Archive for the ‘Mental Attitude’ Category
After an early release, one former prisoner faces a world reshaped by the pandemic – Salem Reporter
Posted: July 9, 2020 at 5:09 pm
Jessica Rogers-Hall was one of 57 incarcerated individuals tapped for early release by the governor. While the pandemic creates new challenges for her transition, she remains upbeat.
Jessica Rogers-Hall was released from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility as part of an effort to reduce prison populations in response to the Covid pandemic. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter)
Jessica Rogers-Hall didnt believe she was getting out of prison.
She remembered being in her bed one night at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville when a corrections officer woke her asking about her parole plan.
What do you mean my parole plan? responded Rogers-Hall, who wasnt scheduled for release.
She didnt hear anything more for weeks. She was later called into the release counselors office who told her that she would be released from the state womens prison and needed to find someone to give her a ride.
In June, Gov. Kate Brown announced that in response to the Covid pandemic she would begin the process to commute the sentences of 57 prisoners who met certain qualifications, including being medically vulnerable and having a record of good conduct for the last year. Rogers-Hall was one of those inmates.
Now a free woman, Rogers-Hall, 38, said shes overcome her addiction to meth and has changed as a person. The world around her has also changed. The pandemic has created new challenges for her transition and shes unsure what shell do for work or long-term housing.
Despite it all, she said rolls out of bed every day happy. Shes reconnected with her 19-year-old daughter. She wants to go back to school, maybe with her daughter. But the reason for her upbeat attitude isnt because shes no longer in prison.
People probably think it's weird, she said sitting in a west Salem apartment. But I love life and I love me and I'm finally okay with me.
I didn't think there was any hope for me
Three years ago, Rogers-Hall was arrested with a loaded handgun on a road outside of Silverton. She had attempted to flee police in the Silverton area after she threatened her now-former husband. Police used a spike strip to stop her car.
Rogers-Hall said the incident came after relapsing on meth. She said she was a monster who had hurt a lot of people including her two kids.
I was a really, really, really damaged, broken person, she said. I didn't think there was any hope for me.
She was sentenced in Marion County County Circuit Court to serve five years in prison after being convicted of identity theft, forgery, unauthorized use of a vehicle and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
She said she was mean and angry, picking fights with other women in prison.
My first year in Coffee Creek was hell, she said. I was in the hole, like all the time.
One day, she said she saw a sign for a class on insight and well-being. She didnt care about the class but knew there would be cinnamon rolls. She signed up. The class changed her life.
Anna Debenham, executive director of The Insight Alliance, said she met Rogers-Hall during the program offered by her group. Debenham, whose nonprofit works with prisoners on mental health, described Rogers-Hall as scattered and frenetic but she could tell she had a lot of heart.
She watched her become calmer, kinder and not react harshly to everyday frustrations.
Rogers-Hall said the program taught her to not latch on to negative thoughts and instead redirect her thinking. She said she now controls her dissociative disorder, a mental illness caused by childhood trauma that causes her to check-out when life becomes too stressful.
She said she no longer carries guilt or plays the victim. Shes forgiven others. She said she got her GED, took college courses, started writing and got published. She was on a segment of OPBs Think Out Loud about women changing their lives in prison. She said she became more interested in advocating for her fellow prisoners than fighting them.
Warehouse of despair
At home, Rogers-Hall held a tattered day-planner with a picture of a beach on the cover. Inside, are notes she said that describe the harassment and retaliation from prison staff over her class-action federal lawsuit against the state Department of Corrections for alleged sexual assault.
Reading from the planner, she described how she was berated for an hour for having an extra sheet, kept from her medication and put in solitary confinement. But she said wasnt given a disciplinary report.
She also said she faced retaliation prison staff after talking to a reporter from VICE and other media. The department declined to comment, citing the litigation.
The state prison agency faces a separate lawsuit from civil rights group Oregon Justice Resource Center on behalf of prisoners over its handling of the pandemic.
Rogers-Hall said that her dorm at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility housed 125 women, each on a bunk a foot away from each other. She described it as a warehouse of despair.
It's hot. Theres no air conditioning, she said. And you get sick there and you're screwed.
She said that if anyone showed signs of Covid, they were put in solitary confinement for 14 days. Prisoners would attempt to hide symptoms and instead lay in their bed for days, she said.
The Oregon Justice Resource Center in a statement called Browns approach simply inadequate and called on her increase testing in prisons and to further reduce prison populations.
Andy Ko, executive director of criminal justice reform group Partnership for Safety and Justice, said in an email that the outbreak in correctional facilities could also have catastrophic effects in the communities that surround state prisons and, ultimately, across the entire state.
But Rogers-Hall said she doesnt want to dwell on the past.
So blessed
Rogers-Hall was released from Coffee Creek on July 2 with a food stamp card, a stack of papers and a bag containing travel-size deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and a toothbrush.
After being picked up outside the Wilsonville prison by her attorney, he said that the first thing she wanted to do was go to Fred Meyer to buy a normal bra after wearing sports bras for three years.
Rogers-Hall said she has a compromised immune system from cancer. She initially planned to stay with a friend in Salem. But after her friend came down with Covid that wasnt an option. She stayed in a hotel until she got in touch with a friend who had an empty apartment hes letting her use. She said she wants to work and support herself.
This doesn't happen to people to get out of prison, she said. I am so blessed by the situation.
After being released, Rogers-Hall recalled being struck by people wearing face masks or friends stepping back when she tried to hug them.
Its also created obstacles for her transition. She is waiting a month for an appointment to get her drivers license since state offices arent generally open.
The Oregon Department of Human Services has similarly restricted access to its offices, so she cant arrange a food stamp card or other services.
To get by, her attorney brought her a food box. With a compromised immune system, shes not sure what shell do for work.
But Rogers-Hall is confident everything will work out.
I don't let myself sit back and worry, because if I did, I'd be high, she said. I'd be out there running amok. I can't do that again.
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After an early release, one former prisoner faces a world reshaped by the pandemic - Salem Reporter
Anaheim Ducks: John Gibson Wins Hercules Award – Pucks of a Feather
Posted: at 5:08 pm
Anaheim Ducks: Guide to the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery by Ciara Durant
Anaheim Ducks: The Franchise All-Time Bracket Matchup by Brad Senecal
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 25: John Gibson #36 of the Anaheim Ducks (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The 2019-20 season left a lot to be desired. For the majority of the year, the Anaheim Ducks were a discombobulated mess that lacked the fundamental skills required for success in the modern-day NHL. However, putting the teams struggles aside, there were a few players who stepped up and carried the team on their back. This player displayed leadership skills, dedication, determination, and integrity both on and off the ice.
There are several players that fit the bill, but we left it up to our readers to decide which player would ultimately walk away with the 2020 Hercules Award. The nominees, as decided by the staff at Pucks of a Feather, were Jakob Silfverberg, Ryan Getzlaf, Nicolas Deslauriers, and John Gibson. After much deliberation and a last-minute shift in votes, it is no surprise as to who came out on top.
Jakob Silfverberg (15.3% of the vote): Jakob Silfverberg has stood out over the past two seasons with his incredible determination and fearless attitude. Stepping into a new role this year as Alternate Captain, Silf proved once again why he is a reliable entity on the Anaheim Ducks roster. Some fans were doubtful that he could come out again this season with a repeat performance from 2018-19.
