Fear Fest

From Halloween Movies:

“AMC FearFest”

What is FearFest? In 1997, AMC launched Monsterfest, a popular week-long marathon of horror movies and thrillers that aired in late October. On September 26, 2008, AMC announced the launch of a new horror-themed movie marathon for its October schedule called “Fearfest” which replaced Monsterfest.

AMC Fear Fest 2019 Schedule

Now in its 23rd consecutive year, AMC’s annual horror marathon FearFest is bringing the frights in the lead up to Halloween with 19 days of genre programming featuring 80 films and 400 hours of programming. Includes the iconic film franchises Halloween, Friday the 13th, Leprechaun, Alien, and Stephen King classics. FearFest programming will also be available to On-Demand platforms.

*date/times are subject to change -all times shown in Eastern*

Saturday, October 12, 2019

10:00pm – Jaws

Sunday, October 13, 2019

1:00am – Jaws 2

3:30am – Jaws 3

10:45am – Halloween II (2009)

1:15pm – Halloween (2007)

3:45pm – Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

5:45pm – Halloween: Resurrection

Monday, October 14, 2019

9:00am – Halloween: Resurrection

11:00am – Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

1:00pm – Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

3:00pm – Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers

5:00pm – Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers

7:00pm – Halloween (1978)

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

1:31am – Omen IV: The Awakening

9:00am – Corridors of Blood (1958)

9:15am – How to Make a Monster (1958)

9:30am – War of the Colossal Beast (1958)

12:15pm – Damien: Omen II

2:45pm – The Omen (1976)

5:15pm – The Exorcist (1973)

8:00pm – Carrie (2013)

10:15pm – Carrie (1976)

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

12:30am – Orphan

3:15am – The People Under the Stairs

5:45am – Corridors of Blood (1958)

9:00am – The Creation of the Humanoids (1962)

9:15am – Voodoo Woman (1957)

9:30am – Invasion of the Neptune Men (1961)

9:45am – Village of the Damned (1995)

12:00pm – An American Haunting

2:00pm – Paranormal Activity 4

4:00pm – Curse of Chucky

6:00pm – Cult of Chucky

8:00pm – Trick ‘r Treat

10:00pm – The Purge

Thursday, October 17, 2019

12:00am – Paranormal Activity

2:00am – Paranormal Activity 3

5:07am – The Creation of the Humanoids (1962)

5:22am – Voodoo Woman (1957)

5:37am – Invasion of the Neptune Men (1961)

9:00am – Jet Attack (1958)

9:15am – Violent Midnight (1963)

9:30am – Body Snatchers

11:30am – House on Haunted Hill

1:30pm – The Cabin in the Woods

3:30pm – Trick ‘r Treat

5:30pm – The Crazies

8:00pm – Thirteen Ghosts

10:05pm – Ghost Ship

Friday, October 18, 2019

9:00am – Tales from the Crypt Presents Demon Knight

10:00am – Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives

12:00pm – Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood

2:00pm – Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan

4:00pm – Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday

6:00pm – Friday the 13th (2009)

8:00pm – Friday the 13th (1980)

10:00pm – Friday the 13th Part 2

Saturday, October 19, 2019

12:00am – Friday the 13th Part III

2:00am – Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter

4:00am – Friday the 13th: A New Beginning

6:00am – Graveyard Shift

8:00am – Cujo

10:00am – Misery

12:00pm – Thinner

2:30pm – Silver Bullet

4:30pm – The Shining

8:00pm – Christine

10:00pm – Pet Sematary (1989)

Sunday, October 20, 2019

12:00am – Pet Sematary Two

2:00am – Creepshow

5:00am – Eli Roth’s History of Horror

6:15am – Alien Resurrection

8:45am – Final Destination 5

10:45am – Final Destination

12:45pm – Final Destination 2

2:44pm – Final Destination 3

4:43pm – The Final Destination

Monday, October 21, 2019

9:00am – Jet Attack

9:15am – How to Make a Monster 

9:30am – Predator 2

12:00pm – Predator

2:30pm – Hellboy

4:30pm – Hellboy II: The Golden Army

7:00pm – Independence Day

10:00pm – Independence Day

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

1:00am – Alien vs. Predator

3:00am – Spawn

5:00pm – Eli Roth’s History of Horror

9:00am – Corridors of Blood (1958)

9:15am – From Dusk Til Dawn 3: The Hangman’s Daughter

11:15am – From Dusk Til Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money

1:15pm – From Dusk Til Dawn

3:15pm – The Rite

5:45pm – Carrie (1976)

8:00pm – Trick ‘r Treat

10:00pm – Silver Bullet

^ I included AMC’s Halloween schedule because it has a lot of the movies I want to watch. Those movies in dark blue are ones I plan on watching this year (no matter how many times I have already seen them.) ^

https://www.halloweenmoviesontv.com/amc-fear-fest-schedule/

31 Nights

From Halloween Movies:

“Freeform 31 Nights of Halloween”

What is 31 Nights of Halloween? 31 Nights of Halloween (formerly 13 Days of Halloween and later 13 Nights of Halloween) is a seasonal programming block on the Freeform channel. It originally began in 1998 after the Family Channel became Fox Family, and was continued through the channel’s change into ABC Family, and Freeform. Movies ran from October 19th until Halloween night, covering the thirteen days before the holiday. Starting in 2018, 13 Nights became 31 Nights airing throughout the entire month of October.

Freeform 31 Nights of Halloween 2019 Schedule

Following last year’s Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash, Freeform will continue the party with a new original special, Halloween Extravaganza Bash – a celebration of Halloween’s biggest pop culture moments. The special will honor movies, TV shows and music artists who’ve become synonymous with Halloween. To mark the film’s 25th anniversary, Ghostbusters and its sequel Ghostbusters 2 will be shown, as well as the Scream trilogy. Other fan favorites, including Hocus Pocus, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Addams Family, will also air throughout the month.

*date/times are subject to change -all times shown in Eastern*

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

12:30pm – Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

3:00pm – Monster House

5:05pm – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

6:45pm – Disney-Pixar’s Monster’s Inc.

8:50pm – Hocus Pocus

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

11:30am – Scared Shrekless

12:00pm – Monster House

2:05pm – R.L. Stine’s Mostly Ghostly: One Night in Doom House

4:10pm – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

5:50pm – Hocus Pocus

8:00pm – The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror Marathon

Thursday, October 3, 2019

12:30pm – Edward Scissorhands

2:40pm – ParaNorman

4:45pm – The Haunted Mansion (2003)

6:50pm – The Addams Family (1991)

8:55pm – Addams Family Values

Friday, October 4, 2019

11:00am – Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins

11:30am – Hook (1991)

2:35pm – The Haunted Mansion (2003)

4:40pm – The Addams Family (1991)

6:45pm – Addams Family Values

8:50pm – Hocus Pocus

Saturday, October 5, 2019

7:00am – ParaNorman

9:00am – Hocus Pocus

11:10am – The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror Marathon

1:40pm – Scooby-Doo (2002)

3:45pm – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

5:50pm – Hocus Pocus

8:00pm – 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest

9:00pm – Goosebumps – Freeform Premiere

11:30pm – Monster House

Sunday, October 6, 2019

7:00am – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

9:30am – Monster House

11:30am – Scooby-Doo (2002)

1:30pm – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

3:35pm – Hocus Pocus

5:45pm – Goosebumps

8:15pm – Hotel Transylvania

10:20pm – Hocus Pocus

Monday, October 7, 2019

11:30am – Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic

12:30pm – 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest

1:30pm – Dark Shadows (2012)

4:10pm – Hocus Pocus

6:20pm – Hotel Transylvania

8:25pm – Ghostbusters (1984)

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

11:00am – The Haunted Mansion (2003)

1:00pm – Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride

3:00pm – Ghostbusters (1984)

5:30pm – Ghostbusters II

8:00pm – Iron Man

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

11:00am – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

12:40pm – Scooby-Doo (2002)

2:45pm – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

4:55pm – Iron Man

8:00pm – The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror Marathon

Thursday, October 10, 2019

11:00am – Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins

11:30am – R.L. Stine’s Mostly Ghostly: One Night in Doom House

1:40pm – Monster House

3:45pm – Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo

6:15pm – Hocus Pocus

8:25pm – Hotel Transylvania

10:30pm – Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story of TERROR!

