How Snoring Affects Your Overall Health

Nothing can be as annoying as sleeping beside someone who snores. Sleeping becomes impossible. And if you are able to get some shut eye, you are bound to be woken up soon after by more loud snoring. It can leave you lacking in sleep and exhausted once morning comes.

The issue of snoring does not only affect people who sleep with snorers – most likely are wives with husbands who are loud snorers but more so the husband who sleeps just like a primitive man. Wives can always opt to sleep with a headphone on and listen to music or sleep in a different room from their husbands but those who snore do not just have easy options like that. They do, however, have device options.

Snoring. It’s a problem that plagues more than 90 million Americans, according to sleep experts. Snoring can often be funny, and even somewhat cute at first, but a chronically sleep-deprived bunkmate is no laughing matter.

(Via: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/snoring-sucks-6-couples-sound-off-about-this-noisy-nuisance_us_587961b0e4b09281d0eb0054)

The biggest health implication of snoring actually affects those who snore themselves. Snoring may appear to be a major disturbance during sleep but the problem lies deeper and can lead to serious health issues.

Untreated, severe obstructive sleep apnea more than doubles your risk of dying from heart disease, the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project warns in conjunction with American Heart Month in February. Project partners – including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Sleep Research Society (SRS) – are launching the “Sleep Apnea Hurts Hearts” campaign to raise public awareness and urge individuals with symptoms of sleep apnea to talk to a doctor about their risk.
“Obstructive sleep apnea is a dangerous disease that can severely damage your heart if left untreated,” said Dr. Ronald Chervin, president of the AASM and a spokesperson for the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project. “With millions of sufferers remaining undiagnosed, it is critical to raise nationwide awareness about obstructive sleep apnea so that it can be treated with CPAP therapy, which can reduce the risk of cardiovascular death.”
Nearly 30 million American adults are kept from restful sleep by obstructive sleep apnea, a chronic disease that involves the repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep. According to the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project, there are five key warning signs and risk factors for sleep apnea: snoring, choking or gasping during sleep, fatigue or daytime sleepiness, obesity (BMI of 30 or higher) and high blood pressure.

(Via: http://www.ellatino.com/news/0217/021817-hw_sleep_apnea.shtml)

Snorers may actually suffer from life-threatening cardiovascular conditions without them knowing. People who snore rarely see a doctor just because of the snoring issue itself because many have learned to adjust to the discomforts caused by one. However, snoring should be considered a serious health risk that warrants prompt medical attention.

Whether you are the snorer, or your snoring partner is keeping you awake at night, you know it disrupts your sleep and can be quite annoying. Some people think snoring is a result of being in a deep sleep, but it can actually be indicative of a very serious health problem.
This problem is, sleep apnea. In this condition, the person stops breathing momentarily and wakes up abruptly in order to catch their breath. This can be a detrimental condition to live with because it disrupts your sleep and increases the risk of other health issues. The main symptom of sleep apnea is snoring, that’s why if you are a snorer, it’s imperative to go for a sleep test.
Stanley Yung Lui, sleep surgeon at Stanford, explained, “Asleep patients are often unaware of breathing interruptions that have serious health risks. Snoring is a warning sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) — but not every snorer has sleep apnea, and not everyone with sleep apnea snores. Snoring and OSA can lead to serious health risks such as arrhythmia, high blood pressure, neurocognitive impairment, and accidents due to sleepiness.”

(Via: http://www.belmarrahealth.com/when-you-should-worry-about-your-snoring-about/)

Snoring is just a symptom of sleep apnea – a serious health issue that not only affects sleep quality and quantity but hastens cognitive decline and put people at risk of heart disease. You may also be prone to having accidents since your mind is tired after a long sleepless night leaving you anxious and irritable throughout the day.

People who suffer from snoring should not be ashamed to seek professional medical help because snoring does not just go away on its own. Treatments are available and you need not suffer every night from the discomforts caused by sleep apnea.

