Page 1,072«..1020..1,0711,0721,0731,074..1,0801,090..»

Category Archives: Transhuman News

How A Group Of ‘Bachelor’ Fans Is Working To Improve The Franchise’s Diversity – Mashable India

Posted: February 21, 2021 at 12:38 am

On June 1, 2020, members of the private Bachelor-themed Facebook group, Brett's Bachelor Buds, started organizing. It had been a week since George Floyd was killed by police, emotions were running high, and people across the country were experiencing a heightened awareness of racial inequality.

The Facebook group, which formed in March 2020, was meant to act as a fun, positive space for 7,200 fans and counting to connect over their shared love of all things Bachelor, the reality show that's been running for 18 years and has inspired other popular series including The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. But after a member named Chloe posted to express her frustration about the lack of diversity within the franchise and a desire to take action, the fandom decided it was time to get serious. Over a series of Facebook Messenger conversations and Zoom calls, the Bachelor Diversity Campaign was created.

"[Chloe] likes to say it was a nap thought. She was just in the middle of her day about to take a nap and sent this message. And quickly a bunch of us jumped on it and were like, 'We feel the same way as you, let's do something,'" Sam Halfmann, a member of the campaign, explained during a Zoom call. "We decided to put together a petition that really grew into a campaign, and we decided to do this big launch on the day of The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons - Ever! [which was] airing on June 8."

When the campaign which now consists of 14 Bachelor fans across the country who came together through their mutual Facebook group went public, they launched a website and social media accounts to voice their concerns over the franchise, and outlined a series of 13 anti-racist standards for ABC and Warner Bros. to meet and uphold. The asks, which are detailed in a change.org petition that more than 163,000 fans have signed, range from casting a Black lead in Season 25 of The Bachelor (what ended up becoming Matt James' season) to issuing "a public statement apologizing for enabling systemic racism within the franchise" through years of problematic comments from producers, poorly vetted contestants, and predominantly white casts. The petition also calls on the franchise to provide "a clear plan for demonstrable anti-racism efforts moving forward," and encourages supporters to pledge to commit to anti-racism as well.

On June 12, 2020, four days after the campaign launched, the franchise made history by announcing Matt James would be its first Black male lead. The franchise also posted a statement to Instagram saying they "condemn racism, bullying, and hate in all of its forms and have introduced new community guidelines for interacting" on their posts. ABC has not said if the campaign's actions helped promote these changes, but the Bachelor Diversity Campaign feels they may have helped apply some additional pressure.

"[People working on the show] haven't been in touch with us. However, some out there have argued that they are aware, just given some of their actions," Halfmann, a 27-year-old senior marketing manager in Wichita, Kansas, said.

"We like to think they're very aware of us," BDC member Rachel Everley explained. "I do think that especially the second [statement] was in response to the push of our campaign."

The decision to cast Matt James and the statement condemning racism were both seen as signs of hope in the Bachelor community, but the campaign was all too aware given the past two decades that if left unchecked, the popular franchise likely wouldn't prioritize diversity or fight to facilitate positive, more inclusive change in the form of giving equal air time to people of color and carefully vetting contestants to ensure those who've promoted prejudice are not cast. So they felt compelled to take action.

"When we first got that announcement that Matt was going to be cast as the first Black bachelor, you have that moment of 'We really hope that this isn't just bread crumbs or lip service that there's going to be some concrete signs that things are changing," BDC member Ariana Arestegui, a 29-year-old law firm administrator in Orange County, California, explained. "I think that's why it was so important that we created those multiple points. It wasn't just about casting a Black bachelor. It's about making sure that there's more equity in screen time, and that theres better quality in terms of storylines and conversations" related to important topics including race, equality, mental health, family history, and more.

Since its launch, the Bachelor Diversity Campaign live tweets the two-hour episode each Monday night not only to celebrate the funny, viral-worthy moments and praise whatever is good, but to call out the bad and reflect on certain aspects of production that need improvement, for instance, focusing less on the petty drama that's become a Bachelor staple and giving contestants of color that air time to showcase their experiences and share personal storylines. The Bachelor Data Analyst Twitter account has been tracking contestant's screen time, and the data from the first six episodes of Matt's season shows just how much focus drama among white contestants is given.

Why was Heathers van roll-up longer than the Carnival date?! #TheBachelor

Bachelor Diversity Campaign (@bachdiversity) February 9, 2021

Were frustrated. Once again mean-spirited drama is drawing attention away from BIPOC storylines. Raise your hand if youd rather hear Matt + Michelle discuss the achievement/opportunity gap than watch Victoria, Anna, & MJ delight in a malicious rumor. #TheBachelor

Bachelor Diversity Campaign (@bachdiversity) February 2, 2021

"It's kind of like 'Avengers Assemble.' Like, OK are we here? Can we do it now? Let's get this done," Arestegui said when asked how the group decides what to post. "We just need to continue holding them accountable so that this isn't a passing phase for them."

As many members of Bachelor Nation know, the franchises history with diversity, systemic racism, and poorly vetted contestants is thornier than the many roses its contestants hand out.

The Bachelor Diversity Campaign detailed a series of particularly abhorrent examples of times the franchise has exhibited or defended problematic behavior in a Twitter thread on Monday, Feb. 16.

The thread highlights racist tweets and brownface social media posts from contestants; heartbreaking accounts from Black women who were cast in seasons with little to no diversity; a former Black casting producer speaking out about how the show returned to casting predominantly white contestants after Lindsay's season. And then there were the comments made throughout the years from Bachelor creator and producer Mike Fleiss, as well as longtime host and executive producer Chris Harrison:

In 2011, when asked if fans would ever seen a non-white bachelor or bachelorette, Fleiss said, "We really tried, but sometimes we feel guilty of tokenism. Oh, we have to wedge African-American chicks in there! We always want to cast for ethnic diversity, its just that for whatever reason, they dont come forward. I wish they would."

In 2018, he noted that ratings were down for Lindsays season, the first to feature a Black bachelorette, insinuating that her race may have been to blame. "I found it incredibly disturbing in a Trumpish kind of way," Fleiss told the New York Times. "How else are you going to explain the fact that she's down in the ratings, when black or white she was an unbelievable bachelorette? It revealed something about our fans."

Harrison has made his fair share of jaw-droppingly bad comments on race, too. In a 2015 interview with NPR, after some prickly reflections on Juan Pablo Galavis, who was cast as the franchise's first Latino lead, Harrison bluntly spoke about the "tricky subject" of diversity related to the show.

"...As soon as you say, 'race,' 'racism,' 'ethnicity,' 'minorities,' all of a sudden, everybody is waiting for you to say something politically incorrect and for it to be a scandal," Harrison said. "And when you're a white guy, a middle-aged white guy talking about diversity, you're already five steps behind. You're already in trouble. Because there's nothing you can say that's going to be good, that's going to go well in that regard."

Harrison went on to explain his belief that the success of the show mattered more than trying to take a stand on social issues or help pave the way for inclusivity on-screen.

