving endangered coral species. Led by our local team of expert divers and marine biologists passionate about the preservation of this marine ecosystem, we work with local people to promote positive community involvement in coral reef restoration.

Read more about this project here: https://www.mossy.eart...

CREDITS

===============================

This project is managed by Purnomo Yudhianto, Ellie Jackson-Smith

and Chansa Hilmira

Filming: Julie Schleiss-Andreassen, Duarte de Zoeten, Purnomo Yudhianto and Chansa Hilmira

Writing: Duarte de Zoeten

Editing: Duarte de Zoeten and Thomas Hikin

Scoring: Charlie Hernández

📄 REFERENCES

===============================

Bachman, S. D., Kleypas, J. A., Erdmann, M., & Setyawan, E. (2022). A global atlas of potential thermal refugia for coral reefs generated by internal gravity waves.

Boakes, Z., Hall, A. E., Ampou, E. E., et al. (2022). Coral reef conservation in Bali in light of international best practice: A literature review.

Bowden-Kerby, A. (2023). Coral-Focused Climate Change Adaptation and Restoration: The "Reefs of Hope" Paradigm.

Bruno, J. F., & Selig, E. R. (2007). Regional decline of coral cover in the Indo-Pacific: Timing, extent, and subregional comparisons.

Fox, H., Mous, P. J., Pet, J. S., et al. (2005). Experimental assessment of coral reef rehabilitation following blast fishing.

García-Baciero, A., García-Herrero, A., Horcajo-Berná, E., & Clements, G. R. (2024). The Art of Sticking: Attaching Methods Affect Direct Transplantation Success.

Islam, M. S., Islam, A. R. M. T., Ismail, Z., et al. (2023). Effects of microplastic and heavy metals on coral reefs: A new window for analytical research.

Lamont, T. A. C., Razak, T. B., Djohani, R., et al. (2022). Multi-dimensional approaches to scaling up coral reef restoration.

Lange, I. D., Razak, T. B., Perry, C. T., et al. (2024). Coral restoration can drive rapid reef carbonate budget recovery.

Paxton, A. B., Shertzer, K. W., Bacheler, N. M., et al. (2020). Meta-Analysis Reveals Artificial Reefs Can Be Effective Tools for Fish Community Enhancement.

Ruchimat, T., Basuki, R., & Welly, M. (2013). Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area (MPA) Bali - Indonesia: Why Need to be Protected?.

[mariacallous]

As the United States prepares for the upcoming November election, misinformation and disinformation have spread through memes. Memes are any idea, expression, or opinion that uses text, visual imagery (e.g., a photo, video, or gif file) with or without sound, which can be copied and shared online. For researchers, they are co-constructions that have meaning primarily in humor, which can be shared by multiple users, and in the case of the internet, across various platforms. The convenient availability of commercial artificial intelligence (AI) tools has also contributed to the existing meme economy. Software like X’s AI chatbot called Grok can quickly generate such images, especially with its ability to use famous peoples’ likenesses, copyrighted material, violent content, or pornographic image generation.

The reality is that AI-generated memes have been inserted into the political conversation. These altered images often seem harmless to voters, particularly because they are sometimes shared by people they trust in their personal and professional networks. It can be difficult for policymakers or content moderators to definitively assess their impact because the humor or profile of memes makes them appear innocuous. In the current policy environment where content moderation and domestic AI policy are still evolving, those who develop and disseminate memes can potentially influence voter information about candidate issues, character, and other relevant election information without the usual guardrails that either regulate speech in the U.S. or trigger attention based on the manipulation of political content.

What are memes?

Tugging on the emotions of voters is a critical part of influencing them to act. Memes present unique opportunities because they can disseminate information and foster a sense of community through humor and other apolitical ways. Examples of the persuasive power of memes have appeared in efforts to spread political messaging, alter the stock market, or even influence the way the public thinks about war.

The current campaign efforts on both sides are also no exception. The Trump campaign and his allies have created an assortment of AI-generated memes to uplift the former president, which have been shared on the social media platform X and Truth Social. There has also been a share of visualizations that have ridiculed the other side, including one of Vice President Kamala Harris leading a communist rally, while another showed many Taylor Swift fans endorsing his campaign. Trump supporters like Musk have even reposted an AI-altered, “parody” video of Harris calling herself a “deep state puppet” and “the ultimate diversity hire.”

