Make 2021 Your Best Year Yet: Choose Optimism

Philadelphia, PA, Dec. 8, 2020 — Emerging from 2020 is like coming out of a bad relationship. We all need to learn how to love life again.

From award-winning global diversity and inclusion strategist, international inspirational speaker and unstoppable optimist Kimberly S. Reed comes the encouragement and the tools to launch the new beginning we all need: Optimists Always Win!: Unlocking the Power to Reach Life’s C-Suite.

“Difficulties and struggles are unavoidable in life, but a person has complete control over one’s personal response to the situation,” Reed says. “This book offers readers a plan for responding with optimism for both the challenges and blessings that come their way.”

Optimists Always Win! isn’t another collection of platitudes and motivational mumbo jumbo. Reed’s book digs deep into her most powerful principles and life knockouts (LKOs) and walks readers through an actionable process for building resilience and choosing optimism over anger.

Reed uses her own experiences, including her heroic battle with her mother’s terminal illness and sudden loss as well as her own subsequent battle with cancer, to show readers that it’s possible to rise above pessimism and hopelessness when faced with hardship.

Relying heavily on her faith in God and the optimism that she learned to cultivate, Reed teaches readers 10 “discouragement eliminators,” which helped her succeed not just in her fight against cancer but as she lives each day as her best self.

Reed’s inspirational messages touch on every aspect of life, to help readers grow in their faith, remove self-placed stumbling blocks and adopt the optimistic attitude needed for reaching the C-suite of life.

All book royalties are being donated to the American Cancer Society AstraZeneca Hope Lodge in Philadelphia and to a premier Academic Research Institution for Integrated Breast Cancer Fund and Patient Care.

Author Kimberly S. Reed, MEd, CDP, is an award-winning diversity, equality and inclusion expert, international speaker and corporate trainer. As founder of the Reed Development Group, LLC, she has developed a distinguished reputation as having one of the most distinct and powerful voices on the lecture circuit, engaging audiences on topics ranging from diversity and inclusion and talent innovation, organizational leadership, intrapreneurship, entrepreneurial leadership, and personal and professional development. Reed earned a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and Public Administration from Westchester University; a certification in Global Organizational Leadership, Human Resource Management, from Fox School of Business; a Masters of Education, Adult Organizational Development and Public Policy; and certifications in Training and Development and Communication and Conflict from Temple University. She has also been a senior partner and advisor for one of the world’s leading CEO branding companies, The Ascendant Group.

Optimists Always Win!: Unlocking the Power to Reach Life’s C-Suite

Publisher: HCI Books

Release Date: January 12, 2021

ISBN-10: 0757321054

ISBN-13: 978-0757321054

Available from Amazon.com

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MAKE A RESOLUTION TO SAY NO TO THESE SKINCARE SABOTEURS

Picking Pimples

It’s virtually human nature to see a pimple and want to squeeze it. But there is a “medical art” to doing it the right way that dermatologists and aestheticians are trained in so as not to leave pockmarks in the skin. In addition, more deep-rooted acne such as comedones (under the skin) requires the tools and skills of a dermatologist.

Practicing dangerous or medically unsound TikTok or Instagram skincare advice or trends.

Some of these wacky ideas have included using glue to remove blackheads, making your own eyelash serum, fixing self-tanning streaks with a “magic eraser,” treating skin cancer with black salve, and the list goes on. Consult a dermatologist before practicing anything in your skin that seems unorthodox.

Purchasing DIY tools or instruments online that should be used in a dermatologist’s office.

It might be tempting to purchase your own “pimple lancer” online but only dermatologists or licensed aestheticians know the right way to do this without puncturing or permanently scarring the skin.

Over-exfoliating your skin like you are power washing a building facade.

Exfoliate one to two times per week (start on the lower end and increase frequency as needed). Any more than that can result in irritation or throw off your skin’s pH balance.

Attempting to remove a mole at home

Removing your own moles by attempting to scrap or burn them off is downright dangerous as it can lead to scarring or deformity of the area.

