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Violence In Schools: How Big A Problem Is It?
When an Ohio high school student killed three classmates in a shooting rampage several weeks ago, it once again brought a national spotlight to a problem widely believed to be epidemic in schools.
The reality, experts say, is exactly the opposite: Violent crime in schools has decreased significantly since the early 1990s.
Dewey Cornell, a clinical psychologist and education professor at the University of Virginia, says incidents like the one in Chardon, Ohio, and the infamous mass shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado and at Virginia Tech have reinforced a perception that schools are dangerous places.
"But that's just not true," says Cornell, who has been examining school violence for decades. "I know on the heels of any school shooting, there's the perception that violence is on the rise. It's not. In fact, there's been a very steady downward trend for the past 15 years."
Safer Than Anywhere ElseResearch by Cornell and others shows that school-age and college-age kids are not only safer but far more secure on school campuses than anywhere else. There's also broad agreement that the zero-tolerance policies popular in some school systems have had little to do with the decrease and may, in fact, have proved to be counterproductive.
School violence in the U.S. reached a peak in 1993, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. That year, there were 42 homicides by students in total, as well as 13 "serious violent crimes" — rape, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault — per 1,000 students at primary and secondary schools. By 2010, the latest figures available, those numbers had decreased to two homicides and four violent crimes per 1,000 students.
Statistics on violent crimes committed by students at college campuses are harder to come by. But a 2005 study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics took a broader look and found that some 93 percent of all violent crimes against university students ages 18 to 24 occurred off campus.


Violence In Schools: How Big A Problem Is It?

U.K. High Court Rules Article 50 Cannot Be Triggered Without Parliament Vote
The U.K.'s High Court ruled Thursday that Article 50, the trigger for the country's exit from the European Union, cannot be executed without a Parliamentary vote.
The verdict is the biggest blow to date for the government's Brexit plans and essentially indicates that the Prime Minister does not have the power to trigger the exit clause without the consent of lawmakers. The government said it was "disappointed" by the ruling and will appeal to the country's Supreme Court.
"The country voted to leave the European Union in a referendum approved by Act of Parliament. And the Government is determined to respect the result of the referendum. We will appeal this judgement," a government spokesperson said in a statement.
The appeal to the U.K.'s Supreme Court, will likely be heard by a full bench of 11 judges on Dec. 7.
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Prime Minister Theresa May said after the ruling that the government intends to stick to the deadline of triggering the exit clause by the end of March 2017. "We believe the legal timetable leaves time for that," a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said in a statement.
"The British people made the decision and the job of government is to get on with delivering the decision of the British people. This is a matter for the government. We have no intention of letting this derail our timetable," she added. 
The pound surged 1.14% to $1.2445, the highest since Oct. 7 and its biggest single-day gain since August.
The closely watched case was brought by a group of British citizens, led by fund manager Gina Miller, which argued that a unilateral decision by May to trigger the Article 50 exit clause of the Lisbon Treaty would effectively override a 1972 statute that enshrines European law in the U.K.

