Walking into Flat Land Coffee Co., it seemed like I had walked into a shop in Toronto. Minimalist white walls with beautiful local art. When seeing me walk in, the owner, Chad Ermel, smiled and welcomed me, and I was quickly reminded I was still in friendly Manitoba.
Chad and I sat down to talk about what it is like running a small business in rural Manitoba, the issues that exist in the coffee industry, and why buying premium coffee is so important.
In a town of five thousand, Flat Land Coffee Co. is one of four shops in Gimli, Manitoba. It distinguishes itself from the rest by serving premium coffee. While sipping on a latte, I chatted with Chad, who told me a bit about the coffee scene in the town and some info on the industry.
Chad has been working in the industry for over a decade and decided to open Flat Land Coffee Co. to make a life doing what he loves in a town he loves. He says an issue in the industry is everyone’s perception of coffee. The general attitude is that coffee should be cheap and there is no thought about the quality or where it comes from.
The coffee industry is an interesting one in that it’s so large and so easy for companies to lack transparency. It’s one reason why supporting local shops like Flat Land Coffee Co. is necessary. While I was talking to Chad, he told me they were currently featuring a Colombian coffee from 49th Parallel. While doing research for this post, I looked into 49th Parallel, its a roasting company from Vancouver who imports beans from all over.
I got really excited while on 49th Parallel’s website because it has what they call “transparency reports” which shows where the all the money they spent on coffee beans went. I was happy to learn that 68% of the money they spent on their Colombian roast went to the farmers. (Check here for the whole report.)
Here are a few things to know about your cup of joe:
- 90% of the world’s coffee production takes place in developing countries (When buying coffee at premium coffee shops like Flat Land Coffee Co., you can be assured those farmers are paid properly)
- There are about 25 million coffee farmers in the world
- Fairtrade coffee only a small portion of the market
- The coffee is a $100 billion industry (let’s bring more of that to Canada)
- Coffee shops have a 7% annual growth rate
Chad said he is slowly trying to educate people, if they’re interested, about the industry and why the prices of premium coffee are essential.
When grabbing a cup from your local coffee shop, you’re purchasing coffee that was ethically made and traded for, supporting a local business which in turn supports multiple employees, and you’re getting a great cup of coffee.
2 Comments Add yours
I believe it is spelled “Flatland,” as one word, the way it is on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/flatlandcoffee.gimli.manitoba/). I was just Gimli and was writing my own blog post about the business. I researched how to spell it and came across your blog post and their Facebook page. 🙂
was just IN Gimli**


Netflix’ Pricing Power Better than Ever
For a long time, Netflix’ main focus has been on penetrating the streaming market and gaining market share. “Affordable” has been a keyword for the streaming giant, but now they’re looking to substitute affordability for profitability, and CEO Reed Hastings reports that the company expects their operating profit margin to double to 7% in 2017.
The improvement in profitability comes from investing heavily in value-driving activities (i.e. activities that significantly increases willingness to pay): activities such as high-definition content and Netflix Original Content (think House of Cards, Narcos) that differentiates them from the competition.
The improved profitability is a direct result of the price increases that Netflix has been implementing, however, subscriber growth has not suffered as was initially forecasted. In the US, the growth reached a 6-year high in the 2nd quarter, and the international segment grew by more than 170%.
Netflix has realized that they need to seriously differentiate themselves from the competition, especially with Amazon getting into streaming. Traditionally, streaming services have been quite similar, and almost striving to offer the same content as everyone else, leaving price as the only distinguishing factor. With Netflix Original Content, no financial resources can match this: of course, competitors can offer their own original content, but this is much harder than lowering price.
If we look to music streaming, a similar trend emerges. In 2015, Jay Z bought Tidal at $56m, and over the last two years, the service reached a valuation of more than $600m. Why? Because the company focused on differentiating itself by offering the highest audio quality, exclusive content from Jay Z himself, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift among others, and by offering the highest royalties in the business, keeping the music business “sustainable”.
Netflix is still competing on price to a certain extent, for now. However, it is interesting to see the increasingly important role of original content, produced by the streaming services themselves; one could imagine a future where your choice of streaming service does not depend on price, but on your taste in movies and which service offers the best content for your taste.