Friday, October 11, 2019

11:00am – Scared Shrekless

11:30pm – Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo

2:00pm – Hocus Pocus

4:05pm – Disney-Pixar’s The Incredibles

6:45pm – Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story of TERROR!

7:15pm – Hotel Transylvania

9:20pm – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

Saturday, October 12, 2019

7:00am – Ghostbusters (1984)

9:30am – Disney-Pixar’s The Incredibles

12:10pm – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

1:50pm – The Addams Family (1991)

3:55pm – Addams Family Value

6:00pm – Scream – Freeform Premiere

8:40pm – Scream 2 – Freeform Premiere

11:20pm – Scream 3 – Freeform Premiere

Sunday, October 13, 2019

7:00am – Ghostbusters II

9:35am – Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride

11:10am – The Addams Family (1991)

1:15pm – Addams Family Values

3:20pm – Disney-Pixar’s Finding Dory

5:25pm – Disney-Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.

7:30pm – Disney’s Moana

10:00pm – Hocus Pocus

Monday, October 14, 2019

11:30am – Hocus Pocus

1:40pm – Disney-Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.

3:45pm – Matilda

5:50pm – Mrs. Doubtfire

8:55pm – Hotel Transylvania

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

11:30am – Matilda

1:40pm – Mrs. Doubtfire

4:45pm – Hotel Transylvania

6:50pm – The Addams Family (1991)

8:55pm – Addams Family Values

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

11:00am – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

1:40pm – Hocus Pocus

3:50pm – The Addams Family (1991)

5:55pm – Addams Family Values

8:00pm – The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror Marathon

Thursday, October 17, 2019

11:00am – ParaNorman

1:05pm – The Haunted Mansion (2003)

3:10pm – Disney’s “101 Dalmatians (1996) (Live Action)

5:15pm – Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride

6:50pm – Scooby-Doo (2002)

8:55pm – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

Friday, October 18, 2019

11:00am – 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest

12:00pm – National Treasure

3:00pm – Scream

5:40pm – Scream 2

8:20pm – Scream 3

Saturday, October 19, 2019

7:00am – ParaNorman

9:05am – Hocus Pocus

11:15am – The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror Marathon

4:15pm – Disney’s Zootopia

6:45pm – Hocus Pocus

8:55pm – Ghostbusters (1984)

11:25pm – Ghostbusters II

Sunday, October 20, 2019

7:00am – 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest

8:00am – Hocus Pocus

10:05am – Disney’s Zootopia

12:35pm – Ghostbusters (1984)

3:05pm – Ghostbusters II

5:35pm – Hocus Pocus

7:45pm – Hotel Transylvania

9:50pm – The Addams Family (1991)

11:55pm – Addams Family Values

Monday, October 21, 2019

11:00am – Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride

12:35pm – The Addams Family (1991)

2:40pm – Addams Family Values

4:45pm – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

6:25pm – Hotel Transylvania

8:30pm – Goosebumps

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

11:00am – Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic

12:03pm – Scared Shrekless

12:35pm – Monster House

2:40pm – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

4:20pm – Goosebumps

6:50pm – Scooby-Doo (2002)

8:55pm – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

11:00am – Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

1:30pm – Scooby-Doo (2002)

3:30pm – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

5:30pm – Disney’s Moana

8:00pm – The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror Marathon

Thursday, October 24, 2019

11:00am – Matilda

1:10pm – Disney’s Moana

3:40pm – Ghostbusters (1984)

6:15pm – Ghostbusters II

8:50pm – Hocus Pocus

Friday, October 25, 2019

11:00am – Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins

11:32am – Ghostbusters (1984)

2:05pm – Ghostbusters II

4:40pm – The Haunted Mansion (2003)

6:45pm – Hocus Pocus

8:55pm – Disney-Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

7:00am – Monster House

9:10am – Hocus Pocus

11:20am – Scooby-Doo (2002)

1:25pm – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

3:30pm – Disney-Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.

5:35pm – The Addams Family (1991)

7:40pm – Addams Family Values

9:45pm – Hotel Transylvania

11:50pm – Hocus Pocus

Sunday, October 27, 2019

7:00am – Scooby-Doo (2002)

9:00am – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

11:05am – Hocus Pocus

1:15pm – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

2:55pm – The Addams Family (1991)

5:00pm – Addams Family Values

7:05pm – Hotel Transylvania

9:10pm – Hocus Pocus

11:20pm – Dark Shadows (2012)

Monday, October 28, 2019

7:00am – Dark Shadows (2012)

11:30am – The Haunted Mansion (2003)

1:30pm – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

3:10pm – Scream

5:40pm – Scream 2

8:20pm – Scream 3

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

7:30am – The Haunted Mansion (2003)

11:00am – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

12:35pm – Scooby-Doo (2002)

2:40pm – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

4:45pm – The Addams Family (1991)

6:50pm – Addams Family Values

8:55pm – Hotel Transylvania

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

7:30am – Scooby-Doo (2002)

11:00am – Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride

12:30pm – Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

2:35pm – The Addams Family (1991)

4:40pm – Addams Family Values

6:45pm – Hotel Transylvania

8:50pm – Hocus Pocus

Thursday, October 31, 2019

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

11:30am – 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest

12:30pm – Hocus Pocus

2:35pm – Hocus Pocus

4:40pm – Hocus Pocus

6:45pm – Hocus Pocus

8:50pm – Hocus Pocus

^ I like watching these Halloween movies although it does seem a little too much to show the same handful of movies for the whole month. It would be better to have them for the 13 Days of Halloween and not the 31 Days of Halloween. Those in dark blue are the movies I plan to watch this year (no matter how many times I have already seen them.) ^

https://www.halloweenmoviesontv.com/abc-family-13-nights-of-halloween-schedule/

Increased Bans

From the CBC:

“Uptick of Canadians hit with 5-year bans at U.S. borders called a 'troubling trend'”

If you are thinking about driving across a U.S. border any time soon take note — immigration lawyers in British Columbia and Washington State are seeing an increase in travellers being issued five-year bans from U.S. border guards. The bans are the consequence of so-called "expedited removals" which are decided by an immigration officer and don't go before a judge, and are a "troubling trend" according to lawyer Len Saunders because of how arbitrary they can seem.  "Until recently, I never would have expected people to get these expedited removals so randomly," said Saunders, who practices immigration law in Blaine, Wash. and has clients who have been banned. "It's very, very indiscriminate how they are doing this."  Canadians generally are allowed to stay for up to six months in the U.S. as a tourist but it's up to the traveller to prove they are just visiting and not planning to stay permanently.  Saunders said he's seen more scrutiny by border guards recently over things like home ownership, a permanent job and money in the bank, which indicate ties to Canada and a reason to return. "Any Canadian who doesn't have a full time job or are living with their parents and don't have their own residence, under these recent expedited removals that I've been seeing, they could be barred," he said.  Flying into the U.S. instead of driving can be a different matter as some pre-clearance areas, like the one at Vancouver International Airport, aren't on U.S. soil and so travellers can't be given an expedited removal since they haven't crossed in yet.  

