new Over the last decade or so, most recon work has been done by drones. They don’t put humans in harm’s way, but they’ve only been effective in the desert environments many recent wars have been fought in. If a future war breaks out in the Pacific theater, U.S. forces would be in for more of a World War II experience, fighting under dense jungle cover that blocks the view from the sky. Motorcycles let people get in and out faster scouting out the terrain to let their commanders know what’s going on. — CleanTechnica, 13h ago

new Anyone who is not only looking for a sparkle in their eyes in the run-up to Christmas, but also wants to enjoy sparkling, beautiful views with a view of the valley, should definitely come to the mountain Advent at Stuhleck. In mid-December, at 1,640 meters above sea level, the mountain station of the Weißenelfbahn with the glittering lantern forest is transformed into a Christmas village for young and old. This Christmas market is the highest in Styria and welcomes you with live music, culinary delicacies, nativity scene carvings and stalls with bonnet knitting, lace making, steel art, storytellers, ice art and an elf workshop. Anyone who is up here close to the sky and the stars has to go down again – even if reluctantly. You can get into the valley (and of course up the mountain) in a relaxed manner with the Stuhleckbahn and Weißenelfbahn. If you prefer to make your own descent, you can ski down the floodlit torchlight descent. — Archyde, 14h ago

new Just do something. That was the advice of Jeff McMillan, head of analytics, data, and innovation at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, who led the effort to create a tool, built on OpenAI’s GPT-4, for the firm’s wealth advisors. “We went from driving horse-drawn carriages around the streets of New York City and then someone gave me a BMW,” he said. McMillan noted that prioritizing speed led to a less-than-smooth rollout—”We piloted for nine months. We had…20,000 pieces of feedback because the day we went live with this thing, it was not producing high quality”—but that the experience enabled his team to learn a lot, quickly, about how to move forward. His advice is to “get the smartest people you have in the room, engage with these tools in a controlled playground, and invent.” What you shouldn’t do, said McMillan, is spend too much time deciding which model you’re going to go with. “Honestly, they’re all BMWs.”... — Charter, 1d ago

new Canada has limited but epic failed sectors likeBanks - controlled 6 banks are inefficient and are there to rob customers Telecom - limited companies milk customers with hefty plans Medical - no attention unless condition becomes emergency , assisted dying is suggested as best treatment Education - worst public education system with zero quality I see very few Canadians in tech and few Canadian startup companies , no innovation , no space programImmigration - lot of useless people who are economic liability in future , example bring people from war and terrorism torn countries without any criteriaNon productive population - drugs weeds are encouraged, immigrant people contributing to plumbing , electrician, taxi, security guards etc with zero economic impact but reaping all social securityTaxation - very high taxation with limited benefits and citizen pay tax so that huge useless population can enjoy free medical, education and infrastructure, 95 % people who are struggling to meet ends for food, house etcGlobal clout - Zero global influence, china, india usa don't consider it is important country on world stageHousing: unaffordable housing due to offloading of black money from China and other countriesActually half of canada is owned by ChinaSo the economy is tightly controlled and the local population is sidelined and economy is down the hillDo you see the same future of canada? It nightmare scenario for the country in next 10 years ?#misc... — Blind, 1d ago

