Memorials to leaders of the pro-slavery, Confederate states in the southern US have been controversial.
A community-led process will decide the fate of the memorials, officials say.
As part of the plan announced on December 30 by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, the monuments will be handed over to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia (BHMVA).
The museum will also coordinate with the city’s Valentine museum – which focuses on Richmond’s history – and the local community to determine how the monuments are used going forward.
The plan, however, still requires the approval of the local city council – which Levar Stoney will seek in January.
“Entrusting the future of these monuments and pedestals to two of our most respected institutions is the right thing to do,” Mayor Stoney said in a statement.
“They will take the time that is necessary to properly engage the public and ensure the thoughtful future uses of these artifacts.”
The collection includes monuments to a number of other prominent Confederate figures – including former Confederate president Jefferson Davis – as well as a ceremonial cannon and a monument to Confederate soldiers and sailors.
Richmond was the capital of the Confederate states during the US Civil War.
Governor Northam said that the monuments “celebrate our country’s tragic division and the side that fought to keep alive the institution of slavery by any means necessary”.
The BHMVA’s interim executive director, Marland Buckner, said in a statement to local media that a handover of the monuments will present “opportunities to deepen our understanding of an essential element of the American story: the expansion of freedom”.
Mayor Stoney ordered that the city’s remaining Confederate monuments, including a 21 ft statue of Robert E. Lee erected in 1890, be removed amid national protests over the murder of George Floyd.
Plans to remove the Lee statue were initially delayed by two separate lawsuits by Richmond residents opposed to its removal.
Hundreds of statues of Lee and other Confederate figures still exist throughout the southern US.
“Should I settle?” is the most pressing question when you’re involved in a personal injury case. There isn’t a simple solution. It depends on the situation and how you want to proceed. Accepting an offer should only be done if you are convinced that it will cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. Read on for a few tips on if and when you should take a settlement for personal injury.
Don’t Make a Decision Until You’ve Healed
When renegotiating a low settlement offer, keep in mind that you should never accept a settlement until you have fully recovered from your injuries, often known as maximal medical improvement (MMI). If you haven’t fully healed from your injuries, or to the best of your ability, you may not have all the information you require. Do you have a long list of doctor’s appointments, prescription prescriptions, or physical therapy to look forward to? You won’t know how much your past medical treatments cost or how much medical care you’ll need until you’ve reached your maximum recovery.
Contact a personal injury attorney
Your personal injury lawyer has received considerable training and real-world experience, allowing them to assist you in calculating and pursuing the full value of your claim. Current and expected future medical expenditures, Current and estimated future pay losses, Property damage, Emotional pain and suffering, and whether or not blame for the accident is shared or in question are all elements that might influence how reasonable compensation is calculated in a settlement. As you may expect, some of these considerations are rather simple (for example, previous medical costs), while others are significantly more subjective.
You should negotiate
Whether or not you should accept the current offer may be determined by whether or not you have negotiated it. You might think it’s adequate if you’ve gone back and forth with an insurance company to arrive at the current price. However, if this is your first offer, consider again before accepting. The majority of insurance company settlement offers are low. The average amount collected by injury victims who accepted the first offer was $11,800. Negotiating victims received an average of $42,500.
Is Accepting the Offer Better Than Taking the Case to Trial?
Most personal injury cases are settled for a variety of reasons, including the fact that it is generally preferable for both parties to avoid a lengthy trial. However, not every settlement offer is preferable to going to trial. This is especially true if there’s a potential a jury will award you a larger sum of money (though we can never guarantee what a jury will decide). Your lawyer can advise you whether accepting a settlement offer is a better option than going to court, or vice versa, based on years of experience.
Another important consideration is liability, as the amount of compensation you might receive will be lowered if you share some of the blame. An competent attorney can assist you in preserving and organizing essential evidence, as well as protecting you from making avoidable mistakes while dealing with claims adjusters, allowing you to avoid receiving more blame than you deserve. Your lawyer will level the playing field between you and the insurance company by having the required knowledge and training to deal with insurance companies and their lowball proposals.
Thousands of flights around the world have been canceled for the Christmas weekend as the Omicron variant infections continue to surge.
Airlines have blamed shortages of healthy staff for the cancellations of nearly 2,400 flights on December 24 and more than 2,300 on December 25.
More than 800 of those canceled on December 25 were to or from US airports.
In Europe, travel restrictions are among measures aimed at reducing cases, largely driven by the Omicron variant.
Despite early findings that Omicron is milder than other variants, scientists are concerned by the sheer number of infections being recorded.
Many of the flight cancellations are the result of airline crews testing positive, or being forced to self-isolate to stem the spread.
Further delays and disruption is expected with hundreds more flights canceled on December 26, according to website FlightAware.
Image source Wikimedia
The US, like many countries around the world, has seen a sharp rise in cases.
Across Europe, governments are bringing in their own measures to combat the increase:
Italy, Spain and Greece have made face masks compulsory outdoors again
Catalonia, in north-eastern Spain, has imposed an overnight curfew
The Netherlands entered a strict lockdown earlier this week
Germany has said it will restrict private gatherings to 10 people and close nightclubs from December 28. Soccer matches will be played behind closed doors
Portugal has ordered bars and nightclubs to shut from December 26, and made working from home obligatory until January 9.
However, in South Africa – where the Omicron variant was first identified – the government has ended Covid contact tracing, except for serious cluster outbreaks or prisons.
The health department announced that as most of the population had now been exposed to the coronavirus, the policy is now shifting from a containment strategy to one of mitigation including self-monitoring, mask wearing and social distancing.
The US earlier announced it would lift travel restrictions imposed on South Africa and seven other African countries because of concerns about the Omicron variant on December 31.
Travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi had been blocked since November 29.
America’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned earlier this week that Christmas travel would increase the spread of the variant even among the fully vaccinated.
However, thousands found their plans thrown into disarray as flights across the country were cancelled or delayed.
The worst affected US companies are Delta, United Airlines and American Airlines.
United Airlines said rising numbers of Omicron cases had “had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation”, adding that it was contacting impacted passengers in advance of them coming to the airport.
Overall, global airlines have cancelled more 4,700 flights scheduled to take off on Friday and Saturday.
In Australia, thousands of festive journeys were affected on December 24 with more than 100 domestic flights from Sydney and Melbourne to other cities cancelled.
More than 5.3 million people have died with coronavirus worldwide, according to America’s Johns Hopkins University. There have been 279 million confirmed cases.
A caller has pranked President Joe Biden by dropping anti-Biden “Let’s go, Brandon” taunt into their chat during a White House Christmas event.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were hosting the festive call for families when a father told the president: “Let’s go, Brandon.”
Apparently unaware of the gibe, President Biden said he agreed.
The term, which has become a rallying cry for many conservatives, is code for a profane insult directed at Joe Biden.
The first couple were speaking virtually with children for a White House custom, tracking the journey of Santa’s sleigh via the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
Photo AP
During Christmas Eve’s event in the South Court Auditorium of the executive mansion, the Bidens spoke with a family from Oregon: Griffin, 11, Hunter, three, Piper, four, Penelope, two, and their father, Jared.
“I assume you’re dad,” the president said.
“Hi. Yes sir,” replied Jared.
