In a Saturday interview with MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle, Joe Bidens remarks were short on self-awareness and long on hypocrisy. But nothing drew more hyperpartisan discussion than when Biden likened President Trump to virulently anti-Semitic Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels.

After decrying the presidents propensity for using personal attacks and lies against his opponents, Biden engaged in the basest form of personal attack, saying Trump is sort of like Goebbels. You say the lie long enough, keep repeating, repeating, repeating it it becomes common knowledge.

Responses to Bidens clumsy and inaccurate allusion were split, mostly along party lines. Many displayed appropriate disgust with the insinuation that the president has anything in common with a man who, as the Daily Callers David Hookstead tweeted, helped carry out the systematic murder of more than six million Jewish people. The Republican Jewish Coalition issued a call for Biden to apologize for his egregious comment. Even former Democratic New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind expressed outrage, saying Biden desecrated the memory of six million Jews who were murdered.

Many Democrats, on the other hand, applauded Bidens jab for its alleged accuracy. Twitter account BetoMedia agreed with the characterization but lamented how former Democratic presidential candidate Beto ORourke had been denounced for using similar terminology earlier in the election cycle. In a factually incorrect and particularly despicable tweet from notorious Trump-hater Judd Apatow, the filmmaker took Bidens remarks further, stating Trump is murdering his countrymen and letting everyone die for personal gain.

The Democratic Party playbook of comparing Trump to various Nazi figureheads continues to be employed because it works thanks to ignorance of Nazi atrocities. On September 16, a study by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany showed that most millennials and members of Generation Z are unaware of the extent of the Nazis genocide. Couple this with our entrenchment in our respective political camps, and it is no surprise that people are willing to believe that members of opposition political parties are like, literally Nazis. And so, fueled by the same kind of hate that motivated the Third Reich, Nazi analogies thrive.

Whether you like him or not, Trump is no Goebbels. Charged with control over film, radio, theater, and the press, the propaganda minister shaped the social environment in which all threatening ideas were purged from German society as Hitler consolidated power and prepared for war. Subjected to a constant diet of Goebbels propaganda, the vast majority of Germans would stand idly by as their Jewish and other undesirable neighbors were rounded up and shipped to ghettos or forced labor and extermination camps. Under Goebbels propaganda apparatus, 6 million Jews and multiple millions of non-Jews died by the time World War II ended.

Likening Trump to Goebbels trivializes a history of horrific, calculated genocide. It supports the environment we find ourselves in today, where the Holocaust is the butt of horrible anti-Semitic jokes, like the discovery by Stop Antisemitism that a Google search for Jewish baby stroller turns up images of grills.

Especially in the midst of this contentious election cycle, as hatred and anti-Semitism rage around us, the country needs a strong, nonpartisan voice to condemn Bidens harmful rhetoric. As a respected organization fighting anti-Semitism and hatred around the country, this task absolutely falls to the Anti-Defamation League. Unfortunately, the ADL, which issues frequent condemnations of Trump, has made no comment about Bidens remarks. Its lack of denunciation is tacit approval of Bidens words.

Condemning the misuse of Holocaust terminology and history is an issue that transcends political allegiance. Anyone utilizing the Holocaust to make irrelevant political points has both minimized a terrible atrocity and failed to truly understand how and why hatred was weaponized by the Nazis. Regardless of our politics, we should demand more of our leaders, particularly at this time of incredible tension. Most importantly, we should all recall one of the most important lessons of the Holocaust, that it is vital for us to remember the humanity in our opponents and allies alike, no matter the circumstances.

Beth Bailey (@BWBailey85) is a freelance writer from the Detroit area who frequently covers Holocaust history and anti-Semitism.

See the rest here:
Joe Biden compared Trump to Joseph Goebbels. Where is the ADL's condemnation? - Washington Examiner

With her platform, Damon stands against the homophobia, racism, and misogyny that she sees in work and life. A just world, to me, looks like people with power, money, and access taking actual risks--not black squares, not lazy hiring just for diversity with no action plan of how to really change culture. Hard life lessons have taught her how we can be better to each other and given her purpose, and motivated her to share her success with others by acting as a driver for change in the industry. Thats what Courvoisier means by honoring your code, its all about taking the life lessons that ones learned through their own experiences and sharing that success with others. Damon knows she cant single handedly overhaul the culinary worlds moral failings or feed everyone whos hungry, but she can press forward on that path.

What else does a more just world look like to you?

My motto right now has been "Listen, if we can't do it right, don't do it." A just world is asking that question all the time. Can we do this without hurting people? Without people being without the funds to live? Can we do this without demeaning people? Without compromising our integrity? We can't keep operating out of this place where we see people as numbers, property, or liability. Damn near everything that was unchangeable has been changed. I would be enslaved, we wouldn't know how to read, and ain't nobody voting if things just had to be the way they were.

