PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism

“PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism,” premieres on October 9. The half-hour program will feature candid and authentic conversations between kids and their parents about race and racial justice-related topics in an age-appropriate way and offer viewers ideas to build on as they continue these important conversations at home. The special will be hosted by Amanda Gorman, the writer, activist and first-ever Youth Poet Laureate of the U.S. 

As Gorman shares in the show, when something is confusing or uncomfortable, she likes to talk about it. Growing up, she would participate in daily family meetings, where the kids got to pick any topic they wanted to discuss, whatever was on their minds. It is that same spirit that moved Gorman, whose poetry often discusses race, to become involved in the timely production.

In addition to the frank, up-to-the-minute conversations on the subject, “PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism” will include relevant content from the popular PBS KIDS series Daniel Tiger’s NeighborhoodArthur and Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. Just following the special will be the premiere of a brand-new episode of the animated PBS KIDS series, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, featuring Harriet Tubman as well as an Arthur short created “in memory of civil rights legend John Lewis,” as noted on-screen.

PBS KIDS announced a new special, “PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism,” premiering October 9. The half-hour program will feature authentic conversations between real children and their parents, and will include content from PBS KIDS series DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOODARTHUR and XAVIER RIDDLE AND THE SECRET MUSEUM. The show will feature kids and their parents talking about race and racial justice-related topics in an age-appropriate way, such as noticing differences in race, understanding what racism can look like, and embracing the role we all have to play in standing up for ourselves and each other — offering viewers ideas to build on as they continue these important conversations at home.

The special will debut as part of PBS KIDS Family Night on the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel, and will also be available on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings), and streaming on pbskids.org, the PBS KIDS Video app and on PBS KIDS’ FacebookYouTube, and Instagram.

“PBS KIDS believes kids are capable of understanding and talking through tough, but important issues with the adults in their lives – something that has been core to our mission for the last 50 years,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, Children’s Media and Education, PBS. “Through the PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism special, our goal is to support parents in talking with their children about race, anti-Black racism in our country, and how to be actively anti-racist. Parents have increasingly asked us for these resources, and we hope that this special will provide a helpful starting point in whatever way they choose to have these conversations with their children.”

PBS KIDS Talk About,” previously an online-only video series, models authentic and practical parent-child conversations that reflect PBS KIDS’ core values of kindness and curiosity, and has included real families addressing topics such as feelings and emotions, relationships and family, curiosity and wonder, bravery and courage, and self-confidence and determination.

To support this new offering, PBS KIDS provides a variety of resources to help parents talk to young children about race and racism. This resource hub on PBS KIDS for Parents includes articles, a webinar, booklists, links to programming, and more tips and resources to help parents have meaningful conversations with young children about race, racism, and being anti-racist.

Produced by Crossroads Productions for PBS, the special was developed in consultation with Dr. Aisha White (Director, The P.R.I.D.E Program (Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education)), Dr. Renée Wilson-Simmons (Executive Director, ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience) Awareness Foundation), and Dr. Dana Winters (Director of Simple Interactions and Academic Programs; Assistant Professor of Child and Family Studies, Fred Rogers Center). The “PBS KIDS Talk About” series and the “PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism” special were created with major funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Best tools to overcome COVID anxiety, help you sleep #SleepBetter #LessStress

sleep well

Are you more stressed out then ever? The current pandemic is giving people anxiety at high rates, and so are the added stresses of quarantine, at home learning, working from home, loss of jobs, evictions, fear of getting covid or losing a loved one, having someone stay at home with the kids, fear of losing your job, home, insurance, etc. It’s no joke.

Even in normal times, approximately 30 percent to 35 percent of the population experiences acute, or short-term, insomnia. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts say interrupted schedules, stress and anxiety due to the virus has caused more people to not be able to fall asleep at night and get a good night’s rest.

