text:
The Baloney in the Middle
Sandwiched. Unwholesome. Full of Baloney.
October 16, 2018 October 16, 2018 hfxwordyLeave a comment
I like to tell my children two facts to dazzle them with proof of my advancing years:
1. I was born (slightly) before humans went to the moon, and;
2. Three-quarters of my life (and most of its most significant events) came before social media.
Of these two facts, it's the latter that my kids find most shocking, because a life without social media — without a digital trail of your every move, just a click away— feels more alien to them than a trip to space.
Most of the hard proof of my existence is analog, not digital. It's photos and memorabilia, and it's scarce and scattered. It's shoved, out of order, into photo albums and shoeboxes and slide carousels. It's hidden in cupboards and cabinets and basements. It's gathering dust in mysterious undeveloped rolls of film in a junk drawer. It's falling out of yearbooks, along with pressed flowers and notes whose importance I've forgotten (although they were important enough for 16-year-old me to keep them forever, certain that middle-aged me would remember and be impressed).
It's easy to ignore analog memories. Don't want to think about it? Don't look at it. Hide that photo. Pack away the yearbook. If I don't think of them, the memories stay hidden and unconfronted. Many exist nowhere but in my mind. And memories, I'm all too aware, are tenuous things. Keep them hidden too long, and they may well fade or get lost forever…much like an old Polaroid fades, its image slipping away.
The digital world, though, doesn't let things slip away. We trip over the memories it throws in our path, unbidden and out of context. It's not the shoebox hidden under the bed; it's Pandora's Box opened in front of the world.
I was reminded of this last week when Facebook showed me what I was doing eleven years ago. Memories from that far back don't usually pop up in my timeline; back in my early social media days, I didn't post much, unless it was something really important. And this had been important: my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. We'd spent it at White Point Beach Resort on Nova Scotia's south shore. The early October days had been warm enough for my kids, then just two and four, to play in the ocean. My parents happily spent hours with them on the beach, sharing stories and making memories.
The picture that popped up in my timeline was sweet: a photo of the two most important females in my life — my mother and my daughter — walking on the sand, backs to the camera, marching purposefully toward an adventure. In this photo, Daisy is a lively little strawberry-blond girl whose biggest problem in life is figuring out which Disney princess is her favourite. She is walking next to my mother: a tall, vibrant redhead, intently telling Daisy stories and secrets.
The photo took my breath away. It took me by the shoulders and forced me to acknowledge how much things have changed in eleven years. When it popped into my timeline, I'd just returned from visiting my parents for their 61st wedding anniversary. When I visit my mother these days, I note the repetition, the lost memories, the uncertain questions about how old Daisy and Puck are and what they are doing. I notice that my parents' house is not as well cared for as it used to be, and that my mother doesn't want to leave the house, at all. I see that the brilliant red hair is faded to silver-streaked copper. I note all these things, but I hold them at arms-length. I don't' look at them too closely. She is, I tell myself, 81. We are all getting older. That's all it is. Nothing has changed, so much.
But this photo. More than anything in the last five years, it's forced me to look at what's happened to her – to us. Even more than that time, five years ago, when my parents were going away and she showed up at my house with twelve loaves of half-eaten, partly-moldy bread for 'safekeeping'. Even more than two Christmases ago, when she gave 12-year-old Daisy a size 4T sweater. Even more than the several times she's confused me with her late sister-in-law, calling me by her name and giving me the cold shoulder because they never got along well.
This photo forces me to look at the before and after. I am jolted by the realization of how much she's failed in just eleven years, how quickly dementia has pulled at the threads of both her mental and physical self, loosening the weave that held her together. She is a faded Polaroid of who she once was. I am struck by how willfully I haven't looked at it.
I show the photo to Daisy, asking her if she remembers that day. She cocks her head to the side and thinks.
'I remember getting in bed with Nana and Papa early in the morning," she tells me. "Papa was snoring. But Nana told me stories. She told me the story of little Red Riding Hood."
I smile, picturing my redheads sharing that story in the dawn hours.
Daisy wrinkles her nose at the photo. "I was all in pink," she says. "I was such a girly-girl."
Daisy sees little in common with the tiny girl on the beach. She doesn't like pink anymore. She's known for a while that she'd rather find a princess than a prince. She barely recognizes herself in the photo. I, though, see her, still. I will always recognize her, as my soul recognized her's the first time I held her and looked into her eyes. She's the same, though grown. The photo shows her walking eagerly toward adventure. She's well on the path, now.
Daisy doesn't recognize my mother, either. She doesn't really remember a time when my mother was lively and ready to go for walks and adventures. She only remembers the more fragile, uncertain grandmother.
My mother, too, is still there, although it's harder to recognize her. As the bright red hair fades, I feel her essence is fading, too. Who she was in this photo is disappearing like a footprint in the sand. It's only the memories that will preserve the way she was. I've been hesitant to look at those memories. I see now that I have to look and to remember before it all fades – before time and tide shift it all, and rub it out altogether.
The wolf and the trail of breadcrumbs
August 13, 2018 hfxwordyLeave a comment
Over the past two years, I've shared a story at a few national conferences on digital health and patient engagement. It's the story of how we first learned that Puck has Tourette Syndrome (TS), and the first time I realized how much energy and know-how it would take to navigate our health care system. It was a disempowering experience, but looking back, it pales in comparison to the messes we've encountered in trying to access care in the mental health system.
When Puck was eight, he started having severe headaches. He'd already been diagnosed with severe learning disabilities a year earlier, but he'd never really had any physical health issues. Our family doctor believed his headaches were migraines. She recommended getting some blood tests, and she suggested a CT scan just to rule out anything else.
We got the CT scan within a week. A few days later, on the Thursday afternoon before Easter, my doctor phoned me. (You know that's never good: it's usually the office manager or receptionist who phones, not the actual doctor.) She told me that 'something suspicious' had shown up on the scan of Puck's brain, and that while we shouldn't assume the worst, we should prepare for it.
There have been few times in my life when I felt as weak as at that moment.
The doctor said she'd send a requisition for the next available MRI, so that we could get a better idea of what was on Puck's brain. All we could do was wait.
Weeks went by. Every time Puck got a headache, I imagined a ticking bomb in his head. I waited to hear about our MRI appointment. At work, I phoned my home answering machine every hour, hoping there'd be a message. There was nothing. After almost three weeks, I phoned my doctor's office. The receptionist put me on hold for a long time, and then came back and said, "Oh sorry – we actually forgot to send that requisition. We'll do it right now."
And so, we waited some more.
At the time this was happening, I'd recently finished working as the senior policy advisor to Nova Scotia's Minister of Health and Wellness. I knew first-hand about the challenges with the health system. I read the frustrated letters from people who couldn't access the care they needed in a timely manner. Almost weekly, the Minister and I spoke with people who were upset they couldn't access specialized treatments or drugs they needed (or believed would help). I had thought that most people's frustration with our health care system came from needing something extra; something more than our health system could reasonably offer. But now, going through this myself, I knew it was about the whole system: the lack of coordination, the lack of empathy, the lack of timely access to even the most routine care.
Don't get me wrong: I am a huge supporter of our Canadian health care system. But I believe many of the problems we face are not a Canada-only problem. So much of people's frustration with any health system comes from the complete lack of compassion and information – the lack of patient connection to the decisions and communication about our care. Those are problems found in most systems, whether universal or insurance-based. Information IS power. It gives you a sense of control over a very out-of-control situation, and that goes a long way to giving someone peace of mind. Not knowing where we were in the system, or if anyone was even paying attention, was a horrible, powerless feeling that only compounded the powerlessness you feel when dealing with a sick child.
