45% mothers of autistic children suffer from depression

There are some disorders in society for which none could be blamed. Autism is such a disorder. Mothers of the autistic children have to suffer the most and their suffering and pain never end. Such an incident happened in the life of Saleha Aktar (not real name).

Saleha married Sumon (not real name) after love. However, none of the two families accepted the marriage at first. After three years of the marriage, both the families accepted them when their first child Rehan was born. And then, the life of the couple was going through happiness.

When Rehan was 18-month-old, Saleha came to know that her son is not a normal child. After visiting the capitals Sir Salimullah Mitford Hospital, Dhaka Children Hospital, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital, she was informed that her son was autistic. Salehas husband abandoned her when he came to know it and then she [Saleha] was forced to leave her father-in-laws house.

Saleha fell into a huge trouble with her autistic child, and in this way she passed eight years. The nine and a half years old Rehan is now studying at the autistic school of BSMMU Institute of Paediatric Neurodisorder and Autism (IPNA). Saleha takes her child to the school five days a week from her Tikatuli residence and returns home after closing of the school by a rickshaw.

When this reporter talked to Saleha at IPNA, she informed that not only did her husband leave her, other members of the family also behaved badly with her. The neighbours avoid her son, make jokes at his expense, and ridicule him. It did not happen only with Salehas family, a joint research conducted by International

Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) and the governments Communicable Diseases Control Programme, shows that the mothers of one-third autistic children receive negative behaviour from the family and neighbours.

Research findings

According to the research, almost half of the mothers of the autistic children suffer from mental disorders. Scientist and head researcher of the icddr,bs Communicable Disease Wing Alia Nahid said its the most regrettable matter that though many mothers of the autistic children suffer from physical and mental disorders, they dont go to doctors or cannot go.

According to medical scientists, autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder.

Due to this problem the children cannot communicate and develop social relationships. They do the same work or behaviour time and again.

The national mental health survey published recently shows that nearly 7% of children aged between seven and 17 are autistic. This disorder is noticed more in urban than rural areas and the number is higher among the boys than the girl children.

There are nearly 100 specialized schools for autistic children in Dhaka city. The icddr,b has conducted a research on mothers of 388 children of six specialized schools. The average age of those mothers is 39, and 77% of them do not work anywhere except home.

Five percent of these mothers were abandoned by husbands, while two percent are widows. The average age of the children was 11 years and seven months when the survey was conducted from May to December in 2015. However, the main limitation of the research was it didnt highlight the problems of the rural mothers.

The research shows that 41% mothers look after their autistic children on their own, while domestic helps, husbands, other children and members of the family and in some cases neighbours help 59% mothers.

One-third of the mothers alleged that the neighbours show negative attitude towards the autistic children. Many call them mad, while many are scared by seeing such children.

Aparna Das Gupta resides in the capitals Green Road. Her 21-year-old son Anindyas autism was detected when he was four. After her sons identification of autism, Aparna Das was harassed by her family members, close relatives, and the neighbours.

Wiping away her tears, she said with a smiley face: I used to sit beside my son at the classroom after taking permission of the school authorities. There was no objection from other children. But after a few months I was ousted from the classroom due to objections from other guardians.

Aparna Das continued: The society is still not aware of the problems of autistic children.

Mothers blamed for giving birth to autistic children

IPNA Director Prof Shaheen Akhtar said all of the family feels pressure if any of their child is autistic. The society blames the mother for giving birth to an autistic child. The mother leaves her job to take care of her child, while the family of many people breaks for such a problem.

The mother clings to her child, but she cannot sleep adequately as she has to face huge pressure. As a result, the mother suffers from various physical disorders.

Usually, 6.7% of adults suffer from depression. But the research shows that the rate is 45% among the mothers of autistic children.

Sixty percent of mothers said they are suffering from various diseases including diabetes. The conclusion of the research said these mothers need social support.

This support could be extended at home or the school of the children. However, there is no such a program for the mothers, while the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, the Primary and Mass Education Ministry, the Women and Children Affairs Ministry, and the Social Welfare Ministry are involved in the health and education of the autistic children.

Line Director of the program, HM Enayet Hossain, said the research clearly shows that separate support is required for such mothers.

Saleha said she needs support badly. She said when her husband left her she started boutique work after going to her mothers family.