On the other side, Vice President Harris’ campaign and allies have generated their own share of memes. During the 2024 Democratic National Convention, the highest number of content creators and online influencers ever were in attendance to capture these and other messages for attendees and viewers. Throughout the event, robust online content was created, including the dissemination of memes to capture emotional responses to the various activities and speakers. Doug Emhoff, the second gentlemen, was often the subject of memes as he openly conveyed his support for his wife, Kamala Harris. Tim Walz’s son, Gus, also became a viral meme as he mouthed his admiration for his father during the acceptance speech. The Harris campaign and allies have been equally culpable in their use of satirical tools. Her team has also been accused of falsely captioning AI-generated videos and memes of the former president. Through their use of clips from a Trump rally in North Carolina, the Harris social media account played up the theme that the former president was “lost and confused” in his suggestion that he was in another state—a point that was later fact-checked and clarified by the Harris team.

Probably the most viral memes being shared by both parties and their allies have been those AI-generated memes of cats on social media platforms, which tout the conspiracy theory and disinformation reference by Trump regarding Haitian immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio—some of which were posted by the former president himself.

As these visualizations continue to become a part of the political landscape, memes will increasingly feed into misinformation and disinformation efforts, and cloak facts in humor and satire to elicit more emotional responses from voters. Due to congressional inaction on copyright protections for the data training large language models (LLMs) or more stringent legislation to curb the flow of false information, memes can flourish and, under current election laws, be perceived to be harmless in nature.

Memes are also not necessarily deepfakes

Congress has also made it clear how they categorize memes when it comes to election and other voter interference. Pending legislation, including the DEEPFAKES Accountability Act, create carve outs for memes, humor, satire, parody, and other commentary as a justification of an individual’s freedom of expression. However, the task of deciphering what is parody and what is deceptive can be very challenging. Despite the deceptive posts by Trump and Musk, for example, the label of satire provides some immunity from liability. Such posts also receive additional protections under Section 230, which shields online platforms that disseminate the information from any liability or association—even if vile or offensive.

Memes also can provoke “rage-baiting,” which refers to using online content to elicit strong negative emotional reactions from users. However, the significant gaps in policy make their dissemination possible and plausible. An examination of the handling of memes in a global context makes the case for stronger guardrails and increased community awareness.

Globally, memes have been perceived as fueling extremist behavior. In 2024, a memo from the Netherland’s National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCCS) considered memes to be an “online weapon,” suggesting that the lack of strong content moderation on online platforms has made it easier for memes to thrive and nest themselves in mainstream messaging that disguise their goal of radicalizing unsuspecting online users. In their new book “Lies That Kill,” co-authors Darrell West and Elaine Kamarck point to these and other examples that persuade not just voters, but other everyday people, to consume false information at rapid speeds.

Memes are the next form of political influence

Misinformation and disinformation will continue to be a focus leading up to the November election. While the time has run out for any meaningful legislation to counter deepfakes prior to this election cycle, AI-generated memes are something that policymakers, and especially campaigns, need to monitor. Because of their ability to cloak deeply hateful and vitriolic messages into humorous and satirical images, they have been downplayed in the flow of political rhetoric. Given this, Congress should reconsider the carveouts from pending legislation to quell deepfakes, especially in their use of copyrighted materials and their role in rapidly spreading disinformation. Such loose creation and dissemination of memes should also encourage Congress and other lawmakers to consider some real investments in AI literacy for everyday people to understand the consequences of what they share online. In the meantime, campaigns need to be on the lookout for memes that are harmful or that could potentially lead to violence.

[beatmyfeet]

Seeing how another woman uses him will give me ideas for new methods of discipline.

By observing the techniques and approaches she employs, I can enrich my own way of controlling and training him. Every woman has her own methods, her own tricks to achieve perfect obedience, and it is always instructive to see how they go about it.

By entrusting him to another, I can see disciplinary techniques that I might not have considered. Perhaps she will use different tools or strategies, or maybe she will have a more subtle but equally effective psychological approach. Each new experience he has with her will be an opportunity for me to learn and refine my own methods.

This diversity of approaches will allow me to better understand his limits and how to push them optimally. By seeing how he reacts to different forms of discipline, I can adapt my techniques to maximize his obedience and devotion. She might discover a new weakness or strength in him, something I could exploit to reinforce his submission.

Observing his interactions with another woman will also be a source of creative inspiration. I can see which methods are most effective in controlling and punishing him and incorporate these ideas into my own practice. This will add a new dimension to our relationship, keeping things fresh and unpredictable, which is essential for maintaining a high level of discipline and engagement.

