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When It's Your Own Child: Views From Parents About Special Education
The stigma is disappearing, but what remains is the problem of getting the right services to the right kids at the right time.
By ADDitude Editors	Verified	Updated on November 4, 2019
Special Education Bus
The stigma once attached to children in special education is disappearing from America's public schools, according to a Public Agenda survey of their parents released today. But as Congress prepares to take up legislation governing special education in the public schools, many parents say getting information about services for their children is often a struggle.
And they offer mixed views on whether the right kids are getting the right services — 70 percent say too many children with special needs are losing out because their parents are unaware of what's available, while 65 percent feel some children with behavior problems, rather than learning or physical disabilities, get misdirected into special education.
Public Agenda believes this study is the first of its kind to be based on a randomly-selected, nationally-representative sample of parents of public school children with special needs. The survey is based on 510 phone interviews conducted during April and May. When It's Your Own Child: A Report On Special Education from the Families Who Use It was funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation and the 21st Century Schools Project at the Progressive Policy Institute.
Some experts have voiced concerns about the rapid growth in special education enrollment, especially among youngsters diagnosed with ADHD, and question whether schools and families are too quickto place students in special education. The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last month that the parents of 7 percent of the nation's elementary school age children said their child had been diagnosed with ADHD, higher than originally suspected.
But contrary to views that special education has become a "dumping ground" for difficult students, the parents surveyed by Public Agenda were more likely to say they had to struggle to get their children the services they needed.
Just 11 percent said they felt their school had been in a rush to find a problem with their child, while 29 percent said their school was "dragging its feet." More than half said their school took the right approach. Nearly seven out of ten (69 percent) believe early intervention could have kept many students overall out of special education.
"While policy makers focus on whether special education needs more money and a major overhaul from Washington, the parents of children with special needs bring a different perspective to the debate," said Deborah Wadsworth, president of Public Agenda. "We heard no broad call for reform among the parents. While they share some of the concerns raised by critics, many of the parents simply cannot imagine what their children's lives would be like without the special services provided by their public schools."
The study showed that most parents, once their children receive special education services, tend to give the programs good ratings, and most believe that mainstreaming helps special needs children academically. Two-thirds (67 percent) rate their schools "good" or "excellent" in providing their children with the help they need. And 64 percent said that once their child was identified as having special needs, it was easy to get the services they needed, versus 35 percent who expressed frustration.
"Most of the parents surveyed by Public Agenda gave their own school programs good marks," said Wadsworth. "But there is a frustrated minority who say they continually run up against an uncooperative, unhelpful bureaucracy."
Today, some six million children, or about 13 percent of total public school enrollment, receive special education services. In response, school districts have had to find well-trained teachers, determine how to apply new academic standards and how to balance the interests of all students. In a survey of its members earlier this year by the National School Boards Association, nearly 90 percent cited special education as an issue of moderate or significant concern.
In its survey of special ed parents, Public Agenda found:
67 percent believed their school was doing a "good" (34 percent) or "excellent" (33 percent) job giving the help their child needed. Fully 77 percent said they feel treated as a part of their child's evaluation team and 69 percent believe they are offered real choices for their child.
72 percent rated the skill and quality of special ed teachers as "good" or "excellent." Nearly seven in ten (69 percent) said their teachers know a lot about their child's disability and how to work with it, and 84 percent say their teachers really care about their child as a person.
Nearly seven in 10 (69 percent) believe there is much less stigma attached to special education than in the past, and 55 percent of the parents whose children were in high school credit their schools as "good" (36 percent) or "excellent" (19 percent) in preparing their child for life after graduation. Just 13 percent of the parents surveyed said they had experienced resentment from other parents towards special education; 85 percent said they had not.
"I finally got my son placed in a school that I'm truly happy with," one mother said during a Public Agenda focus group that preceded the survey. "They take them out into the public, so that they can be with the other people. They treat them like normal people. I just like the way everything is set up."
But At What Cost?
A key concern regarding special education debated at the policy level and in local school districts is the cost of providing special needs services, now averaging over $12,000 per pupil versus about $6,500 for other pupils. In addition, Congress has provided only about 15 percent of special education funding, far less than the 40 percent it originally promised in 1975 when it mandated the public schools to provide students with disabilities a free, appropriate education. The law, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), is due for reauthorization this year by Congress.
In a Public Agenda survey conducted last year, 84 percent of public school superintendents and 65 percent of principals said special education exacted a disproportionate share of school dollars.
In the current survey and focus groups, Public Agenda found that special ed parents were largely unfamiliar with the federal government's policy or funding roles in special education, as well as with IDEA. Very few in focus groups were aware of the growing controversy around special education that has arisen in education and government circles, and few of the special ed parents surveyed said they feel resentment from other parents.
In the survey, Public Agenda got mixed results from the parents on funding issues:
53 percent rated their school as "good" (36 percent) or "excellent" (18 percent) in providing enough resources for kids with special needs. About a third (34 percent) said their schools need improvement. Ten percent said their school was "failing" on the question of resources.
52 percent said "better programs and policies, not more money, is the best way to improve special education"; 42 percent said more funding is the best way to see improvement.
Some critics have complained that special education has become too bureaucratic and time-consuming for local schools, and question the effectiveness of the services. A key concern has been that schools actively "recruit" students into special education for a variety of reasons, and that students who have behavior problems rather than learning or physical disabilities get "dumped" into special education programs.
A majority of the parents surveyed (55 percent) credit their schools with taking the right approach when evaluating their children for special services, compared with the 29 percent who said their school was dragging its feet and 11 percent who felt their schools were in "too much of a rush." The notion that some families push their children into special education just to get extra resources was dismissed by a majority of theparents surveyed (55 percent), although a sizable minority (32 percent) did either "strongly" or "somewhat" agree.
A large majority of the parents (70 percent) feel that too many kids with special needs are losing out because their families are unaware of the services available. Over half (55 percent) say it is up to parents to find out on their own what help is available because "the school is not going to volunteer the information."
One mother related her experience with the school psychologist, "You know what (he) told me? He said, 'If you weren't so persistent, I wouldn't give you these services.' "
On the other hand, 69 percent of the parents believe many students would not need to be in special education if they had received appropriate help earlier. And 65 percent say some children receiving special education services have behavior problems, rather than learning or physical disabilities. Asked if public schools were too quick to label African-American children as learning disabled, a charge heard from some critics,41 percent disagreed, 18 percent agreed and 41 percent said they did not know.
Over six in 10 parents (63 percent) said their school's evaluation process was "clear and straightforward" while 24 percent said it was"complicated and tricky." A third said school officials dealing with special education "are too concerned with paperwork and following proper procedures;" 63 percent disagreed.
One of the key provisions of IDEA is mainstreaming special needs students into regular classrooms. A majority of special ed parents (56 percent) believe mainstreaming helps special-needs children academically and another 12 percent say it has little effect. Mainstreaming was viewed as detrimental to special needs students by nearly a quarter of the parents surveyed (24 percent).
The widespread support nationwide for raising academic standards was shared in large measure by special ed parents both in the current survey and in Public Agenda's Reality Check 2002 survey, which included a subgroup of special ed parents, released earlier this year.
Nearly 8 in 10 parents in the new survey said their schools should pay a lot more attention to the academic progress of students in special education. In the earlier Reality Check survey, special ed parents opposed by a 67-28 percent margin the practice of "social promotion," in which a struggling student is moved on to the next grade rather than held back.
One mother during a Public Agenda focus group for the current survey complained, "…my son had four D's and they were more than willing to send him to the next level without giving him any extra help. That's failing the kid."
Asked if their children should be expected to pass an exit exam testing their basic skills and knowledge in order to graduate, 34 percent said their child should pass the same test as other students and 50 percent said they should pass the same test but with some accommodations.Only 4 percent said their child should be excused entirely and 11 percent said their child should be given an easier test.
Among high school parents, 82 percent expect their child to graduate with a standard diploma. By a 43-27 percent margin, more parents believed the day would come when their children would no longer need special education services, while 29 percent said it was too early to tell.
Some Unhappy Parents
While most parents give special education good marks, Public Agenda found considerable unhappiness among a substantial number of special ed parents. For many families, frustrations have reached a point where one in six parents (16 percent) say they have considered taking their school to court.
Nearly four in 10 of the parents surveyed (38 percent) say their child would perform better with better teachers. Similarly, 39 percent said their child's special education program was either failing or needed improvement as a good source of information, 35 percent expressed frustration in getting the special education services their child needed, and 33 percent said their school was doing a fair or poor job giving their child the help they need.
A sizable 34 percent of high school parents feel their school needs to do a better job preparing their child for life after graduation and 11 percent fail their schools in this regard.
In preparing When It's Your Own Child, Public Agenda conducted three focus groups and four in-depth interviews with parents of special needs students, and 13 in-depth interviews with experts in special education. The report is based on a national random telephone survey conducted between April 12 and May 11, 2002 of 510 parents of K-12 public school children who have special needs. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points. The report was prepared by Jean Johnson and Ann Duffett.
There are many categories of disabilities that special-needs children may have. Parents in the sample named: specific learning disabilities, ADHD, speech or language impairments, mental retardation or emotional disturbance, hearing or vision impairments, autism or other disabilities.
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Since I've finished up Meaghan's quilt I moved on to Kaytlyn's, getting it all layered and basted this weekend. I also had a chance to quilt three of the large blocks.
I had always planned to do big feather plumes in these blocks, as it just screamed at me to do so. Problem was when I started the quilt, I'd never done them. So I drew and I practised and I did some samples.
Today I actually dug out all the thread and took the plunge. I'm using yellow thread on the back and in some places on the front will be changing thread colors. This not only blends in better (to hide potential goofs 😛 ) it also helps me use up much of my half-empty spools of thread. OF which there are plenty.
I'll do all the large blocks on this quilt first and yes – I am stopping and starting on each block, snipping the thread entirely and not stitching over to the next one. I also did not draw on most of the quilt top for a template. Some I just drew the spine, some blocks nothing at all. They will be almost entirely freehand.
I've also been picking up some tips from Diane Gaudynski and her upcoming free motion quilt along. The topic for February? Feather plumes! 😀 Mine don't look near as nice as hers, but like she says – just keep on practising!
By the time I get to the last block, I should be pretty good. They are fun to do, if maddening in parts. I definitely like the look of going back and outlining the whole thing until the block fills. It definitely hides my turn backs.
I also chose poly batting because of the loft, and to see how my Bernina handles it. So far, I still don't like working with it.


