Played a good deal of DCR1, So I'm kind of sorry I missed the beta on this. Few bits I would have chimed in on.
I really don't like having to restart after just a minutes worth of racing as I'm finding it more difficult enjoy what I built on the short runs. I also miss the distance goals and the refueling difficulty as far as design constraints go. I don't want to get into the coin issue on this as far as the race per gain ratio goes but it would at least be nice to have a long practice track even if it didn't net coins. An intermediate idea that would work with the new adjusted coin gain would be select races of different distance lengths or modes (as I noticed modes to some degree are in the game): 850m standard competition to 3200m+ endurance competitions. You could then at least match it with the gain rate from the shorter courses.
A bit of a strategy loss and side step from DCR1. Fuel tanks would be a good upgrade-able part for especially for endurance type races (with fueling stations) and to help balance out additional engines. Could have a few easy variables; capacity, fill speed (reduces time penalty at fueling stations).
Don't really like the tricks for boosts system or I'm still really not use to it not really sure yet. The wasted air time from doing a bunch of tricks doesn't seem to be recouped for the speed gain from the boosts. Auto boost basically loses all strategy in the use of boosts. Just seems like a lazy afterthought fix for the "use them or loose them" crash penalty. Not to forget to mention sometimes it makes you crash. And the loose your boosts crash penalty defeats much of the purpose of having manual boosts, if I can't save them to use them why save them at all. Boost psi rate adjustment would be nice (huge boost for a short time vs little boost for a long time per boost level) Maybe have the crash penalty only effect boost regen, so you start and crash recover in the race with a boost level equal to a portion of your base boost mod minus used in race boost amount. Or maybe a proportional loss per crash.
I do think these need some work but I like them. As turbines really are just a different type of engine I would take them off the boosts and use fuel tanks or no tank. If you had fuel tanks and fuel lines you could have secondary manual controls for them. Engage thrusters has a nice manual sound it. Second give the option for power output method such as: thrust (similar to current use) or mechanical linkage (like a drive chain). Fuel consumption, hp curves that could make them a lot more fun to use. look up turbine powered motorcycles and cars. As they are used now I'd just say they were rocket engines or super-boosters.
Missing common engine mods for racing games: superchargers, turbochargers, mufflers, port polishing, mufflers, performance chips, transmission tuning. A lot of fun little things that are missing for people that like to tweak values.
Adjust layers - move forward layer, move backwards layer... I noticed some parts get pushed back behind other things sometimes when they would look better in front. Didn't matter in DCR1 as there were no skins.
Weight Balance - it would be nice to be able to find the center of a vehicle and see if it's front or back heavy via numbers so we can add weight if need be.
Skin market place - Think of it as a in-game market place for your user created skins. skins creator gets coin rewards in return for sales, price is set by ratings. It would be a nice way for free users to pay back efforts of paid users too. As well as fulfilling can you make me this requests.
The skins - nice job - Move the message for not publishing skins on the cars to the actual publish window though if you really don't want them there. Spotted the notice a long time after actually publishing one.
Custom colors - Could really use hex color numbers instead of just the sliders this probably has been said before though.
Game seems to be running smoother.
The race courses seem to have improved a lot. I'm not sure if this is because they are shorter or more attention was paid to them.
I'm sure there is more that I left out.
Re: bits of feedback and some suggestions.
Lots of good feedback. I will touch on a few items.
I may have misread it as I just woke up and I'm still kind of sleepy, but I think you mentioned something about having an issue with Auto-boost. You can turn on Manual Boost as a setting on the Seat. I didn't like the Auto-boost at first either, but found that for the most part it doesn't matter a whole lot. Manual Boost uses the X key to boost when it is turned on. Where Manual boost becomes more important is when using turbines. Since turbines work while in the air too and with the new tricks, I found you could be upside down or in the middle of a double flip and the autoboost just completely ruined the run. It helps to get pointed in the right direction, so the manual boost was added for those who prefer to have control of their boost.
Hex or RGB values for colors has been suggested already. Roko0 did not comment directly about it. I agree with you. That just came up within the last week or so and is minor to the overall function of the game, so getting to the point of released with as few bugs as possible was probably more important. Hopefully it will be added in the future.
The length of levels no longer goes by meters. The level editor makes a little more sense of it, but the length can be from 5 to 29 checkpoints. Having done a few levels myself, designing good levels takes a long time, so I couldn't imagine designing a level that actually goes to 3000 meters. I've yet to make a 29 checkpoint level. Some of the ones I did took me a few days to complete working on it no less than 8 hours a day. If someone really wants to make that level that goes for 3000 meters, they can do it, but you'd have to do it in multiple layers. (See my level Lost, Acrobatics, or a few others) where I use a combination of forward and backwards movement to complete the level. You could functionally go on forever by adding another layer of obstacles. The only downfall is that you respawn at ground level checkpoints, not at current elevation, so you can either go back to the beginning or be propelled to the end, depending on how things were done. You can pretty much make things go higher or lower as much as you feel like designing using platforms, but from left to right in the editor is only 5 to 29 checkpoints.
Here's a pic of what "Wrong Way Home" actually looks like. The level is technically only 5 checkpoints, but the distance you travel is closer to 13 checkpoints. It has also been suggested to allow respawning at the elevation of the crash or allow level designer to pick the checkpoint spots which could be anywhere on the map that would make for better design options.
I've got a growing wish list myself, but if Roko0 added in everything in everyone's wishlist the game would take a lot longer to release. Some things were added, some things were not and some things are on a list of possible future features.
I have already decided to make DCR Evo. I think it will take from 2 to 4 months.
Hex or RGB values for colors is in my todo list.
You either miss read a little or I miss explained it in the boost topic. I tried it in both settings. Some of it was discussing the crash and loss of boosts. Though a fast toggle for the manual setting in the pause dialog box wouldn't be a bad idea now that you brought it up.
Good to hear about the color hex code.
I realized the game no longer used meters but I didn't have another distance term to use. Even still checkpoints seem a little abstract without time and speed variables (If you know what I mean). I can't get into the difficulty of making a good map yet as I haven't really looked into the level editor that carefully yet. Though I did poke my head in some of the courses. Knowing that there is a checkpoint system (not knowing how many are in the average race though as I never bothered counting them.) For a longer course I would suggest the easiest way to get one like I'm talking about (doesn't have to be a 3000m size) would be to add in a way to link individual smaller races together. An in game example would be say map area 1 that has races 1 and 5 in it. Instead of back tracking and making a entirely new longer map you make a smaller connector race to fit between the two races. In addition to getting a 3rd 1x sized map you also get 1 3x sized long combo map and 2x 2/3rd sized combo maps. And your not redoubling the work effort to make just one long map which is good. You could also potentially race through the entire games race maps if you did that as one long mega race or a number of super long races. Mixed area races like from jungle to city might present some interesting challenges too.
I'm fully familiar with idea bloat in game dev, I can be responsible for lots of it lol.
Roko0 some of the facebook docs you would probably need to do a facebook interface, I had them left over from a different project that was looking into it. I spotted the request in the beta thread.
If you would like to start a new thread and call it "Russian Suggestion Thread" then I am sure Roko0 can follow it there as well.
Last edited by PeixeWiggles on Fri Jan 09, 2015 4:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Think it would be cool if there were an easier way, other than having to go look up the ID, or keep a list locally, to load the player's cars from 1 and play them in 2, based on the account.


It's never too early to introduce your little ones to Scooter the Cougar!
Click on a title to print Scooter coloring sheets.
Request a free Scootergraph to share with your future Cougar.
Our kid clothing collection features youth, toddler, baby shirts and onesies.


text:
News 2020-01-20T11:16:33Z
Apple CEO Tim Cook heads to Ireland to pick up an award for investing in the country
In 2016, the EU ordered Apple to pay the Irish government $14.4 billion to compensate for the alleged illegal state aid it had received.
Google will let Android users in Europe choose a different default search engine and it's good news for privacy-focused DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo, an independent search engine, isn't necessarily grateful.
Apple CEO Tim Cook says monopolies aren't bad if they aren't abused
In an interview with Nikkei Asian Review on Wednesday, the Apple CEO denied that Apple had a monopoly in any sector.
Politics 2019-11-07T22:03:53Z
EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager doesn't want to break up big tech companies like Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook
She's worried that by chopping off one head, seven more will grow back, meaning that by breaking them up "you just have many more problems."
EU Commissioner Vestager slammed Mark Zuckerberg for allowing lies in political ads: That's not democracy, it's 'manipulation'
The EU's Margrethe Vestager had sharp words about Facebook's political ad policy.
Apple lashed out at the EU in a fierce court battle, saying its $14 billion tax order 'defies reality and common sense'
Apple's six-strong legal team is fighting a 2016 order from the European Union to pay over $14 billion in back taxes.
The EU is reportedly investigating Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency over antitrust concerns
Another day, another Facebook antitrust inquiry — this time, over Libra, its big play for cryptocurrency.
These are the 6 biggest challenges Ursula Von der Leyen will face once she's head of the EU
Von der Leyen's commission will be making decisions that have a huge impact on over 500 million EU citizens.
Apple made $156 million from the rival music streaming service trying to tear up its app business
Apple lost out on around $98 million thanks to Spotify circumventing the App Store.
Spotify just painted a big target on Apple's back, and the iPhone maker should worry if antitrust regulators start aiming at it
An antitrust investigation into Apple could lead to a big fine, hamper its business, and sully its reputation.
Tokyo shoppers get big bargains on French and Italian wine on Day 1 of 'cars-for-cheese' trade pact
The largest ever bilateral trade deal kicks in on Friday, eliminating almost all tariffs between economies that make up about a third of global GDP.
The sale of passports to the super wealthy gives free reign to mobsters and money launderers, Europe warns
Some 20 EU countries, including the UK, Portugal and Spain, offer some level of residency to wealthy non-citizens in return for large investments.
Europe's steel tariff move tips over another domino in Trump's trade war with China
The move highlights that protectionism is spreading and Donald Trump's trade war with China is entrenching itself into the global economy.
The European Union just rejected Italy's budget for a 2nd time — and now Rome is facing a huge fine
The path is no set for the opening of the EU's so-called Excessive Deficit Procedure — which has the power to fine countries within the Eurozone.
Nightmarish fragmentation and expensive phones: Here's how Google's big Android changes could play out
Google's alterations to Android are yet to play out but, depending on what phone makers like Samsung decide to do, it could lead to higher phone prices inside Europe and worsen the operating system's fragmentation problems.
Google is appealing its $5 billion EU antitrust fine over Android
Google has submitted an appeal to the EU refuting the €4.3 billion ($5 billion) fine it received for abusing the dominance of its Android operating system. Google is following through on its promise to appeal when the fine was imposed in July.
Premium News 2018-08-22T09:10:13Z
The EU is planning strict supervision of the City of London after Brexit
Britain and the EU are currently discussing a new relationship for financial services, most likely based around the principle of equivalence.
The European Commission wants to scrap daylight saving hours - and there's only a few days left to have your say
The European Commission is considering scrapping daylight saving time and there's one week left to give your opinion on the matter by using the form on their website — amending the existing directive could significantly affecting agriculture, health, and internal markets.
The 7 biggest fines the EU have ever imposed against giant companies
The European Commission recently handed Google a $5 billion fine for favouring its own applications on Android devices over those of competitors — but this isn't the first time Google has been given an antitrust fine, nor is it the first company to be punished for this sort of abuse.
This chart shows how dominant Google is in Europe and the UK: About 9 out of every 10 consumers there use Google's search engine
Google was fined by the European watchdog commission for a record $5 billion in violation of antitrust laws, after a 2016 investigation led to the conclusion that Google had abused Android's dominance of the smartphone market in favor of its search engine and Chrome browser.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Danny Madry: Fully-Vaxxinated Florida Man With Leukemia Dies of C0VID-19
By Briona Arradondo
Mr. Danny Madry
APOLLO BEACH, Fla. – An Apollo Beach father living with leukemia died from C0V-19 last week despite being fully vaccinated, and his son said he hopes his dad's situation motivates others with health conditions to rethink their risk.
Daniel Madry, 61, enjoyed spending time on a boat around Tampa Bay and hanging out with family playing music.
"He played the guitar a little bit. He would always send me random videos and it was always fun watching him get better and better," said Mike Madry of Tampa, one of Madry's sons.
Mike said his dad got more health conscious after he was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in May 2020.
"That really changed his thinking on diet, so he started cutting out all sugar and immediately started working out again as well and the transformation from 2018 to now was incredible," said Mike. "He really had a six-pack, and he was 61 years old. He was in incredible shape."
Mike Madry said his father was strict with masking and social distancing as well during the pandemic. So when the chance came for his father to ease up on safety measures, Mike said the COV-19 vaxxine took a weight off his dad's shoulders.
"He was able to hang out with his friends. He was able to go to the grocery store and not wear a mask, see family members, and that's really what ended up killing him was that he didn't know the vaccine wouldn't be effective for him," said Mike Madry.
Daniel Madry ended up in the hospital around August 14 and died on August 24, Mike said. It was shocking to their family. Mike said his dad didn't know he would still be so vulnerable.
"I really believe that if he had just one conversation, whether it be with a family member or his medical provider, that the vaccine may not be efficient for him, that he wouldn't produce the antibodies, that there's no question in my mind that he would have gone back to life the way before the vaccine came out," Mike continued.
Now, Mike said he wants to share a message of caution with others like his dad to spare other families the grief they are experiencing.
"My hope is that somebody watching this who is immunocompromised like my dad and just didn't know will really reevaluate their decision to not wear a mask and socially distance because if my dad did that he would still be here today. There's no question," he offered.
Mike said his dad got sick and went to the hospital around the same time the government-approved booster shots for immunocompromised people to help improve their immune response to the vaccine. He said he feels this also underscores how important it is for everyone to mask up, social distance and get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
PrevPreviousMahima Mathew: 31-Year-Old Pregnant Woman Dead 10 Days After Covishield (AstraZeneca) Injection
NextHow Your Vaxxination Status Will Only Be TemporaryNext


This top of the range trailed flail mower / collector is designed for use behind tractors in the 55 – 90hp range. It is extremely heavy-duty, and are suitable for both grass mowing and thick brush cutting. While suited to sports field and golf course use, it has a wider use in amenity grassland maintenance, and heathland management. Features include electro-hydraulic cutting height adjustment, automatic belt tensioner. Unloading can be carried out directly into trailers or lorries for disposal with the high-tip facility. The draw-bar can be offset by 40cm to allow close mowing to walls & perimeter hedges, etc.


I am tired of getting 30 dollar fees when my loan's are slightly overdrawn. Rather than helping me to put all my debts in one account they won't lend me the fund's because I am on a disability pension & they don't seem to care. I am human not a Robot l need food, power, etc. Please help me.
Fantastic credit union with great customer service.
Exceptional customer service focus from Mystate credit union. The product features were thoroughly explained and when I was taken ill, the loan manager deterred my payments and sat with me to work out a repayment plan which suited me given the change of circumstances. Understanding, concerned and most professional loan manager.
MyState is always there to help when there is a problem if any kind. The staff are caring and willing to respond to anything that is required by the customer.
Offered us an excellent personal loan rate as we have a home loan with them. Easy to make extra payments whenever we want on the loan.
It is a family orientated bank that is helpful both over the phone and in person. Your personal circumstances are taken into consideration and you are treated as a person not just a nameless customer.
After banking with this institute for 30 years they made the whole process as difficult as possible. We will be changing banks . After sitting in the loans managers office for an hour she still had to ring us numerous time with problem after problem that actually were not a problem. She only wanted to make her job easier instead of looking after our needs. We have had several loans with them never defaulted and always paid things off early. They have amalgamated so many times now who knows who they are any more. Not at all friendly.
I applied for a loan. I have had about six loans. No payments have ever been paid late and they turned me down.


Improves stomach and intestine diseases: ulcers, diarrhoea, constipation.
It's a good source of fat.
Longer life – Improves skin quality and helps create healthy cells, constantly regenerating the body!
Protects the health of bones and teeth.
How should we consume them?
I suppose you already know that it is not recommended to consume raw nuts because they contain on their surface enzymes that protect them and which block our digestive enzymes and thus digest very hard! It is best to soak them in the water, we can leave them in the water for overnight because they need a longer hydration time.
Another possibility is to eat them roasted! I recently watched a documentary and learned that if we roast the right nuts we can benefit from all their properties!
Put a frying pan on the stove on medium heat. When it's hot, put the walnuts and mix them continuously. Keep them on the fire for about 5 minutes, while they should crack. Very important: do not put oil / butter and do not cover them for as long as they are done.
Preheat the oven at 190 degrees Celsius. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and let them stand for 5-10 minutes until they get a brown colour.
So simple to roast them, and the intense flavour you get is worth the effort! I tell you from my own experience … the taste and smell of fresh fried nuts do not compare to anything!
Attention! Do not buy nuts fried in oil, they are carcinogenic and will not bring any benefits!


text:
Sun Sentinel Report: GEO Group Walks Away from FAU Stadium Naming Rights Deal
By: Latino Rebels
UPDATE, April 1, 2013 10 pm EST: the Florida Atlantic University protest group behind the call to stop the GEO Group's efforts said the following in a press statement: "This shows that students, faculty and the community working together can speak out for justice and human rights and win—even against a $2 billion company and a university president.
On February 19, many people online were shocked to learn that a college football stadium was going to be named after a private prison company. Tonight the Sun Sentinel reported the following story:
A 2009 rendering of the new FAU stadium
Florida Atlantic University's football stadium will no longer be named after GEO Group, after the Boca Raton prison company announced Monday it was withdrawing its $6 million donation.
The deal, which critics dubbed "Owlkatraz," had been subject to numerous protests from student and outside civil rights groups since it was announced Feb. 19.
The report also contain a quote from GEO Group Chairman George Zoley: "What was originally intended as a gesture of GEO's goodwill… has surprisingly evolved into an ongoing distraction to both of our organizations." According to the report, Zoley was a former chairman of the FAU Board of Trustees. The story also said that even though the new stadium will not be named for the GEO Group, "it will still donate $500,000 toward this year's academic scholarship program."
Looks like FAU finally saw these videos.
Florida's Property Insurance Crisis Is Even Worse After…
Pelé Buried in Brazilian City He Made Famous
The Growing Call to Abolish Student Debt (A Latino USA…
One response to "Sun Sentinel Report: GEO Group Walks Away from FAU Stadium Naming Rights Deal"
The Gnostics derived their http://633cash.com/Games leading doctrines and ideas from Plato and Philo, the Zend-avesta, the Kabbalah, and the Sacred books of India and Egypt; and http://633cash.com/Pengaturan" thus introduced http://633cash.com/Daftar into the bosom of Christianity the cosmological and theosophical speculations, which had formed the larger portion of the ancient religions of the Orient, http://www.cintaberita.com joined to those of the Egyptian, Greek, http://633cash.com/Promo and Jewish doctrines, which the Neo-Platonists had equally adopted in the Occident..It is admitted that the cradle http://633cash.com/Deposit of http://633cash.com/Withdraw Gnosticism is probably to be looked for in Syria http://633cash.com/Berita and even in Palestine. Most of its expounders wrote in that corrupted form of the Greek used by the Hellenistic Jews…and there was a striking http://633cash.com/Girl analogy between their doctrines and those of the Judeo-Egyptian Philo of Alexandria; itself the seat of three schools, at once philosophic and religious, the http://633cash.com/LivescoreGreek, the Egyptian, and the Jewish. Pythagoras and Plato, the most mystical of the Grecian philosophers (the latter heir to the doctrines of the former), and who had travelled, the latter in Egypt, and the former in Phoenicia, India, and Persia, also taught the esoteric doctrine…The dominant doctrines of Plutonism were found in Gnosticism


text:
Belarusians should have the 'freedoms that they are demanding': Pompeo
Washington, United States Published: Aug 12, 2020, 05.56 PM(IST)
Pompeo on day two of central European trip Photograph:( Reuters )
He was visiting Prague as part of a European tour that will also take him to Austria, Slovenia and Poland.
Belarusians should be given "the freedoms that they are demanding", US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday, urging authorities in the former Soviet republic not to harm protesters.
"We want the people of Belarus to have the freedoms that they are demanding... We urge that the non-violent protesters be protected, not harmed," Pompeo told reporters during a visit to Prague.
He was speaking alongside Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who called the events in Belarus "shocking" after a third night of protests following a disputed election in which President Alexander Lukashenko won a sixth term.
Also see: Water cannons, tear gas, stun grenades: Protesters clash with Belarus police after election results
The agenda for the trip includes countering Chinese company Huawei's role in 5G network construction, as well as energy security and US troop deployments in the region.
Police in Belarus detained around 3,000 people at protests that erupted on Sunday following the presidential election, the Belarusian Interior Ministry said on Monday.
President Alexander Lukashenko won a landslide re-election victory, the central election commission said earlier, after bloody clashes between riot police and thousands of protesters who said the poll was rigged.
Belarusian opposition politician Svetlana Tikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania from Belarus amid the protests to protect herself and her family, Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said.
Nightclub taxi drives away the blues in lockdown Greece
Morning news brief: US scrambles for a new president, India for Covid vaccine
US health secretary Azar resigns, cites Capitol attack as the reason
Poland works on law limiting powers of Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms


text:
Села:
 Бережне — Вінницька область, Гайсинський район
 Бережне — Запорізька область, Більмацький район
 Бережне — Львівська область, Червоноградський район
 Бережне — Сумська область, Конотопський район
 Бережне — Харківська область, Вовчанський район

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Sold by the lineal foot. Please specify the # of lineal feet in the Qty. field when ordering.
NobleSeal TS Waterproofing Membrane is a single sheet membrane that provides waterproofing and crack isolation/joint bridging for thin-set installations of ceramic and stone tile.
The membrane that sets the industry standard for bonded thin-bed waterproofing and crack isolation. Use in wet areas including showers and continuous use steam showers and other interior applications. NobleSeal TS has superior permeation characteristics. With more than 25 years of proven industry performance, NobleSeal TS is installed in some of the world's most prestigious projects.
NobleSeal TS protects thin-set tile from cracking and is guaranteed not to rot, crack or deteriorate. It can be used over common substrates like concrete, many plywood subfloors, radiant heat and primed gypsum underlayment.


Welcome to Narberth Borough's Map Portal!
The Legend provides information on currently displayed map data.
Clicking the Layer List icon presents the currently loaded layers and allows the user to customize their ordering and appearance.
Disclaimer: The information in this map is meant to provide geospatial information to the public. It is not guaranteed to be completely correct or current, and therefore should not be used for legal or financial purposes.


This is working fine at our end.
Relaunch the application - Hope it will work fine.
1: Open Preferences dialog > Keyboard Shortcut tab.
Kindly try changing the shortcut in Preferences and then see if the changed shortcut works and displays in the menu item.
Can you kindly see the Style menu when the cursor is in the text box. Style > Alignment > Centered - > which shortcut is mentioned there and whether it is working thru menu.


Honda Civic Si Made User Manual - Honda Civic Si Sedan. The 2017 Honda Civic Si Sedan and Coupe are the eighth iteration of Si, Civic's legendary, enthusiast-oriented Civic variant, whose roots in America date to the 1985 debut of the Civic CRX Si.. Honda Motor Company, Ltd. (Japanese: 本田技研工業株式会社, Hepburn: Honda Giken Kōgyō KK, IPA: (); / ˈ h ɒ n d ə /) is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, and power equipment. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest. We generally like the turbocharged 1.5-liter Honda Civic, but the hatchback manual-gearbox Sport really measures up to the label. Read our full test review and see photos at Car and Driver..
Honda Civic Accessories and Parts: Performance Exhausts, Chrome Accessories, Floor Mats, Window Visors, Dash Kits, Car Grills, Car Spoilers, Seat Covers, Cargo Liners. Vehicle Overview. The Honda Civic is the Japanese automaker's popular compact, and for 2013, the Civic has been refreshed. The Civic is offered in a range of different trim levels with two body. The widest range of products, outstanding quality, and affordable prices are the three pillars on which CARiD bases its work. As a result, we provide an extensive selection of high quality Honda Civic repair parts manufactured to restore your vehicle to like new condition at the most attractive prices..
The 2017 Honda Civic Sport Hatch is the best Civic I've driven in a long time. I even liked our test car's Darth Vader looks.. Those VTEC loyalists who will bemoan the loss of Honda's screaming naturally aspirated engines that made peak horsepower at close to 8,000 rpm and peak torque at something like 6,500 rpm will find. In 2017, the Honda Civic surpassed the Toyota Camry as the best-selling car in America. While there are many reasons for that, a major component of Civic's winning formula is that you can get one to suit just about any budget, taste, or mood..
Motor Mounts insert kit for the 1992-2000 Honda Civic and 1993-1997 Honda del Sol. Reduce wheel hop and increase engine response with Energy Suspension. Available in. Jan 11, 2018 · 2016+ Honda Civic Forum (10th Gen) - Type R Forum, Si Forum - CivicX.com. Shifter Stabilizer Bushings '84-'00 Honda Civic + '90-'01 Acura Integra. If you're having trouble putting your Honda Civic into gear or you notice the shifter on your Acura Integra has more play than it used to then your shifter bushings might be worn out. The original shifter stabilizer bushings in your Honda or Acura are made of rubber, and can wear down quickly, but replacing them with.
2017 Toyota C-HR vs Honda HR-V Comparison: Toyota uses style, features and driving dynamics to fight Honda's practicality.. The Honda Fit is a WONDERFUL vehicle with some noticeable flaws. In terms of positives, it has an unbelievable amount of interior space and visibility. I feel like I'm sitting in a large sedan as opposed to a tiny hatchback..


text:
Singer Sara Evans filed for divorce before estranged husband allegedly tried to run her over
Country singer Sara Evans filed for divorce from former Alabama quarterback Jay Barker in August, according to Tennessee court records posted online Sunday by Scoop Nashville. Barker on Saturday was arrested for allegedly trying to strike Evans and another person with a vehicle. Barker, 49, was booked into the Davidson County Jail under his full name of Harry Jerome Barker, at 4:10 a.m. According to court records, Evans on Aug. 23, 2021 filed for a divorce from Barker. The status of the divorce filing was not immediately clear Sunday morning.
Ex-Alabama QB Jay Barker charged with domestic violence
Former Alabama quarterback Jay Barker was arrested on a felony domestic violence charge.
Former Alabama quarterback Jay Barker, who is married to country music singer Sara Evans, was arrested Saturday on a felony domestic violence charge, Tennessee authorities said. Barker, 49, was booked into a Nashville county jail early Saturday morning, according to the Davidson County Sheriff's Office website. WABM-TV in Birmingham reported that an arrest affidavit said Barker and the victim are married but separated and currently living separately.
Keith Urban, Carly Pearce to play ACM Honors
Country stars Keith Urban, Toby Keith and Carly Pearce will perform at the Academy of Country Music Honors this month, to honor Loretta Lynn, Dan + Shay and Luke Combs among others.


text:
Federal Government Jobs in Saint Louis, MO
Receive daily updates to these results:
Jobtitle
Supervisory Accountant ARNOLD, MO Pub Defense 01/17/22 02/12/22
Accountant ARNOLD, MO Pub Defense 01/17/22 02/12/22
Auditor HAZELWOOD, MO Pub Defense 01/15/22 02/14/22
Investigator SAINT LOUIS, MO Pub Defense 01/15/22 01/31/22
Airplane Pilot Helicopter Pilot SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL Pub Defense 01/11/22 12/31/22
Airplane Pilot SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL Pub Defense 01/11/22 12/31/22
Computer Engineer SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL Pub Defense 01/11/22 12/31/22
Computer Scientist SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL Pub Defense 01/11/22 12/31/22
Mathematical Statistics Series SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL Pub Defense 01/11/22 12/31/22
Mathematician SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL Pub Defense 01/11/22 12/31/22
100 Results/Page


