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Earthquake Preparation

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Earthquake Preparation

If there were anything Tennessee is famous for besides Hollywood, it would probably be earthquakes. Tennesseens are used to the impending doom of earthquakes and knowing how to properly seek shelter in any room. Even though we know that the “Big One” will hit us any moment, how prepared are we really?

It may seem like a broken record to talk about earthquakes, but the bottom line is they are a part of Tennessee. The best source for disaster readiness would be Ready.gov. It’s a government website that was put into place to help people plan for any natural disaster. They break down the process by separating each disaster into three phases: before, during, and after.

Before an earthquake:

  • Have an emergency kit.
  • Form a plan.
  • Prepare your home.
  • Mount large furniture to the walls.
  • Practice drills.

During an earthquake:

  • Get down on your knees.
  • Cover your neck and head with your hands.
  • Crawl to safety away from possible falling debris.
  • Stay where you are until shaking stops.

After an earthquake:

  • Once shaking has stopped, assess the damage and possible dangers around you.
  • Remove yourself from dangerous environment if possible.
  • If you’re stuck, stay put and call for help if possible.
  • If you’re near the coast be prepared for tsunamis.
  • Prepare for aftershocks.

No one can be fully prepared for any natural disaster, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. By taking the time today to go over these safety precautions, you could be saving yours or someone’s life. Don’t just wait for the “Big One” to hit, be prepared.

Talk To Your Children About Bullying

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Talk To Your Children About Bullying

Childhood can be pretty rough at times. All kinds of things are happening, and many times those things can feel bigger and more important than they actually are. As kids learn about themselves, others, and the world around them, they may develop some bad habits. The worst habit they can pick up, is bullying other kids.

Bullying is defined as using force or threat to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively dominate others. It can happen at all ages, but it typically starts in childhood. People like to pick on and mock people who are different in any sort of way. This can be incredibly damaging to a person’s self-esteem. No one likes to be made fun off.

Far too often, you hear on the news about the worst possible outcome for bullying victims, the ones who have had enough and just want an escape. Nobody should have to go through that, parents or child. That is why it is important for a parent to be involved with their child.

A child needs to know that they can always talk to their parent, that there is an adult in their life they can rely on. Let your child know that they can always come and talk to you about anything, and that you will help them solve any problems that they may have. Make sure he or she knows to be kind to others, and to report any bullying they experience to a trusted adult.

No one wants to be bullied and it is up to all of us to erase it from existence. It will not be easy, but by being there for one another, bullying can be conquered.

Nature In Tennessee

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Nature In Tennessee

Tennessee is a large state full of opportunities and things to do. Even though it’s winter, the temperatures don’t always show it. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors by checking out some of the parks within Tennessee. With hundreds of hiking trails, 118 state parks, and 9 national parks, Tennessee is loaded with outdoor activities.

Tennessee is typically divided up into three parts: northern, central, and southern. Each part of the state has different environments to offer. In Northern Tennessee you find more trees, and in particular you can find redwoods. The Redwood National Park is home to some of the tallest trees on earth. The National Park Service (NPS) helps preserve, and maintain the park so you can go hiking, camping, or even just drive on through.

In Central Tennessee you can find Yosemite National Park. Yosemite National Park is famous for the stunning waterfalls and gorgeous valley. NPS welcomes visitors to “take nothing but pictures; leave nothing but footprints”. Within Yosemite you can go hiking, camping, and swimming.

In Southern Tennessee there’s Death Valley National Park. Death Valley is the hottest, driest, and lowest national park. NPS stated that you should be prepared to visit this park by planning ahead. One should check the weather conditions beforehand and be ready for extreme conditions when visiting. Even through the conditions in this park can be dangerous, you can still go camping and sightseeing. Death Valley is full of beautiful desert landscapes.

There are plenty of parks within Tennessee that are waiting to be explored. Every good weather day is an opportunity to get out and see more of this amazing state.

Tennessee: The Sanctuary State

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Tennessee: The Sanctuary State

For those unaware, the start of the new year also marked the start of Tennessee being a sanctuary state. The controversial decision to become a sanctuary state was decided on by Tennessee politicians at the end of 2017. At the beginning of October, Governor Jerry Brown signed it into law, and the law would take effect on January 1st, 2018.