Finally, by seeing how he behaves under the direction of another woman, I can assess his level of loyalty and submission. This will give me valuable insights into the aspects of his training that still need work. By enriching my arsenal of disciplinary methods through these observations, I will not only strengthen my control over him but also his devotion and willingness to serve me.

In sum, this experience is beneficial for both me and him. It allows me to become an even more effective and innovative mistress while providing him with more comprehensive and varied training. Each new method of discipline I discover is one more step towards perfecting his role as a submissive.

[jcmarchi]

Achieving Diversity in Technical Roles Through Equitable Interviews - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/achieving-diversity-in-technical-roles-through-equitable-interviews-technology-org/

Achieving Diversity in Technical Roles Through Equitable Interviews - Technology Org

In the technology industry, there is an increasing focus on improving diversity and inclusion. However, interview practices often unintentionally disadvantage underrepresented groups. Studies show women, people of color, older candidates, and others face implicit bias during the interview process.  

“We believe that interviews should never be a barrier to recognizing talent, skill, and ability in candidates regardless of their background,” says Dr. D Sangeeta, CEO of Gotara, an online business leadership acceleration platform used by over 30,000 women across 176 countries. “Our platform is built on empowering women across a multitude of industries to advance, and equitable interview practices are a necessity to make that possible.”

By taking proactive steps to remove bias from interviews, companies can work towards building more diverse, creative, and innovative teams. This article provides practical tips and guidelines for making interviews as fair and gender-neutral as possible.

Use Structured Interview Techniques

Unstructured interviews that rely on the “gut feeling” of the interviewer often introduce unconscious bias. Structured techniques that assess all candidates on the same predefined criteria can help reduce this. Some examples include:

Ask the same core technical questions of all candidates for a given role. Avoid asking different questions based on irrelevant factors like educational background. 

Use standardized rating scales when evaluating responses instead of general impressions. Train interviewers on how to apply the scales.

Limit discussions around previous experience to focus on concrete skills a candidate possesses rather than perceived pedigree of past companies.

Prioritize Skills Over Cultural Fit

Seeking candidates that “fit” with company culture can reinforce homogeneity if not approached carefully. Technical skills should be the priority evaluation criteria. Only assess cultural alignment based on how a candidate demonstrates inclusiveness, cooperation and values that align with diversity goals.  

“Seeking candidates that “fit” with company culture can reinforce homogeneity if not approached carefully,” explains Dr. D. Sangeeta, CEO of Gotara. “Technical skills should be the priority evaluation criteria. One always benefits from having complementary skills rather than a clone of  themselves. When interviews are structured around skills rather than subjective impressions of candidates, it opens doors for those facing systemic biases and works towards undoing historical barriers many have faced.”

Train a Diverse Panel of Interviewers

Ensure women, people of color and other underrepresented groups are well-represented among the panel of technical interviewers. This helps reduce the impact of any one interviewer’s unconscious biases. Require all members to complete unconscious bias training regularly and train them how to conduct unbiased interviews, training that Gotara offers.

Conduct Interviews Remotely When Possible

In-person interviews allow subconscious biases related to race, age and appearance to seep in. Remote video interviews place more focus on responses and technical abilities. However, take care that communication differences across cultures are not penalized. Provide options for interviewees to ask clarifying questions.  

Institute Blind Review Procedures

During initial screening stages, remove all identifying candidate details from resumes/applications before review. Later stages can reveal this information, but initial assessment remains tied to skills. Automated tools can help facilitate blind screening at scale.  

Additionally, when possible conduct technical code reviews in a blind manner, hiding any indication of the author’s identity or demographic background to reduce the chance of implicit bias creeping in.

Standardize Evaluation of Experience

Ask candidates to describe projects and impact rather than rely on the notoriety of previous companies. Discount work experience timelines when assessing older candidates. Focus on relevant skills vs. years of experience, which can be indirectly influenced by systemic biases. Provide clear guidance on how this expectation is applied evenly across candidates. 

Highlight Company DEI Commitments

Ensure candidates see a visible demonstration of diversity, equity and inclusion commitments from leadership. Share actionable plans and metrics around improving representation.  

Allow candidates space to ask questions and assess your commitment to DEI as a company. Be prepared to address concerns around previous diversity numbers or experiences at your organization.