The following blog article How Snoring Affects Your Overall Health is courtesy of The HD Business Blog

source https://hdbizblog.com/blog/how-snoring-affects-your-overall-health/

How Charity Works In The Modern World

It feels good to share with others. No matter how big or small it may be, it is sure to make a difference in the life of the other person. In this increasingly materialistic world, the disparity between the rich and the poor becomes more obvious. So, charities that give back to the poor not only makes the world a better place but only goes to show that not all is lost in humanity.

It is even easier to give back today than it was in the past. For instance, you can now donate using your Apple device. You can choose from 22 UK charities to be the beneficiary of your donation.

Apple has partnered with 22 UK charities to let iOS users pledge donations using Apple Pay. The feature, which rolled out in the US last November, operates inside the Safari browser and lets anyone with a supported iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch securely send money to their favourite organisation using only their fingerprint.

Participating organisations include: ActionAid UK, Alzheimer's Society, Barnardo's, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Comic Relief, Concern Worldwide (UK), DEC, Marie Curie, Oxfam, (RED), The Royal British Legion, RNIB, RNLI, RSPB, RSPCA, Scope, Sightsavers, Unicef UK, VSO, WaterAid, and WWF-UK.

(Via: https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/08/apple-pay-uk-charities/)

It is a convenient way to do charity work without having to go through all the hassles that making a traditional donation usually entails.

Apple Pay donations first launched in the U.S. last November, with organizations like (RED), UNICEF, and the American Red Cross in tow.

Charity support has been relatively slow to expand, but Apple is presumably vetting groups and arranging any financial exemptions. The company normally claims a small fee from banks for each Apple Pay transaction.

(Via: http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/03/08/apple-pay-donations-turn-on-for-22-uk-charities-such-as-oxfam-unicef)

Even dating sites like Tinder know that they not only influence the life of those single men and women who use their site to hook up but that they can make a bigger impact on the world by giving back to people who need help the most.

This charity work is done in partnership with Pledgling.com in commemoration of International Women’s Day that took place this week.

All you have to do is on Wednesday at 9am, tweet @Tinder with the name of your women's rights charity of choice along with the hashtag #FundHerCause. Then you'll receive a code to donate $100 to one of 12 pre-approved charities!

The 12 charities include Planned Parenthood, Girls Who Code, Women for Women International, UN Women and many more amazing charities.

Letting people donate isn't all Tinder is doing this year for women's rights. The apparently-quite-altruistic app is also hosting an immersive art installation at London's South Bank's Observation Point in collab with art couple Charlotte Colbert and her husband, Philip Colbert.

(Via: http://www.konbini.com/us/lifestyle/tinder-charity-donations-international-womens-day/)

Even markets have caught up in this whole giving craze. Whole Food stores in the Santa Monica area are also doing their fair share of charity work this International Women’s Day and donated 5% of their net sales to local charities.

Whole Food stores throughout the Santa Monica area are participating in a March 8 Community Giving Day by donating 5 percent of net sales to local charities.

Several stores are partnering with the Westside Family Health Center while the Venice location will donate to Venice-based Safe Place for Youth (S.P.Y.).

Stores donating to the health center include, 1050 Gayley Avenue, 11737 San Vicente Blvd, 1425 Montana Avenue, 2201 Wilshire Blvd and 500 Wilshire Blvd.

(Via: http://smdp.com/whole-foods-donating-5-to-charity-today/160030)

Not everyone has the same abilities and opportunities in life. So, it is heart-warming to witness all this giving back that is taking place all around us. It sets a good vibe that makes people happy for no reason. If only more people learn the value of sharing and caring for others, the world will be a much better place to live in. You can sleep soundly at night knowing that you have made a difference in someone’s life today.

How Charity Works In The Modern World is available on OCBG

source https://hdbizblog.com/blog/how-charity-works-in-the-modern-world/

Youth Violence: Where Did Parents Go Wrong?

Since birth, it is a parent’s responsibility to provide and care for their children. A parent’s love is unconditional and knows no boundaries. A child brought up in an atmosphere of love and acceptance will grow up to be a responsible and law-abiding citizen, always respectful of other people and their feelings.

