November 04, 2020 04:59 ET | Source: Neocase Software

This position within the 2020 Fosway 9-Grid for Cloud HR confirms the importance of HR Service Management solutions in the Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS). Today, HR Service Management solutions play a key role in the digital transformation of HR. This is because they digitize everyday HR functions such as, Employee Relationship Management, HR processes and document management. According to Fosway, Neocase is positioned as a specialist within this landscape due to its focus on HR Service Management digitizing and automating HR processes.

Neocase is a Cloud HRCore Challenger Today, HR Service Delivery serves as a strategic lever for Human Capital Management (HCM). Neocase confirmed its performance in the market through innovative solutions and modules such as the digital self-service portal for ERM (Employee Relationship Management), BPA (Business Process Automation) and EDM (Employee Document Management).

Fosway recognized Neocases performance as well as its strong potential, thanks to regular innovations which led to it being positioned as a Core Challenger in the Fosway 9-Grid for Cloud HR, mentioned alongside its key partners, including Talentsoft and Access Group. According toDavid Wilson, CEO at Fosway,

It is key that HR Service Delivery is included as a specialism in the 2020 9-Grid for Cloud HR. The importance of automation and its role in the ongoing digital transformation of HR cannot be underestimated. And it is equally important that providers like Neocase are represented in this years analysis, helping mid-size companies as well as large organisations enhance their HR and employee experience with a low total cost of ownership.

Our goal is to lead our clients to operational excellence, help them lower and control their operational costs by digitizing their business processes and documentation, and lastly, to improve employee satisfaction. Whats important for us is that our customers spend more time with their employees than managing their admin tasks.We work closely with our customers in order to offer them the most personalized and adapted solution available. Jrme Mnard, Chief Product Officer.

The Fosway 9-Grid is a five-dimensional model that can be used to understand the relative position of solutions and providers. It allows potential customers to compare different solutions based on their performance, potential, market presence, Total Cost of Ownership and Future Trajectories. Download the full report from the Fosway website :https://www.fosway.com/9-grid/cloud-hr/

About the Fosway 9-Grid Fosway Group is Europes #1 HR Industry Analyst. The Fosway 9-Grid provides a unique assessment of the principal learning and talent supply options available to organisations in EMEA. Now in its sixth year, the analysis is based on extensive independent research and insights from the Fosways Corporate Research Network of over 150 customer organisations, including BP, HSBC, PwC, RBS, Sanofi, Shell and Vodafone.

Visit the Fosway website athttp://www.fosway.comfor more information on Fosway Groups research and services.

To learn more about Neocase and our solutions, do not hesitate to visit our website :https://www.neocasesoftware.com/

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Neocase, leader in cloud-based HR Service Management solutions, has been named a Core Challenger in the EMEA market by Fosway. - GlobeNewswire

New Delhi: The women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Uttar Pradesh are setting new precedents of development and doing wonders, not just locally but globally. In a major milestone, the handicraft products made by them are set to be showcased in an exhibition in Japan.

Uttar Pradeshs Mirzapur city, in particular, will feature in Japan Carpet Fair as the latter will exhibit world-famous foot-mats and wall hangings made by women of Self-Help Group named Gareeb Prerana Swayam Sahayta Samuh in Khajuri village of the city.

The Rugs and mats weaved by the local artisans in Mirzapur have already grabbed accolade from across the globe for its excellence. The local weavers amalgamate new perspectives on traditional crafts with state-of-the-art design technology to create authentic designs and visual masterpieces that will be now be displayed on a global platform. The stunning work is infused with vibrant colours and soft lustre.

The organisers of the fair were so impressed by the talents of these women that they invited the entire group to Japan and gave them an opportunity to sell their products at the Japan Carpet Fair which will be held in 2021.

Director of Poor Motivation Self-Help Group, Afsana Begum said, The group is making the business of Rs. 2.5 lakh per year. The women have also started to sell wall hanging, foot mats, and show-pieces across the state which also benefitted the ODOP scheme launched by the Uttar Pradesh government.

This is just one SHG. Thousands of such SHGs were created during Covid times to provide employment to women in Uttar Pradesh.

The local weavers of the handicraft product here inherit the century old legacy, which should be sustained. We are consistently engaged in providing a platform to these women through various programs. Not only the group under the National Rural Livelihood Mission has made themselves financially stable but gave a major boost to the carpet business, said Ramesh Priyadarshi, District Mission Director.

Earlier, the handicrafts of Mirzapur were also exhibited in Kashmir, Lucknow, and Hyderabad and it found strong connect with buyers.

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UPs Mirzapur goes global, handicrafts made by citys self-help groups to be exhibited in Japan - Newsroompost

Mumbai: Union Minister of State for Education, Sanjay Dhotre launched a self-help website Bandhu for students of IIT Bombay today at 11 am in the presence of Director of IIT Bombay Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri.

Appreciating the efforts of alumni of IIT Bombay, the Minister said, A good education institution is one in which every student feels welcomed and cared for, where a safe and stimulating learning environment exists, where a wide range of learning experiences are offered, and where good physical infrastructure and appropriate resources conducive to learning are available to all students. Students are the prime stakeholders in the education system. Vibrant campus life is essential for high-quality teaching-learning processes. Towards this end, students should be given plenty of opportunities for participation in sports, culture/arts clubs, eco-clubs, activity clubs, community service projects etc.

While talking about the significance of counselling systems in educational institutions, he mentioned that National Education Policy 2020 says that in every education institution, there shall be counselling systems for handling stress and emotional adjustments. Furthermore, a systematized arrangement shall be created to provide the requisite support to students from rural backgrounds, including increasing hostel facilities as needed. All higher education institutions will ensure quality medical facilities for all students in their institutions.

I am sure that the academic leaders at IIT Bombay are looking into these aspects also, along with imparting top class education. I am sure the BANDHU initiative will help our students to travel on their respective chosen paths in a stress free manner, ensuring the emotional well being, he added.