new ...deTour 2023 is presented by PMQ and sponsored by Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This 10-day grand design festival will present various programmes for the art and design communities both in and outside Hong Kong. These programmes include creative installations and exhibitions, workshops, design dialogues, movie screenings, guided tours, and many more. 10 years of deTour at PMQ Started in 2014, PMQ's deTour celebrates the 10th anniversary this year. A unique theme has been assigned to each edition of deTour to explore how design could solve social problems and improve our lives. To commemorate this journey, a 10-year retrospect exhibition will be featured in this year's deign festival to look back on the highlighted exhibits and behind-the-scenes of the past decade of PMQ's deTour. This part of the exhibition will be held during the same period as deTour 2023 Design Festival at PMQ and admission is free, as everyone is invited to witness the road to success of deTour, as the contribution of PMQ and deTour in pushing forward the development of the local design industry. The theme of deTour 2023 – "New Know How" – the Interweaving of "Craft", "Design" and "Technology" Working around "New Know How" as the theme, deTour 2023 aims to pave the road to craft design future which takes off with appreciation of traditional craftsmanship. When working, craftsmen are laser focused, highly precise and people oriented, and these qualities are collectively deemed as the "spirit of craftsmanship", which are also regarded as "Know How". Curators of deTour 2023 stated that "this valuable artisanship ought to be applied to different industries. It, together with design thinking and advanced technology, will help take each industry to a new level. By achieving this, problems can be solved more effectively, and through analysing obstacles from a new angle and perhaps trying solutions with new materials and techniques, new creations that are more thoughtful might be possible – this is what we meant by 'New Know How'." Through this design festival, curators hope to bring the industries to re-appreciate traditional crafts from a new angle and make good use of "New Know How" in different sectors. Three Exhibition Areas with 20 International and Local Works The exhibition of deTour 2023 Design Festival is divided into three parts: International Collaboration, Feature Exhibitions and Selected Entries, which are curated under the five specific directions of New Value, Storytelling, Craft Enhancement, Innovation and Heritage. Scattered all over the PMQ premises, 20 design works from the Nethelands, Japan and local designers are open to the public for free appreciation. . In addition, over the 10 days of the design festival, there will be a fruitful programme of a total of 40 workshops, 12 design dialogues and sessions of documentary screening of "Food and Design". International Collaboration: Craft by Nature by Biobased Creations (The Netherlands) deTour 2023's International Collaboration has invited Biobased Creations from the Netherlands, which is a creative studio formed by a group of designers, researchers and artists who aim to encourage the use of biomaterials - also known as renewable eco resources - in daily lives, so as to evolve our world into a regenerative and circular one. Biobased Creations presents Craft by Nature which is an exhibit specially designed for deTour 2023. Shaped like a house, the exhibit allows visitors to find multiple designs made from biobased materials such as furniture, clothes, shoes and socks, and household items. All of these designs are eco-friendly, light in weight and with a minimalistic design, created by designers from Hong Kong and the Netherlands. Outside the house in the garden, visitors can see the "originals" of the materials used in the designs, including common reed, silvergrass and shells, something that we are familiar with. Other than that, Biobased Creations will also display 40 biomaterials that can be applied in architecture and heat insulation, and visitors are welcome to hold and feel these materials and scan the QR code to instantly learn how these biomaterials are made. Craft by Nature is an innovative installation demonstrating how materials that are ignored or abandoned can be transformed into chic designs, and this allows us to rethink our relationship with the nature and invites us to take one more step forward to make our world better. Feature Exhibitions: Exploring traditional crafts with a fresh eye... — SME Business Daily Media, 1d ago

new What works for this movie is how Ranbir Kapoor, who has played troubled lover roles in the past, surrenders to his bullish and brutish character. He delivers the crudest lines, written to shock and mortify, with such conviction that you are keenly aware of how good an actor Kapoor is. He shines in a role that’s meant solely to traumatize its viewers. And did we tell you, in the first ten minutes, we are given a crash course on how alpha males like him are the real deal. And his way of wooing women? “You have a big pelvis, and it means you can have my healthy babies”. If this is your brand of entertainment and these violent imagery rocks your boat, then you are likely to walk out of this film less scarred. — gulfnews.com, 1d ago

new And as a mark of a new peak for the aircraft itself, the blimp is providing aerial coverage over Sunday's Professional Pickleball Association Tour Finals in San Clemente, California, the first time the sport has received the Goodyear Blimp treatment. — cbsnews.com, 1d ago

