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.

More:
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.

3

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.

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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

Jessica Rogers-Hall was one of 57 incarcerated individuals tapped for early release by the governor. While the pandemic creates new challenges for her transition, she remains upbeat.

Jessica Rogers-Hall was released from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility as part of an effort to reduce prison populations in response to the Covid pandemic. (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter)

Jessica Rogers-Hall didnt believe she was getting out of prison.

She remembered being in her bed one night at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville when a corrections officer woke her asking about her parole plan.

What do you mean my parole plan? responded Rogers-Hall, who wasnt scheduled for release.

She didnt hear anything more for weeks. She was later called into the release counselors office who told her that she would be released from the state womens prison and needed to find someone to give her a ride.

In June, Gov. Kate Brown announced that in response to the Covid pandemic she would begin the process to commute the sentences of 57 prisoners who met certain qualifications, including being medically vulnerable and having a record of good conduct for the last year. Rogers-Hall was one of those inmates.

Now a free woman, Rogers-Hall, 38, said shes overcome her addiction to meth and has changed as a person. The world around her has also changed. The pandemic has created new challenges for her transition and shes unsure what shell do for work or long-term housing.

Despite it all, she said rolls out of bed every day happy. Shes reconnected with her 19-year-old daughter. She wants to go back to school, maybe with her daughter. But the reason for her upbeat attitude isnt because shes no longer in prison.

People probably think it's weird, she said sitting in a west Salem apartment. But I love life and I love me and I'm finally okay with me.

I didn't think there was any hope for me

Three years ago, Rogers-Hall was arrested with a loaded handgun on a road outside of Silverton. She had attempted to flee police in the Silverton area after she threatened her now-former husband. Police used a spike strip to stop her car.

Rogers-Hall said the incident came after relapsing on meth. She said she was a monster who had hurt a lot of people including her two kids.

I was a really, really, really damaged, broken person, she said. I didn't think there was any hope for me.

She was sentenced in Marion County County Circuit Court to serve five years in prison after being convicted of identity theft, forgery, unauthorized use of a vehicle and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

She said she was mean and angry, picking fights with other women in prison.

My first year in Coffee Creek was hell, she said. I was in the hole, like all the time.

One day, she said she saw a sign for a class on insight and well-being. She didnt care about the class but knew there would be cinnamon rolls. She signed up. The class changed her life.

Anna Debenham, executive director of The Insight Alliance, said she met Rogers-Hall during the program offered by her group. Debenham, whose nonprofit works with prisoners on mental health, described Rogers-Hall as scattered and frenetic but she could tell she had a lot of heart.

She watched her become calmer, kinder and not react harshly to everyday frustrations.

Rogers-Hall said the program taught her to not latch on to negative thoughts and instead redirect her thinking. She said she now controls her dissociative disorder, a mental illness caused by childhood trauma that causes her to check-out when life becomes too stressful.

She said she no longer carries guilt or plays the victim. Shes forgiven others. She said she got her GED, took college courses, started writing and got published. She was on a segment of OPBs Think Out Loud about women changing their lives in prison. She said she became more interested in advocating for her fellow prisoners than fighting them.

Warehouse of despair

At home, Rogers-Hall held a tattered day-planner with a picture of a beach on the cover. Inside, are notes she said that describe the harassment and retaliation from prison staff over her class-action federal lawsuit against the state Department of Corrections for alleged sexual assault.

Reading from the planner, she described how she was berated for an hour for having an extra sheet, kept from her medication and put in solitary confinement. But she said wasnt given a disciplinary report.

She also said she faced retaliation prison staff after talking to a reporter from VICE and other media. The department declined to comment, citing the litigation.

The state prison agency faces a separate lawsuit from civil rights group Oregon Justice Resource Center on behalf of prisoners over its handling of the pandemic.

Rogers-Hall said that her dorm at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility housed 125 women, each on a bunk a foot away from each other. She described it as a warehouse of despair.

It's hot. Theres no air conditioning, she said. And you get sick there and you're screwed.

She said that if anyone showed signs of Covid, they were put in solitary confinement for 14 days. Prisoners would attempt to hide symptoms and instead lay in their bed for days, she said.

The Oregon Justice Resource Center in a statement called Browns approach simply inadequate and called on her increase testing in prisons and to further reduce prison populations.

Andy Ko, executive director of criminal justice reform group Partnership for Safety and Justice, said in an email that the outbreak in correctional facilities could also have catastrophic effects in the communities that surround state prisons and, ultimately, across the entire state.

But Rogers-Hall said she doesnt want to dwell on the past.

So blessed

Rogers-Hall was released from Coffee Creek on July 2 with a food stamp card, a stack of papers and a bag containing travel-size deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and a toothbrush.

After being picked up outside the Wilsonville prison by her attorney, he said that the first thing she wanted to do was go to Fred Meyer to buy a normal bra after wearing sports bras for three years.

Rogers-Hall said she has a compromised immune system from cancer. She initially planned to stay with a friend in Salem. But after her friend came down with Covid that wasnt an option. She stayed in a hotel until she got in touch with a friend who had an empty apartment hes letting her use. She said she wants to work and support herself.

This doesn't happen to people to get out of prison, she said. I am so blessed by the situation.

After being released, Rogers-Hall recalled being struck by people wearing face masks or friends stepping back when she tried to hug them.

Its also created obstacles for her transition. She is waiting a month for an appointment to get her drivers license since state offices arent generally open.

The Oregon Department of Human Services has similarly restricted access to its offices, so she cant arrange a food stamp card or other services.

To get by, her attorney brought her a food box. With a compromised immune system, shes not sure what shell do for work.

But Rogers-Hall is confident everything will work out.

I don't let myself sit back and worry, because if I did, I'd be high, she said. I'd be out there running amok. I can't do that again.

SUPPORT ESSENTIAL REPORTING FOR SALEM- A subscription starts at $5 a month for around-the-clock access to stories and email alerts sent directly to you.Your support matters.GoHERE.

Contact reporter Jake Thomas at 503-575-1251 or [emailprotected] or @jakethomas2009.

Excerpt from:
After an early release, one former prisoner faces a world reshaped by the pandemic - Salem Reporter

Anaheim Ducks: Guide to the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery by Ciara Durant

Anaheim Ducks: The Franchise All-Time Bracket Matchup by Brad Senecal

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 25: John Gibson #36 of the Anaheim Ducks (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The 2019-20 season left a lot to be desired. For the majority of the year, the Anaheim Ducks were a discombobulated mess that lacked the fundamental skills required for success in the modern-day NHL. However, putting the teams struggles aside, there were a few players who stepped up and carried the team on their back. This player displayed leadership skills, dedication, determination, and integrity both on and off the ice.

There are several players that fit the bill, but we left it up to our readers to decide which player would ultimately walk away with the 2020 Hercules Award. The nominees, as decided by the staff at Pucks of a Feather, were Jakob Silfverberg, Ryan Getzlaf, Nicolas Deslauriers, and John Gibson. After much deliberation and a last-minute shift in votes, it is no surprise as to who came out on top.

Jakob Silfverberg (15.3% of the vote): Jakob Silfverberg has stood out over the past two seasons with his incredible determination and fearless attitude. Stepping into a new role this year as Alternate Captain, Silf proved once again why he is a reliable entity on the Anaheim Ducks roster. Some fans were doubtful that he could come out again this season with a repeat performance from 2018-19.

Nevertheless, the veteran forward pushed himself every night, paving the way for himself as one of the Ducks leading goal scorers, once again. His performance both on the ice and off the ice earned him the opportunity to represent the Anaheim Ducks at the All-Star Game, which he, unfortunately, but understandably, had to turn down due to the birth of his daughter.

Ryan Getzlaf (23.6% of the vote): Even in his old age, Ryan Getzlaf is still a sight to behold on the ice. While the thought that his career may come to an end in the next few seasons is bitter-sweet, the Captain still gives it his all. This season was a tough one for him in more ways than one. New coach, new system, new players. Yet, he still maintained his integrity. While the Hercules Award isnt necessarily about leadership, in a way, leadership plays a big role in who gets nominated by the staff here at Pucks of a Feather.

Getzlaf is declining, there is no arguing about that, but he still manages to be one of the teams top point producers every season. At one point this season, Getzlaf was leading the team in goals. Yes, let me say that again, our pass first Captain was leading the team in goals.

Aside from his point totals and his tenacity to keep things going on the bad days, Getzlaf wasnt afraid to step up and publicly call out his team, their attitude, and the way they were playing. Sometimes the heroes have to make the hard calls, and Getzlaf isnt afraid to step up and do what is needed in order for his team to succeed.

Nicolas Deslauriers (25% of the votes):At the beginning of the season, the Nicolas Deslauriers trade was often looked upon by fans as pointless. However, as the season went on, Des quickly fought his way into the fans hearts (pun definetly intended.) Deslauriers was constantly a motivating factor for his teammates. While fighting may be on its way out in the NHL, there is no denying that watching Deslauriers get down and dirty with some of our most hated rivals was a treat, and oftentimes, the best part of the evening.

Nicolas Deslauriers may not be the best player to ever put on a Ducks jersey, but his dedication is on another level. Had the season continued, he would have bested his previous season record. Not to mention, that hat trick was incredible.

At the end of the day, while John Gibson rightfully earned this award, Nicolas Deslauriers could have easily taken it home (he was my nomination as well as vote.) Putting his body and his health on the line for his fans and his teammates is not something many players are willing to do. This season wasnt really much fun to watch, but this season would have been pretty awful without Des out on the ice every night to inspire his teammates and the fans.

John Gibson is an amazing athlete, who doesnt get the credit he deserves. Of course, Ducks fans know how priceless he is, but the rest of the NHL tends to sleep on the incredible talent that is John Gibson. Yes, his stats took a nosedive this year; the 26-year-old goaltender posting the worst save percentage of his career, at .904%. But, Gibson didnt really have much to work with this year, and any other average goaltender likely would have buckled under the pressure.

There was a point during the season where Gibson received a lot of criticism from the fans. The apple of our eye didnt seem to have the stamina he had in seasons past. Nevertheless, it was quickly realized that the netminder cant fix this team by himself, and years of wear and tear were finally beginning to show in his game.

Regardless, Gibson still proved to be the Anaheim Ducks most reliable, valuable, determined, and strong player out on the ice. Every night, for 60 minutes (sometimes more), he experienced brutality at the hands of, not only the opposition but his own team.

The Anaheim Ducks hit new lows this season. With a defense in front of him that didnt play defense, and an offense who couldnt for the life of them find the back of the net, Gibson was often the only player who kept the Ducks from falling to the bottom of the hockey food chain.

Despite visible physical and mental exhaustion, he continued to push himself for the sake of his team, a team that he so clearly believes in; even when they dont believe in themselves. He was the strength and the cornerstone behind what little success the Anaheim Ducks did have. His character and leadership were a guide when they fell hard. Most importantly, he did his best to hold his team accountable, calling them out when they fell into the old patterns of being content with inconsistency.

You have spoken, and we have heard you loud and clear. No one deserves to be recognized as this seasons hero more than John Gibson.

Want your voice heard? Join the Pucks Of A Feather team!

Are you a passionate Anaheim Ducks fan that loves reading Pucks of a Feather? If so, we would love to have you on board as a contributor! Just follow the link above for more information on how to join the crew.

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Anaheim Ducks: John Gibson Wins Hercules Award - Pucks of a Feather

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Beau Morrison has seen a lot of suicide in his life. When he was 12, his father Len took his life. His cousin Dolly Everett made national headlines in 2018 when she took her life at age 14, after being tormented by cyberbullies. And three workmates in the construction industry have taken their lives. One of these workmates died during a fly-in, fly-out project in Darwin. Mr Morrison was asked to check on his welfare as he hadn't shown up for work. "I found his body," said Mr Morrison, of Chisholm in Maitland. He tried to convince management to provide more support for workers. "I was banging on asking, 'Where are the support services?' Management thought I was a dickhead." The complaints he made about the lack of support means he probably won't get work again with the company involved. This kind of attitude and culture, he asserts, must change. Mr Morrison said the loss of his dad, cousin and workmates had been devastating. "I want to do everything to prevent this from happening to others," he said. His cousin's death came in January 2018, a month before his workmate died in Darwin. These events motivated him to learn more about mental health. He decided to devote himself to suicide prevention. Mr Morrison is now getting behind a NSW government project in which "gatekeepers" in high-risk populations and industries train in suicide prevention. Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the NSW government would provide $2.8 million for gatekeeper training over three years. The funding is the first initiative of the government's Towards Zero Suicides project, which will provide $87 million over three years. The project aims to reduce the suicide rate in NSW by 20 per cent by 2023. The government said about 17 people take their life in NSW every week. "Gatekeepers learn how to recognise the signs that someone is at risk of suicide," Mrs Taylor said. They are trained to help workmates, friends and family to stay safe and seek help. Mr Morrison said 18 workers died from suicide in three years on the Darwin project alone. Many more were experiencing poor mental health. "I had grown men coming to me and bawling their eyes out. I didn't know what to do," he said. When Mr Morrison left the Darwin job in 2018, he sought mental health training through the Mates in Construction program - an industry-backed and research-based suicide prevention charity. "I learnt so much. It blew me away," he said. In the past 18 months, he's helped half a dozen people in trouble. "They were friends of friends. I talked them through it," he said, adding that the first thing he advises is to see a GP. NSW government data shows that construction workers are six times more likely to die by suicide than a workplace accident. Apprentices in construction aged between 15 and 24 are twice as likely to take their life than other young people their age. Mr Morrison urged construction companies to treat mental health training like high-risk licences such as "getting your forklift ticket". He said some construction companies provide mental health support through employee assistance programs. "The job in Darwin had one, but it was insufficient. We didn't have people drumming in the importance of mental health. We didn't know who we could go to." In his experience, unions can be a big help in this area. "They have their own support processes. I'm with the CFMEU. They've always provided me with help," he said, adding that he had his own personal struggles. Mr Morrison saw a doctor on Wednesday to renew his mental health plan. "You can't ignore this stuff. You've got to be proactive with your mental health," he said. Master Builders Association of NSW said the construction industry had "significantly higher rates of suicide and mental health issues among workers compared to other sectors". "Mental health and suicide prevention is everyone's business," Master Builders NSW executive director Brian Seidler said. "When all of us look out for our mates, we are protecting the most important commodity in our industry - its people." Mr Seidler said suicide "seems to be a part of the reality in the building and construction industry". "The sector is highly transient with most workers employed on a project-by-project basis for periods from a few weeks to a few years," he said. "We need to ensure the industry represents a sustainable and safe workplace." This means attracting workers and keeping them on career pathways. "Mental health training is a critical part of that." Mr Morrison said his experience in the industry had given him an idea of what triggered workers' mental health difficulties. "In my opinion, a lot of the time it's relationship breakdowns, blokes having their kids taken away, long hours and isolation," he said. Another factor was workers in "high-paying jobs with access to drugs and alcohol". The construction industry's macho culture was thought to be a factor in preventing workers from seeking help. This is one area in which Mr Morrison is making a difference. Despite his appearance, he has a deeply felt compassion that he uses to help others. Despite being a "big burly knucklehead", he often asks fellow workers things like: "Hey, bud, how are you going? Are you all right?" He said mental health issues were also prevalent among women in construction. Mr Morrison said he was "stepping up" to be a leader on mental health. "I want to continue down the road and get into public speaking [to further spread this message]." Mrs Taylor said every "precious life lost to suicide" had a "devastating ripple effect across families and the whole community". "We know that over 40 per cent of people who die by suicide have not reached out for professional support. "Having gatekeepers throughout the community trained to help and support people in a crisis is critical in saving lives." The Gatekeeper program aims to train 10,000 people in suicide prevention. More than half of all gatekeepers will be in regional areas. As well as construction, the program will cover first responders, Indigenous communities, family lawyers, men aged 18 to 35, veterinarians and LGBTI communities. More information about the program is at health.nsw.gov.au/gatekeeper. Lifeline 13 11 14. While you're with us, did you know the Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here IN OTHER NEWS:

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Beau Morrison has seen a lot of suicide in his life.

When he was 12, his father Len took his life.

His cousin Dolly Everett made national headlines in 2018 when she took her life at age 14, after being tormented by cyberbullies.

And three workmates in the construction industry have taken their lives. One of these workmates died during a fly-in, fly-out project in Darwin.

Mr Morrison was asked to check on his welfare as he hadn't shown up for work.

"I found his body," said Mr Morrison, of Chisholm in Maitland.

He tried to convince management to provide more support for workers.

"I was banging on asking, 'Where are the support services?' Management thought I was a dickhead."

The complaints he made about the lack of support means he probably won't get work again with the company involved.

This kind of attitude and culture, he asserts, must change.

Mr Morrison said the loss of his dad, cousin and workmates had been devastating.

"I want to do everything to prevent this from happening to others," he said.

His cousin's death came in January 2018, a month before his workmate died in Darwin.

These events motivated him to learn more about mental health.

He decided to devote himself to suicide prevention.

Mr Morrison is now getting behind a NSW government project in which "gatekeepers" in high-risk populations and industries train in suicide prevention.

Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the NSW government would provide $2.8 million for gatekeeper training over three years.

The funding is the first initiative of the government's Towards Zero Suicides project, which will provide $87 million over three years.

The project aims to reduce the suicide rate in NSW by 20 per cent by 2023. The government said about 17 people take their life in NSW every week.

"Gatekeepers learn how to recognise the signs that someone is at risk of suicide," Mrs Taylor said.

They are trained to help workmates, friends and family to stay safe and seek help.

Mr Morrison said 18 workers died from suicide in three years on the Darwin project alone. Many more were experiencing poor mental health.

"I had grown men coming to me and bawling their eyes out. I didn't know what to do," he said.

When Mr Morrison left the Darwin job in 2018, he sought mental health training through the Mates in Construction program - an industry-backed and research-based suicide prevention charity.

"I learnt so much. It blew me away," he said.

In the past 18 months, he's helped half a dozen people in trouble.

"They were friends of friends. I talked them through it," he said, adding that the first thing he advises is to see a GP.

NSW government data shows that construction workers are six times more likely to die by suicide than a workplace accident. Apprentices in construction aged between 15 and 24 are twice as likely to take their life than other young people their age.

Mr Morrison urged construction companies to treat mental health training like high-risk licences such as "getting your forklift ticket".

He said some construction companies provide mental health support through employee assistance programs.

"The job in Darwin had one, but it was insufficient. We didn't have people drumming in the importance of mental health. We didn't know who we could go to."

In his experience, unions can be a big help in this area.

"They have their own support processes. I'm with the CFMEU. They've always provided me with help," he said, adding that he had his own personal struggles.

Mr Morrison saw a doctor on Wednesday to renew his mental health plan.

"You can't ignore this stuff. You've got to be proactive with your mental health," he said.

Master Builders Association of NSW said the construction industry had "significantly higher rates of suicide and mental health issues among workers compared to other sectors".

"Mental health and suicide prevention is everyone's business," Master Builders NSW executive director Brian Seidler said.

"When all of us look out for our mates, we are protecting the most important commodity in our industry - its people."

Mr Seidler said suicide "seems to be a part of the reality in the building and construction industry".

"The sector is highly transient with most workers employed on a project-by-project basis for periods from a few weeks to a few years," he said.

"We need to ensure the industry represents a sustainable and safe workplace."

This means attracting workers and keeping them on career pathways.

"Mental health training is a critical part of that."

Mr Morrison said his experience in the industry had given him an idea of what triggered workers' mental health difficulties.

"In my opinion, a lot of the time it's relationship breakdowns, blokes having their kids taken away, long hours and isolation," he said.

Another factor was workers in "high-paying jobs with access to drugs and alcohol".

The construction industry's macho culture was thought to be a factor in preventing workers from seeking help.

This is one area in which Mr Morrison is making a difference.

Despite his appearance, he has a deeply felt compassion that he uses to help others.

Despite being a "big burly knucklehead", he often asks fellow workers things like: "Hey, bud, how are you going? Are you all right?"

He said mental health issues were also prevalent among women in construction.

Mr Morrison said he was "stepping up" to be a leader on mental health.

"I want to continue down the road and get into public speaking [to further spread this message]."

Mrs Taylor said every "precious life lost to suicide" had a "devastating ripple effect across families and the whole community".

"We know that over 40 per cent of people who die by suicide have not reached out for professional support.

"Having gatekeepers throughout the community trained to help and support people in a crisis is critical in saving lives."

The Gatekeeper program aims to train 10,000 people in suicide prevention.

More than half of all gatekeepers will be in regional areas.

As well as construction, the program will cover first responders, Indigenous communities, family lawyers, men aged 18 to 35, veterinarians and LGBTI communities.

More information about the program is at health.nsw.gov.au/gatekeeper.

While you're with us, did you know the Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here

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The construction industry has higher rates of suicide - here's what people are doing to help - Newcastle Herald

A glance at the research reveals that there are distinct advantages to using print maps.

By: Meredith Broussard

Ted Florence is ready for his family trip to Botswana. He has looked up his hotel on Google Maps and downloaded a digital map of the country to his phone. He has also packed a large paper map. I travel all over the world, says Florence, the president of the international board of the International Map Industry Association and Avenza Maps, a digital map software company. Everywhere I go, my routine is the same: I get a paper map, and I keep it in my back pocket.

With the proliferation of smartphones, its easy to assume that the era of the paper map is over. That attitude, that digital is better than print, is what I call technochauvinism. In my book, Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World, I look at how technochauvinism has been used to create an unnecessary, occasionally harmful bias for digital over print or any other kind of interface. A glance at the research reveals that the paper map still thrives in the digital era, and there are distinct advantages to using print maps.

Cognitive researchers generally make a distinction between surface knowledge and deep knowledge. Experts have deep knowledge of a subject or a geography; amateurs have surface knowledge.

Digital interfaces are good for acquiring surface knowledge. Answering the question, How do I get from the airport to my hotel in a new-to-me city? is a pragmatic problem that requires only shallow information to answer. If youre traveling to a city for only 24 hours for a business meeting, theres usually no need to learn much about a citys layout.

When you live in a place, or you want to travel meaningfully, deep knowledge of the geography will help you to navigate it and to understand its culture and history. Print maps help you acquire deep knowledge faster and more efficiently. In experiments, people who read on paper consistently demonstrate better reading comprehension than people who read the same material on a screen. A 2013 study showed that, as a persons geographic skill increases, so does their preference for paper maps.

For me, the difference between deep knowledge and surface knowledge is the difference between what I know about New York City, where I have lived for years, and San Francisco, which I have visited only a handful of times. In New York, I can tell you where all the neighborhoods are and which train lines to take and speculate about whether the prevalence of Manhattan schist in the geological substrate influenced the heights of the buildings that are in Greenwich Village versus Midtown. Ive invested a lot of time in looking at both paper and digital maps of New York. In San Francisco, Ive only ever used digital maps to navigate from point to point. Ill be the first to admit that I dont know where anything is in the Bay Area.

When you live in a place, or you want to travel meaningfully, deep knowledge of the geography will help you to navigate it and to understand its culture and history.

Our brains encode knowledge as what scientists call a cognitive map. In psychology-speak, I lack a cognitive map of San Francisco.

When the human brain gathers visual information about an object, it also gathers information about its surroundings, and associates the two, wrote communication researchers Jinghui Hou, Justin Rashid and Kwan Min Lee in a 2017 study. In a similar manner to how people construct a mental map of a physical environment (e.g., a desk in the center of an office facing the door), readers form a cognitive map of the physical location of a text and its spatial relationship to the text as a whole.

Reading in print makes it easier for the brain to encode knowledge and to remember things. Sensory cues, like unfolding the complicated folds of a paper map, help create that cognitive map in the brain and help the brain to retain the knowledge.

The same is true for a simple practice like tracing out a hiking route on a paper map with your finger. The physical act of moving your arm and feeling the paper under your finger gives your brain haptic and sensorimotor cues that contribute to the formation and retention of the cognitive map.

Another factor in the paper versus digital debate is accuracy. Obviously, a good digital map is better than a bad paper map, just like a good paper map is better than a bad digital map.

Technochauvinists may believe that all digital maps are good, but just as in the paper world, the accuracy of digital maps depends entirely on the level of detail and fact-checking invested by the company making the map.

For example, a 2012 survey by the crowdsourcing company Crowdflower found that Google Maps accurately located 89 percent of businesses, while Apple Maps correctly found 74 percent. This isnt surprising, as Google invests millions in sending people around the world to map terrain for Google StreetView. Google Maps are good because the company invests time, money and human effort in making its maps good not because digital maps are inherently better.

Google Maps are good because the company invests time, money and human effort in making its maps good not because digital maps are inherently better.

Fanatical attention to detail is necessary to keep digital maps up to date, as conditions in the real world change constantly. Companies like Google are constantly updating their maps, and will have to do so regularly for as long as they continue to publish. The maintenance required for digital content is substantial a cost that technochauvinists often ignore.

In my view, its easier to forgive the errors in a paper map. Physical maps usually include an easily visible publication date so users can see when the map was published. (When was the last time you noticed the date-of-last-update on your car navigation system?) When you are passively following the spoken GPS directions of a navigation system, and there is, say, an unmarked exit, it confuses the GPS system and causes chaos among the people in the car. (Especially the backseat drivers.)

Some of the deeper flaws of digital maps are not readily apparent to the public. Digital systems, including cartographic ones, are more interconnected than most people realize. Mistakes, which are inevitable, can go viral and create more trouble than anyone anticipates.

For example: Reporter Kashmir Hill has written about a Kansas farm in the geographic center of the U.S. that has been plagued by legal trouble and physical harassment, because a digital cartography database mistakenly uses the farms location as a default every time the database cant identify the real answer.

As a result, for the last 14 years, every time MaxMinds database has been queried about the location of an IP address in the U.S. it cant identify, it has spit out the default location of a spot two hours away from the geographic center of the country, Hill wrote. This happens a lot: 5,000 companies rely on MaxMinds IP mapping information, and in all, there are now over 600 million IP addresses associated with that default coordinate.

A technochauvinist mindset assumes everything in the future will be digital. But what happens if a major company like Google stops offering its maps? What happens when a government shutdown means that satellite data powering smartphone GPS systems isnt transmitted? Right now, ambulances and fire trucks can keep a road atlas in the front seat in case electronic navigation fails. If society doesnt maintain physical maps, first responders wont be able to get to addresses when there is a fire or someone is critically ill.

Interrupting a countrys GPS signals is also a realistic cyberwarfare tactic. The U.S. Navy has resumed training new recruits in celestial navigation, a technique that dates back to ancient Greece, as a guard against when the digital grid gets hacked.

Ultimately, I dont think it should be a competition between physical and digital. In the future, people will continue to need both kinds of maps. Instead of arguing whether paper or digital is a better map interface, people should consider what map is the right tool for the task.

Meredith Broussard is a data journalism professor at the Arthur L. Carter Institute at New York University. She is the author of Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Why Paper Maps Matter in the Digital Age - The MIT Press Reader

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From a distance, Delhi University seems like the hallowed college life that only a minimum of 95 per cent in your Class 12 board exams can get you access to. But up close, the university space is just a cesspool of incompetence, premised on the need to make life for students absolutely miserable.

Since the lockdown was imposed in March, the university has approached online examinations with a single-minded obsession. Disregarding all pleas, warnings and prayers of students against these exams, the cause for merit reigned supreme for the university.

Delhi Universitys Open Book Examinations (OBE) debacle continues. After months of will-they-wont-they, the university announced that it would finally begin the much-criticised exams from 10 July. However, after the Home Ministry and the Delhi High Court intervened, the exams have been postponed till 15 August. Leaving final year undergraduate and postgraduate students in a lurch, yet again.

For the record, the notification for this change came two days before the exams were actually scheduled to begin.

The Covid-19 pandemic proved that life as we knew it could not continue like before, but it seems like Delhi University (DU) did not get the memo.

This examination obsession shows all that is wrong with Delhi University apathy toward students, prioritising outcome over process, and an inflexible attitude that ignores the ground reality.

Also read: StudentsLivesMatter trends as students outrage at UGC decision to hold final exams amid Covid

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When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the nationwide lockdown on 24 March, DU was in the middle of its mid-semester break. With half the semester slated to be conducted online, things began to look dicey.

An average English Masters class in DU consists of over a 100 students. Now imagine conducting online classes with these students, when even Zooms participant limit is just 100. Many professors gave up early on, but those who endeavoured to try soon realised how futile the exercise was.

However, even failed online classes were not enough to break DUs resolve. Since March, the university has switched dates, postponed exams or changed the rules at least four times.

According to Megha, an MA student, this constant back-and-forth regarding exams has revealed how incompetent the university is when it comes to to dealing with a crisis.

This situation just makes you want to completely give up. It is almost like they are playing with the students lives, mental health and their anxieties. It is just straight up apathy she says.

Also read: Your creative talent wont get you into DU anymore. Keep obsessing over marks marks marks

Much has been written about Indiass unequal access to internet, especially during this pandemic. A large part of this can be attributed to the communication blackouts imposed by the government. But the way the Delhi University and the University Grants Commission (UGC) has refused to consider this as a hindrance is appalling.

A glance at the websites of these institutions can give you a clue about how much they actually know about technology DUs official website is a quagmire to navigate through. No one really knows where the important links are, and the website takes hours to load on result day.

This is the same system that was supposed to handle the traffic of lakhs of students logging into its server for online exams from 10 July.

The joke was on them when they conducted mock tests of these proposed OBEs, earlier this week. There was an embarrassing array of problems that popped up from difficulties during registration to wrong question papers. DUs mammoth exercise proved to be a mammoth failure, and this was only the trial run. Till about a week ago, there was no provision of writers for visually-impaired students.

A student from Kashmir, who wished to remain anonymous, comments that this is all just a bad imitation of the Western model.

It seems that the university is only interested in putting up a demeanour of being capable. Ignoring the situation of the students, [it] is coming across as a rigid institution that sees nothing but marks and exams as the eligibility criteria of an acceptable student, she says.

Working on 2G internet, which takes hours and sometimes days to download a book, with the pandemic coming as close as your neighbours house, this exam is just designed to produce crippling anxiety in students who are expected to shut off from the world and its tragedies and focus on getting grades, she adds.

Also read: UGC cites top universities like MIT, Cambridge to justify decision to hold final-year exams

What has been evident through this entire debacle is the blatant manipulation DU has indulged in. Not only has the administration clearly lied to its students about the OBE exams, in terms of the regulations, dates and expectations, it has also been accused of lying to the court.

The university was all set to conduct the exams on 1 July but then suddenly postponed them to 10 July without informing the Delhi High court, which then considered contempt proceedings against DU for withholding information about deferment. The exams were allegedly postponed because the vice-registrars mother contracted Covid-19 another illustration of how arbitrarily this university functions.

We have a university administration that has managed to make things substantially worse for students in terms of infrastructure, accessibility, mental health and preparedness, says Anshul Mukarji, another postgraduate student.

There is a callousness coming from the university, which is completely unaffected by the plight of students. Even though there were reports of some students even committing suicide, he adds.

Students are the bottom-tier stakeholders in their own education.

According to another student, What we have is a bunch of bureaucratic fatcats who are just sitting around with no accountability to the students.

Many blame their departments and the UGC for failing to provide the students some respite. This week, UGC released guidelines asking universities to conduct exams for students in their final year. It is now pushing states that had rescinded exams to compulsorily conduct them.

Its a you must persevere, you must suffer sort of a situation for all students, says Srishti, a student of IP University, which also held exams for some departments after the UGCs directions.

Unfortunately, the students have little option but to persevere because the raging pandemic is not going anywhere anytime soon. And by the looks of it, neither is DUs incompetence or callous attitude.

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Delhi University has one obsession and its making a mess of it. Exams - ThePrint

As long as the term has existed, culture has always been obsessed with the idea of the It Girl; the trope that describes a fashionable and effortlessly cool young woman, whos seemingly chill from dawn (or whenever it suits her to get up) til dusk, an assumed personality who the boys generally lust after and all the other girls want to be. In the past, It Girls have included celebrities like Alexa Chung or Chlo Sevigny, but more often than not these untouchable figures with projected near-fictional narratives are, rather than real women, actual fictional characters. Back in the late noughties, these wouldve included boy-eater Jennifer Check of Jennifers Body, and Gossip Girls Serena Van De Woodsen. Noticeably, one particular it-girl has made a questionable comeback for Gen Z: the Bristol party girl with the stone-cold stare that began as a supporting role before becoming one of the main characters in the following seasons -- Kaya Scodelarios debut role as Effy Stonem from Skins.

Effy first stumbled her way onto our screens in January 2007 on Channel 4 to an audience of over one and a half million. Despite being completely silent, and initially presented as a secondary character to protagonist Tony, Effy became a force of nature, a mysterious fan favourite for teenage girls across the country. Her uber-curated grunge aesthetic, smeared make-up and appetite for hedonism were quickly replicated by fans who smudged their eyeliner and tried to perfect vacant, judgemental stares in honour of their new queen.

Fast forward thirteen years and its evident from TikTok that Effy is still the it-girl for alt youth, perhaps never stepping down from her throne in the first place. Girls on the app are digging out their Doc Martens, penciling black kohl across their waterlines and cosplaying as Effy, paying homage to their idol whilst synced with the original Skins theme tune. Seven years after the show finally ended, Effy lives on in memes attempting to bait depressed edgy girls and claims that she walked so that the e-girl could run. But without new content -- aired every Thursday night on Channel 4 -- to stoke the cool fire of teenage apathy, what's it like being a Skins stan in 2020?

Whilst one viral caption reads every girl in the UK wanted to be Effy at some point, Americans can sit this one out, there are many US fans of Skins on TikTok. Having first heard of the show through GIFs and fan edits on Tumblr, sixteen-year-old LA-based creator Gaby was instantly intrigued and started watching it online. I loved how unique the characters were, she says, not only their looks but their personalities as well. Each character had their own little story that coincided with each other, allowing me to understand who's being portrayed whilst relating their experiences to my own.

At the time I made that video I would get a lot of comparisons to Effy in my comment section, especially when it came to my fashion and makeup, adds Gaby, who uses TikTok occasionally to create montage or homage videos to the character. I used to be mesmerised by Effy and her character definitely influenced me when it came to my look... everything from the fishnets to the heavy eyeliner. I was absolutely in love.

Though she also realises that Skins is shot in a way where 'reckless living' is glorified, Gaby recognises a lot of the behaviour in her friend group but admits this could be down to living in a city. I live in LA where the nightlife is crazy and the people I surround myself with are even crazier, so a lot of aspects of Skins are relatable to my own experiences. But for a kid who lives in a small town and has a generally tame friend group, Id assume the show is seen as pure fiction.

Coco Vieno is an 18-year-old singer based in London who came across the show after an ex introduced her to it, her Skins inspired look TikTok video has amassed over 200k views. the look was inspired by her makeup because she seems so effortless and careless in everything that she does and when Im going through a tough time I like to distance myself from it and imagine what she would do to act like she isnt bothered. I wanted to make that video so I could live the fantasy of being like her for a few minutes.

Asides from directly influencing her fashion sense, which she admits changed to appeal more to the dirty 2000s aesthetic of the show, Coco feels Skins has affected her life in other ways too. It made me feel like my life was boring compared to theirs, she reveals, and it compelled me to get into bad situations with people that reminded me of the characters, and to party and drink more to escape from the boringness of everyday life.

Arguably though, there is something a bit sinister, or questionable at the least, around incorporating aspects from a fictional character into your own life, especially when the way they act results in little consequence and obviously glorified. Since the show first aired, both Effy and Cassie have often been linked to #thinspo or #problematicfave posts, triggering eating disorders in young watchers trying to achieve that look. But whilst they can be written out of a bad situation, thats not how reality works and so it can be dangerous.

TikTok user Juulspodsleftthechat, known IRL as Savanna, created a fake How To Be Effy From Skins tutorial to bait all the d3pr3ssed edgy girls" into watching. As someone who suffers from mental illnesses herself, she understands why Effys character appeals to that specific demographic so strongly. She has obviously toxic traits but still seems to be portrayed as popular and desirable to the characters around her. I believe this speaks to a lot of people because its about being accepted despite your mental illness.

Personally, I think that Skins is actually an awful show for those suffering with mental health problems, she tells me. It seems to romanticise addiction and unhealthy relationships with those around you. I think it is especially damaging to those with eating disorders as Cassie in Gen 1 seems to outline specific eating disorder tips and tricks. Eating disorders are incredibly competitive and seeing someone else who is ill can urge other people to try harder to be recognisably ill. I think there is danger in emulating fictional scenarios as people are more likely to take the fun aspects of Skins and forget about the problems the characters had due to their self destructive behaviours.

With so much pressure on teenagers nowadays -- from academic achievement to growing up with social media -- its easy to see why Effys indifferent attitude and edgy aesthetic are still exciting, becoming the ultimate dream life for teenage girls over the past decade despite being an exaggerated work of fiction. Even if Skins had never existed, teen characters and their problems would undoubtedly still have have been romanticised across fiction. But there's something specifically about Effy's character in particular which remains captivating, even for a generation of teens who were too young to notice or care about the show when it originally aired. Coco perhaps sums it up best: Our generation has either grown-up with or recently come across Skins, and every time Im in a weird situation that seems like it would fit the Skins aesthetic, theres always someone that acknowledges that," she says.

"I think this show has really influenced my generation on what our teenage years should be like.

Read more:
How TikTok resurrected the cult of Effy Stonem - i-D