However, that is not always the case. Some parents are not yet ready for the responsibility of caring for another human being. Not only are the kid’s needs not met but they fail to be good examples as well.

Domestic violence is a reality for many of today’s youth. But who is to blame? Children become violent when their parents hit them but may also be because they witness a violent relationship between their own parents. These kids grow up with violent tendencies and become a menace to society themselves. Today, children are also the culprit in most school shootings throughout the country.

A simple question parents often ask is, “What does my child need?” Children need a home that is safe and loving and free of violence and parents who protect them. Home should provide a sense of stability, with comfort and support.

For too many children, home is not a safe place. Each year, millions of children are exposed to domestic violence in the home, and this can have a powerful impact on their lives. These children may witness the violence, hear the distressing sounds or sense it. UNICEF reports: “Violence in the home is one of the most pervasive human rights challenges of our time.”

What might thoughtful parenting look like in homes where violence is occurring? Children who are exposed to intimate partner violence need to know they are not alone and that the violence is not their fault. Children who have one adult who gives them love, support, and attentive care cope better than those who do not.

(Via: http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2017/feb/19/thoughtful-parenting-children-and-domestic-violenc/)

The home should be a place where kids can feel safe and loved – not the other way around. If they feel threatened in their very own homes, how else will they feel out in the big wide world? They will also have a hard time coping with violent situations outside the home – whether it is a crime they have witnessed or have seen someone they know get hurt.

Physical abuse, neglect, exposure to parental substance addiction, witnessing domestic violence, abduction and sexual abuse are experienced by children as traumatic events. Add to that list everyday, seemingly ordinary, events, such as seeing a friend hurt; being in an automobile crash; being bullied or watching another child be bullied; learning of the death of a friend, family member or beloved pet; being ignored or dismissed repeatedly when asking for help; being left alone; living in a divorce war zone; and having to spend time with a person perceived by the child as being untrustworthy or dangerous.

No parent deliberately exposes his or her children to any of the above traumatic events. Many of us do not consider the way we were raised by our parents to be abusive, much less traumatic. When we were children, some of us were spanked “for our own good.” As parents, we believe, perhaps unconsciously, that naughty children deserve to be spanked to teach them a lesson. However, when a child’s sense of self and psychological safety is threatened by parental deliberate or unintentional acts, those are encoded in the child’s brain as traumatic.

And it has a negative impact on a child – something they can carry with them as an adult.

In children exposed to trauma, the higher centers of the brain do not participate in decision-making, so fear-based responses prevail. These children may react in a manner out of proportion to a seemingly benign incident. In children exposed to trauma, the ability to self-regulate is weakened.

(Via: http://www.craigdailypress.com/news/2017/jan/22/thoughtful-parenting-children-and-trauma/)

There are environmental factors that also influence the life of a child but parents play the biggest role of them all. Kids with irresponsible or violent parents grow up to be a threat to their own communities.

Unfortunately our society today is quick to blame anyone and everyone for the state of our youth. The school system, guns, the media, a chemical imbalance and McDonalds are all to blame for our uneducated, violent, perverted, hyperactive, and obese children. Although these external variables can play a role in shaping our children, at the end of the day, the individuals who most influence children throughout childhood and adolescence are parents. It is parents who mold children, are the navigators of their life, and are the ones who count most. Although this may be obvious, it seems like this idea is slowly being eroded away in the national discourse about children. Parents still matter, and overly emphasizing all these other influences in the talk about children risks chipping away further at the most important player in all of this.

(Via: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/avidan-milevsky/school-shootings-and-pare_b_4350606.html)

The youth is our future. Parents should take the responsibility of rearing them up seriously. They need good role models to emulate as they grow up. Violence among the youth can be avoided if parents supervise their kids in everything they do. Simple things like surfing the Internet can have deadly consequences.

The world may be increasingly unpleasant and dangerous for children but if the kids have a good foundation at home, they can navigate their way through life without succumbing to peer pressure or addiction to vices that cloud their thinking and impairs their judgment.

