Texas Tech’s expensive roster is not enough to overcome Oregon in Orange Bowl

Jacob Rodriguez and Texas Tech’s high-priced defense delivered opportunity after opportunity, disrupting the Oregon Ducks’ dominant offense to put the Red Raiders in position to seize control of a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game.

But the offense never did.

Facing its stiffest test of the season, Texas Tech’s offense couldn’t match the urgency or execution of its defense, and the No. 4 Red Raiders’ impressive 2025 run ended in a 23-0 loss to No. 5 Oregon in the Orange Bowl on Thursday.

It was a sobering finish for a program on the rise — one that won 12 games this season en route to its first Big 12 Conference title and CFP berth.

The Red Raiders were hoping for so much more.

“We knew what we were able to accomplish,” said standout linebacker David Bailey, the national sacks leader with 14 1/2, including one on Thursday. ”The Big 12 championship wasn’t really the goal. We knew we could go further. We’ve got a lot of talent on this team. We’ve got a lot of pieces on this team. We expected a different outcome.”

The Red Raiders spent big this season to build a foundation capable of reaching this moment, but Thursday’s dud showed that Texas Tech doesn’t yet have the same firepower or polish of a program like Oregon, which played with the exact poise needed to win games on college football’s biggest stage.

The Red Raiders were rarely tested during the regular season, winning all 12 of their games by 20-plus points with the 54th-ranked strength of schedule, per ESPN’s College Football Power Index.

Texas Tech became just the third team in the history of the College Football Playoff to be held scoreless. Ohio State, which saw its title defense end Wednesday night against Miami, was shut out by Clemson in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. And Alabama blanked Michigan State 38-0 in the 2015 Cotton Bowl. Both were semifinals.

Still, Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire believes his team will be back.

“One thing I told them, and I truly believe it,” McGuire said, “When you do something that nobody’s ever done. … The standard is set. That’s where you start building something really special. This is going to hurt for a long time. I know these guys are hurting right now but can’t be more proud of my football team.”

The Red Raiders managed just 88 total yards in the first half, with two turnovers and just three first downs at halftime.

The sluggish first half was the worst for the Red Raiders this season and the first time they’ve been shut out in the first half of a game since 2021. They were the fourth team to be held scoreless in the first half of this year’s playoff.

On3 has reported Texas Tech’s NIL total to be about $28 million. That’s in addition to the revenue share of $20.5 million now allowed by the NCAA under the House settlement, and that total spending ranks second in the country behind Texas.

That money helped transform Tech into one of the nation’s top defenses, while matching the school record for wins.

“We’ll be back for sure,” said junior tight end Terrance Carter, who added he plans to return to Tech next year. “All we did was just set the standard for the next groups to come in. I don’t see us changing anything.”

Texas Tech entered Thursday ranked second nationally in points per game (42.5) but managed nothing on offense. The Red Raiders turned the ball over four times, were stopped on fourth downs two other times and had four three-and-outs.

Quarterback Behren Morton never appeared settled, completing 18 of 32 passes for just 137 yards. The senior was stripped by Oregon linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei early in the third quarter deep in Red Raider territory, and the Ducks scored their first touchdown of the game on the next play.

After Tech’s defense came up with an interception later in the third, Morton threw another interception, this time in the end zone to Ducks standout defensive back Brandon Finney Jr.

With a reported multimillion dollar roster and a billionaire booster, Texas Tech has the tools in place to be a formidable program in the future — it just needs to wait a little longer for that to happen.

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The Secret to Loving Winter

This is an edition of Time-Travel Thursdays, a journey through The Atlantic’s archives to contextualize the present. Sign up here.

It’s January 1, and the self-help corners of the internet tell me I’m supposed to wake up as a matcha-drinking, Pilates-doing goddess of discipline. Except I don’t like matcha, my gym leggings are in hibernation, and my discipline is nowhere to be found. Outside, winter has the nerve to continue.

“As you stride into the first week of the year full of good intentions, you may notice a sinking sensation: The vibes are just … off,” Isle McElroy wrote in 2024. And for many of us, they are—every year. In late November, winter can feel charming: Thanksgiving offers coziness and pie and the suggestion that cold weather is just a backdrop to togetherness. December doubles down—lights, parties, rituals designed to make the early sunsets feel intentional. Then comes New Year’s Eve, one last bit of glitter.

And then: January. A month so unadorned, it almost feels punitive. If December is champagne, January is the headache.

