There have been a record-breaking number of mass shootings in the U.S this year. We are averaging a mass shooting per week in this country. The most recent mass shootings in Louisville have shown us that they can happen anywhere. We all need to formulate a plan about what to do in the event of a life-threatening emergency like these attacks that are happening in the grocery stores, churches, schools, jobs, and restaurants. It's best to be prepared, be aware, and be safe when out in public places. Continue reading for some tips on how to survive a mass shooter's path of destruction.
RUN
If there is an accessible escape path, evacuate. Act quickly to put as much distance between yourself and the shooter as possible.
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Have an escape route and plan in mind.
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GO, regardless of whether others agree to follow.
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Leave your belongings.
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Keep your hands visible and empty.
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Help others escape, if possible.
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Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be.
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Do not attempt to move wounded people.
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Call 911 when it's safe to do so.
HIDE
If you cannot escape, find a place to hide and barricade yourself.
Choose a place that is out of view.
Lock the door and block it with heavy furniture or office equipment.
Hide behind solid objects away from the door.
If possible, choose a place that doesn't trap you or restrict your options to move.
Turn off lights and computers.
Silence your phone and keep quiet.
Call 911 if it's safe; if you can't speak, just stay on the line.
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FIGHT
Your last recourse is to fight, but only if your life is in danger and you cannot flee, then attempt to take the shooter down. Your chance of survival is greater if you try to incapacitate the shooter by:
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Acting as aggressively as possible
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Throwing items and improvising weapons
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Yelling
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Committing to your actions
Please note, fighting should be viewed as the absolute last resort. An unarmed person taking on a heavily armed assasliant alone rarely ends well. If fighting does become necessary, find others to help you fight. Even when you have assembled a group, don’t simply jump up and rush the shooter. Make a plan. For example, in a previous mass shooting, a group hid until the shooter stopped to reload. Then they attacked and was able to successfully subdue him.
The ultimate goal is to do as much as you can to extricate yourself from the situation. Run away as soon as you hear shots. If you’re lucky the event will be essentially over for you. If you can’t run, hide and wait for a chance to run. If you don’t see an opportunity to run, wait out the event in the safety of your hiding place.
If you have to fight, fight hard and fight smart because you will be fighting for your life.
WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVES
Law enforcement will act to stop the active shooter as soon as possible. Officers will proceed directly to where the last shots were heard.
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Officers may be armed with many weapons and may wear tactical equipment.
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Officers may shout commands and push people to the ground for their safety.
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The first officers on the scene will not stop to help injured persons.
How to react when officers arrive:
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Remain calm and follow instructions.
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Keep hands visible and empty.
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Avoid any quick movements toward officers; avoid pointing.
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Do not attempt to stop officers to ask for help.
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Evacuate in the direction from which officers are entering the premises.
Make a plan of what to do if there is a mass shooting at your location. Always be alert of your environment and any possible dangers. If you see something suspicious, report it to the authorities. This includes suspicious packages, people behaving strangely or using strange communications. Observe warning signs such as unusual or violent communications, expressed anger or intent to cause harm. Have an exit plan. Identify exits and areas to hide at work, special events and other public places. Learn lifesaving skills. Take first aid training to assist before emergency services arrive.
Unfortunately, mass shootings are becoming more prevalent in this country, and we need to plan and prepare ourselves for the eventuality of the unthinkable happening. My philosophy is to pray for the best but prepare for the worst in most situations.
OLIVIA BENNETT 5/5
MARKUS WINKLER 5/8
JECOREY ARTHUR 5/19
BARBARA SHANKLIN 💜 5/24
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
In the last few years, we have all experienced new challenges that have affected our mental, physical, and social well-being. Many of us have felt anxiety, increased stress, and emotionally exhausted which is why wellness and self-care are more important than ever before. Our wellness journey is an ongoing one, and we have to prioritize our emotional and physical health. Here are some ideas to care for the many dimensions of wellness, so we can nourish our bodies and nurture our minds.
HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD YOU DRINK IN A DAY? IT'S NOT 8 GLASSES A DAY ANYMORE.
