Parents are Accidentally Feeding Their Children Dog Biscuits But There is a Reason Why

Posted on August 30, 2017

A mom in Australia accidentally packed Scooby Snacks dog food biscuits in her children’s lunch boxes thinking they were human snacks. After discovering her error, Sydney mom Tania Toomey took to Facebook to warn other parents.

In a Facebook post warning, said she purchased a packet of Scooby Snacks choc-friendly carob biscuits from her local supermarket, not realizing it was dog food, although the packaging does say “pet food only”, it was colorfully designed to attract children and was also located in the aisle at the grocery store with other snacks for humans.

“I bought these from the biscuit isle next to the Tiny Teddies at Woolies in North Strathfield,” she wrote. “Terrible and disgraceful, not to mention dangerous!”

Her kids came home from school and told her “yuck, they are disgusting!”

“BE CAREFUL the store is very disorganized and very little healthy option snacks for children in a family area,” Ms Toomey wrote in her Facebook complaint.

The Woolworths denied that Scooby Snacks are stocked in the confectionery aisle of their supermarkets, Yahoo! reports.

This is not the first time either this has happened. Back in June, some New Zealand parents complained about accidentally buying the snacks for their kids. In a report about that incidents, some also said the snacks look like the Tiny Teddies snacks sold in that country.

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Stereotype Busters: Black Men Across America Are Cheering On Students on the First Day of School

Posted on August 29, 2017

There is a new very positive tradition that is taking over the nation where men, black men in particular, gather at schools to greet, high five and dap students as they enter the school for the first day of school.

It started with a member of the organization 100 Black Men organizing one in his city, which got lots of media attention. The idea caught on and since then, it has spread o other cities. Hartford, Connecticut; Boston, Massachusetts, Seattle, Washington; Texas, Dayton, Ohio, New York, City and other cities have taken on the trend and organized similar First Day of School greetings.

In Texas at Kelly Elementary School, “9 out of 10 students are raised by a female family member and may not have a male role model,” Principal Alaina Criner said of the event where men came to her school this year.

“Just so they have someone to look up to,” Criner told KTNTV about the effects of the men’s presence. “Someone that maybe looks like them, or someone else in their life as a role model.”

Attorney DeVaughn Ward organized one at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary a few years back and had this to say to Yahoo! Parenting:

“In this school they may not typically see career professionals on a regular basis. So we wanted them to see people who look like them out there supporting them. Seeing someone in a suit and tie would hopefully encourage them and give them the idea that ‘maybe someday I can do that too.’”

Courtesy Hartford, Connecticut (Keith Claytor)

In Seattle, Washington, Seattle University Law Professor Bryan Adamson wore his academic robe and hat and explained the importance of showing up for dispelling myths and stereotypes about black men, and showing this demographic in a positive light.

Courtesy Hartford, Connecticut (Keith Claytor)

“(Students) remember, and they model,” Adamson said. “They see these images of what they could become, whether they look like us or not, and go into their communities. They are the ones changing the narrative.”

Ellen Banor

In Maryland, schools are not open until after labor day so Maryland Delegate Angela Angel is using her nonprofit charity, Advocate Angel, to enlist men to help welcome students in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She is calling the county-wide event, “Dap Day,” named for the friendly fist or fist greeting.

There are shifts of 7-8am, 8-9am, and 9-10am, Angel told local radio this morning. They can find out more information and sign up here.

Source: Jeremy C. Fox

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Students Forgive Principal For Telling Them They ‘Look Fat’ in Leggings Unless They’re A Size 0 or 2

Posted on August 29, 2017

A South Carolina high school principal was blasted last week for telling 9th and 10th grade girls during an assembly that they “look fat” wearing leggings unless they are a size 0 or 2, reported NBC-affiliate WCBD last Thursday.

The local news channel obtained an audio recording of Principal Heather Taylor of Stratford High School in Goose Creek, South Carolina discussing the school’s uniform policy.

“I’ve told you this before, I’m going to tell you this now, unless you are a size zero or two and you wear something like that, even though you’re not fat, you look fat,” Taylor said on the recording. “It is not meant to be your actual pants, and if you have a shirt that comes to here, then you are showing everything. Yes, everything.”