It was the 5th day of the fourth Test between India and Australia at the Gabba. Gabba to the Australians is what Anfield was to Liverpool – much more than a fortress, a ground they hadn’t tasted defeat at since 1988, when they lost to the fearsome West Indies team. In the 31 Tests since then, Australia had won 24 Tests and drawn seven. (P.S: Liverpool lost to Burnley at home in the Premier League on 21st January 2021, 1369 days after their last home defeat in the league. There’s something about this week and fortresses being invaded.)
The score was 318-5. Washington Sundar was facing the fifth ball of Nathan Lyon’s over. At that juncture, India needed just 10 runs, with 4.2 overs in hand. Sundar, having played like a veteran on his debut till that point, finally gave in to his inexperience, trying to be over-ambitious and attempting a reverse sweep, only for him to have an unfortunate contact with his gloves before knocking off the bails.
That’s when the Australian commentators started to talk about a “glimmer” that Sundar’s wicket gave the Aussies to somehow, somehow save the Test from falling in India’s favour, not that they would have saved the match anyway. Well, that shows the extent of damage a battered and bruised Indian side had done to this Australian side, a side that had its pace battery charging in with all their might throughout the four Tests, a batting unit that saw the returns of their trailblazing mavericks David Warner and Steve Smith, and a side that was – ahead of the Test Series – at the top of the World Test Championship Table.
This series win will go down as one of the greatest Test Series, not just in Indian cricketing folklore, but as an underdog fairytale that will be talked about for generations to come, possibly eternally. Australian tours have always been about the big players rising to the occasion, but this tour saw the emergence of clutch warriors and cricketing superheroes that threw the kitchen sink and punched way, way above their weights.
It all started from the spirit-dampening 8-wicket loss in the day/night Test at Adelaide. The build-up to the opening Test was significant, for this series – according to pundits and media alike – was equally poised unlike the 2018-19 series where Australia were without the services of David Warner and Steve Smith. It was anything but that as India were humiliated on the third day. They had registered their lowest-ever score during an innings, all while having almost the same team that toured Down Under in 2018-19.
Ironically, David Warner and Steve Smith had no influence on the match’s outcome, which made this loss all the more difficult to digest. Former cricketers had written this team off for the rest of the series. Waves of a 4-0 whitewash – which would have been India’s first whitewash at the hands of Australia since 2011-12 – circled all around the cricketing fraternity. The departure of Virat Kohli gave more emphasis to the predictions. Australians and the people in the media were celebrating India’s all-time low score as if they had regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Everyone was assured that Australia would make light work of this crestfallen and dejected Indian side. Everyone but the Indians themselves.
The revival began in Melbourne. The stage was set for the Kangaroos to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. Who knew India would come up trumps against all the odds, more so after the return of Virat Kohli to India, the absence of Mohammed Shami due to injury, and the inclusion of two debutantes in Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj. A win in Melbourne was something no one had seen coming. What was even more compelling were the contributions of the two newbies, Gill and Siraj. Both of them showed supreme composure with the bat and the ball respectively, especially Siraj, who had been the subject of unnecessary social media trolls and who had lost his father just a few weeks back.
This underdog fairytale had reached its crescendo at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Surely, India wouldn’t give Australia a run for their money for a second Test in row, right? The cricketing gods, for all the punches that the Australians threw at the Indians, favoured the on-paper looking David against Goliath.
That had been the recurring theme throughout the series. Every Test, every session, every hour, an unlikely hero emerged and took the game by the scruff of its neck. Sometimes, it took the collective efforts of two or more men to save the blushes, just like Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin, who shape-shifted into immovable forces in the fourth innings at the SCG. Vihari had a series to forget up until that point, and he walked in when Rishabh Pant got out on 97. India had to survive the bludgeoning Aussie charges for another 57 overs, needing 157 runs. Mathematically, the game was India’s to lose. 57 overs and 157 runs would have been a cakewalk for even a monk-like figure of Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored three of his slowest half-centuries of his Test career this series (we’ll talk about him in a while).
Vihari suffered a gruelling hamstring injury. After the fall of Pujara’s wicket, Ashwin walked in at the crease. The Tamil Nadu off-spinner has four Test centuries to his name. Yet, his batting had significantly regressed over the last few years. And his fourth innings performances are only as good as those of all other Indian tailenders.
What unfolded over the next three hours was a ‘blockathon,’ and it seemed as if Rahul Dravid had cloned himself in disguise in the form of Vihari and Ashwin. Vihari, injured and incapable of playing at his best, decided to dig in, finding able support from Ashwin, who played the innings of his life. Amidst all the barrage of short balls, body blows, and some abominable sledging by Aussie captain Tim Paine, the two warriors were undeterred by the proverbial “mountain to climb” challenge, instead deciding to look it in the eye. One was playing to save his career, while the other to save the pride. United, they managed to save the match and, in turn, the series. 62 runs, 259 balls, and grit of the highest order meant that both the teams headed to the ‘Gabbatoir’ with everything to play for.
And here we are, at the climax of this incredible storyline, one that would have been counted as a psychotic prediction prior to the series. Australia won the toss for the umpteenth time this series. Steve Smith and his protégé Marnus Labuschagne had clicked into top form just at the right time. And such was the build-up to this match that India were made to look as losers even before the first ball had been bowled, not to mention India had to play with an almost second-string side that consisted of two debutantes (technically three if Shardul Thakur is counted) in Washington Sundar and Thangarasu Natarajan, both of whom are known to be ‘white-ball specialists.’
Australia posted 369 runs in the 1st innings, a total good enough to intimidate a brittle Indian team, more so when the Indians were reduced to 186-6. What happened next was the stuff of dreams. Shardul Thakur, who got injured in the second over on his Test debut against West Indies in 2018, was technically making his debut alongside Tamil Nadu’s 21-year-old Washington Sundar. Neither of them were a part of the Test squad originally.
The duo put on 123 runs for the seventh wicket just when it seemed like Australia would extend their Undertaker-esque streak at the Gabba to 25-0 without any hassle. A lead of over 150 runs was looking a reality and the Australians must have rejoiced at that stage. Little did they know that they were going to be completely outclassed by two amateurs of the Test arena, that too with sheer confidence and panache. The Sundar-Thakur partnership was India’ most important partnership of the series, right up there with the rigorous Vihari-Ashwin blockathon.
A slender lead of 33 didn’t give the Kangaroos the sort of impetus they would have fancied. Siraj and Thakur shared 9 wickets among them in the second innings, with the former bagging his maiden five-wicket haul in only his third Test. The huge smile on Thakur’s face as he grabbed Hazlewood’s catch to signal the end of the second innings showed the sort of character this team had. Thakur himself was just one wicket away from picking up his first five-wicket haul, but the fact that he celebrated Siraj’s achievement as much as he would have celebrated his was truly a sweet moment.
It all boiled down to the final – and most important – day of the fourth Test, and the series itself. The entire chase was like a pendulum, swinging and switching sides hour after hour. The early dismissal of Rohit Sharma meant the floodgates would open. Shubman Gill had a half-century in the previous Test, but he did himself one better, scoring 91 and taking the game away from the opposition. He took on the initiative, smashed Starc with utter nonchalance all around the park, and showed that he belonged here. He deserved a century for the class he put on display, but he did twice of what was expected of him considering it was only his third Test.
If the Sydney heist was magical, the breaching of the Gabba fortress was a miracle. Gill’s innings gave India the belief that they could conquer Gabba. If Pujara’s vigil that lasted 211 balls ensured India wouldn’t lose the match, Rishabh Pant ensured that India didn’t leave Brisbane without breaking the Aussie pride.
India were injury-ravaged throughout the Test series, with as many as nine regulars either unavailable or sidelined due to injury. Five players made their Test debuts during the series: Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Washington Sundar, and Thangarasu Natarajan. A totally bizarre bowling lineup managed to pick up 20 Australian wickets at the Gabba. The Indian bowling lineup had played a combined four Tests and picked up a combined 11 wickets ahead of the fourth Test. The Australian bowling lineup, on the other hand, had a combined experience of 246 Tests and 1013 wickets. There are just no words to describe the bravado of this side.
Recollect the third act of Avengers: Endgame. A wounded Captain America was up against the entire army of Thanos, plus Thanos himself. Yet, he stood up to fight them, as long as he could, alone. You can probably compare this Indian team with Captain America/Steve Rogers from Avengers: Endgame, someone who just wouldn’t give up in the face of adversity.
Mohammed Siraj had lost his father a few weeks back and wouldn’t have even made his debut if not for the injuries to the regular bowlers. In the final Test, he emerged as the unofficial leader of the pack, a player who himself had no experience at the highest level whatsoever. Siraj became the human embodiment of the famous Spider-Man phrase “With great power comes great responsibility.” (Sorry for all the Marvel references, you must have figured out I am a Marvel aficionado by now. And yes, I am.) With 13 wickets in 3 Tests, he finished as the highest wicket-taker for India, and the third-highest in the series, only behind Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
What can be said about Thakur and Sundar? The Aussies were simply taken aback by their onslaught, and how! Between them, they shared 11 wickets and 151 runs in the Gabba Test, contributions worth their weight in gold. Thakur was told by Shastri, “If you want people to love you, perform in Australia.” And, perform he did!
If the newbies wiped the feet off the Aussies’ ground, several experienced lads knocked the wind out of their sails. Statistically, Pujara had a worse outing than he did in 2018-19, where he was the best batsman. His ultra-defensive approach came under the scanner several times. He might have been looked at as a villain initially, but he left Australia as a hero, as a leader, and most importantly, as someone who will continue to flee the spotlight and work quietly, all while being one of the most important (and underrated) members of the XI. Anyone who doubts Pujara’s style or approach knows about cricket only as much as a donkey about quantum mechanics.
Finally, it’s time to give some screen time to the MVP of Gabba, Rishabh Pant. The wicket-keeper has had quite a journey, hasn’t he? He had lost his place as the first-choice wicket-keeper to Wriddhiman Saha since his wicket-keeping was (is) still a work in progress as compared to Saha, who is more often than not touted as the ‘best wicket-keeper in terms of pure wicket-keeping quality.’
The youngster has come under immense pressure numerous times. Having been given a long rope, his coarse-grained shot selection led to his downfall. It’s ironic and befitting at the same time how a player of Pant’s flair outperforms in the longest format yet somehow fails to deliver in formats tailor-made for his fearless batting style. Mind you, he has the highest batting average in Tests of any visiting batsman in Australia in the last ten years.
From being a backup, to scoring a valiant 97 at the SCG in the third Test to give India a “glimmer” of chasing down the insurmountable 407, to taking the team over the finishing line with a well-calculated 89 at the Gabba, Pant had quite the turnaround in a matter of few weeks. At the SCG, Lyon got the better of Pant as the batsman flayed at a ball outside the off stump only to serve some catching practice to the fielder. He learned his lesson and left most of the balls outside off stump at the Gabba, even if that meant a spike in the required run-rate.
This innings was somewhat reminiscent of Sachin Tendulkar’s ostentatious yet cautious 241 at the SCG in 2004. He was a victim of the balls being bowled outside the off stump, and he wasn’t enjoying a good tour until that moment. In that innings, however, Sachin’s steely resolve came to the fore as he didn’t attempt a single cover drive. Pant’s innings had similar levels of resolve and determination. He came in with the intention of winning the game, and such was the cinematic effect to this run chase that he scored the winning runs with a tailender at the non-striker’s end. Lyon was frustrated at the end of the game, and I am sure a majority of that came from Pant’s leaves outside the off stump off his bowling.
Harsha Bhogle termed the Gabba victory as the greatest moment in Indian cricket history alongside the 1983 World Cup victory. Bhogle for one is a man of logic. He will never hyperbolize his statements. In my opinion, this is the greatest Test victory I have ever witnessed. It might or might not usurp England’s Houdini Act at Headingley in 2019, and I don’t care enough to compare these two victories. India were never given a chance, let alone have a shot at being equals.
What worked in India’s favour was that they hit rock bottom within three days of the commencement of the Test series and not mid-way or at the end, when it mattered the most. They had time to recoup and they would surely not do worse than they had already done, would they? But the spirit and never-say-die attitude that the players showed is nothing less than commendable. When you hit a low, the morale is broken and it’s extremely difficult to pull back things in order. Without their leader, Virat Kohli, and a string of regulars, the sort of intent and bravery this bunch showed throughout the tour deserves a place in the upper echelons of the history of the game.
Justin Langer correctly proclaimed that the Indians should never be underestimated. Whether he was being modest or that was a natural reply after being humbled, Langer surely had huge respect for this team based on how he sounded. Without their best batsman and bowler, and all the other components that made India a force of nature, India have left an indelible mark on the Australians in their own backyard.
This series was never meant to be one for the weak-hearted. This series was never meant to be about the famous ones stealing the headlines. This series was never about one team walking over another without much effort. Rather, it was a series where a struggling nobody became a shining somebody. It was a series that paved the way for stop-start careers to flourish rather than a good career getting destroyed. It was a series where superheroes overcame the challenge without any superpower. It was a series where dreams met reality.
There are no qualms about the fact that this series will go down as the greatest in Indian cricket history. Kudos to all the players involved, for they put up one hell of a fight. Special praise should be heaped towards Ravi Shastri and Ajinkya Rahane, who made sure the team stayed united during the crisis and returned better than ever. Rahane’s captaincy needs to be lauded as he showed his tactical nous and diligence at crucial junctures throughout the series.
It’s difficult to tell what will happen to the ‘Class of 21’ once the regulars return to the XI. Some of them might not even play another Test, ever. But I can guarantee one thing. These players’ names will be engraved on my heart, as well as every other fan’s heart, for the rest of our lives. Stories will be told about these so-called cricketing superheroes, who have shown that you need just one match or one series to forge your legacy. And their legacies will remain at the very pinnacle of the cricket mountain for generations to come until one day, another underdog fairytale takes the world by storm.


New helipad an investment in the future of Royal Perth Hospital
Royal Perth Hospital is to get a new $6.8 million helipad.
In announcing the funding recently, the Minister for Health John Day said it was an investment in the future of Royal Perth Hospital as a key health care centre of excellence.
The new helipad will ensure Royal Perth Hospital meets changing Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) standards, and will enable the hospital to accept larger helicopters.
The current helipad was commissioned in 1999, with capacity for helicopters weighing up to 5400kg. The new helipad will have a 10,000kg capacity.
As home to the State Adult Major Trauma Unit and the State Spinal Service, Royal Perth Hospital currently receives between 160 - 300 direct helicopter landings per year.
Work on the new helipad will start in 2017, for completion in 2018. The existing helipad will continue operating while the new facility is built.
This is a significant investment in the future of Royal Perth Hospital, continuing to excel and thrive as the major tertiary hospital in the East Metropolitan Health Service.


The Initial Flood
While it may have stopped raining or at least decreased in frequency, water is still making its way to Louisiana and increasing water levels at an alarming rate. This influx of water into the state is causing more homes and businesses to be flooded on a daily basis.
With Louisiana being in the top three for lowest mean elevation, excess water is an extremely dangerous prospect. According to NASA, more than 20 inches of rain fell in southeastern Louisiana over the weekend, which is a third of Louisiana’s annual rainfall of 59.42 inches. This massive amount of water in such a short time caused many rivers, bayous, and tributaries to overflow causing the initial flood.
I’m Watching the Weather and it Says the Rain Stopped, Why is Louisiana Still Flooding?
The Secondary and Continuing Flooding
Louisiana is not just being flooded by rainwater anymore. At this time, the waterways that were already overflown from rain are receiving more water from the natural river flow system from up north. This means the already maxed out water systems in Louisiana are continually getting more water and the water is overflowing into more and more places.
The Water Distribution Process
Normal water flow from the north is overflowing the Mississippi River even more and the water is being pushed into tributaries and bayous as a natural drainage system for the Mississippi River. Flooding occurs at this point because tributaries and bayous do not out-flow to the ocean. They are isolated pockets of low ground that gets filled when high rain occurs. As the bayous and tributaries can’t empty to another area, they overflow and the water pushes further outward into towns, creating more and more flooding.
This flooding is not a two-day problem for Louisiana, but a several week problem for water increase. Rebuilding efforts could take several months to a year. With more than 40,000 people in 30 different parishes affected by this historic flooding, assistance and support is needed now and in the upcoming months.