text:
Behavioral and Brain Functions
Exploration of transitional life events in individuals with Friedreich ataxia: Implications for genetic counseling
V Brook White1,
Jennifer R Leib2,
Jennifer M Farmer3 &
Barbara B Biesecker4
Behavioral and Brain Functions volume 6, Article number: 65 (2010) Cite this article
Human development is a process of change, adaptation and growth. Throughout this process, transitional events mark important points in time when one's life course is significantly altered. This study captures transitional life events brought about or altered by Friedreich ataxia, a progressive chronic illness leading to disability, and the impact of these events on an affected individual's life course.
Forty-two adults with Friedreich ataxia (18-65y) were interviewed regarding their perceptions of transitional life events. Data from the interviews were coded and analyzed thematically using an iterative process.
Identified transitions were either a direct outcome of Friedreich ataxia, or a developmental event altered by having the condition. Specifically, an awareness of symptoms, fear of falling and changes in mobility status were the most salient themes from the experience of living with Friedreich ataxia. Developmental events primarily influenced by the condition were one's relationships and life's work.
Friedreich ataxia increased the complexity and magnitude of transitional events for study participants. Transitional events commonly represented significant loss and presented challenges to self-esteem and identity. Findings from this study help alert professionals of potentially challenging times in patients' lives, which are influenced by chronic illness or disability. Implications for developmental counseling approaches are suggested for genetic counseling.
Human development can be described in terms of key transitional events, or significant times of change. Transitional events initiate shifts in the meaning or direction of life and require the individual to develop skills or utilize coping strategies to adapt to a novel situation [1, 2]. A successful transition has been defined as the development of a sense of mastery over the changed event [3].
Transitions can be influenced by a variety of factors including one's stage of development, such as graduation from high school, historical events, including war, and idiosyncratic factors, such as health status [4, 5]. Of particular interest in the present study are transitional life events, brought about or altered by progressive chronic illness and disability, and the impact of these events on the lives of affected individuals.
It has been recognized that the clinical characteristics of a chronic illness or disability may alter the course and timing of many developmentally-related transitional events [6]. For example, conditions associated with a shortened lifespan may cause an individual to pursue a career with a shorter course of training [6]. Specific medical manifestations may also promote a lifestyle incongruent with developmental needs [6, 7]. For example, an adolescent with a disability may have difficulty achieving autonomy because of his/her physical dependence on others.
In addition to the aforementioned effects of chronic illness and disability on developmentally-related transitional events, a growing body of literature has described disease-related transitional events: those changes that are a direct result of chronic illness and disability. Diagnosis has received attention as being a key disease-related transitional event [8, 9]. Studies have also noted other disease transitions related to illness trajectory [10], as the clinical features of the disease may require the individual to make specific adaptations. Disease-related events have also been described in terms of accompanying psychological processes, such as one's awareness of differences brought about by illness [11].
While disease-related events are seemingly significant, the patient's perception of the events is varied. Some events may be perceived as positive experiences for the individual. For example, a diagnosis may end years of uncertainty. Some individuals may perceive these transitional events as insignificant, as they have accommodated to the continual change brought about by a chronic disease [12, 13].
The aforementioned impact of disability and chronic illness on transitional events may create psychological stress. Developed by Lazarus and Folkman, the Transitional Model of Stress and Coping describes the process of adaptation to a health condition [14]. This model purports that individuals first appraise a stressor and then utilize a variety of coping strategies in order to meet the stressor's demands [14]. Thus, in the context of chronic illness, the ability of the individual to cope successfully with the stress of a health threat contributes to the process of overall adaptation to the condition.
The process of adaptation can be more complex when the chronic illness or disability is progressive. Each transition brought about or altered by the disability may also represent additional loss, including the loss of future plans, freedom in social life and the ability to participate in hobbies [15]. These losses may be accompanied by grief, uncertainty, and a continual need for adaptation [16, 17].
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is one example of a progressive disorder, leading to adolescent and adult onset disability. To better understand patients' perceptions of key transitional events and the factors perceived to facilitate progression through these events, individuals with FRDA were interviewed.
FRDA is a rare, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder affecting approximately one in 30,000 people in the United States [18]. It equally affects both men and women. Individuals with FRDA experience progressive muscle weakness and loss of coordination in the arms and legs. For most patients, ataxia leads to motor incapacitation and full-time use of a wheelchair, commonly by the late teens or early twenties. Other complications such as vision and hearing impairment, dysarthria, scoliosis, diabetes mellitus and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may occur [19, 20]. Cardiomyopathy and respiratory difficulties often lead to premature death at an average age of 37 years [21]. Currently, there are no treatments or cures for FRDA. Little is known about the specific psychological or psychosocial effects of the condition.
FRDA is an autosomal recessive condition. The typical molecular basis of Friedreich ataxia is the expansion of a GAA trinucleotide repeat in both copies of the FXN gene [22]. Age of onset usually occurs in late childhood or early adolescence. However, the availability of genetic testing has identified affected individuals with an adult form of the condition. This late-onset form is thought to represent approximately 10-15% of the total FRDA population [23].
Health care providers of individuals with progressive, neurodegenerative disorders can help facilitate their patients' progression through transitional events. Data suggest that improvements should be made in the care of these individuals. Shaw et al. [24] found that individualized care that helps to prepare patients for transition is beneficial. Beisecker et al. [25] found that patients desire not only physical care from their providers, but also emotional and psychosocial support.
Genetic counselors have an important opportunity to help patients with neuromuscular disorders progress through transitional events, as several of these conditions have a genetic etiology. Genetic counselors in pediatric and adult settings often develop long-term relationships with patients, due to follow-up care. This extended relationship is becoming increasingly common as genetic counselors move into various medical sub-specialties, such as neurology, ophthalmology, oncology and cardiology.
The role of the genetic counselor in addressing the psychosocial needs of patients has been advocated, but rarely framed in the context of developmental events [26]. Data suggest that patients may not expect a genetic counselor to address psychosocial needs [27]. In a survey of genetic counseling patients, Wertz [28] found a majority of respondents understood genetic conditions to have a moderate to serious effect on family life and finances, while almost half perceived there to be an effect on the spouse, quality of life, and the relationship between home and work. However, these topics were reportedly not discussed within genetic counseling sessions [27, 28]. Overall, there is limited information about the experiences of transitional life events in FRDA, as well as a lack of recommendations for genetic counselors and other health care providers to assist patients through these events.
Our study investigated perceptions of patients with Friedreich ataxia to 1) identify key transitional events and specific needs associated with events; 2) describe perception of factors to facilitate progression through the identified events; and 3) explore the actual or potential role of the health care provider in facilitating adaptation to the identified events. Data were used to make suggestions for developmental genetic counseling approaches in the context of ongoing care of clients with hereditary, progressive, neurodegenerative conditions.
Individuals, eighteen years of age and older, carrying the diagnosis of Friedreich ataxia, were eligible for participation in this study.
The study was approved by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Institutional Review Board.
Recruitment occurred at the National Ataxia Foundation's (NAF) conference and the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Neurogenetics Branch. An NINDS staff member sent letters to individuals who had previously requested information regarding research studies in FRDA. Individuals interested in participating contacted one of the researchers and written informed consent was obtained prior to participation.
A semi-structured interview guide consisted of open-ended questions, as well as specific probes designed to elicit information about the participant's key transitional life events, his/her sources of support, and experience with health care providers. Specifically, participants were asked to identify key transitions, and to elaborate on the details of the experience. Demographic information, including gender, age, education and marital status was collected. FRDA related information, such as age of diagnosis and mobility status, was also obtained to provide a fuller description of the disease context for each participant. Interviews averaged 53 minutes (from 37 to 72 minutes). In-person interviews were conducted for 19 individuals present at the NAF conference. Twenty-three individuals recruited from NINDS participated in a telephone interview. All interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were checked for accuracy by the interviewer.
Data from the interviews were analyzed thematically. Using a template analysis style [29] an initial list of codes, based on the present literature regarding transitional events and chronic illness, was constructed prior to conducting interviews. New codes were then added and revised as data were obtained. Codes were then applied to all interviews to provide both context and variation for meaningful themes. Software for analyzing qualitative data, QSR-NUDIST [30], was used to facilitate the coding process. One-third of the transcripts were read and coded by a second coder (BBB) for inter-coder reliability which was high (> 0.9). Themes were summarized across transcripts on an interpretive level.
Sample characteristics
Forty-two individuals participated in the study. Recruitment stopped when data reached saturation, that is, data redundancy was achieved and little new information was obtained. Table 1 describes the sociodemographics of the participants. Overall, the participants were single, white, non-Hispanic, with some college education. The majority of the sample population used a wheelchair and nearly half of the participants had a sibling with FRDA.
Table 1 Characteristics of the research sample
Transitional life events
All 42 participants identified transitional events and described the influence of Friedreich ataxia on those times of change. Transitional events were either a direct outcome of having FRDA, or a developmentally-related event altered by the presence of the condition. A series of transitions including recognition of symptoms, fear of falling and changes in mobility status, embodied the Friedreich's experience. These transitions directly influenced one's life work and relationships. Overall, identified events had a significant impact on self-image, life activities, and future planning. Identified times of change led to the assessment of a novel situation, and implementation of coping strategies toward adaptation or re-adaptation. Transitional events are summarized in Appendix 1.
The Friedreich experience
The 'Friedreich experience' was marked by a series of transitions corresponding to clinical progression. The series began with a self-awareness of symptoms and a subsequent fear of falling. Eventually, decisions regarding assistive devices were necessary. Each component of the Friedreich experience was marked by loss, with the exception of transitioning to a wheelchair, which was commonly associated a new found discovery of freedom and independence.
Recognition of symptoms
A personal awareness of symptoms marked the initial life change brought about by FRDA. Interestingly, this change did not correspond with receiving a diagnosis. Rather, participants placed emphasis on the period of time when the diagnosis was unknown, but symptoms were apparent. Many individuals encountered self-doubt as they noted physical changes. When doctors could not identify the medical etiology, support persons ceased to aid in the pursuit of a diagnosis, and participants experienced feelings of isolation. According to one female participant,
I was walking around thinking, it's in your head, nobody else can see it, but I'm feeling this way...I went I would say about a year and a half thinking that I was crazy. When I did get the diagnosis it was by myself, because my father didn't want to go to the doctor with me. Nobody thought that there was anything wrong. (female, age 32 years)
The recognition of symptoms led individuals to become increasingly self-conscious, as others commonly perceived them to be clumsy or drunk. Many recalled being teased, while others noted the struggle to perform certain tasks. One participant reported,
When I knew something was wrong, nobody else believed me, my parents didn't, my doctor -- they told me I was clumsy and that I'll grow out of it. (female, age 22 years)
Fear of falling
The next temporal transition within the experience of living with FRDA salient to participants was the fear of falling. For many, this concern arose from a previous fall, while others reported times they had nearly fallen. As one participant explained,
I probably fall once a year. I have gotten away with only tearing my ankle. But, in the back of my mind I always knew I was going -- there was going to be another incidence. One of these times, my luck is going to run out. (male, age 42 years)
The fear of falling greatly affected one's willingness to participate in activities. Many reported not participating in the same activity performed during a previous accident. As one male participant noted,
I've done things for as long as I could until I had an incident where I had fell and injured myself where I knew I couldn't do them, you know, anymore...it wasn't impossible but the risk of injury was getting too great. (male, age 42 years)
Others expressed hesitation in going to crowded public places, including shopping malls, sporting events and restaurants. The embarrassment, anxiety and concern about social stigma corresponded with an inability to enjoy a visit to these venues.
You're more concerned about others watching you falling in front of someone and embarrassing yourself. (male, age 34 years)
Mobility status
Changes involving mobility status represent the final transition within the Friedreich experience. These changes were associated with the use of assistive devices, including canes, walkers, and wheelchairs.
The initial challenges associated with using an assistive device were perceived stigma, and potential decline in freedom and independence. Stigma was related to individuals' associations of an assistive device with looking old, giving up the fight, or the loss of intellectual capacity. According to these participants,
It's embarrassing to go out in public with a walker, being I'm only 23 years old. (male, age 23 years)
I got treated really funny by like people that think because you're in a wheelchair you lose your brain power. (female, age 46 years)
Additionally, many were concerned that it would be difficult to make a positive first impression, particularly when going for a job interview or meeting new people. As one participant stated,
And even if I have a degree in something and I'm in a wheelchair do you know how challenging that would be for someone to hire me? (female, age 32 years)
Notably, after an initial adjustment period many participants remarked on positive aspects of an assistive device. Individuals transitioning to a cane or walker noted that using the device reduced stigma. Several participants echoed the words of this individual,
I had a cane. The only reason I carried it was so that people wouldn't say I was drunk. (male, age 29 years)
Likewise, after an initial adjustment period, individuals using a wheelchair noted that it provided increased independence and freedom.
People always say -- make it seem like you -- almost like you're giving up. And to me, after I tried it, it was like gaining -- because I got to do things that I couldn't do. (female, age 46 years)
You know people say confined to a wheelchair. But I think if I'm in a chair without wheels then I'm really confined. (female, age 33 years)
Freedom and independence was increased, as moving from place to place was not as mentally or physically exhausting as it was prior to using a wheelchair. Many participants also felt a greater sense of safety. These factors led to the ability to go places they previously avoided. For example,
My personality seemed to come out more and -- I just felt like I could be myself and talk... I was losing some mobility, but I was gaining lots. (male, age 24 years)
Developmental events
Participants also identified developmentally-related transitional events. Changes in one's work and primary relationships were the most salient events. Like the Friedreich-related transitions, change surrounding career and relationships initiated the assessment, coping and eventual adjustment to new challenges in life.
Participants articulated several means by which relationships were influenced by FRDA. The primary relationships affected were dating, marriage and parenting.
Dating relationships were a common theme for the present study population, as greater than half of the individuals were single at the time of the interview (Table 1). Within these relationships, participants expressed difficulty finding dates because of the (1) physical presentation of FRDA, including balance and speech difficulties, (2) aspects of life influenced by FRDA, such as career and activities, (3) and the use of assistive devices. These three difficulties are illustrated in the following.
Being different can be a scarlet letter almost in the fact that -- to the girls, they wouldn't touch me with a 10-foot pole, you know. Because I wasn't typical...I don't blame the females for thinking the way they did or still do. You know, if they're wanting a man that can work and drive and all that, then that's their privilege. (male, age 32 years)