The blog post Youth Violence: Where Did Parents Go Wrong? Read more on: https://hdbizblog.com

source https://hdbizblog.com/blog/youth-violence-where-did-parents-go-wrong/

Charity In The Clouds

While we all strive to aspire for all the better things in life for ourselves and for our family, we still manage to somehow share to the less fortunate when we have something extra – whether it be in goods or cash. You feel good whenever you share, right? Not only do your charitable efforts pay off in heaven but it likewise helps uplift the life of another human being.

Charity giving also leveled up along with technological advancements. Most charitable efforts and fundraising activities now take place on the web. Social media is a powerful tool in reaching out to more people without spending much on propaganda. It’s basically the digital form of word-of-mouth. Helping others have never been this easier. If only technology is always used in a good way and not to spread hate and negativity, life indeed will be such a breeze.

Cloud, in every form, is a boon for non-profit. Out of necessity, charities in particular have very strong governance in place to scrutinise the value of any investment and have thin resources that must be utilised as efficiently as possible – particularly if reliant on fundraising. They will often have little IT infrastructure and no in-house IT support, so the opportunity to outsource to the cloud where they pay for only what it is needed at that point in time is compelling.

Non-profits were quick to adopt everyday office and collaboration tools such as mail, document sharing and conferencing on a flexible per-user basis. However, what’s really interesting is how non-profits can access innovative cutting-edge services such as data analytics and machine learning that would have only been possible by joining the queue at a major university computing centre in years gone by.

Research scientists can crunch terabytes of data in the cloud and scale to suit their needs – and funding levels – in an effort to solve big problems like predicting crop failures, understanding societal and health trends, or eradicating disease.

(Via: https://thestack.com/big-data/2017/03/28/how-big-data-and-cloud-are-supporting-life-saving-non-profit-operations/)

While many of us only have a limited technological know-how, there are a handful of people who excel in the field who are now using technology to improve society by giving/ sharing more and helping find solutions to problems that plague mankind for as long as we can remember.

Five years ago few people would have heard of Uber, Airbnb or Netflix but now they are household names.

And, as more of us turn to apps and technology for the services we use in our leisure it would be naïve for charities to ignore the digital revolution, wouldn’t it?

Well, worryingly, a recent study by Lloyds banking group found that a staggering 49% of third sector organisations lack basic digital skills.

The report’s authors said this included such things as charities having a website, having a social media presence or an ability to accept online giving.

So, are those charities ignoring digital at risk of being left behind?

Financially yes - the report also found charities that are more digitally mature are 28% more likely to report an increase in funding than those who aren’t.

So why are so many charities failing to be more digitally aware?

As with much of the sector, funding is an issue. To make use of any new technology some training is often required and although there are some free online courses, depending on the tech involved training costs can still add up. 

To implement new digital strategies and techniques new staff may have to be hired in specialist roles, particularly if existing staff don’t have digital skills or are simply stretched to the limit in their current role.

(Via: http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/tech-special-digital-is-booming-and-charities-need-to-take-note)

More charitable institutions must realize the importance of keeping up-to-date to technological innovations to staying relevant in a rapidly changing world. If not, you miss out on a lot of opportunities to seek help and consequently help those who are poor and struggling in life. If you look around you, you’ll see that the future lies with technology.

So, why not take advantage of technology and spread the love through charitable works and fundraising activities that raise awareness for various causes – and no better way to do it than up in the clouds where all the action is currently taking place.

The blog article Charity In The Clouds is courtesy of HDBizBlog

source https://hdbizblog.com/blog/charity-in-the-clouds/

U.S. International Relations During The Trump Era

Now that the United States has elected a new president, the world is watching for his next course of actions with an eagle's eye. Not only is political activism growing within the country but the U.S. international relations is also a sensitive topic made even worse by President Trump’s controversial moves so far – think of immigration policies and the travel ban.

His words are uttered without caution and it has put the country in a negative light in the global arena. The country’s economy will undoubtedly suffer if he continues to speak and act harshly without thinking of the repercussions of his actions. After all, he is no longer just an entrepreneur but the highest elected official of one of the most powerful countries in the world.