Glenmorangie have kicked off their Bond House No.1 series of vintage expressions with an absolutely stonking 1990 vintage single malt! This terrific tipple was distilled right when everyone realised that the year 2000 might actually happen, and left to age in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Sherry casks for quarter of a century before being bottled at 43% ABV. The distillers in the Highlands figured that a whisky as smashing as this needed a rather handsome bottle too, which is always a treat.
In his Whisky Bible 2017, Jim Murray gave this a massive 94 points (earning a Liquid Gold Award), and also took home a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017!


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Avoid staying around those big vehicles.
xBhp was born more than 16 years ago and since then we've had a chance to ride or drive hundreds of machines running on two wheels or four wheels, and sometimes even three wheels. We are not done yet, and this list is still growing. In these pages, we take a deep dive in the treasure trove of our ride experiences and bring you all that we have ridden or driven.
Machines Done
Total Cubic Capacity
BMW M4 Competition xDrive Convertible: Roof off | Game On
Bajaj Pulsar P150: P for Perfect, P for Pulsar
Yamaha R7: The most practical fun you'll have!
Simple One: First-Ride Review
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149.68CC 14.3BHP 13.5NM
xBhp
Bajaj,Bikes,Motorcycles
Bajaj is taking its new Pulsar platform and the success they have had with it quite seriously. What started with the new Pulsar 250s led to a Pulsar N160 and now the new Pulsar P150. While the nomenclature and the displacement of the N160 and P150 seem close enough for some friendly fire, there are significant differences between the two. We have already ridden the N160 (Read our review here). Here, we'll take a look at the new Bajaj Pulsar P150 and what it brings to the table.
Let us start with the design first. It is quite similar to the N160 but the bulk and the muscle have been somewhat tapered. It is in line with the philosophy of the two motorcycles. While the Pulsar N160 is a sportier offering, the Pulsar P150 aims to better the practical-Pulsar idea that the old Pulsar 150 carried.
That said, the Pulsar P150 still looks a fair bit sporty thanks to the new design language despite being more commuter-friendly. The headlamp design is slightly different from the N160 but the Pulsar P150 gets an LED projector headlamp which is a nice addition. Then there's an 'infinity console', more or less in line with the N160 and N250. Overall, Pulsar P150 looks pretty good and its looks are further accentuated by the build quality and finish levels.
The most significant improvement that the Pulsar P150 brings over the older Pulsar 150 is weight; or the lack of it. That is saying something since we loved the engine on the Pulsar P150, but more on that later. Tipping the scales at 140 kg (141 kg for the dual-disc variant), the Pulsar P150 saves 9 kg over the old Pulsar 150 and almost 15 kg compared to the N160. The significant weight cut has helped the Pulsar P150 in nearly every dynamic aspect, from handling to acceleration.
The Pulsar P150 feels light and agile on the move and yet, despite the lack of heft, it never feels nervous or flighty. In the city, it is a boon as the manoeuvrability is excellent. It also feels much better in the corners. Though not as sporty as its larger siblings, the Pulsar P150 is good enough to make everyday commutes a bit more exciting than usual. The underbelly exhaust that helps keep the CoG low also helps matters in this regard. Braking is adequate for a motorcycle in this class.
The suspension is plush and the Pulsar P150 deals with bad roads like a pro absorbing all but the nastiest of potholes. This makes it a Pulsar that is easier to live with than nearly any other Pulsar out there. One interesting bit can be found in the variants. The dual-disc variant that gets a split seat as well comes with sportier clip-ons and fairly rear-set pegs. This is slightly strange as the Pulsar P150 is aimed squarely at comfort and commutes and the overall setup is also in that direction.
The second variant with a single-piece seat gets a nice flat single-piece handlebar which is upright but this variant gets drum brakes at the rear and a slimmer rear tyre too, 100-section as compared to the 110-section for the dual-disc variant. We found this to be slightly strange but it's good that one has a choice to either go comfy or a tad bit sportier.
The next department where the low weight helps is performance. But the credit for that goes to the fantastic engine too. The new power plant has the same bore/stroke ratio as the old Pulsar 150 but the innards are new. It gets the same internal treatment as the N160 and that results in unforeseen refinement levels. It won't be a stretch to say that this might not only be the smoothest Pulsar 150 ever but also the best in class when it comes to refinement.
It isn't just the smoothness either. The engine is good for 14.5 PS of power and 13.5 Nm of torque. The numbers may be in line with the older Pulsar bit with the weight-reduction and refinement, the performance is drastically better. It pulls better, the torque is spread throughout the low to midrange and the tractability is something to appreciate. On long highway jaunts, you may be left wanting a bit more but then, that is not where it aims to excel. In the city, it is a joy and you have to love it for that.
Finally, with ABS, a standard USB port, a decent console with a gear indicator, and an LED projector headlamp, the Pulsar P150 offers a decent bit in terms of features. At INR 1.17 Lakh (Ex-Showroom) for the single-disc variant and INR 1.20 Lakh (Ex-Showroom) for the dual-disc variant, the Pulsar P150 offers a lot for the price. An excellent city motorcycle for smooth and sporty commuting; what more can you ask for?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


SINGAPORE, April 10 (Reuters) – Oil prices crept higher on Wednesday, supported by supply cuts by producer club OPEC and U.S. sanctions against oil exporters Iran and Venezuela, but restricted by expectations that an economic slowdown could soon dent fuel consumption.
International benchmark Brent futures LCOc1 were at $70.66 per barrel at 0158 GMT, up 5 cents from their last close.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 oil futures were at $64.10 per barrel, up 12 cents, or 0.2 percent, above their last settlement.
Both benchmarks hit five-month highs on Tuesday, before easing on global growth worries. oil markets have been tightened this year by U.S. sanctions on oil exporters Iran and Venezuela, as well as supply cuts by the producer club of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and some non-affiliated producers, a group known as OPEC+.
Oil production C-OUT-T-EIA in the United States has risen by more than 2 million barrels per day since early 2018, to a record 12.2 million bpd.
U.S. crude stocks rose by 4.1 million barrels in the week to April 5, to 455.8 million barrels, data from industry group the American Petroleum Institute showed on Tuesday. the demand side, there are concerns that an economic slowdown will soon hit fuel consumption.


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The absurdity of Nigerian politics and governance: A critical reading of the drama of Ola Rotimi
Author(s): Awuawuer and Tijime Justin
Abstract: The writers' commitment to the socio-political issues is highly commendable enough as different Nigerian playwrights such as Soyinka, Sowande, Osofisan, Hagher, yerima and many others who have painstakingly reflected the dismal performances of Nigerian politicians, or call them, the neo-imperialists who took over power from the colonial masters. This article, as a critical discourse unveiled the iconoclastic purview of Ola Rotimi's dramatic culture within the context politic and governance. To this end, an interrogation of his dramaturge within the praxis of the absurdity and futility in Nigerian socio-political icons is treated in this article. Adopting a Reader-response/Receptive theories and methodologies which stem from hermeneutics, this paper therefore does a close reading of two of his plays; Holding Talks and Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again discovering the emerging features, imageries and images that depict the absurdity and futility of Nigerian politics and governance.
Pages: 31-38 | Views: 290 | Downloads: 14
Awuawuer, Tijime Justin. The absurdity of Nigerian politics and governance: A critical reading of the drama of Ola Rotimi. Int J Political Sci Governance 2020;2(1):31-38.


Governor Terry Branstad remains opposed to legalizing marijuana for recreational use in Iowa, but Branstad says he's willing to work with advocates worried about the soon-to-end Iowa law that decriminalized possession of cannabis oil for treatment of chronic epilepsy.
The law is set to expire July 1st.
The group "Iowans for Medical Cannabis" has been lobbying legislators and the governor to expand the law.
They want those who suffer from other serious and terminal illnesses to be able to legally use cannabis as treatment for symptoms like nausea and pain.
Branstad says he wants to review the experiences of patients as well as the latest medical research about cannabis.
Advocates for the use of cannabis oil and other products as treatment for illnesses argue the products should be made and produced in Iowa if the state legalizes possession of it.
Branstad says he wants to "carefully review" how grow-and-dispense operations in the neighboring states of Illinois and Minnesota work.


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It's nearly the weekend and it's nearly time for my stage debut at the very lovely Britannia Panopticon Music Hall in Glasgow on Sunday (Oct 5th)!
I hope the audience like their movies because my whole show revolves around movie nostalgia and what happens when things go too far and you let movies influence your life.
Also, on the bill are 6 fantastic and very unique magicians and mind readers!
Come along… it's going to be full of laughs and surprises!


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Home » News » Finalists Announced for 2018 Laugh Out Loud Presents: Just For Laughs Eat My Shorts
Finalists Announced for 2018 Laugh Out Loud Presents: Just For Laughs Eat My Shorts
Finalists Announced for Laugh Out Loud Presents: Just For Laughs Eat My Shorts
Top 5 Short Films Selected by Fans to Screen At the Just For Laughs Festival
On Thursday, July 26, 7 pm at the Phi Centre, Montreal
Fans Can Stream and Vote for the Top 10 Films
Starting Saturday, July 14, 9 am (PDT) at http://bit.ly/LOLonYT
Montreal, QC [July 12, 2018] — Laugh Out Loud, the comedy brand and multi-platform network created by Kevin Hart and global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), and Just For Laughs ComedyPRO today announced the 10 finalists selected for Laugh Out Loud Presents: Just For Laughs Eat My Shorts, a competition in search of the funniest short films.
In alphabetical order, the 10 short films selected are:
* Behind Closed Doors — Bianca Armbruster (Director)
* Curious Georgina — Feraz Ozel (Director)
* Eat My Shorts Film Submission — Eduard Witzke (Director)
* Fowl Play — Rachel Cairns and Brendan Jeffers (Directors)
* Lyfe Crushers — Trevor Williams (Director)
* Sweet Revenge — Pascal Atuma (Director)
* The Application — Brenda Saucedo (Director)
* The Call — Eric Toth (Director)
* The Prologue — Maxwell Michael Towson (Director)
* Worry Warts — Laura Rudnicki and Lexy Paul (Directors)
Fans can stream all 10 short films on Laugh Out Loud's YouTube page starting Saturday, July 14 and ending Tuesday, July 17. They can also vote for their favorites by liking the video.
The five films with the most likes will screen at the Just For Laughs Festival on Thursday, July 26 at 7 pm at Old Montreal's Phi Centre (407 Saint-Pierre Street). The winning film will be announced at the screening with the winner(s) receiving exclusive distribution of their short film as well as a first look deal with Laugh Out Loud.
Winners of last year's inaugural competition were Marina Squerciati (Chicago P.D.) and Patrick Webb for their short film, Special Skills: Episode 3 Hot Tea.
A partnership between Laugh Out Loud and the Just For Laughs Festival, Laugh Out Loud Presents: Just For Laughs Eat My Shorts is all about discovering the next generation of diverse filmmakers. This is the second year for the US/Canada-wide competition.
Laugh Out Loud Presents: Just For Laughs Eat My Shorts is free to all Just For Laughs ComedyPRO pass holders. Tickets to the screening can be purchased through the Phi Centre Box Office.
About Laugh Out Loud Network:
Laugh Out Loud is a comedy brand and multi-platform network founded by the world's top comedian Kevin Hart, in partnership with Lionsgate. Through his network Hart delivers his vision for the future of comedy: social, mobile, multicultural and seriously funny. From stand-up legends to globally-recognized digital influencers, Hart and LOL curate comedy's boldest voices to produce original scripted and unscripted series, stand-up specials, live broadcasts and special events. Hart brings the groundbreaking social-first strategy that earned him 100 million+ followers to Laugh Out Loud, with one core mission: keep the world laughing. Dope Comedy. Delivered Daily. Always On. Always Loud. Directly from Kevin Hart and his hand-picked crew of comedic rockstars.
About Just For Laughs ComedyPRO:
Just For Laughs ComedyPRO is a unique, annual global gathering of the biggest players in the comedy industry. The event takes place during the peak industry/media/performer dates of the Just For Laughs Festival. You simply cannot get any closer to the people who truly make comedy happen than at Just For Laughs ComedyPRO! Registrants for this one-of-a-kind, four-day industry experience gain exclusive access to some of the most sought-after events in all of comedy, including keynotes, panels, 'In Conversation' sessions, industry luncheons, cocktail parties, and exclusive live performances from comedy's buzziest podcast hosts.
About Just For Laughs Group:
Founded in 1983, the Just For Laughs Group concentrates on three major focal points: festivals (in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Sydney); television production and stand-up specials, most notably Gags, seen in 135 countries and on 95 airlines; and live shows, including Canadian tour dates for Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, Jimmy Carr, Danny Bhoy, and North American dates for John Cleese & Eric Idle and Family Guy Live! to name a few. The Montreal Just For Laughs Festival, which celebrates its 36th edition in 2018, is the world's largest and most prestigious comedy event, welcoming more than 2 million people each summer. The Group has offices in Montreal, Paris, Los Angeles, Toronto, and London.
About the Phi Centre:
Dedicated to art in all its forms, Phi is a multidisciplinary arts and culture organization that cultivates all aspects of creation, development, production and dissemination. Phi is at the intersection of art, film, music, design and technology. Through eclectic programming and a strong emphasis on content creation, Phi fosters unexpected encounters between artists and audiences. Headquartered at the Phi Centre in Montreal Canada, Phi was created by Director and Founder Phoebe Greenberg.
← Just For Laughs Announces the Recipients of the 2018 Just For Laughs Awards Just For Laughs Unveils Its New Faces of 2018 →


Talkspace is a therapy provider using online mediums. The company just partnered with Michael Phelps for a campaign on a national TV whose goal is to address that stigma connected to mental illness. Talkspace functions by linking its clients suffering from mental illnesses with a qualified therapist who is usually reached through a tablet, computer or smartphone. Phelps who is a world champion swimmer has suffered from anxiety and depression before, and Talkspace felt he was the right person to spearhead its TV campaign. Phelps looks forward to encouraging people with mental illness to seek help through sharing his story and experiences. Phelps comes to Talkspace not just as a spokesman only, but also he is joining the advisory board of the company whose aim is to help the continuous approach of the company. Moreover, Phelps understands well the mental health advocacy world and has a strong dedication to data-driven enhancements in the sector. Thus, with Phelps' experiences, Talkspace feels he will add value to the advisory board which is the organization's important key when dealing with mental illness cases.
Mental illness has become a significant discussion topic in recent years. The subject has received so much attention as well as studies; however, the stigma and misconceptions related to mental illness still exist. Talkspace aims to pass across the message that depression can affect anyone. In 2012, Phelps went through depression that made him lose hope. For five days he stayed in his room contemplating death before he thought of therapy which saved his life. Currently, many organizations are striving through marketing to let people seek attention through mental illness awareness.
New Directions Behavioural Health is an organization that offers therapy to people with depression through online video, text as well as video messaging. The company has partnered with Talkspace to make it easier for clients to access therapy on their terms with a licensed clinician.
Talkspace is the leading online therapy organization. The company allows dialogue between the licensed therapist and the consumers as a way of transforming mental health care access. The company's primary goal is to eliminate the psychological illness misconceptions and stigma.


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Fairfax Jiu Jitsu Address: 14119 Mariah Ct Chantily, VA 20151 | Phone: 703-435-9899
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for Kids
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
What to Expect at Your First Class Sign Up For a Free Trial Class Now!
Children's BJJ Class
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) it is an effective, practical martial art that prepares kids to protect themselves in a self-defense situation. It's also a fantastic way for kids to stay fit and learn hands-on about discipline, commitment, and teamwork. The program at Fairfax Jiu Jitsu accepts children from 6 to 13 years old.
The Kid's Jiu Jitsu program at Fairfax Jiu Jitsu is designed to instill confidence and self-discipline while improving balance, coordination, problem solving skills, and mental toughness. Each class includes a warm-up, technical instruction and an instructor-supervised drilling or sparring session. Students train both with the gi (uniform) and without as it is important to understand how to control your opponent in a variety of ways. Assistant instructors are routinely utilized to maintain a great student/teacher ratio on the mat.
Martial arts is much more than merely mastery of physical skills. Children enrolled in Jiu Jitsu at Fairfax Jiu Jitsu Academy participate in the Forged Character™ program, a positive life skills and character-building program developed collaboratively with FJJ and a licensed teacher and curriculum specialist. Running concurrent with the Jiu Jitsu training, the program is designed to improve your child's self-esteem, confidence, humility, discipline, and leadership skills. By working through the program, kids are able to advance on and off the mat, at home, at school, and in their community. The Forged Character™ program helps kids develop into disciplined, respectful, confident teens which make for disciplined, respectful, confident adults. This unique program is ONLY available at FJJ and reflects Fairfax Jiu Jitsu Academy's belief that martial arts must be about more than fighting or self-defense skills.
In the FJJ Kids Jiu Jitsu program, belts are awarded on a merit based system. All promotions are earned and are awarded based on sportsmanship, leadership, knowledge of technique and attendance. FJJ rejects the culture of the "belt factory" that some martial arts have become. We do not believe in "belt tests" in the traditional sense nor is there ever a fee for a belt promotion. Students are encouraged to be competitive when appropriate, but emphasis is placed on improving skills while maintaining good sportsmanship and peer leadership. Students in the program view peers as teammates rather than opponents. All of our kids classes are structured within a friendly and fun atmosphere.
Professor Mark Jones is the director of the Fairfax Jiu Jitsu kids program as well as its primary instructor. He is an IBJJF certified 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has won numerous international competitions including a gold medal at the 2012 International Masters Jiu Jitsu Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Outside of teaching, Coach Mark works with Loudoun County helping children and families as an attendance officer.
Coach Sam Kim also teaches the kids BJJ program and is an internationally certified 1st degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with over 20 years of experience. Off the mat, Coach Sam is a mental health therapist and certified substance abuse counselor working in private practice with adolescents, adults, and couples.
Set your child on a martial arts journey that will positively impact them for the rest of their lives! Begin the journey! Start here with a free trial class!
Fairfax Jiu Jitsu - MMA, BJJ, Muay Thai, and Capoeira in Chantilly
14119 Mariah Ct, Chantilly, VA 20151 | 703.435.9899
Copyright © Fairfax Jiu Jitsu Academy, LLC. 2023 All Rights Reserved
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Editorial: Fall 2022 Report Card
Bella Daidone/Design Manager
By The Editorial Board - December 9, 2022
Administration: B-
It's largely been a controversy-free semester from Binghamton University's administration, or at least closer to one than before. A great deal of the news has been positive. This started fairly early, on move-in day. After years of pandemic restrictions and hurdles, this year's move-in was smooth thanks to a new four-day process, as well as the assistance of a newly created B-Welcome Crew. This, in conjunction with BU accepting a record-breaking freshmen class, is a plus for the University. The new class is notable not for its size, but for continued trends in accepting increasing amounts of underrepresented students.
Still, the University – as always – has more work to do on its relationship with the campus community. Just a week into the semester, BU saw the resignation of Ana Maria Candela, a sociology professor who had, last semester, been thrown into the center of conservative media attention for her progressive stacking policy. While the circumstances surrounding Candela's resignation took place last year, her resignation itself is a sobering reminder of the University's failure to protect its own staff. In Pipe Dream's coverage, we demonstrate how teaching assistants (TAs) still feel as though they were left unsafe and unsupported following the incident.
On the theme of an unsafe environment — in September, former BU student Jon Lizak was arrested and charged for breaching the U.S. Capitol. The relative silence from administration following Lizak's arrest is unfortunate. Lizak, who had once served as president of BU's College Republicans, was also involved in a notorious on-campus incident three years ago, in which he joined others in a provocative tabling event by conservative activist group Turning Point USA (TPUSA). Regardless of whether the University can comment on individual cases, many would have expected at least a strong statement against radical political extremism or its influence on campus following Lizak's arrest.
Also in the beginning of this semester was the case of Ollie Horne, a former nursing student who brought forth allegations of abuse and misconduct against faculty in the Decker College of Nursing and Public Health. While we understand the University is unable to comment due to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) restrictions, the abundance of screenshots and audio recordings Horne has shared as evidence — much of which has been publicly released — paint a concerning picture of officials in administration, and warrants swifter action.
As hinted throughout this section, the University remains short of a higher grade due to its continued inability to protect its own community. However, we must also recognize what they have done well. We are happy to see BU begin initiatives such as the Libraries' Strategic Plan, a project which aims to both improve the libraries' offerings while also emphasizing diversity, equity and inclusion. On the subject of inclusion, the University has also recently allowed for students to update their legal sex to "X" in University records beginning by the end of the year. Though the change was required by SUNY, the creation of a pronouns and implementation committee to consider all aspects of the change shows the University is heading in a positive new direction.
In addition, BU's Build Back Better Grant — an initiative the administration has certainly thrown its support behind — was chosen as one of 21 finalists across the country. We are excited to see the impacts of the project, which reflects positively on BU's image as a research institution and will likely positively impact the broader Southern Tier.
Overall, though the University has made improvements this semester — and while it has certainly been a quieter semester than the last — there is still work to be done.
Student Association: B+
There were many positives and negatives to take away from this semester for the Student Association (SA).
One of the strongest departments throughout the semester has been the vice president for finance (VPF). There have been a number of overhauls and improvements that have left us particularly impressed, such as the new and improved treasurer training and frequent communication. The raising of minimum payments required for prior approval has also been notable — a relief for many student organizations. Overhauls were not the only thing done effectively by the VPF. The VPF's initiative to setup a direct Amazon account for chartered organizations to make their purchases in a more organized, tax free format is another impressive project that is sure to make navigating purchases better for the various student organizations here at BU.
Another notable SA initiative that has demonstrated a clear commitment to improving the lives of students comes from the vice president for student success (VPSS). This initiative is the BU Brainiac program, which trains various student leaders across campus to become small-scale academic advisors for their peers. Given the confusion that many students tend to have regarding course scheduling and major requirements, we believe this new initiative will give more students the knowledge needed to complete their degrees on time and best utilize their BU education.
While these offices have done some great work, there are other aspects of the SA that have felt lacking.
No aspect of the SA has been the center of more controversy or discourse than Off Campus College Transport (OCCT). More specifically, Late Nite. Late Nite's troubles first became known in mid-September, when the service was pulled following an incident at the LUMA festival. While at first the matter appeared to be resolved — as the service came back online in early October — only a few weeks later Late Nite was again pulled from service following an incident on Halloween weekend. While it is impossible to ignore the role that student behavior played in these incidents, it did take an excessive amount of time for the SA to come to a solution. This becomes more evident when one factors in how a similar pattern of incidents occurred last fall.
The optics of leaving hundreds of students stranded downtown due to the actions of a few are also questionable, especially during Halloween weekend. However, it is true that there have been no shutdowns since the implementation of the newest set of revised rules, and we remain cautiously optimistic that these changes are for good.
Aside from OCCT, we have also found that communication from the SA has been lacking at various points throughout the semester. This has been particularly evident with the SA Congress. More than once, changes in the meeting time and location were not communicated to the general public. This includes a change in the Congress' primary meeting location, which was never directly stated to the student body.
Overall, the new SA administration is off to a steady, albeit quiet, start. There is most certainly room for improvement, and we hope to see more activity from all departments in the spring.
Student Association Programming Board: A
Last semester proved to be a great time full of exciting concerts and discussion events for the Student Association Programming Board (SAPB), and this fall was no different. Viral stars such as Yung Gravy performed at BU's Events Center for the Fall Concert, while talented comedians such as Chris Distefano drew large crowds.
SAPB's largest and most hyped up event of the semester was the Fall Concert. After COVID-19 restrictions were enforced last fall in the Events Center — keeping groups of people separated into "pods" — this year reverted back to the status quo of a free flowing crowd. Yung Gravy headlined and received an enthusiastic crowd reaction, as did the opener Sophie Cates. The SAPB has once again proven successful in booking high-profile headliners in their concerts, as it did with Gunna last semester.
An emphasis on smaller artists and intellectual conversations are always at the heart of the SAPB. Last semester, they hosted their Binghamton Underground Music Presents (BUMP) show featuring Pom Pom Squad and Pool Kids. On the intellectual side of things, they had Javier Muñoz from "Hamilton" appear to give a talk. This semester continued the trend, with two BUMP shows in September and November. Stimulator Jones headlined the first, while Blue Hawaii headlined the second, highlighting lesser-known artists that have lots of promise.
The SAPB kept a wide variety of acts and activities too, such as a talk with Cornell William Brooks, a professor at Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the 18th president and CEO of the NAACP. In October, the Peace Quad saw 2022's Fall Fest get underway in an engaging and fun event featuring giveaways, vendors, free food, a small petting zoo and a screening of "Nightmare Before Christmas." Despite inadequate organization of long lines, the event was a hit. The SAPB also had their stand up comedy show of the semester with Chris Distefano headlining and Sergio Chicon as the opener.
The Editorial Board applauds the SAPB for their entertaining and enlightening experiences provided to BU students, as we mark a return to a social distancing-free campus environment.
Residential Life: C-
This semester was tumultuous for Residential Life. Ruth Boehling's, '22, open letter to Residential Life on Aug. 15 opened a pandora's box of residential assistant (RA) grievances, including negligent supervisors, a lack of mental health resources, disorganized Professional Staff (ProStaff) and a lack of support for students with COVID-19.
Following these complaints — and many more from previous years — Residential Life emailed all student staff on Sept. 15 to announce that the RA position would be replaced with new student roles, which will go into effect in Aug. 2023. However, a lack of elaboration on what those positions would look like and what would happen to current RAs spurred backlash and uncertainty among RAs, who worried if their positions were jeopardized. Additionally, there is still uncertainty about how compensation will work within the new staffing model. While it has been confirmed that the "live-in student staff positions" will still receive free rooming, BU's website also states that discussions with Financial Aid are still underway about how financial aid might be impacted by compensation packages, and the compensation model for the new positions has still not been announced.
BingUNews has reported that the new student staffing model will "add 300 new paid student jobs in addition to reimagining the roles of the current 200 RAs." Some of the new roles will be student area assistants, student operations assistants and student marketing assistants. While it is clear the prior RA model was problematic, and though we tentatively hope this new model will alleviate burdens, it is a shame that Residential Life did not consider including RAs themselves in the decision-making process prior to the announcement.
We hope that the new staffing model will honor the experience and commitment of current RAs by allowing them to hold their jobs, and that the model will relieve some of the roles currently placed on RAs, but the manner in which these changes were enacted reflects poorly on Residential Life.
Mental Health: D+
BU's mental health programs have remained mostly stagnant and insufficient, but they are beginning to enter conversation more.
The University has made some advancements in the field, like a recently signed contract with a vendor called BetterMynd, a service that provides teletherapy infrastructure. Through this initiative, BU can increase the availability of counseling services on some evenings and weekends. We look forward to seeing these increases in mental health resources materialize.
This year, the University also revamped its "Red Folder Initiative" along with a new website. The initiative distributes 5,000 reference guides to faculty and staff with information and tools on how to recognize student stress and refer students to mental health resources. While ensuring that faculty are aware and properly trained to respond to mental health crises is important, we are unsure that the red folder initiative will be effective in fostering better communication between faculty and students. After all, even with a revamp, it has already been in place for over 10 years.
In a Sept. 23 BU Council meeting, it was noted that, though BU's mental health resources are insufficient, this is part of a larger national lack of mental health resources for adolescents. We have been happy to see student mental health become a larger topic of conversation among administration this semester, but we encourage the University to lead the change themselves.
On that theme, BU remains egregiously understaffed in its counseling department, with only 13 counselors for around 18,000 students. Additionally, the scope of services offered is quite limited — the University's "brief therapy model" emphasizes that UCC therapy is time-limited, and students that require longer-term help will be referred to "community resources." Studies have found that a majority of university students in the United States suffer from mental illness, and universities throughout the country continue to be understaffed and underfunded in mental health care departments.
The Violence Abuse Rape and Crisis Center (VARCC), founded in June 2021, has been one of BU's most successful mental health initiatives. One year after its creation — pushed for by students — the VARCC continues to provide important resources for students affected by sexual or domestic violence.
Similarly, the Students of Concern Committee (SOC), comprised of members from the University Counseling Center (UCC), Decker Health Services, Residential Life, Academic Affairs, Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) and more, is also continuing to be heavily utilized. This important resource aims to identify students with these behavioral concerns early on and intervene.
With a continued lack of university-funded mental health resources, the emotional and financial burden of supporting increasing numbers of students struggling with mental illness has fallen on student organizations like M-HOPE, SEEK and REACH. Although student-run mental health organizations are extraordinarily important and impactful, it is the responsibility of the University to ensure that all students are enjoying a satisfactory quality of life. In July 2021, SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras directed $24 million in institutional funding toward expanding mental health services on SUNY campuses. However, BU has yet to significantly expand its counseling staff or the scope of its mental health resources. The U.S.' burgeoning college mental health crisis is urgent, and it is the responsibility of universities across the nation to invest in and promote effective mental health resources for their students.
Athletics: B+
With two regular-season titles and the hiring of a new athletics director, the Binghamton athletics program is currently in a promising stage. However, with a few programs not living up to the rest, it is difficult to boost the program's grade to the A-range. The women's soccer team was easily the highlight of this fall semester, winning the America East (AE) regular season title for the first time in 18 years with a 6-1-1 record in the conference season. The Bearcats made it all the way to the AE championship match against UNH, where it took two overtimes and a penalty shootout for them to be defeated.
The Binghamton volleyball team made a complete turnaround from recent memory — winning the AE regular season title. The team's impressive year can be attributed to the new look of the team, stemming from first-year head coach Allie Yaeger and AE Player of the Year, junior outside hitter Tsvetelina Ilieva. Despite taking the regular season title and hosting the AE tournament, BU was eliminated in the first round by UNH. The Bearcats also qualified for the NIVC, where they faced St. John's and were defeated in three sets.
Eight games into its season, the men's soccer team remained without a win. However, an 8-1 victory over Hartford sparked a 5-2-2 record to close out the season that earned the Bearcats a spot in the playoffs. Binghamton defeated UMBC 3-2 in overtime in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals against UNH. While they were unable to defeat the Wildcats, the Bearcats showed resilience despite the slow start to their season.
Additionally, the swimming and diving teams have had success in the first half of their season, as the men's side is 4-2 and won the Rhode Island Invitational. Furthermore, the cross country teams had a fluctuating season that included a second place finish at the AE Championships for both teams. Rounding out the fall sports, the golf team wrapped up its season without a win. The team's best finish was a seventh place at their home event the Matthews Auto Intercollegiate.
Looking ahead to winter sports, it is difficult to make any conclusions about these teams at the moment. While the men's basketball team has had some glimpses of greatness — specifically its shocking last second comeback against Columbia — it has also looked less than impressive against teams. Similarly, the women's basketball team has had a volatile start to its season. Despite being undefeated at home, the Bearcats post a 1-4 record on the road, making it difficult to assess where this team is at right now. Wrestling has not won much of its duals, but the Bearcats have been competing against nationally ranked opponents for the most part. Their goals are more focused on the latter portion of the season and having success at the national level.
Also it is important to highlight Eugene Marshall Jr., who has been hired as the new director of athletics, effective Jan. 5, 2023. He comes to BU after spending 14 years at Hampton University in Virginia and will look to use his 38 years of experience to lead the Bearcats' athletic programs to a successful future.
The Binghamton athletics department had one of its most successful seasons in recent memory, as several teams have had stellar performances this semester. We feel that a "B+" grade accurately reflects the level of achievements made and we hope the department can carry the momentum going into the spring.
Information Technology Services (ITS): D
People love to complain about bad Wi-Fi, and this semester has given BU students much to complain about. Connection has been spotty, and computers sometimes take several minutes to connect after being turned on. It is very frustrating to arrive at class prepared and ready to take notes, only to be unable to get online for the first few minutes.
Campus internet also dropped out completely several times. On Oct. 13, many students found themselves unable to do any work on campus as their computers and phones failed to connect to eduroam. More recently, on Nov. 8, students and faculty received a B-Alert from ITS requesting that everyone disconnect from campus Wi-Fi immediately "while ITS staff investigate a software issue that may negatively impact users." Nov. 8 coincides with midterm season for students. Many students spend hours on campus studying for exams and cannot afford to be kicked off the internet.
ITS did not give much information about the recent issue beyond saying that it was an internal issue and not a cyberattack. This is an important distinction on a campus that has faced cybersecurity issues in the past. It is reassuring to know that the newly updated firewall installed by the ITS has been successful thus far, but the campus community deserves more transparency when "potentially harmful" software issues occur. It was also unclear what risks students faced if they ignored the warning and did not disconnect from eduroam in time.
Another example of poor communication from the ITS came over the summer, when BU removed access to Google Drive, among other Google services, for alumni. Many alumni found themselves at risk of losing all of their schoolwork without a clear way to back up their data. Although the ITS reached out to certain users with large drives to help them migrate their data, many other people felt left in the dark on how to save years of work.
The only thing saving the ITS from a failing grade is their commitment to campus cybersecurity. Not only did they implement a new firewall, but they also created a short cybersecurity training for students, faculty and staff to teach them ways to protect themselves against cyber threats. We applaud the work of ITS in this respect but ask that they do a better job of communicating important information.


1. Do I need a permit for a shed?
See our Shed Information Handout.
2. Do I need a permit to erect a fence?
No. There are no setback requirements for a fence. However, the fence must be located on your property and you are not allowed to trespass onto an adjoining property to maintain the fence. Fences on property borders must not exceed 6 feet in height above the adjoining grade. The fence should not block visibility for vehicle drivers nor be in the road right of way.
3. What zoning district am I in?
You can look up your zoning district by a searching your tax parcel ID number, Owner's name, or address via Dutchess County Parcel Access.
4. What are my setback requirements?
5. Can I have chickens or other livestock on my property?
Complete and submit the following form(s). Please note that forms must be signed.
7. Can I subdivide my property?
Only if you have enough property to create lots which will meet all the minimum bulk regulations.
8. Does the Town have a survey of my property?
Rarely. If a house has been recently built, the building department may have a survey on file.
9. What is the procedure for obtaining a Variance?
10. What is an Area Variance?
An Area Variance provides relief from the dimensional requirements established for your zoning district. For more information, see our Zoning Board of Appeals Relief page.
11. What is a Use Variance?
A Use Variance is seeking relief from uses that are not permitted in your zoning district. For more information, see our Zoning Board of Appeals Relief page.
12. Why wasn't I notified that my neighbor is building a house, pool, deck, etc.?
No notification is made unless the proposed structure requires a Variance, Site Plan or a Special Use Permit in which case adjacent property owners are notified prior to a Public Hearing on the matter. You may wish to check this website monthly for agendas for both the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board for more information or sign up to receive their agendas by email.


I'm Feeling Emotional, Not Suicidal!
When tears accompany emotions, many people back away even further. Tears and emotions "means" people are sad, depressed, even suicidal. Wrong!
Emotional experiences are not bad or good; they just are! They are like the rain…they come and go.
Acknowledge emotion by showing empathy. "I'm feeling sad." "You look like you're having a bad day.
Know that emotions/feelings pass quickly…their life span is short.
Know that everyone is in charge of his/her own emotions. You are not the reason someone is happy, upset, frustrated, etc.
Give yourself or the other time to calm down. Often a move (standing up and moving around) will change mood, having a drink of water, a short walk in the fresh air or simply taking a deep breath will do the trick. Often, a light touch on the other's shoulder or hand will calm.
Ask what you or the other needs. Give yourself and the other compassion and empathy.
Use words. "I'm feeling overwhelmed right now. I need a minute." Giving voice to what you're feeling helps shrink "big" feelings.
Be calm yourself. Don't "catch" other people's emotions. Stay grounded in your own place of peace.
Refrain from judgment. Some people are more emotional than others. Being emotional is not a character flaw!
If you happen to be an emotional person, know your triggers. In knowing them, you can manage them much better. You might say, "I need some time before I can discuss this"…"I'll get back to you"… Make sure you take sufficient time to "shrink" your big emotions. Good decisions are made when your right (emotional) and left (logical) brains are equal size.
At first, you will need to constantly monitor the "impact" of your emotions on yourself and others so they don't get too big. When triggers occur…and they will…the constant monitoring will pay off. You'll find you are calmer and respond to yourself and others in a more loving way.
There are times when it is best not to show your emotions. Remind yourself that you don't have to "stuff" your emotions forever; there will be a time when you can safely "diffuse" them.
Remember, your emotions belong to you; you manage and enjoy them; and it is your choice as to how and when you use them. If these tips aren't helping you manage your negative emotions better, it may be best to consult a therapist to determine what else is contributing to having "big" emotions so much of the time.


Seven immigrants from English-speaking countries will be honoured as winners of the 2019 Sylvan Adams Bonei Zion Prize, an annual award presented by the Nefesh B'Nefesh aliyah organization including one from Australia.
Former Sydneysider Danny Hakim, founder and chairman of Budo for Peace and chairman of Kids Kicking Cancer Israel will be given the Culture, Art and Sports Award. Michael Dickson, executive director of StandWithUs-Israel will be honoured with the Israel Advocacy Award. Beverly Gribetz, principal of the Evelina de Rothschild-Tehilla Secondary School in Jerusalem will be presented the Education Award. Ora Paltiel, director of the Hadassah Center for Research in Clinical Epidemiology will receive the Science and Medicine Award. Leah Abramowitz, co-founder of Melabev, the dementia-focused organization for the elderly, will receive the Community and Non-Profit Award.


You can now finance the 24x12 8x170 / -44 offset 129.0 hub RBP Offroad Wheels Blade Chrome at $698.00ea. This wheel is can be available and financed as a single, Set of 4 or a Wheel and Tire Package (free locks and lugs by the way when you buy a package.) We've teamed up with Snap Financing to offer you this extra payment option. See our Finance page HERE for more details.


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Home » Blogs » Pesticide Action Network's blog
Iowa Updates: March 2020
As Iowa is one of the states in which PAN does on-the-ground campaign work, we send out regular updates on PAN's and partners' work in Iowa and beyond — from pesticide-related science to opportunities to take action. If you'd like to receive these updates via email, sign up here.
At the Capitol: To prevent the spread of Coronavirus, the current Iowa legislative session has been suspended through April 12. We're supportive of this decision as an important step toward protecting increased spread of the virus. And when the Iowa legislative session resumes, we look forward to continuing the momentum around several legislative priorities, including a bill that would mandate the development of an Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) online reporting system for pesticide spray drift for the 2020 growing season. We'll be sure to keep you posted as things progress.
Nationwide updates
What PAN is doing: Last week, a "shelter in place" order went into effect across California, directing people to stay home except to get groceries or medical care.
We're able to do this at PAN, and we're thankful. While many of our usual gatherings and events have been postponed or cancelled, we can shift to operating remotely while also staying connected to our work and to each other. But we're acutely aware that many of the people we partner with most closely — farmworkers, small farmers and rural families — don't have this option. As we adjust to new realities each day, this crisis is shining a bright, hot light on just how fragile and inequitable so many systems in this country are — the food system being just one example of many. Read more here.
Coronavirus stability in aerosol and on surfaces: The coronavirus outbreak has researchers scrambling to learn more about COVID-19. A new NIH study found that the novel coronavirus was viable in aerosols during the experimental time of three hours. The virus was also found to be more stable on plastic and stainless steel surfaces than on copper and cardboard, and could be detected for up to three days on plastic and stainless steel. On copper and cardboard, the coronavirus survived up to four hours and 24 hours, respectively. Addiitonally, a recent CDC study found some virus RNA on surfaces 17 days after infected passengers vacated a cruise ship. However, the NIH study measured viable virus while the CDC study measured RNA only — it is unclear whether the RNA found on cruise ship surfaces means the virus was still active, the results warrant further testing.
We encourage you to practice social distancing, but webinars and virtual meetings are a great way to stay connected! Check it out:
Recorded webinar: What ag producers need to know about COVID-19
This webinar, hosted by the AgriSafe Network, shares evidence-based information about COVID-19 and helps agricultural producers identify strategies for responding on their farm.
Watch the webinar recording here.
Farmworkers are some of the least protected workers in the country — and some of these workers are children. Pediatricians have understood for decades that children are more vulnerable to health-harming chemicals than adults.
The Children's Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety, or CARE Act, would strengthen protections for children working in agriculture, increasing the minimum age for employment and restricting hazardous tasks and working hours.Urge your Representative to support the CARE Act today.
Pesticide Action Network's blog
is dedicated to advancing alternatives to pesticides worldwide. Follow @pesticideaction


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Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences
December 2019 , Volume 11, Issue 4, pp 327–334 | Cite as
Effect of Alginate Oligosaccharides on Collagen Expression in HS 27 Human Dermal Fibroblasts
Ra-Mi Park
Ji-Young Ahn
Sang Yong Kim
Ji-Hyang Wee
Yang-Hoon Kim
Jiho Min
Objective: To examine how three types of AOs affected fibroblasts and whether AOs could induce the synthesis of Col-I and Col-Ill, components of human dermis.
Methods: Three types of alginate oligosaccharides (AOs) were prepared from sodium alginate after treatment with alginate lyase with various time periods (6, 12, and 24 hours, called "Type 1, Type 2, Type 3" respectively) and their effects on collagen expression in HS27 human dermal fibroblasts were examined. Cytotoxicity of alginate oligosaccharides was confirmed by MTT assay. Also expression levels at mRNA and protein levels were determined by reverse tran-scription-PCR (RT-PCR) and western blot, respectively. Results: AOs do not show any cellular toxicity, so they were applied directly to the cells. Treatment with Type 3 AOs resulted in the highlighted expression level of collagen type I (Col-I) mRNA while exposure with Type 1 AOs lead to the highest expression of Collagen type III (Col-Ill) mRNA in HS27 fibroblasts. In addition, the mRNA expression level of matrix metalloprotein-ase-1 (MMP-1), an enzyme involved in collagen degradation, was found to increase in cells treated with AOs at low concentrations but decrease in cells treated with AOs at higher concentrations. Moreover, mRNA expression level of tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), an antagonist of MMP-1, was found to be increased by AOs in a concentration-dependent manner.
Conclusion: These results suggest that this AOs might have potential to prevent skin aging by promoting collagen synthesis through the inhibition of collagen degrading enzyme.
Alginate oligosaccharide Collagen type I Collagen type III Matrix metalloproteinase-1 Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1
These authors contributed equally to this work.
This work was carried out with the support of "Cooperative Research Program for agriculture Science & Technology Development (Project No: PJ01267701)" funded by Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea. The authors are grateful for their support.
Ethical Approval
This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.
Ra-Mi Park declares that she has no conflicts of interest. Ji-Young Ahn declares that she has no conflicts of interest. Sang Yong Kim declares that she has no conflicts of interest. Ji-Hyang Wee declares that she has no conflicts of interest. Yang-Hon Kim declares that she has no conflicts of interest. Jiho Min declares that she has no conflicts of interest.
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© The Korean Society of Environmental Risk Assessment and Health Science and Springer 2019
1.School of Chemical EngineeringJeonbuk National UniversityJeonjuRepublic of Korea
2.School of Biological SciencesChungbuk National UniversityCheongjuRepublic of Korea
3.Department of Food Science and BiotechnologyShin Ansan UniversityAnsanRepublic of Korea
Park, RM., Ahn, JY., Kim, S.Y. et al. Toxicol. Environ. Health Sci. (2019) 11: 327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-019-0421-5
Revised 19 November 2019
Publisher Name Korean Society of Environmental Risk Assessment and Health Science


text:
Q: How to get user details of user from randomuser API? In a React assignment, I am trying to get the user details from randomuser.me API and show it on another component. Everything is done except unable to get user details from its id
AdminPanel.js
<TableBody>
          {results.map((person) => (

            <TableRow key={person.id.value}>
                <TableCell component="th" scope="row">{person.name.first}</TableCell>
                <TableCell align="right">{person.name.last}</TableCell>
                <TableCell align="center">{person.location.street.name + ',' + person.location.street.number + ',' + person.location.state + ',' + person.location.country  }</TableCell>
                <TableCell align="right"></TableCell>
                <TableCell align="center">{person.email}</TableCell>
                <TableCell align="right">{person.dob.date}</TableCell>
                <TableCell align="right">
                <Button variant="contained" color="primary" >
                    <Link style={{color:'white'}} to={`/user-detail/${person.login.uuid}`}>View Details</Link>
                </Button>
                </TableCell>
            </TableRow>

          ))}
</TableBody>

After clicking on link it redirects to another page as
UserDetail
import React, {useEffect} from 'react'
import { useParams } from 'react-router-dom';

export const UserDetail = () => {
    const {userid} = useParams()

    useEffect(() => {
        fetch(`/user-detail/${userid}`).then(res=>res.json()).then(result=> {
            console.log(result)
        })

    }, [])
    return (

    )
}

Bu, when console log shows this error 'Uncaught (in promise) SyntaxError: Unexpected token < in JSON at position 0'
What mistake I'am doing?

A: Fetch url
fetch (`https://randomuser.me/api/?seed=${seed}`). then (d=>d.json()).then(e=>console.log(e))

Where seed is a string like
const seed ="fea8be3e64777240"

A: you need to use state for the results
import React, {useState, useEffect} from 'react'
import { useParams } from 'react-router-dom';

export const UserDetail = () => {
    const {userid} = useParams()
    const [result, setResult] = useState([]);
    useEffect(() => {
        fetch(`/user-detail/${userid}`).then(res=>res.json()).then(result=> {
            console.log(result)
            setResult(result);
        })

    }, [])
    return (

    )
}

A: Here is another free API you can use instead if you are interested in generating random users with details.
API: https://wirespec.dev/Wirespec/projects/apis/Stackoverflow/apis/getUserDetails
Endpoint: https://api.wirespec.dev/wirespec/stackoverflow/getuserdetails?id=100
Wirespec lets you create up to 1 million random users including avatars. Check it out at:
https://wirespec.dev

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


b2evolution is an open source blogging/CMS platform, one of the original surviving forks of the B2 blog engine, and is planning to add Webmention support.
Webmention: Discussion on Ramblinggit.com (in comments) where B2evolution maintainer noted that they "have added Webmentions support to the todo list".
This page was last edited on 4 April 2019, at 14:04.


Let's go over 3 MAJOR green flags, as I see it in the cryptocurrency market!
***NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. ተራ አስተያየት!
You won't have to wait for 5 years for BTC to hit $100k. BTW, a couple of things you didn't mention are a slowdown in the equities markets causing money to flow into Cryptocurrencies and currency collapses doing the same. This is occurring in Turkey now with their Lira taking a dive.
Hold tight everyone!! Adoption is on the horizon!
በፍጹም! It's the most insane roller coaster ride of our time… I'm happy to have my tickets!!
You mistakenly put a 0 at the end of the '3K by the end of the year' headline.
Everyone gets fearful and cynical around this time. If/When the market shoots back up to 7500 those same people will feel better. Human nature.
It's Aaron. Austin and I are brothers and both make videos on this channel.
when you say the ETF's will be approved…do you think its going to happen in september?
Hi, great video as usual.
Q: can you explain how one can "take profits" as you say? For example say ADA is up 20% ቀን, how do I take profits for that? It's not like I can convert ADA to dollars on binance.
Yeah you sell a portion of it for Bitcoin where then you can either cash out with bitcoin or you can reinvest into ADA once it dips back down again.
I have no inside knowledge. It might be. I think it will eventually.
If bitcoin passes 30k that means the high quality altcoins like. XRP VET ICX and ONT will go through the roof to new ATHs as well.
Do you have 5 reasons it will be 50k though?
Buy EOS…..it's like a copper mine.
Get a hard wallet like nano s.
What 5 reasons did you have that BTC was 20k last December?
አዎ, but they can't cash out of what they don't have ans isn't being transacted. I think it'd be good.
Yeah I'd say at least the next several.
አዝናለሁ, only have 2 reasons for 20k last December.
gld6000 You own more coins now than you did before though right?
Just remember, Bitcoin got to $20k without an ETF. My Prediction: the ETF gets pushed back until spring of next year. this really bums out of lot of perma bulls and maybe the price drops just a little, but then it will start rising because Winter is fast approaching. And bitcoin will get back to $20k without the ETF, probably a little higher but under $30k and everyone will be freaking out holding each other jumping up and down. And then everyone will realize, we still got ETF money on the way. Whoever just moved the market to $20k+ isn't some ginormous company like BlackRock or The Intercontinental Exchange or something that can only buy in thru ETFs, this money was moved by Investors in the space. Then in the spring, when bitcoin has slumped down to $15k Maybe the Bitcoin ETF finally gets approved and asset management companies decide to get Bitcoin for their super rich customers. And possibly by June, we see the prices increase. Which would be weird, cuz summer. But Bitcoin is the Honey Badger and he dont give no care. Winter? Summer? Bitcoin adapts. No fiat can match its awesomeness.
I think it very well could go to $30K by year end. I also think BTC at $157K by 2020.
Perfect reasons … so many things are starting to happen from end of September till End of November….
Im for long HODL so every dip is great buying opportunity …. keep with 5he great videos….
The concept of taking profits is nonsense it involves in thinking you can time the market and sell hard money Bitcoin for soft money fiat, I instead believe we will have a Bitcoin economy without the need to touch Fiat, in the meantime support vendors that support Bitcoin and help make that reality come true.
we all learned from that i got in in jan. But im in it long term anyway you dont take a loss until you take it out.


The queer, or queerness in general, is used as a punchline.
Soul reaping teenagers. Yeah, okay. Just go with it.
Japan is 30 years ahead of everyone else and master psychic powers.
A jock who runs a gym meets his flamingly gay teen son.
The worst university in Illinois lasted three seasons.
Living with everyone can be quite busy.
Larry David's annoying, be it fictionally or not.


text:
Global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its risk factors, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Given the recent increasing trends in colorectal cancer incidence globally, up-to-date information on the colorectal cancer burden could guide screening, early detection, and treatment strategies, and help effectively allocate resources. We examined the temporal patterns of the global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its risk factors in 204 countries and territories across the past three decades.
Estimates of incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for colorectal cancer were generated as a part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 by age, sex, and geographical location for the period 1990–2019. Mortality estimates were produced using the cause of death ensemble model. We also calculated DALYs attributable to risk factors that had evidence of causation with colorectal cancer.
Globally, between 1990 and 2019, colorectal cancer incident cases more than doubled, from 842 098 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 810 408–868 574) to 2·17 million (2·00–2·34), and deaths increased from 518 126 (493 682–537 877) to 1·09 million (1·02–1·15). The global age-standardised incidence rate increased from 22·2 (95% UI 21·3–23·0) per 100 000 to 26·7 (24·6–28·9) per 100 000, whereas the age-standardised mortality rate decreased from 14·3 (13·5–14·9) per 100 000 to 13·7 (12·6–14·5) per 100 000 and the age-standardised DALY rate decreased from 308·5 (294·7–320·7) per 100 000 to 295·5 (275·2–313·0) per 100 000 from 1990 through 2019. Taiwan (province of China; 62·0 [48·9–80·0] per 100 000), Monaco (60·7 [48·5–73·6] per 100 000), and Andorra (56·6 [42·8–71·9] per 100 000) had the highest age-standardised incidence rates, while Greenland (31·4 [26·0–37·1] per 100 000), Brunei (30·3 [26·6–34·1] per 100 000), and Hungary (28·6 [23·6–34·0] per 100 000) had the highest age-standardised mortality rates. From 1990 through 2019, a substantial rise in incidence rates was observed in younger adults (age <50 years), particularly in high Socio-demographic Index (SDI) countries. Globally, a diet low in milk (15·6%), smoking (13·3%), a diet low in calcium (12·9%), and alcohol use (9·9%) were the main contributors to colorectal cancer DALYs in 2019.
The increase in incidence rates in people younger than 50 years requires vigilance from researchers, clinicians, and policy makers and a possible reconsideration of screening guidelines. The fast-rising burden in low SDI and middle SDI countries in Asia and Africa calls for colorectal cancer prevention approaches, greater awareness, and cost-effective screening and therapeutic options in these regions.
GBD 2019 Colorectal Cancer Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its risk factors, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 7 April 2022. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(22)00044-9.
GBD is the most comprehensive effort to date to measure epidemiological levels and trends worldwide. It is the product of a global research collaborative and qua...
Published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, April 2022
Publication Authors
Xiaochen Dai
Postdoctoral Scholar
Lalit Dandona
Rakhi Dandona
Simon I. Hay
Professor; Director of Research Strategy
Stephen Lim
Professor; Sr. Director, Science and Engineering
Ali Mokdad
Professor; Chief Strategy Officer of Population Health; Associate Chair for Collaboration; Associate Chair for Equity
Mohsen Naghavi
Professor; Director of Subnational Burden of Disease Estimation
Sam Ostroff
Scientific Writer
Theo Vos


text:
Home > Editorial / Opinion
EXPERT REACTION: Omicron is soaring, but what about the next variant?
Science / Medical
by Australian Science Media Centre and experts - 20/01/2022 20/01/2022
"With COVID-19, the next Variant of Concern (VOC) could be just around the corner. In the same way that the world was so focused on Delta that Omicron's emergence took us by surprise, similarly, we should be vigilant for another VOC that could surpass Omicron. Pictured here, Omicron, credit Peter Doherty Institute
Progress needed on Floodplain Harvesting
by NSW Farmers - 17/12/2021 17/12/2021
A PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE has detailed a number of ways to reform floodplain harvesting in NSW. NSW Farmers President James Jackson said even small steps towards evidence-based regulation of floodplain harvesting were better than the uncertainty surrounding the issue at present. "We advocate for the fair and equitable sharing of our valuable water
Nationals raise concern over Electric Vehicles: "We don't have long enough extension cords"
by The Shovel - 16/11/2021 16/11/2021
THE NATIONAL PARTY has raised concerns about the introduction of electric vehicles onto Australia's roads, saying they didn't think there would be an extension cord long enough to allow for long-distance driving in regional Australia. Part-time Nationals Senator and full-time culture warrior, Matt Canavan, struck out at electric vehicle technology this
The Melbourne Cup is an embarrassment to Australia's collective dignity
by Happy Media - 08/11/2021 08/11/2021
Australia's gambling addiction grows on back of animals. The Melbourne Cup feels a little different each year, an extravaganza of diminishing returns that grows more troubling each cycle we refuse to put it out of its misery. The Melbourne Cup is an Australian institution. It has somehow managed, through its signature blend of
Fearless Australian environment reporter remembered
by Robin Tennant-Wood, editor, Braidwood's Changing Times - 08/11/2021 08/11/2021
FORMER CANBERRA TIMES Science and Conservation journalist, Rosslyn Beeby died earlier this year at the age of 68. She was described by her friend and former colleague, Helen Musa, as having become "increasingly reclusive" since her retirement. I first met Rosslyn Beeby after she interviewed me regarding a government consultancy report
Sharing our land
by Maria Taylor - 05/10/2021 12/12/2021
IN MEMORIUM THIS WINTER REALLY knocked the old ones. A relentlessly wet and cold winter in the range country surrounding the national capital. We hadn't experienced weather like this in a decade. Most recently we were battling drought and then fires as elsewhere in Eastern Australia. We share the land here with
Feeding kangaroo to your pets? Here are some thoughts.
Why do people expect to feed their dogs or cats on Australian wildlife, specifically kangaroo? Are they informed consumers? ... aware of the unavoidable cruelty that goes with this trade and of the possible health risks to humans or pets that comes with eating bushmeat? Here are some realities that
'It's almost like grooming': How anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theorists and the far-right came together over COVID
by ABC News - 29/09/2021 29/09/2021
SCENES OF PROTESTORS clad in hi-viz jackets and shouting anti-vaccination slogans have dominated the news recently. As ABC News reported: "Some of those gathered held a banner reading 'freedo', while others sang the national anthem and chanted 'f*** the jab'." Some attacked union offices, drawing criticism from officials such as Australian Council of Trade
by Susan Cruttenden - 29/09/2021 30/09/2021
ONE OF THE last, and perhaps most controversial actions of the Eurobodalla Shire Council before it goes into caretaker mode, [related to council elections in early December] was the adoption of a zoning plan made by a previous council decades ago. This old plan advocates the destruction of a large area of Dalmeny bushland for housing
Relentless shooting and cruelty
Preparing to testify at a NSW enquiry into the welfare and health of the state's kangaroos, Diane Smith and Greg Keightley again experienced first-hand the barbaric impacts of the Australian commercial kangaroo industry for skins and petfood or, in parallel, just for wildlife destruction — supported by various rural landholders and