What the heck is electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome, and why is a Massachusetts couple suing their son's school over it?
The parents of an unnamed 12-year-old boy claim he became sick after sending him to a private school with a particularly strong Wi-Fi signal.
The young boy apparently suffers from electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome (EHS) in which the electromagnetic radiation from wireless tech can cause symptoms such as nosebleeds, headaches and exhaustion.
Even though EHS was acknowledged by World Health Organization in 2005, it's still not widely recognized in the medical community and beyond.
The boy's parents and doctor, however, insist there is no other plausible explanation for the symptoms which became apparent in 2013, around the same time as his school strengthened its wireless signal.
“It is known that exposure to Wi-Fi can have cellular effects," the boy's physician, Dr. Jeanne Hubbuch, wrote to the Fay School.
"The complete extent of these effects on people is still unknown. But it is clear that children and pregnant women are at the highest risk. This is due to the brain tissue being more absorbent, their skulls are thinner and their relative size is small.”
The school instructed an independent company to measure radiation levels, which were found to be within federal safety limits. Notwithstanding the tests, the parents are suing the school for $250,000 in damages and demanding that the school lower its signal or switch to Ethernet.
What do you think of this lawsuit? Is EHS real or do you think the boy's symptoms stem from something else?
The legendary director behind such cult slasher flicks as "Scream" and "A Nightmare on Elm Street" died from brain cancer at age 76.
Freddy Krueger seems like an absurdist creation to my adult self, yet Craven's imagination was a dark, fertile place. If you're an '80s kid like me, Freddy featured largely in your nightmares. And if you are a bit younger, the Ghostface mask from the '90s 'Scream' franchise still evokes a shudder.
But there's more to Craven than blood-curdling screams and meta horror. Did you know he wrote novels? Yes, this master of horror got his start as a humanities professor, only to leave academia to work on production in the porn industry.
In 1972, scary movie history was made when Craven wrote, directed and edited "The Last House on the Left." The movie shocked the genre and, like all of Craven's body of work, inspired copycats and sequels galore.
He was above all a guy who knew how to reach into the subconscious and shake it up. He knew how to scare people senseless, which is a very rare talent indeed.
Once a horror fan girl who loved nothing better than a well-executed disembowelling scene, as a parent I no longer have the stomach for it (no pun). And yet he himself was a family man, survived by a wife, kids and grandchildren.
But one thing's for sure: the world will definitely be a less scary place without him in it, and that is extremely sad.
Craven was still busy with several projects on the go. Fans in Toronto can look forward to the premiere of "The Girl in the Photographs," which the master produced.
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Imagine a job that allows you to clock in and play with toys all day. Well, it's not too good to be true, though there is one catch: you have to be a KID.
At 14, Alex Thorne is set to retire from his post as Chief Play Officer (CPO), and according to a press release, Toys“R”Us Canada is currently recruiting a confident a 11 to 13 year old to fill Thorne's capable shoes.
Job Description:
Starting date: December 2015
Deadline for applications: 11:59pm EST on October 4, 2015
“The Chief Play Officer is one of the most coveted jobs in our company. As an integral member of our team, we rely on our CPO for honest opinions and toy reviews to help advise parents and gift-givers on what kids like,” said Toys“R”Us, Canada Vice-President of marketing and store planning, Liz MacDonald.
“If you have a child who is passionate about toys, outgoing and comfortable on camera, we want to hear from you. We are always impressed with the creativity and energy of the kids who apply and can’t wait to see this year’s entries.”
As for Thorne, he simply described his role as "awesome" and the "coolest job in Canada."
Parents, if you think your kid has what it takes to be the next CPO, apply at www.toysrus.ca/cposearch. Applicants will need to submit a short video describing their favourite toys and why they are the best candidate for the job.
Finalists will be invited to an in-person interview and audition, before judges award the selected candidate a one-year contract as Toys“R”Us, Canada’s Chief Play Officer.
It's hard work, but someone's gotta do it! Could that someone be your child?
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