I cannot do my work smoothly as I cant go anywhere leaving my son alone. Besides, I cant take my son to a physiotherapist and manage a teacher for him, she said.

Besides, Im struggling to manage the house rent and fare of a rickshaw there is nothing anywhere for the mothers like us, Saleha lamented leaving a long breath.

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Mothers of autistic children facing countless adversities - Dhaka Tribune

In legal documents obtained by Deadline, PBS ordered an investigation into Tavis Smiley's conduct while employed with the network after they received numerous complaints about his behavior and activities. The host of Tavis Smileyreportedly engaged in inappropriate conduct with multiple women, including guests that were on his show. According to NBC News, one guest from 2008 and 2009 alleged that she had a sexual relationship with Smiley. She claimed that, while it was consensual, she "uncomfortably went with [sexual contact]" with him because "women are put in a bad position when their boss hits on them." She told the investigator that she was not asked to return to the show.

In the end, Smiley was fired in 2017. In March 2020, he was ordered to pay PBS nearly $1.5 million for breaching their "morality clause." The network's lawyer, Grace Speights, explained how the host's position on the show and in the company created a challenging dynamic for women. "You can't have a consensual relationship between a manager and a subordinate because of the power dynamic," she said (via Variety). "It's never consensual because that manager has power over all aspects of that person's employment."

And then, in August 2020,a judge upped the amount to $2.6 million (via Deadline). In a statement from his reps, Smiley said, "I look forward to my day in court February 10, which I have finally been granted, after 2 years of fighting."

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TV show hosts that treat their guests like trash - Nicki Swift

Wednesday, 26 August 2020 23:20 Last Updated: Wednesday, 26 August 2020 23:29 Published: Wednesday, 26 August 2020 23:20 Wendy MacMillan Hits: 422

What a long, strange trip its been. Yes, it most certainly has and the words of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead have never rang more true. It began in March when our schools closed, followed quickly by a full-blown lockdown, and right as we started to feel confident about re-opening, hurricane force winds wreaked havoc in our community and beyond ...Life, to say the very least, has felt like a roller coaster. Through all the ups and downs, the one thing that seems to have remained constant is a great sense of uncertainty.

Not that any of us needs an explanation of just how uncertain times are, but take for example my sister who lives in a small town in Northern California. After much back and forth and months of planning by their district, last week my sister sent her son to school for his first day of in-person learning. By the end of that day however, the county closed all the schools because of a rising number of Covid cases in the area. This week, after she rearranged their home and schedules for virtual learning, my sister was informed that they needed to evacuate their house because of encroaching wildfires. After packing up and heading out for a few days, she is now safely back home and considers herself incredibly blessed, especially while so many others are in a far worse place.

I couldnt help but wonder, how is my sister managing to stay so positive in such a topsy turvy world? In her words, These times call for flexibility...and gratitude for the things that matter most. Indeed they do. But for some of us, remaining flexible and grateful in the face of stressful situations, is easier said than done. For many, a flexible state of mind is something that may need to be cultivated and practiced. So how does one go about cultivating flexibility? Read on for a few quick suggestions to start us on the right path.

One avenue to a more flexible attitude is through incorporating mindfulness into our daily schedules. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, defines Mindfulness as paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally. By practicing mindfulness we learn to focus on what is happening in the present moment rather than forming expectations of things to come or worrying about situations that took place in the past. In turn, mindfulness makes it easier for us to focus on, and adapt to the current state of affairs. Daily practice of mindfulness also helps to strengthen the part of our brain called the amygdala which is responsible for our Fight or Flight response. When we strengthen this area of our brains we are able to put a pause between the stimulus of a situation and our reaction to it. In other words, rather than reacting angrily when we hear bad news, mindfulness training helps us pause and choose how to respond rather than react with the Fight or Flight response our amygdalas encourage us to do. Moreover, practicing mindfulness helps us strengthen segments of our brain that allow us to choose to remain flexible and adapt to ever-changing circumstances. For more information about mindfulness and for some easy exercises to try today, please click here.