The U.S. should think twice before severing ties with China or angering the Russian leader even further when the latter actually congratulated him during his unprecedented win late last year.

VLADIMIR Putin was tonight brought in from the international wilderness as new US President Donald Trump vowed to oversee a new era of "constructive cooperation" between the two rival superpowers.
In a phone call which will send shockwaves through Brussels the Republican supremo promised to work more closely with the Kremlin chief on global affairs, marking a significant thawing in the relationship between the US and Russia.
European Union leaders have spent the week blindly lashing out against the new President-elect in a desperate attempt to appear relevant to his new administration. But tonight's call between the two world leaders, which was apparently warm and conciliatory, will only heighten their fears that Brussels is set to be sidelined by the new US government.
During a historic conversation, the Kremlin chief offered his congratulations to Mr Trump on his shock victory over Hillary Clinton and expressed his hope that relations between the pair would be significantly better than those he had with Barack Obama.
Mr. Putin told the 70-year-old President-elect that he respects him and hopes to enter into a successful political partnership in the future so they can work together to defeat extremism and terror.

(Via: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/732261/Vladimir-Putin-Donald-Trump-Russia-America-President-US-politics)

However, Trump's outrageous policies so far did nothing to assuage the worries of the leaders of many organizations and even that of other nations especially in China, Europe, and the Middle East. Worse, they even united against a common enemy – Trump himself.

European Union leaders voiced concerns about US President Donald Trump at a summit in Malta on Friday, saying they needed to stick together to face an increasingly uncertain global future.
The 28 countries showed a flash of unity by backing a plan to curb mass migration from Libya by helping the north African state´s coastguard to stop boats making the dangerous crossing to Italy.
But worries about the new US administration overshadowed the talks, with French President Francois Hollande slamming Trump´s "unacceptable" comments backing Britain´s decision to leave the EU.
"He shouldn´t meddle in in the European Union´s business," Hollande told reporters.
"It is unacceptable that there should be, through a certain number of statements by the president of the United States, pressure on what Europe should or should not be."
Other leaders said that while they wanted to maintain transatlantic ties they also had to be realistic faced with a president who has backed further exits from the EU and called NATO "obsolete".

Even bolder statements have been issued by some European leaders as of late that reveal what they really think of the American leader.

The twin shocks of Brexit and Trump´s election have prompted deep soul-searching in the EU about its place in the world, and how to counter populist and eurosceptic movements that want to dismantle the bloc.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told Time magazine in an interview that it was time for the EU to take "very strong decisions".
"In the last few months we have seen the Brexit, we have seen the election of Trump -- it means that it is time now to move in Europe," he said

(Via: https://www.geo.tv/latest/129901-EU-leaders-unite-over-Trump-concerns)

And we can only hope that things will turn for the better when it comes to U.S.-Russia relations in the years to come.

The telephone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump on January 29 was the first official contact between the two leaders since Trump’s investiture. The Kremlin has welcomed Trump’s promises to mend ties with Moscow, which have been strained by the Ukrainian crisis, the war in Syria and allegations of Russian meddling in the US elections.
All of these points of contention to one side, one of the key objectives behind Trump’s outreach to Moscow is whether he can persuade Russia to turn away from Iran. In an article for Bloomberg, Eli Lake states: “The Romanovs humiliated Iran in the 19th century with punitive treaties. Last summer tensions rose briefly when the Russians acknowledged they were flying air missions out of Iran into Syria. Iranian mistrust of Russia can be exploited with deft diplomacy.”

(Via: https://www.fairobserver.com/region/europe/russia-us-relations-donald-trump-vladimir-putin-politics-news-17331/)

The new president has much to learn regarding international diplomacy. So, he should never take things lightly. His habit of saying things without thinking will not work in the global arena and the country’s international relations may eventually suffer (as if it is not already suffering right now).

The future of the United States (well, for the next four years that is) lies in his capable (?) hands. His cabinet and advisors should do their job and guide the President on how to conduct himself as one to make up for his lack of experience as a public official. Millions of lives depend on his sound judgment – and whether you voted for him or not – you have no choice but to support his leadership and do your part in helping the country by being a responsible American citizen in everything you do.

