The classroom smelled of pencil shavings and damp jackets. For five minutes, we folded scraps of notebook paper into planes, launching them across the room. Some glided, some wobbled, others crashed into walls. I traced their arcs with my eyes, noting collisions, ricochets, and the occasional flight that defied expectation.
Laughter erupted, papers tumbled, and yet patterns emerged: the planes avoided certain corners, landing repeatedly in familiar arcs. I folded another, adjusting the crease slightly, predicting its path, marveling that small variations led to wildly different outcomes. In that brief chaos, I glimpsed a lesson bigger than geometry: that unpredictability is only meaningful if we observe, if we participate, if we notice the subtle orders forming inside the mess.
He sits on the calm soil and listens to the aftershocks vibrations of the lyrics just as it pulsates the pen before swimming in ink Then he drinks bitterly. water from the soul of the trees and at that time a drop of sorrow he wet his drunkenness coat… The cloud moved. which calmed down today nature, calm down the cataclysmic emotions from the breasts of the mountains… He then sits on a stool. and paints its form above the portrait of loneliness… He stands speechless nearby in the quiet heart of a sea which every so much slaps him with its wave to remember her form again!..-
Petros Kyriakou Veloudas was born in Agrinio in 1977. He holds a degree in humanities from the Department of Greek Culture of the Hellenic Open University of Patras and is a businessman and preschool teacher by profession. He is the European ambassador of Greek poetry in Romania, an academic poet at the AMCL Academy of Poetry and Philology in Brazil. Member of the international poetry societies WORLD SOCIETY OF POETS-WSP, WRITERS UNION, International Association of Greek writers-DEEL. His literary-poetic work is included in the Great Encyclopedia of Modern Greek Writers HARI PATSI, as well as in many Greek and international poetry anthologies, he has won 57 international poetry awards and his poems have been translated into many languages. Poems are read by the Chilean radio station His lyrics were set to music by Greek composers and his songs are posted on youtube. His poems have been published in local newspapers of Agrinio such as (MACHITIS, AGGELIA, PALMOS).
Most tech-savy persons are familiar with the term “handle.” Its use dates back to the 1970s, when it described the on-air identity of a CB radio user.
Remember “BJ and the Bear?” No? Just as well. More recently a handle refers to the amount of money wagered on an event carried on an online sportsbook or betting site.The impact of online sportsbooks is a function of the behavioral changes brought about by the very existence of online gaming, which is a less-insidious-sounding euphemism for gambling.
Today, millionaire celebrities appear online or on television, waxing eloquently on the probable good fortune of the online gambler. Numbering among these are songbirds Drake and Vanessa Hudgens and socialite Paris Hilton.
Others include comedian Kevin Hart, actor and singer Jamie Foxx and comedian Chris Rock. Former NBA star and basketball commentator Charles Barkley and soccer superstar Lionel Messi help fill out the ranks of the well-to-do proponents of gambling.
Significantly, these beautiful and successful, but vulgar shills do not hasten to explain the risks of online gambling and their sometimes debilitating counterpart of problem gambling and gambling addiction. (1.4% of gamblers, or 80 million persons world-wide are gambling addicts).
Gambling promoters say nothing of foreclosed mortages (An individual’s 10% increase in spending on gambling accounts for a 97.5% increase in incidence of a missed payment) or hungry families sitting around a barren supper table.
Nor do they mention the increased incidence of domestic violence (One study found that 37 percent of people experiencing a gambling problem have perpetrated intimate partner violence). Although online gambling is nobly marketed to an adult clientele, minors surreptitiously gamble as well.
Ten percent of teens have gambled online in the past year.Of that number, 26 percent are at risk for disorders, a far higher proportion than among adults. Teens’ behavior often mirrors that of their parents.
According to one study, a single gambler’s problem behavior can metastasize its effects, impacting six to eight additional people, including family, co-workers, friends, and employers. So man (or woman) is not an island unto himself.
Recent statistics show that Americans wager upwards of $150 billion per year on online gambling, with a profit for the owners of sportsbooks in excess of $7.5 billion. This accounts for the corporate and celebrity avarice.
And the handle is expected to increase to an otherworldly $700 billion by 2028. At this point, more than 2/3 of states have given the nod to online gambling. Why? For decades, states eschewed legalization of gambling, citing the very real pernicious effects of the practice.
However, since state governments began exacting a percentage of the profits as a new stream of state revenue, they’ve begun to see the light. New York garners more than $3 billion per year in revenue which, until the Supreme Court legalized online betting in 2018, was unavailable to their grasping, greedy little fingers.
Legal gambling essentially began with the proliferation of lotteries. Today, if you walk into a convenience store to buy a newspaper or a coffee, and you’ll be forced in wait in a lengthy line servicing “Lotto,” “Powerball” and all the rest.
And who can forget the 60+-year-old retirees who squander their retirement checks on the allure of scratch-off tickets. In 2024, Americans spent more than $100 billion on lottery tickets.
And here’s a salient fact that no one ever seems to pay attention to: gambling–all gamblng–is set up to make the house the winner. The odds and margins are simply with them, by design.