American actor Edward Norton is set to replace British actor Benedict Cumberbatch as Pete Seeger in the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown.
According to Deadline, Cumberbatch was replaced by Norton due to scheduling conflicts.
A Complete Unknown is being directed by James Mangold, while the movie stars Timothee Chalamet as Dylan and Elle Fanning will play the role of Sylvie Russo. The film will be heading into production in New York this March. The cast also includes Monica Barbaro and Woody Guthrie.
Seeger, who died in 2014, had a significant impact on Dylan’s musical upbringing, having a profound influence on Dylan from the perspectives of both music and activism.
Music News Service distributed by Frankly Media. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved


New Year's Resolutions
Happy New Year! I am starting off this blog with a resolutions post! I took some time this year to seriously think about what I want my resolutions to be because I wanted to focus on positivity and confidence. For the past several months, I’ve worked on creating a YouTube channel dedicated to beauty and scarring. You would think that those two don’t go together, but that’s where I start to challenge the beauty standard of today’s social media-centric world. All you see on Instagram are perfect, Facetuned, beautiful women and men all with the same look (especially of the Kardashian variety). But differences and “imperfections” like scars, acne, or pigment are what make people special and that’s what everyone should be celebrating.
In my video, I talk about how my scars affect my everyday life and how I’m going to overcome these thoughts and barriers in order to grow my self-esteem and build confidence in myself. For example, I talk about how putting my hair up is a challenge for me at work because it fully shows my scars and causes a lot of staring. It definitely was not an easy video to film because I rarely speak so freely about my scarring and my thoughts! But it’s a step forward to my resolutions and a mentally healthier year. I’m even wearing a ponytail today at work.


For the last 3 weeks or so I’ve been seeing a stream of emails in my inbox from companies whose subscriber lists I’ve ended up on. They’re all asking me the same thing, and it’s not the usual “buy all of our stuff”. Instead, they’re all suggesting that I let them know whether or not I’d like to hear about Father’s Day. I don’t remember this being a thing last year, but I’ve probably had about 25 in the last month.
Although the cynic inside my head wonders whether they’re banking on some goodwill purchases as I marvel at their selfless sensitivity, I’m pretty happy about this development. The recognition that National days of celebration are not always celebratory occasions for everyone, or devoid of complicated feelings is a welcome change.
Father’s Day can be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate those in your life who have played the role (and you can read all about mine here).
But it can also be a day of confusion, guilt, sadness, regret, and a lot of cookie dough ice cream.
So, in the spirit of making things a little easier on social media for some people today, here is an article that my friend Angeline shared with me.
“Father’s Day for those Widowed Young”
It’s from Care for the Family, and gives some clear tips on how to support someone dealing with loss on Fathers’ Day (and any other day).
Let’s celebrate our father figures, and be there for our friends.
With love x


Suggested Citation: Jung, B.C. (2016 - 2017). Betty C. Jung's 2017 Public Health Blog (January - June).
Web document: http://www.bettycjung.net/Blog2017.htm
Please note that this page is a work in progress. Finalized entries are dated and posted on the What's New Page, and at the end of each month are returned here for archiving. So, unless an entry has a date it can still undergo metamorphosis! Thanks for your understanding.
January xxx, 2017 - Social Media Represents One-Quarter of Adult Women’s Total Media Time
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Graphic source: http://www.marketingcharts.com/online/social-media-represents-one-quarter-of-adult-womens-total-media-time-73699/attachment/nielsen-social-share-us-adults-media-time-jan2017/
January xxx, 2017 - GOES-16 Earth Images (NASA)
January xxx, 2017 - Majority of US Adults Live in Cell-Only Households
Search rankings studies have indicated that the impact of relevant content continues to grow, and a new survey [download page] from Ascend2 and its Research Partners finds that marketers largely agree. Some 57% of the 256 marketing influencers surveyed around the world rated relevant content creation as being among their most effective SEO tactics, topping the proportion feeling that way about keyword/phrase research (49%).
These top-2 tactics in effectiveness are unchanged from last year’s survey, though the gap between them has narrowed somewhat.
As with last year’s iteration of the survey, relevant content creation continues to be perceived as the most difficult SEO tactic, followed by external and internal linking. The easiest tactic to execute is meta description/tags, though this is seen as being among the most effective methods by few respondents to the survey.
On an encouraging note, marketers seem to have confidence in the effectiveness of their SEO strategies. Roughly 8 in 10 describe themselves as either very successful (34%) or somewhat successful (47%), and a similar proportion say that effectiveness is either increasing significantly (42%) or marginally (40%).
Perhaps they feel good about their content creation skills?
About the Data: The Ascend2 data is based on a survey of 256 marketing influencers around the world, three-quarters of whom come from companies with at least 50 employees and 64% of whom are primarily B2B (45%) or B2B and B2C equally (19%).
More than 3 in 4 American adults engage in social media in some way, finds a report from The Harris Poll. The study indicates that of those engaged in social media, passive reacting or posts and content is the most common form of engagement, with far fewer mostly creating and posting original content. Still, users typically post about some areas more than others.
Most commonly, adults post about their families, with about 1 in 3 saying they typically do so. Next up is humorous content such as memes, quizzes, lists and videos, with 3 in 10 typically posting such content. That fits with previous research indicating that humor is a key motivator of social sharing behavior.
Meanwhile, adults are about as likely to post about pets (17%) as they are about kids, travel and food (each at 18%). Even in the run-up to the election, few (11%) profess to typically posting about politics, though.
Unsurprisingly, these responses differ markedly by age and other demographic variables, as highlighted below:
For youth (18-34), humorous content is most commonly shared (by 43%);
The 35-44 bracket shares content about family the most, while also being more likely than other age groups to share about kids;
Affluent Americans post about travel (26%) more commonly than other income groups; and
Parents with kids under 18 in the household are more engaged with social media than those without kids in the household, and are equally or more likely to post about all the topics measured.
Also as expected, the 18-34 age group is the most engaged with social media, as almost 9 in 10 engage in some way. This age group is also the most likely to be exposed to multiple ads on social media and to count those ads as an influence on their purchases, per MarketingCharts study data.
Finally, a separate survey of Facebook users from Fractl indicates that men and women are equally likely to share funny videos or articles and news content. Results from the survey indicate that Millennials are the least likely to share political content and the most likely to share memes, with the opposite patterns true for Boomers.
As for the buzz-worthy employee advocacy trend? Just 7% of respondents to the Harris Poll say they typically post about work, with this most common among 35-44-year-old females (15%).
At the age of 30, more than 7 in 10 young adults were married, had a child, were not enrolled in school, and lived on their own. That was in 1975. Fast forward 40 years, and just 32% fit that picture, per a new analysis released by the US Census Bureau.
Young adults (30-year-olds) are putting off marriage and kids at far greater rather than they did 40 years ago. Indeed, as of last year, 57% had ever married, down from 89% in 1975. Likewise, less than half (47%) were living with a child, down from about three-quarters (76%) in 1975.
As of last year, 7 in 10 young adults (30-year-olds) lived on their own, according to the analysis, down from 90% in 1975. That follows an earlier assessment from the Pew Research Center, which revealed that for the first time on record, 18-34-year-olds are more likely to be living with a parent than having any other living arrangement.
Financial concerns likely play a role. While 30-year-olds today are more likely to have at least a high school diploma (90% vs. 80%) and be in the labor force (81% vs. 71%), those advances haven’t translated into other socioeconomic aspects of life. Namely, only 55% have a moderate income (between 66% and 200% of the national median household income), a drop from 71% in 1975. And just 33% are homeowners, a steep decline from 56% some 40 years ago.
Financial instability has also changed the mindset of young parents, particularly as student debt has weighed heavily on the young population. Data contained in a recent MarketingCharts study on youth and financial services indicates that as of last year, 74% of parents aged 30-34 with children expected to attend college have started saving for that goal. In 2007, only 58% of parents of that age had started saving for their children’s college expenses. Part of that motivation seems to be an increased desire to not burden their children with student debt: 48% of young parents plan to pay for all college costs, triple the share (16%) from the earlier study period.
The findings are interesting in light of marketers’ strong focus on Millennials (of which there are many…). It’s worth keeping in mind that most of these youth are yet to “settle down,” at least in the traditional sense… As such, the attention paid to Millennials is likely more about capturing their loyalty (if that’s possible) rather than finding the highest-spending consumers.
Topics: Demographics & Audiences, Education, Real Estate, Traditional, Youth & Gen X
Source:How the Socioeconomic Characteristics of Young Adults Have Changed In the Past 40 Years http://www.marketingcharts.com/traditional/how-the-socioeconomic-characteristics-of-young-adults-have-changed-in-the-past-40-years-68788/
According to 1/3/2015's Sciencemag.org's "The simple math that explains why you may (or may not) get cancer":
"...most cancer cases are the result of biological bad luck.
Here’s how it works: Take the number of cells in an organ, identify what percentage of them are long-lived stem cells, and determine how many times the stem cells divide. With every division, there’s a risk of a cancer-causing mutation in a daughter cell.
Thus, Tomasetti and Vogelstein reasoned, the tissues that host the greatest number of stem cell divisions are those most vulnerable to cancer. When Tomasetti crunched the numbers and compared them with actual cancer statistics, he concluded that this theory explained two-thirds of all cancers.
Plotting the total number of stem cell divisions over a lifetime against the lifetime risk of cancer in 31 different organs revealed a correlation. As the number of divisions rose, so did risk.
Colon cancer, for example, is far more common than cancer of the duodenum, the first stretch of the small intestine. This is true even in those who carry a mutated gene that puts their entire intestine at risk. Tomasetti found that there are about 1012 stem cell divisions in the colon over a lifetime, compared with 1010 in the duodenum.
For Vogelstein, one major message is that cancer often cannot be prevented, and more resources should be funneled into catching it in its infancy. “These cancers are going to keep on coming,” he says.
Although the randomness of cancer might be frightening, those in the field see a positive side, too. The new framework stresses that “the average cancer patient … is just unlucky,” Clevers says. “It helps cancer patients to know” that the disease is not their fault."
"Today's retirees tell us in no uncertain terms that the number-one ingredient for a happy retirement is, by no small margin, having your health. Sure, other things are important, like being financially secure and having a loving family and friends, but a new study reveals that health trumps all as the key factor to having a happy and satisfying retirement." (Huffington Post's 9/15/14 article,"Study Reveals The #1 Key To A Happy Retirement"; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ken-dychtwald/retirement-planning_b_5800234.html)
According to "Health and Retirement: Planning for the Great Unknown": "Health is the most important ingredient for a happy retirement, according to 81% of retirees. Meanwhile, paying for health care costs is Americans' greatest financial concern."
Key insights from the study also include:
The double threat of health challenges to retirement financial security
Five critical health care conversations couples and families should be having—but often aren't
Important enhancements to our health care system needed to prepare for an aging population
Four unique "Boomer HealthStyles," defining different approaches boomers are taking to managing their health and preparation for health care expenses (http://www.wealthmanagement.ml.com/wm/Pages/Age-wave-Survey.aspx)
According to CDC's Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) (1999–2008) o students aged 13-15 years:
"Worldwide, 7% of girls surveyed smoke cigarettes and 8% use tobacco products other than cigarettes (such as pipes, waterpipes, smokeless tobacco, and bidis).
Cigarette use among girls is higher than 30% in 7 of the countries surveyed: Chile, Czech Republic, Latvia, Bulgaria, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands.
In all regions, susceptibility to initiate smoking is higher than current smoking rates among girls. (i.e., although 7% of girls smoke, 19% of girls who never smoked reported they were susceptible to start smoking)."
(Lung cancer rates for women....)
A 2013 Gallup Poll found that 92% of successful ex-smokers did not use the nicotine patch, gum, Zyban, Chantix or Champix, that most quit smoking cold turkey.
"Most current smokers in the U.S. would like to give up smoking. Perhaps as a testimony to their desire to quit, 85% of smokers say they have in fact tried to quit at least once in their lifetime, including 45% who have tried at least three times.
The finding that smokers have tried on average 3.6 times to quit smoking over their lifetimes -- only to return to their habit -- is more understandable in light of the fact that 72% of smokers claim that they are "addicted" to cigarettes.
The quarter of Americans who have successfully quit smoking, when asked to name the strategies or methods they used to quit, are most likely to attribute their success to just deciding to quit "cold turkey." Smaller percentages of reformed smokers name willpower, support from family and friends and prayer, use of the nicotine patch, ceasing to be around people who smoke, using chewing gum or candy, and using an electronic cigarette.
Fewer former smokers say they quit because of the expense of smoking, because smoking was a bad or disgusting habit, or because of their family and friends.
Smokers on average are engaging in a habit they wish they didn't have, and, in fact, the average smoker has attempted to quit at least three times in their lifetime. The difficulty in quitting is attested to by the fact that more than seven in 10 smokers say they are addicted to cigarettes.
The majority of former smokers say their concern for their health was the main factor that caused them to quit smoking. This is an important finding, but given that 91% of smokers already admit that smoking is harmful to smokers' health and 79% admit that smoking is a cause of lung cancer, it is clear that the specter of bad health, disease, and death has not been enough in and of itself to get smokers to stop."
I love this graphic that shows how important collaboration is to addressing the tobacco problem. Tobacco is an environmental problem because of health effects associated with second-hand and third-hand exposures. Collaboration among government entities at various levels, along with coalition building among advocacy groups make for a more effective approach.
, 2014 - Third-hand smoke just as deadly as first-hand smoke
According to a University of California-Riverside report, "Third-hand smoke just as deadly as first-hand smoke":
"While first-hand smoke refers to the smoke inhaled by a smoker and second-hand smoke to the exhaled smoke and other substances emanating from the burning cigarette that can get inhaled by others, third-hand smoke is the second-hand smoke that gets left on the surfaces of objects, ages over time and becomes progressively more toxic.
Third-hand smoke is a potential health threat to children, spouses of smokers and workers in environments where smoking is, or has been, allowed. Contamination of the homes of smokers by third-hand smoke is high, both on surfaces and in dust, including children's bedrooms.
Re-emission of nicotine from contaminated indoor surfaces in these households can lead to nicotine exposure levels similar to that of smoking. Third-hand smoke, which contains strong carcinogens, has been found to persist in houses, apartments and hotel rooms after smokers move out.
(Mice studies have found:) In the liver, third-hand smoke was found to increase lipid levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a precursor to cirrhosis and cancer and a potential contributor to cardiovascular disease.
In the lungs, third-hand smoke was found to simulate excess collagen production and high levels of inflammatory cytokines (small proteins involved in cell signaling), suggesting propensity for fibrosis with implications for inflammation-induced diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
In wounded skin, healing in mice exposed to third-hand smoke showed many characteristics of the kind of poor healing observed in human smokers who have gone through surgery."
Finally, in behavioral tests the mice exposed to third-hand smoke showed hyperactivity.
"More recently we have found that exposure to third-hand smoke results in changes that can lead to type II diabetes even when the person is not obese,"
Children in environments where smoking is, or has been allowed, are at significant risk for suffering from multiple short-term and longer health problems, many of which may not manifest fully until later in life."
Research has shown that children living with one or two adults who smoke in the home, where second- and third-hand smoke are abundant, are absent 40 percent more days from school due to illness than children who did not live with smokers."
According Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center's "Protect Children from Third Hand Smoke Exposure" Studies have shown that when just one cigarette was smoked in a bedroom with the door closed, it took two hours for particulates in the air to return to below the threshold for harm. Figure: Ott et al. 2003. J. Air & Waste Manage. Assoc.
"What happens when second hand smoke collects on our clothes, or in the car seats, furniture, carpets, and even the wallboard that surround us? The contamination that persists after second hand smoke has dissipated is called third hand smoke (THS).
Researchers have identified significant amounts of toxins from third hand smoke in homes and cars of smokers even months after no smoking has occurred. Residual pollutants remain on surfaces and in dust; they re-emit as nicotine gas or as ultrafine particles; and they can collect in textiles and other materials to create a reservoir that emits gas over time. These pollutants can also react with other compounds in the environment, like ozone, to create secondary pollutants.
Even when parents understand the dangers of second hand smoke in the home, many think it is safe to smoke in a car if children aren't in it.
But smoking in the car creates an especially intense environment for third hand smoke exposure. The nicotine can combine with nitrous acid from exhaust to create cancer-causing tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) that settle into the dust on the dashboard, seats, and carpets. And these TSNA's can be absorbed through the skin—when you open a glove compartment or dust off the dash with your hand."
Scientific assessments such as dose effect curves seek to evaluate the health risk associated to second-hand smoke exposure.
"The Surgeon General released a report in 2006 regarding the dangers of secondhand smoke (SHS). One of the claims in the report is:
There is NO risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure, with even brief exposure adversely affecting the cardiovascular and respiratory system.
We know that secondhand smoke harms people's health, but many people assume that exposure to secondhand smoke in small doses does not do any significant damage to one's health. However, science has proven that there is NO risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Let me say that again: there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Breathing secondhand smoke for even a short time can damage cells and set the cancer process in motion. Brief exposure can have immediate harmful effects on blood and blood vessels, potentially increasing the risk of a heart attack. Secondhand smoke exposure can quickly irritate the lungs, or trigger an asthma attack. For some people, these rapid effects can be life-threatening. People who already have heart disease or respiratory conditions are at especially high risk."
"The harmful effects of smoking do not end with the smoker. An estimated 88 million nonsmoking Americans, including 54% of children aged 3–11 years, are exposed to secondhand smoke. Even brief exposure can be dangerous because nonsmokers inhale many of the same poisons in cigarette smoke as smokers.
Secondhand smoke exposure causes serious disease and death, including heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults and sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more frequent and severe asthma attacks in children. Each year, primarily because of exposure to secondhand smoke, an estimated 3,000 nonsmoking Americans die of lung cancer, more than 46,000 die of heart disease, and about 150,000–300,000 children younger than 18 months have lower respiratory tract infections."
According to New York State Senator Liz Krueger's Blog:
"The tobacco industry spends $1.2 million every day across New York City and State marketing their deadly product. The more tobacco marketing kids see, the more likely they are to smoke. In fact, 90 percent of smokers begin smoking before age 18. In Manhattan alone, 4,000 public high school students smoke cigarettes; one-third will die prematurely as a direct result of smoking if they continue."
"An estimated 21% of all adults (45 million people) smoke cigarettes in the United States.
Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, is a complex mixture of gases and particles that include smoke from the burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe tip (sidestream smoke), and exhaled mainstream smoke.
Secondhand smoke contains at least 250 known toxic chemicals, including more than 50 that can cause cancer.2 Secondhand smoke causes heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults and a number of health conditions, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and respiratory infections, in children.
More than 126 million nonsmoking Americans continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke in homes, vehicles, workplaces, and public places. Most exposure to tobacco smoke occurs in homes and workplaces. Almost 60% of U.S. children aged 3–11 years—or almost 22 million children—are exposed to secondhand smoke."
"Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. Each year, an estimated 443,000 people die prematurely from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, and another 8.6 million live with a serious illness caused by smoking. Despite these risks, approximately 46.6 million U.S. adults smoke cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco, cigars, and pipes also have deadly consequences, including lung, larynx, esophageal, and oral cancers.
Coupled with this enormous health toll is the significant economic burden of tobacco use—more than $96 billion a year in medical costs and another $97 billion a year from lost productivity."
According to: 6/2015's "A study of pyrazines in cigarettes and how additives might be used to enhance tobacco addiction"
Background Nicotine is known as the drug that is responsible for the addicted behaviour of tobacco users, but it has poor reinforcing effects when administered alone. Tobacco product design features enhance abuse liability by (A) optimising the dynamic delivery of nicotine to central nervous system receptors, and affecting smokers’ withdrawal symptoms, mood and behaviour; and (B) effecting conditioned learning, through sensory cues, including aroma, touch and visual stimulation, to create perceptions of pending nicotine reward. This study examines the use of additives called ‘pyrazines’, which may enhance abuse potential, their introduction in ‘lights’ and subsequently in the highly market successful Marlboro Lights (Gold) cigarettes and eventually many major brands.
Methods We conducted internal tobacco industry research using online databases in conjunction with published scientific literature research, based on an iterative feedback process.
Results Tobacco manufacturers developed the use of a range of compounds, including pyrazines, in order to enhance ‘light’ cigarette products’ acceptance and sales. Pyrazines with chemosensory and pharmacological effects were incorporated in the first ‘full-flavour, low-tar’ product achieving high market success. Such additives may enhance dependence by helping to optimise nicotine delivery and dosing and through cueing and learned behaviour.
Conclusions Cigarette additives and ingredients with chemosensory effects that promote addiction by acting synergistically with nicotine, increasing product appeal, easing smoking initiation, discouraging cessation or promoting relapse should be regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Current models of tobacco abuse liability could be revised to include more explicit roles with regard to non-nicotine constituents that enhance abuse potential.
Graphic source: Adapted by BCJung, from http://www.treatobacco.net/en/page_79.php, Safety of Smoking Cessation Medications
, 2014 - Cardiovascular Toxicity of Nicotine
According to the 1997 "American College of Cardiology's Cardiovascular Toxicity of Nicotine: Implications for Nicotine Replacement Therapy 1"
"Cigarette smoking is well known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Nicotine affects cardiovascular function and could contribute to cardiovascular disease.
Nicotine binds to nicotinic cholinergic receptors, which are located in the brain, autonomic ganglia, the adrenals and neuromuscular junction. The main cardiovascular effect of nicotine is sympathetic neural stimulation. Sympathomimetic effects are mediated by several mechanisms. Central nervous system–mediated sympathetic stimulation can occur through activation of peripheral chemoreceptors, direct effects on the brain stem and effects on more caudal portions of the spinal cord. Intrapulmonary chemoreceptors may also contribute to brain-mediated sympathetic arousal. The site that appears to be most sensitive to low levels of nicotine is the carotid chemoreceptor. Peripheral mechanisms include catecholamine release from the adrenals and direct release or enhancement of release of catecholamines from vascular nerve endings.
Nicotine works primarily by enhancing the release of various neurotransmitters, including epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, vasopressin, glutamate, NO (60), calcitonin growth-related peptide (CGRP) (60) and beta-endorphin. Thus, in addition to catecholamine-mediated actions, some other of these effects, such as acetylcholine, serotonin, NO, CGRP or vasopressin release, may contribute to effects of nicotine on blood vessels."
Here is a graph that shows how different nicotine delivery methods affect the level of nicotine found in the blood. Though nicotine may be fast acting (it only takes 11 seconds for the nicotine to reach the brain), it's effects don't last long, which is why smokers end up smoking more and more over time.
, 2014 - Nicotine Dependence, By Age Group
Graphic source: Adapted by BCJung, from Tobacco and Health Effects Slides at http://www.treatobacco.net/en/page_111.php
Here is a bar graph that shows why it is so hard for long-term smokers to quit. Given that most smokers begin smoking in their teens, by the time they are in their 50s, 3/4s are addicted to the nicotine. An even worse statistic is by the time smokers are 26, 1/2 are already addicted to the nicotine! This is the reason why the sooner smokers stop, the better off they are.
, 2014 - The Relative Addictiveness of Nicotine
Relative Addictiveness of Nicotine
Graphic source: http://bigscaryideas.com/?p=160
Here is a bar chart that compares the relative addictiveness (0 to 100%) of a number of drugs. Those in blue are legal drugs, and those in red are illegal drugs. Somewhat scary to see that the two most addictive drugs are legal, of which nicotine is second only to oxycodone for addictiveness. This is a good reason to keep in mind when young children are lured into smoking without understanding what they are getting into. Before they realize it they are physically addicted to nicotine.
Ever think of nicotine as a drug? Well it is, and a very addictive psychoactive drug at that. In terms of addictiveness, nicotine is right up there with morphine. Even worse, nicotine is more addictive than cocaine, at a lower dose!
Starting October 1st (not soon enough), CVS stores will stop selling cigarettes. Well, it's a start. However, if you look at where cigarettes are usually bought and sold, gas stations may be the place to stem the sale of cigarettes, as they make up 48% of where people buy cigarettes.
While statistics show that the number of cigarettes sold is declining, the tobacco industry still stands to make $230 billion in 2013. That's a lot of cigarettes sold.
July 10, 2014 - People Smoke Where Cigarettes Are Cheap
Annual age-adjusted rate* of tobacco-related cancer† cases (2009–2013) and trends§ in rates (2004–2013), by state — National Program of Cancer Registries, and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, United States
"The Department is proposing in this NPRM to explicitly ban the use of electronic cigarettes on aircraft as there has been some confusion over whether the Department's ban on smoking of tobacco products includes a ban on use of electronic cigarettes. We see no reason to treat electronic cigarettes any differently than traditional cigarettes. The purpose behind the statutory ban on smoking aboard aircraft and the regulatory ban in part 252 on smoking tobacco products was to improve air quality within the aircraft, reduce the risk of adverse health effects on passengers and crewmembers, and enhance aviation safety and passenger comfort. Electronic cigarettes are generally designed to look like and to be used in the same manner as conventional cigarettes. Although a vapor, rather than smoke, is produced, the products require an inhalation and exhalation similar to smoking cigarettes. We are unaware of sufficient studies on the health impact on third parties from these vapors to conclude that they would not negatively impact the air quality within the aircraft and/or increase the risk of adverse health effects on passengers and crewmembers.
Each e-cigarette consists of three parts: The replaceable cartridge, which most often contains liquid nicotine but may contain other chemicals, the atomizer or heating element, and the battery and electronics. See Sottera Inc. v. Food & Drug Administration, 627 F.3d 891, 893 (D.C. Cir 2010). Theatomizer or heating element vaporizes the liquid inside the cartridge, and the battery and electronics power the atomizer and monitor air flow. Id. When the user inhales, the electronics detect the air flow and activate the atomizer, the liquid nicotine is vaporized, and the user inhales the vapor. Id.
Some electronic cigarette companies have claimed that their products are safe because they reportedly do not contain carcinogens or tar or produce second-hand smoke, as there is no combustion in their use. According to these arguments, while the vapor looks and feels, and may taste, like smoke produced by burning traditional tobacco products, its chemistry differs from the smoke produced from burning conventional tobacco products. The principal liquid ingredient is propylene glycol, which is widely used as a moistening food additive and an aid to vaporization. However, some research, conducted on non-asthmatic people, has shown that exposure to propylene glycol mist from artificial smoke generators may cause acute ocular and upper airway irritation, and in a few cases people reacted with cough and slight airway obstruction. See G Wieslander, D Norbäck, and T Lindgren, “Experimental exposure to propylene glycol mist in aviation emergency training: Acute ocular and respiratory effects,”Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2001; 58:649-655. Further, in a recent New England Journal of Medicine article, “E-Cigarette or Drug-Delivery Device? Regulating Novel Nicotine Products,” it was noted that the safety of inhaling propylene glycol has not been studied in humans. 365;3: 193-95.
July 15, 2017 - Cigarette Smoking Status* Among Current Adult E-cigarette Users,† by Age Group — National Health Interview Survey,§ United States, 2015
* Adults were asked if they had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and, if yes, whether they currently smoked cigarettes every day, some days, or not at all. Those who smoked every day or some days were classified as current cigarette smokers. Adults who had not smoked 100 cigarettes were classified as never cigarette smokers. Adults who had smoked 100 cigarettes but were not smoking at the time of interview were classified as former cigarette smokers. Percentages are shown with 95% confidence intervals.
† Current e-cigarette use was based on responses of“every day”or“some days”to the question,“Do you currently use electronic cigarettes every day, some days, or not at all?”asked of adults who had ever tried an e-cigarette, even one time.
§ Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the noninstitutionalized U.S. civilian population aged ≥18 years and are derived from the National Health Interview Survey sample adult component.
In 2015, 3.5% of U.S. adults were current e-cigarette users. Among adult e-cigarette users overall, 58.8% also were current cigarette smokers, 29.8% were former cigarette smokers, and 11.4% had never been cigarette smokers. Among current e-cigarette users aged ≥45 years, 98.7% were either current or former cigarette smokers, and 1.3% had never been cigarette smokers. In contrast, among current e-cigarette users aged 18–24 years, 40.0% had never been cigarette smokers.
Among adults who had never smoked cigarettes, the percentage who had ever tried an e-cigarette, even one time, was highest for those aged 18–24 (9.7%) and declined as age increased Among adults aged 45 and over who had never smoked cigarettes, 1% or less had ever tried an e-cigarette even once.
Current cigarette smokers who had tried to quit smoking in the past year were more likely than smokers who had not tried to quit to have ever tried an e-cigarette (Figure 4).
Current cigarette smokers who had tried to quit in the past year (20.3%) were almost twice as likely as cigarette smokers who had not tried to quit (11.8%) to currently use e-cigarettes.
Almost one-half of current cigarette smokers (47.6%) and more than one-half of recent former cigarette smokers (55.4%) had ever tried an e-cigarette, compared with 8.9% of long-term former smokers and 3.2% of adults who had never smoked cigarettes (Figure 3).
About one in six current cigarette smokers (15.9%) and nearly one in four recent former cigarette smokers (22.0%) currently used e-cigarettes, compared with 2.3% of long-term former cigarette smokers and 0.4% of adults who had never smoked cigarettes.
Current use of e-cigarettes was about the same for men and women. Current e-cigarette use was higher among non-Hispanic AIAN adults (10.7%) and non-Hispanic white adults (4.6%) than among Hispanic (2.1%), non-Hispanic black (1.8%), and non-Hispanic Asian (1.5%) adults.
Men were more likely than women to have ever tried an e-cigarette. More than 20% of adults aged 18–24 had ever tried an e-cigarette, with use declining steadily as age increased.
Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN) adults (20.2%) and non-Hispanic white adults (14.8%) were more likely than Hispanic (8.6%), non-Hispanic black (7.1 %), and non-Hispanic Asian (6.2%) adults to have ever tried an e-cigarette.
According to the April 4, 2014 MMWR Report, "Calls to Poison Centers for Exposures to Electronic Cigarettes — United States, September 2010–February 2014"
"E-cigarettes accounted for an increasing proportion of combined monthly e-cigarette and cigarette exposure calls, increasing from 0.3% in September 2010 to 41.7% in February 2014. A greater proportion of e-cigarette exposure calls came from health-care facilities than cigarette exposure calls (12.8% versus 5.9%) (p<0.001). Cigarette exposures were primarily among persons aged 0–5 years (94.9%), whereas e-cigarette exposures were mostly among persons aged 0–5 years (51.1%) and >20 years (42.0%). E-cigarette exposures were more likely to be reported as inhalations (16.8% versus 2.0%), eye exposures (8.5% versus 0.1%), and skin exposures (5.9% versus 0.1%), and less likely to be reported as ingestions (68.9% versus 97.8%) compared with cigarette exposures (p<0.001).
Calls about exposures to e-cigarettes, which were first marketed in the United States in 2007, now account for 41.7% of combined monthly e-cigarette and cigarette exposure calls to PCs. The proportion of calls from health-care facilities, age distribution, exposure routes, and report of adverse health effects differed significantly between the two types of cigarette."
It is hard to believe that it has been 16 years since I published the first webpages that turned into this Web site. Many thanks to the thousands of visitors who contributed millions of hits during the past 15 years, and for all the nice comments along the way. I will continue to strive to make this Web site a worthwhile place to spend your time and find credible public health and health information. Thank you so much!
October 17, 2014 - October is Health Literacy Month
For Health Literacy Month, the Healthliteracymonth.org is accepting stories from any person who or organization that addresses health literacy in their work. There is a listing of those who have submitted their stories.


