Author: Overcoming Adversity | Buteau’s Odyssey

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We occasionally talk about someone holding authority abusively, and almost never ask how authority can be held effectively and creatively. There is little consideration of how to optimize the exercise of authority. I have heard varying remarks about the abdication of authority. Those enjoying little or no interference from an authority figure seem to be comfortable in the presence of abdication. Those folks who want clear direction and substantive developmental feedback are annoyed by a leader who abdicates authority. Abuse of Authority When authority is described as abusive, it suggests that someone or a group feels mistreated and not taken…

Independent horror is driven by and thrives on the vision of individual creators. Studio projects have built-in protection; indies are pure passion projects from start to finish. That’s why a filmmaker like Alice Maio Mackay stands out from the crowd. “A transgender film” flashes in neon pink, welcoming us into her latest sumptuously inclusive entry in her collection of transphobic horror titles. You know what you’re getting from square one in The Serpent’s Skin, with brazen confidence and uncompromising courage. Alexandra McVicker stars as Anna, a transgender girl who flees from hometown bigotry in search of acceptance and an archeology…

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In “Social Aims,” Emerson wrote, “What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.” The quote is powerful and often referenced in various iterations. These words suggest, at least to me, something interesting about the output of large language models. Most of the discussion around AI is framed around intelligence. Is it smart? How smart? Better than here, weaker there? But the more curious feature of these systems may have less to do with intelligence than with ontology. My concern begins when “LLM language” seems to carry so…

First, some facts: One in 10 Americans are in an interracial or interethnic marriage. Using classifications from the U.S. Census Bureau, interracial marriage was defined as between five racial groups—American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Asian Indian), Black or African American (e.g., Jamaican, Haitian, Nigerian), Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or White (e.g., German, Italian, Lebanese, Egyptian). An interethnic marriage was also defined (using the Census Bureau’s terms) as between Hispanic/Latinos and non-Hispanic/Latinos. In our new book, Interracial Marriage: How Diverse Couples Navigate Relationships in a Divided Time, Victoria Stubbs, Michael Woolley, and I…

Lionel Scaloni has indicated that Lionel Messi has still not confirmed he will lead Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. The national team boss was quick to deflect pressure away from the Inter Miami superstar, reiterating that the decision rests entirely with the player himself.Messi’s World Cup uncertainty continuesAs Argentina prepare for their upcoming friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia at La Bombonera, the conversation naturally drifted toward the availability of their captain for the 2026 World Cup. Scaloni was again unable to confirm that Messi will definitely participate in the global showpiece, though he remains hopeful.”It is a question for…

It’s human to feel emotions. That probably doesn’t strike you as controversial, right? Likewise, you’d probably agree that emotions come in an assortment of different shapes and sizes…well, okay, not literally. There’s sadness, happiness, anger, fear, surprise, and a host of others. But we don’t just feel our emotions. Whether we realize it or not, there are tales we tell ourselves about feelings. These are known as “emotion beliefs.” For example, we can have ideas about whether it’s all right to have emotions at all, whether it’s possible to manage feelings, how long or how strongly we think we’re allowed…

Cozy Murderous Farming Sim Grave Seasons Launches August 14, New Trailer Gives Fresh Look at Gameplay: “Blumhouse Games and Perfect Garbage revealed that the anticipated cozy horror title Grave Seasons will launch on August 14, 2026 for Steam, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. As announced in today’s Xbox Partner Preview, Grave Seasons will also be available Day 1 on Xbox Game Pass. With more than 400,000 wishlists and counting, Grave Seasons emerges as this summer’s do-not-miss indie title. Grave Seasons is a charming, narrative-driven pixelated farming sim game where, amidst clever relationship building and crop harvesting, a supernatural serial killer starts to pick off the townsfolk. With…

As I emerged from therapy into the bustling chaos of Manhattan’s East Village, cheeks wet with tears, I thought to myself, “How will things ever change?” Arriving 20 minutes late, I’d spent the too-short session lamenting my lack of control, how my life didn’t feel like mine. How I was trapped in a disordered, emotional eating cycle. How I had recently drank way too much at a friend’s birthday party, stayed up till 3 a.m. bingeing on TV to try and reset, and then slept through my classes… I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and constantly crying. The simplest tasks filled me…