U.S. International Relations During The Trump Era is republished from OCBG

source https://hdbizblog.com/blog/u-s-international-relations-during-the-trump-era/

Why Cloud Technology?

The human race has gone so far when it comes to computing. From bulky computers with limited functions, we now enjoy a sleek line of gadgets that allows us to do multiple tasks at once. Smartphones are fast becoming a technology favorite while people who do computing for work can rely on a trusted laptop or desktop computer to help him/ her do the job with ease.

What is even better with these technological advancements is not its hardware but what is inside it. Software ten years ago is but a shadow of the software advances we now have. Experts became ambitious when it came to data storage and the use of CDs or flash drives for external storage are not the only solution anymore. Cloud computing is now the name of the game and it has blown away people’s mind when it was launched.

At its most basic, the cloud is simply about taking all of the tech you used to have on your computer and letting someone else take care of it for you. The easiest way to understand this is to think of renting these resources (servers, hard drives, networking gear) from companies like Dropbox, Google, Amazon and Microsoft that maintain them in their own data centers, instead of owning them. In a way, this is akin to renting an apartment instead of owning your own home. In this case, however, you are renting computer resources instead of a roof over your head — and just like with the apartment you’re renting, your landlord is in charge of taking care of maintenance.

So instead of having to worry about dealing with all of the hardware and software that runs on it, you can just do your job and run your business.

Imagine life before all these technologies took place.

Before smartphones, tablets, laptops and the cloud, we had a big beige box under our desks (or lots of them sitting in a data center). We bought software and installed it onto the hard drive, and often lived with the old version for years because upgrading was expensive, time-consuming and could cause compatibility issues. The cloud changed all that.

(Via: https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/19/wtf-is-cloud-computing/)

And it does not show any signs of ever slowing down.

Cloud adoption in the UK has reached the point where it is not far off being universal and there will be more customer spending in that area this year.

The latest state of the market analysis from the Cloud Industry Forum has found thatUK cloud adoption rates now stand at 88%, with 67% of users expecting to increase their use of hosted services even more over the course of 2017.

Year-on-year the cloud adoption rate has gone up by 5% with small firms and the public sector driving a lot of that growth.

(Via: http://www.computerweekly.com/microscope/news/450414811/Cloud-adoption-reaches-fresh-highs-but-skills-and-security-issues-remain)

Google has even bigger plans for cloud technology and will take its A-game a notch higher.

Machine learning, though, could eliminate such problems, and Google is now offering one such solution: the Cloud Video Intelligence API, currently in private beta. Unveiled yesterday during the kickoff of the three-day Google Cloud Next '17 event in San Francisco, the application program interface (API) is the first of its kind to enable subject- and context-based searches of video content, according to Google.

Yesterday, Google also announced its acquisition of Kaggle, described as "the world's largest community of data scientists and machine learning enthusiasts." By joining forces with Kaggle, Google said it will be able to speed up efforts to advance and democratize the adoption of artificial intelligence.

(Via: http://www.cio-today.com/article/index.php?story_id=030000HWVG9U)

We can only wonder what the future has in store for us with all these technologies ruling our life. Two decades ago, only a small percentage of the population owned cellphones – and they were the big and bulky ones. You also need a camera to take pictures, a video camera to take videos, a calculator to make computations, and you get in touch with people through regular snail mail.

Indeed, life is very much different back then. But now that our technology has reached the clouds, artificial intelligence may be the next big thing and a common one as well ten to twenty years from now. Who knows, right? For now, let us just enjoy all the comfort and convenience offered by these technological knick-knacks without missing out on what’s really important in life – quality time and meaningful relationships with the people you love.

The blog article Why Cloud Technology? was first seen on The HD Business Blog

source https://hdbizblog.com/blog/why-cloud-technology/

A Brighter Future With Public Education For All

Education is a form of intangible wealth that can't be taken away from you forever. It is your ultimate tool to remain globally competitive and succeed in this world that is far becoming more technological than ever. It is the reason why you go to school from your early years until you get a degree and are ready to face the real world. Unfortunately, education does not always come cheap.

