What happens when Covid meets your period
Finally, nearly a year after the initial shelter-in-place and lockdowns went into effect, we are beginning to see a light at the end of a very, very, very long tunnel. Our bathrooms are fully stocked with TP, we’ve mastered the art of masking up one-handed (or not), and we’ve graduated from baking banana bread to binging Bridgerton (cue spoon scene here).
Though we may now be settling back into some semblance of a routine, it’s important that we take a step back and recognize just how broadly this pandemic has affected us – from our physical health to our mental and emotional wellbeing. And, for people with uteruses, the menstrual cycle is completely interwoven into each of those areas of wellness.
Like we’ve discussed in other posts, stress can have a huge effect on your period, from how you experience PMS to the length of your period itself. Given the stressors of a global pandemic on top of the many other things that happened this year (like, oh yeah, our election literally a couple months ago!), it makes sense that menstruation may have looked a little different in 2020.
But what about menstruators who actually contracted the virus? Will their fertility be impacted? Have their menstrual cycles changed? We still have a lot to learn about Covid-19’s long-term impact on overall health, but the CDC has officially recognized a few hallmarks of “long-haul” disease – including fatigue, joint pain, shortness of breath, and a stubborn cough.((Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, September 17). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects.html)) Nothing about periods, though (at least, not yet).
However: Between our colleagues here at Flex®, reports from our customers, and comments circulating around Facebook groups dedicated to Covid symptoms and experiences, we’ve seen tons of anecdotal evidence that Covid-19 can have an impact on the menstrual cycle. That it might lead to irregular cycles, increased period pain, or periods that are much heavier or lighter than usual.
And now, there’s even a tiny bit of research that’s begun to shed light on exactly what Covid’s impact on menstruation is, at least in the short term (keep reading!).
While we’re waiting for more official, peer-reviewed literature, we wanted to compile some of these Covid-meets-period stories and anecdotes into a blog post so that, if nothing else, people who are struggling with the long-term effects of the virus know they’re not alone. And, with any luck, we may even get the attention of some of the key players in the healthcare industry who can help us push for more funded research into the subject.
Important disclaimer before we dive in: The anecdotal information presented below is by no means meant to be taken as medical guidance. They’re stories that haven’t been scientifically or medically vetted – and as much as we’d like to think we’re experts on the menstrual cycle, we are neither medical researchers nor healthcare professionals. If you have a question or concern about your own health, PLEASE contact a licensed healthcare provider (not Dr. Google).
That said, let’s take a stab at the question of the day: Does Covid-19 affect the menstrual cycle? And if so, how – and why?
Covid & your period: Firsthand stories & experiences from the Flex Fam
You may have heard of “long Covid” or “Covid long-haulers,” terms referring to the potential long-term health effects experienced by a subset of people who’ve tested positive for the virus and, in some cases, even after they’ve recovered from the virus.
The CDC has a page on long Covid where they list out some of the reported symptoms, even broken out by organ system. As of the time that this post was written, the reproductive system is not listed explicitly on this page, although this is of course liable to change as more research emerges.
Given that all of our communities have been affected by this virus, The Fornix’s editorial team was interested in engaging with our online community to explore how some of us have been affected by Covid-19 and whether or not it’s led to weird (and in some cases, painful and frustrating) menstrual cycle changes.
In late January 2021, we put a call out on our social media pages asking our followers to share their stories with us if they were comfortable to do so. We got lots of incredible responses and we’re SO grateful to our wonderful community for being so open, willing to share, and supportive of one another.
It is so crucial to underscore that the following are anecdotes – personal stories from the awesome individuals who submitted them – and should not be construed as research, scientific commentary, or official guidance. Rather, this is a space to share, process, and reflect with one another in a digital (and socially distanced!) space.
So, without further ado:
Longer or heavier periods
Carly Glenn (@therealcarlyglenn) shared her experience with long Covid, which involved a loss of taste and smell that continued for months after her infection. She also notes that her period came back heavier and more painful post-Covid:
“I tested positive for Covid-19 in September 2020. It is now January 2021, and I still have no taste or smell [even though] my case was not severe. Emotionally, I started to experience changes, too. I felt frustration, more sadness and overall desperation to not be exhausted.
Also, not having your taste and smell as a PMSing woman is not fun. I knew I had cravings for things, but I didn’t know how to navigate what I wanted. Plus, I wouldn’t even be able to taste it anyways when it finally came down to making a decision.
Covid also came with extreme exhaustion, which completely paused my workout routines. When I first got my period after Covid, it was heavy and painful, and I was even more exhausted by it than usual. I found that drinking half of my body weight in water and adding some electrolytes to the mix was the perfect combination to feel decent.
Now, even without my taste or smell, my energy is back. Most days I eat an anti inflammatory diet so that when my period comes, my body is prepared. However, my body was not prepared for Covid, and I am still on the mend.”
Increased PMS and/or period pain
One Facebook user notes that, while fighting through Covid-19, she experienced heightened breast pain and more days of cramping leading up to her period (and at random times throughout the month):
Another Facebook user has, since contracting Covid, noticed a significant increase in both PMS cramping and period pain:
Missed periods & irregular cycles
Margaret Baughman (@margbaughman) shared with us that she missed several periods after testing positive for Covid and still doesn’t know when to expect her next period:
“I started showing symptoms for Covid-19 at the end of March – less than two weeks after my city shut down – and had a mild case for about two weeks. Over the summer, my periods were definitely irregular, but I was fairly stressed with work and moved in with my partner, who also has a period, and thought it was maybe just that those things were making my cycle longer.
It jumped then to be two months between periods, and then when I got a period during the last week of September, I didn’t have another one until mid-January, almost four months late. I was so glad to know that I wasn’t at a risk of being pregnant because my partner doesn’t produce sperm, but as time went on, I definitely started to worry that something larger was wrong. My doctor tested me and didn’t find anything unusual, [but] going through those tests made me fairly worried.
I also experienced a lot of other seemingly-disconnected symptoms which made it unclear what the source of these things was. For about three months, I’ve been experiencing a lot of nausea and unhappiness in my stomach. When I finally got my period in January, it was the worst period I can remember having. Cramps, fatigue, more nausea, and such a heavy period.
I still have a bit of time before I expect a period again and have no idea whether I should actually expect it. 2020 is a different type of emotional stress than other times, but my day-to-day exertion and stress levels feel way lower than pre-Covid.”
We heard from several others with accounts of missed periods or wildly irregular cycles:
Another user shares:
Other reported symptoms:
The most common shared experience among individuals who reached out to us who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 appears to be menstrual cycle irregularity – and this isn’t totally surprising. As one user shared on Facebook,
This note is 100% correct! Even before the pandemic, we’ve known that stress (both physical and emotional) can impact the menstrual cycle, leading to late or irregular cycles and, in some cases, more painful periods. However, we still need to conduct more research into specifically how viral stress on the body may influence your cycle during – or even after – a bout with illness.
“My name is Lillian Boles and I’m 21 years old. I tested positive for Covid 19 on December 24 but took the test on December 23 and had been having symptoms for a couple of days.
My only symptoms were coughing and sneezing and body aches. My period started January 2 and lasted until January 4. It started on time but that was the shortest period I’ve ever had in my life.
My cycle has made some changes since having my daughter 22 months ago. I just finished my period and it was back to a normal 7 days. It’s usually 5 – 7 days long. My period in January was pretty painless. I normally take one Tylenol on day one for cramps but I didn’t take anything that time.
I have noticed that since I switched to the Flex Cup about 6 months ago, my cramps have been less painful and my cycles are sometimes 5 or 6 days when they used to always be 7 days. I love my Flex Cup and that it’s very comfortable and reusable!”
