When it comes to operating a motor vehicle, safety always has to come first. It is always better to prevent a car accident from happening than to clean up a car accident that has already led to serious injuries and possible fatalities. With this in mind, there are a few safety tips that everyone should follow when they get behind the wheel of a car.

First, one of the biggest dangers related to motor vehicles involves cell phones. Cell phones are great because they allow people to stay in touch with people; however, they are also a major danger behind the wheel of a car. If someone talks on the phone while driving, they are focused on their conversation and not on the changing road conditions. This makes it more likely that someone might end up in a serious car accident. Furthermore, if someone makes the horrible decision to text while driving, this also takes someone’s eyes off the road and hands off the wheel. This makes it even more likely that a car accident might unfold, threatening everyone in the car and others on the road. Distracted driving is a serious problem and people need to put their phones away while driving. Ideally, people should even turn off their cell phones when driving. This will keep everyone safe.

Furthermore, it is also important to note that drunk driving is still a major cause of car accidents. Driving under the influence includes both drugs and alcohol. The legal limit above which people are not allowed to drive is 0.08 (BAC). Those who make the decision to drink and drive place themselves and others at risk. The penalties for drunk driving are severe. In many areas, this is a felony that could result in jail time and a massive fine. Therefore, nobody should drink and drive. Always have a designated driver and even for those who don’t, there are convenient rideshare apps that will take people home safely.

If someone talks on the phone while driving, they are focused on their conversation and not on the changing road conditions. This makes it more likely that someone might end up in a serious car accident. That is why it’s essential to avoid all distractions when driving so that all your attention is on the road and on the vehicles around you. Avoid accidents by taking that extra precaution and checking blind spots regularly.

Finally, it is also important to note the dangers that weather can pose. While nobody can control the weather, people can control how they respond to it. When the weather is bad, people should not drive unless they have to. Rain will make the roads slick, snow can make it hard for cars to stop, and fog can limit visibility. This means that people must drive slower and leave more space between them and the car in front of them. All of this can prevent a serious car accident from happening. These are a few of the most important tips that people need to follow in order to stay safe behind the wheel.

In the age of COVID-19, we have seen and experienced a level of devastation that many thought unthinkable just a few months ago. The gratitude that New Yorkers have exhibited to the first-responders and healthcare workers on the ground has been incredibly admirable. For many New Yorkers, it reminds them of the way the city united in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 

“One of the most meaningful moments during this pandemic for me has been the 7 PM daily cheer,” says Helen Lee Schifter. But the importance of maintaining one’s mental and emotional health also plays an integral part during this crisis of epic proportions. Helen has written about the need for people to take this opportunity to reflect on their priorities in life and appreciate the health and well-being of their friends and family. 

As she’s written consistently on Medium, there is a real need during this pandemic for everyone to reassess their priorities and conduct some constructive thinking about what truly matters in life. Because of the chaotic nature of the working-day, coupled with all of the material responsibilities all ordinary citizens have, it is only human for people to not have the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of life. 

Reflection is an incredibly important part of establishing one’s center of gravity, mentally and emotionally. It allows people to reassess the importance that certain aspects of their lives provide them, while recognizing that others might not be as fulfilling as they once thought or suspected. 

This cathartic exercise is one that people can take the spare time that the COVID—19 crisis has afforded them, to reflect upon. There are so many sources of goodness in the world that so many neglect to consider. Whether that might be yoga, meditation, nature or hiking. Perhaps even certain recreational activities and passions that people periodically engage in, but never actually decided to pursue in a serious and substantial manner. 

Many working in commercial industries have taken the opportunity to turn to painting. Some have turned to studying the arts & sciences. Some have turned to literature and there’s been a renewed interest in reading. Of course, this has add a number of benefits besides for the obvious ones. Among them, has been the benefit of helping bookstores and authors who have struggled tremendously in recent years especially, financially. Helping fund them is of critical importance to ensuring the continued authorship of books. Much of the changes in the book and literary industry have been due to the changes in digital and social media, and what that has led to. But there are also positive uses that the digital age has brought.  