Around this time, I complained about the whole MRI situation to a physician I knew through my work. She told me she might be able to help. She said her clinic used a personal health record, and that she'd be willing to take Puck on as a patient. I didn't see how a health record on a computer could possibly help, but I was willing to try anything. So she helped me set up Puck's record, sent him for loads more blood tests, and sent an MRI requisition to all of Nova Scotia's then nine health districts to try to get us in faster, somewhere.
Puck had the blood tests the next day. Two days after that, I got a notification on my phone that the test results had arrived. I could go online and see all of them, in detail. I'm not a medical professional, and I can't interpret medical tests. But each result came with an indication of what was considered a normal range, so I could see where Puck's results fell. The doctor had also sent a note explaining which test results indicated a need for follow-up. Finally, I had information. It might not be the 'smoking gun' that would tell us what was causing Puck's headaches, but it was, at least, a piece of the puzzle. I could look at those test results, and know what things I could STOP worrying about. For a parent with a vivid imagination and not a lot of information, that was powerful. Being able to access health information online was a huge step in addressing the power imbalance that exists between health professionals and patients.
We managed to get an MRI in another part of the province with a shorter wait. The doctor had also arranged an appointment with a neurologist at the children's hospital (in a brighter, far more cheery part of the hospital than the mental health ER we later became too acquainted with). The neurologist was a delight. He played soccer with Puck in the hallway, put him at ease, and told us, happily, that the 'suspicious thing' on Puck's brain was nothing to be concerned about – it was just an enlarged space between blood vessels. The headaches were, indeed, migraines.
However, through all the testing and family history he did, he discovered that Puck has Tourette Syndrome. Incidentally, I was diagnosed with OCD at the same time – the two often go hand-in-hand, and I'd been living with manageable symptoms at the lower end of a spectrum my whole life. (My partner told the neurologist my symptoms made me 'mildly annoying to live with'. I told him they made me 'quirky'.)
As it turns out, these things were all part of a long trail of breadcrumbs that we're still following for Puck – a trail that now includes learning disabilities and severe mood disorders. I suspect we'll soon be adding new breadcrumbs to the trail. Every time I think I've got the trail figured out, the signposts disappear, or the trail stops altogether – or the Big Bad Wolf, in the guise of the health care system, comes along and gobbles up the trail, leaving us lost and alone.
There is no easy way for parents to navigate complex health systems. Throw in both physical and mental health systems — which, after all, are not integrated and are two completely different experiences — and it's twice as confusing and time-consuming to navigate. As a parent, you have to know who to talk to, and you need to know how to speak their language.
I know how lucky I am. I had connections I could call on for help. I knew the language. Most parents don't have that. I remember sitting and waiting, as Puck was motionless inside the MRI machine. I was so anxious, so terrified of what they might find. Seeing him stuck in there broke my heart, and I had a premonition that it was only the beginning of many such heartbreaks, as our journey through the health system unfolded. I remember, too, thinking of all the parents who couldn't follow the breadcrumbs. Maybe they didn't know who to turn to for answers, or they didn't even think you should question your doctor. My heart broke for those parents…the ones who are still waiting by the phone, waiting for an appointment for a test that might give them answers, even though the requisition was lost weeks ago or sent to the wrong fax number.
We have a right to expect that our information will be handled in the most efficient and compassionate way possible (are fax machines really that efficient, these days?). Parents with children experiencing a health crisis – whether that's physical or mental – are in crisis, too. The system shouldn't add further burden to these families asking them to create their own trails, alone.
We'll never get back where we were before we started on this journey. And with this huge wolf following behind, eating the breadcrumbs…how will we ever find the trail that takes us where we need to go?
July 30, 2018 hfxwordyLeave a comment
It's never fun, as a parent, to see your kids bullied by mean girls, or left out of social groups, or losing a friend. It's a rotten part of parenting, but we can hope our kids have the resilience to manage these social interactions (with our support) — to learn from them, move on, and find new places where they can belong and thrive.
That becomes a little harder when your child is dealing with mental health and neurological issues.
Puck recently spent a day with his long-time best friend — a boy he's known since Primary, at his old school. I knew something was wrong when Puck texted me to pick him up early from the friend's house (he's usually begging to stay longer). He went straight to his room and shut the door.
It took him a few hours to tell me what had happened: his friend had told him he has a new best friend now.
Puck cried when he told me, and kept crying for a day. He's still heartbroken. He has other friends, but this was his best friend, and was one of the few positive links he had to his old school.
At times like this, I don't know the words to make it better. I can't kiss it and make it stop hurting. I am simply a sponge: I sit with him and absorb the tears, the emotions that are still too big for him. I add them to my own big fears and upsets, and squeeze it all out when I'm alone so that the sponge is ready again when he needs it. And he needs it, often.
Rejection is such a theme for us, lately. I keep trying to help Puck find the places where he'll belong and thrive: friends, school, activities, the mental health system. We find rejection at every corner.
The same week his best friend "broke up" with him, he got dumped by his psychologist. This was the third psychologist in the past six years to suggest it just isn't working out. Once, it was blamed (rightly) on Puck (he was uncommunicative and resistant to therapy). The second therapist, who Puck had actually warmed to, left the city. This time, the therapist graciously bowed out after eight months, saying some version of "It's not you, it's me" (except, it was clear she really felt it was about Puck, not her). We were sent on our way, with a 'good luck' and not much else.
Therapy, like friendship, is an intimate relationship — especially for a child like Puck, who fears opening up about his feelings after years of feeling judged and rejected. We can't expect friends to always be there for us, perhaps. But shouldn't we be able to expect that mental health professionals will try their hardest not to underline the feelings of rejection and inadequacy that are already in play? It's good to admit that you aren't the right one to help, or that you've taken it as far as your skills allow. But if you aren't the right one to help…who is? Where do we go from here? How do we find what we need?
We are back at the start, with no mental health support. Alone.
Puck is not unaware that he's been rejected, again. He's old enough to understand what's happened; he understands his role in it. He also understands that he needs some support in working through his emotions and developing coping strategies. He knows he'll need to find that somewhere, and that the whole process will begin from step one. That's an exhausting prospect for him.
Where does this leave us? Well, I can go through the listings or get recommendations from friends or professionals I know, and try to figure out who might be a good fit. Then, we'd go through the screening process again, maybe even costly psychological testing again (out of pocket, because we've long ago maxed out our insurance for the year). And then, we'd once again spend months in the 'getting to know you' phase, watching Puck bristle at having to explain to adults, once more, what he struggles to understand himself. We would be months away from any actual constructive therapy.
The other route available to us is to call the children's hospital and go through their mental health referral process. We've tried this before, and I have friends who've recently done it, too.
It begins with a phone screening, during which the person reading from the script refers to you consistently as (you guessed it) "Mom", because you are obviously just a generic sketch of a parental-type person as opposed to an adult trying to hold together a family in crisis. After you have broken down in tears from frustration and their lack of empathy, you will be given an appointment with a mental health professional, anywhere from two to six months away. You'll later receive a letter stating the time and date of the appointment. These appointments are in the middle of the work/school day, making it difficult (if not impossible) for many parents to accept them without losing work and pay. If you miss that appointment, your file is closed. If you request a change in date/time, you might be waiting another couple of months.
It's not a system that's friendly to financially marginalized families, or any family that doesn't have the flexibility to get to an appointment in downtown Halifax in the middle of the day.
When months have passed and the appointment finally comes, you get asked all the same questions you've answered before. As a parent, you'll be asked to fill in more questionnaires about your child's behaviours and symptoms, and how it is affecting them and your family. A friend of mine had the awful experience of having the answers she'd written about her child (which she thought were confidential) read back, word-for-word, to the child. Not great for building trust at a time when emotions are already fraught.