Bandhu has been designed in conjunction with the counsellors at IIT Bombay along with external experts with support from Prof. T. Kundu, Dean (Student Affairs) and Prof. Suhas Joshi, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations). It addresses challenges ranging from adjustment to college life, academic stress, and mental health. Bandhu has curated reads, motivational alumni journeys, expert podcasts and tools for self-exploration. Project Bandhu was initiated by alumni of the Class of 1992, as a part of their silver jubilee reunion in 2017. They pledged to support IIT Bombay and help students enhance their emotional well-being. The self-help website is one of the first steps in this direction. They have been closely involved with execution of the project.We live in a time where we are prone to stress. The students of IIT Bombay need to stay strong, both physically and emotionally to construct and pursue their dreams, said Director of IIT Bombay Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri. The pandemic has also increased stress in the lives of the students. We are happy to announce the timely launch of Bandhu at IIT Bombay, he added.

Many issues, when tackled effectively at the initial stages, can help students overcome challenges in a timely manner before a domino effect starts coming into play. Moreover, it will also point out when it could be time to seek help from the support structure available at IIT Bombay, said Rekha

Koita, alumni of IIT Bombay from the Class of 1992.

Eminent film maker, Mr. Nitesh Tiwari who is also an IIT Bombay alumni was the Guest of Honour for this occasion.

Originally posted here:
IIT Bombay launches a self- help website to enhance emotional wellbeing of its students The website is supported by the alumni of Class of 1992 -...

Newswise In the first of its kind for the tiniest stroke survivors, researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) will lead a stroke rehabilitation clinical trial in the state of Texas through a multi-institutional NIH StrokeNet initiative.

Children who have suffered a perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS) that has left them with weakness on one side of their body may be eligible for enrollment in Phase III of the clinical trial,I-ACQUIRE, by researchers from theUTHealth Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease.

NIHStrokeNetwas created by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a network of centers that conduct multi-site clinical trials to advance acute stroke treatment, stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery. UTHealth is overseeing the largest of the 27 coordinating centers established throughout the country. McGovern Medical School Department of Pediatrics, UTHealth Neurosciences, Childrens Memorial Hermann Hospital, Memorial Hermann TIRR and Texas Childrens Hospital, are part of the collaborative StrokeNet team for the study.

Pediatric ischemic stroke is understudied, so we are excited to work with all of our partners to examine an intense therapy for infants and toddlers with stroke, saidSean I. Savitz, principal investigator for the UTHealth Regional Coordinating Center in StrokeNet. Savitz is the Frank M. Yatsu, M.D. Chair in Neurology at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, director of the Institute for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease, and director of the Stroke Program for UTHealth Neurosciences and Memorial Hermann Health System.

Pediatric arterial (PAS) is a condition in which infants experience a stroke in utero or in the first 28 days after birth. According to the NIH, it occurs in about 1 of 1,150 live births in the U.S. It is often caused by a blockage in a blood vessel in the brain, and can lead to lifelong impairments, especially if left untreated. For newborns, common signs of a stroke include seizures, brain damage that is assessed via imaging, and/or a decrease in muscle movement.

I-ACQUIRE will use constraint-induced movement therapy on a childs good arm encourage them to use their weaker arm. Treatment will occur in the home with trained therapists using techniques to shape upper extremity skills through fun games, and self-help activities.

I-ACQUIRE will be used to treat children in two levels of therapy: three hours/day (moderate dose), six hours/day (high dose) compared to the usual and customary treatment.

Because the brain is still developing, this type of therapy can help patients to regain better control and strength on the weaker side, saidNivedita Thakur, MD, principle investigator of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth and a member of the stroke institute. There is evidence of altered brain structure and function due to neuroplasticity of the developing brain.

Sharon Landesman Ramey, PhD, a professor and distinguished research scholar at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech; andWarren Lo, MD, a pediatric neurologist at Nationwide Childrens Hospital and a clinical professor of pediatrics and neurology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, are principal investigators for the five-year study, funded with a $13.5 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health - 1U01NS106655-01A1.

For more information on enrollment for I-ACQUIRE, call Dory Parker, research coordinator, at 713-500-7085 or emailDorothea.M.Parker@uth.tmc.edu.

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Clinical trial to assess rehabilitation treatment for infants and toddlers after stroke - Newswise

By Derek Price

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020 | 2 a.m.

In many ways, exercise can be life-changing, and even life-saving. I know because Ive been there.

Id been a standout athlete my entire life, working out and playing sports since I was 13. Sports had become my entire identity, and I was finally living my dream, playing as a tight end for the Detroit Lions, when a severe neck injury forced me into retirement after just two seasons.

Unable to play or work out for what seemed like an eternity, I was devastated, depressed and miserable. After months of depression, body dysmorphia and feeling lost, I finally dragged myself back into the gym. And it was truly life-changing.

Exercise became my path to restoring my self-worth, my pride and my identity. I finally felt like myself again, and Im convinced it saved me from going down a dangerous path. So many people have turned to alcohol or substances to cope with challenging times, and that could easily have been me too.

Having seen the power of exercise bring me back from rock bottom, Ive made it a personal mission to help others realize the healing power of exercise. Because mental health is such a critical factor in addiction recovery, exercise is becoming a top priority in the way we treat and manage both short- and long-term recovery here at Desert Hope, an American Addiction Centers facility in Las Vegas. And were also working to incorporate physical fitness as part of our treatment regimen across our entire network of recovery centers.

Heres why were making exercise a key priority to help patients find and stay on a path of self-care and sobriety. Many of these same benefits apply to anyone struggling with anxiety, depression or other issues that have intensified due to COVID-19 isolation.

Natural mood booster: Its well-documented that the hormones released during exercise, including endorphins and serotonin, can enhance mood and alleviate anxiety, fear and depression. This can help to offset symptoms of withdrawal and provide a natural fix without the use of substances that cause harm. For this reason, exercise also addresses some of the underlying mental conditions that lead to substance use.