Using social media as a way of promoting true information about the gravity of this pandemic is of course of critical importance as well. Helen Lee Schifter herself has been using Twitter and Linkedin to share important content about the magnitude and scope of this horrible crisis that has engulfed the world. The WHO has consistently proven to be an important source of news about the gravity of the situation. It’s important for citizens worldwide to be educated and well-informed about the many aspects of this crisis plaguing civilization. 

The importance and value of truthful news has never been more valuable. For that same reason, there has been a renewed intense scrutiny of Facebook and other social media giants, cracking down on platforms allowing the dissemination of misinformation. Sources of such misinformation need to be held to account for what they are saying. In some instances, the consequences can truly be devastating.

In African countries for example, there are so many people that do not have the sources to news and critical information about this pandemic, that they so badly long for and need. We In the world community need to consider ways of changing this down the road.

In a not so distant past, the word Kratom was largely unknown to the citizens of United States. Their European counterparts were much more aware of it. Since the commencement of 16^th and 17^th centuries when large flotillas, which served the military purposes mainly but almost always had botanical, biological, and other scientific researchers onboard, visited and subsequently colonized the Southeast Asian regions. Those merchants and colonizers brought back with them an amazing powder, extracted from leaves of a certain tree, which was known to have positive affects on mind and body of the consumers. But the focus remained on other more profitable aspects of trade businesses dominated by the rich elite class.

Centuries later, in the middle of the 20^th century, when the Cold War was at its peak in a bi-polar world, the USA troops entered Vietnam. The hot and humid, thick forests were all-together a different milieu for the patriotic but worn-out soldiers, who were taking the brunt of gruesome but effective guerrilla warfare. The painful, tragic sights, the horrible experience of war, the bloodshed on both sides and the mass suffering left the soldiers in utter state of shock and awe. Back home, the policymakers were unable to chart a way out of the ever-deepening quagmire.

What else could the soldiers do? Far away from the comfort of their homes and loved ones, they discovered a local remedy of pain and anxiety which they faced on almost constant basis in the field, living in inhumane and traumatic conditions. An almost legendary naturally occurring extract of leaves from a local tree, with numerous stains, used by local peoples since antiquities. It got popular among the rank and file almost immediately. The benefits of its usage were many and results were outstanding. Instant respite from the long, arduous marches, at times stretching over few days. Respite from the stress resulting from experiencing the loss of a close friend, who was having breakfast with you two hours back and now he is six feet under. Respite from pain resulting from a bullet wound, which left the fortunate soldier alive but unfortunately ruptured his thigh, leaving him crying in pain. Such were its numerous benefits. The extract of those leaves was called Kratom. It was like a gift from heavens, for the brave sons of soil facing the music, thousands of miles away from their country. Fighting a war which seemed like it had no end.

When the war was finally over, the soldiers came back, with memories of pain and anxiety and most of them suffering from PTSD. With a health-system struggling to keep up and veterans needing to get on with their lives, they resorted to taking help by using Kratom in USA. The popularity kept on growing, but the availability of Kratom in USA was not common. This is when the businesses started formally importing Kratom in the USA.

The Popularity Grows

This demand of Kratom in USA led to increased cultivation and harvesting of Kratom trees (scientifically named Mitragyna Speciose) in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Now commercially available in large quantities, the demand of Elephant Kratom has grown manifold back home. With Kratom gaining acceptance rapidly, the variants, or stains as they are more appropriately called also became known to the masses. Maeng Da, Borneo, Asia, Indo, Viet, Malay, Hulu Kapuas and Bentuangie, the names of these Kratom stains were new but nevertheless became well-known over a period of only a few years. And there was a good reason to it. The leaves had medicinal properties of relieving stress, elevating mood, pain alleviation, solving sleep deprivation issues, thanks to a number of good compounds in its molecular structure. Why spend on a sleeping pill which had several contraindications when one can benefit from a natural remedy? The people had this question in mind while the popularity of Kratom in USA skyrocketed.