Another way to gain flexibility is to regularly challenge ourselves to see things from another perspective. Whether it is working to understand another persons point of view or trying to understand all the varying circumstances that led up to a particular situation. For instance, when we take a moment to contemplate why a person is behaving in a certain way rather than judging their behavior or reacting to their behavior, we begin to break down our own mental barriers and preconceived notions. When we begin to open our minds and our hearts, we can more readily adapt to ever changing conditions. Even if we are still upset by a given situation, trying to understand other perspectives, can help us soften our own rigid thinking and thus create space for more flexibility.

One last suggestion to encourage flexibility is to try practicing gratitude on a daily basis. As I have written about in another article for Scarsdale10583, gratitude is strongly linked to mental health and life satisfaction. But even more than that, when we look for things to be grateful for rather than focus on the negatives or the things that upset us, we begin to realize that no matter what life throws our way, there are always things to be thankful for. From giving thanks before meals to journaling about your daily blessings before bed, the great thing about this practice is that there are just so many ways to be grateful!

So as the topsy turvy world and all the uncertainty continues to whirl around us, maybe a little mindfulness, considering other perspectives, and practicing gratitude will help us to remain flexible, adaptable and to, as Mr. Garcia would say, Just keep on truckin."

Wendy MacMillan is a former teacher and a proud mom of two children. While her background is in psychology and education, Wendy was recently trained in mindfulness at Mindfulschools.org. She has long been passionate about wellness, and as an active member of the Scarsdale PTA, Wendy helped to bring mindfulness to her children's elementary school. In addition, Wendy helped establish and is an acting member of the school's Wellness Committee. For more information about mindfulness check out this site: mindfulschools.org or Watch the video of Jon Kabat-Zinn explaining what mindfulness is ... or contact Wendy MacMillan at wendymacmillan@gmail.com.

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The Only Constant Is Our Great Sense of Uncertainty - Scarsdale10583.com

Amir Hossein Hosseinipour Freelance Journalist interviews Bijan Norouz about his scientific point of view on music.

Bijan Norouz explained that music provides an auditory imagery of the outer world, rather than providing visual images as we see in paintings and literature, from the outer world. Scientific music differs from the way of manifestation of the other arts, although, we can say that it doesnt differ from them, considering the fundamental nature of it, as an art which envisions the responses of human being to the outer world or the inner world.

Amir Hossein Hosseinipour:What is the true nature of scientific music and how do you regard it?

Bijan Norouz:The scientific music shows the inner life of man, using what can be called the human images or human faces. Moreover, scientific music is not be made just by a sound following another. Rather the music is made by a sequence of sounds which is perceived as a whole by our ears, for example a rhythmic expression or a pleasant melody creates music. These units are the same mentioned human faces because they evoke certain mental states in man.

Generally, scientific music joins the other arts, in creating social consciousness or individual awareness of the inner life which man has in common with his society and in revealing the inner history of the society. Not only the scientific music develops the sensitivity and freedom, but it affects the education of the present generation.

Amir Hossein Hosseinipour:What is the structure of scientific music?

Bijan Norouz:As in other arts, structure plays a significant role in scientific music which helps us in understanding the rationality or irrationality of the artists thought about represented issues in the created art. In creating each work, the artist more or less benefits from his personal and social experiences and what he obtains is not a contingency manner, but a set of mental concentrated manners that represents a particular attitude on life. Although scientific music occurs over time and creates structures which are not visual or tangible, it naturally creates something concrete which comes to existence in the outer world of the artist and the audience. It also deals with certain materials that are the same as invisible and weightless sound waves.

Amir Hossein Hosseinipour:Does music has any language?

Bijan Norouz: The language of music is created by the society and in my point of view Music is a Universal Language.

Amir Hossein Hosseinipour:As the founder of the institution of Future and Emerging Music Technologies FEMT, how do you evaluate new and scientific music in general?

Bijan Norouz:This is comprehensible in the new appearance of a music track. On a large scale every new and scientific music is produced from the existing music. The scientific and new music forms the familiar materials from new melodic frames to the great creations which are made from such frames. If languages werent created by societies, no one could create anything.However, real understanding and getting more pleasure out of scientific music is possible, with the participation of human in creating the music. This is a stage of mental evolution of the human and awareness of the existence of potentials and new issues in life, resulting from the changes and conflicts out of himself.

The Article is Translated by Sepideh Hematian

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Bijan Norouz's Thought and His Scientific Attitude of the Cosmic Music - Communal News

Alexander Albon says he has no regrets about the overtaking move he attempted on Lewis Hamilton in the Austrian Grand Prix which led to the two colliding.

We didnt speak afterwards, said Albon in todays FIA press conference. There wasnt too much for me to say, I think, it is what it is.

Im sure Lewis didnt intend to make contact. But not too much to say, really, were just focused straight away into race two.

Albon insisted he wasnt at fault for the collision. The way the corner is, the exit point of where you take that corner is not where it looks like, he said.

A certain camera angle, where I saw people saying theres a car length to go still, you dont exit at that point, the exit points a lot later into the corner just because turn four is quite long. So unless I kind of drove up to the edges of track and then turned again, thats the only real way to give myself more space.

The Red Bull driver said he wouldnt hesitate to attempt a similar move in the future. Id do the same thing again, he said. It has to be done.

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You cant wait around, especially when theyre at a tyre disadvantage. Theres no waiting to be done, really, because obviously we knew they had a pace advantage and it was just a matter of time until the front tyres warmed up. So theres no real regret to that.

Despite his penalty for the incident, Hamilton still finish the race in fourth place, while Albon dropped out of the points and later retired.

At the very beginning its a bit frustrating because youre the one to lose out in the situation, Albon added. But I think just to make it fair, the way its ruled is that they want all the penalties to apply the same way, so no matter what the crash or consequences. Im kind of happy that that is the situation.

Of course it just means that we lost out a bit more than we would have liked.

Albons team mate Max Verstappen also believes Hamilton didnt deliberately cause the collision.

It was just thats unfortunate that happened, said Verstappen. I think it was a great move for Alex you go around the outside there, I think not many people do that.

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Albon: I'd make the same move on Hamilton again RaceFans - RaceFans

With everyone sequestered and self-quarantining due to the coronavirus, weve asked our favorite artists to come up with playlists that keep you entertained. Here is Neurosis guitarist Steve Von Till:

Many of us let music into our lives in a way that can intentionally or unintentionally frame our experience. It can console, celebrate or validate that which has already happened, providing the soundtrack to our personal histories. Music can be the rhythm of the present moment altering the perception of our realities one way or another and inspiring action. Music can also guide our thoughts for the future, be they dystopian or full of hope. Music is power and the permission to feel all the feelings.

Longing for Connectedness to All Things

Luke Schneider Anteludium From his brand new debut album, Altar of Harmony, Luke Schneiders track is a perfect starting point on this journey. If you heard this track before I told you that he was a pedal steel player from Nashville, you might not believe me. This is deep and cosmic ambient music I have read being described as Sunn O))) versus Stars of the Lid. Sounds about right.

John Trudell The Magic Valley I know, this isnt music, but It seems like a perfect moment to hear some words of wisdom from a modern indigenous voice. John Trudell was a Native American author, poet, actor, musician, and political activist who passed away about five years ago. His poetry and spoken word recordings have spoken to me since I was about 19. He has the uncanny ability to bring clarity to what it means to be human. Go search the internet for his Tribal Voice album, its not readily available but its one you want to track down.

Trying to Make Sense of It All

Lungfish Love Is Love An incredibly underappreciated band. The dark horse of the Dischord Records catalog in many ways with a hypnotic mystical bent. More like a chant than a song, the lyrics encapsulate the emotional nature of our species when contemplating the bigger questions. Love is love, always reconciled Love is love, in wind and shade Love is love, alien and strange Love is love, in truth and falsehood

New Model Army End of Days Justin Sullivan has a way of writing moody but inspiring songs that somehow bring the overarching political and societal issues down to a personal emotional level without condescendingly telling you what to think. Revealing macrocosm as microcosm is a classic gift. It isnt just yet, we have to trample Over each other, to reach air We will mix and mend when we have to We will celebrate when we can

Raging Against Injustice

Bob Dylan Masters of War When it comes to wondering what the hell is the matter with some people, no one quite puts that in a song like Dylan. Who else could simultaneously call out the warmongers and racists and piss off the hippies and the folkies. Though Hurricane or Desolation Row might also be appropriate at this moment, Masters of War has that sound of biting disdain for those human beings behind the machinations of power, money, dehumanization and control who have clearly lost their souls in the process.

Discharge Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing Since first hearing this in the mid-80s it has been the quintessential album of rage against authority. If Dylan is like Whitman in his lengthy tirades, Discharge keeps it brief, like some sort of punk rock haiku and boils it all down to just a couple lines on top of music sonically akin to air raid sirens and nuclear explosions. Side note: THe 15-year-old punk rock me finds great pleasure in being able to sneak a Discharge song into Spin.

Bad Brains Big Takeover Bad Brains taught all the young punks how it was done. Their musicianship and intensity owned the scene and their lyrics spoke up against discrimination and for a positive mental attitude. We are forever in their debt.

Existential Questioning

Jhann Jhannsson and Yair Elazar Glotman A Minor Astronomical Event This is a recent obsession. I have loved Jhannssons work for a long time, but this posthumous release might be my favorite. Deeply contemplative, moody, and brooding. It is the soundtrack to his first film in which Tilda Swintons narration borrowed from a 1930s sci-fi novel that contemplates both the evolution and end of our species. And it sounds a bit like the carpenter ant infestation in one of our exterior walls right now.

Transforming Sorrow

Nick Cave Girl in Amber Anyone who has followed Nick Caves recent career has witnessed the incredible transformation of an already gifted artist into something greater. Being able to channel personal tragedy and sorrow into a vehicle for beauty, love, compassion, and understanding is one of the highest expressions of our collective humanity.

Overcoming despair

Joy Division New Dawn Fades A trusted go-to desert island track. I first heard Joy Division a decade after the death of Ian Curtis. The myth-making and urban legends had already taken hold and informed the way I heard it, but I know that making music is inherently a joyous activity especially when it can help you exorcise the demons of hopelessness.

Finding the Calm Within the Storm

Gavin Bryars The Sinking of the Titanic 7: Opening Part II One of the best musical gifts I have ever received. Inspired by the story that the band on the RMS Titanic continued to perform as the ship sank in 1912, it is truly a beautiful piece that never fails to bring a feeling of serenity amidst the chaos.

Following the Unbridled Joy of the Moment

The Budos Band Peak of Eternal Night What doesnt sound fun about psychedelic afro-soul meets Black Sabbath? Nothing! I bet it feels incredible to be in this band playing this song!

Creation Rebel Starship Africa Section 1 I heard someone say recently that we experience true joy when we are in a flow state doing what we are supposed to be doing, when we are in sync with our purpose for being here. Being a huge fan of Adrian Sherwoods dub mixes, I have always marveled at the concept of the mix being the active performance, where the studio becomes the instrument. His mixes bring to mind thoughts of being completely in the moment, tuned in, and dedicated to the flow of the sound emanating from the speakers, and that must be very joyous. Hope

Ramones I Believe in Miracles The Ramones were one of the proto-punk bands that brought hope to rock and roll in the age of untouchable bloated arena rock. Bless them and Joey Ramones voice.

The Overwhelming Desire to Rock

The Stooges Search and Destroy Soul radiation in the dead of night

Sonic Youth Kool Thing This just turned 30 years old! Thats how long I have been ripping off that guitar bend.

Black Flag Black Coffee How many folks in this age of quarantine are over-amped on their caffeine and just staring at the walls?

Melvins Honey Bucket True heroes, and true originals that bow to no one. We go back to a time when they taught the punks that our true love of slow Sabbath riffs was justified and should be celebrated. Thank you.

Grounding back to the Earth

Northern Cree Power to My People Coming full circle and back to connectedness. If you have ever been to a public pow-wow you have felt the power. I have always felt that the drum, in any culture or style of music, takes the other ethereal elements and roots them back to the ground, holding them all in place.

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Steve Von Tills Music Will Get Us Through Playlist - SPIN

With two weeks to ramp up for the 2020 season, the Cincinnati Reds have upped their intensity in intrasquad scrimmages and live batting practice sessions.

The Reds will play two exhibition games against the Detroit Tigers on July 21 and 22, before opening the season against the Tigers on July 24 at Great American Ball Park. In a typical spring training, live BP sessions and controlled scrimmages are just a part of the process.

Now, everything in camp has a little more importance.

The focus, the mental intensity has been above and beyond where we'd expect it right now, Reds manager David Bell said. We need that, we don't want to hold that back. From that standpoint, we're right on track and guys are into it. The attitude has been unbelievable. I don't know what to compare it to, but I'm really proud of the first five or six days, just the way the players are going about it.