'One a day'

Official numbers on how many Canadians have been issued bans isn't currently available but the U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed the uptick.  "While I can acknowledge there has been a recent increase in the issuance of expedited removals, there has not been a policy change within CBP nor is there a quota," a spokesperson said in an email to CBC.  Saunders, who has been practising immigration law for two decades, said he noticed the dramatic increase in the travel bans over the summer.  "Until recently, it was very rare — maybe once every two or three years — that I would see a five-year bar [that seemed undeserved]," he said.  "Now, I'm literally seeing one a day." 

Same rules, different application

Immigration lawyer Andrew Hayes, who works for a firm that has offices in B.C. and Washington, said the reason for the increase in bans isn't totally clear — but the likely cause is an overall desire by the administration of President Donald Trump to project a toughness around issues of immigration. "The rules that apply now have always been the rules," he said.  "[The change] is on how this is applied." He urges travellers be as clear as possible about their plans at the border and bring all the necessary documents of proof. "People who show up at the border that can't explain what their plan is tend to have a worse time of it," he said.  "You have to be able to explain where you are going, what you are doing and when you are going to return."

^ I think US immigration is going overboard with these “expedited removals” with regard to Canadians. I can understand them (US Immigration officials) being more skeptical along the US-Mexico border and even with non-Canadians on the US-Canada border, but not with Canadians. To me that seems like the wrong way to use the limited resources that ICE has. I think “expedited removals” should only be used in extreme cases (on any foreigner) such as suspected terrorism, murder or human trafficking. A foreigner not suspected of the crimes I already stated should be allowed to have their case heard by an Immigration judge before a ban is placed on them. ^

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/increase-bans-canada-us-border-1.5300708

Sandra

From the BBC:

“Orangutan with human rights to begin new life in Florida”

An orangutan which spent 20 years in an Argentine zoo is being moved to a US animal sanctuary after being granted the same legal rights as humans. Lawyers won a landmark appeal for Sandra in 2014, arguing she was being detained in Buenos Aires illegally. The ruling found her to be Argentina's first "nonhuman person, with the right to liberty". The 33-year-old arrived in Kansas on Friday and will undergo tests before moving to her new home in Florida. Judge Elena Liberatori - who has a picture of Sandra in her office - told AP news agency she wanted her ruling to send a message: "That animals are sentient beings and that the first right they have is our obligation to respect them." Sandra was born in an East German zoo and sold to Buenos Aires in 1995. The orangutan spent much of her life in a solitary enclosure and regularly tried to avoid the public. She had a daughter in 1999, but the baby was taken away from her and sold to an animal park in China. Her legal victory brought international fame to the orangutan, and set a precedent for apes to be legally deemed people rather than property.

Bubbles

Until this week - nearly five years later - Sandra remained at the site of the zoo, which closed in 2016 following reports of animal cruelty. The zoo is now being rebuilt as an "eco-park" with improved living standards for animals. An Argentine court approved her transfer to Florida's Center for Great Apes in 2017, though her journey was delayed by applications for US permits. The 100-acre sanctuary is home to chimpanzees and orangutans which have been freed from circuses, labs, zoos and private collections. Michael Jackson's former pet chimpanzee, Bubbles, is among several famous residents. Sandra will join 21 other orangutans, and will be free to move between 11 outdoor areas where the great apes live. "We're eager to meet her, she's a lovely orangutan" said Patti Ragan, the Center's founder. peaking to the BBC, Ms Ragan said she was happy that Sandra's story was bringing public attention to orangutans, one of the world's most endangered animals. But she added that the sanctuary was working to ensure this heightened publicity wouldn't impact on Sandra's transition into her new home. "We don't want any distractions," said Ms Ragan. "We just want her to have peace when she gets here".

^ I’m glad that Sandra is going to a better place where she can live out the rest of her days in a nice way. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49856859

Blind Internet

From the BBC:

“Why much of the internet is closed off to blind people”

As our everyday world moves increasingly online, the digital landscape presents new challenges for ensuring accessibility for the blind. A recent court challenge against Domino's pizza may be a watershed case guiding the rights of disabled people on the internet, writes James Jeffrey.  Each swipe 17-year-old Maysie Gonzales makes on her smart phone is accompanied by what sounds like the famous Stephen Hawking voice barking out orders at a relentless pace.

"Sometimes I speed it up to 350 words a minute, it depends what mood I am in," says Ms Gonzales, who lost her sight when she was two years old through retinal cancer. Screen readers translate on-screen information into speech or Braille. They have broken open the internet for people who are blind or visually impaired, and for those with other disabilities. But the device only works effectively on websites that are compatible. "Sometimes it can be horrible, it depends on how the website has been set up," says Ms Gonzales. If a website's digital infrastructure hasn't been correctly labelled, a blind person can be met with a barrage of "button! - button! - button!" or "link 1,752! - link 1,752! - link 1,752!" from that hyperactive mechanical-sounding voice. The pink markers on Maysie Gonzales’ laptop offer a tactile reference point from which she can better orientate herself  Hence the case Guillermo Robles, who is blind, brought against Domino's Pizza after he was unable to use his screen reader to use the company's website and mobile app. A federal court agreed with him, and now Domino's has petitioned the Supreme Court to hear Robles' case, in what could prove a landmark battle over the rights of disabled people on the internet. "This isn't just about ordering the likes of pizza or surfing Amazon," says Chris Danielson, a representative with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). "People are doing everything online nowadays, so it's about blind people being able to access the likes of online banking, applying for employment and doing the necessary online tests, accessing cloud-based tools in the workplace, and all the rest." It's estimated that 7,600,000 Americans are technically blind - about 2.4% of the population - according to the NFB.  "We've even been told by businesses before that they understand, but the fact is blind people are not a very big market," Mr Danielson says. "That's what we are dealing with."  

Nowadays signs designating access for shoppers with disabilities - from parking spaces to restrooms to dressing rooms - are a ubiquitous part of the retail landscape. This is thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the 29-year-old federal law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. But ADA requirements that are relatively clear when applied to physical stores - such as determining where ramps should go and what height grab bars should be - become much more difficult to discern with a website. "The online environment was never intended to be covered by the ADA," says Stephanie Martz, senior vice-president and general counsel for the National Retail Federation (NRF), which along with other business groups like the Chamber of Commerce and the Restaurant Law Center has come out supporting Domino's. "The ADA took effect before the internet as we know it today existed, and more than 25 years later there is no clear objective guidance on what constitutes an 'accessible' website. There's not enough clarity in the law to know what is accountable." But advocates like Mr Danielson counter that if one follows that logic then the whole US Constitution could be undermined. "If a 30-year-old law is deemed out of date and not applicable then that applies to a whole lot of laws."

