Archives for April 2022

Morbius * Fantastic Graphics, Lots of Action, Very Dark

One of the most compelling and conflicted characters in Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters comes to the big screen as Oscar® winner Jared Leto transforms into the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius. Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil – or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges?

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ethan P. comments, “The new Marvel film Morbius has a lot of action, which I liked a lot, though I did expect more from this movie. The graphics are fantastic, especially the way they make Morbius “poof” in and out as he moves to show his super speed. Not only do the graphics and lighting look good, but also the costumes fit each scene perfectly.” See his full review below.

Morbius
By Ethan P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 13

The graphics are fantastic, especially the way they make Morbius “poof” in and out as he moves to show his super speed. Not only do the graphics and lighting look good, but also the costumes fit each scene perfectly. This movie—one of Marvel’s darkest— can be classified as a horror film due to the violence and blood-thirsty vampires.. My favorite part is when Morbius says, “I am Venom” since this is a reference to the movie Venom which was funny. Another favorite part is a funny scene where Morbius says, “You won’t like me when I’m angry” which is a reference to The Hulk. 

The moral of Morbius is you don’t have to change yourself—you are perfect for who you are. Morbius learned this when he started killing people. He realized he became something that was not him at all and regrets it.

I’d give Morbius 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 13 to 18, plus adults. Morbius comes out in theaters April 1, 2022.

What To Do If You’re In A Hired Cab Accident?

There are a few events in life that can happen in the blink of an eye. A rideshare accident is one such occurrence that can happen due to nobody’s fault. However, it is imperative that you know what to do immediately after and on the days that succeed the accident. Read this blog to find the appropriate remedy.

  1. Make sure you and your loved ones are okay: As soon as you can balance your mind, check on your well being first. Are you injured fatally? If you cannot move, don’t try to wriggle out of tight spaces since there may be jagged pieces of glass or metal that may pierce your body. If you are traveling with co-passengers or family, check up on them to see if they are unharmed without moving from your place. Perform a quick assessment of your basic senses like wiggling your toes and fingers to sense movement. Check for any bleeding or neck and back injuries. If you think you or anyone in the accident has a spinal or head injury, do not move and try to best balance your head.
  2. Report the car accident: If you’re not gravely harmed and can use your phone, report the accident immediately. While help is on the way, contact the Rideshare company through their helpline or the app. Usually, all rideshare companies have a designated SOS number for such emergencies during the course of your journey so that you receive a direct line to assist. These parties will also be able to call in law enforcement officers and medical service providers or emergency respondents to your location by tracking you.
  3. Contact an appropriate attorney: Whether or not you’re injured, contact a rideshare accident lawyer to proceed with filing a lawsuit against the company. The drivers of such companies are under insurance while driving on duty, which is why you need not worry about them paying compensation from their pockets. Regardless of the degree of damage, the attorney will be able to get your family the appropriate redressal by taking the appropriate course of action. Very often, rideshare companies get cases dismissed or take them lightly because there are no fatalities. However, an accident can cause mental trauma and emotional distress, which are grounds enough for a lawsuit.
  4. Document the events of the accident: With the help of your phone, get as much footage of the wreckage as you can. This can involve pictures and videos of the crash site, the cars involved, their number plate and drivers. It also needs to involve an account of the damage caused, so include your property like luggage, electronics and any persons injured as well. Once you have the necessary images, you can present them to the court in case the company tries to evade compensation.
  5. Gather more information: If there’s more to an accident, you need to collect more information to build your case against the company. Find out whether the vehicle was in the proper condition to be used before your ride. Also, make sure that you collect evidence of the driver being at fault. If there was drunk driving involved, get a report from the first respondents or the hospital.
  6. Get medical assistance: An accident can cause severe physical trauma even if there are no injuries. Once the adrenaline rush wears off, you will be aching in a place you don’t remember getting hit in. Impact injuries need to be assessed carefully by medical professionals. If they recommend staying overnight for observation, do as they say. If there are any serious injuries involved, get all the treatment necessary and bill them for the amount chargeable.
  7. Refuse to accept any premature settlement: The rideshare company will try to settle with the affected parties with a premature amount. However, this is because the penalties for such accidents are very high. Do not settle to such an agreement and let your lawyer handle them. If the case has to move to court, the judge wills ee to it that you are compensated generously.
  8. Let your attorneys come up with proper compensation: There are several factors involved when it comes to compensation for such cab accidents. If you’re not sure what you’re eligible to receive, have your attorney calculate the dues and present your expectation to the rideshare company. The negotiation will get all your medical bills, treatment, therapy and damages covered.