It’s tempting to surrender to the slump—to assume that the dullness is inevitable. But some writers throughout history have treated this month not as dead air but as an invitation: a moment when the world gets quiet enough that you can hear your own thoughts again. Henry David Thoreau’s New Year’s Day journal entries, published in The Atlantic in 1885, articulate how winter can sharpen a person’s senses. “The rude pioneer work of the world has been done by the most devoted worshipers of beauty,” he wrote. “In winter is their campaign … They are elastic under the heaviest burden, under the extremest physical suffering.” Even the landscape rewarded anyone who bothered to notice: Frozen branches became “fat, icy herbage”; weeds turned into “jewels.” “In this clear air and bright sunlight, the ice-covered trees have a new beauty,” he journaled in 1853.

Other writers in the archive seemed to recognize that same hidden momentum. In 1877, the poet Helen Hunt Jackson argued that winter is where fortitude gathers. “O Winter!,” she writes, “June could not hire / Her roses to forego the strength they learn / In sleeping on thy breast.” What looks like nothing happening is often everything happening, just beneath the surface.

Three years later, in her “New Year Song,” Celia Thaxter didn’t ask the month to transform her—she simply welcomed it.

Die and depart, Old Year, old sorrow!
Welcome, O morning air of health and strength!
O glad New Year, bring us new hope to-morrow,
With blossom, leaf, and fruitage bright at length.

Her January is a reminder that a new year can begin quietly and still begin well.

Recently, one writer observed that winter’s malaise can be a story we tell ourselves. Maggie Mertens noted in 2023 that although being sad in the wintertime is a “prevailing narrative” in American life, the data resist that frame: National depression rates across the year remain “flat as a pancake,” one researcher told her. Winter can be hard, but the belief that everyone is sadder during the season may simply be folklore passed off as fact. Taylor Kay Phillips argues that the secret to loving winter is to “first accept it, then enjoy it.” Beautiful things are possible “because of the freezing temperatures and the precipitation and the wind, not in spite of them,” she writes: “Snow days require snow. Cute gloves need cold hands.” Winter, she insists, is “its own rich, wonderful destination,” not an ordeal to endure en route to spring.

Which brings us back to our muted stretch of January. If you stop asking it to be December 2.0 and let it be what it is, the month stops feeling like the aftertaste of the holidays and starts to take on its own flavor. “When reality clashes with expectations, perhaps we should change our expectations,” McElroy wrote. Accept that old habits won’t melt away overnight, or by mid-January, or maybe even by March. Accept that the month will be cold and plainspoken.

January may still feel like a hangover. But a hangover isn’t just the end of the night. It’s the body recalibrating after excess. Let the month be quiet. Let it be simple. The doldrums may still knock—but if you meet the month on its own terms, they don’t have to linger.

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Jamaica’s Creatives Brought the Magic to Christmas Connection | THEBEYONDWOMAN

On December 7, 2025, TheBeyondWoman stepped into the Jamaica Pegasus for the flagship staging of Suga Lifestyle’s Christmas Connection, and one thing was clear from the start — this wasn’t just a holiday pop-up. It was a movement dressed in Christmas lights, powered by culture, connection, and the kind of creative energy you can’t replicate online. Patrons showed up in droves on December 6 and 7 at The Jamaica Pegasus, filling the space with excitement and intention. They were greeted by an eclectic lineup of award-winning, forward-thinking artisans who brought innovation, passion, and craftsmanship to every booth.

And the tastings? Legendary.

Patrons were treated to the kind of flavours that stir nostalgia and spark conversation. AU Trading’s handmade Sorrel Liqueur—crafted from a cherished family recipe—was the highlight for many, rich with the warm familiarity of Christmas sorrel, elevated into a smooth, spirited indulgence that felt like tradition poured into a glass.

Not far behind, bold heat lovers crowded around CrEATe & Co.’s fiery Scotch Bonnet Sauce, generously drizzled over sizzling sausages. It was the kind of spice that doesn’t just hit the tongue—it wakes up the senses and leaves you reaching for more. Nations Choice delivered their signature glazed ham, tender and well-seasoned, reminding everyone why Jamaican holiday tables are undefeated. And of course, JABLUM Coffee held court as the crowd’s reigning favourite—aromatic, full-bodied, and unmistakably Jamaican in every sip.