Legal gambling has a systemically racist aspect as well. A 2022 study of Ohio gamblers showed that 32% of Blacks in that state who gambled, met the criteria for a gambling disorder. That’s compared to just 18% of white people from the same region.
A disproportionate percentage of gambling ads target African Americans. This economic fact is compounded by the reality that more Blacks are impoverished than other races.
Ads promulgate the feel-good high of following a scheme for apparent financial success, while stressing none of the downside. This puts such African American proponents of gambling even more in the spotlight.
Take Chris Rock, who banters a mile-a-minute on the positivity of gambling. Or his fellow multi-millionaire Charles Barkley, who’ll never know what the consequences of a missed car payment will feel like. Or Jamie Foxx, dazzling television viewers as he struts about on camera in a glittering suit which probably cost more than the cars that 90% of Americans drive.
Shills for legal gambling are the sorts of persons who, 60 years ago, would’ve been starring in ads for cigarettes. And 20 years from now, they’ll be featured in ads for legalized prostitution, cocaine and heroin.
What a racket! Will you be one of the rare lucky ones, and cash in on legal gambling?
Annotation:This article explores the concept of artificial intelligence (AI), its role in society, its significance in education and the economy, and future prospects. It analyzes the application of AI in everyday life, its impact on work efficiency, and its contribution to the development of modern technologies.
Introduction
Today, in an era of rapidly developing information technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) holds a significant position. AI refers to computer systems’ ability to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as thinking, learning, analyzing, and decision-making. Currently, AI has permeated almost all areas of our lives.
1. Concept and Development of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is a technology that enables computers and software to perform tasks similar to human intelligence. Initially developed through scientific experiments, AI today achieves high results using machine learning and neural networks. AI systems can quickly and accurately analyze large amounts of data.
2. The Importance of Artificial Intelligence in Everyday Life
AI is widely used in daily life. For example, voice assistants on mobile phones, translation applications, facial recognition systems, and recommendation platforms all operate based on AI. These technologies ease human labor, save time, and provide convenience.
3. Artificial Intelligence in Education and the Economy
In education, AI serves to individualize the learning process. AI-based platforms analyze students’ knowledge levels and provide materials tailored to their needs. In the economy, AI automates production processes, increases efficiency, reduces costs, and helps make more precise business decisions.
4. Future Prospects of Artificial Intelligence
In the future, AI is expected to develop further and play a crucial role in healthcare, transportation, agriculture, and many other sectors. AI acts as a tool to enhance human potential and contribute to societal development. At the same time, it is essential to use it responsibly and wisely.
Conclusion
In conclusion, artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of modern society. It simplifies human activities, increases efficiency, and creates new opportunities. Proper utilization of AI can contribute to sustainable societal development.
References
1. Russell, S., & Norvig, P. Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. Pearson Education. 2. Official sources of the Republic of Uzbekistan on digital technologies. 3. Scientific articles and online resources related to artificial intelligence.
Like a cold darkness, love stretches me upon its rack.
Your shadow drinks my breath.
My bones remember your touch.
Within me, centuries collapse without you.
Like spilled gold, my sorrow flows.
Your eyes — two abysses above my soil.
My heart bears the shackles of your silence.
My skin is a book of your wounds.
I have written you in my own blood.
I have carried you through my own ashes.
Into your voice, I placed my final peace.
And when I sink, your shadow will remain in me.
And when I fall silent, I will still long for you.
Milana Momčilović was born on April 4, 1999 in Vrbas. She currently lives in Srbobran, a place near Novi Sad in the Republic of Serbia.
She published the collection of poetry TALISMAN.
She doesn’t like to talk about herself, so in the end she can describe herself through the verses of Sergei Yesenin: “What am I?” Who am I? I’m just a dreamer, whose sight fades in the fog and mist, I lived along the way, who can dream, like many other people on that earth.”
Peculiar Features of the Phonetic System of the Uzbek Language Kattakurgan State Pedagogical Institute Faculty of Philology and Social Sciences Department of Uzbek Language and Literature, Group 25_04 Student: Abulqosimova Bahora
Abstract: This scientific article analyzes the peculiar features of the phonetic system of the Uzbek language. The study investigates the pronunciation of vowels and consonants, their changes in phonetic processes, and their roles in word formation. Additionally, phonetic phenomena such as stress, intonation, and assimilation are highlighted as factors influencing semantic distinctions in the language. The article also examines phonetic changes that have occurred throughout the historical development of the Uzbek language and their reflections in dialectal variations. The research findings hold theoretical and practical significance for ongoing studies in the fields of phonetics and phonology.
Keywords: Phonetics, phonology, vowel sounds, consonant sounds, stress, intonation, assimilation, pronunciation, phonetic system. Introduction: Language is the most important social phenomenon of humanity and serves as the primary tool of communication among people. The formation and development of any language are primarily manifested through its phonetic system, as speech sounds constitute the fundamental material of language structure. Phonetic units are directly related to all levels of language — lexical, grammatical, and morphological — and play a crucial role in accurately conveying meaning.