"This is a situation that so many people of color, women of color, have been in before. You're trying to express yourself, a very valid sentiment, and you're continuously getting backlash, interjected, and made to seem as though your opinion is not as valid or as grounded as that other person's."

"...This is what worries me about speaking about it, honestly: television is a business, like anything else. And what we have to do, we can't just say, 'We're changing the world. We're going to do whatever it takes to change the world and make a stand on any social issue,'" Harrison continued. "I don't care, whatever take race out of it. Save the whales. We're going to make the entire show about saving the whale or the spotted owl. Well, that's great. But what happens when our show is off in six months, and you're not watching it anymore, and now hundreds if not thousands of people are out of a job?"

Earlier this year, when Harrison was asked if he felt the franchise was quick enough to diversify, he said, "There is this amazing culture of change going on. But there's also this culture of, how can I ruin that? How can I say, well, you're not woke enough? What is woke enough for you?"

Most recently, Harrison came under fire for excusing and defending historical racism in an interview with former show alum and the first Black bachelorette, Rachel Lindsay. Harrison spoke on allegations made against Rachael Kirkconnell, a contestant on Matt James' currently airing season of The Bachelor, who sparked outrage online after photos from 2018 surfaced showing her at an "Old South" plantation-themed college party with a group of women. The 24-year-old contestant has also been accused of bullying and promoting harmful political conspiracy theories in past weeks.

Before Kirkconnell publicly addressed the allegations, Harrison tried and epically failed to do some damage control. While repeatedly arguing that Kirkconnell should be given grace since the photos in question were taken several years ago, the 49-year-old host, who noted he's "not the woke police" said, "Well, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018, or is it not a good look in 2021? Because there's a big difference. Where is this lens we're holding up and was this lens available, and were we all looking through it in 2018?"

"It's not a good look ever, because she's celebrating the Old South," Lindsay replied. "If I went to that party what would I represent?"

Arestegui, a BDC member and woman of color, said she had a "very visceral" response when listening to Harrison's interview with Lindsay. "When Chris would try to speak over her or interject or make a fallacy in reasoning and judgment I would just be like, you can't outdo the doer," she said.

"Rachel was so gracious and graceful throughout that entire thing more than I think she should have been.... But within my own personal experiences as I was putting myself in her shoes, I was like, 'This is a situation that so many people of color, women of color, have been in before,'" Arestegui continued. "You're trying to express yourself, a very valid sentiment, and you're continuously getting backlash, interjected, and made to seem as though your opinion is not as valid or as grounded as that other person's. I really felt for Rachel, and I think she did a great job there. It is never okay to attempt to gaslight someone."

In a move I'm not sure any member of Bachelor Nation actually saw coming based on the total and complete lack of accountability exhibited from the franchise in the past, Harrison announced on Saturday that he would be stepping down from his hosting duties "for a period of time."

Since Harrison and Kirkconnell's Instagram apologies, the Bachelor Diversity Campaign has been extremely vocal on social media, in shining a spotlight on the franchise's problematic history, calling for Harrison's permanent departure, and supporting people of color on the show.

Dozens of alumni from the franchise (along with the women from Season 25, which is still in the process of airing) also released joint statements supporting Lindsay and denouncing any defense of racism. And fans created a petition calling for Chris Harrisons permanent removal from the franchise, which has already received more than 40,000 signatures. Many also abstained from live tweeting the last episode in support of viewers of color.

Hi #TheBachelor friends

I wont be tweeting tonight in support of BIPOC viewers whove had an especially exhausting week. While Chris Harrison stepping aside is a step, his ability to unlearn those troubling beliefs cant be unlearned overnight. Therefore, he should be replaced.

Brett S. Vergara (@BrettSVergara) February 16, 2021

"We have seen both statements from Chris Harrison in the past week, including the news of his stepping aside for a period of time. This is the first step towards accountability. However, we arent looking for a short break, but for substantive change and an action plan with demonstrable antiracism efforts," BDC member Everley said.

"The pushback within Bachelor Nation on the call to remove Chris Harrison is also revealing another reason he should go because without it, it emboldens others to defend racism as well. Anything less than his removal is quiet acceptance."

Since Lindsay was cast as the Bachelorette lead in 2017, she's served as one of the main voices advocating for the show to embrace people of color, but shes not alone anymore, and she along with alum including Tyler Cameron, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Nick Viall, and Ben Higgins have signed and shared the Bachelor Diversity Campaign's petition. And in a recent Reddit AMA, when asked what changes she would implement if she became an executive producer of the franchise Lindsay said, "I would basically consult with the Bachelor Diversity Campaign creators. They seem to really get it and be on top of the change the fans want to see in the franchise."

"I was hoping when I came on to be a trailblazer for that and to increase diversity in the audience that watches it. But in the last three years, there really haven't been changes made," Lindsay said in a 2020 interview with GMA. "I want producers of color I'd like for them to cast leads that are interested in dating outside of their race that aren't just getting their first-time experience for the first time on national TV. I need the acknowledgment of that. Not putting a band-aid over the situation and just saying, 'Here, we're going to put this here. Are you happy now?'"

Lindsay also penned a powerful blog post to further flesh out her thoughts on the franchises role in perpetuating systemic racism, in which she explains, "I am sad to say that after almost four years in this franchise, we still don't have the diversity that this show needs, and that our audience deserves It is a naive expectation to believe that leads will authentically start an interracial relationship for the first time on national television. The sad reality is that people of color become placeholders as the token person of color to add some flavor to the second half of the season."

It would be incredibly easy to look at all of these transgressions with disgust and abandon the franchise all together, and no doubt many fans have considered doing just that. But the harder task the task that the Bachelor Diversity Campaign has embarked upon is sticking with the show and relentlessly challenging all those who play a hand in casting, creating, and airing the series to facilitate impactful, lasting change.

"We don't want to [boycott] because we like this show... We want it to be better than it is."

"There has been a lot of talk among Bachelor fans about boycotting the show in the past, like 'We're done, we're out, we're boycotting.' Not that that thought didn't initially [cross our minds] in planning, but we don't want to go that way because we like this show. The thing that brought us together is that we like this crazy show and we don't want it to go away," Everley said. "We want it to be better than it is. And so, rather than just boycotting or only specifying a Black bachelor for Season 25, we wanted to outline the things that us as fans are looking for, and how this show can be better very explicitly."

If you've been watching the past three seasons especially, you know firsthand that groundbreaking change is possible in the franchise. James being cast as the first Black bachelor made history, but in 2020 Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams also served as back to back Latina women leads. Adams' season featured a number of raw, eye-opening conversations about surviving addiction, suicide, eating disorders, and mental health. And, of course, Adams and contestant Ivan Hall had a crucial and candid discussion about race, Black Lives Matter protests, prison reform, and police brutality, which was aired on prime time television.