new While we haven’t reached the Jetson’s level of personal flying cars, the air taxi industry is on the verge of taking flight as major companies like Boeing, Hyundai, Airbus, and Toyota are actively developing fleets to facilitate seamless commuting in the skies. Both Europe and the U.S. have formulated new regulations to establish a framework for air taxi operations to commence within the next decade. And, like everything that improves what we do, air taxis will require specific infrastructure changes to be both safe and practical. — Connected World - IoT and Digital Transformation, 2d ago

new 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐃𝐅 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 : https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/146977 The increased participation in cheerleading has led to a growth in demand for various cheerleading equipment market demand. The higher involvement of cheerleaders in sports has generated a greater need for uniforms, practice wear, and accessories. Moreover, the increase in number of cheerleading participants has increased the need for safety equipment such as mats, pads, and safety gear. As safety is a top priority in cheerleading and this equipment are essential to prevent injuries during practice and performances, which can surge the cheerleading equipment market size. In addition, more participation from worldwide have resulted into higher demand for training aids and accessories that can help cheerleaders improve their skills. It includes items like pom-poms, megaphones, cheer signs, and instructional materials. Manufacturers also capitalize on this demand by offering a wider range of products.Schools and other organizations are investing majorly in cheerleading programs, which is leading to increased cheerleading equipment market share. Moreover, schools, colleges, and organizations are allocating resources for cheerleading, which increases the demand for cheerleading equipment and accessories. Investment in coaching, training, and facilities has led to safer and more proficient cheerleading. Consequently, the need for safety equipment, including mats, padding, and safety gear to enhance the safety of participants, has increased and resulted in cheerleading equipment market trends.In addition, enhanced investment has made way for professional and competitive cheerleading programs which has proven to be opportunistic for the market growth. Manufacturers have explored opportunities to expand into international markets as cheerleading has gained popularity in different regions and countries. Furthermore, the adaptation of products to meet specific needs and preferences of different regions makes way for market growth.The integration of technological advancements in the cheerleading equipment market has driven innovation, enhanced performance, and has offered unique features, which has positively impacted the industry. The manufacturers of cheerleading equipment have constantly developed new and innovative products, such as safer and more comfortable mats and uniforms. Moreover, it has also fostered technological advancements in cheerleading equipment. The incorporation of technology, such as wearable devices for performance monitoring or training aids, has led to the development of new and improved products. In addition, high-speed cameras and video analysis software have assisted in evaluation of cheerleading routines and to identify areas for improvement.The mobile apps and online platforms also offer training modules, tutorials, and interactive guides for cheerleaders to practice and learn new skills independently. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications are also utilized to create immersive training experiences for cheerleaders which has enabled the cheerleaders to practice routines and stunts in a simulated environment. The rise in technological advancement has made way for manufacturers to create safer, smarter, and more innovative cheerleading equipment to meet the evolving needs of athletes and coaches which has further boosted the cheerleading equipment market opportunities.𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 : https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/146977 The rise in customization and personalization presents a significant opportunity field for the cheerleading equipment market. Manufacturers offer customized and personalized gear to cater the unique preferences of cheerleaders and teams, to enhance their sense of identity and brand recognition. Moreover, customization allows cheerleading teams to create a distinct and unique identity as it provides ability to choose colors, logos, and designs that reflect respective school or organization, which foster team spirit and cohesion. — openPR.com, 2d ago

new NASA determined that Dragonfly aced its preliminary design stages, and on Nov. 28 gave the thumbs up for this "dual-quadcopter" endeavor to proceed to its final construction. The flying craft is uniquely designed for this mission, as it will explore hundreds of miles of Titan's terrain. Over a planned mission of close to three years, Dragonfly will take off and land at multiple sites as it investigates the "prebiotic" conditions that could have provided the brew for life to eventually form in our solar system. — Mashable, 2d ago