U.K. High Court Rules Article 50 Cannot Be Triggered Without Parliament Vote

WHY GETTING MORE SLEEP IS THE KEY 
TO SUCCESS
It is industrialization, for all its benefits, that has exacerbated our flawed relationship with sleep on such a massive scale.
We sacrifice sleep in the name of productivity, but ironically, our loss of sleep, despite the extra hours we put in at work, adds up to more than eleven days of lost productivity per year per worker, or about $2,280. This results in a total annual cost of sleep deprivation to the US economy of more than $63 billion, in the form of absenteeism and presenteeism (when employees are present at work physically but not really mentally focused). "Americans are not missing work because of insomnia," said Harvard Medical School professor Ronald C. Kessler. "They are still going to their jobs, but they're accomplishing less because they're tired. In an information-based economy, it's difficult to find a condition that has a greater effect on productivity.
Sleep disorders cost Australia more than $5 billion a year in health care and indirect costs. And "reduction in life quality" added costs equivalent to a whopping $31.4 billion a year. A report, aptly titled "Re-Awakening Australia," linked lack of sleep with lost productivity and driving and workplace accidents. In the United Kingdom, a survey showed that one in five employees had recently missed work or come in late because of sleep deprivation. The researchers estimated that this is equivalent to a loss of more than 47 million hours of work per year, or a £453 million loss in productivity. And almost a third of all UK employees reported feeling tired every morning. Yet, though awareness is spreading, few companies have given sleep the priority it deserves, considering its effects on their bottom line. In Canada, 26 percent of the workforce reported having called in sick because of sleep deprivation. And nearly two-thirds of Canadian adults report feeling tired "most of the time."
It turns out that women need more sleep than men, so the lack of sleep has even more negative mental and physical effects on them. Duke Medical Center researchers found that women are at a greater risk for heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and depression. "We found that for women, poor sleep is strongly associated with high levels of psychological distress, and greater feelings of hostility, depression and anger," said Edward Suarez, the lead author of the study. "In contrast, these feelings were not associated with the same degree of sleep disruption in men."
As women have entered the workplace—a workplace created in large measure by men, which uses our willingness to work long hours until we ultimately burn out as a proxy for commitment and dedication—they are still stuck with the heavy lifting when it comes to housework. The upshot is that women end up making even more withdrawals from their sleep bank.
"Let's face it, women today are tired. Done. Cooked. Fried," wrote Karen Brody, founder of the meditation program Bold Tranquility. "I coach busy women and this is what they tell me all the time: 'I spent years getting educated and now I don't have any energy to work.' "
Just as sleep is universal, so is the belief that we don't have enough time to get the sleep we need. But we actually have far more discretionary time than we realize. The key is taking an honest look at how we spend it. In her discretionary time, for example, Sherry Turkle, professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at MIT, has been using TV as a reward, letting herself watch shows such as Mad Men, Homeland, and The Americans after working on her book. "I felt like I earned these elegant treats," she told me. "I remember saying 'Orange Is the New Black is mine' after I finished the 'Friendship' chapter of Reclaiming Conversation. As I worked on the 'Romance' chapter, it was House of Cards. I wouldn't have said, 'I'm prioritizing television drama,' but what strikes me is that I never said, 'I'm prioritizing sleep.' "
That's the case for millions of people around the world, despite how high the costs of sleep deprivation are. The incidence of death from all causes goes up by 15 percent when we sleep five hours or less per night. A 2015 CNN.com article based on the latest findings by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, provocatively titled "Sleep or Die," discussed the connection between lack of sleep and an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and obesity. In other words, getting enough sleep really is a matter of life and death.
And even when it doesn't kill us, sleep deprivation makes us dangerously less healthy. Dr. Carol Ash, the director of sleep medicine at Meridian Health, points out that even losing an hour of sleep per week—which many of us do without a moment's thought—can lead to a higher risk of heart attack. Even the switch to daylight saving time can temporarily disturb our sleep patterns.
A lack of sleep also has a major impact on our ability to regulate our weight. In a study by the Mayo Clinic, sleep-restricted subjects gained more weight than their well-rested counterparts over the course of a week, consuming an average of 559 extra calories a day. People who get six hours of sleep per night are 23 percent more likely to be overweight. Get less than four hours of sleep per night and the increased likelihood of being overweight climbs to a staggering 73 percent. That is due in part to the fact that people who get more sleep produce less of a hormone called ghrelin—the "hunger hormone," which increases our appetite. The sleep-deprived group also had lower levels of the hormone leptin, the "satiety hormone," which lowers our appetite. In other words, cutting back on sleep is a fantastic way to gain weight. Other research points to the role of sleep in the production of orexin, a neurotransmitter that normally stimulates physical activity and energy expenditure but is reduced when you are sleep-deprived.
The bottom line? When we're not well rested, we're not as healthy. And it shows. In a Swedish study, untrained participants were asked to look at photos of both sleep-deprived and well-rested people. Participants judged those in the sleep-deprived group as "less healthy, more tired, and less attractive." An experiment in the United Kingdom tested the effects of sleep deprivation on a group of thirty women. Their skin was analyzed and photographed after they slept for eight hours and then again after sleeping six hours for five nights in a row. Fine lines and wrinkles increased by 45 percent, blemishes went up by 13 percent, and redness increased by 8 percent. In other words, we wear our lack of sleep on our faces.

WHY GETTING MORE SLEEP IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

QUICK AND EASY DINNERS THAT WILL BE ON THE TABLE IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS

SPICY PORK NOODLE STIR-FRY

This one-dish meal comes together quickly, so be sure to have all of the prep finished before you start cooking. If you don't like spice, omit the chili garlic paste, or serve it as a condiment on the side. You can easily double this to make four servings.

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 oz rice stick vermicelli (about 1/8 inch/3 mm wide)
  • 2 tablespoons sodium-reduced soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons chili garlic paste (such as sambal oelek)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 8 oz lean ground pork
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 cup sliced shiitake mushroom
  • 1 cup coleslaw mix
  • 1/2 cup snow pea trimmed and thinly sliced
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 tablespoons chopped roasted unsalted peanuts

QUICK AND EASY DINNERS THAT WILL BE ON THE TABLE IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS


LIFE & RELATIONSHIPS
Blended families are more common than ever, representing close to 13 percent of Canadian households. But you can say buh-bye to those Brady Bunch clichés—successfully combining two families into one unit can be complicated. Here's how three different couples made it work.
The team players: The Posner-Goldman family
Their blend: Melissa Posner has two children from a previous marriage, Adam, 6, and Ella, 4. Since she met Mitchell Goldman in September 2012, they have had their own daughter, Marlowe, 3, and moved in together. The older kids also spend two weekends each month with their biological father. 
Their story: Melissa and Mitchell had instant chemistry. On their first date, they shared a sense of humour and felt like they had known each other forever. Still, they took their time incorporating Mitchell into Adam's and Ella's lives. "After about six months of dating, I invited Mitchell to meet the kids," says Melissa. "We would have hot chocolate or ice cream together. We chose a neutral place or a fun activity so there was no pressure or expectation on anyone's part."
These days, the kids call him Mitchy Daddy or Daddy. But it's been a big adjustment for the couple—especially for Mitchell, who went from zero kids to three. They see a blended-family specialist for help ensuring that the older children feel on par with the toddler and to foster equality when it comes to parenting and decision-making. "Counselling has really given us a chance to communicate and raise any issues that come up," says Melissa. Rebecca Murray, a marital and family therapist and director of the Montreal Therapy Centre, approves. "Seeing a therapist is a great way to get the tools and coping mechanisms parents need to blend successfully," she says.
Therapy was especially helpful for Mitchell. "As a new stepfather, it was difficult to judge whether the kids accepted me and to know what role I'd play in their lives," he says. As their relationship evolved, it became important to include him in decisions, rules and discipline. "This involved a new layer of change for us, and sometimes that process was forgotten, which made me feel like a bystander," he says. Now, Melissa consults with him on everything from the kids' gymnastics schedule to family vacations, a practice they discussed in therapy. 
To make them feel special, the older children were each given roles to help feed or change baby Marlowe. They also get to have fun big-kid outings, such as bike rides with Mitchell to McDonald's on weekends. Plus, Mitchell makes spending time with Adam and Ella a priority, often giving them breakfast, driving them to school and attending their hockey games and swimming lessons. "It's something he wanted to do naturally," says Melissa. "He's an excellent father."
The takeaway: It's all about inclusion. "I like how Mitchell is involved in family decisions and not made to feel like an outsider," says Murray. "Treating all of the kids equally is important, too. Children are really in tune to fairness, justice and injustice. If the older kids perceive the biological child is being treated differently, they will act out."

LIFE & RELATIONSHIPS

HOW TO COOK A TURKEY
So it's the holidays, and you're responsible for the main dish. Don't worry; you're only five steps away from serving the perfect bird at your big feast. Read on to learn how to cook a turkey.

Step 1: Thaw it. If using a frozen turkey, thaw in its original plastic wrapper in the fridge. Allow for five hours per pound, or per 500 g. 
Quicker method: Cover the turkey with cold water (the sink is a good place for this), and change with fresh cold water every 30 minutes; allow one hour per pound (500 g).
Step 2: Season it. Prepare the turkey by removing giblets and neck. Rinse and wipe the cavity; sprinkle with salt and pepper or stuff lightly using skewers to fasten skin over the cavity.

Step 3: Roast it. Place turkey, breast side up, on rack in roasting pan. Brush with melted butter or oil. Tent loosely with foil. Roast in 325ºF (160ºC) oven for about 20 minutes per pound (500 g) or until juices run clear when turkey is pierced and when thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180ºF (82ºC) for a stuffed turkey or 170ºF (77ºC) for an unstuffed turkey. Remove tent for last hour of roasting.

Step 4: Cover and leave it. When turkey is done, transfer to warm platter. Tent with foil and let stand for 20 to 30 minutes. This allows time for juices at the surface of the bird to distribute evenly throughout the meat.

Step 5: Carve turkey. Eat and enjoy!

HOW TO COOK A TURKEY

25 No-Cook Recipes

no-cook-meals

Easy, breezy meals

At the height of summer, the last thing you want to be doing is slaving away over a hot stove while the temperature outside is already almost to much to bear. That's why we came up with these tasty no-cook meals that are simple to put together and don't require the use of any tools that'll add more heat to the equation. So instead of worrying about cooking your next meal, you can spend your time taking a refreshing dip in the pool or enjoying a summery cocktail with friends. 
Full disclosure: Some of these recipes literally require no cooking (and almost no work), but a few call for a quick zap in the microwave, the use of leftovers (like rotisserie chicken), or freezing. So, when the temperature soars and fresh produce is at its crisp, juicy best, these no-cook recipes will help you whip up fast, fresh, delicious meals and snacks in just minutes.

yogurt-berry-cups

Yogurt-Berry Cups

The key to making these fruit-packed yogurt cups delicious enough to serve for dessert? Whisking a drop of honey into the yogurt to make it slightly sweet and oh so creamy. We love this dish with fresh berries, but feel free to use cherries or any fruit you like. Nuts deliver a hit of protein and healthy fats, so don’t skip them unless you are allergic!
cantaloupe-soup-mint

Cantaloupe Soup with Mint

At the peak of summer, when fresh melon is at its juiciest and you've got mint growing in the garden, this almost fool-proof soup is a dish you have to try. At less than 150 calories a serving, it would make the perfect lunch paired with a light salad.

25 No-Cook Recipes

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