At the end of the appointment, you'll get handed some brochures and helpful websites to visit or books to read (at this point, I seriously think I've read every book and could redesign every website, especially since that's the only help I can access in the months between mental health appointments).
And then comes the moment of truth: what will they do with you?
There might be some community-based resources they could refer you to — but too often, when this is requested, the professional isn't familiar with the community resources available.
You could get sent to a psychiatrist or psychologist in the hospital's clinic (I've never actually met anyone who was offered this option).
You can be referred to a phone-based family coaching program. This program is award-winning, and I personally have not taken it, so perhaps I shouldn't comment. But I do know people who have taken it. Again, the times for the phone check-ins are not always flexible, so not helpful for shift-workers or for people with family commitments beyond this one child in crisis. Building skills and family resilience are absolutely important, but many I know who've taken this program came away feeling blamed; they left feeling it was their inadequate parenting skills that got them in this mess. If they just knew the right things to say, if only they behaved better, little Johnny wouldn't have a mental illness.
(I bet they're also referred to as "Mom" on those phone check-ins.)
You can be put on a waitlist for group support. For Puck, this would be a support group for kids with anxiety disorders (which is only about 30% of what's actually going on with him). The group only happens a few times a year, and there is always a wait list for registration. So you're looking at other six-12 months for that option. If Puck was offered this, by the time his place on the waitlist came up, he'd likely be placed in the group for 13+. However, he is immature for his age. He'd be better served in a group with younger kids, not teenagers. But that wouldn't be an option. I know him — he would be intimidated by those bigger kids, and wouldn't go. Another six-12 month of waiting, wasted.
Puck will start school in September, and his teachers will have the expectation that we'll have conferences with his support team…which is now non-existent. I am, once again, his support team. It falls on me to be the expert in things I've never been an expert in. I will be the one to research possible interventions, to figure out why he is reacting a certain way, to try to find a path forward (at least I'm putting my social work degrees to good use, I suppose). We are fortunate to have a fabulous family doctor with a background and interest in mental health, so at least we aren't entirely on our own. But realistically, we're a good eight to 10 months away from any meaningful mental health support.
Add to that the fact that even if we managed to get psychological help, there is no holistic approach. I certainly don't expect someone to have expertise in all the issues Puck has going on: Tourette, learning disabilities, anxiety, depression. But there should be help for parents like me to put all those puzzle pieces together and find the experts who can help, who will talk to one another, who will see kids like Puck not as one issue to be treated, but as complex individuals with lots of things going on. I am SO tired of explaining, "This is probably not the anxiety, it's likely Tourette…". Someone else needs to help connect these dots.
We need a Tinder for mental health professionals… swipe right for ones that work with your specific issues, have actual availability, and won't call you Mom.
It would be nice, too, if at least one of them asked how I, as the parent who lives with these issues 24/7, is doing with all of this. (Not. One. Ever. Has.) The generic "Mom" is supposed to be some kind of super-robot, I guess, who is capable of handling all the emotion, confusion and screwed up family dynamics, while managing to work outside the home, and function as an enlightened liaison between home, professionals, and school.
Our mental health system claims to use an ecological/systems approach that considers the complex interplay between the client and their environment. I see little evidence of that. The effort to get kids through the system quickly and reduce numbers on wait lists means that kids are reduced to a single issue to be treated, not a complex mix of strengths and challenges. They are boxes to be ticked off; files to be dealt with and closed. They are widgets to be pushed through an increasingly dehumanized system, rejected out the other end, and sent back to Mom to deal with.
And 'Mom' has to be that super-robot, capable of providing support without any impact to her own emotions, because, too often, we're the only mental health resource our kids have.
Sent home from school: Who is it helping?
June 29, 2018 hfxwordy2 Comments
Every time I read an article like this, I again thank my lucky stars that we've found an excellent school for Puck – one that understands learning differences, works with the child on social skills and self-advocacy, and supports its teachers to get the training and tools they need to make it an environment where students can do their best. I can't emphasize enough the difference supported teachers and the right approach can make. It's been a life-changer for Puck. A life-saver, I think.
According to the above article (which I found via Dr. Brian Goldman on Twitter), Ontario students with special needs are increasingly being asked to stay home. I know from our own experience, and those of friends, that the same is very true here in Nova Scotia.
The article, which cites a study from a special education advocacy group, also notes:
58% of elementary school heads and 48% of high school principals requested a student stay home for at least part of a day;
Most principals said they made the request due to safety concerns (does not specify whether they are concerned over safety of students or teacher), although many also said they just don't have the resources to address students' needs;
Poor attitudes toward students with special needs may also be at play;
Ontario has received a $1 billion increase in funding for special education initiatives over the past 10 years. And yet, we're still hearing stories of kids being excluded, sent home, or treated as a behavioural problem instead of a learning challenge (very often the two go hand in hand).
Safety…and/or Support
The National Post article cites one elementary school principal as saying, "If I have asked a parent to keep a student home it is almost always related to safety (the student runs, hits self/peers/ adults, or vandalizes the space he/she is in)."
Puck's distress was always focussed inward: he would hit himself when his frustration and anxiety peaked, when learning accommodations that had been agreed to were ignored, or there were changes to his daily routine that he wasn't prepared for. The school's policy was to immediately phone me and send Puck home for the day. This was the only response. There was no examination of what happened in the class environment to make his frustration rise; no questioning of how to put accommodations in place to mitigate the chance of it happening again. The focus was really on what the school needed, not what the individual student needed to succeed. That's not inclusive, at all.
(I do understand that teachers are dealing with so much – big classes, lots of students with challenging needs, students with undiagnosed needs, social issues, underfunding, etc. NONE of this makes a situation that contributes to successful inclusion. I can see how sending a child home might seem like the best option in those circumstances).
Contrast this with his current school, with its focus on kids with learning challenges: when Puck hits himself or his anxiety causes him to shut down, he isn't immediately sent home. He is given the space to calm down and has the option of going to a 'Chill Out Room' where he can calm down, work through his emotions, do other quiet activities, and be supervised by a support teacher. When he is ready, he can return to the classroom. He also has an entire class devoted to learning social skills. managing emotions, and asking for what he needs. Honestly, it's a miracle of a class, and I wish it was required in every elementary school in the province. (I know a lot of adults who could benefit from it, to be honest.)
Nova Scotia's Situation
The issues described in the National Post article aren't unique to Ontario. Nova Scotia's Commission on Inclusive Education estimated that about a third of the province's 118,000 public school students need some form of support. There are currently about 27,000 students in Nova Scotia with some kind of adaptation, and about 6,000 on independent programs.
Nova Scotia is in the throes of a major overhaul of its public education system. School boards have been abolished, and a new Education Act was introduced this spring. A report on inclusive education that also came out this spring calls for $70 million to $80 million in new funding over five years to support the changes it recommends, and an increase of 600-700 more staff positions in the education system to ensure students and teachers have the support they need in classrooms.
The National Post article notes that Jacqueline Specht, Director of the Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education at Western University, says that simply increasing special education funding or hiring more staff won't fix the problems. The bulk of resources need to be directed toward supporting classroom teachers and giving them training and tools to help keep students with learning challenges in class.
Funding a system that has, for decades, inherently treated kids with learning challenges as problems to be fixed (or sent home) will not magically create inclusive education. More funding does not automatically equal better learning or social outcomes for students with special needs.
Is Sending Kids Home Really the Best We Can Do?
So what do we need? I don't pretend to be an expert. I'm a social worker and journalist by training, not an educator. My expertise comes from lived experience and knowing the devastating impact mental illness and learning challenges can have on the entire family, both at home and at school. But I do know that when things go better at home, they go better at school…and vice versa.
My opinion: in addition to the changes proposed by the Commission, we need a holistic approach to inclusive education.