Cincinnati Reds catcher Curt Casali (12) talks with starting pitcher Lucas Sims (39) between innings of an intrasquad scrimmage game during preseason training at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.(Photo: Sam Greene)

Reds utility player Kyle Farmer, in an interview on WLWs Hot Stove League, pointed to a live BP matchup between Trevor Bauer and Nick Castellanos on Monday. Playing against each other in the American League Central, theyve faced each other 55 times. Its more than Bauer has faced any hitter, and more than Castellanos has faced any pitcher.

Farmer, who was catching Bauer on Monday, said it felt like an intense matchup. Castellanos flew out to right field on the last pitch of Mondays workout, but Bauer let him stay in the batters box. Castellanos hammered the next pitch into the upper deck and did a bat flip while Bauer laughed.

"They were just talking smack back and forth, Farmer said. I mean it was insane. I was just like, Good Lord.

Castellanos added:"Just kind of friendly chirping back and forth. Obviously wanting to bring the best out of each other.

During Wednesdays three-inning scrimmage, the Reds tried to treat it as a typical game in the COVID-19 era. They played walk-up music for each hitter. They used the two dugouts. Bell served as the third-base coach for the third inning when they did the new extra-innings rule with the last out of the previous inning starting at second base. Innings were based more on pitch counts, so there was a four-out inning and a two-out inning.

Bell said they will continue to add more elements to the scrimmages. Bench coach Freddie Benavides was set to manage Thursdays Freds Reds against third-base coach J.R. Houses team, the Casas Crew.

You know what? I didnt really notice anything, Winker said. Obviously, its quiet. Once the game started, it was just competing and having fun. Were back out there playing ball. It just felt right. It didnt really bother me. Obviously, theres a constant noise when theres a crowd. Its nothing that I wont be able to get used to.

The Reds piped in some fake crowd noise to experiment, but players didnt seem to enjoy it and it was turned off after a few minutes.

That was something we wanted to try, Bell said. I don't know what we'll do there. I don't know if it'll end up kind of being a standard crowd noise that MLB gives us and mandates for all the teams or it will be completely up to us.

We might try something different than the one we used (Wednesday). That's good, that's why we tried it. It wasn't really serving the purpose we wanted.

Assistant pitching coach Caleb Cotham served as the home-plate umpire behind a screen, several feet behind the catcher. Players in the field and dugouts chirped at Cothamto ring up guys on called third strikes.

He had a rough day, Bell said, laughing. He did say its amazing because your ears are pointing right at the dugout, every comment that came from the dugout, it's amazing how loud and clear you could hear it. He did a good job. He was a little sensitive, but he hung in there and did a pretty good job.

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The scoreboard displays pitching and hitting data in live batting practice during preseason training at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 7, 2020.(Photo: Sam Greene)

ADVANCED SCOREBOARD: During live batting practice sessions at GABP, the Reds have analytical data shown on one of the scoreboards: velocity and spin rate for pitches, exit velocity and launch angle for hitters.

Its just part of the game, Bell said. I really think that guys are used to it enough already, used to that type of information, that its not a negative in any way. They can use it as a tool. Its not they cant focus on their jobs because theyre looking at their numbers all the time.

I think, especially this generation of players, theyre so savvy with technology and how to use it all. Theres no harm and we think it can benefit all of us to have that information.

NO BUS TRIPS: With a regionalized schedule the Reds will play National League and American League Central teams exclusively teams in the division wont have to use many frequent flier miles.

The Reds furthest road trip is a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins to conclude the regular season. Would they consider taking a bus to any places like Cleveland or Pittsburgh?

We will fly, Bell said. You look at our schedule, it's pretty easy. We have night games on travel days and that actually works out better for us with the short flights and staying on the evening schedule. Typically, you're always hoping for day games on getaway days, but the way this turned out, we like it better this way.

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David Bell says Cincinnati Reds camp intensity is 'above and beyond' expectations - The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pentagram's Astrid Stavro is behind the identity for OffLimits, a new cereal designed to be eaten at any time of day with different flavours designed to match your mood, that's whether you feel "wired" or "tired".