As e-commerce has grown, retailers are increasingly faced with ADA lawsuits over lack of accessibility, particularly for the blind or visually impaired. Website accessibility lawsuits hit a record high in 2018, with retail being the most frequently targeted industry. More lawsuits were filed in court in the first six months of 2018 (1,053) than in all of 2017 (814), according to the NRF.  The likes of Visa and Target have lost such lawsuits, and earlier this year a class-action was filed against Beyoncé's official website, alleging that Beyonce.com violates the ADA by denying visually impaired users equal access to its products and services.  "To be fair to businesses," Mr Danielson says, "there are lawyers taking advantage of the situation, but cutting the legs from under the ADA is an overcorrection… and stops the flow of legitimate plaintiffs." Ultimately, those pushing for digital accessibility argue that businesses have no excuse for dragging their feet over it. "It's not hard to do, it should just be part of best practice, not an additional line item, just like making sure a website loads quickly is," says Laura Kalbag, a website designer and author of Accessibility for Everyone.  "It basically just involves HTML coding, which even a blogger can do. If it is a huge website, it might take some time, but the work itself is not complicated." A statue of a man and his guide dog interacting with a little girl outside the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired  She adds it is a myth that making a website accessible makes it ugly, there is no correlation - you can still have snazzy images and graphics. Ms Gonzales says that because she is also gluten intolerant, she likes to use Domino's as it offers gluten-free pizzas, and she has managed to use its online site. But selecting toppings is tricky - and sometimes she has had to get her mother to step in.  That the courts are also stepping in is part of the problem, Ms Martz explains. "This should be dealt with by government and Congress amending the ADA." Any discussion of accessibility should look at the whole picture - a blind person can always ring Domino's toll-free number and order that way, she adds. "As a teacher who has to speak all day, sometimes, like everyone else, I don't want to get into another conversation and just want to do it online," 

Jeff Molzow, a blind instructor at the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center which trains blind people to compete in the work force, says about why that toll-free number doesn't always appeal.  "Also, I want time to peruse the menu and make up my mind - you can't do that if you are speaking to someone on the phone." The Domino's case is symptomatic, say many working with the blind, of the wider problem of how blind people, or anyone with a disability, are still not fully on society's radar. "All the info is out there about digital accessibility. Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the internet, was discussing it in the mid-90s, and we have pushed it for years," says Jim Allan, an accessibility coordinator at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.  "But people still have low expectations of what blind people can do and don't use their imaginations about the possibilities - until they are hit with the fire hose of info from the likes of us, after which they get it." The awareness of businesses and companies is improving but still slowly, says Mr Allan, noting that only federal and state websites are mandated to be fully accessible by all users. This despite digital accessibility being required by a much larger segment of society, especially as people age and start to lose sight and hearing. "We treat disabled people as if they are different but that isn't the case, as digital accessibility affects all of us," says Ms Kalbag. "If nothing else, you should see it in a selfish way, as one day you will probably need this type of accessibility." It is the same in the physical realm, where the likes of wheelchair access ramps are gladly embraced by mothers with prams and cyclists.  But even when digital accessibility is achieved, challenges remain for blind people that are familiar to all.  "Sometimes I worry about using social media too much, like everyone else," Ms Gonzalez says.  "But without my phone I would be very lost - I wouldn't be able to do much and would be very dependent on others, when I prefer to do it on my own."

^ There’s no excuse that any company, organization, group, individual, etc. can make to justify no making their online websites accessible to the disabled. Not only is it against the law to not follow the ADA, but it is just the right thing to do. The disabled market may not be the “targeted” consumer or group for them, but that doesn’t matter. People and companies that continue to disregard the disabled online or in-person are actively discriminating against the disabled and need to be called-out on it. To avoid that they should just do the right thing and make your website accessible. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49694453

Balcony Smoking

From the BBC:

“Russia bans smoking on apartment balconies”

Russian smokers have been left gasping after the emergencies ministry announced that smoking on the balconies of apartment blocks would be banned under new fire regulations. Under the new rules, "open fire" is prohibited on apartment balconies, as well as in the living areas of dormitories and hotels.  Lighting matches and smoking are both classed as open fire, officials say. Barbecuing kebabs and lighting candles will also be banned, reports say. There was initial confusion as to whether smoking was included in the ban, with one tobacco industry official insisting that the new rules were all about "alcoholics who grill shish kebabs on the balcony". But ministry officials later confirmed that smoking would be prohibited. Breaking the new fire safety rules could prompt a fine of up to 3,000 roubles (£38; €42; $47), while leaving a lighted cigarette that causes a fire could prompt criminal charges.

'What's the use of a balcony if you can't smoke?'

When the ban takes effect on 1 October, its impact is going to be profound.  Russian cities mostly consist of high-rises, and balconies are where people usually smoke when they are at home. Few will be willing to get dressed and take the lift downstairs just for a quick smoke. "What's the use of a balcony if you can't smoke there?" asked one commentator on the popular website TJournal. "Banning people from smoking on their own balconies is nonsensical. The government has simply banned people from using their own property," said one popular tweet.  A ban on smoking in Russian restaurants prompted a drop in customers "And this is the kind of job we pay the government billions of roubles for each year," said another. The head of the All-Russian Movement for Smokers' Rights, Andrey Loskutov, was also fuming. "They've banned it everywhere they could. Now they remembered they forgot about balconies," he told Interfax news agency. But Channel 5 TV was resigned: "Russians will just have to find somewhere else to smoke."

^ I don’t see this new law is really enforceable. It seems more like one of those laws created to be used only when the “real” laws aren’t able to get a real criminal (like the US using tax evasion on Al Capone because they couldn’t get him on murder and other charges.) I don’t see ordinary Russians (or even Russian officials) going outside their buildings or homes in sub-zero temperatures to smoke. I think they will continue to smoke on their balconies or continue smoking in the bathrooms. I remember going to a public restroom (one where you didn’t have to pay) and it was full of people just smoking – it was more like a night club than a restroom. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49850179

Failing Puppy Farms

From the BBC:

“Welsh vets 'failing' dogs at puppy farms”

Vets are part of a "broken" system that has failed to address poor welfare at puppy farms in Wales, experts claim. A year-long investigation found dogs in "filthy" conditions at establishments approved by councils. Some breeders were continually re-licensed despite their dogs suffering "serious health conditions". The Welsh Government said it was reviewing regulations and was "deeply concerned" by the reports of non-compliance. Selling dogs is big business in Wales. BBC research found there were 260 licensed dog breeders in the country as of August 2019, producing an estimated 24,000 puppies every year. According to expert vets, the dogs are conservatively worth more than £12m. Welsh Government regulations mean anyone who breeds three litters or more per year must be licensed by their local council. But as part of a year-long investigation BBC Wales visited many approved sites and found dogs suffering from infections and kept in poor conditions with little access to exercise. In annual health checks seen by the BBC, vets also recorded significant numbers of dogs with serious health conditions at approved sites, but breeders were allowed to continue operating, year after year.

'Slow and painful death'

Danielle Foley wanted a companion for her dog, and found one - a beagle puppy called Winston - being sold by a licensed breeder in Carmarthenshire. "He said he was a reputable breeder and he had his own website. It was all the perfect picture," said Ms Foley. "He had a summer house kind of thing at the bottom of his property where only two of the puppies were." But Ms Foley was not being shown the whole story.  At the back of the breeder's property, in a large shed, BBC Wales Investigates found lots of breeding dogs and puppies. An inspection report from earlier this year showed the breeder had problems with waste, record keeping and, crucially, parvovirus, a highly-infectious condition.  The report said the owner also kicked a dog while inspectors were present. Within 24 hours of Ms Foley getting Winston home, he became weak and was taken to the vets, where he tested positive for parvovirus.  Within hours, he had to be put down. She said: "At two o'clock in the morning the vets rung my mum and told her he'd formed a rash on his belly which shows that his organs are shutting down and it's going to be a slow painful death - and they could make it quick and easy." "I got to hold him, and I just said to my mum 'if he wants to go, he can go'." Ms Foley said the man who sold Winston said he had been vaccinated against parvovirus.  She also claimed that when she asked to see his vet card - the record of a dog's health - the breeder told her he vaccinated Winston himself with medicine bought from the vet. If the puppy had not been seen by a vet first then vaccinating himself was against the rules.  The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons says a vet should always check a puppy to ensure it is fit for vaccination.  The registered veterinary practice for the breeder said it was investigating. Carmarthenshire council, which licensed the breeder who sold Winston, said it would not hesitate to prosecute anyone who break the rules. Councillor Philip Hughes, executive board member for public protection, said: "It is important to recognise that inspections can only provide a snapshot in time.  "We welcome any evidence from vets or consumers to help us take appropriate action where needed.  "We have a strong and proactive approach to enforcing dog breeding standards in Carmarthenshire."  In a statement, a solicitor for the breeder who sold the dog which died said any "reference to any cruelty to any animal is denied categorically" and said challenges in relation to the spread of possible disease are "addressed" with professionals. "The operator is a person of clean character whose reputation within his own community and the industry is beyond reproach," the statement said.