This season of The Bachelorette was a season of firsts. We watched as TWO Bachelorettes led the show with decisiveness, empathy, and grace. We saw the first (and second) female Latinx leads and the first Black Latinx lead. 1/8 #TheBachelorette pic.twitter.com/jitIlXFmnw

Bachelor Diversity Campaign (@bachdiversity) December 23, 2020

"I was watching by myself that evening, and I think my words in the group chat were literally, 'Did they just say George Floyd?'" Halfmann said. "I was like, 'You guys, this is a real moment. This is completely topical. It's exactly what's going on. And this is a conversation that we never see on The Bachelor. We were seeing a real moment. And that's what we want to see, the real moments.'"

James' season also featured Abigail Heringer, the show's first deaf contestant, whose story BDC member Rachel Everley connected with on a personal level. "Seeing Abigail is really special to me because I'm hard of hearing," the 39-year-old elementary education worker from Connecticut said. "I don't have a cochlear implant, but I do have to have captions. I do read people's lips. That's how I communicate. So just to see someone who's like me a little bit someone who has this type of diversity It's just such a humbling moment really."

Over the past two decades, the Bachelor franchise has given viewers the chance to watch grand love stories unfold from the comfort of their living rooms. The series are more than capable of offering lighthearted escapism and a silver lining to even the dreariest Mondays. But as society continues to reckon with racism and inherent social and political inequities, fans are demanding those whose actions have harmed contestants and fans of the show, such as Harrison, cut ties. And they want more substance, relatability, and on-screen representation, and less manufactured drama, shallow and incomplete storylines, and limos of contestants so similar in appearance you'd be hard-pressed to tell them apart halfway through your first glass of wine.

"It's one thing to cast a diverse cast, but it's not really doing anything if you're spending all of your time on petty drama from white women. That's not what we want to see. We want to hear people's stories and get to know them," Halfmann said.

"We want to see real life. We don't want to see contrived drama. We don't want to see fights. We want to see real conversations that are happening as people try to choose their partner. That's why we watch the show," Everley agreed.

Instead of focusing the majority of an episode on a woman whos going home, fans would rather see more of what goes into the final love story. When it comes to romantic connections, conversations that may seem mundane for television are, in reality, what help two people develop a strong relationship. On Tayshia Adams' season, for example, fans were confused and outraged upon learning that Adams sent home contestant Ivan Hall after learning they shared different religious beliefs. Their conversation on religion wasn't aired, so fans were left to wonder and many expressed a desire for additional transparency.

"They're really upping the ante with these women and creating all of these stressors for them to try to create that drama, but they don't need that. They don't need those shticks and gimmicks. We want to see the man fall in love," Arestegui said. "Let's talk [about] filing taxes or something. Where are we going to settle down? How do you feel about Wisconsin? Are you a vegan? There's so many other things about people that make them unique that arise in regular normal relationships: Religion, socio-economic differences, education, different values, and different ways of growing up."

"We want to see real life. We don't want to see contrived drama. We don't want to see fights. We want to see real conversations that are happening as people try to choose their partner. That's why we watch the show."

While watching a heavily edited fairy tale unfold may seem like better TV to producers, what Bachelor Nation really craves from these reality shows is simply more reality: diverse contestants; unedited, topical, sometimes heavy conversations; a team thats willing to own up to its many past mistakes and not only vow to do better, but show theyre capable of following through on their empty promises.

The sheer premise of the show one person attempting to find a life partner in a matter of weeks while simultaneously dating 20+ people, all of whom live together breaks nearly every dating tradition in the book. So why is the show so reluctant to push boundaries as small and sensible as casting a diverse group of contestants that not only includes more people of color, but people with disabilities, people with different religious beliefs, and contestants that represent different age groups and body types?

The accelerated, unconventional process these contestants use to find love is already pretty forward-thinking, and the decision to properly address and incorporate diversity in the form of better casting and hiring an omnipresent part of looking for love in the real world would only make the show more powerful and realistic. Fleeing from that opportunity for inclusion and trying to avoid it, as Harrison and others involved with the show have done multiple times, is both limiting and harmful to viewers and contestants. At the end of the day The Bachelor is a reality TV show, but it's reality TV that people hold close to their hearts, and it has the potential to grow alongside society and positively address deeper issues.

Now that fans are holding the show accountable, the franchise has reached a crossroads. It either continues to downplay its role in perpetuating systemic racism, brings back Harrison, and fails to show actionable efforts to change, or it starts really listening to what its fans want to see and starts living up to what it can actually be.

Mashable reached out to ABC and Warner Bros. for comment.

See the article here:
How A Group Of 'Bachelor' Fans Is Working To Improve The Franchise's Diversity - Mashable India

Posted in Politically Incorrect | Comments Off on How A Group Of ‘Bachelor’ Fans Is Working To Improve The Franchise’s Diversity – Mashable India

Tiffany Haddish Uses This $9 Soap to Treat Her Eczema – NewBeauty Magazine

Posted: at 12:25 am

According to Allergy & Asthma Network, 7.3 percent of adults in the United States have atopic dermatitis, and actress Tiffany Haddish just revealed that she is part of that number in this weeks issue of People. If youre in the same boat, the star offered up some insight on the product she uses to soothe her irritated skin. And to our surprise, its extremely affordable.

So beauty-wise I wash my face with the same thing I wash my body with, which is this pure spearmint gum, turpentine soap mixed with olive oil that I found on Amazon, she tells People. It gets rid of eczema, dry spots, rashes and stuff like that. According to Haddish, the product, which she later pins as Diamond G Forest Products Turpentine Soap ($8), is so good, I had told one of my co-stars [about it] because she was saying her baby had eczema. I said, Try this soap. So I gave it to her. She was like, Tiffany its good, the eczemas gone!'

The Like a Boss stars other favorite skin-care product includes another all-natural must-have that is known for its skin-silkening properties: coconut oil. I soak my face in that, wash it off and then Ill use castor oil on my eyelids to help make my eyelashes grow, she says. When shes craving a more luxurious makeup-melter, shell reach for the Tatcha Camellia Oil ($48), which leaves the skin softer than ever come morning.

Like her beauty routine, Haddishs hair-care lineup is so low maintenance, she recently decided to shave her head, which, according to People, she says shes always wanted to do. Just loving my new look thought Id share it with yall, she recently captioned an Instagram post. The best part is when water hits my head it feels like kisses from God.

At NewBeauty, we get the most trusted information from the beauty authority delivered right to your inbox

Find a NewBeauty "Top Beauty Doctor" Near you

See the original post:
Tiffany Haddish Uses This $9 Soap to Treat Her Eczema - NewBeauty Magazine

Posted in Eczema | Comments Off on Tiffany Haddish Uses This $9 Soap to Treat Her Eczema – NewBeauty Magazine

Atopic dermatitis in children: when topical steroid treatment does not work – The BMJ

Posted: at 12:25 am

If topical corticosteroids for atopic dermatitis do not seem to work, explore how they are being used (quantity, frequency, duration of application), the appropriateness of steroid potency prescribed, the ongoing use of moisturisers, the presence of other skin infections, and potential allergen exposure

Many other conditions mimic atopic dermatitis in children, so the diagnosis warrants frequent review to assess for treatment response, especially if the skin lesions look atypical

Refer patients who do not show clinical improvement or who experience frequent, severe flares while on confirmed, adequate topical therapyor patients for whom the diagnosis is unclearto a paediatric dermatologist or paediatrician to consider the use of second line therapy or to explore alternative diagnoses

A 1 year old boy visits your clinic. He received a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis six months ago. On return visit today, his rash and pruritus have worsened despite intermittent application of a small quantity of hydrocortisone 1% cream. His sleep has been constantly interrupted by scratching. On examination, his skin is dry with excoriated, erythematous plaques on his limbs and trunk. His parents want to stop using topical corticosteroids (TCS) out of concern for side effects and because the cream is not working.

Atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema, is the most commonly diagnosed paediatric dermatosis (box 1), affecting about 20% of children.2

Pruritus

Acute: Erythematous papules, scaly patches with oedema and excoriations that are distributed in age related patterns (eg, face, trunk, and extensor surfaces of extremities in infants, flexural surfaces in children)

Chronic: Lichenification, dyspigmentation

Emollients are essential treatment for acute flare and for maintenance, and TCS continue to be the first-line drug treatment.23 Sub-optimal management results in poor control of symptoms, which negatively affects quality

Excerpt from:
Atopic dermatitis in children: when topical steroid treatment does not work - The BMJ

Posted in Eczema | Comments Off on Atopic dermatitis in children: when topical steroid treatment does not work – The BMJ

Skin expert gives mommy advice on caring for children with eczema – Philstar.com

Posted: at 12:25 am

MANILA, Philippines Atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema, is one of the most common inflammatory skin conditions affecting people of all ages, especially children, throughout the world.

According to a 2017 article published by the American Journal of Managed Care, the incidence rate of the disease has reportedly doubled or tripled in industrialized countries since the 1970s. Of this, 15% to 20% are children.

In the Philippines, records from Philippine Dermatological Society-accredited institutions show that 65.1% of outpatients with eczema are children aged 1 to 12 years, and 24% are infants who are less than 1 year old.

Young as they are, children cannot fully understand the effects of eczema, especially if untreated, on the quality of their lives. It is therefore imperative for moms to take immediate steps to address this skin concern.

It begins by knowing what exactly eczema is, from its causes to diagnosis, even myths surrounding it, and finally proper treatment, especially now in the face of a health crisis.

Dr. Ma. Victoria Dizon, pediatric dermatologist, lends her expertise to help moms better care for their kids with eczema.

Eczema is characterized by a rash that is itchy and red.

According to Dr. Dizon, eczema is characterized by a rash that is itchy and red, which are mostly identified as contact or seborrheic dermatitis, among others.

In worse cases, it can develop tiny blisters that lead to an oozing weeping wound, she shares.

She adds to watch out for visible signs including:

Environment triggers like heat, sweat, dust and pollution, can challenge the sensitive skin and cause the eczema.

While genetics play a big part in developing eczema, there are other important factors that cause it.

Environment triggers like heat, sweat, dust and pollution, can challenge the sensitive skin and cause eczema. The causes of eczema in children may differ from the adults because kids may have different allergen exposures based on their activities, like outdoor sports for example, while adults have occupation-related causes, Dr. Dizon explains.

Given genetic propensity and environmental factors that lead to eczema, this sheds light on the misconception that it is contagious. Eczema simply isnt.

One way to mitigate or prevent the occurrence of eczema flares is to use mild, moisturizing soaps or cleaners as hand soaps.

Significant shifts in everyday life have been observed as a result of the global health crisis, including constant handwashing and frequent use of alcohols and other disinfectants.

These have become major triggers for eczema breakouts, as the said products strip away the skins natural oils and interrupt the skin barrier by increasing its pH levels, directly resulting in alkalinity.

One way to mitigate or prevent the occurrence of eczema flares is to use mild, moisturizing soaps or cleaners as hand soaps.

It is equally important to restrict the use of alcohols and other disinfectants and to reserve them only when soap and water are not readily available.

Frequent moisturizing of the skin will also function as a preventive and repairing step to address eczema problem, adds Dr. Dizon.

When caring for children with eczema, moms must always remember that they are dealing with sensitive skin.

As the primary caregivers of children with eczema, moms must always remember one thing: They are dealing with children who have sensitive skin.

With this, Dr. Dizon shares tips to makes sure that their childs skin is able to repair itself and stay healthy:

Lastly, moms must also be more discerning with the types of products they use to treat eczema.

When it comes to topical medications, moms need to be more scrutinizing.

When it comes to topical medications, Dr. Dizon advises moms to be more scrutinizing.

They should look for medicines that are mild or not too strong for use on childrens skin. They should also consider the choice of topical medication that is recommended by the doctora pediatrician, a family practice doctor, or a dermatologist/pediatric dermatologist), she says.

Avoid topical medications that can irritate that delicate skin. Never use topical medications that are too strong for the skin and those that can cause an allergic reaction, she continues.

When it comes to eczema relief, moms can trust Bepanthen.

When it comes to healing and regeneration of vulnerable skin during and following eczema flare-ups, moms can choose Bepanthen products.

A steroid-free spot treatment, Bepanthen Itch Relief Cream contains dexpanthenol, a highly absorbent fatty emulsion that relieves eczema itch in as much as 30 minutes while repairing damaged skin barrier.

On the other hand, Bepanthen Sensidaily is formulated with prebiotics that support the skin's natural microflora, as well as niacinamide that helps regenerate the skin from within.

With these benefits, Bepanthen Sensidaily is clinically tested to help keep the skin flare-free for up to three months with regular use. It also helps keep the skin deeply hydrated which is essential to keeping the skin barrier strong and healthy.

Together, Bepanthen Sensidaily and Bepanthen Itch Relief Cream provide moms an eczema management solution for their children.

For more information, visit the official Facebook account here. Bepanthen is available online via Shopee and Lazada, and in leading drugstores nationwide.

If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

ASC Reference Code: B068P020221BS

The rest is here:
Skin expert gives mommy advice on caring for children with eczema - Philstar.com

Posted in Eczema | Comments Off on Skin expert gives mommy advice on caring for children with eczema – Philstar.com

Kyowa Kirin Announces Positive Phase 2 Results for KHK4083 in Patients with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis – PRNewswire

Posted: at 12:25 am

TOKYO, Feb. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (TSE: 4151, President and CEO: Masashi Miyamoto, "Kyowa Kirin"), a global specialty pharmaceutical company that strives to create new value through the pursuit of advances in life sciences and technologies,announces today that the Phase 2 study of investigational agent KHK4083 in patients with atopic dermatitis has met the primary endpoint.

KHK4083 is a potential first-in-class, anti-OX40 fully human monoclonal antibody for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including atopic dermatitis. KHK4083 was first discovered by Kyowa Kirin, and is produced with the Company's patented POTELLIGENT defucosylation technology to enhance its antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity(ADCC) activity2. The combination of ADCC and antagonist activity against OX40 may suppress inflammatory responses found to be the cause of atopic dermatitis3-6.

