casino go fish 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Nations (AFN), the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Civil Liberties Union , which have asked for it to be withdrawn and rewritten after more extensive consultation.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 .'The disconnect between actual health care and the insurance model is widening'

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In her iconic song "Big Yellow Taxi," an obvious lament about American presidents who have been underappreciated while in office only to finally be given their due with time's passage, famed presidential historian Joni Mitchell wondered, "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone?" Jeff Robbins Professor Mitchell clearly foresaw C-SPAN's Presidential Historians Survey, a periodic survey of historians on presidential leadership asked to rank past presidents on the basis of 10 criteria. The survey illustrates how presidents who leave office with their popularity in tatters are given high marks once the hurly-burly of political combat has receded and facts can be properly assessed. For instance, Harry Truman, whose popularity by 1952 was so low that he opted not to run for reelection rather than be rejected at the polls, was ranked sixth highest among the presidents in the most recent survey. Lyndon Johnson, so unpopular in his own party in 1968 that he withdrew from the race for the Democratic nomination shortly after being humiliated in the New Hampshire primary, is ranked 11th based on his prodigious record of passing civil rights legislation. In just four weeks, a bruised and depleted Joe Biden, aging before our eyes and a punching bag for pundits on both sides of the aisle, will go home to Delaware. Though he has remained president for constitutional purposes since Nov. 5, his presence, if you can call it that, has been largely unfelt for months. On a recent presidential trip to Africa, he said virtually nothing to the press, looking and sounding more like Calvin Coolidge than the voluble Biden of old. What media coverage he has received since President-elect Trump began naming a parade of embarrassments to Cabinet positions has been generally confined to the widespread panning of the pardon he issued to his son. Biden's notorious inability to effectively toot his own horn has been ironic given all that his administration has achieved. He has pulled the country back from the economic brink caused by the pandemic so badly mismanaged by his predecessor. He has put up economic numbers that will impress historians. And he has navigated into law investments in America's future that will pay off for generations to come. But over the last several weeks in particular, events have served to toot Biden's horn for him, and loudly. It was Biden who, drawing upon his keen understanding of the stakes at play in keeping Vladimir Putin from overrunning Ukraine, fashioned the international resistance to Russia that has kept it at bay, and left it badly weakened in the nearly three years since Russia's 2022 invasion. The United Kingdom's under-secretary of defense, Luke Pollard, recently estimated that over 750,000 Russian soldiers have already been killed, wounded or captured, and that that figure is likely to exceed 1 million by next spring. Russia's losses have come, Pollard told Parliament "whilst only achieving limited tactical gains." Had Russia succeeded in subjugating Ukraine, as it surely would have but for Biden's skilled, determined response to the invasion, the former Soviet republics and Eastern Europe would be under threat of being next on Putin's menu. Biden likely will be remembered as a hero in Europe for what he has done to protect future generations of Europeans. Pinning Russia down has had an "8 ball in the side pocket" effect on the Middle East, where Biden's refusal to placate his critics on the left by abandoning Israel has paid massive dividends and created new hopes. Israel has destroyed Hamas, decimated Hezbollah and exposed Iran as a paper tiger. This means new possibilities for Gazans, the Lebanese, the Iranians and now, with the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's savage and tyrannical regime, Syrians. Had Biden not understood the importance of ensuring that Israel had the means and the room with which to defend itself against the Mideast's barbarians and had he caved to the protesters shouting "Genocide Joe," the present -- and the future -- would look a lot different. He's derided by MAGA World. Democrats roll their eyes at the mention of his name. But Joe Biden's been one consequential president. And that's the way history is likely to judge him. Jeff Robbins' latest book, "Notes From the Brink: A Collection of Columns about Policy at Home and Abroad," is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books and Google Play. Robbins, a former assistant United States attorney and United States delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, was chief counsel for the minority of the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. An attorney specializing in the First Amendment, he is a longtime columnist for the Boston Herald, writing on politics, national security, human rights and the Mideast. (c) 2024, Creators.comHow the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Stock market today: Stocks drift higher as US markets reopen after a holiday pause Stocks are drifting higher on Wall Street in light trading as U.S. markets reopen following the Christmas holiday. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite were up by less than 0.1% in midday trading Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.1%. Gains in technology companies overall and retailers helped boost the market, despite a pullback by some heavyweight Big Tech stocks. The Labor Department reported that U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. Treasury yields rose. U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military didn't immediate respond to questions about the WHO chief's statement. Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices New data shows holiday sales rose this year even as Americans wrestled with still high prices in many grocery necessities and other financial worries. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, a faster pace than the 3.1% increase from a year earlier. The measure tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year, retailers were even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there were five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mastercard SpendingPulse says the last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending. Sales of clothing, electronics and Jewelry rose. Finland stops Russia-linked vessel over damaged undersea power cable in Baltic Sea FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finnish police say authorities detained a ship linked to neighboring Russia as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables. It was the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure. Police and border guards boarded the Eagle S and took control as they investigate damage to the Estlink-2 undersea power cable. The cable brings electricity from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic Sea. The cable went down on Wednesday. The incident follows damage to two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Both have been termed sabotage. Russian ship that sank in the Mediterranean was attacked, owner says MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian operator of a cargo ship that sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria says it has been hit by a series of explosions in an act of sabotage. Oboronlogistica is a state-controlled company that operated the Ursa Major freighter. The company said the vessel was wrecked by three powerful explosions just above the water line in what it described as a “terrorist attack” that caused it to sink on Monday. The company said in a statement carried by Russia’s state RIA Novosti news agency on Thursday that the explosions left a hole in the ship’s starboard and filled the engine room with acrid smoke. That hampered the crew’s attempts to access it. Undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia hit by outage, prompting investigation FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finland’s prime minister says authorities are investigating an interruption in a power cable under the Baltic Sea between his country and Estonia. Petteri Orpo said on X that power transmission through the Estlink-2 cable suffered an outage Wednesday. Authorities have been on edge about undersea infrastructure in the Baltic after two international data cables were severed in November and the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany were blown up in September 2022. Japan to maximize nuclear power in clean-energy push as electricity demand grows TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese government panel has largely supported a draft energy policy calling for bolstering renewables up to half of Japanese electricity needs by 2040. It also recommends maximizing the use of nuclear power to accommodate the growing demand for power in the era of AI while meeting decarbonization targets. Cabinet is expected to formally approve the plan by March following a period of public consultation. The policy says nuclear energy should account for 20% of Japan’s energy supply in 2040, with renewables expanded to 40-50% and coal-fired power reduced to 30-40%. Working Well: Returning to the office can disrupt life. Here are some tips to navigate the changes NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of workers are facing an unsettling reality heading into 2025. After years of working from the comfort of home, they're being told it’s time to return to the office full-time for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic. That can bring a host of challenges, including losing time with family. Workers at Amazon, AT&T and other companies have been called back to the office five days a week. Experts have advice to share about how to navigate the changes when an employer calls you back to the office. Workers can convey what they need, seek flexibility and if all else fails, consider other options. US applications for unemployment benefits hold steady, but continuing claims rise to 3-year high WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. The US Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claim applications ticked down by 1,000 to 219,000 for the week of Dec. 21. That’s fewer than the 223,000 analysts forecast. Continuing claims, the total number of Americans collecting jobless benefits, climbed by 46,000 to 1.91 million for the week of Dec. 14. That’s more than analysts projected and the most since the week of Nov. 13, 2021. Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered representative of U.S. layoffs.

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By Mike London mike.london@salisburypost.com 10th in a series of reports on local basketball teams ... MOUNT ULLA — By West Rowan’s lofty standards, the 12-13 record compiled during the 2023-24 season was disappointing, but the silver lining was that the Falcons still went 8-1 in county games and could claim to be the county’s second-best team. The task this season for Dadrian Cuthbertson’s crew will be to win more of their South Piedmont Conference games. The Falcons were 1-10 against the Cabarrus schools last season, with the lone victory coming in a non-conference outing against A.L. Brown. West has subtracted quite a bit from last year’s team. Sharpshooter Will Givens Jr. was good for 20 points a night, Kayvone Norman provided physical leadership, and Elijah Holmes offered 10 points a game and good defense. West also lost a number of reserves who got substantial minutes, including Romir Hairston, who transferred to Salisbury. The top returners based on stats are senior Evan Kennedy (7.4 points per game) and junior Brant Graham (6.3). Kennedy is a strong athlete, while Graham is a shooter with some size. “Evan can really defend,” Cuthbertson said. “Brant is working hard on scoring in more ways than 3-pointers. He’s talented enough to create his own shot.” While the