'Dead puppy'

The BBC team were given a former breeding dog at a puppy farm near Llandysul, Ceredigion earlier this year. The dog came with no name, paperwork or medical history.  A rescue charity took her and named her Olwyn. When she was seen by their vet she was found to have just given birth and had a dead puppy still inside her, leading to emergency surgery.  David Jones, who gave the dog to a BBC reporter, had already been warned by Ceredigion council to take better care of his dogs, although the council regularly renewed his breeding licence. In a statement Mr Jones said his dog breeding business was regulated by Ceredigion County Council to "ensure the highest industry standards". The statement also said: "Whilst reference is made to deficiencies in a recent inspection report, this should not be considered in isolation as it was part of a dialogue between the partnership and regulator to ensure compliance and professional development. "Unfortunately dogs occasionally become unwell due to matters which are not diagnosed or would not be within their [the partnership's] knowledge.  "This can occur at any time and without any negligence on behalf of the partnership." Ceredigion Council said improvements had been made by Mr Jones, and they had to strike a balance between enforcement and education.

'System is broken'

The BBC showed footage from all the puppy farms it visited to a panel of vets with more than 100 years' experience between them. They said some vets failed to question the environment in which dogs were being kept, despite a long list of dogs with serious health problems, such as matted fur, rotten teeth and skin conditions. Paula Boyden, veterinary director at the Dogs' Trust, said: "It's hugely saddening and really quite upsetting to see the number of dogs that I've seen kept in those sorts of environments, and that's their life.  "It's just so wrong on so many levels. "The system is definitely broken and vets are absolutely an integral part of it. We as a profession have a part to play." The Welsh Government is considering bringing in Lucy's Law which would ban the sale of puppies and kittens by third parties, but the panel of vets said that while it would be helpful, there are issues with enforcing existing laws.

^ This is sickening. I don’t agree with puppy mills, but if they are legal then they should be properly inspected by vets and government officials. All, but one of the dogs I have/had since I was a baby have been rescued dogs. I think that is a much better place to get a dog than a puppy mill. A rescue dog has had a difficult life yet they will treat you with love and affection (if you give them the same) no matter what happened in their past. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-49810889

Broken CDN Promises

From CBC:

“After years of broken promises, vets struggle with which party to support”

Jay Jorgensen is unequivocal about much he trusts the Liberals and Conservatives to help disabled veterans like him. "Zero," says the retired sergeant, who served 17 years in uniform before leaving the military in 2013 because of a back injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. "Both are burned to me." It's a popular sentiment in parts of Canada's veteran community — veterans themselves, their spouses and families and people who provide them services — and a reality both parties face as they seek to court a segment of the population that feels betrayed by successive governments over the past decade. Canada's veterans' community is far from united, but it is large, with roughly 700,000 Canadians having served in uniform. "This number of potential voters is not without significance," Brian Forbes, chair of the National Council of Veteran Associations, wrote recently, "particularly in an election year which will, in all probability, result in a minority government." MPs across party lines call for new housing subsidy to help homeless veterans Vets watchdog troubled by 'lack of trust' in his office, asks for mandate review Both the Conservatives and Liberals have made countless promises to Canada's veterans over the years, with Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer the latest to commit to making life better for those suffering from service-related wounds and illnesses. Yet, while some are ready to look past their treatment by the previous Conservative government under Stephen Harper and accept Scheer's promises on faith after what they describe as Justin Trudeau's lies, others like Jorgensen are fed up and at a loss over whom to believe. "When you say something, that means to me that you will do it," Jorgensen says from his home north of Saskatoon. "None of these parties have demonstrated that in the past, so I can't believe they will do it in the future either." The root of the distrust can be traced back to 2005, when Paul Martin's Liberal government did away with lifelong disability pensions, the backbone of Canada's support for those injured in uniform for nearly a century.

Changes that span years, governments

The New Veterans Charter was approved in the House of Commons with all-party support before Stephen Harper's Conservatives came to power in 2006 and his administration implemented it even as the war in Afghanistan was heating up. Instead of pensions, veterans would receive lump-sum payments for injuries, plus rehabilitation programs and income-replacement support for those having difficulty finding work. The goal was to better help veterans adjust to civilian life after leaving the Forces. Since then, the charter has undergone numerous changes — none of which have satisfied veterans who complain it provides far less financial support and who want the old pensions re-instated. That demand manifested itself in the high-profile Equitas lawsuit filed in 2012 by six disabled Afghan war veterans, whom many former service members saw as champions for the cause of fairness for all ex-military personnel. The Harper government also closed several Veterans Affairs Canada offices and slashed hundreds of department jobs — including frontline staff working directly with veterans — to balance the federal budget, resulting in huge delays in claims. If there was one moment that captured how bad the relationship between Harper's Conservatives and veterans got, it was when then-veterans affairs minister Julian Fantino in May 2014 refused to speak to the wife of a veteran struggling with PTSD who wanted more support for families and ducked out before she was scheduled to appear before a House committee. Fantino was later replaced by Erin O'Toole, a former air-force officer who was starting to fix the Tories' relationship with veterans when Justin Trudeau took the stage during an election-campaign event in Belleville, Ont., on Aug. 24, 2015 and made his pitch. In an appearance a few kilometres from CFB Trenton, Trudeau made a promise to veterans. "If I earn the right to serve this country as your prime minister, no veteran will be forced to fight their own government for the support and compensation that they have earned," Trudeau said in apparent reference to the Equitas lawsuit. "We will re-instate lifelong pensions and increase their value in line with the obligation we have made to those injured in the line of duty." It was exactly what many veterans had been waiting to hear. Four years later, however, faith in the Liberals has all but disappeared.

New plan not necessarily better

The Liberals re-opened the closed Veterans Affairs offices, increased some services and benefits for veterans and hired hundreds of staff at Veterans Affairs Canada. But the backlog of veterans waiting to hear whether they qualify for assistance has grown to nearly 40,000 as hiring and the department's budget failed to keep up with demand. And not only did the Liberals continue to fight the Equitas lawsuit, which the Supreme Court tossed last year, they also failed to bring back the previous disability pensions and instead introduced their own version. This past February, the parliamentary budget office reported disabled veterans would have received on average 1 1/2 times more over their lifetimes under the pre-2006 pension than through the Liberals' so-called Pension for Life. That led to fresh allegations the government was trying to support veterans on the cheap. And while the PBO found many veterans will see small increases in financial compensation compared with the 2005 charter, it also reported that some of the most severely disabled would actually receive less. In January 2018, one month after the Liberals unveiled the Pension for Life, Trudeau was confronted during a townhall meeting in Edmonton by Brock Blaszczyk, who lost a leg in Afghanistan. Blaszczyk wanted to know: Why was the government still fighting the Equitas lawsuit? "Why are we still fighting against certain veterans' groups in court?" Trudeau responded. "Because they're asking for more than we are able to give right now." The comment still elicits outrage.