We appreciate the Flex Cup™ love! Hopefully, Flex has made things a little easier for those coping with Covid and a period at the same time.
Covid & pregnancy: Reproductive health experts weigh in
Before we get into what little research exists around Covid and periods, let’s recap a bit of good news: There’s been a decent amount of progress made in recent months re: the effect of Covid-19 (as well as Covid-19 vaccination) on pregnant individuals.
Earlier this month, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG stands for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (a professional membership organization for obstetrician–gynecologists).), the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) released a joint statement on guidance for pregnant persons and the vaccine.((ASRM. (2021, February 5). ASRM, ACOG stands for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (a professional membership organization for obstetrician–gynecologists). and SMFM Issue Joint Statement: Medical Experts Continue to Assert that COVID Vaccines Do Not Impact Fertility. Retrieved February 11, 2021, from https://www.asrm.org/covid-vaccine-and-fertility))
Here’s an excerpt from the statement:
“As experts in reproductive health, we continue to recommend that the vaccine be available to pregnant individuals. We also assure patients that there is no evidence that the vaccine can lead to loss of fertility. While fertility was not specifically studied in the clinical trials of the vaccine, no loss of fertility has been reported among trial participants or among the millions who have received the vaccines since their authorization, and no signs of infertility appeared in animal studies. Loss of fertility is scientifically unlikely.”
It is important to note that this is an ongoing conversation, and many professional organizations are continuing to revisit and reassess these questions as more information becomes available. Learn more via the link in the Tweet below from the CDC:
For a great compendium of information related to reproductive health and the novel coronavirus, give this practice advisory from ACOG stands for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (a professional membership organization for obstetrician–gynecologists). a read. This source will continue to be updated as more information becomes available; it goes into more detail around the reasoning and data behind ACOG’s decision.
Covid & your period: What the science says
Although it’s helpful and impactful to see some official guidance around pregnancy and Covid-19, we’re still left with a pretty huge knowledge gap. Specifically, knowledge pertaining to people with uteruses on either end of the spectrum, from menstruators to pre- and post-menopausal individuals.
Excitingly, one recent study performed in Shanghai (published January 2021) DOES address this question of ours – i.e. how Covid-19 impacts the menstrual cycle.
The researchers did so by collecting data on reproductive hormones, menstrual cycle characteristics, and ovarian reserve from women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.((Li, K., Chen, G., Hou, H., Liao, Q., Chen, J., Bai, H., Lee, S., Wang, C., Li, H., Cheng, L., & Ai, J. (2021). Analysis of sex hormones and menstruation in COVID-19 women of child-bearing age. Reproductive Biomedicine Online, 42(1), 260–267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2020.09.020)) This study included 237 patients in total, of which 177 had menstrual data available. FYI, all of the women in this study were of child-bearing age.
The findings showed that in this population, 25% of women with Covid had changes in their menstrual cycle. In all, 20% had a decrease in menstrual cycle volume (a.k.a. a lighter period) whereas 5% had an increase in volume (a heavier period). There was no statistically significant difference in menstrual cycle volume identified between the mild and severely ill sub-populations.
However, things looked a little different when it came to menstrual cycle length. In short, severely ill women had longer menstrual cycles compared to their counterparts, with 34% of severely ill patients having a cycle of longer than 37 days. For a quick refresher on what this all means in context, check out our first Re: Your Cycle post that outlines the stages of the menstrual cycle.
Menstrual cycle characteristics were also compared pre- and post- Covid infection. This study did not find any statistically significant difference in menstrual cycle length for these patients throughout the six months of follow-up.
“25% of women with Covid had changes in their menstrual cycle. In all, 20% had a decrease in menstrual cycle volume (a.k.a. a lighter period) whereas 5% had an increase in volume (a heavier period).”
But, when these patients were followed-up individually after discharge, eight women who had experienced decreased menstrual volume had not returned to normal, and one patient’s menstrual cycle length had not yet normalized, either. This goes to show that statistical significance doesn’t always translate to individual experience.
If you’re interested in learning more about this study, we’d urge you to go to the source itself, again hyperlinked here. Pro tip: During the Covid pandemic, many online publishers are making literature about the virus free to read to encourage public education.
Also, take a look at this research from the British Journal of Sports Medicine:
Experiencing symptoms? Reach out to your OB-GYN
Soapbox moment here: If you are ever experiencing symptoms with your period that are new for you, like pelvic pain, painful periods, spotting or bleeding outside of your cycle, migraines, nausea/vomiting, etc., don’t hesitate: Reach out to your primary care provider or your OB/GYN as soon as possible.
If you think that you may have had a Covid exposure, or if you ever tested positive for Covid, make sure to bring it up during your appointment: It could be helpful information for your provider to reference when determining the best course of action for diagnosis and care.
Once more, we would like to reiterate that we are still in the early stages of understanding the effects of Covid on the human body, and that the stories presented here are just that: Stories, shared by individuals, colored by their own unique experiences and health history. For medical information, guidance, and resources, reach out to a licensed healthcare provider.
Important information & additional resources
If you’ve tested positive for Covid-19 or have been experiencing symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, loss of sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, or intense fatigue, get in touch with a healthcare provider ASAP and make sure to follow official CDC guidance on how to proceed.
When searching the Internet for information and resources regarding Covid-19, make sure to check your sources. Trusted sources like the CDC and WHO are your best bet for accurate, reliable, and up-to-date information. Here are a few important links:
- The CDC Page on Covid-19
- The WHO Page on Covid-19
- The PAHO Page on Covid-19
- The American Public Health Association Page on Covid-19, especially for advocacy initiatives around health equity.
- The BMJ on Long Covid, including a summary from researchers in the field as well as a video webinar.
- FDA Website on Vaccine Updates
- HHS Website on Vaccine Updates, a bit more user-friendly to read
- NYT Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker, has graphics if you are a visual learner as well as recent news
- HHS Resource to Find Testing Near You, enter your zip code here to find a community-based testing site in your city/state
- The ACOG Page on Covid-19, a resource from the medical society of OB/GYNs on reproductive health-specific Covid updates
How to advocate for menstrual cycle research
Patient advocacy groups and medical societies alike are taking up this gauntlet of advocating for more research on people with uteruses – but you have a role to play, too.
Here are a couple of actionable to-dos if you’re interested in becoming engaged with this work:
- Connect with your local Planned Parenthood chapter. This org is often at the forefront of reproductive healthcare advocacy, and there may be a volunteer opportunity near you (virtual, of course).
- Call or email your local representative and urge them to advocate for the support of reproductive health research at the local and federal levels.
- Join the conversation on social media: From IG to Twitter and even Slack, there’s a virtual community somewhere out there that you can learn from and contribute to.
Covid & your period: Final thoughts
During this difficult time, community is more important than ever. If you’ve had or recently recovered from Covid-19, we hope that this post has given you a bit of solace.
If you’re dealing with difficult, long-term symptoms of the virus, unpredictable menstrual cycles, or unrelenting pain and fatigue, know that you’re not alone.
We also hope that this post has perhaps answered a question or two you’ve had about Covid and your period. If it’s brought up more questions than answers, that’s perfectly fine, too! Think of this as a jumping-off point for you to learn more about Covid-19 and the menstrual cycle, especially as more research continues to emerge on a daily basis.
Here at Flex, we’re committed to fighting period stigma and opening up the conversation around menstruation – even and especially during a pandemic. If you have any feedback about this post, or if you’ve come across a new study or piece of research that you’d like to see us spotlight, feel free to reach out to us at email@example.com.
This article is informational only and is not offered as medical advice, nor does it substitute for a consultation with your physician. If you have any gynecological/medical concerns or conditions, please consult your physician.
© 2021 The Flex Company. All Rights Reserved.