new My research interests are varied and I tend not to espouse a specific research agenda because of the diverse nature of our doctoral programs relative to the size of our college. Examples of doctoral research studies I have guided include the following: MATHEMATICS EDUCATION: (1) Examining the effect on student achievement and attitudes of graphing utilities in college algebra courses taught at two-year colleges; (2) Exploring the influence instructional use of calculators in elementary grades has on student performance on the mathematics component of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT); (3) Applying a conceptual change model, commonly used to assess students' misconceptions of key science concepts to community college mathematics teachers misconceptions of how students learn mathematics; (4) Examining the spacing effect theory (i.e., how variations in the frequency and timing of instruction affect student learning) with respect to 3-, 2-, and 1-day per week schedules in college algebra. SCIENCE EDUCATION: (1) Examining the effect of biology-based virtual and physical field trips relative to students' science achievement and attitudes; (2) Examining the effect of conceptually-based instructional strategies on science achievement and attitudes of community college students in first-semester general biology, microbiology, and human anatomy and physiology courses; (3) Investigating the direct and indirect effects of teacher attributes, classroom attributes, and instructional strategies on Namibian junior secondary school teachers' locus of control, self-efficacy, and attitudes toward desertification; (4) Investigating the effect of student- and teacher-centered instructional strategies with and without conceptual advocacy on ninth-grade biology students' misconceptions, biology achievement, attitudes toward science, and cognitive retention of scientific method and measurement, spontaneous generation, and characteristics of living things. COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION: (1) Examining the effects of a computer-based feedback and assessment environment on Taiwanese students' English language acquisition; (2) Examining the effect of a classroom restructuring involving the introductory course in computer science (CS 1); (3) Examining the perception of control relative to Taiwanese students’ affective domain (locus of control, self-efficacy, test anxiety) in three different types of testing environments: computer-based (CBT), pseudo computerized-adaptive (pseudo-CAT), and pseudo self-adaptive (pseudo-SAT). AVIATION SCIENCE EDUCATION: (1) Developing a causal model to help explain and predict the relationships among various attributes of airport executives that lead to a career in airport management. AVIATION SCIENCES: (1) Identifying factors that contributed to certified flight instructors (CFIs) becoming complacent, which could then be manifested as a lack of or reduced vigilance. (2) Identifying factors related to hazardous events that were precursors to runway incursions classified as pilot deviations. (3) Examining the relationship between factors affecting the aviation profession and the concept of aviation professionalism. (4) Examining the safety climate at targeted U.S. based aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities. (5) Examining the survival strategies of U.S. domestic airlines relative to their route exit/entry decision patterns and air fare competition dynamics. — fit.edu, 2d ago

new ...pick up programs (Block Bins, The Urban Canopy, Collective Resource) with participants noting that "the service areas of many of the smaller food scrap haulers appears to be expanding", thus indicating an increase in demand for these services. Although 70 communities in our region offer municipal compost pick up services, comments on this topic were general rather than specifying the name of the hauler or municipality offering these services. Comments do, however, reflect the patchwork of collection services being offered in the region. Processing infrastructure is limited with few large-scale commercial composting facilities located within the city limits (Green Era Anaerobic Digester, Denali 3 with other facilities located well beyond city limits in places like Romeoville, Grayslake, and DeKalb. New efforts to bolster infrastructure included the City of Chicago’s free food scrap composting pilot at six community gardens, seasonal food scrap ride along programs with yard waste haulers, and that SWALCO was purchasing bins for residents in Lake County to purchase at a reduced cost and use. It was also noted that UIC is researching a new way to process food scraps using black soldier flies. A list of comments on Current Efforts in Infrastructure are displayed in Table 5, Appendix 1. POLICY current efforts were also not well-documented by attendees. Many comments lacked a clear relationship to policy or could be reclassified as infrastructure needs or policy opportunities. This may demonstrate a weakness of the group and/or a gap that needs to be filled in building a culture of composting in greater Chicagoland. This may also reflect who was in the room as only 13% of attendees identified as government representatives or policy makers. As noted above, compost laws and policies in the City of Chicago are not always understood or well-enforced. In the greater Chicagoland area, laws on composting are an unevenly distributed patchwork. Attendees also struggled to differentiate between policy and infrastructure barrier (a “chicken-or-egg" question of what should come first, policy or infrastructure). Specific policies mentioned included the 1990 State of Illinois Yard Waste Ban , the Chicago Compost Ordinance, and efforts to allow landscape waste processors to accept food scraps . It was also noted that Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition has a Policy Committee. Efforts that could help build support for policy changes include the fact that in 2023 "the State of Illinois adopted Illinois Compost Awareness Week" and the "[Materials and Management Advisory Committee] MMAC 2021 Report to ILGA recommends looking @ permitting to facilitate allowing landscape waste facilities to accept & process food/organics."... — extension.org, 2d ago

new ...“A zip line course that was unsafely steep; a zip line trolley (the mechanical device that moves along the zip line cable and connects to the rider’s harness) that failed to slow Scott’s speed either because of catastrophic failure or because it was not engineered to handle the speeds achieved by riders on that course but sold to Stowe Mountain Resort anyway with knowledge it would be used on that course; a defectively-designed and/or manufactured harness/lanyard assembly that catastrophically ripped at high speed, catapulting Scott at high speed into the cable bollard base several yards away; and an employer that encouraged its employees to engage in high speed zip line runs to promote itself to adventure seekers, all while deliberately failing to properly inspect and maintain the equipment it supplied to its employees for use on the zipline to save money, knowing full-well that its deliberate workplace safety failures created a workplace hazard, as VOSHA put it, ‘likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.’”... — VTDigger, 2d ago

new SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 23 November 2023 - (NASDAQ: AMZN) – This holiday season, Amazon Singapore engages the local community with ‘Page to Page: Amazon Singapore Books Pop Up’, a unique and immersive reading experience happening from 2 - 17 Dec 2023 at Punggol Regional Library. The initiative will launch on 2 Dec 2023 with an opening ceremony, with invited guests that include children and family beneficiaries as part of the Amazon x Shop for Good wishlist initiative. To further underscore their support for the local community, Amazon Singapore will also be donating a total of $100,000 in cash to 4 local NPOs, including Children’s Wishing Well, Club Rainbow (Singapore), Fei Yue Family Service Centre and Glyph Community, to help children and youths in Singapore better learn, play, and develop in the long-run. The donations will be presented to representatives from the various NPOs at the launch of ‘Page to Page: Amazon Singapore Books Pop Up’. Amazon Singapore’s increase in support for underprivileged children and their families is aligned to the direction from the Forward SG Report 2023 to look to social empowerment rather than social assistance when it comes to supporting and uplifting lower-income families. This effort held at the Punggol Regional Library underscores Amazon’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of lifelong readers as well as the history of the company that began as an online book store. The pop-up promises an enriching experience for families and young school children, extending reading resources to the heartlands. Showcasing a tree adorned with books sourced from Amazon Singapore's diverse local and international sellers, the initiative fosters a sense of community, inspiring a passion for literacy during the festive season. Families are encouraged to join with their children, to cultivate a mutual love for reading and engaging in creative activities to craft special moments with each other. Under the Amazon x Shop for Good wishlist initiative, Amazon Singapore continues to work closely with local NPOs to understand the evolving needs of the underprivileged and channel resources to uplift and nurture them, especially children. In addition, the initiative serves to raise awareness and encourage the public to give to meaningful causes regularly and offers a platform for donating transparently. Delivering Smiles in Singapore this holiday season Amazon Singapore’s wishlist initiative started in 2020 to make giving and doing good a part of daily experiences for customers in Singapore, especially during the pandemic. As people shop on Amazon.sg for holiday gifts or everyday essentials, they can browse the items requested by NPOs on their respective wishlists, click to purchase them per their budget, and directly