Promises and silence

Now Scheer is appealing to veterans to trust him. During a campaign event in Prince Edward Island last weekend, the Conservative Leader attacked Trudeau's record before laying out his own plan to help veterans. Those include clearing the backlog of applications for assistance, introducing legislation enshrining in law a "military covenant" between the government and veterans, and creating a "reliable, dependable pension system" that is "fair to Canada's most disabled veterans." The Liberals have yet to say what they will do for veterans. The NDP and the Greens have talked about a review of the current suite of benefits; the Greens say they will "restore periodic payments" at pre-2006 levels. Retired major Mark Campbell was one of the plaintiffs in the Equitas case. While he is critical of the Harper government's treatment of vets, he is willing to give Scheer a chance. "Looking forward right now, as I see it, we have a set of promises from the Conservatives that look actually quite good at first blush and we have a deafening silence from the Liberals." Others such as retired master corporal Paul Franklin, who made headlines for having to prove to Veterans Affairs each year that he had lost both legs in Afghanistan, remain more circumspect. "We don't trust these guys," Franklin said. "It almost comes down to a point where we either have to vote local or vote on other reasons and sadly forget our own reasons to vote as a group or make the individual choice if you wish to trust the leadership." Back at his home near Saskatoon, Jorgensen already knows what he is going to do: "I will be striking my ballot," he says. "I will be striking my ballot."

^ When a country (whether it’s Canada or any other country) promises their soldiers and veterans certain things before, during and after their service and does not keep those promises it is a national shame. I can understand why Canadian soldiers and veterans feel abandoned by both the Liberals and the Conservatives. My only hope is that whichever party wins the Federal Election starts putting their words and promises into real action and programs. ^

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/after-years-of-broken-promises-vets-struggle-with-which-party-to-support-1.5301468

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is one of Judaism’s holiest days. Meaning “head of the year” or “first of the year,” the festival begins on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, which falls during September or October. Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, also known as the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the two “High Holy Days” in the Jewish religion.

History and Significance of Rosh Hashanah 

Rosh Hashanah is not mentioned in the Torah, Judaism’s founding religious text, and appears under different names in the Bible. Though the holiday was likely well established by the sixth century B.C., the phrase “Rosh Hashanah” shows up for the first time in the Mishna, a Jewish code of law compiled in 200 A.D. The Hebrew calendar begins with the month of Nisan, but Rosh Hashanah occurs at the start of Tishrei, when God is said to have created the world. For this reason, Rosh Hashanah can be seen as the birthday of the world rather than New Year’s in the secular sense; still, it is on Rosh Hashanah that the number of the civil year increases. The Mishna described three other “New Years” in the Jewish calendar in addition to Rosh Hashanah. Nisan 1 was used to resume the cycle of months and measure the duration of kings’ reigns. Elul 1 resembled the start of the modern fiscal year and determined the tithing of animals for charity or sacrifice. Shevat 15 calculated the age of fruit-bearing trees and is now celebrated as the minor holiday of Tu B’Shevat. According to tradition, God judges all creatures during the 10 Days of Awe between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, deciding whether they will live or die in the coming year. Jewish law teaches that God inscribes the names of the righteous in the “book of life” and condemns the wicked to death on Rosh Hashanah; people who fall between the two categories have until Yom Kippur to perform “teshuvah,” or repentance. As a result, observant Jews consider Rosh Hashanah and the days surrounding it a time for prayer, good deeds, reflecting on past mistakes and making amends with others.

Celebrating Rosh Hashanah

Unlike modern New Year’s celebrations, which are often raucous parties, Rosh Hashanah is a subdued and contemplative holiday. Because Jewish texts differ on the festival’s length, Rosh Hashanah is observed for a single day by some denominations and for two days by others. Work is prohibited, and religious Jews spend much of the holiday attending synagogue. Because the High Holy Day prayer services include distinct liturgical texts, songs and customs, rabbis and their congregations read from a special prayer book known as the machzor during both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The sounding of the shofar—a trumpet made from a ram’s horn—is an essential and emblematic part of both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The ancient instrument’s plaintive cry serves as a call to repentance and a reminder to Jews that God is their king. Tradition requires the shofar blower to play four sets of notes on Rosh Hashanah: tekiah, a long blast; shevarim, three short blasts; teruah, nine staccato blasts; and tekiah gedolah, a very long blast. Because of this ritual’s close association with Rosh Hashanah, the holiday is also known as Yom Teruah—the day of the sounding of the shofar. After religious services are over, many Jews return home for a festive meal steeped in symbolism and tradition. Some choose to wear new or special clothing and to adorn their tables with fine linens and place settings in recognition of Rosh Hashanah’s significance. The meal typically begins with the ceremonial lighting of two candles and features foods that represent positive wishes for the New Year.

Customs and Symbols of Rosh Hashanah 

Apples and honey: One of the most popular Rosh Hashanah customs involves eating apple slices dipped in honey, sometimes after saying a special prayer. Ancient Jews believed apples had healing properties, and the honey signifies the hope that the New Year will be sweet. Rosh Hashanah meals usually include an assortment of sweet treats for the same reason. Round challah: On Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) and other holidays, Jews eat loaves of the traditional braided bread known as challah. On Rosh Hashanah, the challah is often baked in a round shape to symbolize either the cyclical nature of life or the crown of God. Raisins are sometimes added to the dough for a sweet new year. Tashlich: On Rosh Hashanah, some Jews practice a custom known as tashlich (“casting off”), in which they throw pieces of bread into a flowing body of water while reciting prayers. As the bread, which symbolizes the sins of the past year, is swept away, those who embrace this tradition are spiritually cleansed and renewed. “L’shana tovah”: Jews greet each other on Rosh Hashanah with the Hebrew phrase “L’shana tovah,” which translates to “for a good year.” This is a shortened version of the Rosh Hashanah salutation “L’shanah tovah tikatev v’taihatem” (“May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year”).

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/rosh-hashanah-history

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

Stasi Files Move

 From the BBC:

“Stasi files: German plan to transfer files sparks concern”

Germany's parliament has voted to transfer the secret files of the Stasi, the intelligence service in communist East Germany, to the national archives despite concerns from researchers. Millions of files compiled on suspect citizens during the Cold War have been managed independently since the communist state collapsed. Officials says the files will be better preserved and still be accessible.  But critics warn that "a lid will be put on history". The Stasi, short for Staatssicherheit (state security), was notorious for its surveillance of East Germany's citizens, many of whom were pressed into spying on each other. After the Soviet-supported state collapsed in 1989, Stasi officers tried to destroy records - at first using shredders and then desperately tearing documents up by hand. The Stasi's offices were stormed by groups of "citizen committees" who seized all that was left of the documents to preserve them for future generations. Bags of torn up documents from the Stasi files are kept and could one day be pieced together  Since then, thousands of former East German residents have been able to read what the secret police knew about their lives - and which of their friends, family and colleagues had informed on them.  Following the vote in parliament, federal commissioner for the records Roland Jahn said that millions of documents could now be better preserved and digitised. At the moment only 2% of the archive is recorded digitally. He also promised that the files would still be accessible to historians, journalists and former victims of the Stasi. He said he aimed to make the documents "fit for the future as we can tap the expertise, technology and resources under the roof of the Federal Archives". Many former citizens of East Germany have been able to check on what the secret police knew about them  "We are sending the message that on the 30th anniversary [of the fall of East Germany in 1989] we have this symbol of the peaceful revolution - that is, the access to the files and the possibility to use them - and that is something that we are securing permanently," he told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk. However, critics fear that under federal control the archive will be less accessible and that the move is an attempt to draw a line under the communist regime. One support group for former Stasi victims said it feared the oversight of the files could be subject to political whims and that potentially embarrassing information could be hushed up. Werner Schulz, a former regime critic and now a member of the Greens party in the European Parliament, said he feared that "a lid will be put on history". Historian Hubertus Knabe also cautioned that Stasi files authority - the largest institution for dealing with East Germany's past - would no longer exist after 2021 when the transfer takes place. "The signal being sent to many victims of the East German secret services is that the political establishment wants to draw a line under it," he told Bild newspaper.