Public education is available to the majority of the American youth from primary to secondary school as long as you are okay with the system. Public schools can be stressful for students but it is better to get an education than nothing at all.

Getting an education even becomes more challenging (and even impossible for some) during college. It becomes optional. High school graduates who can’t afford to pay for high college tuition fees join the workforce and forget about their bigger dreams that a good education can help you realize. It is why states like Texas are doing something to address issues regarding public education because most Americans can’t afford private school nor pay for college but it does not mean there is no hope for them anymore.

A road trip to the state capitol may not seem to be the best way spend a spring break, but that’s how second grade teacher Sarah Marsch was spending her Monday.  Instead of hitting the beach, Marsch and other educators spent the morning navigating the hallways of the capitol extension.

"The kids deserve an education more than one day out of my Spring Break,” said Marsch.

This trip, organized by the Texas American Federation of Teachers, was to promote public education. The group is passionate about their message but Texas AFT is competing with several hot topics for the attention of state lawmakers. Emotional debates have already been held on legislation to ban sanctuary city policies, as well as on a proposal to regulate access to rest rooms.

(Via: http://www.fox7austin.com/news/local-news/241339423-story)

They believe that the children’s future is worth fighting for and they will do their best for their voices to be heard by the politicians who shape the future of our country.

It has been said that passions, only passions, can elevate the soul to great things.

As we reflect on the third nine weeks of school, it is clearly evident that we are surrounded by exceptional students, outstanding employees, supportive parents, a visionary Board of Trustees and a community that truly values the importance of education. With everyone's commitment and dedication to the success of "Every Child, Every Classroom, Every Day," we indeed bring forth positive changes throughout the Victoria Independent School District.

(Via: https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2017/mar/11/proper-state-funding-for-public-education-is-vital/)

More on this story:

Hundreds of Houston ISD educators, parents and students used their first day of spring break to advocate for education at the State House.

At about 6:30 a.m., nine charter buses hit the road for Austin all set to meet with lawmakers regarding the latest issues facing education.

The Houston Federation of Teachers led the charge. President Zeph Capo says they will spend the time to focus on two main issues including funding.

“The state says that we are rich,” explained Capo. “However, if you ask any one of the teachers or even the students that are with us today they'll say they can't tell that from their classrooms.”

(Via: http://www.khou.com/news/local/public-schools-rally-in-austin-on-monday/422101762)

It does not help that President’s new Education secretary appointment faces a lot of criticisms and backlash from the public in general.

After a tie-breaking vote by Vice President Mike Pence, Betsy DeVos was named the nation’s Secretary of Education. DeVos, having only recently secured the title, has stirred up quite a bit of commotion in the United States.

Billionaire DeVos is the most recent Trump administration controversy to fill Twitter feeds in the last week or so, but this time, the controversy is surrounding not just education as it sits, but potentially the education of generations to come.

But then, you can’t blame the people for not liking her and doubting her capabilities to perform her job well.

Much of the criticism surrounding any important party-affiliated decision can be logically traced back to the other party, but in DeVos’s case, both parties seem to have their own fair share of issues. This comes from a huge concern regarding DeVos’s lack of experience in education.

Other than only showing her support for school vouchers and charter school implementation countrywide, DeVos has little experience in the education system.

It seems almost as if DeVos has only her financial power and a night of reading education articles to thank for her position as Secretary of Education of the United States.

(Via: http://www.nwmissourinews.com/opinion/article_3126241a-f8b1-11e6-a54a-d7d1b21aab52.html)

Other do not see her as a good fit for the role because she likely has no idea what the education department needs – especially the needs of the schools and the students. What we all need is someone who has genuine interest to improve public education, so our youth grows up to be educated individuals who can help America regain greatness despite the many flaws of its political system.