Nevertheless, the veteran forward pushed himself every night, paving the way for himself as one of the Ducks leading goal scorers, once again. His performance both on the ice and off the ice earned him the opportunity to represent the Anaheim Ducks at the All-Star Game, which he, unfortunately, but understandably, had to turn down due to the birth of his daughter.
Ryan Getzlaf (23.6% of the vote): Even in his old age, Ryan Getzlaf is still a sight to behold on the ice. While the thought that his career may come to an end in the next few seasons is bitter-sweet, the Captain still gives it his all. This season was a tough one for him in more ways than one. New coach, new system, new players. Yet, he still maintained his integrity. While the Hercules Award isnt necessarily about leadership, in a way, leadership plays a big role in who gets nominated by the staff here at Pucks of a Feather.
Getzlaf is declining, there is no arguing about that, but he still manages to be one of the teams top point producers every season. At one point this season, Getzlaf was leading the team in goals. Yes, let me say that again, our pass first Captain was leading the team in goals.
Aside from his point totals and his tenacity to keep things going on the bad days, Getzlaf wasnt afraid to step up and publicly call out his team, their attitude, and the way they were playing. Sometimes the heroes have to make the hard calls, and Getzlaf isnt afraid to step up and do what is needed in order for his team to succeed.
Nicolas Deslauriers (25% of the votes):At the beginning of the season, the Nicolas Deslauriers trade was often looked upon by fans as pointless. However, as the season went on, Des quickly fought his way into the fans hearts (pun definetly intended.) Deslauriers was constantly a motivating factor for his teammates. While fighting may be on its way out in the NHL, there is no denying that watching Deslauriers get down and dirty with some of our most hated rivals was a treat, and oftentimes, the best part of the evening.
Nicolas Deslauriers may not be the best player to ever put on a Ducks jersey, but his dedication is on another level. Had the season continued, he would have bested his previous season record. Not to mention, that hat trick was incredible.
At the end of the day, while John Gibson rightfully earned this award, Nicolas Deslauriers could have easily taken it home (he was my nomination as well as vote.) Putting his body and his health on the line for his fans and his teammates is not something many players are willing to do. This season wasnt really much fun to watch, but this season would have been pretty awful without Des out on the ice every night to inspire his teammates and the fans.
John Gibson is an amazing athlete, who doesnt get the credit he deserves. Of course, Ducks fans know how priceless he is, but the rest of the NHL tends to sleep on the incredible talent that is John Gibson. Yes, his stats took a nosedive this year; the 26-year-old goaltender posting the worst save percentage of his career, at .904%. But, Gibson didnt really have much to work with this year, and any other average goaltender likely would have buckled under the pressure.
There was a point during the season where Gibson received a lot of criticism from the fans. The apple of our eye didnt seem to have the stamina he had in seasons past. Nevertheless, it was quickly realized that the netminder cant fix this team by himself, and years of wear and tear were finally beginning to show in his game.
Regardless, Gibson still proved to be the Anaheim Ducks most reliable, valuable, determined, and strong player out on the ice. Every night, for 60 minutes (sometimes more), he experienced brutality at the hands of, not only the opposition but his own team.
The Anaheim Ducks hit new lows this season. With a defense in front of him that didnt play defense, and an offense who couldnt for the life of them find the back of the net, Gibson was often the only player who kept the Ducks from falling to the bottom of the hockey food chain.
Despite visible physical and mental exhaustion, he continued to push himself for the sake of his team, a team that he so clearly believes in; even when they dont believe in themselves. He was the strength and the cornerstone behind what little success the Anaheim Ducks did have. His character and leadership were a guide when they fell hard. Most importantly, he did his best to hold his team accountable, calling them out when they fell into the old patterns of being content with inconsistency.
You have spoken, and we have heard you loud and clear. No one deserves to be recognized as this seasons hero more than John Gibson.
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Anaheim Ducks: John Gibson Wins Hercules Award - Pucks of a Feather
The construction industry has higher rates of suicide – here’s what people are doing to help – Newcastle Herald
Posted: at 5:08 pm
news, local-news,
Beau Morrison has seen a lot of suicide in his life. When he was 12, his father Len took his life. His cousin Dolly Everett made national headlines in 2018 when she took her life at age 14, after being tormented by cyberbullies. And three workmates in the construction industry have taken their lives. One of these workmates died during a fly-in, fly-out project in Darwin. Mr Morrison was asked to check on his welfare as he hadn't shown up for work. "I found his body," said Mr Morrison, of Chisholm in Maitland. He tried to convince management to provide more support for workers. "I was banging on asking, 'Where are the support services?' Management thought I was a dickhead." The complaints he made about the lack of support means he probably won't get work again with the company involved. This kind of attitude and culture, he asserts, must change. Mr Morrison said the loss of his dad, cousin and workmates had been devastating. "I want to do everything to prevent this from happening to others," he said. His cousin's death came in January 2018, a month before his workmate died in Darwin. These events motivated him to learn more about mental health. He decided to devote himself to suicide prevention. Mr Morrison is now getting behind a NSW government project in which "gatekeepers" in high-risk populations and industries train in suicide prevention. Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the NSW government would provide $2.8 million for gatekeeper training over three years. The funding is the first initiative of the government's Towards Zero Suicides project, which will provide $87 million over three years. The project aims to reduce the suicide rate in NSW by 20 per cent by 2023. The government said about 17 people take their life in NSW every week. "Gatekeepers learn how to recognise the signs that someone is at risk of suicide," Mrs Taylor said. They are trained to help workmates, friends and family to stay safe and seek help. Mr Morrison said 18 workers died from suicide in three years on the Darwin project alone. Many more were experiencing poor mental health. "I had grown men coming to me and bawling their eyes out. I didn't know what to do," he said. When Mr Morrison left the Darwin job in 2018, he sought mental health training through the Mates in Construction program - an industry-backed and research-based suicide prevention charity. "I learnt so much. It blew me away," he said. In the past 18 months, he's helped half a dozen people in trouble. "They were friends of friends. I talked them through it," he said, adding that the first thing he advises is to see a GP. NSW government data shows that construction workers are six times more likely to die by suicide than a workplace accident. Apprentices in construction aged between 15 and 24 are twice as likely to take their life than other young people their age. Mr Morrison urged construction companies to treat mental health training like high-risk licences such as "getting your forklift ticket". He said some construction companies provide mental health support through employee assistance programs. "The job in Darwin had one, but it was insufficient. We didn't have people drumming in the importance of mental health. We didn't know who we could go to." In his experience, unions can be a big help in this area. "They have their own support processes. I'm with the CFMEU. They've always provided me with help," he said, adding that he had his own personal struggles. Mr Morrison saw a doctor on Wednesday to renew his mental health plan. "You can't ignore this stuff. You've got to be proactive with your mental health," he said. Master Builders Association of NSW said the construction industry had "significantly higher rates of suicide and mental health issues among workers compared to other sectors". "Mental health and suicide prevention is everyone's business," Master Builders NSW executive director Brian Seidler said. "When all of us look out for our mates, we are protecting the most important commodity in our industry - its people." Mr Seidler said suicide "seems to be a part of the reality in the building and construction industry". "The sector is highly transient with most workers employed on a project-by-project basis for periods from a few weeks to a few years," he said. "We need to ensure the industry represents a sustainable and safe workplace." This means attracting workers and keeping them on career pathways. "Mental health training is a critical part of that." Mr Morrison said his experience in the industry had given him an idea of what triggered workers' mental health difficulties. "In my opinion, a lot of the time it's relationship breakdowns, blokes having their kids taken away, long hours and isolation," he said. Another factor was workers in "high-paying jobs with access to drugs and alcohol". The construction industry's macho culture was thought to be a factor in preventing workers from seeking help. This is one area in which Mr Morrison is making a difference. Despite his appearance, he has a deeply felt compassion that he uses to help others. Despite being a "big burly knucklehead", he often asks fellow workers things like: "Hey, bud, how are you going? Are you all right?" He said mental health issues were also prevalent among women in construction. Mr Morrison said he was "stepping up" to be a leader on mental health. "I want to continue down the road and get into public speaking [to further spread this message]." Mrs Taylor said every "precious life lost to suicide" had a "devastating ripple effect across families and the whole community". "We know that over 40 per cent of people who die by suicide have not reached out for professional support. "Having gatekeepers throughout the community trained to help and support people in a crisis is critical in saving lives." The Gatekeeper program aims to train 10,000 people in suicide prevention. More than half of all gatekeepers will be in regional areas. As well as construction, the program will cover first responders, Indigenous communities, family lawyers, men aged 18 to 35, veterinarians and LGBTI communities. More information about the program is at health.nsw.gov.au/gatekeeper. Lifeline 13 11 14. While you're with us, did you know the Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here IN OTHER NEWS:
+5
Beau Morrison has seen a lot of suicide in his life.
When he was 12, his father Len took his life.
His cousin Dolly Everett made national headlines in 2018 when she took her life at age 14, after being tormented by cyberbullies.
And three workmates in the construction industry have taken their lives. One of these workmates died during a fly-in, fly-out project in Darwin.
Mr Morrison was asked to check on his welfare as he hadn't shown up for work.
"I found his body," said Mr Morrison, of Chisholm in Maitland.
He tried to convince management to provide more support for workers.
"I was banging on asking, 'Where are the support services?' Management thought I was a dickhead."
The complaints he made about the lack of support means he probably won't get work again with the company involved.
This kind of attitude and culture, he asserts, must change.
Mr Morrison said the loss of his dad, cousin and workmates had been devastating.
"I want to do everything to prevent this from happening to others," he said.
His cousin's death came in January 2018, a month before his workmate died in Darwin.
These events motivated him to learn more about mental health.
He decided to devote himself to suicide prevention.
Mr Morrison is now getting behind a NSW government project in which "gatekeepers" in high-risk populations and industries train in suicide prevention.
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the NSW government would provide $2.8 million for gatekeeper training over three years.
The funding is the first initiative of the government's Towards Zero Suicides project, which will provide $87 million over three years.
The project aims to reduce the suicide rate in NSW by 20 per cent by 2023. The government said about 17 people take their life in NSW every week.
"Gatekeepers learn how to recognise the signs that someone is at risk of suicide," Mrs Taylor said.
They are trained to help workmates, friends and family to stay safe and seek help.
Mr Morrison said 18 workers died from suicide in three years on the Darwin project alone. Many more were experiencing poor mental health.
"I had grown men coming to me and bawling their eyes out. I didn't know what to do," he said.
When Mr Morrison left the Darwin job in 2018, he sought mental health training through the Mates in Construction program - an industry-backed and research-based suicide prevention charity.
"I learnt so much. It blew me away," he said.
In the past 18 months, he's helped half a dozen people in trouble.
"They were friends of friends. I talked them through it," he said, adding that the first thing he advises is to see a GP.
NSW government data shows that construction workers are six times more likely to die by suicide than a workplace accident. Apprentices in construction aged between 15 and 24 are twice as likely to take their life than other young people their age.
Mr Morrison urged construction companies to treat mental health training like high-risk licences such as "getting your forklift ticket".
He said some construction companies provide mental health support through employee assistance programs.
"The job in Darwin had one, but it was insufficient. We didn't have people drumming in the importance of mental health. We didn't know who we could go to."
In his experience, unions can be a big help in this area.
"They have their own support processes. I'm with the CFMEU. They've always provided me with help," he said, adding that he had his own personal struggles.
Mr Morrison saw a doctor on Wednesday to renew his mental health plan.
"You can't ignore this stuff. You've got to be proactive with your mental health," he said.
Master Builders Association of NSW said the construction industry had "significantly higher rates of suicide and mental health issues among workers compared to other sectors".
"Mental health and suicide prevention is everyone's business," Master Builders NSW executive director Brian Seidler said.
"When all of us look out for our mates, we are protecting the most important commodity in our industry - its people."
Mr Seidler said suicide "seems to be a part of the reality in the building and construction industry".
"The sector is highly transient with most workers employed on a project-by-project basis for periods from a few weeks to a few years," he said.
"We need to ensure the industry represents a sustainable and safe workplace."
This means attracting workers and keeping them on career pathways.
"Mental health training is a critical part of that."
Mr Morrison said his experience in the industry had given him an idea of what triggered workers' mental health difficulties.
"In my opinion, a lot of the time it's relationship breakdowns, blokes having their kids taken away, long hours and isolation," he said.
Another factor was workers in "high-paying jobs with access to drugs and alcohol".
The construction industry's macho culture was thought to be a factor in preventing workers from seeking help.
This is one area in which Mr Morrison is making a difference.
Despite his appearance, he has a deeply felt compassion that he uses to help others.
Despite being a "big burly knucklehead", he often asks fellow workers things like: "Hey, bud, how are you going? Are you all right?"
He said mental health issues were also prevalent among women in construction.
Mr Morrison said he was "stepping up" to be a leader on mental health.
"I want to continue down the road and get into public speaking [to further spread this message]."
Mrs Taylor said every "precious life lost to suicide" had a "devastating ripple effect across families and the whole community".
"We know that over 40 per cent of people who die by suicide have not reached out for professional support.
"Having gatekeepers throughout the community trained to help and support people in a crisis is critical in saving lives."
The Gatekeeper program aims to train 10,000 people in suicide prevention.
More than half of all gatekeepers will be in regional areas.
As well as construction, the program will cover first responders, Indigenous communities, family lawyers, men aged 18 to 35, veterinarians and LGBTI communities.
More information about the program is at health.nsw.gov.au/gatekeeper.
While you're with us, did you know the Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here
Why Paper Maps Matter in the Digital Age – The MIT Press Reader
Posted: at 5:08 pm
A glance at the research reveals that there are distinct advantages to using print maps.
By: Meredith Broussard
Ted Florence is ready for his family trip to Botswana. He has looked up his hotel on Google Maps and downloaded a digital map of the country to his phone. He has also packed a large paper map. I travel all over the world, says Florence, the president of the international board of the International Map Industry Association and Avenza Maps, a digital map software company. Everywhere I go, my routine is the same: I get a paper map, and I keep it in my back pocket.
With the proliferation of smartphones, its easy to assume that the era of the paper map is over. That attitude, that digital is better than print, is what I call technochauvinism. In my book, Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World, I look at how technochauvinism has been used to create an unnecessary, occasionally harmful bias for digital over print or any other kind of interface. A glance at the research reveals that the paper map still thrives in the digital era, and there are distinct advantages to using print maps.
Cognitive researchers generally make a distinction between surface knowledge and deep knowledge. Experts have deep knowledge of a subject or a geography; amateurs have surface knowledge.
Digital interfaces are good for acquiring surface knowledge. Answering the question, How do I get from the airport to my hotel in a new-to-me city? is a pragmatic problem that requires only shallow information to answer. If youre traveling to a city for only 24 hours for a business meeting, theres usually no need to learn much about a citys layout.
When you live in a place, or you want to travel meaningfully, deep knowledge of the geography will help you to navigate it and to understand its culture and history. Print maps help you acquire deep knowledge faster and more efficiently. In experiments, people who read on paper consistently demonstrate better reading comprehension than people who read the same material on a screen. A 2013 study showed that, as a persons geographic skill increases, so does their preference for paper maps.
For me, the difference between deep knowledge and surface knowledge is the difference between what I know about New York City, where I have lived for years, and San Francisco, which I have visited only a handful of times. In New York, I can tell you where all the neighborhoods are and which train lines to take and speculate about whether the prevalence of Manhattan schist in the geological substrate influenced the heights of the buildings that are in Greenwich Village versus Midtown. Ive invested a lot of time in looking at both paper and digital maps of New York. In San Francisco, Ive only ever used digital maps to navigate from point to point. Ill be the first to admit that I dont know where anything is in the Bay Area.
When you live in a place, or you want to travel meaningfully, deep knowledge of the geography will help you to navigate it and to understand its culture and history.
Our brains encode knowledge as what scientists call a cognitive map. In psychology-speak, I lack a cognitive map of San Francisco.
When the human brain gathers visual information about an object, it also gathers information about its surroundings, and associates the two, wrote communication researchers Jinghui Hou, Justin Rashid and Kwan Min Lee in a 2017 study. In a similar manner to how people construct a mental map of a physical environment (e.g., a desk in the center of an office facing the door), readers form a cognitive map of the physical location of a text and its spatial relationship to the text as a whole.
Reading in print makes it easier for the brain to encode knowledge and to remember things. Sensory cues, like unfolding the complicated folds of a paper map, help create that cognitive map in the brain and help the brain to retain the knowledge.
The same is true for a simple practice like tracing out a hiking route on a paper map with your finger. The physical act of moving your arm and feeling the paper under your finger gives your brain haptic and sensorimotor cues that contribute to the formation and retention of the cognitive map.
Another factor in the paper versus digital debate is accuracy. Obviously, a good digital map is better than a bad paper map, just like a good paper map is better than a bad digital map.
Technochauvinists may believe that all digital maps are good, but just as in the paper world, the accuracy of digital maps depends entirely on the level of detail and fact-checking invested by the company making the map.
For example, a 2012 survey by the crowdsourcing company Crowdflower found that Google Maps accurately located 89 percent of businesses, while Apple Maps correctly found 74 percent. This isnt surprising, as Google invests millions in sending people around the world to map terrain for Google StreetView. Google Maps are good because the company invests time, money and human effort in making its maps good not because digital maps are inherently better.
Google Maps are good because the company invests time, money and human effort in making its maps good not because digital maps are inherently better.
Fanatical attention to detail is necessary to keep digital maps up to date, as conditions in the real world change constantly. Companies like Google are constantly updating their maps, and will have to do so regularly for as long as they continue to publish. The maintenance required for digital content is substantial a cost that technochauvinists often ignore.
In my view, its easier to forgive the errors in a paper map. Physical maps usually include an easily visible publication date so users can see when the map was published. (When was the last time you noticed the date-of-last-update on your car navigation system?) When you are passively following the spoken GPS directions of a navigation system, and there is, say, an unmarked exit, it confuses the GPS system and causes chaos among the people in the car. (Especially the backseat drivers.)
Some of the deeper flaws of digital maps are not readily apparent to the public. Digital systems, including cartographic ones, are more interconnected than most people realize. Mistakes, which are inevitable, can go viral and create more trouble than anyone anticipates.
For example: Reporter Kashmir Hill has written about a Kansas farm in the geographic center of the U.S. that has been plagued by legal trouble and physical harassment, because a digital cartography database mistakenly uses the farms location as a default every time the database cant identify the real answer.
As a result, for the last 14 years, every time MaxMinds database has been queried about the location of an IP address in the U.S. it cant identify, it has spit out the default location of a spot two hours away from the geographic center of the country, Hill wrote. This happens a lot: 5,000 companies rely on MaxMinds IP mapping information, and in all, there are now over 600 million IP addresses associated with that default coordinate.
A technochauvinist mindset assumes everything in the future will be digital. But what happens if a major company like Google stops offering its maps? What happens when a government shutdown means that satellite data powering smartphone GPS systems isnt transmitted? Right now, ambulances and fire trucks can keep a road atlas in the front seat in case electronic navigation fails. If society doesnt maintain physical maps, first responders wont be able to get to addresses when there is a fire or someone is critically ill.
Interrupting a countrys GPS signals is also a realistic cyberwarfare tactic. The U.S. Navy has resumed training new recruits in celestial navigation, a technique that dates back to ancient Greece, as a guard against when the digital grid gets hacked.
Ultimately, I dont think it should be a competition between physical and digital. In the future, people will continue to need both kinds of maps. Instead of arguing whether paper or digital is a better map interface, people should consider what map is the right tool for the task.
Meredith Broussard is a data journalism professor at the Arthur L. Carter Institute at New York University. She is the author of Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Why Paper Maps Matter in the Digital Age - The MIT Press Reader
Delhi University has one obsession and its making a mess of it. Exams – ThePrint
Posted: at 5:08 pm
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From a distance, Delhi University seems like the hallowed college life that only a minimum of 95 per cent in your Class 12 board exams can get you access to. But up close, the university space is just a cesspool of incompetence, premised on the need to make life for students absolutely miserable.
Since the lockdown was imposed in March, the university has approached online examinations with a single-minded obsession. Disregarding all pleas, warnings and prayers of students against these exams, the cause for merit reigned supreme for the university.
Delhi Universitys Open Book Examinations (OBE) debacle continues. After months of will-they-wont-they, the university announced that it would finally begin the much-criticised exams from 10 July. However, after the Home Ministry and the Delhi High Court intervened, the exams have been postponed till 15 August. Leaving final year undergraduate and postgraduate students in a lurch, yet again.
For the record, the notification for this change came two days before the exams were actually scheduled to begin.
The Covid-19 pandemic proved that life as we knew it could not continue like before, but it seems like Delhi University (DU) did not get the memo.
This examination obsession shows all that is wrong with Delhi University apathy toward students, prioritising outcome over process, and an inflexible attitude that ignores the ground reality.
Also read: StudentsLivesMatter trends as students outrage at UGC decision to hold final exams amid Covid
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When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the nationwide lockdown on 24 March, DU was in the middle of its mid-semester break. With half the semester slated to be conducted online, things began to look dicey.
An average English Masters class in DU consists of over a 100 students. Now imagine conducting online classes with these students, when even Zooms participant limit is just 100. Many professors gave up early on, but those who endeavoured to try soon realised how futile the exercise was.
However, even failed online classes were not enough to break DUs resolve. Since March, the university has switched dates, postponed exams or changed the rules at least four times.
According to Megha, an MA student, this constant back-and-forth regarding exams has revealed how incompetent the university is when it comes to to dealing with a crisis.
This situation just makes you want to completely give up. It is almost like they are playing with the students lives, mental health and their anxieties. It is just straight up apathy she says.
Also read: Your creative talent wont get you into DU anymore. Keep obsessing over marks marks marks
Much has been written about Indiass unequal access to internet, especially during this pandemic. A large part of this can be attributed to the communication blackouts imposed by the government. But the way the Delhi University and the University Grants Commission (UGC) has refused to consider this as a hindrance is appalling.
A glance at the websites of these institutions can give you a clue about how much they actually know about technology DUs official website is a quagmire to navigate through. No one really knows where the important links are, and the website takes hours to load on result day.
This is the same system that was supposed to handle the traffic of lakhs of students logging into its server for online exams from 10 July.
The joke was on them when they conducted mock tests of these proposed OBEs, earlier this week. There was an embarrassing array of problems that popped up from difficulties during registration to wrong question papers. DUs mammoth exercise proved to be a mammoth failure, and this was only the trial run. Till about a week ago, there was no provision of writers for visually-impaired students.
A student from Kashmir, who wished to remain anonymous, comments that this is all just a bad imitation of the Western model.
It seems that the university is only interested in putting up a demeanour of being capable. Ignoring the situation of the students, [it] is coming across as a rigid institution that sees nothing but marks and exams as the eligibility criteria of an acceptable student, she says.
Working on 2G internet, which takes hours and sometimes days to download a book, with the pandemic coming as close as your neighbours house, this exam is just designed to produce crippling anxiety in students who are expected to shut off from the world and its tragedies and focus on getting grades, she adds.
Also read: UGC cites top universities like MIT, Cambridge to justify decision to hold final-year exams
What has been evident through this entire debacle is the blatant manipulation DU has indulged in. Not only has the administration clearly lied to its students about the OBE exams, in terms of the regulations, dates and expectations, it has also been accused of lying to the court.
The university was all set to conduct the exams on 1 July but then suddenly postponed them to 10 July without informing the Delhi High court, which then considered contempt proceedings against DU for withholding information about deferment. The exams were allegedly postponed because the vice-registrars mother contracted Covid-19 another illustration of how arbitrarily this university functions.
We have a university administration that has managed to make things substantially worse for students in terms of infrastructure, accessibility, mental health and preparedness, says Anshul Mukarji, another postgraduate student.
There is a callousness coming from the university, which is completely unaffected by the plight of students. Even though there were reports of some students even committing suicide, he adds.
Students are the bottom-tier stakeholders in their own education.
According to another student, What we have is a bunch of bureaucratic fatcats who are just sitting around with no accountability to the students.
Many blame their departments and the UGC for failing to provide the students some respite. This week, UGC released guidelines asking universities to conduct exams for students in their final year. It is now pushing states that had rescinded exams to compulsorily conduct them.
Its a you must persevere, you must suffer sort of a situation for all students, says Srishti, a student of IP University, which also held exams for some departments after the UGCs directions.
Unfortunately, the students have little option but to persevere because the raging pandemic is not going anywhere anytime soon. And by the looks of it, neither is DUs incompetence or callous attitude.
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Read more from the original source:
Delhi University has one obsession and its making a mess of it. Exams - ThePrint
How TikTok resurrected the cult of Effy Stonem – i-D
Posted: at 5:08 pm
As long as the term has existed, culture has always been obsessed with the idea of the It Girl; the trope that describes a fashionable and effortlessly cool young woman, whos seemingly chill from dawn (or whenever it suits her to get up) til dusk, an assumed personality who the boys generally lust after and all the other girls want to be. In the past, It Girls have included celebrities like Alexa Chung or Chlo Sevigny, but more often than not these untouchable figures with projected near-fictional narratives are, rather than real women, actual fictional characters. Back in the late noughties, these wouldve included boy-eater Jennifer Check of Jennifers Body, and Gossip Girls Serena Van De Woodsen. Noticeably, one particular it-girl has made a questionable comeback for Gen Z: the Bristol party girl with the stone-cold stare that began as a supporting role before becoming one of the main characters in the following seasons -- Kaya Scodelarios debut role as Effy Stonem from Skins.
Effy first stumbled her way onto our screens in January 2007 on Channel 4 to an audience of over one and a half million. Despite being completely silent, and initially presented as a secondary character to protagonist Tony, Effy became a force of nature, a mysterious fan favourite for teenage girls across the country. Her uber-curated grunge aesthetic, smeared make-up and appetite for hedonism were quickly replicated by fans who smudged their eyeliner and tried to perfect vacant, judgemental stares in honour of their new queen.
Fast forward thirteen years and its evident from TikTok that Effy is still the it-girl for alt youth, perhaps never stepping down from her throne in the first place. Girls on the app are digging out their Doc Martens, penciling black kohl across their waterlines and cosplaying as Effy, paying homage to their idol whilst synced with the original Skins theme tune. Seven years after the show finally ended, Effy lives on in memes attempting to bait depressed edgy girls and claims that she walked so that the e-girl could run. But without new content -- aired every Thursday night on Channel 4 -- to stoke the cool fire of teenage apathy, what's it like being a Skins stan in 2020?
Whilst one viral caption reads every girl in the UK wanted to be Effy at some point, Americans can sit this one out, there are many US fans of Skins on TikTok. Having first heard of the show through GIFs and fan edits on Tumblr, sixteen-year-old LA-based creator Gaby was instantly intrigued and started watching it online. I loved how unique the characters were, she says, not only their looks but their personalities as well. Each character had their own little story that coincided with each other, allowing me to understand who's being portrayed whilst relating their experiences to my own.
At the time I made that video I would get a lot of comparisons to Effy in my comment section, especially when it came to my fashion and makeup, adds Gaby, who uses TikTok occasionally to create montage or homage videos to the character. I used to be mesmerised by Effy and her character definitely influenced me when it came to my look... everything from the fishnets to the heavy eyeliner. I was absolutely in love.
Though she also realises that Skins is shot in a way where 'reckless living' is glorified, Gaby recognises a lot of the behaviour in her friend group but admits this could be down to living in a city. I live in LA where the nightlife is crazy and the people I surround myself with are even crazier, so a lot of aspects of Skins are relatable to my own experiences. But for a kid who lives in a small town and has a generally tame friend group, Id assume the show is seen as pure fiction.
Coco Vieno is an 18-year-old singer based in London who came across the show after an ex introduced her to it, her Skins inspired look TikTok video has amassed over 200k views. the look was inspired by her makeup because she seems so effortless and careless in everything that she does and when Im going through a tough time I like to distance myself from it and imagine what she would do to act like she isnt bothered. I wanted to make that video so I could live the fantasy of being like her for a few minutes.
Asides from directly influencing her fashion sense, which she admits changed to appeal more to the dirty 2000s aesthetic of the show, Coco feels Skins has affected her life in other ways too. It made me feel like my life was boring compared to theirs, she reveals, and it compelled me to get into bad situations with people that reminded me of the characters, and to party and drink more to escape from the boringness of everyday life.
Arguably though, there is something a bit sinister, or questionable at the least, around incorporating aspects from a fictional character into your own life, especially when the way they act results in little consequence and obviously glorified. Since the show first aired, both Effy and Cassie have often been linked to #thinspo or #problematicfave posts, triggering eating disorders in young watchers trying to achieve that look. But whilst they can be written out of a bad situation, thats not how reality works and so it can be dangerous.