The Uzbek language belongs to the Turkic language family and possesses a phonetic system characterized by complex phenomena and unique features formed over its historical development. The pronunciation of vowels and consonants, their changes in phonetic processes, and their functions in word formation are key criteria defining the national characteristics of the language. In particular, features such as vowel length, consonant voicing and devoicing, as well as processes like assimilation, dissimilation, stress, and intonation, have a unique realization in Uzbek.
This article provides a detailed analysis of the peculiarities of the Uzbek phonetic system, the role of vowels and consonants in phonetic processes, and the differences found in dialectal variations. Furthermore, it examines how phonetic phenomena affect meaning distinctions and phonetic changes over the course of historical development, based on scientific sources. The research results are theoretically and practically significant for modern studies in phonetics and phonology.
Literature Review: Several prominent scholars have made significant contributions to the study of the Uzbek phonetic system. A. Mahmudov explored the pronunciation of vowels and consonants, their articulatory changes in speech processes, and described them using experimental methods. He relied on phonetic observations to establish norms of literary pronunciation. His work laid the scientific foundation for determining pronunciation standards and demonstrated the practical importance of phonetics.
Ayyub G‘ulomov specialized in theoretical linguistics and studied word formation and morphology in the Uzbek language. Although his work did not focus directly on phonetics and phonology, it emphasized language structure, word formation, and speech organization. His theoretical methodology is considered valuable in phonetic research.
Abdulhamid Nurmonov focused on the phonological system of the Uzbek language, the functions of phonemes, and positional and combinatorial features of language units. M. Mirtojiev investigated the structure of the vowel system in Uzbek, their labialization, height, and historical development. He also compared phonetic differences in Karluk, Kipchak, and Oghuz dialects.
S. Otamirzayeva discussed the impact of phonetic phenomena on the teaching process, highlighting the role of stress, intonation, and assimilation in speech. M. Yusupova conducted an in-depth analysis of consonants, including voicing and devoicing relationships, and outlined rules and patterns of phonetic changes. A. Hojiyev developed theoretical foundations of phonology, paying special attention to the meaning-distinguishing function of phonemes. Sh. Rahmatullayev specialized in historical phonetics, analyzing phonetic changes in ancient written sources.
The works of these scholars have enriched the theoretical and practical understanding of the Uzbek phonetic system and contributed significantly to the development of phonetics as a discipline.
Analysis and Results: The Uzbek phonetic system shares common features with Turkic languages while exhibiting unique national characteristics. Research shows that the articulatory features of vowels and consonants, their changes during speech, and phonetic rules have evolved throughout the language’s historical development. Analysis of the vowel system demonstrates classification based on labialization, front-back position, and tongue height. Historical developments include certain phonetic changes, such as the shortening of long vowels in Old Turkic. In dialectal speech, vowel position shifts give rise to phonetic variants.
Stress and intonation play a crucial role in proper comprehension. Phonetic rules are key in establishing standards of literary pronunciation. Scientific studies in phonetics have shown that speech sounds possess not only physical and physiological characteristics but also semantic properties. Overall, studies on Uzbek phonetics provide a systematic understanding of phonemes, their role in distinguishing meaning, and factors influencing historical development. This strengthens the theoretical foundation of phonetics and contributes to the formation of literary language norms.
Conclusion: The phonetic system of the Uzbek language represents a fundamental layer of the language’s internal structure. The system of speech sounds, their articulatory and acoustic properties, and the role of phonetic processes are central to the field of phonetics. Sounds are not only the material basis of speech but also serve as meaning-distinguishing elements that connect language units. Therefore, scientific study of the phonetic system is essential for shaping literary norms, improving pronunciation culture, and enhancing overall speech culture in Uzbek.
In the Uzbek sound system, vowels and consonants function in harmony. Vowels are classified by labialization, front-back position, and tongue height, while consonants are categorized by voicing-devoicing, plosive-fricative, and sonorant characteristics. Phonetic processes — such as assimilation, dissimilation, stress, intonation, and elision — ensure natural adaptation of speech sounds and play a vital role in conveying the meaning of words and sentences. Research in phonetics confirms that the Uzbek phonetic system is continuously developing and evolving. Historical sound changes, dialectal variations, and pronunciation peculiarities reflect the richness and national spirit of the language. A thorough understanding of phonetic theory expands linguistic knowledge and provides a scientific foundation for teaching Uzbek, reinforcing literary standards, and developing speech culture.
References: Mahmudov A. Issues of Uzbek Literary Phonetics. – Tashkent: Fan, 2007. Mirtojiev M. The Vowel System in the Uzbek Language and Its Development. – Tashkent: O‘qituvchi, 1991. Otamirzayeva S., Yusupova M. Phonetics, Orthography, Orthoepy, and Orthography. – Tashkent: O‘qituvchi, 2010. Hojiyev A. Explanatory Dictionary of Linguistic Terms. – Tashkent: Fan, 2002. Rahmatullayev Sh. Historical Phonetics of the Uzbek Language. – Tashkent: Universitet, 1995. Yoldoshev I., et al. Fundamentals of Linguistics. – Tashkent: Fan, 2014. Zokirova H., Nabiyeva D. Phonetics of the Uzbek Language. – Andijan: ASU Press, 2016.