Wrapping Up:

Even though being involved in a rideshare accident may seem challenging, it is your right to receive justice legally. We hope you use this information to help yourself or a loved one going through a similar situation.

Caruso’s Beloved Easter Bungalows Return to The Grove and The Americana at Brand

 Caruso is teaming up with its favorite furry friend, the Easter Bunny, to welcome the community back to its famed Bunny Bungalows at its iconic shopping and dining destinations, The Grove and The Americana at Brand, from April 1-17.

Adorning The Grove’s Park and The Americana at Brand’s Green with fresh florals, painted eggs and pastel décor galore, the Bunny Bungalows will serve as picturesque settings for families and friends to meet the Easter Bunny and partake in a professional photoshoot to capture the day’s memories and create a memento to cherish for a lifetime. Featuring three kid-friendly photo packages to choose from – the “VIB” Very Important Bunny ($70), the Happy Hopper ($55), and the Little Bunny ($45) – the bungalows offer guests a magical way to conveniently capture the joy of the spring season.

While walk-ins are welcome, reservations are encouraged. Head to the reservation sites for The Grove and The Americana at Brand to complete your advanced booking and learn more about what Caruso has in store to celebrate the season.   

WHEN:               April 1-17

10am-6pm Daily

WHERE:            The Grove (in The Park) 

189 The Grove Dr. 

Los Angeles, CA 90036

The Americana at Brand (near The Green) 

889 Americana Way 

Glendale, CA 91210 

ADMISSION  
INFO:                 Open to the public, reservations recommended.

Credit: The Grove.

     

What Can You Do To Protect Your Children from Accidental Injuries?

We cringe to imagine our loved ones involved in any accidents, but it could happen in the blink of an eye. Instead of feeling anxious, there’s a lot more you can do to ensure your kids are safe and receive the appropriate help they need. Here are eight things to follow in order to be prepared.

  1. Have the right mediclaim policy for them: Injuries are a part and parcel of life, and sometimes accidents may happen with no fault of yours or your kids. To ensure that you’re on the right side of the lifeline, make separate mediclaim policies for your children so that they receive all the medical assistance they need through the benefits. There are also health and medical policies that cover the entire family, which can be more beneficial if you’re looking for affordable packages to purchase. Regardless of which policy you pick, the medical treatment costs will be guaranteed at a reputed healthcare facility.
  2. Have legal help in case you need it: We have accountants to do our taxes, consultants for business advice, and lawyers in case we ever need legal help. However, have you ever felt the need to reach out to an injury lawyer? They are pivotal in filing a lawsuit against the perpetrator, be it a neglectful adult, or an organization. You’ll also find them very helpful while negotiating compensations and charges before the case reaches a hearing.
  3. Keep the necessary documents organized: You’ll find that emergencies like accidents and personal injury give no notice at all. One reason why most parents tend to panic in the event of a child getting accidentally injured is a disorganized document arrangement. Imagine having to run to the emergency center where a few essential documents are a must to retrieve your insurance funding. However, they’ve been placed miles away in your vault! This is why it is necessary to store digitized copies of every essential document including policies on a cloud storage drive. The quick access will help you in a breeze.
  4. Teach them who their emergency contacts are: Children sometimes may be unassisted, for example, at their school. For teachers, it’s not possible to remember the emergency contact numbers at the top of their heads, leading to delays in treatment. Instead, teach your kid to rely on their memory and help them remember the names and numbers of their emergency contacts along with their relationship with them. This is a small and underrated yet invaluable piece of information that can save lives.
  5. Create an emergency fund for such events: Whether or not you’re prepared, emergencies can occur at any given chance but seem to strike at an especially inappropriate time. To avoid fretting about the expense of carrying medical bills while the insurance company processes the reimbursement, endure that you have an emergency fund to yourself. This could be about two to three months of your salary in approximate, so start making small deposits every month to reach this savings goal.
  6. Know the closest medical centers for emergencies: No matter where you go on a vacation or even in the nearby town, make sure that you keep the names and locations of the nearest emergency centers stored. Not only does this help in taking quick action, but it could also help you save lives other than yours and your family’s. While on a vacation, especially in a different state or country, ask your insurance provider for the list of approved hospitals so that you can receive expedited medical care.
  7. Learn to perform basic first aid and CPR: Now that the funding and organization aspects of your emergency provisions are taken care of, it’s time to learn some survival skills. Performing basic first aid such as administering CPR, dressing wounds, handling seizures, or tying a tourniquet will help you and those around you, especially your children should they be involved in any such mishap.
  8. Keep a calm mind in emergencies: The most important lesson of all is to keep a level head and remain calm in the face of adversity. It can be easy to lose control of your bearings, but each minute you hesitate, the risk of a fatality in such emergencies increases. Keep your cool and detach from your emotional response to be of use while helping your children stay calm till they get help.