Its creator Emily Elyse Miller approached Astrid to create both the packaging and a distinctive brand to "perfectly embody the brand's energetic and high-spirited attitude". The resulting identity comprises of two unique characters which take centre stage on the packaging, and a brand language featuring bold typography, saturated colours and an expressive tone of voice.

Each cereal flavour is represented by a different character, drawn by Shepard Fairey's Studio Number One. The characters form a key part of the identity, interacting with each other, keeping pets and joining together to create an extended OffLimits family.

'Dash' appears on the caffeine-infused coffee and cocoa flavour while 'Zombie' features on the more mellow vanilla and pandan flavour, and both characters pop up in the various pieces of cereal-related ephemera. "Through these characters and their contrasting personalities, OffLimits is also on a mission to destigmatise difficult conversations about mental health," says Pentagram. As such, each order contains a carefully constructed activity sheet with different stress and anxiety-relieving activities for people to work through while eating their cereal.

"The name OffLimits serves a dual purpose," explains Emily Elyse Miller. "It's a playful take on the sugary treats that always seem to be out of reach when we're young and also represents the element of defiance that's ingrained in the brand's DNA. Right now, the system is broken, and we're rebuilding the world we want to live in. Nothing is off-limits!"

Astrid and her team created a bold logo with the second 'F' just out of reach (or "off-limits"), which is accompanied by a bespoke typeface designed in collaboration with Emma Williams, and a saturated colour palette.

All of these work together to create a vibrant visual language which brings the high energy brand to life. Encouraging us to "break the rules, starting from breakfast", the brand language is irreverent and fun, reinforcing the cereal's playful attitude. The packaging is colourful and bold, and very different from existing "adult-orientated" cereal brands.

The proposed brand assets (such as sleeping masks featuring the word 'Snooze') were carefully selected to help bring OffLimits to life. Other sleep- and breakfast-inspired items include mugs suggesting that we 'Break the Rules', and t-shirts with playful slogans such as 'Keep it Real'. The newspaper-format teaser 'Cereal Times' also features the brand's signature bold typography, bright colours and playful copy.

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Astrid Stavro's identity for 'next-generation' cereal that has flavours to match your mood - Creative Boom

FORMER Manchester City star Michael Johnson says it was mental health issues rather than injuries and booze that turned the light off on his career.

The now 32-year-old was hailed as Englands next big star after breaking into the first-team aged just 18 under Stuart Pearce.

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He continued to blossom under Sven Goran-Eriksson with City rejecting a 12million bid from Liverpool for the midfielders services in 2008.

Johnson was undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of Citys youth set-up, but a succession of injuries to his hamstring, knee and a double hernia brought a halt to his progress.

A battle against depression then followed as his contract was terminated in 2012 with the ex-England U21 international announcing his retirement at just 24.

Johnson asked to be left alone to live the rest of my life after calling it quits as he sought treatment at the Priory while he was also issued with a three-year drink driving ban.

Now in a revealing interview with The Athletic he has claimed it was his mental struggles that led to his wasted talent rather than anything physical or inside a bottle.

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Johnson said: My mindset was just really low. Really low. I had no confidence, no self-esteem.

My way of dealing with it was to play and to be the best. And if Im the best, Im worth something.

Eventually, when I started playing in the first team, when Id sort of made it, when I was playing regularly, that motivation that I had it just went overnight.

I always thought I was going to feel better about myself by playing football and by being in the first team.

When I didnt get that, when I didnt get that relief, it was, Oh, actually I dont feel better.

That light at the end of the tunnel just went.

3

Johnson was troubled by injuries from an early age but he insists they were not an overriding factor in his career being cut-short.

And even though he admits he did go out too much on the town, he says it was not the enjoyable party lifestyle many believed.

Johnson says: I was dealing with things the wrong way.

I had too much free time. I went out too many times, going to nightclubs or whatever.

It was always to try to feel better about myself. And it was unhelpful. I was going out and having a few drinks as a way of dealing with my emotions, to try to give myself a temporary high and feel good about myself for a short period.

Maybe people perceived that as, He doesnt give a f***, that sort of attitude. But it was the opposite.

This is the thing with depression. When youre stuck in that mindset, you find any way you can to try to make yourself feel better."