support the causes they are most passionate about. Each NPO’s wishlist is an updated depository of items which their beneficiaries currently need most and works as a self-serve tool—at no cost to NPOs—to inform customers on Amazon.sg what the NPOs need and their quantity. Customers who are keen to donate can select any listed item and quantity, make the payment, and have the items delivered directly to the NPOs’ specified address. This minimizes instances of mismatched items being donated to NPOs or the need to drop them off physically while offering the same vast selection, convenient shopping experience, and great prices that customers have come to expect from Amazon.sg. A total of 16 local NPOs are currently part of the Amazon x Shop for Good wishlist initiative: Arc Children’s Centre, Beyond Social Services, Blessings in a Bag, Children’s Wishing Well, Club Rainbow (Singapore), Engineering Good, Fei Yue, Glyph Community, New Hope Community Services, Singapore Red Cross, SHINE Children and Youth Services, Singapore Children’s Society, The Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf), SOSD, The Food Bank Singapore, and Willing Hearts. Joanna Tan, CEO, Children’s Wishing Well, said, “This donation initiative has enabled us to acquire food items for the children, books to enhance their learning and development, educational materials, and much more. As we approach the year's end, we look forward to ongoing support in ensuring our children have the essentials and educational resources they require.” Lim Si Hui, Co-General Manager, Glyph Community Limited, said, "Through the Shop for Good wish list, our aim is to enhance our capabilities with the essential equipment necessary for implementing our exciting new technology, coding, and AI programme! With products such as tablets as a critical tool, we can empower young children to thrive in the digital age." Teo Siang Loong, Executive Directior, Club Rainbow (Singapore), said, “We at Club Rainbow are elated by the endless possibilities that comes with this partnership with Amazon Singapore. Being part of Shop for Good has enabled our beneficiaries to receive many essential necessities such as milk powder and diapers. These items contribute to our monthly distribution efforts to support the basic needs of our low-income families. Books and many other educational resources will augment the learning and development of our pre-schoolers, primary and secondary school children through ongoing early intervention programmes, tuition sessions and enrichment activities. These initiatives are pivotal as key enablers to ease the financial distress for our vulnerable families, and empower them to live with dignity.” Arthur Ling, Chief Executive, Fei Yue Family Service Centre, said, “Our Shop for Good wish list eases the financial strain on low-income families, allowing them to prioritise their resources for other daily necessities. Through the distribution of milk and diapers to our Family Service Centres, we empower our social workers to provide essential support to our beneficiaries.” Customers can join Amazon in its season of giving by shopping for an NPO’s wishlist via amazon.sg/shopforgood. Hashtag: #Amazonsg #DeliveringSmileshttp://www.twitter.com/amazonsghttp://www.facebook.com/Amazon.sghttp://www.instagram.com/Amazon.SG... — SME Business Daily Media, 2d ago

new Miracle Just Off 118 Ave: This event showcases experimental and improvisational musicians taking on a slew of classic holiday videos, edited and silenced, with works by SinData, M.O.A.I.N. and Wayne Defehr. James Parrott will do a soundscape of drones, while Stephen Sereda provides processed sound to a 1948 look at Santa Claus treating impressionable youngsters to a bizarre staging of Punch and Judy puppets. Free entry, but please bring a non-perishable consumable item for Edmonton’s Food Bank. — edmontonjournal, 2d ago

