New grant opportunity supports professional development for open educational resources for science
New grant opportunity supports professional development for open educational resources for science – Science News Today – EIN Presswire
New grant opportunity supports professional development for open educational resources for science
New grant opportunity supports professional development for open educational resources for science – Science News Today – EIN Presswire
Gardner schools ban controversial book, sparking debate over LGBTQ+ inclusion
KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers portions of Johnson County, Kansas. Share your story idea with OliviaThe Gardner Edgerton School District recently banned a book that’s left members of the LGBTQ+ community upset.Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart touches on the struggles of a transgender girl and a boy with bipolar disorder, but the school board decided its topics aren’t appropriate for the age range it’s targeted toward.Gardner mom, Carrie Schmidt, spoke out against the book at a recent board meeting.“You need to stop providing content about sex and sexuality in our schools,” said Schmidt.She had a problem with the mention of hormone blockers. The NIH says puberty blockers are used to treat early puberty, endometriosis, and most recently as gender affirming care.
Olivia Acree
Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart
Dr. Cammie McIver is the president of Gardner Kansas Pride and a mom with two middle schoolers in the district. She disagrees with Schimdt.“When you remove books that expose kids to people being different than them, that does put a target on their back,” said McIver. “You’re saying to not just trans kids, but any kid that might need a puberty blocker at some point in their life, that, hey, that’s not okay.”Lily and Dunkin was available for check out in Gardner middle and high schools.It’s listed for ages 10 and up.“Personally, I don’t know how mentioning hormone blockers 28 times, hormone therapy twice, and female hormones once and estrogen once is a subtle message for the 10 to 14-year-olds who are allowed to read this content,” said Schmidt.The school district’s book review committee voted to keep the book, but the board of education voted four to two to ban it.
Olivia Acree
Dr. Cammie McIver
“I think that damages mental health more than you’re helping somebody that’s probably not even going to pick up the book and read it,” said McIver.Gardner Edgerton has pulled at least 25 books since 2023. The Johnson County Library has three copies of Lily and Dunkin and 25 hold requests.McIver calls book bans a slippery slope but has a message for students.“Removing a book doesn’t remove all the support that you have as a, as a kid,” said McIver. “I think it’s important to remember that.”McIver wants students to know that Gardner Kansas Pride is a safe place and resource for the local LGBTQ+ community.
Our 2024 Travel Hall of Infamy Awards honour the best of the worst tourist behaviour
Open this photo in gallery:Illustration by Graham RoumieuSome travellers just don’t know how to graciously visit other places. But for the rest of us, that’s what makes the Travel Hall of Infamy – celebrating its 40th year in 2024 – the gift that keeps on giving. From walrus bothering to inflight idiocy to cruise ship fisticuffs, read on for a full serving of wonderfully woeful tourist behaviour.The Sand Gets Everywhere AwardOpen this photo in gallery:Illustration by Graham Roumieu… goes to the three male tourists who paid unconventional homage to Namibia’s iconic Big Daddy sand dune by removing all their clothes for some grinning, willy-waggling photos. That might have been the end of it if the images (and a video) hadn’t exploded across social media faster than a new Taylor Swift meme – prompting ministry of environment spokesperson Romeo Muyunda to decry the “extremely shocking” behaviour before optimistically adding, “We appeal to that section of tourists to summon the conscience so that they do the right things.”The I’m Only Here For The Beer AwardOpen this photo in gallery:Illustration by Graham Roumieu… goes to EasyJet holidaymaker Brian Watt who indulged in a tipple or three before boarding his Glasgow-to-Tenerife flight, where he quickly executed a comprehensive checkbox of idiotic behaviour. Refusing to remain seated, the booze-addled flyer smoked in the toilets, smashed a soap dispenser, hurled abuse at everyone within earshot and, for a final flourish, urinated in full view of fellow passengers. The result? The plane was diverted to Bristol Airport, where Watt was removed and later sentenced to an eight-month jail stretch – giving him plenty of time to flick through some holiday brochures and plan his next jolly jaunt.The Tone Deaf Workout Award… goes to U.S.