DIY Masks

Using at-home ingredients to substitute for store-bought products are all the rage. That’s understandable given the tight budgets of many. When concocting a mask at home, you could be using ingredients such as pure baking soda or fruit acids that are too harsh for your skin type or simply not intended for facial skin,

Online Botox

DIY Botox? Steer clear for sure. Botox is formulated from a powerful toxin. It is safe to use when injected properly, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, this treatment could cause serious complications.

About the Derms:

Stacy Chimento, MD

www.riverchasedermatology.com

Dr. Chimento is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, where she studied at Loyola University and subsequently received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Miami. She graduated at the top of her class at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where she was inducted as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Society. She completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago, IL. She then came back to Miami to complete her dermatology residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where she served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Chimento is a nationally sought out academic speaker for laser and cosmetic aesthetics. She is a member of the Candela Center of Excellence in which she trains and educates others on laser and energy devices. She is a national trainer for Galderma aesthetics with expertise in facial injectables.

She is highly trained in general medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology with an interest and expertise in acne, rosacea, body contouring, laser rejuvenation, laser and energy devices, and cosmetic injectables and body contouring and injectable aesthetic treatments.

Gretchen Frieling, MD

www.gfacemd.com

After graduating summa cum laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, Dr. Frieling completed her medical school at The University of Florida College of Medicine. She continued to excel academically and personally and pioneered a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic to provide free medical care. After medical school, Dr. Frieling completed her training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital/Harvard Medical School. She then completed her Dermatopathology fellowship at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Currently, she is also a practicing Dermatopathologist in Newton, Massachusetts.

During her training, Dr. Frieling built an extensive resume, including but not limited to many articles in the Dermatology and Pathology literature, textbook chapters, and national conference presentations. She was on faculty at Harvard Medical School and participated in the first year Histopathology course.

In her spare time, Dr. Frieling continues to give back to her community and beyond. Currently, she is spearheading another medical mission to the Dominican Republic and partnering with Pedro Martinez and The Pedro Martinez Foundation.

Along with splitting her time as a practicing dermatopathologist, Dr. Frieling enjoys spending time with her husband, her two kids, and extended family, as well as volunteering in the community. She is a resident of Wellesley and loves good music and is always up for trying a new restaurant!

Bestselling Author Jaya Jaya Myra Reveals the Power Finding Your Purpose Has on Physical and Mental Health

New York City, NY, December 8^th, 2020— In her new book, The Soul of Purpose: A Step-By-Step Approach to Create A Purpose-Driven, Healthy Life (Post Hill Press, January 5^th, 2021), bestselling author and mind-body wellness expert, Jaya Jaya Myra, guides readers on a path to discovering their life’s purpose and how it’s foundational to improve or maintain physical, mental and spiritual health.

Each person’s God-given gifts, temperament and even physical body type, shape and structure are created from their unique purpose for living so that people are born having everything they need to succeed in life and health. Since everyone is unique, people need a customized approach to wellbeing, based on their purpose and constitution. Jaya Jaya Myra created The WELL Method outlined in The Soul of Purpose so that readers can learn how to create a custom purpose and wellness blueprint based on their unique talents and 5- element constitution.

“It’s more important than ever that people realize the path to living your purpose requires the same steps and actions as the path to health and wellness.” Says Jaya Jaya Myra. “God
made you absolutely perfect for your reason for living. I’m passionate about showing people simple ways to create synergy in life to improve health, wellbeing and personal fulfillment, and how purpose is foundational to it all.”

The Soul of Purpose has already received praise from best-selling authors and medical experts including Dr. David Friedman, Dr. Josh Axe, Dr. Joel Kahn, Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, Dr. Susan Shumsky, Cate Montana, Paul Schulick, and more. In the book, Jaya Jaya Myra shares her personal journey of naturally healing from debilitating fibromyalgia, anxiety and depression using her methods mapped out in the book. Each chapter is a step in the path that shows readers how to create synergy that drives success, how to alleviate inner poverty, and what the path to purpose really looks like in day-to-day life, all while promoting a healthy and natural lifestyle.

