by Pope Francis

Pope Francis Address to Participants: Promoting Digital Child Dignity From Concept to Action 2017-2019

Citing dangers to young people living in the digital world, Pope Francis on November 14, 2019, called for action to ensure their protection. He noted the painful experience of the Catholic Church in dealing with the abuse of young people. The Holy Fathers comments came in the Clementine Hall of the Vaticans Apostolic Palace, where he received participants in an international congress in the Vatican on the theme, Promoting Digital Child Dignity From Concept to Action, 2017 to 2019. The November 14-15 congress is being jointly hosted by the Vaticans Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Child Dignity Alliance and the United Arab Emirates Government.

Vatican, November 14, 2019

Your Majesty,Your Highness,Distinguished Authorities and Religious Leaders,Your Eminences, Your Excellencies,Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Father Federico Lombardi for their kind words of greeting and introduction to this meeting.

The issues that you will be addressing these days are of immense importance. Many of you have been dealing with these issues with determination and farsightedness for some time. When, two years ago, I received the participants in the Congress on Child Dignity in the Digital World, I urged you to join forces in order to address more effectively the protection of the dignity of children in the digital world. In effect, this complex problem calls for cooperation on the part of all: experts in science and technology, entrepreneurs and economists, legislators, politicians and security agents, educators and psychologists, and, not least, religious and moral leaders (cf. Address to the Participants in the Congress on Child Dignity in the Digital World, 6 October 2017). I am pleased to know that you have continued on this path, along with new initiatives, including particularly the interreligious conference held in Abu Dhabi a year ago, taken up by our meeting today.

In recent decades, from painful and tragic experience, the Catholic Church has become profoundly aware of the gravity and effects of the sexual abuse of minors, the suffering it causes, and the urgent need to heal wounds, combat such crimes and establish effective means of prevention. For this reason, the Church senses the duty to approach these issues with a long-term vision.

We are in fact confronting critical challenges that threaten the future of the human family due to the astonishing development of technology in the information and communications media. Doubtless, the development of new technologies in the digital world provides great opportunities for minors, for their education and for their personal growth. It allows for a wider sharing of knowledge, promotes economic development and offers new possibilities in a number of areas, including that of health care. New technologies open up new horizons, particularly for those minors living in situations of poverty and distant from the urban centers of more industrialized countries.

The challenge before us, then, is to ensure that minors have safe access to these technologies, while at the same time ensuring their healthy and serene development and protecting them from unacceptable criminal violence or grave harm to the integrity of their body and spirit.

Tragically, the use of digital technology to organize, commission and engage in child abuse at a distance, cutting across national borders, is outstripping the efforts and resources of the institutions and security agencies charged with combating such abuse; as a result, it becomes quite difficult to fight these horrific crimes effectively. The spread of images of abuse or the exploitation of minors is increasing exponentially, involving ever more serious and violent forms of abuse and ever younger children.

The dramatic growth of pornography in the digital world is, in itself, most serious, the fruit of a general loss of the sense of human dignity; frequently it is linked to human trafficking. What makes this phenomenon even more disturbing is the fact that this material is widely accessible even to minors via the internet, especially through mobile devices. The majority of scientific studies have highlighted the profound impact of pornography on the thinking and behavior of children. It will surely have lifelong effects on them, in the form of grave addiction, violent behavior and deeply troubled emotional and sexual relationships.

A greater awareness of the enormity and gravity of these phenomena is urgently required. Indeed, one feature of todays technological development is that it is always one step ahead of us, for frequently we first see its most attractive and positive aspects (which indeed are many), but only realize their negative effects once they are widespread and very hard to remedy. I would say this to you, who are scholars and researchers: you find yourselves before an essential challenge! Since these problems are vast and complex, a clear understanding of their nature and extent is needed. We cannot deceive ourselves into thinking that we can address these issues on the basis of shallow and superficial knowledge. Laying the foundations for greater protection of the dignity of minors should be one of the most noble aims of your scientific research.

The role of the communications media is no less important. There is a need to increase throughout society an awareness of the risks inherent in an unchecked development of technology. We have not yet understood and often do not want to understand the gravity of this issue in its totality and future consequences. This cannot come about without close cooperation with the media, that is, with you, communications workers, for you have the ability to influence society and public opinion.

You have rightly chosen as the theme of this meeting: From Concept to Action. Indeed, it is not enough to understand; we must act. The moral condemnation of the harm inflicted on minors through the misuse of new digital technologies needs urgently to be translated into concrete initiatives. The longer we wait, the more entrenched and insurmountable this evil becomes. This concern has been raised by those who like many of you have generously dedicated their lives to this battle in direct contact with this crime and its victims, whether as educators, law enforcement and security agents, and many others.

A crucial aspect of the problem concerns the tension which ultimately becomes a conflict between the idea of the digital world as a realm of unlimited freedom of expression and communication, and the need for responsible use of technologies and consequently a recognition of their limits.

The protection of complete freedom of expression is linked to the protection of privacy through increasingly sophisticated forms of message encryption, which would make any control extremely difficult, if not impossible. A fitting balance must be found between the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression and the interests of society, so as to ensure that digital media are not used to perpetrate criminal activities against minors. For the sake of advancing the development of the internet and its many benefits, companies that provide services have long considered themselves mere suppliers of technological platforms, neither legally nor morally responsible for the way they are used. The potential of digital technology is enormous, yet the possible negative impact of its abuse in the area of human trafficking, the planning of terrorist activities, the spread of hatred and extremism, the manipulation of information and we must emphasize in the area of child abuse, is equally significant. Public opinion and lawmakers are finally coming to realize this. How can we help them take suitable measures to prevent abuse? Allow me to emphasize two things.