-based Instagrammer Marimar Perez whose 140,000 followers love watching videos of the former gymnast exercising her sculpted bod at home and around the world. One trip took her to Japan, where the abs-forward tourist spotted an irresistible avenue of red-painted rectangular archways perfect for a picturesque pull-up movie accompanied by pulsating dance music. But the archways were actually torri – sacred gateway entrances to Shinto shrines – and the resulting viral video was widely denounced on social media, where words like “vulgar,” “disrespectful” and “uneducated” dropped like medicine balls on a glass coffee table.The He Just Needs A Hug AwardOpen this photo in gallery:Illustration by Graham Roumieu… goes to the Polish tourist visiting the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, who spotted a cuddly walrus posing on the ice floe like a big fluffy cat. Hopping across the frozen chunks for some quality time with a critter that can weigh up to 2,000 kilograms, has razor-sharp tusks and can run as fast as a (tasty-looking) human, incredulous locals watched the misguided selfie-snapper from the shoreline as he inched toward his fate. Just in time, authorities intervened to save him from an almost guaranteed Darwin Awards entry, and he was later fined 12,500 Norwegian Kroner for wildlife bothering.The Shag A Statue Award… goes to the young female tourist in Florence who, presumably after one-too-many grappas, spotted a handsome fella giving her the eye on a busy street near the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Unable to resist his come-hither glances and his clothes-free approach to life, her admittedly one-sided kissing quickly progressed to what the BBC reported as “miming a lewd act.” It’s not clear what the statue of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and revelry, thought about the unexpected attention but locals were appalled when photos of the late-night make out session began lighting up social media feeds around the world.The Boys Will Be Boys Award… goes to a pair of 20-year-old German tourists who knew exactly how to have a good time during their sun-dappled Mallorca hotel stay. Not content with destroying the mattresses and furniture in their room, the terrible Teutons elevated proceedings by emptying two of the property’s fire extinguishers. That left them plenty of time to head back to the elevators for a hearty round of lift-based defecation, no doubt delighting fellow guests when the doors next opened. Not quite seeing the funny side, police arrested the lads the next day and a court case quickly followed.The All You Can Beat AwardOpen this photo in gallery:Illustration by Graham Roumieu… goes to Carnival Cruise Line passengers on a Caribbean vacation who aimed to satisfy their late-night cravings at the ship’s 24-hour buffet. Fellow cruiser Nick Richardson told USA Today that when he arrived for some pizza at 3 a.m., he found an overly animated group of 15 or so passengers “talking trash to each other” between the heated food counters. Whatever they were debating – pasta sauce recipes or baked Alaska tips, perhaps – quickly escalated, with fists, plates and chairs flying around like dinner rolls in a tornado. Security guards soon restored order and Carnival later banned the buffet brawlers for life.The Tag I’m It Award… goes to the Dutch tourist visiting the ancient town of Herculaneum near Naples, which was decimated by 79 AD’s Mount Vesuvius eruption and is now home to dozens of carefully preserved archeological sites. That rich history meant so much to our self-absorbed explorer that he uncapped his indelible black marker and scrawled some jagged graffiti onto the interior wall of a 2,000-year-old Roman house. Quickly detained at the site, the pen-wielding scribbler didn’t have a leg to stand on when police arrived since his impromptu annotation turned out to be his personal graffiti tag.The Pooh Sticks AwardOpen this photo in gallery:Illustration by Graham Roumieu… goes to the Shanghai Disneyland visitor who was presumably reminded of some deep childhood trauma on a trip to the popular park when the large, wobbly-headed figure of Winnie the Pooh ambled toward him during a parade. A viral video shows the man lunging at the bright-yellow honey-hogger, smacking him on the head and causing him to collapse like a furry sack of spuds. Staff rushed to rescue the cheery ursine mascot, while officials later confirmed that the visitor “faced consequences.” Which, hopefully, included a nighttime visitation from an avenging Heffalump or two.
Our 2024 Travel Hall of Infamy Awards honour the best of the worst tourist behaviour
Open this photo in gallery:Illustration by Graham RoumieuSome travellers just don’t know how to graciously visit other places. But for the rest of us, that’s what makes the Travel Hall of Infamy – celebrating its 40th year in 2024 – the gift that keeps on giving. From walrus bothering to inflight idiocy to cruise ship fisticuffs, read on for a full serving of wonderfully woeful tourist behaviour.The Sand Gets Everywhere AwardOpen this photo in gallery:Illustration by Graham Roumieu… goes to the three male tourists who paid unconventional homage to Namibia’s iconic Big Daddy sand dune by removing all their clothes for some grinning, willy-waggling photos. That might have been the end of it if the images (and a video) hadn’t exploded across social media faster than a new Taylor Swift meme – prompting ministry of environment spokesperson Romeo Muyunda to decry the “extremely shocking” behaviour before optimistically adding, “We appeal to that section of tourists to summon the conscience so that they do the right things.”The I’m Only Here For The Beer AwardOpen this photo in gallery:Illustration by Graham Roumieu… goes to EasyJet holidaymaker Brian Watt who indulged in a tipple or three before boarding his Glasgow-to-Tenerife flight, where he quickly executed a comprehensive checkbox of idiotic behaviour. Refusing to remain seated, the booze-addled flyer smoked in the toilets, smashed a soap dispenser, hurled abuse at everyone within earshot and, for a final flourish, urinated in full view of fellow passengers. The result? The plane was diverted to Bristol Airport, where Watt was removed and later sentenced to an eight-month jail stretch – giving him plenty of time to flick through some holiday brochures and plan his next jolly jaunt.The Tone Deaf Workout Award… goes to U.S.