The Soul of Purpose is now available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and Post Hill. You can download the entire press kit here.

Jaya Jaya Myra is a bestselling author, TEDx Speaker, regular media contributor and mindbody wellness expert that teaches the connections between spirituality, purpose, and health. She is the creator of The WELL Method that teaches people the four cornerstones necessary to create a healthy mindset and holistic approach to life. She is previously the author of Vibrational Healing: Attain Balance & Wholeness. Understand Your Energetic Type, and is the founder of the 501(c)3 non-profit organization Gita for the Masses. Learn more at www.JayaJayaMyra.com.

Liquid Avatar, Lumedic, Loop Insights, The Campus Agency and TripXpertz Form Consortium to Manage Verifiable Identity Credentials for COVID-19 Vaccinations

Verified Self Sovereign Identity, together with a complete end-to-end issuance and verification health credentials ecosystem, ensures individuals have full privacy and control of personal healthcare data, including vaccination records, so they can securely start returning back to public life, freely.

Toronto, Canada / Gibraltar, December 8, 2020 – The KABN Network, together with KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp. (CSE:KABN) (the “Company” or “KABN North America”), a Canadian fintech company that specializes in continuous online identity verification, management and monetization in Canada and the US, through its biometrically and identity verified Self Sovereign Identity platform, Liquid Avatar (www.liquidavatar.com), today announces the formation of a consortium of industry leaders that will empower people to start getting back to the activities, people and places they have been missing in their lives. The consortium has developed an integrated solution that enables healthcare issuers, individuals and verifiers to have a digital COVID-19 verifiable identity healthcare credential that is secure, user managed and controlled to ensure privacy, transportability and ease of use. This solution supports the foundation for the acceptance of digital Healthcare Passports.

This consortium initially includes the Lumedic Exchange, to power the healthcare credential ecosystem; Loop Insights (TSXV:MTRX), a leader in automatic contact tracing; The Campus Agency, to support on campus programs at over 2,000 US Colleges and Universities; and TripXpertz, an organization that works with over 1,000 travel and tourism boards, airlines, wholesalers and resorts, together with Liquid Avatar’s Self Sovereign Identity platform to empower the worldwide Healthcare industry to issue Identity-based Verifiable Credentials through a secure, effective and cost-efficient ecosystem.

This ecosystem will allow qualified Health Professionals with the ability to issue a Verifiable Credential that enables venues and other facilities to verify both the issued credential and the known user in real-time to grant access and /or services.

This partnership built on a Trust over IP (TOIP) open standards framework, and the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) specifications for decentralized identifiers for credential management, can power interoperable COVID-19 vaccination and other verifiable credentials across a host of user managed and controlled digital wallets and applications. This process can be used for multiple use cases such as Education, Workplaces, Tradeshows, Healthcare, Sporting Events, Concerts, Entertainment, Travel, Places of Worship, Senior Living, and other facilities, venues and locations and opens the door to further opportunities for commercial and consumer opportunities.

Liquid Avatar’s Self Sovereign Identity (SSI) platform, which includes user biometric validation and a bank-grade verified identity credential, is available to consumers at no cost. Liquid Avatar enables users to verify and manage their identity and access credentials in a cloud-based, biometrically-secure application. Users have complete control over their digital assets (like wallets, passwords and more), identity, and data through easy to use avatars that can be shared, on a permission-basis with others. The COVID-19 Verifiable Healthcare Credential combines healthcare data with the user’s biometrically verified identity credential. When a request is made by a Verifier, the User has a choice of which attributes are shared, creating a private verification transaction between themselves and a verifier. While much of the technology and services are already in place, the launch of the healthcare credential pilot is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2021 to coincide with the expected release of the COVID-19 widespread vaccination program.

This program will not only be able to verify identity credentials for the Covid-19 vaccines, diagnostic and antibody testing, but will also be able to support a wide range of immunizations and healthcare records.

“We want to empower users to return to public life and the things they once did freely, pre-COVID-19, with ease and continued safety, with this and future credentials,” said David Lucatch, CEO of KABN. “Our goal is to help get everyone back to life as efficiently and effectively as possible, so a sense of “normality” can be reestablished. Liquid Avatar and the ecosystem, together with this amazing group and a growing list of partners, will potentially enable businesses, schools, entertainment venues, and more do the normal things that they do and give users the power to engage with them as they did before the pandemic changed our lives.”

Healthcare issuers and individuals will be granted access to the system at no cost. Verifiers wishing to access the system will be charged a nominal subscription and micro-payment per verification, making it very cost efficient and effective to use the system for small and medium sized enterprises all the way up to major airlines, venues and facilities. The partners are committed to making the services affordable to all parties, so that everyone can get back to their everyday lives.

The KABN Network is working with leading industry partners to provide a safe and effective ecosystem that supports the issuance, ownership and verification of these verified identity and access credentials and is proud to be working with the following partners at the outset of this announcement covering a wide range of technologies, issuer, consumer and verification engagement, with additional partners to be named as the program grows.

Trust over IP Foundation (ToIP)
As a member of the Trust over IP Foundation (www.trustoverip.org) steering committee, The KABN Network is committed to the organization’s open-standard framework and tech stacks. ToIP recently released its Covid-19 Credentials Initiative (“CCI”) Governance Framework for public review.

“Trust over IP offers an important new model for how to assemble the pieces that create working and reliable digital trust ecosystems. We are very excited to see momentum growing for real-world cases where the model is being used to make people’s digital lives simpler and better. This includes the KABN Network becoming part of the Lumedic Exchange," said John Jordan - Executive Director of the Trust over IP Foundation. "We hope to see this momentum continue, and more organizations using the Trust over IP model to create solutions that benefit individuals and businesses."

Lumedic Exchange
The KABN Network, as a founding partner, is working with the Lumedic Exchange (www.lumedic.io), an open-standards, decentralized framework for the healthcare industry giving patients greater control over their health data.
Chris Ingrao, Chief Strategy Officer of Lumedic, a US-based Health technology company, part of Providence Health Systems ecosystem, comments: “Lumedic recently launched the Lumedic Exchange, the first healthcare ecosystem of its kind dedicated solely to community-driven standards development for patient-intermediated information exchange using verifiable credentials, to support secure exchange of vaccination information.”

Loop Insights, Inc.
Powering professional sports, entertainment, collegiate and other venues and facilities with Automatic Contract Tracing, Loop Insights, Inc. (www.loopinsights.ai) (TSXV:MTRX) has developed a fully managed contactless check-in platform that securely transfers contact information and triggers real-time notifications at scale.

“The success Loop has had with our recent NCAA sporting events using our venue tracing and management tools, only reinforces the need for a unified verifiable credential that consumers and businesses can trust. Working with KABN and Liquid Avatar and their digital identity platform will provide our customers - and ultimately consumers - with the level of trust required to provide personal information such as COVID testing results, vaccination proof, payment, and other sensitive personal information required in today’s changing landscape. We are thrilled to be one of the first partners to work with KABN and Liquid Avatar on an end to end solution that will provide this safety, security, and peace of mind required to protect consumers looking to return to a new way of life where mobile devices and personal information will be at the forefront of nearly every interaction,” Rob Anson, President and CEO Loop Insights.

The Campus Agency
With reach to over 2,000 US College and University campuses and over 1.5 Million Gen Z students, alumni and families, The Campus Agency (www.thecampusagency.com) has been supporting innovative direct to student and online marketing programs for over 40 years.

"We are really excited to be working with KABN and Liquid Avatar and be a member of this consortium. COVID-19 has impacted the lives of students and faculty on college campuses in such a major way, and we are looking forward to being part of a solution that provides campus communities with the tools and resources they need to return to their way of lives, safely and securely," Chris Nyland, Chief Operating Officer, The Campus Agency.