I think the hardest words that I heard was that [he couldn't] see a wheelchair in [his] future. (female, age 32 years)
Other individuals were involved in dating relationships, but found it challenging to explain to their partner the specifics of Friedreich ataxia. Conversations about the progression of the condition were particularly difficult. In the words of one participant,
They think you're in a chair because you were in an accident. And then you've got to share more information and they're like, "is it going to get worse?" (female, age 32 years)
Finally, participants spoke of previous dating relationships that had ended due to some aspect of FRDA. These events represented loss both emotionally and physically, as many reported using their date for balance and support. One's own acceptance of having FRDA was often complicated by a break-up, as it was perceived that the relationship ended because of the partner's difficulties in accepting the condition.
And I almost think that it's harder for somebody in a relationship to get involved. Because with me I have to accept it. I have no choice. And I think that for a potential spouse to get involved with that, there's concerns because they have a choice whether they want it in their life or not. And I think that's harder for the person. (female, age 32 years)
Like dating relationships, married participants reported that their relationships with their spouses were affected by FRDA. In many situations, a spouse was the primary support person. However, participants reported that it was difficult to communicate with one's spouse about issues generated by FRDA. Difficulty discussing the condition and its implications for the relationship led to feelings of isolation. As one participant explained,
He (husband) would always listen to me, but he doesn't share any of himself with me. (female, age 52 years)
There were also discrepancies within the couple surrounding physical expectations and abilities. For example, spouses sometimes wished the individual with FRDA could participate in a particular activity. These expectations often led to feelings of inadequacy and frustration.
I remember one time we were at a restaurant -- this waitress walked by with high heels and he (husband) goes, oh, I wish that one day you'd be able to wear heels like that. And I was like, well, that's not going to happen...and that's like, to me, hurtful. (female, age 50 years)
On the other hand, some spouses took on a protective role, not wanting their partner to participate in potentially dangerous activities. As one woman remarked,
It's justified that he (husband) would have fears. But, you know, I'm my own person. I'm independent. He doesn't have to worry so much. (female, age 26 years)
The parenting relationship was also influenced by Friedreich ataxia. Some individuals noted fear when assessing their ability to care for children. Others, more commonly, reported the inability to play or participate in activities with their children. For example,
This (FRDA) didn't really affect me until he got to be about four or five, and I could no longer play in the snow with him, or throw a baseball and have him hit the ball. (female, age 50 years)
These challenges led to both frustration and sadness, particularly when other parents took their children to activities that they were unable to participate in because of physical difficulties.
I feel the frustration...they have to go with the neighbor's kid's father to go hunting. So the -- the positive side is -- up to a point, we can share these passions, but then at a certain point, the frustration sets in again for me. (male, age 49 years)
Despite the frustrations experienced from not participating in their children's activities, most individuals noted that the parenting relationship was a primary motivation in their lives. Because their children 'needed them', they continued to face and overcome adversity. A common viewpoint is reflected in these quotes:
If I didn't have a daughter, I'm the first one to admit I probably wouldn't be here. I would have wrapped myself around a tree a long time ago. (male, 31 years)
I think if I wouldn't have had someone that depended on me... I think I would have given up trying to keep fighting, to stay around or to stay active as much as I was, you know. He needed me, no matter if I was a nurse, or had ataxia, or whatever the problem. It helped that I had him: that I knew I had to manage being his mother. (female, age 50 years)
Finally, some individuals had chosen not to have children because of FRDA. The decision not to have children was typically based on concern about progression of the condition and how it would affect their ability to parent the child, or about passing this recessive condition on to a child. Both scenarios were accompanied by feelings of loss and sadness, as illustrated in the following quote:
As bad as I would like to have a child, I could not fathom passing these genes down that will probably hurt my future generations. (male, 34 years)
Having another child it was like well, you know, I don't know how I'm going to be able to do things with the first two. I don't want to have another one and then not be able to do anything with that one. (female, age 33 years)
The remaining category of transitional events revolves around one's life work. Primarily, these events encompass several aspects of career and education. Many participants noted that the careers they chose were influenced by FRDA. Decision-making regarding career choice was often a struggle between the desired career and the career that was perceived as physically possible both in the present and future. As one participant stated,
What your heart likes and what Friedreich's dictates are two different things. (male, age 32 years)
Individuals with an established career experienced changes in their job performance. Many individuals found ways to compensate so that co-workers or bosses would not notice the change. For example,
...I really couldn't keep up and I would stay and I would run down and clock out, and come back and finish my work. (female, age 50 years)
It was difficult for participants to balance their career and personal life. As the individual was working harder to compensate for difficulties related to the condition, he/she was also experiencing fatigue and weakness associated with FRDA. As one participant stated,
I'd given it the best nine hours of my day. The best part of me was given to my job. Because I physically couldn't - you know, if I worked all day, I mean, I would just come home and that was it for the night. (female, age 42 years)
Finally, many individuals reported that progression of the condition either led to quitting one's chosen line of work and changing to another position, or quitting work entirely, and taking disability or early retirement. This transition represented a substantial loss to the individual and was most often marked by feelings of guilt, inadequacy, sadness, frustration and the questioning of self identity.
But I did it (took another job). You know, when I think back now, when I think of how low I felt and how bad I felt not being a nurse. (female, age 50 years)
Additionally, these feelings were often compounded by the increased financial burden of not working, or the difficulties and time commitment when applying for disability.
Participants articulated a variety of factors that helped to facilitate their progression through the transitional events. Many of the efforts were adaptive coping strategies, such as focusing on the present and seeking out social support. Overall, a few participants reported maladaptive coping strategies, including the use of drugs and alcohol. Many individuals described their initial reaction to FA as denial, which reportedly diminished over time.
Participants reported cognitive strategies, such as maintaining focus on the present rather than the future. Utilizing this strategy shifted attention away from the condition and its prognosis onto present challenges.
Just take it one day at a time. Don't try to look down the road too far. Just keep your goals and your thoughts more present. (female, age 48 years)
Other common strategies involved compensating for physical difficulties. Participants reported trying to "look normal" by concentrating on performing a given task, placing their clinical features within a context, such as pretending to be drunk, or using their friends to maintain physical balance.
I spend a lot of energy at work trying to be as normal as possible. You know, I had one confidant who was very good at, -- if we were walking down the street or something and we had to go down a ramp, he would automatically go in front of me and I would sort of hold onto his coat. (female, age 46 years)
Individuals also used various forms of social support to help them through their times of change. Spouses, friends, and family were commonly reported to provide needed encouragement. Some found it helpful to become involved in support groups. Finally, several individuals reported receiving social and spiritual support through their faith and religious practices.
Participants reported a variety of positive and negative interactions with their health care providers (HCPs). Many negative experiences were associated with perceptions that their providers had limited knowledge of FRDA. Some participants felt that this limited knowledge had important implications for their health, while others were frustrated to spend time educating HCPs. These concerns are highlighted in the following:
When it came about finding out that it was Friedreich's, most of my doctors didn't know what it was and so 90% of my information I had to look up myself. (male, age 27 years)
Many participants also reported positive experiences with their HCPs. Positive experiences were often based on the provider's attributes, including their willingness to listen, compassion, and perceived interest regarding the effects of FRDA on all aspects of life. These common viewpoints are illustrated by the following quote:
It's good to have more-- almost a heart. You know. Feel people's suffering. You know, pick up on what is going on in someone's life. (male, age 27 years)
Transitional events identified in this study represent times of change brought about or altered by Friedreich ataxia. Consideration of identified events, coupled with findings from the existing literature, provide insight into the nature and meaning of transitional events, as well as the process of adaptation to these times of change.
The nature of change
An integrated experience
While the distinction between developmental and disease-related transitional events has been made throughout this study, the results may provide clarification of the relationship between these two types of events. Prior research has focused on either disease-related or developmentally-related transitions, but rarely has given simultaneous attention to both types of change. Respondents freely described both disease related and developmental transitions with equal frequency. This distribution of responses draws attention to the widespread effects of FRDA. Participants reported that physical changes correlated with both disease and developmental transitions. Specifically, FRDA creates disease-related transitions that able-bodied individuals do not experience, and also alters most life transitions universally experienced. In many cases, the two types of events were so intertwined, they were indistinguishable to participants.
The separation of disease and developmental events clarifies and characterizes transitional events for research and descriptive purposes. This distinction may also occur in the clinical care of patients. Specifically, care offered to patients typically focuses on the physical aspects of the condition, leaving little opportunity for the individual to explore the totality and interconnected nature of life changes resulting from his/her illness or disability [31].
Developmental transitions
Developmental events identified in this study reiterated those described in the literature. Catanzaro [32] reported that chronic illness and disability have significant influences on three major components of one's life: relationships, parenting and career. These components were investigated in individuals with various progressive, neurological conditions. Not only were the areas of change (i.e. relationships and career) comparable to those identified in the present study, but the specific nature of change was also similar. Changes in relationships resulting from incongruence in disease perception, decreased participation in children's activities, and early retirement, were identical in both studies. These similarities may suggest that many developmentally-related events are comparable regardless of the specific progressive, neurological condition.
Not surprisingly, developmentally-related transitional events reported in the present study are similar to transitions identified in healthy persons [32, 33]. The significant areas of change identified in this study (relationships and career) have been reported as the primary areas of transition within the general population [33]. However, the nature of the transitional events was quite distinct from those without chronic illness. Developmental transitions identified in the present study population were significant because the effects of FRDA were perceived to alter the "normal" course of life changes.
Overall, the present study lends support to existing literature regarding developmentally-related transitional events in the context of progressive, neurological conditions. Data suggest that progressive, neurological conditions increase the complexity of significant developmental changes. Ultimately, this increased complexity, coupled with a greater magnitude of events brought about by progressive nature of the condition, leaves affected individuals to face a cyclical and perpetual pattern of change. This experience is distinct from that described in the general population where periods of stability are predominant and only occasionally are interspersed with times of transition [6].
Disease-related transitions
Unlike developmentally-related transitions, it is difficult to compare FRDA disease-related transitions to the existing literature, as many of these changes are inherently dependent on the clinical manifestations of the condition [9, 12]. As a result, research has primarily focused on understanding psychological transitions, or adaptation processes, rather than specific disease-related transitional events.
In the limited studies investigating specific disease-related transitions in chronic illness and disability, diagnosis has been identified as a key event, perhaps because of its near universality within the disease experience [9, 12]. Participants in the present study did not report diagnosis as a key transition, but rather focused on their initial recognition of symptom onset. Diagnosis may not have been prominent because most participants were previously aware of their symptoms. Thus, a diagnosis may not always be significant, and its relevance may correspond temporally with the progression of the condition.
Overall, the significant disease-related transitional events, including recognition of symptoms, fear of falling, and changes in mobility status, correspond with the clinical progression of FRDA. A similar relationship between transitional events and clinical progression was also noted in a study of individuals with various forms of muscular dystrophy [12]. The authors of that study characterized the progression as a transition from independence to dependence [12]. In the present population of FRDA participants, a trend toward increasing dependence may be represented early in the progression of the condition. However, movement toward dependence did not continue in a linear fashion, as the use of assistive devices increased one's self reported independence and freedom. Although participants in our study reported an increase in independence, it is unknown how this change affects their quality of life. One study [34] found that motor disability status was linked to decreased quality of life in individuals with adult onset ataxia.
Overall, perceptions reported in the present study regarding disease-related transitional events varied from some previously reported [9, 12]. The participants' placed emphasis on recognition of symptoms and increased independence achieved through the use of assistive devices. This focus may suggest that participants have greater concern about the implications of transitions on daily life, than an actual change in status brought about by a diagnosis or assistive device. Additionally, the perceived increase in freedom when using a wheelchair may suggest that independence and dependence are not overall "states of being", nor are they in direct opposition. Rather, these concepts may represent a spectrum of possibilities that are highly situation-dependent [35].
The meaning of change
Transitional events identified in the present study were characterized by loss, challenges to one's self esteem and alterations in one's self-identity. Not surprisingly, loss and self-identity are recognized as related concepts within the context of chronic illness and disability [36, 37]. Chronically ill individuals have been reported to have a heightened sense of concern about the person they are becoming, as well as the loss of self-images from the past [38]. The loss of former images is often not replaced by equally valued new images. This perpetual cycle of loss, termed chronic sorrow, can lead not only to a decline in self-esteem, but eventually to alterations in self-identity [38, 39].
Transitional events identified in the present study can be explored in light of the established relationship between loss and self-identity. Loss was primarily brought about by physical changes, discrepancy between perceived and desired self, and stigma. Each form of loss presented specific challenges to one's self esteem, as well as personal identity.
The loss of physical abilities was a focus in many disease-related events. Loss was significant as it led to an inability to perform certain tasks. Since much of an individual's self esteem is derived from one's abilities [11, 36], this loss may diminish one's self esteem. Furthermore, changes in one's activities may cause an altered self-identity, as the activities that once contributed to defining self are no longer applicable.
The second form of loss accompanying the reported transitional events resulted from a discrepancy in one's perceived versus desired self. This loss was most poignant within the context of developmentally-related transitional events. Individuals forced to leave a chosen career faced the discrepancy between one's desired self and one's perceived self, who was unable to perform the tasks required for a given field of work. Loss related to developmentally-related events may cause one to be particularly vulnerable to changes in self-perception, as career and relationships have been recognized as the key means by which individuals form their personal identities [33, 37].
The final form of loss related to transitional events was that of actual and/or perceived stigma. Participants in the present study reported that many transitional events, specifically changes in mobility status, were accompanied by social stigma. Stigma represented a form of loss, as one was unable to portray him/herself to others in a desired manner. Although clinical manifestations of FRDA were regarded as stigmatizing, individuals often engaged in impression management by developing skills that caused the clinical features not to be noticed by others [37, 40]. Stigma related to the use of assistive devices was more prominent for the individual, perhaps because impression management was more difficult to accomplish. Regardless, however, of the stigmatizing stimulus, other's attitudes contribute to self-esteem [36, 41, 42]. If these attitudes are internalized over a period of time, individuals are likely to experience a change in self-identity from this form of loss.
Adaptation to change
Overall, transitional life events identified in the present study represent changes brought about or altered by Friedreich ataxia. Adaptation to these changes, and ultimately to the condition is considered critical to the well being of the individual. A prominent literature regarding adaptation in the context of chronic illness and disability has emerged over time and has produced a variety of theoretical frameworks in which to consider this process. Leventhal's self-regulatory model of illness behavior is one such theory in which to consider the present findings regarding transitional events [43].
The overarching premise of Leventhal's model is that individuals respond to change by attempting to re-establish their state of normality [43, 44]. In order to accomplish this task, the individual proceeds through three distinct phases. First, one is made aware of the change, and is motivated to assign meaning to the specific problem. In response to this meaning, the individual then identifies and develops potential coping strategies in the attempt to deal with the change. Finally, the individual evaluates his/her strategies and pursues new coping mechanisms if the previous strategies are not considered to be effective.
In keeping with Leventhal's model, an individual seeks to re-establish a state of normalcy in response to change brought about by developmentally and disease-related transitional events. As these events create change, the continuity of one's life is disrupted. In order to re-establish continuity, one begins by assigning meaning to the given event. The individual's ability to interpret experiences within a meaningful framework, also referred to as a sense of coherence, is considered critical to the adaptation process and has been shown to be influenced by the overall stability of one's self-identity [42, 45]. It is probable that this phase of the adaptation process is difficult and yet essential for the present study population. Some studies purport that the ability to develop and preserve one's identity is the primary factor in one's eventual adaptation to an event [37, 46, 47].
Subsequent to this important interpretation phase, individuals begin to utilize a variety of coping strategies to deal with the change. Several previously described strategies were reported by participants in the present study. In the final step of Leventhal's model, the individual begins to appraise and revise his/her coping strategies. This revision component creates a cyclical nature to this model of adaptation, appropriately corresponding to the perpetual nature of change encountered by this study population and highlighting the continual nature of adaptation process throughout the duration of living with FRDA.
Implications for genetic counseling
Results from this study have several implications for genetic counseling. First, the findings support previous literature, which indicates that genetic information should be explored with the patient in the broader context of his/her daily life [13, 48]. Genetic counselors often provide patients with information about disease-related transitional events, such as diagnosis, prognosis, and genetic status. The significance of this information is dependent upon and highly integrated into many other aspects of life. By recognizing and exploring the far-reaching nature of disease-related transitions, patients may be able to anticipate implications and incorporate and assign meaning to the information in the context of their lives.
Additionally, a genetic counselor can prepare patients for transitions they may encounter in the future, as anticipatory guidance is thought to help facilitate the transition process [27, 49]. This preparation may be particularly important due to the complexity of change, as well as the potential for feelings of isolation. Genetic counselors can discuss future transitions with patients, as well as provide referrals for resources and support. Referrals for vocational, and marriage and family counselors, and physical and occupational therapists, may be useful, as indicated by many participants in this study.
Finally, genetic counselors, practicing in settings providing continual, follow-up care to individuals with progressive, neuromuscular conditions, may be able to engage patients in ongoing discussions regarding the development and preservation of self-identity. This process could begin by exploring how patients define their identity (i.e. relationships, career, hobbies, etc), as well as areas in which they enjoy and demonstrate competence. Coupling this information with an exploration of previous or anticipated loss, may allow the genetic counselor and patient to consider meaningful ways in which to replace loss. Ultimately, a demonstration of this process within a counseling session may help the patient in finding ways to develop and restore meaning, control and self-identity in spite of the progressive nature of the condition.
Limitations and future research
This study is limited by its selection bias. It is probable that individuals participating in the study are different from those individuals with FRDA who did not participate. Individuals farther along in the progression of the condition, and those having difficulty adjusting to the diagnosis may not have chosen to participate. Furthermore, the populations from which the participants were recruited represent FRDA patients with specific interests. Participants may have been different from non-participants because they are more interested in research or support groups. Results from the study are not generalizable to the overall population of individuals affected with FRDA. The qualitative study design was intended to explore transitional events, and not to test hypotheses or generate generalizable results.
The study is also limited by recall bias. Participants were asked to recall information regarding past transitional events and interactions with health care providers. However, since the primary focus was on the patient's perceptions of transitional events, changes over time are perceived in a broader life span context. Finally, the analysis of the results is also limited in that no comparisons were made between gender, severity, or age of onset: factors that probably would contribute to variation in response.
Wilson et al. [50] found that people with an adult onset of FRDA have a lower quality of life than those who were diagnosed in childhood. It has been speculated that it may be difficult for individuals to adapt to disease transitions after certain aspects of life, such as career and family have been established [50]. Our sample may have recruited more individuals with later onset disease, as we recruited only adults: some of whom participated in the National Ataxia Foundation's conference. Thus, age of our participants may have directly influenced their perception of transitional life events.
Finally, patient perceptions of transitional life events may be altered with new advances in technology. For example, individuals who have taken medications such as idebenone may have a different perception of daily impact of FRDA on their lives. Thus, it is possible that as our understanding and treatment of the disease improves, patients may focus less on disease related transitions described in this study.
Additional research may stem from this study. A quantitative survey assessing the prominent transitional events in progressive neuromuscular conditions would be useful, as it may be able to provide large-scale, generalizable results regarding the relative importance of disease versus developmental transitions, as well as stratify study populations to look for differences in terms of gender, severity and age of onset. Additionally, research regarding the roles, challenges and needs of genetic counselors practicing in settings with continual, follow-up of patients would be beneficial in applying information regarding transitional life events to a clinic setting. Finally, developing and evaluating counseling interventions, which are designed to help facilitate patient adaptation to change, and build self-identity, would also be useful.
Friedreich ataxia increased the complexity and magnitude of transitional events for study participants. The identified transitional events commonly represented significant loss and presented challenges to self-esteem and identity. Patients with progressive neuromuscular conditions may benefit from genetic counseling strategies which focus on key times of transition and help to establish self-identity throughout the lifespan.
Appendix 1 - Summary of transitional events
Disease-related events
Self-doubt regarding existence of symptoms
Isolation from support persons when etiology cannot be identified
Decline in participation in activities
Embarrassment from falling in front of others
Increased freedom with assistive devices
Developmentally-related events
Difficulty finding individuals to date
Difficulty with discussions regarding the progression of FA
Date's acceptance of FA
Important source of support
Difficulty with communication about FA
Adverse effects of FA on the martial relationship
Inability to participate in children's activities
Children's need for their parents
The decision not to parent
Career choice
Desire verses ability
Job performance
Increased effort and decreased abilities
Early retirement or changing careers
Loss of chosen career
Kralik D, Visentin K, van Loon A: Transition: a literature review. J Adv Nurs. 2006, 55 (3): 320-329. 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03899.x.
Lenz B: The transition from adolescence to young adulthood: a theoretical perspective. J Sch Nurs. 2001, 17 (6): 300-306. 10.1177/10598405010170060401.
Schumacher KL, Meleis AI: Transitions: a central concept in nursing. Image J Nurs Sch. 1994, 26 (2): 119-27. 10.1111/j.1547-5069.1994.tb00929.x. Review
Baltes PB, Reese HW, Lipsitt LP: Life-span developmental psychology. Annu Rev Psychol. 1980, 31: 65-110. 10.1146/annurev.ps.31.020180.000433.
Whitman TL: Conceptual frameworks for viewing health and illness. Life-span Perspectives on Health and Illness. Edited by: Whitman TL, Merluzzi TV, White RD. 1999, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Mahwah, NJ
Rolland JS: Families, Illness and Disability: An Integrative Treatment Model. 1994, Basic Books, New York
Marshak LE, Seligman M, Prezant F: Adult children with disabilities. Disability and the Family Life Cycle. 1999, Basic Books, New York
Delaporte C: Ways of announcing a late-onset, heritable, disabling disease and their psychological consequences. Genet Couns. 1996, 7 (4): 289-296.
Johnson J: On receiving the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: managing the transition. Mult Scler. 2003, 9 (1): 82-88. 10.1191/1352458503ms856oa.
Gravell A: Caring for a child with a progressive illness during the complex phase: parents' experience of facing adversity. J Adv Nurs. 1997, 25 (4): 738-745. 10.1046/j.1365-2648.1997.1997025738.x.
King G, Cathers T, Brown E, Specht JA, Willoughby C, Polgar JM, MacKinnon E, Smith LK, Havens L: Turning points and protective processes in the lives of people with chronic disabilities. Qual Health Res. 2003, 13 (2): 184-206. 10.1177/1049732302239598.
Natterlund B, Sjoden PO, Ahlstrom G: The illness experience of adult persons with muscular dystrophy. Disabil Rehabil. 2001, 23 (17): 788-798. 10.1080/09638280110065344.
Shaul MP: Transitions in chronic illness: Rheumatoid arthritis in women. Rehabil Nurs. 1997, 22 (4): 199-205.
Folkman S, Lazarus RS, Gruen RJ, DeLonis A: Appraisal, coping, health status, and psychological symptoms. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986, 50: 571-579. 10.1037/0022-3514.50.3.571.
Lindgren CL: Chronic sorrow in persons with Parkinson's and their spouses. Sch Inq Nurs Pract. 1996, 10 (4): 351-366.
Rolland JS: Anticipatory loss: A family systems developmental framework. Fam Process. 1990, 29 (3): 229-244. 10.1111/j.1545-5300.1990.00229.x.
Sidell NL: Adult adjustment to chronic illness: A review of the literature. Health Soc Work. 1997, 22 (1): 5-11.
Rosa AL, Ashizawa T: Genetic ataxia. Neurol Clin. 2002, 20 (3): 727-736. 10.1016/S0733-8619(02)00008-7.
Durr A, Cossee M, Agid Y, Capuzano V, Mignard C, Penet C, Mandel JL, Brice A, Koenig M: Clinical and genetic abnormalities in patients with Friedreich's ataxia. N Engl J Med. 1996, 335: 1169-1175. 10.1056/NEJM199610173351601.
Paulson N: Ataxia and hereditary disorders. Neurol Clin. 2001, 19 (3): 759-782. 10.1016/S0733-8619(05)70044-X.
Griggs RC: Neurogenetics. Goldman:Cecil's Textbook of Medicine. 2000, WB Sanders, 21
Campuzano V, Montermini L, Molto MD, Pianese L, Cossee M, Cavalcanti F, Monros E, Rodius F, Duclos F, Monticelli A, Zara F, Canizares J, Koutnikova H, Bidichandani SI, Gellera C, Brice A, Trouillas P, De Michele G, Filla A, De Frutos R, Palau F, Patel PI, Di Donato S, Mandel JL, Cocozza S, Koenig M, Pandolfo M: Friedreich's ataxia: autosomal recessive disease caused by an intronic GAA triplet repeat expansion. Science. 1996, 271 (5254): 1423-7. 10.1126/science.271.5254.1423.
Klockgether T: Ataxias. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 1999, W.B. Saunders, 1
Shaw KL, Southwood TR, McDonagh JE: User perspectives of transitional care for adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Rheumatology. 2004, 43 (6): 770-8. 10.1093/rheumatology/keh175.
Beisecker AE, Cobb AK, Ziegler DK: Patients' perspectives of the role of care providers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 1988, 45 (5): 553-556.
Borreani C, Gangeri L: Genetic counseling: communication and psychosocial aspects. Tumori. 1996, 82 (2): 147-150.
Bernhardt BA, Biesecker BB, Mastromarino CL: Goals, benefits and outcomes of genetic counseling: Client and genetic counselor assessment. Am J Med Genet. 2000, 94: 189-197. 10.1002/1096-8628(20000918)94:3<189::AID-AJMG3>3.0.CO;2-E.
Wertz DC: Patient reports of topics discussed in genetic counseling: is the psychosocial dimension missing?. Am J Hum Genet. 2002, 71 (s): 41-
Crabtree BF, Miller WL: Doing qualitative research. Research Methods for Primary Care. 1992, Sage Publications. London, 3:
Qualitative Solutions and Research Pty Ltd: NUD. IST Version 4.0. 1997, Thousand Oaks, CA:SCOLARI/Sage Publications, Inc
Martin C, Rohan BG: Chronic illness care as a balancing act. A qualitative study. Aust Fam Physician. 2002, 31 (1): 55-59.
Catanzaro M: Transitions in midlife adults with long-term illness. Holist Nurs Pract. 1990, 4 (3): 65-73.
Thurnher M: Turning points and developmental change: subjective and objective assessments. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 1983, 53 (1): 52-60. 10.1111/j.1939-0025.1983.tb03349.x.
Abele M, Klockgether T: Health related quality of life in sporadic adult-onset ataxia. Mov Disord. 2007, 22 (3): 348-352. 10.1002/mds.21265.
Gignac AM, Cott C: A conceptual model of independence and dependence for adults with chronic physical illness and disability. Soc Sci Med. 1998, 47 (6): 739-753. 10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00149-X.
Charmaz K: Identity dilemmas of chronically ill men. Sociol Q. 1994, 35 (2): 269-288. 10.1111/j.1533-8525.1994.tb00410.x.
Christiansen CH: Defining lives: occupation as identity: an essay on competence, coherence and the creation of meaning. Am J Occup Ther. 1999, 53 (6): 547-558.
Lindgren CL: Chronic sorrow in persons with Parkinson's and their spouses. Sch Inq Nurs Pract. 1996, 10 (4): 351-66.
Charmaz K: Loss of self: A fundamental form of suffering in the chronically ill. Sociol Health Illn. 1983, 5 (2): 168-195. 10.1111/1467-9566.ep10491512.
Goffman E: The Presentation of Self In Everyday Life. 1959, Doubleday, Garden City, NY
Bostrom K, Ahlstrom G: Living with a chronic deteriorating disease: the trajectory with muscular dystrophy over ten years. Disabil Rehabil. 2004, 26 (23): 1388-1398. 10.1080/0963-8280400000898.
Ville I, Ravaud JF, Marchal F, Paicheler H, Fardeau M: Social identity and the International Classification of Handicaps: An evaluation of the consequences of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Disabil Rehabil. 1992, 14 (4): 168-175. 10.3109/09638289209165856.
Leventhal H, Safer MA, Panagis DM: The impact of communications on the self regulation of health beliefs, decisions, and behavior. Health Educ Q. 1983, 10 (1): 3-29.
Ogden J: Health Psychology: A Textbook. 1996, Open University Press: Philadelphia, PA
Antonovsky H, Sagy S: The development of a sense of coherence and its impact on responses to stress situations. J Soc Psychol. 1986, 126 (2): 213-225.
Ashbring P: Chronic illness - a disruption in life: identity-transformation among women with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. J Adv Nurs. 2001, 34 (3): 312-323. 10.1046/j.1365-2648.2001.01767.x.
Weinberg N, Steritt M: Disability and identity: A study of identity patterns in adolescents with hearing impairments. Rehabil Psychol. 1986, 31 (2): 95-103.
Kralik D: The quest for ordinariness: transition experienced by midlife women living with chronic illness. J Adv Nurs. 2002, 39 (2): 146-154. 10.1046/j.1365-2648.2000.02254.x.
Meleis AI, Sawyer LM, Im EO, Messias DH, Schmacher K: Experiencing transitions: An emerging middle range theory. Adv Nurs Sci. 2000, 23 (1): 12-28.
Wilson CL, Fahey MC, Corben LA, Collins VR, Churchyard AJ, Lamont PJ, Delatycki MB: Quality of Life in Friedreich Ataxia: What Clinical, Social and Demographic Factors are Important?. Eur J of Neurol. 2007, 14: 1040-1047. 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2007.01881.x.
Thanks to all the participants in this study who gave of their time and shared their life experiences. Additionally, we are grateful to the National Ataxia Foundation and the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance for providing support during the recruitment phase of the study.
This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health.
Clinical Genetics, Carolinas Medical Center, PO Box 32861, Charlotte, NC, 28232-2861, USA
V Brook White
HealthFutures, Washington, DC, USA
Jennifer R Leib
Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance, Exton, PA, USA
Jennifer M Farmer
National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Barbara B Biesecker
Correspondence to V Brook White.
VBW was involved in the conception of the study, carried out interviews, performed analysis of the data, and drafted the manuscript. JRL participated in the design of the study, helped with recruitment strategies, and assisted with manuscript. JMF also participated in the design of the study, helped with recruitment strategies, and assisted with the manuscript. BBB was involved in the conception and design of the study, performed analysis of the data and edited the manuscript. All authors have read and approve this manuscript.
White, V.B., Leib, J.R., Farmer, J.M. et al. Exploration of transitional life events in individuals with Friedreich ataxia: Implications for genetic counseling. Behav Brain Funct 6, 65 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-9081-6-65
Coping Strategy
Assistive Device
Submission enquiries: Jacinth.Kennady@springernature.com


text:
Preschool Mentoring
Early Childhood Partnership
Keep up with the latest news about Washtenaw Promise and our network of partners in the community.
Coronavirus Has Changed Us . . . Into Something Even Stronger!
Posted By : Jason Beckerleg/
Along with anxiety and uncertainty, the pandemic we now face together is also bringing out the best in us. Caring for those we love, and for those we hardly know, can help define us at this moment and lead to new and stronger relationships, new skills and technologies, and a renewed sense of hope about our ability to solve problems and overcome adversity.
At Washtenaw Promise, we are determined to celebrate hope, while planning for action and getting results. As we temporarily increase the physical distance between us, we have the opportunity to strengthen our social connections: the relationships we are building in the community, with colleagues, WP mentors, teachers, administrators, business leaders, parents, and young children.
Our programs are moving forward, strong and sustainable:
Our Big Friends mentoring program for preschoolers continues to grow. When we return to school in September, the WP mentoring team will include nearly 100 volunteers — including 50 student athletes from Concordia University, over a dozen students from U of M and EMU, and many community volunteers of all ages and backgrounds—supporting individual children and families in need. Our mentors will be able to connect with a helpful network of social workers, behavioral specialists, and family-support service workers.
Development of our major teacher wellness and parenting support programs will not slow down because of Covid-19, or anything else. In fact, our efforts are multiplying. As school resumes, the challenges for preschool teachers and administrators will intensify. The Ypsilanti Community School District and Washtenaw Intermediate School District can use support from our WP community to meet these challenges. We will offer a multi-component teacher wellness program for Ypsilanti preschool teachers, as well as our growing program of afterschool parenting classes.
With new funding in place, a feasibility study is on track for a major Cradle-to-Career Center, projected to open in 2022 and include a public school with a focus on STEM education and robotics. The Center will also offer career technical education, entrepreneurial and small business opportunities, as well as a full range of family support services. Washtenaw Promise has played a major role in planning this Center and we will continue to move it forward.
Our introduction of Imagination Library into the community will begin this month. With this program, families with children under 5 can sign up for free, quality books to be mailed to their homes each month.
At a time like this, the future for our children depends not only on our ability to leverage knowledge and science against outside threats, but also on our demonstration of the determination, resilience, and confidence that can enrich and sustain us. Washtenaw Promise is proud to join in this effort to support a promising future for every child.
To empower children in our community who are facing serious obstacles, to help raise their potential for success in the family, in school and in their world.
EMAIL: twilson@washtenawpromise.org
111 S. Wallace Blvd.


