Pity the poor Canadians, because theyre now afflicted with the generations-long scourge that has plagued Newfoundlanders neither of the two leading political parties deserves to win, but one of them will.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau deserves to lose mainly because of his interference in the prosecution of SNC-Lavalin, a Quebec company dogged by scandal. (Lets leave it to linguists to determine whether Quebec company dogged by scandal is redundant.)

Devout Liberal supporters claim Trudeaus machinations were no big deal. Apparently, in the Liberals world-view, a leader attempting to pervert the course of justice and undermine the rule of law as opposed to the rule of who-you-know, or the rule of how-much-money-you-have is just dandy, as long as his campaign signs are red.

There are other reasons Trudeau deserves to lose, as did his provincial counterpart and buddy Dwight Ball, who Newfoundlanders bravely and uncharacteristically slapped down to minority-government status.

Trudeau is arrogant, condescending and a spoiled rich brat, but even more repulsive is his chosen campaign slogan: Choose forward.

Yes, Canada, go forward, move forward, to the end of the day, when choosing backward will be off the table.

Perhaps this can be blamed on all Liberals, not just Trudeau. It is the reduction of politics and public discourse to triteness, banality and clich.

That said, lets grudgingly concede, sort of, a single point to the Liberals: their main opponent, the Conservative Party of Canada, continues its years-long effort to return society to the glory days of the 19th century.

Like Newfoundlands Progressive Conservatives, the federal Conservatives endorse rule by the rich, and compliance by everyone else.

The federal Conservatives/Canadian Alliance/Reform Party/Progressive Conservatives have been touting this ideology for 35 years. They go to bed at night dreaming about bringing back child labour and the 16-hour workday.

But, like conservatives the world over, they have pushed their brutal philosophy too far.

The blatant repulsiveness of the Harper-Scheer Conservatives has spawned a Stop Scheer movement, whose proponents claim voters shouldnt cast ballots for a party, but against a party.

They almost admit as much in their moronic campaign slogan: Its time for you to get ahead.

Of course, it is aimed at the Liberals the reds have prevented you from getting ahead! but thoughtful voters will hear that Conservative slogan and wonder, Well, why have you sided all these years with the rich and powerful?

A good reason as any to vote against Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is that he has been an MP since he was 25 years old. Like Stephen Harper, the Conservative leader before him upon whose knee he was raised, Scheer has had his snout inserted deeply into the public trough for most of his adult working life.

And yet both Harper and Scheer, without a shred of self-awareness, are cheerleaders for cruel capitalism and so-called self-reliance, and the evils of government interference in the economy and society in general.

Dont think about this while hiking on the East Coast Trail, because the Scheer hypocrisy will make you dizzy and liable to wander dangerously close to a cliff edge.

The blatant repulsiveness of the Harper-Scheer Conservatives has spawned a Stop Scheer movement, whose proponents claim voters shouldnt cast ballots for a party, but against a party, i.e., you might be revolted by the conniving Trudeau, but youd better vote for him if you dont want Prime Minister Andrew Scheer.

In this, we see the utter corruption of democracy. The Stop X campaign also evident in the U.S., today as in 2016 is proof that the democratic ideal is dead. Parties dont vie to govern for the benefit of the citizenry, they vie to govern for the benefit of their party and its ideology.

Really, it shouldnt matter much who wins the Oct. 21 election. On Oct. 22, Canadians should be able to have confidence that the winner will rule with the best interests of the entire country in mind.

Is this nave? No, it is actually how democracy is supposed to work.

The destruction of democracys ideals began with the rise of the ultra-conservatives: Margaret Thatcher in the U.K. in 1979, Ronald Reagan in the U.S. in 1980 and Brian Mulroney in Canada in 1984. If youre mystified and disgusted by the emergence of Donald Trump and right-wing populism, blame those three, not white-supremacist fascists.

Brian Jones is a desk editor at The Telegram. He can be reached at brian.jones@thetelegram.com.

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BRIAN JONES: Newfoundland disease spreads to mainland - The Telegram

John Kunkel, local businessman, enjoys time working on his farm in Evening Shade with his special helper, Max.

Outgoing, successful, community minded these are all characteristics that describe Sharp County businessman and resident, John Kunkel. He stays involved in the community as an advocate for many organizations in the area.

One thing people might not know about Kunkel is at the age of 24, he attempted suicide when living in Little Rock.

It was built up pressure from years of struggling with being different than the norm, said Kunkel, when asked about how he was feeling before the attempt. However, it was while he was in the ER at UAMS in Little Rock where he met his first therapist. For him, it was a great way to have an open conversation and really understand my root problem was depression. He had never considered therapy as an option before.

I knew that I was struggling but I didnt know what to do or who to talk to. Kunkel was adopted as an infant, and although he was blessed by God putting him in a wonderful home, he still felt alone at times.

It goes back to when I was in school. I wasnt the type that was in town on Friday nights, I was at home on the farm. I had chores. In Sharp County, we always, especially back then, lived sheltered lives. The world is so different than what we experience in our area, there is always someone who needs help. When you travel or have been to third world countries, you see the reasons why people want to live in America. We are blessed.

Mental health is centered around ones brain, and is just like any other organ, therefore mental health is just as important to receive treatment if needed.