Improved sleep: Getting adequate sleep can be a huge problem for people in recovery. By fatiguing the body and setting up a healthy cortisol/melatonin cycle, exercise supports the bodys natural circadian rhythm, which can help offset sleep disturbances common during detox, ongoing recovery and for those dealing with mental health issues. If youre worn out from a great workout, its pretty hard to lie awake all night with worry and anxiety.

Patterns of healthy behavior: Many individuals in recovery need to fill the gap created when they shift away from a lifestyle of substance use. Trading addictive behaviors for exercise establishes a pattern of healthy behavior that has been shown to minimize the risk of relapse and decrease compulsion and cravings.

A win for the day: Those who are dealing with mental health issues or substance use often feel hopeless, lacking a sense of meaning or purpose. A single workout, even just going for a walk around the block, creates a sense of accomplishment you did something good today. That sets up a pattern of wins that can help individuals start to build a healthy self-image.

Reduced stress and improved cognition: Working through mental health challenges and tackling addiction are extremely stressful, and its easy to get caught up in a pattern of toxic thinking, where your first instinct is to doubt yourself, overanalyze and make mountains out of molehills in your head. By getting your blood pumping, exercise channels that energy toward physical effort, which reduces mental stress and helps your brain function more efficiently and clearly. Ask anyone who exercises regularly, and theyll confirm they often find answers to their biggest challenges and questions during a workout, thanks to the ability to think more clearly and get out of their own head.

Improved self-confidence: Depression, lack of self-confidence and substance use often go hand-in-hand. When people dont feel good about themselves, whether due to life trauma or a chemical imbalance, substance use can easily become a coping mechanism. Exercise can turn that around: When you feel physically stronger and more capable, it helps you to feel mentally stronger and more capable.

Adding an exercise component to a robust addiction and mental health treatment program is a tremendous benefit for patients in helping them overcome some of the underlying challenges surrounding recovery. By establishing healthy habits, an exercise program can become a powerful coping mechanism that can help those in recovery navigate tough times and challenging situations that might otherwise put their recovery at risk.

Derek Price is the CEO of Desert Hope Treatment Center.

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Exercise plays a key role in addiction recovery, stresses of pandemic - Las Vegas Sun

This week on the Code Switch podcast, we tried to settle a months-long debate we've been having on the team: Which kind of books are best to read during the pandemic? Ones that help you escape our current reality? Or ones that connect you to it on a deeper level? In doing so, we got a chance to catch up with the authors of some of our favorite pandemic reads. We'll be sharing interviews with those authors throughout the week. Today, in our final installment, we have a conversation with Kwana Jackson, author of Real Men Knit.

The cover of Kwana Jackson's Real Men Knit. kmjackson.com hide caption

The cover of Kwana Jackson's Real Men Knit.

For a romance novel, Real Men Knit is full of some not-so-romantic issues: gentrification, rapidly changing demographics, the sudden death of a family member. But author Kwana Jackson says that her books don't take place on deserted islands so even in her fiction, she never leaves real life behind.

Despite all the seeming heaviness, though, Real Men Knit is a true love story yes, in the romantic love sense. But it's also a story about love for family and community. It takes place in Jackson's native Harlem, and is full of inspiration and references from her childhood. And for anyone wondering, it does have the calling card of a true romance: the mandatory Happily Ever After.

I spoke to Kwana Jackson about the romance industry, her characters, and how Harlem shows up in the book. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Without giving anything away of coursewhat is Real Men Knit about?

Real Men Knit is the story of four brothers fighting to keep their family's knitting shop open after their adoptive mother suddenly passes away. And it's also the love story of Jesse, who is the youngest brother, and Kerry, who is a part time shopkeeper. It's their story of the two of them coming together. Unbeknownst to Jesse, Kerry has had a long-time crush on him for forever.

Tell us a bit more about Mama Joy, the mother of these four boys.

I chose Mama Joy as their adoptive mother because growing up, a native Harlemite, born and raised in New York, I saw lots of women, lots of Black women taking care of not just their own kids, but kids in the neighborhood. It was sort of an it takes a village situation.

There are a lot of real life issues in this book. How did you think about folding that heaviness into a genre that's typically perceived as more lighthearted?

I'm not writing in a setting set on a deserted island, you know, so I can't write in for another person's novel. Maybe it wouldn't be in there. But for me, as a black writer who was born and raised in Harlem, I mean, the fictional Strong Knits shop that I've written is pretty much around the corner, in my head, from where I grew up. And I don't even know if I've ever said this in an interview, but when my grandmother passed away, she had on her dresser notices from the housing department wanting her to move out of her longtime home of over 40 years. So that's something I can't escape. Though I am a fiction writer, I cannot escape. Reality in my fiction is just, you know, it might not be romantic, but it's real.

In the non-romance world, a lot of people refer to romance novels as "bodice-rippers," a term you find offensive and misogynist. Why?

I think that's a way to put down an industry run by women, and put down women and just sort of squash it aside. That's not something I can get behind. I have been a romance fan since I was 11 or 12 years old, and I've learned so much from back-in-the-day romance about what I want to take away and what I would expect and demand in relationships. Though they say "bodice rippers" and "escapism" and "guilty pleasure," there are no guilty pleasureswhat's your pleasure is your pleasure.

So maybe we're doing ourselves a favor, putting aside the COVID news for a bit, and reading a romance or two?

I have been tweeting and shouting, Romance Is Self-Care! And whatever you need for your emotional and mental self-care right now is absolutely fine, and there is absolutely no guilt about any of it.

You've written a number of romances, and your heroines, to date anyway, have all been Black. Is that because there weren't a lot of Black romance heroines years ago, when you were beginning to read them?

