No, suicides dont happen more often during the holidays, contrary to popular belief. But this time of year is still a challenging one for both patients and providers. The never-ending to-do lists, pressure to see family who hurt our mental health and constant temptation to overeat and drink can make it hard to get out of bed.

Because the challenges of the holiday season are so rampant, providers should take time to check in with patients about their coping abilities, saysPam Greene, PhD, RN, assistant professor in College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christie, and member of theAmerican Psychiatric Nurses Association(APNA).

RELATED: 6 Surprising Perks of Working Holidays as a Health Professional

If people have competing needs, and they have depression and anxiety, during the holidays, it can escalate, she explains.

Whats more, your efforts may have a more lasting impact during the end of the year. Why? Dr. Greene says mental health providers tend to have fewer appointments and could more easily squeeze in a referral.

Here are some ways to get the conversation started.

Dr. Greene frequently uses this as an opener with patients, especially with those whove had a hard year. This encourages them to speak candidly about whats bothering them and give you an opportunity to provide guidance as necessary.

For this strategy, weight loss is just an example. You can use any health initiative a patient has taken recently. This allows you to provide specific strategies to help the individual plan. For example, suggest they treat Christmas buffets as a sampler rather than a whole meal.

RELATED: 7 Tips from Health Professionals Whove Been There to Get Through Working Major Holidays

This is a good opening for a patient whos clearly feeling down or anxious. It shows that you understand them as an individual and youre paying attention. The key here, Dr. Greene says, is to be direct. Say exactly what youre noticing and what your worries are as a healthcare provider.

Again, letting a patient know that you notice their needs will help them open up. This can also be an excellent transition to talking about new years resolutions. Starting them a few weeks early can help patients take back a sense of control, Dr. Green advises.

The holidays come with plenty of social obligations, which can cause people to de-prioritize the people they see often who are actually beneficial for their mental health. We want to encourage people to stick to the parts of the holidays that are keeping in their values, Dr. Greene explains.

Sometimes, no matter how many Christmas banners declaring Joy to the World you drive past, you cant get that warm, fuzzy feeling. But encouraging struggling patients to focus on how theyve helped someone important to them can.

Nothing cuts through the overwhelming sense that youre a failure like thinking through what youve actually gotten done. This question provides a small dose of empowerment that can last for weeks.

RELATED: 9 Creative Ways to Thank Your Colleagues Who Worked Thanksgiving So You Didnt Have To

If the responses to any of these questions give you pause, Dr. Greene reminds fellow providers to conduct a mental-health screening. If the patients baselines are elevated, it might be time for a referral.

Asking personal questions during a time of year where were all struggling can seem daunting, but the goal, Dr. Greene says, is simple: Give patients permission to manage their own lives.

Read more:

7 Inspiring Messages to Share with Patients Struggling During the Holiday Season - Florence Health

How do you take stock of a decade? In its peaks and valleys, or the grey areas in between? In the 2010s, music became a benchmark for culture: it reflected the seismic shifts, the unease surrounding our increasing reliance on technology, the political unrest and the shrinking of the worlds borders. Just as some people wondered if music still had relevance, the creative spirit found a way to bounce back. The best albums of the 2010s, then, not only define the decade, they chart an artistic rebirth.

The 2010s were a time of great transition and breaking down of conventions. Hip-hop became pop music, while R&B resurfaced with fresh voices. Pop got personal and rock was no longer a monolithic genre, splintering into tiny factions to suit every taste. EDM rose and fell, new icons emerged and old ones re-established themselves.

This list of the 25 best albums of the 2010s could easily be 200 entries long, but weve focused on those records that have truly defined the decade: works by the trailblazers, the disruptors and the torchbearers in popular culture.

Think weve missed some of your best albums of the 2010s? Let us know in the comments section, below.

Listen to the best 2010s music on Spotify, and scroll down for our 30 best albums of the 2010s.

Ask anyone to name the most exciting new voice in hip-hop right now and theyll all give you the same answer: Tierra Whack. While the 2010s saw the return of the female MC (Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj), Whack operates outside of the hypersexualised scene, preferring to sit in the margins, creating an experimental collection of vignettes on her debut album. This 15-song set of minute-long songs is either very punk or just economical. You be the judge.Check out: Whack World

Theres a kind of blinding optimism on Teenage Dream makes you wonder: when did we all stop being this happy? Katy Perrys sophomore release cemented her status as a global pop star, and managed to capture the youthful feeling of invisibility on heartfelt anthems like Firework, Teenage Dream and Last Friday Night (TGIF). An instant classic if there ever was one.Check out: Firework

Technology has not only globalised pop music but has connected todays generation with folk music traditions. Taking 200 years worth of flamenco history and fusing it with trap-R&B is truly a 21st-century invention, and Rosalas sophomore effort, El Mal Querer, is one of the most gorgeous and experimental albums of the 2010s.Check out: Malamente (Cap.1: Augurio)

Anyone following in music in the 2010s is sure to have a Pavlovian response to the opening synth lines to Grimes Oblivion. Both the song and its parent album, Visions, were the perfect distillation of the kind of bedroom experimentation embarked on by a generation with endless influences just a keystroke away and enough speedball energy drinks to fuel them. IDM meets pop meets industrial on Claire Bouchers breakthrough album, which found her inviting us into her manic pixie dreamworld full of endless loops and layers.Check out: Oblivion

Most musical trends dont fit into tidy units of measured decades they ebb and flow, spilling into the next era. Billie Eilish may be the last new pop star of the decade, but her debut album is firmly pointed towards the future. A product of SoundCloud trap and earnest bedroom-pop, Eilish is the latest artist to carry the torch of youth culture, but, unlike her predecessors, she only answers to herself.Check out: bad guy

When The Weeknd made his mysterious entrance in 2011, with his debut mixtape, House Of Balloons, it felt like contraband. Before the Drake co-sign, before people even knew his name, the man born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye was just a spectre who fused Siouxsie And The Banshees samples with tales of drugs, debauchery and a haunting falsetto. His brand of otherworldly R&B and narcoticised production would become the blueprint for R&B well into the decade.Check out: What You Need

If the early 00s were about a rock renaissance, the 2010s were about peak poptimism. While critics started to take the genre more seriously, artists stepped up to the plate to deliver pop with purpose. Case in point: Lady Gagas Born This Way. The album is both retro-inspired and future-minded a metaphor for the decade as a whole. Gagas unabashed excess and anthems of inclusiveness marked a pivotal moment in pop music.Check out: Born This Way

As one decade opened, the bastions of the previous decade closed-up shop. Electro-dance-punk outfit LCD Soundsystem bade their fans and New Yorks once-thriving indie scene goodbye with their final album, capped by a historic run at Madison Square Garden. This Is Happening was full of send-offs (Home), wistful dance-pop numbers (Dance Yrself Clean) and nostalgia for the present (I Can Change).Check out: Dance Yrself Clean

If anyones responsible for the kind of genre-subversion that pervaded the 2010s, it was James Blake. With his tender torch songs and synth soundscapes, the dubstep DJ turned singer-songwriter wrote the kind of melancholic pop that comforted club kids and introverts alike. After a string of buzzworthy EPs, Blake emerged with his 2011 self-titled debut, putting his transcendent voice on display and carving out his own genre: electronica-soul.Check out: Limit To Your Love

Picking up the mantle of jilted torch singer after Amy Winehouse died, Adeles blue-eyed soul was just as essential to the 2010s as anything by the pop stars who were experimenting with form. Her traditionalist pop followed in the footsteps of other great UK songstresses like Dusty Springfield and Petula Clark, but communal heartbreak cuts across generations, and 21 has become the biggest-selling album of the 21st Century to date.Check out: Someone Like You

A post-recession record if there ever was one, The Suburbs may have acutely captured the kind of unease that lingered in the air following the 2008 financial crisis, but Arcade Fire also prophesied the anxiety-ridden 2010s. Many returned to their family homes following the crash, but the suburbs were always an empty promise. This time, the band turned their collective focus away from mortality and looked inward, towards suburban ennui: By the time the first bombs fell, we were already bored. Man were they right.Check out: The Suburbs

When Beach House first staked their claim on pop culture, the 00s was a breeding ground for lo-fi, chillwave rock, but 2010s Teen Dream remains their defining moment. With their lush arrangements and Victoria Legrands layered vocals, Beach House moved out of the bedroom pop scene and onto the stage.Check out: Zebra

After the Knowles sisters unleashed their personal manifestos in 2016, it was only a matter of time before Jay Z would reveal his own innermost feelings. As the elder statesman of hip-hop and one of the successful business moguls to date, many had written him out of the game. With 4:44, however, Jay Z eschewed the posturing and braggadocio of his heyday, recording an intensely personal record of love, regret and repentance.Check out: 4:44

Following a long line of female country artists who broke into the pop mainstream, Kacey Musgraves became the kind of upstart the genre needed, with her mould-breaking, Grammy-winning album Golden Hour. As one of Nashvilles finest singer-songwriters, Mugraves applies a knack for lyrical detail to a sweeping country album that spans pop, rock and disco.Check out: Rainbow

When Lana Del Rey first landed, in 2012, she was an enigmatic figure with pin-up looks and narcotised torch songs, and Born To Diewas the album that launched a thousand think pieces. Rigorous online discourse about authenticity, personas and personal appearance surrounded her debut album, yet Lana Del Rey foresaw the future of pop music. Her bold pastiche of Americana, filtered through nostalgia and her beguiling voice, launched the sad girl pop subgenre, and while her latest effort, Norman F__king Rockwell, may be her strongest yet, Born To Die and standout song Video Games is what set everything in motion.Check out: Video Games

As the 2010s marched forward, technology, which seemed to be bringing people together, began to create gulfs between them. No one understood this better than Kevin Parker (Tame Impala). Moving away from his guitar-driven earlier work, the studio wizard used psychedelic synths, samples and ambient sounds as his new sonic palette, creating introspective anthems that spoke to a generation on his album Lonerism.Check out: Feels Like We Only Go Backwards

It had been nearly 15 years since DAngelo blessed the world with his neo-soul masterpiece Voodoo, but on his 2014 follow-up, Black Messiah, he proved it was well worth the wait. While Voodoo was sensual and loose, Black Messiah kept things tight: a lesson in groove and R&B fusion, thanks to his Vanguard band. Arriving in the thick of the Black Lives Matter movement, Black Messiah tapped into the eras cultural zeitgeist, delivering the salvation we needed.Check out: Sugah Daddy

Rihanna has always been one of pops biggest risk-takers, but on her eighth studio album, ANTi, she truly broke away from the pop industrial complex. Sure, there were dancehall jams (Work), but she also dabbled in doo-wop (Love On The Brain) and 80s sleazy synth-rock (Kiss It Better). I got to do things my own way, darling, she declared on Consideration and it paid off. Anti became the first album from black female artist to spend 200 weeks on the Billboard 200.Check out: Love On The Brain

Just as critics decried the death of rock following its early 00s revival, St Vincent led the charge of female rock heroes, demonstrating her axe playing and songwriting prowess on Strange Mercy. Her enigmatic vocals and creative arrangements had been evident on her previous releases, but it wasnt until her third album that she fully unleashed her powers.Check out: Cruel

Rocks original chameleon left us with one of his most daring collections of music, shaking up the status quo as if were 1976 all over again. Arriving just two days before his passing, saw David Bowie remain adventurous to the end, eschewing his rock roots and delivering an exploratory jazz-fusion record that became the perfect farewell to five decades worth of history-making music.Check out: Lazurus

Long before he became Blood Orange, Dev Hynes sonic fingerprints were all over the emerging pop scene of the 2010s. Writing and producing for artists like Solange and Sky Ferreira, Hynes was the go-to man for late-night vibey records and slinky jams a sound that would reach its logical conclusion on Cupid Deluxe. As an homage to the people, places and sounds of the queer dance scene of 80s New York, Cupid Deluxe takes the kitchen-sink approach, melding a bit of disco, soul and R&B to create the new hybrid pop sound that would dominate the decade.Check out: Time Will Tell

With her bubblegum-pop teen icon days behind her, Robyn reinvented herself in 2010 with Body Talk. Developing from a mini-album trilogy, Body Talk proved dance music was anything but disposable; finding humanity on the dancefloor, it tapped into feelings of loneliness and escapism. With a knack for melody, Robyn delivered an electro-pop album so good it would take eight years for her to release a follow-up.Check out: Dancing On My Own

To be honest, most of Taylor Swifts discography would rightly belong on this list. Since her crossover pop hit Red, in 2012, she delivered a string of classic pop albums through the 2010s, with a lyrical wit that few possess. But out of all of Swifts post-country albums, 1989remains her most fully realised: the moment when she fully clinched the pop throne.Check out: Blank Space

No longer beholden to the benchmarks of the past, the 2010s saw more pop stars getting personal and taking risks, all thanks to Beyonc. Following the albums release, the term lemonade has become shorthand for pop artists releasing their personal concept records their own lemonades. Following her culture-shifting visual album Beyonc, Lemonade was more than a break-up album, it was a declaration of war that played out on an accompanying 65-minute film that only Beyonc could pull off.Check out: Formation

In many ways, the 2010s was the decade that Drake built: a ten-year victory lap that started with Thank Me Later(2010) and ended with Scorpion (2018), but it was with Take Carethat Drake showed his true colours, creating the template for the vulnerable hip-hop star. Drake wasnt the first rapper to sing on record, but he was the first rap-pop star, absorbing every genre that lay before him.Check out: Marvins Room

Before Billie Eilish came along, Lorde was the most famous teenager in the world, thanks to her all-conquering debut album, Pure Heroine, released when she was just 16. In the years that followed, the Kiwi star spawned many emulators, but she would eclipse them all with her sophomore effort, Melodrama, a coming-of-age record that captures in vivid detail all the joys and heartaches of navigating adulthood.Check out: Green Light

The 2010s was a tumultuous decade, to say the least, and only a handful of artists successfully managed to channel the eras political unrest while creating a sense of hope at the same time. Solanges A Seat At The Table didnt just shift the culture, it ignited a movement. With her celebration of black womanhood and black empowerment, Solange earned a seat at the table of power while inspiring countless others to demand theirs. Even as the album bore the weight of a nation on its shoulders, it still sounded impossibly light.Check out: Cranes In The Sky

Kanyes ego has been both his biggest strength and his biggest weakness, but it serves him well on his ambitious opus, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Following a self-imposed mini-hiatus, West doubled down on his vices and created an ode to excess and hedonism. Casting a critical eye on both America and himself, he offered a a toast for the a__holes while bringing some friends along for the ride. Stacked with A-list appearances by Nicki Minaj (on her scene-stealing Monster verse), Pusha T (Runaway), Kid Cudi and Raekwon (Gorgeous), MBDTF set the scene for a flood of classic hip-hop albums in the 2010s.Check out: Runaway

After proving himself a master storyteller on his major label debut album, Good Kid, mAAd City, Kendrick Lamar delivered another musical deep-dive into the black experience with To Pimp A Butterfly. A stunning assimilation of jazz, funk, hip-hop and African music, Butterfly offered the kind of boundless vision the decade was waiting for.Check out: Alright

R&B experienced some of its biggest-ever shifts during the 2010s, as radio started to dwindle and the genres tight constrictions gave way to what would be coined alt-R&B. Frank Ocean was one of the key architects of this sea change, both in sound and lyrical context: though he avoided the genres traditional vocal, Oceans sentiments were no less impassioned. channel ORANGE is a slow-burn, but its full of rich details. Ocean brought a sense of fluidity to the genre, occupying a variety of characters points of view and, in turn, delivering a fresh perspective: his own. As one of the first openly gay artists in hip-hop and R&B, Ocean ignited a self-reckoning in modern pop music.Check out: Thinkin Bout You

Looking for more? Discover the full story behind a transformative decade in music.

See the article here:

Best Albums Of The 2010s: 30 Classics That Defined The Decade - uDiscover Music

When Sophia Takals Black Christmas remake announced a shift from R to PG-13, the internet as per brand flew into an overreactive tirade equating horror quality to R designations. My response? Ratings do not maketh the movies. Any film, MPAA ruling aside, depends on its cinematic makeup to deliver a worthwhile theatergoing (or home watching) experience. Black Christmas isnt one of the years most disappointing horror films because its PG-13 rated. Its because quickie edits around mature R content are noticeable, or unbalanced ADR doubles decibel levels, or characters are helplessly underwritten and uncharismatically presented.

Horror movies arent bad *because* theyre approved below R. Horror movies, as with Black Christmas, are bad because, well, theyre just poorly constructed and bafflingly ineffective.

In Takals iteration, co-written by April Wolfe, sorority sisters find themselves prey for hooded killers on the eve of winter vacation. Imogen Poots stars as Riley, whos retreated into her personal shell after a fraternal encounter turns into assault. Years later, women are still going unbelieved as Rileys crew starts receiving stalkerish texts from Hawthorne Colleges famed founder Calvin Hawthorne. Riley and others are threats, after all, given how Kris (Aleyse Shannon) petitions loudly to denounce Hawthorne of deceased Calvins bigoted pro-male agenda. Do you need me to confirm Rileys in store for anything but a silent night?

Erase any connections to Bob Clarks Black Christmas, as this is a reinvention between Clarks home invasion masterpiece and 2006s remade slaughter-slasher meatgrinder. Takals vision apes Youre Next on sorority row (for a spell), as masked attackers break into Rileys dormitory (Hawthornes Greek housing is all stone-built mansions). Its never as dreadfully tense as Clarks vulgar phone calls though nor kill-happy ambitious as Glen Morgans jaundiced ho-ho-horror. What exists as an introduction for teenage girls into horror falls victim to careless death sequences only ever ending with a quick cutaway after yet another isolated mark is about to be snatched by Hawthornes hooded assailants. Rinse, repeat, yawn.

Enter the films pro-feminist message, screamed through a neon pink megaphone placed three centimeters from your ear. There is, hear me clearly, *no qualm* with such a fiery focus on females turning the tides against male abusers. Black Christmas has *always* been about womens fears and words being ignored by men (re: 70s abortion talk), and 2019s reboot supports the need for updating with thematically enraged essentialism. At its most basic, in conceptualization, Takal and Wolfe justify their lesser remake with modernized outcries.

Follies all reside in execution, which fumbles tonality and becomes an unfortunate parody of itself by leaning into thematic empowerment like a sledgehammer to the face. Takals problem? Posturing what feels like a gender-bashing exploitation leap-of-faith with the somber cadance of Steven Spielbergs Lincoln. Every scene has a #MeToo or #NotAllMen or Your body, your choice line peppered in, skewering the patriarchy like beating a corpse into a bloody pulp (except no grotesqueries are shown, e.g. PG-13). What should be a searing fraternal takedown loses weight, nor does Rileys emotional burden culminate with deserved catharsis. Black Christmas gets lost in its desires, which is a shame because experience-based horror sticks (keys as defense weapons, walking home alone, etc.).

Infinitely worse, 2019s remake is a mess of continuity (greek letters), cult explanations, and useless character development. Post-production voiceover work stands out like two different co-eds are talking in the same scene despite there only being one student, talking to herself, over a camera angle shift. Theres such little care paid to the technical bits, thinking of how rapid edit techniques are jarring momentum killers just as were about to glimpse something wicked (obvious manipulation of R to PG-13). Production design stages some bright holiday light-work for cinematography to capture, only thats one twinkling ornament on a tree otherwise full of rusted duds.

You hate to see it, but choice sequences suggest all the makings of a studio ordered hack-and-slice recut. Thinking of Jesses (Brittany OGrady) corpse-in-the-attic callback to Clarks original, where cameras flip away from certain doom and upon discovering the body minutes later (again, honoring Clarks iconic scene), viewers only get a blink-quick, back-to-front turn before capturing too much of a sharp object stabbed into her face. Something, assumedly, we would have seen in the R version. The ill-paced, short-duration detracts from the reverence being paid and encapsulates recurring issues throughout the assembly of Black Christmas.

Thus bringing us to the killers themselves, who eh, sorry kids. Lets approach spoiler territory because Ive got some feelings about everything that transpires. Those wanting to go in fresh as St. Nick before a night of delivering presents works up his holly-jolly funk? Skip to after the stars. Whats in between will spill the beans to speak.

*****

Remember how you wondered if the trailers revealed all the secrets of Black Christmas? Nail on the head, but *weirder* somehow. Kris forcing of Calvin Hawthornes bust to be removed from central lobby placement ends up meaning the statue now lives with the schools vilest frat. Were talking prep-boy slicked hair, blatant misogyny as a hobby, women as servents mentalities the perfect targets for Calvins possession takeover.

Yes, the boys of Delta What Evera discover Calvins bust oozes black sludge that injects the headmasters spirit into militant pledges, who are inhabited by his insatiable hatred towards women. Either to be domesticated or murdered for disobedience. Theres no grey area, as even nice guys are tainted by their male affliction when migraines turn out to be their true alpha being coaxed out by Calvins words. Even the nicest guys harbor a darkness hidden deep inside based on chromosomes alone; a subplot thats never explored with even half the needed commentary.

This is where Black Christmas unravels (further) because the cult has no identity beyond capes and engraved paddles (led by creeper-sophisticate Cary Elwes). Its stated that Rileys friends are being hunted because Professor Gelsons (Elwes) minions hold one personal item per victim, but the why escapes us (maybe a commentary on how men are dogs, needing something to sniff before hunting like any trained canine would do). Hawthornes juicy bust is discovered because someone reads incantations on the statue, yet he never once leaked while on public display? Whos signing up for this ritual? Whats with the killing of other men who arent part of the plan? Wheres any ounce of subtle recognition? Toxic masculinity is combated with a united, girl-power front, but in a way that never permits storytelling to provoke the feelings of maniac exploitation required. Cue sorority warriors with crossbows battling supernatural fratbags powered by Hawthornes spirit while flames engulf all around which should be WAY more entertaining than offered.

*****

Getting back to basics, frustrations are hammered over and over throughout the films duration. Theres never a desire to misguide audiences, as evens 2006 debacle hooked more red herrings. Mediocrity on-screen is deemed acceptable due to the importance of addressing mans villainous role in society. It all feels like a heavy-handed PSA that forgets what made Bob Clarks original one of the first slashers a blueprint that couldnt be replicated, so Halloween became the franchise formula to imitate (even here via Frans demise). Takal and Wolfe take a mighty home-run hitters swing at granting new generations, forgotten demographics, their Christmas Horror classic. Although, dare I say even Into The Darks done a better job at that?

Oh, and performances wait, this review is *how* long already? Well, Ill glance by Imogen Poots and her spunky supporting cast being failed by two constant modes: college-chick perkiness or at-odds collegiate drama. Theres no in-between. Its either laughs shared over schmaltzy sisterhood buildup (ants are important, somehow) or screechy fighting that escalates without natural regard (again, clashing tones). Characters who backpedal on what little development exists to basely further plotting. That, and average dudes who are paid even less attention and planted as buffoonish devices (not the frat monsters, mind you).

Black Christmas (2019) will not be remembered as a seasonal gift to genre audiences. Sophia Takals latest Blumhouse collaboration doesnt add to her impressive previous catalog that includes Always Shine and New Year, New You. Takals holiday slasher fails to keep a hot streak from freezing over, and might even feel out of her hands at times, but nevertheless. No matter the reasoning, what results will leave horror fans of all ages, genders, and preferences scratching their heads. A few vocal moments of women CANNOT be broken wrapped-up in the sloppiest, most slapped-together decorative disaster.

Continue reading here:

Black Christmas Review - We Got This Covered

Rajya Sabha has passed the Constitution (126th Amendment) Bill, 2019 which seeks to extend the reservation for SCs & STs in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by another 10 years till January 25, 2030.

The House also passed the Constitution (scheduled tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 through a voice vote. The legislation specifies the tribal communities which are deemed to be included in the Scheduled Tribes list.

The House also passed International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019. It seeks to set up a single authority to regulate the financial services market in the International Financial Services Centres in India set up under the SEZ Act, 2005. The Bill has already been cleared by the Lok Sabha.

The Rajya Sabha has returned the Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2019, which seeks to authorise appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2019-20, to the Lok Sabha.

The Lok Sabha passed the Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019, which aims to convert three existing Sanskrit deemed universities in the country into Central universities.

Today is the penultimate day of the winter session.

Here are the live updates from today's session:

Rajya Sabha | 9.00 p.m.

Rajya Sabha is adjourned till December 13, 2019.

Rajya Sabha | 8.40 p.m.

The Rajya Sabha accepts the Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2019, which seeks to authorise appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2019-20, and returns it to the Lok Sabha.

A money bill, after being passed by the Lok Sabha is sent to the Rajya Sabha for its recommendations. It has to be returned to the lower house within a period of 14 days, with or without its recommendations.

The House is now taking up special mentions.

8.20 p.m.

We will honour our commitment and pay the GST dues to the States, says Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Rajya Sabha.

Jairam Ramesh counters her and says that the dues have not been paid since August and Ms. Sitharaman should honour it.

Lok Sabha is adjourned till December 13, 2019.

Lok Sabha | 7.50 p.m.

Lok Sabha passes the Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019.

Rajya Sabha | 7.45 p.m.

Manish Gupta of the AITC says that government borrowings have increased alarmingly. Already a lot has been spent on recapitalisation of banks, which are reluctant to lend further due to previous NPAs and other risks.

Lok Sabha | 7.30 p.m

Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', Union Minister of Human Resource Development says that the path to a new India is through this Bill. These Central Sanskrit universities are being set up so that the 'granthas' within the Sanskrit language can be explored.

The Centre will take steps to consolidate all languages, he says.

Rajya Sabha | 7.20 p.m.

The Rajya Sabha passes the International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019.

It is now discussing the Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2019, which seeks to authorise appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2019-20.

Rajya Sabha | 7.00 p.m.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says that the Bill provides for setting up of a single regulatory body for financial products approved by other regulators.

As a result, some sections of the acts governed by the SEBI Act, Pension Regulatory Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority will be amended, she says.

The CAG will audit the International Financial Services Centres Authority, she adds.

Rajya Sabha | 6.45 p.m.

Jairam Ramesh of the Congress party says that we have only one international financial services centre right now that is going to be regulated. The Bill is needed for a much-wanted project in Gujarat - GIFT - a centre planned by the then-CM in 2005 to create a Singapore-like city on the Sabarmati front under the SEZ Act, he adds.

The Bill is meant to regulate the GIFT city. However, after 9 years of existence, out of 62 million square feet, less than 3 million square feet of commercial property has been developed. Hence the project has seen abysmal progress and has created a ripple effect in India's NBFC sector, Mr. Ramesh adds.

Hence this Bill will be a 'gift to the GIFT project', he adds.

Rajya Sabha | 6.40 p.m.

Rajya Sabha passes the Constitution (scheduled tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 through a voice vote.

The House is now taking up International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 for consideration and passing.

Rajya Sabha | 6.30 p.m.

Renuka Singh Saruta, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, says that the Centre has received proposals from 21 States to include some tribal communities in the Scheduled list.

But the Centre has to take into consideration several criteria like their economic and social situation, geographical bounds, etc, she says.

The House is now taking up clause by clause consideration of the Bill.

Rajya Sabha | 6.20 p.m.

Binoy Viswam of the CPI says that across India, tribal lands have been snatched away either by the government or land mafia. Kerala is also affected by this. The Forest Rights Act, brought in by the UPA-1 government with the Left's support is also being diluted in many places, even by way of legal orders, he says.

The Chair interrupts Mr. Viswam and he ends his speech.

Lok Sabha | 6.20 p.m.

Ganesh Singh of the BJP says that the Sanskrit language gave us knowledge of traditions and the alphabet. The country will progress only when the language is preserved, he adds.

Lok Sabha | 6.00 p.m.

Arvind Ganpat Sawant of the Shiv Sena in his support for the Central Sanskrit Universities Bill says that whoever learns Sanskrit will be able to learn other languages too.

The House unanimously decided to extend the session till the passing of the Bill.

Rajya Sabha | 5.40 p.m.

The Constitution (scheduled tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 is taken up for consideration and passing.

Rajya Sabha | 5.20 p.m.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu says if we take up the Constitution Amendment, it needs atleast 2/3rd of the votes. "I appeal to all members to join and take part in the voting and see that the House takes up the issue as per the expectation of the people. If any unparliamentary is there, it will be removed from the records."

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition says there is no disrespect to the House. "We get hurt sometimes. There has to be mutual respect. Respect begets respect. While we fully go by the direction of the Chair, we also expect some respect from the Chair. We were humble and we created institutions. My submission to the govt would be, you can't compete with the Opposition."

Mr. Naidu says everyone has a good experience and members should play their role in a responsible way.

The Bill is put to vote.

Desh Deepak Verma, Secretary General explains the voting procedure and then begins the voting.

Clause by clause voting taken up by the House.

Result: There were 163 ayes and 0 noes and 0 abstains for all clauses.

The Constitution (126th Amendment) Bill, 2019 is passed.

The Bill seeks to extend the reservation for SCs & STs in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by another 10 years till January 25, 2030.

"I am disappointed that more than 80 members are not present in the House," says the Chair.

Lok Sabha | 5.00 p.m.

Beesetti Venkata Satyavathi (YSRCP) bats for Sanskrit to be included in research, computer science, mathematics and social sciences.

Rajya Sabha | 4.45 p.m.

The Constitution (126th Amendment) Bill, 2019 seeks to extend the reservation for SCs & STs in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies by another 10 years till January 25, 2030.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition says political empowerment is necessary for all communities and religion. "I seek the reservation for Anglo-Indians to be taken up in Lok Sabha and Assembly. Anglo-Indians are the ones who have worked on empowerment for women. Atleast 33% reservation is needed."

Thaawarchand Gehlot, Leader of the House says that the citizens will know what the govt has done for SC/STs.

Lok Sabha | 4.00 p.m.

Om Birla is in Chair.

Members list their grievances and questions on crop losses from their respective states.

Ramesh Pokhriyal, Human Resource Development Minister says let this bill be passed and make India better.

Rajya Sabha | 3.30 p.m.

K.K. Ragesh of CPI(M) says he should be supporting The Constitution (126th amendment) Bill, 2019 since it helps SC/ST. But he wants to oppose for the fact that it doesn't help Anglo-Indians.