First. Freedom and the protection of privacy are valuable goods that need to be balanced with the common good of society. Authorities must be able to act effectively, using appropriate legislative and executive measures that fully respect the rule of law and due process, in order to counter criminal activities that harm the life and dignity of minors.

Second. Large companies are key players in the astonishing development of the digital world; they easily cut across national borders, are at the cutting edge of technological advances, and have accumulated enormous profits. It is now clear that they cannot consider themselves completely unaccountable vis--vis the services they provide for their customers. So I make an urgent appeal to them to assume their responsibility towards minors, their integrity, and their future. It will not be possible to guarantee the safety of minors in the digital world without the full involvement of companies in this sector and without a full awareness of the moral and social repercussions of their management and functioning. Such companies are bound not only to respect the law but also to be concerned with the direction taken by the technological and social developments which they produce and promote since such developments are far ahead of the laws that would seek to regulate them.

Although these challenges are difficult to meet, there are a number of areas of action. I will limit myself to a few examples.

Initiatives such as the Safety by Design legislation sponsored by a Commission of the Australian government are valuable because they ensure that the digital industry is proactive and consistent in its approach to customer safety starting from the development of online products and services. In this way, responsibility for overall safety is explicitly acknowledged to be incumbent upon not only the consumer but also on those who manufacture, develop and supply such products and services.

In some countries too, legislators are committed to ensuring that companies providing internet navigation on mobile devices are obliged to verify the age of their customers, in order to prevent minors from accessing pornographic sites. This is to be encouraged. Indeed, minors today for the most part use cell phones and the filters used for PCs have remained ineffective. Reliable studies tell us that the average age of first access to pornography is currently eleven, and tends to keep lowering. This is in no way acceptable.

While parents are primarily responsible for raising their children, it must be acknowledged that, for all their goodwill, it is increasingly difficult for them to control their childrens use of electronic devices. Therefore, the industry must cooperate with parents in their educational responsibilities. Consequently, the identification of a users age should not be considered a violation of the right to privacy, but an essential requirement for the effective protection of minors.

The possibilities offered by technology are constantly growing. Today there is much talk about the applications of artificial intelligence. The identification and elimination of illegal and harmful images from circulation on the net by the use of increasingly refined algorithms represents a very significant area of research. Scientists and those working in the digital world should continue to promote such research, engaging in a noble competition to combat the wrongful use of newly available technology. I, therefore, appeal to computer engineers to feel personally responsible for building the future. It is their task to undertake, with our support, ethical development of algorithms, and in this way, to help create a new ethics for our time.

The development of technology and the digital world involve huge economic interests. The influence that these interests tend to have on the conduct of companies cannot be overlooked. There is a need to ensure that investors and managers remain accountable so that the good of minors and society is not sacrificed to profit. We have seen how society has grown more sensitive to the areas of environmental care and respect for the dignity of labor. A similar concern for the effective protection of minors and the fight against pornography should become increasingly felt in the finance and the economy of the digital world. The safe and sound growth of our young is a noble goal worth pursuing; it has far greater value than mere economic profit gained at the risk of harming young people.

In a world like ours, where boundaries between countries are continually blurred by the developments in digital technology, our efforts should emerge as a global movement associated with the deepest commitment of the human family and international institutions to protecting the dignity of minors and every human person. This demanding task sets before us new and challenging questions. How can we defend the dignity of persons, including minors, in this digital age, when the life and identity of an individual are inextricably linked to his or her online data, which new forms of power are constantly seeking to possess? How can we formulate shared principles and demands in the globalized digital world? These are challenging questions that call us to cooperate with all those working with patience and intelligence for this goal at the level of international relations and regulations.

Mans creativity and intelligence are astonishing, but they must be positively directed to the integral good of the person from birth and throughout life. Every educator and every parent is well aware of this and needs to be helped and supported in this task by the shared commitment born of a new alliance between all institutions and centers of education.

A contribution to this can be made not only by sound ethical reasoning but also by a religious vision and inspiration, which has universal scope because it places respect for human dignity within the framework of the grandeur and sanctity of God, the Creator, and Saviour. In this regard, I am gratified by the presence of a number of distinguished religious leaders who, in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation, have readily taken up the task of addressing these problems. I greet them with great respect and I thank them most heartily. We ought to be as one in the effort to protect minors in the digital world, now and in the future. For in this way, we bear witness to Gods love for each person, beginning with the smallest and the most vulnerable, so as to foster in everyone, in every part of the world and in every religious confession, concern, care, and awareness. We must ban from the face of the earth violence and every form of abuse against children. Let us look into their eyes: they are your sons and daughters; we must love them as Gods masterpieces and children. They have the right to a good life. We have the duty to do everything possible to ensure that right. Thank you.

Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2019

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Library : Promoting Digital Child Dignity From Concept to Action 2017-2019 - Catholic Culture

The Adriance Memorial Library in Poughkeepsie employs two technology instructors who offer free classes to the public. Patrick Oehler, Poughkeepsie Journal

Ebony Miles can be found in the computer lab at Adriance Memorial Library on most mornings.

For the past several months, she has been to the library with her daughter, now five months old, to work on her resume and apply for jobs.

The City of Poughkeepsie resident does not have a computer at home, and didnt have one at home growing up.

I just remember using the computer at school, said Miles, who has been trying to find a job in housekeeping or retail.

I cant afford (a computer) right now, she said, as she is barely making it.

At 38 years old, Miles is learning to navigate the internet, with the help of those at the Poughkeepsie library system location. She plans next to take a class on the basics of creating and editing documents, in the hopes of someday becoming a receptionist.

Betty Cooper, one of the Adriance Memorial Library's technology instructors speaks with Jocelyn Johnson -Kearney following a computer class in the library's Marcotte computer lab in the City of Poughkeepsie on October 23, 2019. (Photo: Patrick Oehler, Patrick Oehler/Poughkeepsie Journal)

For many, a computer and access to the internet have become an indispensable aspect of daily life, the impact of which is often taken for granted.

And, with so much dependent upon it, not having a computer can put individuals at a disadvantage first through the lack of a critical educational resource, and then through the inability to connect to employers.

This has become known as the digital divide, and it can keep those in poverty from building for themselves a better life.

"In these times, a person is really thwartedin their path to success if they don't know how to use, or have access to, modern computer equipment," said Deborah Minnerly, atechnology instructor at Adriance Memorial Library. "One can't do much without the computer resources and skills;almost any job requires an online application even an unskilled one.Folks even need to print out their bus ticket to visit a relative."

Through computer classes and an open public computer lab,the Poughkeepsie library system is among the organizations hoping to bridge the gap. Other libraries in the area offer similar programs.

But, there are also new resources available in Dutchesscities: The Beacon and Poughkeepsie housing authorities last month gave out free tablets and offered discounted internet service to residents. The hope is that those in need of work can more easily connect to online resources that could assist them, and the younger residents of a household would have a hurdle removed from their ability to receive an equal education.

And, some school districts have instituted systems for providing at-need students with computers that can be taken home.

The number of those at-need may be more than you think. Nearly half of the households in the U.S.that earn $30,000 or less dont own a computer or have broadband services, according to a Pew Research survey conducted earlier this year. That includes those living in rural areas, such as parts of northern Dutchess, in which population is sparse and there are pockets without broadband internet.

Its unclear how many households in Dutchess are among those. However, according to a United Way study released last year using data from 2016, 9% of all households in the county were below the federal poverty line $11,800 a year for a single adult household and $24,300 for a family of four and 36% didnot earn enoughto support the basic cost of living, which the organization defined at $25,764 for a single adult or around $80,000 for a family of four.

Part of the sample budget created by the United Way in the study called the household survival budget allocated up to $75 a month for technology.

And, survival may not be a bad word to use in a conversation regarding the digital divide, experts say. Computer literacy basics ranging from knowing how to edit and email a document to juggling applications is necessary for students to reach, and thrive, in college or enter the workforce. Something as simple as having proper email etiquette when writing to a professor or potential employer may not come as naturally to someone who does not use a computer every day.

Betty Cooper, one of the Adriance Memorial Library's technology instructors speaks with Denise Austin of Amenia following a computer class in the library's Marcotte computer lab in the City of Poughkeepsie on October 23, 2019. (Photo: Patrick Oehler, Patrick Oehler/Poughkeepsie Journal)

"Access (to technology) is a critical tool, said John Bradley, executive director of Vassar College's Urban Education Initiative, a 16-year-old program in which the college assists Poughkeepsie City School District students through offering access to resources and collaboration with student volunteers.

It's going to be more critical the further a student goes, if you don't have the resources that other people have," Bradley said."When you get to college, you really have to be able to write and edit online, share documentswith team members.You have to be able to researchand validate information online.This isessential to pursuingan education."

Manyof the school districts within Dutchess are working towarda 1:1 student-to-computer ratio in their high schools, and some even middle schools, byassigning laptops or tablets to studentsto take home.

Spackenkill Union Free School District is one of several districts that assigns Chromebooksto all high school students that can be taken home. The district has included the cost of the Chromebooks into their budget for the past five years, Superintendent Mark Villanti said.Rhinebeck Central School District provides loaner laptops to students under identified hardship situations, said Superintendent Joe Phelan.

However, some school districts either cannot or havent been able to initiate such a program. Those include the districts with the countys largest student populations Arlington and Wappingers and districts that do not have the resources to support it.

Poughkeepsie is hoping to bridge the technology gap by applying for Sprints 1Million Project Foundation funding. The independent charitys goal, according to its site, is to help one million high school students who do not have access to the internet at home by providing devices and high-speed access. Last year, 83% of Poughkeepsies student population was considered economically disadvantaged by the state education department.

Poughkeepsie is also among the areas Title I schools, a school that has a high concentration of low-income students and receives supplemental funding. According to a survey last year released by Common Sense, a media and education advocacy group, teachers in Title I schools say 60% of their students do not have access to computers or the internet at home.

"The district is currently seeking opportunity to bridge the technology gap and address the challenges that many urban and rural families face related to internet connectivity," said Superintendent Eric Rosser, who added that the district plans to make "significant investments" to increase the use of technology in the classroom in the future.

For those living in northern Dutchess the concern isnt only not having a computer, but the lack of broadband service to access the internet. Without the internet at home, there isnt much a student can do with a computer, Millbrook Superintendent Philip D'Angelo noted. Teachers will sometime have to make accommodations for students who cannot access the internet at home due to inconsistent or no broadband service.