Support Growth from Day One

In your offer to the candidate, once they pass the interview process, demonstrate that you care about their future growth by offering upskilling and coaching in the first six months, like one of Gotara’s programs. Not only does this show your commitment, but it will significantly decrease ramp-up time for that candidate to become productive and proficient in the new role, leading to increase engagement and future retention. 

Guide Interviewers on Inclusive Communication

Provide tips for avoiding exclusionary language and establishing an inclusive tone during interviews. For example, using gender-neutral pronouns until indicated otherwise and avoiding assumptions about family status. 

Interview panel training should cover nonverbal communication as well, such as making eye contact with all candidates equally and being aware of any differential body language responding to certain demographics. 

Encourage Interview Feedback

Gather structured feedback from all interview candidates on their experience, including perceptions of unfair bias or discrimination. Track trends to detect issues. Ensure a transparent process for safely reporting any incidents without fear of retaliation, which would suppress reporting.

Monitor Outcomes and Iterate 

Collect voluntary demographic data during hiring and track offer rates across gender, race and other factors. If disparities arise in offer rates, analyze results to detect where bias enters the process. Refine approach to address issues. Report metrics and progress regularly to leadership.  

Set Goals for Representation

Leadership should define clear targets for diversity at all levels of technical roles. Measure effectiveness of updated interview practices on hitting goals. Link outcomes to executive accountability. Make plans incremental to give adequate ramp up time but maintain urgency through regular check-ins.  

Inclusive Interviewing Drives Real Change

Removing subtle but substantial biases from technical interviews is a complex undertaking but pays dividends in building a more diverse workforce positioned for innovation success. The above steps require dedication but enable organizations to tap talent that may have otherwise been left behind.   

Updating technical interview approaches needs to be part of a comprehensive strategy focused on achieving diversity, equity and inclusion milestones. Paired with adjustments in outreach, hiring manager expectations, onboarding and corporate culture, equitable interviews can serve as a key lever in transforming representation.

“Removing subtle but substantial biases from technical interviews is a complex undertaking, but pays dividends in building a more diverse workforce positioned for innovation success,” says Dr. D Sangeeta, CEO of business leadership acceleration platform Gotara. “The ripple effect in innovation is immeasurable when teams reflect diverse perspectives.”

The technology solutions we build are powered by the creativity of our teams. Ensuring people from all backgrounds can equitably demonstrate qualifications will drive innovation that represents the full diversity of our users and moves society positively forward. But we will only unlock the full potential of our talent through a systemic commitment to progress on representation.

[bearificationtransformations]

To: Énorme Inc. Research Department

CC: [REDACTED}

From: [REDACTED}

Subject: Trial 23 of Beard Hair Growth Supplement - Male Test Subject

Our team conducted the study on the effectiveness of your recently developed beard hair growth supplement on a male test subject, age 28 (Subject 23 B) . The subject showed initially a sparse beard growth pattern.  As is typical [REDACTED] used a combination of visual observation and measuring tools to track the growth of the subject 23 B’s beard. After the supplement was administered,  [REDACTED] used a digital camera to take photographs of the subject's beard before and after the administration of the supplement. This allowed for a more detailed analysis of the subject's beard growth over the period of the experiment, as well as a more accurate comparison of the before and after results. As the beard grew remarkably fast,  [REDACTED] continued to measure using the  [REDACTED]  to observe and measure the extremely rapid growth of the hair. [REDACTED]  also noted the density and thickness of the beard as it grew, and documented any changes in texture or quality. Throughout the study, [REDACTED] maintained detailed records of the subject's beard growth, including the length and thickness of the beard hairs, the rate of growth, and any other notable changes.

Results of the study indicate that the beard hair growth supplement was highly effective. Within minutes of taking the supplement, the subject's beard started to grow rapidly, resulting in a large, dense beard. The subject's beard growth was remarkable, with an increase in length of approximately 4 inches, and a significant increase in thickness and density. Additionally, the subject noted that the hairs were growing at a faster rate than normal and were of a stronger, healthier quality.  [REDACTED] also observed an increase and growth of a significant amount of body hair. New, thick, vigorous androgenic hair sprouted all over Subject 23 B’s stomach, chest, shoulders and arms.  Subject 23 B showed surprise and alarm at these changes, the subject ultimately appeared to be satisfied with the results once the growth appeared to stop. In addition,  [REDACTED] noted that head hair as well as eyebrows also appeared to grow during the duration of the study.