P. Wilson (DMK) mentions that yesterday, a bill was against Muslims and today, this bill is against Christians.

V. Vijaysai Reddy (YSRCP) says that even after 70 years, there is no perceptible change in the status of SC/ST. "It is due to the party that has ruled this country for 50 years. The Congress party has not done anything for SCs and STs. I hope that the present govt would achieve this goal."

Lok Sabha | 3.20 p.m.

Stake in Air India

The government has decided to sell its entire 100% stake in Air India under the proposed disinvestment process, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.

The national carrier, which has a debt burden of more than 50,000 crore, has been making loss for long and as part of revival efforts, the government has decided on disinvestment.

After formation of the new government, Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM) has been reconstituted and the re-initiation of the strategic disinvestment of Air India has been approved.

AISAM has approved the 100 per cent sale of Government of India stake in Air India for the re-initiated strategic disinvestment of Air India, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Air Indias net loss in 2018-19 is provisionally estimated to be 8,556.35 crore.

The minister said various measures, including enabling swift transition of Jet Airways aircraft to other airlines, have been taken to improve the aviation sector.

Full service carrier Jet Airways shuttered operations in April due to cash crunch.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has embarked upon a capital investment of over 25,000 crore in next five years for development/ upgradation/ modernisation of various airports and air navigation infrastructure, Mr. Puri said. - PTI

Rajya Sabha | 3.20 p.m.

Policies on non-personal data

A committee of experts has been constituted to study and recommend policies on non-personal data, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Sanjay Dhotre said it was decided that a committee of experts will be constituted under the chairmanship of Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan to deliberate on a Data Governance Framework and recommend measures...

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Parliament proceedings | LS passes bill to bring 3 Sanskrit universities under the Centre - The Hindu

Robyn Whitwham works as an architect for Stantec. She says designing the Green Haven Shelter for Women - which offiially opens Friday - taught her about recovery, reintegration and empowerment. This story originally appeared onStantec.com.

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Ihave a confession: the idea I had about a womans path from victim to survivor in cases of domestic abuse was all wrong.

I thought that seeking emergency shelter meant looking for just thatan immediate, short-term, safe place to go that provides basic resources. In reality, a shelter needs to be much more than a roof over your head.

In designing a womens shelter with my teamthe Green Haven Shelter for Women in OrilliaI quickly realized the potential impact the built environment can have on the well-being of survivors of abuse.

In the case of Green Haven, the nearly 30-year-old organization gives survivors of abuse a safe space and allows them to live in an environment of mutual respect. But the former shelter building could no longer effectively serve the needs of its users.

It had become outdated and uncomfortable. So, my design team needed to create a new building with robust security features that didnt feel like an institution.

Walking through the front door of a shelter is not the end of a journey to recoveryits the beginning. One of the main reasons a woman might return to her abuser, even after seeking shelter, is the fear of change and the perceived comfort in returning to a predictable environment.

Uprooting her own life and, if she has dependent children, the life of her family can seem scarier than her former unsafe situation. When creating spaces that offer a new beginning for survivors, designers need to focus on easing this transition. How can a building help propel a woman toward empowerment? How can design contribute to breaking the cycle of abuse for good?

While designing spaces to cultivate a sense of community inside the shelter is essential, you also need to provide the spatial means for privacy. The challenge comes in achieving the right amount of both.

A woman should be given the autonomy to choose the level of engagement and interaction that works for her. For Green Haven, the communal spacewhich includes a kitchen, dining area, lounge, and childrens play areais where that community can thrive.

This is where residents can share meals together, where their children can do their homework, and where there is direct access to the secure outdoor space. Our strategy was to create a space to encourage peer support and break the isolation that can come from abuse.

On the other hand, access to a private space for respite is equally important for women to feel comfortable and secure.

In Green Havens former facility, the rooms with multiple bedsmostly bunk bedscreated a stressful environment for women who shared a room with strangers while in an often vulnerable and distressed state. We ensured the new shelter included only single and double bedrooms with a connecting door between select rooms, creating a suite for instances where a woman has multiple children.

We placed a considerable focus on the wall partitions surrounding rooms, to ensure soundproofing between spacesespecially where private conversations are most likely to happen. In addition, we separated the bedrooms from the semi-public and public zones of the building for those seeking privacy.

A domestic abuse survivor might have a triggering relationship with their home, so its important to leave room for personalization to encourage residents to make the shelter their new home.

This can help the transition into a new place feel more comfortable. In the design, its important to ensure residents can customize their environment to reclaim the sense of belonging that was eroded by abuse. Giving control over lighting levelsboth natural and artificialas well as temperature contributes to the feeling of home.

For Green Haven, the only fixed elements inside the bedrooms are the built-in closets. We wanted all furniture to be movable so that residents can rearrange it as they choose. There is a comfort that comes from having a place to call your own.

When we think of security, we often imagine physical barriers such as bulletproof glass and surveillance cameras. While these are all essential to the overall safety of the buildings occupants, creating an atmosphere that feels physically andequally as importantemotionally safe involves more than key fobs.

Its vital to know the triggers that could make a resident feel at risk. If a woman doesnt feel protected by the shelter, theres a higher risk shell leave and potentially return to unsafe conditions.

At Green Haven, we created a sense of safety through warmth and the straightforward organization of space. The entrance canopy, clad in wood and brightly lit, is welcoming and says, youre here now, and we will protect you. The predictable floor plan has clear sightlines to reduce the need for surveillance cameras.

The mechanical and electrical rooms can be accessed directly from the exterior so that maintenance workers dont need to enter the shelter. Passersby cant see any windows from the sidewalk in front of the building, and there is a high masonry wall separating the backyard exterior area from the street.

Bedrooms have lockable closets to secure personal belongings. These more passive security strategies were intentional to ensure the building doesnt feel institutional and the residents feel protected.

When we use design to reignite a sense of belonging for abuse survivors, we can encourage them to feel empowered to find strength in moments of weakness and choose a path forward to recovery.

I now understand that a shelter needs to be so much more than a room behind a locked door. The space should help restore the individuals sense of identity and their dignity. Hopefully, the design contributes to an environment of normalcy.

Ive learned so much from my experience with Green Haven, and Im thrilled to see this project come to life. Contact me if youd like to learn more about this compelling project and the design that went into it.

Continued here:

New Green Haven is much 'more than a room behind a locked door' - OrilliaMatters

Kenny Salvini founded the Here and Now Project, a local non-profit that connects people whose lives have been affected by paralysis. (Photo by Luke Savot.)

As a self-identified adrenaline junkie, Kenny Salvini learned to ski when he was only three years old a hobby that would drastically change the course of his life.

Eight months after graduating college, Salvini headed to Snoqualmie Pass for some night-skiing with his father. He took a jump too fast, fell 40 feet onto his head, and was permanently paralyzed from the shoulders down.

I spoke with Salvini almost sixteen years later. All I can do is shrug, he said, moving his head and shoulders to demonstrate. I drive the [wheelchair] with my headits all sensors in the headrest.

After returning home from the hospital, Salvini entered what he called a six-year dark spell. He was depressed, sore, isolated, and emotionally lost. If I cant be that adrenaline junkie thats out coaching, wrestling, and all these things I was doing before, he reflected, then who am I?

Eventually Salvini found other paraplegics who gave him access not only to vital tools, such as cushions that would heal the pressure sores hed been suffering from, but to people whose experiences and stories reflected his own.

The fellowship he found in others was instrumental to the creation of the Here and Now Project, a local non-profit that connects people whose lives have been affected by paralysis.

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Luke Savot: Would you mind introducing yourself and talking a little bit about how you got into the work that you do?

Kenny Salvini: My name is Kenny Salvini, Im a C34 quadriplegic. I broke my neck in a skiing accident up at Snoqualmie Pass, just off of I-90. 2004 doesnt seem like that long ago, but that was kind of the dawn of social media, right? We werent as interconnected as we are now. I got sent home from the hospital [and] they basically said, Good luck.

You go home, and theres nothing there for you. All I could see were the differences between me and everybody else.

That all changed [in] January of 2010. I met a guy named Todd Stabelfeldt [who] had gotten a gunshot wound [that] paralyzed him in the same level as me when he was 8 years old, and I met him 25 years later. He was having a 25th anniversary [party] for his injury and I showed up at his place. There were [six] other quadriplegics. We [were] all sitting in a circle and something just clicked. Suddenly, I heard my story six different ways.

A couple years before then, I had lost someone close to me to drug addiction, [which] introduced me to the 12-step community, where theyre called a fellowship of mutual aid. I fell into the arms of that fellowship, and that was kind of the model.

Suddenly I was at [meetings] and it was all about experience, strength, and hope. [Around that time,] I found a website called ihadcancer.com. At the time, it was a Google map that was searchable by age, location, diagnosis, relationshipfor cancer survivors and their families. And I was like, I want that for paralysis.

So thats where the Here and Now Project came in. It was originally going to be based around technology, but I just want to find people and see what I can learn. I might have a few things to share, but thats what we say if youve been in a chair for 6 weeks or 50 years, you might have something that could change my life.

We rented a barn down in Fife in 2014 and we made a Facebook invite for it. We had 19 RSVPs, and its like, yeah, the paralysis crew is a flakey bunch. [Kenny laughs.] So maybe 10-11 people will come. 27 people showed, and like 40 family members. It was pretty cool. You open the doors and just let the sparks fly there really wasnt that much to it.

So weve been doing that every year since 2015 is when we started doing support meetings all over Western Washington. We have between 5 and 10 a month depending on the location. Weve got Port Angeles, Sequim, Silverdale, Puyallup, Renton, Woodinville, Northgate, all over.

Theres just no replacing that [feeling] in a meeting when youre dumping whats on your plate and you know that youre not alone. So thats where were at right now. I approached Green River Colleges IT and web design department about finally putting the map together, but it hasnt quite got legs [yet].

Savot: I heard technology come up in a lot of different ways. What role does technology play in connecting folks and establishing that community?

Salvini: Its fascinating. One of my best friends that was in my wedding a year-and-a-half ago, his name is Jesse Collens and hes a C1 quad from a mountain biking accident, on a ventilator full-time. It was at Jesses that one of our other founding members [told us about] switch control, which is built into the iOS platform inside of Apple.

It started out with facial recognition, way before iPhone 10 this is 2013 and it would recognize your face. If you turned left, it would do one thing; if you turned right, it would do another. Buried even further, the phone would recognize Bluetooth switches. So if you could utilize any kind of Bluetooth switch, you could access the phone. Our buddy Cody [was] like, That might work for Kenny and the high quads, and, sure enough, that has extrapolated into the Pacific Northwest being a hub for people using the switch control.

One of the other quads who was in my wedding, Ian Mackay, hes been in a couple Apple commercials now with switch control and they just launched voice control, probably in the last month.

Access to smartphones is access to the world. Just the advent of switch control changed everything. Now Ian is famous for stalking us all on Find My Friends. Hes always like, Why are you at the hospital? And Im like, Im just visiting somebody! But yeah, it seems like were on the cusp of something really cool.

Savot: That really ties into one of the biggest questions that I had in reaching out to you. Ive witnessed technology move at such a fast pace, but still, buildings arent accessible. People have Siri and Google Home, and all of these things that I would imagine would make life a lot easier for folks but is that trickling back to communities that actually need it?

Salvini: I mean, the ADA is going to be 30 years old. If you look at the civil rights movement, that was 50 years ago, but is racism gone? No. Just because we passed the first law to make things accessible, it doesnt mean that youre going to have blanket accessibility. Its that Martin Luther King Jr. quote, The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards Justice.

I do a lot of advocating on the local and national level, and airplanes arent accessible. They strap you in like Hannibal Lecter in this chair, they drag you down the aisle, and its so dehumanizing, you know but we dont change until theres a lot of pain, or financial burden, right? You dont have a cross-section of the community big enough that its affecting the bottom line. So its cheaper to just break a few chairs, and not change.

Todd always jokes, Convenience for lazy people is access for paralyzed people. If you want to sit around your house and not lift a finger [with home automation], that works well for us because now we can turn on our lights and blinds and thermostats. Its an arc, and its going to take awhile to bend in the right direction.

Savot: What has all of this looked like in Seattle, or in the Pacific Northwest, with so many tech companies and with tech being such a big focus in the city? What has that looked like?

Salvini: I read [on a] Christopher Reeves website a while ago that Seattle was always voted the most accessible city. You talk to anybody in the city, and they laugh. A good friend of mine, Conrad Reynoldson, is a lawyer and hes done a lot of push for curb cuts and all these things within town. Ive traveled a good amount all over the country, and Washington DC has access on us in spades in there. Their metro is like the most successful thing.

I was stuck in bed in 2008 when Obama was inaugurated, and I remember watching all these people converge on the National Mall, and that made me think of Forrest Gump when hes around there, and Im like, Man, I wish there was still that kind of activism like there was in the 60s. Now youre seeing it with the disabled community that voice is getting louder and louder. I go back to DC to do a lot of lobbying, and I remember one of the last Healthcare deals, I saw a bunch of my friends getting dragged out of a senators office in zip ties and handcuffs because they are pushing for the same change that everybody pushed for 30 years ago.

Savot: Do you think that having access to one another through technology and through social media helps with organizing and activism?

Salvini: I think it has. I mean, even if you look overseas, like what Twitter has done in those grassroots movements. Things can travel fast. When my wheelchair got destroyed the second time, I threw a couple posts up on social media and I woke up to like half a dozen calls from Alaska Airlines, because people pay attention.

Savot: That public pressure.

Salvini: Right! I mean, you see that with cell phone footage of shootings. Theres a lot more accountability and theres a lot more reach, where your voice can get elevated.

Even on a personal level with Here and Now when I met Todd, he was living in his grandparents single-wide trailer on their family property. Ian was barely out of his shut-in days. Now Todd just spoke to corporate permobil wheelchairs in front of hundreds of execs. Ians on Apple commercials. Im traveling the country its that rising tide [that] lifts all boats.

Getting people connected, its empowering. Thats all there is to it.

Savot: What are some amazing technological advances that have felt like science fiction? I mean, you have a chair that you can navigate with your head!

Salvini: Right! Ive got a good buddy thats got a 3D printer and hes making all sorts of adaptive universal cuffs. I drew up a laser pointer that I redesigned because my wife was strapping laser pointers to safety glasses so I could do puzzles with her. If you can think it up, you can make it these days.

Just having access to the phone gave Ian the opportunity to be out on the trail at his home in Port Angeles. He would go out 40 miles a day on his power chair, by himself, do sleeps on a ventilator. That kind of independence was not a possibility, because we always needed somebody within earshot. Help needed to be as far as we could yell for, and hes extrapolated that into a whole non-profit, a whole movement. Hes built a platform and hes helping people.

[And its not just] physical technology its like a mental, emotional, spiritual kind of thing. Did you watch that Andrew Garfield movie, Breathe, where he had polio and hes on a ventilator?

Savot: No, I didnt.