The event also became a launchpad for rising founders and fresh ideas. Likkle Bliss Ltd., stepping into her first vendor spotlight, captured hearts (and stomachs) with her soft, perfectly spiced cinnamon rolls, selling out long before the curtains closed. Meanwhile, Roar I Organics from the hills of Gutters, St. Elizabeth, made a powerful debut, introducing cold-pressed green juices, herbal teas, tonics, and natural cleansers—each one rooted in holistic wellness and crafted from the island’s abundant natural ingredients.
It was more than a marketplace moment—it was proof that innovation, culture, and purpose can coexist beautifully when founders lead with passion and authenticity.

What made this coverage extra special for TheBeyondWoman was the presence of our Community Ambassador, Mikhayla Brown, who attended on December 7. Mikhayla didn’t just observe — she engaged. She had the unique opportunity to speak directly with the entrepreneurs, hear their stories, and capture their passion for building brands that serve both community and culture. She also connected with local authors, wellness founders, and lifestyle entrepreneurs, learning firsthand what drives them, what challenges shaped them, and what keeps them committed to showing up, even in a world that constantly pushes digital convenience over real-world value.

TheBeyondWoman’s coverage with Community Ambassador, Mikhayla Brown

Uncle Neiles
Khentish Designs
Chloe’s Plants
Roaring Roy’s Organics
Victoria Tasty
Hofficial Clothing
Smith’s Rum Cream

Adding to the family-friendly appeal, children experienced a magical Kids Interactive Village by Bear Tingz Jamaica, where little ones played in the snow with Santa on the terrace. The event also hosted a Toy Drive and Yoga for Charity, both filled to capacity, reflecting a deeper purpose beyond commerce — one rooted in giving back.

Suga Lifestyle CEO Gabrielle Burgess shared sincere gratitude for the community that supported the toy drive and filled the terrace for Yoga for Charity. This staging went beyond celebration and into relief, mobilizing six major project donations after Hurricane Melissa displaced families from Western parishes to Kingston.With support from Suga Lifestyle, the Prudential Foundation, and partners including National Bakery and Ayrton Distributors Ltd., nearly 100 residents each at the Marie Atkins Night Shelter, Golden Age Homes, and Cluster F in Vineyard Town received food, drinks, toiletries, clothing, and medical supplies.Toys from the drive will bring Christmas joy to children at the Mervis Braham Child Care Facility and the Pringle Home, reminding us that impact matters just as much as exposure.

This event proved Suga Lifestyle isn’t just championing creatives — it’s championing community. And that’s the real connection.

Burgess added, “As recovery continues, we thank everyone who supported Christmas Connection, B A S E at Janga’s, and our relief mission. Jamaica Together. Sprinkle Christmas cheer. We shall rise again.” Her appreciation for community and creatives continues to set the brand apart.

Christmas Connection proved something powerful: Jamaica’s creative economy isn’t slowing down. It’s evolving, expanding, and creating spaces where artisans don’t just sell — they connect, impact, and remind us why local matters. This event wasn’t just a showcase. It was proof of opportunity, resilience, cultural pride, and the undeniable force of Jamaica’s founders who are building the future of the region’s creative industry, one event at a time.

And trust me — if you missed this staging, keep your eyes open. Suga Lifestyle isn’t done, and neither are we.

Read Other Features

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5 juveniles shot at New Year’s Eve party in Round Rock

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Police Department is investigating a New Year’s Eve shooting that left five people hurt.

What we know:

RRPD says the incident happened in the 1600 block of Chisholm Trail Road at the Platinum Event Center.

Police say at around 11:30 p.m., a physical altercation broke out between people at a party during which the shooting happened.

Officers found five juveniles with gunshot wounds.

All victims were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Dig deeper:

Police say the preliminary information indicates the party involved underage drinking and stemmed from a viral social media flyer.

Three of the victims are from Pflugerville, and two are from Austin.

Investigators believe this was an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

What we don’t know:

No suspects are in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact Detective Heldman at bheldman@roundrocktexas.gov or 512-688-7966.

The Source: Information from Round Rock Police Department.

Round Rock Crime and Public Safety

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Trump, in interview, defends his energy and health, offers new details on screening he underwent

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump defended his energy and health in an interview with The Wall Street Journal and disclosed that he had a CT scan, not an MRI scan, during an October examination about which he and the White House delayed offering details.

Trump, in the interview, said he regretted undergoing the advanced imaging on his heart and abdomen during an October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center because it raised public questions about his health. His physician said in a memo the White House released in December that he had “advanced imaging” as a preventative screening for men his age.

Trump had initially described it as an MRI but said he didn’t know what part of his body he had scanned. A CT scan is a quicker form of diagnostic imaging than an MRI but offers less detail about differences in tissue.

