McDaniel puts up 22 in Lindenwood's 81-63 victory over IU Indianapolis
As the holiday whirlwind surrounds us, we are reminded how much we should be grateful for: no matter which holidays we celebrate, we have numerous opportunities to congregate with friends and family members and to share the holiday spirit, we exchange material and spiritual gifts, we reach out to people we know and even to people we don’t know, to offer our time, compassion, love and support more than in any other part of the year. So why are we not so happy? Why are most people stressed and overwhelmed and the question “Are you ready for the holiday Season?” often sounds more like a disaster preparedness inquiry than an exciting reminder? Scientists and common folk alike offer various explanations. Harvard scientists warn that the holiday season requires us to keep track of additional duties and responsibilities, so the prefrontal portion of our brain goes on “overdrive” with executive decisions we must make. This high demand can cause a decrease in our memory functions, and stress can even stop the production of new brain cells. Harvard scientists recommend self-evaluating how we spend time over the holidays and considering “breaks” from the festivities to slow down this process. Luckily, once the holidays are over and the season’s stress is over, the normal brain function recovers. Additionally, the winter holidays coincide with months when there is less sunlight because the days are shorter. As a result, some people (roughly 6% of the population) develop Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is more prevalent in northern climates but can be experienced in Colorado, as well. Factors connected with financial stress contribute in a major way. The pressure to buy gifts for all “on the list” replaces the joy of giving if comparison and unrealistic expectations replace the sense of enjoying gift exchanges as a traditional activity and a way to bond. The need to take part in family activities challenges those who experience family conflicts. Even the most diplomatic of us feel challenged when we must face family members with strong political, religious, or health beliefs and convictions. This discourages many people from attending family gatherings. This avoidance causes the opposite negative feeling of loneliness. Statistics indicate that 75% of Gen Z-ers and 65% of single adults feel lonelier than their peers. No matter the source of holiday stress, December is undoubtedly the most stressful month. The end of the year is a time for evaluating our year of experiences, for scorekeeping and tallying personal and professional goals, and for focusing on “what could have been better” as we begin to craft New Year’s resolutions. This reflection, mixed with social media and sometimes forced family functions, can bring the weight of the world crashing down on you. So, how can you avoid this? Is it even possible? Of course it is, but it’s up to us. Whenever you are feeling the holiday blues, do something small for you. Brew some coffee or tea, take a moment or two, and drink in this moment. Allowing yourself the time to experience the heat radiating from the cup in your hand, the chill on your face as you look at the window, and the warmth the holiday season brings to our relationships through celebration. Focus on the moment and not on the Season. And don’t forget, if you are seriously depressed or anxious, your mental health provider or the providers at the 988 hotline will be happy to help. Happy Season to all from us at GTI! ______________________________________________________________________________ Jenni Guentcheva, LPC, LAC, NCACII co-founded GTI and leads GoodNeighbor LLC, both treatment centers in the heart of Canon City. She has developed and managed multiple mental health and addiction treatment programs in Fremont County since 1999. Jenni’s mission is to create opportunities for her clients, both individuals and fellow professionals. Brian Monahan, B.S., CSCS, is the CEO and co-founder of GTI. Brian is a retired US Army Special Forces operative (Green Beret), a coach, trainer, and a psychotherapist. He is pursuing a second degree in Health Psychology and has dedicated his post-military career to another area of service – the health of the community. Brian and Jenni can be contacted at 719-301-7676 and info@greenthumb-initiative.com.
If you’re sitting on a pile of travel or credit card rewards with no immediate travel plans, donating them to a charity is an easy way to have a positive impact. And it's a popular way to give: In 2021, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members donated around 94 million miles to charities at an approximate cash value of $2.6 million, according to the airline. Beyond the social benefits, miles donations also qualify as activity on your loyalty account and can prevent the rest of your rewards from expiring .