Everytime you see Zenyatta run, it is hard not to remain in awe of one of the greatest thoroughbreds in history, regardless of gender.
The one part that is a little disturbing to me is that only around 12,000 fans saw her awesome performance. That attendance figure is becoming more accepted as a good day but for a horse like Zenyatta in a market like Los Angeles, it is actually pretty sad.
What makes that attendance figure even worse is the fact that Hollywood Park offered a Zenyatta Bobblehead Giveaway. Those gimmicks used to help bring in a handful of extra people but even the allure of a "freebie" wasn't enough to catapult the crowd figures.
This sort of racing ambivalence in big city racing markets is becoming very commonplace. Huge markets like New York, LA, Chicago and Miami are drawing a fraction of the racing crowds they used to. Even in Louisville, home of the greatest race, getting people to the track has been an ongoing struggle. (Big exceptions, of course, are Derby Week, Friday night racing and the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.)
Big city sports fans only seem to come out to the track when it's a big day (i.e. Belmont Stakes, Big Cap, etc.) but today should have qualified as one of those days. And those people who didn't make it out to Hollywood, missed out on a great race and an even greater horse.
For years, racing has been crying out for stars and we have two genuine ones in Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta yet why don't people come out to see them run on a consistent basis? Promoting the stars has been a challenge and the fact that Daily Newspapers have cut back their racing coverage significantly is a hindrance. But it's also incumbent upon the individual racetracks and the sport to promote when it's top notch stars run.
I don't know how much Hollywood Park promoted Zenyatta's appearance outside of the Bobblehead giveaway but you have to think it wasn't enough.
We are simply running out of time before both Rachel and Zenyatta are retired and racing loses another golden opportunity to win over new fans. We are very lucky that Zenyatta is still racing but the window is about to close as you have to assume that she only has three more races left before she is done.
And for those that didn't see her run, you have missed out. We may not see anyone like her for sometime.
Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire - www.eclipsesportswire.com


