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New AI tool matches students with high-impact internships

Finding the right internship can be an important step for students, but it’s not always clear which opportunities will lead to the strongest growth. To help solve that problem, University of Florida researchers have developed an AI-powered tool that helps students identify internships most likely to accelerate their technical and professional development. Unlike traditional recommendation engines, Pro-CaRE not only predicts which opportunities will lead to stronger outcomes, it also explains why each suggestion is a good fit. In testing data collected from the students, Pro-CaRE’s predictions proved highly accurate, accounting for more than 72% of the differences in learning gains among participants. While the pilot is being tested in engineering, the tool could be adopted for other disciplines. “Internships are one of the most critical parts of an engineering education, but students often struggle to know which experiences will actually help them grow,” said Jinnie Shin, assistant professor of research and evaluation methodology in the UF College of Education. “What makes Pro-CaRE unique is that it doesn’t just offer a list of options. It provides personalized recommendations backed by data and it tells students clearly why an opportunity is a good match for them.” Pro-CaRE creates matches by analyzing each student’s coursework, major, background and self-reported interest, confidence and self-efficacy in engineering skills. It then compares that profile with a carefully chosen set of similar peers to refine suggestions. The result is more precise guidance that adapts to students at different stages of their degree programs. “Students shouldn’t have to guess or hope that an internship will be worthwhile,” Shin said. “With Pro-CaRE, they can approach opportunities knowing they’re backed by evidence, whether the role is onsite, hybrid or remote and whether it’s at a startup or a Fortune 500 company.” The system is designed to work across a wide range of companies and contexts, giving students flexibility while ensuring their choices align with their personal and professional goals. Each recommendation comes with a clear “why this?” explanation, so students can make confident decisions and discuss options more effectively with advisors. Pro-CaRE was developed by a cross-disciplinary UF team combining expertise in education and engineering. Alongside Shin, the project’s co-principal investigators include Kent Crippen in the College of Education and Bruce Carroll in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. The team is exploring external funding opportunities to expand the usage and test the efficacy on a larger scale. “Ultimately, our goal is to empower students to invest their time in experiences that will have the greatest impact,” Shin said. “Pro-CaRE bridges the gap between what students hope to gain and what internships can truly deliver.”

When the Cheque Stops Coming: Canada Post, Seniors, and the Quiet Cost of Modernization