The president’s doctor, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, said in a statement released Thursday by the White House that Trump underwent the exam in October because he planned to be at Walter Reed to meet people working there. Trump had already undergone an annual physical in April.

“President Trump agreed to meet with the staff and soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Hospital in October. In order to make the most of the President’s time at the hospital, we recommended he undergo another routine physical evaluation to ensure continued optimal health,” Barbabella said.

Barbabella said that he asked the president to undergo either a CT scan or MRI “to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues” and the results were “perfectly normal and revealed absolutely no abnormalities.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Thursday that the president’s doctors and the White House have “always maintained the President received advanced imaging” but said that “additional details on the imaging have been disclosed by the President himself” because he “has nothing to hide.”

“In retrospect, it’s too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition,” Trump said in the interview with The Wall Street Journal published Thursday. “I would have been a lot better off if they didn’t, because the fact that I took it said, ‘Oh gee, is something wrong?’ Well, nothing’s wrong.”

The 79-year-old became the oldest person to take the oath of office when he was sworn in as president last year and has been sensitive to questions about his health, particularly as he has repeatedly questioned his predecessor Joe Biden’s fitness for office.

Biden, who turned 82 in the last year of his presidency, was dogged the end of the his tenure and during his abandoned attempt to seek reelection over scrutiny of his age and mental acuity.

But questions have also swirled around Trump’s health this year as he’s been seen with bruising on the back of his right hand that has been conspicuous despite a slathering of makeup on top, along with noticeable swelling at his ankles.

The White House this summer said the president had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition among older adults. The condition happens when veins in the legs can’t properly carry blood back to the heart and it pools in the lower legs.

In the interview, Trump said he briefly tried wearing compression socks to address the swelling but stopped because he didn’t like them.

The bruising on Trump’s hand, according to Leavitt, is from “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” which Trump takes regularly to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

He said he takes more aspirin than his doctors recommend but said he has resisted taking less because he’s been taking it for 25 years and said he is “a little superstitious.” Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily, according to Barbabella.

“They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump said. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?”

Trump, in the interview, denied he has fallen asleep during White House meetings when cameras have caught him with his eyes closed, instead insisting he was resting his eyes or blinking.

“I’ll just close. It’s very relaxing to me,” he said. “Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.”

He said that he’s never slept much at night, a habit he also described during his first term, and said he starts his day early in the White House residence before moving to the Oval Office around 10 a.m. and working until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.

The president dismissed questions about his hearing, saying he only struggled to hear “when there’s a lot of people talking,” and said he has plenty of energy, which he credited to his genes.

“Genetics are very important,” he said. “And I have very good genetics.”

Great Job Michelle L. Price, Associated Press & the Team @ KSAT San Antonio for sharing this story.

OpenAI bets big on audio as Silicon Valley declares war on screens | TechCrunch

OpenAI is betting big on audio AI, and it’s not just about making ChatGPT sound better. According to new reporting from The Information, the company has unified several engineering, product, and research teams over the past two months to overhaul its audio models, all in preparation for an audio-first personal device expected to launch in about a year.

The move reflects where the entire tech industry is headed — toward a future where screens become background noise and audio takes center stage. Smart speakers have already made voice assistants a fixture in more than a third of U.S. homes. Meta just rolled out a feature for its Ray-Ban smart glasses that uses a five-microphone array to help you hear conversations in noisy rooms — essentially turning your face into a directional listening device. Google, meanwhile, began experimenting in June with “Audio Overviews” that transform search results into conversational summaries. And Tesla is integrating Grok and other LLMs into its vehicles to create conversational voice assistants that can handle everything from navigation to climate control through natural dialogue.

It’s not just the tech giants placing this bet. A motley crew of startups has emerged with the same conviction, albeit with varying degrees of success. The makers of the Humane AI Pin burned through hundreds of millions before their screenless wearable became a cautionary tale. The Friend AI pendant, a necklace that records your life and offers companionship, has sparked privacy concerns and existential dread in equal measure. And now at least two companies, including Sandbar and one helmed by Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky, are building AI rings expected to debut in 2026, allowing wearers to literally talk to the hand.

The form factors may differ, but the thesis is the same: audio is the interface of the future. Every space — your home, your car, even your face — is becoming an interface.

OpenAI’s new audio model, slated for early 2026, will reportedly sound more natural, handle interruptions like an actual conversation partner, and even speak while you’re talking, which is something today’s models can’t manage. The company is also said to envision a family of devices, possibly including glasses or screenless smart speakers, that act less like tools and more like companions.