TripXpertz
Powering over 1,000 travel and government tourism boards, airlines, travel wholesalers and resorts in US, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and around the world, to more effectively reach their intended travel audiences with end to end travel marketing management, booking and analytics solutions TripXpertz (www.tripxpertz.com) is changing the way the travel industry reaches travelers and how travelers can receive better value from their travel experiences.

“Our Priority Protection Passport program is aimed at restoring consumer confidence and trust in travelling again and piece-of-mind while away,” says Brad Miron, CEO of TripXpertz. “This partnership gives us, and our multiple program stakeholders, the ability to verify an individual’s identity with certainty, while maintaining security and privacy – In the context of Priority Protection Passport, Liquid Avatar and the capabilities of the Verifiable Identity Healthcare Credentials are foundational to what we must deliver to attract, assure and welcome back tourists to destinations.”

For more information on the program and / or how to become a consortium partner or participant, please visit www.liquidavatar.com

About KABN North America –www.kabnnaholdco.com
KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp. through its wholly owned subsidiary KABN Systems North America Inc. focuses on the verification, management and monetization of Self Sovereign identity, empowering users to control and benefit from the use of their online identity. The KABN proprietary technology suite includes 4 key products:

Liquid Avatar is a verified Self Sovereign Identity platform empowers users to create high quality digital icons representing their online personas. These icons, in conjunction with KABN ID, allow users to manage and control their digital identity and Verifiable Access and Identity Credentials, and to use Liquid Avatars to share public and permission based private data when they want and with whom they want. www.liquidavatar.com

KABN ID is an Always On, biometric and blockchain based digital identity validation and verification platform allowing users to continuously and confidently prove themselves throughout the online community.

KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp. is publicly listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol “KABN” (CSE:KABN)

If you have not already joined our mailing list, and would like to receive updates on KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp., please click here to join!

For more information, please visit www.kabnnaholdco.com or www.kabnsystemsna.com

For further information, please contact:
David Lucatch
Chief Executive Officer
647-725-7742 Ext. 701
ir@kabnsystemsna.com

About Trust over IP Foundation –www.trustoverip.org
The Trust over IP Foundation is defining a complete architecture for Internet-scale digital trust that combines both cryptographic trust at the machine layer and human trust at the business, legal, and social layers.

About Lumedic –www.lumedic.io
Lumedic is a health information logistics company that helps healthcare stakeholders optimally cooperate throughout the administrative ecosystem. The Lumedic platform includes a suite of healthcare interoperability solutions that harmonize action and relieve friction across revenue cycle management, clinical operations, and patient engagement. Lumedic leverages AI, distributed ledgers, design thinking, and open standards to advance the state of healthcare technology and deliver greater health, safety, and wellbeing for patients and communities.

About Loop Insights, Inc. –www.loopinsights.ai
Loop Insights Inc. is a Vancouver-based Internet of Things (“IoT”) technology company that delivers transformative artificial intelligence (“AI”) automated marketing, contact tracing, and contactless solutions to the brick and mortar space. Its unique IoT device, Fobi, enables data connectivity across online and on-premise platforms to provide real-time, detailed insights and automated, personalized engagement. Its ability to integrate seamlessly into existing infrastructure, and customize campaigns according to each vertical, creates a highly scalable solution for its prospective global clients that span industries. Loop Insights operates in the telecom, casino gaming, sports and entertainment, hospitality, and retail industries, in Canada, the US, the UK, Latin America, Australia, Japan, and Indonesia. Loop’s products and services are backed by Amazon’s Partner Network.

For further information, please contact:
Rob Anson, CEO
1-877-754-5336 Ext. 4
ir@loopinsights.ai

About The Campus Agency –www.thecampusagency.com
With reach to over 2,000 US College and University campuses and over 1.5 Million Gen Z students, alumni and families, The Campus Agency (www.thecampusagency.com) has been supporting innovative direct to student and online marketing programs for over 40 years.

About TripXpertz –www.tripexpertz.com
TripXpertz is Toronto-based marketing technology (“MarTech”) company with a 20 year track-record of delivering new monetization paths and superior traveller acquisition and conversion for tourist boards and travel providers globally. The company provides highly targeted, “zero risk”, pay-of-performance campaigns backed by rich engaging destination content that drives awareness and customer conversions at a fraction of industry norm acquisition costs.

