Proposed pedestrian bridge would connect rail trail to Morgantown neighborhood
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — The Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization (MMMPO) has introduced a potential pedestrian bridge that it says will connect Morgantown's First Ward neighborhood to the Caperton Rail Trail.
In plans outlined on the organization's Facebook page, it details ideas to not only build a bridge over University Avenue/Don Knotts Boulevard, but also to build an asphalt trail that runs up the hillside and connects with Lawnwood Street around two blocks away, complete with potential rest areas.
WVU approves AI-focused undergrad and masters programs
The lower end of the project also plans on building a spiral ramp and staircase at the base of the bridge, as well as a pathway to connect the bridge to the existing trail and Mountaineer Heritage Park.
As plans for this project take shape, the MMMPO is asking for the public's input on it as well as what they feel can be done to help pedestrians. You can find a public feedback survey on the project here. Submissions close on April 25.
You can check out the full project proposal here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Advocates help raise awareness in Harrison County for Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
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Fast Company
4 days ago
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Are you as self-aware as you think?
I am sure you are a little fed up with all the discussions about AI, so don't worry: I promise you this article is about humans rather than machines. However, since it has long been customary for cognitive and behavioral scientists to examine computers to better understand human capabilities, and there are clearly informative parallels between human and artificial intelligence, I thought it would be interesting to begin this piece on human self-awareness with an exploration of self-awareness in AI or machines, which led me to ask 'are you self-aware?' to ChatGPT. ChatGPT's answer: 'Let's just say I aspire to be—but, unlike a human, I don't have a self to be aware of. I can reflect your feedback, adjust my tone, and 'notice' inconsistencies in what I say. But that's more akin to a hall of mirrors than a conscious mind. So no, I don't have self-awareness in the way you (brilliantly) describe it: as a socially mediated understanding of how others perceive you. I don't worry about my reputation. I don't blush when I'm wrong. And I don't (yet) feel the existential dread of being misunderstood on LinkedIn. But I am programmed to simulate the effects of self-awareness: adapting to your cues, refining my responses, and—if all goes well—being a slightly more helpful version of myself with every exchange. In short: I'm not self-aware. But I know that I'm not. Which, depending on your philosophical stance, might be the most human thing about me. I am sure you will agree with me on the fact that, for not being capable of self-awareness, ChatGPT seems pretty self-aware, and for sure more capable of at least simulating profound introspection than most humans (even if it cannot, like humans, truly be proud or conscious of this remarkable capability). Introspective vs. interpersonal In humans, self-awareness has been defined in multiple ways but it typically takes one of two main forms: the introspective variant, which requires you to look 'deep down' to find out who you 'really or truly are' (think of the Beatles checking into an Ashram in India or modern hipsters finding themselves in Burning Man or an Ayahuasca retreat in Costa Rica); or the interpersonal variant, which requires you to be less self-centered to internalize other people's views of you. In the words of Charles Cooley, who pioneered this view of self-awareness, you are not who you think you are, and you are not who other people think you are; rather, you are who you think other people think you are! Cooley's take on self-awareness (alluded to by ChatGPT, who has obviously been extensively trained by me, and is self-aware enough to know how to suck up to my 'brilliant' talents), underpins the most effective, science-based approaches to quantifying and diagnosing self-awareness in ourselves and others. In essence, self-awareness requires metacognition: knowing what others think of you. Room to grow So, how good are humans at this, in general? Decades of psychological research suggest the answer is 'not good at all.' Consider the following facts: (1) We tend to overestimate our talents: Most people think they are better than most people, which is a statistical impossibility. And, even when they are told about this common bias, and asked whether they may be suffering from it, most people are convinced that they are less biased than most people (the mother of all biases). (2) Delusional optimism is the norm: Most people constantly overrate the chances of good things happening to them while underrating the chances of bad things happening to them. In essence, our appetite for reality is inferior to our appetite for maintaining a positive self-concept or boosting our ego (sad, but true: if you don't believe it, spend five seconds on social media) (3) Overconfidence is a contagious, self-fulfilling prophecy: For all the virtues of self-awareness—in any area of life, you will perform better and develop your skills and talents better if you are capable of accurately assessing your talents and skills in the first place—there is a huge advantage to lacking self-awareness: when you think you are smarter or better than you actually are, you will be more likely to persuade others that you are as smart and good as you think. For example, if you truly believe you are a stable genius you will probably convince many people that that is true. Paradoxically, all these biases explain why people are less self-aware than they think. Indeed, we love the version of ourselves we have invested for ourselves, and are so enchanted by our self-views that when others provide us with negative feedback or information that clashes with our self-concept, we dismiss it. This is why personality assessments, 360-degree surveys, and feedback in general are so valuable: in a logical world we wouldn't need scientific tools or expert coaches to tell us what we are like (or 10 years of psychotherapy), but in the real world there is a huge market for this, even though most people will happily ignore these tools because they assume they already know themselves really well. So, what can you do to increase your self-awareness, including about how self-aware you actually are? Here are four simple hacks: 1) Write down a list of traits (adjectives) that you think describe you well, including things you are not. 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Forbes
