Speak Your MindGetting a Voice Back, The Kremlin is Looking for a New Caterer."At Ann Johnson’s wedding reception 20 years ago, her gift for speech was vividly evident. In an ebullient 15-minute toast, she joked that she had run down the aisle, wondered if the ceremony program should have said “flutist” or “flautist” and acknowledged that she was 'hogging the mic.' Just two years later, Mrs. Johnson — then a 30-year-old teacher, volleyball coach and mother of an infant — had a cataclysmic stroke that paralyzed her and left her unable to talk." Johnson's voice from that speech is finally being heard again, powered by signals from her brain. "Technology converted her brain signals into written and vocalized language, and enabled an avatar on a computer screen to speak the words and display smiles, pursed lips and other expressions ... Mrs. Johnson chose the avatar, a face resembling hers, and researchers used her wedding toast to develop the avatar’s voice." Pam Belluck in NYT (Gift Article): A Stroke Stole Her Ability to Speak at 30. A.I. Is Helping to Restore It Years Later. 2Revenge on Caterer Served ColdOn the two month anniversary of the Wagner uprising against Putin, all passengers on a plane shot down northwest of Moscow were killed. Wagner Boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the passenger list. Many Russia experts predicted it was only a matter of time before Putin carried out his usual response to betrayal. In this case, one of the worst people in the world ordered the murder of one of the worst people in the world. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin presumed dead after Russia plane crash. 3The Crackpot at the End of the Rainbow"Sylvia Rhodea, one of eight self-described conservative Christians elected last November to the 11-person board, began by describing what she saw as the threat posed by LGBTQ groups and the Pride flag. In much of America, the rainbow banner represented the acceptance of gay, lesbian and transgender people. To Rhodea, it meant something very different. It was, she announced, 'time to define the plus' in the LGBTQ plus movement. 'Over 50 different flags are flown under the LGBTQ flag,' Rhodea said. Their ranks, she continued, included pedophiles, polygamists and furries, which she described as 'those who dress as furry animals and may use litter boxes.'" Yes, people like Rhodea sound like lunatics from a fear mongering past. But this nonsense is happening now and it's having a major impact on school boards across the country. WaPo: (Gift Article): A sex educator in Michigan refused to be shamed. Then came the backlash. "Heather Alberda found her calling by speaking bluntly about sex in her conservative county. Her career was no match for the nation’s culture wars." This is directly related to crackpot, punching-down, woke-obsessed political speech that has become so popular these days. Expect to hear more of it at tonight's first GOP debate. And remember, these aren't just throw-away lines from politicians who don't believe what they're saying. This is a policy direction that's taking hold. "Nearly 400 proposals aimed at allowing parents and government officials to change school lessons have been introduced in state legislatures since 2021 ... Though less than 10% have passed, the climate around the bills has intimidated educators into self-censorship in schools, limiting discussions around racism and gender, PEN America said." Education 'intimidation' bills have skyrocketed since 2021, report says. 4Hoop Reams"On 5 January 1971, Louis Herman Klotz did something that no basketballer has dared repeat. In front of a disbelieving audience in the city of Martin, Tennessee, the man known as Red broke one of the most sacred unwritten rules in sport. As player-coach for the Washington Generals, Klotz shot the winning basket against the Harlem Globetrotters ... Over more than 50 years since, the Globetrotters have been ruthless in meting out their revenge. To the unmistakable melody of Sweet Georgia Brown, they've showboated their way to victory at the expense of hapless Generals who've never again beaten their illustrious opponents." What's it like being on the losing end of every game in a never-ending season? One win, 17,000 defeats - life as a Washington General. 5Extra, ExtraSouth Parked: "An Indian spacecraft landed on the rugged, unexplored south pole of the moon on Wednesday in a mission seen as crucial to lunar exploration and India's standing as a space power, just days after a similar Russian lander crashed. 'This moment is unforgettable. It is phenomenal. This is a victory cry of a new India,' said Prime Minister Narendra Modi." 6Bottom of the News"Netflix is treating the end of the DVD era like a birthday party — or a funeral, depending on your point of view. The company announced in April that it would send its last DVD by mail on September 29, a little over 25 years after it sent the very first one." And if you're still getting DVDs by mail, you can keep them. Netflix is just giving DVDs away now. (Now I just have to figure out where to return my Kozmo DVDs.) Get a copy of my 📕, Please Scream Inside Your Heart, or grab a 👕 in the Store. |