As The Information notes, former Apple design chief Jony Ive, who joined OpenAI’s hardware efforts through the company’s $6.5 billion acquisition in May of his firm io, has made reducing device addiction a priority, seeing audio-first design as a chance to “right the wrongs” of past consumer gadgets.

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State Bar of Texas Executive Committee to meet January 8

The State Bar of Texas Executive Committee will meet at 10 a.m. CST on January 8 at the Texas Law Center in Austin. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed live on the State Bar of Texas YouTube page.

The agenda can be viewed here. The meeting materials are available here.

Among other agenda items, the committee will consider and discuss recommendation of Board approval of the SBOT 2026-2027 proposed budget in the Texas Bar Journal and consider and discuss approval of the recommendation of nominees for 2026-2027 SBOT president-elect candidacy.

Those who wish to address the Executive Committee in-person during this meeting should fill out a speaker card at the beginning of the meeting and submit it to a staff member onsite. To sign up to speak remotely during the meeting, please email boardofdirectors@texasbar.com or call 512-427-1400 or 800-204-2222 (toll free) before 5 p.m. CST on Wednesday, January 7. Please provide the agenda item number you wish to speak on.

Written comments regarding agenda items must be received by 5 p.m. CST on Monday, January 5, for timely distribution to the Executive Committee members before the meeting. Please submit written comments by email to boardofdirectors@texasbar.com and indicate the agenda item you are referring to.

Great Job Rebecca Johnson & the Team @ Texas Bar Blog for sharing this story.

‘Sounds Like Liver Damage’: Oprah Says She Once Downed 17 Shots in One Night, Then Explains What Finally Made Her Stop

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey has written a new book that shares her weight loss journey, but it isn’t the 71-year-old’s physique that people are talking about after a recent bombshell interview.

Winfrey’s new book is titled “Enough: Your Health, Your Weight, and What It’s Like To Be Free.” The author gave an exclusive interview to People that was published on Dec. 31, and her admission has everyone shocked.

The billionaire was candid about using a GLP-1 weight loss medication more than two years ago to aid her in her transformation.

Winfrey has struggled with her weight for decades, and many folks can remember the infamous episode in 1988 where she walked on stage pulling a wagon full of fat while sporting size 10 Calvin Klein jeans. She had lost 67 pounds on a liquid diet, and the wagon of lard indicated what 67 pounds of fat looks like.

She gained the weight back and was often ridiculed on late-night talk shows. Winfrey has seemingly slimmed down for good this time with the help of the weight-loss medication and two-hour daily workouts. However, she shared something else related to her weight loss that is surprising to many.

It turns out Oprah likes her tequila, and she claimed she used to be able to “outdrink everyone at the table” before giving up alcohol due to the weight-loss medication. Not only did she like tequila, she liked shots, and a lot of them.

“I was a big fan of tequila,” said Winfrey. “I literally had 17 shots one night. I haven’t had a drink in years. The fact that I no longer even have a desire for it is pretty amazing.”

Fans reacted to the admission with surprise, as no one ever imagined that Winfrey could knock back so much liquor in one evening.

“Sounds like liver damage,” one fan commented. Another fan replied by referencing Winfrey’s penchant for giving away cars to her audience on her former daytime talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

They joked, “You get a shot! You get a shot!”

Another fan noted the amount of tequila Winfrey consumed. “17 shots of tequila in an evening? I would be dead. No one knew Oprah was an alcoholic?”

Winfrey’s new book will be available on January 13, and she says that she no longer blames herself for her weight.

“I thought it was about discipline and willpower,” she said of losing weight. “But I stopped blaming myself. I feel more alive and more vibrant than I’ve ever been.”

The author added that she can now eat a buttery croissant without guilt, and she is loving it.

“I’ve just had a croissant, and I ate the full thing.”

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Mark Cuban says he doesn’t do calls and prefers email because ‘if we do it by phone, I’m going to forget half the stuff that we talked about’ | Fortune

“No, I don’t do calls,” said the former Shark Tank star and Dallas Mavericks owner in a TikTok video posted by Masterclass. “You know, I’ll engage with you via email, and trust me, I do this all the time. I’m really good at it.”

But Cuban’s logic for his proclivity toward email over the phone is very different from younger generations. He said conversing over email gives him more time to craft a thoughtful response.

“I’ll give you more comprehensive responses than if it was via phone,” said Cuban, who’s worth an estimated $6 billion. “And if we do it by phone, I’m going to forget half the stuff that we talked about because I’ve got so much going on.”