“OK, Dad, what do you want for Christmas?” asked Presidnet Biden.
“Maybe a quiet night,” he replied laughing.
The president said: “You know, Dad, we have a Hunter, too. We have a son named Hunter and a grandson named Hunter.”
“I didn’t know you had a grandson named Hunter, that’s cool,” said Jared.
The president asked how old was Griffin.
“I’m 11,” Griffin said. He said he wanted a piano.
Jared interjected: “I was going to say he has to cut some trees down to get a piano!”
Hunter wanted a Nintendo Switch, Piper wanted a Barbie.
The president reminded the children to be in bed by nine o’clock otherwise Santa might not show up.
The first lady said: “Have a merry Christmas, have a wonderful Christmas.”
President Biden told Jared: “I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.”
The father replied: “Yeah, I hope you guys have a wonderful Christmas as well. Merry Christmas and let’s go, Brandon.”
The president replied: “Let’s go, Brandon. I agree.”
There was silence.
President Biden added: “Hey, by the way, are you in Oregon? Where’s your home? I think we lost him.”
According to a recent Gallup poll, only 5% of voters who identify as Republican currently approve of the president’s performance.
That same poll shows President Biden’s overall approval rating has dipped to 43%.
How did ‘Let’s go, Brandon’ start?
It all began at the end of a televised Nascar stock car race in Talladega, Alabama, on October 2. NBC reporter Kelli Stavast was interviewing the winner, driver Brandon Brown, when members of the crowd in the grandstand behind them began chanting an obscenity directed at the president.
It was clearly picked up on the broadcast’s audio.
Whether by mistake or as an attempt to deflect from the swearing on live television, Kelli Stavast told Brandon Brown the crowd was cheering him on with chants of “Let’s go, Brandon.”
The transformation of your outside area into a patio provides a chance to provide new experiences to your consumers while also increasing income for your business. As a result, considerable preparation is required when designing a patio, in order to optimize your available space in terms of the furniture you select and the way your area is laid out in terms of functionality. Here are some of the most creative outdoor furniture options for your restaurant or catering business.
Decorating in the contemporary style is a term that refers to a style that first appeared towards the end of the twentieth century. It is represented by softened lines and comprises both neutral and bold color components, as well as neutral and bold elements. Contemporary outdoor restaurant furniture is not only comfortable and useful, but it is also visually attractive. The gentle lines and vibrant colors of contemporary restaurant patio furniture are guaranteed to entice visitors and keep them coming back for more.
Classic
Decorating in a classic style is lavish and elaborate, as opposed to a more simple approach. It may be upholstered with velvet or silk textiles, which are sometimes described as “antique.” Much of the classic outdoor restaurant furniture is made of wrought iron, which complements the majority of outdoor settings. This type of furniture is ideal for providing outdoor seating at any restaurant or café. It is simple to clean, resistant to pests, and will not rust if properly kept, allowing for many years of use with little maintenance. Because the elaborate detail on traditional designs is a part of the furniture, you can simply alter the color to match your restaurant’s décor by painting it. You will not lose any of the complex elements in the furniture as a result of the painting process.
French Bistro
Tables for bistro restaurants are a great choice for outdoor restaurant furniture, and French bistro sets borrow their style and appeal from the cafés of France. The seating and backrests of French bistro outdoor restaurant furniture are frequently made of bamboo or metal frames with woven designs on the seats and backrests. Outdoor restaurant furniture with a distinctive French flair that works especially well in tiny cafés pays respect to the country of its origins.
Industrial
Industrial style furniture is distinguished by the fact that it looks and feels like the type of furniture that would have been found in a factory in the 1800s or 1900s. This kind of basic design has grown incredibly popular, and it looks fantastic when used for outdoor restaurant furniture.
Eclectic
Use an eclectic approach to your outdoor restaurant furniture to prevent having too many similar pieces. For example, use diverse style chairs and tables instead of all the same type. Not only is this a fantastic and unique way to decorate, but it is also quirky and entertaining for the patrons of your restaurant. Additionally, if a table or chair breaks or wears out, you won’t have to worry about finding an exact replacement since you won’t have to locate an exact match.
Designing a Patio
First and foremost, you must assess the amount of available space in your yard before purchasing your patio furniture. The creation of a floor plan for your patio will assist you in determining where furniture may be placed and will also provide you with an idea of the traffic flow of visitors and servers. Permits must be obtained in conjunction with floor plans. Once you’ve determined how much space you have to work with, you’ll need to decide which pieces of furniture to purchase. When choosing patio furniture, the most important consideration is to maximize the number of visitors you can accommodate while yet preserving comfort. It is advised that smaller furniture be used in irregularly shaped layouts so that it may be readily relocated and reconfigured if a client needs extra room. If you have plenty of free space, you may make an investment in larger tables that can accommodate more visitors while remaining fixed.
Placing an Outdoor Bar
It is possible to provide drink service to guests who are sitting on the patio or in line to be seated indoors by setting up an outside bar at your establishment.
Think about obtaining a portable bar to test the sustainability of an outside bar at your restaurant before investing in a full-service bar. This will allow you to decide whether or not the income justifies the investment. These are less expensive to operate than a standard outdoor bar arrangement and do not necessitate the use of a full-time crew.
It is crucial to remember that running an outside bar necessitates the hiring of additional personnel. However, you will want to keep track of drink sales in order to determine the optimal times to have your outside bar available for customers. You may discover that the bulk of your sales is generated during the weekend, which may be taken into consideration when developing timetables.
Conclusion
Customers’ initial impressions of your business are frequently shaped by the outside restaurant furnishings you have in place. Remember to keep this in mind while designing your outdoor living room or patio. Create a warm, inviting environment by using outdoor lounge chairs whenever feasible. Choose colors and designs that will create an impact on passersby on the street, and don’t skimp on the quality to save money on your purchase!
When winter comes, turning on the heat is the first step most people take to warm the inside of their homes. However, there are more accessible and more cost-effective ways to keep your homes warm throughout the winter.
Here are five tips to keep your home warm without resorting to turning up the heat:
1. Change Your Fan Blade Direction
Turning your fan on to warm up may seem counterintuitive because your fan is engineered to push cool air toward you by drawing warm air away from you. You expect your fan to cool you off.
Changing the direction of your fan blades will have the opposite effect: Your fan will pull warm air that’s trapped near the ceiling down toward the room. Fans should rotate in a clockwise direction to increase heat distribution in the winter.
If your fans aren’t sufficient, consider a space heater. You can use Xtreme heaters to keep an RV, camper, garage, or boat cabin warm. You can also find many space heaters across the web that are excellent at home heating solutions.
2. Work With the Windows
During the day, if the sun is out, it’s a good idea to open the windows to let in the daylight. The sunlight will raise the temperature inside your house naturally.
When your home has warmed up or when the sun goes down, cover the windows with heavy curtains. This will keep out any winter drafts while also keeping in the air warmed by the sun. Blocking cool air drafts is the best way to stay warm indoors.
3. Set Down a Draft Trap
Cold air can creep in through window and door seams, causing you to overuse your heating source during winter. To keep the wind out, cover these seams with draft traps.
Draft traps are long bunches of fabric or silicone that sit underneath door frames and window sills, physically blocking out the cooler air.