Mental health does not discriminate. It touches everyone; socioeconomics, race, ethnicity, it doesnt care, everyone struggles at some point in their life. Some people have greater coping skills and some have people they can talk to. It depends on what the ideology is whether its anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, etc. that really makes it, where do I go for help, who do I talk to?, he said.

Kunkel was asked what he would say to someone contemplating suicide. The first thing I would not say is, think about all the people you are going to leave behind because that is like telling someone your opinion but have never experienced [what that person is going through] and they dont know how they would react. In that moment, you are not thinking about other people, you are thinking about yourself. If someone were to tell me they were contemplating suicide, I would talk to them and help determine what is the issue that is bothering you? Is it that youve been bullied, struggling with identity, mounting debt, health, etc., and then guiding them to a professional. But I would never tell someone to think about all the people they are going to leave behind because that is not the way to talk to someone struggling with suicidal thoughts.

He feels one of the most important things to do if you are struggling is to find someone who is a safe zone. They are not going to judge you, they want to help you. That is when you find that friend whom you know you can trust and talk about anything. If you need them to help navigate through connections or experiences, that is your best option. Kunkel said one thing which should never be done is to desensitize suicide.

He also offered words of encouragement. When you do get out of your depression, and you will, though you may need medication, and that is perfectly fine. At this point you will see the world through a clear lens and realize the importance and significance of ones self. So much is driven by what weve created as a society by wanting instant gratification, we watch peoples lives in social media, but what we see are the great times, you dont see the bad times.

If you are friends with Kunkel on social media, you will notice he likes to share lifes moments. I am an open book. I talk about it. I dont care if people agree or disagree with what I post, or if they believe I share too much. If I can touch someone to where they realize someone else is experiencing life struggles, and then see they are not alone then my goal is complete he added.

The negative stigma which is attached to mental health plays a big factor in those who need mental health treatment. Weve got to stop thinking that if someone asks for help, they are weak or that they arent capable of something. Until you experience what depression is, just like in life, until you experience an event, you cant empathize with someone else. You can sympathize but cant empathize. Being empathetic, you can relate to how that person feels.

It is important to talk to a therapist or a group of people who are suffering the same way you are. The key is getting to the right doctor, the right help, and getting the right medication if needed, said Kunkel.

One thing he has found helpful in recent years is a new technology which tests your genetics and determines which medications would or wouldnt work best for you based on your DNA markup. One of the greatest medical advancements we have today is the technology of swabbing ones mouth and identifying optimal medications, he said about the program available at White River Health System in Batesville.

Another important thing people need to talk about is family history. A lot of times we dont want to talk about the negative things in our families. Being adopted, I didnt know any medical history surrounding my birth family. I found some of my birth family in 1993, and found out three years ago that on my birth mothers side, my oldest sister committed suicide and on my birth fathers side, a brother had committed suicide. Knowing hereditary history helps you be more aware of yourself. Self-awareness and self-care are also keys in treating mental health. Families have got to break down and talk about it. There is nothing wrong with it. It is just making sure you are healthy; physically and mentally.

Death by suicide is growing in youth, a very scary statistic, in fact, according to to statistics provided by WRMC Community Education Coordinator Lindsey Bowers, suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-24. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined, is another statistic provided by Bowers.

Kunkel encourages parents to be involved in their childrens lives and to watch for changes in attitude or mood. There are so many things that can cause mental health issues whether it is a pet dying, family member dying, , moving to a new school, anything can trigger depression. Identifying triggers is another key when having control on suicidal thoughts/tendencies. Once you get older, at least I have experienced, you are going to know what those triggers are. Right now with my health scare, if I wasnt mentally healthy, I probably would be freaking out. It is the unknown, he said. You have to have a healthy mentality to be able to manage those potholes in life, because we are all going to have them.

One way Kunkel has found to relax and enjoy some him time is his farm, his escape. If you allow your mind too much free time, it allows you to think about worst-case scenarios. Is there a time to think about worse case scenarios? Yes. Because you want to mentally prepare yourself so if something happens you are prepared. But we cant do it every time. If you dont make an A on that test, it is ok. If you have people who do not bring positivity into your life, it is ok to distance yourself. Loving yourself and being comfortable with who you are is important and also one of the hardest things for anyone to do.

One of the things that brings me the most joy is being able to help others and share my experiences that Ive had living away, working in corporate America and working side by side by someone from almost every country, going overseas on buying trips with Walmart. At the end of the day, we are all here with the same mission and we all bleed red. That is the common thread that links everyone on this planet.

After Kunkels suicide attempt, he received a college degree from Harding University, went up the ranks at Walmart to Senior Buyer (responsible for $1.2 billion in retail sales), moved to Scottsdale, Ariz. to be Senior Director for PetSmart Corporate. At this point in his career his dad was battling the final stages of dementia. He moved back to Bentonville and went back to Walmart as a Sr Brand Manager for all of the Apparel Division. Three months after moving back to Arkansas his dad passed. He continued to work for two more years with Walmart before making one of the toughest decisions; he chose family over career I came back to Sharp County and to me, it makes me happy to be able to help others. One of the great things about that is I get to work for a company who puts community first. When you align your values with your employer values, that allows you to do even more.

Another scary statistic is Arkansas is the ninth ranked state for suicides. One thing Kunkel has done through his involvement in the community and urge to help others is organize a group of individuals concerned with mental health issues in the state, and see what can be done to combat those issues. As a part of the group, a meeting with Arkansas First Lady, Susan Hutchison, was established.