Salvini: Its 1965, and this guy comes down with polio and he basically invents the first power wheelchair with the ventilator attached to it. That was only 50 years ago. Theres a scene in the movie where he goes into a home where they store all these people, and its literally iron lungs that are stacked like a filing cabinet. Theyve all got mirrors and thats how they can see each other, and thats it. Thats their life. They just lay there and thats as much of the world as they see. And that was only two people ago, two generationsthats all it was.

I mean, my grandfather fought in World War II. He never would have been imagined his grandson sitting on a robot. [And] I travel way more now than I ever did before I got hurt!

Savot: Can you tell me a little more about Here and Now? What are you all doing now, where do you hope to go?

Salvini: Yeah, its a fellowship of support and our mission is to connect and empower. Were doing a really good job of connecting right now, but the empowerment piece is missing. Whether thats getting people back to work or back to school everybody is so focused on physical recovery when an injury happens, and the mental, emotional, spiritual side is not covered. Thats the gap were trying to fill. Just, I see you. I understand. You dont have to do this alone anymore.

Savot: Just to tie it back to what you had spoken about before, with your experience say that this map that you all are working on, say that it had existed when you were in that years-long daze, you know.

Salvini: Would I have been into it? I dont know.

Because, like I said, I met a handful of people, but I never met somebody that was like, Whoa. I know that Ian was the one because we were so similar, we were so like-minded, we would have been pretty tight beforehand.

That big meetup that we started in that barn has expanded, and we do it down in Tukwila in September. Its a two-day event, and the first day is all getting in circles and having meetings. The second day, we bring in like 30 tables and 7 or 8 different adaptive sports demos, and we had a guy show up. He was maybe 45 days post-injury and he was in tears, because hes like, I didnt know this was out here. So I hope I would have, but I dont know that I would have.

Savot: Do you have dreams of Here and Now mostly being local, or do you have dreams for it to be globalized?

Salvini: You know, Id love for it to be the new program, Id love for that. But shoot, even if were doing it in our backyard, thats good enough. Everybodys got dreams that they want to change the world, but I dont need to. If one person changes, if I can [foster] the same experience that I had at Todds house seven years ago [and] just spark one person, thats the only goal.

Conversations on Tech and Social Justice: This story was made as part of The Seattle Globalists Fall 2019 Tech and Social Justice Fellowship, in partnership with the University of WashingtonsCommunication Leadershipmasters program.

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Conversations on Tech and Social Justice: Kenny Salvini - Seattle Globalist

The connection between sexual well-being and mental and physical health has been recently attracting more interest. Sexual wellness brands -many of which endure constant advertising censoring- advocate to position sexual health and wellness as part of the health conversation, to make it more accessible to all.

A rich body of research confirms that sexual satisfaction affects relationship satisfaction, which is key to earning potential. For example, in one longitudinal Harvard study, the data revealed that fulfilling relationships are the key to happiness, health and longevity. And not only that: Those with the most fulfilling relationshipsearned an average of $141,000 a year more at their highest earning point.

This study, however, was focused exclusively on male subjects, and it inspired a recent study conducted by sexual wellness company Womanizer (WOW Tech) in partnership with The What Collective, a women-centered organization founded by dot com entrepreneurs Gina Pell and Amy Parker. The former co-founders of Splendora (acq. by JOYUS) recently hosted a gathering called The What Summit at the secretive and exclusive Skywalker Ranch. The survey was completed by over 200 high-earning attending women. 80% of respondents were ages 35-64 and in director, management and C-suite positions.

The preliminary results showed some interesting insights: More than 50% of respondents perceived that having a healthy fulfilling sex and relational life would positively impact all other aspect of their lives, including their careers.

Pixabay - provided by WOW Tech

The Deficit in SexEd Addressed By Wellness Brands

When it comes to sexuality only 3% of respondents said they had learned at school or with their families. The majority cited the following sources of sex education: peers and friends (34%), magazines and books (28%), and the Internet (10%). In fact, 77% of women who received some sex education stated that it never mentioned that sex should be pleasurable and 70% say there was no discussion about consent. Additionally, 62% state that they have experienced shame around sex and sexuality.

Global expenditure on wellness products and services is on the rise, highly driven by women, and the womens empowerment movement has added to the conversation issues such as the orgasm gap between men and women, and the right to body autonomy and pleasure of women. This context creates an opportunity for Sextech and Femtech businesses to create innovative solutions to educate and offer resources in underserved categories for people of all ages. Both industries have been estimated at $30 and $25 billion, respectively.

Stephanie Keating, Head of Marketing of WOW Tech, which comprises Womanizer and We-Vibe, said: Womanizer partnered with The What Summit to facilitate conversations amongst women about pleasure and all that it brings our lives. For many women, experiencing self-pleasure builds confidence, comfort, and agency yet 75% of us were not taught that sex should be pleasurable. Traditional sex education has failed us. For too many women, pleasure is associated with shame. That limits us in so many other aspects of our lives. The conversations that Womanizer and our experts are having with women free us to talk to each other about this essential part of our lives.

Personal Fulfillment As A Source Of Confidence And Wellbeing

When asked about the impact of their personal sexual wellness in other areas of life, the majority of women believed that feeling fulfilled positively impacted how they showed up in other areas of their lives. Specifically, 51% stated that this translated into a positive impact on their professional lives. Many respondents pointed to the correlation between fulfillment and confidence, lowered stress, increased overall happiness and motivation, feeling empowered and powerful, and the positive correlation with overall well-being.

Emily Morse, Doctor of Human Sexuality, relationship therapist and author, says Sexual wellness impacts body image, confidence, ... These factors can put a strain on our mental health. If you are not connecting with your partner, it is going to affect your day to day life. Additionally, being able to ask for what you want is a skill that translates into other areas of life.

Sexologist and relationship expert, Dr. Jessica ORielly, PhD, said: Sexual fulfillment, relationshipfulfillment and lifefulfillment are all positively correlated. It follows that investing in your relationships and sex life (however you define it) and fulfilling those needs leads to greater self-assurance, improved mood, increased motivation and even greater assertion skills all of which can benefit your career.

Educators, researchers, entrepreneurs The business of sexual wellness is a growing one and the merger of Womanizer and We-Vibe, which is about to become the largest sexual wellness toy manufacturer, approaching $100 million in sales, wants to push forward a healthier narrative around sexuality: Our flagship products were created to help women achieve personal sexual fulfillment and their pleasure potential. WOW Techs mission is to be the premier provider of sexual health and wellness products products that enable people all over the world to increase the satisfaction of their personal and sexual well-being, concludes Keating.

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Does Sexual Wellbeing Lead to Better Life And Leadership Skills? This Sextech Company Wants To Find Out - Forbes

Ladies, slip into your gauzy Empire-waist gowns. Gentlemen, don your frock coats and high-collared shirts. Proceed post-haste in your barouche to Main Street Theater to re-live those bygone days of civilized social dysfunction, witty repartee, and biscuits with orange bits.

Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon's The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley (2018) is a warm and comfy immersion in Jane Austen, a sequel to their fantastically successful Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, which was itself a sequel to Austen's immortal novel Pride and Prejudice.

The new play is delightful, engrossing in a light entertaining way, and non-threatening in any way. It is what it is: a clever rehash of everything Austen and a winking nudge to the PBS crowd who can't get enough of Downton Abbey or the nostalgic ghosts of Upstairs Downstairs. Apparently, there are a lot of fans out there, for Main Street already has several sold-out performances. Like Miss Bennet, the run of The Wickhams has already been extended. It is easy to see why.

This time, Gunderson and Melcon place the Regency comedy of manners downstairs in the copper-potted roomy Pemberley kitchen, overseen by maternal Mrs. Patmore...I mean Mrs. Reynolds (Claire Hart-Palumbo.) In mob cap and brown satin ensemble, she is the heart of the play and master of the house, popping out boatloads of savory crackers, planning the holiday menu, and solving an assortment of personal problems both upstairs and down. She has a heart of gold and an iron will. If an ox ever got ill, she would probably hitch the plow to herself and finish the harrowing.

The authors throw a distaff net over the proceedings, which is a much more contemporary interpretation of Austen's original intentions. This #leanin underpinning adds a bit of friction to an era not renowned for female emancipation or empowerment. But it's a lovely fiction and easily preps us to embrace these lively characters in their struggle for personal independence.

In Gunderson and Melcon's recasting, the woman subtly hold the power. All they need do is realize it, then act on it. Cassie (rosy-cheeked Alyssa Marek, fresh and lovely) is the new hire as scullery maid. Poor and orphaned, she realizes that she may attain a foothold out of her situation by innate intelligence, sympathetic nature, and love of reading. Underneath, she's one tough cookie and, once the plot spins into overdrive, she holds her own against her betters. She has a prickly relationship with valet Brian (Nathan Wilson, deftly naive) who spends his time inventing kitchen gadgets and warding off her sharp barbs that usually leave him reeling. You know right off where their banter will lead.

Other women rule upstairs. Mistress of the house Elizabeth Darcy, ne Bennet (Leslie Lenert), is independent, fiercely loyal to her family, and deeply in love with Darcy (picture-perfect Alan Brincks), who you may remember won her hand in the novel by shedding his noble pride and prejudice. Of course, Elizabeth had done the same when she dropped her prideful prejudice over his insufferable noblesse oblige. The other lady upstairs is self-dramatic Lydia Wickham (Skyler Sinclair in daffy comic mode). To the consternation of her family, she had run off with cad George Wickham and with a lot of behind-the-scenes pressure from Darcy, subsequently returned with a wedding ring. The family still does not approve.

So the entire Bennet family is due at any moment, the downstairs crew is harried, the Christmas tree must be put up in the library, and the stage is neatly set for a series of intertwining misadventures, budding romance, and family secrets. The authors drop these nicely at the appropriate moments.

The entire affair gets a lot more interesting when bounder George (Blake Weir, all toxic bully) bursts into the kitchen bloodied and hell-bent on uniting with his wife. Well, if Darcy finds out who's below, all hell will break out, so George must be kept hidden until this mess can be settled. Weir's presence brings a needed twinge of danger into the play. The authors juggle the various balls with sweet agility (as does director Robin Robinson), if somewhat predictable fashion. There are secret letters found and read, a hasty offstage journey to London, a scandalous accusation, tea poured, a blow to the jaw, and plenty of raised eyebrows and indignant reactions.

Regency dash is aptly supplied by Donna Southern Schmidt's exquisite costumes (Lydia's flower-embroidered muslin shift is museum worthy), Janel J. Badrina's harpsichord and pipes sound design, Eric Marsh's downstairs lighting, Ryan McGettigan's well-appointed kitchen set, and those tins of cheese biscuits everyone nibbles on. Wish they had passed out samples. How savory.

The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley. Performances are scheduled through December 22 at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; and 3 p.m. Sundays. Because of high demand with several performances already sold out, Main Street Theater has added performances on Sunday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 14 at 3 p.m. (I'm certain more will follow.) Main Street Theater - Rice Village, 2540 Times Boulevard. For information call 713-524-6706 or visit mainstreettheater.com. $36-$55.

D.L. Groover has contributed to countless reputable publications including the Houston Press since 2003. His theater criticism has earned him a national award from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia (AAN) as well as three statewide Lone Star Press Awards for the same. He's co-author of the irreverent appreciation, Skeletons from the Opera Closet (St. Martin's Press), now in its fourth printing.

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Things To Do: A Review of The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley - Houston Press

Three citizens knocked the doors of the Telangana High Court alleging that Rachakonda police were summoning them to police stations and compelling them to fill up some forms without following due procedure of law.

The writ petition, which is likely to come up for hearing, has been filed by a lawyer, a private employee and a tailor. The petitioners sought instructions to restrain Rachakonda police to compel them to furnish personal information without adopting legal procedures.

The petitioners -- lawyer D. Devendra, private employee M. Swapna and tailor Atmakur Annapoorna -- are activists of Chaitanya Mahila Sangham, a women organisation. Claiming that their organisation works for womens rights and their empowerment, the petitioners accused the police of bearing a grudge against them as they fought against the high-handed behaviour of the police and their inaction in some cases.

Though fighting for rights is a democratic process, the police are foisting false cases against the organisation and its members accusing them of being frontal organisations of some banned outfits, the petitioners said. The petitioners said they had opposed privatisation of TSRTC and pledged solidarity with the striking workers of the corporation.

The lawyer maintained that late on the night of November 22, two persons came to his house claiming themselves as constables of Medipally police station. They allegedly told him that an inspector had summoned him to the police station and declined to divulge any details behind the reasons for calling him to the police station.

The next afternoon, two policemen again came to his house and allegedly took his father to the police station where he was detained till evening. The advocate charged that police told his father that they would not set him free until his son personally appears before them and filled-up some forms.

An officer of the police station, the advocate claimed in the petition, had called him through his fathers mobile phone, summoning him to the police station. According to the lawyer, the police officer told him that they require to secure details from him as per the instructions from the Intelligence Department.

Mr. Devendra alleged that the police declined to give him a copy of the form which they wanted him to fill up. The details they sought was private information, he said. The lawyer, along with the other two petitioners, alleged that police did a similar exercise six months ago.

Forcing people to furnish personal information without following the procedure of law is violation of fundamental rights of an individual, they said.

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Plea in HC accuses police of forcing petitioners to furnish personal info - The Hindu

In recent years homosexuality in Uganda has become an increasingly volatile political and social issue. Last month an LGBTQI activist was murdered in his home and Ugandan police detained 16 men on suspicion of homosexuality and human trafficking.

These events followed rumours that Uganda might be reintroducing an anti-homosexuality bill. An earlier attempt at legislation, introduced in 2009, became known as the Kill the Gays bill because it proposed the death sentence for acts of aggravated homosexuality. It was passed by Ugandas parliament in 2013 but eventually overturned by the constitutional court on a technicality.

As an anthropologist, I wanted to understand what contributed to the rising tensions concerning homosexuality in Uganda and why it endures as a politically divisive issue.

In a paper I wrote in 2013, I examined the local factors that contributed to the political and social ferment over sexuality in Uganda. This adds to growing research on homosexuality in Africa, much of which focuses on understanding homophobia in the local context.

A great deal of publicity has focused on efforts by conservative American religious groups to guide political arguments on homosexuality. But, drawing on long-term fieldwork, I argued that anti-homosexual rhetoric in Uganda is more than a parroting of American homophobia.

Many Ugandans, irrespective of their religious beliefs, oppose homosexuality. They see it as a result of Western influence and against their culture.

This means the key to addressing the rise in homophobia is to change the narrative about homosexuality. The language used to talk about sexuality needs to more accurately reflect local perspectives. And more meaningful connections need to be drawn between the rights of LGBTQI people and Ugandan notions of humanity, dignity, and respect.

Over a period of 15 years, I carried out research on sexuality, AIDS prevention, and religious activism in Uganda. My work focused on churches in Kampala at the centre of the growing political mobilisation of Ugandas born-again Christians.

These Christians interest in homosexuality debates intensified in the wake of the 2009 anti-homosexuality bill, which was publicly supported by several high profile pastors. Today, about 30% of Ugandans identify as born-again and their leaders are prominent in the media and politics.

Like their evangelical counterparts in the US, they view the church as a platform for social protest. This is particularly the case when it comes to sexual conduct.

But I found that while Ugandan anti-homosexuality activism drew support from some US Christians, it was largely driven by local concerns.

The idea of sexual identities is well developed and accepted in the West. But it is not well established in Uganda. Some Ugandan queer activists have tried to advance locally meaningful terms such as kuchu to speak about same-sex attraction. For most Ugandans, though, sexual identity as something distinct from a sexual act or desire remains a foreign concept.

In Uganda sexuality is shaped by family and kinship relationships. This tightly binds sexuality to reproduction and gender identity. This is not to say that sex is understood to be only for procreation. But while sexual acts may vary widely, sexual identity generally does not.

Many Ugandans also associate homosexuality with sexual freedom, choice, and individualism. This chafes against a cultural perspective that emphasises the social, political, and moral importance of hierarchical family relationships.

For instance in Buganda, the largest of the traditional kingdoms in Uganda, traditional ideals are expressed by the term ekitiibwa, or respectability. This emphasises a persons place in a hierarchical social system. For women, honour is historically marked by marriages arranged through bride wealth and having children.

This is still the case today. Like most countries, relationships and households have changed over time in Uganda for instance unmarried couples live together. But formal marriage and parenthood still signal moral and social status. Homosexuality is posed as a threat to these norms.

Ugandan activists and government sponsors of the bill drew on these concerns. Street demonstrations have come out in support of the African family. Bumper sticker slogans on boda boda motorcycle taxis read: Say No 2 Sodomy, Say Yes 2 Family.

This public vilification of homosexuality is relatively recent in Uganda. Same-sex acts were not always viewed as disruptive to social norms or a threat to marriage and sexual reproduction.

One anti-homosexual activist pastor told me that it was not the existence of homosexual sex that he found disturbing. It had always been there, he admitted. What he objected to was the new public presence, and assertion, that this sexual identity was equal to all others.

The pastors claims point to how anti-homosexual activists have been successful in directing criticisms outwards, to a global realm that is seen as having an outsized role in shaping Ugandan social life. These arguments position international projects, that promote equality and personal empowerment, as threats to local moral values.

Anti-gay activists have also benefited from Ugandans ambivalent attitudes about human rights discourse. While Ugandan human rights activists have had successes, particularly in the womens movement, their language is not universally embraced.

There is a persistent perception that human rights organisations, dependent on donor aid, represent the selective concerns of Western governments rather than local interests.

This was reflected in the 2009 Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which had a clause that targeted organisations promoting homosexuality. Foreign NGOs are often framed as potential drivers of homosexuality.

These conditions pose challenges when it comes to advocating for the equality and rights of the Ugandan LGBTQI community. Communities must feel ownership of arguments for sexual equality.

Rights-based claims need to be placed into a meaningful social and moral context. For instance, they would have to draw on a sense of shared humanity with sexual minorities.

An emphasis on the human costs of discrimination, and the moral obligation to fellow community members, may have more power than a straightforward rights-based argument.

Read more from the original source:

What's driving homophobia in Uganda - The Conversation Africa

Here are the events that willhelp you have a fantastic Thanksgiving week in Pittsburgh: November 25-28.

Monday, November 25: Marie Benedict at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall7 p.m.Its Andrew Carnegies 134th birthday and youre invited to celebrate with bestselling author Marie Benedict. In her work of historical fiction, Carnegies Maid, Benedict tells the story of an immigrant who inspired the industrialist to become one of the worlds first philanthropists. The event will include a dessert reception and book signing.

Monday, November 25: Reza Aslan at Carnegie Music Hall7:30 p.m.Next up for Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures Ten Evenings series is a special lecturepresented in conjunction with The Warhol Museums newest exhibition, Andy Warhol: Revelation. The internationally renowned writer Reza Aslan explores the history of religion to comprehend the divine and develop a universal spirituality.

One Night in Miami. Photo by Kristi Jan Hoover.

Tuesday, November 26: ASL Interpretation Night for One Night in Miami at City Theater Company7 p.m.Looking for ASL interpretation for one of contemporary theaters hottest new plays? Experience a life-altering night in 1964 via Kemp Powers momentous play, which re-imagines the true story of Cassius Clays friendships with civil rights activist Malcolm X, legendary singer Sam Cooke and football star Jim Brown.

Tuesday, November 26: Empower Me Summit at the Rivers Club5:30-8:30 p.m.Join African-American leaders from a wide range of fields for an evening of collaboration, education and inspiration. Designed to help promote personal development and advancement and empowerment within the black community, the summit will include keynote talks, panel discussions, networking, special giveaways and more.

Tuesday, November 26: Les Miserables at the Benedum Center7:30 p.m.Les Mis mania will sweep the Burgh when this brand-new 25th-anniversary production lands Downtown. Created by the acclaimed Cameron Mackintosh, the epic musical features dazzling scenery inspired by writer Victor Hugos paintings.

Red Panda. Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

Wednesday, November 27: Free For All at Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium9 a.m.-5 p.m.Theres never been a better time to visit the remarkable residents at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. The Highland Park destination is offering free admissionthrough December 1 plusthe animals are more active and a lot of fun to observe during cooler temperatures.

Wednesday, November 27: Robert Ramirez at Liberty Magic7:30 p.m.Find out why Robert Ramirez really is The Musical Theater Magician in this tour-de-force production created exclusively for Liberty Magic. Ramirez who starred in Lin-Manuel Mirandas nationally touring musical, In the Heights will dazzle you with this unforgettable mashup of magic and theater. Tip: watch out for the disappearing piano.

Robert Ramirez. Photo by Greg Gregory Neiser.

Wednesday, November 27: Dance Nation at barebones productions8 p.m.What happens when an army of pre-teen competitive dancers plots to take over the world? Find out if this competitive crew has what it takes to reach the top at Tampa Bays Grand Prix and what they learn along the way when barebones presents Clare Barrons bold play starring David Conrad, Hope Anthony and Mei Lu Barnum. While in Braddock, pair the play with dinner at Superior Motors or drinks at Brew Gentlemen.

Thursday, November 28: YMCA Turkey Trot at PNC Park7 a.m. 12 p.m.Before filling up on turkey or tofurkey, get moving and do some good during this beloved Thanksgiving Day tradition. Thousands of Pittsburghers will don goofy costumes and run together while donating 10,000 pounds of food. Your trotting will provide food security to children, families and seniors served by the YMCA and Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. One of the countrys largest Thanksgiving Day races, the event includes four route options.

Looking for moreevents and live music? Read ourtop weekly and weekend events, Top 11 things to do in Pittsburgh this November, 33 great Pittsburgh concerts in October and NovemberandNovembers top 12 kid-friendly events in Pittsburgh.

Go here to see the original:

9 cool things to do this week in Pittsburgh - NEXTpittsburgh

Self-care is not selfish.

What do you believe you deserve? That's a pretty loaded question, isn't it? In more than twenty years working as a women's life coach, I've asked it thousands of times, and I've received countless answers. The majority of responses I've received have been disheartening, and they've revealed a startling truth. Women - even very successful, accomplished women - doubt their deservingness.

Deservingness is not to be confused with entitlement. Entitlement is about believing you have a right to something. Deservingness is about how much you believe you're worth.

When you doubt your deservingness, what you're really uncertain about is whether or not you measure up. Are you good enough? (YES.) You've made some pretty big mistakes. Do those bad blunders make you a bad person? (NO.) Are you a good enough person to deserve good things? (YES. YOU ARE.)

Many women carry around a secret shame that impacts their feelings of self-worth and deservingness.

At some point in your life, someone told you there was something wrong with you. This is inevitable, of course, because there's something wrong with all of us, but it gets to dangerous and disempowering territory through repetition.

If even one person in your life tells you over and over again that there's something wrong with you, well, you can start to believe them. Being rejected or criticized hurts, and it has a cumulative effect. Imagine every criticism you've ever received is a tiny little pin that landed right in your heart. (Seriously bad visual, right? Wouldn't your heart look like a pincushion if that was the case?) Beyond hurting like hell, a heart full of pins holds you back and makes you play small. YOU ARE NOT SMALL. I want you to stop acting like you are.

Tweet this!

You'll sabotage, procrastinate, and excuse the good right out of your life if you don't believe you deserve it. Happily, you can raise your sense of deservingness, and deepen your feelings of personal worth. I'm going to show you how today. It's time to start believing in you again.

On the face of it, you'd think this advice would be obvious and unimpeachable. Of course you have to take care of yourself. The problem with this truth is that there are whole communities of people who will try to convince you that prioritizing your needs makes you a selfish person. (And who wants to be seen as selfish?)

I've never encountered a woman who hadn't heard some version of this self-care-is-selfish-nonsense. The thing is, these messages are about control, and they come from people who are happy to keep you down and disempowered. (Which makes it easier for them to manipulate you.) Do not fall for this line of hooey.

Self-care is not selfish. Self-neglect is selfish.

Self-neglect tells you that you don't matter. It asks you to stuff your wants and repress your emotions. When you chronically neglect yourself, eventually, you turn into a repressed, angry, self-doubting zombie (or banshee depending on your anger level). Nothing about self-neglect is attractive. I want you to stop doing it. TODAY.

We need you in top form. There is purpose in your life. To make good on it, you need to connect with your SELF. The most fundamental way to begin that process is to take care of your physical body. When I'm working with a client, we practice four physical care basics. (I practice these guys too. Religiously.)

Notice I said, "you need." These are non-negotiable requirements. If you're tempted to argue against your ability to practice them, please pause. I've heard every excuse known to woman. And I don't buy a single one of them. We're in a no-excuses zone now. You don't get to argue against yourself and also be empowered. It doesn't work that way. You have to choose.

If you haven't taken care of yourself in a long time, this topic can feel totally overwhelming. I understand, and I want you to do it anyway. Remember, I'm your coach. A loving boot-in-the-butt will sometimes be required in our relationship. Consider this my velvet tipped toe, making contact with that booty of yours.

Take a deep breath and start tackling your care basics. You DO have time. You are NOT selfish, and there's no wrong way to do this except not to do it at all. Practice makes powerful. SO PRACTICE!

Okay, time to up the ante a little bit. This next step is harder.

You can't think your way into believing in your own worth, but you can act your way there. As it turns out, keeping the commitments you make to yourself increases your feelings of worth and deservingness, and strengthens your confidence too.

Think about it. You make countless commitments every day. The trouble bis that most of them are for other people. When you don't have a strong sense of your own worth, you agree to most incoming requests. Which means you're probably way overcommitted.

When your calendar is crowded, and something's got to give, you're the one who usually goes. Because it's easiest to break commitments to you, right?

WRONG.

Every time you break a commitment to yourself, what you're really doing is showing yourself, through your own inaction, that you don't matter. NO! Bailing on yourself is like giving your hopes and dreams a big middle finger. (Please stop doing it.)

It's time to start following through FOR YOU. Don't panic. I'm not suggesting you stop doing things for other people. As a woman, you're a natural-born nurturer. Of course, you're going to do it for other people. I just want you to add yourself to the list of people-you-do-for.

The best way to get a handle on showing up for yourself is to start paying attention to what's going on when you don't. What causes you to cross yourself off your own list? When you bring your triggers into your awareness, you'll notice a pattern, which will give you the power to make changes.

Take things one choice at a time. Whenever possible, choose to follow through for you. Every time you do, you remove one of those tiny little heart pins and strengthen your sense of worth and deservingness.

Now for the hardest part

When you don't believe in your own deservingness, you become an earner. Meaning, you spend your time and energy earning love. This can show up in a lot of different ways. We'll talk about three of them here.

It gets worse. When you live as an earner, you attract users. (That's just as bad as it sounds.) There are unfortunately people in the world that will live at your expense without giving it a second thought. If you're willing to give it, they'll take it, and even talk themselves into believing they deserve what they're taking. These kind of people like to keep you small, scared, and doubting your deservingness. (Then you do whatever they want. Whenever they want you to.)

YOU MUST STAND UP FOR YOURSELF.

Start by catching yourself in the act of playing the earner. What and who triggers the earner response in you? What are you afraid of? What are you trying to prove? If you feel drained or bad about yourself after you're with a specific person or in a certain place, you need to think twice about being with that person or in that place.

I know this is easier said than done. It's possible the people who make you feel bad are co-workers or family members. It's not like you can just stop seeing them, right? If you find yourself in this position, there is only one path. You need to speak up for yourself. Stat.

For help, you can check out three of my other blogs. They'll show you how to stop living like a pleaser, set some boundaries, and say no like you mean it. Will you be uncomfortable? Yep. You will. Can you handle it? Yes. You can. Be willing to be uncomfortable. Speak up. Stand up. Stop accepting less than you deserve.

Every time you speak up for yourself, you remove another pin from your heart, raise your sense of deservingness and you deepen your own sense of worth. You also show other women what it looks like to know your worth and live like you know it. Which encourages them to do it too. (THAT is female power.)

You are good, and you deserve good things. You deserve acceptance, belonging, and love. There's no mistake in you, my sister. YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH. Just as you are.

My mission is your empowerment. That's why I'm here. If you haven't already joined my community, please do it by entering your email (www.kimberlyfulcher.com). Until we meet again, know that life is happening for you.

You've Got This!

Kim

From Your Site Articles

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Excerpt from:

Know Your Worth. Then Live Like You Know It. - SWAAY

The Herald

Tendai Rupapa in ACCRA, Ghana

ZIMBABWES Environment and Tourism patron, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, has voiced concern at the exclusion of women in tourism despite forming a huge base of the workforce in the sector.

She said in the tourism sector, the percentage of women who work in the industry was high, but they occupy unskilled and lowly-paying jobs.

The First Lady decried the low representation of women in decision-making positions in the industry.

Addressing delegates at the inaugural Regional Congress on Women Empowerment in the Tourism Sector Focus on Africa here yesterday, Amai Mnangagwa said in most developing countries, women were excluded in mainstream tourism, in spite of them being natural hospitality players by virtue of their warm and welcoming nature.

The First Lady, who is a champion for women empowerment, is leading a delegation of Zimbabwean women in the tourism sector.

The tourism sector definitely provides various entry points for womens employment and opportunities for creating self-employment, thus creating paths towards the elimination of poverty in women and local communities, she said.

Tourism presents both opportunities and challenges for gender equality and womens empowerment.

The contribution of women in the business world has increased in recent years, although women are under-represented in management and leadership.

The First Lady paid tribute to United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary-General Mr Zurab Polikashivili for his sterling leadership that has seen UNWTO partnering with Ghana to host this event on Women Empowerment in the Tourism sector.

Gender stereotyping and discrimination, the First Lady observed, meant that women mainly perform jobs such as cooking, cleaning and hospitality.

Much tourism employment is seasonal and fluctuates according to the volatile nature of the industry. If a strong gender perspective is integrated into planning and implementation processes, tourism can be harnessed as a vehicle for promoting gender equality and womens empowerment at the household, community, national and global level.

At the same time, greater gender equality will contribute to the overall quality of the tourist experience, with a considerable impact on profitability and quality across all aspects of the industry. I have no doubt that this platform will allow us to share and exchange the various strides being made to ensure inclusion and empowerment of women through the Women in Tourism Empowerment Programme (WITEP), which was set-up by the UNWTO.

In Zimbabwe, Amai Mnangagwa said, the Government supported the inclusion of women in the tourism sector and has supported the creation of a Women in Tourism National Chapter.

She said this development has been taken to the grassroots through the launch of Provincial Chapters of Women in Tourism.

These local chapters have enabled us to organise the women in the sector for better access to finance and capacity building to enable the economic empowerment of women in the tourism sector from the grassroots level.

I am happy to advise this gathering, taking advantage of the fact that tourism is a low-hanging fruit, most women in Zimbabwe have been involved in the setting up of tourism businesses, especially in the accommodation sector, said the First Lady.

She cited the example of Bulawayo, where 80 percent of lodges are owned by women and were operating successfully.

Zimbabwe is a signatory to a number of declarations aimed at increasing the number of women in top decision-making positions in politics and other spheres.

A study conducted in 2011 funded by the World Bank revealed that about 28 percent of workers in the tourism sector were women and 11 percent of these were in leadership positions.

As Women in Tourism, we continue to engage Government to provide more incentives to empower women to participate in the tourism sector and ensure more are employed in leadership positions in the sector.

I am glad to note that our current private sector organisation in the tourism sector, the Tourism Business Council, is currently being led by a woman, which is a vote of confidence to our abilities to lead as women.

Amai Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was intensifying its focus on cultural and heritage tourism promotion to diversify the tourism product base and promote domestic tourism.

This type of tourism, she said, had resulted in tourists interacting with communities and having a personal encounter with traditions, history and culture.

Zimbabwean women and the youths have been spearheading these projects in our less developed communities. The participation of women through community-based tourism programmes has resulted in creation of employment at grassroots level, development of infrastructure in our rural communities and promotion of social cohesion and environmental responsibility. Through the community-based projects, a total of 50 community-based tourism projects have been implemented in Zimbabwe, benefiting close to 200 000 households in Zimbabwe.

Speaking at the same occasion, Mr Pololikashvili acknowledged that tourism in Africa was on the rise.

The number of international tourist arrivals to African countries has been growing by 6 percent annually since 1995 and we are confident arrivals will reach 134 million a year by 2030.

We estimate that tourism supports more than 20 million jobs. It also helps build schools and roads and promote natural and cultural heritage, he said.

He added: The true potential of tourism as a driver of change for Africa is yet to be realised and this cannot happen without true gender equality. Women are at the forefront of development in Africa, therefore, this congress, a first of its kind, is our opportunity to discuss the importance of gender mainstreaming in tourism.

Ghanaian Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who officially opened the congress, said the event was taking place at a significant moment when international tourism was reaching new heights globally.

He said tourism constituted one of the fastest growing sectors in the world.

The industry has become a global and highly competitive socio-economic and environmental activity in both developed and developing countries.

It is a labour-intensive industry creating skilled and unskilled jobs in the supply value chains. (The) tourism market has shown strong growth across Africa in recent years.

It has a great potential to accelerate progress across the sustainable development goals.

Well-managed, the sector can generate quality jobs, reduce poverty and offer incentives for environmental conservation.

Dr Bawumia said tourism was one of the major sources of foreign exchange in many developing countries.

He added that he was informed the UNWTO was working hard to harness tourisms immense contribution to develop the most vulnerable members of society. The three-day congress aims at analysing the challenges and opportunities for women empowerment in the tourism sector, creating a synergy among African countries and key stakeholders.

Among the dignitaries attending the congress is the First Lady of Spain, Begona Gomez Fernandez.

See the article here:

First Lady decries exclusion of women in tourism - The Herald

British boy band New Rules and singer-songwriter Mae Muller performed as support on the British leg of Little Mixs LM5 tour. The 14th of November was the first of three nights at the Manchester Arenaand will have been the largest audience that either act has performed to.

It was probably for this reason that the three-piece, guitar playing New Rules started off a little nervous. Their opening song, an original entitled Call It, was a little flat but still a catchy, light-hearted pop song that got the crowd on their feet. The band made a real effort to make the performance feel a little more personal, with each member introducing themselves and talking to the audience.

It was clear that not many people watching were aware of the band before, so their decision to include some covers, such as Dominic Fikes 3 Nights, was the right decision as it allowed people to sing along. The crowds reaction allowed New Rules to become more comfortable on stage and gain confidence, their vocals vastly improving. By their final song, their biggest hit 24 Hours, they were performing much less like a support act and more like an established boy band who knew their sound and were excited to be sharing it.

New Rules supporting of Little Mix, where a vast proportion of the audience was below the age of 12, and consistent promotion of their TikTok, made it obvious that they are trying to present themselves as the next generations heartthrobs. However, in doing this, they put themselves at risk of isolating those slightly older in the audience who would arguably be more able to spend money supporting them or attending their headline tour next February.

The second supporting act of the night was Mae Muller. Her songs have strong themes of female independence and feminism, so her support was very fitting to the LM5tours empowerment message. The highlight of her performance was the unreleased song entitled Therapist, which is about how it is not a womans job to help fix her boyfriend, and her comments about her own experiences between tracks made the whole set much more personal.

Her most successful track Anticlimax ended what was an exceptional vocal performance perfectly,setting the audience up for the main event. The only downside was that the style of music, a slower pop reminiscent of Jorja Smith, was maybe not entirely fitting for a large arena venue.

7/10.

Read more:

Live review: New Rules and Mae Muller at the Manchester Arena - The Mancunion

Learn more about this groundbreaking toy company that changed the industry forever on "Lost LA" S4 E6: Shindana Toy Company - Changing the American Doll Industry

A police stop of a black motorist may have set off the 1965 Watts Riots, but segregated schools, joblessness and poverty have widely been identified as the social factors that drove residents of this South L.A. community to take to the streets and resist. For six days beginning on August 11, community members overturned cars, set fires and confronted police. In the end, 34 people died, 1,000 suffered injuries and property damage topped $40 million. The massive devastation left in the rebellions wake led to hopelessness about societys race problem, but it also spurred African Americans such as Louis Smith and Robert Hall to take action.

On November 24, 1965, the duo launched an organization called Operation Bootstrap on 4161 South Central Avenue in Watts. It would work to enhance the educational and professional skills of residents and connect them to the career networks that eluded them in South L.A. Fifty-four years after Operation Bootstrap began, the project is most remembered for starting a variety of businesses namely Shindana Toys that put community members to work and allowed them to witness economic empowerment through an African American lens. While Operation Bootstrap ended in the 1980s, its contributions to black life reverberate today. The organization emphasized the importance of black entrepreneurship and used its business initiatives to shift public perception of black identity and uplift the community.

While walking down Central Avenue in the late 1960s, a young man named Lewis Kisasi discovered Operation Bootstrap. Seeing a group of people gathered in an empty warehouse piqued his curiosity enough to prompt him to walk inside. Barely out of his teens, Kisasi was welcomed when he stepped into the Bootstrap offices, which had an open-door policy.

"I was excited about the possibility of Operation Bootstrap," said Kisasi, now 75. "Lou was the intellectual powerhouse, and Robert also had great strength. He was more of a people person and was easy to relate to. Right off the bat, people liked his personality and Bootstrap's philosophy of people doing for themselves. That really was the genesis of Bootstrap to do something for self."

While Operation Bootstrap was certainly a team effort, much of the credit for its success has been given to its charismatic president Lou Smith, who started out in the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Born to a Philadelphia police officer and homemaker in 1929, Smith revealed an activist streak when he was just a small child, according to his son, Lou Smith III.

In fourth grade, his school tried to expel him because he said it was impossible for Christoper Columbus to have discovered America when there were already people there, his son said. He wouldnt come off that, so the school called his parents in for a big meeting. He was an interesting guy. He was a funny guy.

A portrait of Robert Hall and Lou Smith, founders of Operation Bootstrap from a Jet Magazine storypublished by Johnson Publishing Company| Still from "Lost LA" Shindana Toys

Smith may have been a nonconformist, but that didnt stop him from joining the racially segregated armed forces in 1947. Years later, he bragged about flouting military rules, drinking whiskey on the job and farming out his clerical work to his latest romantic conquest, according to the paper Operation Bootstrap: Beginnings. But the Army wasnt just fun and games. While riding in a jeep, Smith suffered a back injury that would cause him chronic pain.

Although hed hoped to pursue a career as a commercial artist, his career path changed when a friend invited him to a CORE function circa 1959. He quickly became an active member in the Philly chapter and, later, its chairman, according to his son.

My father always had a sense of fairness, Lou Smith III said. He was always for the underdog, and he skyrocketed up the CORE ranks.

He participated in sit-ins and sleep-ins targeting trade unions and housing programs that excluded African Americans. David Crittendon, a fellow CORE activist, said that the trade union campaigns particularly inspired him.

It had a huge effect on Lou Smith, Crittendon said. He really admired the trade union activists who were asking, Why cant black workers have the same opportunities as white workers? It made him a genuine civil rights activist.

By 1963, CORE officials asked Smith to go to Mississippi to serve as a leader there. He was in Mississippi the following summer when white supremacists abducted and killed civil rights workers Michael Scwherner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney. Since Schwerner and Goodman were white Northerners, their murders garnered national media attention, but 41 years would pass before anyone was held responsible for the crimes. In 2005, a jury convicted klansman Edgar Ray Killen of manslaughter for the killings.

After the gruesome 1964 murders, Smith headed to California to serve as COREs West Coast and Midwest regional director, his son said. His supporters urged him to run for national director of CORE, but Smith enjoyed interacting with the public and loathed the idea of sitting in an office all day.

In Los Angeles, he found a fragmented CORE, with traditional and radical factions who couldnt agree on the best approach to serving the community. The left-leaning members formed a group called the Non-Violent Action Committee (N-VAC), which met on Central Avenue in the heart of black Los Angeles. In contrast, the established CORE chapter met in the largely white San Fernando Valley. Smith first met Robert Hall at an N-VAC event protesting COREs national leadership, but the two didnt share their philosophies on social justice with each other until the Watts Riots. In the aftermath of the violence, they sat in a cafe and exchanged their ideas about how to better the community.

"South Central Los Angeles it was an extremely isolated black neighborhood," Crittendon said. "The city was extremely segregated, and there was a real sense of just being shut out and overpoliced living in very poor conditions with very few opportunities to break out of those situations. Say you were a young black teen who wanted to be employed in a department store; you wouldn't get that job. And the aerospace manufacturing companies that had been in South L.A during World War II had moved far away. South Central was left as kind of this desolate area with poverty and poor infrastructure."

Three months after Smith and Hall's brainstorm session, Operation Bootstrap kicked off. With Smith as president, Hall served as executive vice president, and the board included members Woodrow Coleman, Linda Clark, Clarence Price and Sheila Tucker. Working with psychologists and other professionals, Operation Bootstrap identified the Watts community's main needs, primarily jobs and remedial education classes. Via a press conference and leaflets, the organization then publicized its plans to help the deprived neighborhood. A racially diverse mix of groups, including the Pacific Palisades Hadassah, the Soroptimists Club of Alhambra and the Laguna Beach NAACP, offered to help Operation Bootstrap with its mission. In addition, more than 50 volunteers agreed to teach reading, writing and speaking classes to the Watts community. Instructors also led courses on electronics assembly, key punching, and computer programming.

Kisasi, who would eventually become a Bootstrap board member, recalls the organization offering sewing classes and holding community dialogues.

Wed have these sensitivity sessions where people from various communities, mainly the white communities, would have these dialogues about fixing the problems in the black community, he recalled.

The systems approach diagram that Operation Boostrap operated under | Southern California Library

Operation Bootstrap attracted not only concerned citizens and volunteer teachers but also politicians such as the national Office of Economic Opportunity director Sargent Shriver, California Gov. Pat Brown and Ronald Reagan, who would serve two terms as the state's governor beginning in 1967. Although politicians visited the organization, Smith strongly opposed taking the government's money to support Bootstrap financially.

All money was raised through personal or public outreach, Crittendon explained. Lou Smith, being a very astute activist, realized that there were individuals and communities outside of South Central L.A. who wanted to do something to aid the citizens in the Watts rebellion zone.

Friends of Bootstrap clubs fundraised enough money to allow Bootstrap to start various business ventures, including the clothing store Bootstrings; daycare and educational center, Baby Bootstrap; the Afrocentric boutique Kiwanda; and even a gas station.

People showing off the Boostring clothing collection | UCLA, Library Special Collections,Los Angeles Times Photographic Archives

By far, Shindana Toys stands out as the most commercially successful Bootstrap business. In 1968, it opened and became so profitable that it allowed the operation to run almost totally autonomously. An infusion of cash, including a $500,000 loan from Mattel and a collective $1 million in funds from Chase Manhattan Bank, Sears Roebuck & Co. and Equitable Life Assurance, gave Shindana (Swahili for "competitor") a strong start. The toy company featured black dolls, such as "Baby Nancy," with features modeled on actual black children's faces.

That was the ultimate company, Kisasi said of Shindana. It started because of a young black girl who only had little white dolls. That gave Lou the idea for the Shindana Toy Company.

A woman manufacturing Shindana Toy dolls from a Jet Magazine story published by Johnson Publishing Company | Still from "Lost LA" Shindana Toys

According to the Los Angeles Times, Nancy was the first doll marketed as black by a toy company. Shindana would subsequently debut Asian and Native American dolls in addition to a line based on black celebrities like Flip Wilson and O.J. Simpson. Debbie Behan Garrett, a doll collector and author of books such as The Definitive Guide to Collecting Black Dolls, is a fan of Shindanas career doll line.

It represented different occupations to aspire to, she said. One may have been a receptionist, another a race car driver or a stewardess or ballerina.

Click right or left to see some of the career options presented by the Wanda doll:

Catalog for the Wanda doll showcasing her many different careers | Courtesy of Billie Green

Catalog for the Wanda doll showcasing her career as a nurse | Courtesy of Billie Green

Catalog for the Wanda doll showcasing her career as a ballerina| Courtesy of Billie Green

Catalog for the Wanda doll showcasing her career as a stewardess | Courtesy of Billie Green

In the 1960s, realistic-looking black dolls were scarce, with most resembling white dolls in darker hues. Before then, many of the black dolls on the market looked like racial caricatures of African Americans. Garrett said that growing up in North Texas in the 1950s and '60s it was nearly impossible to find black dolls with realistic features. When she discovered Shindana dolls years after they were first released, she felt overjoyed.

I was shopping at a store that carried overstock or discontinued items, and I saw Shindanas Baby Janie doll that had ethnically correct facial features that werent exaggerated. She had the little pug nose and fuller cheeks and fuller lips. She didnt have curly hair, but you knew this was not a white doll painted brown. I was so excited.

During the 1974-75 fiscal year, Shindana earned $2 million in revenues, with sales representatives in major cities across the country. Shindana's success allowed Operation Bootstrap to launch other projects, such as Honeycomb Child Development Center, designed to educate the children of South L.A. while instilling a sense of racial pride in them. But Shindana's huge profit margin would be short-lived. Aware that Shindana was thriving by serving black clientele, rival companies began to sell black dolls of their own, having previously ignored African American consumers desperate to find positive images of themselves. The 1970s recession marked a downturn for both Shindana and Operation Bootstrap, as consumers were less likely to spend their disposable income on nonessentials or donate to social justice causes.