4. Drink Warm Drinks
When the temperature dips, people drink more hot drinks like hot chocolate and tea. Studies have shown that hot drinks don’t drastically raise your internal body temperature as you drink them, but they can affect your temperature over time. Your hands and fingers can warm up on the mug as your body heats up by burning the calories from the hot drink.
5. Close Your Fireplace Flue
If you have a fireplace, it’s vital to make sure that the flue is closed when it’s not in use. The vent is a direct path to the outdoors, and cold air can enter your home if the chimney is open. When using your fireplace, check your vent before lighting the fire and after the fire is out.
There are several ways to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the winter. If your heater is out, or if you’re trying to save money by not heating your home as much, these tips can help you keep warm when it’s cold out!
Your brand is a powerful tool, and making use of it, when you can, is an intelligent move to make. However, making the move to selling merchandise for your business is a big step, and before you do, there are a few things that you should take the time to consider first. This article aims to highlight the most important points for you to consider when you are thinking of selling your own merch.
When You Should Sell Merchandise
Buying merch is, inherently, an expression of your customer’s loyalty to your brand and business. This means that you have to be sure of a couple of things before you start selling your own merch.
Firstly, you have to be sure that you have enough loyal customers to justify producing and selling merch. After all, if you are only going to sell a dozen jumpers and a branded water bottle from anthembranding.com, then it likely wouldn’t be worth the cost.
Secondly, you have to be sure there is interest in merch from your company. Producing merch when your customers aren’t interested could end up hurting your brand and making your company seem full of itself or only out for people’s money. This will invariably hurt your business rather than help it.
Advantages of Investing in Merchandise
That being said, there are plenty of advantages to creating merchandise when there is a healthy interest in it, and these advantages can be just as major for your business as any other marketing move you might make. That’s right, marketing move. Creating merch is just as much a marketing move as investing in SEO. In fact, it could even be a better one, given that there is inherent profit in selling merch.
The Marketing Power of Merch. The main marketing benefit of selling merch comes from the fact that you will now have customers wandering around the world wearing your branding on their bodies. This will naturally remind others of your brand but also generate positive word-of-mouth marketing when your customers are asked about their merch too.
Marketing Your Merchandise
Finally, you might actually want to consider marketing your merch as well, albeit less aggressively than you might market your own company. This is because you want to be sure that any customers who might be interested in getting some of your merch are aware that it’s available.
Former President Donald Trump has sued New York state Attorney General Letitia James, seeking to block her from continuing to investigate his company.
He argues the state attorney has violated his constitutional rights by pursuing a politically-motivated probe.
Letitia James says the investigation “will continue undeterred”.
She opened a civil inquiry in 2019 into claims that – before he took office – Donald Trump had inflated the value of his assets to banks when seeking loans.
The lawsuit comes less than two weeks after Letitia James, a Democrat, indicated that Donald Trump, a Republican, could be questioned under oath next month as part of the inquiry.
The former president is also suspected of understating his assets to lower his taxes.
Letitia James’ office has been seeking documents on four Trump Organization properties in Manhattan, upstate New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Donald Trump has described the inquiry as a witch hunt.
Throughout his presidency from 2017 to 2021, Donald Trump resolutely refused to reveal his tax returns, despite coming under great pressure to do so.
Civil cases usually have to do with injury to individuals or other private parties, including businesses; criminal law applies in cases where the damage is thought to affect society at large, including the state.
Ambition makes us work harder, push forward and overcome challenges because we know it’ll all be worth it in the end. Whether it’s meeting that tough deadline or finally scoring that promotion, ambition is what leads to the achievement we all strive for in our careers. But there may come a time when your ambition is waning, and you can’t figure out why you can’t focus at work. You may not even think about getting a promotion anymore, and every day at the office is exactly like the one that came before.
Dead-end jobs aren’t just low paying, limited growth positions outside of the corporate world. They exist in every industry, and some of them are well hidden thanks to a good title, comfortable pay and some decent benefits packages. So, you know something might not be quite adding up in your job, but what is it? Is this really just a ‘you’ problem, or could you be stuck in a dead-end job? Do you feel like you need to get stress under control in terms of your work/life balance? Here are three warning signs you need a career change and what to do about them.
Your Voice Is Continually Silenced or Ignored
The best work environments foster collaboration and teamwork exists to elevate the individual as much as the group. Each part should be as important as the whole, but that isn’t always the case. Poor management, narcissistic bosses and even office cliques can cause people to be forced into the background. All your ideas fall on deaf ears, and you may have stopped even having any new ones because you feel they don’t matter anyway.
You deserve a job that gives you what you need to feel valued and important. Any career that causes you to feel useless isn’t worth pursuing. While speaking up a bit more and voicing concerns may be helpful, the best way to really resolve a toxic work environment is to leave it. You can’t change other people, and you can only be the bigger person so long before you wind up mentally drained and emotionally burnt out.
There Is No Projected Path for You
When management hired you, did they make you feel excited about the potential to grow and develop inside the company? Does your company help you evolve, or is there a know-your-place mentality that keeps everyone in their place? Without a clear path from management, you are never going to magically rise in rank and achieve a more fulfilling position. The people who promote should be actively creating opportunity for you to grow.
If you think you’re stuck in this line of work, opening new avenues can come in a few ways. You could go back to school, or you could look for online skills certifications that boost your odds of landing a job with a better company. Paying for the courses might be a challenge, but taking out a student loan from a private lender can help. You’ll be able to pay for your education within your budget and avoid high interest rates after you finish with school.
You Are Responsible for Other People
Your role should have clearly defined, specific tasks that match your job description and skillset. If you are taking on uncompensated work from your boss or colleagues, you need to figure out why that is and make some changes. If the fact of the matter is there’s really nothing else for you to do, then it’s time to polish up that resume and start looking for a better role.
The search warrant comes two weeks after Alec Baldwin gave his first TV interview about the incident, in which he said he did not pull the trigger, but the gun went off anyway.
“I would never point a gun at anyone and pull a trigger at them. Never,” the actor told George Stephanopoulos of ABC News.
Alec Baldwin said he had been told “it’s highly unlikely that I would be charged with anything criminally”.
He said he is fully co-operating with the police investigation into the shooting.
No criminal charges have been brought against anyone.
A lawsuit against Alec Baldwin alleges that a film script did not require him to fire a gun when he fatally shot Halyna Hutchins.
Lawyers handling the suit described the behavior of Alec Baldwin and the film’s producers as “reckless”, and accused them of failing to follow safety protocols.
Zoe, now 40, says she was 22 years old when the actor allegedly raped her at an apartment in West Hollywood in 2004.
Lily, now 31, says she was raped in his Greenwich Village apartment in New York City in 2015 when she was 25 and he was 60.
The detailed article by journalist Kim Masters also interviews people such as Zoe’s boss at the time, a rape treatment centre and a friend of Lily’s whose accounts all seem to back up both women’s claims. The article also quotes text messages purportedly between Chris Noth and Lily at the time of the alleged assault.
Chris Noth is known for his acting roles in Law & Order and Sex And The City, in which he played a lead character, Mr. Big. A follow on from the hugely popular series, entitled And Just Like That… has recently been released.
A statement from the actor to The Hollywood Reporter and Rolling Stone reads: “The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false.
“These stories could’ve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago — no always means no — that is a line I did not cross. The encounters were consensual.