There’s an old line that has saved more awkward conversations than most of us care to admit: “The cheque is in the mail.” It has been used to buy time, soften bad news, and occasionally stretch the definition of truth. But it worked because, deep down, everyone believed the premise. The mail would come. Eventually. Reliably. Without negotiation. That quiet assumption carried a surprising amount of weight — especially for the 79-year-old navigating an icy driveway. Now, it seems, even that assumption is up for review. I understand the economic argument. Big Losses: The official Canada Post 2024 Annual Report shows they have racked up $3.8 billion in losses since 2018.  Lower Letter Volumes: The shift to email has hit Canada Post hard.  Letter volumes have dropped dramatically.  Less in the mailbag equals far less revenue to offset costs.  Increasing Costs Factors: The number of Canadian addresses continues to grow. The math is not subtle, and change is clearly required.  But this deserves more attention.  Modernization is not the problem. Thoughtless modernization is. Cuts to Canada Post Service May Not Land Equally Not all Canadians experience change the same way, and this particular shift will land unevenly if proper consultation isn't done. We're getting older: According to Statistics Canada, nearly one in five Canadians is now over the age of 65, and that proportion continues to rise. A meaningful share of those older Canadians also live outside major urban centers. We're spread out geographically: Depending on how you measure it, we're also far apart compared to most other countries.  According to the Public Health Agency of Canada & the Vanier Institute of the Family, roughly one-quarter to one-third of seniors live in rural or small communities, where services are more dispersed, and distances are longer. Rural Canada is also aging faster than urban Canada. In other words, the places most likely to lose convenient access are often the places with the highest concentration of people who rely on it. This is not a niche issue. It is a structural one. The Real Issue Isn’t the Mailbox. It’s the Journey. Policy discussions tend to reduce this to a simple question of location. Move the mailbox, problem solved.  But the issue is not where the mailbox is. The issue is whether someone can get to it safely, consistently, and without turning a routine task into a risk calculation. I am thinking of a client. She is 79, sharp, organized, and fully in charge of her life. Her bills are paid on time, her paperwork is immaculate, and she has no interest in becoming dependent on anyone.  In the summer, she walks daily without a second thought. In the winter, she studies the ground before every step. Ice changes everything. A short walk becomes a decision. A slightly longer one becomes a concern. For her, a community mailbox is not a mild inconvenience. It is a variable she now has to manage.  That is the difference between designing for the ideal user and designing for the real one. Mail Still Matters More Than We Pretend There is a quiet assumption that everything important has already moved online. That assumption works well for people who are comfortable navigating digital systems. It does not work for everyone. For many seniors, mail remains the backbone of how they manage their lives. Pension statements, government notices, insurance documents, tax slips, prescription information, and replacement banking cards still arrive in envelopes, not inboxes. And yes, occasionally, an actual cheque. The phrase “the cheque is in the mail” may be fading, but the need behind it has not disappeared. For some Canadians, that envelope still represents income, security, and peace of mind. Digital systems are efficient when they work. When they do not, they can be frustrating and, at times, risky. One expired password or one convincing phishing email can turn a simple task into an afternoon of confusion. It is easy to underestimate the value of paper systems when you no longer rely on them. It is harder to replace them when you still do. Efficiency Has a Way of Moving Downward There is a pattern in modern service design worth naming. Call it effort laundering: the practice of shifting work from institutions to individuals in the name of efficiency. We see it in banking, where branches quietly disappear. We see it in healthcare systems that assume patients are comfortable online. We see it in customer service models built around apps and automated menus. And now we may see it in mail delivery. Where the service moves from your front door to a location you must reach yourself. For many Canadians, this is manageable. For others, it is not. When the burden of efficiency lands on those least able to absorb it, the system may be efficient on paper but inequitable in practice. If Change Is Necessary, It Should Be Smarter I understand that change is necessary. The cost differences between door-to-door delivery and centralized delivery are real, and the financial pressures on Canada Post are not going away. But the choice is not between doing nothing and eliminating access. There is a middle path, and other countries have already explored it. In Norway, proposed postal reforms included reducing delivery frequency to once per week. Following public consultation, the government stepped back earlier this year from that plan and maintained more frequent delivery, recognizing the impact on certain populations (Norwegian Ministry of Transport, 2026). In the United Kingdom, the regulator Ofcom has examined reducing delivery to 5 or even 3 days per week as a way to manage costs while preserving universal service (Ofcom, 2025). Research from Sweden and New Zealand shows that older adults rely more heavily on traditional mail systems than the general population, particularly for official and financial communication (Crew & Kleindorfer, 2012; New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, 2021). These examples point to a practical conclusion. Reducing frequency can achieve savings without removing access. Eliminating access altogether is a different decision with different consequences. Canada Is Not Denmark Denmark has gone further than most, effectively ending traditional letter delivery after a dramatic decline in mail volumes of roughly 90 percent since 2000. The move is often cited as a model of modernization. It should be considered with caution. Denmark operates within a context of high digital adoption, a compact geography, and milder weather conditions. Notably, Canada’s digital divide among seniors is more pronounced than Denmark’s, meaning the proportion of older Canadians who cannot easily go online is higher to begin with. Even so, a significant number of Danish residents have been classified as "digitally exempt" and continue to rely on alternative arrangements to receive essential communications (PostNord, 2025). Canada is not Denmark. Our geography is larger, our winters are harsher, and our population is more dispersed.  Also, we play better hockey.  If Home Delivery Changes, People Will Adapt Canadians are remarkably adaptable, and seniors are often the most resourceful of all. If home delivery is reduced, practical solutions will emerge. Neighbours will organize. Families will build mail pickup into regular visits, turning a logistical task into a reason to connect. Some seniors will finally set up paperless billing, one account at a time. These are workable adjustments. But they should be supported by thoughtful policy, not forced by avoidable design choices. The Problem With Accommodation Accommodation programs will likely exist, but their effectiveness depends on how easy they are to access. Systems that require people to search, apply, document their needs, and follow up repeatedly tend to favour those with the time and persistence to navigate them. The seniors who most need support are often the least inclined to engage in that process. The real test is not whether accommodation exists. It is whether it is simple, visible, and available before a problem becomes a crisis. This Is About More Than Mail At its core, this debate is not really about mail. It is about independence. It is about whether people can continue to manage their own lives without unnecessary friction. It is about whether public systems are designed for real users rather than ideal ones. The ideal user is mobile, tech-savvy, and well-supported. The real user may be older, living alone, and quietly determined to remain independent. That determination deserves to be supported, not complicated. Modernization, With a Memory Home delivery is not just a legacy feature. For many seniors, it remains a small but meaningful part of how life stays organized and manageable. When that support disappears, the burden does not disappear with it. It shifts to individuals, to families, and to systems that will eventually feel the impact. If the greatest disruption falls on those least able to absorb it, the design needs a second look. And About That Cheque... We may be moving toward a world where fewer things arrive by mail. That is probably inevitable. But before we retire the idea entirely, it is worth remembering why that old line worked in the first place. “The cheque is in the mail” was believable because the system behind it was dependable. It showed up. It connected people. It did its job quietly and consistently.  Modernization should aim for the same thing.  Not nostalgia. Not resistance to change. Just reliability that works for everyone. Because if the day comes when the cheque is no longer in the mail, we should at least be able to say that whatever replaces it works just as well for the people who need it most. Ideally, without requiring ice cleats, a flashlight, and a willingness to sign a waiver. Sue Don’t Retire…ReWire! My Book is Now Available for Pre-Order I hope you will consider pre-ordering a copy of Your Retirement Reset for you, a friend or loved one.  It's available September 8, 2026 - You can now order on the ECW Press site here. And if you love supporting Canadian booksellers, please also check with your local independent bookstore. Most can easily order it for you.