We need an approach that takes into account the determinants of health and their complex interplay that makes each student's situation unique.
My child is a fairly privileged white, middle-class male in the province's biggest city, and we have the means and the advocacy skills to get him the help he needs. This is not true for hundreds of other families in this province, no matter what the Education Act says;
We need an approach that understands successful inclusive education isn't just how a child feels in the classroom; it's about how the family feels supported to continue on this exhausting journey.
One aspect that is so often ignored in this discussion of inclusion is the emotional, financial and professional toll having a child with special needs takes on the family. And let's be honest: that burden falls most heavily on women. This is a feminist issue.
When Puck started school, I was employed as the Senior Policy Advisor to Nova Scotia's Minister of Health. I had a Master's level education, a varied work history, and was a published author. The future's so bright, I've gotta wear shades.
Flash forward to now: I've only been able to work part-time over the past couple of years, and that work has been through self-employment, because Puck's needs are too great. When a school is phoning you every day to take a child home because he is unmanageable or unteachable, you are not going to be able to sustain an executive-level office-based job for very long. Self-employment gave me the flexibility I needed to be there for him, to take him to appointments, to take him to the ER when he was in crisis. But the toll this takes cannot be ignored: my career has suffered, and to be quite honest, I'm not sure where my "career", as such, actually is now. I lay awake at night worrying about it, because in my late 40s, how do I start over? Our finances have been cut almost in half (and again, I realize we are very fortunate to even have a two-income household).
There is seldom acknowledgment that sending a child home from school repeatedly places a large economic burden on the family…on the mother, usually. In his last year at that school, Puck was only in school 20 days between January and June. He was sent home repeatedly when his anxiety was high and he was 'unteachable'. Missing so much time meant, of course, that he fell behind and his anxiety became even worse. Eventually, it just didn't even seem to make sense to send him. By April, he was pretty much home with me full-time.
Contrast that with this year, when he was seldom sent home and his emotional issues were dealt with on-site: his academic progress has been astounding, and he's now performing above grade level in some subjects. When the emotional health is supported, children thrive.
If only we did the same for all kids. And their parents.
We need an approach that addresses stigma.
In his old school, so much of Puck's interactions with his teachers were based on fear. The teachers didn't have the tools or training they needed to understand how to help Puck. They didn't have support. As a result, they treated Puck as a problem. Other students saw this, and also treated him as an outcast. Puck, of course, also picked up on the stigma, and internalized it. It was common for him to say that he was stupid, or bad, or would never be good at school. He might not have heard those words from his teachers, but he felt them in his heart.
(Now, by the way, he tells me he's good at math, likes art, and is an excellent writer. Stigma-free teaching for the win!)
I'm hopeful that the new Education Act will give teachers more support to help kids with special needs and learning challenges…to actually keep them in school, and not to send them home as a default.
Parents and teachers need support in order to help our kids thrive. Sending them home does no favours to anyone. It may remove an immediate stressor, but it doesn't improve outcomes. And it certainly doesn't create inclusion.
Confessions of a Report Card Junkie
June 22, 2018 June 22, 2018 hfxwordyLeave a comment
I've never liked New Year's Eve. It feels fake and forced. For me — a true nerd — beginnings and endings were always defined by the school year. September was for new intentions and possibilities. June was the end of a chapter, a frenzied season of field trips and prom and report cards and 'grading day', followed by a drowsy mental hibernation on the beaches of the Northumberland Strait.
I was a report card junkie. My friends were pretty, or popular, or athletic, or talented. I wasn't those things. But I was smart, and grades became my validation and my drug. School was what I was good at, and report cards were my proof that I had value in the world.
Taking pride in your accomplishments is wonderful. But defining yourself through someone else's evaluation of you, or by the awards you've won or any external validation, isn't really healthy. That sort of praise or feedback can be fleeting. And when it's gone…who are we? Who are we, if we are not the Brain, or the Athlete, or the Beauty? Who are we without our labels (Did The Breakfast Club teach us nothing?)?Read More »
If you give a Mom a popsicle…
June 5, 2018 hfxwordy1 Comment
When Daisy was a toddler, we had a fluffy calico cat named Scarlett O'Hairy. Daisy adored her and wanted to be just like her. She'd sleep like a cat, all curled up with Scarlett in a patch of sun on the floor. She tried eating like a cat (but even her love for Scarlett couldn't convince her to take more than one bite of the foul-smelling food). Once, in the wee hours of the morning, Daisy saw Scarlett jump off my bed and decided to do the same thing. While Scarlett landed gracefully in the laundry basket, Daisy fell into the dresser and split her forehead on a sharp corner. This resulted in a trip to the pediatric emergency room, and four stitches. Another time, Daisy took up Scarlett's favourite pastime – digging in the houseplants. She ripped leaves off the plants for Scarlett to eat and crammed mouthfuls of potting soil into her own mouth. This resulted in a call to poison control, and a decision that maybe a baby brother or sister would be a safer companion than a cat.
Scarlett O'Hairy: on Wednesdays she wore pink.
We've spent a lot of time in the emergency room over the years, for cat-induced and other ailments: ear infections, kidney infections, strep throat, croup, broken bones. Eventually, toddlers pass out of the Walking Germ Bag phase. Trips to the emergency room become so infrequent that the kids actually look back on them fondly: misty watercolored memories of being safe and warm, wearing brightly coloured johnny-shirts and wrapped in warm flannel blankets, and being treated by kind people who gave them popsicles and stickers and cool-looking bandages.
My memories of those visits are equally nostalgic. Maybe that sounds strange – I mean, what parent looks fondly back at illnesses and middle-of-the-night trips to the ER? But like my kids, I don't remember the illnesses much. I've thankfully forgotten the vomiting, the search for clean sheets in the middle of the night, trips to the hospital through dark streets with time standing still. What I do remember is how we were all treated. My kids were treated with compassion and kindness. I was also treated so well. Everything was well-explained, follow-up instructions and appointments were clear, and the health professionals seemed as concerned with how I was coping as with how my kids were managing. Once or twice, I even got a popsicle of my own.
I'm nostalgic for that, because these days my visits to the ER are for Puck's mental health crises — something that can't be treated with stitches or antibiotics, and is a genuinely terrifying kind of pain. And when we get past this, my experience with the mental health emergency room is not a memory on which I'll look back fondly.Read More »
January 23, 2018 hfxwordy10 Comments
Everything in the room is colourless and plastic. The grey walls haven't seen paint in years. (Are they actually painted grey? Or has time and neglect turned them this colour — a blend of sorrow and blur?). In the middle of the room are three beige, too-small plastic chairs – the sort parents force their rear-ends into during kindergarten visits. One bigger, mottled faux-leather chair, ripped and spilling orange innards, dominates the space – the only speck of colour in a room devoid of cheer and decoration.
This is where furniture and parents' hopes come to die.
Just down the hall (around the corner where the other families can't see us) is the regular children's emergency department. I've been there plenty of times, with both my kids. We've gone there for middle-of-the-night ear infections, cuts, broken bones. There are clean cubicles adorned with stickers of cartoon characters. Nurses bring popsicles. They do their best to ensure children are comfortable and not scared.
This time, we're here for a broken mind, not broken bones. It seems they don't bring popsicles for that.
It's two weeks before Christmas. Just a week earlier, we were on a family vacation to the most magical place on earth. Earlier that morning, I'd been on the national morning news, talking about a book I wrote.
