All posts tagged: limitations

Vatican sending new signals of openness but limitations in outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics

Vatican sending new signals of openness but limitations in outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics

Published by Sam Flores

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican is sending new signals about how it intends to minister to LGBTQ+ Catholics in the Pope Leo XIV era, with signs of openness and limitations after Pope Francis ushered in a notable welcome during his 12-year pontificate. Catholic LGBTQ+ advocates cheered this week when a Vatican working group released a report featuring the testimony of two gay, married Catholics who spoke openly about their sexuality, faith and how the Catholic Church’s negative teaching on homosexuality had hurt them. Additionally, Leo made clear during a recent airborne news conference that he believed the church’s teachings on social justice, equality and freedom were far more important than its teaching on sexual morality, suggesting he doesn’t intend to prioritize the issue. At that same news conference, though, Leo indicated he will go no further than Francis on the contentious matter of same-sex blessings. The Vatican has recently renewed its opposition to any local efforts to deviate from the Holy See stance. For the Rev. James Martin, an American Jesuit who has spearheaded …

Stop tolerating GNOME’s limitations — here are 5 Linux desktops that give you real control

Stop tolerating GNOME’s limitations — here are 5 Linux desktops that give you real control

Published by skeptic

You don’t have to stick to GNOME if you don’t want to. There are plenty of desktop environments, or those close to it, to switch to from GNOME that offer much more freedom. Some people prefer more control and power over what happens on their computers. Just keep in mind that if you’re new, you probably shouldn’t be messing with advanced changes unless you’re okay with bricking your desktop or laptop. KDE Plasma is great for customization You want to have the most control Credit: KDE KDE Plasma is the best choice to switch to if you think GNOME is too restrictive. GNOME removes features like desktop icons and minimize buttons to keep a distraction-free space. This means you have to install third-party tools to get basic functions back. KDE Plasma takes the opposite path by letting you change every animation and panel location without needing those third-party extensions that can break during updates. You get total control right within the system, letting you adjust your window decorations, cursor styles, and color schemes without extra tools. …

SpeakOn’s dictation device is a good idea marred by platform limitations

SpeakOn’s dictation device is a good idea marred by platform limitations

Published by skeptic

I constantly use dictation apps such as Wispr Flow, Willow, or Typeless to reply to messages and emails on both my Mac and my phone. But to do so, I have to use my phone’s mic or AirPods to dictate my messages, and they often don’t pick up what I am saying. That’s why when Notta-owned SpeakOn pitched me to test a dedicated device for dictation, I was intrigued by its potential. Unfortunately, I had mixed experiences with the product because of its form factor and platform limitations. Still, I think there is space for dictation devices like this in the future. SpeakOn is a small pebble-like device that can stick on the back of your iPhone via MagSafe, just like Plaud’s AI meeting notetaker. The device is very light at 25 grams, so you won’t feel its weight, even if you put it in your pocket separately. Image Credits: Ivan MehtaImage Credits:Ivan Mehta The device comes with a companion app on iOS, which is in the form of a keyboard, like other dictation apps. …

Accessible Walks Bring the Joys of Birding to People With Mobility and Other Limitations

Accessible Walks Bring the Joys of Birding to People With Mobility and Other Limitations

Published by Sam Flores

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Wearing an oxygen pack on her back for her COPD, Marcia OBara is leading a group of nature enthusiasts on a mission to see birds. They carry walking sticks on the flat trails, moving at their own pace, without pressure or competition and enjoying a sense of community. This is Birding for Every BODY, one of numerous such excursions offered each month by the nonprofit Tucson Bird Alliance with Arizona’s Pima County. It’s part of a growing national movement to help people with physical and other limitations experience birding and nature in general. “It’s an opportunity for people to get out and see birds without pressure, no matter how long it takes or how many birds we see,” said OBara, a retired nurse who has been leading the accessible outings for three years. She said disabled people often cannot keep up on traditional outings, especially when competitive birders are focused on checking off a list of the greatest possible number of species. For her accessible walks, OBara ensures that all trails …

New research connects daily gardening habits with reduced anxiety and physical limitations

New research connects daily gardening habits with reduced anxiety and physical limitations

Published by José Betancourt

A survey of individuals between 30 and 98 years in Sengkang, Singapore, found that engaging in daily gardening was associated with better health, defined as low anxiety and no health limitations. “Happiness or satisfaction” was the top reason for gardening, while “insufficient time” was the most often listed reason for not engaging in gardening. The paper was published in Scientific Reports. Gardening is the practice of cultivating plants such as flowers, vegetables, fruits, or herbs for food, aesthetic enjoyment, or recreation. It involves physical activities like digging, planting, watering, and pruning, which effectively constitute a regular exercise of moderate intensity. Gardening has been shown to improve physical health by supporting cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and flexibility. Exposure to sunlight during gardening helps regulate circadian rhythms and supports vitamin D production. Psychologically, gardening is associated with reduced stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. It can promote relaxation by providing a calming, nature-focused activity that draws attention away from daily worries. Gardening also enhances mood and emotional well-being through a sense of accomplishment and nurturing living things. For …

The serious limitations on what AI can do in education

The serious limitations on what AI can do in education

Published by Jenni Sidey

Dr. Dembski made a list of possible contributions and offering some comments on it will clarify what I am trying to say: “Accent and Pronunciation Refinement in Language Learning” A focused speech-recognition “AI” (not a chatbot) could help students learn languages more efficiently. That tech has been around for a while. A very narrowly, ethically trained product could be useful here, but it’s no replacement for human conversation. “Creative Writing with Rhetorical Precision” This is a dangerous proposal. Writing is thinking. AI can’t be trusted to generate coherent content, nor to have a voice that is something students should emulate. Do we really want everyone homogenized into writing like a chatbot? No, the sacred work of choosing words must have authoritative human guides. Improve the curriculum, have better books, and invite humans to teach via video. But don’t use chatbots for creative writing. “Polyphonic Music Composition and Performance” I see this as risky. Again, if the AI is not a general purpose chatbot, and perhaps specifically trained on good music, it could potentially be helpful. …