TikTok user Juulspodsleftthechat, known IRL as Savanna, created a fake How To Be Effy From Skins tutorial to bait all the d3pr3ssed edgy girls" into watching. As someone who suffers from mental illnesses herself, she understands why Effys character appeals to that specific demographic so strongly. She has obviously toxic traits but still seems to be portrayed as popular and desirable to the characters around her. I believe this speaks to a lot of people because its about being accepted despite your mental illness.
Personally, I think that Skins is actually an awful show for those suffering with mental health problems, she tells me. It seems to romanticise addiction and unhealthy relationships with those around you. I think it is especially damaging to those with eating disorders as Cassie in Gen 1 seems to outline specific eating disorder tips and tricks. Eating disorders are incredibly competitive and seeing someone else who is ill can urge other people to try harder to be recognisably ill. I think there is danger in emulating fictional scenarios as people are more likely to take the fun aspects of Skins and forget about the problems the characters had due to their self destructive behaviours.
With so much pressure on teenagers nowadays -- from academic achievement to growing up with social media -- its easy to see why Effys indifferent attitude and edgy aesthetic are still exciting, becoming the ultimate dream life for teenage girls over the past decade despite being an exaggerated work of fiction. Even if Skins had never existed, teen characters and their problems would undoubtedly still have have been romanticised across fiction. But there's something specifically about Effy's character in particular which remains captivating, even for a generation of teens who were too young to notice or care about the show when it originally aired. Coco perhaps sums it up best: Our generation has either grown-up with or recently come across Skins, and every time Im in a weird situation that seems like it would fit the Skins aesthetic, theres always someone that acknowledges that," she says.
"I think this show has really influenced my generation on what our teenage years should be like.
Read more:
How TikTok resurrected the cult of Effy Stonem - i-D
Helen McCrory: ‘This is a woman’s private space, invaded by others’ – The Guardian
Posted: at 5:08 pm
It has a beautiful wisdom and simplicity ... Helen McCrory in The Deep Blue Sea. Photograph: Richard Hubert Smith/AP
Director Carrie Cracknell described one day in rehearsals with you as an almost spiritual experience. How would you define your collaborative relationship? We first worked together on Medea in 2014. We took Ben Powers new adaptation and delivered an all-singing, all-dancing production of a Greek tragedy set in the 20th century on to the massive Olivier stage in six weeks. So ours was a collaboration formed in the furnace. We worked together at breakneck speed. So when we came to work on The Deep Blue Sea, the task seemed much simpler.
I hope I speak for Carrie, too, when I say we now have an implicit trust and respect for each other. Carrie possesses a rare quality that all the best directors have: no ego. The best solution in the rehearsal room is used, she has no concern who it belongs to, just that the play is served. She encourages everyone to trust their instincts and never attempts to dominate but quietly edits, taking ideas and losing others. The Deep Blue Sea was one of the most profoundly happy experiences I have ever had in a rehearsal room. She has a gentleness and non-judgmental quality that make you feel you could do anything. I hope we have the opportunity to do it again.
How does this production upend expectations about how Rattigan is done?Carrie definitely threw the dust sheets off how Rattigan should be produced. First, she worked with Tom Scutt, designing the inside of a postwar London boarding house as an open set, a skeleton of a building where each sound was amplified, where the tenants all heard each others footsteps, arguments and secrets. All washed through with the colours of a deep blue sea. I then played most of the performance in my slip and dressing gown. I wanted to feel that this world was a womans private space, constantly invaded by others and a woman whose sexuality had driven her to a very dark place. Lighting and sound design were then used to create the outside world that broke into the interiors in a sharp, discordant way. The result was almost expressionistic.
Rattigans writing can be incredibly subtle and full of subtext. Is there a specific line or moment that you think encapsulates your character Hesters position?When youre caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, the deep blue sea can seem terribly inviting. It could have been written by Tennessee Williams and some nights I played Hester with that heady sensuality that Williamss characters can possess. In the NT Live recording we started 15 minutes late so I remember having a brusque, brittle quality that lying under a blanket backstage in the dark and cold can give you! But its valid, she has many qualities and different ones dominated on different nights. Thats the fun of live performance it really can change radically from night to night.
Hester is desperate. How important have the arts been in raising awareness of mental health issues, both in the 50s and now?Hester is suicidal, something that Rattigan understood implicitly as the play is based on his own experience of losing his lover of 10 years to suicide by gas poisoning. The entire play can be seen as a love letter to him, asking him at the end of the play not to succumb to the deep blue sea but to live. It has a poignancy and heartache throughout, on one hand understanding the fragility, anger and shame that can drive someone to the brink of suicide but on the other asking that sometimes you have to put one foot in front of another and keep walking on even when you feel no sense of hope or purpose because you mustnt give up. It has a beautiful wisdom and simplicity. I dont think Ive ever heard the term mental health issues in a rehearsal room. Actors tend to see all reactions as part of the human experience. We dont say this is normal, this is not normal, as a social worker or a psychiatrist might because the actor must always empathise with the character in order to portray them and everything is encompassed within that. Perhaps that attitude destigmatises human behaviour and helps an audience to question why someone might be behaving in a certain way, rather than are they right or wrong to do so. Because change can only be brought about through understanding.
You can almost smell the damp and the cigarette smoke in the production, partly thanks to Tom Scutts green-tinged set. Did that mood, and Hesters troubled character, affect your life off stage?Once the curtains down and Im out of the shower, thats Hester gone. If youre ever looking for a fun crowd after a show, find a company thats just done an emotional performance. All we want to do is laugh, dance and be merry. Its that comedy lot you want to avoid ...
Very early in your career you had a lead role at the National in Trelawny of the Wells. What are your memories of that time?They are very, very happy and very, very vague. I remember I played footie in my obligatory Doc Martens (well it was the early 90s) with the stage crew before the show as my warm-up. I had the most incredible ball gowns that we got me into in 47 seconds (my quick change between act one and act two used to get its own round of applause, I was thrilled). I remember working with the great Michael Bryant, whose ashes now lie under the stage at the National. (Im not sure if thats true or just an urban myth, but I always say hello to him every night before I warm up.) And I vividly remember enthusiastically congratulating a young director in the bar one night after the show, on his great achievement of directing at the National. It turned out the young director was Richard Eyre, head of the National and my boss. He was completely charming and didnt say anything so as not to embarrass me. Happy days.
You set up a scheme to feed the NHS at the start of the pandemic what are your current plans for the scheme and how has it gone?FeedNHS joined up with MealForce and BaxterStorey and was, at its peak, feeding 45,000 meals a day to over 100 hospitals across the nation. We have wound down now, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who donated and also to say despite having to design websites (like having teeth pulled), spending days on calls which all began by screaming Can you hear me?! before losing connection as wifi dropped out again, learning that the NHS is a series of trusts all of whom must be contacted independently, Damian (Lewis, McCrorys husband), John Vincent (head of Leon) and I met the most inspirational philanthropists, hard-working NHS staff, altruistic chefs, kind and selfless delivery people and a wealth of good-hearted people. It was a wonderful experience.
