Datasets:

vietgpt

/

the_pile_openwebtext2

like 1

Follow

VietGPT 24

Fact check: Trump falsely claims he 'inherited' the faulty coronavirus test. It was developed this year

Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump has falsely claimed four times since last week that he inherited a faulty coronavirus test -- which was, in reality, developed this year. In March, Trump initially made a debatable claim that he had inherited a flawed testing "system." By the final days of March and the first days of April, however, he was making a demonstrably inaccurate claim about inheriting the actual tests. "Initially speaking, the tests were old, obsolete, and not really prepared," he said at the April 6 briefing. Trump's clear suggestion was that the flawed test had been left to him by President Barack Obama's administration. Facts First: The faulty initial test for the coronavirus was created during Trump's administration, in early 2020, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since this is a new virus that was first identified this year, the tests couldn't possibly be "old" or "obsolete." "He is lying. He is lying 100%. He is lying because he is trying to shift blame to others, even if the attempt is totally nonsensical," said Gregg Gonsalves, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases at the Yale School of Public Health. The claim "doesn't make sense because it is false," said Tara Smith, an epidemiology professor at Kent State University. "This a new virus." Michael Mina, assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, called the claim "absurd" given that "this virus did not exist in the prior administration." Mina added: "The technology used to test for this virus is technology that is routinely used in clinical microbiology laboratories. It is not faulty." A flawed CDC test -- in 2020 JUST WATCHED Fact check: Trump misleads on coronavirus testing Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Fact check: Trump misleads on coronavirus testing 01:52 Soon after that, there were reports that some of the test kits were not working properly. The CDC -- which has been led since 2018 by Dr. Robert Redfield , a Trump administration appointee -- admitted the problem on February 12. It announced on February 28 that it had manufactured brand new, functional test kits that addressed the problem , which had been caused by a flaw in one of the three components of the original test. Shifting rhetoric Trump's claims about the test offer another example of how his rhetoric sometimes evolves over time to become more dishonest. On March 21, Trump argued that he had inherited an "obsolete, broken testing system." On March 29, he complained of an obsolete "testing situation." Trump has had three years in office to fix any problems with the system, and his argument that the system was "broken" has been disputed. (Obama-era CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden told USA Today that the Trump administration "inherited the system that has worked in every prior emergency.") Regardless, this is a subjective matter of opinion. On March 30, Trump shifted to the false claim about the tests themselves.

DEA relaxes rules for the only federally approved drug derived from marijuana

“This ruling doesn’t have a seismic impact. It really only impacts GW Pharma,” said William Roark, co-chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Medical Marijuana and Hemp Law Committee. “It makes their product more accessible for patients. It means doctors don’t have to go through the drug-monitoring program to make certain their patients don’t have a drug history. And a parent will now be able to go from pharmacy to pharmacy rather than having one specific source.”

Can Drugs Help Us Focus? Casey Schwartz, You Better Watch Your Speed

Schwartz emerged from years of Adderall dependency to a world that felt transformed. Suddenly it seemed to her that everyone had an internet-enabled case of A.D.H.D. and a prescription for speed. In 1990, an estimated 3 percent to 5 percent of American children were thought to have “disordered attention,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and some 600,000 children were prescribed stimulants. By 2013, 3.5 million children were on some kind of A.D.H.D. medication — increasingly Adderall, whose name, Schwartz points out, reflects its makers’ ambitions: “A.D.D. for all.” “Adderall seems, on the surface of things, to fit so well with how life is, speed for the sped-up internet age,” Schwartz marvels. “It does not escape me that just as Adderall was surging onto the market in the 1990s, so was the World Wide Web, that the two have ascended in American life in perfect lock step, like a disease and a cure, made for each other.” Here, the book steps away from straightforward memoir and starts flailing, taking up whatever aspects of attention that can hold Schwartz’s own. The narrative caroms between the science of A.D.H.D. to the promise of psychedelics in aiding focus to wan descriptions that feel grafted from Wikipedia on the work of David Foster Wallace, Simone Weil and William James, all of whom were consumed with the difficulty and holiness of attention. At one point Schwartz confesses, gratuitously: “I still didn’t know exactly what I was after, in this search for attention.” The book’s most flamboyantly strange digression is in Schwartz’s extended, anguished defense of her father, Jonathan Schwartz, the longtime WNYC host who was fired in 2017 after “falling afoul of the Me Too movement,” as his daughter puts it. By indulging in such detours, the book enacts the very principles of distraction it describes. Attention, Schwartz tells us, is not merely a matter of training the mind and eye on a subject; it is the practice of elimination, of determining what is inessential, what can be ignored. She tells us one thing, shows us another; we finish her book having gorged on trivia but finding basic questions unanswered: Where did Adderall come from? What is the relationship between the kinds of work we do now and the popularity of “performance drugs”? Schwartz seems to subscribe to the notion that A.D.H.D. evolves as a protective response to trauma; what is the prevailing opinion? Instead, pointless, pallid excursions pad out the narrative: generic, listlessly described psychedelic conferences and ayahuasca ceremonies. Snooping around outside David Foster Wallace’s house in Claremont, Calif., Schwartz talks her way onto a neighbor’s property and tries to catch a glimpse of the patio where he hanged himself. She calls her boyfriend to crow: “I’m on a chair in a stranger’s yard looking at the place where David Foster Wallace died.” What is gained from such a story? Or from Schwartz breathlessly reporting on a Philip Seymour Hoffman sighting, shortly before his death? (Another addict, one who died at 46, just like David Foster Wallace!) These celebrity anecdotes feel like gaudy bids for our interest — strange in a book that has, in its meandering way, argued for just the opposite approach. Recall the reverent absorption of the 19th-century naturalists, whom Schwartz herself writes about: Charles Bonnet, reverently absorbed in a single aphid. The loving, patient application of attention accepts no substitutes and is its own reward. It gilds the humblest subject; it allows us to see the story.

sunstone 7 30-38 by shiniez on DeviantArt

"You're not gay, just bi? ... I can fix that." "... I just want you all to myself." As funny and cute as their relationship is, knowing the inevitable end of it, I can't help but keep an eye out for all these red flags along the way.

Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase uses its NAD+ substrate-binding site to chaperone phosphorylated Tau