text:
In UFO Blackstorm Shield you have to defend your planet against an alien invasion. For such purpose you'll pilot a space ship capable of absorbing the enemy's energy. Use their shots against you, capturing their energy and using it to wipe out enemy craft and transfer power to your defensive constructions.
All the best Martian games are here for you to enjoy. Befriend aliens or avoid an alien invasion in the best free Martian games that are available online.
Alien Invaders is a game with graphics that are similar to animated drawing in which you will have to shoot at the...

domain: game


When we, the siblings of someone with special needs, hear the word “retarded” or “retard,” even in the most seemingly-casual context, it strikes us hard.
When we hear it, we hear it as an echo of all the times our brothers and sisters were not welcomed. It’s an echo of every rejection, overt or covert, of every uncomfortable moment when we felt that we had to somehow explain or justify our siblings’ very existence. It reminds us of every time we couldn’t find the words to say that, in our moments of clarity, we see autism as a unique part of who they are.
The r-word is a jeer, a mockery and an attempt to draw an ever-more-pronounced line between those who are considered neurotypical and those who are not.
It doesn’t matter who says it – a dear friend or a stranger passing by on the street. Regardless of the speaker, the effect is the same: a feeling of uneasiness and hurt. As discussed in a recent
article, the r-word is alive and well and we, the siblings (as well as parents, caregivers, friends and loved ones), are wounded every time we hear it.
Sometimes, we swallow our anger and turn away. Sometimes, we ignore it, pretending it doesn’t matter. But every time we do this, we feel we have betrayed the person we love (and we have).
Other times, we are given the grace and courage to speak up and take a stand. In those times, we say in as calm a voice as we can manage, “Please don’t say that word. It’s offensive.” And more often than not, we get strange looks, or forced, unfeeling apologies. We may get derided for “making a big deal out of nothing.” On rare occasions, the request may be received with appreciation, and a true apology ensues.
Yet, regardless of the response, we must keep speaking up. We may feel insecure in doing so, but our love must be greater than our fear. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “A time comes when silence is betrayal.” Not speaking up when we hear the r-word is one of those times.
If you were to tell me that my brother is retarded because he has autism, here’s what I would say:
“Please don’t say that word. Language shapes thought and when you say that another person is retarded, you’re judging them as inferior. You’re saying that they are not worthy of being treated with dignity and respect. You’re treating them as though they are less than you, and in doing so, you expose a deep-seated ignorance and bias.
My brother’s gifts are different than yours, not less-than. My brother’s life may be different than yours, but again, not less-than. I would like to welcome you to a world of diversity, where deviating from normal isn’t a bad thing. I would like to let you know that there’s challenge in that world, but there is also joy.
If you call my brother (or anyone else) retarded, you’re being hurtful to them, and to those who love them. But on a deeper level, you’re also rejecting yourself. You’re rejecting the parts of yourself that need patience, acceptance and love. You’re covering up your own vulnerability by mocking the supposed weakness of another."
On March 7, 2012 , "Spread the Word to End the
Word" will be holding its “annual day of activation” to help further raise awareness and educate others about this issue. Consider taking part in this event and let others know that each time individuals use the r-word, it can have a profound impact on others. And when they do, we all lose out.
——- About the Author
Caroline McGraw is a would-be childhood paleontologist turned storyteller, digging for treasure in people with autism & intellectual disabilities (& empowering caregivers to do the same). Her younger brother, Willie, has autism, and she writes about finding meaning in your most challenging relationships at A Wish Come Clear. Her first book, Your Creed of Care: How To Dig For Treasure In People (Without Getting Buried Alive) is a guide for caregivers, free to all who elect to receive posts via email at:
I am not one who offends easily, nor do I consider myself overly-sensitive. However, there are some words that should simply be extinguished from our vernacular. "Retard" is one of them.
Earlier this week, I was out shopping and overheard a young girl use the term in passing and it honestly bothered me a great deal. As the father of a child with autism, I’ve learned over the years that words and labels matter and many times, they can have devastating consequences.
The R-word is almost always used as a pejorative and stems from the longer, medically acceptable term "mental retardation," typically describing someone who has an IQ below 70. But like many other words in the English language, it has evolved over the years and is often used in a derogatory manner. When used improperly, "retard" and "retarded" simply reinforce stereotypes of those with emotional and intellectual disabilities and degrade them as human beings in the process.
The shopping incident got me thinking all week about the topic, so out of curiosity, I decided to do a search on Twitter to see how many messages contained the term. Not surprisingly, a flood of results came up just in the last few days, many from teens and young adults who simply don’t (but should) know better. However, I also found some other tweets from older adults as well, some with a large number of followers:
There were countless others, but these examples are a stark reminder that our society still has a long way to go in educating the public that the r-word is no longer an acceptable term to use, even in jest.
To help shed light on this subject, The Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation (in conjunction with Best Buddies and the Special Olympics) has created a Web site and campaign for the sole purpose of abolishing the term once and for all. Established in 2008, R-word.org has a stated mission to "Spread the Word to End the Word ®." The site accepts online pledges from individuals of all ages, who affirm that they will "support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities." To date, there have been over 235,000 submissions.
It’s heartening to see that this organization, and others like it, are proactively doing something about this issue. However, as many people prove by their tweets and conversations, we still have a long way to go.
Wandering-related episodes involving those with autism is a serious issue and stories seem to come in on a weekly basis pertaining to the topic.
Unfortunately, not all of them have happy endings.
Many autism groups and organizations have been pushing to curb this epidemic, and some have emerged as leaders in advocacy for autism safety and awareness. For example, Autism Risk and Safety Management, founded by Dennis Debbaudt, is an organization that trains police, law enforcement professionals and first responders on how to properly diffuse potentially adverse situations involving children and adults with autism. Debbaudt is a former law enforcement official and an autism father that offers informative seminars and training across the country.
The National Autism Association is another group that has advocated for increased safety and awareness for those with autism, particularly in the areas of wandering and restrain & seclusion. Taking its plight to the next level, the NAA has just announced the second launch of its "Big Red Safety Box," a special kit that includes items and information to help prevent wandering-related incidents by those with autism spectrum disorders.
For a limited time (and while supplies last), the Big Red Safety Box is being offered to parents, families and caregivers of those with autism. The kits are limited to one per family and will be packaged and shipped by a company that employs adults with autism and other developmental disorders. Each box will include:
1) Educational materials and tools:
A caregiver checklist
A Family Wandering Emergency Plan
A first-responder profile form
A wandering-prevention brochure
A sample IEP Letter
2) Two (2) GE Door Alarms
3) One (1) Who’s Shoe ID
This free resource is being made available, thanks to some generous sponsors and donors that have stepped up to the plate. Supplies will be limited, so be sure to head on over to http://www.nationalautismassociation.org and reserve your box today.
For those who would like to support this great initiative, the NAA is looking for sponsors to help keep the program going after supplies run out.
Drowning resulting from wandering-related episodes continues to be the leading cause of death of those with autism spectrum disorders. Hopefully, with programs like these, that will no longer be the case in the very near future.
In a follow up to our most recent update on Ayn
Van Dyk, there have been more disturbing details brought to our attention that are worth passing along. Apparently, this is not the first time the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) in British Columbia has been involved in a major controversy involving the removal of a child from their home.
Back in October of 2007, Paul and Zabeth Bayne of Surrey, British Columbia (Canada) embarked on a four-year-long nightmare when all three of their children were seized and taken away after authorities suspected Shaken Baby Syndrome in their then-two-month-old daughter. The Bayne’s were adamant that the child’s injuries were sustained when an older sibling tripped and fell directly on top of the little girl, but their claims fell on deaf ears.
Despite unsubstantiated evidence, the children were stripped away from their parents and placed in foster care, shuffled from family-to-family over the years. To make matters worse, during the ordeal, a fourth child was also taken away by Ministry officials only five hours after Zabeth gave birth and was still in the hospital.
The Bayne’s horrifying ordeal finally ended in August of 2011 when they were exonerated and all four children were returned to them. However, the damage had been done, courtesy of the "shoot first" and ask questions later tactics of Ministry officials. You can read the full account of the Bayne story here.
Now, jump to June of 2011, when Derek Hoare briefly lost sight of Ayn, his nine-year-old daughter with autism. She had been playing in the backyard, which was surrounded by a six-foot high fence. Hoare immediately called police when she went missing and a search ensued, finding Ayn safe in a nearby neighbor’s backyard.
As with the Bayne children, Hoare’s daughter was seized by MCFD authorities, who claimed they were simply lightening the load of an overwhelmed single father of three. Ayn was placed in a psychiatric facility and given powerful and dangerous antipsychotic drugs and has been in foster care ever since. Hoare has unsuccessfully fought for his daughter’s return and his next court date is scheduled for the end of 2012. The judicial process will have Ayn’s earliest possible return in February of 2013, assuming there are no more delays. To add insult to injury, MCFD officials, at their discretion, can return Ayn at any time back to her father.
The cases involving Derek Hoare and the Bayne family are strikingly similar, not only for the gross injustices suffered at the hands of government officials, but because they both involve the same MCFD division in British Columbia. As if these cases weren’t enough, there is also the heartbreaking case of Betty-Ann and Allan Burnett — yet another family who’s lives were turned upside down by the MCFD in BC. You can learn about the Burnett story here.
These cases (and others like them) are so upsetting in nature, someone needs to start asking some tough questions.
Things are seriously wrong when government authorities can arbitrarily take children from their homes without due process, leaving parents at the mercy of a painfully slow judicial system.
Ironically, the MCFD claims to have the best interest of children at heart, but it’s these types of hair-trigger reactions that cause irreparable harm to to the very children they are purporting to protect. Undoubtedly, there are legitimate instances when children need to be removed from their homes due to abusive or unsafe environments, but at the same time, common sense must be administered.
Much like the Bayne family, Derek and Ayn have passionate advocates and Internet volunteers petitioning on their behalf. Let’s hope history doesn’t
repeat itself and they don’t have to wait another 3 years to be reunited.
By all accounts, Christopher Duffley didn’t have a fighting chance. Born in May of 2001, Duffley’s biological parents tested positive for Oxycontin and cocaine, contributing to a premature birth. Weighing in at less than two pounds, Christopher was born permanently blind (detached retinas), along with a myriad of other health problems, requiring a seven-month hospital stay.
Initially placed in foster care, Christopher’s aunt and uncle soon took him in as their own, eventually adopting him at the age of 2.
As if the his existing health problems weren’t enough, Christopher didn’t speak in full sentences until the first grade and was later
diagnosed with autism.
Despite the challenges, Duffley’s adopted parents (who are devout Christians), didn’t lose hope or waiver in their faith. And as the years passed, they would discover that Christopher displayed tremendous giftings in music. Particularly fond of Christian praise and worship songs, Christopher is now in high demand to perform at churches, sporting events and other venues.
Duffley’s story is an amazing testament that no matter how challenging one’s situation may appear, there will always be silver linings in the midst of the obstacles and pain. In fact, Christopher’s parents have used his story to advocate on behalf of pro-life groups to show that what society would often consider "damaged" or unwanted, is actually something to be considered very special.