Media Contact:

Nelson Hudes

Hudes Communications International

(905) 6690-9155

Nelson@hudescommunications.com

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities under the KABN Financing in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company’s beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company’s control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “will continue”, “will occur” or “will be achieved”. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but is not limited to, information concerning the ability of the Company to generate revenues, roll out new programs and to successfully achieve business objectives, and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, the Company is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made certain assumptions. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information and statements are the following: changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; compliance with extensive government regulation. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward- looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.

Russell Alexander Law Firm Warns That Covid-19 Vaccine Could
Lead to Disputes Among Divorced Parents
Collaborative family law firm outlines legal rulings that set parameters

LINDSAY, Ontario—Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers warned that the upcoming coronavirus vaccines could lead to disputes among divorced parents over whether each caregiver and the child are vaccinated.

“The coronavirus pandemic has introduced a lot of complications to parenting agreements, and we should expect something similar as the Covid-19 vaccine is rolled out,” said founder Russell Alexander. “In this case, there is a lot more guidance that we can rely on, however.”

Alexander said that past court decisions on routine vaccinations and provincial and national laws on health care workers will resolve personal disputes between parents who are skeptical and those who are supportive of vaccination.

With at least three vaccines being prepared for distribution early next year, polls show the majority of Canadians wish to get vaccinated. In a recent Ipsos poll, 61 percent even said they support mandatory vaccinations.

But, as with any vaccination, there are parents who are skeptical of the science that shows vaccines prevent disease, which can cause a clash with those concerned about the health of their children. In the past, Canadian courts have ruled that the typical “due diligence” requirement for major decisions on children’s health may be relaxed in the case of a vaccine as it relates directly to their physical and mental welfare.

“Courts generally recognize the science behind vaccines, which should boost parents who wish to keep their child healthy in any dispute,” said Alexander.

He noted that in a recent case involving the coronavirus pandemic, a court split decision-making authority between separated parents, giving custody to the mother but giving the father the express right to make the final decision on whether their child was vaccinated for the coronavirus when a vaccine becomes available.

Russell Alexander is author of the new book, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Divorce," which includes a bonus chapter on divorcing during the pandemic.

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RussellAlexander Collaborative Family Lawyers

Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers is committed to practicing exclusively in the area of family law in Ontario dealing with all aspects, including separation and divorce, child custody and access, spousal support, child support, and division of family property. A team of lawyers provide guidance from start to finish, helping clients identify and understand the legal issues as well as the options and opportunities available through the transition. The firm has offices in Lindsay, Whitby, Oshawa, Markham, Peterborough and Toronto, Ontario.

For more information, visit: http://www.russellalexander.com

COVID-19 Contributes to Uptick in Opioid-Related Deaths

Baltimore, MD, Dec. 8, 2020 — Telemedicine and tele-mental health services have emerged as valuable resources for those battling addictions during our country’s expanding opioid crisis. The availability of remote healthcare services gives hope for those struggling with their addictions against a backdrop of social isolation, explains Dr. Paul Christo, an Associate Professor in the Division of Pain Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and he adds, clinicians need to advocate to their patients that online treatment options are available.

Dr. Christo, who is on the frontlines working to curb the impact of the opioid crisis, also wants patients to know that critical medications for maintaining sobriety can now be prescribed by telehealth or telephone.

"The number of fatalities from opioid-related overdoses could be nearly 30 percent higher than reported due to missing information or incomplete death records,” he says. “The worst fear is that because of social isolation, people are not being found or treated immediately."

The opioid epidemic today progressed in three phases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first involves deaths caused by prescription opioids, the second, an increase in heroin use, and the third, a surge in the use of synthetic opioids or fentanyl. Experts say the U.S. is right in the middle of the third phase of the epidemic, due to the increasing availability of fentanyl and increasing rates of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids.