The reviewers are positive about the manuscript, but they raised a number of concerns that should be addressed. 1) In particular, please examine in detail the interaction between NMNAT and tau and the modulating effect of the KKRK mutation in the fly model. It is important that you establish that the biophysical principles that govern the interaction in vitro, also do so in the tissues of animals, in which the functional impact of NMNAT is observed (refers to reviewer 1, point 2 and reviewer 2, point 1). To characterize the interaction between Nmnat and pTau in vivo, we followed the reviewer’s suggestion and performed a coimmunostaining of pTau and Nmnat. We took advantage of the Drosophila salivary gland cells due to their big size that allows optimal resolution for colocalization analysis. We used OK371-GAL4 to express human TauR406W and Nmnat(PD), dissected the salivary glands at the third instar larval stage, and co-stained pTau and Nmnat. We observed a clear colocalization of Nmnat with pTau in the cytoplasm (new Figure 4—figure supplement 4), indicating an interaction between Nmnat and pTau in vivo. In addition, we also generated a NmnatWR mutant with abolished enzymatic activity but only slightly decreased chaperone activity (new Figure 4—figure supplement 3). We found that NmnatWR also colocalized with pTau in vivo(new Figure 4—figure supplement 4). It would be interesting to test the in vivo function of the KKRK mutant. However, the analysis on KKRK mutant may have the following difficulties. First, although the KKRK residues are generally conserved across difference species, the counterpart residues in Drosophila are not exactly the same. The corresponding residue for mN3 K206 in Drosophila is R. Second, since KKRK mutations abolished the both enzymatic and chaperone activities of mN3 (new Figure 4—figure supplement 3), we would expect a complete lack of neuroprotection in vivo. Therefore, it is difficult to pinpoint whether the loss of neuroprotection is due to the lack of enzymatic activity or chaperone activity. To address this question and overcome these concerns, we took advantage of a previously established Drosophila line with UAS-NmnatWR (W98G/R224A double mutant) insertion that can be used to express enzyme-inactive Nmnat (Zhai, et al., 2006). Our previous study has shown that although NmnatWR still confers protection in a Drosophila model of tauopathy, its protective capacity is significantly reduced compared to wild type Nmnat protein, especially at an advanced disease stage (Ali et al., 2012). Although noted, this difference has been puzzling until the structural study carried out in the present report. As the W98G/R224A double mutation include the R224 residue in the ISSTXXR motif, the same R residue as in the KKRK mutant, the WR mutant is expected to have reduced binding to pTau. Therefore, the NmnatWR line will be a useful tool to allow careful dissection of the contribution of individual residues in binding hyperphosphorylated Tau and in neuroprotection. It is also important to note that in recent years we have dedicated significant efforts to develop new quantitative methods to improve the resolution of our biochemical and imaging analyses of neuroprotection, which makes a careful analysis on the contribution of individual residues possible. In the revised manuscript, we first carried out in vitro analyses on NmnatWR mutant protein. We found that compared to wild type Nmnat, NmnatWR has abolished enzymatic activity and slightly decreased chaperone activity (new Figure 4—figure supplement 3). We then used GMR-GAL4 to express Drosophila NmnatWR with TauWT or TauR406W in the photoreceptors and characterized the in vivo cellular consequences including mitochondrial phenotype (revised Figure 4, new Figure 4—figure supplement 1) and F-actin phenotype (revised Figure 5). We found that compared to wild type Nmnat, NmnatWR shows slightly increased mitoGFP clustering at the lamina cortex, reduced mitoGFP and increased F-actin accumulation at R7 and R8 terminals (revised Figure 4, new Figure 4—figure supplement 1; revised Figure 5), indicating that NmnatWR has modestly reduced protective capacity against tauopathy in vivo, consistent with the conclusion that the R residue in the ISSTXXR adenylyltransferase is involved in chaperoning pTau. Notably, we did not find a significant difference in pTau level when overexpressing wild type Nmnat and NmnatWR (new Figure 4—figure supplement 1C), indicating that the slightly decreased protective capacity of NmnatWR is unlikely due to an alteration of pTau clearance capability. Taken together, our in vitro and in vivo experiments show that: (1) both Nmnat and NmnatWR interact and chaperone pTau from pathological aggregation; (2) the protection of Nmnat in tauopathy not only comes from the clearance of pTau but also a reduction of pTau cytotoxicity and improvement of neuronal integrity; and (3) the NmnatWR mutant with reduced binding to pTau confers proportionally reduced protection in vivo, suggesting the structural overlap between the chaperone activity and enzymatic activity. To further improve the novelty and significance of our study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the isoform-specific protective capacity of Nmnat in vivo (Ali et al., 2012). We have shown that the Drosophila Nmnat gene is alternatively spliced and produced two protein isoforms: a nuclear isoform PC and a cytoplasmic isoform PD (Ruan, et al., 2015). Our in vitrodata have shown that both Nmnat isoforms PC and PD exhibited a potent chaperone activity against amyloid aggregation of pTau23 and pK19 (Figure 1—figure supplement 3 and Figure 1—figure supplement 4). However, these two isoforms exhibit distinct protective capacities in vivo. While PD shows potent protection against tauopathy as evidenced by reduced pTau level, reduced brain apoptosis, and improved locomotor activity, PC has minimal protective capacity (revised Figure 5—figure supplement 1 and new Figure 5—figure supplement 2). Therefore, the protective capacity of Nmnat in vivo is not only dependent on its chaperone function but also its subcellular localization, as the cytoplasmically localized PD isoform is likely more accessible to the client pTau protein. 2) Please address the plausibility of NMNAT in exploiting the same biophysical principles to engage phosphorylated Tau and HTT (see reviewer 2, point 1). To address this concern, we would like to note that without phosphorylation, mN3 still shows interactions with the KXGS motifs of Tau (Figure 1E, Figure 1—figure supplement 6B), although the interaction of mN3 to Tau is weaker than that to pTau. Based on the mN3 structure, there is a hydrophobic area on the periphery of the phosphate-binding site (Figure 2B), which implies that hydrophobic interactions may also contribute to the binding of NMNAT to client proteins. Recent study showed that NMNAT can also interact with Htt (Zhu et al., 2019). Htt is uncharged and not known to be associated with hyperphosphorylation. Thus, NMNAT may have a wide-spectrum anti-amyloid activity with versatile mechanisms. Our work suggests that electrostatic interaction, especially a specific binding between the MARK2 phosphorylation sites of pTau with the enzymatic pocket of NMNAT, can remarkably enhance the binding of NMNAT to Tau. In the revised manuscript, we added a new paragraph in the Discussion section “NMNAT is distinct from canonical molecular chaperones” to clarify this point. 3) Finally, as the Editor overseeing this review process, I'd like to chime in with a request that you clarify the role of NMN as competitor for NMNAT's interaction with pTau (as revealed in Figure 3C) by performing an formal analysis of NMN's Ki for this interaction and discussing any observation thus made in the context of what is known about the concentration of this metabolite in cells. We determined the EC50 of NMN as a competitor for mN3’s interaction with pTau. EC50 represents the concentration of NMN that causes a 50% reduction in the BLI response. We fit the data of Figure 3C to the equation as described by Lian et al., 2013 and Xiao et al., 2019, and calculated the EC50 value of the solution competition is 501 μM. We added the EC50 value in the revised Results and the detailed methods of EC50 calculation in the revised Materials and methods, section “Biolayer interferometry (BLI) assay”. NMN is a key intermediate of NAD+, and the basal level of NMN is low. It has been reported that the basal concentration of NMN in mouse DRG neurons is ~0.01 μM (Sasaki et al., eLife, 2016). However, NAD+ as the final product has a concentration of μM in neurons (Sasaki, et al., eLife, 2016). The levels of NMN and NAD+ depend on the activity of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) that converts nicotinamide and PRPP to NMN and is a rate-limiting enzyme in NAD+ synthesis (Stein, et al., 2014). It has been shown that NAMPT and NAD+ levels decline during aging (Stein, et al., 2014; Gomes, et al., 2013). Therefore, we may assume that in young and healthy neurons, where the pTau level is low and the NAD+ synthesis is normal, NMNAT would mainly function to generate NAD+. In contrast, in old and degenerating neurons, where pTau increases and NAD+ synthesis declines, NMNAT would switch its function to inhibit pTau aggregation and assist Hsp90 for pTau clearance. In the revised manuscript, we added this discussion as a new paragraph in the revised Discussion, section “NMNAT links NAD+ metabolism and Tau homeostasis”. Reviewer #1: […] 1) The authors failed to address whether mN3 acts as a functional dimer or monomer. Since their SEC-MALS data indicate a dimer in solution, the structure and function should be evaluated in the context of a dimer and not necessarily just in the context of a monomer. Additional SEC-MALS data could provide clues whether mN3 forms concentration-dependent dimers. It is critical to show SEC-MALS for a range of concentrations of mN3. Creating a monomer only mN3 mutant and repeating the binding and chaperone assays would be valuable to test if enzymatic versus chaperone function is mN3 dimer dependent or whether the common pTau and ATP/NMN binding site of the mN3 monomer is sufficient. This could be tested by disruption the dimer interface, create a monomer-only mutant and check whether it still has both, enzymatic and chaperone functions and whether KKRK mutation disrupt the binding with pTau. Alternatively, authors should revise and clarify their findings are based on dimers. We thank the reviewer for this great point and her suggestions. The structures of several NMNAT homologs have been determined and their oligomeric states in solution have been carefully characterized. As shown in Figure 2—figure supplement 1B, similar to mN3, Bacillus subtilis NMNAT exists as a dimer in solution and as reported, this dimer is not affected by the concentration decrease (Olland, et al., 2002). Similarly, as we decreased the concentration of mN3, the dimer remains intact by size exclusion chromatography (Figure 2—figure supplement 1D). Unlike mN3 and BsN, hN1 and hN3 exist as tetramer and hexamer in solution, respectively (Figure 2—figure supplement 1B). However, an equilibrium between dimer and hexamer has been observed (Zhou, et al., JBC, 2002), indicating that dimer is a functional unit. Moreover, the structures of these NMNAT proteins show that the functional dimer contains a highly conserved interface (Figure 2—figure supplement 1B). This indicates that this interface (or dimerization) is important for the NMNAT activity. However, the active site is away from the interface, thus the role of dimerization is puzzling. It has been suggested that the dimer interface may play a role in ATP binding since residues proximal to the interface form part of the ATP-binding pocket (Olland, et al., 2002). To investigate the role of dimerization in mN3 activities, taken the reviewer’s suggestion, we mutated E198P and L217R in the dimer interface (referred to as EL mutant) to disrupt the interface. The result of SEC-MALS showed that the EL mutations partially dissociated the dimerization of mN3 (Figure 2—figure supplement 1E). The dissociation of dimer resulted in a marked decrease of protein stability and enzymatic activity (Figure 2—figure supplement 1F and G). Intriguingly, the anti-amyloid activity appeared not affected (Figure 2—figure supplement 1H). These results indicate that dimerization is important to stabilize the overall structure and the enzymatic pocket. In contrast, anti-amyloid activity requires a less defined pocket than that for the enzymatic activity, and thus less relies on the dimerization. We agree with the reviewer on the necessity of clarifying the role of mN3 dimerization in its dual activities. Thus, we added Figure 2—figure supplement 1B and Figure 2—figure supplement 1D-H in the revised manuscript, and described these results in the Results, section “mN3 utilizes its enzymatic substrate-binding site to bind pTau” as following: “The crystal contains two mN3 molecules forming a homo-dimer with a buried surface area of 1,075.8 Å2 in the asymmetric unit (Figure 2—figure supplement 1B). […] This difference indicates different mechanisms of the dual activities of mN3.” 