The publication reflects the local housing market, with writers and columnists addressing all aspects of the management, ownership and sales of apartment buildings.
SF Apartment Magazine serves as the official publication of the San Francisco Apartment Association. The publication reaches more than 6,000 apartment owners and property managers throughout San Francisco.
San Francisco—a city known for its charm, its people, its weather—and its housing. Epic battles have been waged here over the right to develop, rent and own housing for decades. One magazine, the SF Apartment Magazine, has covered the housing market for almost thirty years, providing readers with the insight and perspectives on the management, sale and operation of apartment buildings in San Francisco.
SF Apartment Magazine prides itself on giving apartment owners the information needed to navigate the legal and political minefields in this tenant-friendly city. The magazine boasts an impressive and varied pool of writers and columnists—from the region’s top landlord/tenant lawyers to real-estate dealmakers to mom-and-pop owners—who educate readers on their rights and responsibilities of owning and managing rental property in San Francisco. The publication delivers in-depth features, colorful columnists and up-to-date sales statistics and trends, all wrapped up in a vibrant and innovative design.
San Francisco Apartment Association
The magazine is delivered to members of the San Francisco Apartment Association, one of the state’s largest trade associations for apartment owners. SFAA opened its doors in 1917 and today nearly 3,000 rental property owners depend on the nonprofit for advice, educational classes and, of course, its award-winning monthly magazine. From their annual trade show to intimate monthly managers’ luncheons, the organization provides its members with the necessary information needed to be thoughtful and well-informed members of the rental housing community.


TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 7:00 p.m. at the Lone Tree Hub
Scott will speak about the rise of hate in America, the causes, and what can be done.
Scott Levin is the Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Mountain States Region. He assumed this position in December of 2010, after retiring from 28 years as a successful trial attorney. Scott is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of George Washington University and graduated from the University of Denver College of Law where he was a national moot court finalist. Prior to becoming part of ADL’s professional staff, he was a member of its Board of Directors and the recipient of its 2010 Torch of Liberty Award. Scott has been the Chair and/or member of several non-profit boards, including the Metropolitan State University of Denver Foundation, Rose Community Foundation, the Denver Jewish Day School, JEWISHcolorado, Stepping Stones and Congregation Emanuel.
Scott is a frequent speaker and writer on civil rights issues. He has authored many articles, is regularly interviewed by local media, and has testified on numerous occasions before the Colorado Legislature on issues pertaining to equality, diversity, inclusion and educational opportunities for all.


Bravo to S4 PT students who presented “Auto da Índia” by Gil Vicente, a XVI century masterpiece and S5 PT students who took to the stage with “ A Noite” by José Saramago, 1998 Literature Nobel Prize. Pilar del Rio, widow of José Saramago and President of the Foundation with his name, was invited and gave a master class to the students about the author and his fight against all kinds of authoritarianism. In the evening, she also talked to the audience about the similarities between the humorous theatre of Gil Vicente and Saramago writings, specially the social criticism. As a journalist and humanist, she gave insights on the Night of 24-25 April 1974, where the democratic revolution finally arrived to Portugal and the anonymous people who made it. She made us discover Celeste Caeiro, the anonymous waitress who intuitively gave carnations to the military – and how this became the symbol of the revolution – and “the boys in the tanks”, particularly one soldier who refused to fire his tank simply because “there were people in front of it”. Thank you to L1 PT teacher Maria Manuel Gandra for organizing all this and for her dedication! Thank you to all the colleagues who helped her to make of this night a very special night for the students and the all school community!


How Did the Bighorn Sheep Cross the Road?
The bighorn sheep population in northwest Arizona is important to outdoor enthusiasts of all types, yet highways have separated this population. As a result, wildlife-vehicle collisions, interference with access to adequate water and lack of habitat connectivity disrupt bighorn and put their population health at risk.
In a historic and innovative collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Highway Administration, and the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department created a solution that saves the lives of bighorn sheep and people. To alleviate vehicle collisions with bighorn sheep along a busy 15-mile stretch of Highway 93 north of Kingman, three wildlife overpasses and adjacent funnel fencing were constructed. This infrastructure allows wildlife to cross over the road safely, helping to keep populations connected to their habitat and reducing the risk for motorists and wildlife.
The success of this project led to collaboration with an unlikely partner: Nevada, who was concered the construction of the new Interstate 11 would have devastating consequences on wildlife habitats. Working with Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Department of Transporation and other agencies, Arizona Game and Fish assisted with the design and implementation of the crossings, which is already showing positive results with active monitoring.