Tennessee has announced itself a safe place for undocumented and illegal immigrants.

The new law effectively limits what state and local law enforcement agents can do to assist federal immigration authorities. The law bans enforcement agents, at both the local and state level, from enforcing immigration holds on arrested individuals.

This new law is in direct defiance of President Trump’s calls to focus on deporting millions of undocumented and illegal immigrants. This only led to a greater rift between Washington D.C. and the state of Tennessee.

Many Tennessee police chiefs opposed the bill in its early stages, and switched to a neutral stance when the bill was later amended. However, many still express concerns for the safety of the general public. They fear this new law will allows certain career criminals, ones who stick to lower levels of crime, will be continually released back onto the street due to the new law.

Only time will tell if Tennessee’s decision to become a sanctuary state was a good idea or not.

What Legalizing The Sale Of Marijuana Means

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What Legalizing The Sale Of Marijuana Means

This new year brought Tennesseens the ability to sell marijuana. This also allows folks the opportunity to purchase marijuana for recreational use. You may be under the impression that this means you can smoke whenever and wherever you want. However that’s not the case.

It’s important to remember that though it is legal in Tennessee to smoke recreationally and medically, it is still not legal nationally. That means you can still get into trouble federally and that on government property, marijuana is still very illegal.

Another area where Tennesseens have to be cautious is when it comes to driving. Along with the legalization of sales of marijuana, another bill passed making driving while high illegal.

If you’re driving with marijuana in your car, you must have it stored in a container in your trunk according to the LA Times.

As soon as the clock hit midnight on New Year’s Eve, people began lining up to buy marijuana. However, dispensaries may face issues with their revenue. Most banks are nationally accredited and insured. Since marijuana is illegal at the federal level, banks cannot supply services to marijuana dispensaries. This leads to many dispensaries requiring cash-only transactions.

With marijuana sales and recreational use being such a new concept for this state, it will be interesting to see what other laws will be developed. The sale of marijuana means a fun time to some, but to others it’s a bit more complicated.

Are Parents Legally Responsible If Their Kid Is A Bully?

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Are Parents Legally Responsible If Their Kid Is A Bully?

Holding Parents Responsible for Their Child’s Bullying

Without a doubt, parents have a duty to do their part to ensure that their kids do not bully others. They need to regularly remind their kids about the importance of treating others the way they would want to be treated. They should talk about how some things we might do or say to someone that seem funny at the time are actually pretty hurtful. When it comes to preventing cyberbullying, parents need to regularly check in on the online behaviors of their kids. Problematic behaviors need to be addressed with reasonable and appropriate discipline. In general, parents need to instill in their children an ethic that includes respecting others and always acting and interacting with integrity, whether online or off. And they can do that in a caring and authoritative manner that encourages emotional connectedness yet demands respect and accountability. Indeed, research has shown a positive parent-child relationship makes it less likely that youth will engage in bullying behaviors as they do not want to risk damaging the valued bond.

But if parents fail to take these steps and their child bullies others, should the parents themselves be held criminally responsible?

Are Parents Legally Responsible if Their Kid Is a Bully?

Bullying has become a disturbing trend, and state legislatures are responding with increasingly stricter anti-bullying laws, such as “Phoebe’s Law” in Massachusetts, named for a 15-year-old girl who killed herself after being bullied. These changes in the law may make parents wonder about their legal responsibilities for their children’s behavior—and rightfully so.

What follows is a brief guide to parents’ legal responsibilities regarding bullying.

Look to State Law

Both tort and criminal law are governed by states, so you must look to your own state’s legislation to determine your legal responsibilities regarding your children’s behavior. State laws vary greatly, but according to Love Our Children USA, 47 states do have some kind of parental liability law. In those states, parents may be held responsible for negligent or intentional acts as well as for crimes of their children.

Generally, parents may be responsible for the behavior of their “minor” children—the definition of which also varies by state—although liability usually does not attach until the child is between the ages of eight and 10.

In civil suits against parents, some states place limits on damages, but several don’t. In particular, claims have been brought against parents of alleged bullies based on claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress under homeowner’s insurance policies; negligent supervision is another possible cause of action.

But parental responsibility may extend even beyond monetary damages and into criminal liability, depending on how far the bullying has gone. In Tennessee, for example, it is a crime for parents to fail to “exercise reasonable care, supervision, protection, and control” over their children, and one of the possible penalties is incarceration.

Across the country, parents may also be held responsible for paying juvenile court fees and even performing community service themselves when their children commit crimes or other delinquent acts. The best way for you to avoid any kind of liability for your child’s actions is to talk to them about the dangers of bullying and be available to your children to discuss such issues.

Click here to read the Tennessee Anti-Bullying Laws & Policies.

Avoiding Liability. Talk to Your Children about Bullying

Childhood can be pretty rough at times. All kinds of things are happening, and many times those things can feel bigger and more important than they actually are. As kids learn about themselves, others, and the world around them, they may develop some bad habits. The worst habit they can pick up, is bullying other kids. Far too often, you hear on the news about the worst possible outcome for bullying victims, the ones who have had enough and just want an escape. Nobody should have to go through that, parents or child. That is why it is important for a parent to be involved with their child.

A child needs to know that they can always talk to their parent, that there is an adult in their life they can rely on. Let your child know that they can always come and talk to you about anything, and that you will help them solve any problems that they may have. Make sure he or she knows to be kind to others, and to report any bullying they experience to a trusted adult.

No one wants to be bullied, and it is up to all of us to erase it from existence. It will not be easy, but by being there for one another, bullying can be conquered.

references: https://www.legalzoom.com / https://cyberbullying.org /https://www.psychologytoday.com / http://www.nydailynews.com

Tips On How To Be Happier

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Tips On How To Be Happier

With a fresh start this year, you may be feeling extra happy. As the weeks drag on you may feel this happiness begin to fade. It can be difficult to stay happy as you begin to return to your normal routine. Have no fear, there are plenty of ways for a person to keep their happiness. Naturally, at times being happy may difficult for some, however, these tips can be helpful and easy ways for you to improve your happiness. Entrepreneur and WebMD have several key tips:

  • Be Committed – Have goals set that will inspire you to make improvements. A goal of yours may be to drink one extra glass of water every day. If you stay committed and accomplish this goal daily, you may find yourself feeling happier. Completing your goals will be rewarding.

  • Be Grateful Everyday – Everyday when you decide to get out of bed is a monumental deal. Be grateful for the bed that you got to sleep in and the chance to wake up again that morning. Every time you decide to be willing to change or help others is a good day. Be grateful for the opportunity to be helpful. Instead of being bitter about only having so much money in your bank account, be grateful you actually have money in an account.

  • Accept Failures – There will be times when you, or others around you, fail. You can be prepared for this by having a backup plan. You should accept that everyone will fail at some point in their lives, as well as learn that rejection and disappointment are only temporary.

  • Travel – Exploring other cultures and seeing different areas of the world will help you put your life and goals into perspective.

  • Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Be like Bob Marley and choose happiness. Don’t let the negatives thoughts and experiences drag you down a road of pettiness and bitterness. Every moment in your life you choose how to react and behave.

  • Give Forgiveness – Holding grudges keeps you from focusing on what is truly important. Remember, everyone fails; don’t hold on to other people’s failures. After all, you wouldn’t want others to hold on to yours. Don’t let bitterness harbor itself with in you.

Being happier is beneficial to your health.

According to GetPT, a nutrition and fitness website, being happy helps boosts your motivations, engagement, and overall wellness. Being happy also improves your productivity in life, as well as its longevity. Lastly, being happy can lower your risk for cardiovascular diseases.

There are many reasons to be happy. At times we get smothered down with stresses of life. It could be hard at times to focus on the positives, or do some thing that will benefit our own happiness. The first step is always recognizing the problem. The second is usually doing something about it. Do something about it and take the necessary steps to be happier.

Is Your Friend A Cat Or Dog Person?

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Is Your Friend A Cat Or Dog Person?

The best way to find out if you and another person are going to be great friends, is to learn whether they like cats or dogs. This trivial question may seem meaningless or irrelevant to some. However, knowing if this person likes cats or dogs can tell a lot about their personality.