2) For in vivo testing with the humanized Drosophila tauopathy model, the authors should test if KKRK mutations alter NMNAT's pTau clearance capability. The current data for the clearance of Tau aren't particularly novel based on previous publications (e.g. Ali et al., 2012 and Ljungberg et al., 2012). The in vivo demonstration with KKRK mutant will improve the novelty of their major conclusion. We thank the reviewer for this important point. We agree with the reviewer that it would be interesting to test the in vivo function of the KKRK mutant. However, the analysis on KKRK mutant may have the following difficulties. First, although the KKRK residues are generally conserved across difference species, the counterpart residues in Drosophila are not exactly the same. The corresponding residue for mN3 K206 in Drosophila is R. Second, since KKRK mutations abolished the both enzymatic and chaperone activities of mN3 (see Figure 4—figure supplement 3), we would expect a complete lack of neuroprotection in vivo. Therefore, it is difficult to pinpoint whether the loss of neuroprotection is due to the lack of enzymatic activity or chaperone activity. To address this question and overcome these concerns, we took advantage of a previously established Drosophila line with UAS-NmnatWR (W98G/R224A double mutant) insertion that can be used to express enzyme-inactive Nmnat (Zhai et al., 2006). Our previous study has shown that although NmnatWR still confers protection in a Drosophila model of tauopathy, its protective capacity is significantly reduced compared to wild type Nmnat protein, especially at an advanced disease stage (Ali, et al., 2012). Although noted, this difference has been puzzling until the structural study carried out in the present report. As the W98G/R224A double mutation include the R224 residue in the ISSTXXR motif, the same R residue as in the KKRK mutant, the WR mutant is expected to have reduced binding to pTau. Therefore, the NmnatWR line will be a useful tool to allow careful dissection of the contribution of individual residues in binding hyperphosphorylated Tau and in neuroprotection. It is also important to note that in recent years we have dedicated significant efforts to develop new quantitative methods to improve the resolution of our biochemical and imaging analyses of neuroprotection, which makes a careful analysis on the contribution of individual residues possible. In the revised manuscript, we first carried out in vitro analyses on NmnatWR mutant protein. We found that compared to wild type Nmnat, NmnatWR has abolished enzymatic activity and slightly decreased chaperone activity (new Figure 4—figure supplement 3). We then used GMR-GAL4 to express Drosophila NmnatWR with TauWT or TauR406W in the photoreceptors and characterized the in vivo cellular consequences including mitochondrial phenotype (revised Figure 4, new Figure 4—figure supplement 1) and F-actin phenotype (revised Figure 5). We found that compared to wild type Nmnat, NmnatWR shows slightly increased mitoGFP clustering at the lamina cortex, reduced mitoGFP and increased F-actin accumulation at R7 and R8 terminals (we have included a new model in revised Figure 5C, indicating that NmnatWR has modestly reduced protective capacity against tauopathy in vivo, consistent with the conclusion that the R residue in the ISSTXXR adenylyltransferase is involved in chaperoning pTau. Notably, we did not find a significant difference in pTau level when overexpressing wild type Nmnat and NmnatWR (new Figure 4—figure supplement 1C), indicating that the slightly decreased protective capacity of NmnatWR is unlikely due to an alteration of pTau clearance capability. Moreover, to examine the interaction between Nmnat and pTau in vivo, we co-expressed TauR406W and Nmnat/NmnatWR in third-instar larval salivary gland cells. We found that both wild type Nmnat and NmnatWR colocalize with pTau (new Figure 4—figure supplement 4), indicating a direct interaction between Nmnat/NmnatWR and pTau. Taken together, our in vitro and in vivo experiments show that: (1) both Nmnat and NmnatWR interact and chaperone pTau from pathological aggregation; (2) the protection of Nmnat in tauopathy not only comes from the clearance of pTau but also a reduction of pTau cytotoxicity and improvement of neuronal integrity; and (3) the NmnatWR mutant with reduced binding to pTau confers proportionally reduced protection in vivo, suggesting the structural overlap between the chaperone activity and enzymatic activity. To further improve the novelty and significance of our study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the isoform-specific protective capacity of Nmnat in vivo, which was not characterized in our previous study (Ali, et al., 2012). We have shown that the Drosophila Nmnat gene is alternatively spliced and produced two protein isoforms: a nuclear isoform PC and a cytoplasmic isoform PD (Ruan et al., 2015). Our in vitrodata have shown that both Nmnat isoforms PC and PD exhibited a potent chaperone activity against amyloid aggregation of pTau23 and pK19 (Figure 1—figure supplement 3 and Figure 1—figure supplement 4). However, these two isoforms exhibit distinct protective capacities in vivo. While PD shows potent protection against tauopathy as evidenced by reduced pTau level, reduced brain apoptosis, and improved locomotor activity, PC has minimal protective capacity (revised Figure 5—figure supplement 1 and new Figure 5—figure supplement 2). Therefore, the protective capacity of Nmnat in vivo is not only dependent on its chaperone function but also its subcellular localization, as the cytoplasmically localized PD isoform is likely more accessible to the client pTau protein. Based on these new data, we re-wrote the Results, section “NMNAT protects pTau-induced synaptopathy in Drosophila”. Reviewer #2: […] 1) My main point of criticism centers on the question whether the conclusions drawn in vitro actually apply to the animal (and human) system. This is notoriously difficult to answer, but a reasonably straightforward test would be the co-immunostaining of pTau and NMNAT (PD) in the fly images. My reason for concern is that the proposed mechanism for pTau inhibition seems slightly at odds with the inhibition of Huntingtin aggregation by NMNAT observed by the same authors. Htt is not known to be associated with hyperphosphorylation, poly-glutamine sequences are uncharged and N-terminal phosphorylation actually inhibits Htt aggregation (Deguire, JBC 2018). I am aware that the PNAS paper had not yet been published at the time of manuscript submission, but an updated version of this manuscript needs to address this apparent mechanistic discrepancy between both systems and provide evidence that both proteins interact in vivo. We thank the reviewer for raising this excellent point. To characterize the interaction between Nmnat and pTau in vivo, we followed the reviewer’s suggestion and performed a coimmunostaining of pTau and Nmnat. We took advantage of the Drosophila salivary gland cells due to their big size that allows optimal resolution for colocalization analysis. We used OK371-GAL4 to express human TauR406W and Nmnat(PD), dissected the salivary glands at the third instar larval stage, and co-stained pTau and Nmnat. We observed a clear colocalization of Nmnat with pTau in the cytoplasm (new Figure 4—figure supplement 4), indicating an interaction between Nmnat and pTau in vivo. In response to reviewer #1’s comment, we also generated a NmnatWR mutant with abolished enzymatic activity but only slightly decreased chaperone activity (new Figure 4—figure supplement 3). We found that NmnatWR also colocalized with pTau in vivo(Figure 4—figure supplement 4), and overexpression of NmnatWR still confers neuroprotection (revised Figure 4, new Figure 4—figure supplement 1, and revised figure 5). As for the concern of the proposed mechanism for pTau inhibition, we’d like to note that without phosphorylation, mN3 still shows weak interactions with the KXGS motifs of Tau (Figure 1E, Figure 1—figure supplement 6B). Based on the mN3 structure, there is a hydrophobic area on the periphery of the phosphate-binding site (Figure 2B), which implies that hydrophobic interactions may also contribute to the binding of NMNAT to client proteins. As in the mentioned study (Zhu et al., 2019), NMNAT can also interact with Htt. Thus, NMNAT may have a wide-spectrum anti-amyloid activity, while MARK phosphorylation can specifically enhance the binding of NMNAT to Tau. In the revised manuscript, we added a paragraph in the Discussion as following to clarify this point: “It is important to point out that although phosphorylation remarkably increases the binding affinity of mN3 to pTau, without phosphorylation, mN3 still shows weak interactions with the KXGS motifs of Tau (Figure 1E, Figure 1—figure supplement 6B). […] Our study indicates both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions are involved in the NMNAT-client binding, while NMNAT specifically binds to pTau through its enzymatic pocket.” 2) Does NMNAT only inhibit amyloid formation by competition for the substrate protein, i.e. pTau, or is there also a chaperone-like effect on tau that is already misfolded/aggregated? The authors show ample evidence for the first mechanism, however, I hesitate to call a protein a chaperone that requires quantitative complex formation to inhibit misfolding. It would be interesting to see if the enzyme also inhibited seeded fibril growth, or even disassembled amyloid fibrils of pTau. Related, the authors find increased interaction between pTau and the chaperone HSP90 in the presence of NMNAT. Is this interaction between the monomeric protein or an aggregate? We thank the reviewer’s thoughtful suggestion. Following his suggestion, we performed ThT assays to see if mN3 is able to inhibit seeded fibril growth, or disassemble amyloid fibrils of pTau. The result showed that mN3 efficiently inhibited 8 pK19 fibril formation in the presence of preform fibril seeds (Figure 1—figure supplement 4B). However, mN3 exhibited no disaggregase activity to preformed pK19 fibrils (Figure 1—figure supplement 4C), which was confirmed by TEM microscopy (Figure 1—figure supplement 4C). We agree with the reviewer that NMNAT is different from canonical chaperones in terms of its interacting with pTau. It might be more appropriate to call NMNAT a chaperone-like protein rather than a chaperone. We have revised the manuscript accordingly. As for the NMNAT-mediated interaction between Hsp90 and pTau/Tau by the SMpull assay, we applied monomeric pTau/Tau in the experiment. The reason for using monomer is the recognition of the complex formed by Hsp90 and Tau monomer (Elif Karagoz, et al., Cell, 2014). We clarified the use of pTau/Tau monomer in this experiment in the figure legend of Figure 6 in the revised manuscript. 3) The dissociation constants for the enzyme to pTau K19 are ~30 μM. How does this compare to the concentrations of both proteins in vivo? The authors observed that the presence of NMNAT substrates strongly inhibited anti-amyloid activity. Here, the authors should discuss the relative concentrations in vivo and their implications for anti-amyloid activity. We thank the reviewer for his suggestion. The dissociation constants for mN3 to pK19 is ~ 31 µM and to pTau23 is ~ 9.9 µM. Tau is a microtubule-binding protein and expressed at the μM level in neurons (Wegmann, the EMBO J., 2018). Importantly, it has been shown that the level of total tau in AD is about eight folds higher than that in normal cases, and this increase is in the form of the abnormally phosphorylated Tau (Khatoon et al., J. Neurochem., 1992). In contrast to the high level of Tau, the expression level of NMNAT in vivo is low. It has been reported that NMNAT2 is a low abundant (nanomolar) protein in neurons (Mayer et al., JBC, 2010). However, NMNAT is not dispersed in neurons. NMNAT2, the cytosolic isoform, is adhesive to Golgi, vesicles and synaptic compartments through post-translational modification and protein-protein interaction (Mayer et al., JBC, 2010). Thus, NMNAT may reach a high local concentration in vivo. NMN is a key intermediate of NAD+, and thus the basal level of NMN is low. It has been reported that the basal concentration of NMN in mouse DRG neurons is ~0.01 μM (Sasaki et al., eLife, 2016). However, NAD+ as the final product has a concentration of μM in neurons (Sasak, et al., eLife, 2016). The levels of NMN and NAD+ depend on the activity of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) that converts nicotinamide and PRPP to NMN and is a rate-limiting enzyme in NAD+ synthesis. It has been shown that NAMPT and NAD+ levels decline during aging (Steinet al., 2014; Gomes et al., 2013). Therefore, we may assume that in young and healthy neurons, where the pTau level is low and the NAD synthesis is normal, NMNAT would mainly function to generate NAD+. In contrast, in old and degenerating neurons, where pTau increases, and NAMPT expression and NAD+ production decline, NMNAT would switch its function to chaperone pTau aggregation and clearance. We revised the Discussion and added a paragraph as following: “NMN is a key intermediate of NAD+. The levels of NMN and NAD+ depend on the activity of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) that converts nicotinamide and PRPP to NMN and is a rate-limiting enzyme in NAD+ synthesis (Stein et al., 2014). […] In contrast, in old and degenerating neurons, where pTau increases and NAD+ synthesis declines, NMNAT would switch its function to inhibit pTau aggregation and assist Hsp90 for pTau clearance (Figure 7).” 4) Crosslinking experiments show liking to two tau regions around a.a. 350 and a.a. 250. Only the 350 region is shown in the binding model and is discussed in the context of NMR data. Does binding to the a.a. 250 region not contribute to the anti-amyloid effect? Binding to the ~a.a. 250 region of pK19 also contributes to the anti-amyloid effect of mN3. Consistent with the crosslinking data, our NMR titration experiment showed that the intensity attenuation of both ~a.a. 350 and ~a.a. 250 regions of pK19 upon mN3 titration (Figures 1E and 2C). In addition, NMR result also showed interaction of the ~a.a. 320 region of pK19 with mN3, which was not identified by cross-linking (Figures 1E, 2C and Supplementary file 2). The reason for mainly building a model for the complex of mN3 and ~a.a. 350 region of pTau is that the binding of mN3 to ~a.a. 350 region is markedly stronger than to the other two regions (Figures 1E and 2C). While, as mentioned by the reviewer, we should have described the binding of mN3 to the other two regions in the context of the NMR data. Thus, we added this description in the revised Results, section “Mechanism of the interaction between mN3 and pTau”, as following: “Residues adjacent to pSer, including regions around a.a. 250, a.a. 320 and a.a. 350, also exhibited prominent signal attenuations (Figure 1E)[…] only slight overall signal broadening was observed in the three regions […]” Also in Results, section “mN3 utilizes its enzymatic substrate-binding site to bind pTau”, following: “The HSQC spectrum showed that the KKRK mutations significantly diminished the affinity of mN3 to the three regions around a.a. 250, a.a. 320 and a.a. 350 that contain pSer residues (Figure 2C and Figure 2—figure supplement 3). Especially, the region around a.a. 350 (residues 349-360) of R4, which contains two pSer residues […]”

Trump administration seeks $250 billion more in aid for small U.S. businesses: Mnuchin

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Tuesday asked Congress for an additional $250 billion in emergency economic aid for small U.S. businesses reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pushed for passage as soon as Thursday. FILE PHOTO-U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin walks to the meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) (not pictured) during negotiations on a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) relief package on Capitol in Washington, U.S., March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo In a posting on Twitter, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he had consulted with congressional leaders on the need for the second round of funding. If approved by Congress, the aid would add to the $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses enacted on March 27 as part of a $2.3 trillion economic stimulus in response to the virus outbreak. Shortly before Mnuchin’s announcement, McConnell, a Republican, said in a statement: “It is quickly becoming clear that Congress will need to provide more funding or this crucial program may run dry.” He added that he would work with Mnuchin and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on the initiative with the goal of winning Senate approval on Thursday. It was not immediately clear whether the top two Democrats in Congress, Schumer and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, would embrace this timetable as they have been pushing for a broader set of measures that would comprise a fourth coronavirus-response bill since early March. Quick Senate action would highlight the alarm over the crisis for small enterprises that have been shuttered because of the coronavirus outbreak. McConnell’s backing also marked a change in attitude. He warned in an April 1 interview with the Washington Post that Pelosi should not undertake a “premature” fourth stimulus bill related to the pandemic. But just days into the launch of the small business loans, with coronavirus cases raging in many parts of the United States, pressure built for more aid. “There is a critical need to supplement the (loan) fund to ensure America’s more than 30 million small businesses will be able to access this critical lifeline,” Senate Small Business Committee Chairman Marco Rubio said in a statement. Restaurants and hotels are among businesses hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak, with many of them shuttered. The loan program aims to encourage small enterprises to keep their employees on staff and to help them pay rent, mortgages, utilities and other overhead costs. Meanwhile, congressional Democrats were crafting a series of additional measures they plan to push in coming weeks. Democratic senators on Tuesday called for up to $25,000 in temporary, federally paid bonuses to medical workers and others in essential services, such as pharmacists, grocery store workers and truckers whose jobs put them at greater risk of coronavirus infection. Their plan also contained $15,000 incentives to help recruit first responders and health and home-care workers. Pelosi on Monday consulted with rank-and-file members of her Democratic majority about House committees working on a bill that could top $1 trillion to augment the $2.3 trillion measure enacted last month. A House Democratic aide on Tuesday said potential provisions include additional funding and greater flexibility for a “stabilization” fund helping state and local governments cope with the epidemic. The aide said legislation also would increase funding for federal agencies, such as the Labor Department and Small Business Administration which now must deal with an explosive growth in unemployment and loan programs, respectively. In an interview on CNN, Pelosi said she wanted to ensure that a range of financial institutions, including community and minority-owned banks, could participate in the loan program and that the lending did not just go to businesses that had existing relationships with lenders. Some small restaurant operators have voiced concerns the loan program was structured so that large companies and large franchisees could gain advantage.

£20 notes don’t have a secret message about 5G and coronavirus

£20 notes don’t have a secret message about 5G and coronavirus The ‘5G tower’ is Margate Lighthouse and the ‘coronavirus’ is based on a famous staircase at the Tate Britain art gallery. We’ve seen a video and images spreading on Facebook, claiming that the design of the new £20 note contains a symbol representing a “5G tower” and the coronavirus. The video also claims that 5G can make you sick. None of this is correct. The new £20 does look as it appears in these pictures and videos, but the ‘5G tower with signals’ is actually a representation of the Margate lighthouse and the jagged edges above it represent Margate’s Turner Contemporary art gallery. The shape people have claimed shows the coronavirus is a purple foil patch, containing the letter ‘T’, which is based on the design of a staircase at the Tate Britain. The artist JMW Turner, who appears on the banknote, had connections to both the seaside town and the London gallery. The claim that 5G makes you sick is not the case. As we’ve discussed before, there is no evidence to suggest 5G is harmful to health. 5G has nothing to do with the new coronavirus, or its rapid spread. 5G is the next generation of wireless network technology, following on from 4G. Like 4G, 3G and 2G before it, 5G mobile data is transmitted over radio waves—a small part of the whole electromagnetic spectrum (which includes microwaves, visible light and X-rays). These radio waves are non-ionising, meaning they don’t damage the DNA inside cells, as X-rays, gamma rays and UV rays are able to do. 5G, although at slightly higher frequencies than previous networks, is still in this radio part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Public Health England has said that there’s no “convincing evidence” that exposure below International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation guidelines can cause adverse health effects. These guidelines go up to 300GHz, whereas the maximum for 5G will probably only be in the tens of GHz. This article is part of our work fact checking potentially false pictures, videos and stories on Facebook. You can read more about this—and find out how to report Facebook content—here. For the purposes of that scheme, we’ve rated this claim as false because the images on the £20 are based on the Margate Lighthouse and a staircase at the Tate Britain.

AIlphabet P3: Road to Girin

Press question mark to see available shortcut keys Photos Order Photo book Photo prints Loading... AIlphabet P3: Road to Girin Jan 28–Apr 2 Shared

Is Trump making money by touting hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus? Not much, if at all, per financial records.

Trump indirectly owns a minute stake in a company that makes hydroxychloroquine. But that doesn’t seem to be why he’s been promoting it. President Donald Trump’s aggressive support for the unproven idea of using the lupus and malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus has puzzled public health experts, journalists, and others for weeks. A Monday New York Times report appeared to offer one possible new explanation: financial interest — his own, and that of those close to him. Per the Times: If hydroxychloroquine becomes an accepted treatment, several pharmaceutical companies stand to profit, including shareholders and senior executives with connections to the president. Mr. Trump himself has a small personal financial interest in Sanofi, the French drugmaker that makes Plaquenil, the brand-name version of hydroxychloroquine. However, Trump’s Sanofi stake is indirect and rather small — he owns shares through a fund that includes a diverse array of stocks. As Vox’s Emily Stewart noted, a government official repeatedly promoting a product made by a company they have a minute stake in would be a very inefficient way to be corrupt: The immediate interest in Trump’s financial connections to the pharmaceutical companies is another indicator of how the president’s decision not sell off his assets or put them into a blind trust opens him up to allegations of impropriety. But it was also a sign of how puzzled some experts are by the president continuing to tout the drug in nearly every public appearance, particularly given that it can have some dangerous side effects. Overall, Trump’s top medical experts have taken a more measured tone, as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Anthony Fauci did in speaking with CBS’s Face the Nation Sunday. “The data are really, just, at best, suggestive,” Fauci said on the program. “There have been cases that show there may be an effect and there are others to show there’s no effect. So, I think in terms of science, I don’t think we could definitively say it works.” Trump appears to have been convinced of the drug’s effectiveness by its advocates in his inner circle, including trade adviser Peter Navarro and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, as well as by a French study that indicated the drug is effective against the virus — but that, as Vox’s Umair Irfan has explained, came with a number of caveats the president may have missed, and that has been retracted. And this — combined with the fact that the president, unlike Fauci, has no scientific training — had led a number of observers to believe Trump genuinely thinks hydroxychloroquine is promising and should be further investigated. This view was encapsulated in the Times’s reporting Monday by a medical director at Brooklyn Hospital Center, Dr. Joshua Rosenberg. “I certainly understand why the president is pushing it,” Rosenberg told the Times. “He has to project hope. And when you are in a situation without hope, things go very badly. So I’m not faulting him for pushing it even if there isn’t a lot of science behind it, because it is, at this point, the best, most available option for use.” But the report of Trumpworld’s connections to the pharmaceutical industry caused many to believe something more sinister was afoot — namely, that Trump hoped to use the coronavirus pandemic to enrich himself and his allies. Trump has been accused of many crimes — but doesn’t seem to be doing anything wrong this time Trump has on numerous occasions been accused of, put under investigation for, and refused to rule out using his position to financially benefit himself. And he was, of course, impeached about four months ago on charges of using his office for his political benefit. It’s this history that has online observers, political strategists, and journalists highlighting the president’s financial ties to Sanofi, which makes hydroxychloroquine. But while there are a number of outstanding questions about Trump’s financial stakes and how his current role influences them, it isn’t clear there is great cause for concern with respect to his pharmaceutical holdings. For one, the president doesn’t directly own Sanofi stock. His 2019 financial disclosures suggest he holds it in three family trusts through an investment in the mutual fund company Dodge & Cox’s international stock fund. According to Dodge & Cox, that fund includes shares of a number of drug companies — including AstraZeneca, Novartis, Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, and Sanofi. But it also includes shares of companies in other industries, from online retail to banking to electronics. And of the drug companies it does include, only some, like Novartis and Sanofi, are major manufacturers of hydroxychloroquine. This would suggest that the president — and anyone else who bought this particular Dodge & Cox product — may not profit very much from increased hydroxychloroquine sales, and that any benefits drug companies in the portfolio see may not be enough to offset the loses of other included companies. Trump’s financial disclosures don’t show exactly how much each trust has invested in the fund, but they do say it is $15,000 or less. Financial Times reporter Kadhim Shubber wrote this means the president’s stake in Sanofi is likely worth about $450. It also is not clear how much the stakes in those other pharmaceutical companies will benefit the president. In late March, Novartis donated 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine to the US federal government, and Bayer donated an additional 1 million doses of its hydroxychloroquine drug. Other pharmaceutical companies, including Mylan and Teva, have pledged to donate millions of doses as well. This does not mean these companies will make zero sales — particularly given continuing demand among lupus and malaria patients, as well as at hospitals and other medical facilities for Covid-19 care — but that they may not be making money hand over fist thanks to the coronavirus. And as Ami Fadia of SVB Leerink, a health care investment company, told Barron’s, any additional hydroxychloroquine sales aren’t likely to greatly impact drug companies’ bottom lines because, even if they are able to quickly ramp up production, it is a relatively cheap drug in its generic form. Fadia said it can cost as little as 32 cents per pill. Assuming increased demand over the short term, Fadia said, Mylan could expect to make $15 million in hydroxychloroquine sales. This sounds like a lot, but not when you bear in mind Mylan’s 2019 revenues were $3.19 billion. Given demand, Mylan Sanofi and other companies could raise prices in order to increase profits. This would likely cause public uproar and be met with pushback from lawmakers. It is true that a number of drug companies have shown themselves able to disregard that sort of criticism in the past, as with drugs to treat diabetes, for instance — but thus far, there has been little sign there will be hydroxychloroquine-related opportunistic pricing. And the Trump allies with investments in the drug companies that would seem to be helped by Trump’s advocacy for the drug — which include Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, investor Ken Fisher, and Amneal Pharmaceuticals co-founder Chirag Patel — also do not seem to be the beneficiaries of any underhanded behavior. Ross, like Trump, is connected indirectly, through a fund he used to run; Fisher has long been a Sanofi investor through his asset management company; and while Patel’s company does plan to produce hydroxychloroquine, Amneal has said it plans to donate pills as well — and, should the treatment actually prove effective, it may seem wise to empower those able to make it. Again, there are many reasons some are suspicious of Trump policies and how they affect his pocketbook. He tried to steer millions of dollars of business to his Florida resort by planning to hold a G7 meeting there. He has faced questions over Air Force and White House spending at his resorts worldwide. He was ordered to pay a $2 million fine by New York for “improperly using charitable assets to intervene in the 2016 presidential primaries and further his own political interests.” This has made many of his critics sensitive to what could appear to be improprieties on his part. It is important those sensitivities do not lead to false alarms, but past behavior means there is an important line for interested parties to walk when assessing Trump’s behavior. Support Vox’s explanatory journalism Every day at Vox, we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you, and our audience around the world, with information that has the power to save lives. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower you through understanding. Vox’s work is reaching more people than ever, but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn. Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation, but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles, videos, and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires. Please consider making a contribution to Vox today.

