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Writer’s Name: S.F. Hardy
Title: Teenage Blues
As a continuation of an article I wrote earlier entitled, Raise It Write or Watch
It Fall, based on the ways children are raised today compared to
yesteryears, I want to discuss personal hardships of parenting a teenager in
Almost 13 years ago, days shy of my twentieth birthday I gave birth to a healthy
inquisitive baby boy. As a young mother, I was not sure how I was going to be a
mother who raised her son to be a productive citizen but I was and still am
determined to do so.
As I look back my fears of being a decent mother is nothing compared to what I face as my son will be a teenager in just 2 months. His attitude is changing, I’m fearful of the world that awaits him, and I just don’t know what to do.
I feel myself losing control as I often have to holler and scream just to get his
attention. I am not above corporal punishment but normally he is not within
arm’s reach or throw when we have these bouts. When discussing my child’s
abnormal behavior with my husband, he explained to me that our child is going
through puberty, which explains his moodiness and magnified attitude problem for
no apparent reason.
I talked with an old friend who is the parent of a pre-teen and adult. She too expressed her bafflement and had no answer for me or herself. Like me, she was a young mother who raised her children in a two parent home. Her children, like I imagine most children, had their issues but to what extreme is another topic.
The fact remains. It is very difficult being a parent nomatter the support or lack thereof. I don’t take any comfort in knowing I am not alone in my concerns because that just means there are more clueless parents who want what is best for their children. I can’t imagine how children who have no support or guidance make it. Well for some I do.
I had a conversation just yesterday with my best friend who confided in me that
her 15 year old nephew, who just was released from a 3 month jail sentence, had
hit a lady in the head and carjacked a lady the night before. I gasped for air
as she told me this. I guess his behavior is to be expected since he never
really had structure or support of his parents. He, along with his siblings were
taken from their mother by the state and sent to live with various relatives.
The violence and substance abuse he witnessed his mother and other adults around
him partake in had become the norm for him -the exact norm that I don’t want for
my, or any other child; not only because eventually what happens to one affects
us all, but I believe children deserve much more if they are to have a fighting chance at a quality life.
I don’t want to push my child away but at the same time I am not his friend. I have explained to him that while I may say many things to him that he does not want to hear at the moment or ever, I will never steer him in the wrong direction or do anything to hurt him as I have his best interest at heart. For most of his life I have worked in corrections in some capacity or another and I share stories with him of why my expectations are high and why I demand certain behaviors from him.
Although I have been a constant in his life, so have other family members; some helping, others hindering in my raising him to be the man I wish him to be. I now fully understand why my mother urged me to stay at home with him his first few years of life. I denied him this in spite of my mother’s warnings and while I was working and attending college, I inadvertently allowed others to shape and mold my child in a way that I sometimes regret. I can’t take back the hands of time all I can do is do better moving forward and just hope that my child gives his self a chance at life and not be influenced by the knuckleheads of society. I don’t expect him to be perfect but I do want him to strive for perfection and not do anything to permanently jeopardize his chances at life.
While I am still confused on how to do this parenting thing the right way, I continue to push forward. I have considered letting him live with his biological father, if only temporary (which he does not want) in order for him to realize just how good he has it (which I believe to be part of the problem; he has too much). But I’m not sure if that will inflame my child’s issues in some way. That said, there is no easy way out, unless I am to give up and I’m not a quitter so I guess my only option is to pray and seek help for both myself and my child and keep him as active as I can. I can only hope that those around us don’t undermine my position so that my worst nightmare does not become true.
If you or someone you know are having difficulties raising a teenager, know that you are not alone and it is ok to seek outside help, professional and informal to ensure the best for your child(ren).
Resources for Parents


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Onyx’s Fredro Starr, who was accompanied by Loaded Lux , recently commented about his long awaited battle against Def Squad representative, Keith Murray.
When asked how he felt the battle went down, the “Slam” emcee described to DJ Vlad his match up as hip hop history and also expressed his opinion that the bout was a good look for the battle rap as a whole.
Fans of the culture as well as emcees in this era usually prefer battles that are acapella rather than having competitors spit to an instrumental. When asked if he felt there was difference battling to a beat, the Onyx member stated that although he prefers to battle without a beat, an emcee must be versatile enough to perform in whatever format that is provided.
Many who were in attendance for the showdown shared the same belief that Fredro Starr was the victor of the battle. After the legendary Loaded Lux told Vlad he felt the same way, Starr humbly stated that it is up for the fans to decide.

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More than 100 people gathered outside the Kelowna courthouse Tuesday evening for the 6th annual Murdered and Missing Indigenous woman’s memorial vigil.
Holding signs, drums and candles – community members joined in unity to remember those lost as well as fight for change moving forward.
“I think it is important everyone gathers to remember the missing and murdered Indigenous women and to support their families, who are grieving right now. Also, to bring awareness to this issue. So we can bring our women home and they can be safe and protected,” said Harron Hall, vigil co-organizer and cousin to Roxanne Louie.
Louie was murdered in January 2015 and her family attended the vigil in her memory for the third year in a row.
“Roxanne Louie is my first cousin and from an Indigenous perspective she was my sister. I am here in honour of her and to keep her alive in our memories and in our heart.”
More than a dozen aboriginal leaders, family members, community members and politicians shared their thoughts and prayers to the large crowd holding signs and candles in support.
“The number of murdered or missing aboriginal women and girls in our country is horrifying,” said Mayor Colin Basran.
“Equally startling, aboriginal women are three times more likely to experience spousal violence and eight times more likely to suffer spousal homicide than non-aboriginal women.”
Basran said it is Canadians’ duty to set it right.
“Particularly in light of what is happening in the world, and south of the border, I think it is important to remember that we have an opportunity to, moving forward, be a beacon of light – our country. In terms of saying no to hatred, no to violence and no to racism.”
It is reported that a total of 1,181 Indigenous women and girls have been murdered or are missing between 1980 and 2012. Of those, 1,017 are homicide victims.
A National Inquiry into those deaths was launched Sept. 1, 2016. They are expected to submit an interim report in the fall of 2017 and a final report by the end of 2018.
While Hall said she appreciates the work and inquiry that has been done so far, she said the system is still failing Indigenous women.
“The inquiry, the way it is framed now, has no teeth. Families and survivors of violence are being asked to return back to the RCMP, the same system that is failing us right now,” said Hall.
“More steps need to be taken. There needs to be a separate inquiry on the police and why they are not handling these cases with all due attention.”
There are 164 Indigenous women and girls that are still missing and 225 cases are still unsolved.
Indigenous women and girls make up 4.3 percent of the total female population but make up 11.3 percent of the murdered and missing cases.
“I am glad to see this was a larger turnout. I am thankful to the co-organizers that keep this going annually. I hope it keeps getting bigger,” added Hall.
“We want the world to know indigenous women are well-loved and well-cared for and we are resilient.”