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans on Sunday voted in the second round of the country's presidential election , with the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month’s vote . The closing of polls started a countdown to the announcement of official results as independent polling firms were preparing to release so-called quick counts. Depending on how tight the vote turns out to be, electoral officials may not call the race for days — as happened in the contentious 2019 runoff that brought center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou to office and ended 15 years of rule by Uruguay’s left-leaning Broad Front. Uruguay's staid election has turned into a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate who won 27% in the first round of voting on Oct. 27, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, who took 44% of the vote in the first round. But other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party — notched 20% of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger. Congress ended up evenly split in the October vote. Most polls have shown a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, with nearly 10% of Uruguayan voters undecided even at this late stage. Many said they believed turnout would be low if voting weren't compulsory in the country. “Neither candidate convinced me and I feel that there are many in my same situation," said Vanesa Gelezoglo, 31, in the capital, Montevideo, adding she would make up her mind at “the last minute.” Analysts say the candidates' lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power elsewhere . “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy," said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn't exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over a surge in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s safest, with Delgado promising tough-on-crime policies and Orsi advocating a more community-oriented approach. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, campaigned on a vow to continue the legacy of current President Lacalle Pou — in some ways making the election into a referendum on his leadership. He campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government." While a string of corruption scandals rattled Lacalle Pou's government last year, the president — who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term — now enjoys high approval ratings and a strong economy expected to grow 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Inflation has also eased in recent months, boosting his coalition. Delgado served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to pursue his predecessor's pro-business policies. He would continue pushing for a trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries promoting regional commerce. "We have to give the government coalition a chance to consolidate its proposals,” said Ramiro Pérez, a street vendor voting for Delgado on Sunday. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as the political heir to iconic former President José “Pepe” Mujica , an ex-Marxist guerilla who raised Uruguay's international profile as one of the region's most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations during his 2010-2015 term. His Broad Front coalition oversaw the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small South American nation of 3.4 million people. “He's my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children's,” Yeny Varone, a nurse, said of Orsi. “In the future they'll have better working conditions, health and salaries.” Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer , was among the first to cast his ballot after polls opened. “Uruguay is a small country, but it has earned recognition for being stable, for having a citizenry that respects institutional formalities,” he told reporters from his local polling station. “This is no small feat.” While promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay, Orsi plans no dramatic changes. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay's unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. Both candidates pledged full cooperation with each other if elected. “I want (Orsi) to know that my idea is to form a government of national unity,” Delgado told reporters after casting his vote in the capital's upscale Pocitos neighborhood. He said that if he won, he and Orsi would chat on Monday over some yerba mate, the traditional herbal drink beloved by Uruguayans. Orsi similarly pledged a smooth and respectful transition of power, describing Sunday's democratic exercise as “an incredible experience" as he voted in Canelones, the sprawling town of beaches and cattle ranches just north of Montevideo where he served as mayor for a decade. “The essence of politics is agreements,” he said. “You never end up completely satisfied.” Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report.The rapid advancement and adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the field of communications. AI-powered tools can now generate convincing text, images, audio and video from textual prompts. While generative AI is powerful, useful and convenient , it introduces significant risks, such as misinformation, bias and privacy. Generative AI has already been the cause of some serious communications issues. AI image generators have been used during political campaigns to create fake photos aimed at confusing voters and embarrassing opponents. AI chatbots have provided inaccurate information to customers and damaged organizations’ reputations. Deep-fake videos of public figures making inflammatory statements or endorsing stocks have gone viral. As well, AI-generated social media profiles have been used in disinformation campaigns . The rapid pace of AI development presents a challenge. For example, the increasing realism of AI-generated images has improved dramatically , making deterring deepfakes much harder. Without clear policies for AI in place, organizations run the risk of producing misleading communication that may erode public trust, and the potential misuse of personal data on an unprecedented scale. Establishing AI guidelines and regulation In Canada, several initiatives have been underway to develop AI regulation to varying reception. The federal government introduced controversial legislation in 2022 that, if passed, will outline ways to regulate AI and protect data privacy. The legislation’s Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA), in particular, has been the subject of strong criticism from a group of 60 organizations, including the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Civil Liberties Union , which have asked for it to be withdrawn and rewritten after more extensive consultation. Recently, in