With chatbots like ChatGPT making a splash , machine learning is playing an increasingly prominent role in our lives. For many of us, it’s been a mixed bag. We rejoice when our Spotify For You playlist finds us a new jam, but groan as we scroll through a slew of targeted ads on our Instagram feeds. Machine learning is also changing many fields that may seem surprising. One example is my discipline, ornithology—the study of birds . It isn’t just solving some of the biggest challenges associated with studying bird migration; more broadly, machine learning is expanding the ways in which people engage with birds. As spring migration picks up, here’s a look at how machine learning is influencing ways to research birds and, ultimately, to protect them. The challenge of conserving migratory birds Most birds in the Western Hemisphere migrate twice a year , flying over entire continents between their breeding and nonbreeding grounds. While these journeys are … [Read more...] about How machine learning is helping scientists forecast bird migration
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Tired of the office? These jobs have the happiest remote workers right now
It’s no surprise that working from home has been popular for many workers, but it hasn’t been a win for every profession across the board. Glassdoor recently surveyed workers to determine how important remote work was to them as a benefit, and how employees across various levels of seniority and various occupations view their experiences working from home. In general, the survey found that the ability to work from home was among the top three benefits for more than two-thirds (68%) of the respondents. Remote work was only a few percentage points behind vacation and paid time off in popularity, which 71% of respondents found important, and health insurance, which was a top-three benefit for 69% of respondents. Working from home—or WFH for short—has particularly been a hit with a few specific professions, according to the Glassdoor survey. Here are the top 10 professions, ranked by how satisfied employees were with working from home: Social Worker Customer … [Read more...] about Tired of the office? These jobs have the happiest remote workers right now
A simple 5-step system to ace performance reviews
My first-ever performance review was for a huge consulting firm. It felt like drinking water from a firehose: How could I condense everything I’d done and learned into a few paragraphs? I stayed up all night, hacking together a list. But when I was done, I realized I’d missed the mark. All I had created was a record of the activities I’d done. The “so what?” wasn’t there. It wasn’t an ideal way to kick off my career. So, I developed a system that helped me track and celebrate my milestones and prepare for my reviews—without subjecting myself to disgusting coffee and all-nighters. Here’s my system, and how you can adapt it for your performance reviews. Step 1: Identify your metrics A successful performance review connects your accomplishments to metrics that matter. So, how do you identify the most important metrics? Pull verbs from your job description When you boil down a job description down, the verbs are what matter. Those words—along with … [Read more...] about A simple 5-step system to ace performance reviews
The Monarch Collective unveils $100 million fund to bring equity to women’s sports
Companies founded by women received less than 2% of venture capital funding in 2022— a decline from the year before. However, when women-led startups are funded, research has shown that they generate more in cumulative returns, compared to those led by men. A new VC fund aims to take this lesson to women’s sports. On Monday, venture capitalists Kara Nortman and Jasmine Robinson announced the close of a $100 million fund, the Monarch Collective, with a mission to “accelerate equity in global sport.” Nortman is a former partner at the Los Angeles-based venture capital firm Upfront Ventures. Robinson was a partner at Causeway, a fund focused on sports, media, and entertainment. The Monarch Collective, founded in January, will focus on investing in women’s teams and leagues, along with adjacent industries, such as media and gaming. The duo say they are initially considering investments in women’s soccer teams in the U.S., and in women’s teams and leagues in sports such … [Read more...] about The Monarch Collective unveils $100 million fund to bring equity to women’s sports
Ben of Ben & Jerry trades ice cream for cannabis
Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s is telling me a story about smoking pot. We’re on Zoom, and he says: “The idea came about when I was on a camping trip with a friend of mine, sitting around a fire, smoking a joint. And we were saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to have pot like the old days?’” The idea Cohen is referring to is his latest venture, the eponymously named Ben’s Best Blnz , or B3. The just-launched company is a bright, bold cannabis brand that offers low-THC pre-rolls and full-spectrum vapes. Much like his endeavors in ice cream, Cohen set out to use B3’s platform as a conduit for what he refers to as “social benefit.” B3 is registered as a nonprofit, with 100% of its profits split between three entities: 10% will go to the Last Prisoner Project , an organization dedicated to freeing individuals impacted by cannabis criminalization; another 10% will be donated to the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance , whose mission is to “secure sustainable power, ensure … [Read more...] about Ben of Ben & Jerry trades ice cream for cannabis
Revolution is upon us: Lin-Manuel Miranda announces ‘Hamilton’ is coming to PH in September