Check out the performance below from last year, when Duffley sings "Open the Eyes to My Heart" at a church service — be sure to have some Kleenex handy.
As autism rates continue to climb, so too does the problem of safety-related incidents, many of which result in injury or death. In the past year alone, it seemed as if a month didn’t go by without some kind of tragic story involving wandering, bullying and/or abuse involving individuals with autism.
To help address these issues head-on, the National Autism Association, in collaboration with AutismCollege.com, has announced the availability of a free online safety conference that will take place throughout the month of February. Educational webinars, all 90-minutes in length, will
cover topics addressing sexual-abuse, bullying, suicide, wandering prevention and restraint & seclusion — all for parents and caregivers affected by autism and other related disorders.
"Autism Safety and Crisis Prevention" will feature presentations by topic experts, followed up by a Q&A session for participants. The webinar schedule is as follows:
Saturday, February 11, 8:15 am – 9:45 am PST, Dr. Nora Baladerian, Ph.D. will present “How Can Parents Reduce the Risk of Sexual Abuse of Their Child or Young Adult?”
Saturday, February 11, 10:00 am – 11:30 am PST, Dr. Lori Ernsperger will discuss “The 3 R’s to Bullying Prevention for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Recognize, Respond, and Report.”
Wednesday, February 15, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm PST, Dr. Joshua Feder will discuss “The Problem of Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Autism and Related Disorders.”
Saturday, February 18, 8:15 am – 9:45 am PST, Wendy Fournier of the National Autism Association will discuss wandering prevention and response.
Saturday, February 18, 10:00 am – 11:30 am PST, Pat Amos, M.A. will discuss “Preventing and Eliminating the Use of Restraints and Seclusion.”
It’s worth noting that the National Autism Association, who is helping to put this conference together, has an excellent track record of advocating for increased safety awareness within the autism community. In fact, they are a member of The Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response and Education
(AWAARE) Collaboration. This is an organization comprised of some of the nation’s largest autism groups, focusing on preventing wandering-related
incidents and wandering-related deaths within the autism community. They offer a great PDF safety brochure that can be downloaded
Be sure to check out the first set of safety webinars a week from this Saturday and make sure you tell others about it. Just one piece of information you take away from these sessions could help avoid an unfortunate situation and may even save the life of someone you love.
Today is January 31, 2012. For Derek Hoare, this simply means it’s day number 230 — the number of days his 10-year-old daughter with autism has been kept from him by Child Protective Services (MCFD) in Canada.
The tragedy began in Abbotsford, British Columbia on June 16, 2011 when Canadian authorities removed Ayn Van Dyk from her home after a wandering-related incident.
Hoare, a single father of three, briefly lost sight of Ayn while she was playing in the family’s backyard, which was surrounded by a 6-foot fence. Hoare immediately called police and a frantic search found her safe over in a nearby neighbor’s backyard.
Four days after the incident, Canadian authorities whisked Ayn away to a psychiatric facility where she was given dangerous and powerful antipsychotic drugs, maintaining they were simply lightening Hoare’s load. Ayn has been kept away from the family ever since.
We have previously covered this story, never believing this nightmare would continue for so long. Unfortunately, it has and by the looks of it, could continue for
the foreseeable future.
Last week on a blog supporting Ayn, Derek was quoted as saying the process of getting his daughter back could continue well into 2013 and is being handled through a painfully slow legal system.
We need to rally around Derek and draw additional media attention to this story. The fanfare has died down because the process has taken so long but in the meantime, the Canadian government continues to steal precious time away from this beautiful little girl and her father — time that they will never be able to get back.
Government intrusion in the lives of its citizens continues to increase and if situations like these are allowed to continue, they will only repeat
themselves — next time, it may even be your child. Spread the word of this injustice and help bring Ayn home:
February 12, 2012 will mark the 10th anniversary of Autism Sunday, also known as the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. Founded by UK couple Ivan and Charika Corea in 2002, Autism Sunday has grown into an international phenomenon, with some of the world’s top religious leaders acknowledging the special day of prayer, observed on the second Sunday of February. As with previous years, churches of all denominations (and their parishioners) will be asked to pray for the autism community and those
affected by the disorder.
Autism Sunday first began at a church service in St. Paul’s Cathedral (London) and was initially a small idea, but has since grown into a major
worldwide event, recognized in the past by Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, Archbishop of York Dr. John Sentamu and British Prime Minister David Cameron, just to name a few.
If your church is not aware of Autism Sunday, please send emails and make phone calls to help spread the word. A note in your church’s bulletin and/or newsletter will also go a long way in helping to let others know about it.
The promoters of Autism Sunday are also asking social media advocates to get involved. On Autism Sunday, please tweet as many messages as possible with the hash tag #AutismSunday to get the topic trending.
We hope you’ll consider getting involved and help make an eternal difference in the lives of those affected by autism, which is estimated to be
around sixty-seven million people around the world. I have personally seen the power and impact of prayer in my own family’s life and encourage everyone to participate in this special day.
It has been a long time since I have been profoundly moved by a television show that has left me feeling hopeful regarding the interconnectedness of humanity. For anyone who believes things happen for a reason, this will be your new favorite show. Having previewed their new baby on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, Fox will enjoy seeing news about this series spread in the coming months. When it debuts on March 19, 2012, it will be seen around the globe in more than 100 countries within 3 days’ period of time and try to achieve a level of connectedness by the fan-base as never before. Arguably it has been something people have been complaining about for quite some time about the US or Canada having exclusive access to a show, and other countries having to wait to see it, sometimes many weeks, sometimes many months, sometimes never, which leads to seeking access on torrent sites which ultimately results in the demise of a show because no one is live-viewing it anymore.
The story centers around Martin Bohm (Kiefer Sutherland) and his son, Jake Bohm (David Mazouz). Labeled “severely autistic”, Martin never believed in the diagnosis given to his child and seems to be just trying to do whatever he could to make a connection with his son, yet fully accepting and loving his child at whatever place he was (very Son-Rise-esque).
I am a mother with a child with severe autism. In the weeks leading up to the show, I seemed to be getting a lot of negative feedback about that–not ANOTHER show about another kid with autism–as if autism is the célèbre-du-jour of Hollywood. Indeed kids or adults with autism were turning up everywhere on every show either as part of the main cast or as a guest star. There are a few shows that got it right, but most did not. Most people with autism are not savants (only about 10%). While parents with autism appreciate the desire to bring awareness to the spectrum disorder, when it is depicted incorrectly, it hurts our cause. The general population has grown tired of hearing “My child has autism.” They scoff at you like you are just part of the misguided parents who need to have a diagnosis for their child. Or, you have the medical community trying to reclassify the spectrum of autism to water it down so it does not appear to be an epidemic (a blog for a later time). Even I started viewing this show with a bias.
FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS:
The show opens with a narrative from Jake about numbers very similar to the a belief borne from the red string of fate, a Chinese legend that said the gods tie an invisible red string around the ankles of those that are destined to be soul mates and will one day marry each other. The two people connected by the red thread are destined lovers, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. This magical cord may stretch or tangle, but never break, a concept very similar to soul mates. But Tim Kring, the creator of Touch, twists this idea even further to tie a group of individuals together.
Fans of Jericho (or Three Rivers or Hawaii-Five-O) will be thrilled to see that Carol Barbee is executive producer on this pilot. Executive producer Peter Chernin now has another hit on his hands after enjoying great success with Terra Nova and New Girl, also on Fox. Also sharing executive producer co-credits are Katherine Pope (also of Terra Nova and New Girl), Kiefer Sutherland, and producers, Neal Ahern, Jr., (Terra Nova, Parenthood), and Dennis Hammer (Heroes, Crossing Jordan).
The show opens with Martin at his job at the JFK airport in New York where he is gathering a bunch of cell phones that were left in the lost and found and unclaimed, to his son who is fascinated by them. One of them rings as he is walking away. Apparently it is the owner of one of the phones trying to get the phone back after losing it at Heathrow Airport in London 2 days previously. He is not looking to get back the phone itself, but rather photographs within the phone. Apparently it is her birthday “tomorrow” but he is now in Mumbai. And he seems to be in great emotional distress. Martin’s phone is ringing so he places the man’s phone down in a bin. His son is in trouble. “I pay your school good money to keep my son safe. Are you grasping me?” Oh yes, I was relating to this character very much.
He’s off to talk his son down off an electricity tower, and I mean that literally. Meanwhile, the cell phone gets mixed up on top of some luggage. Jack Bauer is scared of heights? What? Oh wait, wrong show. It is hard NOT to put Kiefer automatically into the role of Jack. The workers want to know if the numbers 318 have any special meaning to Jake but Martin shrugs it off. A report to child services is going to need to be made.
On the way home, they stop at a gas station. Martin gazes at his son in the rear-view mirror while gazing over at the school bus filled with children talking and acting like normally developed children. My heart sinks. I know EXACTLY what this character is feeling. How many times have I done this with Patrick, just for a brief second wondering what life would be like? Martin and I share a common bond in addition to the fact that they are our only living child so we know really no other kind of life. He looks into the rear-view mirror and his son is gone, having taken off to go over towards the bus. Another similarity to autism–so I’m still very hesitant. How many of us turn away for a second and our kids with autism take off? Martin talks to his son like one would talk to their loved one in a coma, hoping that something they say will jar their loved one to respond in some way, desperately longing for that contact. I have been in this place, too, where Patrick was seemingly catatonic (but very noisy, unlike Martin’s Jake). Martin notices the number on the bus: District No 318. In the store, the TV is showing a story on “The Children of 9/11″ and the struggles they endure. A man is trying to buy a Lotto ticket. Jake looks up as the man calls out the numbers: 87 1 9 20 31 11. Jake grabs the Lotto ticket and runs to the car, locking the doors. He writes down these numbers on pages of numbers he already wrote previously and hands the ticket back. The man says, “You ought to keep that kid in a cage.” Oh yes, that is something we’ve had to endure hearing before. But this is actor Titus Welliver from “Lost” so I expect dark mystery to surround him.
Then we see a beautiful young singer, Kayla Graham (Karen David) on stage, surrounded by her fans, recording her performance on a cell phone that looks very similar to the one found at JFK. She does not believe she’ll ever be a big star. Her co-worker, Niles Borne, (Simon Delaney), tries to encourage her, saying half the company was there to support her tonight. He tells her that we all have a destiny, and hers is to be a big star. The cell phone, he believes, is the key. He found that the cell phone had traveled all around the world and now her recording was on it. The phone apparently right now is in Dublin, Ireland. He sticks the cell phone into the luggage of someone headed to Japan and away the cell phone goes.
An alarm set for 3:18 goes off at Martin’s computer. He goes in to put Jake to bed. Jake has apparently lined up cell phones. He mentions that the doctor said he was going to grow up bigger than him and how was that going to work? I’m already living that. I’m 5’3″ and my 16-year-old son is now 6 feet tall, and has seizures. The cell phones go off. Jake has all of them programmed to show the numbers 87, 1, 9, 20, 31, 11.
A family in the Middle East, Baghdad, is the next bunch introduced. The son is trying to imitate Chris Rock and wants to be a comedian. They need an oven to keep their bakery. It will cost 800,000 dinar (about $687 US dollars). The only way to make that kind of money is with shady characters who make people blow themselves up. His friend suggests they check out Hassam’s place.