A former Silicon Valley executive who worked at Tesla and FitBit, has created a way to help anyone get to sleep and stay asleep even during the pandemic. He launched The Happy Labs, a CBDsupplement company that uses only organic hemp and guarantees quality control and ingredients with a trackable seed to shelf process. On nights when sleep seems like it will never come, The Happy Labs Goodnight Pills, which are a blend of 10mg of melatonin, chamomile and 30mg of CBD, should help the body relax, the eyes get heavy and usher in a peaceful sleep.

If you are having a hard time getting to sleep, try these. So much more then just the basic melatonin, Happy Labs Goodnight Pills are a blend of 10mg of melatonin, chamomile and 30mg of CBD that should help the body relax, the eyes get heavy and usher in a peaceful night’s rest. 

No reason to lay in bed awake and letting your thoughts drive you crazy all night long. Try these all natural tablets, and see if they work for you. Thanks for reading, and have a good night!

 

Natural Products from The Happy Labs Put Moods in the Right Groove

less stress

Organically grown, non-GMO, fully traceable CBD pills crafted for energy, rest and relaxation.

Humans have relied on the healing properties, mood impacts and other benefits of plants for centuries. Coffee beans and green tea are known for boosting energy, while chamomile and lavender can help relax and unwind a stressed mind for better sleep. The Happy Labs has created a product line up crafted to harness the power of plants, including Cannabidiol (CBD), to help adjust moods and feelings. 

The Happy Labs products are unique because each hemp plant is traced from seed to shelf and each product features a QR code giving consumers access to certified lab tests results specific to their product batch. All CBD used by The Happy Labs is derived from organically grown U.S. hemp. The seed is certified by the state’s agriculture department, and The Happy Labs CBD products are made with either CBD isolate that has 0% THC or full-spectrum CBD oil with < 0.3% THC.

“As with any industry, the CBD industry has its bad seeds,” said The Happy Labs CEO Chris Gross. “Companies have been found to have higher levels of THC than they are claiming on their labels, questionable chemical additives and in some cases less CBD than advertised. We wanted to have full transparency so that our consumers know exactly what is in the products they are consuming and have full confidence that what is printed on the label is what is inside the packaging.”

The Happy Labs product line currently includes:

Pick Me Up Pills – Designed to add pep and vigor, each pill contains 60mg of caffeine (equivalent to one shot of espresso) in addition to vitamins B6 and B12, vitamin C and 30mg of CBD. 

Chill Pill – When a meditation or yoga session is not possible, the Chill Pill is crafted using herbal supplements passionflower and valerian root as well as 30mg of CBD to help create a sense of calm relaxation. 

Good Night Pills – On nights when sleep seems like it will never come, this blend of 10mg of melatonin, chamomile and 30mg of CBD should help the body relax, the eyes get heavy and usher in a peaceful night’s rest. 

For people interested in the potential health benefits of CBD on its own, The Happy Labs also offers Full Spectrum Gel Capsules with 30mg CBD in each capsule and Pure CBD, a 0% THC CBD oil that contains approximately 30mg of CBD per 1ml dropper. 

The Happy Labs Pick Me Up Pills, Chill Pills and Good Night Pills are available now. Each tin contains 25 pills for $60. The Full Spectrum Gel Capsules (30 capsules) and Pure CBD (30 ml) are available for $75 each. Shop now at www.thehappylabs.com

Stressed out? Can’t sleep? Having trouble focusing? Your troubles are almost over!

If you are anything like us, someone in your house is a terrible, terrible sleeper. As for me, there are two of them. My spouse and my youngest son are both terrible sleepers. We have tried so many different remedies, medications, oils, yoga, massage, pressure points- you name it. Nothing worked, and definitely nothing worked well.

sleep better

We recently tried TOUCHPOINTS™. I know you will love this new and effective method of helping to create calm, sleep as much as we do (created by neuroscientist Dr. Amy Serin).

TOUCHPOINTS™ are new breakthrough wearable devices that use BLAST (Bi-Lateral Alternating Stimulation-Tactile) technology to help to reduce stress by over 70% in as little as 30 seconds. The devices are non-invasive, drug free and have shown great success not only for day to day anxiety and stress, for cravings, to promote restful sleep, deal with anger, and help us to focus and therefore increase performance.

What a great holiday gift. Who wouldn’t want your significant other, close friends, family members and even kids more relaxed and less stressed?  It’s great for those with PTSD as well. This is the gift that keeps on giving throughout the year as everyday pressures, workloads, social situations, and family dynamics (not to mention reading the news) create stress on an ongoing basis.

The original TOUCHPOINTS™ work with an app and have six settings; the new, basic model has three settings and does not require an app, making it easier for children with ADHD or autism to use them in school or elsewhere more easily. Parents and teachers both rave about their effectiveness. TOUCHPOINTS™ basic and original are available at www.ilovetouchpoints.com and numerous other retailers and are reasonably priced to make them accessible, one of the goals of the company’s founders, Dr. Amy Serin and Vicki Mayo.

With school beginning, and many students (and their parents) are stressed out about heading back to school–without considering that cutting-edge neuroscience offers a quick, easy solution.  TouchPoints are a non-invasive, wearable devices that are worn on either sides of the body (on the wrists, pockets, socks, etc) and use patent-pending neuroscience technology shown to reduce stress by up to 70% in just 30 seconds.

Two models are available:

  • TouchPoints Basic: Manually controlled with three settings (sleep, calm, anger). This model is perfect for elementary and junior high students. ($160)
  • TouchPoints Original: Controlled via smartphone (iOS and Android compatible) with six presettings (calm, focus, sleep, performance, anger, and cravings). High school and college students prefer this model. ($250)

Here is a case study to show how TouchPoints can be used to manage stress, hyperactivity, lack of proactivity and focus while at school. As you are curating the best back-to-school gadgets for the 2018 semester, please consider adding TouchPoints to the list.

You can visit www.thetouchpointsolution.com to learn more. You can use the code EQUALITY for $30 off your purchase.

Unusual Uses of Kratom

Kratom is a versatile herbal supplement. You can use kratom for various purposes. Kratom grows in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. All these places have different regions where kratom grows. The people there use kratom for many purposes

If you would like to try out kratom, you can find it here https://www.authentickratom.com/. Different strains have different uses. Some are usual while some are unusual and not so common. Today, we will learn about the usual and unusual uses of kratom. So, let’s get started!

Unusual Uses of Kratom

Kratom is a drug that can be used for a lot of purposes. You can use the leaves, and powder of kratom to make a lot of things. To get the most out of your kratom powder, you should use it in every way possible.

Using kratom for pain relief and stress relief is common. But, using it for other purposes is relatively new. So, what are these purposes and how can you get the most out of kratom? Let’s find out!

Kratom Incense

You can make kratom incense using kratom powder. Incense is used for relaxing and so is kratom. So, why not combine the two things?

Many people make incense from kratom. You can find many vendors that sell kratom incense. You can also find incense kits to make kratom powder.

Why Make Kratom Incense?

Kratom incense gives a relaxing aroma. Using makko, you burn the kratom incense and it releases smoke. The smoke is what gives the effects of relaxation and calms your mind and body.

Many laborers in Southeast Asia use kratom as incense. It gives them energy, relieves body pain, and relaxes their mind.

The reason why you should make kratom incense is that it is one of the best materials for relaxation. Many kratom strains are best for relaxing purposes. The best strains for this purpose are the red and green vein kratom strains. If you use one of these strains to make your kratom incense, you will get the best experience from it.

How to Make Kratom Incense?

Making kratom incense is easy. Follow the steps mentioned below to make kratom incense from kratom powder:

  • Mix kratom powder, other herbs powder in a bowl. Add the makko powder in the bowl.
  • Add water in the mixture until it reaches a dough-like consistency.
  • Roll the dough on bamboo sticks to ¾ of the length. Wrap wax paper on the sticks.
  • Set the sticks aside for 12 hours. Turn the sticks so that every side of it gets dry.
  • When the sticks dry, light them up and use them.

Kratom Tincture

You can make kratom tincture at home using kratom powder. Kratom tincture is a new form of kratom. Many vendors sell kratom tincture. But what’s better than making it yourself?

If you have some extra kratom powder, making a tincture from it is its best use. Making kratom tincture is not hard; it is easy and fun. You can make kratom tincture in only a few hours.

Why Make Kratom Tincture?

The purpose of kratom tincture is to enhance the effects of kratom. When you mix kratom powder in ethanol, the mixture becomes potent. You get more intense effects than any other form of kratom.

As kratom tincture is highly effective, you don’t need a high dosage of it. Even low doses of kratom tincture give you intense effects. It also works faster than other kratom forms. Moreover, the effects of kratom tincture last for 8 hours.

Even kratom extracts don’t give you such intense effects. So, if you want to experience the intense effects of kratom, you can make kratom tincture.

If you use kratom leaves and grind them at home, it will be more potent. But it is fine if you make a tincture with kratom powder too.

How to Make Kratom Tincture?

To make kratom tincture at home, follow the steps mentioned below:

  • Add 4 ounces of kratom powder and 1 liter of ethyl alcohol in a glass jar. Mix the two things thoroughly so that kratom powder is mixed with ethyl alcohol.
  • Add citric acid to the mixture. Use a pH strip to check the pH of the mixture. The pH of the mixture should be 4. Stop adding citric acid once the mixture’s pH has reached 4.
  • Seal the jar and put it in a dark and cold place. The temperature of the place should be very low to get the best quality kratom tincture.
  • After a week, take out the mixture. Strain it to get rid of the powder.
  • Put the liquid into a tincture bottle and your kratom tincture is ready to use.

How to Use Kratom Tincture?

You can use kratom tincture in various ways. It depends upon your preference. But the following ways are the most common ones to use kratom tincture:

  • Swallowing
  • Adding to Food and Drinks

Swallowing

There are two ways of swallowing kratom directly. The first one is simple; swallow the desired dosage of kratom tincture.

The other one is called sublingual dosing. In this method, you put the desired dosage under your tongue for 30-60 seconds. After that, you swallow the rest. This method is more efficient than swallowing without keeping under your tongue.

Adding to Food and Drinks

You can add a few drops of kratom tincture to food and drinks. Most commonly, people add kratom tincture in coffee and tea. You can also make brownies using kratom tincture. Check out some other kratom recipes here.

Common uses of kratom include:

Kratom is a great pain reliever.

  • It reduces the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.
  • You can use kratom for opioid withdrawal.
  • It improves your sleep quality. You can use kratom for insomnia.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to get the most out of your kratom powder, what are you planning to do with it? Do you think kratom tincture is good for you or will you make kratom incense?

If you have extra kratom, you should use it in any way possible.

Helpful Tips To Avoid Motion Sickness When Traveling

Motion sickness is a feeling of nausea triggered by movement, which occurs during traveling via vehicle, boat, train, and even plane. Common symptoms include nausea, dizziness, headache, vomiting, sweating, and a general feeling of irritability. It is caused by a mismatch between what we see or feel and what our bodily senses perceive. It can also occur when the inner ear, the part responsible for balance and equilibrium, has an infection.

It is estimated that one-third of people are vulnerable to motion sickness. While it is not life-threatening, it can make your traveling experience unpleasant. Fortunately, there is something that can be done to avoid it or lessen its impact. Here are the top tips to prevent motion sickness and guarantee a healthy travel experience.

Watch Your Diet Before and During Travelling

Avoid eating heavy meals before and during traveling as they may trigger the sickness and make you uncomfortable. Instead, eat light and plain food or snacks. Light snacks such as dry crackers are known to ease stomach upset. Also, avoid foods with a strong odor. Greasy, fatty, acidic, and spicy food should also be avoided. Additionally, avoid taking too much alcohol before or during your traveling as it may worsen your discomfort. Drink water instead.

While you should avoid heavy meals, avoid traveling on an empty stomach, which may worsen the discomfort.

Find the Right Position

Position yourself where there is the least motion or discomfort. If on a vehicle, always get a front seat and opt for the window side. It allows you to enjoy the scenery and stay calm. On a ship, select the lower cabins near the center of the ship. This region experiences less movement and therefore prevents the trigger of motion sickness. The middle area of a plane is the calmest; go for this position. Choose the window seats on a train as they experience fewer bumps and also enable you to see the horizon. Positioning yourself right helps you avoid the turbulence that may trigger motion sickness.

Use Motion Sickness Wristbands

These wristbands are designed to guarantee healthy travel by helping relieve motion sickness symptoms, especially nausea and vomiting. The bands are worn to apply pressure on a point on the inner forearm known as the Nei Kuan spot. Although more studies are required, it seems acupressure may be an effective way to manage nausea and vomiting. You can wear these wristbands on your next trip to evade the discomfort of motion sickness.

Look to the Distance

When traveling, looking out to the distance helps the senses achieve congruence, preventing motion sickness. Check out the horizon or fix your gaze at a particular distant object. If you are prone to motion sickness, avoid acts such as reading while traveling as it increases the mismatch between your inner ear and your sight. It may eventually trigger motion sickness. Instead, try looking out the window to help the body gain calmness.

Take Ginger

Ginger is very useful in easing stomach upset. It is often recommended as an anti-nausea medication. Its components, gingerols and shogaols, help alleviate vomiting and nausea. These components work in the stomach, intestines, and in the nervous system to control nausea. Taking ginger can, therefore, help you avoid motion sickness. Try chewing the ginger root or taking ginger-flavored tablets before or during traveling. 

Chew Gum

Another effective way to curb motion sickness is to use chewing gum. The movement of jaws during gum chewing is known to work well with the inner ear, helping in attaining congruence in your sensory system. Additionally, most chewing gums contain flavors such as peppermint and ginger. These additives help prevent and relieve motion sickness symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

Use Motion Sickness Medicine

There are several over the counter drugs, available from pharmacies, that you can take to counter motion sickness. Drugs such as Bonine, Antivert, and Dramamine work well in preventing motion sickness. If you always experience extreme sickness, consult a medical expert for recommendations on the right prescription drugs for you. This is important since some medications have serious side effects. Most of these medications should be taken one or two hours before traveling. 

Traveling should be fun and exciting. However, motion sickness can make your trip miserable, ridding you of the comfort you should be enjoying. The above tips will go a long way to ensure you have a comfortable and healthy trip.

Six interesting facts about the history of hemp that you may not have known.

While most of us have a very contemporary and modern view about cannabis, its actual origins date back to centuries ago. In the days of yore, marijuana was not only used for recreational purposes but for medicinal, spiritual, and even religious purposes. The history of marijuana/cannabis and the importance that it had in the lives of people, all over the world, is undeniable.   

But due to the lack of such knowledge and the absence of a comprehensive view of cannabis history, there continues to be a lot of stigma about it, despite legalization and normalization. 

So we’ve compiled a list of six interesting historical facts about marijuana, which will leave you surprised and give you a new perspective about this famous plant. 

Hemp: A part of life – 

During the 16th century, the cultivation of hemp was a commonplace activity. Hemp was used for making clothing, rope, and several other kinds of products. It was so important that the government ordered all the farmers in Jamestown, Virginia to grow hemp in their fields. Similar laws were enacted in Massachusetts, Connecticut as well as the Chesapeake colonies. It just goes to show how important marijuana and its corollary products were for the economy of that time. 

An Arabian Nights plot device – 

Believe it or not, it’s true. The Arabian Nights are a collection of fables that were told by the princess Scheherazade, to her spouse, the king of Persia, as a way to distract and prevent him from killing her. In these stories, the presence of marijuana is in the form of “bhang” which was used to intoxicate character in certain scenes. The prevalence of marijuana in her tales wasn’t out of place though, as it was frequently used by Persians, both peasants, and royalty, during that time.

Understanding the etymology – 

Despite being a widely used term to describe the substance, no one knows from where the word “marijuana” comes. Some speculate that it is derivative of the phrase “ma ren hua” which means hemp flowers in the Chinese language. However, the history behind the word “pot” is clear – it is a shortened version of the word “potiguaya”, an intoxicating drink made using the flowering buds of the cannabis plant.  

The invention of the Bong – 

The history of bongs is also foggy and unclear, as its presence can be seen in several cultures. Some speculate that it was devised by Asians, namely by the Chinese, as Chinese paintings and art often portray the use of water pipes. The word “bong” is also said to originate from the Thai term “baung” which described a bamboo pipe used for smoking. But devices similar to bongs can be traced back to Africa as well, where the inhabitants used objects called “earth pipes”.

Movies and marijuana – 

One of, if not the principal reason behind the negative sentiments that people have towards weed could be the movie “Reefer Madness.” Released in 1936, it portrayed marijuana as the cause of accidents, rape, murder, and almost every bad thing in the universe. Several people believe that this movie is perhaps a major contributing factor to the bad reputation that marijuana racked up. The plain ridiculousness of the film has now made it an inside joke amongst marijuana and cannabis advocates. 

Ancient medicine – 

The use of marijuana as medicine has been around for centuries, and not a new concept at all. It was a “fundamental” herb in Chinese medicine and was used for several purposes. Hemp flowers were used to cure menstrual issues, whereas the seeds were used as laxatives, diuretics, and more. Its oils and tincture were used to control shedding in women and mens hair, and cure sulfur poisoning as well 

 

Coral UV 3-in-1 Sanitizer

With recent attention paid to UV-C sanitizers for at home disinfection, we want to introduce you to the Coral UV 3-in-1 Sanitizer: a compact, UV-C sanitizer that provides an easy and chemical free solution for sanitizing everyday items. Our most used items collect the most germs but are the hardest to clean (keys, cell phones, TV remotes). The UV 3-in-1 sanitizer is an effective solution for limiting germs around yourself and your home.

UV light sanitizer

Coral UV uses a high energy, artificial UV-C ray that breaks down the DNA of bacteria and germs and disrupts their ability to reproduce. Compared to other forms of disinfection, the Coral UV 3-in-1 doesn’t damage materials over time like steam sanitizers, can sanitize items in as little as 10 minutes, and requires minimal maintenance.

With an influx of UV-C sanitizers hitting the market, there are a few key functions that distinguish Coral UV from other brands:

  • Accreditation & 3rd Party Testing – Coral UV can back up their claims of 99.9% UV-C sanitation with successful tests from accredited institutions.

  • Minimal design – No one has room in their home for a UV-C sanitizer as large as a mini fridge. Coral UV is a top-open, compact sanitizer that naturally fits in with the rest of your kitchen, nursery, or living room. This helps to maintain consistent use.

  • Stainless Steel Chamber – Reflective stainless steel ensures the sanitizing UV-C light reaches every corner inside the device.

  • Drying function – A built in drying function is convenient for items you might rinse off beforehand, such as pacifiers and water bottles. Coral UV is one of the only sanitizers that has this option.

  • Replaceable parts – Over a long period of time, UV-C lamps can lose some of their strength. Coral UV has replaceable bulbs included and for purchase on their website so you don’t have to eventually replace the entire unit.

The Coral UV 3-in-1 sanitizer will be stocked for purchase at coraluv.com and on Amazon.

Here is a video of myself and my young son learning how to use it. It’s pretty easy, we think you will love it- especially now, with the urgent need to be as clean as possible.