The Phase 2 study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical study conducted in Japan, the United States, Canada, and Germany to investigate the efficacy and safety of KHK4083. Globally, 274 patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, who were not adequately controlled with topical agents, were enrolled in the study.

In this study, all KHK4083 cohorts achieved superiority to placebo cohort for the primary endpoint of "percent change from baseline in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) 7 at 16 weeks" with statistical significance. In addition, there was significant difference in "the percentage of patients achieving an EASI-75 (EASI score of 75% or greater improvement from baseline) at 16 weeks" and "the percentage of patients achieving the Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) of 0 or 1 with an improvement of 2 points or more at 16 weeks" in all KHK4083 cohorts compared to the placebo cohort. Further improvement in efficacy of KHK4083 was observed after week 16. Common treatment-emergent adverse events for KHK4083 cohorts were pyrexia, nasopharyngitis, worsening of atopic dermatitis and chills during the first 16 weeks. No deaths were observed in the study.

"The results of the KHK4083 Phase 2 study show that OX40 is a relevant target for atopic dermatitis and may provide a new treatment paradigm," said the lead investigator of this study, Dr. Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD./PhD., System Chair for the Department of Dermatology and Waldman Professor of Dermatology and Immunology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Director of the Center for Excellence in Eczema, and the Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases at Mount Sinai. "In addition to the primary endpoint, this study also showed progressive improvement in efficacy by continuous KHK4083 administration beyond 16 weeks andthe potential for long-term sustained therapeutic effect after the completion of KHK4083 treatment."

"We are very pleased with the results of this studyshowingefficacy and safety of KHK4083 in chronic, recurrent, moderate to severe atopic dermatitis," said Yoshifumi Torii, Ph.D., Executive Officer, Vice President, Head of Global R&D Division of Kyowa Kirin. "We look forward to sharing the results of the full analysis in the near future. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the medical professionals and patients for their participation in the study. We will continue KHK4083 development with the hope it can help patients in need."

The full results of the study are planned to be presented through future academic conferences and publications.

The Kyowa Kirin Group companies strive to contribute to the health and well-being of people around the world by creating new value through the pursuit of advances in life sciences and technologies.

About Atopic DermatitisAtopic dermatitis is a disease in which the main lesion is an itchy eczema that repeatedly flares up and flares down, and many patients have a predisposition to atopic dermatitis (family and previous history, predisposition to produce IgE antibodies). It is an eczematous disease with a characteristic symmetrical distribution, and the site of predilection differs according to age. Characteristic eczematous lesions that develop in infancy or early childhood, remit in childhood, or recur without remission, and persist into adulthood, are seen chronically.

About OX40OX40 is a co-stimulatory molecule that is one of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family member and plays an important role in maintaining T cell proliferation and survival by inhibiting apoptosis and in the formation of memory T cells. OX40 is also expressed on the surface of effector T cells (CD4 positive) activated by antigens. It has been reported that effector T cells expressing OX40 are present in the lesions of atopic dermatitis3-6.

About Eczema Area and Severity IndexEASIEASI is an internationally used classification of atopic dermatitis severity and is recommended for use by Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema, an international group for standardizing clinical trial outcomes in atopic dermatitis7.

About Kyowa KirinKyowa Kirin strives to create and deliver novel medicines with life-changing value. As a Japan-based Global Specialty Pharmaceutical Company witha 70-year heritage, we apply cutting-edge science including an expertise in antibody research and engineering, to address the needs of patients and society across multiple therapeutic areas including Nephrology, Oncology, Immunology/Allergy and Neurology. Across our four regions Japan, Asia Pacific, North America and EMEA/International we focus on our purpose, to make people smile, and are united by our shared values of commitment to life, teamwork/Wa, innovation, and integrity. You can learn more about the business of Kyowa Kirin at: https://www.kyowakirin.com.

References

SOURCE Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.

https://www.kyowakirin.com

Read the original post:
Kyowa Kirin Announces Positive Phase 2 Results for KHK4083 in Patients with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis - PRNewswire

Posted in Eczema | Comments Off on Kyowa Kirin Announces Positive Phase 2 Results for KHK4083 in Patients with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis – PRNewswire

Whats Heartleaf? It’s the Newest & Buzziest K-Beauty Ingredient – PureWow

Posted: at 12:25 am

Innovation in K-Beauty never ceases to amaze us. In addition to developing ingenious regimens and easy hacks, Korean beauty brands have introduced us to some game-changing skincare ingredients including snail mucin, propolis, and bamboo.

The newest buzz-worthy ingredient on top of the K-Beauty 2021 trend forecast? Heartleaf (scientifically known as houttuynia cordata), a flavonoid and flowering plant native to Southeast Asia, according to board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Michele Koo, MD.

In Southeast Asia, houttuynia cordata is eaten as a leafy vegetable that contains antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, Dr. Koo explains. Its potential for skincare is promoted because of its anti-inflammatory (think blemishes, rashes, eczema) and hydrating properties.

But thats only the beginning. So, we tapped Dr. Koo (plus a few other skincare pros) to share all the ins-and-outs of the ingredient, as well as some easy ways to introduce it into your routine.

According to a 2014 study published in Pharmacognosy Review, heartleaf is traditionally used for medicinal purposes in North-East India and China. Raw leaves and extract from the plant are consumed to purify the blood and to relieve inflammatory conditions in the body.

However, its worth noting that heartleaf can also be used topically. A 2010 study published in the Chonnam Medical Journal suggests that the plant can treat snake bites, as well as skin disorders such as acne and atopic dermatitis.

The plant has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, says Dr. Kim. However, whether that translates to smoothing rough, angry, and fickle skin (or removing blemishes) is still not known, she notes, citing the need for additional research. In other words, dont think of this as a cure-all ingredient just yet.

Sensitive and dry skin types are best suited for products containing heartleaf because the ingredient is a humectant, meaning it moisturizes, and has soothing, anti-inflammatory properties, explains Dr. Koo.

New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman, MD, warns that some people with extremely sensitive skin could have adverse reactions when using products that contain heartleaf. Which is why she recommends doing a patch test on your arm first to see how your skin reacts. Some people get tingling from this ingredient, Dr. Jaliman explains. If you have very red skin, rosacea, or bad eczema, you may want to avoid it."

Additionally, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lavanya Krishnan, MD, advises against using heartleaf products if you have allergies to sulfonamides, which are medicines used to treat bacterial infections.

Because of its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, heartleaf is often incorporated into skincare products like facial masks, toners, and creams, says Dr. Koo. And thanks to its antibacterial properties, its can be a helpful ingredient in acne products for sensitive skin, adds Dr. Krishnan.

But before adding some heartleaf-infused products to your shopping cart, Dr. Koo advises remembering that the extraction process of the plant can vary by brand, which might impact the quality of the product youre using.

It is extremely important to select products from brands that are very transparent about their production processes, and hold themselves to a higher standard, she says. Sometimes the extraction methodology contains residual toxic ingredients and can actually be harmful. Make sure you trust the product line to deliver clean, pure healthy ingredients.