Clea Hopkins (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) from family services show up at Martin’s door the next morning. One reality disconnect: They do not show up that quickly. I already dislike this woman, so she did a great job as an actress. She lists his inadequacies as a parent, supposing that the state could do a better job. Another reality disconnect: The writers did not Google: State facilities, Texas, fight clubs, Department of Justice report, Corpus Christi. “The financial challenges will only increase as your son gets older.” I can relate to that statement, but do you know what the first thing is to get cut when state budgets are on the line? Yep, people with disabilities. Good thing Martin lives in New York versus let’s say Texas.
Martin shares that her wife died in the 9/11 tragedy. While Clea is trying to “talk” with the silent Jake, Martin sees the numbers in the newspaper: The numbers belong to the new Lotto winner. The man (Randall) who bought the ticket realizes he is a winner and places a phone call to a woman. He says he wants to come home now.
Simon (the owner of the cell phone now off to Japan) is on a plane and calls a woman. He is on his way to Tokyo. He wants to be there for “her” birthday (the child) but the woman is short on conversation. She also appears to be in emotional pain. My first thought was a divorce. He asks her if they took any photographs of Lily while they were on vacation besides for the ones on his phone; a tear streams down her face as she says no.
Clea tries to explain the strange coincidence off as it being part of Jake’s autism, which Martin insists is NOT his diagnosis. Martin said that for all he knows Jake does not speak because he has nothing to say. Martin says he is trying to communicate; Clea belittles his thought to wish fulfillment. Her character then starts softening up, trying to say no one is judging him (but they are).
A young Japanese woman goes through the bag of the man who came from Ireland, the one with the cell phone in his bag. She and her friend, Izumi, are in a fan club of a group called “The Morticians” who are from Ireland (actually a band based out of Waco, Texas). The man lives in Tokyo but wants to have some fun with the young girl before going home. She grabs the cell phone in his bag and leaves.
Back in New York, Martin is leaving Jake at the boarding facility. Obviously no research has been done here either. These state facilities do NOT look like this gorgeous facility. My heart wrenches for Martin not only for having to leave his son in one of these places, but also that he cannot even hug him to say goodbye. Personally, I’d skip the country and run. No one is ever taking my kid from me. Martin then goes to visit the grave of his wife, Sarah. He says, “They say God never gives you more than you can handle. But I think he has this time.” Oh dear, the tears start streaming from my eyes. How many times have I felt and said the exact same words, or felt extreme anger at people who have said that to me, not having the slightest clue what our lives are like. He looks down to find a FDNY badge with the numbers 318 on them.
The Japanese girls see Kayla Graham’s video and decide to start up a fan club as they believe she is probably already a big star in Ireland. They are going to enlist the talents of their friend, Takezo, who runs the Jumbotron at Shibuya. They will get him to download “everything” on that phone and put it up on the Jumbotron (you can see where this is going). They’ll pass the phone to another client at 4:00 p.m. , who is catching a plane to Kuwait in 3 hours.
A search for mutism and cell phones leads Martin to the door of The Teller Institute that lists the following: Mysticism, Mythology and New Age interpretation; a rise in diagnosing behavioral disorders; for a select few, mutism is a false diagnosis; this is a beginning in a shift of consciousness. (Okay, now I’m thinking Mayan 2012 theories here). We are witnessing an evolutionary step (I’m thinking Alphas here). We must listen to their message. How string theory and quantum entanglement…. (I’m thinking Fringe). The geek that I am (and conditioned Lost fan) looked up the link to http://www.tellerinstitute/electromagnetism.html but it does not exist. He gets an address to this institute: 318 West Tesla Street, Bronx, NY. SWEET. It would have been really great if the address actually existed. A bath-robed Professor Arthur Dewitt (Danny Glover) answers the door. He talks about electromagnetism and that some kids (mostly) are just tuned into the right frequency. Interestingly, he gets Martin an orange soda, the same kind Jake drinks. Apparently Jake has discovered the Fibonacci mathematical sequence on his own. He shows him pictures of the curve, similar to how Jake lined up the cell phones. “The universe is made up of precise ratios and patterns. You and I–we don’t see them. But if we could, life would be magical beyond our wildest dreams, a quantum entanglement of cause and effect where everything and everyone reflects on each other. Every action, every breath, every conscious thought connected. Imagine the unspeakable beauty of the universe he sees. No wonder he doesn’t talk. ” Martin, excited, responds, “My son sees all that?” The professor continues, “Your son sees everything–the past, the present, the future. He sees how it’s all connected.” Martin responds, “You’re telling me my son can predict the future?” The professor adds, “I’m telling you, it’s a roadmap. And your job now, your purpose, is to follow it for him. It’s your fate, Mr. Bohm. It’s your destiny.” I know have complete chills. I see the parallels of my own life being reflected in this story. My Patrick has accomplished a great deal in his 16 years on this earth; my purpose is for him to fulfill his destiny. I have often felt like his conduit.
Back at the school, Clea becomes a believer when Jake uses popcorn to make the numbers 2, 1, 2, 9, 2, 0, 6, 9, 2, 2, the numbers which was her mother’s phone number before she died. And then her cell phone rings with that number. He goes over to circle 18 on the March calendar.
The Lotto winner is headed to Lynchburg, Virginia.
Martin looks at Jake’s numbers again and gets a phone number. Using modern technology, he puts it into the reverse phone numbers feature of a web site and it comes up as Grand Central Station at 87 East 42nd Street. Eighty-seven is the first number of the Lotto sequence. Clea knocks on his door; 3/18 is “today.” Martin is not sure if he is supposed to stop something from happening or make something happen, not only to happen on 3/18 but AT 3:18. Twenty-two minutes to Grand Central Station? Yeah, right. He better live close-by. When he locates the phone, there is a man talking on it. When he turns him around, he realizes it is the man from the store, the one who punched him. Now Martin punches back. The police break up the fight. It’s now 3:19 and Martin thinks he has failed.
Back in Iraq, a group of men walk in on the young boy at Hassam’s and they hide. They have a bunch of cell phones, including the one with Kayla Graham’s recording on it. A little girl sees them, but does not appear to give them away, but one of the terrorists comes back in. They catch him. He tells them about the oven and you can see the evil in their eyes. You know they are going to make him do something bad.
Back at Martin’s the 3:18 alarm goes off again on his computer; he notices there is a message on his answering machine. Randall Mead is calling him. Randall Mead who won Lotto; Randall Mead who was on the phone at Grand Central Station leaving Martin a message on his answering machine. He was a fire fighter on duty who tried to save his wife that tragic day. He was part of Ladder Company 318 on 9/11. He went to the 87th floor of the North Tower. His wife was alive, barely conscious and bleeding pretty badly. He carried her down 31 flights of stairs, but could not carry her any further. He convinced himself that she was dead, but the truth was he was not sure if she really was. He had been thinking about her for 10 years and had been playing the same lotto numbers every week for 10 years. 9, 11, 2001, 87th floor, 31 flights of stairs. He had wanted to try to make the numbers come out right. He was going to give all the money away. Then Martin hears himself on the phone answering machine, the encounter that happened at Grand Central Station. Then he hears Randall Mead’s name on the TV. Apparently the bus from the gas station had overturned in a bad rain storm. He pulled the kids from a burning bus. He said to the reporter if he had not missed his train, he would not have been there. Martin heads out to see his son, but his son escaped the state facility. Martin still does not know the further repercussions of this red thread.
Flash over to the Jumbotron where Simon, who is now in Tokyo, tries to call his phone: 44, 077, 0090, 0488. He gets Kayla Graham who is back at her day job. He wants her to find out where his phone is, but it is in “an invalid territory.” Kayla appears on the Jumbotron. He pleads with Kayla to please help him. Lily’s picture is in there, his daughter who died a year ago. Simon looks up at the Jumbotron and sees Lily’s pictures. It brings some peace to a grieving father. In Iraq, Simon’s phone rings. It is hooked up to a bomb that is now attached to our character’s chest. He pleads with Kayla to tell the world he was not a bad person; she tries to help him not explode. With all these wonderful connections, my heart was hoping this young man wouldn’t be blown up, that he would get his happy ending, too. Kayla tells him there is always a choice. They bond over Chris Rock. She asks him what would make him not do this. He tells her, “An oven.” She knows a guy (Simon) in restaurant supplies.
Martin and Clea find Jake at the tower. Jake narrates again: “The ratio is always the same: 1 to 1.68 over and over.” Kayla’s co-worker sees her video on YouTube with 1,621,318 views. Simon makes it home to his wife. Martin overcomes his fear of heights and climbs the tower to talk to Jake. Jake says, “Will these words be used to hurt or to heal?” Randall gets on a bus to Virginia. Martin tells Jake that he followed the numbers and people were saved. “I don’t know if you can even hear me, but I can hear you, Jake?” I’m sobbing at this point. How many times have I said this to my nonverbal son? Jake crawls over to him and for the first time in Martin’s life, gave Martin a hug. I have raccoon eyes by now; my mascara is flowing everywhere. I remember the first time my child have me what I call a half-hug. My dear friend who I shared my glee with said to me that she appreciated me sharing these things with her because it made her appreciate her neurotypical child even more. She never realized the things she took for granted, the comment that made me realize that Patrick’s purpose was for people to appreciate the people in their own lives and not take even simple things as eye contact for granted.
Jake grabbed Martin’s cell phone and pointed him on his next mission: 718-673-5296
Where I end my belief is this: How does Martin’s phone still work in that monster rainstorm?
My message to Tim Kring: Season 1 of Heroes was awesome. Touch has the possibility of great things that may start people thinking more about the ripple effect of their own actions, and acting more kind to each other. Don’t screw it up, okay? Save Touch, Save the world.
Among the many autism-related stories I have read, written and edited over the years, there are some that have left a profound and lasting impact on me. Stories involving wandering-related deaths involving children with autism are always heartbreaking, as are stories involving injustice suffered by those with autism and their families — of which, Ayn Van Dyk, Neli Latson and Aislinn Wendrow all come to mind. However, there is one story in particular that has been extremely troubling, not only because of the initial events, but also the aftermath and lack of closure that followed.
In August of 2009, a 20-second YouTube video (posted below) was released and showed a Pittsburgh-area teacher slapping and verbally abusing a student with autism. The incident, which occurred in March of 2008, revealed every autism parent’s worst nightmare: a physical assault at the hands of someone who’s job it is to care for and educate a special needs child.
In the video, a student named J.R. is violently slapped by his teacher, at which point she screams, “Stop moving your chair back. Move it! And you stay back there! I’ve had it with you!” The video was secretly recorded by a student aid, who claimed to have witnessed the same teacher physically assaulting the non-verbal youngster on previous occasions.
I spoke to J.R.’s mother about a year ago and at the time, little had taken place in the way of closure. In fact, the YouTube user who originally uploaded the video, a family friend, wrote the following last year:
"Update: This teacher was let go from her job, but no charges have been filed against her or the school district. The cameras that were supposed to be installed in all of the class rooms (sic) at this school…it has not happened."
This story is a sobering reminder of the constant vigilance that is needed when dealing with schools, teachers and caregivers that are involved in the lives of children with autism and other special needs. Hopefully, J.R. is doing well now and his family has been able to move on from this. Reopening old wounds is not the intention here, but this story should be a constant reminder of how vulnerable our children can be and how important it is to know exactly who we are entrusting them with.
All information in this site is presented for support and educational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute for medical treatment or visiting a licensed medical physician.
Visitors who desire to apply or use any information listed herein are urged to consult with licensed healthcare professionals first. All information is deemed reliable but its accuracy can't be guaranteed.
Did You Know?
* In 1970, Autism affected 1 out of 10,000 children
Out of the enormous tragedy that is Sandy Hook, rays of light are shining forth. Scarlett Lewis is the mother of Jesse Lewis, a six year old victim of the massacre. Moved by the words “Nurturing, Healing, Love” that her son wrote on a blackboard days before his death, she has created the the Jesse […]


text:
23+ Cute Bedroom Designs For Girls Background. Small girl's bedroom with cute wall designs and carpet flooring, together with a nice side table with a baby lamp. If you're searching for teen girls bedroom ideas, try to see their room's design through their perspective.
A slender console functions as a workspace for design or computer work, as well. It does not matter the shape. These gorgeous girls bedroom designs offer perfect solutions for your little lovelies sleep and play space, from sweet pink candy cane stripes and poodle pictures, to punchy.
Then fill in these designs with different colors.
These 15 best girls bedroom designs will help you design her own little nook in a cute and modern way. The girl's bedroom inside this maine residence is filled with vintage decor. This child's room showcases youthful sophistication for growing girls. Hope you will enjoy them and find what you are looking for.

domain: design


text:
IDS, a US-based provider of asset finance technology, has announced that SilverChef, a specialist in equipment financing for the Australian, New Zealand and Canada hospitality industry, has adopted IDScloud for its back-office system.
IDS describes its IDScloud product as a cloud-based ‘software-as-a-service’ offering available to lessors of different sizes under a pay-for-what-you-use arrangement using “the same logic as” its InfoLease portfolio management platform.
InfoLease offers standard accounting formulas, calculations and reports subject to “decades of audit scrutiny”.
According to IDS, InfoLease supports all contract structures, including tax and non-tax leases, leveraged leases, loans, conditional sales contracts, floating rate and revolving accounts.
Duncan Smith, IDS managing director for the Asia-Pacific, said: “IDScloud was designed to provide a flexible technology platform and commercial framework that helps bring innovative financing products to market quickly.
“This includes the ability to efficiently manage securitisations, a key need for independent financiers like SilverChef.”
Phillip Godkin, chief executive of SilverChef, said: “We selected IDScloud to support our move into new geographies and to create diverse product offerings.
“It puts the information at our fingertips that we need to satisfy the requirements of our customers and investors.”
SilverChef, an Australia-based provider of commercial kitchen equipment funding, has done business with over 50,000 hospitality entrepreneurs since it was founded in 1986, the company said in a press release.
IDS which was founded in 1974, was acquired by US software-focused private equity group Thoma Bravo in October 2019.
George Jaber, a vice-president at Thoma Bravo, said at the time of the acquisition: “We view IDS as a great platform for global industry consolidation and look forward to adding new products and features to the platform.”

domain: finance


text:
It's been a while, hasn't it. Where to even begin with the crazy 2022 Australian Open!
2 thoughts for your consideration on Day 2. The deuces are wild.
1. The ATP is facing a leadership vacuum: L'Affair Djokovic took the air out of the tournament over the preceding fortnight. During that period, the ATP was notably silent regarding the ongoings and detainment of its top star.
Several players did speak up, including Rafael Nadal, who spoke eloquently about the need to move on. However, it wasn't clear if Rafa was backed up by his teammates. For a decade plus, Roger Federer has been the voice of reason within in the ATP tour. He was the consummate diplomate and his absence during this wild chapter, was felt.
2. The pundits didn't understand the legal proceedings that Djokovic was facing and provided bad commentary: Novak Djokovic's faced two judicial meetings in his quest to remain in Australia to play for his 21st Major title. The first judge gave Novak a bye due to the administrative missteps of the government. There was no substantive review of Novak's claims.
The second judicial proceeding also wasn't substantive. No one analyzed whether Novak was a risk to the people of Australia due to his opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine. Instead, the three judges assessed whether the government had the power and whether it followed the rules in deporting Novak. On this matter, Novak did not prevail.
Sure, we could talk substance. But what's the point of questioning the draconian rules that Australia has put in place to halt the spread of Covid-19. The rules are the rules and it feels a little parochial to criticize the country's heavy handed approach to the pandemic.
Post a Comment

domain: news


text:
Venom is any of a variety of toxins used by certain types of animals. Generally, venom is injected by such means as a bite or a sting.
The Infestation fly administers a venom into Humans used for reproduction. It contains a retrovirus that causes the human's DNA to be modified to the bug's DNA, then wraps them in a cocoon, and kills them with roughly 10 bugs coming out of them. Dr. Timothy Harlow created an antivenom that could slow the metamorphosis caused by the venom and, with help, reverse its effects. (SG1: "Bane")
Squigglers injected a venom into people, if they didn't kill them, which in small doses, was able to kill off the Hoth virus. Lt. Tamara Johansen later used this venom as a type of Anesthetic to sedate Dr. Nicholas Rush. (SGU: "Time", "Divided")

domain: chemistry


When I reported on September 19 that partisan career lawyers in the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice were planning on criminally targeting Republican political activists and candidates, this was treated with disbelief by some. In fact, Rick Hasen, a liberal law professor at Loyola who runs the popular Election Law Blog , a website concentrating on voting and election developments, expressed his skepticism “of such anonymous claims.”
Well, those claims have proven all too real to former Republican congressional candidate Tan Nguyen, who ran for office in the 47th Congressional District of California in 2006 against incumbent Loretta Sanchez. On October 1, the Civil Rights Division announced the indictment of Nguyen for obstruction of justice for supposedly making “misleading statements to investigators” regarding a letter that was sent to Latino voters during the election. This investigation and indictment represents a particularly egregious example of the government persecuting someone for engaging in perfectly legal behavior. Essentially, Nguyen is being prosecuted for having informed voters of the truth, although it is a truth disliked by the career lawyers in the Civil Rights Division.
The letter (in Spanish) that is the basis of the indictment was apparently sent out to Latino voters by the California Coalition for Immigration Reform (CCIR). It told voters that if they were a citizen of the United States, they should “participate in the democratic process of voting.” However, the letter warned voters that if they were residing in this country illegally, “voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time” and for which they could be deported. The letter made clear that voting in any election “if you are not a citizen of the United States” would be “useless and dangerous.”
It is important to realize that everything said in this letter is absolutely true. There are a number of federal statutes that make it illegal for someone to falsely claim citizenship when registering to vote or to vote in federal elections if not a citizen. But informing voters that they have to be citizens to vote is highly offensive to the political left, especially organizations like La Raza or MALDEF, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and their allies in the career ranks of the Civil Rights Division.
As described in the September 19 article, lawyers in the Civil Rights Division said at an internal DOJ training session this summer that they considered sending mailers informing individuals of the citizenship requirement for voting an example of voter “suppression.” Although they acknowledged there was no federal criminal statute making this illegal, they proposed using federal grand juries to go after anyone who engaged in this type of behavior. They have now fulfilled that promise.
It is important to realize what has happened here. Not only was CCIR engaging in political speech fully protected by the First Amendment, but it was telling voters the absolute truth about federal statutes that prohibit noncitizens from registering and voting in federal elections and the possible consequences, including deportation. Yet the Civil Rights Division initiated an investigation of perfectly legal behavior, in fact First Amendment-protected political speech that could not even remotely be considered a violation of any federal voting rights law the Division is charged with enforcing.
Nguyen made a mistake in talking to investigators — he may have been embarrassed about his involvement or got scared when the FBI showed up at his door. But what is outrageous is that the FBI even showed up at his door to ask him questions about this letter. There was no perceptible violation of federal law. The only problem with it is that the political left would probably characterize it as “anti-immigrant.” The Department of Justice could not indict Nguyen or his surrogates for truthfully informing voters that you have to be a citizen to vote, so instead they indicted him for supposedly not telling the truth about his involvement in a completely legal action — sending this letter to voters. This is a classic example of the government going after someone because they do not agree with what he did and prosecuting him for supposedly lying about fully protected political speech.
And who is the lead career lawyer on the case? Why, James Walsh, an Obama donor who was the lawyer referred to in the September 19 article who was directing the training of DOJ lawyers and FBI agents on how to go after political activists. There would never have been an investigation to begin with if partisan lawyers like Walsh were not in the Criminal Section running criminal investigations based on the content of political speech.
No one should have any illusions either about why this indictment has occurred just prior to the November election. Partisans like Walsh and his immediate boss, Mark Kappelhoff, a former ACLU lawyer and $2,000 contributor to Obama, know that illegal voting by noncitizens, particularly illegal aliens, will be very important in many of the Southwestern states like Texas, New Mexico, and California to ensuring an Obama victory. They are making sure that no Republicans or immigration groups do anything to interfere with the ability of illegal aliens and legal residents to vote in the upcoming election. What is even more ironic about this situation — and a good example of the misplaced priorities of the Justice Department — is that Nguyen was running against Loretta Sanchez, who won her office in 1996 with the votes of hundreds of individuals who were not citizens, none of whom were ever prosecuted by the Justice Department despite the findings of the House committee that investigated the race.
Even more infuriating is that the political leadership of the Civil Rights Division has approved this prosecutorial abuse and chilling of First Amendment rights. And while it is true that the Hatch Act allows career employees to make political donations, the fact that the head of the Division does not understand the inherent conflict of interest in allowing Obama donors like Walsh and Kappelhoff to be involved in any election-related cases is stunning. It is surprising that Grace Becker, the acting assistant attorney general of the Division and President Bush’s nominee to become the assistant attorney general, has not been confirmed by the Democrats. Her complete lack of judgment as illustrated by this indictment would seem to make her the perfect head of the Division for the Democratic Party. If Obama wins, he could do no better than to renominate her to be his assistant attorney general.