According to a Twitter user who looks to be a student at the school, Taylor told the Freshman class, “that if you are not a size 0 or size 2 you look like a bunch of sausages.”

she told the freshman class that if you are not a size 0 or size 2 you look like a bunch of sausages.
— Jordan Timmerman (@jt_fiji) August 23, 2017

The Stratford High School dress code does in fact restricts leggings: “leggings, tights, yoga pants and spandex must be worn under clothing that covers to mid-thigh.”

However, the restriction shouldn’t be served up on a big garbage pail platter of body shaming!

As could be expected, Taylor’s comments about leggings sparked backlash, with students and parents speaking to local media outlets, and it looked from their comments that she was initially hostile about being called to the carpet for her remarks.

“Body shaming teenage girls is uncalled for, inappropriate and unprofessional. When I spoke with her [Principal Heather Taylor], she talked around the issue, and made excuse after excuse, effectively calling all of the students liars,” Lacy Thompson-Harper, mom of an 11th-grade student, wrote on Facebook, per IB Times reporting. “This has upset many, many more students than just those in the 10th grade. My daughter is in the 11th grade, and is livid. She has been ridiculed by students for her body, and shouldn’t be subjected to it from teachers.”…

Social media users accused Taylor of calling the girls a liar and asking parents to contact her directly to discuss any concerns but later released a very weak statement apologizing for the incident.

“I met with each class of the Stratford High School student body. I addressed a comment made during a 10th grade assembly and shared from my heart that my intention was not to hurt or offend any of my students in any way,” she said. “I assured them all that I am one of their biggest fans and invested in their success. After speaking with our students and receiving their support, I am confident that, together, we are ready to move forward and have a wonderful year.”

She is still employed as the principal. Some kids forgave her through a formal statement of their own posted on the school’s website so no, she won’t be fired, as some have called for, and will survive another day to judge students quietly in her head who are larger than a size two.

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Moving to Singapore? It Just Enacted Laws Protecting Pets

Posted on August 27, 2017

Animals don’t have the same rights as they do in the US and other Western nations but the tide is turning. And if you are an animal lover who perhaps chose to travel to nations that protect animals, then you’d be happy to know that even in Asian nations, some of which have been the target of protests by Americans for their dog-eating festivals, pets are getting more rights.

If your plan is to visit or move somewhere like Singapore, for example, know that a reliable immigration agent Visa Express Singapore is on hand to help any person going to Singapore and provided the following updates on what a recent law about pet rights state:

Who it Affects

The new law affects people who own animals or pets, and also businesses that deal with all kinds of animals. As per the law before, these groups were barred from mistreating their animals in crude ways like abandoning, kicking or beating them.

However, this new law goes further and requires the mentioned groups of people to provide more care to their animals. When your animal like or pet goes missing, it is the duty of the owner to look for it. The bill also clearly indicates that animals must get adequate shelter, food, and water. Further, the animals must get adequate medical attention when it falls ill.

Effect to Animal-Related Businesses

The new law requires that all staff who will handle animals in these institutions need to have relevant training. The new law created a provision to come up with the relevant training required at a later date.

Consequently, the country had previously collaborated with various bodies like Employment and Employability Institute (E2I) and Singapore Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) to come up with a standardized training for animal handlers. They were also working towards getting a higher number of trainers on matters of animal welfare.

Penalties for the Defaulters of the Law

The new law is considered to be stricter than ever. Therefore, any person who is convicted and found guilty of neglecting animals is liable to pay a fine of $20,000 or/and be jailed for two years.

Furthermore, those who are used to being cruel to animals risk paying $30,000 and/or a 3-year jail term. This is a three-fold increment from the previous punishments outlined by the previous laws.

What is more is that businesses that deal with animals will pay up to $100,000 and/or 3 years in prison once there is proof that they have defaulted the law.

Lastly, such businesses without properly trained staff can part with $5,000 fine and/or 6 months behind bars.

The Impact on Enforcement

The law mandates the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to have more power to enforce the law through directives to the owners. They are also required to collect evidence through technological means like video, audio, and photographs of those who do not comply with the law. Upon proof that the owners have defied the directives given in writing by AVA, they face either a $10,000 or $20,000 fine, respectively. Each can also get a one-year jail term instead of the fine, or get both.

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New Reality TV Puts Cameras in Hands of Expectant Couples

Posted on August 25, 2017

In a new innovative show on the UP family cable network, three expecting couples capture their experience in a groundbreaking reality TV/docu series, called Expecting.

There are no producers, editing or major production. Just the couples sharing their moments, themselves! lol

The show riffs off the idea that modern expectant parents often go online to post, view and share every pregnancy milestone from positive test results, to the frantic drive to the hospital, to the main event itself.

According to a press release, “Expecting is the first show that asks couples to turn the lens on themselves, to give the audience a peek into one of life’s most exciting and personal journeys. With unprecedented intimacy, viewers witness the highs and lows culminating in one of life’s biggest moments.”

In the pilot, viewers will follow the journeys of Kelsey and Corbin Scott of Portland, Oregon; Tia and Tre Patterson of Atlanta, Georgia; and Ashley and Thomas Hughes of Pleasant View, Utah.

Expecting is produced in partnership with Entertainment One (eOne). Executive Producers for eOne are Aynsley Vogel, Cal Shumiatcher and Jessica Mathies.

Expecting will premiere on Labor Day, naturally, will be followed by an all new Bringing Up Bates Babies Special at 9:30 p.m. ET on September 4th.

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FDA Tells 3-Person DNA Baby Pioneer to Stop Promoting Services

Posted on August 22, 2017

The doctor responsible for the first life birth of a baby with the DNA of three people has been told by the US Federal Drug Administration that he cannot advertise his services in America.

The experimental procedure uses DNA from three people — a mother, a father and an egg donor — for the purpose of removing certain deadly genetic diseases from the baby’s overal DNA before the baby is born.

The doctor, John Zhang of the New Hope Fertility Clinic in New York, used the technique to help a couple from Jordan welcome a baby boy last year.

Not only is the procedure not aothorized in the US, but Congress banned the FDA from even reviewing research applications to study it.

Zhang heads the clinic and a related company, Darwin Life Inc.

Zhang told the FDA that his companies wouldn’t use the technology in the U.S. again without permission, however, they are still promoting it widely and online.

Among other fertility options, New Hope’s website references the fact that it achieved the “first live birth” using technology.

FDA sent a letter to Zhang’s attention, citing the fact that clinic makes other marketing claims, including a reference to “the first proven treatment for certain genetic disorders.”

In that case, the mom has DNA of Leigh syndrome, a severe neurological disorder that usually kills within a few years of birth, which she could have passed on to her baby.

The way it works is: the mom’s DNA is extracted from an egg, leaving the disease-causing DNA behind. The healthy DNA gets slipped into a donor’s egg, which is then fertilized. As a result, the baby inherits DNA from both parents and the egg donor — producing what’s been called “three-parent babies” — though the DNA contribution from the egg donor is very small.

H:t/ WTOP

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More Courts Are Giving Three Parents Legal Rights Of One Child

Posted on August 21, 2017

Sixteen-year-old Madison’s family clustered for a photo in a California courtroom, commemorating the day it finally became official that she has three parents.

The adults she calls Mom, Dad and Mama were all there for her birth, after the women decided to have a child together and approached a male friend. They shared time with Madison and input on raising her. Their Christmas Day traditions involve all of them.

But legally, Victoria Bianchi became her daughter’s parent only this fall, joining a small but growing number of Americans who have persuaded courts and legislatures to give legal recognition to what’s sometimes called “tri-parenting.”

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Control What Your Future Child Likes to Eat; Hint: It Happens Before They’re Born

Posted on August 16, 2017

Want your child to love veggies? Start early. Very early. Research shows that what a woman eats during pregnancy not only nourishes her baby in the womb, but may shape food preferences later in life.

At 21 weeks after conception, a developing baby weighs about as much as a can of Coke — and he or she can taste it, too. Still in the womb, the growing baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid daily. That fluid surrounding the baby is actually flavored by the foods and beverages the mother has eaten in the last few hours.

“Things like vanilla, carrot, garlic, anise, mint — these are some of the flavors that have been shown to be transmitted to amniotic fluid or mother’s milk,” says Julie Mennella, who studies taste in infants at the Monell Chemical Senses Center. In fact, Mennella says there isn’t a single flavor they have found that doesn’t show up in utero. Her work has been published in the journal Pediatrics.

The Scent Of Amniotic Fluid

To determine if flavors are passed from the mother to the the baby via the amniotic fluid, researchers gave women garlic capsules or sugar capsules before taking a routine sample of their amniotic fluid — and then asked a panel of people to smell the samples.

