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Desert Hot Springs, CA PERMIT NO 00005
Friday, October 2, 2020 Vol. 24 No. 76
Kid’s Online Class Keeping Kids Safe Online This School Year By Desert Star Staff Between schoolwork, socialization and gaming, kids will likely be online more than ever this year, especially with many students continuing to learn remotely. Families
are yet again facing the challenge of ensuring children’s online usage is balanced, healthy, and safe. Here are a few of the issues around increased screen time: • Disrupted sleep:
According to the National Sleep Foundation, blue light emitted from electronic devices disrupts quality shuteye, as it can delay the release of melatonin, a natural sleep hormone. Over time, compromised sleep can create a number of physical and mental health concerns.
Palm Springs International Comedy Festival To Honor George Gallo’s Latest Film By Desert Star Staff The Palm Springs International Comedy Festival announced today that the PSICF ‘Stanley Kramer Mad World Comedy Award’ will go to Director/ Writer George Gallo’s new comedy ensemble film ‘The Comeback Trail’ which stars Robert DeNiro, Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones, Zach Braff, Emile Hirsch and Eddie Griffin. The Palm Springs International Comedy Festival runs virtually from October 11th – 18th. Golden Globe-winning
actress, producer, and wife of Stanley Kramer, Karen Sharpe Kramer, said, “The Comeback Trail is a hilarious romp, featuring a great, eclectic ensemble cast. The slapstick stunts are reminiscent of the outrageous stunts in the 1963 Stanley Kramer classic ensemble comedy ‘It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.’ It pokes fun at the trials and tribulations of movie producers, trying to get their films made, at any cost. Both ‘Mad World’ and ‘The Comeback Trail’ focus on themes of money
and greed, challenging audiences to laugh at the misfortunes of the characters.” Director George Gallo said, “I am truly honored and humbled to receive the 2020 PSICF ‘Stanley Kramer Mad World Comedy Award.’ Stanley Kramer’s work has been a significant influence on my work. I watched ‘It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World’ several times before shooting ‘The Comeback Trail’ to see how he framed so much of it Continues on Page 5
• Safety threats: With kids online more hours a day and less supervised than they would be during a typical school day, online predators have taken advantage of the situation. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s
Cyber Tipline reported a notable surge in complaints. • Mental health issues: The physical separation from friends, teachers and the classroom has created new mental health challenges for students, not all of which Continues on Page 5