Forty-two percent of Title I teachers and 31% of non-Title I teachers do not assign homework that requires digital access outside of school, according to Common Senses survey.

When a teacher assigns something, and its internet-based, they will make special accommodations, such as giving additional time, changing the requirements, so the student isnt penalized, DAngelo said.

Monica Perez uses her tablet on October 8, 2019. Perez is part of a pilot program that provides residents in low income housing with internet enabled tablets to help them bridge the technology gap. She uses the tablet to read books & magazines from the library as well as connect with family & friends. (Photo: Patrick Oehler/Poughkeepsie Journal)

Dutchess One Stop, a career service site, sees a steady flow of individuals coming in to use their computers for job searches, said Kadiyah Lodge, the organization's business service manager.

"Nearly every type of job today deals with technology, from a cashier ringing up groceries to amechanic," Lodge said.Being comfortable using a computer is necessary for upward mobility, which is why the organization will sometimes refer their clients to the Poughkeepsielibrary and Dutchess Community College for basic training.

Lodge also pointed out the generational divide. Her organization is seeing more elderly individuals walk through their doors who are seeking employment. This population hasnot grown up with computers and might not be computer literate, she said.

Adriance Memorial Library opened up its computer center in 2010. It holds classes on computer basics, using technology such as iPad, Facebook and Microsoft Office. The staff is also on hand each day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to helpwith job searches, resume preparation and other needs.

Meanwhile, the Beacon and Poughkeepsie housing authorities are working to put technology into low-income households.

Noah R. Hargett, Beacon Housing Authority'sresident initiative coordinator, initiated a program thatoffers free tablets and discounted internet access to his residents, through a partnership with T-Mobile.The organizations gave out 30 tablets in the summer as part of a pilot program, and 150 tablets in October. The housing authority has another 150 on hand.

Residents are required to pay $10 per month for internet access.

The goal is that the people utilizing the tablets will gain a sense of ownership, Hargett said. He sees theT-Mobile program as a way for the seniors and families living in public housing to become more self-sufficient.

The tablets came with basic pre-loaded apps such as Google and YouTube, but the housing authority also included quick links to websites for the housing authority, Dutchess County Office of the Aging, City of Beacon and Cornell Cooperative Extension, which helps residents with nutrition and wellness.

Hargett said the housing authority is hoping to encourage residents to familiarize themselves with the technology through email communications and its own website.

"Further down the line we will encourage residents to utilize the tablet for workforce development, educational/training courses, and managing their day to day activities," Hargett said.

Monica Perez composes an email on her tablet on October 8, 2019. Perez is part of a pilot program that provides residents in low income housing with internet enabled tablets to help them bridge the technology gap. (Photo: Patrick Oehler/Poughkeepsie Journal)

He hopes the program will expand throughout the mid-Hudson region and is working with Poughkeepsie on their pilot program, which was started last month.

Poughkeepsies five-month pilot program was offered free of charge, according to a notice posted inside the housing authoritys office, which noted residents would have to return the devices at the end of the program. Representatives from the Poughkeepsie office did not respond to Journal inquiries.

This is a good opportunity for those residents who have no computer or access to the internet, the notice read. It will allow residents to access programs and services, remain in contact with friends and family, and enhance their daily lives.

Monica Perez, who lives in senior housing,took part in Beacons pilot program this past summer. Even thoughshe isn't looking for a job, having the tablet improves the quality of her life and allows her to do more, such as contributing to blogs and reaching out to friends.

My mind is like a 40-year-old mind, said the 61-year-old Beacon resident said. (The tablet) keeps my mind active, keeps me from stewing in my own problems.

Saba Ali: SAli1@poughkeepsiejournal.com,845-451-4518.

Wheels to Work program opens door for success in Dutchess

Working poor: 36% of Dutchess households don't make living wage: report

From mahjong and storytimes to tax help and seed swaps, libraries offer plenty to do

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How Dutchess County is working to close the digital divide - Poughkeepsie Journal

The budget for the Universitys libraries will increase after remaining at $30 million for the past 10 years despite inflation and increasing subscription rates.

Maurie McInnis, executive vice president and provost, announced in an email last week that the University Budget Council approved a $2.7 million recurring fund to increase the librarys previously stagnant budget. The Task Force on the Future of UT Libraries, comprised of staff members, faculty and students, compiled a report on the status of the Universitys libraries and submitted it to McInnis in October.

The work of this task force reflects the need for ongoing dialogue with members of the campus community, McInnis said in the email. This infusion of new funding will help to address some of the inflationary costs and key areas of need.

Lorraine Haricombe, vice provost and director of UT libraries, said the group researched what the libraries needed and raised campus awareness about the libraries funding by holding poster campaigns and speaking with students.

What is really eye-opening is the higher level of awareness around campus now about the challenges of the library as well as the opportunities for the libraries, said Haricombe, who was co-chair of the task force. They seem to be much more energetic around what libraries can do.

The reports recommendations included adjusting the libraries budget for inflation, forming another task force to look into library material access and addressing insufficient staffing, according to the report.

Haricombe said these recommendations were necessary to preserve the libraries on campus, so they can continue to serve the University community.

The role of the libraries here is a very core role to support the Universitys mission of teaching, research and student learning, Haricombe said. It is probably the most efficient agency on campus to serve the broader community.

Classics associate professor Jennifer Ebbeler served as the chair of the collections subcommittee and said McInnis response was a good first step and demonstrated an understanding of the task forces recommendations.