When we went down and met with the First Lady, we had diverse people in the room: I had attempted suicide, a person whose husband died by suicide, and someone who works with people who struggle with mental illness, however the common thread was they didnt know what they didnt know and they didnt know what resources are out there. This is why it is so important that we start talking about mental health because it is ok to be depressed at times, but when it consumes you there is help. When you find that resource, you will realize just how good life can be., he said.

He ended the interview with some more words of encouragement. Whenever you get past that feeling of loneliness or helplessness, and you realize how blessed you are, your life will change. For mental health, always remember no one should ever feel inferior, threatened, belittled, or intimidated when asking for help, and if you need medication, by all means take it. Once you get to your happy place, you are going to realize how little someone elses opinion matters.

Social media, though often used for good, can sometimes be hurtful and not on purpose. We always need to remember not to compare our lives to someone elses. What you see on social media is only a depiction of what people want you to see. Just because someone is social, if you dont like it, scroll on, said Kunkel. Identifying the positive instead of negative should be everyones primary focus. Something healthy for me is making fun of myself. If I mess up or do something, I make a joke of it, and I dont mind sharing it.

You have to surround yourself with friends who accept you as you are and dont want you to be something that you are not, he added.

More here:
Local News: Local resident shares perspective on suicide (9/18/19) - Areawide News

In a recent visit to the doctor, I noticed the body mass index chart on the wall with color-coded ranges of healthy and unhealthy weights for any given height. It struck me as a metaphor for organizational health. Our actions in either domain might be intentional or mindless based on our priorities and resources at a given time. In both body weight and company revenues, a metric sought for glory, not health, could drive dangerous behaviors. In both, that motivation can appear as health-focused, so it remains hidden below the surface.

A Pattern Of Behavior, Not A Single Act

While there are various contexts in which our choices are constrained or otherwise influenced, our results in personal physical health and in organizational health are largely a function of the daily behaviors of that bodys leader. Apart from some extreme exceptions, one is typically not labeled a fantastic leader based on a single stellar act. Rather, a great leader tends to exhibit a pattern of mostly effective behaviors over time. Similarly, one is not typically called a toxic leader following a single horrific bad decision, but after a pattern of destructive behaviors over time.

For body weight, any number on the scale represents a series of acts over time of consumption and exercise. There are many combinations of behaviors that will yield a metric that is placed in the healthy zone for both body weight and for good leadership. A single bad choice doesnt plunge someone into the unhealthy zone. Nor does one great choice ensure someone stays in the healthy zone. Many people have slips in judgment and self-control in their diet and exercise routine, just as leaders have slips in decisions and interactions with their team members.

Imperfect Metric

Neither in physical nor organizational health does a single metric give a full picture of wellness. As the Harvard Business Review reported, A company can easily lose sight of its strategy and instead focus strictly on the metrics that are meant to represent it. A metric could have been achieved in unhealthy ways, which is more likely the case with individuals who or cultures that place a significant incentive on a metric or value the appearance of success more than true wellness.

Looking at a companys Glassdoor score, for example, might appear to represent that companys employee confidence and satisfaction. However, if bright-eyed, new employees are encouraged to post in their early days of glee and unfavorable posts are removed or simply never posted, the score hardly represents true health. Similarly, a target weight alone, based on height, doesnt give the full picture of health.

What Used To Work Doesnt Anymore

In leadership and in physical wellness, some people manage to achieve decent results even if they are not particularly intentional in their choices. Over time, though, new conditions and challenges emerge. Actions that previously led to metrics in the healthy zone might no longer work. In leadership, there might be new demands by the board, the market or employees. As bodies age, your metabolism changes, allergies might develop or illnesses could be contracted.

What You Can Do With This New Metaphor To Better Yourself

One of the great gifts of leadership coaching is witnessing the beauty of humanity in breakthroughs. It is easier to offer grace to yourself and compassion for others when you understand no one is perfect, everyone has fears and everyone wants connection. Acknowledge (but dont dwell on) your missteps in the wellness of every facet of your life.

Everyone makes mistakes in personal health and in leadership. It's what you do in the aftermath of a slip-up that determines whether you are destined for a healthy or unhealthy zone. Dont pretend the slips didnt happen, justify to yourself or others why they did, or wallow in shame about your poor choices.

Own what happened and its impact. Apologize to affected parties even if that someone is you. Accept your humanity. You are not perfect, but hopefully, you can learn. Increase self-awareness about the situations or people who tend to trip you into a lesser version of yourself. Get support from a leadership coach, mentor, boss or trusted peer to think through how to own and make amends for damaging behaviors. Work to prepare yourself to better handle future potential situations.

Dont be seduced by vanity metrics. Carefully choose and use a collection of metrics that paint a holistic picture of health for both your body and the goodness of your organization. Being thoughtful, intentional and realistic can help you positively affect change.

See the rest here:
For Glory Or Health? The Importance Of Looking At Your Organization's Well-Being - Forbes

Simone Da Costa is a yoga teacher and mind-body therapist. A mind-body therapist is any trained professional who uses various tools to access both the mind and the body to move towards healing. Such tools that are incorporated with the consent of the individual are: guided meditations, imagery, mindfulness and traditional talk therapy or counselling.

How did you get started in your profession?