I won't say that was the reason I wanted to write romances featuring people of color. I just wanted to write romance! And the reason I feature people of color is because I'm a Black woman. So I couldn't imagine my heroines being anything but Black women. But that's not saying that I won't write romances in the future that don't have a Black woman. I write a lot of series romances, and there may be another character who is a different color and if that character is calling for a story, I may write that.

You have been very active on social media in the romance community about the need for more diversity in the genre. There is some, but as the big blowup earlier this year in RWARomance Writers of Americaover diversity proved, the industry as a whole has a way to go, in terms of equity in promotion of diverse books, in payment of its authors, and other things. Is it making progress?

I think it's coming to terms [with the need to be more racially aware, more equitable]. I think everyone is coming to termsromance, entertainment, etc., and I'm happy to see that they're coming to terms with it and that they're learning from it. In the romance industry, they're starting to value not only the feelings of the readers and the authors, but understand that our dollars have equal value, and that readers will take their dollars elsewhere if they see the inequality and the readers are starting to see the inequality that they didn't see before.

That could be critical, right? Isn't romance the most profitable sector of the publishing industry?

Exactly! That's what I understand. So if all those female writers packed up their laptops and went away, what would happen to the industry?

Readers, we want to hear from you! What books are you turning to right now? Are you team #EscapistReads or team #PandemicReads? Email us at CodeSwitch@npr.org and tell us your thoughts. And if you missed yesterday's conversation, click here to read our interview with Elisabeth Thomas, author of Catherine House.

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Romance Meets The Real World In 'Real Men Knit' - NPR

Author Hannah Chambley - September 28, 2020September 28, 2020 The kind of team that makes every day a good hair day. Photo via Matthew Niblett for Bham Now

Arcadia Salon is serving up all the style and good vibes in Avondale. From its dreamy salon interior to the stylists behind the chairs, Arcadia is doing something right. Get a look inside, and get to know the team making all the magic.

Located in the heart of Avondale, Arcadia Salon is truly a magical spot. The sleek exterior is eye-catching and stepping inside is like a dream. With plants hanging in every corner and a mid-century modern design feelthe space is warm and open, welcoming each guest with cozy accents and lighting.

Fittingly, the word Arcadia is Greek for a happy, serene placewhich the salon definitely achieves. And although I could go on about the stunning design and decor, its the people working inside that make it so magical.

A native of Anniston, AL, Christie J. White, always knew shed return to Birmingham. After working in independent music stores, she got her start in the salon industry as a manager at Van Michael Salon in Atlanta over two decades ago.

Fast forward to 2018, when she reconnected with an old friendTheo Pettwayfor a haircut on vacation. Shed never thought of opening her own salon until sitting in his chair. After a few meetings with Theo, Christie and her husband Bill set out to create Arcadia. They chose every element together and still do.

After deciding to open the salon we were struggling with the name.My husband asked me what I was searching for more than anything and I said happiness. A Google search later he suggested Arcadiathe Greek word for a happy, serene place.I knew that was it instantly.

The decor is inspired by Mid-Century Modern design and of the building itself, which I fell in love with.Plants are a big part of our culture.Taking care of them, having plant pop-ups with House Plant Collective, everyone sharing new plant acquisitions.

The old school way of doing hairshowing up every day just to do hair then go homeis a thing of the past.You gotta bring it! The industry has changed more with the evolution of social media than ever before.Before Instagram, you relied on word of mouth.Now you can actually SEE talent before booking and choose whos best for you.

Arcadias unique approach is that we place a huge emphasis on education as well as supporting one another. If someone is struggling with a cut, color, social media, we help them and assist in real time.We are a team, a true team, that works well together.Ive never, ever, worked with such a talented group of people who constantly work to get better, do better. Clients see that, they feel it and experience the vibe during their visit.

And Ill add: if we arent having fun were doing it wrong.

So many places! Favorites are: Cayo Coco, Crestwood Coffee, Urban Suburban Antiques, Tropicaleo and a neighborhood favorite El Cazador Restaurant in Irondale. Its family-owned and operated and they are such good people. Supporting local is a big one with my husband and me.

If you spot someone in leopard print at Arcadia Salon, its probably Mary. A Birmingham native and graduate of Aveda Institute Birmingham, Mary got her start styling hair for proms and weddings.

Now, shes an integral part of the Arcadia team as a Stylist/Color Educator and the Stylist Social Media Directorusing creativity and knowledge to create color stories with hair as the canvas.

I love to look at other stylists work on Instagram. I pick out an aspect that I like and want to incorporate and figure out how they achieved that look. You can always learn something from your peers.

The Arcadia Team is a very close-knit family. We help each other, from cleaning, to application, to education. It truly makes a difference in your life to have a team that is supportive. Our clients notice this connection too!

Casual, low maintenance + bohemian

My life is very busy and constant, so my personal style is easy to keep up with. My clients appreciate that I incorporate that same easy-going, low maintenance style into their hair because we all have busy lives.

At any House Plant Collective pop up or at home. Self-care is important to me so my happy place is my home and relaxing with my family.And I love plants!

From Gees Bend, AL, artistic ability runs in Theos family. As a graduate of Aveda Institute Birmingham and a Davines Educator, Theo has about 12 years of styling experience under his belt.

Hes been with Arcadia from the beginning and gets to pursue his two true passionsworking with hair and educationdaily. P.S. If you need a good cut or want to go red, Theo is your guy.

My students and co-workers, they continue to challenge me and inspire me.Im so lucky.

Special is the word I use to describe our team. We are a teaching salon where everyone takes part in education, we literally learn new things daily.

Classic, current + casual

I like to adapt to the needs of my clients based on their lifestyle and always considering their personal style.

You will find me at Botanica Downtown buying all the plants!

A Birmingham native, Disney fanatic and travel junkie, youll likely never run out of topics to chat about when sitting in Kistas chair. And thats the best part of being a stylist in her opiniongetting to know all kinds of people and helping them become the best version of themselves.