The subject reported feeling “confident” with his new beard, and stated that he had always been self-conscious about his sparse beard growth  However, he was also alarmed by the dense new hair covering his body. Subject told  [REDACTED] :“I’m hairy as hell!” and “I never imagined I’d be a hairy guy like this.” Following the experiment Subject 23 B also noted that his peers were shocked by his appearance but commented positively on his new beard. While Subject 23 B was initially surprised by the extensive new growth of body hair,  he reports that he is now happy with the extensive and thick coverage of androgenic body hair.  Overall, Subject 23 B reported that he is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the study. CONCLUSION:

While the rapid and noticeable effects of the supplement are impressive, we recommend that additional study is needed to assess the long-term effects of the supplement on the subject's beard growth and overall health. It is also essential to test the supplement on a larger and more diverse group of individuals to confirm its effectiveness and ensure its safety for use. The additional and very significant increase in androgenic body hair may pose some concern to marketability.

Overall, the results of this study are promising, and we look forward to further research on this supplement to better understand its potential benefits for individuals seeking to stimulate hair growth.

Sincerely,

[REDACTED] _______________ To: Énorme Inc. Research Department

CC: [REDACTED}

From: [REDACTED}

Subject: Follow-up on Effectiveness of Beard Hair Growth Supplement on Male Test Subject

I am writing to follow up on our previous study on the effectiveness of your beard hair growth supplement on a male test subject, age 28. While the results of the study are promising in terms of beard growth stimulation, Subject 23 B has recently noted some unexpected side-effects.

Several days after our experiment Subject 23 B wrote to us to report, the subject  experiencing weight gain and an increased libido. The subject reports that he has gained approximately 10 pounds since the experiment concluded late last week and noted an increased desire for sexual activity. The subject reports feeling concerned about these side effects. While we are currently investigating the potential cause of these unexpected side effects, we recommend that further research is necessary to determine the safety and efficacy of this supplement for use. [REDACTED]  We look forward to further collaboration to better understand the potential benefits and risks associated with this supplement. Sincerely, [REDACTED] _______ To: [REDACTED]

From: [REDACTED].Research Team Lead

Subject: Cease Communication with Subject 23B

Thank you  [REDACTED]  for your email regarding the unexpected side effects reported by Subject 23B. We take these reports very seriously and are initiating an investigation into these potential side effects. In the meantime, we ask that you cease all communication with Subject 23B to avoid any further potential bias or influence on the subject's reporting of symptoms. We will follow up with the subject directly to gather additional information regarding the reported weight gain and increased libido.

We appreciate your dedication to this project and your commitment to ensuring the safety and efficacy of our products. Best regards,

 [REDACTED]

__________________ (Story and Art created in part with AI, but were heavily modified by author)

[techjouney111]

Simplifying Website Design and Development: Your Ultimate Guide

Simplifying Website Design and Development: Your Ultimate Guide

In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for businesses of all sizes. A well-designed and developed website not only enhances your brand image but also serves as a powerful marketing tool to attract and engage customers. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about website design and development, including services, companies, and agencies in the USA and Canada.

Understanding Website Design and Development

Website design and development encompass the process of creating and building a website from scratch or redesigning an existing one. It involves various elements such as layout design, user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, coding, content creation, and optimization for search engines.

Website Design and Development Services

Professional website design and development services cater to the diverse needs of businesses seeking to establish or enhance their online presence. These services typically include:

Custom Website Design: Tailored design solutions to reflect your brand identity and meet specific business objectives.

Responsive Web Development: Building websites that adapt seamlessly to different devices and screen sizes for optimal user experience.

E-commerce Development: Creating online stores with secure payment gateways, product catalogs, and shopping cart functionality.

Content Management Systems (CMS): Integration of user-friendly CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal for easy website management.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Implementing strategies to improve website visibility and rankings on search engine results pages (SERPs).

Website Maintenance and Support: Ongoing support, updates, and maintenance services to ensure website performance and security.

Website Design and Development Companies and Agencies

In the USA and Canada, numerous companies and agencies specialize in website design and development. These firms offer expertise in creating high-quality websites tailored to clients' unique needs and preferences. Some key characteristics to look for in a reputable website design and development company or agency include:

Experience and Expertise: Choose a company with a proven track record of delivering successful projects across various industries.

Portfolio: Review their portfolio of past work to gauge the quality and diversity of their designs and developments.

Client Reviews and Testimonials: Read reviews and testimonials from previous clients to assess their satisfaction and experiences.

Communication and Collaboration: Look for a company that emphasizes clear communication and collaboration throughout the project lifecycle.

Affordability and Value: Consider companies that offer competitive pricing without compromising on quality and value-added services.

Website Design and Development Companies in the USA and Canada

In the USA, reputable website design and development companies include:

ABC Web Solutions: A leading web development firm specializing in custom website design, e-commerce solutions, and digital marketing services.

XYZ Creative Agency: Known for innovative web design, responsive development, and SEO optimization strategies tailored to clients' specific needs.

123 Digital Studio: Providing comprehensive website design and development services, including UI/UX design, CMS integration, and ongoing support.

In Canada, notable website design and development companies include:

Maple Leaf Web Design: Offering professional website design, e-commerce development, and SEO services for businesses across Canada.

Great White North Digital: Specializing in responsive web design, custom development, and online marketing solutions to help Canadian businesses thrive online.

True North Web Solutions: A full-service web agency providing creative design, robust development, and strategic digital solutions tailored to clients' goals.

Conclusion

Investing in professional website design and development is crucial for businesses looking to establish a strong online presence and attract customers. By understanding the services offered and choosing reputable companies or agencies, you can create a visually appealing, functional, and user-friendly website that drives business growth and success.

Whether you're based in the USA or Canada, there are numerous options available to help you achieve your website design and development goals. Take the time to research, compare, and select the right partner to bring your vision to life and propel your business forward in the digital landscape.

[dei360]

Seven Practical Tips For Increasing Empathy

We have something in common with rats that may surprise you. Those scurrying little (sometimes large) rodents ruling garbage cans across the world are actually capable of empathy, just like humans.

Many species display empathy in some form or another, but primates—especially us humans—have a more sophisticated capacity for empathy due to our large working memory and more developed neocortex. Have you ever winced when you saw another person take a hard fall? That is the result of mirror neurons, the discovery of which fundamentally altered our understanding of empathy. Since then, neuroscientists have identified what they call an “empathy circuit” in our brains. If this circuit is damaged in any way, it can curtail our ability to understand what others are feeling, all the while leaving our capacity for logic intact.

You Naturally Have the Ability to be Empathetic

Empathy is not a “you either have it, or you don’t” quality in human beings. Unless you’ve experienced a particular brain trauma, you have the ability to be empathetic. And so does that rude team member of yours!

On a personal level, empathetic people tend to be more generous and concerned with people’s welfare and tend to have happier relationships and greater wellbeing. But what exactly is it? Empathy is the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling.

Empathy is Important at Work

Yet empathy doesn’t only come in handy when listening to your best friend explain his woes. It’s actually very important for work, both for leaders and team members alike. The Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations reports a correlation between empathy and increased sales, high performing managers of product development teams, and increased performance in highly diverse teams. Studies have also shown that empathy improves leadership ability and facilitates effective communication.

How could this be? Well, if you think about how fundamental relationship building is to almost every aspect of business and life, it’s easy to see why. It’s been proven that empathy is an important part of effective relationships. In studies by Dr. Antonio Damasio, “medical patients who had damage to part of the brain associated with empathy showed significant deficits in relationship skills, even though their reasoning and learning abilities remained intact.

The benefits of empathy at work are many. Here is a partial list to give you an idea of how increased empathy can greatly impact your working life.

Five Benefits of Empathy at Work

1.    You will better understand the needs of your co-workers and customers.

2.    When communicating, you will better understand what is unspoken, and see more clearly the perception you create in others with your words and actions.

3.    Dealing with conflict will become easier and with the increased understanding of other’s motivations and fears, you will find it easier to deal with any negativity that comes your way.

4.    You’ll be able to better predict actions and reactions of others, which will help motivate the people you work with.

5.    It will become easier to convince others of your point of view.

Empathy is Essential for Leaders

For leaders of the current workforce, empathy is essential. Dr. Daniel Goleman cites three key reasons why empathy is so important for leaders: 1) the increase in the use of teams 2) the rapid pace of globalization with increased cross-cultural communication and 3) the growing need to retain talent. Empathy also enables leaders to create environments of open communication and feedback, understand and navigate the problems employees face, validate what their employees are going through, and anticipate the needs of teams.

Empathy Can Be Exercised

Now that you’ve seen just how much empathy can benefit you at work, you’re probably wondering if you’re an empathetic person. As I mentioned, we all have the capacity for empathy. However, it is a skill that takes practice for most people. As Dr. Mohammadreza Hojat states, “Empathy is a cognitive attribute, not a personality trait.” Lucky for us, cognitive attributes can be exercised.

So how do we exercise and strengthen our empathy muscle? Here are seven practical tips for increasing empathy.

Seven Practical Tips For Increasing Empathy

1. LISTEN AND DON’T INTERRUPT

Truly listening can be a challenge. Sometimes we are just waiting to give our own opinion. Read here for tips on improving your listening skills.

2. BE FULLY PRESENT WHEN YOU ARE WITH PEOPLE AND TUNE IN TO NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

You can start being fully present by putting away your phone, not checking your email, and not accepting calls while you are interacting with someone. A study by Professor Emeritus, Albert Mehrabian of UCLA, reports that the things we say account for only 7% of what we are trying to communicate. “The other 93% of the message that we communicate when we speak is contained in our tone of voice and body language.” If all you’re doing while you speak with someone is listening to what they are saying while you scroll through your upcoming appointments, you’ll miss the bulk of what is being communicated.

3. SMILE AT PEOPLE

Smiles are literally contagious. The part of your brain responsible for this facial expression is the cingulate cortex, which is an unconscious automatic response area. Since smiling releases feel good chemicals in the brain, activates reward centers, and increases health, you’ll truly be doing yourself and your colleague a favor when you show those pearly whites.

4. USE PEOPLE’S NAMES AND ENCOURAGE THEM

Encouraging people can be as simple as nodding at them while they talk in a meeting. This simple gesture, along with using their name, can make great impact on relationship building.

5. TRY TO EMPATHIZE WITH PEOPLE WHOSE BELIEFS YOU DON’T SHARE

This tip might particularly come in handy during election year! One good way to approach differing beliefs in conversation is to say, “That’s interesting, how did you develop that idea?” or “Tell me more.”

6. GIVE GENUINE RECOGNITION

Move beyond “great job” and give specific compliments like, “Your research on this difficult topic is thorough” or “Thank you. I would have missed that information if you hadn’t pointed it out.”

7. CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO HAVE A DEEPER CONVERSATION WITH A COLLEAGUE

Understanding a person’s point of view or personal challenges requires conversation that moves past the weather. This doesn’t mean you should ask your colleague about highly personal matters. Start by sharing a little more of your own experiences and perspectives and see if your colleague follows suit.

Tip number seven is what I want you to do this week. It’s an excellent way to jump in the waters of improving empathy. While you speak to this person, think about using their name, smiling, encouraging them, listening, without interrupting. This singular conversation won’t just be practice; it will lay the foundation for a better working relationship with your colleague. You also might enjoy yourself!

Who is the most empathetic person you know? In what ways do they show their empathy? I’d love to hear about it. Let us share experiences.

Leave a comment below, send us an email, or find us on Twitter

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[bandedbulbussnarfblat]

"You see, I have so little ability to synthesize knowledge; I deal in the immediate with a cool intensity"

-Armand, from Queen of the Damned

I have been thinking about this line here a lot. Bc it actually reveals so much about Armand's character. Here is an article that goes in depth on what the ability to synthesize knowledge actually means for a person. But I'm gonna add some quotes from it up here.

"From a social perspective, the capacity to synthesize information allows individuals to comprehend and navigate complex social dynamics effectively. They can draw upon a diverse range of social cues, historical contexts, and behavioral patterns to understand interpersonal interactions and societal trends. This ability enables them to anticipate social scenarios and respond with acumen that often seems intuitive but is grounded in a sophisticated analysis of social frameworks."

Like, we don't need to delve to deep into that one. The autistic Armand theory has been around forever for a reason. (I'm autistic, so don't take that the wrong way. But we do be having problems with social skills.) That lack of ability could explain why even though he's coven master, he's not very good at it.

"Intellectually, synthesis manifests in the ability to connect concepts from different disciplines, creating novel insights and theories. Such individuals might combine principles from psychology and literature to explore the human condition or integrate concepts from physics and philosophy to examine the nature of reality."

Armand isn't getting anything intellectually simulating in Dubai, if his off-hand remark about vampires and hobbies is anything to go by. Until Daniel shows up, and goes off-script.