Lou Smith devoted almost all of his time to running Shindana, and Bootstrap faltered without his leadership. Meanwhile, Robert Hall struggled to adjust to the corporate environment of Shindana, which employed 50 to 60 workers. His difficulties resulted in him being asked to resign as the companys CEO and president. This led to his departure from both Shindana and Bootstrap overall. Just six months after his exit, Hall had a fatal heart attack in 1973 at age 42. Three years later, another tragedy occurred when a car wreck claimed the lives of Lou Smith and his daughter Matilda; Smith was 47.

The loss of Smith hit Shindana hard, but the company remained in business until 1983. With its assortment of dolls of color, the toy company was ahead of its time. Lou Smith knew that representation mattered decades before consumers could easily find dolls in a range of skin tones, body types, and hair textures, as they can currently.

With no black dolls to play with as a child in the 1940s, Portland native Laverne Hall grew up to manufacture a line of black paper dolls, organize a show called LaVerne's Original Holiday Festival of Black Dolls, and publish the DOLL-E-GRAM newsletter about the toys in the 1990s. She applauds Lou Smith for his contributions to black dolls and has presented a Shindana award at her former doll show.

His story was such a marvelous story, she said of Smith. The political part of this thing for me is that the major toy manufacturers were making millions of dollars on black dolls that were the same as the white dolls, just painted over. There was nothing authentic about them. While theyre making millions of dollars on us [African Americans], we were not getting anything out of it.

Its important for black children to play with toys that resemble them because it fosters self-esteem, Hall said. Shindana recognized this need and became a competitor in an industry that had traditionally overlooked African Amerians.

Laverne did not have the chance to meet Lou Smith in person but described his approach to Operation Bootstrap and Shindana as progressive.

He was very forward-thinking, she said. He was creative, and he didnt mind stepping out and taking a chance in the interest of his community. Whatever he could do to move his people and his community forward, thats what he did.

Without Operation Bootstrap, of course, Shindana would never have come to fruition. Crittendon said it saddens him that both the toy company and the economic empowerment organization behind it have largely been forgotten.

"Bootstrap it has gotten lost just like a lot of black history gets lost," he said.

But Smith and Hall led lives that deserved to be remembered, Crittendon added.

Lou Smith and Robert Hall were absolutely unbelievable as individuals, he said. They meant what they said and showed it in their actions. They walked their talk, and that made all of the difference.

Top Image:Shindana's Little Friends collection represent children from around the world. A scan from the Shindana catalog | Courtesy of Billie Green

Original post:

Operation Bootstrap: Empowering the African American Community through Entrepreneurship - KCET

Getty

How can we use our dollars most effectively this holiday season to effectively support and empower disabled people?

Black Friday marks the start of the holiday shopping season. Four days later, #GivingTuesday kicks off the holiday charitable giving season. Shopping and donating both offer opportunities to support people in society who could use some extra help. Here are four different ways to support disabled people this holiday season:

1. Shop at businesses that are staffed or owned by disabled people

Its common enough now that a kind of media narrative is taking shape. A disabled person, anxious to work but finding employers unwilling to give them a chance, starts their own business, and local news runs an inspirational story about it. Even more often, its the story of parents of a disabled son or daughter who start a business for them and for other disabled people who struggle to find work. While the often sentimental tone of these stories can be off-putting, particularly to disabled people themselves, disability-centered businesses can be a great way to support disabled people in a simple and natural way.

2. Buy gifts online from disabled craftspeople

Disability entrepreneurship thrives online. Craft sites like Etsy and swag store sites like Zazzle make it easy for disabled creatives to make money selling their jewelry, artwork, t-shirts, and other items online, without physical barriers or the upfront capital required to open a bricks-and-mortar business. Each year, disability blogger Emily Ladau publishes a Holiday Gift Guide focused on disabled people selling products online. Our goal is to shine a spotlight on their work, she explains, giving people a meaningful way to support the disability community by doing something they were likely already going to do - buy holiday presents for the people in their lives.

3. Support disabled freelance content creators

Another way to support online disability culture is to contribute to disabled bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, and freelance journalists. Most creators have donation links, or Patreon and Ko-Fi accounts where you can make one-time donations, or pledge a small amount per month to help sustain their work. Online disability culture has enriched the disability community immensely, and its well worth supporting your favorites. If you arent familiar with any yet, just search terms like disability in your favorite online media platforms, and explore.

4. Give to disability charities

The most traditional way to donate to disability causes is to support disability nonprofit organizations. There are of course the big, disability-specific organizations everyone knows about, through their professional PR campaigns, high-profile and popular fundraising events, and celebrity spokespeople. But while many of these do good work, on closer examination, you may find that some of them dont fit well with your interests and ethics, or those of the people they are supposed to help. This is especially true if you value authentic empowerment of disabled people themselves, and strong, visionary advocacy. Disabled blogger, (and mother of a disabled child), Meriah Nichols has an informative list of links to disability organizations you may not have heard of, but are well worth a look.

At a time when social and political hazards are everywhere, supporting people with disabilities seems like a fairly easy call. But disabled people and disability culture are just as complex as any other parts of society. Its not always immediately obvious to casual observers, but there are some disability causes, trends, and organizations that sizable numbers of actual disabled people feel ambivalent about ... even despise.

How can you be sure the disability-connected businesses or charities you want to patronize are truly responsive to the disability community, and consistent with your values? Here are some key questions to ask:

Are disabled employees paid at least minimum wage?

This is a crucial question to ask about businesses that promote themselves as employment initiatives for people with disabilities. Some businesses have certificates allowing them to pay disabled workers less than minimum wage. And while some continue to argue that the practice has its place, its an approach that is steadily being phased out, as the inequity of it becomes harder to reconcile. At the very least, asking about it helps ensure that businesses and organizations appealing to our goodwill towards disabled people continue to wrestle with important ethical questions about their methods.

Are disabled people working in visible, integrated settings, or are they segregated and invisible to the public?

Payment of sub-minimum wage often goes hand-in-hand with sheltered workshops and other employment models that keep disabled workers away from public contact. Its another practice that is rapidly falling out of favor ... a relic of the past. As such, its not something these businesses tend to advertise. So although you may be buying products made by disabled people, you may want to find out under what conditions, and think about how they match up with your own values and how you would want to be treated in your job.

Are there disabled people in leadership and decision making positions?

This doesnt necessarily have to be a strict litmus test. But there is a potential difference between a restaurantwhere all the employees are disabled, but the owner and managers are not and one owned and/or managed by people with disabilities. Its also a critically important question when exploring disability nonprofits. There is no more important place to apply the disability rights principle, Nothing about us without us, than in disability organizations. Being staffed and governed by disabled people not only provides employment and leadership opportunities for them, but also helps ensure that disability charities pursue goals important to actual disabled people, using strategies that disabled people themselves have developed and approved.

Does the business or charity present an empowering, unsentimental image of disability and disabled people?

You can raise a lot of money by presenting disabled people as either sad, pitiful, and burdensome to care for ... or as almost inhumanly angelic and inspirational for literally anything they do. On the other hand, its possible to recognize a business or organization where disabled people are truly liberated and empowered, where you want to help, not to rescue disadvantaged people or pick up some sort of vague good karma, but because they offer a good product in a positive atmosphere, and a mission that puts disabled people themselves at the center. Its often hard to see the difference, but developing a more discerning eye towards these intangible qualities is crucial for making good charitable choices, especially in the disability field.

Finally, it helps to ask yourself what, exactly, you want to support. Disability charities in particular can have a variety of different missions and approaches. Sometimes its hard to tell up front what an organization actually does. Before choosing what to support, think about which of these aims you care about most:

Disability activism - Working towards changes in laws, policies, and practices to make life better more accessible, and more liberated for people with disabilities.

Individual services and advocacy - Providing direct, individual services to disabled people, including counseling, individual advocacy, information, accessibility modifications, and education.

Individual care - Providing one-on-one physical assistance to help disabled people with everyday activities, including personal care, household chores, and transportation.

Cultural and awareness activities - Promoting greater visibility, better understanding, and disability representation in everyday life and culture.

Medical and technological research - Striving to cure, prevent, or alleviate disabling conditions, and developing assistive devices for people with disabilities.

Preferences and opinions on disability causes vary a great deal, even on foundational issues as segregation and fair wages. But responsible givers and patrons will at least explore these issues, and make their disability contributions consciously, deliberately, and consistent with their values.

Read more:

How To Support People With Disabilities On Black Friday And Giving Tuesday - Forbes

Self-care is not selfish.

What do you believe you deserve? That's a pretty loaded question, isn't it? In more than twenty years working as a women's life coach, I've asked it thousands of times, and I've received countless answers. The majority of responses I've received have been disheartening, and they've revealed a startling truth. Women - even very successful, accomplished women - doubt their deservingness.

Deservingness is not to be confused with entitlement. Entitlement is about believing you have a right to something. Deservingness is about how much you believe you're worth.

When you doubt your deservingness, what you're really uncertain about is whether or not you measure up. Are you good enough? (YES.) You've made some pretty big mistakes. Do those bad blunders make you a bad person? (NO.) Are you a good enough person to deserve good things? (YES. YOU ARE.)

Many women carry around a secret shame that impacts their feelings of self-worth and deservingness.

At some point in your life, someone told you there was something wrong with you. This is inevitable, of course, because there's something wrong with all of us, but it gets to dangerous and disempowering territory through repetition.

If even one person in your life tells you over and over again that there's something wrong with you, well, you can start to believe them. Being rejected or criticized hurts, and it has a cumulative effect. Imagine every criticism you've ever received is a tiny little pin that landed right in your heart. (Seriously bad visual, right? Wouldn't your heart look like a pincushion if that was the case?) Beyond hurting like hell, a heart full of pins holds you back and makes you play small. YOU ARE NOT SMALL. I want you to stop acting like you are.

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You'll sabotage, procrastinate, and excuse the good right out of your life if you don't believe you deserve it. Happily, you can raise your sense of deservingness, and deepen your feelings of personal worth. I'm going to show you how today. It's time to start believing in you again.

On the face of it, you'd think this advice would be obvious and unimpeachable. Of course you have to take care of yourself. The problem with this truth is that there are whole communities of people who will try to convince you that prioritizing your needs makes you a selfish person. (And who wants to be seen as selfish?)

I've never encountered a woman who hadn't heard some version of this self-care-is-selfish-nonsense. The thing is, these messages are about control, and they come from people who are happy to keep you down and disempowered. (Which makes it easier for them to manipulate you.) Do not fall for this line of hooey.

Self-care is not selfish. Self-neglect is selfish.

Self-neglect tells you that you don't matter. It asks you to stuff your wants and repress your emotions. When you chronically neglect yourself, eventually, you turn into a repressed, angry, self-doubting zombie (or banshee depending on your anger level). Nothing about self-neglect is attractive. I want you to stop doing it. TODAY.

We need you in top form. There is purpose in your life. To make good on it, you need to connect with your SELF. The most fundamental way to begin that process is to take care of your physical body. When I'm working with a client, we practice four physical care basics. (I practice these guys too. Religiously.)

Notice I said, "you need." These are non-negotiable requirements. If you're tempted to argue against your ability to practice them, please pause. I've heard every excuse known to woman. And I don't buy a single one of them. We're in a no-excuses zone now. You don't get to argue against yourself and also be empowered. It doesn't work that way. You have to choose.

If you haven't taken care of yourself in a long time, this topic can feel totally overwhelming. I understand, and I want you to do it anyway. Remember, I'm your coach. A loving boot-in-the-butt will sometimes be required in our relationship. Consider this my velvet tipped toe, making contact with that booty of yours.

Take a deep breath and start tackling your care basics. You DO have time. You are NOT selfish, and there's no wrong way to do this except not to do it at all. Practice makes powerful. SO PRACTICE!

Okay, time to up the ante a little bit. This next step is harder.

You can't think your way into believing in your own worth, but you can act your way there. As it turns out, keeping the commitments you make to yourself increases your feelings of worth and deservingness, and strengthens your confidence too.

Think about it. You make countless commitments every day. The trouble bis that most of them are for other people. When you don't have a strong sense of your own worth, you agree to most incoming requests. Which means you're probably way overcommitted.

When your calendar is crowded, and something's got to give, you're the one who usually goes. Because it's easiest to break commitments to you, right?

WRONG.

Every time you break a commitment to yourself, what you're really doing is showing yourself, through your own inaction, that you don't matter. NO! Bailing on yourself is like giving your hopes and dreams a big middle finger. (Please stop doing it.)

It's time to start following through FOR YOU. Don't panic. I'm not suggesting you stop doing things for other people. As a woman, you're a natural-born nurturer. Of course, you're going to do it for other people. I just want you to add yourself to the list of people-you-do-for.

The best way to get a handle on showing up for yourself is to start paying attention to what's going on when you don't. What causes you to cross yourself off your own list? When you bring your triggers into your awareness, you'll notice a pattern, which will give you the power to make changes.

Take things one choice at a time. Whenever possible, choose to follow through for you. Every time you do, you remove one of those tiny little heart pins and strengthen your sense of worth and deservingness.

Now for the hardest part

When you don't believe in your own deservingness, you become an earner. Meaning, you spend your time and energy earning love. This can show up in a lot of different ways. We'll talk about three of them here.

It gets worse. When you live as an earner, you attract users. (That's just as bad as it sounds.) There are unfortunately people in the world that will live at your expense without giving it a second thought. If you're willing to give it, they'll take it, and even talk themselves into believing they deserve what they're taking. These kind of people like to keep you small, scared, and doubting your deservingness. (Then you do whatever they want. Whenever they want you to.)

YOU MUST STAND UP FOR YOURSELF.

Start by catching yourself in the act of playing the earner. What and who triggers the earner response in you? What are you afraid of? What are you trying to prove? If you feel drained or bad about yourself after you're with a specific person or in a certain place, you need to think twice about being with that person or in that place.

I know this is easier said than done. It's possible the people who make you feel bad are co-workers or family members. It's not like you can just stop seeing them, right? If you find yourself in this position, there is only one path. You need to speak up for yourself. Stat.

For help, you can check out three of my other blogs. They'll show you how to stop living like a pleaser, set some boundaries, and say no like you mean it. Will you be uncomfortable? Yep. You will. Can you handle it? Yes. You can. Be willing to be uncomfortable. Speak up. Stand up. Stop accepting less than you deserve.

Every time you speak up for yourself, you remove another pin from your heart, raise your sense of deservingness and you deepen your own sense of worth. You also show other women what it looks like to know your worth and live like you know it. Which encourages them to do it too. (THAT is female power.)

You are good, and you deserve good things. You deserve acceptance, belonging, and love. There's no mistake in you, my sister. YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH. Just as you are.

My mission is your empowerment. That's why I'm here. If you haven't already joined my community, please do it by entering your email (www.kimberlyfulcher.com). Until we meet again, know that life is happening for you.

You've Got This!

Kim

Read more:

How to Put the Passion Back into Your Life - SWAAY

Comment

Rob Campbell spoke to the NZ Leadership Programmes graduation ceremony earlier this month about what makes a good leader, including daring to challenge the status quo and toughing out the opposition to change.

The times we live in are turbulent. While that is true and important, it is equally true and important that we do not overstate this, still less use it as an excuse. Other generations and communities have faced wars and depressions, poverty and dislocation, oppression and disaster.

For most human beings, much of the time in our history, turbulence has been more common than the peace and tranquillity of which many of us fantasise.

It was the Chinese leader Mao Tse Tung ( a great leader with great faults) who spoke the phrase Great disorder. An excellent situation to stir his revolutionaries. I like to think that we can constructively take a similar view of our times and location. Great turbulence. An excellent situation might be our slogan, because within the turbulence of our time and place lies enormous opportunity a future in which we are freed from many problems by better technology, better understanding of the diversity of humanity and how to get the best out of it, and better ability for personal and cultural expression and respect than any previous time or place has ever had.

I want to be clear that for me leadership is not about maintaining the status quo. It is a foundation stone of my thinking on leadership that there are many things in our society which need to change to meet the goals of a better, fairer life.

To achieve this we will need daring leadership, so I want to talk a bit about what I think this means.

To me leadership is defined not so much by those designated as leaders but by all those who are active in change. Society changes because many of us take actions that is pretty much the definition of social change, many people acting in different ways. Sometimes those changes are clearly articulated by leaders. Other times they occur, no less rationally and effectively, without such obvious leadership. Karl Marx, the nineteenth century founder of communism, referred to revolutionary change as that old mole picking up on a line of Shakespeare, the seventeenth century playwright, who noted in Hamlet well said, old mole, canst work in the ground so fast about events being influenced by unseen forces like a mole burrowing away and surfacing unexpectedly. Its not hard to think of mole events in our day like the Arab Spring, Hong Kong Riots,#Me Too and more locally the terrorism attacks of March 15th. Each presented suddenly, even surprisingly, though one can readily see on reflection the conditions and preparations for the shock.

... they will be opposed and quite possibly vilified and attacked by the forces of the old system ... this is certain. I am aware of no structure of influence and power which simply recognised the need to change and stepped down. Some individuals may do that but all those who most benefitted from the old system will not give up without a fight.

This is not to say that individuals do not play a role and that we are at the mercy of unseen forces all the time. To make social change we do need people who stand out, who sense the potential for change, sense the way the winds of change are shifting, who can articulate the possibilities. Those are the leaders who are daring. They may be thought of as like a surfer who can pick the right wave, drive onto it at the right time, and ride it to the end.

The poet and rock star Bob Dylan wrote decades ago that we dont need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. That never meant that we dont need leaders to sense the shift and new direction, but that such leaders are not outside observers but active participants in the process. Not reporting on the change, but riding with it and encouraging others to do the same. Like the surfer they become part of the wave.

To be this sort of leader one needs to intimately understand the community or society in which one lives. Understand its strengths and limitations, divisions and points of unity, yearnings and anxieties. This leader needs also to be able to see more broadly, to see the big picture, to have good understanding of the forces of the past and the forces of potential adverse futures. Such a leader is well educated in the sense not so much of formal learning, though that may be required in today's world, as educated in the sense of holding the requisite wisdom to identify, frame and articulate in the language of those who must act.

This leader will be daring. Will be brave. Will be resilient. Wisdom and communication will not be enough. That is for two reasons. First, the leader is not only likely to be wrong and make mistakes but is certain to do so. The leader will fail and will need to change direction. They may need to experience rejection. They have to summon the personal strength to carry on. Second, they will be opposed and quite possibly vilified and attacked by the forces of the old system. Again this is certain. I am aware of no structure of influence and power which simply recognised the need to change and stepped down. Some individuals may do that but all those who most benefitted from the old system will not give up without a fight. Social structures are power structures. Social change is a transfer of power. Leaders have to be tough and resilient to see social change out.

This leader will also have to be full of aroha. Of love for those acting in the process of change. There are plenty of examples in history of leaders who were driven by negative emotions and who therefore had to use force not only against the old structure but also to coerce their own people to act. The results of this were never benign either in the process of change or in the aftermath of change. Given that here we are interested in change for the better, for good, we reject this concept of leadership. We need leaders who care about the people before, during and after the process of change.

... our larger businesses do not have great track records and this is very often a failure of leadership. This leadership is pretty much a self- appointed, self-referential and self- reverential elite.

This leader must also have humility. They must respect those who are active in the process of change with them. Often they must respect those who are giving up important things in the change.Most importantly they must have the ability to recognise when their leadership role is past. Just because you have an important leadership role in one process does not mean that you are the best leader in some other time, place or change. Arrogance can easily arise from a leadership role but it is the enemy of effective leadership. Part of your daring must be daring to stand aside when your job is done.

How do we cultivate people like this ? These qualities are not inherent in everyone. So we do need to identify young people who from their genetic inheritance, social and cultural experience and psychology have the potential to lead. These will not always be the people who look like the leaders within the old social structure the one that needs to change. They will not always be the people who most strongly promote themselves as leaders as these may often have strong personal ambition rather than a service-to-others motivation. But given the right exposures and opportunities these leaders, often quietly, will be become apparent to themselves and others. Well meaning older people who are not guardians of the past but enablers of the future will assist. When these young leaders do start to emerge we must encourage, educate and promote them. Processes like this programme are important in this. Our future leaders - those who will sense, define and lead us to the better future are here in our communities right now.

In my primary world of established business we typically have poor leadership. We have an abundance of people who are innovative and creative and who start new businesses. We have entrepreneurs who can grow businesses capable of competing with the best in the world. Of course we can always do with more of these people and embolden others to have a shot at changing some market or another.

But our larger businesses do not have great track records and this is very often a failure of leadership. This leadership is pretty much a self- appointed, self-referential and self- reverential elite. Like liking like with like effects. It is no surprise that such leadership excessively rewards itself and is reluctant to meet the needs of others, that it is slow to embrace or resistant to the diversity which is increasingly evident in our society, that it favours hierarchical, control structures of operation over devolution and empowerment, that it concerns itself with protection of the leadership over taking commercial risks, and favours posing and self congratulation over positive action where social change becomes unavoidable.

I am part of that world and even I find it frustrating. I can only imagine how it looks and feels from the outside. I strongly suspect that similar problems exist in the established political, administrative and social organisations.

What I can do is to illuminate some of the myriad faults in our business leadership. I can cajole and try to persuade. But these things are of limited effect when the self interest of those involved is so strongly in continuation of the game they are winning. Much more effective will be the voices and actions of a younger generation more aware of the big risks and opportunities, more attuned to the winds of change and courageous enough to challenge.

So tautoko katoa and lagolago atoatoa to your effort in being part of this leadership programme. I look forward to seeing you out there, pushing for change, fulfilling your potential and the potential of our communities. I will try not to get in the way.

Get it early This article was first published onNewsroom Proand included in Bernard Hickeys 8 Things morning email of the latest in-depth business and political analysis.Get it early bysubscribing noworstarting a 28-day free trial.

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Comment How to be a modern leader We need tough and resilient leaders able to propel - Newsroom

All our lives, we have been listening to people tell us, Speak up and be heard. But, very few of us can gather the courage to be assertive when the need arises. Sometimes, we need short doses of inspiration to speak up or take up cudgels on behalf of those who have been wronged. Speaking up, when it is necessary, can do wonders for you and the world around us.

If 2018 was the year of Me Too, 2019 had more women across ages and countries speak up, putting the spotlight on several issues that demanded our attention.

Greta Thunberg, Charlize Theron, Jameela Jamil,Chanel Miller, Oprah Winfrey and Glenn Close.

Last August, Swedish student Greta Thunberg sat outside the Parliament in Stockholm with a hand-painted sign that said 'Skolstrejk fr Klimatet' (School strike for Climate) alone from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm for an entire school day. Her one-woman protest quickly went viral with students all over the world beginning to voice the impending doom of climate change.

At the United Nations Climate Action Summit in September, a defiant Thunberg accused world leaders of inaction on the issue.

Parts of her fiery speech went like this:

My message is that we'll be watching you.

This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet, you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you!

You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words and yet I'm one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!

For more than 30 years, the science has been crystal clear. How dare you continue to look away and come here saying that you're doing enough when the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere in sight.

At the Golden Globe Awards presented in January this year, actor Glenn Close made a moving statement while accepting her award for her performance in The Wife. She said that her role in the movie was a reflection of her own life, where her mother took a backseat while her father moved forward in his career. The powerful feminist statement resonated with every woman in the audience and across the world.

She said, I feel what I've learned through this whole experience is that women, we're nurturers. That's what's expected of us. We have our children, we have our husbands, if we're lucky enough, and our partners, whoever. But we have to find personal fulfillment. We have to follow our dreams. We have to say, 'I can do that and I should be allowed to do that.

In September this year, 27-year-old Chanel Miller came forward and told the world that she was Emily Doe, the young woman sexually assaulted by Stanford University student Brock Turner. At Glamour magazines annual Women of the Year Awards, Miller read out a poem addressing assault survivors everywhere.

In a moving poem, she said, I dont give a damn/What you were wearing/I dont give a damn how much you drank/I dont give a damn/If you danced with him earlier in the evening/If you texted him first/Or were the one to go back to his place./People may continue to come up with reasons why it happened/But the truth is, I dont give a damn.

But I do/give a damn/How youre doing/I give a damn about you being okay/I give a damn if youre being blamed for the hurt you were handed/If you're being made to believe youre deserving of pain.

Popular talk-show host and entrepreneur Oprah Winfrey has always been a strong epitome for the cause of womens empowerment and social justice.

Her commencement speech for Colorado College was full of ruminations, practical insights and a powerful call to be you at all times.

Heres a part of what she said.

You have to pay attention to your life because it is speaking to you all the time. And the bumps in the road and the failures that pointed me in a new direction and led me to a path made clear that is what Im wishing for you today: Your own path made clear. And I know that there is a lot of anxiety, a lot about what the future holds and how much money youre gonna make. But your anxiety does not contribute one iota to your progress. Im here to tell you. It does the opposite. Look at how many times you worried and you were upset. And here you are today you made it and Im here to tell you that youre going to be more than okay. So take a deep breath with me right now and repeat this:Everything is always working out for me.I want to hear it.Everything is always working out for me.Thats my mantra. Make it yours. Everything is always working out for me because it is, and it has, and it will continue to be as you forge and discover your own path. But first, you do need a job.

Actor Jameela Jamil has always been in the forefront in the fight for healthy body image. At the 2019 MAKERS conference in February in California, she spoke about misogyny and the toxic masculinity that prevails our world.

She said, Women have the power to infiltrate misogyny in their own homes. It starts by never taking for granted how poisonous society can be to the male psyche, and protecting boys from the onslaught of misinformation everywhere, she said, Its as if men are recruited young and brainwashed, in order to be indoctrinated and manipulated into an oppressive patriarchal institution.

She added, This is a call to arms for the women who have boys growing up in their houses. We have a lot of work to undo. Mothers, sisters, and aunties, I implore you to take this little sponge, and render him sodden with humanity and an understanding of women. It will send him into this delusional world with an armour of empathy and self-assurance All you have to do is tell him the truth. Tell him what happened to us. Tell him our whole story.

Actor Charlize Theron made an impassioned speech as she accepted the Glamour 2019 Woman of the Year Award on November 11. One of the highlights of her acceptance speech was on empathy and the need to support different kinds of people with all our hearts.

She said, The point is we need to help the hard-hearted to empathise with others. Like sexual assault survivors, people living with AIDS, our trans community, children who are different or who have special needs. The women in this room tonight are putting themselves on the front line of the empathy battle, be it through storytelling, creating opportunities for those that need it most, or just unabashedly being yourself and telling other women we dont have to apologise for who and what we are.

Heres looking forward to more women shining even brighter in the next year, and throughout the next decade.

(Edited by Saheli Sen Gupta)

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Looking back at 2019: What we can learn from the most powerful voices of the year - YourStory

Heather Wood, Lifestyle Editor

Published Nov 25, 2019 at 8:00 am(Updated Nov 25, 2019 at 7:41 am)

Focusing on paint and canvas: Elizabeth Arnold opens new show at the Bermuda Society of Arts (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

Focusing on paint and canvas: Elizabeth Arnold opens new show at the Bermuda Society of Arts (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

As a child, Elizabeth Arnold watched as her grandfather carved exquisite armoires and chests out of cedar.

Something about the design aspect struck a chord, and art became a lifelong passion. Faces, a collection of her most recent work, is now on display at the Bermuda Society of Arts.

My art classes, those were the only classes that were ever important to me with most artists thats how it goes, the artist laughed. I just wanted to do it, dive in there and get it done.

That attitude didnt always sit well with teachers in Texas but, once she got interested in photography, Ms Arnold learnt the value of following instructions.

In my late teens, I got a job in a photographers studio, which landed me with another outlet for creativity, she said. Within photography, I did have to be very disciplined.

I couldnt break the rules; there was not much room for failure when photographing weddings and at the studio, I took to it really well.

In 1993, she moved to Bermuda where she established herself as a photographer and contemporary artist.

I photographed quite a few weddings, she said. I stuck with it until my fourth child and then put [my camera] down when I was six months pregnant.

Despite that she always kept [her] foot in the door, donating her photographic skills to her childrens schools.

I didnt pick up a paint brush, except for the murals in my children rooms, until 2010 when I bought a new camera. I picked up a brush and started a mixed-media approach, painting on photographs.

Beloved Lily, an ethereal life-size portrait of her eldest daughter, was accepted into the Charman Prize in 2011 and later used to illustrate childrens books.

Ms Arnolds 2016 Charman Prize painting, Spring, was acquired by the shows benefactor John Charman for his private collection a career highlight.

In the studio, I did a lot of restoration work on old photographs, but now, its all digital, she said. I decided to do away with photography and [focus on] paints and canvas. It was just easier.

Faces, her first solo show here, was inspired by the late American singer Mary Wells.

Although famous for helping to define the Motown sound in the 1960s, she was penniless when she died of throat cancer in 1992.

I admire her music and was really compelled to do something, Ms Arnold said. She sang so many songs for everybody and didnt get royalties. I felt it was such a shame.

Cleopatra, Amy Winehouse, Frida Kahlo, Wonder Woman and Nina Simone are the other faces featured in the exhibit.

The idea behind it was empowerment, Ms Arnold said.

Each face demonstrates feminine strength and resilience and was created using an inventive combination of media including paper, metal, acrylics, oils, metal, gold and silver leaf on wood cradle boards.

When I first moved here I had the opportunity to show with a small group of people who are now well-established artists, but this is my first solo show.

Ive had solo shows in Texas when I was young and felt like I wanted to dive in there again.

From my early photography days Ive always loved working with women the bride, the mother and child.

The show started with my idea of Mary Wells [and continued based] just on my own personal taste in music and who I work to.

Having not exhibited in a while, shes been happy with public response. This show was really challenging for me in a good way. Out of all the pieces I had the most fun on Wonder Woman because shes so light-hearted. Shes just fun; all the colours. Its been really well received. Im happy about that. The opening was a success.

Faces is on display in Studios A and B of the Bermuda Society of Arts until December 10. Part proceeds of the sale of the musical artists on display and Frida Kahlo, will go to cancer and health organisations on the island. For more information on the artist, Elizabeth Arnold, visit http://www.mixedmedializ.com

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Strength and resilience - Royal Gazette