Continued here:
Helen McCrory: 'This is a woman's private space, invaded by others' - The Guardian
Connor Syme planning road trip to reach Austrian Open – The Scotsman
Posted: at 5:08 pm
SportGolf Scot excited about European Tour resumption but says its a nightmare trying to get to the Vienna venue
Sunday, 5th July 2020, 7:30 am
Connor Syme recorded three top-15 finishes in seven starts before the Covid virus struck. Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images
C onnor Symes lockdown listening has included podcasts with Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, both of which left the young Scot realising his path in golf had been carved out a lot later than the two major winners. While McIlroy and Thomas both had lives as professional golfers in their sights from a young age, Syme had a different career in mind until his mid-teens.
When I heard both Rory and Justin saying they always knew they were going to be a pro, I was like, I really wish I could say the same thing, as I was much more into football when I was younger, said the 24-year-old. It probably wasnt until I was 14 or 15 that I started to think about wanting to become a professional golfer.
Syme, who was born in Kirkcaldy but brought up in Dumfries, was at Rangers when he was 13 before making it on to the books at Queen of the South. Its crazy to think when you consider I couldnt be further away from that now, but, at that time, I would have picked football over golf, he added. Id have wanted to play professionally for Queen of the South rather than go to the golf course. I guess I was just finding out what I loved doing most.
Having said that, as much as I loved football, I wasnt a great tackler, so I dont know how long my football career would have continued. That was fine at under-12s, but, once you started playing against the hardy boys from Queens Park, it was a different proposition [laughing].
Symes initial plan after choosing golf as the career he wanted to pursue was to head to college in the US. That didnt work out, but staying at home didnt do any harm whatsoever. He won the Australian Amateur Championship as he was honing his game under the watchful eye of his dad and coach, Stuart. Syme also helped Scotland land back-to-back Scottish Amateur Championship victories in 2015 and 2016. After becoming really focused on turning pro, I thought it might happen around 23, but I was actually 22, he said.
In his rookie season on the European Tour in 2018, Syme finished runner-up in the Shot Clock Master in Austria only to come up agonisingly short in his bid to hang on to his card. It spoke volumes for both his talent and mental attitude, though, that he bounced back straight away, using a win in the Turkish Airlines Challenge to regain a seat at European golfs top table this season.
That was going along nicely hed recorded three top-15 finishes in seven starts to sit 61st in the Race to Dubai before the circuit was shut down due to the Covid-19 virus. Four months on, it is set to crank into action again. The Austrian Open marks the restart this week, with Syme returning to Diamond Country Club near Vienna, where he recorded that eye-catching finish two seasons ago, to be among a small group of players flying the Saltire.
Its proving a bit of a nightmare as all the direct flights from the UK to Austria were cancelled this week, said Syme, who enjoyed having a card back in his hand for the first time since the Qatar Masters as he played in a Clutch Pro Tour event at Hollinwell on Nottinghamshire on Monday. We are now looking at driving over, which sounds absolutely mental. We will likely get down to London and work our way over from there. Thats the plan. Its a bit challenging for the first one back. But, if we do end up driving, its not that bad. From a health point of view, I probably wouldnt really want to be in an airport at this point. If we are able to drive, it will probably be safer. But its going to be a long trip.
The fact Ive got good memories at Diamond Country Club not just in the Shot Clock Masters but also with Scotland in the European Team Championship definitely had an influence on my decision to start back in this event. Its a course I like and the fact I know it makes the preparations a little bit easier.
Syme isnt staying on in Austria for the Euram Bank Open, the second leg of a double-header, opting instead to get back to prepare for the start of an exciting six-event UK Swing, with the Betfred British Masters at Close House, near Newcastle, marking the circuits full return in just over a fortnights time.
The plan is just to play in the first one in Austria then come home because the quarantine situation still isnt totally clear. It might be that I fly back into England and stay down there to prepare for the British Masters, he said. I used the Clutch Pro Tour event as a warm-up for Austria, where I will hopefully be a little bit sharper and sharper still going into the UK events. The amount of time weve had off has been unprecedented, so I feel fortunate to have a few knocks before the real stuff starts again.
It feels like a new season we are going into, which seems weird. The UK stuff is going to be awesome. Were going to great venues [including Ryder Cup venues Celtic Manor and The Belfry] and I feel safe and positive going down there with the precautions the European Tour have in place.
A strict bubble is being enforced at all six tournaments. I think its amazing that we are close to getting restarted as I wouldnt have been surprised if we hadnt been playing again this year, added Syme. Its awesome that [chief executive] Keith Pelley and everyone else at the tour have been keen to get us playing again. Its a bit of a free run at it, too, because the card situation seems as though it is going to stay the same as it is this year for us. Its a good opportunity for a lot of guys to have a real run at it until the end of the season.
Lockdown life has certainly not been boring for Syme. Early on, he landed a 10,000 windfall for two charities FoodTrain in Dundee and the Hospice of the Valleys by winning a simulator event organised by the European Tour, with BMW as its sponsor, then added 2,000 for the former by sharing a five-way victory in another one. I was really chuffed with that, he admitted. It was a cool thing for us to be able to do and great to see that, even in these tough times, the European Tour and BMW were still able to help people.
His practice sessions at home have also proved eventful at times, posting a video on social media of a ball coming straight back off the frame of a net in his back garden and hitting him. Honestly, Im the worst guy ever with a net, he said, laughing. I couldnt get it set up properly at all. I had a smaller net to start with and I had a nightmare with balls going over that into a couple of gardens over the wall. I then got a bigger net thinking I wouldnt have any issues with that then bang, I get nailed myself. Other than that, its been good!
In the middle of the shutdown, Syme also signed a new contract with Modest Golf!, the management group set up by Niall Horan, formerly of boy band One Direction and now carving out an equally successful solo career. Since I signed with Modest!, I have always liked what theyve done for me, said Syme, who has subsequently been joined in the stable by Ryder Cup player Tyrrell Hatton, as well as two of the rising stars in world golf, South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Italian Guido Migliozzi. Even though they are still relatively new, it feels as though they have been doing it forever. It was a no-brainer when they offered me a new contract as I want to keep moving on with them and all our interests are aligned.
As for Niall, hes great. Hes mad about his golf. The other day, I had something on with Ping and he was in touch asking what was happening. It is cool to have him on board and he brings a lot to the team. He has a massive following, but hes just one of us when it comes to helping us out with our golf.
It was his idea to set up the company and hes done a great job. Everyone who comes in might not be at the top of the ladder. Christiaan, for instance, was on the Sunshine Tour when he signed and hes now a top-50 player in the world. Seeing those guys do well will hopefully push guys like myself on. It really is like one big family.
Home for Syme these days is Drumoig, keeping him close to his real family. Dad Stuart, a former captain of the PGA in Scotland, owns Drumoig Golf Centre, having returned to his native Fife just under a decade ago, and also now runs the pro shop at nearby Scotscraig. Although I feel as though Ive found the passion for the game myself and my desire, my dad guided me from a young age, said Syme.
Even when I was more into football, I can remember all the tips he used to give me at the driving range. Wed be there on a cold winters night trying to get better and it all matters now. I dont know how much golf would have been such a big part of my life if it hadnt been for him.
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Connor Syme planning road trip to reach Austrian Open - The Scotsman
UFC Vegas 2: Jessica Eye doesnt bother listening to the haters – FanSided
Posted: June 12, 2020 at 1:48 am
Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams strive to be popstars in Eurovision Song Contest trailer by Mia Johnson
Support your team and charity with these face coverings by Nathan Cunningham
Jessica Eye (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Jessica Eye does not bother listening to the haters ahead ofUFC Vegas 2.