Despite Eriksson taking him on loan to Leicester, Johnson says his motivation had gone and he returned back to City not wanting to go on playing as he began taking counselling.

While City were enjoying their first title triumph in 2012, twice within the space of three months Johnson was caught drink-driving, earning a lengthy ban and a 5,500 fine.

That summer he checked into the Priory for help.

Finally it emerged the following January Johnson had left City several weeks earlier after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.

It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.

It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.

And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.

Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.

That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.

The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.

Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone.

If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:

And that led to him deciding to call it a day permanently so he could focus solely on his mental health battle.

Johnson would later open a bar, a venture that led to him meeting his wife Jen, with the couple now having a baby together.

After a stint as an estate agent, he revealed his main business interest these days is running a car dealership with his father.

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Former Man City star Michael Johnson tells how mental health, not knee injuries and booze, turned light off - The Sun

In a case of first impression at the circuit level, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed dismissal of a disability discrimination complaint because the plaintiff had plausibly alleged a condition covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) based on a genetic mutation causing abnormal cell development.

Disability for purposes of the ADA is broadly defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. The ADA instructs that the definition of disability shall be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA.

In Darby v. Childvine, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-0669, Plaintiff Sherryl Darby alleged that she underwent a double-mastectomy after genetic testing resulted in a positive match for the BRCA1 gene. Although her employer, Childvine Inc., approved her request to use vacation and sick time to cover her absence for surgery, when Darby returned to work, her supervisor told her she had been terminated. Darby alleged that the stated reasons for her termination an unpleasant attitude, dress code violations and by being unable to work were pretexual. Childvine moved to dismiss the complaint. While the motion was pending, discovery revealed that Darby was never diagnosed with cancer, but had a family history of cancer and the genetic mutation BRCA1. The parties stipulated to certain admissions, including that [t]he BRCA1 gene is an impairment that substantially limits normal cell growth. And that, because of her genetic match, Darbys doctors urged her to have a double mastectomy. In dismissing Darbys complaint, the district court concluded that Darby had offered no statutory, regulatory, or caselaw support for her [argument] that the BRCA1 gene, like cancer itself, is a physical impairment that substantially limits normal cell growth.

The Sixth Circuit reversed and remanded. After reviewing the definition of disability in the ADA and the federal regulations, the court posed the following question: Has Darby plausibly alleged that her impairment substantially limits her normal cell growth as compared to the general population due to both a genetic mutation (BRCA1) that limits her normal cell growth and a medical diagnosis of abnormal epithelial cell growth serious enough to warrant a double mastectomy? The answer is yes.

In reaching this conclusion, the court specifically noted that the 2008 amendments to the ADA included normal cell growth in the definition of a major life activity. The court also pointed out that the ADAs implementing regulations cite cancer as a condition that at a minimum will qualify as an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. Because this language suggests a floor rather than a ceiling, Darbys gene mutation and abnormal cell growth qualify as a disability under the ADA despite not being cancerous. However, the court did not go so far as to say that a genetic mutation that merely predisposes an individual to other conditions, such as cancer, is itself a disability under the ADA. The terms of the Act do not reach that far.

The court emphasized the narrowness of both the issue before the court and its holding. Specifically, the court did not decide whether Darbys condition in fact falls under the ADAs definition of a disability.

Alternatively, the court essentially found that the Darbys condition could be considered a disability under the ADA if certain conditions were met, such as: that her pre-cancerous cells constitute a substantial limitation on her normal cell growth and that her genetic mutation caused those pre-cancerous cells. Those issues require consideration beyond the four corners of Darbys complaint, and may require an expert to prove. Thus, although Darbys factual allegations were sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss, more would be required to survive summary judgment. The court reversed and remanded with instructions for the lower court to consider the claim under Ohio law as well as the ADA.

Despite the narrowness of the Sixth Circuits holding, it provides important direction as to what may constitute a disability under the ADA in cases of genetic mutation and the attendant medical conditions. And, though the court did not resolve whether Darby had adequately pleaded her failure to accommodate claim in this case, generally employers should engage in an interactive process with employees when presented with a medically-documented request for accommodation and provide a reasonable accommodation when possible.

Excerpt from:
Sixth Circuit: A Genetic Mutation That Interferes With Normal Cell Growth May Qualify as a Disability Under the ADA - JD Supra