According to a recent study there were 632,331 drug overdoses between 1999 and 2016. Most of these deaths (78.2 percent) were drug overdoses with known drug classification. Moreover, 21.8 percent were unclassified drug overdoses. A further investigation revealed that for unclassified drug overdoses, 71.8 percent involved opioids, translating to 99,160 additional opioid-related deaths.

There were over 70,000 drug overdose deaths in 2017, according to an estimate from the CDC. Based on findings from the new study, over half of those deaths — about 47,000 — are suspected of having involved opioids.

Another study on opioid overdoses found that the number of drug overdose deaths decreased by 4 percent from 2017 to 2018. In 2018, more than 67,000 people died from drug overdoses, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Almost 70 percent involved a prescription or illicit opioid of those deaths.

“COVID 19 impacted the drug supply chain by closing borders on some regions, and it led to the higher death rate,” Dr. Christo explained. He added that drugs become more challenging to get, and the potency of overdose goes up. It also impacts the price, everything goes up, and in that sense, it becomes more deadly each day, according to Dr. Christo.

About Dr. Paul Christo

Dr. Paul Christo serves as Director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Program at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is the author of Aches and Gains, A Comprehensive Guide to Overcoming Your Pain. Dr. Paul Christo also hosts an award-winning, nationally syndicated SIRIUS XM radio talk show on overcoming pain called, Aches and Gains®. For more information about Dr. Paul Christo. Please visit www.paulchristomd.com.

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Home Opens the Door to Healing After Devastating Loss

Santa Rosa, CA, Dec. 8, 2020 — In the wee hours of October 9, 2017, the disoriented and panic-stricken Barnes family, with two little boys in tow, frantically scrambled to evacuate their Santa Rosa, California, home. Smoke burned their lungs. Ash stung their eyes. Nearby fires raged, engulfing homes as howling winds fed the flames. In the end, the Tubbs Fire, deemed one of the most destructive wildfires in California history, destroyed more than 5,643 homes, including the Barnes’.

They returned to the lot where their house once stood, to gain closure and confront the harsh reality that the house was truly gone. But seeing the empty lot had a profound — and lasting — impact on 7-year-old Brett.

When her search for relatable, child-centric resources to augment Brett’s recovery came up short, mother Carrie Lee Barnes used her family’s experiences to inform her compelling, inspirational book, Home: A Story of Resilience and Healing. Told from a child’s perspective, Home is one little boy’s account of the abrupt and devastating loss of his house and his emotional journey toward discovering the true meaning of home. Written primarily for young children from ages 3 to 7, Home is an uplifting story intended to bring hope and healing in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

“My goal is for this book to help comfort children as they find their new normal after the loss of their home due to any circumstance,” Barnes says. “When I read Home to my little ones, they immediately saw themselves in the story. It opened up a forum for dialogue and healing for my boys and allowed them to feel a part of something bigger.”

With wildfires, hurricanes and other natural disasters happening more and more frequently, it’s important for children to have age-appropriate resources for coping. Home is Barnes’ heartfelt contribution to this very worthy cause.

“My hope for Home is that it provides a much needed glimpse at an ending for natural disaster victims,” Barnes adds. “There is a moment when you find peace in the constants of the people you love who are around you every day. We need to find our center, the place we call home, in our human connections.”

Author Carrie Lee Barnes is a stay-at-home mom who previously trained surgeons on advanced robotic technology in the operating room. Home was written to help victims of natural disasters, especially children, who are emotionally affected by the loss of their home. She lives with her husband and two sons in Santa Rosa, California.

Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards recently recognized Home with a gold medal in the category of Best First Book: Picture Book.