RELATED: Why Everyone Is Trying the 3-Second Rule of Korean Beauty

Boost your skins moisture content with this oil-free cream. It combines heartleaf extract with calming aloe vera, and barrier-protecting prickly pear extract.

Buy It ($23)

Upgrade your sheet mask stash with this calming bamboo jelly moisture mask, which utilizes heartleaf as a main ingredient in order to bring balance, and a blast of moisture to dry skin.

Buy It ($15)

Send dullness, blemishes and redness packing with these heartleaf extract-infused spot treatment pads. Reviewers say theyre great for sensitive skin, too.

$20 at Amazon

By gently clearing blackheads and removing excess oil from the skin, this cleanser is great for acne-prone skin. And it wont leave your face inflamed or dry after use.

Buy It ($20)

See the rest here:
Whats Heartleaf? It's the Newest & Buzziest K-Beauty Ingredient - PureWow

Posted in Eczema | Comments Off on Whats Heartleaf? It’s the Newest & Buzziest K-Beauty Ingredient – PureWow

Mild To Moderate Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Market to Stand Tall from 2020 to 2030 NeighborWebSJ – NeighborWebSJ

Posted: at 12:25 am

Mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease often confined to the flexural surfaces of the body and usually begins in childhood. This skin disease affects a large percentage of the worlds population. Atopic dermatitis is also known as eczema which is characterized by itching, swelling, dry skin, redness, vesicle formation, crusting, cracking, scaling and weeping. Atopic dermatitis is a long-term skin disease, which is classified into different types depending on the skin condition such as contact eczema, allergic contact eczema, neurodermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, stasis dermatitis and seborrheic eczema. Multiple factors are responsible for mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis which include low humidity, cold weather, seasonal allergies, and exposure to harsh soaps and detergents.

Get Sample Copy of Report @https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/samples/15379

Mild-to-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Market: Drivers and Restraints

Large patient population and new product launches are factors projected to drive the growth of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis treatment market globally. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the global population is growing at a rate of 1.1%. Climatic changes and large pipeline products are factors which are estimated to fuel the growth of this market. However, stringent regulations for product approvals and generic competition are the factors which hinder the market growth of mild-to-moderate atopic treatment market globally.

Mild-to-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Market: Segmentation

By treatment type the mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis treatment market can be segmented into

By distribution channel the mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis treatment market can be segmented into

Drug treatment can further be segmented into antihistamines, antibiotics, emollients, corticosteroids, and calcineurin inhibitors. Topical corticosteroids are the standard treatment for most patients with atopic dermatitis for more than 50 to 60 years. Calcineurin inhibitors are used as second line treatment drug for atopic dermatitis. Recently the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Eucrisa a topical treatment for children and adults with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis. Eucrisa works differently than other topical treatments on the market.

Mild-to-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Market: Overview

The medication treatment of the skin disease depends on the duration, pattern, and severity of the skin lesions. Except drug therapy, atopic dermatitis is treated with ultraviolet light therapy. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the atopic dermatitis that emerges in adults is often different and more severe than infants and children. According to Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., atopic dermatitis is estimated to affect about 18% of infants and children in developed countries. These disease often becomes milder with age.

Want a sneak peek into the Mild To Moderate Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Market? Access the Table of Content of Mild To Moderate Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Market report! @https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/toc/15379

Mild-to-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Market: Region-wise Outlook

Geographically, the market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa. North America leads the market for mid-to-moderate atopic dermatitis reasons being lifestyle changes, new product innovations, and early treatment adoption. A large proportion of the U.S. population has symptoms of eczema. According to the National Eczema Association in the U.S., approximately 30 million people are living with eczema, and the prevalence rate of childhood eczema is 10.8%. Europe is the second leading market for mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis treatment due to development activities and large research base. The Asia Pacific market is also expected to grow at a higher rate owing to changing lifestyle, large target patient pool, rapid population growth, adoption of western lifestyle, and growth in research and development. These factor are likely to drive the market growth of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis treatment market during the forecast period globally.

Request Customization of this Report @https://www.persistencemarketresearch.co/request-customization/15379

Mild-to-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Market: Key Players

The major players in mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis treatment market include Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., Meda Pharmaceuticals, Novartis International AG, Pfizer Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi S.A., and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.. The robust drug pipeline shows that manufacturers see a large potential market for mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis treatments. For instance, Anacor Pharmaceuticals is developing a drug, crisaborole which is a non-steroidal topical anti-inflammatory for mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis which can have a significant utilization. Dupilumab is expected to be approved for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adults.

About Us

Persistence Market Research (PMR), as a 3rd-party research organization, does operate through an exclusive amalgamation of market research and data analytics for helping business ride high, irrespective of the turbulence faced on the account of financial/natural crunches.

Contact Us:

Persistence Market Research (PMR)

Address 305 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007 United StatesU.S. Ph. +1-646-568-7751USA-Canada Toll-free +1 800-961-0353Sales [emailprotected]

https://neighborwebsj.com/

View original post here:
Mild To Moderate Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Market to Stand Tall from 2020 to 2030 NeighborWebSJ - NeighborWebSJ

Posted in Eczema | Comments Off on Mild To Moderate Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Market to Stand Tall from 2020 to 2030 NeighborWebSJ – NeighborWebSJ

Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Provides In-Depth Analysis of the Industry, With Current Trends and Future Estimations to Elucidate The Investment…

Posted: at 12:25 am

IndustryGrowthInsights has published a latest market research report on Eczema Skin-Care Products market. The report provides a comprehensive scope of the market which caters enterprise to take critical business decisions. It consists of changing market trends, latest developments, growth opportunities, challenges, and detailed competitive analysis about the emerging and behemoth market players. This market research report also includes complete regional outlook and highlights top winning strategies that has helped industry players to expand their market share.

Eczema Skin-Care Products Market report gives out an in-depth analysis of the market scenario and covers the segmentation of the market in an insightful manner. IndustryGrowthInsights has congregated a massive amount of the data after monitoring the market for considerable amount of period and prepared the report for the forecast period 2020-2027. This report explains about the supply and demand scenario and assesses the possible changes in the market with the help of graphical representation to personify more clarity about the market.

Request a sample before buying this report @ https://industrygrowthinsights.com/request-sample/?reportId=150870

Market Research Report Covers Impacts of COVID-19 To The Market.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the dynamics of the Eczema Skin-Care Products market. This market research report includes extensive data on the impacts of the market. The research analyst team of the firm have been monitoring the market during this coronavirus crisis and has been talking with the industry experts to finally publish a detailed analysis about the future scope of the market. They have followed a robust research methodology and got involved in the primary and secondary research to prepare the Eczema Skin-Care Products market report.

This market report comprises of possible revenue growth, potential lucrative opportunities, product ranges, pricing factors, and parameters to confer the emerging and new entrants in the industry with a structured market data. This report encompasses the crucial government policies and regulations that significantly controls the Eczema Skin-Care Products market. Moreover, it includes the recent business agreements, mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and even fallouts to provide the industry players with complete overview of the Eczema Skin-Care Products market.

The prominent Companies Covered in the Market Report

AveenoCeraVeLa Roche-PosayVanicreamAveenoFirst Aid BeautyNeutrogenaCetaphilDoveAll Mighty PacsTaoTronicsBestek

*Note: Additional players can be included in the list

Market Segmentation

By Product Type

Lotions and OintmentsCleansersDetergentsHumidifiersOthers

By Application

Online SalesOffline Sales

As per the report, the Eczema Skin-Care Products market is projected to reach a value of USDXX by the end of 2027 and grow at a CAGR of XX% through the forecast period (2020-2027). The report describes the current market trend of the Eczema Skin-Care Products in regions, covering North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa by focusing the market performance by the key countries in the respective regions.

This market segmentation analysis is expected to help the enterprise to strategize their product development strategies and marketing strategies in the region accordingly. IndustryGrowthInsights also offers customization of the report and provide quarterly/yearly updates on the report to help the enterprise to bring their A game.

You can buy the complete report @ https://industrygrowthinsights.com/checkout/?reportId=150870

The following is the TOC of the report:

Executive Summary

Assumptions and Acronyms Used

Research Methodology

Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Overview

Global Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Analysis and Forecast by Type

Global Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Analysis and Forecast by Application

Global Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Analysis and Forecast by Sales Channel

Global Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Analysis and Forecast by Region

North America Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Analysis and Forecast

Latin America Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Analysis and Forecast

Europe Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Analysis and Forecast

Asia Pacific Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Analysis and Forecast

Asia Pacific Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Size and Volume Forecast by Application

Middle East & Africa Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Analysis and Forecast

Why should you buy this report from us?

Our dedicated research team will be available 24/5 to you. They have been tracking the market since 2015 which has tremendously helped them to curate the Eczema Skin-Care Products market report. IndustryGrowthInsights just does not provide current/future market analysis but provide the enterprise with potential market avenues and revenues which is an ultimate game changer for a company.

We collaboratively work with the industry delegates to tailor the report. Over the years, we have carried out several interviews with the industry experts to provide a wholesome scope of the market. This market research report provides data in a comprehensive form with help of tables, statistics, and infographics. It offers detailed insights of the market to make crucial decisions in accordance to the present and future market scenario.

IndustryGrowthInsights gives a 360 view of the market which includes high growth opportunities, pitfalls, risk factors, latest advancements, and market drivers that helps the enterprise to create business strategies accordingly. This market research report provides distribution channel assessments, clients customers insights, entry level strategy, and innovation trends.

About IndustryGrowthInsights

IndustryGrowthInsights has an extensive experience in the creation of tailored market research reports in several industry verticals. We cover in-depth market analysis which include producing creative business strategies for the new entrants and the emerging players of the market. We take care that our every report goes through intensive primary, secondary research, interviews, and consumer surveys. Our company provide market threat analysis, market opportunity analysis, and deep insights on the current and market scenario.

To provide the utmost quality of report, we invest in analysts that holds stellar experience in business domain and has excellent analytical and communication skills. Our dedicated team goes through quarterly training which helps them to acknowledge the latest industry practices and to serve the clients with foremost consumer experience.

Contact Info: Name: Alex MathewsAddress: 500 East E Street, Ontario,CA 91764, United States.Phone No: USA: +1 909 545 6473Email: [emailprotected]Website: https://industrygrowthinsights.com

https://neighborwebsj.com/

Go here to see the original:
Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Provides In-Depth Analysis of the Industry, With Current Trends and Future Estimations to Elucidate The Investment...

Posted in Eczema | Comments Off on Eczema Skin-Care Products Market Provides In-Depth Analysis of the Industry, With Current Trends and Future Estimations to Elucidate The Investment…

A closer look at the AI hype machine: who really benefits? MercatorNet – MercatorNet

Posted: at 12:24 am

The poet Richard Brautigan said that one day we would all be watched over by machines of loving grace. It was a nice sentiment at the time. But I surmise Brautigan might have done a quick 180 if he was alive today. He would see how intelligent machines in general and AI in particular were being semi-weaponised or otherwise appropriated for purposes of a new kind of social engineering. He would also likely note how this process is usually positioned as something good for humanity in vague ways that never seem to be fully explained.

As both a technologist and a journalist, I find it very difficult to think of transhumanism and what Ill call the New Eugenics as anything less than deeply and literally dehumanising.

The hits, as they say, just keep on coming. Recently I ran across an article advising recent college graduates looking for jobs that they had better be prepared to have their facial expressions scanned and evaluated by artificial intelligence programs during and after interviews.

An article in the publication Higher Ed warned that:

Getting a job increasingly requires going through an interview on an AI platform If the proprietary technology [used to ] to evaluate the recordings concludes that a candidate does well in matching the demeanor, enthusiasm, facial expressions or word choice of current employees of the company, it recommends the candidate for the next round. If the candidate is judged by the software to be out of step, that candidate is not likely to move on.

If this were happening in China, of course, it would be much less surprising. You dont have to be a Harvard-trained psychiatrist to see that this kind of technology is violating some very basic human boundaries: how we think and feel and our innermost and private thoughts. And you dont have to be a political scientist to see that totalitarian societies are in the business of breaking down these boundaries for purposes of social and political control.

Facial recognition has already been implemented by some law enforcement agencies. Other technology being used for social control starts out in the corporate world and then migrates. Given the melding of corporate and government power thats taken place in the US over the last few decades, whats impermissible in government now can get fully implemented in the corporate world and then in the course of time bleeds over to government use via outsourcing and other mechanisms. Its a nifty little shell game. This was the case with the overt collection of certain types of data on citizens which was expressly forbidden by federal law. The way around it was to have corporations to do the dirty work and then turn around and sell the data to various government entities. Will we see the same thing happen with artificial intelligence and its ability to pry into our lives in unprecedented ways?

There is a kind of quasi-worship of technology as a force majeure in humanitys evolution that puts AI at the center of human existence. This line of thinking is now linked to the principles of transhumanism, a set of values and goals being pushed by Silicon Valley elites. This warped vision of techno-utopianism assures us that sophisticated computers are inherently superior to humans. Implicit in this view is the notion that intelligence (and one kind of intelligence at that) is the most important quality in the vast array of attributes that are the essential qualities of our collective humanity and longstanding cultural legacies.

The most hardcore transhumanists believe that our role is simply to step aside and assist in the creation of new life forms made possible by hooking up human brains to computers and the Internet, what they consider to be an evolutionary quantum leap. Unfortunately, people in powerful corporate positions like Ray Kurzweil, Googles Director of Engineering, and Elon Musk, founder of Neuralink, actually believe in these convoluted superhero mythologies. This line of thinking is also beginning to creep into the mainstream thanks to the corporate-driven hype put forth by powerful Silicon Valley companies who are pushing these ideas for profit and to maintain technologys ineluctable more, better, faster momentum.

The transhumanist agenda is a runaway freight train, barely mentioned in the mainstream media, but threatening to run over us all. In related mad science offshoot, scientists have succeeded in creating the first biological computer-based hybrids calledXenobotswhich theNew York Timesdescribes as programmable organisms that live for only about a week. The corporate PR frontage for these breakthroughs is always the same: they will only be used for the highest purposes like getting rid of plastics in the oceans.