Falcons will need points and rebounds from Kennedy and Graham, the fate of this team may rest with the point guard-big man combination of juniors Ja’mih Tucker and Josiah Young. “Tucker is a lot more experienced and mature now, and he’s gotten stronger and more confident since last season,” Cuthbertson said. “Young is really talented. There’s nothing he can’t do. He should have some big-time games for us.” Tucker is a pass-first true point guard who had eight assists in West’s opener. He’ll be looking for Young, a 6-foot-7 junior who is long and can finish inside with authority. Young averaged only about 4 points per game as a sophomore, but he had 18 points and seven rebounds in West’s opening loss at Community School of Davidson. Young isn’t the only size on the roster, but 6-foot-5 sophomore Haley McCullough is expected to miss at least the first few weeks with injury. West has a lot of potential help at guard. Israel Ford is a physical guard at 6-foot-2 and has a reputation as a tenacious defender. Jaylen “Batman” Donaldson doesn’t lack confidence and could provide scoring help. Jasiel Oglesby got some experience off the bench last season. West also has added a number of football players recently. They provide depth and muscle. That group includes Brennon Stevenson, Jalen Moten, Jaylen Neely, Tallon Blackwell and Addison Hunt. Cuthbertson rates Moten as a very good shooter and all of them could make an impact. “We’ve got a strong, physical group of guys who should be able to defend and rebound,” Cuthbertson said, “I think we can surprise some people.”Stampede: Ondo govt issues fresh directives on crowd controlThe winter high school sports season is upon us. And, while this season may not offer the sheer quantity of sports that other seasons do, there are more than enough intriguing local storylines to keep an eye on as boys and girls basketball, boys and girls wrestling, ice hockey and girls swimming and diving take center stage. Here are five local storylines to watch out for: 1. Roosevelt’s pursuit of a third consecutive girls basketball state title Roosevelt endured a long wait for its first girls basketball state title in program history, finally securing the 5A state title in 2023. The Rough Riders didn’t have to wait nearly as long for their second title, repeating as state champion to cap a 26-2 season a year ago. Roosevelt enters this season as one of the prime contenders for another title, as it brings back numerous key players from its past two title teams. Junior power forward Kyle Hollier paces the talented, balanced group after leading the team in scoring (16.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.1 rpg) a season ago. 2. Can Severance sophomore Drake VomBaur? A season ago, four local wrestlers earned state titles in boys and girls wrestling. Three were seniors. The one local returning champion, Severance standout Drake VomBaur, is back after going 41-0 and winning the 3A 106-pound state title this past February. VomBaur will no doubt be a state title favorite again this winter, as he tries to keep his stellar high school career record unblemished. Joining VomBaur are eight local wrestlers who are back after being state runners-up a season ago: Eaton junior Blake Hawkins, Resurrection Christian senior Grant Slinkard, Resurrection Christian senior Isaiah Johnson, Resurrection Christian junior Samuel Stockston, Fort Lupton junior Josiah Gonzales, Roosevelt junior Chris LaLonde, Valley senior Nehemiah Whaley and Highland senior Ira Sittner. 3. Can Briggsdale reload for another state title? Coming into the season a year ago, Briggsdale’s girls basketball team had routinely been a title game participant but had just one championship (in 2023) to show for four finals appearances since 2008. The Falcons garnered title No. 2 in dramatic fashion in March, defeating Stratton 41-40 in the 1A title game to cap a 24-2 campaign. Leading the way, as Briggsdale’s programs rose to unprecedented heights, was then-senior Jenna Krise. Krise led the team in nearly every statistical category, averaging 27 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.8 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while scoring and playmaking from everywhere on the floor. If the Falcons are going to secure a third consecutive 1A state title, others are going to need to step up from a team that, aside from Krise, was a bit young and inexperienced a year ago. 4. Can the Windsor boys hoops team get over the hump? Windsor’s boys basketball program has been right on the cusp of calling itself champion for years now. A season ago, the Wizards got as close as they have been in more than a decade to claiming their third state championship in program history and their first since 1924. They finished the season 23-5, nearly pulling off a second-half rally in a 57-53 5A title game loss to Mesa Ridge. Though Windsor lost six key seniors from this past season’s state runner-up squad, there is enough up-and-coming returning talent to declare the Wizards one of the top contenders in 5A again this winter. Leading the charge, junior shooting guard Madden Smiley is back after averaging team-highs in scoring (16.8 ppg) and steals (2.0 spg), to go with 4.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game a season ago. 5. Can Windsor’s Reagan Annable and Sienna Hawbaker climb further up the podium? A season ago, Windsor’s Reagan Annable stood out among all local competitors in the 4A girls swimming and diving state championships. Annable capped her sophomore season by placing second in the 1-meter diving finals with a score of 498. She was second only to Niwot junior Elizabeth Fay’s score of 538.5. No doubt, Annable will look to climb one rung higher and claim a state title this winter. One of Annable’s teammates, senior Sienna Hawbaker, also comes into this season with a state title, or two, in her crosshairs. She recorded two top-4 finishes at the state meet in February, placing third in the 100-yard freestyle (52.04) and fourth in the 200 individual medley (2:08.09).Bird Removal Service Market Outlook and Future Projections for 2030

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