“Hamilton.” Image: Instagram/@hamiltonmusical The revolution is coming to the Philippines as the hit musical “Hamilton” is set to make its Asian premiere in the Philippines this coming September. The announcement was made by songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda on theater producer GMG Productions official Facebook page on Tuesday, March 28. “I am so excited to officially announce that ‘Hamilton’ will be making its Asian premiere in the Philippines. We’ve had so many incredible Filipino company members part of the ‘Hamilton’ pamilya (family) all over the world, and now, we’re bringing the show to your beautiful country very soon. I can’t wait for you to see it,” he said. This marks the first time that “Hamilton” will go on its first international tour, which will kick off in Auckland, New Zealand in May. Ticket details are yet to be disclosed, as of this writing, but the production company and Miranda advised fans to sign up for its waitlist which has opened on its official … [Read more...] about Revolution is upon us: Lin-Manuel Miranda announces ‘Hamilton’ is coming to PH in September
Ukraine aims to exhaust Russian troops in Bakhmut–general
FILE PHOTO: Drone footage over Bakhmut, Donetsk region shows devastation amid fierce fighting during Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine in this still image obtained from social media video released March 26, 2023. 93rd Mechanized Brigade “Kholodny Yar” via REUTERS KYIV — Ukraine is aiming to exhaust and inflict heavy losses on Russian forces trying to capture the small eastern city of Bakhmut, the commander of Ukrainian ground forces said in a video posted on Tuesday. In a video showing him addressing soldiers in what appeared to be a large industrial warehouse, General Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russia was continuing to focus on the Bakhmut area after months of battle. Moscow sees capturing Bakhmut as vital to its efforts to establish complete control over the Donbas industrial region in eastern Ukraine. “They do not stop trying to surround and capture the city,” Syrskyi said in the video posted on the Telegram messaging app. “As of today, our main task is to wear down the … [Read more...] about Ukraine aims to exhaust Russian troops in Bakhmut–general
‘Friends’, ‘Grace and Frankie’ creator outfoxes sexism
This 2016 photo provided by Netflix shows writer/producer Marta Kauffman, from left, Jane Fonda, as Grace Hanson, and Lily Tomlin, as Frankie Bergstein, in a scene from “Grace and Frankie”. Image: Netflix/Melissa Mosley via AP Ask Marta Kauffman if there will be a “Friends” reunion someday, and the answer is a crisp “nope.” Kauffman, who created the enduringly popular sitcom with David Crane and was an executive producer from start to finish, is focused on what’s now and next, not what’s past. She’s moved on from the 1994-2004 network-airbrushed adventures of young New York pals to the unvarnished pains and pleasures of older women — and, subordinately, men — in “Grace and Frankie”. The Netflix comedy is in the hunt to add 2019 Emmy Award nominations to those earned in its first four seasons by stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, who also have received Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globe and other nods of recognition. “Friends” can boast of nabbing a best comedy series Emmy in … [Read more...] about ‘Friends’, ‘Grace and Frankie’ creator outfoxes sexism
Promise fulfilled: Zaijian Jaranilla takes Laurenti Dyogi for a drive in his first car
Laurenti Dyogi and Zaijian Jaranilla. Screengrab from Instagram / @direklauren True to his word, Zaijian Jaranilla took ABS-CBN Head of TV Productions Lauren Dyogi out on a ride in his first car, a promise that the former child star made just a year ago. Dyogi shared his riding experience on Instagram through a short video on Monday, wherein Jaranilla fetched him from his office and offered to take him for a drive around the block in his brand-new car, which has been with him for just over a year. “Isang karangalang makisakay sa pinaghirapang sasakyan ng isang mahusay na batang artista (It’s an honor to be riding in the car of a talented young artist). Last year, I was teasing Zaijian who was back then planning to get his own vehicle he could already drive to work. He promised he will let me ride his new car,” said Dyogi in the caption. “This week, promise fulfilled by him and am very honored and proud to share a ride with Zaijian who is destined to be a very important actor … [Read more...] about Promise fulfilled: Zaijian Jaranilla takes Laurenti Dyogi for a drive in his first car
After conquering Broadway, ‘Hamilton’ eyes global tour
The Richard Rodgers Theatre is seen on June 6, 2019 located on 226 West 46th Street where “Hamilton”, one of Broadway’s biggest hits, is playing in New York. Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) NEW YORK — After triumphing on Broadway, the lower 48 states and London’s West End, “Hamilton” is eyeing its first non-English production as well as tours throughout Europe and Asia. The much-decorated musical, currently being staged nightly in London and New York as well as four other US cities, last month announced plans to launch in Sydney in early 2021 in a production expected to tour Australia before going to Asia, its producer said in an interview. The “Hamilton” team is also working with a German hip-hop artist and playwright to develop a German-language version of the work. The show, which is performed by a mostly non-white cast and mixes pulsating rap numbers with ballads and traditional musical numbers, has been credited with invigorating Broadway, thrilling audiences of … [Read more...] about After conquering Broadway, ‘Hamilton’ eyes global tour