I got started in this profession due to an early inclination to do what I could, to reduce the suffering of others. My heart opened to the world and was often broken by the sheer pain of seeing the burdens that some people bear. From a young age, I encountered my own share of inner turmoil and pain so I spent many years pursuing different ways of finding more inner harmony, self awareness and personal growth. The more I learn, the more I want to share what I know with others. My motivation within this field is to help guide individuals towards the steps they can take to reduce their pain, suffering, confusion, anxiety or depression.

What is your philosophy on health?

My philosophy on health is that its best approached in a holistic manner; mind, body and spirit. If we make steps to improve our physical health, we shouldnt neglect our mental health. There is even our emotional well-being to consider and each one impacts the other. Our mental and emotional states are often the more difficult or uncomfortable issues for us to acknowledge and address but they are equally as important for our overall health and well-being.

Could you tell us a bit about mind-body therapy?

Mind-body therapy is my integration of all that Ive learnt over the years in the fields of yoga, mindfulness and psychology. Im currently pursuing my Masters degree in Mindfulness Based Psychotherapy which adds to my mind-body practice. Mindfulness based Psychotherapy is an integrative therapy with an emphasis on self awareness, of course, mindfulness and the relationship between the therapist and the client. This mode of therapy encourages approaching lifes difficulties with compassion; being gentle with your process and embracing acceptance of what is, en route to your solutions.

My favourite aspect of Mindfulness Based Psychotherapy is the level of awareness that the therapist is taught to greet the client with due to extensive, personal practice in mindfulness techniques. The therapist isnt there to greet a client as a broken person in need of fixing, its more about the client undergoing a journey towards healing, growth, happiness and fulfilment and the therapist being there to guide, support and walk alongside him or her on the journey.

How would someone be able to improve their mental and emotional health and where should they start?

A good starting place for improving mental and emotional health is to develop a personal practice of some sort where you can check in with yourself in a very focused, yet gentle way. Its important to sit in silence from time to time and take a break from the noise and busyness of the world.

We are on the go 24/7 and we barely take enough rest and relaxation time. Anxiety and depression are becoming ever more prevalent and many people suffer from burnout and from being overwhelmed.

What gives you the most fulfilment from this profession?

The most fulfilment I get from this profession is when I get feedback from my students or clients. When they report back to me saying that they feel more peaceful, clear, calm or have found some resolution or even just their next step forward due to the work weve done, it truly fills my heart. If Im doing work that helps someone in any small way, Im fulfilled knowing that I could help them to make that difference in their lives.

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Mind-Body Therapy - Trinidad Guardian

New London It is a privilege for me hardly a birthright to watch high school football games from the sidelines. A true flavor for the game. I do not take the privilege lightly. My rule: If I couldn't hear it or see it from the press box, I do not report what I hear or see on the sidelines. This is the personal space of the players and coaches. I am a guest.

But there are times when my rule bends a bit, because something relevant must be shared.

To wit: Some of the finest coaching I've seen in almost 30 years here now happened Saturday on the New London sideline.

And it had nothing to do with Xs and Os.

It is clear that coach Johnny Burns and his staff are aware of their biggest challenge: teaching their players the coping skills necessary to conquer adversity. It is difficult. At times, seemingly impossible. But their efforts were inspiring.

Straight up: The single biggest scourge I see in high school athletics today is kids without coping skills. When bad things happen, they either point fingers it was somebody else's fault or simply quit. And it comes with alarming levels of anger, thus preventing kids from absorbing the greatest lesson sports teach: resilience.

I see it in kids at every school. I'll leave the reasons to the nearest sociologist. All I know is that engagement after enragement is one of the most difficult tasks assigned to an educator.

What I saw Saturday: All members of Burns' staff choosing to stay positive with their players. Asking for the kids to stay positive as well. Begging. Demanding. The words "positive energy" became a mantra.

There were many mistakes made during the 32-6 loss to New Canaan. The kids pointed fingers. Grew angry. And yet there was every coach faithfully advising that mistakes happen. They can be corrected. It's OK. Stay positive. I believe in you. We believe in you.

This is not always easy. Coaches get mad, too. And this is where sports have changed the most. No longer can coaches go the way of Vesuvius in the wake of adversity. Their anger only makes them feel better. It does not change the situation. It does not help the kids. It just makes for more angry people with less space to teach.

This is the part of coaching that can't be seen or heard from the bleachers. There was, presumably, ample second-guessing of Burns and his staff during Saturday's game. Call this play. Call that play. Use this kid here. Use that kid there. The standard stuff.

Except that coaching the Whalers and many other kids at many other schools requires a particular energy that transcends Xs and Os. This is about engaging kids where they are. And kids today cannot handle failure with any hint of self-awareness. Part of it is because they're kids, who need to be taught. It's what we need to be teaching at home.

We are failing.

Rather than allowing adversity to be the teacher, we jump to our kids' defenses and enable them. It's not your fault, honey. It's somebody else's. And then when mistakes happen, the residual effects are scary. Maybe it's parental guilt: knowing you're not truly there enough for them that creates the enabling mechanism.

But this is why sports are more important than ever in our schools. They offer impromptu college level courses on coping skills. Sports are often about frustration management. Many kids are ill-equipped at the beginning. But with good coaching that means varying bouts of patience and tolerance kids can learn that overcoming adversity becomes the greatest life skill of all.

New Canaan coach Lou Marinelli did a nice thing after Saturday's game, addressing the New London kids and saluting them for their effort. I hope the Whalers listened. I hope they listened to their own coaches as well.

This has a chance to be a good football season in the 06320. There's some talent here. If the kids hang in there and begin to process the message of their coaches, they'll win plenty. But more than that, they will invoke a learning process that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

It was a good day in Whalerville, despite the loss. The coaches truly understand their primary mission. I wish them much patience and much luck.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro

Read more from the original source:
NL football coaches teaching 'coping skills 101' - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com

Pappys father was a living ghost, and his mother died when I was a young child. But from time to time, once a year or less frequently, the phone would ring, and his voice would grow folksier, maybe even slower, and he would chat with some relation for an hour, sometimes more. I tried to picture the faces of these phantom men and women who incredibly, to me knew who my father was, knew from what world he had come, but imagine as I would, I had no idea what lives they might lead. Oh, thats so-and-so from Detroit, my mother might say, as if that could clarify matters for me. When Pappy hung up, whatever link had been temporarily forged with the past immediately receded from our home, and it was obvious the subject was closed. Sometimes, when I asked him how he learned to fight so well, he would get a gentle, wistful look in the eye and say that his uncles in Longview had shown him how one of the few memories of home Im aware of that could provoke a wholly uncomplicated smile.

I should have better understood how fundamental boxing must have been to my fathers sense of himself as a man in the world, as fundamental as books. After all, the evidence, like those books, was all around me. In that basement, we had a treadmill, stationary bikes and resistance machines, in addition to medicine balls, benches and weights. There was a professional-grade heavy bag and a speed bag in the garage, as well as full sets of headgear and scarlet-red Everlast gloves. Only looking back on it now do I realize that my father must have anticipated that he would train us. There would be intermittent lessons throughout my childhood and adolescence, moments of instruction snatched in the hallway or kitchen in which he patiently demonstrated to me where to place my feet, how to hunch my shoulders chin down, protect the neck and how to parry a blow. Pappy was unhittable, at least for me, whip-fast with the hands, torso and head well into his 60s. It was beautiful to witness what he could do. Is there anything more wonderful than watching your father soar? Perhaps, I imagine now, it is equaled only in the pleasure of imparting really transmitting something of yourself to your child.

One evening thrusts beyond the fog of childhood memory like a rocky peak glimpsed from an airplane window. Pappy takes the scrawny little boy who must have been me down into the basement, puts the gloves on the boys fists and then gloves his own hands. It is a hard space, with hard tiled floors cracking to expose the concrete underneath the most undomesticated part of the house by far. The air is cool and damp on the hottest day of the year. It is an uncomfortable space, with nowhere to sit. You have to stand. You have to work out or remove a book from one of the shelves and read. When you descend into this space, you have to improve yourself in some demonstrable way.

You ready? he asks, his Texan accent suddenly ever so slightly more perceptible, or is this a trick of memory now?

Yes, the boy of my memory replies, and then his father punches him, with but a tiny fraction of his genuine strength but not in any way like a child of 8 or 9, either. He throws straight jabs, repeatedly, on the chin, which astonish the boy, who has never been hit like that before. Has never been hit at all.

You need to know how to take a shot, how to feel it on your face, Pappy explains lovingly but firmly, not jokingly, to the boy, whose mind has begun to race. That way, once youre used to it, it cant ever take you by surprise. Stunned but determined to own the respect of his indomitable father, the boy nods his assent, wishing he were anywhere else. He withstands several more blows to the jaw and chin, the imprecision of the bulky gloves allowing one to graze the nose, flooding his eyes with salty tears.

The plane of remembrance shoots ahead and the mountain peak recedes; all thats left are the clouds. I have no recollection of how that session ended, whether on a good or bad or neutral note. I know that Pappy never tried to teach me that strange lesson again, and I didnt ask him to. As it turned out, I never did muster the discipline to learn how to box. That is not to say I didnt learn, through trial and error, how to endure a fight. Rather, its that everything I knew later to do with my hands, I managed from that day on my own, freestyle exactly the kind of life-learning my father despises for being unreliable and inexact. But even as a very small child, I understood that Pappy was only showing me the sincerest kind of care. I understood that, for whatever the reason, my father could not relate, not fully, to anyone who hadnt experienced a certain amount of discomfort in life. And yet, I have always suspected that Pappy didnt like that lesson with the gloves any more than I did. Though he thought of it as an indispensable part of a masculinity that girds itself for so many inevitable threats, I dont believe he really wanted me to ever have to rely on my hands.

Read this article:
My Familys Life Inside and Outside Americas Racial Categories - The New York Times

Professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) in the biomedical sciences industry can grow their digital and leadership skills through an initiative launched yesterday.

The Biomedical Sciences Training Community has been set up by NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) and the Chemical Industries Employees' Union (CIEU) with the aim of building a community of learners.

One key programme under the initiative is Project Zodiac, a leadership training workshop to help middle and senior managers develop self-awareness and adaptive skills such as effective communication, problem solving and resilience.

It comprises a two-day retreat and three half-day workshops, as well as a 60-day period for them to implement what they have learnt through a project at work.

About 100 mid-management employees from 14 companies have taken part since it started in March, and another 100 will likely attend by the year end.

The Biopharmaceutical Manufacturers' Advisory Council (BMAC), a group of government agencies and 16 companies, started the programme as a pilot two years ago with leadership training company Forest Wolf and now wants to expand it to the rest of the industry.

BMAC co-chair Lim Hock Heng, who is vice-president and site director at GSK's Pharmaceuticals Supply Chain Singapore, said many foreign biomedical firms here are still young and are currently led by people from their home countries.

But over time, as these companies develop more confidence in the local teams, more locals may be appointed to lead the firms.

"There are many bright and young locals with deep technical skills, but as we prepare them for leadership roles, they need to know how to make good decisions, navigate complex environments, take risks and motivate people," he said.

"This requires a conscious investment in soft skills," he added.

Singapore's biomedical sciences industry employs over 22,000 people and includes eight of the top 10 pharmaceutical and biologics companies in the world, said NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng at an industry event yesterday.

Technology adoption by companies is high and more advanced than in most other industries, so workers need to adapt, he said.

"Having the strategy to match Worker 4.0 with Industry 4.0 is key to meeting the demand for skilled manpower in both technical and management positions," he added.

Besides improving leadership skills, workers can also attend bite-sized courses on Industry 4.0 run by Nanyang Technological University and Republic Polytechnic.

They can also learn about digitalisation and industry topics such as microbiology laboratory safety and stem cell technologies, through NTUC's mobile learning app ULeap.

So far, close to 1,500 PMETs have gone through these programmes, and e2i and CIEU aim to train another 1,500 by next year.

GSK senior chemical engineer Charles Wong, 36, attended the Project Zodiac course in March and April and was one of the top graduates. He said he used what he learnt on a yield improvement project he was leading.

He led his team of about 20 people to reduce the scope and cost of the project by 95 per cent, while still achieving the same yield outcome.

He also convinced senior managers to endorse the new plan by tailoring his presentation to their different communication styles.

The team was able to complete the project while he was on paternity leave in June.

"I felt very proud as a person and also for my team," said Mr Wong.

More here:
Building leadership, digital skills in biomedical sciences sector - The Straits Times

Ravens can plan for the future. Octopuses create armour out of coconut shells. Orangutans can talk about the past.

Scientific research constantly gives glimpses into new dimensions of animal cognition. But intelligencewhich is so complex and encompasses such a wide range of adaptive abilitiesremains confoundingly tricky to measure.

One of the biggest challenges is our inability to comprehend how other species process information, says Kristina Horback, an assistant professor in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis, who studies the cognitive abilities of livestock animals.

Kanzi, a 39-year-old bonobo, became well-known for his language skills. He can communicate using hundreds of symbols that correlate to words.PHOTOGRAPH BY VINCENT J. MUSI, NAT GEO IMGE COLLECTION

Some animals have senses we cant even understand, such as sharks, which have an acute sensitivity to electrical currents, or insects, some of which can see ultraviolet light.

Our own senses skew how we perceive intelligence in animals. The mirror testan animals ability to recognise itself in the mirroris commonly used to assess capacity for self-awareness. Bottlenose dolphins, magpies, and manta rays are among the few species that have passed that test.

Because vision is key to humans, it makes sense that visual recognition of the self would be our default, Horback says. But what about species that rely on smell for identification, like swine? Visual information is not important to these species. Because the mirror test favors species that rely on vision over scent, it doesnt offer an objective measure of self-awareness.

We cant meaningfully compare intelligence among animals. One species might excel in one area but perform poorly in another and vice versa. And so much of an animals ability to pass a cognition test depends on its sensory abilities. Using human abilities as a comparative benchmark reveals the drawbacks of our attempts to measure intelligence across species.

Our vision is good, but not as good as hawks. Our hearing is good, but not as good as rats, says Edward Wasserman, a psychology professor at the University of Iowa who compares cognitive abilities among species. Our sense of smell, he says, is on the poor side, and dramatically outclassed by dogs.

As Wasserman puts it, How we contrive tests of intelligence may tell us more about the sensory abilities of animals than their intellectual abilities.

Add to that our tendency to value cognitive abilities that are human-like as evidence of higher intelligence. Many people say, I hear that pigs are smart, and sheep are dumb, Horback says. This is completely false. Pigs, like humans, are opportunistic omnivoresthey eat whatever they can find. Theyve evolved the ability, she says, to remember food locations and to use deception to keep other pigs away from their stashes. Sheep, on the other hand, are grazers. They have different skills, such as the ability to detect subtle flock movements. They do not need to solve complex food mazes or trick others away from food source, Horback says. It just does not make sense for sheep to have that particular cognitive skill.

Every species is adapted to its own environment. Animals generally have the cognitive abilities necessary to thrive. There are species which simply do not need to retain the capacity for complex problem solving [or] tool use, Horback says, pointing out that having more cognitive abilities than necessary would be wasteful for the animal's survival.

Barnacles do not move. Food comes to them, Wasserman says. Why should they engage in great feats of learning or reasoning?

Although scientists reject the notions of measures of absolute or comparative intelligence in animals, advances in technology are providing new insights.

Touchscreens in particular are proving to be a real game changer, Wasserman says. So long as animals can activate the screen by touching, nosing, or pecking, we can craft clever tests of their intelligence.

Here are 14 species from the animal kingdom that have demonstrated notable cognitive feats.

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See 14 Animals That Have Shown Us Their Impressive Smarts - National Geographic Australia

If youre one of the 3.7-million high school leavers or part of the 3.9-million graduating college in 2019, then 2020 is your opportunity to enter the workforce.

Most newbies to the workplace have the dream of landing a job that pays them a fantastic salary. In the world of employment, getting a job that pays an annual salary of over $100,000 is the benchmark for success.

People in this earning bracket are in the top 28-percent of households in America, and they have a far more comfortable way of life than those struggling to make a living.

Many people are under the impression that you need a college education to land a high-paying job. However, there are plenty of opportunities available to earn a high salary, even if you only made it through high school.

We put together this list of high paying jobs available in 2020. If you find an occupation that you think you may enjoy, then make the arrangements to chase your goal and land the high-paying job of your dreams.

Read: 14 High Paying Jobs ($100k+) Without a College Degree

With the success of big tech founding new markets online, there is more demand for computer programmers than at any other point in history. People that can code are valuable employees, and if youre good at your job, then you can expect a tech conglomerate to snap you up quickly.

The average salary for coding is around $134,000, but some individuals can command two or four times that amount depending on their skill level. Coders spend extended periods at their workstations, and the expectations by employers are high. Many coders lead very stressful lives, but their personality suits the pressure of the situation, and they are comfortable with 20-hour workdays.

The demand for qualified coders is astounding. You might not need any qualifications to join the industry if you have a high level of skill. However, most tech firms require you to have a diploma in IT or computer languages.

Professionals that modify or build websites are also in high demand in the workplace. As the digital age advances, more businesses and individuals are going online every day. Most people that want to start a website have no clue on how to design and build a site. Instead, they rely on professional web developers to assist them in getting their company or brand into the online realm.

Most developers attend college to understand the complexities of website architecture and design. However, there are plenty of self-taught web designers that are every bit as talented as those with qualifications. If youre getting started with web design, and you dont plan on going to college, then try to acquire an apprenticeship.

You may not earn much when getting started. However, as your experience and expertise build, you can expect other companies to headhunt you for your talents. If you secure a web design job with a leading company, you can expect to make an annual salary of around $124,000 or more.

If its your dream to take to the skies as an airline pilot, then you could earn a salary of more than $160,000 per year. Commercial airlines require you to have a degree in the aviation industry to apply for a position as a pilot.

Aspiring pilots also need to complete a comprehensive training source that involves several modules. Flight school is a part of the requirement, and you can expect it to take you two years to gain your certification as a qualified pilot. After certification, youll need to log at least 250-hours of flight time.

People who are exiting the military, and spent their service flying choppers or planes can apply for a pilots license without a degree. Most airlines accept pilots that have some experience flying commercially for the armed forces, provided that they attend a course to learn the specifics of commercial flight.

There is a massive shortage of pilots at the moment, and if you receive your qualification, you can expect to get a job without any hassle.

Your parents probably told you that the only way to making plenty of money was to go to college and get a degree. While many of the occupations mentioned in this list are for college graduates only, there are a few that dont require any college education.

Doctors and lawyers earn a bundle, but they spend over 7-years in college and residency to reach a point where they start making big money. Apart from these professionals, there are only a handful of other jobs that can gross you a salary above the $100,000-mark.

Sales are one of these jobs. Typically, sales reps work on commission. If you find a product that costs a fortune and offers decent commissions, you could be on your way to making a fortune. For example, if you get a job selling cellphones, you cant expect to earn much money. However, if you get a job selling Lear private jets, then you could make millions every year.

Great salespeople receive training from mentors that make them masters of the sales transaction. These professionals learn the art of opening, qualifying, presenting, and closing a deal. Every company in the world needs salespeople, but very few salespeople are performers. If you land a job with a sales company, you could expect a starting salary of $116,000 or more, depending on the industry.

If you have a natural flair for dealing with people, then why not give being a real estate agent a go for your career? Real estate agents dont require any university degree. All you need is to take a licensing exam thats easy to study for, and the test is designed to help you pass, rather than to trip you up.

After certification, you can buy, sell, and rent real estate in your state. Real estate agents can earn a salary of $112,000 or more, depending on the market they operate in and the deals they close. For instance, selling single-family homes in Wisconsin is not going to yield you the same commissions as in Bell Air.

Being a real estate agent requires hard work to succeed. Many new agents go nowhere with the job because they cannot market themselves and sell listings. If youre intending on becoming a real estate agent, invest in yourself and study a sales training program.

If you have a knack for the financial markets, and you cant stop watching Bloomberg, then you could have a career as a financial trader. Traders scour the markets every day, looking for opportunities to make money.

Many financial firms have large trading desks, and there are plenty of proprietary trading firms that are willing to take on new traders as well. In most cases, youll need a degree in finance to secure the job, but some institutions will take on traders with no degree.

Traders rely on different strategies in their approach to the markets. Some sell commodities, while others invest in equities or trade the forex market. Whatever your expertise and strategy, there is room to make money. Most traders receive massive bonuses at year-end, which sometimes can be triple their salary. Starting salaries for traders are at an average of $112,000 with additional performance bonuses.

If you watched the movie Pushing Tin, then you understand the basics of what it takes to be an air traffic controller. In the film, John Cusack plays Nick Falzone, a gung-ho air traffic controller thats good at his job. He receives competition from Billy Bob Thornton, a new controller from out of town.

In the movie, Cusack gets a near-collision warning and loses his nerve behind the radar. Being an air traffic controller requires you to have nerves of steel. You also need to make critical decisions quickly. Its for this reason that air traffic controllers dont need a college degree. Instead, they spend years in training school to reach a level where they are proficient at the task of directing air traffic.

Air traffic controllers work short shifts to keep them alert. They also undergo frequent toxin screening to ensure they are not under the influence of drugs or liquor at work. If you qualify as an air traffic controller, you can expect to earn a salary of around $1200,000 or more.

If you spent your youth watching true crime episodes, and have a penchant for solving crimes, then a detective could be your ideal occupation. Private investigators and special detectives are in high demand across the United States and the world. These individuals spend their days following people around and digging through peoples lives to find evidence.

If you have a natural aptitude for sniffing out lies and deception, then you could do well as a private investigator. Most PIs have a starting salary of $138,000 or more. Typically, most private investigators dont need to go to college to get a shot at earning a living as a full-time PI.

However, youll need to apply for the police academy. Many investigators get their foot in the door at a private investigation form because they have a police background.

Do you have complete command over the English language? If so, you could have a promising career as a writer. There are millions of writing jobs available, but most of them only offer an average pay package. However, if you find a job at a top publication, you could land an annual salary thats over $121,000.

Writers need to make deadlines, and they also need to have a clear understanding of how to present ideas to others through the written word. In most cases, writing for a living at a top publication requires you to have a degree in English. However, its possible to start your writing career with another firm and gain experience.

When you have the knowledge and experience behind you, you can move on to another job that pays far more for your writing skills.

Companies rely on marketing to bring their products and services into the public view. Marketing managers are responsible for coordinating marketing efforts, and they manage a team. As a marketing manager, youll need to attend college to receive a degree in business or marketing to qualify for the job.

Marketing managers have excellent compensation packages, with some managers grossing more than $147,000 per annum. Marketing is the key to expanding a companys bottom line and acquiring market share. Therefore, its no surprise that these individuals have high salaries.

Every business requires the help of a CPA to manage their accounting. CPAs typically go to college for four years and then spend another two or three years doing their articles for other companies. After qualifying as a CPA, you wont have much trouble finding a job. The world of finance and businesses continues to grow, even in todays slowing economic climate.

Accountants are crucial for businesses. Without a CPA on your side, youll never have an understanding of your numbers. Therefore, if you have a knack for dealing with figures, and your grades at school are fantastic, then try applying for an accounting degree after you leave high school.

CPAs are among some of the highest-paid professionals in the world. The average starting salary for a CPS is $122,000, and you can expect that to increase as you gain experience.

Looking through this list can leave you feeling more confused than ever about your employment prospects in the future. The key to finding a high-paying job that you enjoy is to work with your natural aptitudes and talents.

If you have a natural affinity for numbers, then youll probably do well as an accountant, and you should pursue this course of study. However, if you are only going to accounting school to satisfy the request of your parents, then you probably wont cut it in the real world.

Whatever vocation you choose, make it align with your interests. This strategy allows you to choose a job that youll love going to every day.

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Which are the Highest Paying Jobs Which Pay $100k+ - MoneyCheck

Advance Market Analytics released a comprehensive study of 200+ pages on Serious Game market with detailed insights on growth factors and strategies. The study segments key regions that includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific with country level break-up and provide volume* and value related cross segmented information by each country. Some of the important players from a wide list of coverage used under bottom-up approach are Playgen [United Kingdom],Innovataion Games [United States],Caspian [United States],Virtual Heroes [United States],Morf Media [United States],BreakAway [United States],Blitz Games [United Kingdom],Square Enix [Japan],ESim Games [United States],Designing Digitally [United States]

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A serious game, also known as applied games is game designed for purpose other than entertainment. These games are used in education, healthcare, emergency management, engineering and other fields. The purpose of such games varies from industries to industries. For serious games to be successful, a balance must be established between entertainment and the ad hoc it is designed for.

Market Segmentation:by Application (Emergency Services, Human Resources, Marketing, Product Development, Sales, Training, Support), Platform (Hand-held, Mobile-based, PC-based, Web-based)

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Whats Trending in Market:

Growing Demand for Mobile Based Educational Games

Social Media Penetration Drive Serious Games

Growth Drivers:

High Return on Investment

Improved Learning Experience

Restraints:

Improper Design of Games

Lack of Awareness Among Masses

View Detailed Table of Content @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/46834-global-serious-game-market

Country level Break-up includes:North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Nordic, Others)Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, Australia, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Middle East & Africa, Others)

Extracts from TOC

1 Study Coverage

Industry Definition

..

2 Executive Summary

Global Serious Game Market Size (2014-2025) by Revenue, Production*, Growth rate

Analysis of Competitive Landscape Insights on Market Development Scenario

3 Market Size by Manufacturers [Market Share, Global Rank etc]

4 Global Serious Game Production, Consumption by Regions (2014-2025)

5 Market Size by Type

Global Serious Game Revenue by Type

Global Serious Game Volume by Type

Global Serious Game Price by Type

6 Market Size by Application (2014-2025)

Global Serious Game Breakdown Data by Revenue, Volume

7 Manufacturers Profiles

8 Value Chain and Sales Channels Analysis

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Serious Game Market Is Gaining Huge Growth In Upcoming Years - The Market Journal