-based Instagrammer Marimar Perez whose 140,000 followers love watching videos of the former gymnast exercising her sculpted bod at home and around the world. One trip took her to Japan, where the abs-forward tourist spotted an irresistible avenue of red-painted rectangular archways perfect for a picturesque pull-up movie accompanied by pulsating dance music. But the archways were actually torri – sacred gateway entrances to Shinto shrines – and the resulting viral video was widely denounced on social media, where words like “vulgar,” “disrespectful” and “uneducated” dropped like medicine balls on a glass coffee table.The He Just Needs A Hug AwardOpen this photo in gallery:Illustration by Graham Roumieu… goes to the Polish tourist visiting the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, who spotted a cuddly walrus posing on the ice floe like a big fluffy cat. Hopping across the frozen chunks for some quality time with a critter that can weigh up to 2,000 kilograms, has razor-sharp tusks and can run as fast as a (tasty-looking) human, incredulous locals watched the misguided selfie-snapper from the shoreline as he inched toward his fate. Just in time, authorities intervened to save him from an almost guaranteed Darwin Awards entry, and he was later fined 12,500 Norwegian Kroner for wildlife bothering.The Shag A Statue Award… goes to the young female tourist in Florence who, presumably after one-too-many grappas, spotted a handsome fella giving her the eye on a busy street near the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Unable to resist his come-hither glances and his clothes-free approach to life, her admittedly one-sided kissing quickly progressed to what the BBC reported as “miming a lewd act.” It’s not clear what the statue of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and revelry, thought about the unexpected attention but locals were appalled when photos of the late-night make out session began lighting up social media feeds around the world.The Boys Will Be Boys Award… goes to a pair of 20-year-old German tourists who knew exactly how to have a good time during their sun-dappled Mallorca hotel stay. Not content with destroying the mattresses and furniture in their room, the terrible Teutons elevated proceedings by emptying two of the property’s fire extinguishers. That left them plenty of time to head back to the elevators for a hearty round of lift-based defecation, no doubt delighting fellow guests when the doors next opened. Not quite seeing the funny side, police arrested the lads the next day and a court case quickly followed.The All You Can Beat AwardOpen this photo in gallery:Illustration by Graham Roumieu… goes to Carnival Cruise Line passengers on a Caribbean vacation who aimed to satisfy their late-night cravings at the ship’s 24-hour buffet. Fellow cruiser Nick Richardson told USA Today that when he arrived for some pizza at 3 a.m., he found an overly animated group of 15 or so passengers “talking trash to each other” between the heated food counters. Whatever they were debating – pasta sauce recipes or baked Alaska tips, perhaps – quickly escalated, with fists, plates and chairs flying around like dinner rolls in a tornado. Security guards soon restored order and Carnival later banned the buffet brawlers for life.The Tag I’m It Award… goes to the Dutch tourist visiting the ancient town of Herculaneum near Naples, which was decimated by 79 AD’s Mount Vesuvius eruption and is now home to dozens of carefully preserved archeological sites. That rich history meant so much to our self-absorbed explorer that he uncapped his indelible black marker and scrawled some jagged graffiti onto the interior wall of a 2,000-year-old Roman house. Quickly detained at the site, the pen-wielding scribbler didn’t have a leg to stand on when police arrived since his impromptu annotation turned out to be his personal graffiti tag.The Pooh Sticks AwardOpen this photo in gallery:Illustration by Graham Roumieu… goes to the Shanghai Disneyland visitor who was presumably reminded of some deep childhood trauma on a trip to the popular park when the large, wobbly-headed figure of Winnie the Pooh ambled toward him during a parade. A viral video shows the man lunging at the bright-yellow honey-hogger, smacking him on the head and causing him to collapse like a furry sack of spuds. Staff rushed to rescue the cheery ursine mascot, while officials later confirmed that the visitor “faced consequences.” Which, hopefully, included a nighttime visitation from an avenging Heffalump or two.
At Periwinkle’s Toy Shoppe in Camas, Legos, stuffed animals and science kits a hit for the holidays
“This time of year is pretty special,” said Heather Kesmodel, who co-owns Periwinkle’s with her husband, Dave. They opened the shop at 326 N.E. Cedar St. in 2021.
Kesmodel said she has seen some toys come and go. Pop Its!, for instance, were big for a time.
“Those have pretty much run their course,” she said.
