Far from city lights, out on my farm, the night sky shimmers with stars. The universe is made of stories, not atoms, wrote the poet Muriel Rukasa. I love stories. As a writer and environmental scientist living on a farm in the outback, I love creating worlds through words. One fascinating ancient story that is told around the globe is that of the seven stars in the Pelades constellation, often describing seven sisters fleeing from hunters. Yet, if we look to the night skies today, only six stars shine. That ...

There is so much hope in your in in your overall story, but for a lot of people in the country today, hope is hard to have or to hold on to. And I'm thinking people in your hometown of Chicago right here in Los Angeles who live live with the fear that they or someone they know or or care about >> have been or will be snatched up off the streets by by federal agents. >> And who would have thought that just two years ago.Who who would have thought that that would be the country that we're in. >> But given eve ...

Mental Health Crisis & Systemic Issues - The World Health Organization estimates over 1 billion (1 in 7) people globally live with a mental health condition [3] - Suicide is the third leading cause of death for individuals aged 15-29 worldwide, and the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15-24 [3] - Mental health systems are often characterized by lengthy assessments, waiting lists, and processes that delay access to care [1][2][9] - Current processes of screening, assessment, and labeling can lead to extended wait times, particularly for individuals with complex needs or those in rural areas [9] Single Session Therapy (SST) as a Solution - Single session therapy (SST) is presented as a potential solution to address waiting lists and improve access to mental health support [13] - SST harnesses the motivation present when individuals first seek help, focusing on strengths, agency, and hope [14][15] - Research indicates that SST can lead to faster improvement and higher levels of hope compared to traditional therapy models [18] - A review of 415 trials of single session therapy and single session interventions highlighted significant positive outcomes in 83% of cases [18] Call to Action - The industry advocates for a shift towards a more accessible mental health system, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and timely support [20][21] - The industry encourages individuals to advocate for changes in mental health systems, demanding a more responsive and accessible "front door" [20][21]

Happy morning everyone. Today I'll speak on the topic the art of letting go. Turning sorrow to strength.Everybody has their first pictures of whether they just learn how to walk, talk or eat a crawl. This is my first picture of when I just learned how to walk. It was 6th August early morning.My father or a baba as I call him had just come to India where we were spending our vacations at Nana Nani's house. He broke the news none of us ever wanted to hear. My mother or I is no more.Shock waves ran through my ...

Good evening everyone. We carry tomorrow in our bones. I'm here today to speak about the future.But to do that, I need to speak of the past. And it is a past built on bloodshed, oppression, and suffering. I will be speaking about racism, human trafficking, and systemic abuse.Please let this be your trigger warning. I want to take you on a journey. Imagine for a moment the following.You awaken in darkness below deck to the swaying of the ship, the smell of brackish water and human waste. The sound of the wav ...

I want to to speak to the Norwegian people, to European people, to the Venezuelan people. I would say to all citizens of the world in this hour to you that I am very hopeful Venezuela will be free and we will turn a country into a beacon of hope and opportunity of democracy. And we'll we will welcome not only the Venezuelans that have been forced to flee, but citizens from all over the world that will find a refuge, as Venezuela used to be decades ago. ...

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) Technology & Spinal Cord Injuries - The University of Chicago is conducting a study using Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technology to help people with spinal cord injuries, collaborating with the University of Pittsburgh and Northwestern University [1] - The goal of the study is to restore motor control and sensation to people with spinal cord injuries who have lost function of a hand or limb, with the hope of restoring independence [1] - BCI technology allows a participant to control a robotic arm and hand merely by thinking about it, with sensory feedback enabling the user to feel and sense the correct force needed to pick up objects [1] Impact & Statistics - In the US, there are 180,000 people with tetraplegia and 58,000 people with major arm amputations [3] - As of the time of the report, only 670 people have flown into outer space, while only 70 people have had electrodes implanted on their brains for things like speech, vision, and motor control [4] - Only 10 people have both motor control with sensory feedback via brain implants, highlighting the rarity and advancement of the technology [4] Funding & Purpose - The brain computer interface study was funded through the Department of Defense back in 2005 [4] - The goal of the funding was to help veterans of war who may have lost a hand, limb, or become quadriplegic [4] - BCI technology offers the possibility for people with limitations to operate computers and control devices, instilling a renewed belief and independence [4]

[music] [music and applause] Mark Twain said, "Two most important days of a human being's life. First, when he is born, and second, when he realizes why." My big why came about 20 years ago. When I got to know that my son, my precious bundle of joy, was diagnosed with autism. I still remember that horrid day when I was sitting at the doctor with the diagnosis.I clutched the papers in my hand so tight the floor beneath my feet seemed to have crumbled. Shock, despair. What just happened.No. It took me a while ...

So happy to see you. >> A merry moment with Santa. [laughter] >> I can't believe it.>> Look. He can't believe it. >> Revealing an early Christmas surprise for Christian.The topper to a whirlwind holiday season. Meet Christian and Toby. Brought together by the Big Brothers Big Sisters program three years ago, and they've been virtually inseparable ever since.He's the greatest mentor a kid could ever even have. He's been with me through my ups and even downs. And and still we still are the best bros. >> We ar ...

I would say to all citizens of the world in this hour that I am very hopeful Venezuela will be free and we will turn a country into a beacon of hope, an opportunity of democracy. I couldn't sleep last night going over and over again that first instant when I saw my children and and for many weeks I had been thinking of that possibility and which one of them I would hug first and uh to tell you something I hugged them the three at the same time and it's been one of the most extraordinary spiritual moments of ...