The WKA Russell Karting Gold Cup Series visited the BeaveRun Motorsports Complex last weekend for the Jammer Clutches Nationals, where two drivers each took four feature victories to win eight of the 18 national classes offered at the western Pennsylvania venue.
The big winners were junior driver Jacob Donald and senior racer Brett Farmer. Donald swept the Briggs Jr classes, winning 12-lap features in Briggs Jr Lite, Jr Medium, Jr Heavy and Restricted Jr. Accomplished young kart racers such as Dakota Bell, Sam Beasley and Zachary Deshaies have raced in the Briggs Jr ranks in recent years, but none of them has ever accomplished the four-class sweep.
Donald, a WKA Manufacturer’s Cup regular out of Jeannette, Pa., beat the best junior drivers the Gold Cup Series has to offer at BeaveRun. Matt Tifft finished second to Donald in Rest. Jr. Skylar Robinson was the runner-up in Jr Lite and Jr Medium, and Chris Wells ran second in Jr Heavy. Wells was a 2009 national champion and Robinson won two features at the Gold Cup opener in Kershaw, S.C., but neither had anything for Donald at BeaveRun.
Joining Donald as a four-race weekend winner was Michigan’s Farmer, who took wins in Briggs Lite, Briggs Medium and the pair of Briggs Animal Modified classes.
Farmer drove his Margay to the win over Scott Kleman in Lite and out-raced Arrow pilot Gary Lawson and Coyote’s Jim Lipari to the checkers in Medium. Farmer won the Animal Mod races over Scott Heckert, and he drove his Coyote chassis to lap times under the one-minute barrier in both Mod affairs. Farmer clocked a fast lap of 59.102 in Animal Mod Medium’s qualifying session, which was over a second faster than his top qualifying time in Briggs Lite.
Trent Barnes picked up his second and third Gold Cup feature wins of the season. Barnes swept the Briggs Sportsman 1 features, winning over Tyler Frantz in Sportsman 1 Lite and Jake Lutz in Sportsman 1 Heavy. Trent was the one of only two double winners at BeaveRun; the other was Kaytlyn Fauci who was the only entrant in Briggs World Formula Medium and Heavy.
Skyler Locklear continued his reign over the Briggs Sportsman 2 Lite division. After winning the Kershaw opener, Locklear got the win at BeaveRun over Sarah Luoma. Locklear will be looking for his third in a row when the tour heads to New Castle, Ind., for the season’s third event.
Douglas Barnes Jr. equaled Locklear’s success when he won the Briggs Sportsman 2 Heavy class for the second national in a row. After winning the class at Kershaw, Barnes finished ahead of Stephen Brewer Jr. and Locklear at BeaveRun.
Gary Lawson won Briggs Heavy for the second Gold Cup race in a row. Lawson’s win denied Farmer of a fifth weekend triumph. Farmer finished second and Ryan Phillips third.
Ian Walther won Briggs Super Heavy, while Justin Cassity (Medium) and Tim Stiefel (Heavy) split the Briggs Masters mains.
Nick Fauci and Robert Noaker Jr. were Kid Kart participants at BeaveRun.
The Jammer Clutches Nationals entry count equaled last year’s BeaveRun Gold Cup national count of 220. Last year’s BeaveRun national was the series’ season closer and this year it was moved to Fourth of July weekend. G&J Kartway in Camden, Ohio, will serve as this year’s Gold Cup closer the first weekend of October.
Many classes saw increased entries at BeaveRun compared to the Kershaw opener. Sixteen and 17 karts started Briggs Jr Lite and Medium, while only 10 took the green in each class at Kershaw. Briggs Medium had 26 entrants versus 21 at Kershaw, and most other classes at least equaled the Kershaw count. The exceptions were Briggs Masters Medium and Heavy, which started 13 and 11 karts at Kershaw and only nine and six at BeaveRun.
Next up for the Russell Karting Gold Cup Series is the Coyote Motorsports Nationals at New Castle Motorsports Park. The race will serve as the second annual Gold Cup / Vega Speedway Pavement Series doubleheader at the popular Indiana venue. The New Castle twin bill goes off Aug. 20-22, and pre-registration is open through Wednesday, Aug. 11.


Find out about the Shields vs Hammer fight on SHOWTIME, including ways to watch, fighter stats, news and more. Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer are just a few days away from fight night.
Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer both made weight ahead of their historic middleweight unification showdown at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Saturday night.
The undefeated champions goaded each other when they went face-to-face during a lively weigh-in for what has been billed as the ‘biggest fight in women’s boxing history’. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the Shields vs. Hammer live stream for free.
Double Olympic champion Shields (8-0, 2KOs), who will put her IBF, WBA and WBC titles on the line, tipped the scales 159.4lbs, while WBO rival Hammer (24-0, 11KOs) came in at 159lbs.
“I’ve played this fight in my head many times,” said American Shields. “The first round is a very important round. She’ll find out just how strong I am in the first round and I’m going to let her know she’s in with a fighter.
“I’m going to let her know she won’t control this fight in any aspect. I can outbox Hammer. I’m way faster and I have great head movement. I came to fight. I want to see where her heart is and how strong she is. If she’s not as strong as she says she is, she’s going to want to get out of there.”
In what is the most significant women’s boxing match in recent memory, if not ever, Claressa Shields vs. Christina Hammer showcases two undefeated women champions who are exciting enough to headline any card on any network. You can live stream the card for free on Saturday night via Showtime, and if you’re a boxing fan, it’ll almost certainly be worth your time.


This past couple of weeks have been truly inspirational.
The London 2012 Games started with a fantastic Opening Ceremony in the Olympic Stadium in East London, has seen some magnificent performances from medal winners and those who've just missed out, and even more amazing stories of sports people triumphing over disaster to compete.
But it's away from the Games themselves that I've found my personal inspiration.
I've been working for More Than Gold, the agency set up to encourage and support churches as they get involved in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. I've been working in the Media Centre which was set up just for the Olympics to help spread the news of what the British churches, and Christians, have been doing across the Games.
Churches across the nation have been getting together to host fantastic community events, thousands of volunteers have been out in the streets and at events helping people to enjoy the Games, hundreds of people have opened their homes to complete strangers through something called the More Than Gold Athlete Family Homestay programme. More Than Gold Games Pastors have been out at transport hubs as additional support for travellers and particularly our international visitors, and a million bottles of water have been distributed.
In the Media Centre we've been telling these stories, encouraging media to cover what the church is doing....and we've had some really good coverage.
I've met people from different nations who've come to volunteer in the Media Centre, made some new friends and worked with old friends. It's all been really good fun and very positive.
But the most inspirational moments for me came this morning at the More Than Gold / Athletes in Action Legacy Breakfast, an event held to honour committment and character on the field of sport and off. Two Christian sportspeople, Olympian rower Debbie Flood and Olympian Decathlete Bryan Clay were presented with the first ever Eric Liddell Award, and we also heard from Eric Liddell's daughters Heather and Patricia as we were reminded of that amazing athlete's Christian witness as well as his sporting achievements.
The Legacy Breakfast had a couple of other special guests, Stephanie Cook, the modern pentathlon Olympic gold medal winner who is also a doctor and Stefanie Reid, a long jumper and runner and a medal winning Paralympian.
The whole morning was inspiring and but for me, Stef Reid's story was the most challenging, impressive and motivational.
When she was just 16 Stef lost her right foot in a boating accident. For someone as sporty as Stef, with dreams of being a rugby player, you'd think suddenly becoming an amputee would crush her and her ambitions.
But no - today she stood on a platform at London's Methodist Central Hall and told several hundred people how she was inspired, by her family, friends, complete strangers, and her Christian faith, to still reach her full potential.
Listening to Stef was truly humbling. She reminded me that whatever life throws at you, with belief in yourself, and faith, anything is possible. In my case, it may not be striving for Olympic sporting gold, but I can take this thought, and inspiration into many areas of my life.
And I'll be watching the upcoming London 2012 Paralympics with even more interest now!


Sudbury to Host 2018 Telus Cup
SUDBURY, ONT., TO HOST 2018 TELUS CUP
Canada’s National Midget Championship returns to Ontario for the 13th time, and to Sudbury for second time
CALGARY, Alta. – The TELUS Cup, Canada’s National Midget Championship, is headed back to Sudbury, Ont., for the first time in two decades, with the Nickel City set to host the 45th edition of the tournament from April 23-29, 2018 at the Sudbury Community Arena.
Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association and the Ontario Hockey Federation, made the announcement Tuesday in Sudbury.
The city last hosted the tournament in 1998, when it was known as the Air Canada Cup. It is the 13th time Ontario will play host, joining Oshawa (1974, 1975); Cornwall (1980); North Bay (1984); Gloucester (1987); Thunder Bay (1988); Kitchener (1993); Sudbury (1998); Sault Ste. Marie (2003, 2013); Kenora (2004); and Arnprior (2008).
“The TELUS Cup is the pinnacle of the minor hockey system in Canada, and it has long been one of the most prestigious tournaments on our calendar,” said Tom Renney, Hockey Canada president and CEO. “We know the passion the people of Northern Ontario have for our game, and it’s exciting to be able to take Canada’s National Midget Championship back to Sudbury for a second time, and to the province of Ontario for a 13th.”
“I have seen first-hand through the years the passion Sudbury has for hockey at every level, and it’s exciting that my hometown will welcome the nation in April 2018 for the TELUS Cup,” said Joe Drago, chair of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors. “This event is a tremendous opportunity for the community to shine on a national stage, and I look forward to being there when the puck drops.”
The host Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves of the Great North Midget League – the 2008 TELUS Cup champions – will be joined by five regional winners (Atlantic, Central, Pacific, Quebec and West) to compete for a national title. It will be the sixth time a team from Sudbury has competed in the event.
“We’re eager to create a world-class hockey tournament and memorable experience for all the participants and visitors coming to the TELUS Cup,” said Albert Corradini, general manager of the Wolves. “Sudbury has had tremendous success in hosting past provincial championships, and with the support and community spirit that has been shown from our local partners, we know fans are in for an exciting time. We’re looking forward to welcoming back the country on the 20th anniversary of the last time Sudbury played host, and the 10th anniversary of our national championship win.”
“The City of Greater Sudbury is very excited for the opportunity to showcase our hockey-crazed city with our signature Northern Ontario hospitality, and the serious hockey talent up here with the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves,” said Paul Schweyer, major events development officer with the City of Greater Sudbury. “This will be ‘the’ event when it comes in April 2018, which will no doubt reflect in community support and attendance. We look forward to working with the organizing committee, Sudbury Minor Hockey Association, Northern Ontario Hockey Association, Ontario Hockey Federation, Hockey Canada and numerous volunteers to create a memorable, world-class experience for participants and visitors.”
The sentiments are echoed from the host committee and Sudbury Minor Hockey Association president Craig Maki.
“On behalf of the executive of the Sudbury Minor Hockey Association I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Hockey Canada for the tremendous privilege and responsibility of hosting the 2018 TELUS Cup,” said Maki. “The Sudbury Minor Hockey Association is beyond excited to be invited to play an integral role in this event, as these types of opportunities are a fantastic way showcase the great community of Sudbury on a national stage.”
The schedule and ticket information for the 2018 TELUS Cup will be announced at a later date.
A number of future NHLers have taken part in Canada’s National Midget Championship since its inception in 1974, including 53 first-round draft picks, three No. 1 selections (Gord Kluzak, Wendel Clark and Sidney Crosby) and eight future Hockey Hall of Fame inductees (Glenn Anderson, Ron Francis, Mike Gartner, Al MacInnis, Larry Murphy, Patrick Roy, Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman).