The Impacts of Stronger El Niño Conditions on LI

Jase Bernhardt, Hofstra University associate professor of geology, environment, and sustainability and director of meteorology, spoke to Newsday to explain how strong El Niño weather conditions could impact the region. “It often leads to the earth’s atmosphere warming,” said Dr. Bernhardt. “It could be expected that this year could be the warmest on record, if El Niño pans out.” He added that El Niño also “plants the seeds for more coastal storms in the late fall and winter.”

Using AI tools empowers and burdens users in online Q&A communities

Whether you’ve searched for cooking tips on Reddit, troubleshooted tech problems on community forums or asked questions on platforms like Quora, you’ve benefited from online help communities. These digital spaces rely on people across the world to contribute their knowledge for free, and have become an essential tool for solving problems and learning new skills. New research reveals that generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT are creating a double-edge effect on users in these communities, simultaneously making them more helpful while potentially overwhelming them to the point of decreasing their responses. “On the positive side, AI helps users learn to write more organized and readable answers, leading to a noticeable increase in the number of responses,” explained Liangfei Qiu, Ph.D., study coauthor and PricewaterhouseCoopers Professor at the University of Florida Warrington College of Business. “However, when users rely too heavily on AI, the mental effort required to process and refine AI outputs can actually reduce participation. In other words, AI both empowers and burdens contributors: it enables more engagement and better readability, but too much reliance can slow people down.” The study examined Stack Overflow, one of the world’s largest question-and-answer coding platforms for computer programmers, to investigate the impact of generative AI on both the quality and quantity of user contributions. Qiu and his coauthor Guohou Shan of Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business measured the impact of AI on users’ number of answers generated per day, answer length and readability. Specifically, they found that users who used AI tools to generate their responses contributed almost 17% more answers per day compared to those who didn’t use AI. The answers generated with AI were both shorter by about 23% and easier to read. However, when people relied too heavily on AI tools, their participation decreased. Qiu and Shan noted that the additional cognitive burden associated with heavier AI usage negatively affected the impact on a user’s answer quality. For online help communities grappling with AI policies, this research provides valuable insight into how these policies can be updated in the current AI environment. While some communities, like Stack Overflow, have banned AI tools, this research suggests that a more nuanced approach could be a better solution. Instead of banning AI entirely, the researchers suggest striking a balance between allowing AI usage while promoting responsible and moderated use. This approach, they argue, would enable users to benefit from efficiency and learning opportunities, while not compromising quality content and user cognition. “For platform leaders, the takeaway is clear: AI can boost participation if thoughtfully integrated, but its cognitive demands must be managed to sustain long-term user contributions,” Qiu said.

CEOs 5 times more likely to survive fraud than a personal scandal

If the CEO of Astronomer had overseen tax fraud instead of being caught on a kiss cam cuddling his HR chief in an extramarital affair, he might still have a job. That’s because, according to a new study, CEOs are five times more likely to be fired for personal misconduct than for overseeing financial fraud. “For financial fraud, the CEO can easily say, ‘Hey, it wasn’t me,’” said Aaron Hill, Ph.D., an associate professor in the University of Florida Warrington College of Business who led the study. “With personal misconduct, there’s no excuse.” The research, forthcoming in Strategic Organization, examined 59 cases of personal misconduct and compared them with more than 300 financial scandals at publicly traded companies between 1997 and 2020. The personal cases included inappropriate relationships, drug or alcohol incidents, domestic violence, falsifying credentials and derogatory speech. Hill and his colleagues found that boards move decisively when a CEO’s private behavior becomes public. By contrast, financial misconduct — such as accounting restatements that can wipe out billions in shareholder value — often leaves room for a chief executive to deflect blame onto others in the organization. Recent company performance influenced how boards responded, to a point. A CEO whose company was thriving could often survive a financial scandal because directors had both plausible deniability and a strong incentive not to disrupt success. But good numbers offered little protection when the problem was personal behavior. For example, McDonald’s ousted Steve Easterbrook in 2019 over a consensual relationship with a subordinate, even though the company’s stock price had doubled under his leadership. Hewlett-Packard similarly dismissed CEO Mark Hurd after harassment allegations despite his reputation for turning the firm around. “Even strong performance can’t erase certain kinds of misconduct,” Hill said. “There are some things you just can’t excuse.” The study also uncovered how scandals influenced succession decisions. When personal misconduct led to a firing, boards were more likely to promote an insider, signaling that the problem lay with one person rather than the culture of the company. Financial scandals, on the other hand, often prompted boards to recruit outsiders as a way of reassuring markets that the firm was serious about change. “It’s a signaling move,” Hill said. “Bring in an outsider after fraud, and the market reacts positively. Stick with an insider after a personal scandal, and it says the organization itself is sound.” The researchers argue that these choices reveal how boards balance their fiduciary duty with the reputational risks of scandal. While dismissing a CEO can serve as a public relations reset, Hill emphasized that it is almost always a financially motivated calculation. “Boards are supposed to look out for the company and its shareholders,” he said. “But when they decide to keep a CEO after misconduct, I think it sends the wrong message — to employees, to investors and to the public.”

Robotics help solve deep Sea Mysteries

UD's College of Earth, Ocean and Environment uses robotics currently operated by the National Deep Submergence Facility (NDSF) to study the depths of the ocean. These expeditions ranged from the East Pacific Rise to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The vehicles include the Human Occupied Vehicle (HOV) Alvin, the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Jason and the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Sentry. What it is: A CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) instrument is a key oceanography tool that collects deep-water samples using remotely triggered Niskin bottles at specific depths. How it helps: These measurements help scientists understand ocean processes, including carbon cycling and life systems, which are essential to understanding Earth’s overall functioning. To find out more or to speak with speak associate professor Andrew Wozniak about this deep-sea technology, reach out to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

UF develops breakthrough magnet that could transform metal production

Imagine if producing steel parts for agricultural equipment or even aluminum soda cans required only a fraction of the energy it does today. A University of Florida-led innovation may soon make this a reality. In a groundbreaking collaboration backed by a nearly $11 million federal grant, UF researchers have developed a first-of-its kind superconducting magnet that could advance metal production and position the United States as a global leader in alloy production.   “This revolutionary technology has the potential to substantially reduce the cost and energy use of heat treatments in the steel industry, and we are excited to help pave the way for its adoption in industry.” —Michael Tonks, Ph.D., UF’s interim chair of Materials Science and Engineering Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office, the project uses Induction-Coupled Thermomagnetic Processing, or ITMP, an advanced manufacturing method that integrates magnetic fields with high-temperature thermal processing. The national consortium of industry, academic and national laboratory partners is now led by Michael Tonks, Ph.D., UF’s interim chair of Materials Science and Engineering, who succeeded Michele Manuel, Ph.D., the project’s long-time leader. “This revolutionary technology has the potential to substantially reduce the cost and energy use of heat treatments in the steel industry, and we are excited to help pave the way for its adoption in industry,” said Tonks. It’s not just any piece of equipment; it’s a custom-built superconducting magnet with a unique ability to combine magnetic fields with high-temperature thermal processing. In partnership with the UF physics department, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, or ORNL, and six companies interested in the technology, the magnet and cylinder induction furnace now sit atop a 6-foot-high platform. The prototype, which costs more than $6 million to purchase and install, is capable of processing steel samples up to 5 inches in diameter making it a rare asset for academic research. Yang Yang, Ph.D., UF materials science research faculty member, estimated ITMP could reduce steel processing time by as much as 80 percent, cutting energy use and operational costs. “Thermomagnetic processing changes a material’s phase stability and kinetic properties, accelerating carbon diffusion in steel, said Yang. “Traditional furnaces cannot achieve these advanced material properties.” The system works by modifying the driving forces for important steel phase changes, which shortens heat treatment. “What normally takes eight hours can be done in just a few minutes.” Yang explained. “The magnetic field acts as an external driving force to make atoms diffuse faster.” Unlike conventional energy sources like electricity or natural gas, the ITMP process uses volumetric induction heating along with high-static magnetic fields to lower energy consumption. The project is still in a pilot phase and requires additional research and testing. At ORNL, researchers emphasized the rarity of UF’s prototype, citing its unprecedented combination of magnetic field strength and ability to process large samples and components. “This could significantly advance U.S. manufacturing and process efficiency for heat treatment of materials such as metal alloys of steel or aluminum,” said Michael Kesler, Ph.D., ORNL research scientist and lead collaborator. Kesler noted successful implementation of this technology could contribute to a reliable energy grid and more efficient industrial electrification. UF researchers contend it could also reduce carbon emissions, supporting cleaner, more sustainable manufacturing processes. The tall, two-level magnet now resides in the Powell Family Structures and Materials Laboratory on UF's East Campus. MSE plans to officially unveil it in December, inviting representatives from national labs, industry and academia. While Engineering students will have future opportunities to use it for research and experiential learning, UF researchers are optimistic about potential industry adoption for industrial manufacturing in the next five to 10 years. The award is part of a $187 million DOE initiative to strengthen competitiveness in U.S. manufacturing. If successful, the innovation could redefine how the world shapes the materials of tomorrow.