While Cuban is no longer starring on Shark Tank and sold off his majority stake in the Mavericks, he’s still plenty occupied running Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs Company and serving as an investor and advisor to the dozens of companies he invested in during his time on the show.

Meanwhile, Gen Zers prefer email or text because they are anxious about talking on the phone. A 2024 study shows nearly a quarter of the generation is so hesitant about talking on the phone that they never answer calls. A college in the U.K. last year even launched a class aimed at helping Gen Z overcome its fear.

While it’s always easy to poke fun at younger generations for their professional-life quirks, the hesitancy for some is actually a deeply rooted fear called “telephobia.” This form of phone anxiety can lead to increased heart rate, nausea, shaking, and trouble concentrating, according to Verywell Mind.

“It speaks to a broader fatigue with immediacy and urgency, where people have grown tired of the hassle culture and obsession with efficiency,” Zoia Tarasova, an anthropologist with consumer insight agency Canvas8, previously told Fortune. “People are quietly rebelling against this immediacy by taking their time to respond to those calls.”

Other business leaders even told Fortune that this telephobia trend has hurt their bottom line. Casey Halloran, CEO and cofounder of online travel agency Namu Travel, said in the 25 years he’s been in business, management has “never seen anything quite like the generational divide” between older and younger travel agents in how they make phone calls. He also said combating telephobia has been a “frequent, uncomfortable topic” at his company, as management has recognized that his younger travel agents register fewer than 50% of the calls compared to older employees.

“As to solutions, we have been doing extensive training, incentives, call observing with our veteran reps, and even hired a business psychologist,” Halloran previously told Fortune. “After more than two years of this struggle, we’re nearly to the point of throwing up hands and embracing SMS and WebChat versus continuing to fight an uphill battle.”

Still, for his own business purposes, Cuban says he prefers emails over phone calls because he can go back and reference what he’s said.

“If we do it via email, I can search for it, always,” he added.

What research tells us about communication styles at work

Just like most business approaches, emailing instead of talking on the phone has its pros and cons.

Research by recruiting firm Robert Walters shows more than half of younger-generation professionals find instant messaging or email, instead of calls or meetings, is the best way to “get things done,” showing how they believe talking over the phone can be inefficient. That’s the “it could have been an email” mentality.

“Younger generations are less inclined to spend hours in a restaurant or cafe when they can have a quick discussion online,” Emilie Vignon, associate director of Robert Walters California, wrote in the 2024 study. To be sure, Vignon also said there are also “downsides” to only conversing via email or text.

“Face-to-face interactions allow for meaningful connections and provide an opportunity for non-verbal communication cues, building trust and rapport with clients and colleagues,” Vignon added. “The subtleties of body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice contribute to a deeper understanding and connection that often cannot be fully conveyed through text or even video chats.”

To be sure, other research from the University of Texas at Austin (UT) and the University of Chicago, as well as studies by McKinsey & Co., show calls can help resolve issues more quickly than an email, especially as workers spend nearly one-third of their time on email. A 2022 study from DePaul University researcher David J. Bouvier also shows that email enables easy information sharing and can reduce stress.

Great Job Sydney Lake & the Team @ Fortune | FORTUNE Source link for sharing this story.

British boxer Anthony Joshua initially staying in Nigeria to recuperate after crash

LAGOS – British boxer Anthony Joshua is initially staying in Nigeria as he recuperates from injuries sustained after a deadly crash.

A vehicle carrying the former heavyweight champion and two of his associates crashed into a stationary truck on Monday on a major thoroughfare, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which links Ogun state to Lagos. The two associates, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, were killed.

Joshua was released from a Lagos hospital on Wednesday afternoon, and he paid his respects to his deceased friends at the morgue.

His promoter, Matchroom Boxing, told The Associated Press on Thursday: “As reported, Anthony was released from hospital last night and will remain in Nigeria over the coming days.”

Joshua has family roots in Nigeria and he briefly attended boarding school there as a child. He also holds Nigerian nationality.

The Lagos state commissioner for information, Gbenga Omotoso, said Wednesday that Joshua had been discharged after being deemed clinically fit to recuperate from “home.”

Ghami was Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach while Ayodele was a trainer. Just hours before the crash, Joshua and Ayodele posted clips on social media playing table tennis together.

___

AP Sports Writer Steve Douglas in Manchester, England, contributed to this report.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

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#NBTXNEWSIndependent journalism for New Braunfels, Comal County, Guadalupe County, and The Texas Hill Country.