One of the huge things she did was basically make a good faith gesture to the UT community, both faculty and staff and students, Ebbeler said.

Because of McInnis response, Ebbeler said the task force was successful, and it showed that the administration would work to improve University libraries.

Faculty worked on this task force with UT libraries and with the upper administration, and it was a successful collaboration, Ebbeler said.

From here, Haricombe said she hopes McInnis will consider the reports other recommendations, such as digital learning and leadership coordination, and continue to work with faculty and staff on library concerns.

I think there are probably clusters of recommendations that can move forward under one initiative, Haricombe said.

According to the report, the role of libraries in higher education is rapidly changing and the University should continue to prioritize the status of the libraries.

There are many more unknowns regarding the future state of academic libraries writ large, according to the report. This Task Force report should not be viewed as having completed this conversation, but rather as having put forward the first steps.

Continued here:
UT Libraries budget receives $2.7 million increase in recurring funds - UT The Daily Texan

Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

It was jubilation for nursery and primary school pupils in Idemili North local government area of Anambra state during the commissioning of modern equipped libraries in five schools in the area by Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries, a non governmental organization.

The beneficiary schools were Central Nursery and Primary School, Nkpo, Akpakogwe Nursery and Primary School, Ogidi, Nsukwu Nursery and Primary School, Abatete.

Others were Uruaneke Nursery and Primary School, Umuoji and Union Nursery and Primary School, Eziowele.

Speaking at Nkpo during the event, the Education Secretary, Lady Angela Orakwue said she had to leave her hospital bed to attend the event in view of the seriousness she attached to the gesture.

She said they had longed for a library to improve their reading culture as there was no such facility in the area.

She said: I and the pupils are overwhelmed with joy. I was even in the hospital up till this morning, but their coming made me get up from my sick bed and start coming.

We dont even have a library not to talk of standard one.Since January we heard about this, weve trained over 77 teachers per school to man the libraries for effective service.

Describing the gesture as a dream come true, Orakwue thanked the organization for its magnanimity, expressing optimism that it would further improve the reading habits of the students.

She also pledged judicious use of the materials to ensure their durability.

Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Ego Mbagwu noted that the library was aimed at promoting education which served as a store house for the impartation of knowledge.

She said, Library plays an important role in students academic achievement because it facilitates the work of teachers and ensures that students have access to other materials outside the recommended text to make them independent readers.

Part of our aim is to establish libraries in public schools to make materials available to pupils and students who cannot afford them.

So far, we have established 19 Oasis libraries serving 38 schools and 6,765 pupils in Lagos State. We extended our services to Anambra state where we set up 10 Oasis libraries, serving 16 schools and 2,040 pupils.

We have also established 4 DEAR their time libraries in Lagos State with 73 book boxes serving 1,025 pupils.

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Why I left my sick bed for library commissioning - The Nation Newspaper

Nov. 17

Plant Now for Winter Bliss

HOT SPRINGS Local natural herbalist Tami Sain will offer Plant Now for Winter Bliss from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the Magnolia Room at Garvan Woodland Gardens, 550 Arkridge Road. Sain will focus on growing winter savory, rosemary, sage, thyme and horseradish. The class is free for members and costs $15 for nonmembers. Registration is required by visiting garvangardens.org or calling (800) 366-4664.

Fall Photowalk

HOT SPRINGS Photographers of all skill levels are invited to attend Garvan Woodland Gardens fall photowalk featuring Anthony Chapel, a blend of native wood, glass and stone, at 9:30 a.m. All types of cameras are welcome, including smartphones and tablets/iPads. The walk lasts 1 1/2 to 2 hours, preceded by a quick classroom session to discuss lighting, composition and focus tips. The event is free for members and costs $15 for nonmembers. Registration is required by visiting garvangardens.org or calling (800) 366-4664.

Trumpet Tales Recital

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE Richard Jorgensen and Ellen Nagode will present a trumpet and piano recital titled Trumpet Tales at 3 p.m. at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 199 Barcelona Road. The recital is free and open to the public.

Toddler Story Time

BENTON Children ages 3 to 5 are invited to Toddler Story Time at 10 a.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. The event will feature songs, rhymes, flannel stories, board books and fun with instruments.

Play to Learn

BENTON Children ages 4 and younger and their caregivers are invited to Play to Learn at 10:30 a.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Classic Games

BENTON Adults ages 18 and older are invited to play classic card games at 1 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Chess Night

BENTON Youth ages 9 to 18 are invited to play chess at 6 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Saline Crossing Meeting

BENTON The Saline Crossing Regional Park and Recreation Area Inc. will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Wood Grill Buffet. For more information, call (501) 778-8661.

Diabetes Health Fair

BENTON The annual Diabetes Health Fair will take place from 3-6 p.m. at Saline Memorial Hospital. The event will feature eye-health and diabetes seminars, exercise and weight-management seminars, foot/wound-care seminars, healthy-holiday-eating food demos, blood-pressure screenings and more.

Mother Goose on the Loose

BENTON Children up to 3 years old and their caregivers are invited to Mother Goose on the Loose at 10:30 a.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. The program will feature songs, rhymes, puppets and instruments to foster language development.

Master Builder Challenge

BENTON Children in kindergarten through the third grade are invited to the Master Builder Challenge at 4 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Table-Top Teens

BENTON Children in grades seven through 12 are invited to Table-Top Teens at 4 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Teen Gaming Club

BRYANT Youth in grades seven through 12 are invited to play video games and help plan gaming events at 4 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library.

Tween Tuesday

BENTON Children in grades four through seven are invited to create art, play games and perform science experiments at 4 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Open Makerspace

BENTON/BRYANT Children of all ages are invited to the Makerspace to design a 3-D print, practice sewing, laminate something or work on any project from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton or at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library in Bryant. Children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Evening Story Time

BENTON Children ages 2 to 5 are invited to develop literacy skills with stories and songs at the Evening Story Time at 5:30 at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Tim Ernst Program

BENTON Adults ages 18 and older are invited to the program The Splendor of Arkansas, with Tim Ernst, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Adultish Book Club

BENTON Adults ages 18 and older are invited to the Adultish Book Club at 6 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Watercolor Class

BRYANT Adults ages 18 and older are invited to a watercolor painting class at 6 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library.

Saline County Library Writers

BENTON Adults ages 18 and older are invited to join the Saline County Library Writers at 6:30 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

English-Language Class

BENTON All ages are invited to an English-language class at 7 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Health Screenings

MALVERN Baptist Health-Hot Spring County will offer blood-pressure and blood-glucose screenings from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Malvern Senior Adult Center, 1800 W. Moline St. For more information, visit baptist-health.com or call (501) 332-7020.

Preschool Story Time

BRYANT/BENTON Children ages 3 to 5 are invited to a Preschool Story Time at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library in Bryant and at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton. The program will feature stories, songs and activities.

Art Exhibit

ARKADELPHIA Unframed, an exhibition of portfolios by Henderson State Universitys Advanced Photography students, will be on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at the Arkadelphia Arts Center. For more information, call (870) 403-1073.

Home-School Hour

BENTON A Home-School Hour will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. There will be separate classes for ages 4 to 5, 6 to 8, 9 to 11 and 12 to 18.

Making It Wednesday

BENTON Adults ages 18 and older are invited to Making It Wednesday from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. There will be a new feature project each week, but attendees are free to go off-project. All projects will be appropriate for beginners, with options to add advanced techniques for more experienced crafters.

Crafting With a Cause

BENTON Children ages 10 and older are invited to knit, crochet, loom-knit or weave from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Kids in the Kitchen

BRYANT Children in kindergarten through the second grade are invited to practice kitchen skills at 4 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library.

Teen Maker Club

BRYANT Youth in grades seven through 12 are invited to paint, draw, program and more at 4 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library.

Baby and Me Story Time

BRYANT Children up to 18 months old and their caregivers are invited to the Baby and Me Story Time at 9:30 a.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library.

Toddler Story Time

BRYANT Children ages 18 months to 3 years and their caregivers are invited to Toddler Story Time at 10:30 a.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library. The program will feature learning concepts through movement, music, stories and play.

Alzheimers Support Meeting

BENTON Adults ages 18 and older are invited to an Alzheimers support meeting at 2 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

After-School Adventures

BRYANT Youth in grades seven through 12 are invited to an after-school role-playing game from 4-6 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library.

Cooking Corner

BENTON Children in grades four through seven are invited to a hands-on cooking class at 4 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Teen Coding Adventures

BENTON Youth in grades seven through 12 are invited to learn the principles of coding without using a computer at 4 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

VIP

BENTON Children will have an opportunity to learn about famous architects, oceanographers, astronauts and more at 4 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. The story time is intended for children in first through third grades.

Game Night: Mexican Train

BENTON Adults ages 18 and older are invited to play Mexican Train at 6 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Yoga at the Library

BRYANT Adults ages 18 and older are invited to a free yoga class at 6 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library. Attendees are asked to bring a mat and a bottle of water.

Blood Drive

ARKADELPHIA The Arkansas Blood Institute will conduct a blood drive from noon to 4 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 107 N. Ninth St, No. 5003. Refreshments and T-shirts will be offered to all donors. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit arkbi.org.

Fall Planetarium Show

ARKADELPHIA Henderson State University will present Seasons of Light at 7 p.m. Thursday and Dec. 3 in the Planetarium. Admission is $3 per person or $1 per student with a current student ID. Late arrivals will not be admitted. For more information, call (870) 230-5162.

A Festival of Christmas

ARKADELPHIA Ouachita Baptist University will present a concert titled A Festival of Christmas at 7:30 p.m. in the Jones Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $12. For more information, visit obu.edu.

Childrens Theater Program

BENTON Children ages 9 to 12 are invited to the Childrens Theater Program at 10:30 a.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. The program will introduce children to beginning acting techniques. Registration and reading skills are required.

Tai Chi Fit

BENTON Adults ages 18 and older are invited to a Tai Chi Fit class at 11 a.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Home-School Fun Friday

BRYANT Youth ages 6 to 18 are invited to Home-School Fun Friday at 1 p.m. at the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library. The event will feature STEM activities, art projects, games and more.

National Novel Writing Month

BENTON Youth in grades four through 12 are invited to participate in a National Novel Writing Month activity at 4 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Lets Get the Rhythm!

BENTON Children ages 3 to 5 are invited to hear stories and create accompanying music with shakers, drums, bells and more at 10:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library.

Family Yoga

BENTON Children of all ages and their caregivers are invited to family yoga at 1 p.m. at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library. The program will promote connection, breath, movement, focus and relaxation.

Fall Arts and Crafts Fair

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE The Coronado Community Center, 150 Ponderosa Lane, will present its Fall Arts and Crafts Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will feature vendors with artwork, jewelry, crafts and more. For more information, call (501) 922-5050.