November 2024, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) announced the creation of the Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (CAISI). CAISI aims to “support the safe and responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence” by collaborating with other countries to establish standards and expectations. CAISI’s development allows Canada to join the United States and other countries that have established similar institutes that will hopefully work collaboratively to establish multilateral standards for AI that encourage responsible development while promoting innovation. The Montreal AI Ethics Institute offers resources like a newsletter, a blog and an interactive AI Ethics Living Dictionary . The University of Toronto’s Swartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society and the University of Guelph’s CARE-AI are examples of universities building academic forums for investigating ethical AI. In the private sector, Telus is the first Canadian telecommunications company to publicly commit to AI transparency and responsibility. Telus’s Responsible AI unit recently published its 2024 AI Report that discusses the company’s commitment to responsible AI through customer and community engagement. Read more: Bletchley declaration: international agreement on AI safety is a good start, but ordinary people need a say – not just elites In November 2023, Canada was among 29 nations to sign the Bletchley AI Declaration following the First International AI Safety Summit. The goal of the declaration was to find agreement about how to assess and mitigate AI risk in the private sector. More recently, the governments of Ontario and Québec have introduced legislation on the use and development of AI tools and systems in the public sector. Looking forward, in January 2025, the European Union’s AI Act will come into force — dubbed “the world’s first comprehensive AI law.” Turning frameworks into action As generative AI use becomes more widespread, the communications industry — including public relations, marketing, digital and social media and public affairs — must develop clear guidelines for generative AI use. While progress has been made by governments, universities and industries, more work is needed to turn these frameworks into actionable guidelines that can be adopted by Canada’s communications, media and marketing sectors. Industry groups like the Canadian Public Relations Society, the International Association of Business Communicators and the Canadian Marketing Association should develop standards and training programs that respond to the needs of public relations, marketing and digital media professionals. The Canadian Public Relations Society is making strides in this direction, partnering with the Chartered Institute for Public Relations, a professional body for public relations practitioners in the United Kingdom. Together, the two professional associations created the AI in PR Panel , which has produced practical guides for communicators who want to use generative AI responsibly. Establishing standards for AI To maximize the benefits of generative AI while limiting its downsides, the communications field needs to adopt professional standards and best practices. The past two years of generative AI use have seen several areas of concern emerge, which should be considered when developing guidelines. Transparency and disclosure. AI-generated content should be labelled. How and when generative AI is used should be disclosed. AI agents should not be presented as humans to the public. Accuracy and fact-checking. Professional communicators should uphold the journalistic standard of accuracy by fact-checking AI outputs and correcting errors. Communicators should not use AI to create or spread disinformation or misleading content. Fairness. AI systems should be regularly checked for bias to make sure they are respectful of the organization’s audiences along variables such as race, gender, age and geographic location, among others. To reduce bias, organizations should ensure that the datasets used to train their generative AI systems are accurately representative of audiences and users . Privacy and consent. Users’ privacy rights should be respected. Data protection laws should be followed. . Personal data should not be used for training AI systems without users’ expressed consent. Individuals should be allowed to opt out of receiving automated communication and having their data collected. Accountability and oversight. AI decisions should always be subject to human oversight. Clear lines of accountability and reporting should be spelled out. Generative AI systems should be audited regularly. To effect these policies, organizations should appoint a permanent AI task force accountable to the organization’s board and membership. The AI task force should monitor AI use and regularly report findings to appropriate parties. Generative AI holds immense potential to enhance human creativity and storytelling. By developing and following thoughtful AI guidelines, the communications sector can build public trust and help to maintain the integrity of public information, which is vital to a thriving society and democracy .HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans made mistakes in every facet of the game Sunday against the Tennessee Titans to lose for the third time in four games. C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions, the defense gave up multiple big passing plays and Ka′imi Fairbairn missed a 28-yard field goal that would . “Just a disappointing loss for us,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We didn’t do anything well enough to win this game. Out of all the positives that we did have, there were way too many negatives, too many negative plays.” for a touchdown in the third quarter and the Texans tied a franchise record with eight sacks. Danielle Hunter led the group with a season-high three sacks and Will Anderson Jr. added two in his return after missing two games with an ankle injury. But the offense sputtered for most of the game as Joe Mixon was held to 22 yards on 14 carries. But Ryans refused to blame the offense for the loss. “Our offense did plenty,” Ryans said. “They gave us enough points. On defense, we have to be able to stop them.” Chig Okonkwo grabbed a short pass and rumbled 70 yards for a touchdown to put the Titans (3-8) up 30-27 with 9 1/2 minutes remaining. Safety Eric Murray missed a tackle that would have stopped him near midfield. It was the last of three big passing plays the Titans had Sunday. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine got in front of the defense and was wide open for a 38-yard TD catch that made it 10-7 late in the first quarter. Calvin Ridley had a 63-yard reception that set up their next touchdown in the second. “It was just way too many negative plays,” Ryans said. “Defensively, unexplainable explosives for touchdowns. We didn’t play good across the board and that starts with me.” Despite this, the Texans (7-5) had a chance to tie it with less than two minutes remaining, but Fairbairn’s short field-goal attempt sailed wide left. He fell to the ground after the miss before getting up and slamming his helmet on the field. “The most frustrating part about it is out of all the bad things that happened, we still had a chance to finish the game,” Ryans said. “Everything that could go wrong, it went wrong. We still had a chance there to tie it up and finish the game, and we didn’t.” The Texans forced a three-and-out, but couldn’t move the ball after that and Harold Landry sacked Stroud in the end zone for a safety to make it 32-27 and allow Tennessee to snap a two-game skid. Stroud threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, but his two interceptions Sunday give him five combined in the past three games. He now has more interceptions in 12 games this season (nine) than he had in 15 games as a rookie last season (five). “It’s no secret that I haven’t been playing well ... I’ve got to be harder on myself,” he said. “I’m not going to hold my head down. I know I can be a great player, but I’ve got to make better plays.” ___ AP NFL:
The moving yet 'confronting' reason trees are turning blue in AustraliaMONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans on Sunday voted in the second round of the country's presidential election , with the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month’s vote . The closing of polls started a countdown to the announcement of official results as independent polling firms were preparing to release so-called quick counts. Depending on how tight the vote turns out to be, electoral officials may not call the race for days — as happened in the contentious 2019 runoff that brought center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou to office and ended 15 years of rule by Uruguay’s left-leaning Broad Front. Uruguay's staid election has turned into a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate who won 27% in the first round of voting on Oct. 27, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, who took 44% of the vote in the first round. But other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party — notched 20% of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger. Congress ended up evenly split in the October vote. Most polls have shown a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, with nearly 10% of Uruguayan voters undecided even at this late stage. Many said they believed turnout would be low if voting weren't compulsory in the country. “Neither candidate convinced me and I feel that there are many in my same situation," said Vanesa Gelezoglo, 31, in the capital, Montevideo, adding she would make up her mind at “the last minute.” Analysts say the candidates' lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power elsewhere . “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy," said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn't exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over a surge in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s safest, with Delgado promising tough-on-crime policies and Orsi advocating a more community-oriented approach. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, campaigned on a vow to continue the legacy of current President Lacalle Pou — in some ways making the election into a referendum on his leadership. He campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government." While a string of corruption scandals rattled Lacalle Pou's government last year, the president — who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term — now enjoys high approval ratings and a strong economy expected to grow 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Inflation has also eased in recent months, boosting his coalition. Delgado served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to pursue his predecessor's pro-business policies. He would continue pushing for a trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries promoting regional commerce. "We have to give the government coalition a chance to consolidate its proposals,” said Ramiro Pérez, a street vendor voting for Delgado on Sunday. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as the political heir to iconic former President José “Pepe” Mujica , an ex-Marxist guerilla who raised Uruguay's international profile as one of the region's most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations during his 2010-2015 term. His Broad Front coalition oversaw the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small South American nation of 3.4 million people. “He's my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children's,” Yeny Varone, a nurse, said of Orsi. “In the future they'll have better working conditions, health and salaries.” Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer , was among the first to cast his ballot after polls opened. “Uruguay is a small country, but it has earned recognition for being stable, for having a citizenry that respects institutional formalities,” he told reporters from his local polling station. “This is no small feat.” While promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay, Orsi plans no dramatic changes. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay's unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. Both candidates pledged full cooperation with each other if elected. “I want (Orsi) to know that my idea is to form a government of national unity,” Delgado told reporters after casting his vote in the capital's upscale Pocitos neighborhood. He said that if he won, he and Orsi would chat on Monday over some yerba mate, the traditional herbal drink beloved by Uruguayans. Orsi similarly pledged a smooth and respectful transition of power, describing Sunday's democratic exercise as “an incredible experience" as he voted in Canelones, the sprawling town of beaches and cattle ranches just north of Montevideo where he served as mayor for a decade. “The essence of politics is agreements,” he said. “You never end up completely satisfied.” ___ Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report. Nayara Batschke, The Associated Press
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‘They don’t make it easy’ – Ex-UFC champion explains why Conor McGregor will struggle to leave UFC and fight Jake or Logan PaulAre you not entertained? The tale of making “Gladiator” is every bit as epic as the movie itself. Twenty-four years after the film’s release, director Ridley Scott has brought a hotly-anticipated sequel starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn along with Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprising their roles from the first film. The 2000 movie reinvigorated the swords-and-sandals genre, inspiring other historical action dramas like “Troy.” It became the second highest grossing movie of the year – raking in $465.4 million, not adjusted for inflation – and was the most-nominated film at the 2001 Academy Awards with 12 nods, and 5 wins, including Best Actor for Russell Crowe and Best Picture. Oscar glory was certainly not a feat it was expected to ever attain upon its release in May 2000. The historic success of “Gladiator” is all the more dramatic because it was, well, a disaster to make. So before jumping off your chariot to see “Gladiator II,” here’s a look back at how “Gladiator” defied the odds to become more powerful than the Emperor of Rome. The script was absolute rubbish “At the core of what we were doing was a great concept, but the script, it was rubbish. Absolute rubbish,” Russell Crowe told Vanity Fair in 2023. “I did think, a couple times, maybe my best option is just to get on a plane and get out of here, you know?” Even more troubling was the fact that the rubbish script was less than a quarter finished. “When we actually started that film, we had 21 pages of the script that we agreed on,” he said. “A script is usually between 103 or 104, 110 pages, something like that, so we had a long way to go, and we basically used up those pages in the first section of the movie. So, by the time we got to our second location, which was Morocco, we were sort of catching up.” Scott ended up having to give crew members extra days off because they didn’t know what they would be filming the next day. “It’s the dumbest possible way to make a film,” Crowe told the BBC in 2016. Connie Nielsen, who played Lucilla, had her own concerns about the script after being cast. “Ridley called me and asked me what I had thought about the latest draft,” she laughs, “and I said, ‘Well, this is where I’m seeing an issue because blah, blah, blah.’ I was like, ‘That kind of word just didn’t even exist at the time, it’s weird that I would be using it. It’s culturally and historically wrong. It just won’t work,’” she recalled telling the director. “And he said, ‘OK, stop. Write everything down and send it to me.’ So, I wrote 20 pages because I was a young and very hungry artist, and I wanted to put my mark on this incredible story.” Script problems persisted on set, with pages being written on the fly. “‘Russell was getting his lines at such a late date that he had built up a real irritation factor,’” Scott once recalled, according to Nicole LaPorte, who documented much of the on-set drama in her book “The Men Who Would Be King: An Almost Epic Tale of Moguls, Movies, and a Company Called DreamWorks.” “So at that moment, when you get that irritated, anything that comes through the door, he’s going to get pissed off with,” Scott added. Per LaPorte, designated on-set screenwriter Bill Nicholson would say things in the vein of, “I’m not gonna say this sh-t. It’s sh-t. It’s stupid sh-t. Why should I say this? Why can’t we have it the way it was this morning?” Crowe was so unhappy with the script, he walked off set at least twice, LaPorte wrote. Russell Crowe refused to say the movie’s most famous line One of the movie’s most famous lines – if not its most famous line – was nearly torpedoed by Crowe. When Crowe’s character, Maximus, reveals his identity to Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), he delivers an absolute banger: But as LaPorte notes, “Never were Crowe’s spirits more in flux” than when it came time to film this scene. “Crowe was convinced that [the speech] was ridiculous—overwrought puffery that no man would ever be caught dead saying, least of all a brawny, sword-carrying killer,” she wrote. Scott, however, didn’t bluster and blow back, but “waited until the tantrum subsided” and “agreed to shoot the scene the way Crowe preferred.” It would seem Scott knew how the situation would play out. “After doing the take, Crowe still looked dissatisfied,” according to LaPorte. “‘Let me see the other script again,’” he said to Scott, referring to the loathed revision. After studying the page stonily, he shrugged. “‘Well, we might as well try it.’” They then shot the scene as scripted – leaving everyone on set in awe. But Crowe still wasn’t happy. “It was sh-t,” he told Scott, before adding, “but I’m the greatest actor in the world and I can make even sh-t sound good.” Actor Oliver Reed died in the middle of filming Line deliveries and an unfinished screenplay turned out to be the least of the production’s script problems, as the entire ending had to be reworked after an actor playing a pivotal character died in the middle of production, necessitating a new ending. Actor Oliver Reed, who played Proximo – the gladiator-turned-slave owner – passed away after a double heart attack during a break from filming in Malta. A legendary hellraiser, he died in a pub during a break in shooting after drinking eight pints of German lager, a dozen shots of rum, half a bottle of whiskey, a few shots of cognac and after beating five Royal Navy sailors at arm-wrestling,” according to LaPorte. Reed had not finished filming all of his scenes for the film, but Scott didn’t want to re-cast the the role and re-shoot Reed’s scenes. Instead, he brought in a body double and used CGI to create a digital mask of Reed’s face that was mapped on to the body double for a few crucial moments – seemingly one of the first times the technology was utilized in such a way – and his character was killed earlier in the film than was originally planned. That meant the movie needed a new ending, so one of the film’s screenwriters, William Nicholson – who had just returned home to England, thinking his work with on-set, on-the-fly rewrites was done – had to go back to ancient Rome. “Oliver Reed died two hours ago,” Walter F. Parkes told Nicholson over the phone. “Get on a plane and go back to Malta and create a new ending.” Russell Crowe’s character was supposed to live Aside from changes made to the script necessitated by Reed’s death, one other big change was made to the film’s ending: Crowe’s character died in the end. Shockingly, Crowe’s titular ‘Gladiator’ was supposed to live – surviving his final battle with Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) in the Roman Colosseum. But as filming went on, it dawned on Scott that the gladiator had to die. “I remember Ridley coming up to me on set saying, ‘Look, the way this is shaping up, I don’t see how you live. This character is about one act of pure vengeance for his wife and child, and, once he’s accomplished that, what does he do?’” Crowe recalled Scott telling him. “And my joke used to be, ‘Yeah, what does Maximus do? Does he end up running a f–king pizzeria by the Colosseum?’ He has a singular purpose, which is to meet his wife in the afterlife and apologize for not being there for her. And that’s it.” Ridley Scott burned a forest to film the opening scene The opening sequence in “Gladiator” centered on a dramatic fight between Maximus’ Roman legions and the barbarous Gauls. Fire played a major role in making an impact on the audience. As recalled in the book “Gladiator: The Making of the Ridley Scott Epic,” the Roman artillery “launches earthen pots full of oil from huge catapults. While the pots are airborne, giant mechanized crossbows called ‘scorpions’ fire flaming bolts that pierce the pots, raining fire onto the terrified enemy — and of course setting the woods on fire.” And the woods were actually set on fire. Which thankfully wasn’t a problem. The area, filmed in the Bourne Woods in Surrey, England, was slated for deforestation by the Royal Forestry Commission. Scott managed to find out about this and decided to carpe diem, offering to burn the forest down free of charge — provided he would be allowed to film it. “I said, ‘I’ll do it. I’ll burn it to the ground,”’ Scott recalled. “They said, ‘Good.’” A tiger almost mauled Russell Crowe In one of the film’s more dramatic scenes, tigers are unleashed to vanquish the enslaved gladiators. In filming the scene, Scott decided to use – in part at least – actual tigers. Five tigers were brought in for one dramatic scene where Maximus fights Tigris the Gaul. A veterinarian armed with tranquilizer darts was on hand and Crowe was supposed to be kept at least 15 feet away from the big cats, who were leashed on chains. But despite all the precautions, one tiger got a little too up close and personal with Crowe. Within two feet, in fact. “[The tiger was] a big boy from tail to nose, eleven feet. You’ve got two guys on a chain with a ring in the floor to control it,” Scott told Variety in 2020. “Russell said, ‘OK, release them,’ and when Russell would fall back, the tiger would come out of the hole and Russell would roll out of the way and he said, ‘F–k me, that was close.’ And I said, ‘We were there as well, Russell. Hey, you were two feet, I was like four feet.'” “’It’s so beautiful, it’s so regal, and you’d love to be able to just pet them and cuddle them, but obviously that comes with inherent risk,’” Crowe added. The heart-stopping shot made in the film. Injuries plagued Russell Crowe To say Crowe threw himself into the role of Maximus is a dramatic understatement. The actor racked up a series of serious injuries during filming. The star l ost all feeling in his right forefinger for two years after injuring it in a sword fight; he worsened an existing Achilles tendon injury, broke a bone in his foot, cracked a hip bone, and popped more than one bicep tendon out of its sockets. He often didn’t need makeup artists to come in and bloody him up – he had plenty of his own blood showing to achieve the desired cienematic effect. In the movie’s opening battle scene, the wounds on Crowe’s face were very real, caused by his horse backing him into tree branches after getting startled. “When you see the film and there’s the take up on the screen, the other 19 where the horse ran you over or the guy smacked you in the head or whatever are not in the movie,” he told Vulture in 2016. But Crowe has no regrets. “[T]hat’s the way I did it. I remember back in the early ’90s I was talking to some older American guys, and this one guy said, ‘Look, you see that guy over there who’s dressed exactly the same as you? He’s here so you don’t have to roll in the dirt for six or seven hours a day,’” Crowe said in an interview with British GQ in June. “And I’m like, ‘But I’m playing the character, so I’m gonna be the one rolling in the dirt.’ As you get older, you realize they were just trying to point out that maybe it’s better to keep your own tendons. Life’s easier with tendons.” “Gladiator II” is in theaters now.The Detroit Red Wings on Thursday fired head coach Derek Lalonde following a 13-17-4 start to the season, including a stretch of nine losses in their past 12 games. Lalonde, hired to take over following the long and difficult tenure of Jeff Blashill, finished with a record of 89-86-23 in two-plus seasons. The Red Wings rank 28th in the NHL by points percentage coming out of the holiday break and are seventh in the Atlantic Division, so the move isn't surprising. Former Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan is replacing Lalonde. pic.twitter.com/qyzqDI30Ki McLellan, who rose up the coaching ranks as an assistant in Detroit in the 2000s, is known for the defensive acumen. In 16 seasons as a coach, he has three 50-win finishes, five 100-point seasons and nine trips to the playoffs. But McLellan has not won a playoff series as a head coach since 2016-17 with Edmonton. He also drew some criticism for player development issues in Los Angeles, though he did effectively shepherd the Kings out of a rebuild and back into the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. Detroit, one of the NHL's Original Six teams, has not made the playoffs since 2015-16 and is potentially staring down a ninth consecutive season without making the postseason. That would be the longest playoff drought for an Original Six team in league history. Lalonde's tenure included a near miss last season. Detroit, mathematically alive for a playoff spot on the final day of the season, ultimately missed the playoffs in a tiebreaker with the Washington Capitals. Results were often mixed during Lalonde's tenure. Former No. 4 overall pick Lucas Raymond made big strides as a top-six winger in Detroit. The team was also getting big minutes and offensive upside from 21-year-old rookie defenseman Simon Edvinsson before he suffered an injury earlier in December. However, there has been a drop-off among veteran players such as winger Patrick Kane. The future Hall of Famer has struggled (14 points in 29 games) and graded out poorly by Natural Stat Trick's expected goals model at 40.15%. The Red Wings struggled in numerous areas this season, particularly scoring at 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill. They are 31st in the NHL in goals for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 (1.94), last in shots for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 (23.55) and last in Natural Stat Trick's expected goals for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 (2.07). Meanwhile, on the penalty kill they are 31st in efficiency (68.8) and 31st in goals against per 60 minutes (11.85). Only the New York Islanders penalty kill has been worse in those metrics. Detroit will resume play following the holiday break Friday at home against Toronto.
How Russell Crowe’s ‘Gladiator’ defied death, fire, tigers and a ‘rubbish’ script to become a Hollywood classicShould AI be used to resurrect extinct species like the Neanderthal? | Mohammad Hosseini
It’s no exaggeration to say that artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally reshaping the business landscape. But while consumer-focused applications continue to grab headlines, a quieter, first-principles revolution is underway in the B2B marketplace. Amid news Wednesday (Dec. 4) that Briefcase has raised $3 million in a seed round to grow its AI bookkeeping and accounting automation platform, it’s becoming more apparent to enterprises that AI will make its mark in B2B payments. After talking to dozens of senior payments industry executives for PYMNTS’ B2B Payments: Outlook 2030 event, we heard loud and clear that CFOs, treasurers and finance teams are leveraging AI to revolutionize the way their businesses manage cash flow, automate operations, combat fraud and enhance customer experiences. Still, while the promise of AI in B2B use cases is immense, its success will hinge on careful implementation. AI models are only as reliable as the data they are trained on. Ensuring access to accurate, high-quality data is paramount, as is taking the appropriate steps to allow AI-powered solutions to integrate with existing systems and workflows so that businesses can realize its full potential. Ultimately, as AI reshapes financial and payments processes, the role of finance leaders is evolving as well. Read more: B2B Payments Aren’t Boring Anymore AI-Driven Innovation Redefines B2B Payments Landscape Among the innovations shared by experts in “ Outlook 2030: How Platforms and Networks Will Power the Future of Business Payments ,” a PYMNTS eBook, five AI-driven advances stood out: cash flow forecasting, the automation of repetitive tasks, smarter fraud prevention, personalized experiences and unlocking data for richer insights. Cash flow management is the lifeblood of any business, and AI is proving to be an indispensable ally in this area. Generative AI (GenAI) enables finance leaders to move beyond historical trends, providing predictive insights that sharpen decision-making. This technology allows businesses to anticipate cash needs, optimize payment terms and refine investment strategies with newfound precision. According to the PYMNTS Intelligence report “ 60 CFOs Can’t Be Wrong ... AI Can Help Accounts Payable ,” technology has reshaped CFOs’ responsibilities, necessitating a broader skill set and a more strategic approach to financial management. AI’s ability to automate repetitive tasks — such as invoice processing, payment reconciliation and fraud detection — is freeing up teams to focus on strategic growth initiatives. Companies are increasingly championing AI-powered accounts receivable (AR) and accounts payable (AP) solutions to enhance financial resilience and cash flow predictability. By reducing manual intervention, businesses can allocate resources to areas that drive revenue and foster stronger supplier and customer relationships. At the same time, fraud remains a persistent threat in B2B payments. But AI is arming businesses with tools to stay ahead of malicious actors. By analyzing transaction data in real time, AI systems can identify anomalies that signal fraudulent activity, safeguarding businesses from financial and reputational damage. In a crowded marketplace, personalized payment experiences are becoming a key differentiator. AI allows businesses to tailor payment options and support to individual customer preferences, strengthening loyalty and engagement. GenAI tools help enable businesses to customize buyer experiences, creating smoother and more intuitive payment journeys. Separately, every B2B transaction generates valuable data, and AI is unlocking its potential. Advanced algorithms analyze payment data to identify spending patterns, customer preferences and market trends, providing actionable insights that drive strategic decision-making. This allows businesses to benchmark performance and identify areas for optimization. Read more: Solving for the Hundred-Trillion-Dollar B2B Payments Acceptance Problem Overcoming the Challenges of AI Implementation The days of viewing B2B payments as a dull back-office function may very well be over. AI is turning it into a dynamic field where technology-driven efficiencies, enhanced security and superior customer experiences are setting new benchmarks. By embracing AI-powered solutions, businesses can work to transform their payment processes, bolster financial resilience and secure a competitive edge in the marketplace. But navigating the AI transformation will require organizational adaptability, especially in managing risks, ensuring regulatory compliance and optimizing liquidity amid economic uncertainty. CFOs must balance the demands of customer satisfaction, operational efficiency and financial precision to stay ahead. The road to AI implementation may be complex, but for businesses willing to navigate its challenges, the rewards are can turn out to be undeniable.
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As science continues its evolution, discoveries and technologies can act like a master key that open doors leading to novel advancements. Artificial intelligence is one such key, making innovations possible by solving complex problems, automating tasks and enabling research that would have been impossible, or very time-consuming, without it. Mohammad Hosseini But do we want to do research on all topics, and shall we try the AI master key on every door? To explore this question, let’s consider the use of AI by genomics experts as an example. In recent years, genomics experts have added unbelievable depth to what we know about the world and ourselves. For example, genetics researchers have revealed facts about when certain animals and plants were domesticated. In another example, researchers used DNA from 30,000-year-old permafrost to create fertile samples of a plant called narrow-leafed campion. Importantly, genetic engineering has facilitated extraordinary advances in the treatment of complicated conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia. Thanks to AI, we are witnessing a dramatic increase in the pace and scalability of genomic exploration. But given the risks and possible consequences of AI use in science, should we rush headlong into using AI in all kinds of projects? One relevant example is research on Neanderthals, our closest relatives, who lived about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals have been studied for several years now through genetic investigation of their fossils and their DNA. Genetic engineering can potentially use ancient DNA and genome editing methods to re-create a Neanderthal or aspects of a Neanderthal’s genetics and physiology. To do this, scientists could start by figuring out the DNA sequence of a Neanderthal by comparing it with the DNA of modern humans, because they are closely related. Then, scientists could use the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR to swap out parts of human DNA with Neanderthal DNA. This process would require a lot of trial and error and might not succeed soon. But based on what we know about genetics, if something is possible, AI can help make it happen faster, cheaper and with less effort. Scientists are excited about these developments because they could facilitate new discoveries and open up many research opportunities in genetic research. With or without AI, research on Neanderthals will proceed. But the extraordinary power of AI could give the final push to these discoveries and facilitate this kind of resurrection. At that point, the scientific community must develop norms and guidelines about how to treat these resurrected beings with dispositions very similar to humans. We would need to carefully consider their rights and well-being almost in the same way as when humans are involved and not as research subjects or artifacts of scientific curiosity. These ethical issues are discussed in more detail in a new paper published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence. A more holistic question to consider is: Should we prioritize the use of resource-intensive AI, researchers’ time and public funds to resurrect extinct beings? Or should we invest these resources into conserving species that are critically endangered today to prevent biodiversity from more degradation? Hosseini is an assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He wrote this for The Chicago Tribune . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Myanmar’s desperate military junta is ramping up attacks on villages that have fallen to opposition groups, carrying out beheadings, gang rapes and torture, with women, children and the elderly among the victims, the U.N. independent human rights investigator for Myanmar said in a new report. Thomas Andrews, a former U.S. congressman from Maine, said in the report to the U.N. General Assembly circulated Friday that the junta has responded to military defeats and the loss of territory by using sophisticated weapons against civilians and seeking to destroy towns that it cannot control. Calling Myanmar “an invisible crisis” because the world's attention is focused elsewhere, he said, “Escalating atrocities against the people of Myanmar are being enabled by governments that allow, or actively support, the transfer of weapons, weapons materials, and jet fuel to junta forces.” Andrews didn’t name the governments. But he praised Singapore for cracking down on weapons transfers that has led to a 90% reduction by Singapore-registered companies, and said sanctions imposed by the United States on junta-controlled, state-owned banks have disrupted military supply chains. The U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar lamented, however, that their actions remain an exception. He called on all countries to address Myanmar’s “devastating human rights and humanitarian crisis” by stopping the flow of weapons to the junta, stepping up humanitarian aid to millions in need, and supporting efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for human rights violations. Myanmar is racked by violence that began when the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and brutally suppressed nonviolent protests. That triggered armed resistance and combat across the country, with the military increasingly using airstrikes to counter the opposition and secure territory. The army is on the defensive against ethnic militias in much of Myanmar as well as hundreds of armed guerrilla groups collectively called the People’s Defense Forces, formed to fight to restore democracy. The military has said in the past that it only attacks legitimate targets of war and has accused the resistance forces of being terrorists. Andrews called the military junta’s plan to hold an election in late 2025 “a farcical parody” and “thinly veiled attempt to create an impression of legitimacy and relieve international pressure.” He warned, “Not only is this fraudulent attempt outrageous, it is dangerous, as it could lead to even greater levels of instability and violence.” He ticked off grim statistics: Over 3.1 million people are displaced by conflict and the junta’s human rights violations, and 18.6 million people need humanitarian assistance, including 13.3 million facing emergency levels of food insecurity. He said the junta's military forces have killed more than 5,800 civilians, destroyed over 100,000 homes and other civilian structures, and have kept more than 21,000 political prisoners languishing behind bars. “Junta troops have killed civilians in ground assaults, including the mass killing of individuals already in the custody of junta forces,” Andrews said. “Victims have been tortured, raped and beheaded, and their bodies burned." Andrews, a human rights fellow at Yale Law School who was appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, said the situation was most “desperate and dangerous” in Rakhine state in western Myanmar. Last November, the Arakan Army, which is seeking autonomy from Myanmar’s central government, began an offensive against the military in Rakhine and has gained control of more than half of its townships . The Arakan Army, which is the well-armed wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority movement, is also a member of the armed ethnic group alliance trying to topple the military. In the report, Andrews said: “The Arakan Army has been implicated in grave human rights abuses, including indiscriminate attacks, killings, sexual violence and arbitrary arrests.” He also said the military has responded to the Arakan Army's steady losses in Rakhine by attacking civilians and raising tensions between the ethnic Rakhine and Rohingya communities. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has long considered the Rohingya Muslim minority to be “Bengalis” from Bangladesh even though their families have lived in the country for generations. Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982. In August 2017, attacks by a Rohingya insurgent group on Myanmar security personnel triggered a brutal campaign by the military, which drove at least 740,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh. The military is accused of mass rape, killings and burning thousands of homes. Meanwhile, the military junta has conscripted thousands of Rohingya men and deployed them to the front lines to fight the Arakan Army, he said. And Rohingya militant groups have “cynically aligned with the junta” and committed human rights abuses against the ethnic Rakhine population. “Hundreds of thousands of people in Rakhine State are completely cut off from humanitarian assistance and threatened by exposure, starvation and disease,” Andrews warned. “Failure to act immediately to provide emergency humanitarian aid will be a death sentence for untold numbers of innocent men, women and children.” A month ago, he said, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the interim leader of Bangladesh where 1 million Rohingya refugees live, called on U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to convene a conference with all key players in the Rohingya crisis. Yunus has pressed for their repatriation to Myanmar. Andrews urged Guterres to call a conference that could help “seize the attention of a distracted world and mobilize the resources and action necessary to save the many lives that hang in the balance.”
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