The average human body is more than 60% water. Water makes up almost two-thirds of your brain and heart, 83% of your lungs, 64% of your skin, and even 31% of your bones. It’s involved in almost every process that keeps you alive. So, if you’re drinking several glasses of water every day, you’re doing yourself a big favor.
“Water is essential for your body’s survival,” says Crystal Scott, a registered dietitian-nutritionist. “It helps regulate your temperature, transports nutrients, removes waste, lubricates your joints and tissues, and it also plays a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance of electrolytes and fluids in your body.”
You lose water when you breathe, sweat, urinate, and metabolize food and drink into energy. If you don’t replace that fluid, your health can go downhill, and fast. Without food, your body can keep ticking for as long as three weeks or more. But without water, you’ll die in only a few days. There are just too many systems that depend on it.
“I like to correlate our bodies with planet Earth,” says Scott. “Our Earth is made up of a large percentage of water. If that amount got too low, what would happen to our food systems? Our forests? Animal life? It’s a domino effect.”
To keep that first domino from falling, she says, drink up.
“It’s the starter when looking at any form of change or issues with your nutrition or your lifestyle—assess water intake first and foremost,” says Scott. “It helps with fullness cues, it can improve cognitive function, mood, physical performance, and can prevent health problems like constipation, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections. It’s one of the foundational building blocks.”
The bottom line is this: Water is life. But how much should you be downing daily not just to survive, but thrive?
You now know that being adequately hydrated is important for day-to-day bodily functions such as regulating temperature and maintaining skin health.
But drinking enough water is also associated with a significantly lower risk of developing chronic diseases, a lower risk of dying early or lower risk of being biologically older than your chronological age, according to a National Institutes of Health study recently published in the journal eBioMedicine.
“The results suggest that proper hydration may slow down aging and prolong a disease-free life,” said study author Natalia Dmitrieva, a researcher in the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD A CHILD DRINK IN A DAY?
Many different things can affect how much water a child should be drinking. From the outdoor temperature, how active your child is, how many other things they are drinking, and how much water content is in the food they are eating, there are many different aspects to consider. Which means that there really can’t be an overall recommendation that will work for every child.
While there isn’t one recommendation that will work, there is a general guideline to follow. Based on the latest recommendations, 2-year-olds should be drinking between 8-32 oz of water a day, or 1-4 cups. The same goes for all kids ages 1-3 years.
The range is there due to the varying amount of non-water beverages that children drink. If your child is still drinking 2 cups of milk, then they might only need 2 cups of water. But the range is also there because how much your child might drink is going to vary day to day. Our bodies can compensate for fluctuations in hydration over several days, and your child will usually regulate based on the demands on their body.
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DRINK UP!
Establishing healthy habits is a challenging but important part of maintaining your wellness. Small actions and simple activities can make a big difference in your holistic health. The holistic approach to health care focuses on the health of the entire body and mind and not just parts of the body.
EXACTLY.
TRUTH BOMBS are described in the urban dictionary as surprising but true statements. A fact or piece of knowledge that, when told to a listener, is devastating to the listener's argument or world view.
New Yorker Seth Phillips has gained a cult following for his truth bombs that protest anything from loud engines, phones that shatter easily, “x” in espresso, and other very specific, small things that add up to our daily lives. He has a over 7.5 million followers on social media. Phillips has gone mainstream enough that fashion brands are selling "Dude with Sign" shirts in their collections.
And, of course, there’s always something new to protest. Such as, hot coffee in summer or verifying you’re not a robot online. Those of us who have had enough of everything will get a chuckle out of this series.
1. Mother's Day used to be about writing long letters to your mom.
2. 122 million phone calls are made on Mother's Day.
3. The date of Mother's Day in the U.K. depends upon the date that Easter falls each year; it is held on the fourth Sunday in Lent, which means that it usually falls in mid to late March. It is celebrated as "Mothering Day."
4. Mother's Day is celebrated on different days around the world. The majority of countries uses the U.S. date of the second Sunday in May. Other countries celebrate on Family Day, Mother's And Children's Day, International Women's Day and Parent's Day.
5. In Serbia, Moms get "tied up" on Mother's Day (in a loving way). The tradition of tying parents up is said to "symbolize connecting the two generations with mutual respect."
I think the moms in Serbia would much prefer a lovely bouquet of flowers.
6. During World War II in Germany, Mothers were given medals for the size of their household. Mother's Day was a means to encourage women to bear more children. The medals were nicknamed Karnickelorden or "The Order of The Rabbit." The medals were bronze, silver, and gold based on the number of children the women produced.
7. Thailand celebrates Mother's Day on August 12, the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.
8. In Russia, Mother's Day is celebrated on March 8, the date for International Women's Day.
9. Bolivia celebrates Mother's Day on May 27 to commemorate the Battle of La Coronilla, where women fighting for independence were killed.
10. "M" is for Mom in most parts of the world. The word mother in many different languages often begins with the letter "M." Some examples are: Albanian - Meme, Belarusan - Matka, Catalan - Mare, Dutch - Moeder, French - Maman, German - Mutter, Greek - Mana.
Olly, AFTER being rescued and adopted into a loving home.
Before & After Rescue Dog Transformation
Who can resist a heartwarming makeover, especially when it involves a sweet dog? Whether they were abandoned, lost or mistreated, these down-on-their luck dogs were in dire need of a loving presence in their lives. That's where caring animal shelters, pet rescues and foster parents come into the picture. With lots of love and much-needed TLC, these rescue dogs started thriving — inside and out. These before-and-after transformation pictures speak for themselves. Hopefully, it will inspire you to adopt a rescue pup of your own.
Olly looking hopeless BEFORE being rescued. 😔
Olly was rescued by a group in South Korea that rescues dogs held by restaurants (to be eaten.) 😭 He was unlikely to be adopted there because of his bald spot, dark coat and mixed breed status. The rescue sent him to another city where they hoped he would have a better chance of being adopted. It worked! He finally found a family to love and care for him like every dog deserves.
The look on Olly's face in the After photograph says it all. This cute little fella is happy, healthy and loved at long last.
Please consider adopting a pet from your local animal shelter or a pet rescue if you have room in your home and heart for a new furry family member. Trust me, you'll be so glad that you did. 🐾❤️
NATIONAL TEACHER'S DAY 5/2
WORLD ASTHMA DAY 5/2
INTERNATIONAL FIREFIGHTER’S DAY 5/4
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER 5/4
CINCE DE MAYO 5/5
OAKS DAY 5/5
KENTCUKY DERBY DAY 5/6
NATIONAL NURSES DAY 5/6
WORLD LAUGHTER DAY 5/7
MOTHER’S DAY 5/14
BIKE TO WORK DAY 5/19
ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY 5/19
NATIONAL RESCUE DOG DAY 5/20
ARMED FORCES DAY 5/21
NATIONAL BURGER DAY 5/21
MEMORIAL DAY 5/29
WORLD MS DAY 5/30
WORLD OTTER DAY 5/31
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Lupus Awareness Month
Lyme Disease Awareness Month
National American Stroke Month
National Bike Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Mental Health Awareness Month
Peruvian Chicken with Aji Verde
Yep, it is that time of the year again. Time to fire up that grill and get to cooking healthy, easy, and delicious summer meals for your family. From Memorial Day through Labor Day and beyond, these tasty recipes are sure to keep your grill loaded and your belly full all summer long.
This simple recipe for Peruvian Chicken with spicy Peruvian Green Sauce is bursting with flavor and can be made with chicken or portobello mushrooms (a tasty vegetarian option) or both for mixed households. Served with Spicy Cilantro Sauce, Avocado Cucumber & Tomato Salad and optional rice, these can be made into individual Bowls, or served separately.
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 –2 pounds chicken (thigh or breast, boneless and skinless.
MARINADE
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4 garlic cloves, finely minced
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2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons lime juice
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2 teaspoons honey, agave or sugar
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1 tablespoon cumin
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2 teaspoons paprika
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1 teaspoon coriander
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1 teaspoon oregano
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1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
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1 teaspoon soy sauce
PERUVIAN GREEN SAUCE (AJI VERDE)
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2 cup sour cream or mayonnaise
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1/2 jalapeño (use less for less spicy)
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1 garlic clove
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1 cup chopped cilantro- thin stems ok.