Now, we sit in this colourless room, waiting for a member of the mental health emergency team to talk to our 12 year old about why he's suicidal. And as we sat there, I was getting texts from people to congratulate me on my media appearance, or to comment on my vacation photos. These two realities don't align. But which one is real, I wonder? Read More »
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Follow That Baloney


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Sri Lanka, Asia
7 of the best things to do in Kandy
Kandy is Sri Lanka's second biggest city, so if you come thinking it will be like one of the small hill country towns you will be in for a bit of a shock. Pretty much everyone passes through Kandy on their way to visiting the Hill Country and Tea Plantations, and it's a good place to break your journey.
Whilst it won't be the highlight of your trip to Sri Lanka, there's plenty of things to keep you busy while you wait for the train to Nuwara Eliya and beyond.
Here's some of the best things to do in Kandy.
1. Temple of the Tooth
One of the holiest places in Buddhism, the Temple of the Tooth is the "must-do attraction" in Kandy. It is home to one of the Buddha's teeth, a relic left from his trip to Sri Lanka.
But don't expect to actually see the tooth itself, it has been encased in a golden shrine which you can see from a distance every evening from 6.30pm.
This ceremony is full of loud music and has a buzz about the place (but you'll also be surrounded by a million other people!).
The closest you can get to the "tooth"
To see the tooth you must form a long queue which snakes around the building, you shuffle along until you reach the opening where you are given approximately two seconds to sneak a peek, before the monks move you on. You can bring an offering if you wish. Lotus flowers are sold everywhere in and around the temple.
The complex is pretty big and the temple is nice enough, but it won't blow you away. Make sure you cover your knees and shoulders (this also applies to men) as otherwise you can't get in. Entry to the Temple is a hefty 1,500 Rupees per person ($10 USD).
Overall we think the ceremony is the most interesting part to observe and that's the bit we won't forget. Try to time your visit to coincide.
Getting there - The Temple of the Tooth is in the centre of Kandy, so is pretty easy to get to.
Next stop: The best things to do in Nuwara Eliya
2. Kandy Viewpoint at sunset
This viewpoint on the side of one of the hills offers a pleasant view of Kandy at sunset.
You look out to the Big Buddha in the distance and the lake directly in front of you.
It's the prettiest view we saw in Kandy, especially at golden hour, and the city looks much better from above than it does at ground level.
Whilst it's pleasant, the viewpoint is a platform at the side of the road, so it's a place to come and look and take some photos, but not sit and relax.
Getting there - The viewpoint is alongside a road with no footpath, so it's best to get a tuk-tuk. Use the app Pick Me or hail a tuk-tuk from town for about 100 -200 Rupees (about $1-1.50 USD).
South Coast Inspiration: Best things to do in Unawatuna
3. Cultural Dance
Probably the best thing to do in Kandy, the cultural dances give an insight into the ancient traditions of Sri Lanka.
The costumes are elaborate and we liked the fact that you get a sheet explaining the significance of each of the dances, this really added to the experience.
One of them is even still thought to be successful in treating psychiatric conditions today! The dances were varied and some included acrobatics and fire eating.
We went to the Kandy Lake Club (there are two other venues but I'm not sure there is much to choose between them) where you sit in an old theatre. There were plenty of seats empty in low season but in high season you might want to arrive a little early (the show starts at 5pm sharp). It's a nice way to spend an evening and entry is 1,000 Rupees per person ($7.50 USD).
Getting there - The Kandy Lake Club is set up on a hill above the town centre and requires a tuk-tuk to visit easily. This should only cost 100-200 Rupees ($1 - 1.50 USD).
South Coast Inspiration: Best things to do in Mirissa, Dikwella & the South Coast
4. Big Buddha (Bahirawakanda Vihara)
You've probably seen bigger and more impressive Buddhas elsewhere, but the one in Kandy is set on top of a hill and offers interesting enough views.
We wouldn't say it's something you must-do if you are short for time, but if this is your first trip to Asia (and you haven't seen a Buddha stupa before) then definitely check it out.
Women must have covered legs, if you don't have anything they will lend you a sarong for free. We could take or leave the Buddha but did enjoy sitting on the steps and looking out to the city.
Getting there - The road to the Big Buddha is steep and windy. Ask a tuk-tuk to take you to Bahirawakanda Buddha and it will cost about 200 rupees ($1.50 USD).
Sri Lanka Highlight: Yala Safari
5. Do a good deed and get a great coffee in the process
Buono is probably the best coffee shop we've been to in the whole of Sri Lanka and it also supports the local community.
Tucked away behind the railway station, Buono offers tea, coffees, burgers and a few other snacks.
We found the coffee was really good and we loved the Kiri Pani (curd, honey and banana). The smoothies and donuts were also very tasty.
It is also for a really good cause, helping children in poverty through support and education. Spending a bit of money here will help the side of life in Sri Lanka tourists often don't see. It's really cheap which we couldn't understand for the quality. A pot of tea was only 50 rupees (40c USD)!
Getting there - Take a tuk-tuk to the Lamagaraya Road by the railway station. From here there's plenty of signs into the building.
6. Kandy lake
The lake in Kandy is a pleasant place for a stroll and at night offers some nice reflections with the street lights and the city.
However it has a very busy road that surrounds it, so your peace and tranquility will come to an abrupt end once the car horns and diesel engines get going.
The quietest section is by the Temple of the Tooth.
Read More: Don't miss sunrise at Lipton's Seat, Haputale
7. Get the train to Nuwara Eliya and beyond
The main reason many people go to Kandy is to start a trip to the hill country and going by train is by far the best way to do it.
A highlight in itself, the train ride is through spectacular scenery and known as the most beautiful train journey in Sri Lanka.
Top tip: On the train to Nuwara Eliya sit on the right hand side of the train. The views are far more spectacular, with forest, tea plantations and huge open views. It really is a train journey you will never forget. After Nuwara Eliya we think the views are better on the left.
Read more: 8 things no one tells you about the Kandy to Nuwara Eliya Train
Where to stay in Kandy
The biggest problem with accommodation in Kandy is the noise. The roads are busy most of the day, so getting a hotel or guesthouse in the centre of town will leave you sleep deprived.
Our Pick - Richmond House
This is why the Richmond House is a great choice. It's set in the hillside away from the main roads and is really quiet. It is decorated in an old colonial style and is clean, comfortable and great value. It also has great views. We really enjoyed our stay here!
Click here to check the latest prices
Luxury - Theva Residency
If you have a bigger budget we'd recommend taking a look at the Theva Residency. This hotel is further from the city centre but set in lush grounds, with an amazing infinity pool. We heard a lot of good things about this hotel.
Check the latest prices by clicking here
Budget - Sevana City Hotel
We didn't book our hotel in advance and if Richmond House had been too expensive the Sevana City Hotel was our next choice. The hotel gets great reviews for clean, comfortable and affordable rooms.
Are you planning a trip to Kandy? Have you been and think we missed somewhere? Let us know in the comments below!
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Tagged: Sri Lanka, Kandy, Best things to do in Kandy, Must see places in Kandy, Places to visit in Kandy, Temple of the tooth, Kandy Viewpoint, Cultural Dances in Kandy, Bahirawakanda Vihara, Big Buddha Kandy, Buono Kandy, Kandy Lake, Kandy to Nuwara Eliya Train, Kandy to Ella Train, Location Guide Sri Lanka
Newer PostPlaces to visit in Nuwara Eliya when it rains
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Shapes not appearing on html canvas I am trying to make a game on an html canvas, however nothing is appearing on the canvas. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. This is the code where I attempt to draw the shapes and start the game:
function startGame() {
    myGamePiece = new component(50, 10, "grey", 240, 20);
    myAponent = new component(50, 10, "grey", 240, 460);
    myScore = new component("30px", "Consolas", "black", 280, 40, "text");
    myGameArea.start();
}

If you wish to see all of my code, it is available here: https://js.do/nioiluc/320839

A: You arent properly defining ctx, as myGameArea.context returns undefined.