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- Research article
- Open Access
Mental health of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and their parents in China: a cross-sectional survey
BMC Psychiatry volume 19, Article number: 147 (2019)
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is an adolescent onset spinal deformity, which can negatively affect the mental health of these patients. But no studies about their parental mental health have been reported so far. In this study, the parental mental health of AIS patients and the associated risk factors were evaluated by a cross-sectional survey.
64 AIS patients who underwent conservative or surgical treatments in our hospital from April 2017 to March 2018, and their parents were enrolled in the AIS group. 85 parents of healthy children were enrolled in the control group. Depression and anxiety were separately assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7). Spearman correlation coefficients were first estimated to investigate the relationships among the parental PHQ-9/GAD-7 scores and the patient’s PHQ-9/GAD-7 scores in the AIS group. Then, the morbidities of the parental probable major depressive disorder (pMDD, PHQ score ≥ 10) and probable general anxiety disorder (pGAD, GAD-7 score ≥ 10) were compared between the AIS and control groups. Third, the potential risk factors for parental pMDD or pGAD in the AIS group were compared using the chi-squared test or Student’s t-test, respectively. Finally, the uneven distributive variates were analyzed using the binary logistic regression model.
Both parental depression and anxiety were moderately associated with those of the patients (r = 0.448~0.515, p < 0.01) in the AIS group, respectively. The morbidities of parental pMDD and pGAD in the AIS group were 14.1%, significantly higher than those in the control group (pMDD = 4.7%, p = 0.045; pGAD = 3.5%, p = 0.019). A Cobb angle of the major curve ≥50° (p = 0.034, odds ratio [OR] = 8.264), patients with pMDD (p = 0.018, OR = 17.576), and low education level of the parents (p = 0.026, OR = 0.122) were the risk factors of parental pMDD. Household income < 8000 rmb/month was the risk factor for parental pGAD (p = 0.021).
The morbidities of pMDD and pGAD in parents of AIS patients were higher than those in parents of healthy children. Parental depression and anxiety were closely associated with their children’s depression and anxiety. Therefore, the parental mental health of AIS patients should be paid attention to, especially for those parents with risk factors.
Scoliosis is a three dimensional deformation of the spine with a Cobb angle of the major curve ≥10° in a standing anteroposterior X-ray image . About 85% of these individuals are idiopathic scoliosis with no known etiology . According to the age of onset, idiopathic scoliosis can be classified as infantile, juvenile, and adolescent . Among them, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common type, with a prevalence rate of approximately 2 to 3% based on data from the school screening studies [3, 4].
AIS can negatively affect the mental health of the patients, especially resulting in depression . Several instruments, such as the Short-Form-36(SF-36), the Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire (BSSQ), and the Scoliosis Research Society 22 Questionnaire (SRS-22), have been used to assess the mental health of AIS patients [6, 7]. Their parents, the close family caregivers, might also be affected because they have to take on new responsibilities, or give up past activities due to the stress of their children’s deformities and mental health alterations. Several previous studies have confirmed that the parents of the AIS patients may also be affected by this deformity [8,9,10,11,12,13]. The parental anxiety level of AIS patients decreased significantly from preoperative to postoperative stages but still remained high . The parents view the deformity differently from the patient, as they overestimate the patient’s stress level, and have greater concerns and expectations regarding scoliosis surgery [8, 11, 12].
Common mental disorders (CMDs) such as depression and anxiety can have implications for long-term health outcomes associated with increased fatigue, impaired long-term disease activity and physical disability . Therefore, it is very important for scoliosis surgeons to recognize and address parental CMDs when parents accompany the AIS patient to see a doctor. In this study, we hypothesized that the parental mental health of patients with AIS might be negatively affected and related to some potential risk factors, such as patients’ factors, socio-economic factors, and the severity of the deformity.
Materials and methods
This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Department of Rehabilitation in the authors’ hospital, between April, 2017 and March, 2018. A total of 64 consecutive AIS patient (aged 11–18 years old)-parent pairs were enrolled in this study. All the AIS patients were diagnosed by two spine deformity surgeons based on their medical history and images. There were 5 males and 59 females in the patient group and 17 fathers and 47 mothers in the parent group. A total of 85 parents (23 fathers and 62 mothers) of health children with age of 11–18 years old was enrolled in the control group. All the participants were orally informed, and the parents gave their written consent.
All the questionnaires were administered and data collected before operation or physiotherapy. Questions about socio-demographic data including household income, marital status, employment, and education were answered by parents. Brace history was defined as “yes”, referring to Misterska’s report , if a patient ever underwent the brace application for at least 12 h a day for more than 1 month before the survey. The deformity data were measured by two experienced surgeons based on the X-ray images, including the Cobb angle of the major curve, frontal balance, and shoulder height.
Depression and anxiety of all the participants were separately evaluated using a nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and a seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) in Chinese.
The PHQ-9 is a widely used self-report screening tool for depression based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) criteria . The tool consists of 9 items that assess whether the symptoms have bothered the individual during the previous 2 weeks. The summed score ranges from 0 to 27, and can be categorized into 4 categories: minimal (0~4), mild (5~9), moderate (10~14), and severe (≥15). In most studies, a cutoff point of 10 has been accepted for the diagnostic criteria of probable major depressive disorder (pMDD) . Its pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.78 and 0.87, respectively. The reliability and validity of its Chinese version has been confirmed previously .
The GAD-7 has been shown to be a valid and effective measure of anxiety in the general population . The item scales of this measure, based on DSM-IV criteria, focus on the presence of 7 core anxiety symptoms in the last 2 weeks. The total scores range between 0 and 21, and can also be categorized into 4 categories: minimal (0~4), mild (5~9), moderate (10~14), and severe (≥15). A cutoff point of 10 has been set for diagnosing probable generalized anxiety disorder (pGAD) . Its sensitivity and specificity were 0.89 and 0.82, respectively. The reliability and validity of its Chinese version have also been confirmed previously .
Means ± SDs and ranges of values or proportions were separately used to describe the measurement data and the categorical data. Spearman correlation coefficients were estimated in order to investigate the associations between the parental PHQ-9 scores and GAD-7 scores and PHQ-9/GAD-7 scores of the patients and their parents if the scores did not fit normal distribution. For the potential risk factors of the parental pMDD (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) or pGAD (GAD-7 ≥ 10), group differences were first analyzed using the chi-squared test for the categorical data (sex of patients, Cobb angle of the major curve, planned surgery, pMDD of patients, pGAD of patients, shoulder height, brace treatment, parenthood, education of parents, employment of parents, health insurance, residence, parental marriage, live with parents, and household income) and the independent t-test for the measurement data (age of patients, age of parents, course of disease, and frontal balance). The effects of independent risk factors on pMDD or pGAD were analyzed using the logistic regression model. The data were analyzed using SPSS, version 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, USA). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
A total of 64 AIS patients (age = 14.3 ± 2.2 years old; male: female = 5:59) and their parents (age = 42.4 ± 4.3 years old; male: female =17:47) were enrolled in this study. The mean Cobb angle of the major curve was 44.2 ± 18.9°. The general characteristics of the included samples are summarized in Table 1.
PHQ-9 scores and GAD-7 scores
The mean PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores of the AIS patients were 4.0 ± 4.0 (0~16) and 2.9 ± 3.5 (0~19), respectively, and the parental mean scores were 4.7 ± 5.0 (0~20) and 4.2 ± 4.7 (0~19), respectively. Table 2 shows the distribution of PHQ-9 scores and GAD-7 scores for patients and their parents. There were more parents with severe depressive or anxious symptoms (≥15) than patients.
According to the definition of pMDD (PHQ-9 ≥ 10), the morbidities were 7.9% (5/64) and 14.1% (9/64) for the AIS patients and their parents in the AIS group, respectively. The morbidity of the parental pMDD in the AIS group was significantly higher than that in the control group (14.1% vs 4.7%, p = 0.045, Table 3). Similarly, the morbidities of pGAD (GAD-7 ≥ 10) were 3.2% (2/64) and 14.1% (9/64) for the AIS patients and their parents in the AIS group, respectively. The morbidity of the parental pGAD in the AIS group was significantly higher than that in the control group (14.1% vs 3.5%, p = 0.019, Table 3). A total of 17.2% (11/64) parents in the AIS group suffered from pCMDs, and approximately 77.8% (7/9) of parents with pMDD were also diagnosed with pGAD.
Relationships between PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores in the AIS group
The PHQ-9 scores of the parents were strongly correlated with their GAD-7 scores of the parents (r = 0.690, p < 0.01, Table 4). The PHQ-9 scores of the parents were moderately correlated with the PHQ-9 scores and the GAD-7 scores of the patients (r = 0.499 and 0.448, respectively; p < 0.01, Table 4). Additionally, the GAD-7 scores of the parents were also moderately associated with the PHQ-9 scores and the GAD-7 scores of the patients (r = 0.515 and 0.469, respectively; p < 0.01, Table 4). Upon further comparison, the maternal PHQ-9 scores and GAD-7 scores were higher than the paternal scores, but the difference was only significant for the PHQ-9 scores (PHQ-9 scores:5.5 ± 5.3 vs 2.5 ± 2.8, p = 0.005; GAD-7 scores: 4.5 ± 5.1 vs 3.4 ± 3.1, p = 0.403).
Risk factors for parental pMDD in the AIS group
All the potential risk factors were first compared between the parents with and without pMDD using the chi-squared test or the independent t-test. As shown in Table 5, a Cobb angle of the major curve≥50゜, pMDD in patients, low education level of the parents, and household income< 8000 rmb/month were significantly associated with parental pMDD (p = 0.022, 0.017, 0.022, and 0.021, respectively). Further, the binary logistic regression results revealed that a Cobb angle of the major curve≥50゜ (p = 0.034, odds ratio [OR] = 8.264), pMDD of patients (p = 0.018, OR = 17.576), and low education level of the parents (p = 0.026, OR = 0.122) were the independent risk factors for parental pMDD (Table 6).
Risk factors for parental pGAD in the AIS group
First, the potential risk factors were also first compared between the parents with and without pGAD using the chi-squared test or the independent t-test. The results showed that only household income< 8000 rmb/month was significantly associated with parental pGAD (p = 0.021, Table 7). Therefore, it was not necessary to conduct a binary logistic regression test to eliminate the influences of farraginous factors. Household income< 8000 rmb/month was the independent risk factor for parental pGAD.
In this study, we were able to depict a remarkable increase in the incidence of pCMDs (pMDD and pGAD) prevalence among the parents of AIS patients. Morbidities of both parental pMDD and pGAD in the AIS group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Previously, AIS has been regarded as a chronic condition that affects an adolescent’s bodily configuration, consequently leading to alterations in psychological health and lifestyle [5, 7]. The parents of these patients, the closest and long-term caregivers, might be forced to make changes in their own lives, take on new responsibilities, or give up past activities due to the stress of their children’s illness and alterations. The Caregiving Career/Stress Process model suggests that life events can lead to persistent negative changes in people’s roles that wear away at desirable elements of self-concept with the arousal of stress [20, 21]. Once the demands and obstacles that exceed or push parental capacity to adapt to the limit, the mental health of the parents can be negatively affected. The relationship between the parental perception of how difficult it is to care for the child and the feelings of depression has been confirmed and might explain why the parental anxiety of AIS patients still remains high after surgery [13, 22].
In the clinic, deformity surgeons should pay attention to the parental mental health of AIS patients when diagnosing and treating these patients. Because CMDs can not only deteriorate the quality of life and social functioning but also cause the development and exacerbation of chronic illness . It has been confirmed that cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, smoking, and obesity are all significantly associated with anxiety and depression .
Depression and anxiety in the parents shared a very close relationship. More than half of the parents diagnosed with pMDD also had pGAD. Depression and anxiety almost always go together, as depression tends to be past-oriented, whereas anxiety is future-oriented [25, 26]. Therefore, we should meanwhile focus on depression and anxiety in parents.
Both depression and anxiety in the parents were moderately associated with those in the patients, respectively. There might be two reasons why the psychiatric symptom scores of the parents were associated with similar psychopathology in their children: the heritability and/or the parenting stress . Compared to the mental health status of the fathers, maternal mental health was more likely to be elevated, especially for depression. The PHQ-9 scores of the mothers were significantly higher than those of the fathers. Because caregiver stress tends to be higher in mothers, maternal depression is more strongly associated with internalizing problems in children than paternal depression [28, 29].
More insight into these risk factors of pMDD or pGAD can facilitate earlier recognition of these parents that may benefit from more intensive treatment. As reported previously, general risk factors for parental psychopathology include financial problems, unemployment, divorce, being a single parenting, and the demographic characteristics of the parent and child [30, 31]. Referring to Raina’s multidimensional model for examining the determinants of psychological health in the parents of children with health issues , these sociodemographic variables and some clinical variables were selected as potential risk factors for pMDD or pGAD to analysis in this study. The results showed that a Cobb angle of the major curve ≥50°, patients with pMDD, and low education level of parents were the risk factors for parental pMDD; household income < 8000 rmb/month was the risk factor for parental pGAD.
Parental pMDD was associated with a Cobb angle of the major curve ≥50°. A higher Cobb angle of the major curve indicates the possibility of disturbed appearances, curve progression, and severe back pain. All these concerns might arouse or aggravate the parental depression. Otherwise, surgical procedures are often be suggested when the Cobb angle of the major curve is more than 50°. Although planed surgery is not a risk factor for pMDD, it is possible that the fear and burden of surgery may further aggravate the parental depression based on these above mentioned concerns.
Parental pMDD was strongly correlated with patients with pMDD. Parents whose children suffer from psychiatric symptoms are at risk for psychiatric symptoms themselves . As discussed above, parental depression can be affected by their offspring’s depression through two pathways: the heritability and/or the parenting stress . Moreover,parents’ perceptions of their child’s depression regarding their deformity are stronger than their child’s own assessment .
Low education level of the parents was an independent risk factor for parental pMDD. There is an inverse association between education attainment and depression, as reported previously . In addition, the protective effect of education will increase somewhat with time throughout one’s life .
Low household income (≤8000 rmb/month) was the only risk factor for parental pGAD in this study. A similar relationship has been reported between low levels of household income and CMDs, including GAD . This might be explained by social causation and social selection . Social causation posits that adversity, stress, and reduced capacity to cope, as they relate to low income increase the risk of CMDs. The social selection hypothesis suggests that individuals with CMDs have a predisposition to declining socioeconomic status.
These findings support the recognition that the parents of children with AIS may suffer from CMDs and suggest the importance of conducting assessments of the parental psychosocial support needs. According to these risk factors, the screening need of the parents can be classified at two levels. It may help to first identify vulnerable parents, especially for those with risk factors, and then facilitate early referral for more focused assessment and interventions.
There were several limitations in this study. First, the sample size was limited, because it was a single center study. Second, we have not studied parents’ coping strategies for meeting the stress of their children’s illness. Future studies should be conducted with an objective study to research and discuss these coping factors.
The morbidities of pMDD and pGAD in parents of children with AIS were higher than those in parents with healthy children. Parental depression and anxiety were closely associated with their child’s depression and anxiety. A Cobb angle of the major curve ≥50°, patients with pMDD, and low education level of the parents were the independent risk factors for parental pMDD. Low household income was the risk factor for parental pGAD. The parental mental health status of AIS patients should be paid attention to by deformity surgeons, especially for those parents with risk factors, it would help to facilitate early referral for more focused assessment and interventions. Insights into the parental coping strategies can help to guide treatment in the future research.
95% Confidence Interval
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire
Common Mental Disorders
Seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale
Probable Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire
Probable Major Depressive Disorder
Scoliosis Research Society 22 Questionnaire
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Raina P, O'Donnell M, Schwellnus H, Rosenbaum P, King G, Brehaut J, Russell D, Swinton M, King S, Wong M, et al. Caregiving process and caregiver burden: conceptual models to guide research and practice. BMC Pediatr. 2004;4(1).
Gowen JW, Johnson-Martin N, Goldman BD, Appelbaum M. Feelings of depression and parenting competence of mothers of handicapped and nonhandicapped infants: a longitudinal study. Am J Ment Retard. 1989;94(3):259–71.
Stundner O, Kirksey M, Chiu YL, Mazumdar M, Poultsides L, Gerner P, Memtsoudis SG. Demographics and perioperative outcome in patients with depression and anxiety undergoing total joint arthroplasty: a population-based study. Psychosomatics. 2013;54(2):149–57.
Strine TW, Mokdad AH, Balluz LS, Gonzalez O, Crider R, Berry JT, Kroenke K. Depression and anxiety in the United States: findings from the 2006 behavioral risk factor surveillance system. Psychiatr Serv. 2008;59(12):1383–90.
Uliaszek AA, Zinbarg RE, Mineka S, Craske MG, Sutton JM, Griffith JW, Rose R, Waters A, Hammen C. The role of neuroticism and extraversion in the stress-anxiety and stress-depression relationships. Anxiety Stress Coping. 2010;23(4):363–81.
Eysenck MW, Fajkowska M. Anxiety and depression: toward overlapping and distinctive features. Cogn Emot. 2017:1–10.
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No funds were received in support of this work.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. All the participants were orally informed, and the parents gave their written consent.
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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, H., Li, T., Yuan, W. et al. Mental health of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and their parents in China: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Psychiatry 19, 147 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2128-1
- Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS)
- Mental health

