Machines of the absurd: leveraging generative AI for creativity, humor, and playfulness

Machines of The Absurd is a collection of four projects exploring how generative AI can be leveraged for creativity, humor and playfulness. 1. neverOS — A node-based visual playground for interacting with large language models. 2. Other Calc — An iOS app with a calculator interface, where players can “calculate” text instead of numbers. 3. What Must Burn — An experiment where players type in text that can be dragged into a campfire to produce contextually appropriate sound effects. 4. Jazz vs Waffles — A turn-based comedy game, where players battle anything they type in. Together, these projects make the case for generative AI as an invaluable tool for creativity, an eager improv comedy partner, and an exciting new frontier of play

Spirituality and Primal Beliefs Among Oxford House Employees

The emphasis on treatment for alcohol and substance use disorder (AUD/SUD) has shifted from short-term clinical stabilization to long-term recovery. Along with this shift comes a growing appreciation of the positive beliefs and behaviors recovering people use to maintain their well-being. The current study examined the role of spirituality as one such tool to improve well-being, as well as how deeply held beliefs, or primals, can influence the benefits of spiritual practices. Participants (baseline n = 132) were recovering employees of Oxford House Inc., a large international network of recovery residences. Participants completed measures of their spirituality, primal beliefs, and recovery capital at three timepoints over 9 months. Longitudinal linear mixed models (LMMs) were utilized to analyze relationships between three measures of spirituality (experience, practice, affiliation to spiritual 12-step groups) and recovery capital, as well as the interaction of primal beliefs on these relationships. Spiritual practice and spiritual experience were positively associated with recovery capital. The primal belief Alive appeared to enhance the relationship between experience and capital. Results underscore the importance of spirituality for many individuals with SUDs and reveal the positive benefits of engaging in meaning-centered practices during recovery. Implications for treatment and recovery initiatives are discussed

Parent-Child Cultural Values (Mis)Matches and Youth Mental Health among Latinx Families

When compared to youth from other ethnic backgrounds, Latinx youth present with higher levels of mental health problems (e.g., internalizing). Various heritage cultural values, such as affiliative obedience, have been found as protective against mental health problems in Latinx youth. These findings, however, have not been ubiquitous, have not often included parent or combined parent and child perspectives, and have been limited by design and methodological shortcomings (e.g., single reporters, difference scores). The Acculturation Gap Distress – Expanded (AGD-E) model was used as the guiding theoretical framework to examine parent-child heritage cultural value endorsement patterns and their association to youth mental health and other child and parent correlates. This study included 295 Latinx children (Mage= 11.45, SD = 0.95), slightly more females (n = 163; 55.3%) than males, and their parents of predominately low income and Mexican American backgrounds. Latent profile analysis (LPA) revealed a three-profile solution. Two groups were in values mismatches profiles: HY_MP (high youth, moderate parent) (n = 74; 25%), MY_HP (moderate youth, high parent) (n = 70; 24%), while the third and largest group was in a values match profile, HY_HP (high youth, high parent (n = 151; 51%). Cross-sectional (but not longitudinal) findings showed that youth in the MY_HP profile had higher levels of externalizing problems than the HY_MP profile, χ2 (2, N = 295) = 7.91, p \u3c 0.01, and the HY_HP profile χ2 (2, N = 295) = 16.64, p \u3c 0.01. Youth in the MY_HP profile had higher internalizing problems than youth in the HY_HP profile χ2 (2, N = 295) = 4.45, p \u3c 0.05. No differences were found across profiles in youth acculturative stress or parental depression. Findings suggests the potential benefits of parent-child cultural value congruence. Individual-, family-, and society-level implications are discussed

Research, Planning, and Development of a University Retirement Community (URC): A Strategic Lodging Opportunity

University Retirement Communities (URCs) are a growing trend among universities and senior living. URCs are an intriguing concept that benefits retirees and universities as they bring alums back to campus for their residences. This study investigates the interest level and preferences of Colorado Mesa University\u27s alums and retired professors for an on-campus URC. This research is the first phase of the planning process for developing and operating a successful URC. Keywords: University-Based Retirement Communities (UBRC), Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Senior Living Communities, Active Adult Communitie

Gender History of Science

Debating Contemporary Approaches to the History of Science explores the main themes, problems and challenges currently at the top of the discipline\u27s methodological agenda. In its chapters, established and emerging scholars introduce and discuss new approaches to the history of science and revisit older perspectives which remain crucial. Each chapter is followed by a critical commentary from another scholar in the field and the author\u27s response

VIncentian leadership liturgical.docx

Vincent de Paul was very interested in the correct celebration of the liturgy, and he directed his confreres to publish a work in French to guide priests and others in their proper celebrations of the Eucharist. He wished to generalize in France the celebration of the Roman usages, and their work appeared in 1662. His successors in office continued his interest through their teaching and promotion of piety. After the Revolution, this direction continued, and it developed as well in the United States in the early nineteenth century. Vincentians exercised a more general leadership in numerous publications on the same topic, of whom the most recent were Annibale Bugnini and Carlo Braga. The text discusses some of the more important details of their work, the Manual of Roman Ceremonies, concentrating on Low Mass. Bibliographical references follow

Congregation of the Mission, American correspondence in Annales CM, Annales PF.docx

A calendar of American Vincentian correspondence in two journals: Annales de la Congrégation de la Mission [CM] (1838-1893), Annales de l\u27Association de la Propagation de la Foi [PF] (1825-1843). Since the original letters probably do not exist, these are therefore quite important. Included are items from the earliest Vincentians, such as Bishops Joseph Rosati, John Timon, John Mary Odin, and deal with the first Vincentian house in the New World, Saint Mary\u27s of the Barrens