With 20 years in the business, various classes and advanced training in cutting, coloring + styling techniques, Kista is no stranger to the salon industry. Her specialties include highlights, natural color and short haircuts.

I love to scroll Instagram, but watching my coworkers is the best inspiration.

We have every kind of stylist for every kind of client. We are a diverse group that is incredibly passionate about our profession and about our Salon. And we genuinely like each other and frequently collaborate so each guest gets a great experience.

Grown up punk!

I love giving people classic, wearable styles with a touch of edge.

You can find me hanging at Sanctum Tattoos (my husbands shop) or scuba diving in our local quarries with my son.

Lis (pronounced Liz) is all about making her clients feel good about themselves and realizing how amazing they are simply through an edgy cut or new color.

Growing up in Calera, she always had a love for Birmingham. And after taking a leap of faith and enrolling in cosmetology school at Aveda Institute Birmingham after college, Lis finally found a way to help others feel confident through the creative process of changing their hair. Her specialties include cutting, balayage, fashion colors and full colors.

I find inspiration in my surroundings, especially nature. My favorite thing is to pick out colors/color schemes to use as inspiration for future projects.

The one word I would describe us as is a family. I have only been part of the Arcadia team since February, but I feel like I have known them for years. Within that time frame, they have helped me grow as an artist and a stylist. I think what sets us apart is that we go out of our way to make sure all of us have everything we need to create the best hair they can.

Boho, a splash of alternative + relaxed

The one thing that I try to incorporate from my personal style/lifestyle is to create a look that is going to manage and match their lifestyle. Something that looks effortless but also packs a punch.

Im usually out in nature with friends or hanging out at TrimTab.

With a passion for education, Jaisy is intentional about developing her skills and perfecting her craft. Originally from Paducah, KY, she apprenticed a master stylist in Kentucky for 2 years before becoming a stylist.

When it comes to her clients, communication is key. Jaisy believes each guest brings value to her chair and she looks to them for inspiration. Her specialties? Balayage, blonding + vivids.

I like to look at Pinterest & other social media platforms as a means of direction only, but I never try replicating exactly what I see.

Teamwork.Growing up, I heard a lot in dance classes, Youre only as strong as your weakest link. Thats especially true in a Salon atmosphere. Every person counts.Not many salons can say they have such strong stylists all with amazing people skills, great artistic abilities and sensitivity to others in need.

Its really encouraging whenever I see a stylist running behindanother stylist will step in to sweep, tone, sanitize and literally help in every way possible to set the stylist in need up for success for their next guest.

Hard to say in 3 words but I love the desert, fashionable and casual

I love seeing each of my clients have a look they feel most beautiful in and I always try to deliver.Thats my style: being true to yourself and expressing that through your aesthetic.

Seeds Coffee in Homewood or Cookie Dough Magic!

Ashley is the latest addition to the Arcadia team. After working in retail for 8 years, she decided to put her creative energy into hair and enrolled in Paul Mitchell the School Birmingham to pursue cosmetology.

Shes a Birmingham native who loves to help people feel good through their hair. When it comes to techniques and specialties, Ashley loves coloring hair and creating the perfect curls.

I love to explore social media and see what stylists in other countries are doing and their different techniques.

Im new with Arcadia but super excited to be a part of this salon. Everyone is super positive and friendly.

Fun, comfy, + a little adventurous

I always want clients to feel comfortable with their hairstyles but also how to have fun and work with what you got. I love figuring out what my clients can try thats new.

Queens Park, Le Fresca + Golden Age Wine

Head to their website to book your next appointment online, or give them a call or shoot them a text at (205) 777-5534. Theyll set you up with a stylist, or you can request the stylist you prefer. Before you book, make sure to read through their updated safety guidelines.

Most likely Instagrammin the Birmingham skyline, behind the camera shooting photos or writing stories (with too many puns) for Bham Now.

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Meet the team of Arcadia, the salon bringing style + color to Avondale - Bham Now

What did the Polygon staff spend their weekend watching? Whether its the latest virally popular Netflix series, discovering an animated gem, or educating ourselves in older genre classics, most of us find something worth recommending before we head back to work.

And as usual, the answers range widely, as some people check out whats new and popular on streaming services, and some return to past favorites. So heres what were watching right now, and what you might enjoy watching as well. Head to the comments to drop in your own recommendations.

The Great British Baking Show is back! A new season of Netflixs baking competition series (known as The Great British Bake Off overseas) kicked off with Cake Week on Friday, a thoroughly polite dustup involving Battenbergs, pineapple upside-down cakes, and fondant-wrapped busts of famous people composed of cake sponge. The first episode of the new season was full of delicious drama to the point of being overbaked: cakes were hastily microwaved, accidentally knocked onto the floor, melted into puddles, and savaged by Paul Hollywood. One baker even combined bubble gum and soda flavors in a cake that makes one wonder if theyve ever seen Prue and Paul give an opinion on taste. But the star of the show was baker Daves tribute to former Blink-182 guitarist Tom DeLonge.

The shows showstopper challenge demanded that bakers create a bust of one of their heroes from cake. Construction-based bakes are always stressful to watch, but this particular challenge was pure you tried comedy. Cribbing from Netflixs own Nailed It!, almost every cake hero was a melted, blobby mess, but it was Three Flavours of Tom DeLonge that reached viral hit status on Twitter. I feel for the bakers; cake sponge does not have sculptural qualities of clay or marble, so everyone deserves an A for effort. The Great British Baking Shows graphics department also deserves praise for the delightful interior shots of DeLonges head. If theres one way to start a season, its with the fondant flesh of a pop punk legend (that no one on the show seems to know).

It was a momentous episode, not just for Three Flavours of Tom DeLonge. New co-host Matt Lucas joined the show, replacing Sandi Toksvig, and brought a fun, slightly creepy energy to the proceedings. It was also the first GBBO season filmed during lockdown the show is being produced in a bubble, an extra layer of challenge for this seasons bakers. Im delighted that appointment television is here again. Michael McWhertor

The Great British Baking Show Collection 8 is streaming on Netflix.