Like all famous love-stories are incomplete without a villain, who shows up just about when everything seems to be going fine, our love affair story of Kratom in USA also has not-so-bright chapters. The influential clique, some of them having vested interests in the multi-billion-dollar pharma industry started a campaign to restrict Kratom in USA or even illegal. There was a deliberate and sinister attempt to spread misconceptions about the use of Kratom. The right amounts and dosages of Kratom used for recreational or for stress, anxiety and pain relief purposes are extremely safe. Despite the fact that it is not only safe, but at times essential for a large number of people to improve their quality of lives, the clique pushed hard for restrictions and an eventual ban of Kratom in USA.

As the public attention grew further, the scrutiny got rigid and this led to tightening of the regulations. The advocates of safe and communal usage of Kratom in USA for the US population, either for recreational or quality of life improvement purposes, came forward and pushed for protection of rights. One such act was American Kratom Association’s Kratom Consumer Protection Act. The battle is ongoing.

Chemical Properties of Kratom Leaves

The chemical properties of these leaves come from the mineral-rich soil of Southeast Asian regions which are high in concentrations of nutrition thanks to geologic upheavals and volcanic eruptions since hundreds of thousands of years. The Kratom trees, quite similar to coffee trees, have their roots nourished by these mineral rich soils and only when they are mature enough, they grow required Kratom leaves which differ subtly from each other because of versions in local climate, soil content, and humidity levels. These little variations have resulted in numerous types of stains as discussed earlier in the blog. Different stains have different combinations of compounds which have their own unique medicinal effects. Consumers of Kratom in USA are quite aware of these variations now and each enthusiast has his or her own particular liking of a certain stain. These combinations of properties and taste come from various alkaline compounds within those Kratom leaves. Two of the principal active components are Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine compounds, attributed for numerous medicinal and recreational benefits.

To add the to the excitement, besides the presence of these alkaline chemical compounds, the variations in taste, effects and benefits are also influenced by the stages of maturity of leaves which are harvested by the local farmers. The thin veins in the leaf of Kratom tree are in the beginning of maturity cycle almost of a clear White color. Then transforming into dark Green and ultimately shining in a hot Red color. These colors are clear indications of the maturity cycle of the leaves, affecting its taste and associated benefits as well as helping to name a certain stain along with its origin. This gives it its full name such as “Red Veined Borneo Kratom” or “Green Borneo Kratom”.

What is the Future of This Love Story?

In the safe hands of passionate enthusiasts, both importers and consumers, the advocates of the use of this naturally occurring herbal extract are many. Hence one can conclude that the future is in safe hands, at least for now. However, with the demand of Kratom in USA increasing further day by day, there looms a challenge, which is two-fold.

First challenge is from the clique which is vary of the increased popularity of Kratom because of substantial threat to established monopoly of the pharmaceutical industry, exploiting the population through regulations and depriving them of pure medicinal and recreational benefits of Kratom.

Second challenge is from the Kratom sellers themselves. Yes, sadly this is true. The increase in awareness and consumption of Kratom in USA has resulted in countless brands and companies which are oriented towards profit maximization, not caring about the quality and standard of the products they are dealing in. Moreover, sadly enough, they exploit the local farmers and harvesters of the Southeast Asian communities and make them work in inhumane conditions for meagre wages. The impact on the environment itself is substantial too. With farming practices, more oriented towards high yields but no long-term planning for sustainable growth of Kratom trees until they are mature enough to be harvested, are uncalled for. It is thus, the responsibility of the Kratom consumers themselves to make sure that they are not a part of this vicious cycle, by only buying from those brands which follow ethical and fair-trade practices, while importing Kratom in USA for commercial purposes.

Love Story with a Happy Ending?

The Kratom community is strong and closely knit, but the over commercialization and profit maximization are new threats to the future of this beautiful gift of nature to humankind. The local indigenous people of Southeast Asia benefited for thousands of years from it, by harvesting the trees which they valued and treated them like their prized possessions. They took care of their environment too while benefiting from it at the same time.

It is now our obligation to carry on with our love affair by protecting the forests in which Kratom is grown, by helping the local communities which are involved in growing and harvesting. It has become the only source of income for their livelihoods. Their future depends on those trees. Just like the future of those trees depend on those forests. Which are affected by even the slightest change in climate or deforestation. Let us all be responsible and give Kratom in USA the love and respect it deserves. Let us all be on the right side of this love story!