text:
We are looking for production operatives to work within a busy meat packaging company.
You will form part of a fast paced production line, weighing the size of the meat and distributing into the packaging. You will also be packing the meat ready for dispatch.
This role is on a full time basis Monday to Friday.
Shifts start from 6am.

domain: food


The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is indisputably a top-notch flagship smartphone that is impressively large with a price tag to match.
The phone was unveiled at Samsung Unpacked on Aug. 5, and Samsung sent TechRepublic a review unit the next day. After three weeks of daily use, it’s easy to say that this is the best phone yet that Samsung has developed. But at a certain point, there’s only so much more that a phone can do. Samsung already has created world-class phones, so the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is the latest of a long line of great devices.
It’s definitely a gigantic phone, with a 6.9″ screen, but in a world where smartphones serve as a substitute for tablets, this works out just fine. I found myself grabbing the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra to stream the latest episode of The Umbrella Academy even with my iPad or TV readily available. It was just easier, and the picture quality was amazing.
SEE: Photos: A first look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (TechRepublic)
I also stopped using the Kindle app on my iPad to read an ebook, although I did still grab my son’s Nintendo Switch for an occasional round of Animal Crossing. (Those fish aren’t going to catch themselves.) The screen on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra was plenty large enough for reading and gaming.
One of the reasons for the picture quality is because the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a 120Hz refresh rate, plus an adaptive refresh rate. It’s variable, and this is a first for Samsung. The screen dynamically adjusts with what’s being displayed at the moment. It drops down to 10Hz if nothing is moving on the screen.
Speaking of gaming, Samsung is promoting Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate service with the phone. There’s an Xbox library of more than 100 Xbox games that you can stream from the cloud. This includes Minecraft Dungeons, Forza Horizon Four and Gears of War Five Ultimate Edition.
There are on-device optimizations for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so gamers will be able to level up their gaming experience with a Bluetooth controller for an immersive console-like gaming experience. The screen on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is actually larger than the Nintendo Switch, so it gives an even better gaming experience.
The battery lasted for a day and a half, and sometimes two days, depending on how much I used my phone to watch The Umbrella Academy’s Klaus and Number Five time travel when I was streaming Netflix. It’s a 4,500mAh cell and it is powering a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor with a separate modem for 5G. That’s an extra power draw, so that makes the battery life all the more impressive.
You can’t write about the phone without mentioning the most obvious feature of the phone—the massive camera bump on the back. The bump houses three cameras as well as a sensor and a flash. I asked Ray Couey, director of strategic alliances at Samsung Electronics America about the design. He said that Samsung created the bump to make room for all of the technology within the camera while keeping the phone as slim as possible.
One disappointing feature of the phone, at least to me, was the absence of wired earbuds. I’ve gotten used to having that spare set for when I don’t want to use a Bluetooth headset. Couey told me that Samsung made that decision because, “We’re finding that a number of people that were actually needing the wired headset was actually pretty low. And so a lot of people were already using a Bluetooth headset for whatever reason. And so when we were looking at how can we reduce our eco footprint, this came up as part of the packaging element.
I’m guessing that Samsung plans on everyone using their new Galaxy Buds Live with the phone, which were introduced at Samsung Unpacked, and the wireless earbuds are priced at $169.99. They have active noise cancellation that can be toggled on and off.
SEE: Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and S7 Plus cheat sheet (TechRepublic)
I do love that it uses Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus, which Corning said has twice the scratch resistance as the last version, Gorilla Glass 6, and can be dropped from 2 meters without damage. I’ve actually never cracked a screen yet on one of my smartphones, but I always like knowing that my device has the latest and greatest glass possible.
I am also kind of thrilled that Samsung has reduced the latency on the S Pen stylus. It has an 80% improvement over the Note 10’s stylus. It’s down to 9 milliseconds, aiming for a low latency that graphic artists and architects will appreciate. I don’t have a Galaxy Note 10 on hand, but I do have a Galaxy Note 9, and I could definitely tell a distinct difference. It feels like you’re really writing with an ink pen. Air Actions still exist with the S Pen, so that users can remotely control their smartphone with the stylus. The control options have expanded to include five more gestures.
I admit though, that I tend to forget about the S Pen after a while. It’s fun for a few days when I first start using a new Note device, then I put it away and stop using it. Hopefully that won’t be the case with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra now that there are even more uses for it.
Of course, there’s DeX. I tend to not use it myself, though. I know. Don’t tell Samsung. But it’s a favorite of some folks, and it can now connect wirelessly and can be used on any smart TV that supports mirror cast.
And colors. I was sent the new Mystic Bronze shade. I’m not a huge fan. I find it to be a variation of the rose gold shades of years past. If I had my druthers, I’d go with Mystic Black or Mystic White. I do really like the textured haze effect that cuts down on fingerprints and smudges. It was the first thing I noticed about the device.
The price is pretty hefty. But that is the norm these days for top-notch smartphones. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra starts at $1,299 for the 128GB version, and the 512GB model is $1,449, and a 512GB MicroSD card bumps up the storage to over 1TB. The smaller Galaxy Note 20 starts at $999.
Screen: 6.9″ WQHD+ (Edge) 120Hz
Rear Camera: 12MP, 108MP, 12MP; 5x Op, 50x Di
Front Camera: 10MP
Storage/RAM: 128GB and 512GB/12GB
Processor: Snapdragon 865+
5G Networks: Sub6/mmWave
Color: Mystic Bronze, Mystic White, Mystic Black
Other: Auto Refresh Rate, SD Card, UWB, S Pen 9ms, IP68, Stereo SPK
Cost: Starting at $1,299.99
Subscribe to the Innovation Insider Newsletter
Catch up on the latest tech innovations that are changing the world, including IoT, 5G, the latest about phones, security, smart cities, AI, robotics, and more. Delivered Tuesdays and Fridays


Although the recession has emptied shopping malls and filled jobless centers, the call has only gotten louder for renewable energy, environmentally gentle products and eco-friendly practices -- and for people to make all of that happen.
President Obama has said that he hopes to create 5 million green jobs within a decade. The U.S. Conference of Mayors estimates that the "green economy" could account for as much as 10% of job growth over the next 30 years.
The job description casts a wide net. The green ranks can include autoworkers making hybrid cars, building consultants, home energy auditors, environmental studies professors, wind turbine engineers, lawyers for biofuel companies and many more.
Some will be new positions; others will involve workers from traditional industries tweaking their former skills.
So here's a look at where to find green jobs, how to prepare for them and how to land a spot.
Even before the recession, the green-jobs market was growing at a faster pace than overall employment in most states, with California leading the trend, experts say. The growth rate of green jobs nationwide was 9.1% from 1998 to 2007, compared with a 3.7% increase for all jobs during the same period, according to a recent report from the Pew Charitable Trusts.
A UC Berkeley study concluded that "the renewable energy sector generates more jobs per megawatt of power installed, per unit of energy produced and per dollar of investment, than the fossil fuel-based energy sector."
Even bastions of traditional industries, including the United Steelworkers union, support teaching green skills to preserve manufacturing and combat outsourcing.
Billions of dollars from clean-tech venture capitalists have poured into California -- $3.3 billion in 2008, more than double the amount in 2007, according to Palo Alto research group Next 10.
There's room for workers of all backgrounds and income brackets on that rising tide. In 2007, the nearly 125,500 clean-energy workers in California were pulling in $21,000 to $111,000, Pew found.
Daniel Morabito, 29, who was recently hired as a solar panel installer, said his salary at SolarCity is competitive with and far more stable than his paycheck from his previous commission-based job closing film deals. Now he has full benefits, stock options and more potential for long-term growth, he said.
After spending three years wearing a suit and tie in a downtown Los Angeles office, the Hermosa Beach resident recently toiled with two co-workers on top of a Westwood home.
Since June, the Foster City, Calif., company has hired 120 people, 41 of them in Southern California. An additional 180 hirings are expected in the next three months.
Morabito had no experience working with electrical wiring, but he researched the company and marched into the SolarCity warehouse with his resume, he said.
"Everyone's talking about solar these days," he said. "I missed being outside and really wanted to work with my hands. But I didn't know what to expect."
And now, a splash of cold water: Despite the potential of the green industry, the economic rough patch has saturated the job market with applicants. And some researchers caution that the green economy's potential has been exaggerated.
"Indeed, the green jobs literature claims resemble the promises of long-term financial prosperity offered by Ponzi schemes," concluded a study titled "Green Jobs Myths," released by the University of Illinois and Case Western Reserve University.
Green positions run from the predictable, such as eco-activism work, to more unconventional careers.
"Nobody really knows what green jobs are anyway," said Tom Savage, a managing partner at Bright Green Talent, a job-search firm in San Francisco. "There's a whole gradient of color between the greenest jobs and the non-green. But it's more important to get excited that more jobs are greening in general."
Many of those positions involve skills that can be transferred from other lines of work.
Some companies are scooping up laid-off employees from other industries. Serious Materials in Sunnyvale, Calif., which makes energy-saving construction materials and has the ambitious goal of avoiding 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions, bought a bankrupt window company in Pennsylvania in January and rehired some of the workers.
Green job seekers need to be imaginative. Potential employers can be found in unexpected areas, even the adult entertainment industry, said Alliyah Mirza, who launched her Earth Erotics website out of Portland, Ore., three years ago.
Demand for her wares -- natural lubricants, recycled-rubber whips and plastic-free sex toys, among them -- has grown at a rate that is "almost hard to keep up with," she said. Mirza's suppliers include massage oil manufacturers and glass makers that are exploring eco-friendly products.
"As the market grows, there will be a huge open field," she said.
Sometimes, switching into a green job can cause culture shock.