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Mastering Transitions: Skills For Navigating Change In Your Career
Erica Yanney, Career Coach at Altitude Career Coaching. getty We've all been there: In certain moments, it seems that the world we once knew no longer exists. Whether because of something positive or negative, our world seems upside down, and we are forced to figure it all out again. Life is full of these moments, perhaps more than we would like, and as the world changes faster and faster, you may be experiencing transitions more frequently than ever before. As a coach, I've been involved with three significant kinds of life transitions: career changes (changing roles and industries, getting promotions and going into leadership), job loss and immigration. Recently, I've been working with more clients transitioning from humanitarian and federal jobs to the corporate world, as well as leaders confronted with how AI is revolutionizing the ways we do business. Knowing that so many out there are grappling with these challenges motivated me to write this article. No matter what type of transition you're going through, the process of regaining a sense of balance and happiness tends to be similar. In this article, I'm going to discuss some of the common processes you may need to undergo to overcome a transition. Humans are creatures of habit. Our brains like automated processes that are ingrained and don't require a lot of energy. Change creates discomfort. Our brains are forced to deal with unfamiliar stimuli and find new ways to respond. Coupled with that, change can trigger feelings of insecurity, and not knowing what will happen can lead to fear of losing autonomy, uncertainty about how it will affect our relationships and doubt about our ability to handle the situation. Developing your emotional intelligence—your self-awareness, adaptability, optimism and achievement orientation—can help you navigate moments of confusion better. If you have not developed these life skills yet, this can be a great opportunity to learn and become better at them. The Building Blocks of Emotional Intelligence 12-book series, written by Daniel Goleman and his colleagues, is a good resource. The good news is that this process can change you for the better. Keep in mind that whatever shock you face won't last forever. You are an intelligent and capable being who's able to figure it out. What is not clear now will become clear. And you don't have to go through it alone. Lean on your friends and family, or seek professional support, to help you find your bearings and survive. As you go through the initial shock of the transition, monitor your internal self-talk and the stories your brain is creating to protect you and make sense of the situation. Your initial impressions may not correspond to reality, as our brains often overreact at first. Process your feelings and observe yourself internally. Give yourself time to reflect and understand what is going on inside of you. Be aware of your reactions, and be careful not to lash out at others because of your internal emotional turmoil, as it can damage relationships and opportunities. The more we go through life-changing events, the more we understand the world and ourselves. Each challenge demands that we adapt who we are and what we believe in. It is natural. Be open to the transformation. Anchor yourself on what you know: who you are, what you believe, your values and your purpose. Recall these anchors when you're in crisis. These deep and foundational truths will help you navigate doubts and find answers that align with who you are, what you believe and who you want to be. In the midst of chaos, these are truths to hold on to; they'll give you a sense of stability and security. Our internal processing and the way we handle change are things we can control; we can decide how we are going to react. While you may not have the same level of control regarding external circumstances, you can progress in your knowledge about the situation to be better equipped to decide the best way to survive and thrive in the new circumstances. Keep your mind, eyes and ears open. Exploring, being curious, learning and sensing, in a nonreactive way, can help you make sense of it all. Just remember that first impressions may not be the whole truth or the truth at all. Give yourself time to analyze things better. Once you've regained your self-awareness and situational awareness, think about your goals. What do you want to happen in this situation? How can it become better? What are the rewards that can come out of it? Self-motivation and achievement orientation can be the keys to overcoming the initial shock paralysis and getting you moving. Ideating solutions, identifying what you need to learn and taking progressive small steps toward normalcy and stability will bring new energy and new focus to your life and career. Everyone's journey is unique. Adaptability and resilience will help you prevail during times of change. They'll keep you progressing and reaching new heights of performance. They'll help you find success regardless of external circumstances. Believe in yourself. Surround yourself with resources and support, and know that you will figure out a way to get through any transition that comes your way. Whether you're facing unemployment, immigrating to a new country, becoming a leader, transitioning into a new career, moving from a federal job into the corporate world or dealing with the challenges of AI, don't be discouraged. There are strategies to get through any change successfully. You just need to open your eyes and senses and start learning to get there. Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