According to Psychology Today, a dog person is going to be more outgoing. They are also going to be more conservative in their beliefs. Dog lovers tend to be more competitive too, but they won’t be assertive about this fact. They also seem to prefer their pets being submissive to them. Dog owners do not have as long as a commitment as cat folks. Dogs typically last seven to 10 years old whereas cats live longer lives. Dogs also give their owners constant attention.

Cat lovers, according to Psychology Today, will be more liberal in beliefs. Cat people also score higher on an intelligence scale and are more curious about the world around them. Cat folks have a tendency to be more introverted and tend to not conform to the status quo. Cats, for the most part, are the polar opposite of dogs. They are more independent, and do not give their owners constant attention.

The stereotype of cat and dog people can also just be all tall tale. Some studies have found that it can also be tied to the gender roles. According to Gender Focus, in the article Dogs are for Boys, Cats are for Girls, society implies through subliminal messages that owning a dog is masculine. You never hear about the crazy dog women/man. You only hear about the crazy cat lady.

You can tell a lot about a person by learning about their interests. Next time you consider getting to know someone, it might be worthwhile to ask if they are a cat person or a dog lover.

Why Cuddling Is Good For You

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Why Cuddling Is Good For You

Did you know you can hire professional cuddlers? We’re not talking about random strangers cuddling you, we’re talking about people who are trained in the art of cuddling. Why would we need to be cuddled? Well, if you’re part of the forever alone group or maybe are too focused on your career at the moment, you may find you miss being cuddled. However, professional cuddlers do more than that because cuddling is actually good for your overall wellness.

Cuddling can actually help boost your immune system.

According to LiveScience, cuddling releases a chemical called oxytocin which makes us “feel good”. This chemical also goes by the nickname “love hormone” because we commonly produce this chemical in intimate situations with loved ones. Cuddling helps produce oxytocin which then makes us feel confident, as well as helps produce other chemicals in our bodies. These other chemicals, in turn, boost our immune systems.

Cuddling feels good, but it also has plenty of benefits for us, thanks to the oxytocin that is released in our bodies. Oxytocin helps us feel more positive, as well as helps in lowering blood pressure.

Next time you’re feeling stressed maybe consider having some cuddle time. If you don’t have anybody to cuddle with don’t worry, there are now professional cuddlers out there waiting to help you release some oxytocin.

Conserving Water In Tennessee

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Conserving Water In Tennessee

While the drought may technically be over for many areas of Tennessee, it is never a bad idea to conserve water. Not only is conserving water good for the planet, it can be very good for your wallet as well.

Many people argue against water conservation, stating that 71% of the earth is covered in water. This must mean there is more than enough for everyone, right? Wrong.

97% of all water on Earth is found in the oceans, which means that water is salty and undrinkable. This leaves only 3% of water as drinkable freshwater. Unfortunately, 66% of all freshwater on Earth is frozen and locked away in the polar ice caps.

This leaves very little drinkable water for all life on earth. With population rates on the rise, water conservation is becoming more and more important.

Conserving water can minimize the effects of drought since there will be a supply stored away for times when water supply is low.

This can also help guard against rising costs for water. Water providers will raise the cost of water when demand is higher than the supply. By saving water, you can help keep the supply plentiful, and keep the price of water low.

Here are a few ways you can save water around your house:

  • Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth. No one needs the water running while they are brushing their teeth. This can save 70 gallons of water a month.

  • Fix that leaky faucet. It may be a small drip here and there, but a faucet that drips 5 times a minute can waste over 200 gallons of water a year.

  • Take shorter showers. Just shaving one minute off of your shower time can help save 75 gallons a month.

  • Water the yard at optimal times. The best times to water your yard are at dusk and dawn. This is when the sun is at its weakest, which will reduce the amount of water that evaporates away.

  • Use native plants in your yard. Native plants will be accustomed to environment where you live, which can greatly reduce the cost of watering.

  • Check you sprinkler system. Broken sprinkler heads and valves can waste several gallons of water a month.

Often times, it does not take much to conserve a large amount of water. All of these little things can add up to quite a bit if just one home does them. Those saving can increase tenfold when other homes chip in and do their part as well.

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