Friday, October 29, 2021
7:00 PM Kickoff
Gordon Awtry Field -Midland, TX
Midland Christian Mustangs (6-2 / 3-2 District)
Prestonwood Christian Lions (6-2 / 4-1 District)
6th All-Time Meeting (Prestonwood leads 3-2)
Last Meeting- 2015 in Plano (Prestonwood 57-14)
First Meeting- 2006 2nd Round (MCS 43-15)
3rd Regular Season Meeting
4th Meeting in Midland
The Lions are coming off a 38-14 win at home vs Bishop Lynch last week, and have won 4 out of their last 5 games. Prestonwood averages 34 points a game on offense and gives up an average of 21 points per game. PCA currently sits in 2nd place in district with a 4-1 record. Their only losses this season are to Parish Episcopal 35-10 and a non-district 49-21 loss to Garland. The Lions will put their perfect 3-0 record away from home to the test in their furthest road trip of the season. Junior QB Maguire Martin returned to the offense last week after an injury earlier in the season. Martin accounted for 425 yards and 4 touchdowns last Friday. Head Coach Chris Cunningham has been at Prestonwood since 2007. During his time the Lions have won 4 TAPPS State Championships (2009, 2010, 2015, 2017).
Midland Christian looks to bounce back as they return home for the final time at Gordon Awtry Field in 2021. Last week, in a 34-22 loss to All Saints, the Mustangs were held to only 89 rushing yards. The previous low in rushing yards was 191 at Parish. Midland Christian gave up 300 passing yards to the Saints, which was a season-high. The most passing yards given up by the Mustangs going into last week was 219 vs Argyle Liberty. MCS is currently in a 3-way tie for 3rd place in District 1 at 3-2 with All Saints and Nolan Catholic. Senior dual-threat QB Ryver Rodriguez leads the team with 2,490 yards and 32 touchdowns in 8 games this season. Senior Sean Madison is the leading WR with 34 receptions, 584 yards and 6 TD on the year. Special teams continue to impress as sophomore Kicker Gage Gunter is 29/29 on extra-point attempts this season. Gage also had another successful onside kick last week, and senior Tanner Carlisle returned a kickoff 80 yards for the score vs All Saints. Junior punter Dawson Bullard has 16 punts on the year for 484 yards, averaging 30 yards per punt. MCS scores an average of 37 points per game and allows an average of 23 points per game.


About the Podcast
Join teens expert Annie Fox and Dare to Parent's Amy Ambrozich as they discuss how the tween years are transitional years for kids and parents. Amy defines this period as the shift between the elementary school years (“typically smooth and easy going”) to middle school where kids feel like everything is changing, including their place in social groups. A parent’s role is changing, too. “They’re trying on new skin and now we’re parenting a young adult with training wheels. Consistency is the key to getting through these years,” says Amy, who counsels parents of tweens in her private practice. Annie talks with Amy about riding the emotional roller coaster together with your child so that kids and parents can transition more smoothly.


A new editor for WordPress – Gutenberg.
A major WordPress update has started rolling out – version 5. It introduces a new editor for pages and news posts, called Gutenberg.
Gutenberg makes it easier to create complex layouts, such as arranging text in columns, and adding media. Gutenberg is of course more complex than the old ‘classic’ editor, so if you are thinking of using it it’s worthwhile investing some time in learning how it works. There’s more about it here.
If you prefer the classic editor, or simply don’t have the time to learn Gutenberg, then simply install a plugin called Classic Editor which hides Gutenberg.


WHY take your new car out of town to get serviced?
That’s the question Brad Goldthorpe is asking Balonne drivers as he looks to dispel new car warranty service myths.
Mr Goldthorpe, who owns Maranoa Mechanical, said that consumers had the right to choose their own service provider unlike what they’re commonly led to believe.
“It’s quite common for new car owners to think their statutory rights are void if they were to get their car serviced outside of their dealer network,” Mr Goldthorpe said.
“This can often lead to unnecessary time and money wasted, as owners travel vast distances in order to see dealerships which aren’t available at St George.
“But the reality is, that doesn’t need to be the case.”
Changes to consumer laws in 2010 confirmed that car owners have the right to choose their own qualified mechanic to have a new car serviced.
Local Repco Authorised Service centres, like Maranoa Mechanical, are fully qualified to service new cars and maintain log book schedules.
But don’t think shopping local means you lose out on competitive rates.
Maranoa Mechanical will match any capped price servicing program, allowing Balonne customers the reassurance of knowing in advance the maximum cost for each scheduled service.
“It’s all the benefits, minus the inconvenience of leaving the Balonne,” Mr Goldthorpe said.


This morning, Pope Benedict XVI left the Vatican for the last time, and as of noon today the chair of St. Peter will be vacant. I wanted to share five other resources I’ve come across to help people understand all that’s going on – the Pope’s resignation, his legacy, and what comes next:
-First, an article from Randy Raus, president of LIFE TEEN, reflecting on why the Pope stepped down: http://lifeteen.com/the-popes-fearless-decision/ (LIFE TEEN also has a beautiful tribute video up at the top of their website today, or you can see it by clicking here.)
-Second, an article Fr. James Martin, SJ (you’d recognize him if you watch The Colbert Report), on the legacy Benedict leaves behind: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/opinion/the-change-upon-christs-rock.html?_r=0
-Third, Franciscan University explained the process (Conclave) that is to come very simply and clearly on their Facebook page:
“The papacy has been vacant many times through the millennia—Benedict has been the 264th successor of St. Peter. The process for selecting a new pope has changed over the millennia, but nowadays when the papacy is vacant (typically because the pope dies) the cardinals younger than 80 years old gather in the Vatican. They are locked into the Sistine Chapel and nearby lodging with absolutely no contact with the outside world (hence the term “conclave,” which comes from the Latin words meaning “with the keys”). They discuss and vote until a new pope is elected. Technically any baptized Christian male is eligible, but they usually choose someone from among their own ranks. The conclave will begin within the next week or two and will probably only last two or three days (but it could be longer, the Church has gone for years without a pope in the past because the cardinals simply could not agree). There are 117 cardinals from around the world who are younger than 80, but two will not participate in the conclave—one from Indonesia and one from Scotland. So 115 cardinal-electors will gather in the Vatican very soon for the conclave. And the United States has eleven cardinal-electors (Dolan, DiNardo, George, Mahony, Burke, Levada, O’Malley, O’Brien, Wuerl, Harvey, and Rigali) making the U.S. contingent the second largest behind only Italy.”
If you’re more of a visual learner, here is a video that explains it in pretty great detail:
Fourth, Fr. Robert Barron was interviewed on the NBC today show about some of the potential candidates for Pope, if you’re interested in speculating on that: https://www.wordonfire.org/News/TODAY-Show—Who-will-be-the-next-Pope—–Matt-La.aspx New Advent is also ranking the 115 Cardinal electors based on the online buzz about each one on their homepage, http://www.newadvent.org/.
Finally, as an ordinary Catholic, we aren’t ordinarily directly involved in the conclave, but we can spiritually support the Cardinals as they undertake this critical task for our Church. A friend first came across a website where you can Adopt a Cardinal, choosing to fast and pray for one of the 115 Cardinal electors who will soon enter into the Conclave to choose our 266th Pope. I’m praying for an Italian, Cardinal Paolo Sardi, and you can adopt one for yourself at http://adoptacardinal.org/


American poker player Erik Seidel has 8 World Series of Poker bracelets and a World Poker Tour title. He is currently in first place on the all-time money list of poker players. Last year he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.
In January, Seidel defeated Team Titan’s Sam Trickett in heads-up play to win the $250,000 Super High Roller at the Aussie Millions, just days after finishing in 6th place in the Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge (an event that Sam won).
In 2011 so far, Seidel has $4.3 million in cashes, with his latest win being the National Heads-Up Poker Championship (NHPC) in Las Vegas, for a first prize of $750,000. Is this a super hot streak, or just another amazing showing of the world’s number one poker player?
Last year, Seidel finished as runner-up in the NHPC when he was defeated by Annie Duke in the final best of three series. But this year there was no stopping him, as he bested Allen Cunningham, Jennifer Harman, Phil Gordon, Vanessa Selbst, and Andrew Robl on his way to a final duel with 2003 WSOP Main Event winner Chris Moneymaker.
In addition to his cashes at the Aussie Millions this year, Seidel took first place in the $25,100 High Roller Event at the 2011 L.A. Poker Classic for $144,570; and 4th place in the $25,000 No Limit Hold’em – High Roller Event at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for a prize of $295,960.
In October last year, Seidel was selected as one of two 2010 inductees to the Poker Hall of Fame, the greatest recognition for players of the game.
“I have such a high regard for the many members of the Poker Hall of Fame that I have played with over the years and it’s a real privilege to be able to join them,” Seidel said of the honor at the time.
Photo of Erik Seidel by flipchip / LasVegasVegas.com and used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
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