^ I don’t really know if this move to the Federal Archives is a good idea or a bad idea. I hope that the Stasi records will be accessible (in person and digitally) to those that want to view them and not simply locked away to hide their secrets. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49847900

Average First

Military Family Numbers

 From Military.com:

“In a First, Pentagon Releases Data on Military Spouse and Child Suicides”

In what was hailed as the Pentagon's first-ever report on military family suicides, the Defense Department said Thursday that 123 spouses and 63 children took their own lives in 2017. According to the inaugural Department of Defense 2018 Annual Suicide Report, the 186 deaths included 122 among of active-duty personnel families, 29 among Reserve families and 35 within National Guard families. Seventeen spouses were service members themselves. The report said the calculated suicide rate for family members, which allows for comparison with other populations, was significantly lower than the rate for the general U.S. population in 2017, 6.8 per 100,000 military family members, compared with 14.5 per 100,000 persons. But the report also noted that the lower rate was not unexpected, given that military families trend younger than the general population. The suicide rate for spouses was 11.5 deaths per 100,000, broken down into 9.1 per 100,000 for female spouses and 29.4 per 100,000 for males. Pentagon analysts said those rates were comparable to age- and gender-adjusted rates of the U.S. population in 2017. According to the report, the overall suicide rate for dependent children under age 23 was 3.8 per 100,000. Within that, the suicide rate for males was 5.2 per 100,000, lower than the rate for young men in the general population of 9.3 per 100,000. The long-awaited report is the first to release data on military families, but without information from other years, "we do not have trends," said Elizabeth Van Winkle, the executive director for Force Resiliency in the Under Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel and Readiness. But, she added, "our military families are one of our greatest assets and our efforts need to consider the unique challenges of military life." The report is likely to disappoint those who have sought data on military family suicides for more than a decade. In 2010, Kristina Kaufmann, a former Army wife who now serves as CEO of the military and veterans advocacy group Code of Support Foundation, was among the first voices to call for the information, penning an editorial in The Washington Post expressing concern about military family suicides. Kaufmann said at the time she had lost at least three friends to suicide and pushed Congress to ask the Pentagon for the data so programs could address the problem. In 2014, Congress passed the fiscal 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which required the Pentagon to standardize and collect data on suicides among military dependents. The policy and data collection was to be implemented in mid-2015, according to the law. Last year, Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Patty Murray of Washington sent a letter to the Defense Department last year asking for the data. They asked DoD to release any information it had on dependent suicide. "We know these suicides occur, but there is presently a lack of information necessary to understand, prevent, and respond to these tragedies," they wrote. Pentagon officials said Thursday that the report contained data from 2017 because that is the most recent year data is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the general population. "Our civilian data follows the CDC's same time frame in terms of releasing data ... the effort is to provide the most current data," Van Winkle said. Also according to the report, the means of suicide in more than half the deaths of both spouses and dependents was a firearm -- 54% of spouse suicides and 51% of dependent suicides. The use of a weapon by female military spouses in suicides is a departure from behavior in the general population, where the leading method of suicide in 2017 for women was poison or a drug overdose (31.4%), followed closely by firearm (31.2%), and then asphyxiation or hanging (27.9%). Winkle said the Pentagon is working on initiatives to increase awareness among military personnel and family members of the risk factors for suicide so they can recognize when they, or others, need help. "We're also developing initiatives on safe storage of lethal means, that is, safely storing medications and firearms to ensure family safety and well as how to intervene in a crisis," she said. The Military and Veterans Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for veterans, service members and their families who need help. Call 800-273-8255 and press 1, text 838255, or visit www.veteranscrisisline.net.

^ I am a military brat and know what it’s like to have to move every few years to a new house, a new school and a new country. It’s not easy especially when your Dad or Mom are stationed overseas and there is little to nothing for kids and teenagers to do on base. Then there is the constant strain of having your Parent (or spouse) deployed for long periods of time with little to no outside help on how to deal with all of that along with the everyday things. There is also the constant “game” that goes on between other military spouses and other military brats. For the military spouses the “game” is watching other military spouses and reporting what they do to other spouses as well as to their husband or wife in the military so that it will harm the military career of the other family in their promotions, etc. In the Military it is believed that if you can’t keep your own family (your own “house”) in order than you can’t keep the men and women under your command in order. There are many military spouses that succumb to this 24/7 “game” where your every movement on base, at the commissary, at the PX/BX, at a social event, at a military ceremony and in your house is watched and scrutinized. The same kind of “game” is played on military brats by other military brats (mostly at the direction of their parents.) The military brat’s every movement in school (grades, sports, etc.) as well as what they do after-school hours (where they go, who they hang out with, who they date, etc.)  is watched and scrutinized and that can effect the military career of their parent (again because of the military belief about keeping your family in order shows you can command in the field.) Sadly, it is not surprising that the military spouses and military brats commit suicide. They are put under constant and severe strain from all sides and given little to no help. ^

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/09/27/first-pentagon-releases-data-military-spouse-and-child-suicides.html

Saudi's Tourism

 From the BBC:

“Saudi Arabia to open up to foreign tourists with new visas”

Saudi Arabia will open its doors to international tourists for the first time as part of a broader push to cut its economic dependence on oil. On Friday, the kingdom will launch a visa regime for 49 countries and relax strict dress codes for female visitors. Tourism Minister Ahmad al-Khateeb described it as a "historic moment" for the country. Visas have until now largely been restricted to pilgrims, business people and expatriate workers. Saudi Arabia is also hoping to secure foreign investment in the tourism industry. It wants tourism to rise from 3% to 10% of gross domestic product by 2030.  "Visitors will be surprised... by the treasures we have to share - five Unesco World Heritage Sites, a vibrant local culture and breathtaking natural beauty," Mr Khateeb said. Foreign women visitors will not be required to wear the body-covering abaya robe required to be worn in public by Saudi women, but must still dress modestly. There will also be no restrictions on unaccompanied women visiting the country. "We have a culture. We believe our friends and our guests will respect the culture, but definitely it is modest and it will be very clear," Mr Khateeb said. Non-Muslims will still not be allowed to visit the holy cities of Mecca and Medina and the ban on alcohol will be maintained. More details on the scheme, including which countries are eligible, are due to be provided later on Friday.  But Mr Khateeb said he did not believe the recent attack on Saudi Arabia's oil industry would put people off visiting. "Our cities are among the most safest cities globally. Therefore, we don't believe at all it will impact our plans. We have all the expats living in Saudi Arabia, enjoying Saudi Arabia. We're very secure," he said. The moves to open up tourism is central to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's wider economic reform programme that aims to reduce the kingdom's focus on oil.  Under the plan, Saudi Arabia wants to increase international and domestic visits to 100 million a year by 2030. The government expects to create one million tourism jobs.  Still, the push comes as the kingdom faces a tarnished international image amid criticism of its human rights record following last year's murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and a recent crackdown on women's rights activists.  In 2017 Saudi Arabia announced a massive tourism development project that will turn 50 islands and other sites on the Red Sea into luxury resorts. Last year construction began on Qiddiya "entertainment city" near Riyadh, which is to include high-end theme parks, motor sport facilities and a safari area. This is not the first time Saudi Arabia has opened its doors to tourism. In the summer of 2000 it hired French Alpine instructors from Chamonix to take visitors rock-climbing and paragliding in the mountainous southwestern province of Asir. I jumped off a cliff with one of them in a tandem flight that had us soaring on thermals for 45 minutes, hundreds of feet above juniper forests where wild Hamadryas baboons foraged amongst the rocks.  But everything came to a grinding halt one year later after the 9/11 terrorist attacks involving, amongst others, 15 Saudi nationals. Since then, domestic and religious tourism have continued apace. Up to three million Muslims come to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina each year to make the Hajj pilgrimage.  With the country's hot, arid climate, a lot of Saudis like to get away to the over-developed Red Sea coast or to the cool, verdant mountains of Asir. The views here are simply stunning. But it is still Saudi Arabia, so don't expect cocktails at sundown!