new Oakland residents are angry. One by one, business owners, community organizers, church leaders, and teenagers have stood at town halls and City Council meetings this year with an alarming message: They no longer feel safe anywhere in their city — at any time.“It’s not just a small number of people in the evening or nighttime. This is all hours, day and night,” said Noha Aboelata, founder of the Roots Community Health Center in Oakland. “Someone’s over here pushing a stroller and someone’s getting shot right next to them.”One morning in early April, automatic gunfire erupted outside a Roots clinic. Patients and staff members dropped to the ground and took cover. After the shooting stopped, medical assistants and a doctor gave first aid to a man in his 20s who had been shot six times.Everyone is blaming someone or something else for the bloodshed.Business owners have had enough. In September, Target announced it would close nine stores in four states, including in Oakland because of organized retail theft; the famed Vietnamese restaurant Le Cheval shut its doors after 38 years, partly blaming car break-ins and other criminal activity for depressing its business; and more than 200 business owners staged an hours-long strike to protest the rise in crime.The leadership of the local NAACP, the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, made headlines this summer when it said Oakland was seeing a “heyday” for criminals, and pointed to the area’s “failed leadership” and “movement to defund the police.”“It feels like there’s a dark cloud over Oakland,” said Cynthia Adams, head of the local chapter, which has called on the city to hire 250 more police officers.Price, a progressive elected last year, already faces a recall effort, in part because she rejects blanket enhanced sentences for gangs and weapons charges, and has declined to charge youths as adults.The new mayor, Sheng Thao, was criticized for firing the police chief for misconduct and breaking a campaign promise to double funding at the city’s Department of Violence Prevention. In her first State of the City address last month, Thao described the surge in crime as “totally and completely unacceptable,” and acknowledged that Oaklanders are hurting and scared. She said the city has expanded police foot patrols and funded six new police academies, as well as boosted funding for violence prevention and affordable housing.“Not a day goes by where I don’t wish I could just wave a magic wand and silence the gunfire,” Thao said.Many in the community, including Valadez-Rios, advocate for broader investment in Oakland’s poorest neighborhoods over more law enforcement.City councils, states, and the federal government are putting their faith in violence prevention programs, in some cases bankrolling them from nontraditional sources, such as the state-federal Medicaid health insurance program for low-income people.Last month, California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom approved an 11 percent state tax on guns and ammunition, and $75 million of the revenue annually is expected to go to violence prevention programs.Although these programs are growing in popularity, it is unclear how successful they are. In some cases, proven programs that involve law enforcement, such as Ceasefire, were cut back or shelved after George Floyd was murdered, said Abt, the Maryland researcher.“The intense opposition to law enforcement means that the city was unwilling to use a portion of the tools that have been proven,” Abt said. “It’s good to work on preventing youth violence, but the vast majority of serious violence is perpetrated by adults.”Not a day goes by where I don’t wish I could just wave a magic wand and silence the gunfire. — Governing, 2d ago