What advice would you give someone looking to break into your industry?

I've been very naive at times about who is and is not for me. I would say to find people that inspire you. You don't necessarily have to reach out to them, but find genuine people who inspire you, so that when you falter, you can look to them to get on the right track again, almost like a guiding light.

Food is a part of all of our lives and for many people, its easy to take for granted. What are some things we can do or ways we can think to value what we eat?

Right now, either [food] places are shut down, or people are putting their lives at risk because you want to get your favorite foods. It's a difficult time because you want to patronize and support people because you don't want their businesses to be gone. Then, also, you want to care about people's well being. In between that uncomfortable place, that rock and hard place, is thoughtfulness. We just have to practice a whole lot more thoughtfulness.

How do you honor your code?

I cultivate self-awareness. You can't honor your code if you don't know who you are. I remain true to myself.

See the rest here:
Chef Kia Damon's Concern for Her Community Will Feed Your Spirit - GQ Magazine

Baker Mayfield played well enough to lead the Cleveland Browns to a 34-20 victory over the visiting Washington Football Team. But Mayfield knows he should have done a lot more to help his team, which needed five takeaways from the defense to prevail on a picture-perfect Sunday afternoon in FirstEnergy Stadium.

Mayfields stat line 16-for-23, 156 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs looks a lot better on paper than it did in real-time. In his postgame Zoom with reporters, Mayfield admitted as much.

I could have played way better, he said. I couldve gotten the ball out and saved a couple of those sacks. The protection was great. I couldve re-IDd the play where the intentional grounding happened and the first play coming out where I got sacked. Some things that I can be a lot better on.

Its a good sense of self-awareness from Mayfield. Odell Beckham Jr. bailed him out with a fantastic defensive play to break up a would-be interception by safety Troy Apke. The intentional grounding penalty was an embarrassing decision, but also the second week in a row hes made it.

He also missed a wide-open Kareem Hunt on a play that should have been an easy touchdown. Instead, it required a truly spectacular one-handed grab by Hunt.

Mayfields recognition that he needs to play better if the Browns are to keep winning is a good sign. Yet its also a sign of how good the team around him can be that it doesnt need Mayfield to be perfect to claim a win.

Read the original:
Baker Mayfield knows 'I could have played way better' in win over Washington - Browns Wire

One football game in September should not a referendum on the season, but it can be a point on a graph that indicateswhere a team is in its development and how far it has to go to be considered good.

The answers for the Cardinals after Sunday are a.) still in the learning stages and b.) so far that they should pack a lunch, maybe some snacks and plenty of water for the trip.

Good teams dont lose at home, 26-23, to the Lions, who snapped an 11-game losing streak.

Good offenses dont commit three turnovers, run eight plays in the fourth quarter, or throw seven passes in the direction of a second-year receiver, KeeSean Johnson, and only two in the direction of a future hall of famer, Larry Fitzgerald.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) walks off the field after being defeated by the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium.(Photo: Rob Schumacher/The Republic)

Good defenses dont let opponents drive 75 yards for a touchdown near the end of the first half or 70 yards for the game-winning field goal with no time left.

As coach Kliff Kingsbury accurately pointed out afterward, the Cardinals deserved to lose Sunday. Even in these divisive times, no one could argue.

We lost a game, so obviously none of us did enough, Kingsbury said.

Kingsbury blamed himself for the Cardinals' first loss of the season. Didnt have the team ready, he said. Called a bad game. Has to get the ball to Fitzgerald more often. Needs to communicate better with quarterback Kyler Murray.

Kingsbury is correct on all counts.

Including Kingsbury, the Cardinals were all over the map on Sunday.

Kingsburys a gifted play caller, but he outsmarted himself too often on Sunday. Like when he took Murray out and put backup Chris Streveler in on fourth and one in the third quarter. The Cardinals were late lining up, called a timeout, and then tight end Dan Arnold was called for a false start.

Why take Murray out on fourth down? Especially after the brilliant touchdown 1-yard touchdown run he made in the second quarter?

And why later in the quarter did Kingsbury call three consecutive pass plays after Kenyan Drake had rushed for 15 yards and a first down?

Murray threw two touchdown passes to Andy Isabella, including one that dropped into Isabellas hands just before the receiver ran out of end zone. But Murray had three passes intercepted. Causes:a deflection, a bad decision and a poor throw.

The defense twice held the Lions to field goals after Murray had passes intercepted in Cardinals territory. Yet, quarterback Matthew Stafford shredded it for 75 yards at the end of the first half, and for 61 yards on the final possession.

Im pissed, defensive tackle Corey Peterson said. Obviously, we had opportunities to win the game, even as poorly as we played.

But the Cardinals apparently arent far enough along in their development to do that.

Sep 27, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray throws an interception to Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (30) in the second half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK(Photo: Rob Schumacher/The Republic)

The good news is there is not only room for improvement, but the capability of it.

Murray is a more consistent passer than hes shown. He hasfeathered a pass in to Isabella in the back of the end zone, andzipped an 18-yard out to DeAndre Hopkins.

But hes also missed on a couple of deep balls this season, and his ability to throw while on the run needs work.

Kingsbury is a creative play caller, but sometimes need the self-awareness that often the best designs are simple.

Against the worst rush defense in the first two weeks of the season, why run a reverse to Isabella? And why did Fitzgerald, who entered the game with 645 receptions at State Farm Stadium, finish with 646?

Over the next two weeks, there is an opportunity for the Cardinals to reset and address the shortcomings that were apparent on Sunday.

Carolina, next weeks opponent, is 1-2 and missing running back Christian McCaffrey. The Jets, the opponent the following week, are 0-3 and missing, well, pretty much everything.

Three weeks in, its impossible to tell for sure what kind of team that Cardinals are going to be this season. Lets hope it's not the one that played the Lions Sunday.

Reach Kent Somers at Kent.Somers@gannett.com. Follow him on twitter @kentsomers. Hear Somers every Monday and Friday at 7:30 a.m. on The Drive with Jody Oehler on Fox Sports 910 AM.

Thank you for subscribing. This premium content is made possible because of your continued support of local journalism.

See the original post here:
Are Cardinals better than they showed against the Lions? They better hope so - The Arizona Republic

From bloating to cramps to breakouts, most of us are more than familiar with the telltale signs of an upcoming period. In fact, many women experience some level of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) at some point in our life and while the symptoms are unpleasant, they're usually quite manageable with a couple of paracetamol and a hot water bottle.

But for some women, the lead up to their monthly period is somewhat more of an ordeal. They might experience severe mood swings, sleeping problems, extreme anxiety and physical distress. These women are experiencing premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD - a relatively common but poorly understood condition that's not often spoken about.

Here, we ask Dr Houda Ounnas of 25 Harley Street, to tell us everything we need to know about PMDD, from what it actually is, to the symptoms to look out for, to what you can do to help.

WHAT IS PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER (PMDD)? "Almost all women have some mild premenstrual symptoms that signal the imminent arrival of their period every month," says Dr Ounnas. "For some its merely an annoyance, some bloating and mild mood changes."

However, for others, the symptoms are more significant and fall under the diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome. "About 20% of menstruating women suffer from PMS. Women with PMS have mostly physical symptoms and some minor mood disturbances caused by the changing hormone levels just before the period arrives."

Sometimes, in about 5% to 8% of menstruating women, there are also debilitating mood changes which come together with the premenstrual physical symptoms. "This is another level up from PMS, and is called premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD," explains Dr Ounnas.

According to Dr Ounnas, PMDD is a severe, sometimes disabling extension of PMS. "Although regular PMS and PMDD both have physical and emotional symptoms, PMDD causes extreme mood shifts that can disrupt your work and damage your relationships," she says.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PMDD? In both PMDD and PMS, symptoms usually begin seven to 10 days before your period starts and continue for the first few days that you have your period. The two conditions share some symptoms - bloating, breast tenderness, fatigue, and changes in sleep and eating habits.

However, in PMDD, at least one of these emotional and behavioural symptoms will be present - sadness or hopelessness, anxiety or tension, extreme moodiness or marked irritability or anger.

WHAT CAUSES PMDD? "The cause of PMDD isn't clear," says Dr Ounnas. "Underlying depression and anxiety are common in both PMS and PMDD, so it's possible that the hormonal changes that trigger a menstrual period worsen the symptoms of mood disorders. What is worth noting, is that PMDD is biological and not merely behavioural."

HOW IS IT TREATED? Unfortunately, there isn't a miracle cure for PMDD, and a lot of the treatment is about better understanding your symptoms. "Self-awareness and recognising the disorder and empathising with the self without judgment, is the first step in healing this disorder. Accepting that it is biology and not beating yourself over it as badly behaved, is key," advises Dr Ounnas. However, Dr Ounnas also recommends a well-balanced diet, regular exercise and cutting back on caffeine and alcohol can all help alleviate symptoms. "It's also a good idea to try relaxation techniques like meditation and mindfulness, as well as consider counselling."

Plus, there are certain medicines that can help; "There are two options the antidepressant class of drugs that can help. SSRIs (Selective Seretonin Reuptake Inhibitors) may reduce emotional and sleep symptoms," she says. The other option is the combined oral contraceptive pill; "it shuts down your fluctuating natural hormones, and replaces them with regular influx of artificial hormones."

FINAL WORDS OF ADVICE? "Whilst not dangerous to your health, PMDD can affect your relationships, both personal and at work and is definitely worth being aware of and controlling the symptoms," advises Dr Ounnas. "If you have a partner, it might be with telling them that you suffer with this condition, just so they are aware in terms of increasing their window of tolerance and patience around you that time of month, when the symptoms are likely to be active."

Read more here:
What Are The Symptoms Of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder? - GLAMOUR UK

There may not be a better moment than now to support junior golf. Thats exactly what PGA Superstore and Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons, have done. Their $9.5 million grant will go towards bolstering The First Tees offerings for teenage golfers.

The grant will fund a leadership summit as well as build up The First Tees curriculum for teenagers. At the summit, the first of which will take place in 2021 in Montana, 40 teenagers from First Tee programs both in the United States and international chapters will be invited to participate in the week-long event structured around teaching leadership skills.

I think this is a perfect answer to a lot of the issues that these young people are looking for in terms of identity self-confidence, self-awareness, why am I here, how do I maximize the opportunity to live a life and make the best use of my life, how do I make sure that my voice is being heard and how do I make sure that my actions are being reflected in that leadership as well, Blank said.

There will be more widespread leadership opportunities, as well, as 1,300 First Tee teenagers will get to participate locally in leadership programs at PGA Tour Superstores. In Montana, 45 more schools will add The First Tee School program to their curriculum.

You are using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer. Please upgrade to Internet Explorer 11 or use a different web browser.

The new leadership program and summit will be game-changing opportunities for the young people involved, and we are sincerely grateful for the support of our work and our chapters in Superstore markets, said Greg McLaughlin, the chief executive officer of The First Tee.

The First Tee offers group lessons to kids ages 5-18. There are 150 First Tee chapters, 10,000 schools teach their curriculum, as do 1,600 youth centers. They work to get golf clubs in the hands of kids who want to play, especially those in communities where the opportunity to play golf isnt as readily available, teaching values in the process. One focus is on teaching leadership, which the new teenage programming is hoping to improve.

Golf has seen a surge in popularity as people try to find ways to be outdoors and socially distanced during the coronavirus pandemic. New golfers are entering the game, many of them juniors. When talking about PGA Tour Superstore sales over the past several months, Blank said, The revenue numbers are incredible and the biggest increase we have seen have been, in part, with womens golf, but also with youth golf, and that bodes well for The First Tee and bodes well for all of the attributes that people learn when they understand the game of golf. They learn to be honest, they learn to appreciate skills, they learn to be disciplined."

As kids pick up the game, programs like these will help not only with introducing them to the basics of golf, but will help retain junior golfers as they age into teenage golfers, and hopefully continue playing into adulthood.

Link:
With $9.5 million grant, The First Tee will bolster its offerings for teenage golfers - Golf Digest

Is it possible for something to feel dated and too soon at the same time? Watching The Comey Rule, Showtimes two-part limited series (premiering tonight) about former FBI Director Jim Comeys rocky four-year tenure straddling the Obama and Trump administrations, is in some ways like stepping into a distant period piece. In the opening minutes, we meet Comey on the morning of his job interview with Obama at the White House. Comey (played by Jeff Daniels) stares into his closet, mulling which navy suit to wear. His wife eventually picks one for him. The banality of the moment, the fat luxury of that concern What, no masks? No wildfires raging? No protesters marching and helicopters circling? is almost comical.

A few scenes later, the action shifts to the Oval Office. Off-camera we hear a familiar-sounding voice, a warm baritone that slices into the consciousness like a razor. President Obama (Kingsley Ben-Adir, admirably game in the role) is on the phone, reassuring some governor or other public official somewhere out there in his America that help is on the way. Then he welcomes Comey a Republican whos previously served in the Geroge W. Bush administration with a firm handshake, eye contact, civilized conversation. Its 2013. Eight years ago. But a time that feels so close you could touch it, like its all happening on the other side of a sliding glass door. Knowing the cascade of chaos and misfortune that descends in the near future, you might have to look away from the screen.

The Comey Rule is not a perfect show, but then James Comey is not a perfect guy. He seems to know as much, having confessed in his 2017 memoir, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, on which this dramatization is based, that he can be stubborn, prideful, overconfident, and driven by ego. For anyone who left that book unable to square such self-awareness with the authors refusal to cop to his bungled handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe in which he made not one but two unprecedented public statements about the investigation in the precarious weeks preceding the 2016 election, first that her conduct, while not criminal, was extremely careless, then that the bureau would be suddenly reopening the case this historical moment wont be an easy place to revisit.

The producers seem to share this ambivalence about their hero. Our narrative guide through the series, and the first character we meet, is not Comey but a weaselly Rod Rosenstein (Scoot McNairy), the Deputy Attorney General who drafted the so-called Comey memo justifying the directors firing in 2017. Off the bat, he calls Comey a showboat and a Boy Scout.

Indeed, in the early going, the man comes off as a kind of pious schoolboy in custom suits (presumably the guys 6-foot-8). The script seizes on details recounted in the book: that Comey was a New Age-y boss who instructed his 37,000 FBI employees in an introductory speech to love someone its good for you. He likes to disarm people by asking them what their favorite Halloween candy is. When he gets angry, he says something frosts him. He doesnt know what a golden shower is, bless his heart. He can also be haughty, even when hes well-intentioned. Daniels plays his rectitude on a spectrum that ranges from pensive and priestly to rigidly performative.

The story hits all the inflection points of the 2016 election and its aftermath: Russias hack of the DNC; Pizzagate; Attorney General Loretta Lynchs impromptu meeting with Bill Clinton on a tarmac in Phoenix; the discovery of Clinton emails on a laptop belonging to Anthony Weiner; the Steele dossier. Comey and his team are like a staggered boxer in the ring, being battered with crises. Every time they pull themselves off the canvas, theyre hit with an uppercut.

Along the way, were introduced to a murderers row of actors doing their best West Wing: House of Cards alum Michael Kelly as Andrew McCabe; an underutilized Holly Hunter as Attorney General Sally Yates (she mostly gets to offer cornball platitudes about justice and government to an intern, a.k.a. the audience); William Sadler as General Michael Flynn; Breaking Bads Jonathan Banks as Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Theres a dizzying assault of characters and national security-rocking incidents, but it all hums with the energy of a well-oiled political drama.

But its when Donald Trump arrives that the series tension ratchets up and the jaw-clenching, tooth-grinding anxiety sets in. Played with a growly, lion-like intensity by the great Brendan Gleeson, Trump is a man that undoes Comeys belief in codes and norms, makes him squirm. Daniels is finest in their moments together, projecting Comeys deep discomfort with a stiff lip and a constipated expression. Where Comey is all enlightenment philosophy and intellect, Trump is an animal. Gleeson captures his rabidness, never more so than in a press conference monologue that zooms in close on his face. The twitching brows and the darting eyes, the snarling lips, the breathy delivery, the rambling self-flattery and nonsensical asides its all there.

We dont need to tell you how Comey and Trumps relationship sours, or how this story ends. Its as gut-wrenching fictionalized as it was in real life. Whats perhaps more painful is being reminded that a smart, honorable man who only wanted to stop the bad guys opened the floodgates to them by believing that he was the moral compass of the FBI and even the U.S. government at large that, upon seeing a deep, dark problem bubbling up in our democracy, he alone could fix it.

See original here:
The Comey Rule Will Give You 2016 Election PTSD - Rolling Stone

Doug and Genna Wolkon discovered intrinsic motivation by helping others navigate through a monetary system they felt didnt work them.

Rather than trying to comply, the Wolkons took control of their healing remedies and transformed their passion into a business.

The Wolkons, both originally from the Mainland who arrived in Kauai over a decade ago, were unaware their healing journey would create an opportunity to educate and empower others into adopting a holistic lifestyle.

For the owners of a small acreage farm outside of Kilauea, called Kauai Farmacy, it is like walking through natures medicine cabinet, which is congruent with one of their marketing mantras for their business to heal yo self.

Consumers suffering from psychological or emotional attrition resulting from the fear of the unknown driven by mainstream media coverage will now be presented with options to change their lifestyle at Kauai Farmacy.

According to the Wolkons, it is not just about the food you consume, adopting the lifestyle is about resetting your mentality.

Kauai certainly has the opportunity to embrace this health and wellness lifestyle that is derived on-farm through an agricultural community, Doug Wolkon said. This is a lifestyle of plants and people working together to create vitality, and optimal health and wellness.

They built their business model on the philosophical wisdom of Hawaiian Laau lapaau, Ayurveda, Chinese medicine and tribal ingredients.

The Wolkons use cultivation techniques in their brewery which offers 80 varieties of organic, healing plants from food orchards.

Their small farm includes honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators, along with wildfowl. Their farm also includes no organic imports. Everything at Kauai Farmacy is made and cultivated on their farm.

Pressing the reset button

The Wolkons hope consumers dont attempt to change their lifestyle out of fear of contracting COVID-19 because they feel people changing their lifestyle, for this reason, will be short-lived.

They hope consumers come to their farm wanting to modify their lifestyle away from a more synthetic society many people throughout the country have become accustomed to.

Genna views that with the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone in the world is forcing a shift in this mentality.

According to the Wolkons, people need to make a change, and that lifestyle change will be permanent.

I think we have to shift our mindset, and its going to take something of the magnitude of the pandemic to do that, Genna said. I am embracing this as a transitional time for the community, the economy, everything. The (natural) medicine is meant to give us energy, give us life force, give us the ability to feed ourselves, and the potential to have the performance our bodies are meant to do.

Fear of the unknown

The Wolkons feel the economic infrastructure has created a society predicated on fear.

There is fear-based pandemonium, and that is fragile because when people get into this fear-based mentality, they tend to fall into a victim state I am broken, I need to fix it, Genna said. They also think that someone else is going to tell them what to do versus tapping into what we need to do.

We must remember we have the empowerment to self-heal and help better our situation, Genna said.

Natures gift

Doug Wolkon remains passionately adamant about driving home his companys mission statement in offering healing remedies not available in your local grocery store.

This isnt just a business to the Wolkons. The herbal, holistic, and natural healing lifestyle has become a passion which is the true driving force behind their business, not the other way around.

The thing about plants is that they give us information, and with all of the confusion that is happening right now, the truth has a way of finding its way to the surface, Doug said.

According to Doug, when the truth emerges it allows consumers an opportunity to become empowered.

What we eat, drink and consume is mother natures plant and they help us find the truth, he said. They create self-awareness to help us empower our immune system.

Let the plants do the work

The variety of herbal medicines the Wolkons offer will not always be the same for each consumer.

Based on several different variables, the consumer will use medicines based on their stress and emotional regulation. They may have to constantly alter their rotation of herbal remedies they require based on their changing needs.

I always tell people that are new to us they need to have the plants come and do the work, Doug said. So often we find ourselves trying to convince and arguing about which way is healthier and which diet is better. The plants give you the answer and resurrect your intuition.

Doug feels Kauai Farmacy could lead the way for consumers looking to find the right combination of herbal remedies.

You have to figure out the diet and lifestyle, and what is the answer for them, and then convince them this worked for me, Doug said. We need to exemplify our responsibility as a group of people that live this lifestyle and it worked for us. We live in harmony, and we need to let the people see which product works for you.

Doug knows that during this COVID-19 pandemic, people have to make the adaption and not live in constant fear.

The Kauai Farmacy YouTube channel allows a vehicle to make that transition happen by educating people around the world about their lifestyle.

This is about marrying your lifestyle, which is a celebration of the herbal lifestyle, with real-time gardening and farming connecting the people with the land and community, Doug said.

The Farmacy is currently offering 50% off for kamaaina to try the many herbals teas and natural remedies in their store. For more information, you can go to kauaifarmacy.com.

Read the original here:
Kaua'i Farmacy offers self-healing remedies made in Kaua'i - Thegardenisland.com

In April 1861 Lee declined command of the entire Northern army, resigned from the army in which he had served for 36 years and followed Virginia out of the Union. Although opposed to secession, he said: I cannot draw my sword against my native state.

Although Lee described slavery as an amoral and political evil in 1856, claims that he never owned a slave himself and that he freed those that had belonged to his father-in-law are now widely dismissed as popular mythology.

Despite lack of manpower and material, Lees military genius was the principal factor in keeping the Confederacy alive. He was a legend in his own lifetime. In May 1862 Stonewall Jackson wrote: Lee is the only man I know whom I would follow blindfold. His soldiers, to whom he was either Uncle Robert or Marse Robert, idolised him.

In his classic memoir Co Aytch (Company H) Sam Watkins, who served in the Confederacys First Tennessee Infantry and saw action in battles from Siloh to Nashville, thought Lee looked like some good boys grandpa. I felt like going up to him and saying good evening Uncle Bob! His whole make-up of form and person, looks and manner had a kind and soothing magnetism about it that drew everyone to him and made them love, respect and honor him. I fell in love with the old gentleman and felt like going home with him.

Yet mild-mannered Lee was an audacious and ferociously aggressive military commander.

When Lee took command in Virginia, George B McClellan seriously misjudged his opponent by observing that Lee is too cautious and weak under grave responsibility personally brave and energetic to a fault, he is wanting in moral firmness when pressed by heavy responsibility and is likely to be timid and irresolute in action. If McClellan had possessed greater critical self-awareness he would have realised he was describing himself.

Although strategically a Union victory (because McClellan halted Lees advance into Maryland), Antietam was a tactical Confederate victory because the timid Lee had fought an army almost twice the size of his own to a standstill by moving his army across the battlefield to repulse three Union thrusts launched separately and sequentially against the Confederate left, centre and right.

The Battle of Chancellorsville represents Lees aggression at its most stunning. Although outnumbered two to one, he achieved victory, through dividing his army and encircling the enemy in one of the most audacious moves in military history.

Picketts charge on the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge on the third day of Gettysburg represents Lees greatest miscalculation. James Longstreet warned Lee: I have been in pretty much all kind of skirmishes, from those of two to three soldiers to those of an army corps, and I think I can safely say there was never a body of 15,000 men who could make that attack successfully. Lees blood was up and he thought audacity and courage would suffice.

Although Longstreets advice was disregarded, his appreciation of the impact of modern firepower proved correct. Less than half of the cream of the Army of North Virginia made it back to their own lines. Lee rode out to meet them: It was all my fault; get together and let us do the best we can toward saving that which is left us.

After Gettysburg (and the capture of Vicksburg on the Mississippi), the strategic initiative passed permanently to the North and the defeat of the South was inevitable, subject only to the important proviso the Unions will to fight held firm.

President Lincoln brought U S Grant east from his triumphs at Vicksburg and Chattanooga to confront Lee. Grant was stunned by the ferocity of Lees resistance but, unlike his predecessors, Grant refused to back off, waging a bloody war of attrition (including the Battles of Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor) which lasted exactly a year.

After Lees defensive lines broke under the weight of massive Union assaults in the spring of 1865 Lee could no longer defend Richmond, the Confederate capital. He embarked upon a week-long retreat. Incapable of going any further, his men fell out through hunger and exhaustion, animals collapsed and units disintegrated.

At Appomattox Court House on April 9 1865, Lee found himself almost surrounded and massively outnumbered. He told one of his aides: There is nothing left for me to do but go and see General Grant and I would rather die a thousand deaths.

Grants considerate behaviour, at least partially in deference to Lincolns wishes, made the ordeal of surrender less painful for him.

Remarkably throughout the war it would seem that Lee never referred to his Union opponents as the enemy but as those people. On this reading of the past, this extraordinary absence of bitterness and the mans own innate dignity enabled Lee to accept defeat and seek to bind up the wounds caused by the war by preaching to his people the necessity of peace and national unity.

This perspective is repudiated by those who insist that Lee was not conciliatory towards the North, that he championed southern grievances and that he was antagonistic towards the emancipated slaves.

Finally, if Lee was such a genius, why did the South lose? Explanations rarely focus on Lees inability to deliver victory but tend to major on the Norths demographic and economic advantages. Yet history provides examples of weaker powers defeating stronger ones. Lees greatest failure surely was that he never produced a war-winning strategy. He was curiously blind to the crucial importance of the Western theatre. Impressive though his victories were, they were achieved with Stonewall Jackson at his side. After Jacksons death (from friendly fire at Chancellorsville) there were no more victories. Apart from Grant, most of his Union opponents were fairly mediocre.

Is it too harsh to suggest that Lees iconic status owes more to the psychological needs of the post-war South than to his military genius?

See the article here:
Icon of the Civil War, but just how great a general was Robert E Lee? - Belfast Newsletter

By Mary Lemmer8 minute Read

At the end of 2019, I experienced a traumatic fainting episode, seizure, and concussion in the middle of the night, which landed me an overnight visit at an NYC Emergency Room. Afterward, I decided I needed to slow my pace in life downa lot. Prior to this, I didnt consider myself addicted to my phone. I turned off my notifications years ago; my phone doesnt join me in bed, and its easy for me to spend time doing things that dont involve any technology.

Despite all of this, Id always be a bit shocked at my Weekly Report of screen time. My phone usage seemed to be made up of a lot of micro moments, small chunks of time on my phone spread out over the course of the day.

After my fainting episode and concussion, I started to spend less time in front of screens. I needed to abstain in order to recover. As awful as the accident and subsequent symptoms were, I did enjoy this restful, quiet time, and way of existing that brought healing beyond the physical symptoms. Inspired by this experience, I opted to bring a weekly screenless sabbath to my life, in what became my Screenless Sundays.

In January of 2020, I eliminated use of my laptop and texting on Sundays. Instead, I spent my time doing old-fashioned things, like reading physical books, writing with pen and paper, and going for silent walks (thats right: No podcasts or music).

At first, I felt a bit unsure about the experiment. Would this harm my friendships? Would I feel more lonely and less connected to people? Would I be less productive? Early on, I encountered some changes I needed to make. For instance, when Id make plans to see friends on Sunday, I had to let them know ahead of time that I wouldnt be checking my texts or emails, and ask them to let me know Saturday if they needed to cancel. When Id head to a yoga class, either walking or by subway, I did so without scrolling my phone or listening to an audiobook.

Rather, I sat and observed myself and the world and people around me. If I was planning to go anywhere on Sunday, Id make sure to look up directions on Saturday, or else on Sunday, Id do the unheard of: ask someone for directions. Without my digital friends, Google and Siri, I struck up conversations with people nearbyat the park, subway, cafes, yoga studio.

I felt more connected to these people than I did people I just followed on Twitter. I noticed things I wouldnt have otherwise had my nose been buried in my phone. Things like colorful birds, cute dogs walking on the street, the sky, the emotional expressions of strangers on the street, signs advertising events or looking for lost pets, and street performers, or artists sharing their craft.

The hardest Sundays were the ones when I didnt leave my apartment or block. Isolated in my one-bedroom apartment without use of my phone or TV to connect me to anyone else. Those days became the days where I was really forced to be friends with myself. I asked myself questions. I looked to myself for entertainment. I did art projects, wrote handwritten letters, cooked food, read books, cleaned my apartment, practiced yoga, and sometimes, I just sat looking out my window or walked alone at the park across the street. This time alone helped me realize my resiliency, creativity, and inspired confidence and satisfaction knowing that I could feel joy, rest, excitement, from just being with myself.

Once the pandemic hit in March, I went to quarantine at my familys farm in Michigan. During a time when people were craving virtual interactions, I found value in the digital silence on Sundaysno phone, computers, tablets, or TV. When I told my friends that I go completely screenless on Sundays, they responded with admiration, intrigueand, often, several reasons why they couldnt do something similar.

I lost nothing and gained improvements to my business, team collaboration, relationships, and health.

Theyd say, What if I miss out on something important in the news or on social media? My response: Its only one day. When was the last time important news ceased to exist after 24 hours? Youre either choosing to miss out on a headline or Instagram post that will still be there the next day, or choosing to miss out on quality time with people around you, the nearby environment, and yourself. Its ultimately your choice, and thats the tradeoff youre making.

For people with children, 56% of parents report spending too much time on their phones and 71% of adults are concerned their kids are spending too much time in front of screens.So why not set the example, and the practice of going screenless? Even Bill Gates and Steve Jobslimited their kids screen time. Do it together with everyone and practice a family ritual, as research shows that family rituals are associated with marital satisfaction, adolescents sense of personal identity, childrens health, academic achievement, and stronger family relationships.

During the pandemic when we are spending more time using screens, there is no shortage of loneliness, doubt, and uncertainty. The screens dont solve these challenges, unfortunately. But I noticed that on Screenless Sundays I feel connected, calm, joyful, grounded, rested, and energized. Those are all things I want to feel during the pandemic, and I got them without a screen.

The world didnt end when I fully unplugged. In fact, it was more of a beginning. In addition to the obvious benefits from this practice, like giving my eyes a break from screens, there are so many benefits and implications in my life that I didnt even anticipate.

I feel less lonely. I feel more connected to myself and others. My relationship with myself has improved. Daily journaling (and extensive journaling on Sundays), about my life, my feelings, my fears, my dreams, has all fueled self-awareness that improved my relationships and my work. Ive made intentional decisions about my work and life, rather than reactive decisions based on whatever the world on the screen is influencing. Im also feeling healthier, too, and havent fainted again (knock on wood).

I sleep better. Previously there were nights I wouldnt fall asleep until 4 a.m. Now, Im out by 11 p.m. and sleep consistently. I wake up ready to get out of bed, versus wishing I still had another hour (or four) to sleep.

I am more focused. Ive completed several projects that Ive been wanting to complete. When the work week starts and Im back on screens, I am able to shut off the screen distractions. If I can go an entire day without using Instagram, I can definitely go three hours without it, so that I can focus on a project, a conversation, or a meeting. Screenless Sundays have helped me feel more creative, too.

I didnt need to go Thoreau and disappear into the woods for years.

I didnt need to go Thoreau and disappear into the woods for years. I could incorporate a media fast into my week, regularly, and reap benefits consistently. I didnt need to abandon my life, my family, my friends, or my work. I could give myself a break, some offline time, to reconnect with myself and whatever is around me, and in taking that day I improved my relationships with my family, my friends, my work, and myself. Doing this puts me in control of my time. I decide when I am going to use the screen and when I am not.

I love Sundays. They are by far my favorite day of the week. And though Sundays are my favorite day, I dont wish for every day to be Sunday, because every day doesnt need to be Sunday. Thats part of the magic about this practice. Taking one day, fully off, is enough, if done regularly. Its restorative, reenergizing, and helps me regroup.

When Monday rolls around Im excited and energized for another week. I appreciate myself and everything else so much more. When I do use screens, its so much more intentional. I dont spend as much time on them during the week, because I realized I dont need to. I used to outsource my happiness, joy, entertainment to my phone. It sucked at that job, so Im taking it back in-house. I dont need to use screens in order to feel connected, energized, engaged, informed, involved, or creative. I got all of that on Sunday, so I dont need to rely on screens anymore to generate those feelings.

Mary Lemmer is an entrepreneur, improv comedian, author, startup adviser, philanthropist, and recovering venture capitalist. Shes the creator of Improve, empowering leaders and teams to improve communication, collaboration, creativity, inclusion, and more, with improv comedy.

See the original post here:
I stopped using screens on Sundays. This is how it changed my life - Fast Company