I have 2 fireplaces, 1 on 1st floor and 1 directly below it in the basement.
Both are on the same flue/chimney. When I have a fire upstairs there is significant smoke seepage into the basement. The only solutions that worked were a chimney balloon, with limited success and need to re-inflate constantly, and current mode of sealing it up with insulation panels/caulking.
That's a short-term fix. Would love to use this fireplace but the balloon is a mess to insert/remove constantly. Would new doors with gaskets work? Currently has the standard glass bi-folds (pro baby builder grade).
Looking to stop the seepage but keep the fireplace functional. Willing to do some adjustments on use each time but chimney balloon is not idea.
Note: This isn't an issue with priming, I'm well aware of doing that properly.
Very common problem. There is always a negative pressure in the basement of any house. Gets worse during heating season due to the "stack effect". Heat upstairs naturally flowing up draws air in from below. Chances are both flues are the same height and if capped makes it even worse. Creating a vacuum in the basement by creating heat upstairs plus a fireplace can remove up to 550 cubic ft of air per minute from a dwelling and the smoke being drawn into the basement flue from the stack effect is your problem. One fix is to have the upstairs flue extended. This will allow the smoke to flow and not be drawn into the other flue. The other is to have a lock top damper installed on the basement flue which will completely stop any smoke being drawn in.
Totally agree with HomeSaver, took the words right out of my mouth re negative pressure in the basement unit.