A Brighter Future With Public Education For All is courtesy of HDBizBlog.com

source https://hdbizblog.com/blog/a-brighter-future-with-public-education-for-all/

Rising Political Activism In Trump’s America

The political tension in the country right now is palpable that even those in other countries can feel it. With the recent unexpected win of the Republican presidential candidate, now President Donald Trump, emotions have been high and even ordinary people get into heated arguments in real life and on social media regarding their political beliefs.

And this tension has been experienced since the campaign started – or even as early as when both parties were choosing who their presidential bets will be. The Clinton and Trump rivalry is even more intriguing and explosive than your average Hollywood movie. People were on the edge of their seats as the election unfolds until the winner was announced.However, people today refuse to be on the sidelines and have mustered the guts to fight for their rights. The rise in political activism allows their voices to be heard amidst the chatter of the controversial U.S. politics.

However, people today refuse to be on the sidelines and have mustered the guts to fight for their rights. The rise in political activism allows their voices to be heard amidst the chatter of the noisy U.S. politics.

For years, Justin Boyan worried about the effects of climate change but focused on his wife, his two daughters and his work as a computer scientist in Rhode Island. Then Donald J. Trump became president, and Mr. Boyan was jolted into political activism.

Within days of the election, Mr. Boyan began volunteering for the Working Families Party, a liberal political organization focused on income inequality, and attended almost weekly protests to voice his dismay. He traveled to the Women’s March on Washington with his family the day after inauguration, protested Mr. Trump’s travel ban at the Rhode Island state capital, and began studying criminal justice issues, which he connects to climate change as two issues where policy makers, he believes, have put the demands of big-money contributors over the needs of ordinary people.

The same energy motivating Mr. Boyan is bursting out at demonstrations and town hall meetings across the country. Protesters who had focused on issues like police shootings of black people, a $15 minimum wage and climate change are collaborating against a common foe, President Trump. In cities and states, activists are exchanging civil disobedience tactics, pooling financial resources and showing up to demonstrations about issues that they may not have previously focused on.

Call it Protest Nation: Activists across the country have been strengthening old partnerships and making new ones.

(Via: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/us/politics/protesters-resist-trump.html?_r=0)

Political activism will probably be a constant threat to the new administration to ensure they remain level-headed and pass and enforce national policies and laws that benefit most Americans.

First, activists did not foresee Bush doing the destructive actions that Trump has already initiated. Second, the threatened deportation of millions of immigrants means that millions more know someone at risk from Trump. Third, millions are either personally impacted by the threatened loss of health care or know someone who is.

But this heightened activism involves more than Trump. The Sanders and Clinton campaigns both energized the progressive base. I think activists would have been just as fired up and excited to get positive laws passed had Clinton won the White House, though clearly there would not be the fear that Trump has so maliciously spread across America.

(Via: https://www.laprogressive.com/grassroots-activism/)

The last U.S. presidential election is perhaps the most divisive the country (and the world) has ever witnessed. Ordinary people became political activists who will stay vigilant considering the many outrageous things the new President have implemented so far.

The travel ban, the Obamacare repeal, “A Day Without A Woman,” Russian hacking—keeping up with politics is overwhelming right now. And it can be hard to know how to take action most effectively, whether you’re a progressive or a conservative. A San Francisco company called IFTTT is offering a solution: Online apps that automate the process, such as creating an email digest of tweets from Women’s March organizers or posting the Senate’s daily agenda to a Slack channel. The company just introduced a suite of tools, called applets, for causes on the political left and right.

(Via: https://www.fastcompany.com/3068810/want-to-stay-on-top-of-your-political-activism-there-are-some-apps-for-tha)

Even though most political activists right now focus on their fight against Trump and his biased policies, real activism is actually neutral in nature. Activists react to everything that concerns (or affects) them whether it comes from the ruling party or the losing one.

It is a good thing that political activists can make the most of social media to reach a bigger audience. These new technologies serve as a bigger platform, so more people can hear their sentiments without spending much. After all, these new policies not only affect people in America but in other countries too on issues regarding open trade and immigration policies that have caused a stir not long ago.

Rising Political Activism In Trump’s America See more on: https://hdbizblog.com

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