Home: A Story of Resilience and Healing

Publisher: Round Tree Press

ISBN-10: 1949480097

ISBN-13: 978-1949480092

Available from Amazon.com, BN.com, Target.com, Booktopia.com.au and Copperfield's Books

Older Women and Minorities areIntegral to Healing Divided Country

New York, NY, December 7, 2020 — Now that America has voted in Joe Biden, who will be the oldest president ever in the U.S., and Kamala Harris, who will be the first woman—and of color—as vice president, what message is Biden’s team sending by nominating 74-year-old Janet Yellin for U.S. treasury secretary and 68-year-old Linda Thomas-Greenfield as Ambassador to the United Nations? With a clear stand on age and gender, Erica Baird and Karen E. Wagner, two successful lawyers (now retired) and cofounders of Lustre.net, an online community aimed at redefining the stereotypes of retirement for modern career women, share six tips each for Biden and Harris as they further shape their cabinet for the country:

For President-Elect Biden:
1. Deploy the advantages of your age. You have many decades of political and personal experience that allow you to think big.
2. Listen to our cohort when an issue affects people 65 and over.
3. Listen to our cohort when an issue affects people 65 and under.
4. Apply your problem-solving skills to give the people what they need. Most Americans, whoever they voted for, want the same things: an end to COVID, a good job, an excellent education for their children, a secure home and three meals a day, not necessarily in that order.
5. Use your gentle diplomatic approach to bring us together. Older people remember a “United States,” and our hope is that our country can still be a nation undivided.
6. Call on older women. We shouldn’t be dismissed. We’re an untapped demographic with huge intellectual and buying power that we typically don’t flaunt. We are here to enhance.

For Vice President-Elect Harris:
1. Diversity brings strength. Remember that diversity includes age.
2. Pay heed to those politicians who learned to be effective by listening to their adversaries.
3. Keep employing style to convey how a woman exercises power.
4. Channel the power of women to bring about a stronger America.
5. Break the stereotype that assertive women are “bitchy.”
6. Encourage Biden to bring younger and older Americans together to serve the country.

About Lustre.net

Lustre.net is an online forum founded by Erica Baird and Karen Wagner, two New York City retired attorneys. Together, Baird and Wagner are on a mission to redefine retirement for modern career women by confronting outdated concepts, defying stereotypes and raising our collective voices to ensure that retirement for all of us is shaped by women, for women. Baird and Wagner want women to “tap into our experiences and passions, forge new identities and find new purpose—and pass on what we know to the next generation.”

Stuck Inside? Try These Workouts From the Comfort of Your Own Home

Many people are preparing for the upcoming cold months by finding unique and positive ways to stay healthy from the comfort of their homes.

If you want to get into great shape while the snow and ice take over the streets, here are some at-home regimens that will sculpt your abs, burn fat, and leave you feeling great!

Online Spin Classes

Making it to the gym while it's wet and cold outside is no fun. Instead, many people are turning to online spin classes as a means of burning calories and getting a great workout in.

Before you sign up for any class, make sure you're using high-quality trainers, such as those at Plan 7 Coaching. Use trainers that are skilled and efficient at transforming the lives of newfound fitness clients. From elevating your heart rate to sculpting impressive muscle, getting a workout from your living room or garage has never been easier.

The High-Intensity-Interval Approach

One of the downsides of following a fitness plan is that it can become challenging to manage while juggling other responsibilities. From taking care of the kids to meeting the standards in the workplace, working out gets placed on the backburner.

Knowing this, why not try a high-intensity interval paradigm? High-intensity interval training -- commonly referred to as HIIT -- is a framework that taxes your system in a short time frame.

The basic philosophy is to perform 30-seconds to 1-minute of all-out effort, followed by a period where you relax and perform low-intensity cardio. You repeat this process for a duration of 15 to 20-minutes.

A brief example of this may be sprinting up a hill next to your home, followed by walking down the hill to start over again. The back-and-forth motion of your movements taxes the body, elevates your heart rate and builds lean muscle in a time crunch.

Moreover, HIIT has been scientifically proven to boost your naturally-occurring growth hormone (GH). Growth hormone, in a general sense, helps you burn weight and heal inflammation throughout your body.

The methods listed above will help you get in shape in 2020 and beyond. If you're the type of person that's tired of falling short of your fitness and wellness goals, why not use the colder months as the foundation for your transformation? When you're ready, begin utilizing these tools to get the body of your dreams and feel good while doing it.