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The Shaming Trend Has Gone So Far We’re Shaming the Shamers

Posted on August 14, 2017

Once upon a time, you could joke with a friend about packing on a few pounds or point out that their kid is about to stroll into traffic and no one would take offense or accuse you of “fat shaming” or “mommy shaming” them.

In our online digital world we live in, we can no longer point out anything we disagree with or find critical of others without being accused of being a “shamer.”

I am hopeful that at some point, this obsession with shaming the shamers simmer down.

When you think of it, to shame a shamer makes you a shamer too, no?

Our coddled, participation-prize culture will not let anyone upset the feelings or sensitivities of their vulnerable friends even on mundane things.

This is true even if said friend opened up the door to criticism by posting private moments on social media. I mean even legit questionability about their judgments are OFF. THE.TABLE.

But…shhsss! What about?…Nope sssshut it!

Every body who lets slip through their typing fingers some level of judgment about something she or he sees scroll through their social media feed is a Cyber Bully.

So long as we’re creating new categories of shaming, I’ve come up with a list of things that people shame us about on social media that can be added.

Grammar Police Shamed- When you post a long soliloquy on your position of a pop culture topic or policy and the first person to comment under your post only do so to point out that you used the word “your” or “their” wrong.

Selfie Shamed- When you bump into someone you haven’t seen in a while at a party and she rolls her eyes at you when you ask to take an Usie ‘for the Gram.’

Facebook Shamed– When you see someone you are FB friends with but who doesn’t post often and they tell you “you’re always on Facebook!” Like, shut up. How would you know I’m always on there unless you are too?

Cheapskate Shamed- When you get someone a nice gift at one of those discount stores like Ross, TJ Maxx or Marshalls and you have to spend a bunch of time removing the discount price sticker they practically glued on the worst possible spot on the item, like the glass of the picture frame, and you feel bad because you know had you spent more money and gotten them something from Things Remembered or Macy’s, you wouldn’t have had to do all that scraping and soaking off the price glue.

Being a Petty Jealous Friend Shamed — When you get called out for tagging a busted looking photo of a friend who normally looks snatched In all her Instagram pics because her social media game is on point like that but she looks like the rest of us in non-staged and hyper filtered photos and you didnt’ think anyone would make YOU the enemy because you thought we all agreed she needed to be exposed.

Smart phone addicted shamed — When your date takes a photo of you on your phone and posts it on Twitter or Snapchat and everybody comments or retweets it and eventually some journalist embeds the photo in their article about the “10 Rude Things You Can Do On A Date” and then your mother sees it and calls to tell you this is why you’ll never be married.

There are so many ways people are made to feel bad about their choices on line. Add Yours.

This post was written in fun but I wholly expect someone to shame me for it.

Originally posted on Medium

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Current Administration Cut Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs Funding At Time With US Teen Pregnancy on Decline

Posted on August 11, 2017

The Department of Health and Human Services is cutting off grants for teen pregnancy prevention programs across the country, leaving the groups that receive the grants — and Democratic members of Congress — perplexed.

The dozens of localities that receive funding for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program, a program that began under former President Barack Obama in 2010, were taken aback when the date was changed last month on their notice of award documents from an office within HHS, noting that eir grants would end in June 2018, instead of in 2020. That means they won’t receive roughly $200 million they were expecting to receive over that two-year period.

“Needless to say, this was a surprise to everyone, all 81 grantees,” said Bill Albert, chief innovation officer at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

“I think what has been confounding for a lot of the grantees is there really has been no specific explanation for why the grant is ending two years early,” Albert added.

The closest thing to an explanation grantees have heard, he said, is the grants didn’t quite align with administration priorities. But grantees aren’t the only ones perplexed. Democratic senators and members of Congress have written HHS Secretary Tom Price, asking who made the decision to cut the grant short and what the justification is. The program is not included in Mr. Trump’s 2018 budget proposal.

“These notices of shortened project periods are highly unusual, especially given that Congress has yet to act on FY 2018 appropriations,” a July 21 letter from 37 Democratic senators reads. “This action is short-sighted and puts at risk the health and well-being of women and our most vulnerable youth who depend on the evidenced-based work that TPP Program grantees are doing across the nation.”

Democratic members in the House sent a similar letter to Price.

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Who it Affects

Effect to Animal-Related Businesses

Penalties for the Defaulters of the Law

The Impact on Enforcement