But still the question remains: who will control or regulate the use of these man-made creatures?In the brave new world of building machines that can think and evolve on their own because they combine AI programming with biological programming, we have to ask where all this is headed. If machines are being used to evaluate us for job interviews, then why wont they be eventually used as police officers or judges? (In fact, Singapore is now using robotic dogs to police parks for Covid-related social distancing.)

As both a technologist and a journalist, I find it very difficult to think of transhumanism and what Ill call the New Eugenics as anything less than deeply and literally dehumanising. In the aftermath of WWII, eugenics used to be widely reviled when Nazi scientists experimented with and so highly valued it. Now its lauded as cutting-edge.

There are two ugly flies in this ointment. The first is the question of who directs and controls the AI machines being built. You can make a safe bet that it wont be you, your friends, or your neighbors but rather technocratic elites. The second is the fact that programmers, and their masters, the corporate Lords of Tech, are the least likely candidates to come up with the necessary wisdom to imbue AI with the deeper human qualities necessary to make it anything more than a force used for social and political control in conjunction with mass surveillance and other tools.

Another consideration is: how does politics fit into this picture? In the middle ages, one of the great power shifts that took place was from medieval rulers to the church. In the age of the enlightenment, another shift took place: from the church to the modern state. Now we are experiencing yet another great transition: a shift of power from state and federal political systems to corporations and, by extension, to the global elites that are increasingly exerting great influence on both, the 1 percenters that Bernie Sanders frequently refers to.

These trends have political implications because they have happened in tandem with the neoliberal sleight of hand that began with President Reagan. Gradually anti-democratic policy changes over a period of decades allowed elites to begin the process of transferring public funds to private coffers. This was done under the neoliberal smokescreen of widely touted but socially hollow benefits such as privatization, outsourcing, and deregulation bolstered by nostrums such as Government must get out of the way to let innovation thrive.

Behind the scenes, the use of advanced technology has played a strong role in enabling this transition but it did so out of the publics watchful eye. Now, it seems abundantly clear that technologies such as 5G, machine learning, and AI will continue to be leveraged by technocratic elites for the purposes of social engineering and economic gain. As Yuval Harari, one of transhumanisms most vocal proponents has stated:

Whoever controls these algorithms will bethe real government.

If AI is allowed to begin making decisions that affect our everyday lives in the realms of work, play and business, its important to be aware of who this technology serves: technologically sophisticated elites. We have been hearing promises for some time about how better advanced computer technology was going to revolutionise our lives by changing just about every aspect of them for the better. But the reality on the ground seems to be quite different than what was advertised. Yes, there are many areas where it can be argued that the use of computer and Internet technology has improved the quality of life.

But there are just as many others where it has failed miserably. Healthcare is just one example. Here misguided legislation combined with an obsession with insurance company-mandated data gathering has created massive info-bureaucracies where doctors and nurses spend far too much time feeding patient data into a huge information databases where it often seems to languish. Nurses and other medical professionals have long complained that too much of their time is spent on data gathering and not enough time focusing on healthcare itself and real patient needs.

When considering the use of any new technology, the question should be asked: whom does it ultimately serve? And to what extent are ordinary citizens allowed to express their approval or disapproval of the complex technological regimes being created that we all end up involuntarily depending upon? In a second Gilded Age where the power of billionaires and elites over our lives is now being widely questioned, what do we do about their ability to radically and undemocratically alter the landscape of our daily lives using the almighty algorithm?

Republished from Common Dreams and with the authors permission under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.

See the original post here:
A closer look at the AI hype machine: who really benefits? MercatorNet - MercatorNet

Posted in Transhumanist | Comments Off on A closer look at the AI hype machine: who really benefits? MercatorNet – MercatorNet

7 new categories of the Executive of the Year Awards 2021 – The CEO Magazine

Posted: at 12:24 am

The past 12 months have been tough; however, many businesses have not only survived but thrived in the ever-changing market. From company pivots and creating digital connections to adapting to remote work, there have been plenty of successful adaptions.

In celebration of our exciting milestone the 10th Executive of the Year Awards weve added some new categories inspired by the triumphs of the industry.

From entrepreneurs to global pioneers, explore some of our most inspiring new categories that well be celebrating at our annual awards ceremony in November.

The prestigious title of CEO of the Year is not new, as many of our regular Executive of the Year Awards attendees would know, but it has been given a fresh new look.

For the first time in our awards history, we will be celebrating not one but three CEOs of the Year.

Lauded as the pinnacle of awards, three influential CEOs will be recognised for their incredible achievements over the previous year.

The three categories will be determined by annual turnover of the past 12 months: A$0 to 50 million; $50 million to A$100 million; and A$100 million-plus.

Each applicant will be required to submit a video to introduce themselves and their companys finances. Finalists must also be available for an interview with the judges (if necessary).

With everything that is going on in the world, we need to recognise and celebrate good leadership when we see it, Louise Adams, Aurecon, Australia and New Zealand, Chief Executive, said when she was crowned 2020 CEO of the Year. We often see what poor leadership looks like; however, we dont often celebrate what good looks like, especially at an individual level. Now, more than ever, we need it.

As the world becomes more globally connected than ever, its time to celebrate the companies that have expanded beyond their founding shores.

Our Global Pioneer Executive of the Year accolade is for a senior executive who has introduced new international opportunities to an Australian business.

Whether the executive has expanded an Australian business overseas or theyve brought business into Australia, the award recognises those creating international connections.

Just as The CEO Magazine launched its inaugural Mandarin magazine in China this year, this honour celebrates the feat of bridging Australia with the world.

Commending the efforts of the property industry, the Real Estate Executive of the Year award highlights those making a difference in their field.

A senior executive working for a real estate agency as director, broker, property manager, consultant, sales agent or a similar role will wear the title for 2021.

As real estate plays a large role in local communities, its important to acknowledge the efforts of industry leaders.

Shining a light on the risk takers of the industry, the Entrepreneur of the Year award will commend the most inspiring go-getter of 2021.

The tireless businessperson will have transformed an idea into a financially successful business.

General startup challenges were only amplified during the pandemic, forcing many new companies to sink, swim or swivel.

Australia is a hub of innovation and home to some of the brightest minds in the world, Amanda Johnstone, Transhuman Founder and CEO, said when she was named the 2020 Startup Executive of the Year. Highlighting how Australians have the ability to create global change will only create a positive environment for Australias business community.

As the world faces the reality of environmental and social factors, it is one of the most important sectors to acknowledge.

Our new Corporate Responsibility Executive of the Year Award honours an individual who is leading the corporate, social and environmental responsibility in an Australian business.

Internal company relations and external client-based strategies are also included.

Register your interest for 2021

Read more:
7 new categories of the Executive of the Year Awards 2021 - The CEO Magazine

Posted in Transhumanist | Comments Off on 7 new categories of the Executive of the Year Awards 2021 – The CEO Magazine

Page 1,072«..1020..1,0711,0721,0731,074..1,0801,090..»