Try this for defining:
var ctx = myGameArea.canvas.getContext('2d');
and make the needed adjustments. Example: https://jsfiddle.net/ztnr1gqd/

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Ray comes through 90 minutes in readiness for return to first-team action.
Club captain George Ray is back in contention for the first team squad this weekend after successfully making his comeback for the club's Under-23s against Burnley on Wednesday.
The centre-half has missed the club's last three matches due to a hip injury but he played his part in Crewe's 1-1 draw with the Clarets.
His central defence partner, Perry Ng, has deputised as captain in his absence.
Manager David Artell said: "George said he felt okay and wanted to play on Friday but we wanted him to be fully ready.
"We didn't want there to be any doubts in his mind and we didn't take that risk with him.


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Women continue to struggle in pandemic workforce
Rita DeMontis
Sep 18, 2020 • Last Updated September 18, 2020 • 4 minute read
Photo by KatarzynaBialasiewicz /Getty Images
Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through our links on this page.
There's a whole group of Canadian women ready to throw in the towel and quit their jobs to stay home and take care of life.
And, given all the stress created by the COVID-19 pandemic, job insecurities and struggling with so many issues – many can sympathize with this sentiment, or place themselves in the exact same scenario.
This according to a recent national survey that revealed one-third of Canadian women have considered leaving their work in order to focus more on home responsibilities. The landmark survey, conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights on behalf of The Prosperity Project – a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization created by a group of female leaders from across the country – shows a third of Canadian women are seriously considering leaving their jobs to take care of domestic responsibilities.
The survey revealed that two-thirds of those who responded – both working women and men – agreed the stress of juggling everything from their jobs (including working from home) to home life and children has proven just too much to bear. Too much family pressure, way too much guilt.
The survey also showed less than 20% of men considered this option.
"We need collective strategies and actions to address the pressures that are forcing so many women to think about leaving the workforce," said Pamela Jeffery, one of Canada's top diversity experts and founder of The Prosperity Project in a recent media release. "Many families are dual-income, and if that changes, the economic consequences will be catastrophic."
And then of course there are cases where many women who do want to work find themselves unemployed due to the pandemic. Between the tsunami of bankruptcies, job losses and re-imagining of the workforce, women appear to have taken the brunt of the changes on the employment landscape, even though the economy looks to be slowly getting back on its feet. Concerns over a second wave arriving have many worried that things could get worse.
A recent RBC Economics report states that "in a matter of months, the COVID-19 pandemic knocked women's participation in the labour force down from a historic high to its lowest level in over 30 years. Beyond the strain these job losses have placed on families and individual women, their impact on Canada's overall economic growth has been severe," according to Rbc.com website.
And, although Statistic Canada reports that there has been stronger employment gains for women, "men continue to be closer to pre-shutdown levels."
In a recent news release, officials from Humi, a Canadian human resource company, have reported that issues such as job insecurity and women's vulnerability in the workplace is increasing, and that, although women make up 39% of the workforce, they account for 54% of overall job loss.
The reality is "a balanced and diverse workforce is better for Canada, and employers need to be creative in their solutions to retain and support women during COVID-19," said Andrea Bartlett, HR director for Humi, in a recent interview with the Toronto Sun. Bartlett said company stats show that more Canadian women than men have been laid off or seen salary cuts because of COVID-19, and that women's work is 1.8 times more vulnerable than a man's work – and that COVID-19 has posed a real threat to women's survival in the workforce, citing such crucial issues as household responsibilities and childcare.
Childcare is of critical importance, notes The Prosperity Project's Jeffery, adding it's the key focus of her organization's advocacy efforts. "A lack of childcare is not a women's issue: it is an issue for all working Canadians who can't be the professionals they want to be in their workplaces without supports in place based on their particular needs," she said in a recent release.
Pollara confirmed other research findings that showed the pandemic has "disproportionately impacted women, with more females reporting being laid off or losing work hours/pay, compared to men."
Add to the mix is the constant household "homemaking" stereotyping that continues to drive workplace decisions. Or just ask any mother juggling kids, parents, extended family, shopping cooking, cleaning, plus working from home. Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has made things worse.
These results are not surprising, say organizers, but definitely discouraging, especially during this difficult year, where dramatic change is needed "so that women can fully contribute to Canada's economic future," said Jeffery, whose non-profit is working to address this gender inequality through a series of initiatives that includes a special awareness campaign modeled after the famous "Rosie the Riveter" Second World War campaign – only geared towards today's workforce issues. Check out Canadianprosperityproject.ca for more details.
Andrea Bartlett, HR director for the digital HR/payroll/benefits company, Humi (Humi.ca) offered up the following tips for anyone considering a leave, flexible arrangements, or even quitting your job to balance new responsibilities that are emphasized because of COVID-19:
– Know who your champion is in your workforce – this may be your mentor or colleague and not your manager. It's important to talk to someone who will advocate for you and help you explore all of your options.
– Talk openly with your employer about what an extended parental leave could look like and see if there are more preferable alternatives to quitting. It's always important to discuss what a transition back to your role would look like if a leave is a better fit for you.
– Know your rights as an employee. Many small-to-medium sized businesses will always revert to the minimum outlined in the the Employee Standard Act, but it's important to re-visit your employee handbook and discuss additional options that may be available to you.


6 Summer Essentials // Natural Beauty Products You Need To Have!
With the cold months behind us, we can finally enjoy the sun! ☀ But with the sun comes a whole new set of concerns, sun protection, pale skin, having perfectly manicured toes, the list goes on and on. For simplicity sake I have curated the 6 Summer Natural Beauty Essential that you need to have this summer. From sun protection to getting the perfect summertime glow, these products are must haves! To watch the video and learn more, just keep on reading.
To start, let's talk sun protection. Specifically facial sun protection, because these fine lines are getting any finer, and we want to ensure that sun spots are kept at bay. So it's important that we are applying a sunscreen to our face, and a non-chemical SPF is safest. Suntegrity Natural Facial Sunscreen and Primer melts into the skin, and doesn't leave you looking like a ghost. It's the perfect primer for before applying a BB cream or foundation and will keep your skin safe from the elements. It boasts a SPF of 30, and acts as a moisturizer, SPF, and primer all in one. Multi-use products are the best, especially in Summertime, when we want to simplify our routine. Think of this sunscreen as superfood for the skin, the amazing ingredients contained are known to treat rosacea, acne, and other skin concerns.
Summer essentials wouldn't be complete without a safe, healthy tan. Skip the tanning beds that emit harmful UV rays, and choose an all natural self tanner that will give you that beautiful glow. The Chocolate Sun Cocoa Fleur Self Tanner is a professional grade spray tan, that comes in three shades ranging from light to dark. If you prefer a dark tan, and have fair skin I would however go with the darkest tanner. It goes on beautifully, and gives an immediate glow to the skin. I like to apply post shower, right before bed. Then when I wake in the morning I have a beautiful tan, beach ready! See a before and after here.
If you have been watching my videos on YouTube, it's no shocker to you that having a bright coloured Treat Collection nail polish is a must! I have mentioned them in several of my favourites videos, simply because this is the BEST, 5 free nail polish have ever used. It's healthier than the regular conventional polish, and when using the base coat and fast drying top coat, it lasts me a full 5 days. That's pretty impressive, and there is a colour for everyone. On my wish list is Fabulous a beautiful vibrant fuchsia, and Summertime a bright orangey shade. I can't wait to add these to my EcoDiva Beauty cart!