U.S. economy will eventually reopen but with big changes: Kudlow

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Director of the Economic Council Larry Kudlow speaks during the Wall Street Journal CEO Council, in Washington, U.S., December 10, 2019. REUTERS/Al Drago WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration is aiming to reopen the U.S. economy when the nation’s top health experts give the go-ahead, but Americans’ lives will be drastically different, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Tuesday. Even when people in the United States return to work and school, they will likely have to stay home when they have signs of sickness, face more widespread and ongoing testing and submit to routine temperature taking, he told Politico in an interview. “We are aware that things are going to be different,” he said. “That’s going to be a new feature of American life. And I don’t know how quickly that gets up and going, but it’s going to be very, very important because we obviously want to prevent any recurrences.” It remains unclear when the country, which remains largely shuttered amid the ongoing outbreak that has crushed the economy, will resume more normal operations as a number of states approach their potential peak number of cases amid federal guidelines to isolate until the end of April. Health officials have called on Americans to brace for a tough week as the death toll rises, but on Tuesday said there were optimistic signs ahead that mitigation efforts were helping to contain the highly contagious and potentially lethal virus. “It is the health people that are going to drive the medical decisions, here, the medical-related decisions,” Kudlow told Politico, adding that he still believes “that in the next four to eight weeks we will be able to reopen the economy and that the power of the virus will be substantially reduced and we will be able to flatten the curve.”

Office of Governor Phil Scott

Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott has requested federal disaster funds to assist the state of Vermont in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The request asks for federal Public Assistance (PA) funds for the state and all towns for costs incurred in the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Individual Assistance, including Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Crisis Counseling Assistance/Regular Services Program for all Vermont counties. If granted, this disaster assistance provides a 75% reimbursement to state and local governments and some non-profits for emergency protective measures, including actions taken to save lives and protect public health and safety. “The COVID-19 disaster is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and the affected local governments,” said Governor Scott in his letter to President Trump. “Federal assistance is absolutely necessary to ensure the health and safety of all individuals in Vermont.” A request for a disaster declaration typically includes an assessment of physical damage to property in order to qualify for relief. Under these extraordinary circumstances, preliminary damage assessments are not required or recommended due to the dynamic nature of the pandemic. Cases continue to increase each day and ongoing life-saving response activities are overwhelming state and local resources. Conducting assessments at this time would also jeopardize the health and safety of state and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staff. However, as of the date of the request, the Vermont Department of Finance and Management has advised that the state has already expended well over $20 million in response costs, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), medical equipment and personnel. The final cost of the response is expected to be far greater. Protective actions in response to COVID-19 that would be covered under this relief could include: Emergency Operations Center Operations Emergency Medical Care Medical Sheltering Medical Supplies Provisions of food, water, ice, medicine and other essential needs Security and law enforcement for temporary facilities Communications of general health and safety information to public Non-profits that could be eligible for reimbursement include nursing homes, laboratories, rehab centers that provide medical care, hospitals and emergency care facilities, fire/rescue emergency services and education facilities. In addition to the PA funds, the Governor has requested authorization for Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Crisis Counseling Assistance/Regular Services Program of the Individual Assistance Program for the COVID-19 disaster. In addition to unemployment assistance, this disaster relief would address the long term impacts on services provided to our most at-risk populations which are experiencing reduced operations or closure such as libraries, adult daycare centers, skilled nursing programs, counseling and support groups and more. This assistance will also be used to expand access to mental health services and supports to help those in need who are experiencing significant emotional and mental health distress as result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Governor Scott also requested authority and additional funding to activate additional personnel in the Vermont National Guard. The request documents, submitted to FEMA on Monday, are available by clicking here.

How China weaponized its supply chain

When the coronavirus emergency transitions to a post-COVID-19 economic order, securing the critical needs of Canadians, and the supply chains that meet them will be an essential and historic undertaking Workers sort out all the personal protective equipment (PPE) received from China at a warehouse in Valencia, Spain, on Mar. 25 2020. A total of 3,800,000 masks, 5,000 protective suits and 2,000,000 gloves arrived to Valencia region to equip hospitals and elderly homes. (Juan Carlos Cardenas/EPA/CP) Marcus Kolga, Kaveh Shahrooz and Shuvaloy Majumdar are senior fellows at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s Centre for Advancing Canada’s Interests Abroad. In homes and hospitals across the country, Canadians are now directly encountering the existential threat that authoritarian forces pose to their lives. As leaders navigate public health and economic crises caused by COVID-19, our foreign policy establishment has opportunity to dispense with ideological fantasies of post-nationalism, and embrace the reality that nations are comprised of citizens, borders and interests. Instead of pursuing genuine cooperation when confronted by the virus, authoritarian regimes in Beijing, Tehran and Moscow facilitated its transmission by concealing their failures, proliferating disinformation about its source, and expending immense resources exploiting this crisis for their exclusive economic advantage. They are weaponizing medicine to advance their standing in the world order. The implications of this subversion of Canadian interests are immense, and place two crucial objectives before our leaders. First, Canada must ensure that our vital supply chains are not at the mercy of non-democratic adversaries; and second, we must deepen resilience and cooperation among other democracies. At the very intersection of the present debate between globalization and nationalism, featuring economic dislocation and global disruption, are questions around the critical supply chains that cross sovereign borders. For decades, dictatorships in China, Russia and Iran have manipulated uncritical assessments of their true nature, gaining leverage over nations made vulnerable by the seduction of economic supply. Across the free world, Holland, Spain, Italy, Australia and others now contend with the threat of junk supplies masquerading as “aid” from China, while public health systems are strained or overrun. Canadians are contending with precisely these same challenges. This pandemic is forcing our leaders to prioritize the medical security of Canadians, competing for supplies with even our closest ally, the United States. When the immediate emergency transitions to a post-COVID-19 economic order, understanding and securing the critical needs of Canadians, and the supply chains that meet them will be an essential and historic undertaking. The coronavirus has highlighted the vulnerability that global value chains (GVCs) present when non-democracies exploit the rule-of-law cooperation that underpins them. China, for example, has steadily climbed the medical device GVC as a result of their Made-in-China 2025 policy. One of China’s goals is to transition from being on the low-value-added end to the high-value-added end of the GVC in 10 manufacturing sectors, including medical devices. As a result, when faced with such an immediate crisis, Canada’s own supply chain was disrupted by China’s shutdown, with grave consequences today for our frontline health care workers. Damningly, while President Xi Jinping tried to suppress the pandemic brewing in Wuhan, his senior advisors conspired to weaponize China’s medical supply chain by draining high-quality medical supplies from Western sources, flooding desperate ones with bad equipment, and controlling a global position in pharmaceutical manufacturing. This represents a whole new unimaginable concept for Canadian foreign policy to contend with: weaponized medicine. Dependence on China’s supply chains extend beyond medical supply to several products integral to our survival. With “China and India providing an estimated 80 per cent of raw ingredients of the world’s drugs,” a full review is needed around the complex risks China’s state-run economy poses, alongside mitigation measures to reorder these vital economic supply chains. There will be opportunities for economic self-reliance, in how much Canadians can produce and manufacture alone. There will also remain the need for secure supply chains, and those will need to preference the world’s democracies. Tools are indeed available to protect the Canadian market economy against those that seek to upend it, including the Investment Canada Act. Matters of critical infrastructure, both physical and digital, are manifest in the national debate over Huawei’s role in Canada’s 5G network because of that Act, and establish important hurdles enshrined in law to secure the interests of Canadians. The same needs to be applied when it comes to the security of our drugs and medical supplies. As long as the critical needs of Canadians are dependent on authoritarians, we remain at the mercy of such regimes’ incompetence or, worse, malevolence. Difficult days are ahead as we seek to understand the new economic realities of the post-COVID-19 world. Canadian national interests demand economic independence from authoritarians. Authoritarians have become masters at subverting the postwar democratic order, while democracies have confused pluralism with moral relativism and equivocation. Canada should now take the lead in promoting a democratic national interest that boldly strengthens the bonds between new and established democracies, and that builds resilience in vulnerable democracies. The Chinese government’s failures were aided by uncritical foils in Western media and apologists in international organizations. Chinese officials continue to aggressively promote false narratives about its origins, ridiculously propagating the myth that COVID-19 is an American biological weapon. Iran’s regime, too, played a role in the growth of the epidemic in Canada. After Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei directed the Iranian regime to cover up the outbreak for domestic political reasons and refused to quarantine the population, COVID-19-positive Iranians began to arrive in Canada in late February. And earlier this month, the European Union warned that Russian disinformation about COVID-19 was putting lives at risk, while accusing Vladimir Putin’s regime of “playing with people’s lives.” In addition to suppressing information about the virus’s spread in Russia, state media platform Sputnik also promoted false narratives about the origins of coronavirus, speciously suggesting that it originated in Latvia, where Canada is leading NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence. These regimes reject responsibility for their role in the global spread of the virus, unencumbered by domestic accountability and obsessed with repression and lifetime rule. Rather, they have resorted to igniting obvious disinformation and misinformation about the pandemic, contributing to what can only be called an “infodemic.” And now they seek to capitalize on the global chaos they have principally engendered. China has been particularly brazen, using this opportunity to deepen its control and material influence across UN agencies, including the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and INTERPOL. The Iranian regime, too, is taking advantage of this international emergency. Despite refusing medical help from Doctors Without Borders and the United States, it continues to pressure the international community for sanctions relief in the form of cash. If the past is any indication, it could use that relief to fund terrorist adventures abroad. Russia is exploiting the pandemic and energy price war to further erode EU and NATO cohesion on sanctions levied against Putin regime officials and kleptocrats. Russia’s recent “aid” delivery to Italy—of which 80 per cent was discovered to be “useless” according to a recent report—was clearly part of what the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell identified as a “struggle for influence through spinning and the politics of generosity.” For all their machinations, these authoritarian regimes have a clear mission: disrupt democracies and disrupt their cooperation. It is noteworthy that some of the democracies whose security is most imperilled by neighbouring authoritarianism (Israel, South Korea, and Taiwan) have been especially adept at delivering for their citizens unsentimental safety alongside successful democracy. Fortunately, established democracies have significant institutional resilience in the face of crises, balancing tensions between security and liberty. Even in Canada, this precarious balance demands vigilance. Where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau failed, Hungary’s Viktor Orban succeeded, both pursuing a naked power grab in the midst of this crisis. This is of course not to say that democracies have acted perfectly in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. One need only look at Italy or the United States to realize that is not the case. However, our democratic allies have, in large part, been transparent about their challenges and have cooperated with Canada to limit the impact. Conversely, our adversaries have been anything but helpful. The lesson we should draw from this experience is that deepening democratic resilience, and forging stronger bonds with democratic allies, ought to become central goals of our foreign policy. This cannot be accomplished by diminishing Canadian democratic convictions in pursuit of a seat at the UN Security Council (UNSC), a project which has occupied an outsized obsession of the foreign policy establishment. Simply put, there can be no consequential Canadian leadership in such a role, especially in the aftermath of China’s farcical UNSC presidency. For all the investment, expertise and diplomacy that has captivated Canadian leadership around this project, it has distracted the country from guarding against the threat of emboldened authoritarians, and undermined our ability to advance the national interests of Canadians. As we rebuild, Canadians will rightly insist that a democratic and economic logic inform our interests in a world order where medicine is now weaponized. They would rightly insist that the supply chain decisions on essential matters provide for an independent Canada. And they would be right to insist that our leaders show resolve in standing with democratic allies against the world’s principal despots whose interests are so clearly in opposition to our own. MORE ABOUT CHINA:

Six Bay Area counties announce school sites closed through end of academic year

Six Bay Area counties announce school sites closed through end of academic year Leanne Francis, first grade teacher at Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, conducts an online class from her living room on March 20, 2020 in San Francisco, California. With schools closed across the United States due to the COVID19 pandemic, teachers are holding some classes for students online. less Leanne Francis, first grade teacher at Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, conducts an online class from her living room on March 20, 2020 in San Francisco, California. With schools closed across the United ... more Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Image 1 of / 50 Caption Close Six Bay Area counties announce school sites closed through end of academic year 1 / 50 Back to Gallery Six Bay Area counties officially announced Tuesday school sites will remain closed through the end of the academic year. Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara and San Francisco aligned to make a joint decision based on advice from public health officials to continue with distance learning to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This news comes after California Governor Gavin Newsom and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said last week that they were advising districts to prepare for a closure of all school facilities into summer. "We believe it is most important that schools maximize their efforts around distance learning," Thurmond said. "We know this is difficult. We have to rise to the challenge. Quite frankly, none of us knows when it’s safe enough for our students to return to campus,” he added. Newsom said districts' efforts should be focused on launching distance learning and not opening schools. In its statement to families, San Francisco Unified School District said it will begin distance instruction "through interactive teacher-led learning" on April 13. In recent weeks, the district has been working on securing Chromebooks and Wi-Fi for families without access to connectivity. Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.

WATCH: Trump holds meeting on small business relief, seeks $250 billion more for payrolls

WASHINGTON (AP) — As Congress races to craft the next coronavirus rescue package, President Donald Trump’s sudden request Tuesday to pump $250 billion more into a just-launched payroll program for small businesses may hit roadblocks. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said more money is needed for the popular new $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program, which took off with a start last Friday but was quickly overrun as companies jumped at the chance to tap up to $10 million in forgivable loans to keep paychecks flowing amid the stay-home shutdown. He requested the funds in private calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Democrats largely support it as a component of a broader new aid package, but McConnell wants to swiftly jam it through Congress this week, even though the House and Senate all but shuttered. “The ways it’s going, we’re going to need that, because the people are loving it,” Trump said in a conference call with banking executives open to the press. The push for the hefty sum, now heading for a vote with just 48 hours notice, threatens to upset the fragile agreement between the political leaders that more needs to be done amid the pandemic and its stark economic shutdown. The House was already preparing to boost the small business program as part of a broader $1 trillion package Pelosi wants as a follow-up to the sweeping $2.2 trillion rescue that became law in late March. With jobless rates soaring to record highs, Pelosi called the small business program “very important” Tuesday. But Pelosi also said she wants assurances the money flying out the door is going to those who need it. “We do have to have oversight to make sure everybody who qualifies has access,” she said on CNN. By jumping ahead, McConnell, the Republican leader, could upend the bipartisan dynamic usually needed to secure support for a broader package. Democrats said they were not consulted. The action is set for Thursday. “Jobs are literally being saved as we speak,” McConnell said in a statement announcing his move. “Congress will need to provide more funding or this crucial program may run dry. That cannot happen,” he said. Underscoring the tension, the push comes as Trump sidelined the acting inspector general tasked with leading oversight of the $2.2 trillion rescue package, the biggest of its kind in history. The paycheck program is one of the main pillars in Washington’s effort to salvage the economy and shore up suddenly out-of-work Americans as the coronavirus crises rips through communities nationwide. Through it, a small business can use 75% of the loan to keep paying its employees and the other 25% to meet overhead such as rent and utilities. The payroll protection is for eight weeks and if the business keeps its employees on the payroll or rehires workers who have been laid off, the loan will be forgiven. The program just began operating last Friday but the rollout has been plagued by a host of problems. Small business owners have complained that they are unable to get through to the SBA or the banks to apply for loans or they are being rejected by banks who say they are only accepting applications from businesses that are already customers of the bank. “We were so successful that we were concerned we were going to run out of money,” Mnuchin said during an event at the White House. The Federal Reserve intervened on Monday, saying it would buy the loans that banks make, a way to nudge hesitant lenders. By creating a backstop on the loans, the Fed is giving the banks an incentive and freeing up more of their cash for lending. The decision by McConnell to march ahead faces an uncertain outcome. It’s unclear if his gambit for a stand-alone vote on the paycheck program will send it through the the Republican-controlled Senate and the Democratic-run House. With Congress adjourned except for perfunctory pro-forma sessions, such a vote would require either the unanimous consent of all lawmakers or a simple voice vote without a formal roll call. There could be objections. House minority leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Ca., backed McConnell’s effort for a smaller, discrete infusion for the small business program. “The House should move swiftly to do the same,” he said in a statement. But the overture sets up a showdown with Democrats led by Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York who on Tuesday called for up to $25,000 “heroes” pay for frontline health care and service industry workers. Schumer declared the pay hike for nurses, truck drivers grocery store clerks and others the “highest priority.” Bigger corporations would be expected to foot the bill for the pay hike, he said, while the federal government would provide funding for smaller firms. The House bill is expected to include the small business boost alongside another round of $1,200 direct payments, unemployment benefits and food stamp assistance. Some Democrats, including freshman class president Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., are also seeking as much as $250 billion to smaller municipalities that face mounting costs to care for sick Americans and shore up their own economies. The shifting dynamics from the political leaders are stark amid what officials warn could be one of the toughest weeks for the country, as the number of confirmed cases and deaths climbs. The House gaveled in for a perfunctory pro forma session with Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Ca., presiding — wearing a face mask sewn by his young daughter. This would be the fourth package from Congress since the start of the virus outbreak. Two initial efforts were followed by the third last month, which was by far the largest, the most ambitious of its kind in U.S. history. Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Zeke Miller, Martin Crutsinger and Laurie Kellman contributed to this report.

Wall Street’s rally fizzles as oil prices suddenly plunge

NEW YORK (AP) — A big rally on Wall Street is losing steam in afternoon trading Tuesday, undercut in part by another plunge in the price of oil. The S&P 500 had been up as much as 3.5% early in the day, tacking more gains onto its 7% surge Monday following encouraging signs that the coronavirus pandemic may be close to leveling off in some of the hardest hit areas of the world. But the gains mostly evaporated in the afternoon after the price of U.S. crude oil slid more than 7%. Energy stocks in the S&P 500 were clinging onto a 2.9% gain after earlier being up nearly 8%. That weighed on the overall market, and the S&P 500 was up just 0.7%, as of 2:52 p.m. Eastern time. Earlier in the day, Wall Street had surged to big gains as markets around the world rallied for a second straight day following encouraging signs that the coronavirus pandemic may be close to leveling off in some of the hardest hit areas of the world.. Even though economists say a punishing recession is inevitable, the stock market is looking ahead to when economies will reopen from their medically induced coma. A peak in new infections would offer some clarity about about how long the recession may last and how deep it will be. Investors could then, finally, envision the other side of the economic shutdown, after authorities forced businesses to halt in hopes of slowing the spread of the virus. In the meantime, governments around the world are approving or discussing trillions of dollars more of aid for the economy. Many professional investors say they’re wary of the recent upsurge and expect more volatility ahead. But if Tuesday’s slight gains hold, it would be one of the few times the market has mustered a back-to-back gain since the coronavirus outbreak caused it to start selling off in mid-February. “We are still in what you would call the relief rally off of the prior low,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA. He noted that this kind of a rally is common within deep bear markets, Wall Street-speak for when stocks decline 20% or more from a peak. “There’s no guarantee that the worst is behind us, yet traders believe that at least there is some short-term money to be made,” Stovall said. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 148 points, or 0.7%, to 23,828, and the Nasdaq was up 0.1%. Oil prices have been even more volatile than the stock market in recent weeks as demand dries up for energy amid a global economy weakened by the coronavirus outbreak. Russia and Saudi Arabia have also been locked in a price war, refusing to cut production even as the world is awash in excess oil. READ MORE: Trump says he expects Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut oil production Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell $1.98 to $24.11 per barrel. In China, the first country to lock down wide swaths of its economy to slow the spread of the virus, authorities reported no new deaths over the past 24 hours. Many experts, though, are skeptical of China’s virus figures. Investors also see signals that the number of daily infections and deaths may be close to peaking or plateauing in Spain, Italy and New York. The number of daily deaths rose in New York, the center of the U.S. outbreak, but other statistics were more encouraging, including the average number of people hospitalized each day. Experts say more deaths are on the way due to COVID-19, which has already claimed at least 76,000 lives around the world. The U.S. leads the world in confirmed cases with more than 369,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. More economic misery is also on the horizon. Economists expect a report on Thursday to show that 5 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week as layoffs sweep the country. That would bring the total to nearly 15 million over the past three weeks. Analysts also expect big companies in upcoming weeks to report their worst quarter of profit declines in more than a decade. WATCH: Economist Ken Rogoff on whether the U.S. has ever experienced a crisis like this one Massive aid from the Federal Reserve has helped smooth out snarled trading that had beset lending markets earlier in the sell-off. Companies are coming back to the bond market to borrow, even some with “junk” credit ratings, and investors are actually lending them money again. Japan’s government on Tuesday formally announced a 108 trillion yen ($1 trillion) package for the world’s third-largest economy. In the U.S., the world’s largest economy, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is telling her colleagues that another $1 trillion is needed for the next coronavirus rescue package. Last month, Congress approved a $2.2 trillion package. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he’s pushing for the Senate to vote as early as Thursday to give additional funding to a small-business program that’s part of the rescue package. In Europe, Germany’s DAX jumped 2.8%, and France’s CAC 40 rose 2.1%. The FTSE 100 in London added 2.2%. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 2%, South Korea’s Kospi gained 1.8% and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong was up 2.1%. In a signal that investors are feeling less pessimistic about the economy and inflation, they pushed the yield of the 10-year Treasury up to 0.73% from 0.67% late Monday. That’s still painfully low relative to history. The yield was above 1.90% earlier this year and had never been below 1% until last month. Nonetheless, it’s been climbing since it hit a record low of 0.498% in early March, according to Tradeweb. Despite yields remaining near all-time lows, there is an encouraging sign in bond markets: longer-term Treasury yields are still higher than short-term ones. That’s a reversal from the “inverted yield curve” of earlier this year, a warning sign for investors that occurs when short-term yields are higher than long-term ones.

Justiça condena Corinthians em quase R$ 40 milhões por falta de contrapartidas pela Arena

O Ministério Público de São Paulo atualizou os valores cobrados do Corinthians pela falta de contrapartidas sociais ao município de São Paulo na cessão do terreno onde hoje está a Arena Corinthians . Com juros e correção, a multa de R$ 8 milhões saltou para R$ 39,7 milhões. Os valores estão presentes num requerimento da Promotoria de Justiça da Habitação e Urbanismo da capital, com data de 13 de fevereiro de 2020. O pedido foi acatado pelo juiz Randolfo Ferraz de Campos, responsável pela 14ª Vara da Fazenda Pública, nesta terça-feira. O Corinthians ainda tenta recorrer da decisão. A atualização foi publicada pelo "Meu Timão" e confirmada pelo GloboEsporte.com. Pelo acordo inicial, ainda de 2011, o Corinthians tinha obrigação de cumprir contrapartidas sociais nas áreas de educação, saúde e assistência social equivalentes a R$ 12 milhões, sendo R$ 4 milhões até 31 de dezembro de 2014 e os outros R$ 8 milhões entre 1º de janeiro de 2015 e 31 de dezembro de 2019. Em sua defesa no dia 9 de dezembro de 2019, o clube diz que cumpriu a primeira etapa do acordo, gastando mais de R$ 6 milhões em reformas e construções - embora ainda sem auditoria. E afirmou que esperava as definições do Município sobre como destinar a fatia final dos recursos. Após a publicação da reportagem, o clube emitiu nota oficial explicando que teve parte de suas ações desconsideradas pelo Prefeitura, contestou os valores cobrados em juros e culpou ainda o excesso de burocracia para a demora nas definições das contrapartidas. "O Sport Club Corinthians Paulista informa que por ocasião das definições das contrapartidas sociais pretendia que fossem consideradas as diversas ações que realiza e nas quais passou a investir ainda mais, casos de Sangue Corinthiano (doação de sangue), Hamburgada do Bem, Outubro Rosa, Novembro Azul, Um Dia de Corinthians (visita semanal de crianças carentes ao clube e à Arena) e alfabetização de colaboradores, entre outras. Porém a Prefeitura de São Paulo discordou e passou a considerar apenas obras físicas decorrentes de construção física, como creches e escolas sem, entretanto, orientar o clube sobre que o que deveria ser construído, além de demorar dois anos para liberar a utilização do terreno. Sendo assim, o clube não concorda com os juros atribuídos a um suposto atraso ao qual não deu causa, uma vez que a Prefeitura não definiu a tempo o que e onde deveria ser feita a respectiva creche, o que ocorreu apenas depois de inúmeras tratativas entre o clube e o executivo municipal, verdadeiro responsável pelo atraso. Não é justo que o clube seja penalizado pela burocracia existente nesse tipo de processo na esfera municipal." 1 de 1 Arena Corinthians foi inaugurada em 2014 — Foto: Marcelo Braga Arena Corinthians foi inaugurada em 2014 — Foto: Marcelo Braga A ação cobrava que o Corinthians prestasse contas semestralmente das contrapartidas ao MP-SP e à Prefeitura. O descumprimento permitia a execução dos valores com juros e correção monetária, descontando os valores de contrapartidas até então realizadas.

PlayStation 5 controller DualSense revealed

Sony PlayStation has provided fans with a first look at the all new Sony PlayStation 5 controller, and they have noted it is being sent to developers now for final testing of their new games for the console. The controller is officially called the DualSense controller for PS5. Advertisement The new DualSense controller for PS5 features haptic feedback, which allows for more powerful senses while playing games. There’s also adaptive triggers for the L2 and R2 so that players feel the tension while pressing down. The company also announced that they have changed the hand triggers’ angle and some small updates to the grip of the controller in order to allow for a controller that feels smaller and ensure great battery life of the control. Advertisement This provided us with an exciting challenge to design a new controller that builds off of the current generation, while taking into account the new features we were adding. For example, with adaptive triggers, we had to consider how the components would fit into the hardware, without giving it a bulky feeling. Our design team worked closely with our hardware engineers to place the triggers and actuators. The designers were then able to draw the lines of how the exterior of the controller would look and feel, with a challenge of making the controller feel smaller than it really looks. In the end, we changed the angle of the hand triggers and also made some subtle updates to the grip. We also took thoughtful consideration into ways to maintain a strong battery life for DualSense’s rechargeable battery, and to lessen the weight of the controller as much as possible as new features were added. The Share Button on the PS5 has been replaced with the Create button, which allows players to create epic content to share with friends. More info on this feature to come soon. Advertisement The controller also features a built in microphone to allow players to chat without a headset if they want, for a quick conversation. Now, let’s talk about the colors. Traditionally our base controllers have a single color. As you can see, we went a different direction this time around, and decided on a two-toned design. Additionally, we changed the position of the light bar that will give it an extra pop. On DualShock 4, it sat on the top of the controller; now it sits at each side of the touch pad, giving it a slightly larger look and feel. Advertisement “DualSense marks a radical departure from our previous controller offerings and captures just how strongly we feel about making a generational leap with PS5. The new controller, along with the many innovative features in PS5, will be transformative for games – continuing our mission at PlayStation to push the boundaries of play, now and in the future. To the PlayStation community, I truly want to thank you for sharing this exciting journey with us as we head toward PS5’s launch in Holiday 2020. We look forward to sharing more information about PS5, including the console design, in the coming months.” – Jim Ryan, President & CEO, Sony Interactive Entertainment. SOURCE: PS Advertisement

CMC Triggers Single Flat AR-15 Stage Tactical Drop-In Trigger .154" with Small Pin

The CMC Triggers Single Flat AR-15 Stage Tactical Drop-In Trigger .154" with Small Pin is a completely self contained, 100% drop-in upgrade for the AR-15, LR-308 and AR-10 rifles. It offers great trigger feel and accuracy, while retaining reliability. Pick one up today! Curved trigger also available here.

35 COVID-19 cases on First Nations: Indigenous Services Canada

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) says it’s aware of 35 positive tests of COVID-19 in First Nations communities as of April 6. Broken down, there are four on-reserve cases in Saskatchewan, 11 in Ontario and 20 in Quebec. There were 15 cases of COVID-19 in First Nation communities as of April 1. READ MORE: Saskatchewan First Nation announces first case of coronavirus ISC said it monitors and tracks information while protecting patient privacy and confidentiality. Additionally, provinces do not require Indigenous people to self-identify when being tested for COVID-19. For this reason, ISC cannot disclose the First Nations community with confirmed cases. Dr. Theresa Tam, the country’s top public health officer, said the greatest worry continues to be the numerous outbreaks in high-risk settings where there is a rapid spread of the novel coronavirus as well as severe outcomes in vulnerable people. Story continues below advertisement She added these settings include long-term care, hospitals and correctional facilities, but also an increasing number of First Nations and at least one Inuit community. “A single case in any First Nations, Inuit or Métis community is high cause for concern. These communities are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19 due to distances, access to necessary resources and underlying health conditions,” Tam said during a press conference on April 7. [ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ] “In response to the heightened risk, I am heartened to hear of the additional steps that leaders of these communities are taking to protect their populations. And we need to all do everything we can to slow the spread of this epidemic and protect all vulnerable Canadians.” ISC said it’s aware of four COVID-19 cases on First Nations that have led to hospitalization. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $305 million for a new distinctions-based Indigenous community support fund to address the immediate needs of these communities. ISC spokesperson Rola Tfaili said on April 4 that it is working to develop the community support fund and to ensure rapid access for those who need it most. This funding will enable Indigenous organizations and communities to make their own decisions about where critical support is needed to address the public health emergency. Story continues below advertisement In collaboration with First Nation leaders, Tfaili said they have reviewed pandemic plans, stockpiled supplies and assessed health care capacity. ISC said it’s also undertaking public health communication toward the First Nation population living on reserves as well as the distribution of messages for community radio and television stations and for frontline workers in various Indigenous languages. The first on-reserve case in Canada was laboratory-confirmed on March 19, ISC said. Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know: Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate. Story continues below advertisement Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities. To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out. For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.

Ontario asks anyone with medical background to step forward to fight COVID-19

TORONTO -- The Ontario government is calling for “all hands on deck” and is asking anyone with a medical background to step forward in an effort to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking at Queen’s Park on Tuesday, alongside Minister of Health Christine Elliott and Minister of Finance Rod Phillips, Premier Doug Ford announced the launch of an online portal that will match skilled workers with health-care institutions and agencies that require assistance. “Today we are calling on reinforcements,” Ford said. “If you are listening, if you have medical training, if you want to save lives, we need you. Join the fight today because we need every person in this fight.” The Health Workforce Matching Portal will match retired or non-active health care professionals, international-educated health-care professionals, students and volunteers with healthcare experience to employers in an effort to fill any gaps that may exist within the system. Ford said that skilled workers have been asking how to help and alleviate the workload at hospitals or assessment centres. “They don’t want to sit on the sidelines and watch as the virus spreads. They want to get out there and make a difference and we need them,” Ford said. “My message today to those on the front lines, those working in our hospitals, clinics and assessment centres, our message to our healthcare heroes is this: help is on the way.” Healthcare institutions can also register to request additional support through the portal in order to identify areas where extra support is needed. Elliott added that people who apply to a position through the portal will be paid for their efforts, unless they specify they want to volunteer their time. Both the premier and the health minister were asked about allowing internationally trained doctors to help out on the frontlines and said that it would depend on their skillset. “We are certainly looking at people trained in other jurisdictions,” Elliott said. “They may or may not, depending on their skillsets or experience, be able to practice medicine but they will certainly have a place in our health-care system.” Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca released a statement shortly after the announcement commending Ford for allowing foreign educated health-care workers to be assessed and deployed. “This is something we should absolutely be doing during this crisis, but I hope the government will fast-track healthcare credentials for these workers once the crisis is over.” Licenses needed to practise regulated professions On Tuesday morning, prior to the provincial announcement, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown called on the government and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario to allow internationally-trained doctors to practise in their fields. In Ontario, in order to work as a regulated professional, whether as a nurse or doctor, the individual must be licensed by the respective college. The Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons has started handing out 30-day licenses to some internationally-trained doctors, but critics say the process is cumbersome and difficult. The Supervised Short Duration Certificate allows some internationally-trained physicians and Canadian medical school graduates to practise under supervision at public hospitals, psychiatric facilities and Crown agencies. The college began issuing the licenses in March. Under the Medicine Act, the licenses can only be granted in extraordinary circumstances. The last time they were handed out was during the SARS pandemic, the college's spokesperson Shae Greenfield told CTV News Toronto Tuesday. In order to apply for the license, an internationally-trained doctor must have graduated from a recognized medical school, practiced medicine in the past two years, secured an appointment at an accepted facility and identified a physician prepared to act as their supervisor. “We have issued 10 licenses under the program, with another four applications currently in process,” Greenfield said. “In recent days, we have received a number of expressions of interest and/or requests for further details on the program.” He said he could not say whether the 14 applicants were foreign-trained doctors or not. In a letter to Minister of Health Christine Elliott, Brown wrote that there are 13,000 foreign-trained doctors and 6,000 foreign-education nurses in Ontario. Brown called on the government to increase training positions and provide more funding to hospitals for residencies. He also asked the college to reduce barriers to registration for qualified candidates. Appreciate the support of our City campaign. No City has more foreign trained doctors than the Flower City! We want to help. We are all in this together! @KamalKheraLib @rubysahotalib @sangharamesh @MSidhuLiberal @SoniaLiberal #onpoli #cdnpoli https://t.co/OZKHVBxwtJ — Patrick Brown (@patrickbrownont) April 7, 2020 “We've got this awesome arsenal of talent ready willing and eager to help keep us safe,” Brown said during a news conference on Tuesday morning. “I think we can learn from other jurisdictions. If you look at the state of New York and New Jersey, they have taken this approach. They have welcomed foreign-trained doctors into this battlefield of fighting COVID-19.” Brampton Councillor Charmaine Williams told reporters Tuesday morning that the 30-day license program is not enough. “We are in a state of emergency and it is finally time to put the foreign trained doctors who qualify to work to help keep us healthy and save lives and not just for 30 days but for 30 years,” she said on Tuesday.