text:
Christie wasn't just looking for visual assets, they wanted to be a part of the creative process each step of the way.
When tasked with reimagining the lead graphic for the Griffyn product series, our team knew we needed to create an illustration that would elevate and amplify the product release of the next item in the line: the Griffyn 4k35.
Throughout the design process, we were meticulous in our attention to detail, considering every aspect from the shape of the Griffyn's feathers to the animation effects of the RGB flames. The end result is a dynamic and unforgettable illustration that can be utilized in various print and digital applications, including a large-scale projection at trade shows.
No detail too small
Attention to detail was key when it came to designing the new illustration. Our team carefully considered every element, from the shape of the feathers to the curvature of the beak — even the presence of ears was up for discussion. Through extensive conversations with the client, we were able to build the exact Griffyn that met their vision. One major goal was to ensure that the new illustration could be easily recognizable as a griffin, even if only part of the creature was visible.
We worked closely with the client to bring their vision to life, crafting every detail of the Griffyn creature together, step by step.
Our team prioritized creating a pose that would clearly communicate the personality and character of the creature. After many iterations, we settled on an action pose that was proud and confident, with outstretched wings as if the Griffyn was about to take flight.
This isn't just a Griffyn. With vibrant RGB flames across it's wings and a body made of light, it stands out as the personification of this product.
To further enhance the Griffyn's personality, we added RGB flames — a critical element from the original illustration. The flames and the light treatment perfectly captured the desired mood, with a white Griffyn representing the quality of light in the product and all the colours in the light spectrum coming together.
Final refinements and illustration
Despite the challenges involved in painting the Griffyn, we suceeded in creating an animated creature that looks alive and moves in a realistic way — with legs, arms, head, tail, and wings all subtly shifting. The coloured flame effects undulate around the Griffyn, providing an additional element of visual interest and energy.
Each element of the Griffyn was carefully considered before moving on to colour and illustration.
Bringing it to life
Our team's effort combined with Christie's stewardship has resulted in an illustration that embodies the unique character and spirit of the Griffyn product series. Whether projected on a grand scale at trade shows or viewed in static print and digital applications, the Griffyn stands out as a dynamic and unforgettable presence. Keep an eye out for the Griffyn's mythical form in future events and products, and you may find yourself wondering if this legendary creature truly has come to life.
The final illustration was unveiled at the Integrated Systems Expo 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.


I turned on the radio yesterday at the very end of Lauren Laverne’s morning show on BBC 6 Music. The strains of folk guitar came over the airwaves. “That’s nice”, I thought, “and not Lauren’s usual material”. Crossing the hall on my way to make a cup of tea it struck me that it sounded like John Renbourn. Going back into the living room and checking the display on the DAB tuner I saw that I was right – it was John Renbourn playing I Know My Babe and very good it was, too.
John Renbourn is best known as one fifth of Pentangle but he also performed as a solo artist and in collaboration with several other musicians. He always reminds me of my days at university where I saw Pentangle at the New Theatre, Oxford just before they split up in 1973. At that time I was a mediocre bass guitar player and got to know some of the other student musicians. A few months after the Pentangle performance one of my contacts invited me to a private concert at his college’s folk club.
The club had made a small profit and were putting on a show solely for club members and their guests. It turned out to be John Renbourn and Jacqui McShee – an acoustic session in a small, intimate setting. This wasn’t part of a tour, it wasn’t promoting new material or recordings. John and Jacqui weren’t trying to impress, they were just playing a few folk songs to an attentive and appreciative audience. Perhaps it was this relaxed atmosphere that made for such an enthralling experience.
I don’t remember what was played or who I was with. I just remember walking back to my room in college feeling it had been one of those special occasions and I had been immensely privileged to have been there.
Coming back to 2015, the song ended and Lauren Laverne had an explanation for her unusual choice of material. John Renbourn had died the previous day and this was her tribute to him. I shared her sadness. The world has lost a great guitarist, singer and music teacher.
One thought on “John Renbourn”


text:
The Parent’s Video Playbook Helps Kids Maximize the Athletic Experience!
Looking for a unique gift this holiday season? Then check out The Parent’s Video Playbook, developed using principles, theories and applications from sport psychology and philosophy. The video is designed to help parents of youth and interscholastic athletes identify and respond to today’s psychosocial issues commonly experienced in sports.
This video will help you:
- Help your child have fun while playing his or her best
- Understand the challenges between having a talent for a sport yet having little interest in playing that sport
- Set specific target goals with your child to help with sport success
- Teach sport skill acquisition based on healthy positive reinforcement
- Set up a journaling system that allows your child to see her athletic development grow
- Improve and sharpen your child’s sports focus
- Engage in healthy and facilitative relationships with your child’s coach – especially over playing time
- Galvanize your child’s resiliency and ability to bounce back from adversity
- Identify and respond to sports burnout
- Successfully transition from sports when dealing with retirement
- Plus much more!
To learn more about The Parent’s Video Playbook check out this introductory video:

domain: psychology


text:
As Arkansas Tech University’s on-campus school year came to an end, so did its on-campus activities.
Greek Week, which was scheduled for April 6 through 10, is among the activities canceled. Greek Week honors members of ATU’s Greek Life organizations and includes a t-shirt competition and dance battle.
However, the most pivotal Greek Week event is the food drive. Greek Life partners directly with River Valley Food 4 Kids to donate non-perishable food items to help with its summer backpack program.
The cancellation of Greek Week has not only had an effect on the students directly involved but also River Valley Food 4 Kids.
“Historically, Greek Week has been a pivotal time to receive not only food donations from the students of ATU but also having them here at our warehouse volunteering with us, helps us prep for our summer distributions. Last year, they cleaned and organized and helped us double-bag bags. With this not being a viable option for this year, it puts us a bit behind schedule,” Josh Dunbar, executive director of River Valley Food 4 Kids, said.
The donations from Greek Week help to offset the cost of the backpack program, which is something Dunbar is having to navigate during this time.
Currently, River Valley Food 4 Kids is distributing food to 900 children a week. This number has increased by 200 since the spread of COVID-19 caused schools in Arkansas to shut down. River Valley Food 4 Kids is currently partnered with three different school districts to ensure that children in need continue to receive food during this pivotal time.
Dunbar said there are a few ways people can help River Valley Food 4 Kids during this time of need. These include volunteering, donating money to offset the cost of food or donating kid-friendly food items directly.
More information is available at www.rivervalleyfood4kids.org.

domain: sociology


Arus MR Tech` (a.k.a AMT) has evolved from extensive research over years on smart fluids named “Magneto Rheological (MR) fluid” and ventured into commercialization in the recent years.
AMT specializes in the production of top of the line Magnetorheological (MR) Fluid solutions,an extensive line of controllable smart fluids deployed for advanced Vibration/Motion control devices in the tradename AMT-DAMPRO+, AMT- MAGNAFLO+, AMT-SMARTEC+ and also offer Advanced Engineering / R&D solutions in the product development based on MR fluids.
Since its launch in 2015, AMT has offered and continues to offer advanced MR solutions to cater the needs of Industrial Clients, Top Automotive research institutes & Emerging O.E Manufacturers.Our Growing clientele includes top Automotive O.E manufacturers, smart fluids research institutes, automotive aftersales market/ service, Military & defense organizations, top technical & research institutions all across the globe.AMT over the years has gained a hard-won reputation as a respected and trustworthy partner in industry.
“To become a global Leader in MR solutions and Smart devices of the 21st century”
Arus MR Tech` is deeply committed to its vision of being the Trusted & Reliable partner of choice by developing on its proven foundation of trust, service and innovation in the Research, Applied and Commercial Market of Smart Material, Smart devices and MR Technology.
With ever changing consumer needs and market evolution, to accomplish our vision and beyond we look ahead to adapt and prepare our stakeholders to the future trends, creating competitive edge with MR technology and product innovation that will make a valuable impact in the future. The values and ethics inbred in AMT is the key to translate its vision into reality
“To redefine smart mobility for a safer, smoother and better world”


text:
Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates. But not Holly and Gerry. Childhood sweethearts, they could finish each other's sentences. No one could ever imagine them without each other.
When Gerry dies, Holly is devastated. But Gerry has left her a bundle of notes, one for each month of her year, each signed 'PS, I Love You'.
As the notes are opened, the man who knows Holly better than anyone teaches her that life goes on. With some help from friends and family, Holly laughs, cries and finds that life is for living - but it helps if there's someone watching over you.
'This exceptional novel about bereavement, friendship and lost love is both heartbreaking and uplifting' Express
'A sensational debut novel that proves true love never dies' Cosmopolitan
'Heartbreak, intrigue and love letters from beyond the grave - Ahern has a sure and sympathetic hand'
'A bittersweet storyline guaranteed to tug on your heartstrings'
'A moving, beautiful novel' Sunday Telegraph
Acclaim for Cecelia Ahern:
'Bursting with narrative verve and ear for language...a writer hitting their prime' Waterstones.com
'Cleverly constructed, full of flavour and moving' Daily Mail
'Beautiful and unexpected ... both thought-provoking and life-affirming' Sunday Express
'Intricate and emotional ... really completely lovely' Grazia
Cecelia Ahern was born and grew up in Dublin. Her novels have been translated into thirty-five languages and have sold more than twenty-five million copies in over fifty countries. Two of her books have been adapted as films and she has created several TV series.
She and her books have won numerous awards, including the Irish Book Award for Popular Fiction for The Year I Met You.
She lives in Dublin with her family.

domain: library


Fast becoming one of the stand out stars and a name not to miss in 2017 is Atherium. Back on Mondo Records with two more lush and simply breathtaking pieces of electronic music.
The British producer kicks off his latest EP with the lush ‘Sea Of Stars’, which in typical Atherium fashion is a lush fusion of delicate melodies, warm pads and spine tingling goodness.
On the flip and rounding out the EP is ‘Flight’. Another expertly crafted masterpiece from this rising star, Atherium sure knows how to craft those lush, evocative melodies that will certainly please even the purest of trance fans.
Do not miss this!
- Sea Of Stars