Wrapping up:

It always pays off in the long term to look after the finer details in the face of an emergency. What you’ll also notice is how you feel much more at ease once you’ve sorted out these eight aspects of dealing with an emergency

Birth Injury In Newborns- How To Cope As A Parent

Having a baby can be the most thrilling experience for new parents. Nothing makes you happier than holding your bundle of joy for the first time. You forget the struggle of pregnancy and the trauma of labor as you experience the bliss of the moment. But not all parents have a fairy tale beginning to their parenting journey. A birth injury at the time of labor can make it a nightmare. According to statistics, thousands of babies in the US suffer from severe birth injuries every year. The worst part is that many of these are preventable as they happen due to the sheer negligence of medical practitioners. Whatever the reason, raising a child with such injuries is challenging for parents. Here are some tips to help such parents cope with the traumatic situation.

Accept the situation

Acceptance is often the hardest of dealing with a birth injury as a new parent. You may have envisioned a happy family after bringing the child home. But life will be far different when you raise a little one suffering from brain damage, physical deformity, or spinal cord injuries. You may want to deny the truth because it seems unfair when others around you have healthy babies and happy families. But the road to recovery starts with acceptance, so take the first step to begin your healing journey.

Talk to someone

Knowing that your child’s injury will cause developmental disadvantages eventually is painful. It is natural to feel sad, angry, frustrated, and depressed. But these feelings will only worsen the situation as they affect your mental well-being. You may end up suffering from depression or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These conditions can keep you from giving the best care to your child. Consider talking to someone to vent out the negative feelings and address your fear and pain. Your partner, parent, sibling, or best friend can lend a hand. Alternatively, you can speak with a  mental health professional.

Seek justice for your newborn

If your baby’s birth injury was preventable, you must seek justice for the little one. The child deserves compensation for the medical malpractice or negligence leading to the injury. For example, your doctor may have waited too long to deliver through a C-Section or ignored the fetal monitor, causing the injury or death of your child. You can hire a birth injury lawyer to claim compensation from the medical professional who could have prevented the injury or death. The claim can help you raise a brain-damaged child and ensure future security for them. In the case of death, it is a payout for your pain and suffering as a parent.

Make life adjustments

A birth injury of your child requires you to make some adjustments. The challenges of raising a child with special needs are immense, so you cannot overlook them. One of the parents may have to step into a full-time caregiver role. Such kids need help with everything, from feeding to bathing, dressing, and moving around. They will probably not attend a regular school or play with friends and siblings. Parents have to take essential steps to care for the child at home, at school, and playground. Talk to a practitioner to create a caregiver plan and align your routine accordingly.

Develop a grief treatment plan for yourself

While you have to be strong in the face of the tragedy, you cannot undermine the grief and pain you experience. Ignoring it can lead to problems down the line. Many parents continue to suffer even years after getting the diagnosis. You must develop a grief treatment plan for yourself while looking after the little one. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you find proactive ways to deal with the trauma. Besides professional therapy, you must have a self-care plan for staying healthy while caring for the baby. Try your best to resume normalcy in your relationship with your spouse and other kids in the family. You should not feel guilty about being happy and having a good life. Just do your best for the child, and leave the rest to fate.

Birth injuries in newborns are more common than you imagine. Once you experience the situation, you will probably feel like a member of a big club. Join the networks and forums of parents dealing with similar trauma to seek and lend support. Most importantly, understand the cause of your child’s injury. It will help you seek compensation for the negligence of the medical practitioner. Life will be a lot better once justice is served!

Morty, March 31st Pet of the Week

Hello, Big Boy! That’s Morty, a handsome 3-year-old cane corso. He has a rock-star “sit” command response, which is why he’s such a good photography model! Don’t be put off by that big head—he’s easy on a leash and is friendly and chill. He loves walks with his volunteer friends! Morty’s extremely treat motivated, although he’s a bit overly enthusiastic about receiving them. He might enjoy advanced training if treats are involved! If you have large-dog experience and room in your heart and home, Morty’s your man! Adoptions are conducted by appointment only except for Sundays, when they’re open from 11 a.m.–3 p.m., so email PetAdopt@longbeach.gov or visit our shelter at 7700 E. Spring St. to meet Morty. Our shelter’s at capacity, and everyone needs homes! Ask for ID#A657013.

(This rescue encouraged by the usual suspects.)