Book Sale

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE Friends of the Coronado Center Library will offer a book sale from 10 a.m.

to 1 p.m. in Room 5 of the Coronado Community Center, 150 Ponderosa Lane. For more information, contact Mary Eliades at maryeliades@gmail.com.

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COMMUNITY EVENTS IN THE TRI-LAKES AREA - Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Cardone Capital fund manager and The 10X Rule author Grant Cardone discusses the Democrats proposed millionaire surtax and his tip for the middle class to learn how to scale their money.

The holy grail of every entrepreneur is taking risks in order to make more time and money, according to the CEO of Cardone Capital,Grant Cardone.

Cardone, the author of "The 10X Rule," creator of multiple business programs and an entrepreneur who owns and operates seven privately held companies, told FOX Business Maria Bartiromothat he is concerned that the Democrats multitude of tax proposals would stifle business.

I would move out of the country, he said on Wednesday.

WHY A WARREN PRESIDENCY IS WORTHLESS TO THE STOCK MARKET

It wouldnt be the first time Cardone moved -- he said the "socialist influence" in Californiaforced him to relocate his businesses to Miami where he was able to grow his company 50 times because the tax bill was 13 percent cheaper.As a result, Cardone said he was able to create more jobs and increase wages.

I think that people miss the idea of the concept that when I get a savingsI actually, as a business person, want to reinvest, I don't want to just keep the money, he said.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Despite Floridas reputation for having low taxes, Cardone pointed out aside from adding to jobs and payroll, he also contributes by paying property taxes.

Property taxes on $1.5 billion is about $30 million a year in property taxes, he said.

Cardone was named the No. 1 marketer to watch by Forbes Magazine.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

Originally posted here:

Entrepreneur says Democrat tax plans may force him to move out of the country - Fox Business

Weekly Pulse: get caught up ont he latest sports news in this week's episode. This week we ask, does Colin Kaepernick really have a shot in the NFL? USA TODAY

It was an ugly scene in Cleveland on Thursday night, when Myles Garrett ripped off Mason Rudolph's helmet and struck his unprotected headwith it.

But experts in head and brain injuries told USA TODAY Sports it could've been far worse.

"The number one thing youd worry about (when) being hit in the head by a football helmet, when you dont have a football helmet on your head, is a skull fracture," saidRobert Cantu,medical director of the Concussion Legacy Foundation."And a skull fracture, and the associated brain trauma, could have killed him or produced a very serious brain injury."

Mason Rudolph, left, reacts after being hitting in the head with his helmet by Myles Garrett.(Photo: Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports)

Cantu and others said there were several factors that prevented that from happening Thursday night in the waning seconds of the Cleveland Browns' 21-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, however.

Rudolph, 24, benefitted from both the velocity and location of the blow, they said. Garrett struck the quarterback with the helmet near the top of his head, where the skull is at its thickest, as opposed to near his ear or temple area, where it's thinner. And he was hit with the open side of the helmet, rather than the top.

"It wasnt just bang, completely direct, at a high velocity,"said sports medicine specliast Dennis Cardone, the co-director of NYU Langones Concussion Center."A high velocity direct hit, with a helmet,on him wouldve been tough. That certainly wouldve caused a significant injury."

Cardone added that while death is ceratinly a possible outcome of a severe head impact, "it certainly wouldn't be typical"in a situation like the one that unfolded Thursday night. He believes injuries like skull fractures, concussions, brain bleeding and even neck injuries would be more common in this instance.

CRIMINAL ACT?Why Garrett likely won't face charges after hittingSteelers QB

OPINION: NFL had no choice but to send a clear message with Garrett punishment

Garrett, for his part, has been suspended without pay for at least the remainder of the season as a result of the incident the longest suspension in NFL history for a single act on the field. He said in a statement Friday that he "lost my cool" and publicly apologized to Rudolph, who missed one start earlier this year with a concussion.

Gerald Grant, a professor of neurosurgery at Stanford University, said it would be possible to model the potential impact of a helmet-to-head collision like the one that occurred Thursday, but it wasn't something that he had ever tested.

He said he watched video of the incident alongside a group of engineers and helmet manufacturers in Youngstown, Ohio where, coincidentally, the NFL officially kicked off its "Helmet Challenge" on Thursday, in an effort to encourage the development of safer equipment.

"Were all talking about how to make a stronger helmet," Grant said, "but the helmet itself, as a projectile, it could be catastrophic."

The averageNFL helmet weighs between 4 and 6 pounds, according to data from the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab. And while it is designed to protect the head when worn, it is no different than any other 4-pound object when removed and swung toward an unprotected head.

And that's what made the incident so scary to watch, the experts agreed.

"As a neurosurgeon, I was really concerned. I was frightened by it," Grant said."Any exposed head with some projectile like that, youre very worried about that. Because you dont know the possible effects that couldve caused."

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.

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Could Myles Garrett have killed Mason Rudolph when he struck QB with helmet? - USA TODAY

There might be no grayer gray zone than a yoga studio, where physical intimacy, spirituality and power dynamics all come together in a sweaty little room, Katherine Rosman, a New York Times reporter, said on the latest episode of The Weekly, our new TV show.

In her investigation of touch in yoga, Ms. Rosman found that explicit conversations about consent to be touched can be lacking: Not all teachers ask permission before touching a student. And some students are uncomfortable being touched, and are reluctant to speak up.

We asked instructors to share how they approach hands-on adjustments in their studios, and asked yogis how they communicate consent. We received more than 270 responses. Some teachers said they never touch students; others described touch as a cherished part of yoga. Many said they employed techniques to opt in, or opt out, of hands-on adjustments. Here are some of their suggestions, lightly edited for length and clarity.

I am a yoga instructor and choose, very intentionally, not to perform hands-on adjustments on students. While I know that there are many respectful and well-meaning teachers who do choose to correct students alignment in the yoga postures, I dont feel it is the strongest way of teaching a student how to communicate with their own body. On top of that, you never know which students are healing from trauma and would prefer not to be touched. My personal teaching philosophy has led me to give very detailed verbal cues and to demonstrate the postures with my own body. Emily FarrAustin, Texas

I am a yoga instructor and never adjust people. Theres no reason for it. The practice of doing so assumes that the teacher knows more about a persons body than the student themselves, which is frankly arrogant. People have their own wisdom about their bodies, and release will happen in its own time. If and when students need support or spotting to try a new posture, I always explain exactly what Im going to do and then ask for permission and get it before I place my hands on them.Jennifer TersigniTucson, Ariz.

Its really very simple: Yoga teachers at the studio in which I teach are taught to use touch only as a last resort. We are trained to use voice instruction first, then demonstration and finally touch, applied very sparingly and with permission. My belief is that if I must use touch, especially to the extent that some yoga teachers do, I have failed as a teacher.Bill MillerWausau, Wis.

Consent to touch in yoga class is a high priority in my studio. Adjustments are not made physically unless the instructor asks specifically, Is it O.K. to put my hands on (your hips, leg, etc.)? Alternatively, the teacher must make it clear as he or she walks among students, If you would rather I not touch you to adjust your asana, feel free to tell me as I approach you. A good teacher will have no problem offering clearly worded instruction to correct a posture.Dee GoldBrunswick, Md.

Read more from the original source:
Here Are Good Ways Yoga Teachers Manage Touch and Consent - The New York Times

Stress management techniques available today advise practices, such as meditation, yoga and listening to music, to provide relief to stress. These are useful, no doubt; but at best they act as those medicines to bring down temperatures in case of sickness, while the root cause is not addressed.

But more than 5,000 years ago, Krishna has precisely analysed and discussed the root cause of stress when explaining Karma yoga and shows how it is possible to live and cope with and not escape from ground realities, pointed out Swami Mukundananda in a discourse.

Arjuna is asked to put in his best efforts and fight the war with the sole aim that it is his duty, not get attached to outcomes. When the essence of this teaching is internalised, it becomes clear that stress in ones life is not owing to engaging in hard work but owing to attachment to the outcomes of ones hard work. On the eve of exam, the student gets unduly stressed if the thoughts are only on the result. The way out is to remain focussed on sincere and committed study effort alone. This will take away the stress. A soldier in the army can convert his state of life into one of devotion and pure intentions by working for the welfare of the nation.

The greatest of yogis are engaged in their duties, having given up all attachment. When a skilled surgeon hesitates to perform surgery on his own son, it is owing to his attachment. He cannot afford to get distracted and commit mistakes. It is an art to learn to live in the world without allowing the world to enter into oneself. As long as the boat is on water, it is safe. But the moment the water enters it, it spells danger. Devotion is being aware of the divine at all times, no matter what work one is engaged in.

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Karma Yoga relieves stress - The Hindu

BOISE, Idaho Kaelyn Rogers, Founder of Upward Inertia , a nonprofit working to improve the mental, physical, and emotional health of individuals from marginalized communities, teaches a yoga class each week to a group of medium security inmates at the Idaho Department of Correction.

While there are obvious physical benefits to yoga, the inmates say it helps them control their thoughts, and thats something they say will help them enter the world as safer people, less inclined to commit crimes.

Its gonna help me, whether its just, being in a room surrounded by people and knowing how to carry myself for who I wanna be and how I wanna be, said Logan Peyman, and inmate at ISCI.

Thats the goal with this yoga class at IDOC, to teach the inmates how to control their thoughts and manage their emotions so that once the inmates get out of prison theyre not entering society with the same instincts they had before prison.

The only difference between you and I and somebody whos in prison is how quickly it takes us to respond or to act on a thought, said Kaelyn Rogers, volunteer yoga teacher and Founder of Upward Inertia .

So through Kaelyns yoga class, she teaches them how to remain calm, and think before reacting.

All of us get angry with someone in traffic and, you know, want to do them harm, but we dont, said Rogers.

For the first 30 minutes of the 2 hour class, they discuss things the inmates have learned and are grateful for. Then they combine breath work, visualization, and meditation throughout the rest of class.

I hope that itll help them to stay sober. A lot of them are in for drug charges or things related to addiction, said Rogers.

And Kaelyn is working to expand the program. As the founder of Upward Inertia , a nonprofit aiming to improve the mental, physical, and emotional health of marginalized groups, shes hoping to teach yoga in all six of the minimum and medium security prisons around Boise by the first of next year.

Our goal really is to reduce recidivism, but also to keep people out of prison, said Rogers.

And the inmates in class assure it gives them the steps to help them as they prepare for life outside the walls of prison.

If you want to donate to Upward Inertias cause, click here .

Excerpt from:
Volunteer teaches yoga at IDOC to help reduce recidivism - 6 On Your Side