Jessica Eye has bigger things to worry about when it comes to her UFCVegas 2 headling fight with Cynthia Calvillo and its not what the fans (or haters) are saying on social media.
I dont really care, Eye told FanSided when the fan complaints about the depth of this fight night were brought up. I cant say for everyone else but I really dont pay attention to what other people say and anytime I do, I fail miserably. Anytime I make decisions based upon others, anytime I care what other people think it takes me to a really bad place. I just dont function that way anymore maybe time has changed me but all I know is that last week was a great main event and that was a female main event. This week is another female main event and Im gonna make sure I put all 10 toes on the ground and really give people a great event. All I could do is rise to my occasion, and worry less about what other people think.
Strong mental attitude is a must for any fighter, but especially so for women who arguably have more to contend with in terms of the fight game. An Eye is not immune to those difficulties. Her last outing, a match withViviane Araujo in December, saw her miss weight due in part to her menstrual cycle.
It was a bad water load and was a menstrual cycle, says of the mishap. So, it really sucks that it happened that way but its definitely something that I focused on over the past couple months on tracking and on understanding the female body as well as eating the foods that help the female body. Ive worked really closely with the [UFC Performance institute] as well as Savannah Ige, Dan Iges wife. She really came through and helped me a lot.
The issue is one that many female fighters have spoken about and one that Eye wishes the fans and fellow fighters would take into account before dragging a fighter for missing weight. Following her win Eye spoke about the issues and many fans claimed she was lying or stretching the truth to excuse the weight miss.
Why should I care what anybody else thinks its the truth? she said. Regardless of what somebody else says how can you persuade my mindset or hurt me? It was the truth. I cant fix it. I couldnt control it. It was the truth so why should I. Why should I care what people dont want to understand and dont want to believe in. I hope all those people have daughters wives, sisters. I hope they get a chance to really see it and see how it works. Unfortunately, its a part of being a female, you know, and its a part of our life.
I wish they were a little bit more understanding of us and a wish just a wish. It doesnt mean that I have to sit there and everyday go I wish men understood me more. I can only do my part and, unfortunately, it was something that I struggled with in front of everybody. And so be it. Its a part of life.
With that moment in her past, Eye has justCalvillo to focus on, and an outcome for her fight in mind.
I really want to finish, Eye said. I really, really, really, really want to finish. But its hard to say how itll go because I never know what Im going in to. Im expecting the best Cynthia possible so Im assuming shes going to try to wrestle me so if she tries to wrestle me down and does get me down, Im going to submit her. If we stay standing, Im going to release that right hand with venom. So, wherever the fight goes, Im prepared. Im ready.
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UFC Vegas 2: Jessica Eye doesnt bother listening to the haters - FanSided
Four mental challenges for golfs return and how to conquer them – pgatour.com
Posted: at 1:48 am
The game is on! The PGA TOUR is starting back this week with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial. While everyone is excited to get the sticks out and compete, there is still apprehension in the air. The mental obstacles are real and must be dealt with in an effective way for the players to feel comfortable when play returns.
Given that many courses have been closed throughout the country as a result of the lockdown, these mental obstacles that will affect the TOUR players are very similar to those mental difficulties for amateurs when they begin to hit the links again this summer. The following are four key mental obstacles and their fixes to help both the TOUR pros and the amateurs.
This risk of getting sick is real for anyone who ventures outside the home. This risk not only creates a fear for the TOUR player about getting sick, but also there is the fear of getting their family sick as a result of any exposure. This fear can reduce a players focus as well as increase his anxiety, which can lead to poor play.
The Fix: Focus on the controllables
We reduce our fears when we focus on factors within our control. The TOUR player must focus on what he can control such as social distancing as well as limit interaction with others players and staff. He should also have a plan on how he will respond to a variety of situations that may occur when play returns. He cannot focus on factors outside his control such as the behavior of other players. When you focus on what you can control and let go of what you cannot, then you gain power over your fears.
Focusing on the controllables can also help the golf game of the pro as well as the amateur. Jack Nicklaus has stated that the only thing a player can control is his own game and further adds that being concerned about factors outside their control is not only a distraction but a waste of energy. Once the ball leaves your club, you must not worry about getting a bad break or bounce. The only thing you can control is making a good swing as well as having a good attitude and this will give you peace of mind on the course.
Ben Hogan once stated that he expected to hit at least five poorly struck shots a round. Hogan did not believe he would hit a perfect shot every time, although he wanted that as his goal. He kept his expectations realistic and this helped his mental game immensely. In the first few tournaments, TOUR players will most likely be rusty with their competitive play as well as in their mental precision. In turn, this can contribute to a few unwanted scores.
The Fix: Focus on improvement
Having realistic expectations about your game can lower stress levels while unrealistic expectations will only produce higher levels of anxiety, which in turn can lead to poor play. However, when a TOUR player focuses upon improvement and commits to working on those problems that have crept into his game during the break, then his attitude will be less soured when scores are not ideal.
This same principle goes for the amateur golfer. While playing for an ideal score makes golf fun (e.g., breaking 90), believing you will shoot great scores immediately following the re-opening of your golf course will create frustration and anger. Lighten up a bit on your score expectations and this will keep the joy in the game.
Currently, the first few PGA TOUR events will be without fans, as the TOUR provides a safe environment for all those on-site. Most pros will tell you that they gain great energy from the adulation of the fans, and as a result, they focus and play better. But without fans, how will TOUR players find that essential energy?
The Fix: Boost your juices
Boosting your energy (also known as your intensity level) to play better golf will be same for TOUR players as well as amateurs. The secret to this process is that everyone is unique in that you must find images and buzzwords that help you to get pumped up. Perhaps you can use the buzzwords Find the fire or I am bringing my A game to find that buzz you need. For an image that boosts your intensity level, the pro may want to visualize that the fans are still surrounding the fairways and greens. The secret is to figure out what works for you to get the juices back to enhance that spark.
TOUR players as well as the fans are concerned and very frustrated about the postponement of tournament play. While the cancellation of these events was necessary, this unique time in our lives can create essential life lessons for everyone -- if you choose to look at this situation with a positive mindset.
The Fix: An attitude of gratitude
This tragic moment can help us develop a better attitude about golf as well as about our daily lives. One switch in our mindset should be to have an attitude of gratitude. This has greatly helped Bubba Watson, who for many years, has stated that he has adopted an attitude of gratitude in which he counts his blessing every day. He appreciates how fortunate he is to be playing golf for a living.
Such an attitude can help both the professional and amateur alike. When you are thankful that you can now play golf for a living or just for fun, you are less angered when you miss a 3-footer. A grateful life puts you in a good mood and will contribute to your cool under pressure. But such advice is timeless as the great Walter Hagen once said, Youre only here for a short visit, so dont hurry, dont worry and be sure to stop and smell the flowers along the away.
But do more than just have an attitude of gratitude on the course. I guarantee it will work wonders in all areas of your life.
Dr. Gregg Steinberg is a professor of human performance at Austin Peay State University, near Nashville TN. Golf Digest ranked him as one of worlds greatest sports psychologist. Dr. Steinberg has been the mental coach for many PGA TOUR players as well as collegiate golf teams. He is the executive director of the International Golf Psychology Association (IGPA). For more information, please visit http://www.masteringgolfpsychology.com.
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Four mental challenges for golfs return and how to conquer them - pgatour.com