domain: literature


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My cat took to it right away! I've had it a week, NO litter box smell at all. She always made a mess with the clumping litter everywhere...but less than 10 crystals have been tracked out and on to the floor so far. Both my cat and I are loving it. I held her and made her watch the first time it raked so she wasn't startled...she was surprised and interested but never afraid. I left the rake setting on 20 min. I live in the country so the buying in bulk option for the litter trays was a plus! Glad I bit the bullet and spent the money after hearing a friends recommendation.
About This Item
Strike scooping the litter box off your to-do list. With the ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box, theres no scooping, cleaning or refilling your cats litter box for weeks. It uses crystal litter that provides 5 times better odor control than traditional clumping litter by absorbing urine and dehydrating solid waste . This low-tracking litter also helps keep your floors clean because it is 99% dust free and doesnt stick to your cats paws. Safety sensors ensure that the scooping cycle only occurs when your cat is out of box. It uses disposable trays that have a plastic lining to help protect against leaking, and each tray comes with a lid for quick and easy disposal. Theres even a health counter that tracks how many times your furry feline uses the box, which is a convenient way to detect early signs of a health issue, and the included privacy cover gives your cat a secluded bathroom. PetSafe brand is here to help you and your pet live happy together.
How it Works
1. The ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litter Box is easy to use and can be left alone for weeks at a time. Simply load it with the disposable litter tray pre-filled with crystal litter, plug it in, and watch it work. 2. Sensors detect when your cat uses the litter box and start the rake timer. 3. During this time, the crystals work to absorb moisture and odors and start dehydrating solid waste. Twenty minutes later, the automatic rake sweeps through the litter, pushing waste into the covered waste trap and locking away odors. 4. Every few weeks as needed, remove the disposable tray, cover it with the lid, and throw it away for a quick, hygienic cleanup.
PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
- Automatically Removes Waste - No scooping, cleaning or refilling your cat's litter box for weeks
- Unbeatable Odor Control - Crystal litter removes smell by absorbing urine and dehydrating solid waste
- No More Messy Floors - Low-tracking crystals are 99% dust free and dont stick to your cats paws; a hooded cover helps keep kitty litter inside the box
- Leak Protection - Disposable trays have a plastic lining to help protect against leaking and keep your floors clean
- Easy Cleanup - Simply remove the tray and throw it away; each tray includes a lid for quick disposal
- Monitor Your Cat's Health - The health counter and motion sensors keep track of how many times your furry feline uses the box
Instructions: See Product Manual
Low-Tracking Litter; Safety Sensor Scooping; Health Counter for Cat Health Tracking
Radio Systems Corporation
|Manufacturer Part Number|
|Assembled Product Weight|
|Assembled Product Dimensions (L x W x H)|
11.50 x 29.50 x 20.00 Inches
Loving the ScoopFree Life!
My cat loves it because of it self cleaning also very quiet
New?...the old cat can learn new tricks
I have two cats and one is older. He was having some issues wanting to go outside the box so this new system has eliminated the smell and he is back to using it regularly. He does not like the hood even tough I thought he would. Sometimes I guess as they age like all of us... he changes his mind too!
I m so happy that I don't have to clean up every time it does it for me
Dream Come True For Cat Parents
This is a litter box that I wish I would have known about years ago. The best features for me is that the crystals are dustless and that the motor for the rake is extremely quiet.
The best features for the cats is that their litter box is always clean and that they are no longer tracking litter throughout the house.
I highly recommend the Ultra version over the Original version for the following bonus features: hood for privacy (easily removable), health meter (counts the number of times the box is used - good to know for health reasons), and on the Ultra version you can control the amount of time from when the cat leaves the box to when the rake will clean it. The time can be set at 5, 10 or 20 minutes on the Ultra version. There is also the ability to rake it anytime with the "Manual " button.
There is a sensor that knows when the cat exists the box. The sensor will also stop the rake if a cat enters the box before the raking process is complete. A great safety feature for the cat.
Set up is unbelievably easy once you unpack the box. Would be easier to unpack if the box opened up like a chest. Have to be careful when sliding it out of the packaging. This is the only negative with this product.
Another great feature is that the crystals are pre-measured for the trays. No more carrying heavy boxes of litter. This set up is as easy as one could wish for. [This review was collected as part of a promotion.]
Get specific details about this product from customers who own it.
Ask a question

domain: pet


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Vt. election officials: Allegations of Middlebury vote irregularities unfounded
MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Top Vermont election officials are pushing back against a report claiming to have found voting irregularities in Middlebury’s 2020 election.
The Ethan Allen Institute, a conservative think tank, reported 11 names to the Vermont Secretary of State. These voters may not have been able to vote, but local and state election officials say that’s simply not true.
The Ethan Allen Institute claims they found 10 Middlebury College graduates who had left Vermont before the 2020 election but had absentee ballots cast in their names. The group claims its evidence of poorly maintained voter checklists that puts election integrity at risk.
“We certainly are not calling these voters fraudulent, we are saying if you look at the voter list, it’s a good idea to double-check here,” said EAI’s David Flemming.
Middlebury Town Clerk Ann Webster says she does double-check, cross-referencing the college’s spring and winter graduating classes and property transfers. That’s in addition to the state’s death registry, a 31-state voter database, and automatic voter registration data at the DMV.
Webster says EAI’s findings are wrong, saying five of those 10 voters were simply living overseas at the time and were eligible to vote, three continue to live in Middlebury, and two need further review. Additionally, one was cast by a registered voter but because of human error, was attributed to another voter who had the same first and last name but a different middle name.
“I probably get more complaints from residents of Middlebury who get challenge letters because they may not be participating, they may not be voting, they haven’t signed petitions,” Webster said.
Removing someone from the voter rolls takes time and the town clerk has to reach out to voters in question to confirm they no longer live in town. If the voter doesn’t respond, federal law mandates towns wait for two general election cycles before scrubbing voter rolls.
But with the state sending out mail-in ballots to everyone on the checklist, critics say there is potential for fraud. Last election cycle, there were cases where Vermonters received ballots at their homes addressed to former residents. Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos says they monitor the process closely.
Reporter Calvin Cutler: What is stopping somebody from filling out their neighbor’s ballot and sending it in?
Jim Condos: Nothing. But they have to sign that ballot. We know where that ballot went so we would be able to have an investigation and follow up on it, find out what happened.
The Ethan Allen Institute’s David Flemming says that since local races can sometimes come down to a few votes, security measures such as signature verification should be considered. “We need to have some sort of ID process to verify that the vote being counted actually belongs to the person who cast the ballot,” he said.
Lawmakers in Montpelier discussed that last year but decided against it. Condos says the prospects of being charged with voter fraud are enough of a deterrence and he says there’s only been one documented case of it in Vermont.
Ultimately, Middlebury’s town clerk and the secretary of state say reports like the one from Ethan Allen Institute -- and other nationwide GOP efforts -- chip away at Vermonters’ trust in elections.
Copyright 2022 WCAX. All rights reserved.


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Coronavirus notice: Our Sales Centres and Showhomes are now open by appointment only. Please contact your preferred development for details. Click here for further information.
Launching September 2020
Millbrook Grove is a new development of homes in Gloucester, just five miles south-west of Cheltenham. These 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-bedroom homes will appeal to first-time buyers, families, and commuters traveling to Cheltenham, Bath, or Bristol.
2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-bedroom homes
Allocated parking to all plots
Around a 15-minute trip to Cheltenham by car
Situated a 3-minute drive from junction 11A of the M5
Located just a 40-minute drive from Bristol
Coronavirus notice: Our Sales Centres and Showhomes are open by appointment only, with additional safety measures in place. Please contact us for any enquiries and to book your appointment.
Mill Lane, Brockworth, GL3 4QE
Monday 10:00 – 17:00
Thursday 10:00 – 19:00
Friday 10:00 – 17:00
Saturday 11:00 – 17:00
Sunday 11:00 – 17:00
Millbrook Grove is a development located around five miles south-west of Cheltenham. Situated in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, it can be reached within a two-minute drive of junction 11A of the M5.
Just a four-minute drive from the development is The Greenway Hotel and Spa, where visitors can enjoy a relaxing massage or an award-winning meal in a 16th-century Elizabethan manor house, surrounded by eight acres of grounds.
Roughly six-and-a-half miles from Millbrook Grove is a Gloucester-based cinema, where moviegoers are able to take in the latest blockbuster releases and independent features.
Around a 30-minute drive from the development is The International Centre for Birds of Prey, where visitors are able to take part in handling experiences and learn about the owls, hawks, eagles, and falcons that call the centre home.
A little over 17 miles from Millbrook Grove is Cotswold Farm Park, which is ideal for family trips, and offers farm safari rides, a full adventure barn, and wonderful wildlife walks.
For everyday items for the home, there is a large supermarket just one mile away from the development. For further retail options, a little under a 15-minute car journey will lead to Cheltenham Promenade and Regent Arcade, where there are a variety of high-street shops and eateries to choose from.
Millbrook Grove has several restaurants, pubs, and eateries within close proximity, allowing residents to indulge in authentic Indian, tasty Nepalese, and a variety of other cuisines, all less than 10 minutes’ drive from the development.
For those looking to commute, Gloucester Railway Station is just over five miles away from the development, and offers regular services to Cheltenham, just over a 10-minute trip, Bristol, a 48-minute journey, and Worcester, a little more than a 35-minute ride.
For road links, Millbrook Grove is well served, with Gloucester just over five miles away, Bristol around 50 minutes’ drive away, and Swindon roughly 30 miles away.
For families with younger children, there are a number of well-regarded schools in the vicinity, including Castle Hill Primary School, which is a 6-minute drive from the development, and Shurdington C of E Primary School, which is a mile and a half from Millbrook Grove.
Henley Bank High School, welcoming students between 11 – 18, is less than a seven-minute walk from the development.
This site has not yet launched. Please register your details to be kept informed of any development updates.
Cheltenham Road East, Churchdown, Gloucestershire, GL3 1AFWithin 3.21 Miles Prices to be confirmed 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes Detached, End Terrace, Mid Terrace, Semi-Detached
Hunts Grove, Hardwicke, Gloucestershire, GL2 4DXWithin 6.29 Miles Prices from £324,995 to £424,995 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes Detached, End Terrace, Mid Terrace, Semi-Detached
Ross Road, Newent, Gloucestershire, GL18 1BEWithin 13.01 Miles Prices from £294,995 to £525,995 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes Detached
Highfield Road, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 5NBWithin 18.06 Miles Prices from £269,995 to £284,995 4 bedroom homes Detached, Semi-Detached
Pershore Road, Hampton, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 2RTWithin 18.24 Miles Prices from £341,000 to £421,000 4 bedroom homes Detached

domain: geography


The BBC reports that a movie is being made based on the Simpsons, to be released July 2007.
Michael Parekh writes about the 1st Annual 2006 'APRIL FOOL'S DAY ON THE WEB" AWARDS'
As annouced Google has now sold $2.07bn of its stock.
Digg.com reports about Jajah.com – "Enter two phone numbers and Jajah.com calls them both and links the calls together. Have it call your wife and then complete the call by ringing Weight Watchers. Or try to get your roommate back with her ex by anymously bridging a call between them. Jajah should have waited until after April 1st before launching this service."
The "official" story from Tuttle Times about Jerry Taylor. If you don't know what this incident was then read this and this.
Fox runs another Top 100 best College Football games. The USC – Notre Dame game is in there somewhere around #5.
Heh, your desc. of jajah is really nice :P
Oops, I forgot to put the quotes in there. I took it from digg.com :| But the idea of connecting phone calls rocks.


text:
If you're looking for more peace, stillness and ease in your life, then do we have the Plum Village, an Artist’s Journey, show for you.
Today I’ll be talking with Phap Ban, Plum Village Monk, on finding inner peace and teachings from Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village.
Phap Ban is a Disney Artist, Plum Village Monk, and the author of a beautiful, peaceful, work of art, Plum Village: An Artist's Journey.
Plum Village Self-Improvement & Self-Help Topics Include:
To find out more visit:
Follow Michael and Jessica’s exciting journey and get even more great tools, tips, and behind-the-scenes access. Go to https://www.patreon.com/inspirenation
For free meditations, weekly tips, stories, and similar shows visit: https://inspirenationshow.com/
We’ve got NEW Merch! - https://teespring.com/stores/inspire-nation-store
Follow Inspire Nation, and the lives of Michael and Jessica, on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/InspireNationLive/
Find us on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inspirenationshow

domain: artistic


Environmentally friendly hoses are not only important components in modern industry, but also environmentally friendly pipes in industrial pipes. Environmentally friendly hoses are mainly used for wire and cable, wire and cable protection tubes for automated instrumentation signals, and civil shower hoses, ranging from 3mm to 150mm. Small-diameter hoses (inner diameter 3mm-25mm) are mainly used for sensing line protection of precision optical scales and industrial sensor line protection.
The environmental protection hose is non-toxic and tasteless due to the addition of new materials. It has good flexibility, resistance to twisting, good bending performance, and can withstand heavy loads; acid resistance, lubricating oil, coolant, etc., the surface is shiny and resistant to friction. It can withstand the heavy pressure of the foot, does not break, does not change, can recover quickly, and has no good advantages such as damage. Generally used in wire and cable protection of machinery manufacturing, electrical threading hose insulation protection, lighting equipment, automobile manufacturing, aviation equipment, subway, train, automation control and other industries. Therefore, our life is inseparable from the help of environmental protection hoses.


text:
We are dedicated to providing quality and personable service to aid you in caring for your canine friends. We carry a comprehensive range of dog foods, including raw, grain-free, and organic products.
Our Dog Food Selection
If you don't see what you're looking for, please ask!
We carry a large selection of dog food, treats & toys. We also offer weekly special orders for any products that are not currently stocked.


Donate and help save forests and other ecosystems
Wildlife Conservation Society Fights to Save Endangered Animals
Wildlife Conservation Society Fights to Save Wildlife and Wild Places.
Your contribution to the WCS REDD Positive Fund will enable us to direct resources where they are most needed – advancing early-action REDD+ activities that accelerate bringing projects to the accreditation stage.
By combining science, finance, and collaboration among national and local actors, REDD+ projects have the potential to deliver meaningful and lasting results for ecosystems, communities, and the global climate.
Thank you to Instinet for their founding support and ongoing collaboration


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David Folkerts-Landau (ed.), (2016), “How to solve Europe’s three biggest problems”, Konzept – Deutsche Bank Research, June
In this issue we tackle three of the most intractable problems facing Europe today: moribund economic growth, the refugee crisis and a banking sector that struggles to satisfy anyone even eight years after the financial crisis. Our three feature articles show that credible solutions exist provided that governments, policymakers, investors as well as the public can jettison dearly-held beliefs, economic orthodoxy and dogma. First up we call for the European Central Bank to end its ever-looser monetary policy. Even if it was the right path once, today the balance of trade-offs weighs more heavily to the downside. There are distortions galore, savers punished, speculators rewarded and all the while governments across Europe have been let off the painful reform hook. Likewise with the refugee crisis in Germany we lay out the three key areas where nativists and liberals should be able to find common ground in order to move the immigration debate forward. Most importantly the issue of cost and iniquity can only be resolved via reforms to the welfare system whereby benefits are phased in for new arrivals. As we explain, a tiered approach to social security is hardly the odious rarity claimed by some. It is a widespread practice around the world. Our final feature article looks at Europe’s banks and argues that it is time to allow the sector to do its job properly. While there is no doubt that finance lost its way pre-crisis and many reforms are overdue, it is fair to ask whether utility-like regulation is proving counterproductive. Banks are too nervous to lend, too burdened to provide liquidity to markets and too hobbled to finance entrepreneurial bets on the future. The effect on economic growth is becoming apparent to everyone. Likewise we question whether the system overall is safer, even if banks certainly are.
- Schoenmaker, Dirk, Véron, Nicolas, (2016), “European banking supervision: compelling start, lingering challenges”, Bruegel, 8 June
- Aiyar, Shekhar, Barkbu, Bergljot,Batini, Nicoletta, Berger, Helge, Detragiache, Enrica, Dizioli, Allan, Ebeke, Christian, Lin, Huidan, Kaltani, Linda, Sosa, Sebastian, Spilimbergo, Antonio, Topalova, Petia, (2016), “The Refugee Surge in Europe : Economic Challenges”, IMF Staff Discussion Note SDN/16/02, January


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Crypto Tracker Bot: Track New Crypto Listings
Plenty of new cryptocurrencies are announced and added to exchanges all the time. If you are not paying attention, you may lose on amazing prices. Crypto Tracker Bot can help with that. It provides you with real-time push notifications when new currencies are added to your favorite exchanges.
The app covers Coinbase, Bithumb, Binance, Kraken, OKEx, and other top exchanges. It searches through the news to give you heads up when a new currency is added to an exchange. Coin ranking, market cap, price, and other info are also provided.
You are going to need an iOS 9.0 or later to run this app at this time. More info is available here.
- Smart Coin Currency Converter
- 5 Bitcoin Apps for iPhone
- Crypto Pro: Bitcoin Ticker for iPhone
- Coinpeak Crypto Portfolio App for iPhone
- CryptoLadder for iPhone: Live Ranking of Cryptocurrencies

domain: economics


text:
Lift the Ban on Women's Canoeing at the Olympics for Rio 2016
This petition had 6,716 supporters
Adding five women's canoe events to the Olympic program will have far-reaching benefits for developing women and girls not just in the sport of Canoeing, but in all sports. And it will send a message to the world that the ICF and IOC respect the principle of the Olympic Charter and equal opportunity in sport. The added benefit: growing the canoe discipline world-wide
Today: WomenCAN International is counting on you
WomenCAN International needs your help with “Lift the Ban on Women's Canoeing at the Olympics for Rio 2016”. Join WomenCAN International and 6,715 supporters today.

domain: sociology


That you really don’t desire to take risks remote control for liftmaster garage door opener together with your Garage home equipment. You require something sturdy and maybe remote control for liftmaster garage door opener not likely to service each once in a while. For this reason, it’s wise if you merely pick the Remote control for liftmaster garage door opener from dependable brands. That will help you make an remote control for liftmaster garage door opener educated selection, listed here are just 3 most reliable Garage appliances manufacturers in the markettoday. Whirl-pool is your best if it has to do with icebox. Possibly its freezer, sidebyside suspend or the old types, you can rest assured as it really is Whirlpool. Form refrigerator, the Whirlpool’s dishwasher additionally reveals very good performances and capabilities. Consumers have reported that the merchandise are extremely robust and don’t need plenty of care.
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You can find specialists value from this Garage faucet which can serve because the thought. This Garage faucet has moveable nozzle and spray thoughts. Since the hose is very long, you might use the Garage faucet off from your Garage sink, for instance that you want to fill pan or pot in the other side of Garage island. For your proposal, Moen pull out Garage faucet is extremely fit for small Garage sink. Surely , this original Garage faucet may help one to do any such thing and no need to fret about spilled the water. Its spray head is additionally flexible, which is why a few people today prefer to install Remote control for liftmaster garage door opener since it’s not going to give you the dash back.


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Upper Tribunal Finds that APPG was subject to avoidable unfairness in the pursuit of its Freedom of Information requestsThursday, 28 November 2013 11:28
The Upper Tribunal has now upheld part of the APPG's appeal against the refusal of the Foregin and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to disclose further information regarding the UK's role in extraordinary rendition.
The APPG is now considering its options in light of the Upper Tribunal's judgment. The judgment can be read here.
The preliminary report of the Gibson Inquiry on the extent of British involvement in extraordinary rendition and possible mistreatment of detainees was to be published last week. However, the Government delayed its release last minute for reasons that are not entirely clear. More can be read here.
The report, which was published by the Institute on Medicine as a Profession and the Open Society Foundations, accuses the US Government of directing medical personnel to ignore their professional code of ethics and collaborate in security practices that were detrimental to the detainees and constituted torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Ethics Abandoned can be read here. More can be read here.
Intelligence and Security Committee Holds First Open Evidence Session with Three Heads of UK Intelligence AgenciesMonday, 11 November 2013 12:05
The uncorrected transcript from the session, held on 7 November 2013, can be read here.
The Westminster Hall debate on the Oversight of the Intelligence and Security Services, held on 31 October 2013, can be read here.
An Overview of the CIA Detention and Interrogation Report of the US Senate Select Committee on IntelligenceThursday, 31 October 2013 13:22
A Senate Select Committee report describes the structure of its classified report on the US rendition programme. The rendition report is divided into three volumes:
- Part I covers the History and Operation of the Detention and Interrogation Programme
- Part 2 covers the Intelligence Acquired and CIA Representations on the Effectiveness of the CIA's Enhanced Interrogation Techniques
- Part 3 covers the Detention and Interrogation of Detainees
More can be read here.

domain: library


text:
Has the IM, which has been accused of masterminding bomb blasts in recent years, not been outlawed yet? Vicky Nanjappa finds out.
The Indian Mujahideen, an off-shoot of the Students Islamic Movement of India, was banned in June after the Union home ministry received ample evidence against it from security agencies from across the country. But IM still does not feature in the list of 34 banned outfits on the home ministry Web site.
When a source at the home ministry was asked why IM did not figure in the list of outlawed groups, he revealed there is a procedure involved.
"We had taken into account the various incidents of terror committed by this outfit and with the feedback from various police departments across the country, we had issued a notification under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967 and imposed a ban," the source said.
"As per the procedure," he added, "we have to place this notification before a tribunal in a month's time (which has been done now). If there are any persons aggrieved with the notification, he or she may seek to challenge the same."
The list of banned organisations on the home ministry Web site was last updated on May 5, 2008.
Under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967, if any organisation or outfit has been declared unlawful by a government notification, the same shall be placed before a tribunal within 30 days of such an order.
This is done so that the tribunal can adjudicate whether there is sufficient cause for declaring the outfit as 'unlawful.'
Once it is placed before the tribunal, a show cause notice is issued within an additional 30 days so that any aggrieved party can come forward and dispute the order.
An inquiry shall then be conducted following which a final order will be passed which again can be challenged in the high court and later the Supreme Court.
The tribunal should dispose such a case within six months, only after which the same is notified in the official gazette.
Legal experts feel this is just a matter of procedure. Senior advocate Navkesh Batra said the Union government's order would come into effect once the notification is issued.
For the police to act upon such an outfit or any other association with it, it does not have to wait for the tribunal to pass an order.
However, it is better for the home ministry to publish the information in the official gazette only once after the tribunal passes its order. This is because should there be an adverse order, it would not be proper for the government to amend the official gazette.
What does the ban do?
Once an outfit has been declared 'unlawful' or 'outlawed' there are various implications.
Whoever continues to be a member of an association declared unlawful or takes part in meetings of this association, contributes, receives or solicits any contribution, can attract a jail term of up to 2 years.
Any person who commits a crime, abets, advises or incites any offence in association with such an outfit shall attract a jail term of up to 7 years.
Legal experts explain that such an order would help the police keep a tab on the activities of the outfit.
Any association with such an outfit is considered to be illegal. The notification also serves as a warning to the public.
Members of a banned outfit would not be able to operate bank accounts, book halls for conventions and any activity which they propose to undertake will be declared illegal.
Although the police can arrest individuals without show cause thanks to the ban, normal criminal laws would apply in such a case. The prosecution will have to prove beyond reasonable doubt the offence in order to get a conviction.
The Indian Mujahideen case
While issuing the ban, the home ministry took into account ten serial blasts in which over 500 people were killed across the country.
In the ban order, the government said the IM is an offshoot of SIMI that has links with the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence directorate.
Inclusive of the IM, there are 35 outfits which are banned in India. These include Al Qaeda, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, the Communist Party of India-Maoist, the United Liberation Front of Asom, Babbar Khalsa International, Deendar Anjuman, Tamil National Retrieval Troops, the Tamil Nadu Liberation Army among others.
Image: Firefighters examine the site of the bomb blast at the German Bakery in Pune on February 13, 2010. Investigators believed the Indian Mujahideen was involved in this terror attack. Photograph: Reuters

domain: law


The Folly Beach County Park is closed for the remainder of 2011. Last week, Folly Beach officials had to close the county park after erosion caused by Hurricane Irene. Now, they have decided to close the park for the rest of the year and will evaluate progress before reopening in 2012.
Folly Beach is a barrier island close to downtown Charleston and a popular sunbathing and surfing spot.
Dan Burger, of the state’s Ocean & Coastal Resource Management team told Charleston’s WCIV-TV, “The big story is the loss of beach on Folly Beach, in the eastern portion of the island and also the county park,” said .
The Charleston Post and Courier reports the island’s beaches, swimming areas and businesses remain open for business throughout the Labor Day weekend.


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If you loved The Goldfinch, and you’re looking to read more books that bring art and artists into their fictional worlds, look no further. From classic to contemporary literature, earnest to satirical, one of these novels will surely speak to you—and your inner Fabritius.
This Proud Heart
This Proud Heart narrates the experience of a gifted sculptor and her struggle to reconcile her absorbing career with society’s domestic expectations. Susan is talented, loving, and equipped with a strong moral sense, but the intensity of her artistic calling comes at a price, isolating her from other people—at times, even from her own family. When her husband dies and she remarries, she finds herself once again comparing the sacrifice of solitude to that of commitment. With a heroine who is naturalistic yet compellingly larger than life, This Proud Heart is incomparable in its sympathetic study of character.
In the Night Café
Joyce Johnson brings to life a mythic bohemian world where art is everything and life is as full of intensity and risk as the bold sweep of a painter’s brush across a canvas. In the vibrant downtown Manhattan art world of the 1960s, a series of love affairs has left Joanna Gold, a young photographer, feeling numbed. Then, at a party, a painter named Tom Murphy walks up to her. “Why do you hang back?” he asks.
Rather than another brief collision, their relationship is the profound and ecstatic love each had longed to find. But it’s undermined by Tom’s harrowing past—his fatherless childhood, his wartime experiences, and most of all, the loss of the two children he left behind in Florida, along with the powerful red, white, and black paintings he will never set eyes on again. Tom, both tender and volatile, draws Joanna into the unwinnable struggle against the forces that drive him toward death.
Cannibals and Missionaries
En route to Iran, a plane is captured by Middle Eastern terrorists intent on holding hostage the committee of politicians, religious leaders, and activists on a mission to investigate alleged human rights violations by the shah. But the kidnappers soon discover that there is a greater treasure onboard. Among the passengers are prominent art collectors with access to some of the world’s most valuable paintings—priceless works that could fund global terrorist activities for decades.
After the captured plane sets down in a remote Dutch farming collective by the sea, events go rapidly and frighteningly awry. As negotiations with government agencies stall, concerns over rare artwork threaten to trump the regard for human life, and both captors and captives will face bitter truths about their conflicting values, manners, and ideologies as the ticking clock races inexorably toward an explosive endgame.
Inspired by the lives of Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner, this is a novel of betrayal and longing, renunciation and self-discovery: the age-old conflicts of love and art.
Belle Prokoff is the last of a famous generation of painters. She is also the widow of Clay Madden, who revolutionized American art, became a near-mythic figure, and died in a drunken car crash. Belle has protected her husband’s memory in the decades since his death. She has also persevered with her painting while the art scene fawns over her, not for her own work but for the valuable Madden canvases she clings to.
Now, a biographer is snooping around in her past, working on a sensational book about Madden’s life, and she is forced to make her peace with the people and events that have haunted her for decades. Modern Art is not just Belle’s story. It is the story of all those still living in Madden’s shadow.
A Married Woman
An only child raised to become a dutiful wife, Astha is filled with unnamed longings and untapped potential. In the privacy of her middle-class Indian home, she dreams of the lover who will touch her soul. But her future was mapped out long ago: betrothal to a man with impeccable credentials, with motherhood to follow.
At first, Astha’s arranged union with handsome, worldly Hemant brings her great joy and passion. But even after bearing him a son and daughter, she remains unfulfilled. Her search for meaning takes her into a world of art and activism . . . and a relationship that could bring her the love and freedom she desires. But at what cost to her marriage and family?
The Art Fair
This is a poignant and painfully funny novel about the New York art world. Joan Freeley had it all: the perfect family, the best art dealer in Manhattan, and the admiration of famous friends. Then Joan’s life got downgraded. A brutal divorce led to paintings too bitter to sell and a stagnant career. Unable to see her suffer alone, Joan’s teenage son Richard leaves his father and older brother in Los Angeles and moves in with her. Richard devotes himself to returning his mother to her former glory. But as the years go by, Richard has to ask: Who wants Joan Freeley’s resurrection more—him or her? And when will his own life start?
Men and Angels
When Anne Foster’s husband accepts a yearlong teaching job in France, she decides to resume her own career in art history, which includes cataloging the work of a compelling and long-neglected painter, Caroline Watson. To care for her children, Anne employs the pious Laura Post. Though the young woman is well-liked by the children, she rubs Anne the wrong way. Should Anne be more compassionate, or should she behave more like Watson—the willful artist and unapologetically bad mother she’s so fascinated by? As the discord mounts between Anne and Laura, the need for answers sharpens. Men and Angels is a riveting and refreshingly unsentimental inquiry into motherhood and sacrifice.
At 32 years old, Lynn Gallagher is one of the five most influential contemporary-art gallery owners in Manhattan. Too bad her face is dead. Not so, says Lynn’s assistant, but that is how it feels when she compares it to her stalker’s face. Alan Morton may be a plump, goofy-looking accountant, but his face glows with life when he peers at Lynn through her gallery window. The difference is that Alan wants something—her—very badly, while Lynn wants nothing at all. So she decides to stalk.
The object of her obsession—French attorney Roland Dupont—is chosen at random in a Chelsea bakery. Alan, jealous of Lynn’s newfound hobby, befriends Roland to find out what she sees in him. When Roland learns that he acquired his stalker by happenstance, he decides that he might be interested in Lynn. Soon all three are brazenly pursuing each other across the city—from adult education classes in the art of beading to meetings of Stalker’s Anonymous—as they try to figure out what it is that they truly want.
The Beginner's Book of Dreams
This celebrated coming-of-age novel moves from Manhattan during the early days of Mad Men to the swinging, chaotic 1970s. A sensitive girl becomes a special young woman when her best friend’s family opens her eyes to art.
Esme Singer takes better care of her beautiful, alcoholic mother than her mother does of her. A former fashion model, her mother attracts a series of husbands and boyfriends as Esme watches in fascination. Esme’s father comes and goes, forever riding the wave of the latest get-rich-quick scheme. As Esme becomes a teenager, she turns to her friend Leah’s cultured, exotic family for inspiration and solace—especially Leah’s father, a well-known photographer who encourages Esme to cultivate her gifts. Might art—and a favorite teacher—become the answer to some of her troubles?
The Rose Rabbi
Wolf Walker is that noblest of creatures: the unrealized artist. He is also ethical advisor to the Lester & French Advertising Agency—a professional conscience. After reading an alarming entry in his wife’s diary on his 40th birthday, Wolf sets out to reclaim his sense of identity. His resulting midlife crisis is both surreal and hilarious, poignant and imaginative. The Rose Rabbiis a fable about the relation between morals, art, and life, from one of America’s best writers of fiction.
Featured Photo: Cover of The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt


text: These DaysHere’s another old tune from the recently uncovered trove. I can’t remember exactly why I wrote this song, but it seems to be about mortality. I guess I have a thing for writing about the fragility of life. My friend Lionel is singing lead. I’m playing guitar and keyboard, plus singing the “tripped” vocals. Steve Loveless on percussion.

domain: entertainment


Perfect start to the New Year
Fashion enthusiasts were in for a surprise when Virgil Abloh, founder of Italian streetwear brand Off-White, visited the store at Dubai Mall yesterday. The popular brand, which was founded in Milan in 2012, opened it’s Dubai store back in October 2018.
This occasion marked Virgil’s first visit to the Dubai store, which is also the only Off-White store in the region. The visit was somewhat a surprise, as the ‘Opening Event’ was announced on the brand’s Instagram only two days ago.
The store, which is located in the luxurious Fashion Avenue at the Dubai Mall, saw people queue up for hours to meet the creative force behind the brand. Virgil took a tour of the store, then met fans in an hour-long meet and greet, where he posed for pictures and signed multiple outfits and sneakers.
The store offers limited edition clothes and sneakers, some so limited that they are in plastic display cases with the words “for display purpose only” on the boxes. Those in the display boxes include items from the brand’s popular collaboration with Nike, such as the Nike x Off-White Air Jordan 1 sneakers.
After it’s launch, the Italian brand released a 17-piece collection exclusive to and inspired by Dubai. The “Skyscraper” collection featured pieces that include a black, white, and yellow colour scheme.
Virgil was named the new artistic director for Louis Vuitton’s men’s wear collection back in March 2018. His appointment made him the first person of African descent to lead the brand’s menswear line. During the Off-White event, the 38 year-old designer signed a Louis Vuitton bag from his collection for the first time.
The event brought in hundreds of the designer’s fans, who were eager to meet him and have him sign their sneakers and outfits. Virgil got creative during the opening event, and took to his Instagram to share some shots of him signing.
Fans of all ages attended the meet-and-greet, but it was Noah, Virgil’s youngest fan who stood out the most, and even made it to the designer’s Instagram stories.
We can’t wait for Virgil’s next visit
Media: Emirates Woman, Instagram


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The New York Landmarks Conservancy
In partnership with The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen of the City of New York
cordially invites you to:
A Block in Time: A New York City History at the Corner of Fifth Avenue and Twenty-Third Street
With author Christiane Bird
This will be an in-person and online lecture on December 6, 6:00 pm
A book signing will follow this lecture
Author Christiane Bird will recount the city’s history by way of a microcosmic block, in a lecture based on her well-received new book, A Block in Time: A New York City History at the Corner of Fifth Avenue and Twenty-Third Street.
This is the story of New York City, told through the prism of one block. It’s a story of forest and cement, bird cries and taxi horns, theaters and factories, gambling dens, and gourmet foods. It’s also the story of high life and low life, immigrants and tourists, farmers and aristocrats, crooked cops and moral reformers, toy stores, and social climbers–from Solomon Pieters, a former slave who was the first owner of the block, to Alexander “Clubber” Williams, the notorious police officer of the 1870s who accepted bribes and wielded his club with equal impunity, to Marietta Stevens, whose Sunday-night socials and scheming became the stuff of legend. Greed and generosity, guilt and innocence, extravagance and degradation–all have flourished on this one Manhattan block, emblematic of the city as a whole.
Venturing from the opulent halls of the Fifth Avenue Hotel to grimy Sixth Avenue brothels, from the era of the Lenape to that of the Dutch, from the Gilded Age to the twentieth century, when the block and the city were transformed into something closely resembling the Manhattan we know today, A Block in Time takes us on a dynamic, exhilarating tour of history. Welcome to New York, past and present, and hear all the lively, colorful, and edifying stories this small patch of land has to tell.
Christiane Bird is the author of The Sultan’s Shadow; A Thousand Sighs, a Thousand Revolts; and Neither East Nor West, among other titles. She has worked on staff for the New York Daily News and has written for the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Miami Herald, among other publications.
“Enriched by Bird’s brisk character sketches and copious research, this is an entertaining and eye-opening snapshot of New York history.” Publishers Weekly
The book can be purchased in person at the lecture or online through the following link
General Admission: $10
Advance registration is required.


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- This event has passed.
October 31, 2020 @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm$10
Using Online Newspapers for Family History October 31, 2020
Newspapers are a great place to learn details of our ancestors’ lives using birth announcements, court cases, death notices, obituaries and local history. In this talk, Marcie Crocker will give examples of what you can find, the types of questions they can answer, some strategies to get the most out of these databases, as well as where to find them. Join us and learn why online newspapers should be a major weapon in your genealogical toolbox. A handout with additional information and resource links will be provided. Classes at the Vermont Genealogy Library this fall will be on-line presentations using Zoom. They take place on Saturday mornings from 10:30 to noon, including Q & A. The class fee is $10.00. To read more and to register, go to our website www.vtgenlib.org.


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White Dutch Clover
Raw clover seed. Not coated or inoculated with anything.
aka Ladino Clover
White Dutch Clover designates a strain of white clover which is perennial. Used in lawns, as a ground cover, cover crop, for erosion control, and in pasture mixtures. Usually matures between 4 to 8 inches.
We use it to fix nitrogen in our gardens and to give the honey bees some much needed food. Many homeowners include White Dutch clover in their lawn seed mixture because clover sprouts fast and grows so dependably that it's a valuable aid in getting a new lawn started. Nodules on the roots fix nitrogen from the air. Actually, up to 1/3 the nitrogen your lawn needs can be obtained from White Dutch Clover! Grows vigorously even in poor clay subsoil around new home construction. If you want all the benefits of a cover crop but don't want to till early or mow, clover is your best bet.
Seeding rate for clover is 1/4 lb for a 1000 sq. ft or 6 to 8 lbs per acre.
We got these as ground cover for a field to hopefully take over from other tall grasses. We barely prepped the soil and threw them out pretty randomly but they still came up over the next couple weeks (even in late October). I don’t have a green thumb and didn’t do any extra watering or work. 10/10 for persistence
The package arrived quickly and included instructions. White clover seeds are tiny, so I mixed them with sand and sowed them in bare spots in my lawn. They germinated within a couple weeks and developed three leaves by week 4. The bees are going to love me. The rabbits already do.
Received my beautiful seeds in a timely manner. Have not used them yet.
We bought a house where the lawn had clearly not been cared for. The back was mostly weeds. We purchased this seed and overseeded with both clover and grass seed. This clover took off and has filled in wonderfully. I'm back to purchase more to fill in some bare spots. Will certainly encourage others to buy.
I’ve planted two batches of seeds with great success. The order arrived in a timely manner and the packaging was excellent. My patchy lawn is starting to fill in nicely.

domain: agronomy


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Lots of surprises—Wires & Fasteners Ukraine 2010 Report (2)
Ukraine is the second largest country in Eastern Europe, covering an area of over 600,000 square kilometers. It has a population of 45 million. According to the latest statistics from Jiaxing Fasteners Import & Export Manufacturers Association, from January to April, 2010, Jiaxing fastener exports to Ukraine reached 2.51 million US dollars, up 192.13% year-on-year.
Get it FREE!
U.S. Fed raises interest rates, signals two more rate hikes in 2018
Shanghai Minmetals–Fasteners, A Specialized Fastener Company with Over Six Decades of History
In Pursuit of Excellence in Quality—ZHEJIANG CHAOBOER HARDWARE CO.,LTD.


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Kingston police investigating bear mace released in apartment building stairwell
Police are currently investigating after a “chemical irritant” was released in a Kingston apartment building.
Police were called to 381 Bagot St. Friday to respond to what police later determined was bear mace released in a stairwell.
No victims have been reported, police say.
Kingston police are currently investigating the incident as a case of mischief.
Kingston and Frontenac Housing Corporation, the company that manages the apartment building, did not respond to a request for comment.
Source: Read Full Article


GUWAHATI, March 9 - As the major political parties are witnessing a mad rush of people seeking party tickets to contest the ensuing polls to the State Assembly, the parties are now facing a problem of plenty and the leaders are finding it tough to finalize the lists of candidates to the satisfaction of all.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was the first party in the State to seek applications from those keen on contesting the polls and the move saw widespread response. The BJP started the process of accepting applications from the candidates way back in June last year and so far, over 3,300 persons sought party tickets.
BJP sources said that views of the local level committees were given due priority, while the State election committee-formed panels sent them to the Central Committee.
The winning prospects of the candidates would be given main priority while selecting candidates. The Parliamentary Board of the BJP would finalize the list of candidates.
Upbeat by the success of the last Parliamentary Elections, the BJP announced its �Mission 84� and asserted that the party would be able to win 84 seats in the Assembly elections. However, after assessment of the situation, the party is now not even contesting 84 seats after coming into electoral alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodoland People�s Front (BPF).
The Congress took applications from the candidates in the first week of this month and so far, more than 1,200 candidates, including the Ministers and sitting legislators, have filed applications seeking party tickets to contest the polls. In order to generate part of its election fund, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) took application fees from those seeking party tickets. The sitting legislators have to pay an amount of Rs 1 lakh each as application fees, while others have to pay Rs 30,000 each.
Congress sources said that the election committee of the APCC has started preparing panels and it would be sent to the All India Congress Committee for final approval of the list of candidates.
The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) initially announced that it would contest in 60 seats in Lower Assam. The party wanted to come into an understanding with the Congress for the polls. But after the Congress rejected the offer, the AIUDF is likely to field candidates even in Upper Assam.
AIUDF spokesman Aminul Islam said that following demand from the party units in the Upper Assam districts, the AIUDF leaders are having a rethinking on contesting in those districts and the number of seats to be contested by the party would increase.
Islam said that more than 430 persons have so far applied for party tickets to contest the polls. He revealed that winning prospect and the need for strengthening the organisation would be two of the keys for selection of


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World's coral reefs are recovering but for how much longer?Paris - A report on the health of the world's coral reefs just published shows that some of the areas worst hit by massive bleaching in 1997-98 have begun to recover.
And the greatest progress has been in reefs safeguarded as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). A main threat to coral reefs, says the report, continues to come from humans. But the report also warns that this year's developing El Nino -an unusual warming of the surface of the tropical Pacific that caused most of the serious 1997-98 global bleaching events - could cause a new setback in recovery. According to the report, coral reefs provide "goods and services" worth an estimated US$ 375 billion per year (e.g. fish, tourism, coastal protection, etc), while 500 million people depend totally or partially on reefs that are being damaged.
The 378-page global report, entitled Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002 and published through the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), was prepared by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), a network of, governments, institutes and NGOs from over 80 countries. UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) is one of the network's sponsors and implementing agencies. GCRMN has been updating its survey every two years since the first report was published in 1998, with contributions from some 150 authors from more than 100 countries.
Bleaching occurs when calciferous coral colonies reject the microscopic algae that live in symbiosis with them, providing essential nutrients with the aid of sunlight, in exchange for shelter. Even a one-degree centigrade increase in water temperature is enough to trigger the bleaching process. In 1997-98 the worst El Nino on record, which caused hotter, drier weather in some parts of the world, was followed by mass bleaching, severely damaging some 16% of the world's coral reefs. Now, according to the report, about half of these reefs are showing signs of "slow to moderate recovery." New corals are settling on reefs along the coasts of East Africa and the Comoros, especially in Marine Protected Areas (defined by the World Conservation Union as areas "reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment"). There has also been "stronger recovery" in the Maldives, the Lakshadweeps (off the south coast of India) and Palau, where there is little direct human impact.
Some 21 coral reefs are listed within UNESCO's Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme and a further 15 are World Natural Heritage Sites, giving governments obligations to provide minimum safeguards and to manage them sustainably. Some of these sites involve local communities in reef management and sustainable fishing practices.
But the picture is not so rosy everywhere. Recovery in the Seychelles, Sri Lanka, the Indian mainland and some parts of Southeast Asia is "slow or barely evident." High levels of sediment transport, nutrient pollution, over-fishing and destructive fishing practices all put a stress on corals that slows their recovery. In Southeast Asia, the economic crash of 1998 put additional stress on the reefs, when city-dwellers returned to their home villages on the coast in the hope of making a living from natural resources. In many reefs, local fishermen still use dynamite and cyanide to stun the fish. In some parts of Southeast Asia and East Africa, though, communities are taking an active part in managing and monitoring their reefs, thanks to awareness-raising initiatives, particularly by NGOs.
The most serious threat to coral reef ecosystems is now the combined impact of stress from human activities and climate change. This year's developing El Nino could create a new set-back for the reefs. And while El Nino previously has occurred in natural cycles of 7 to 11 years, it has become more frequent in the past few decades, possibly as a result of global warming. At a briefing in UNESCO Headquarters last week, Clive Wilkinson, Global Co-ordinator of GCRMN at the Australian Institute of Marine Science and editor of the latest survey, warned, "even the best management will not stop global warming killing reefs. But if you have good management, especially fish management, the recovery will be much better."
Copies of the report can be obtained through the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS); the World Conservation Union (IUCN); the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. See also ReefBase.
See also a new guide to coral reefs in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, World Heritage sites and RAMSAR Convention sites: Coral Reef Protected Areas in International Instruments. Edited by Bernard Salvat, Jessica Haapkylä and Muriel Schrimm. CRIOBE-EPHE, Moorea, French Polynesia (obtainable through UNESCO).

domain: biology