Kesmodel and her husband try to carry a variety of toys in their shop. But she said the staple toys that customers buy at Periwinkle’s are largely tried and true. (Her shop doesn’t sell electronic toys.)
One of the biggest sellers this year is slime (not your mother’s homemade slime). This is fancy slime with fun scents and tiny toys added in.
“We get it in, and then it’s cleared out again,” Kesmodel said.
Fidgets of all styles are popular with kids this year, she added. Some brands are so desired they may actually provoke Tickle Me Elmo-circa 1996 flashbacks when trying to find them for Christmas.
Imaginative play is also big. Kids love stuffed animals and figurines. Calico Critters figures and playsets are especially popular at Periwinkle’s.
STEM sets, like Thames & Kosmos Bubble Gum Lab and Mega Cyborg Hand Science Kit, are also popular sellers.
Season outlook
Trade group The Toy Association said in its holiday season outlook that consumers are still cautious about spending despite inflation slowing.
“But our survey shows that parents are still prioritizing purchases that spark joy,” said Adrienne Appell, executive vice president of marketing communications at The Toy Association.
The group’s survey showed 69 percent of parents would cut back on other areas of their budget to ensure their kids have the latest toys.
Kesmodel’s small shop can’t compete with the big retailers, so she can’t get her hands on some products, like the popular Hatchimals brand.
But the toys her shop does carry represent the cornerstones of play: games and puzzles for family time, imaginative play with figurines and stuffed animals, science kits for hands-on learning, and art supplies to spark creativity.
“That’s the beauty of it,” Kesmodel said. When kids experience different kinds of toys, they learn and grow, she said.
At Periwinkle’s Toy Shoppe in Camas, Legos, stuffed animals and science kits a hit for the holidays
“This time of year is pretty special,” said Heather Kesmodel, who co-owns Periwinkle’s with her husband, Dave. They opened the shop at 326 N.E. Cedar St. in 2021.
Kesmodel said she has seen some toys come and go. Pop Its!, for instance, were big for a time.
“Those have pretty much run their course,” she said.
Kesmodel and her husband try to carry a variety of toys in their shop. But she said the staple toys that customers buy at Periwinkle’s are largely tried and true. (Her shop doesn’t sell electronic toys.)
One of the biggest sellers this year is slime (not your mother’s homemade slime). This is fancy slime with fun scents and tiny toys added in.
“We get it in, and then it’s cleared out again,” Kesmodel said.
Fidgets of all styles are popular with kids this year, she added. Some brands are so desired they may actually provoke Tickle Me Elmo-circa 1996 flashbacks when trying to find them for Christmas.
Imaginative play is also big. Kids love stuffed animals and figurines. Calico Critters figures and playsets are especially popular at Periwinkle’s.
STEM sets, like Thames & Kosmos Bubble Gum Lab and Mega Cyborg Hand Science Kit, are also popular sellers.
Season outlook
Trade group The Toy Association said in its holiday season outlook that consumers are still cautious about spending despite inflation slowing.
“But our survey shows that parents are still prioritizing purchases that spark joy,” said Adrienne Appell, executive vice president of marketing communications at The Toy Association.
The group’s survey showed 69 percent of parents would cut back on other areas of their budget to ensure their kids have the latest toys.
Kesmodel’s small shop can’t compete with the big retailers, so she can’t get her hands on some products, like the popular Hatchimals brand.
But the toys her shop does carry represent the cornerstones of play: games and puzzles for family time, imaginative play with figurines and stuffed animals, science kits for hands-on learning, and art supplies to spark creativity.
“That’s the beauty of it,” Kesmodel said. When kids experience different kinds of toys, they learn and grow, she said.
‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’: watch the trailer for the film
‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ is coming to cinemas in 2025 and the official trailer for the film has just been released.
Powered by awe-inspiring, psychedelic, never-before-seen footage, performances, and music, Bernard MacMahon’s experiential cinematic odyssey explores Led Zeppelin’s creative, musical, and personal origin story. Watch the trailer below:
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The film is told in Led Zeppelin’s own words and is the first officially sanctioned film on the group.Watch the trailer for the film above to get a taste of what to expect. You can also see the newly released poster for the film at the top of this article.‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ will be exclusively in IMAX on 5th and 6th February 2025, and in cinemas and IMAX from 7th February 2025.
Humiliation for entitled Chicago influencer, 22, as her lies about mom-and-pop business are exposed
By WILL POTTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 08:53 EST, 19 December 2024 | Updated: 09:06 EST, 19 December 2024
Passengers urged to check before they travel ahead of Christmas service changes
A number of amendments are being made to road, rail and ferry options over the next two weeks13:20, 19 Dec 2024An Arriva bus and Ice-Cream Vans on the Christmas Tractor Run(Image: