This report addresses: Contemporary Flat Earth Movement

The night of the party, he drank way too much, and at the end of the evening, he became angry and verbally attacked me and two of my guests.

While he volunteered to help with several things (we were hosting out-of-town guests as well) he did not follow through with anything, and I was left to scramble a bit.

"There's definitely a line that people fail to recognize that you cannot cross and when they begin to target my family this is a different story."

These occurrences do not cease Smith from continuing his duties to the county or limit the involvement of his children in politics as he understands the nature of his occupation.

"I have three daughters and I think having them understand the process, how our system works and how important their involvement as a citizen is doesn't stop with taking them to the polls with me to vote," Smith said.

Why isn’t this being reported?”

There also is supposed to be a semi-annual report on bullying prepared by administrators, sorted by grade level, that is supposed to be posted on the district website for parental access.

Perez said the bullying of her daughter started in fourth grade “very hot and heavy.” As a result, her daughter, who self-harms, spent 30 days in a residential unit.

This report addresses: Contemporary Flat Earth Movement

Title:

Content: My Daughter Has Chosen Her Boyfriend Over Our Family—What Should I Do?

Dear Newsweek, My daughter's live-in boyfriend of two years has been accepted graciously into our family. We have taken him on trips and helped them out with setting up their home with major appliances etc, in order to make things easier on my daughter.

Three months ago, my husband and I hosted a long-planned anniversary party. While he volunteered to help with several things (we were hosting out-of-town guests as well) he did not follow through with anything, and I was left to scramble a bit. The night of the party, he drank way too much, and at the end of the evening, he became angry and verbally attacked me and two of my guests.

To this day no one knows what he was angry about. Every other word was the f-bomb and I ultimately told him it was time for him to leave. He stormed out, leaving my daughter stranded. She had no clue what had happened and went home in a Lyft. This was three months ago.

My daughter has texted me here and there but has made it clear, while she doesn't know what happened, she stands by him. As for myself, I am devastated that she has chosen to stay away from us.

We moved to be closer to her, at her request and encouragement, and now she won't have anything to do with us. We are heartbroken, but she is the reason we are here. While you can't choose who your children choose as a partner, I thought we had raised her to respect her parents, and herself [most] importantly.

I honestly don't think we could have this man-child back in our home. Are we wrong for standing our ground in thinking at the very least he should apologize? It has torn our family apart.

Candace, Unknown

Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.

You Need An Apology From Him

Rabia Khara is a marriage and family therapist specializing in adults, couples, and families.

First, I want to acknowledge your hurt and pain through this experience. It must have been really hard for you to reconcile the fact that your daughter's live-in boyfriend did not show responsibility and respect, especially at an important event.

I empathize with your feelings of hurt over your daughter not sticking up for you and supporting you. I also empathize with you for having to contend with a situation where someone you trusted let you down. It is not clear how your daughter's boyfriend interacts with her at home, but I would look into the potential of his behavior being problematic and potentially unhealthy if heavy drinking and anger outbursts are involved.

He clearly owes you and your husband an apology for the reasons cited, but also for showing no regret for his behavior. Most importantly, your daughter and you need to have an open and heartfelt discussion about your concerns for her relationship with him, the hurt and pain that ensued, your expectations, and how best to resolve the situation knowing the significant emotional and financial contribution that you made to better their lives.

I hope that you and your husband are able to find closure after expressing or the very least emphasizing the egregiousness of the situation to your daughter and for the boyfriend to make amends if he intends to, in fact, remain part of the family.

Your Daughter Is Stuck In The Middle

Yasmine Saad is a licensed clinical psychologist, founder, and CEO of Madison Park Psychological Services.

Your welcoming stance towards your daughter's boyfriend shows your family values and the importance of closeness within your family. Your daughter seems to share the same values since she invited you to move closer.

My sense is that her boyfriend did not grow up with the same family-tight bonds. His behavior at the party suggests that he was overwhelmed and drank to regulate his emotions. To blow up the way he did, he must have harbored negative feelings. He is now keeping a distance, showing that closeness is not desired.

On your end, you are generous, extending your help and family to her boyfriend. On his end, he is likely experiencing the close family bonds as limiting or suffocating and filled with [the] responsibility to pay back, which seemed to have overwhelmed him and triggered negative emotions. Disinhibited by the alcohol, his negative emotions took over and he exploded. On your end, you are receiving a lot of anger and disrespect that is incomprehensible given the help you have given him. On his end, he is likely feeling controlled and needs distance.

Your daughter is in the middle and as she lives with him and has your value of standing by the one you love, she will risk less by standing by his side than by yours as you will always be her mother. Also, it is not clear if this is her boyfriend's only angry outburst but it sounds like she wants this relationship and believes some distance from her family will help.

It is very important on your end to not take this personally, as it is not that your daughter doesn't have respectful and close family values, it is that there is a danger of more emotional instability from her boyfriend if there is closeness between the two of you. Overall it is likely that your sense of family closeness is in contradiction with her boyfriend's need for independence. Your help makes him owe you and he likely feels constrained by this bond.

You are not wrong for asking for an apology. However, the fact that he did not attend to the tasks he volunteered to do and the way he drank shows avoidant behavior so he is not likely to confront what he did but rather avoid you and your family. By keeping a stance against him, it forces your daughter to take a stance for him. It is best if you can understand what happened as the boyfriend's inability to regulate his emotions. By giving them space, your daughter does not have to defend one party over another and she can decide for herself if this relationship is good for her. Your daughter is trying to establish a safe distance not out of disrespect but out of testing what works for her and [what] doesn't. This is a transition phase for her to figure out what works for her and her boyfriend. It is difficult but if you can trust who she is and the education you have given her and put aside the need for repair, it will be in the overall family's interest.

Title:

Content: Early exposure to politics for young individuals offers various opportunities to engage in political activism, although the impact on the individual differs.

According to an article by Jennifer Katzenstein, co-director of the Center for Behavioral Health and director of psychology at John Hopkins All Children's Hospital, it is important to allow children and adolescents to express their political views. Katzenstein also noted the value in limiting oversharing of political views toward children as it is important to allow a young individual to acknowledge all perspectives.

Walt Smith, Hays County Commissioner for Precinct 4, said it is important for him to take his children with him to vote and involve them in election-related events.

"I have three daughters and I think having them understand the process, how our system works and how important their involvement as a citizen is doesn't stop with taking them to the polls with me to vote," Smith said. "I think involving your children in anything that is important to you should be important."

As a public official, Smith recognizes there will always be individuals who do not agree with what he stands for, although he believes targeting his family crosses a line. what does he mean by targeting his family?

"I interact with folks on a daily basis who all express different viewpoints, you know 80% will agree with me but that 20% will think differently," Smith said. "There's definitely a line that people fail to recognize that you cannot cross and when they begin to target my family this is a different story."

These occurrences do not cease Smith from continuing his duties to the county or limit the involvement of his children in politics as he understands the nature of his occupation.

"It's just part of the job and they know that, but it doesn't stop me from being a commissioner or a father," Smith said. "At the end of the day I'll always be a dad and that's the most important interaction and relationship that they should care about."

Growing up in a small Texas town, Smith watched his parents advocate for political change which is what sparked his interest in politics. He realized he could make an impact at the local level.

Smith hopes that by exposing his children to politics early on that they will recognize their ability to enact change and choose a political route that aligns with their values.

Roger Abshire, a political science lecturer, believes that although his parents were politically active this was not something he intended to do.

"I don't even vote and as a political science lecturer I know that can sound weird but it's true," Abshire said. "Most of the time my wife has to drag me to go vote with her."

Abshire's studies focus on American constitutionalism and political institutions. Throughout his time in college at Texas A&M University, Abshire was never interested in politics, although he finds other aspects of the subject appealing. what are the things he does like about politics?

"Something in my brain likes rules, order and talking about these things amongst others," Abshire said. "I find politics to be distasteful and I choose to not engage mostly because I don't want my students to know my political views."

Abshire is a parent alongside many other titles and believes exposing his children to political activism can be detrimental to their outlook on politics.

"I believe my role is to limit the amount of exposure my children have to campaigning because it doesn't do any good for them," Abshire said. "Campaigning is pointless and I find it to be a poor approach to politics that I do not want my children to embrace."

Elections are an area of interest for many, as a lecturer of the political science department, Abshire believes his duties are to not sway his students to think alike but to create their own opinions and desires.

"My job is less of a teacher and more of an instructor and my hope for the students I teach is to become better students at the end than they were at the beginning," Abshire said. "I hope that I empower my students and give them the tools to be adequate members of society and in the workforce."

For some students being politically active was something their parents implemented at a young age with the hope of setting a standard when it came to their opportunity to be politically involved. For Tyra Collier, a physics sophomore, this was the case as her mom began bringing her to polling locations as a young child.

"I used to go with my mom to vote and she was the person who exposed me to the voting process as a kid," Collier said. "I never really understood politics until I was about 14 or 15 and I know that my parents have some influence on my political views but a lot of it comes down to interacting with outside influences."

Collier is a first-time voter and participated in the 2022 midterm election. She and her mom early voted together.

For Collier, early exposure played an important role in her development and she appreciates the opportunities her parents offered her growing up.

"I am definitely grateful that my mom frequently took me to vote with her and that I was able to watch the election on the television with my parents," Collier said. "I think that this helped me to cement my ideas that voting is important and it is a way to create change in our society. I know that this came from the influence my parents had on me early on in my life."

Collier expressed that parents need to be accepting of individuals' views and support them in their life despite political differences that may arise.

"Let your child have their own opinions and their own views and support them in any way you can," Collier said.

Journalism is an act of civic responsibility. We see our work as a public service that is necessary for a community to thrive because knowledge is empowering. If you enjoyed this story, please consider helping us "Defend the First Amendment" by donating today!

Title:

Content: JERRY CITY – An Elmwood Local Schools parent is unhappy about anti-bullying efforts as well as lack of mental health support for her daughter.

Brianne Perez attended the April 11 school board meeting to share her grievances on both subjects.

Perez said the bullying of her daughter started in fourth grade “very hot and heavy.” As a result, her daughter, who self-harms, spent 30 days in a residential unit.

It was reported to the teacher when this started, she said.

Per the student handbook, district policy prohibits harassment, intimidation and bullying. There is supposed to be fact finding, written reports and a compliance officer, and as a parent she was supposed to be contacted, Perez said.

“I have never been notified,” she said. “Why wasn’t I notified? Why isn’t this being reported?”

There also is supposed to be a semi-annual report on bullying prepared by administrators, sorted by grade level, that is supposed to be posted on the district website for parental access.

“I scoured the website. I could not find it,” Perez said.

Superintendent Tony Borton said the report is updated every year in December and he will check to see if that has been done.

The list of compliance officers is found under the District tab on the website, as is the bullying report, which is in Forms under the same tab.

Per the midterm report for 2021-22, there was one incident of bullying reported in the high school, one in the elementary and seven in the middle school.

Only incidents reported are counted, Borton said after the meeting. He added that middle school numbers tend to be higher.

“As soon as we hear a kid is bullying, our principals are on it,” he said. “Are we going to stop it? No. No school can stop it.”

PBIS programs, which contain prevention and intervention practices, are in place in each building to promote a positive culture, Borton said.

Union contracts also outline the procedures for student bullying, but they have not been revised since 2013, Perez said.

That is not contract language, Borton later explained. That is Neola policy, which is updated only when the law changes.

“If a policy is a day old or 15 years old, that means nothing. It’s the last time the rule has changed,” he said.

The anti-harassment policy was revised in 2021 to include gender identify and the need for compliance officers, Perez said. She added that reports of harassment also are to appear on the district website but are nowhere to be found.

Those numbers are combined with the bullying report, Borton said.

This year while in sixth grade, her daughter has reported to five administrators about being bullied. Not one time has there been an investigation and she as a parent has never been informed, Perez said.

Her daughter has never met with a compliance officer about any issue, she added.

“When my administrators hear a kid is being bullied, we immediately address it,” Borton said.

He declined to comment on Perez’s specific allegations.

“It’s been handled,” Borton said.

“I want to have a school district I’m proud of and right now I’m not,” Perez said, and added she pays taxes that helps fund the district.

She said her next step is to consult an attorney and the media.

“This is my child’s mental health and well-being. What do you want her to do? Do you want her to go hang herself before something gets done?”

Perez also questioned the district’s relationship with the Children’s Resource Center, which has worked with her son and daughter.

Her daughter was referred to CRC when she was in kindergarten due to a past traumatic event, but Perez said she was never notified when the relationship with the therapist ended.

She said the district went eight months without a therapist on staff.

When one “therapist” was hired, she hadn’t passed state licensing tests and parents were not notified, Perez said. That person is now fully licensed as a licensed professional clinical counselor and is working with her son on his IEP.

A CRC licensed counselor was brought in but was not a qualified mental health specialist, Perez said.

“My daughter wasn’t seeing the mental health professionals I thought she was,” she said.

Borton said that was a CRC issue and he would not comment on the accusation.

He later explained that CRC is contracted to provide mental health services in the school and he has little control over who they send.

The school safety plan also failed her daughter, who began self-harming herself, Perez said.

As soon as that was brought to administrator’s attention, a stringent school safety plan was back in place, she added.

Anytime a child returns to Elmwood from CRC, they return with a school safety plan, Borton said, adding that he can’t address the details to which Perez spoke.

Federal funds are used to pay for counselor at no expense to parents, Borton said. The alternative is to not offer the on-site service, which will force parents to travel to the CRC in Bowling Green.

Also, at the meeting, the board:

• Heard comments from exchange students from the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands about their experience at Elmwood.

• Heard a presentation from the Elementary PTO; the group could always use more volunteers.

• Approved a trip to Costa Rica in July 2023. The cost per student will be $3,105; the cost per adult will be $3,605. The hope was for 12 students but within 24 hours, 31 people had shown interest.

“I love they’re going to get out and see the world,” said board President Debbie Reynolds.

• Approved a trip by the middle school and high school boys basketball teams to Sherrodsville in June for the Eastern Ohio Basketball Camp.

• Decided to start videotaping its meetings. Borton will attach the video to his Wednesday messages.

“I thought it was a great idea,” Reynolds said, noting the meetings now start at 5:30 p.m.

• Enrolled in the Ohio School Board Association 2023 worker’s compensation program with a targeted refund of 41% and an enrollment fee of $920.

• Accepted a donation of $8,520 from Royal Summer Baseball to the baseball program for its spring trip.

• Entered into a contract with Wood County Hospital Rehabilitation Services for athletic training services for the 2022-23 school year for $22,000.

• Approved the purchase of seven copiers with a five-year service agreement from Applied Imaging for $55,623.84.

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0
0
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This report addresses: Contemporary Flat Earth Movement

The night of the party, he drank way too much, and at the end of the evening, he became angry and verbally attacked me and two of my guests.

While he volunteered to help with several things (we were hosting out-of-town guests as well) he did not follow through with anything, and I was left to scramble a bit.

"There's definitely a line that people fail to recognize that you cannot cross and when they begin to target my family this is a different story."

These occurrences do not cease Smith from continuing his duties to the county or limit the involvement of his children in politics as he understands the nature of his occupation.

"I have three daughters and I think having them understand the process, how our system works and how important their involvement as a citizen is doesn't stop with taking them to the polls with me to vote," Smith said.

Why isn’t this being reported?”

There also is supposed to be a semi-annual report on bullying prepared by administrators, sorted by grade level, that is supposed to be posted on the district website for parental access.

Perez said the bullying of her daughter started in fourth grade “very hot and heavy.” As a result, her daughter, who self-harms, spent 30 days in a residential unit.

This report addresses: Contemporary Flat Earth Movement

Title:

Content: My Daughter Has Chosen Her Boyfriend Over Our Family—What Should I Do?

Dear Newsweek, My daughter's live-in boyfriend of two years has been accepted graciously into our family. We have taken him on trips and helped them out with setting up their home with major appliances etc, in order to make things easier on my daughter.

Three months ago, my husband and I hosted a long-planned anniversary party. While he volunteered to help with several things (we were hosting out-of-town guests as well) he did not follow through with anything, and I was left to scramble a bit. The night of the party, he drank way too much, and at the end of the evening, he became angry and verbally attacked me and two of my guests.

To this day no one knows what he was angry about. Every other word was the f-bomb and I ultimately told him it was time for him to leave. He stormed out, leaving my daughter stranded. She had no clue what had happened and went home in a Lyft. This was three months ago.

My daughter has texted me here and there but has made it clear, while she doesn't know what happened, she stands by him. As for myself, I am devastated that she has chosen to stay away from us.

We moved to be closer to her, at her request and encouragement, and now she won't have anything to do with us. We are heartbroken, but she is the reason we are here. While you can't choose who your children choose as a partner, I thought we had raised her to respect her parents, and herself [most] importantly.

I honestly don't think we could have this man-child back in our home. Are we wrong for standing our ground in thinking at the very least he should apologize? It has torn our family apart.

Candace, Unknown

Newsweek's "What Should I Do?" offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.

You Need An Apology From Him

Rabia Khara is a marriage and family therapist specializing in adults, couples, and families.

First, I want to acknowledge your hurt and pain through this experience. It must have been really hard for you to reconcile the fact that your daughter's live-in boyfriend did not show responsibility and respect, especially at an important event.

I empathize with your feelings of hurt over your daughter not sticking up for you and supporting you. I also empathize with you for having to contend with a situation where someone you trusted let you down. It is not clear how your daughter's boyfriend interacts with her at home, but I would look into the potential of his behavior being problematic and potentially unhealthy if heavy drinking and anger outbursts are involved.

He clearly owes you and your husband an apology for the reasons cited, but also for showing no regret for his behavior. Most importantly, your daughter and you need to have an open and heartfelt discussion about your concerns for her relationship with him, the hurt and pain that ensued, your expectations, and how best to resolve the situation knowing the significant emotional and financial contribution that you made to better their lives.

I hope that you and your husband are able to find closure after expressing or the very least emphasizing the egregiousness of the situation to your daughter and for the boyfriend to make amends if he intends to, in fact, remain part of the family.

Your Daughter Is Stuck In The Middle

Yasmine Saad is a licensed clinical psychologist, founder, and CEO of Madison Park Psychological Services.

Your welcoming stance towards your daughter's boyfriend shows your family values and the importance of closeness within your family. Your daughter seems to share the same values since she invited you to move closer.

My sense is that her boyfriend did not grow up with the same family-tight bonds. His behavior at the party suggests that he was overwhelmed and drank to regulate his emotions. To blow up the way he did, he must have harbored negative feelings. He is now keeping a distance, showing that closeness is not desired.

On your end, you are generous, extending your help and family to her boyfriend. On his end, he is likely experiencing the close family bonds as limiting or suffocating and filled with [the] responsibility to pay back, which seemed to have overwhelmed him and triggered negative emotions. Disinhibited by the alcohol, his negative emotions took over and he exploded. On your end, you are receiving a lot of anger and disrespect that is incomprehensible given the help you have given him. On his end, he is likely feeling controlled and needs distance.

Your daughter is in the middle and as she lives with him and has your value of standing by the one you love, she will risk less by standing by his side than by yours as you will always be her mother. Also, it is not clear if this is her boyfriend's only angry outburst but it sounds like she wants this relationship and believes some distance from her family will help.

It is very important on your end to not take this personally, as it is not that your daughter doesn't have respectful and close family values, it is that there is a danger of more emotional instability from her boyfriend if there is closeness between the two of you. Overall it is likely that your sense of family closeness is in contradiction with her boyfriend's need for independence. Your help makes him owe you and he likely feels constrained by this bond.

You are not wrong for asking for an apology. However, the fact that he did not attend to the tasks he volunteered to do and the way he drank shows avoidant behavior so he is not likely to confront what he did but rather avoid you and your family. By keeping a stance against him, it forces your daughter to take a stance for him. It is best if you can understand what happened as the boyfriend's inability to regulate his emotions. By giving them space, your daughter does not have to defend one party over another and she can decide for herself if this relationship is good for her. Your daughter is trying to establish a safe distance not out of disrespect but out of testing what works for her and [what] doesn't. This is a transition phase for her to figure out what works for her and her boyfriend. It is difficult but if you can trust who she is and the education you have given her and put aside the need for repair, it will be in the overall family's interest.

Title:

Content: Early exposure to politics for young individuals offers various opportunities to engage in political activism, although the impact on the individual differs.

According to an article by Jennifer Katzenstein, co-director of the Center for Behavioral Health and director of psychology at John Hopkins All Children's Hospital, it is important to allow children and adolescents to express their political views. Katzenstein also noted the value in limiting oversharing of political views toward children as it is important to allow a young individual to acknowledge all perspectives.

Walt Smith, Hays County Commissioner for Precinct 4, said it is important for him to take his children with him to vote and involve them in election-related events.

"I have three daughters and I think having them understand the process, how our system works and how important their involvement as a citizen is doesn't stop with taking them to the polls with me to vote," Smith said. "I think involving your children in anything that is important to you should be important."

As a public official, Smith recognizes there will always be individuals who do not agree with what he stands for, although he believes targeting his family crosses a line. what does he mean by targeting his family?

"I interact with folks on a daily basis who all express different viewpoints, you know 80% will agree with me but that 20% will think differently," Smith said. "There's definitely a line that people fail to recognize that you cannot cross and when they begin to target my family this is a different story."

These occurrences do not cease Smith from continuing his duties to the county or limit the involvement of his children in politics as he understands the nature of his occupation.

"It's just part of the job and they know that, but it doesn't stop me from being a commissioner or a father," Smith said. "At the end of the day I'll always be a dad and that's the most important interaction and relationship that they should care about."

Growing up in a small Texas town, Smith watched his parents advocate for political change which is what sparked his interest in politics. He realized he could make an impact at the local level.

Smith hopes that by exposing his children to politics early on that they will recognize their ability to enact change and choose a political route that aligns with their values.

Roger Abshire, a political science lecturer, believes that although his parents were politically active this was not something he intended to do.

"I don't even vote and as a political science lecturer I know that can sound weird but it's true," Abshire said. "Most of the time my wife has to drag me to go vote with her."

Abshire's studies focus on American constitutionalism and political institutions. Throughout his time in college at Texas A&M University, Abshire was never interested in politics, although he finds other aspects of the subject appealing. what are the things he does like about politics?

"Something in my brain likes rules, order and talking about these things amongst others," Abshire said. "I find politics to be distasteful and I choose to not engage mostly because I don't want my students to know my political views."

Abshire is a parent alongside many other titles and believes exposing his children to political activism can be detrimental to their outlook on politics.

"I believe my role is to limit the amount of exposure my children have to campaigning because it doesn't do any good for them," Abshire said. "Campaigning is pointless and I find it to be a poor approach to politics that I do not want my children to embrace."

Elections are an area of interest for many, as a lecturer of the political science department, Abshire believes his duties are to not sway his students to think alike but to create their own opinions and desires.

"My job is less of a teacher and more of an instructor and my hope for the students I teach is to become better students at the end than they were at the beginning," Abshire said. "I hope that I empower my students and give them the tools to be adequate members of society and in the workforce."

For some students being politically active was something their parents implemented at a young age with the hope of setting a standard when it came to their opportunity to be politically involved. For Tyra Collier, a physics sophomore, this was the case as her mom began bringing her to polling locations as a young child.

"I used to go with my mom to vote and she was the person who exposed me to the voting process as a kid," Collier said. "I never really understood politics until I was about 14 or 15 and I know that my parents have some influence on my political views but a lot of it comes down to interacting with outside influences."

Collier is a first-time voter and participated in the 2022 midterm election. She and her mom early voted together.

For Collier, early exposure played an important role in her development and she appreciates the opportunities her parents offered her growing up.

"I am definitely grateful that my mom frequently took me to vote with her and that I was able to watch the election on the television with my parents," Collier said. "I think that this helped me to cement my ideas that voting is important and it is a way to create change in our society. I know that this came from the influence my parents had on me early on in my life."

Collier expressed that parents need to be accepting of individuals' views and support them in their life despite political differences that may arise.

"Let your child have their own opinions and their own views and support them in any way you can," Collier said.

Journalism is an act of civic responsibility. We see our work as a public service that is necessary for a community to thrive because knowledge is empowering. If you enjoyed this story, please consider helping us "Defend the First Amendment" by donating today!

Title:

Content: JERRY CITY – An Elmwood Local Schools parent is unhappy about anti-bullying efforts as well as lack of mental health support for her daughter.

Brianne Perez attended the April 11 school board meeting to share her grievances on both subjects.

Perez said the bullying of her daughter started in fourth grade “very hot and heavy.” As a result, her daughter, who self-harms, spent 30 days in a residential unit.

It was reported to the teacher when this started, she said.

Per the student handbook, district policy prohibits harassment, intimidation and bullying. There is supposed to be fact finding, written reports and a compliance officer, and as a parent she was supposed to be contacted, Perez said.

“I have never been notified,” she said. “Why wasn’t I notified? Why isn’t this being reported?”

There also is supposed to be a semi-annual report on bullying prepared by administrators, sorted by grade level, that is supposed to be posted on the district website for parental access.

“I scoured the website. I could not find it,” Perez said.

Superintendent Tony Borton said the report is updated every year in December and he will check to see if that has been done.

The list of compliance officers is found under the District tab on the website, as is the bullying report, which is in Forms under the same tab.

Per the midterm report for 2021-22, there was one incident of bullying reported in the high school, one in the elementary and seven in the middle school.

Only incidents reported are counted, Borton said after the meeting. He added that middle school numbers tend to be higher.

“As soon as we hear a kid is bullying, our principals are on it,” he said. “Are we going to stop it? No. No school can stop it.”

PBIS programs, which contain prevention and intervention practices, are in place in each building to promote a positive culture, Borton said.

Union contracts also outline the procedures for student bullying, but they have not been revised since 2013, Perez said.

That is not contract language, Borton later explained. That is Neola policy, which is updated only when the law changes.

“If a policy is a day old or 15 years old, that means nothing. It’s the last time the rule has changed,” he said.

The anti-harassment policy was revised in 2021 to include gender identify and the need for compliance officers, Perez said. She added that reports of harassment also are to appear on the district website but are nowhere to be found.

Those numbers are combined with the bullying report, Borton said.

This year while in sixth grade, her daughter has reported to five administrators about being bullied. Not one time has there been an investigation and she as a parent has never been informed, Perez said.

Her daughter has never met with a compliance officer about any issue, she added.

“When my administrators hear a kid is being bullied, we immediately address it,” Borton said.

He declined to comment on Perez’s specific allegations.

“It’s been handled,” Borton said.

“I want to have a school district I’m proud of and right now I’m not,” Perez said, and added she pays taxes that helps fund the district.

She said her next step is to consult an attorney and the media.

“This is my child’s mental health and well-being. What do you want her to do? Do you want her to go hang herself before something gets done?”

Perez also questioned the district’s relationship with the Children’s Resource Center, which has worked with her son and daughter.

Her daughter was referred to CRC when she was in kindergarten due to a past traumatic event, but Perez said she was never notified when the relationship with the therapist ended.

She said the district went eight months without a therapist on staff.

When one “therapist” was hired, she hadn’t passed state licensing tests and parents were not notified, Perez said. That person is now fully licensed as a licensed professional clinical counselor and is working with her son on his IEP.

A CRC licensed counselor was brought in but was not a qualified mental health specialist, Perez said.

“My daughter wasn’t seeing the mental health professionals I thought she was,” she said.

Borton said that was a CRC issue and he would not comment on the accusation.

He later explained that CRC is contracted to provide mental health services in the school and he has little control over who they send.

The school safety plan also failed her daughter, who began self-harming herself, Perez said.

As soon as that was brought to administrator’s attention, a stringent school safety plan was back in place, she added.

Anytime a child returns to Elmwood from CRC, they return with a school safety plan, Borton said, adding that he can’t address the details to which Perez spoke.

Federal funds are used to pay for counselor at no expense to parents, Borton said. The alternative is to not offer the on-site service, which will force parents to travel to the CRC in Bowling Green.

Also, at the meeting, the board:

• Heard comments from exchange students from the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands about their experience at Elmwood.

• Heard a presentation from the Elementary PTO; the group could always use more volunteers.

• Approved a trip to Costa Rica in July 2023. The cost per student will be $3,105; the cost per adult will be $3,605. The hope was for 12 students but within 24 hours, 31 people had shown interest.

“I love they’re going to get out and see the world,” said board President Debbie Reynolds.

• Approved a trip by the middle school and high school boys basketball teams to Sherrodsville in June for the Eastern Ohio Basketball Camp.

• Decided to start videotaping its meetings. Borton will attach the video to his Wednesday messages.

“I thought it was a great idea,” Reynolds said, noting the meetings now start at 5:30 p.m.

• Enrolled in the Ohio School Board Association 2023 worker’s compensation program with a targeted refund of 41% and an enrollment fee of $920.

• Accepted a donation of $8,520 from Royal Summer Baseball to the baseball program for its spring trip.

• Entered into a contract with Wood County Hospital Rehabilitation Services for athletic training services for the 2022-23 school year for $22,000.

• Approved the purchase of seven copiers with a five-year service agreement from Applied Imaging for $55,623.84.

0
0
0
0
0


This report addresses: Live Action Disney Remakes

Netflix stated, “These projects opened our eyes to a much more ambitious undertaking — the construction of a distinct world across animation and live-action films and television, publishing, gaming, immersive experiences, live theater, consumer products, and more.”

Dahl died in 1990 at the age of 74, having written such classics as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Fantastic Mr Fox,” “Matilda,” “The Twits,” “The Witches,” and “The BFG.”

His books have been translated into 63 languages and have sold in excess of 300 million copies around the world.

In a joint statement, Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos and Luke Kelly, managing director of the RDSC and Dahl’s grandson, said, “This acquisition builds on the cooperation we started three years ago to create a slate of animated TV programs.”

Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi and “Zootropolis” screenwriter Phil Johnston are developing a series based on the universe of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” while an adaptation of “Matilda the Musical” is in the works under the previous contract.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have returned 24.4% year to date compared with the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector’s 1.5% growth.

My Oni Girl follows the story of Hiiragi, a high school student struggling to make friends until he meets Tsumugi, an oni (demon) girl searching for her mother in the human world.

The old Bill Rizer and Lance Bean (or the Probotectors RD008 and RC011 if you were in the old censored Europe) have to restart their battle against the thousands of Red Falcon terrorists and the aliens behind it all.

It takes the NES original and introduces as many changes as they see fit, starting with the look and weapons, but returns to 2.5D Run & Gun side action and "me against the world" combat.

This report addresses: Live Action Disney Remakes

Title:

Content: Roald Dahl’s Complete Works Have Been Acquired By Netflix.

0

Roald Dahl’s Complete Works Have Been Acquired By Netflix.

Netflix announced on Tuesday that it had purchased the complete works of famed children’s novelist Roald Dahl, who wrote such masterpieces as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Matilda.”

The Roald Dahl Story Company, the family corporation that controls the late British author’s copyright, has been purchased by Netflix.

In 2018, Netflix and Dahl agreed to collaborate on an animated series based on 16 of Dahl’s works.

In a joint statement, Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos and Luke Kelly, managing director of the RDSC and Dahl’s grandson, said, “This acquisition builds on the cooperation we started three years ago to create a slate of animated TV programs.”

Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi and “Zootropolis” screenwriter Phil Johnston are developing a series based on the universe of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” while an adaptation of “Matilda the Musical” is in the works under the previous contract.

Netflix stated, “These projects opened our eyes to a much more ambitious undertaking — the construction of a distinct world across animation and live-action films and television, publishing, gaming, immersive experiences, live theater, consumer products, and more.”

Dahl died in 1990 at the age of 74, having written such classics as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Fantastic Mr Fox,” “Matilda,” “The Twits,” “The Witches,” and “The BFG.”

His books have been translated into 63 languages and have sold in excess of 300 million copies around the world.

“These stories and their messages of young people’s power and potential have never seemed more relevant,” the statement stated.

“As we present these classic tales to new audiences in new media, we’re determined to preserving their unique essence and universal themes of surprise and generosity, while also adding a dash of fresh magic to the mix.”

The deal’s financial specifics were not disclosed.

According to reports published by The Hollywood Reporter in 2018, the licensing contract for just 16 Dahl works cost Netflix more over $100 million.

Several Dahl masterpieces, including “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Witches,” “Fantastic Mr Fox,” and “The BFG,” have already been adapted for the big screen.

Share.

Title:

Content: Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Netflix (NFLX), Studio Colorido Team Up to Release My Oni Girl

Read MoreHide Full Article

Netflix (NFLX - Free Report) recently announced the release date for the animated movie named My Oni Girl. The film will premiere worldwide on NFLX and in Japanese theaters on May 24. Directed by Tomotaka Shibayama, who worked on Studio Ghibli projects, this movie promises an enchanting tale of friendship and self-discovery.

It is the second of three films that Netflix is making with Studio Colorido, which is well-known for hits like Penguin Highway and A Whisker Away. My Oni Girl follows the story of Hiiragi, a high school student struggling to make friends until he meets Tsumugi, an oni (demon) girl searching for her mother in the human world. Their adventure begins when mysterious snowfall occurs.

The main characters are voiced by Kensho Ono and Miyu Tomita. Shibayama collaborates with screenwriter Yuko Kakihara and animator Masafumi Yokota to create a visually stunning world with captivating characters.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have returned 24.4% year to date compared with the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector’s 1.5% growth. The remarkable achievement can be attributed to the success of its recently released Japanese content. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

NFLX’s Upcoming Japanese Content to Aid APAC Revenues

Netflix has received increasing demand from Japan in 2023. This has prompted the company to invest more in Japan. Upcoming Japanese content includes City Hunter, Parasyte: The Grey and Beyond Goodbye. This is expected to boost the company’s APAC revenues in the upcoming quarters.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NFLX's 2024 APAC revenues is pegged at $4.46 billion, indicating 18.6% year-over-year growth. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $17.01 per share, indicating 41.4% year-over-year growth.

In Japan, video streaming took a while to catch on because many people preferred physical media. According to a new report from AMPD, Japan's premium video-on-demand category grew from 50.6 million subscriptions in 2022 to 52.6 million in 2023. It brought in $4.5 billion in subscription revenues in 2023, up from $4.1 billion reported in 2022.

Five main platforms, including Amazon (AMZN - Free Report) Prime Video, Netflix, U-Next, Disney (DIS - Free Report) and Hulu Japan, are driving this growth. Together, these companies made $3.3 billion in subscription revenues by the end of 2023. Amazon Prime Video and Netflix were the top earners, making 23% and 21% of the total subscription revenues, respectively. U-Next saw the fastest growth, adding a lot of new subscribers in 2023.

Amazon recently acquired the Japanese survival thriller series, Acma: Game, for global streaming. It will stream on Prime Video Japan starting Apr 7. Upcoming content also includes the second season of the highly successful The Silent Service Season One – The Battle of Tokyo Bay and a live-action-drama series adaptation of OSHI NO KO, which is set to release worldwide in the winter of 2024.

Disney has been focusing on Japanese content to expand its presence in the growing market. A Japanese anime series named The Fable is scheduled to debut on Disney+ on Apr 7. Other highly anticipated upcoming content also includes Blood Free and Unmasked.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD - Free Report) is trying to expand its presence in Japan by partnering with local telecommunications company, J:COM. WBD recently collaborated with DC for the Japanese anime series, Suicide Squad Isekai, which is set to release in July 2024. Upcoming content, such as Evil Does Not Exist and Unfair, are set to give tough competition to Netflix’s content.

Published in

Title:

Content: English
Gamereactor
reviews
Contra: Operation Galuga

Contra: Operation Galuga

Re-imagining the series from its ashes so that it remains relevant today.

Subscribe to our newsletter here!

* Required field
HQ

It didn't go well for Konami's attempt to evolve Contra into a 3D twin-stick action game just under five years ago. Problems with pacing, visual style and even organisation buried a Contra: Rogue Corps that no one remembers any more. Now it's time to try again, leaving behind many of those mistakes but without going back to the pixel style. And to achieve this, the Japanese have relied on the last studio that understood these elite warriors, WayForward (responsible for the brilliant Contra 4 for DS on the twentieth anniversary of the franchise).

Contra: Operation Galuga is intended as a modern-day reboot of the series. It takes the NES original and introduces as many changes as they see fit, starting with the look and weapons, but returns to 2.5D Run & Gun side action and "me against the world" combat. The old Bill Rizer and Lance Bean (or the Probotectors RD008 and RC011 if you were in the old censored Europe) have to restart their battle against the thousands of Red Falcon terrorists and the aliens behind it all. The story begins and ends the same (no, it's not a spoiler if the script was written 37 years ago), because it paves the way for a future installment that retells the so-called alien wars.

In between, the motivations of the bad guys have grown around a technology that mixes gravitational fields and wormholes. They've made it as over-the-top as possible, in line with the histrionic performances of the voice actors and the characters they portray. The fattening of the script serves to give more weight to the natives of Galuga and, what matters, to grow the list of playable characters. Because, honestly, nobody comes to a Contra to find out what's going on, just to shoot regardless of the who or the why.

This is an ad:

This makes Galuga feel the same as always, at least occasionally. It starts once again in the jungle level, then moves on to the waterfall climbing phase, and culminates inside the giant alien. Enough appealing to nostalgia, because the old ones are the most boring levels and the new ones have been made to look a lot better. Unlike Contra Evolve, it's not a remake, but even the ones depicting past environments are modified. And they've done away with the vertical 2D sections for the ones set inside the base. In exchange, there are more levels using vehicles, although I'm the least convinced by them. And while they all share the same base, the placement of elements such as platforms, enemies and real grapples gives a sense of variety. All of them are relatively long levels for this format, and so the eight included in the game took me more than an hour and a half to play on normal difficulty. Oh, and a special mention for the new bosses or some remade versions of old ones, because they are fun to kill.

Talking about challenge is essential to the series and here WayForward has done a great job. To start with, three levels of difficulty (I don't know if there will be more when beating it on hard because I haven't completed it yet), and on top of them, two life systems. The classic one-hit-one-life, and the one inherited from Mega Drive that allows you to take a few hits. There's variety to satisfy all audiences and it's perfectly integrated. As for the difference between normal and hard, it's in the precision of the enemy shots, you know that typical "but the grenade just went where I was about to land". The balance between enemies, weapons, movement speed, lives and difficulty is very good and generates a cocktail with an ideal rhythm for what is asked of a Contra.

The gameplay of Contra: Operation Galuga is where it needs to be because it brings all the usual stuff and adds strategic variants. The downside is that they have opted only for automatic shooting and I would have appreciated to combine it with the option to manually press the button at high speed to improve performance. The weapons are the same as always, so it could use a few new ones, but they have added an overload system and a perk system that you have to work with constantly. The weapon overload causes a momentary special effect, like a protective barrier with the M or slowing time with the L. They're of little use, until you combine them with the perk of regaining a shard of life after burning a weapon, then you start to get a taste for using them. Since you get a lot of them and can even request one from time to time, there's no rush. There are perks that are generic and others to give each character an extra ability, such as Bill being untouchable when dashing. The other point to this combination is the character selection, because while they all behave pretty much the same, there is some personal ability that can be a big plus or, rather, a big minus.

This is an ad:

Beware of burning coins on perks at random, because that same money is also needed to buy characters and secret game modes. And you don't earn that much per game, so it will take many hours of play to get it all. It's not a problem because you already know that in a Contra the stages are repeated over and over again. For this there is the arcade mode and the challenges, which are far from easy. These two modes are to test yourself in the genre. By the way, I completed half of the story mode in multiplayer, as the series demands, and the experience was average because the jumping between weapons when picking up new ones and dropping old ones is very confusing.

Well, it seems to be going pretty well with the new Konami and WayForward, doesn't it? Well, not everything. Because Contra: Operation Galuga is ugly as a one of the alien enemies. When the American studio released Contra 4 it wowed with what it achieved on Nintendo DS. But there it was on its home turf, on the pixel. Its 3D visual recreations don't fit either in the artistic section, exploiting that militaristic exaggeration also in the graphics; nor in the technical one, as it has been technically very generic and "plasticy", a problem that Advance Wars 1+2 Re-boot Camp also has. Nor does it deliver audibly, because we have gone from an epic soundtrack in the 80s to another that goes unnoticed if it is not for the remix of the classics, combined with old effects that feel like patches.

Would Contra: Operation Galuga be a better game if it was shown in 2D pixel style? I don't think the problem is the leap to 3D graphics, but the overall implementation. But having picked up the pace of the game well, having managed to integrate the current lives and perks system so as not to penalise so much with difficulty and having got some well-designed levels and bosses, at least Konami and WayForward has a good basis for the series to re-establish itself and the Alien Wars will be unleashed again.

Gamereactor UK
7 / 10
+
It conveys the Contra essence, and the introduction of modern elements enhances it. Long levels and some particularly good ones. Very balanced in difficulty for its genre. Replayable as it should be.
-
As ugly as a bad PS3/Xbox 360 game. Bit of a mess with the weapons when playing co-op. Lack of new weapons.
is our network score. What's yours? The network score is the average of every country's score

Related texts

Loading next content


This report addresses: Live Action Disney Remakes

Netflix stated, “These projects opened our eyes to a much more ambitious undertaking — the construction of a distinct world across animation and live-action films and television, publishing, gaming, immersive experiences, live theater, consumer products, and more.”

Dahl died in 1990 at the age of 74, having written such classics as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Fantastic Mr Fox,” “Matilda,” “The Twits,” “The Witches,” and “The BFG.”

His books have been translated into 63 languages and have sold in excess of 300 million copies around the world.

In a joint statement, Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos and Luke Kelly, managing director of the RDSC and Dahl’s grandson, said, “This acquisition builds on the cooperation we started three years ago to create a slate of animated TV programs.”

Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi and “Zootropolis” screenwriter Phil Johnston are developing a series based on the universe of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” while an adaptation of “Matilda the Musical” is in the works under the previous contract.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have returned 24.4% year to date compared with the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector’s 1.5% growth.

My Oni Girl follows the story of Hiiragi, a high school student struggling to make friends until he meets Tsumugi, an oni (demon) girl searching for her mother in the human world.

The old Bill Rizer and Lance Bean (or the Probotectors RD008 and RC011 if you were in the old censored Europe) have to restart their battle against the thousands of Red Falcon terrorists and the aliens behind it all.

It takes the NES original and introduces as many changes as they see fit, starting with the look and weapons, but returns to 2.5D Run & Gun side action and "me against the world" combat.

This report addresses: Live Action Disney Remakes

Title:

Content: Roald Dahl’s Complete Works Have Been Acquired By Netflix.

0

Roald Dahl’s Complete Works Have Been Acquired By Netflix.

Netflix announced on Tuesday that it had purchased the complete works of famed children’s novelist Roald Dahl, who wrote such masterpieces as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Matilda.”

The Roald Dahl Story Company, the family corporation that controls the late British author’s copyright, has been purchased by Netflix.

In 2018, Netflix and Dahl agreed to collaborate on an animated series based on 16 of Dahl’s works.

In a joint statement, Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos and Luke Kelly, managing director of the RDSC and Dahl’s grandson, said, “This acquisition builds on the cooperation we started three years ago to create a slate of animated TV programs.”

Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi and “Zootropolis” screenwriter Phil Johnston are developing a series based on the universe of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” while an adaptation of “Matilda the Musical” is in the works under the previous contract.

Netflix stated, “These projects opened our eyes to a much more ambitious undertaking — the construction of a distinct world across animation and live-action films and television, publishing, gaming, immersive experiences, live theater, consumer products, and more.”

Dahl died in 1990 at the age of 74, having written such classics as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Fantastic Mr Fox,” “Matilda,” “The Twits,” “The Witches,” and “The BFG.”

His books have been translated into 63 languages and have sold in excess of 300 million copies around the world.

“These stories and their messages of young people’s power and potential have never seemed more relevant,” the statement stated.

“As we present these classic tales to new audiences in new media, we’re determined to preserving their unique essence and universal themes of surprise and generosity, while also adding a dash of fresh magic to the mix.”

The deal’s financial specifics were not disclosed.

According to reports published by The Hollywood Reporter in 2018, the licensing contract for just 16 Dahl works cost Netflix more over $100 million.

Several Dahl masterpieces, including “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Witches,” “Fantastic Mr Fox,” and “The BFG,” have already been adapted for the big screen.

Share.

Title:

Content: Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Netflix (NFLX), Studio Colorido Team Up to Release My Oni Girl

Read MoreHide Full Article

Netflix (NFLX - Free Report) recently announced the release date for the animated movie named My Oni Girl. The film will premiere worldwide on NFLX and in Japanese theaters on May 24. Directed by Tomotaka Shibayama, who worked on Studio Ghibli projects, this movie promises an enchanting tale of friendship and self-discovery.

It is the second of three films that Netflix is making with Studio Colorido, which is well-known for hits like Penguin Highway and A Whisker Away. My Oni Girl follows the story of Hiiragi, a high school student struggling to make friends until he meets Tsumugi, an oni (demon) girl searching for her mother in the human world. Their adventure begins when mysterious snowfall occurs.

The main characters are voiced by Kensho Ono and Miyu Tomita. Shibayama collaborates with screenwriter Yuko Kakihara and animator Masafumi Yokota to create a visually stunning world with captivating characters.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have returned 24.4% year to date compared with the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector’s 1.5% growth. The remarkable achievement can be attributed to the success of its recently released Japanese content. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

NFLX’s Upcoming Japanese Content to Aid APAC Revenues

Netflix has received increasing demand from Japan in 2023. This has prompted the company to invest more in Japan. Upcoming Japanese content includes City Hunter, Parasyte: The Grey and Beyond Goodbye. This is expected to boost the company’s APAC revenues in the upcoming quarters.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NFLX's 2024 APAC revenues is pegged at $4.46 billion, indicating 18.6% year-over-year growth. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $17.01 per share, indicating 41.4% year-over-year growth.

In Japan, video streaming took a while to catch on because many people preferred physical media. According to a new report from AMPD, Japan's premium video-on-demand category grew from 50.6 million subscriptions in 2022 to 52.6 million in 2023. It brought in $4.5 billion in subscription revenues in 2023, up from $4.1 billion reported in 2022.

Five main platforms, including Amazon (AMZN - Free Report) Prime Video, Netflix, U-Next, Disney (DIS - Free Report) and Hulu Japan, are driving this growth. Together, these companies made $3.3 billion in subscription revenues by the end of 2023. Amazon Prime Video and Netflix were the top earners, making 23% and 21% of the total subscription revenues, respectively. U-Next saw the fastest growth, adding a lot of new subscribers in 2023.

Amazon recently acquired the Japanese survival thriller series, Acma: Game, for global streaming. It will stream on Prime Video Japan starting Apr 7. Upcoming content also includes the second season of the highly successful The Silent Service Season One – The Battle of Tokyo Bay and a live-action-drama series adaptation of OSHI NO KO, which is set to release worldwide in the winter of 2024.

Disney has been focusing on Japanese content to expand its presence in the growing market. A Japanese anime series named The Fable is scheduled to debut on Disney+ on Apr 7. Other highly anticipated upcoming content also includes Blood Free and Unmasked.

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD - Free Report) is trying to expand its presence in Japan by partnering with local telecommunications company, J:COM. WBD recently collaborated with DC for the Japanese anime series, Suicide Squad Isekai, which is set to release in July 2024. Upcoming content, such as Evil Does Not Exist and Unfair, are set to give tough competition to Netflix’s content.

Published in

Title:

Content: English
Gamereactor
reviews
Contra: Operation Galuga

Contra: Operation Galuga

Re-imagining the series from its ashes so that it remains relevant today.

Subscribe to our newsletter here!

* Required field
HQ

It didn't go well for Konami's attempt to evolve Contra into a 3D twin-stick action game just under five years ago. Problems with pacing, visual style and even organisation buried a Contra: Rogue Corps that no one remembers any more. Now it's time to try again, leaving behind many of those mistakes but without going back to the pixel style. And to achieve this, the Japanese have relied on the last studio that understood these elite warriors, WayForward (responsible for the brilliant Contra 4 for DS on the twentieth anniversary of the franchise).

Contra: Operation Galuga is intended as a modern-day reboot of the series. It takes the NES original and introduces as many changes as they see fit, starting with the look and weapons, but returns to 2.5D Run & Gun side action and "me against the world" combat. The old Bill Rizer and Lance Bean (or the Probotectors RD008 and RC011 if you were in the old censored Europe) have to restart their battle against the thousands of Red Falcon terrorists and the aliens behind it all. The story begins and ends the same (no, it's not a spoiler if the script was written 37 years ago), because it paves the way for a future installment that retells the so-called alien wars.

In between, the motivations of the bad guys have grown around a technology that mixes gravitational fields and wormholes. They've made it as over-the-top as possible, in line with the histrionic performances of the voice actors and the characters they portray. The fattening of the script serves to give more weight to the natives of Galuga and, what matters, to grow the list of playable characters. Because, honestly, nobody comes to a Contra to find out what's going on, just to shoot regardless of the who or the why.

This is an ad:

This makes Galuga feel the same as always, at least occasionally. It starts once again in the jungle level, then moves on to the waterfall climbing phase, and culminates inside the giant alien. Enough appealing to nostalgia, because the old ones are the most boring levels and the new ones have been made to look a lot better. Unlike Contra Evolve, it's not a remake, but even the ones depicting past environments are modified. And they've done away with the vertical 2D sections for the ones set inside the base. In exchange, there are more levels using vehicles, although I'm the least convinced by them. And while they all share the same base, the placement of elements such as platforms, enemies and real grapples gives a sense of variety. All of them are relatively long levels for this format, and so the eight included in the game took me more than an hour and a half to play on normal difficulty. Oh, and a special mention for the new bosses or some remade versions of old ones, because they are fun to kill.

Talking about challenge is essential to the series and here WayForward has done a great job. To start with, three levels of difficulty (I don't know if there will be more when beating it on hard because I haven't completed it yet), and on top of them, two life systems. The classic one-hit-one-life, and the one inherited from Mega Drive that allows you to take a few hits. There's variety to satisfy all audiences and it's perfectly integrated. As for the difference between normal and hard, it's in the precision of the enemy shots, you know that typical "but the grenade just went where I was about to land". The balance between enemies, weapons, movement speed, lives and difficulty is very good and generates a cocktail with an ideal rhythm for what is asked of a Contra.

The gameplay of Contra: Operation Galuga is where it needs to be because it brings all the usual stuff and adds strategic variants. The downside is that they have opted only for automatic shooting and I would have appreciated to combine it with the option to manually press the button at high speed to improve performance. The weapons are the same as always, so it could use a few new ones, but they have added an overload system and a perk system that you have to work with constantly. The weapon overload causes a momentary special effect, like a protective barrier with the M or slowing time with the L. They're of little use, until you combine them with the perk of regaining a shard of life after burning a weapon, then you start to get a taste for using them. Since you get a lot of them and can even request one from time to time, there's no rush. There are perks that are generic and others to give each character an extra ability, such as Bill being untouchable when dashing. The other point to this combination is the character selection, because while they all behave pretty much the same, there is some personal ability that can be a big plus or, rather, a big minus.

This is an ad:

Beware of burning coins on perks at random, because that same money is also needed to buy characters and secret game modes. And you don't earn that much per game, so it will take many hours of play to get it all. It's not a problem because you already know that in a Contra the stages are repeated over and over again. For this there is the arcade mode and the challenges, which are far from easy. These two modes are to test yourself in the genre. By the way, I completed half of the story mode in multiplayer, as the series demands, and the experience was average because the jumping between weapons when picking up new ones and dropping old ones is very confusing.

Well, it seems to be going pretty well with the new Konami and WayForward, doesn't it? Well, not everything. Because Contra: Operation Galuga is ugly as a one of the alien enemies. When the American studio released Contra 4 it wowed with what it achieved on Nintendo DS. But there it was on its home turf, on the pixel. Its 3D visual recreations don't fit either in the artistic section, exploiting that militaristic exaggeration also in the graphics; nor in the technical one, as it has been technically very generic and "plasticy", a problem that Advance Wars 1+2 Re-boot Camp also has. Nor does it deliver audibly, because we have gone from an epic soundtrack in the 80s to another that goes unnoticed if it is not for the remix of the classics, combined with old effects that feel like patches.

Would Contra: Operation Galuga be a better game if it was shown in 2D pixel style? I don't think the problem is the leap to 3D graphics, but the overall implementation. But having picked up the pace of the game well, having managed to integrate the current lives and perks system so as not to penalise so much with difficulty and having got some well-designed levels and bosses, at least Konami and WayForward has a good basis for the series to re-establish itself and the Alien Wars will be unleashed again.

Gamereactor UK
7 / 10
+
It conveys the Contra essence, and the introduction of modern elements enhances it. Long levels and some particularly good ones. Very balanced in difficulty for its genre. Replayable as it should be.
-
As ugly as a bad PS3/Xbox 360 game. Bit of a mess with the weapons when playing co-op. Lack of new weapons.
is our network score. What's yours? The network score is the average of every country's score

Related texts

Loading next content


This report addresses: Tai Chi & Fall Prevention

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(Then give them a treat.)

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"So to make friends with that wasn't easy and still isn't easy, but it feels like the right thing to do."

His decision to retire from F1 was made final when he broke the news to his Aston Martin team on Wednesday and was made public when he announced it via Instagram on Thursday.

There will be no contract for next year, no car to develop over the winter and no chance -- no matter how slim -- of standing on the top of another F1 podium.

Labour, which held the seat for 13 years from 1997, says the constituency is a target seat, while Reform UK claims opinion polls show it is ahead of Labour.

'It's going to be close'

The new Conservative candidate James Clark lives in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, but has pledged to relocate with his wife and son to the Norfolk seat if he wins.

This report addresses: Tai Chi & Fall Prevention

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Content: Should You Let Your Dog Drink Out of a Public Water Bowl? · The Wildest

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Should You Let Your Dog Drink Out of a Public Water Bowl?

A good basic rule: It’s best to bring your own water.

by T. Kent Jones | expert review by Dr. Bartley Harrison, DVM
August 28, 2023

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How hot was July? Well, if you can check with the World Meteorological Organization and Copernicus Climate Change Service, they will tell you the first three weeks of July 2023 were the warmest three-week period on record. As in ever. This summer continues to bring record heat to many major U.S. cities, so all you need to do is look at your thermostat, or wipe the sweat from your own face to know that it’s hot.

Or you can just look at your dog who is probably sighing that the weight of the world is on my shoulders kind of sigh they give you when life has gotten unbearably uncomfortable. In most cases, they might be being a tad overdramatic (do you see them scrounging for rent each month or filing taxes?). But in this case, they’d be right to complain.

This historic blast of climate chaos is no fun for anyone — with or without fur. Walks in the heat with your pup become scavenger hunts for water bowls beckoning like oases in front of hardware stores and ice cream shops. Panting dogs stop and slurp deep — wouldn’t you? — but then a whole new set of worries set in: Like, is that water safe?

To get some hot weather, public water bowl advice we talked to a regular contributor to The Wildest, Dr. Bartley Harrison, a veterinarian based in North Carolina.

Have you often experienced dirty public bowls for dog water?

Definitely. It seems like many of the bowls left out in public for dogs aren’t cleaned as regularly as they should be. It’s awesome that cities, people, and businesses make water bowls available for dogs, but some seem to get left by the wayside when things get busy.

What should a dog parent look for in a public water bowl that will tell them it’s definitely not safe for their dog to drink from?

The big thing that dog parents should watch out for is evidence that the bowl has older or scummy-looking water in it, that wildlife has been in the area, or that it hasn’t been cleaned recently. Dogs aren’t usually very picky, so it’s our job to help them make better decisions about what they put into their mouths.

I won’t say that I need a water bowl to look like something I’d be willing to drink out of myself, but it at least should be clean enough that I’d have it in my kitchen. When walking, I try to steer clear of bowls that look obviously gross, so my dog isn’t tempted to try them.

What should a dog parent look for in a public water bowl that would be on the safer side?

Dog parents should look for bowls that are about as clean as their dog’s bowl at home. My favorite is when a business has a few bowls out for you to fill yourself from a hose or faucet. That way, you know the water is fresh and clean, and you can rinse the bowl yourself before using it.

How important is it that you bring your own water with you?

Bringing your own water with you is the best way to make sure your dog has fresh, clean water available. If you’re taking your dog for a walk (or even for a sit at a cafe or brewery) when it’s hot, packing water and a container for your dog to drink from is very important.

Even in dog-friendly cities, you can’t rely on fresh water being available for your dog when you’re out. It’s your responsibility to make sure you think ahead and provide what your dog needs.

Which is better, a portable bowl or dog water bottle? Both? Something else?

I think portable bowls and dog water bottles can both work well. Whichever you use, the big thing is to make sure that your dog is used to drinking from it before you’re out in the heat. Some dogs may refuse to drink from something if they don’t like its shape or smell. You want to know that before they’re hot and in need of a drink.

What are the risks from letting pups drink from public bowls?

I think one of the biggest concerns about public water bowls is the spread of leptospirosis, which is usually carried by wildlife. Wild animals will get thirsty in the heat as well, and a big bowl of water is very tempting to them. Some animals that would normally avoid areas with people will overcome their fear if they know water is available.

What is leptospirosis, and how can you shield your dog from getting it?

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that’s spread primarily by wildlife. Dogs most commonly get infected by drinking standing water that has been contaminated with urine from a wild animal carrying the disease.

Leptospirosis can cause liver and kidney failure, as well as a host of other issues. Vaccination against leptospirosis will reduce the risk of a dog getting the disease, but no vaccine is perfect. The safest bet is to keep your dog away from potentially contaminated water.

Given the global heat wave this summer, if your dog is really thirsty on a walk, and you don’t have water, is it worth the risk to hydrate them and let them drink from the public bowl?

If your dog is showing signs of overheating or excessive thirst, stop the walk immediately and let them rest in the shade or in a cool area. If no other water is available, a public bowl is probably the best option to help them cool off. You can always ask around to see if there’s a place where you can fill it with fresh water.

If you’re worried your dog is overheated, take them to a vet as soon as possible. Heat stroke is no joke and is a big danger this time of year.

How often should you water your dog on a walk?

A dog’s water needs will vary based on the temperature outside, how much energy they’re expending, and their health status. Healthy dogs that are just sitting out in the heat should be offered water at least hourly. Dogs that are running, playing, or hiking in the heat will need water more frequently.

During this heat wave, it’s best to keep your dog indoors as much as possible during the hottest part of the day, especially if they’re a short-faced breed or aren’t fully acclimated to the heat. Save the longer walks for early morning or nighttime.

What are some signs you should look for that your dog really, really needs a drink?

Signs that your dog really needs a drink include rapid or loud panting, a sluggish pace when walking, weakness, and water-seeking behavior. But if your dog is showing signs of excessive thirst, you’re already behind the game and need to stop any further activity immediately. Be proactive and offer your dog a drink before they tell you they need it.

Dogs always want to be on the go, and most don’t think to stop and ask for water. It’s our job as dog parents to make sure we’re not letting them fall behind on water or be too active in the heat. Hopefully, we’ll be able to let them enjoy some more activity in cooler weather soon.

T. Kent Jones

T. Kent Jones is a writer and broadcaster whose work has been featured on The Daily Show on Comedy Central, The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, Morning Sedition with Marc Maron on Air America Radio and in many publications and comedy websites.  He lives in New York City with his wife, Kelly, and their rescue Schnoodle, Pops, who suffers much foolishness with stoic forebearance.

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Sebastian Vettel: Why it's the right time to retire from Formula One

BUDAPEST, Hungary -- The morning after this year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel will wake up as a former F1 driver. There will be no contract for next year, no car to develop over the winter and no chance -- no matter how slim -- of standing on the top of another F1 podium.

After 16 years racing in the top category of motorsport, in which he secured four world titles and 53 race victories, Vettel admits it's an unsettling feeling. Yet, somehow, it still feels right.

"I guess because of the type of person I am, I like to know what's coming," he said in a news conference on Thursday after announcing his retirement. "I like to have certainty about what's next and that's very difficult now because there is zero certainty about what's next.

"So to make friends with that wasn't easy and still isn't easy, but it feels like the right thing to do."

His decision to retire from F1 was made final when he broke the news to his Aston Martin team on Wednesday and was made public when he announced it via Instagram on Thursday. But this wasn't a snap, or easy, decision.

"The timeline [of the decision] takes us back years," he said. "It's not a decision I made overnight. The final decision was taken yesterday by telling the team I am going to stop and not going to continue, but there was a lot of thought leading into this.

"I think it's the right time for me to do other things. I know how intense this job is and how much dedication goes into this and if you do this I am convinced you have to do it the right way."

Vettel is a complex man and this was a complex decision.

Vettel announces retirement in Instagram post

Four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel announces he will retire from Formula 1 at the end of the season on his new Instagram account.

There was no single factor that tipped the balance, although he made clear that spending more time with his wife and three young children was near the top of his priorities for the future. His growing concerns about environmental issues -- and where F1 stood in addressing those problems -- was also a clear factor and was undoubtedly one that helped tip the balance in favour of leaving a sport he still loves.

"So much dedication goes in to racing in F1 and that also means a lot of time in your head and with your thoughts, but also physically time away from home, from kids and family," he explained. "I have grown other things, other than the children, other interests and views have grown and I can't ignore these voices.

"So ultimately, the questions got bigger and bigger and more central, to a point where I make the decision. It's not a 100% or 0% decision, it's not like I hate racing from now on, I still love racing, but it's probably the majority that pulls me in a different direction.

"I'm not making way [for someone else], because it's my decision, but I'm happy to head in a different direction."

Balancing being a Formula One driver while trying to raise awareness about climate change has always been a tightrope for Vettel. He has admitted to a level of hypocrisy in trying to do both, but insists that wasn't the defining factor in his decision.

"I don't mind people calling me a hypocrite because I know I am myself -- I don't need to be told. Once you see these things, you look around and the whole room is full of hypocrites in this regard.

"But it's not about how much of a hypocrite you are or you are not, it's about how much you can do. And some of us can do a lot and others can do very little, but it all makes a difference.

"It wouldn't be fair to sit here and say that as an excuse. And it would be also the wrong driver behind a decision like that. I've done this my entire life, it's been the centre of my life for so long and it's probably better to sum it up like I have before with things growing with the awareness.

"My children are literally growing every day, my family, but then other interests, other things that I would like to spend more time on. The answer also is whether these things satisfy you enough, and I don't know. Time will tell.

"It's always the case when you decide to head into a different direction, you don't always know what's waiting for you behind the corner. But I am very curious to find out what's next rather than hang on to what's now."

But that doesn't mean Vettel won't miss F1. The thrill of driving the fastest car on the planet is unimaginable for those of us who have never experienced it, but can be fiendishly addictive for those that have.

Asked what he would miss most, Vettel added: "The buzz of driving the car. There are still fast cars and the adrenaline you get fighting on the track, of course I thought about that as well. I will say no to that and there's probably no replacement.

"I've also looked at others and how they handled and tried to maybe find something else that tried to give them the adrenaline buzz or rush, but as far as I can tell now, it's something you have to be prepared for.

"I feel I am prepared to as much as I can today, to say that it's gone and will not be there. I'm sure if I want to race something, my kids want to race me every day in all sorts of things -- some I enjoy more and some I enjoy less.

"But if I want to race more I'm sure I will be able to think of something. But I think it would be wrong to step away knowing that you still want to race."

The good news is Vettel seems entirely at peace with his decision. There can be no progress without change and Vettel believes the world beyond F1's paddock gates offers more opportunities than the small and often insular world inside it.

"I think for every sportsman and woman, probably the biggest challenge is waiting for us when we decide to do other things," he said. "That's what I'm facing and in all honesty, I'm also scared of what's coming.

"It might be a hole and I don't know how deep it is and whether I'll get out of it. But I have lots of support and people who have supported me along the way and will continue to help me and give me direction and guidance.

"Hopefully I'll make the right decisions in the future to progress and become a better version of myself in 10 years time."

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Content: Coastal seat could become three-way battleground

Great Yarmouth could become a three-way political battleground with Labour, Conservatives and Reform UK each confident of victory.

The seat has been held by Conservative Sir Brandon Lewis since 2010, who is not standing this time.

The former Northern Ireland secretary and ex-party chairman increased his majority to 17,663 in 2019.

Labour, which held the seat for 13 years from 1997, says the constituency is a target seat, while Reform UK claims opinion polls show it is ahead of Labour.

Key issues in the seaside seat include immigration, investment in skilled employment, housing and infrastructure.

The constituency has benefited in recent years from £121m being spent on building the Herring Bridge, and further central government "levelling up" investment via its Future High Streets Fund and Town Deal.

'It's going to be close'

The new Conservative candidate James Clark lives in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, but has pledged to relocate with his wife and son to the Norfolk seat if he wins.

"I think it's going to be very close," he said.

"I've had people who have opened the door and said 'we are absolutely voting for you, James. We are committed Conservatives; we're keeping Yarmouth blue'.

"I'm also having people say 'look, what have the Conservatives delivered? Am I better off than I was?'.

"I try and counter that and say we've had coronavirus; we've had the war in Ukraine.

"[That] has been financially, economically depressing but I do genuinely believe the Conservatives have a plan to push past that."

Basics 'not working'

Labour's candidate is Keir Cozens. Born and raised in East Anglia and moved to the borough after he was selected by the local party in August.

"It's the basics that are not working," he said.

"I've lost count about the number of conversations I've had about people not being able to get a dentist's appointment.

"Of course there are bigger issues as well; people do want more secure jobs and are worried about antisocial behaviour.

"What they want are serious plans; serious options to how we are going to tackle some of these serious issues."

'Electorate has had enough'

Rupert Lowe is standing for Reform UK.

The former chairman of Southampton Football Club lives in Gloucestershire, but has promised he would move to the constituency if he wins on 4 July.

He said a "primary" issue for his campaign was "obviously immigration".

"I think crime is high up the list, and really the most important thing is that government now no longer serves the interests of the British electorate," he said.

"It's become a rather huge, expensive beast to run and I think it has its own interests at the top of the agenda.

"And that's wrong; it should have the interests of the electorate at the top of the agenda and I think most of the electorate has had enough."

'Thrown in the sea'

The Green Party candidate Trevor Rawson lives in Bradwell and is a Tai Chi instructor working with the NHS to help people living with long-term pain conditions.

"There's a lot of concern about health, particularly about appointments at doctors, hospitals and dentists," he said. "The environment; the people of Hemsby literally thrown into the sea by the government.

"It's travel, transport, clean transport, but in particular, housing. A lot of people here live in very poor conditions and there's an extreme lack of social housing.

"If we give people a decent place to live, they start to get hope and when they get real hope, we can start to get real change."

'Sense of optimism'

Fionna Tod is standing for the Liberal Democrats which has never held a seat on the borough or county council within the constituency boundary.

She lives in Cambridgeshire, but has also pledged to relocate, citing the coast as a great place to raise her family.

"Anyone who has looked at the make-up of Great Yarmouth Borough Council [and] the last 100 years of elections knows the Liberal Democrats are unlikely to win [here]," she said.

"But that's freeing because I think people can be more candid and honest with me, so I have to say that I think there is some sense for a need for change.

"People are also sick of their MP being in cabinet and government roles that means they're not really speaking out for Great Yarmouth.

"But I don't want to be negative and I think there is a sense of optimism and that Great Yarmouth is on the up... but it just needs some of those big issues addressing."

Also standing is Catherine Blaiklock for the English Democrats, and Independent candidates Paul Brown and Claire Roullier.

Full lists of candidates in all constituencies are available here.

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