And everything else were watching...

A handful of movies from my childhood blew my little brain: Gattaca, Tron, and Contact. I havent watched any of these films in two decades, so I figure what better way to pass quarantine than see how they hit my grown-up noggin.

I began my nostalgia tour this weekend with Contact, which I enjoyed, just not as much as I did as a kid. Jodie Foster plays an astronomer searching for intelligent life (and meaning) in the universe, while slowly falling in love with a journalist/political influencer/self-help icon played by Matthew McConaughey. As a grown-up, the central man of science vs. woman of faith debate feels more polemical Id forgotten that McConaughey plays a preacher-turned-spiritual guru to the President of the United States. The core message feels a little thinner (especially compared to the more recent Arrival) but the story is no less propulsive, particularly the final 40 minutes which play like an acid trip at the planetarium. Getting older can be a drag, but heres a positive: we get to rewatch great films, discovering new things to love, seeing them, in a way, for the first time with a fresh perspective. Now to see if Tron holds up to my impossible childhood expectations! Chris Plante

Contact is streaming on HBO Max.

I slept on Doctor Sleep. Reviews from last falls sequel to The Shining were mixed (and our critics take was dire!). But in the months after the movie bombed at the box office, I only heard good things about Hush and Geralds Game director Mike Flanagans take on the Stephen King novel including praise for an extended cut that turned a two-and-a-half-hour movie into a three-hour-movie. Having respected a lot of Flanagans past work, and feeling high off his Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor (more on that after the embargo next month), I finally carved out time to witness what many saw as a misguided attempt to build on Stanley Kubricks cinematic legacy. [Note: I opted for the theatrical cut.]

Heeeeeeeeeres Johnny with a take: Doctor Sleep is fantastic. Using traces of Kubricks movie as nightmarish memories, Flanagan ties the paths of recovering alcoholic Dan Torrance (Ewan McGregor), superpowered shiner Abra Stone (Kyliegh Curran), and Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson), the psychic leader of a soul-sucking, immortal cult, together into a sprawling mythological epic. Similar to the two Haunting series, Flanagan has a sense for how to keep Kings literary flavor intact, and the characters grounded in reality. The violence is vicious trigger warning: Rose and her gang feed on helpless kids like Jacob Tremblay! the theme of self-destruction is as terrifying as the supernatural, and the eventual stretch of story that leads Dan back to the Overlook hotel feels earned. For me, the movie doesnt feel like a Shining sequel at all, and more of what Id always hoped wed get out of a Dark Tower adaptation: A mesmerizing collision of fantasy and reality staged atop a bedrock of mythology. Matt Patches

Doctor Sleep is streaming on HBO Max and HBO Go.

There is a scene in Eli Roths grueling cannibal exploitation horror film The Green Inferno that almost made my 100-minute investment in the film feel worth it: A group of protestors, held captive by native people after their plane crashes in the jungle, are fed a mysterious meal. Upon realizing that they are consuming their recently departed friend Samantha, the lone vegan in the group slashes her own throat. Immediately following her death by suicide, one of her fellow protestors concocts a plan to stuff her stomach with his weed stash, hoping that their captors will get so stoned when they cook her, that the prisoners will be able to escape amid the confusion. Yet another protestor decides this is an opportune moment to masturbate, which he justifies as a release to clear his mind. Disgusted, a third protestor starts to strangle the wanker, leading to the inspired closed captioning description [tugging intensifies].

It is an ugly, bewildering scene that skyrockets The Green Inferno into wild, text-your-friends you seeing this shit?! absurdist territory. I cant necessarily recommend The Green Inferno, a brutally gory and smug reproach of slacktivism, but if youre interested in watching this particular scene, it takes place approximately 69 minutes into the film. MM

The Green Inferno is streaming on Netflix.

As a kid, I only knew about King of the Hill from an online mini golf Flash game I would play with my siblings on the family computer. Recommended by my Texan buddy who said the show is an accurate depiction of Texas life, Ive finally been watching the series and ... I am addicted. I found out Bobby Hills voice actress also voiced Pajama Sam, the star of one of Humongous Entertainments old computer games, and my life hasnt been quite the same since. My friend said they were interested in using charcoal to grill some Korean BBQ, and I only half-ironically scolded them for not using propane. Thats where my life is at this moment. Julia Lee

King of the Hill is streaming on Hulu.

Having completed (and loved) Strong Girl Bong-soon, I dug around Netflixs impressive catalogue of supernatural Korean shows to find something else lightheart. Mystic Pop-up Bar is mostly lighthearted but also occasionally complicated and sad, and I definitely found myself reaching for the tissues as I polished the show off over the weekend.

The no-nonsense bar owner Weol-ju (Hwang Jung-eum) is an afterlife reject, forced to settle the grudges of 100,000 souls or be destroyed. With only a few more conflicts to resolve and less than a month to do it, shes feeling the pressure. If only she could harness the powers of sweet Han Kang-bae (Yook Sung-jae), who can make people confess their deepest truth with only a touch. Even with the help of gentle former-cop Chief Gwi (Choi Won-young), shes going to have a hard time fighting off rogue demons and reincarnated menaces to get it done.

The show takes its time unraveling its backstory (there is 500 years worth!), constantly hinting at the truth and rarely pulling a gotcha! style twist. Plus the food theres no shortage of glamorous food shots that will remind you to stop and eat while you marathon this incredibly engaging, moving show. Jenna Stoeber

Mystic Pop-up Bar is streaming on Netflix.

The thing about the Paddington movies is that they are perfect. Ive seen them before, but rewatched them over the weekend with my partner, who had not seen them, with Paddington on Saturday night and Paddington 2 on Sunday night. I honestly had forgotten that they are actually kind of emotionally harrowing, and ended up crying a few times.

If youre not familiar with Paddington Bear, the general gist of the story is that a polite little bear named Paddington is trying to make his way in the city of London after leaving his home in darkest Peru. Its just a sweet time for everyone. Ben Whishaw provides Paddingtons voice in the films, and Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant star as the villains in the first and second film, respectively. A third Paddington is supposedly on the way, or at least it had better be. Karen Han

Paddington/Paddington 2 are available to rent on Amazon.

If you watched The Mandalorian and thought this Pedro Pascal guy sure does a good job playing a reticent mercenary, but I wonder what hed be like as a chatty mercenary instead? And also wore a helmet where I could actually see his face? then youd have as good of a time as I did watching this low-budget sci-fi flick.

Centered around a financially struggling father and daughter who search alien moons and planets for valuable commodities, Prospect isnt trying to tell an expansive or existential story. Instead it focuses on the relationships that people choose (or are forced into) when living on the ragged edge of society. The practical effects do an extraordinary job of making the world feel tactile and lived in and the Pacific Northwest location is made just alien enough to seem otherworldly. And despite some similarities to Pascals role as the Mandalorian, his roguish performance is quite different here, not the least because we can see that charismatic face. Clayton Ashley

Prospect is streaming on Hulu

When the news gets inescapably heavy and depressing, as it did last week, its tempting to retreat into something completely undemanding and unchallenging, and also potentially fun and pretty. Thats why I finally watched Trolls: World Tour, which just arrived on Hulu after an early stint in the premium rental $20 trenches. The original Trolls movie is a surprisingly good time its surreal and almost obscenely perky, with some lively original songs that bring a subversive edge to its feel-good kid-movie vibe. The whole thing is consciously designed like an acid trip, complete with DayGlo colors and warping landscapes full of unexpected singing flowers and talking objects. So Id hoped for something similar from the sequel.

I didnt get it the sequels a pretty standard kids quest movie, with a villain (voiced by Crazy Ex-Girlfriends Rachel Bloom) out to steal everyones uniqueness, and heroes (Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake) using music to stop her. The frustrating thing about the film for an adult viewer: the whole point of the plot is that all music is equally valid and that pop may be fun, but it shouldnt overshadow other music, and yet all the music in the film is fed through a pop filter anyway.

But the visual design! The Trolls films are built around the conceit that the stories are being told through scrapbooks after the fact, so the entire world is designed like a crafting party, with fabric buildings, yarn stages, and a felt balloon. My absolute favorite images included a gorgeous canyon made of piled-up quilts, a pond where the foamy edge of the water is the ragged, frayed edge of a piece of cloth, and a waterfall consisting of silver ribbons. The songs are kinda boring and the plots pretty rote, but this film is shockingly beautiful and thought-through in all the design elements. Tasha Robinson

Trolls: World Tour is streaming on Hulu and rentable on Amazon.

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Great British Baking Show is back on Netflix and coming for Nailed It - Polygon

Alma Matters is a Poynter newsletter designed to provide ideas, news and insight to those in the journalism education community.Subscribe here to get Alma Matters delivered to you.

Have I mentioned Im a big fan of takeovers? Im a big fan of takeovers. Heres what happened when the Guardian US gave a special section to American first-time voters.

Student media leaders would be wise to consider working with diverse student groups or communities to allow them the same luxury with a newspaper section or TV or radio show. Yes, you could still edit the work, but make it easier by outlying some journalism basics (be factual, write short) and getting your temporary recruits to focus on first-person essays and personal photographs. Plan a little extra production time for fact-checking and permissions and let me know how your campus responds!

Because Im a fan of takeovers, Ive written about it before (tips!). Along those lines

My friend Rich Cameron puts out a daily (!!!) email newsletter about journalism in secondary and higher ed in California (heres his Facebook group where you can get more info). On Tuesday he noted a trend of first-person pieces. He wrote, Since the pandemic began more and more colleges have gone to first-person features. Their numbers are fewer this semester than last spring, but Im beginning to see some in high school publications as well.

A good first-person essay still needs editing and guidance. Here are two oldie-but-goodies from Poynters archives:

And here are four examples of personal essays:

You can share the examples above with the non-journalists youre asking to write/shoot for your publication for inspiration. Then let them have free rein to tell their own stories for your audience.

The latest in the How to Be a Reporter series from the Washington Post: Covering the White House. I am a huge fan of these videos, and think they make incredible classroom fodder. Of course, videos take time, money, coordination and planning, but if you find these useful, maybe drop an email to libby.casey@washpost.com and tell her how much you value them in your classroom. Heck, CC this martin.baron@washpost.com guy for fun.

Young journalists, take note. Deanna Schwartz is the managing editor of the Huntington News at Northeastern University, and shes been burning up the professional journalism space (Poynter, the Objective) with important stories about her student journalism experience. The Lead editor Taylor Blatchford and I are always looking for pitches from student journalists, as are plenty of other places (think CJR and Neiman Lab) and its great experience to learn to pitch to editors.

I recently stumbled across The Big List of Class Discussion Strategies and thought it could prove helpful. I particularly liked TQE: This protocol has students come up with their own Thoughts, lingering Questions, and Epiphanies from an assigned reading. Teachers who have used this method say it has generated some of the richest conversations they have ever heard from students!

I love it when people say, Be careful. You dont want to get burned out. As though burnout is easily avoidable something you would just cross the street to escape, like a swarm of bees or a group of hockey fans after their team lost the Stanley Cup.

Thats why I surprised myself this week after reading about the three key signs of burnout by thinking, Wait, there are signs?

My friends at Jumpline, a community hub to support journalism educators, linked to this Inside Higher Ed column in their newsletter this week. Beating Pandemic Burnout feels so spot on, and I wanted to pass it along to you in case you, too, have been avoiding a self-diagnosis of burnout. This is just what hard work is like! I pride myself on my work ethic! Etc.

It reminds me that the most important thing right now isnt pedagogy, but people.

The single biggest action Ive taken in Pandemica is to commit to a nightly walk at 6 p.m. I set my entire day by it, and its remarkable how the rest of my family has accepted and worked around my little corner of self-care. I cant recommend this kind of movement enough.Try to walk a few nights this week even for just a few minutes. See how you feel with a little movement and fresh air.

Also in my self-care world, Im going to take some time this weekend to finish the novel Hamnet by Maggie OFarrell and try to watch The Post again, because I want to enjoy once again that subtle moment where Meryl Streep as Katharine Graham orders publication. I think those are the kind of joyful moments health professionals are urging us to seize.

And hey. Dont burn out.

Barbara Allen is the director of college programming. She can be reached atballen@poynter.orgor on Twitter, @barbara_allen_

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In support of student media handoffs and the power of personal essays - Poynter

I, like many other steadfast fiction readers, generally would not touch a non-fiction book with a ten-foot pole, preferring stories that offer an escape from my own mundane life. Once in a blue moon, I grudgingly venture into the world of non-fiction, feeling like I need to expand my repertoire of books, only to mentally check out after the first few pages. Why would I read about real life when imagination can conjure up scenarios that are so much more interesting? However, this year marked a surprising change for me. I entered the world of non-fiction books, and this time, I stuck around.

This adjustment came amid a time of extraordinary change, namely the emergence of COVID-19. During the long months of quarantine, many, inspired by online blogs or extreme boredom, decided to make use of their isolation by embarking on self-improvement journeys. As COVID-19 spread through the country and people were forced to remain home, online yoga, meditation and mental health resources started popping up on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. I watched as my friends began undertaking self-improvement journeys, posting about their morning quarantine yoga flows, mediation sessions and Chloe Ting workout challenges.

Unfortunately, I was not one of the productive quarantine types. Besides reading and baking a lot, I did not respond to complete social isolation with increased motivation like some others, who seemed to be checking off every life goal during quarantine (starting a podcast, really?). Nonetheless, I surprisingly ended up participating in the aforementioned self-help trend. This summer I took a roadtrip across the country, and eight hours into the third day I was getting stir crazy from the boredom and monotony of the drive. Desperate for some entertainment, I looked for free audiobooks on Spotify. The only book I could find was Mark Mansons The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck. Having nothing else to do, I started listening and found myself immediately engrossed in the authors philosophy on life. Five hours later, I had listened to the whole book, and it was through this experience that I stumbled onto a new genre of reading: self-help books.

After Mansons book, I read two other self-help books in quick succession, Daring Greatly by Brene Brown and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. What I found most interesting about these three books was how different each authors message was. I found myself wondering, how do I know who to believe? Some ideas resonated more deeply with me than others, and I tended to lean toward the books that had practical applicability in my life or related to the issues I was currently facing.

Each author approaches giving advice differently. Manson talks about his failures bluntly, and explains the experiences that led him to his current philosophy on life. His personal style is straightforward, unsparing and often raunchy. Rather than telling readers to be positive and look on the bright side like I had expected from self-help books, he speaks frankly about what he thinks is wrong with people nowadays, and how they can fix themselves. Manson does not have a background in psychology or experience studying his ideas in practice, he simply explains his theory on having a fulfilling life and acknowledges his openness to being wrong and having more to learn.

Brene Brown, on the other hand, has a somewhat different personal style from Manson; she is understanding, relatable and funny. I felt like I was having a conversation with a friend, as she took me through her own experiences with vulnerability and opening up. Brown also has a strong background in research and the study of human emotion, vulnerability, shame and leadership. She is therefore able to base all of her ideas on years of meticulous research, and grounds her recommendations in facts and studies. This came through in her book, as she references study after study that support her suggestions. I found myself trusting her due to the enormous amount of research that she presented as evidence, as well as her approachable and genuine personal voice.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie diverged the most from the two other books. Carnegie suggests psychology-based techniques for becoming a more likeable and charismatic person, proposing tips on ways to make people like you, win people to agree with your way of thinking and change people without arousing resentment. I felt mildly embarrassed to be reading this book, feeling like I was being given insider information on how to trick people into liking me.

In every book, I noticed the authors experiences and background subtly intertwining themselves with their recommendation for how others could transform their lives. They viewed the world through the lenses of their own lives, and as a result, their conclusions included ideas that might not work for everyone. For example, Brene Brown spoke a lot about her perfectionistic tendencies and how to mitigate them. Personally, I am not a perfectionist, so this portion of the book went entirely over my head. Manson, meanwhile, recounted his experiences dropping everything to travel the world, something I have always dreamed of doing. His findings were extremely interesting and clearly life-altering for him; however, his methods may not be the most suitable for everyone. Carnegie gave advice based on psychological techniques on how to make others like you. For me this did not resonate, as some of the strategies that Carnegie suggested seemed manipulative and underhanded to me.

Reading these three wildly different books helped me understand that self-help books are not one-size-fits-all. Each book was a bestseller and incredibly popular among readers, and yet I had extremely different reactions to each one. I ended up picking and choosing the ideas that fit my own life and disregarding the rest. My struggles may not be the same as the authors, and so it only makes sense that some of the techniques that helped them may not be as beneficial to my own life. Therefore the biggest suggestion I have for others looking to read self-help books is to take everything you read with a grain of salt, and read a variety of different books to find ideas that resonate with your own life.

I am surprised to find myself seeking out these non-fiction books now. But there is something to be learned from hearing an outside perspective on how to successfully go through life. Reading these books took me out of my own life briefly, and exposed me to the findings of people who had undergone journeys of self-improvement. Though by no means a quick fix to anything, I did appreciate the push these books gave me to examine my own life and how I might adjust to live in a happier and more purposeful way. I hope I have convinced at least a few of the other hardcore fiction readers out there to try something a little out of your comfort zone.

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The different selves of self help - The Michigan Daily