^ This is interesting in that Saudi Arabia has been largely cut-off from the outside world through their own internal policies for decades and now they want to open-up and let foreigners come as tourists and not just as investors. I am a little skeptical in how safe it would actually be for a woman that doesn’t wear an abaya or have a male guardian with them at all times – the Religious Police still patrol as well as ordinary citizens that take it upon themselves to enforce their religious beliefs on others. With that said hopefully this tourism opening will be good for the men and women in Saudi Arabia in terms of economically and socially. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49848068

Grandmother's Filicide

From Yahoo:

“Grandmother Allegedly Killed Disabled Grandson Out of Fear for His Future Care”

A grandmother allegedly killed her 30-year-old grandson with disabilities because she was afraid no one would take of him after she died, according to WFLA. While the grandmother’s fears about care for her grandchild are common in the disability parenting community, murder is never a viable option. Lillian Parks, an 87-year-old Florida resident, was arrested for the alleged murder of her adult grandson, 30-year-old Joel Parks, who lived with a disability. According to Bradenton, Florida, police, Parks killed her grandson because she was afraid she would die soon and no one would take care of Joel. Joel needs assistance and lived in a group home during the week and with his grandmother on the weekends. Since her arrest, police are holding Parks in a secure medical facility under a doctor clears her. WFLA said she will likely be charged with second-degree murder. “She was concerned about her medical condition and was worried about who would be carrying for him in the event that she passed away,” said Bradenton Police Department Captain Brian Theirs. “This is a process where it was thought out, planned. And she took a human life.” Murdering a person with disabilities — legally referred to as filicide — is not rare. Between 2011 and 2015, 219 people with disabilities were killed by either their parent or a caregiver, a white paper from the Ruderman Family Foundation reported. These figures translate to about one murder per week, a rate which David Perry, the white paper’s author, said is conservative and likely underreported. Other groups tracking the murders of disabled people, Perry said, have broader parameters than the Ruderman white paper, with estimates of 400 to 600 murders for the same period of time. “To be disabled in America is to be at higher risk for violence in basically all ways,” Perry previously told The Mighty in an interview about the white paper. “We belong to a society that too often associates disability with tragedy and disability with suffering as just a kind of default position. We have to call these things murder. Murderers are murderers, killing is killing, and they need to be responded to with all of the appropriate condemnation and legal response as we would in any other crime.” There is little hope of improving these rates unless we change the way society views people living with disabilities. The murders of disabled people are not “mercy” killings, as they are often painted in the news or during trial. They are murders, and the people killed deserve justice just like everyone else. “Everyone should be concerned about the fact that our society often takes a permissive attitude towards violence against people with disabilities,” Zoe Gross, the director of operations at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and founder of the Disability Day of Mourning, told The Mighty. “The belief that disability is a justification for violence is pervasive in our culture in ways that many people are not consciously aware of.” The language you use is important. If you react to a murder differently, ask yourself if it is because the person is disabled, Gross said. Acknowledge the humanity of the person who was killed. “Center the victim, not the perpetrator. Say that murder is wrong, and don’t qualify that by saying that you ‘don’t condone, but understand’ a perpetrator’s decision to murder their child,” she said. “Do not normalize abuse and murder of people with disabilities.” For aging parents or loved ones of adult children with disabilities, it’s common to worry about what will happen to an adult child after their caregiver dies. One of Aretha Franklin’s handwritten wills highlighted this concern after she died. Franklin left explicit instructions for the care of her son Clarence, who has a disability. As parent and Mighty contributor Charlie Beswick wrote: Worrying about what will happen to my son after I die clings to my soul and rears its head when I least expect it. A constant reminder the relationship I have with motherhood is a world apart from that of my friends. Even between my boys, my responsibilities differ more than I ever imagined or wanted them to. If your family is concerned about the future of an adult loved one with disabilities, there are many early planning options that can help. However, a 2018 study found that less than half of parents of children with intellectual or developmental disabilities have long-term plans in place for their care. Planning can include estate planning, setting up a special needs trust, finding a second-to-die insurance policy, opening an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account through your state or creating what the company Special Needs Financial Planning calls a letter of intent that outlines what you want to happen for your child or loved one. “It is so important to begin planning early and review it often. Things change,” Cynthia Haddad, co-founder and partner of Special Needs Financial Planning, told The Mighty via email, adding: The vision that a parent has for their child when young will change as they grow and mature — and their needs and abilities grow and mature as well. Parents’ personal financial situation changes, their health and marital situations may change, their own goals for their family, their retirement, their estate plan also change as do their own needs and abilities to continue to support and care for their child with special needs as they too age. Adult protective services (APS) can also help. The agency is not just for reporting neglect or abuse of disabled adults, it can help you identify resources or supports available to your loved ones. “Community resources vary greatly across the country and even within geographic areas. But APS, the local office on aging and the state’s protection and advocacy agency will all have lists of the local resources available to help,” Lori Delagrammatikas, executive director of the National Adult Protective Services Association, told The Mighty via email. “If the first agency you contact can’t provide you with services, ask them who else you should contact. No one agency is going to know all the available resources. Keep asking.” So while preparing for a disabled child’s future may be a significant worry for many families, there are many resources and steps you can take proactively. “The old saying that ‘people don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan’ is key in this situation,” Haddad said. “Start early, review often, and communicate, communicate, communicate so everyone will know what the expectations and the plan will be when something happens to Mom and/or Dad.”

^ There is no excuse to kill an innocent person much less a disabled person simply because of not knowing what will happen to them in the future. This Grandmother is a murderer and deserves to be punished for her crime. I can completely understand Parents, Grandparents and caregivers worrying about who will take care of their charge (for lack of a better term) once they are no longer able to, but that does not justify killing them. If you are no longer able to take care of someone disabled then there are different local, State and Federal Government programs as well as different charities, disability-related organizations, etc. to turn to for help. I’m not saying it is always easy to find the help, but the help is out there and is a much better option than murdering the person you are taking care of. I took care of a disabled person with no real outside out and I know how difficult and challenging it can be. While I didn’t have to worry about what would happen to that person when I was no longer able to care for them it still was not always easy to deal with, but I managed just like all the other caregivers manage to do. ^

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/grandmother-allegedly-killed-disabled-grandson-224607503.html