“It’s difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. I don’t know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lily, now a journalist, contacted the publication in August, and Zoe, who works in the entertainment industry, made contact in October, as buzz about the release of And Just Like That… was gaining momentum.
“Seeing that he was reprising his role in Sex and the City set off something in me,” Zoe is quoted as saying, adding that for many years she “buried” her memories, but has now decided “to try to go public with who he is.”
The article says that Zoe was living in Los Angeles in 2004 and employed by a company that worked with Chris Noth and other celebrities.
Following what she describes as flirtations, Zoe says she accepted an invitation to visit him at his West Hollywood apartment, where she alleges he raped her.
Afterwards, a friend insisted they go to a hospital, where she needed stitches because of the assault. Police came to speak to her, but she says she refused to reveal who had assaulted her.
Zoe did, however, tell her boss at the time. The Hollywood Reporter says it spoke to them, and they back up Zoe’s claims.
In 2006, Zoe says she sought counseling at the UCLA Rape Crisis Center after she started having nightmares and flashbacks. Without addressing her case specifically, a clinical director at the centre confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Zoe was treated there.
The article goes on to say that Lily met Chris Noth, of whom she was an enormous fan, while working as a waitress in the VIP section of a New York nightclub in 2015.
“He was hitting on me, for sure. I was flattered. I knew he was married, which is shameful of me to admit,” Lily is quoted as saying.
The two went out for drinks, she said, before going back to his apartment, where he “tried to make out” with her, before allegedly pulling down his pants and raping her.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, its correspondent viewed a number of text messages purportedly between the actor and Lily in March and April 2015.
In one, the actor says: “By the way I have to ask did you enjoy our night last week. I thought it was a lot of fun but I wasn’t quite sure how you felt.”
Lily replied: “Hmm…I certainly enjoyed your company. Great conversation. Not to go into specifics over text message, but I did feel slightly used…”
The road trip across the United States is such an old and romantic idea that it’s just about become a cliché. The idea of jumping in a car with a few friends and without many belongings and just taking off for the other coast is almost like a dream. You’ll meet people, you’ll get in adventures, you’ll see the land.
However, those ideal scenarios do not always translate into safe and sensible vacations. There should always be a good, healthy balance between adventure and staying safe while on the road.
Having said that, if you want to plan a trip to go out and see some of the most unique places to visit in the U.S., then you are in luck. We want the same thing for you, and here in this post, we’ll provide you with some advice on how to plan a one-of-a-kind road trip for yourself and your traveling companions.
Know Your Destinations, but Don’t Stick to the Map
So, we want you to have a real adventure out there on the road. We want you to be safe and to be smart about where you’re going, but please don’t make this a boring trip by just driving straight through to your destination.
You should definitely know where you want to end up. Say, if you’re starting in North Carolina and want to make it to Oregon, that’s good. As you travel, always be sure you’re trending toward the northwest direction. But you obviously don’t need to jump on a highway and just drive there. That’s not a road trip; it’s just traveling.
Take the back roads. Stop and get out. Talk to people in local establishments. Make it adventurous, while always being safe.
Make Time to See Cool Things Along the Way
As you’re slowly but surely making your way to your destination, make sure you’re always aware of your surroundings and what kinds of attractions are near you.
Oh, you’re nearing St. Louis? Have you ever seen the Gateway Arch in person before? It’s probably going to be worth it to stop by and check it out. Heading up through the western deserts? You definitely owe it to yourself to see the Grand Canyon. You don’t even have to go down and hike it or anything like that, but grab some pictures, spend some time taking in the views, and move along.
This road trip should be all about having experiences and making memories.
Have a Mix of Accommodations
You might be wondering how you’re going to get to bed if you’re taking a semi-unplanned road trip through the United States. After all, if you’re taking your time and seeing things along your way, how exactly can you plan to stay in this or that hotel?
One way that some travelers have used is to have a mix of accommodations for themselves. So, you would plan to stay in hotels or motels at certain major points along your way. Maybe you have a hotel in Billings, Montana, booked way in advance on a certain date. But while you’re getting there, you stay where you can find room in a roadside inn.
Once Billings is behind you, you can look forward to the next major hotel stop in another state or two, but along your journey there, you do what you can.
That’s a nice, decent mix of planning and adventure. See if you can coordinate your trip this way, and you should end up feeling safe yet still free to explore.
Reaching one billion dollars is a monumental accomplishment for any film, let alone animated ones. However, there have been multiple animated films that have reached this astonishing feat, many of which were viewed by both kids and adults alike. Disney and Pixar make up a majority of the highest-grossing animated films, though Dreamworks and Universal have their share of heavy hitters, too. Here are a few of the extraordinary animated films that were able to reach a worldwide box office of over one billion dollars.
Frozen 2
As the highest-grossing animated film of all time, Frozen 2 also manages to break the top ten highest-grossing films of all time, period, just barely scraping by in the number ten slot. The film raked in a staggering 1.4 billion dollars, with its original film not far behind at 1.2 billion. The original film was an instant hit, spawning a plethora of merchandise and guaranteeing the sequel a chance to hit the big screen. The original film earned itself an academy award for Best Animated Feature, the first Walt-Disney Studios film to do so, two golden globes, as well as two Grammys. The films were a hefty droplet in Disney’s lake of ever-growing profit, and with an Oloff spin-off and the company’s streaming service taking off, we have assuredly not seen the last of the franchise.
Zootopia
This original film follows animals that live their lives much as we do: they go to work, play sports, and run a government. It’s a film that is both hilarious and thought-provoking. Audience psychographics and demographics play a large role in determining a film’s target audience, and despite being aimed towards predominantly younger viewers, the film manages to shed light on very mature issues, such as racism, social classes, and corruption. These themes, accompanied by a stellar story and gorgeous animation, make it easy to see how the film was as successful as it was, earning just over a billion dollars at the box office and snagging itself an Oscar in the process.
Incredibles 2
Are you feeling incredible? You will after having watched this sequel to the 2004 film. After fourteen years of waiting, fans were granted a follow-up to the super-powered family, and boy did it make some money. 1.2 billion dollars, to be more specific. With a returning cast of actors and updated visuals, this movie was a delight to younger audiences as well as those that watched the original as children and have since grown up. Will we get a third film in the future? It’s possible, especially since Pixar seems to be in an era of sequels, what with Toy Story getting four films. Let’s just hope it doesn’t take a decade to happen.
And Many More . . .
There have been several more animated films to cross the one billion dollar threshold, such as Minions, Finding Dory, Despicable Me 3, along with Toy Story 3 and 4, plus countless others that are just shy of reaching the ten-figure mark. These films are well-written, voice acted, and beautifully animated, making them enjoyable for children as well as adults.
More than 70 people were killed by tornadoes on Friday night, December 10, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has said.
Governor Beshear said the figure could rise to more than 100 in what he called the worst tornadoes in Kentucky’s history.
Dozens are feared dead inside a candle factory in the town of Mayfield.
At least five people died as tornadoes wreaked havoc in other states, including one in an Amazon warehouse in Illinois.
Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency in Kentucky.
He said the tornado system was the deadliest to ever run through the state.
Mayfield and everywhere along the 227-mile path of the tornado – almost all in Kentucky – was devastated, he said.
“It’s indescribable, unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” he said.
“You see parts of industrial buildings, roofs, or sightings in trees, if trees are lucky enough to stand.
“Huge metal poles bent in half if not broken, buildings that are no longer there, huge trucks that have been picked up and thrown. And sadly far too many homes that people were likely in, entirely devastated.”
“There are a lot of families that need your prayers,” he added.
Deaths had been reported in several counties, but the loss of life in the Mayfield factory could exceed that of any tornado event in a single location in state history, the governor added. More than 100 people were inside when it hit.
Governor Beshear said 40 people had been rescued at the factory and he was praying for more survivors, but it was a “very dire situation”.
Local officials who visited the scene spoke of heavy machinery displaced by the storm, as well as drums leaking corrosive liquid.
President Joe Biden tweeted that he had been briefed about the tornadoes on Saturday morning.
“To lose a loved one in a storm like this is an unimaginable tragedy,” he said.
“We’re working with Governors to ensure they have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue.”
Police said the tornado caused “significant damage” across the western parts of the state. A train was derailed during extreme winds in Hopkins County, Sheriff Matt Sanderson told WKYT-TV.
He also described how two children were reported missing during a tornado but were then found in a bathtub that had been pulled outside by the force of the wind.
“There were two children in the Barnsley area that were missing and they were actually found in a bathtub not where the house was originally standing,” he said.
The Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville in southern Illinois was damaged during a tornado on Friday night, the authorities said.
It is not yet clear how many people were hurt by the roof collapse, but local emergency services have called it a “mass casualty incident” on Facebook.
Illinois police chief Mike Fillback said at least one person had died.
Sarah Bierman said her partner was still missing.
Later reports said 30 people had been rescued and two were airlifted to hospital in St Louis, in neighboring Missouri. Rescue teams are still sorting through the rubble.
Tennessee state Emergency Management Agency spokesman Dean Flener said three people had been killed in the northwest of the state. No further details were given.
In north-eastern Arkansas, one person died, five were seriously injured and 20 people were trapped inside in a nursing home after it partly collapsed, local official Marvin Day said.
The trapped people were rescued but the building was “pretty much destroyed”, he added.
The US annual inflation has hit the highest level for nearly 40 years.
According to the latest figures, prices rose 6.8% in the year to November.
Price rises have pushed up food shopping bills, and petrol prices jumped 6.1%, while the cost of second-hand cars and rent also rose.
While the monthly pace of price rises at 0.8% eased a little compared to October’s 0.9%.
Prices for American consumers are rising at their fastest annual rate since June 1982. But the impact is felt more amongst those on the lowest incomes, with the least room to manage.
Rising inflation is also putting pressure on President Joe Biden as he tries to pass his $1.9tn social spending bill.
Some economists blame the president’s previous spending programs, designed to offer support amid the Covid pandemic, for exacerbating price increases.
“One of the major reasons we have inflation is because the government spent so much money,” said Christopher Campbell, chief strategist at Kroll a risk consultancy, and a former Treasury official under President Donald Trump.
He argued that further spending could make inflation worse.
“At the end of the day we hopefully are on the tail end of the pandemic, and the government is still putting its foot on the gas, on the levels of spending.”
In the meantime the poorest are facing both the end of pandemic-era extra support and rising prices.
Price rises are affecting some parts of the country more than others too, with the south and mid-west impacted more.
Dare to Care, a food bank in Louisville, Kentucky, said it has felt the effect of both inflation and supply chain problems.
Usually a lot of Dare to Care’s food comes from producers and retailers passing on any surplus they have.
Dare to Care has had to buy food at retail prices instead, and the cost of transport has risen too.
As a result, Dare to Care has made compromises, like not including wholegrain bread or pure fruit juice as often.
President Biden has pledged to make tackling inflation a priority and has made moves to ease supply chain problems, including changing rules for transport operators. But expectations are now focused squarely on the Federal Reserve too.
Speculation is mounting that the Fed will reduce the bond-buying support it provides every month more quickly than planned, paving the way for a possible rise in interest rates next year.
Expenses put a severe strain on business operations. Unless a company possesses significant cash reserves in the bank, these frequent expenses mean they have to continually produce sales and bring in revenue. If this doesn’t happen, they can quickly fall into financial trouble – to the point where their business becomes insolvent.
With this potential threat always looming, it makes sense to lessen its impact when possible. The good news is there are numerous steps you can take to reduce business costs. The following starter guide will highlight a number of ways you can cut down your current expenditures.
See what recurring expenses you can reduce
Recurring bills are inevitable when running your business. This can include everything from utilities to car leasing. However, when was the last time you took a close look at these expenses?
The first place to start is by directly contacting suppliers. It might seem improbable, but suppliers are actually likely to offer you some form of discount if you ask for it. After all, they’d rather keep you onboard instead of sending you to a direct competitor.
The next step is to utilize price comparison platforms. Say you’re currently paying a premium on health insurance for your employees. You can then compare health insurance quotes to see which provides better value. Even a small reduction per employee can make a big difference if you have a sizeable workforce.
Cut down on office space
The business world is changing. No longer is it necessary for employees to make their way to the office each workday. Thanks to the power of remote work, they can stay at home, communicate with other employees, and complete their tasks as effectively as if they’d been in the office.
This flexibility also presents the ideal opportunity to cut down on your office space. While you might not want to eliminate this element completely from your business operations, it makes sense to go with a much cheaper premise as your base. Rather than leasing an independent property, you may decide to utilize a shared workspace for an even more cost-effective approach.
Outsource tasks
A full-time employee is a notable recurring expense for any business. Aside from their standard wage, you also have to financially cover other benefits. The result: it makes retaining an employee an even more expensive prospect.
While it’s not nice to release a staff member from their job, it can make smart business sense when outsourcing is available. You can pay them per project and only use specialists when needed. This is great when you need help with something like online marketing, but not to the extent where a full-time employee is viable.
Automate business processes
When you use technology to automate business processes, this can boost efficiency, save time, and improve customer satisfaction levels. Automation allows you to handle time-consuming tasks within an instant, which can again reduce the need to have employees working on these kinds of tasks all the time.
Attorneys for Nevada ER doctors plan to ask a jury at 8 a.m. Tuesday, December 7, in Las Vegas to punish the nation’s largest health insurance company for greed, fraud and mistreatment of lifesaving physicians. Lawyers for TeamHealth will ask for more than $100 million in punitive damages.
The same jury already ruled unanimously against UnitedHealthcare right after the Thanksgiving holiday, awarding more than $2 million in compensatory damages to emergency room doctors who had sued United claiming their reimbursements for lifesaving care were gutted so low they amounted to healthcare fraud.
Houston Attorney John Zavitsanos had argued to the jury United had treated lifesavers as third-rate citizens simply to feed the greed of the insurance company.
“The jury unanimously found that United’s conduct constitutes fraud, oppression and malice by clear and convincing evidence after almost two months of trial,” said Zavitsanos.
“This is exceptionally rare, and it speaks to the insidious plan put forth by United years ago to fatten its already record profits by cutting reimbursements to front line ER doctors.”
A well-known Las Vegas emergency room doctor, Scott Scherr, hailed a hero after treating victims of the 2017 mass shooting, reacted to the verdict on the courthouse steps.
“This sends a message to insurance companies that you know we need to be compensated fairly for the emergency care that we provide.”
The jury is expected to hear from Rebecca Paradise, the Vice President of UnitedHealthcare, and Kent Bristow, Senior Vice President of TeamHealth Revenue Management before a new set of closing arguments and deliberations.
There are similar lawsuits against United filed by TeamHealth medical companies in several states. The next scheduled trial involves anesthesiologists in Florida, but industry observers have been watching this first trial in Las Vegas for clues about what juries may decide in upcoming fights.
Project Kuiper is the satellite designed by Amazon that the company plans to launch sometime within the first three months of 2022. Amazon recently approached the Federal Communications Commission about the launch, providing details about how long it could take and where the satellites should be in orbit. There are two satellites by the same name with both of them performing the same services, which is to provide fast internet to more people across the world. The satellites should be launched with an RS1 Rocket and ABL Space when it’s sent to orbit.
Test Runs Rajeev Badyal is the vice president of technology for Amazon and has provided information about the company being able to soon see how well the satellites will perform and if any adjustments need to be made before the possibility of any other satellites being launched by Amazon. The only way to really test the satellites and to see if they will work in the way that Amazon wants them to is to launch them into orbit and get them operational. The goal is to look at how the environment will interact with the satellites as there are complex issues that could arise that might need to be addressed before internet services can be provided to customers. These details are part of the plan that was given to the FCC so that the organization knows how Amazon will handle any such issues that arise.
Building Networks Amazon has a plan to build a network with Project Kuiper that could consist of over 3,000 satellites when all is said and done. The satellites should be placed in the lower orbits closer to Earth, which is how Amazon hopes to deliver fast satellite internet service to more people instead of the satellites being higher in orbit and not able to reach rural areas. Amazon was given permission by the FCC in 2020 to begin developing Project Kuiper. Over $10 billion could be invested in the project for equipment and operations. Once the first satellites are launched, Amazon hopes to put 578 more in orbit to increase the coverage of internet service that’s available for customers.
Partnerships A partnership with Verizon was recently announced by Amazon as a way to work together to launch the satellites. The two companies hope to work together by utilizing the equipment that Verizon already has while putting more satellites in orbit, which could not only help Amazon reach its internet goals but help Verizon reach more customers as well. With this partnership in place, it could result in both companies being able to compete with some of the larger satellite internet providers.
When Project Kuiper is launched, it will be in orbit with the Starlink network or SpaceX. This network is among the most advanced and one of the most recent in the system of broadband satellites. There are quite a few other networks by other companies that are in various stages of being launched, such as OneWeb, a British-owned company Lightspeed, a network by Telesat.
Team Growth Project Kuiper has seen an increase in the number of team members who have been working on the satellites at over 750 with many more people hired over the course of the next year. A facility in Redmond, Washington was built to hold the satellites and test them before they are launched. Amazon plans to build a smaller building that’s 20,000 square feet in the near future to hold more equipment and to act as a facility for employees who monitor the satellites.
Although it’s taken some time for Amazon to launch Project Kuiper, it hopes that the additional time proves beneficial in making sure there are fewer issues that could arise. Amazon has stations in Texas, Asia-Pacific, and South America that it plans to test with the satellites of Project Kuiper to get a better look at the communications system and the overall infrastructure that’s in place. Most of the technology with the first two satellites will include antennas, propulsion systems, and modems along with other components that Amazon can look at to get a better understanding of the production system that Amazon has in place. Amazon wants to also look at low-cost satellite options to see if they are as operational as the legacy satellites but on a lower price scale. If this is possible, then Amazon could offer internet services to more people that are more affordable than competitors.
As fiber-optic Internet reaches more residences in the U.S., the cable versus fiber debate is becoming more prevalent. With that discussion in mind, let us answer some of the most common questions.
What is the Difference Between Fiber and Cable?
Fiber, cable, satellite, DSL and wireless internet are all means of connecting you to the internet. These are channels through which you send data to servers and receive responses. The core difference between all of these methods is how the data is transmitted. Cable internet uses coaxial cables and transmits electrical signals over them. Coax cables have copper wire at the core, and that wire is insulated with aluminum, protected with a copper shield and encapsulated within an outer plastic layer.
Fiber internet uses fiber-optic cables. There are strands of glass at the core of these cables that are encapsulated in multiple layers of plastic. The signal is not electric but rather light, and when a pulse of light is sent out, it continues to bounce from side to side of the cable until it reaches its destination. Both coax and fiber cables can either be strung or buried underground. It is more common for coax to be strung because it is faster and cheaper and allowed for more rapid deployment during the cutting cable boom. Burying fiber cables is still more expensive and time-consuming, but many companies and municipalities opt to do it anyway because fiber is expensive and it protects investments long term.
Why Is Cable More Widely Available?
Cable had a head start not just in regard to the fundamental technology but the infrastructure. When cable internet service providers became prominent in the U.S., much of the infrastructure used had been built in the 1970s and the 1980s. Consider that the main fiber-optic cables that now serve as the backbone of the Internet were not installed until the mid-1990s. It really was not until the aughts that private companies began burying fiber as a means of providing Internet to end-users.
Are There Differences in the Quality of Service?
There are some fundamental advantages that fiber has over cable. Even if both have buried lines, a fiber infrastructure requires less maintenance overall. It is also inherently faster since it uses light as opposed to electricity. Use of electricity has some other issues beyond just slower speeds, and that includes electromagnetic interference and signal degradation. Not only is fiber faster, but it is more dependable. That is supported by the statistics, which show that fiber outages are much less common.
Is Fiber Better Than Cable?
Let us approach this question first from an objective perspective. Fiber is better than cable. It is faster. Current fiber infrastructures allow for much more bandwidth. If you purchase a 1 Gbps fiber plan, that means that you get a 1 Gbps download and a 1 Gbps upload. If you purchase a 300 Mbps cable plan, you may get 300 Mbps download but probably closer to 20 Mbps upload. Fiber is also cheaper when you look at from the perspective of how much you get in return, such as cents per Mbps. If you want the best of both worlds, Spectrum internet offers hybrid fiber and coaxial cable internet which offer an affordable plans both residential and business internet.
Is Fiber Better Than Cable for You?
As far as a lump sum you pay each month, fiber is generally more expensive. That gap is closing but still has a way to go for the average American. Cable speeds are quite good. The average American now has access to 200-300 Mbps, which is good enough for the average household. In order to answer this question for you personally, you have to decide what you need and what you can afford. However, if you work from home and reliability and upload speeds are very important, then yes, it probably is.
Homes can hide dangerous hazards that might harm the owners and their children. Homeowners should be aware of the most common dangers their new home might be hiding so they can avoid harm.
What Are the Most Common Latent Defects?
A latent defect is a problem that is not obvious. It is hidden, and homeowners may not discover the problem for a long time. The most common latent defects are:
· Asbestos. Asbestos is a natural, fibrous material that manufacturers used in insulation and drywall before 1980. Asbestos can cause cancer in anyone who breathes it in or otherwise ingests it. If the material containing asbestos is damaged, the homeowner should hire a professional to remove it safely.
· Lead Paint. Before 1970 manufacturers commonly included lead in household paints. When homeowners attempt to remove the paint by chipping it or sanding it, it can transform into dust or small chips that people might ingest. When ingested at high levels, lead can cause anemia, weakness, and kidney and brain damage. Further, lead can cross the placental barrier. If a mother ingests the paint, it can cause damage to the baby’s nervous system. Homeowners can use a home lead test to determine if their home has lead paint. If it does, they can find online tutorials on how to remove it. The homeowner can also hire professionals.
· Carbon Monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, flammable gas that is poisonous to humans. It is a byproduct of fuel-burning appliances such as gas stoves and furnaces. A faulty stove, furnace, or fireplace can cause a build-up of dangerous gas. Low levels of carbon monoxide cause headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea, and fatigue. High levels can cause impaired vision, vomiting, and even death. Homeowners can avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by installing detectors throughout the house and ensuring that all fuel-burning appliances are installed correctly and are well-ventilated.
· Mold. Mold spores can grow within 24 to 48 hours when moisture is present. They can live on dust, wood, drywall, paint, paper, cotton, and oil. The spores can cause asthma symptoms and allergic reactions. Homeowners can reduce the risk of mold by keeping an eye out for any leaks, keeping rooms well ventilated, and using dehumidifiers to keep rooms under 50% humidity.
· Radon. Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas that comes from uranium. It occurs naturally in soil. Homeowners can purchase a test kit to detect the presence of radon. If they do find radon, they should hire professionals to remediate the problem.
Homeowners can also contact the previous owners to gather more information about the condition of the house. The previous homeowners likely know the property better than anyone else.
What Can Homeowners Do if They Discover Latent Defects?
When homeowners discover latent defects in their newly-purchased house, they should immediately correct the issues and make their home safe. Although they might remedy some defects without a problem, others might create a financial hardship to fix. For example, asbestos removal can be prohibitively expensive. The homeowner can attempt to recover the expenses from the previous owner, builder, or product manufacturer. If a latent defect harms homeowners, they can file an injury claim. Homeowners may not know who is responsible for harm caused by a latent defect. However, an attorney can help them determine who is at fault.
Parents can negotiate a lower child support payment if they become disabled and unable to work. The parents can agree to a new amount themselves. If that is not an option, the disabled parent can ask a family court for a support modification hearing.
How Do Courts Determine Child Support Payments?
When a couple with children divorces, they must determine the amount of child support the non-custodial parent must pay. Usually, couples use the family court to help determine the appropriate amount of support. When determining child support, the court considers:
· The income of both parents
· Child support or alimony either parent receives from a previous marriage
· Whether either parent is paying child support or spousal support from a former marriage
· Which parent pays for healthcare and the cost
· Which parent pays for daycare and the cost
· The ages of the children
· Whether either parent lives with a new partner or spouse who contributes to household expenses
How Can a Parent Change Child Support after Becoming Disabled?
A parent may want to stop paying child support after becoming disabled. However, the parent’s obligation does not end because of a disability. However, if the parent’s earnings decrease due to the disability, he or she can take steps to modify the amount of support.
If the parents have a civil post-divorce relationship, they can try to negotiate a new payment. The disabled parent should present the difference between his or her previous income and current income. When the parents reach an agreement, they should put it in writing and sign it.
The disabled parent may also petition the family court for a support modification hearing. In the case of a new disability, the court is likely to lower the child support amount because the disabled parent no longer has the same income. However, the disabled parent must first prove the necessity for the adjustment to the family court.
The parent can help his or her request for modification by winning a disability hearing. When a parent provides the court with proof of a disability judgment and payment, the court is more likely to accept the need for modification. The court will then take into account several other factors, such as:
· Whether the parent is receiving Supplementary Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSI provides minimum financial assistance to disabled people. The payments are often so low that the court won’t count them as income. SSDI is based on the disabled person’s prior income and may be much higher. SSDI income may be high enough to require child support payments. Further, the children can apply for auxiliary benefits and receive payments directly.
· What the costs for medical treatment are for the disabled parent. The court will factor in these expenses to determine a lower payment.
· Any additional support the disabled parent can provide. If the parent is no longer able to work, he or she may be able to provide more extensive childcare, decreasing some costs.
When parents become disabled, they can usually negotiate a lower child support payment. However, parents need to go through proper channels and make sure they are clear about the factors affecting their ability to make payments. Finally, each parent should keep a copy of any agreement or order modifying child support payments.
A parent should not move his or her child to a foreign country without a court order and a detailed co-parenting plan.
Why Is a Court Order so Important?
Filing for divorce is a big decision for any couple. However, couples with children have even more to consider when divorcing. They have to work together to create a workable co-parenting plan that outlines custody, visitation, and communication plans. Typically, a couple files a custody agreement with the family court that states which parent is the primary custodial parent. However, custody agreements are state-specific. A judge needs to agree and enter an order before a parent can move children across state lines. If one member of the couple is considering immigrating as a single parent, he or she must receive permission from the family court.
Even if the custodial parent has sole custody of the children, he or she must have a court order before leaving the country with the children. A parent who relocates a child to a foreign country without a court order and the other parent’s consent has committed parental kidnapping. If the parent’s new home participates in the Hague Convention, the authorities in the United States and the new country will work together to return the child.
What Does a Court Consider When Deciding Whether to Allow Relocation?
If both parents agree to the move, a judge is likely to agree to the arrangement. However, absent an agreement, the parents will have to petition the family court to enter an order either allowing or disallowing relocation of the children. When determining whether to allow relocation, a family court judge will consider:
· Which parent has primary custody
· The country to which the parent wishes to relocate
· Whether the parent is relocating for a new job
· The immigration status of the parent after relocation
· What type of support system the child will have (extended family and friends, for example)
· The care the child will receive, including education, medical, and shelter
· How convenient it will be for the co-parent to visit
· Quality of life
· The feasibility of the child maintaining a healthy relationship with both parents
How Can Parents Make a Workable Long Distance Co-Parenting Plan?
It can be difficult for a divorcing couple to agree to and stick with a co-parenting plan. Both parents have to commit to the work and cooperation needed to make it successful. If both parents agree to an overseas move or a judge enters an order allowing the custodial parent to move, they will need to create a strong parenting plan that considers the difficulties added by extreme distance. The Co-Parenting plan should include:
· Accommodations for healthy communications between parents and children
· Plans for regular, consistent communication between the non-custodial parent and the children
· An agreement for respectful communication between the two parents
· A calendar that outlines visitations between the non-custodial parent and the children, including holidays and extended visitation periods
As in any situation involving children, the parents and family court’s top priority should be the well-being of the children. When an overseas move benefits the children, all parties should work together to ensure the children can maintain a happy, healthy, and meaningful relationship with both parents.
Residential elevators have been responsible for the deaths and injuries of many children in the past 40 years. Although manufacturers of residential elevators have been aware of the risk to children, they have been resistant to making changes that could save lives.
Residential elevators operate differently from commercial elevators. Both residential and commercial elevators have interior and exterior doors. In commercial elevators, the doors open and close simultaneously whenever the elevator is ready.
In residential elevators, however, the user has to open the exterior and interior door separately. The exterior door might look like a closet door. The interior door is still closed after the user opens the first door, and he or she must open it to enter the elevator. There is a gap of about five inches in between. Because users can open the doors independently, children can get trapped between the two doors, leading to serious accidents.
If a child accidentally closes him or herself in the gap, the child runs the risk of being crushed or suffering a dangerous fall. If a child closes him or herself between the doors, and the elevator begins to ascend, the elevator can crush the child against the door jamb. Smaller children may avoid a crushing injury, but the elevator can lift the children as it ascends, causing children to fall down the elevator shaft.
Parents routinely put safety measures in place to keep their children away from dangerous household products. Stores like Walmart and Target even have baby-proofing products to help parents keep children safe. However, many parents don’t realize the risk posed by residential elevators. Although they cause gruesome injuries to children and often result in death, many people aren’t aware of the accidents. Further, anecdotal evidence indicates that parents and surrounding adults don’t know how to remove a trapped child safely. In some instances, parents have pushed the elevator call button in an attempt to open the exterior door, making injuries worse.
Can Owner Make Residential Elevators Safe?
Elevator owners can easily make them safer for children by installing a space guard. Space guards attach to the exterior door, preventing it from closing if a child is between the two doors. However, elevator owners have to contact the elevator manufacturer to order and install the product.
Why Haven’t Elevator Manufacturers Made Residential Elevators Safer?
A 2020 Washington Post article claims that eight children have died in residential elevator accidents since 1981. However, evidence indicates that the number of death and injuries is likely much higher. The Otis Swing Door Elevator, found in apartment buildings, killed or injured 34 children in just ten years. Further, the numbers of fatalities and injuries may not reflect near misses in which a child accidentally trapped him or herself but was not seriously injured.
Since 1981, the elevator industry has been inexcusably slow to make any safety improvements. In 2016 the American Society of Mechanical Engineers changed its recommendation for the gap between doors from 5 to 4 inches. Further, in 2020 Otis Elevator Company, the largest manufacturer of residential elevators, conducted a voluntary recall to correct entrapment risks. Although these are steps in the right direction, elevator manufacturers can, and should, do more to make residential elevators safe for children.
The number of alcohol-related crashes increases drastically during the holiday season. Statistics show that people drink more during the holiday season and, with more people on the road, holiday travels can become deadly. Everyone should be aware of the risks of driving under the influence and strategies to decrease their risk this holiday season.
What Are the Most Deadly Types of Motor Vehicle Accidents?
All automobile accidents are dangerous. However, some types of crashes are more deadly than others. The deadliest types of accidents are:
· Head-on collisions. Head-on collisions are considered to be the most dangerous type of car accident. Although they make up only 2% of accidents, they account for 10% of traffic accident fatalities. They are so deadly because crashing head-on into another moving vehicle can double the impact speed. For example, if both automobiles are traveling at 50 miles per hour, the impact of the two cars would be like hitting a stationary object while traveling at 100 miles per hour.
· Truck accidents. Accidents involving semi-trucks account for around 6.5% of all traffic accidents in the United States. Out of those accidents, 28% result in injuries, and 11% result in fatalities. Semi-trucks are large and can cause severe damage to smaller vehicles.
· DWI Crashes. Around 10,000 people die in alcohol-related crashes each year. Alcohol can also be a contributing factor in other types of crashes. It may also be a factor in head-on collisions and truck accidents.
Why Are DUI Accidents More Common During the Holiday Season?
Many factors account for the increased number of DUI accidents during the holiday season. Around 91 million Americans take road trips between December 23rd and January 1st each year. Further, holiday celebrations lead to social binge-drinking. 16% of adults admit that they drink more during the holiday season. More people on the road mixed with increased alcohol consumption is a recipe for deadly alcohol-related crashes.
40% of car crash fatalities during the winter holidays are alcohol-related. On New Year’s Day, alcohol-related crashes account for 58% of all fatalities. Over the past five years, an average of 300 people have died in DUI accidents between Christmas and New Year’s. Car accident injuries also dramatically increase during the holiday season. Alcohol-related crashes can transform a joyful holiday season into a tragedy.
How Can Drivers Stay Safe?
Although drivers cannot fully avoid the risk of being involved in an alcohol-related crash during the holiday season, they can take steps to keep themselves safe. Drivers should:
· Avoid drinking and driving. Driving under the influence is against the law in all 50 states and is extremely dangerous. People can avoid injuring themselves and others if they call an Uber instead of driving under the influence.
· Avoid driving late at night. Most alcohol-related crashes occur at night after people have been at parties or bars.
· Buckle up. Seat belts reduce fatalities in car crashes by up to 45%. They reduce severe injuries by 50%. Wearing a seat belt is a simple step that can save lives.
· Get plenty of sleep. People who drive while drowsy are almost as dangerous as those driving under the influence.
While no one can control the behavior of others, drivers can decrease their risk of being involved in an alcohol-related crash this holiday season by taking simple precautions.
Drivers who use hands-free devices while driving are safer than those who talk or text. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) recently conducted a study that indicates drivers who use hands-free devices may even save lives. However, the use of hands-free devices still comes with an increased risk of accidents. Drivers should be aware of the dangers of distracted driving and the potential problems and liabilities that might result.
Are Hand-Held Devices Safer than Regular Phone Usage?
VTTI’s recent study suggests that any activity that causes a driver to take his or her eyes off the road or hands off the wheel leads to a substantially increased crash risk. Therefore, drivers who use a hand-held phone are much more likely to cause an accident. Their crash risk is 2 to 3.5 times higher than a “model driver.”
The safest drivers are those that are alert, attentive, and sober. Even though drivers using hands-free devices are much safer than drivers who use hand-held devices, they do not qualify as model drivers. While talking on the phone is a primarily cognitive behavior, it’s still a distraction and is associated with slightly decreased reaction times. However, VTTI’s study shows that talking on the phone has roughly the same detrimental effect on a driver as singing or talking to a passenger. One of the lead researchers for VTTI’s study, Tom Dingle, explained that “talking on hands-free devices does not have any detrimental effects.” The study also indicated that the use of hands-free devices was not associated with any severe crashes or property damage.
What Are the Consequences of Using Hand-Held Devices While Driving?
Many states have passed laws prohibiting drivers from using hand-held devices, such as phones. If a police officer catches a driver using a phone while driving, he or she can cite the driver, which can be extremely expensive. However, a driver may experience more severe consequences if they cause an accident while using a hand-held device.
An insurance company might be able to deny coverage to a driver injured in a crash if the driver causes the accident while using a hand-held device. Although car insurance typically covers damage to cars and passengers, insurance companies may deny coverage if a driver is partially or wholly at fault. While a driver should always file a claim, insurance companies are likely to withhold payment for any accident where the driver was using a hand-held device in a hands-free state.
If an accident is fatal, the driver’s family may run into problems filing a life insurance claim. For Accident Death and Dismemberment policies (AD&D), insurance companies may deny coverage if the insured was committing a crime at the time of death. Drivers using hand-held devices in a hands-free state are committing a crime. Their actions may void their AD&D coverage.
Further, if others are injured or killed in an accident caused by a driver using a hand-held device, the driver’s insurance company may refuse to cover the claims. If that is the case, victims may choose to pursue damages against the driver. The driver will be personally liable and could lose all of his or her assets.
Using hands-free devices is a safer alternative to using hand-held devices. Further, using hands-free devices can help drivers avoid severe consequences.
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