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1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
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a squeeze of lime (1 tablespoon, save other half for salad)
AVOCADO CUCUMBER TOMATO SALAD
2 cups diced or sliced English or Turkish cucumber
1–2 perfectly ripe avocados, diced
1 cup cherry tomatoes ( yellow and red are nice )cilantro leaves for garnishing
olive oil for drizzling
generous, 5 finger pinch kosher salt
squeeze of lime
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Preheat grill to medium-high.
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If making rice, start this now on the stove.
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Make the marinade in a small bowl. Using a garlic press, finely mince the garlic and place it in the bowl. Add oil, lime juice, honey, cumin, paprika, coriander, oregano, salt, and optional soy sauce. Stir. Toss with the chicken in a bowl, coating all sides well. Marinate while the grill heats up or overnight for more flavor.
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Make Peruvian Green Sauce by placing all the ingredients in a blender and blending until relatively smooth, scraping down the sides if necessary.
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When the grill is hot, grill the chicken, searing both sides well (using a metal spatula to flip) then turn the heat down or move to a cooler side of the grill to allow the chicken to cook throughly.
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Make the salad by placing the diced cucumber in a wide shallow bowl. Add avocado, spacing it out evenly. Add a few cherry tomato halves. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Squeeze with lime juice. Garnish with cilantro leaves. Enjoy!
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POLLO A LA BRASA CON AJI VERDE
Puppy Pep Talk. 😁
SOPHIA WHITE 5/4
KYLE ETHRIDGE 5/23
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY, YA'LL!
1. Would you rather never have to worry about money again or never be lonely again?
2. Would you rather spend a million dollars on travel or on clothes?
3. Would you rather get up early or stay up late?
4. Would you rather walk 50 miles or swim 50 miles?
5. Would you rather win a vacation or win a car?
6. Would you rather wear pants three sizes too big or shoes three sizes too small?
7. Would you rather have candy or popcorn?
8. Would you rather go hiking or take a nap?
9. Would you rather never have a best friend, but have a long and happy marriage or never get married but have the closest and strongest friendships ever?
10. Would you rather win an Oscar or win the lottery?
Thousands of guests converged for the coronation of King Charles III in London last week, with millions more watching from around the world. Royal events always provide opportunities for traditional fashions. Few are more fun to see than the upper-crust British tradition of women wearing fascinator hats. These fascinators are works of art in pastel colors, with bows and feathers, and wide netting over the face.
Here in America, the Kentucky Derby is known for its attendees wearing their own flamboyant head gear. Derby hats this year offered a range of colors and fabrics, from elegant to loud, floral to plumed and everything in between. Take a look at the chapeaus below to see if you can tell which event these hats were worn, the Derby or the Coronation.
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BUTTERFLIES IN FLIGHT
This whimsical fascinator in purple and cerulean blue is amazing, fun and unique.
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PLAIN AND SIMPLE
A pretty buttery yellow fascinator is a study in simplicity.
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PRETTY IN PINK
This pretty pink fascinator with flowers, feathers, and netting is so elegant it is appropriate for a coronation or the Derby.
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BIRD'S NEST
A flamboyant white fascinator with a dove
perched on top and an abundance of plumage.
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FANCY IN FUSHCIA
A vibrant hot pink and black fascinator with an oversized bow, tulle, and black plumes. Sophisticated, colorful and glamourous.
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REGAL BLUE
Royal blue fascinator with a multitude of cream-colored feathers. Very elegant.
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Which hat is your favorite? Can you guess which hat was worn to the Derby or coronation? I love the lilac fascinator worn by Katie Perr and the butterfly fascinator.
I pray for equality, unity and peace in every city in our country. Equality for all people everywhere. I pray for justice for all those who have lost their lives needlessly and unjustly. I pray that all people, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status be treated with the dignity and respect we all deserve. I pray for change so that healing can begin in this country and around the world.
Amen.
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