new Most importantly, the RISE grant helped Northeastern purchase its simulators, which include a birth simulator, a pediatric simulator and two adult simulators. Using the simulators students can do everything from listen to heartbeats and breathing sounds to insert a catheter and their patients are even able to talk to them and answer questions.Instructors shared that the simulators are invaluable because they help students grow their confidence and figure out what they still need to learn while realizing just how much they already know. Plus, it's a great place for students to apply what they've learned in the classroom.Nursing students commented that the simulators help make them more comfortable, teach them time management, provide valuable hands-on experience outside of the classroom and allow them to work on their critical thinking skills."I like simulation because it is a place for me to make errors and not have to worry about killing the patients," Brandon Williams said.Before watching a demonstration of the birth simulator, the group heard from Jennifer Garcia, a student who benefited from the RISE grant and in May will be graduating with an RN (Registered Nursing) degree. From California, she was working a dead-end job when her sister was accepted into NJC's program and encouraged her to enroll. After taking a job at Sterling Regional MedCenter as an inventory associate to make sure that healthcare was right for her, she fell in love almost immediately and went to work earning her CNA degree."Being from out of state it's been very difficult for me," Garcia said, explaining that the cost for her to attend Northeastern is much higher than a student who has lived here all of their life. "I wasn't sure I would be able to afford it and then came the RISE grant. It just lifted this great burden off me and I was able to focus all of my time and attention into preparing my skills.""I am very grateful to the RISE grant for everything it has given me because I feel that I have a purpose," Garcia added, sharing that she plans to work in the community when she graduates.Next, Giacomini shared how for years, she and Brower discussed how they could partner with students coming in, who often come from a country where they were a veterinarian or a doctor but now they need to get the skills and credentials to be able to work in the United States. Through the RISE grant, they were able to remove the financial barrier for some of the students and it also helped them create an integrated education and training program.Northeastern found a cohort of students whose language proficiency was just enough that they could have a basic conversation but they needed language skills specific to a CNA, which they got through a customized English training that was developed. The college also worked with them on workforce preparation skills like communication, time management, learning cultural differences, etc."It was great to finally pilot this program that we'd been trying for so long to get together," Giacomini said, adding that now those students are recruiting others to the CNA program.Next, was the simulation, which involved a pregnant woman who came in stable but started deteriorating with her heart rate and blood pressure showing signs of distress and her oxygen level dropping. She then experienced an eclamptic seizure due to high blood pressure and when the mother awakened it was determined she was in labor. The mother went on to deliver a healthy baby girl, who was examined for any problems and vaccinated.After the simulation, the group heard from Shelly Griffith, CEO of Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center, one of Northeastern's main clinical sites for both nursing and CNA students."We rely heavily on (NJC) to help train CNAs, individuals who are looking to pursue an entry point into the medical field," she said. "The beauty of NJC is they have been able to flex some schedules and be able to accommodate those who may need to be working full-time while they are looking to grow their career options."NJC's program is especially critical given the shortage of healthcare workers. Griffith shared Eben Ezer has a need for 20 CNAs right now,"What's happening is the demand for our service is significant and so people are having to go on a wait list, which means that many people, their needs are not being met because nursing homes throughout the rural communities are not able to meet that need because of limited staffing levels," she explained.Following her remarks, guests had a chance to try out the simulators themselves.The day ended with a panel discussion that included Tamara Durbin, executive director of Northeast Colorado BOCES; Kyle Stumpf, Superintendent of Holyoke School District; Danielle Ongart, Executive Director of Colorado Department of Education's Student Pathways; and Misti Ruthven, Director of Education and Training Innovation for the Office of Governor Polis.They talked about the importance of career connected learning as it benefits both students and the economy by opening students' eyes to career opportunities they might want to consider. Stumpf mentioned the success of his district's internship program.The group also talked about some of the barriers that exist to providing this, the biggest being cost, especially in northeast Colorado where it costs a lot to transport students from their school to another school that offers the program they're interested in. There is also the challenge of trying to ensure all students have equitable access. Durbin pointed out that students who live in northeast Colorado need to have the same opportunities available to them as those on the Front Range.During a question and answer session with the audience, Trae Miller, executive director of the Logan County Economic Development Corporation, pointed out that internships and apprenticeships sound great but the state requirements that go into those and the reporting aspects create a barrier for businesses to participate in those programs. He also shared that students need help with basic skills such as showing up on time and learning how to take instruction.Ongart suggested there needs to be a regional entity in place to help students and businesses navigate this, so it doesn't all fall on the district or the business, and Stumpf mentioned his district teaches a class an hour a day with all of those skills and they also provide businesses with funding to help offset the costs of doing an internship.State Sen. Byron Pelton asked why the state is reinventing the wheels with apprenticeships, instead of learning from what's in place now. He said his frustration with recent legislation regarding apprenticeships is "you're going to have a lot of outside forces that are going to try to do their best to send it one way or the other when we need to just worry about the entire workforce, not just a little part of it; we need to worry about the entire workforce." Pelton pointed out in two years, half of Colorado's electrical trade will be retiring, "so we've got to get more people in there," he commented.He also said would like for time in college courses to count toward credit for both college and high school, which he plans to introduce a bill to require."We realize the importance of apprenticeships and we have challenges in trying to determine those opportunities for youth in high schools and have that be seamless for them," Durbin said, adding that it's something they are working on.©2023 Journal-Advocate, Sterling, Colo. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. — GovTech, 2d ago