April 1st is the one day we all expect to be fooled. Scammers are counting on the other 364

Breaking News: Free Cruise for All Retirees! Congratulations!!! If you are reading this, you have just been chosen for a luxury Caribbean cruise, a $5,000 shopping spree, and a lifetime supply of… well, something vaguely exciting. All you need to do is: Click this link, enter your banking info, confirm your SIN, and maybe your childhood pet's name for good measure. Still reading?  Good. Because if that opening gave you even the tiniest thrill, the little flutter of wait, really? You've just experienced exactly what scammers are counting on. APRIL FOOL'S!!! And also: welcome to the world of phishing. Population: way too many of us. Phishing vs. Fishing: A Retirement Skill You Didn't Know You Needed There are two kinds of fishing in retirement.  One involves a dock, a thermos of good coffee, and no deadlines at all. The fish might or might not cooperate. That's fine. That's the whole point. The other scenario involves someone trying to steal your identity by congratulating you on a cruise you never booked, a prize you never won, and a windfall that demands your banking details, your SIN, and, just for fun, the name of your first pet. (Buttons. It's always Buttons.) Let's make sure you're fluent in the first kind and bulletproof against the second. Fraud Doesn't Just Happen to Fools Here's something important to say aloud before we proceed. Fraud isn't caused by people being careless, gullible, or old. It is orchestrated by professionals whose full-time job is to manipulate human behaviour under pressure. There is a clear difference between these two, and how we discuss fraud influences whether victims come forward or stay silent out of shame. This issue is more significant than most realize. Canadians lost over $638 million to fraud in 2024, an increase from $578 million the previous year, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. However, that figure only tells part of the story. The CAFC estimates that just 5 to 10 percent of total fraud losses are ever reported. Think about that for a moment. The number we see is already staggering, and the real total is almost certainly ten times higher. Seniors make up a disproportionate share of those losses, especially in investment fraud, romance scams, and the grandparent scam. But here's the part the statistics don't show: fraud is improving at its craft. These aren't the poorly written emails of 2005. Today's scams are refined, patient, and psychologically targeted. They're designed to create urgency, confusion, and fear — aiming to override careful thinking precisely when it's needed most. So let's talk about what that actually looks like. A Very Personal Fraud Story That Will Stay With You A family reached out to me recently, after reading one of my earlier posts on fraud and seniors. Their father had been the victim of a prolonged scam, one that unfolded over months and caused significant financial damage. They only found out after he passed away. Three things about this story stopped me cold. First, their father kept meticulous records. He journaled every interaction, every step, every decision. There was essentially a play-by-play account of how he became entangled and how difficult it became to find a way out. Second, he was an intensely private person. Not a single family member knew any of it was happening while it was happening. Third, he was a chartered professional accountant. Decades of financial training, discipline, and experience. Someone who understood numbers, risk, and how money moves better than most people ever will. And still. Under the right conditions, with the right psychological pressure applied at the right moments, he was drawn in. That is not a story about a foolish man. That is a story about how sophisticated fraud has become. And it is a story that is playing out in living rooms and email inboxes across this country every single day. Why Seniors Are Targeted (And It's Not What You Think) Scammers don't just go after older adults because they think we're naive. They go after us because we have assets. Savings. Home equity. Good credit. Pension income that actually shows up every month. We're not easy targets; we're valuable ones. They also go after us because retirement can come with conditions that fraud is specifically designed to exploit: financial anxiety about making savings last, changes in how we process decisions under pressure, and, for many, reduced opportunities to run something by a trusted person before acting. Social isolation is not a character flaw. It is a vulnerability, and the people running these operations know exactly how to use it. The Scams You Actually Need to Know About The Grandparent Scam. You get a call. It's your grandchild. They're in trouble, arrested, in an accident, stranded, and they need money right now. Please don't tell Mom and Dad. The caller may not even sound exactly right, but panic has a way of filling in the gaps. Sometimes a fake lawyer or police officer jumps on the line to add credibility. The script is designed to bypass your rational brain and go straight for your heart. If this ever happens: hang up. Call your grandchild directly on a number you already have. Every time. The CRA Impersonation Call. This one is especially popular at tax time.  An official-sounding voice informs you that you owe back taxes and if you don't pay immediately via e-transfer or gift cards, a warrant will be issued for your arrest. The Canada Revenue Agency does not call you out of the blue demanding gift cards. Full stop. If you're ever unsure, hang up and call the CRA directly as 1-800-959-8281. The Romance Scam. Someone finds you online, charming, attentive, almost too good to be true. Weeks or months in, a crisis emerges. Could you help, just this once? These scams are emotionally brutal and financially devastating. If an online relationship moves unusually fast and a financial request follows, that's not love. That's a script. The Investment Opportunity. Guaranteed returns. Exclusive access. Limited time. These words belong together the way "healthy" and "deep-fried" don't. Legitimate investments don't come with countdown clocks. Phishing Emails and Texts. These mimic your bank, Canada Post, Service Canada, Amazon, and anything you'd recognize. They look almost right. The email address is a little off. The link goes somewhere slightly wrong. They want you to click, to enter information, to act now before something bad happens. The urgency is the tell. No Shame. Seriously. None.  If this has happened to you, or someone you love, please hear this: falling for a scam does not mean you are getting old, losing it, or slipping cognitively. It means you are human and were placed under carefully engineered psychological pressure by someone who practices this for a living. That is it. The end. And if you need a reminder that this crosses every age and profession, consider the case of a retired district court judge who lost the equivalent of over $100,000 to a digital arrest scam. Fraudsters called claiming his phone number was linked to a trafficking investigation. Despite decades on the bench watching deception unfold in real time, fear and intimidation did what all that professional knowledge could not protect against. A judge. Still got hooked. That is what these scams do when they are built well. (Source: Devdiscourse) RCMP Sergeant Guy Paul Larocque of the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre puts it plainly: "Fraudsters are professional salespeople who work a target until they close the deal and get their money." That framing matters. You would not blame yourself for being sold something by a skilled salesperson operating under false pretenses. This is no different. The embarrassment is real and completely understandable. However, it does not fairly reflect what occurred. The CAFC has pointed out that many individuals feel ashamed of being victims of fraud and hesitate to report it, but every report helps break up fraud schemes and protect others. Reporting to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is not a sign of failure; it is a vital way to safeguard the next person. A Word to Family Members re: Fraud: Drop It Like It's Hot If someone you care about has been scammed, put down whatever you are holding, take a breath, and read this carefully. Do not scold them. Do not lecture them. Do not "grandsplain" them into the ground. Grandsplaining, for the uninitiated, is mansplaining for the aged, and it is just as unwelcome. Nobody needs a slow, patient, thoroughly detailed breakdown of everything they should have done differently while they sit there wishing the floor would open up and swallow them whole. They already know. They feel terrible. They have probably been replaying every moment of it since it happened, asking themselves how they missed it, why they trusted it, and what they were thinking.  What they do not need is you asking those same questions out loud. Your role at this moment isn't to be the smartest person in the room. It's not to claim you would never have fallen for something like this. And it's certainly not to start a sentence with "well, I always said you should..." because if you finish that sentence, you're on your own. Your job is to be kind. Full stop. Help them contact the bank. Sit with them while they file the report. Make the tea. Handle the phone call they are too rattled to make. Be the calm in the room. That is what love looks like in a crisis, and this is a crisis. Now here is the part where the tables turn, so pay attention. Scammers are not ageist. They are not sitting in a room somewhere saying, "Let's only go after the over-65s today." They go after anyone with money, a phone, and a moment of distraction. Which means they go after everyone. Your inbox is not immune. Your judgment under pressure is not immune. Your "I would never fall for that" confidence is, frankly, exactly the kind of thing scammers count on. Fraud can happen to anyone, and sharing your experience with others, whether or not money was lost, can help prevent them from being victimized by the same or a similar fraud. Nobody is too sharp, too young, or too digitally savvy to be targeted. The call is coming for all of us eventually. So when it comes for you, and you call your mother in a panic, wouldn't you rather she answer with warmth instead of a very long "I told you so"? Be nice to her now. Consider it an investment. One day, she might be the one sitting you down for "the talk." And at that point, the only appropriate response is to make the tea and keep your opinions to yourself. What the Experts Say: Practical Tips to Stop Fraud In my book "Your Retirement Reset" (ECW Press: Now available for Pre-Order here), I cover the topic of fraud and scams." I wanted to address this issue in depth because fraud prevention is not a footnote in retirement planning. It belongs front and center. Here is an excerpt of Chapter 9 of the book: "Remember the old saying, 'Nothing ever comes free'? While it is hard for many seasoned Canadians not to trust a caller, unfortunately, that's the way of the world today. Here are some tips for protecting yourself. Be skeptical. Be wary of unsolicited phone calls, emails, or messages, especially those asking for personal information or money. Don't take their word for it. Ask the person for their details. If they say they are calling from your bank, get their name and branch number and call your bank for verification. If the message is in an email, contact the institution identified in the email. Do not respond right away, ever. Don't share personal information. Never share personal, financial, or health information with unknown individuals or organizations. Consult trusted individuals. Discuss suspicious offers or communications with family members, friends, or trusted advisors. This is especially important if you are asked to donate to a charity or make any kind of financial investment. Use technology wisely. Install antivirus software, create strong passwords, and stay alert to phishing tactics such as harmful links in texts or emails. Use the block feature on your phone to cut off repeat callers you suspect are fraud artists. Work closely with your financial institution. Ask your bank to send alerts for any unusual activity on your account. Review your statements every month and report unauthorized transactions immediately. Report suspicious activity. If you suspect a scam has targeted you, contact the police. Stay informed. Keep up to date on prevalent scams aimed at older adults. A quick Google search on any unsolicited information request can often tell you whether it has already been flagged. These scams are frequently reported to authorities and featured in the media and on consumer advocacy websites." How to Stay Off the Hook When It Comes to Fraud A little friction can be helpful. Scammers depend on speed, on you reacting before you think. The best thing you can do is slow down. Avoid clicking links in unexpected messages; instead, go directly to the company's website by typing it yourself. Call back on a number you find independently, not one provided in the suspicious message. Check email addresses carefully, as a transposed letter can sometimes be all it takes. Keep your devices updated, since those updates fix real vulnerabilities. Discuss these topics openly. With your kids, friends, book club, or the person behind you in the coffee line. Scams flourish in silence and shame. Talking honestly is one of our strongest protections. In retirement, urgency belongs in spin class. Not your inbox. What to Do If You Took the Bait No judgment here. These scams are truly sophisticated. Smart, experienced, financially educated people fall for them, as we've just established. If you think you've been scammed, stop engaging immediately, change your passwords, contact your bank to flag or freeze your account, run a security scan on your device, and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. Reporting matters even if you cannot recover the money. It protects the next person in line. Think of it as cutting the line before the fish swims off with your whole tackle box. 3 Things Worth Setting Up This Week to Protect Yourself from Fraud These take 20 minutes and quietly protect you around the clock. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second verification step. It's usually a text code. And it helps ensure that a stolen password alone won't give access to your accounts. Credit Card controls allow you to lock and unlock your debit or credit card instantly through your bank's app, so if something seems suspicious, you can freeze it within seconds. Real-time alerts enable you to set notifications for any transaction over a threshold you specify, so if someone is spending your money, you are informed immediately, rather than finding out at the end of the month when the damage is already done. Don't Get Hooked by Fraud.  Retirement should be about freedom. The freedom to fish from a proper dock, travel somewhere warm, and spend your money on things that truly bring you happiness. It's not meant to involve fake urgency, suspicious links, or people who want your SIN and the name of your childhood cat. We Need to Do More to Protect Seniors The fraud prevention system in this country, to be frank, hasn't kept pace with the rise of fraud itself. That gap is real, it's growing, and it needs more attention than it currently gets. Meanwhile, the best we can do is stay informed, keep in touch with trusted people, and not let embarrassment prevent us from seeking help or reporting what happened. You worked hard for what you have. You deserve to enjoy it without looking over your shoulder. So enjoy the lake. Take the cruise — a real one that you booked yourself. Spend wisely, live well, and protect what's yours. And if anyone ever tells you that you've won something you never entered? Smile. Wish them a Happy April Fool's. Then hang up. Have a scam story, a close call, or thoughts on what fraud prevention is getting right or getting wrong? I would love to hear from you. Drop it in the comments or send me a note. This is exactly the kind of conversation we should all be having, and the more real experiences we share, the better equipped we all are to protect each other. Sue Don't Retire…ReWire! My Book is Now Available for Pre-Order If this message speaks to you, or to someone you love, I hope you will pre-order a copy of Your Retirement Reset. Available September 8, 2026. Here's the link. And if you love supporting Canadian booksellers, please also check with your local independent bookstore. Most can easily order it for you.

Fewer Parents are Reading to Their Kids—and Why It Matters

A dramatic decline in reading for pleasure in the United States has fewer American parents reading aloud to their children — and experts warn the consequences can be dire. “It builds connections,” Carol Anne St. George, an expert in early literacy at the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education and Human Development, recently told The74 for an article citing a 41-percent decline in parents reading to children daily. “People talk about text to text, text to world,” St. George said, “and those are the kinds of things that help children cognitively think and classify their world around them.” Many young parents grew up in an education system focused on reading as a means to testing and building skills rather than enjoyment. As a result, St. George worries, they often view reading to their young as an obligation rather than a joy and a time to bond. Experts say an increased reliance on screens and digital content and time pressures and competing demands on families have also fueled the decline. St. George notes that children benefit greatly from being read to regularly. The advantages of early literacy include: • Having a more robust vocabulary and stronger communications skills. • Being better prepared to learn in school. • Having a closer relationship with their parents. • Higher academic achievement and better health outcomes later in life. What Parents Can Do St. George advises parents to: • Let children choose books they enjoy. • Make reading part of a daily routine and that bedtime is ideal. • Focus on fun and connection. • Model good reading behavior because children mimic what they see. St. George is available for media interviews and can be reached by contacting Theresa Danylak, the director of communications at the Warner School, at tdanylak@warner.rochester.edu.

ExpertSpotlight: No Joke: The Curious Origins and Enduring Traditions of April Fools’ Day

Every April 1, the world collectively loosens up. Friends prank friends, brands try to outdo each other with outrageous announcements, and even the most serious newsrooms occasionally get in on the joke. But behind the laughter and “gotcha” moments, the origins of April Fools’ Day are anything but straightforward - and that’s part of what makes it so fascinating. One of the most widely accepted origin stories dates back to 1582 and the Gregorian calendar reform. When France shifted New Year’s celebrations from late March (around April 1) to January 1, not everyone got the memo, or chose to follow it. Those who continued celebrating in spring became the subject of ridicule, often tricked with fake gifts or sent on pointless errands. They were dubbed “April fools,” a label that stuck. Other theories reach even further back, connecting the day to ancient seasonal festivals like Hilaria, where people donned disguises, mocked authority, and celebrated the unpredictable shift into spring. Across cultures, the common thread is clear: a moment in the calendar where normal rules are bent, and mischief is not just accepted - it’s expected. What started as localized traditions has evolved into a global cultural phenomenon. Media outlets, corporations, and public figures now participate in April Fools’ Day with increasingly elaborate hoaxes. Perhaps the most famous example came from the BBC in 1957, when it aired a segment about Swiss farmers harvesting spaghetti from trees, complete with convincing visuals. Viewers were fooled, and a legendary prank was born. Today, in an era of viral content and misinformation, April Fools’ Day walks a fine line between humor and credibility, forcing audiences to question what they see and hear. Beyond the pranks, the day reveals something deeper about human nature. It’s a rare, socially sanctioned opportunity to challenge authority, play with truth, and share in collective amusement. For journalists, it also offers a unique angle: how stories spread, why people believe them, and what it says about trust in media. In a world often dominated by serious headlines, April Fools’ Day reminds us that sometimes, the most powerful connection comes not from facts alone, but from the shared experience of being delightfully fooled. Our experts can help! Connect with more experts here: www.expertfile.com