"Practically, the ability to synthesize information is a powerful tool in problem-solving and decision-making. Individuals skilled in this area can assess a situation by considering a multitude of factors, including potential risks, historical data, and current trends, to arrive at well-rounded solutions. Their decisions are often characterized by a depth of consideration that takes into account both immediate and long-term implications."

As we've seen, Armand doesn't make the best choices. He does, as he says, deal in the immediate with a cold intensity. And for all we like to think that he's a mastermind with his little plots, most of his decisions are made by the emotions he feels in the moment--then he has to plan and plot and scheme. Like, his problem to having Claudia around is to kill her. In the books he even says something about him and Louis being happy after Louis moves on from her death. He clearly didn't think too much about the long term, bc moving on from her death is not something Louis can do with him.

This ended up really rambling, but the point is, Armand has (more) issues.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Scientists compile library for evaluating exoplanet water

By probing chemical processes observed in the Earth's hot mantle, Cornell scientists have started developing a library of basalt-based spectral signatures that not only will help reveal the composition of planets outside of our solar system but could demonstrate evidence of water on those exoplanets.

"When the Earth's mantle melts, it produces basalts," said Esteban Gazel, professor of engineering. Basalt, a gray-black volcanic rock found throughout the solar system, is a key recorder of geologic history, he said.

"When the Martian mantle melted, it also produced basalts. The moon is mostly basaltic," he said. "We're testing basaltic materials here on Earth to eventually elucidate the composition of exoplanets through the James Webb Space Telescope data."

Gazel and Emily First, a former Cornell postdoctoral researcher and now an assistant professor at Macalester College in Minnesota, are authors of "Potential for observing geological diversity from mid-infrared spectra of rocky exoplanets," which is published November 14 in Nature Astronomy.

Understanding how minerals record the processes that created these rocks, and their spectroscopic signatures is the first step in developing their library, Gazel said.

"We know that the majority of exoplanets will produce basalts, given that their host star metallicity will result in mantle minerals (iron-magnesium silicates) so that when they melt, phase equilibria (equilibrium between two states of matter) predicts that the resulting lavas will be basaltic," Gazel said. "It will be prevalent not only in our solar system, but throughout the galaxy, too."

First measured the emissivity—the extent to which a surface radiates the energy it encounters—of 15 basaltic samples for spectral signatures of what the space telescope's mid-infrared spectrometer may detect.

Once basaltic melts erupt on an exoplanet and cool down, the basalts harden into solid rock, known on Earth as lava. This rock can interact with water, if present, which forms new hydrated minerals easy to spot in the infrared spectra. These altered minerals could become amphibole (a hydrous silicate) or serpentine (another hydrous silicate, which looks like a snake's skin).

By examining small spectral differences between the basalt samples, scientists can in theory determine whether an exoplanet once had running surface water or water in its interior, said Gazel.

Proof of water does not emerge instantly, and further work is needed before this type of detection can be employed. It would take the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)—about 1 million miles from Earth—dozens to hundreds of hours to focus on one system light-years away, then more time to analyze the data.

The research group—in looking for a rocky exoplanet to simulate its hypotheses and consider the 15 different signatures—used data from the super Earth exoplanet LHS 3844b, which orbits a red dwarf a little more than 48 light-years away.

Ishan Mishra, working in the laboratory of Nikole Lewis, associate professor of astronomy, wrote computer code modeling First's spectral data to simulate how differing exoplanet surfaces might appear to the JWST.

Lewis said that modeling tools were first used for other applications. "Ishan's coding tools were used originally for studying icy moons in the solar system," she said. "We are now finally trying to translate what we've learned of the solar system into exoplanets."

"The goal was not to assess planet LHS 3844b specifically," First said, "but rather to consider a plausible range of basaltic rocky exoplanets that could be observed by JWST and other observatories in the coming years."

In terms of exoplanets, the researchers said exploration of rocky surfaces has been mostly limited to single data points—finding evidence of only one type of chemical—in the scientific literature, but that is changing to multiple components as observers make use of the JWST.

By trying to tease out signatures related to mineralogy and bulk chemical composition—for example, how much silicon, aluminum and magnesium are in a rock—the geologists can tell a little more about the conditions under which the rock formed, the geologists said.

"On Earth, if you have basaltic rocks erupting from mid-ocean ridges deep on the ocean floor, versus those erupting on ocean islands like Hawaii," First said, "you will notice some differences in the bulk chemistry. But even rocks of similar bulk chemistry can contain different minerals, so these are both important characteristics to examine."