Corals add the perfect pop of colour without going overboard, this time of year. The newest shade of 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip Glaze is Coraline, and it is seriously the most beautiful bright coral shade. I am also loving Hibiscus, the perfect orange red, and Melontini which is a little more muted. These colours instantly add the perfect pop of colour to the face, without being too much. Add a little bronzer and mascara, and voila the perfect beach worthy look! See all on the NEW 100% Pure lipsticks on my lips here.
Minimal beauty routines require a few things, BB cream, mascara, lip colour, and of course bronzer. Forget everything else and bronzer alone can add dimension and instantly give life and colour to the face. How do I know? Take it from a pale girl, who requires some colour to the face. The Kjaer Weis Dazzling Bronzer adds definition and dimension to really warm up the skin tone, and radiates hues of bronze for that sun-kissed glow we all know and love. The Alima Pure Mauna Loa bronzer is perfect for light to medium skin tones, that require a bit of warmth. This will work especially well if you have more oily prone skin. Double up the Kjaer Weis & Alima Pure bronzers to really lock in the colour to make it last all day!
Every gal needs a water resistant mascara! This is my go to for swimming, going to the beach, weddings, etc. Basically anywhere that either tears or water is involved. It gives great definition and length to the lashes. It's formulated with coconut, kelp, and vitamin D, so it's basically superfood for your lashes. A total must have for Summertime!
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We're on a finish-surface frenzy over at Bob's house, using all kinds of wood. The living room floor is totally in place, while upstairs, several gorgeous rustic walls are underway.
The new living room floor.
It took a considerable effort from Hans and Mark to complete the living room floor. The oak floorboards are super skinny, just 2 inches wide, which means the 15-foot-wide room needed about 90 rows of the stuff. Adding frustration, coming out of the package, roughly one in three floorboards proved unusable. And since the home is occupied throughout the construction (by Bob, Suze, and their three dogs), the living room contains a bunch of furniture, which had to do-si-do around the room as the flooring progressed. It's all tongue-and-grooved in place now, but still needs a good sanding to look finished.
I'm most excited about the master closet, which we're cladding in cedar – one of the best-smelling woods and also one of the prettiest. Our planks come in four-foot lengths with teeny-tiny tongues and grooves. They fit together readily when they're straight, but (there's always a but) hardly any of them are straight. When they wobble along the weak axis we can force them out during installation. Bends around the strong axis, though, are hopeless. "Good for boat building," says Mark wryly about the C shaped ones. We'll try to return them to the lumber yard.
One closet wall finished in cedar.
So far Hans has done most of the cutting and I've done most of the nailing in place, using a finish nail gun. I install the cedar vertically, staggering joints as pattern-free as possible, constantly using a level to check plumbness. I also have to make sure I don't nail into any electrical cables, which are hidden behind the plywood. It's slow, methodical work.
Finally, Mark repurposed some old subfloor we pulled up last month to clad the upstairs bathroom wall. I have no clue what kind of wood this is. It's old.
Barnboard clads the bathroom wall at the top of the stairs.


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Tom Thibodeau Supports Derrick Rose's Decision to Sit Out the Season
by SLAM Staff May 16, 2013
The Chicago Bulls' magical, surreal ride through these Playoffs came to an end in Miami last night. Head coach Tom Thibodeau and his players continued to show support for the injured Derrick Rose, who didn't suit up at all this season (with an eye towards the future.) Per the Chicago Tribune: "Derrick Rose indeed sat out every game following surgery to repair his torn left anterior cruciate ligament on May 12, 2012. 'We didn't know and he didn't know,' coach Tom Thibodeau said. 'He heeded (Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf's) advice from the beginning to not rush it and make sure he's completely comfortable before getting out there. It's too important a decision for him to rush. Until he's completely comfortable, we don't want him out there. We knew this was a possibility and that's fine. You deal with it as best you can. We just want him to continue to work like he has been working. We want him completely healthy.' His teammates continued to support Rose. 'You definitely, as a player, you want him to come back,' Joakim Noah said. 'But you understand you have to look at the big picture. I'm really proud of him because he has dealt with it great with all the pressure coming from a lot of people.'"
Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose Miami Heat Tom Thibodeau


Buy a whole chicken and ask the butcher behind the meat counter to cut it into 8 pieces, 10 pieces if the breasts are big enough. Make sure the butcher gives you the giblets (the heart and liver in the little bag) along with the back bone and freeze it for a soup to be used at another time.
1-	Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat the chicken pieces with the flour. I place the chicken pieces in a plastic bag, add the flour and simply shake.
2-	In a, heavy pot (I like a Dutch oven), heat the olive oil and remove half the chicken from the bag and brown all over , about 2 minutes per side then remove and repeat with the remaining chicken pieces and set aside.
3-	Add the onion and celery to the pot and cook about 2 minutes, add the carrots, bay leaf and broth and stir.
4-	Return the chicken to the pot and push each piece into the pot so they are covered with broth as much as possible. Cover and place in preheated oven for 60 minutes.
2-	Drop 4-6 heaping tablespoons into the pot. Cover and return to oven for 15 minutes more .
1- Scoop the chicken, vegetables and dumplings onto a pasta plate, wide flat bowl or a plate with a rim and serve with steamed broccoli on the side.
Calories 510 fat 17.1g, saturated fat5.9 g, cholesterol 76 mg, sodium 802 mg, carbohydrate 54.4 g, fiber 5.8 g, sugar 8.2g, protein 34.8 g.


According to research by management consulting firm Bain, the IoT market is set to grow to around $520 billion (£397 billion) in 2021, more than double the $235 billion (£179 billion) that was spent in 2017. Here are some of the startups in the UK that are hoping to cash in on the boom.
Next articleWhat Options do you Have for API-access Control?


These are the updated contest results for the Brandon Belt patch/auto after the league championship series ended. There is a good race at the top, however, no one had picked the St. Louis Cardinals to win.
If the Rangers win, we probably have a clear-cut winner. But if the Cardinals win, it may going to the tie break.


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Together with supporting household interior Screen Porch Ceiling, happy moments such as images of the occupants can be exhibited with colourful photo structure on the table area decorated by using related design. This can also be adorned through additional lights that will increase warmth to the room. Have a look at also to decide to put a time clock on the side with the Screen Porch Ceiling for you to remind the time period as well as giving an important report on the drain area. Consequently , decorating a room is very important to produce a comfortable environment and well-balanced for all people. You need not fuss hunting for distinctive Screen Porch Ceiling in the market or nearby mall. If you love for capturing moments associated with happy young families, there is no damage in the picture print in addition to hang it in your kitchen. An interesting Screen Porch Ceilingcould decorate your House also get the moment generally to be seen all of the time. Assorted photograph frames are obtainable with a selection of creation. Originating in wood, cheap, glass to help steel. How many photo shape option allows you to choose which often best suits your individual Screen Porch Ceiling or if your taste.
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Administration • Who's Who
Rajiv Ratna Gandhi (20 August 1944 – 21 May 1991) was an Indian politician who worked as the 6th Prime Minister of India from 1984 to 1989. He got the office after the 1984 assassination of his mother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, to become the youngest Indian Prime Minister at the age of 40.
Early life and family
Rajiv Gandhi was born on 20 August 1944 in Mumbai into the most important and influential political family of the country. Jawaharlal Nehru was his maternal grandfather, who was the first Prime Minister of India and a path of Mahatma Gandhi in the freedom struggle. Feroze Gandhi, his father, was a young member of the INC and met Indira and her mother Kamala Nehru in Allahabad and befriended them while working for the party and later married Indira Gandhi. After Independence, the family settled in Lucknow and Feroze Gandhi started serving as an editor of a newspaper called National Herald that was founded by Motilal Nehru. Rajiv Gandhi later moved with his mother and younger brother to their grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru's house in 1949. Relations between his parents strained gradually and further deteriorated when Feroze Gandhi challenged corruption within the party leadership over the scandal of Haridas Mundra. The family reconciled after Feroze Gandhi gone a heart attack in 1958.
Rajiv Gandhi accomplished his schooling from the Welham Boys' School and the Doon School in Dehradun. Further, in 1961, he went to London to study A-levels. He then joined Trinity College of Cambridge for an engineering course but did not finish the degree course and left in 1965. He then joined Imperial College in London in 1966 but left the place a year later without the degree. He started serving as a professional pilot for Indian Airlines. He married Sonia Gandhi in 1968, who was originally an Italian and employed as a waitress in the Varsity Restaurant, a Greek restaurant in the city of Cambridge. They blessed with their first child Rahul Gandhi in 1970 and their Second child Priyanka Gandhi in 1972.
Currently, both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are members of the 15th Lok Sabha and Sonia Gandhi is the President while Rahul Gandhi is the Vice-President of the Indian National Congress.
Political career
Rajiv Gandhi's younger brother Sanjay Gandhi's sudden demise in a plane crash in 1980 led him to join politics. Rajiv Gandhi reluctantly came in Indian politics at the behest of his mother, the then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, and pressure from the Congress party. Both he and his wife were opposed to the idea of his coming in politics but he eventually declared his candidature from Amethi, which was Sanjay Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency. He had victory over Sharad Yadav and was made the General Secretary of the Congress, which would serve as his grooming process. His best friend the then Sports Minister Sardar Buta Singh was the President of the committee. He later became the President of the youth wing of the party, the Youth Congress.
On 31 October 1984, while Rajiv Gandhi was in West Bengal, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two bodyguards in the garden of her official residence, at 1, Safdarjung Road at New Delhi while she was passing the wicket gate guarded by them. The bodyguards namely Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, after shooting her, dropped their weapons and surrendered. Beant Singh was shot to death on that day while Kehar Singh was arrested for his involving in the conspiracy. He and Satwant Singh were given death sentence and hanged at the Tihar Jail at Delhi. Within few time of the assassination, the then President Zail Singh and Union Minister and a senior leader of the Congress party Sardar Buta Singh convinced him to become the new Prime Minister of India. After he assumed office, Rajiv Gandhi asked Zail Singh to hold new elections and dissolve the Parliament as the Lower House completed a five-year term. The history of the Indian Parliament saw a landslide victory for the party, which gave Rajiv Gandhi full power of government. Rajiv also became the President of the Congress party.
TagsIndian National Congress indira gandhi President of the Congress party Rahul Gandhi Rajiv Gandhi sonia gandhi
A week in, Speaker Om Birla turning the tide in House
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Atal Bihar Vajpayee


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Restoring the Majestic Oaks of the Ohio River Foothills
Forests in southeastern Ohio have been evolving, often to their detriment, since the earliest wave of European American settlers moved into the state in the early 1800s. One of the most alarming changes is the steady loss of the mighty oaks that once dominated the forest canopy.
Foresters and wildlife biologists recognize the problem, understand what caused it, and know how to solve it.
"Past management has caused the loss of oaks in the forest canopy," said Travis Bowman, former NWTF wildlife biologist in Ohio. "This directly effects not only the value of forests but also wildlife."
The Ohio River Foothills, which includes the 240,000-acre Wayne National Forest, is one of NWTF's "focal landscapes." While oaks were the dominant trees in the forests here for thousands of years, the foothill forests were also remarkably diverse.
Deed descriptions from Ohio's early years help color in a picture of forest conditions in the early 1800s. These deeds describe various land features such as "witness trees," landmarks used to designate property boundaries. Most of those witness trees were white oaks.
Those trees also represented money. On extensive tracts of private lands in the region, a logging method referred to as "high grading" was the standard practice for decades. Loggers only took valuable trees, primarily oaks, while leaving lower-quality maple trees standing in the forests. Red maple quickly overtook logging sites, suppressing any regeneration from the shade-intolerant oaks. Today, most private forest land in the region is plagued with excessive low-quality maple.
How well tree species flourish in specific locations of a forest is affected by several factors. One of these is the "slope aspect," simply the direction a slope faces. North and northeast aspect slopes are typically wetter and referred to as "mesic." South and west slopes, along with ridgetops, are typically drier. They are called "xeric."
Oaks usually prefer slightly drier locations while maple thrives in shady mesic sites. Herein lies the problem, Bowman said. Many of the drier sites have been long invaded by shade-tolerant red maple. While oaks may still be present in the canopy, they are not regenerating. Why? The maples are outcompeting them.
Besides maple, invasive species like the rapidly growing "tree of heaven" (scientific name – Ailanthus) also prefer these sites, adding to the oaks' woes. Fold in invasive plants that also flourish in mesic conditions and oaks are further restricted in their ability to maintain dominance in the forest canopy. In 2020, oaks are in continued decline in the Ohio River Foothills while species that thrive in wetter forests gain a better roothold.
RESTORATION BEGINS
It is a serious situation, not only for the forestry industry but also for wildlife calling these forests home. Hardwood mast production is a top priority for wildlife. This is one reason the NWTF began partnering with the USDA Forest Service and other natural resource agencies in a comprehensive effort to restore forests in the Ohio River Foothills.
The NWTF has been aiding the 240,000-acre Wayne National Forest for several years, and according to Katrina Schultes, Wayne National Forest wildlife biologist, "Working with the NWTF has been a win-win."
NWTF funding has helped with several projects, including the Non-Native Invasive Species Program, which has treated some 3,300 acres of invasive plants and trees in the national forest.
Bowman said the two major invasive species being targeted are autumn olive and tree of heaven.
Sites scheduled for timber harvests are pretreated prior to cutting to prevent invasive species from taking over logging sites before oak seedlings and sprouts become established.
"Today, timber cutting in no way resembles the process of 100 years ago," Bowman said. "Now, it's as much, if not more, about controlling invasive plants after the harvest is completed."
The NWTF also funds crop tree release work. Even older oaks need light, especially for acorn production. Cutting adjacent trees that are blocking light from reaching oaks and other mast producers will increase food supplies for turkey, white-tailed deer and other wildlife species.
To date, work on the Wayne National Forest via the Non-Native Invasive Species program includes 234 acres treated for autumn olives and 2,523 acres plagued with tree of heaven. Another 215 acres saw crop tree release work, while managing forest openings covered 333 acres. The NWTF's contribution is nearly $46,000.
Other work having a positive wildlife habitat impact on the Wayne National Forest involves converting large stands of white pine back to oak, Schultes said. The Civilian Conservation Corps planted these large, monoculture white pine stands in the late 1930s.
Prescribed fire is another needed tool in this focal landscape. While prescribed fire is used extensively in many parts of the United States, Bowman said, "Prescribed fire is still not well accepted in Ohio."
To remedy that, staff from both the Wayne National Forest and the NWTF is developing educational programs designed to help the public understand fire's benefits, ensuring a clear understanding of the differences between wildfire and prescribed fire.
Achieving the desired wide-scale restoration impacts is not possible by working only on national forest lands, Bowman noted. State and private forests need attention as well. Bowman is part of the Ohio Interagency Forestry Team, which includes experts from federal and state agencies, and state universities. Ultimately, the goal is to restore oak-dominated forests across 17 counties, an area containing 46% of Ohio's forests, 17 of 22 state forests, 34 wildlife management areas and the state's only national forest, the Wayne.
"The plan is to work across public land boundaries and with private landowners to develop and maintain healthy oak forests in the region," Bowman said.
Controlling invasive plants and maintaining the forest habitat with prescribed fire and timber harvesting is needed to get these forests back on track, enabling a reset, one in which majestic oaks again rise to their lofty place on the landscape.
— Richard Hines
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