SingularityNet’s Staking DApp moves into open beta!

Disclaimer: All of the content written on CoinMarketExpert is unbiased and based on objective analysis. The information provided on this page should not be construed as an endorsement of cryptocurrency, a service provider or offering and should neither be considered a solicitation to buy or trade cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrencies carry substantial risk and are not suitable for everyone. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information and consequently, any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. See further disclaimer at the bottom of the page. Updated 8th April 2020 SingularityNET, the decentralized network that is on a mission to build the world’s first AI marketplace, on Tuesday 7th April announced that their much-awaited Staking DApp has moved into open beta. Estimating the annual yield Extrapolating the staking reward into an estimated annual yield was a bit of a challenge on the first day of the announcement. However, following some investigation, we were able to nail down what a hypothetical annualized yield could look like. SingularityNet’s reward pool consists of 100,000 AGI tokens. Using SingularityNet’s online staking calculator we may see that the number of AGI tokens that are currently staked by the community is 41,150,675 ( the “current pool size” ). Therefore, if we, for example, decided to stake an additional 41,150,675 tokens we would be entitled to 50% of the 100,000 AGI tokens. That would be equivalent to 50,000 AGI tokens over a 30-day window. All else equal, this would mathematically translate into an annualized yield of approximately 1.5% currently. The above is only an indicative example. In reality, the staked amounts may vary since certain users may stake 50K tokens whereas others may only stake 5K tokens. You may see for yourself how SingularityNet’s estimated staking yield compares with other staking providers that we are tracking. Staking mechanics of the open beta AGI token staking will occur in 30-day windows. The initial call for staking opened on 7th April at 9:00 AM GMT and will last until 14th April. Following this period, the staking window of 30 days will officially begin. At the end of the window (37 days from 7th April), a second 30-day staking window will become available to the public. The original stake plus the staking rewards that were earned during the first staking period will (by default) automatically be rolled over into the second 30-day window. Users will have the option to opt-out of automatic rollovers. The reward pool for each 30-day staking window has been initially set to 100,000 AGI tokens. Why Stake AGI Coin? To support the developed of AGI’s blockchain network When you stake AGI tokens, you are supporting the operations of SingularityNet’s blockchain network. If you are new to staking, have a look at our free comprehensive guide. The role of staking in the SingariltyNet platform ecosystem is tied to its fiat-crypto gateway. The first half of SingularityNet’s fiat-crypto gateway is already in place with a PayPal interface developed on the platform to allow users to purchase their AI services using fiat money. The second half of the fiat-crypto gateway is planned for release later this year. Once this part of the project has been completed, it will allow AI service providers to automatically convert the AGI tokens they earn on the platform into fiat currency. In the meantime, more information regarding SingularityNet’s open beta Staking DApp may be found on its website and signing up is absolutely free of charge and simple! Potential price appreciation (over and above the staking rewards) Source: Binance/TradingView At the time of writing, AGI/USD was trading at $0.013220 with a 24-hour trading volume of approximately $253K. AGI’s coin price has taken a bashing over the last year, falling 98% from an all-time high of $0.950230. However, at the same time, the current price is up 78% from an all-time low of $0.00747159. Since the beginning of the month, the price of AGI/USD has risen nearly 15% from $0.01159433 in conjunction with rising trading volumes. This is typically construed as a positive sign of a recovery. Now that SingularityNet’s staking DApp is finally open to the public, the price of AGI token may very well continue on a path to recovery, as new users buy and HODL the coin in return for attractive staking rewards. Of course, we do not have a crystal ball. Crypto prices are highly volatile and speculative although this observation has not been too uncommon across other staking projects (such as Tezos for instance).

Coronavirus Australia news: JobKeeper legislation passes Parliament, healthcare workers to receive 11 million masks, as it happened

Goodbye, goodbye, good friends goodbye Today the single largest piece of Government spending in Australian history was passed by Parliament, we got news that 11 million masks are going to be distributed to healthcare workers, and the national coronavirus cases tally passed the 6,000 mark. It's been another huge day for COVID-19 news, but now it's time for us to wrap this blog up. And a new blog will be back in the morning, bright and early. Will it be helmed by Bridget? Will Simon make an appearance? How about Sophie? You'll have to wait and see. But in the meantime, don't forget to wash your hands and, well, pretty much everything else.

Navy Secretary Modly resigns after firing captain for coronavirus warning

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly has resigned after giving a profane speech defending his firing of a ship captain who warned about the coronavirus infecting his crew. Modly resigned after meeting with Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. Acting undersecretary of the Army James McPherson will replace Modly. On Sunday Modly trashed fired Capt. Brett Crozier to his former crew on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, saying Crozier was either “too naive or too stupid” for command after raising concern about the coronavirus spreading through his nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Last week Crozier emailed more than 20 people warning of symptoms among his men and urging action to treat them. The email was published by the San Francisco Chronicle, creating an international news story. At least 230 people aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt — including Crozier – tested positive for COVID-19 after it docked in Guam. “The T-R has to demonstrate to the citizens back home that it has its act together and that it’s knocking down this virus just like it would knock down the Chinese or the North Koreans or the Russians,” Modly told the crew Sunday. “What the f–k?” an apparent sailor says in leaked audio as Modly disparaged Crozier. “He was just trying to help us!” a man’s voice protests. Modly on Friday claimed that Crozier put the 5,000-man crew “at risk” of attack when he sent the email. President Trump said at a Monday news conference that he would like to mediate between Modly and Crozier, saying the captain may have simply had a “bad day” when he emailed his warning to people outside his chain of command. The Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post.

CNN’s Tapper ripped for retweeting post calling Trump ‘insane’

CNN’s Jake Tapper took heat Tuesday for retweeting a post from conservative lawyer George Conway — a frequent critic of President Trump and the husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway — that called the commander-in-chief “100% insane.” The CNN anchor on Monday retweeted Conway’s post, which said Trump “is 100% insane and nobody in the administration has the balls to tell him that,” The Hill reported. Tapper retweeted it again Tuesday while adding: “Noteworthy comment on folks in the administration from a Trump critic who knows a lot of them.” Critics said Tapper was supporting Conway’s harsh characterization of Trump, who has frequently ripped Conway himself. Tapper insisted Conway’s barb “seems newsworthy given how many people in the administration he knows.” “I RTed Conway, a conservative attorney and Trump critic, because he wrote that no one in the administration has the courage to stand up to the president which seems newsworthy given how many people in the administration he knows,” Tapper tweeted, attempting to explain his motives. “RTs do not nec. = agreement.” The critics included Johnathan Turley, the only Republican witness during the House impeachment hearings. Turley, a George Washington University law professor and a contributor to The Hill, ripped Tapper, saying his retweet “only further undermines the media by reaffirming for many that the media is campaigning against Trump rather than covering him.” Others defended Tapper. New York magazine writer Jonathan Chait said Tapper “merely observed” that Conway’s comments were “noteworthy.” Trump in the past has called George Conway “a stone cold LOSER” and “husband from hell!” on Twitter. “George Conway, often referred to as Mr. Kellyanne Conway by those who know him, is VERY jealous of his wife’s success & angry that I, with her help, didn’t give him the job he so desperately wanted. I barely know him but just take a look, a stone cold LOSER & husband from hell!” he wrote last year. But the attacks did not deter Conway, who rips the president almost daily, and who has denied that he ever sought a White House job, though he initially supported the president. “Like all pathological narcissists, he accepts no responsibility, and he rejects all accountability,” he wrote Tuesday about Trump’s firing of and feuds with government watchdogs overseeing his administration. The president has also gone after Tapper, and the CNN journalist uses one presidential quote in his Twitter bio. “Jake Tapper … I know; you don’t like him. Who likes him? Who the hell can like him?” Trump said at a rally in February, a remark Tapper quickly added to his bio.

Face masks cannot stop healthy people getting Covid-19, says WHO

The World Health Organization has held off from recommending people wear face masks in public after assessing fresh evidence that suggested the items may help to contain the pandemic. The WHO reviewed its position on masks in light of data from Hong Kong indicating that their widespread use in the community may have reduced the spread of coronavirus in some regions. But in updated guidance published on Monday, the organisation maintained that while masks could help limit the spread of the disease, they were insufficient on their own. There was no evidence that wearing a mask in the community prevented healthy people from picking up respiratory infections including Covid-19, it said. Prof David Heymann, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who chaired the WHO’s scientific and technical advisory group for infectious hazards, said that unless people were working in healthcare settings, masks are “only for the protection of others, not for the protection of oneself”. The committee acknowledged the virus can be transmitted by people who do not have symptoms, but said the virus must still spread via droplets or contaminated surfaces, which physical distancing and handwashing are intended to minimise. According to the updated advice, people with coronavirus symptoms should wear a face mask, self-isolate and seek medical advice as soon as they start to feel unwell, while those caring for them should wear a face mask when they are in the same room. The WHO guidance on healthy people wearing masks in public appears to conflict with recent advice from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which urged the US public to wear cloth face coverings in pharmacies, groceries and other public places where physical distancing can be hard to maintain. Heymann said masks could create a false sense of security that could end up putting people at greater risk. Even with the mouth and nose fully covered, the virus can still enter through the eyes. “People think they are protected when they are not,” he said. “Healthcare workers, in addition to the masks, wear visors too, to protect the eyes.” Another concern is that people may contaminate themselves when they adjust, remove and dispose of their masks. The WHO said people who chose to wear masks in public should follow its advice to ensure they were using them safely. It said countries that recommended masks for the general population should set up studies to monitor their effectiveness. William Keevil, a professor of environmental healthcare at the University of Southampton, said governments felt under pressure to be seen to be doing something, even if it was a waste of time and valuable resources. “Cloth masks and poor quality surgical face masks will not filter fine respiratory droplets, and certainly not aerosols, which some are now claiming to be an infection risk,” he said. “The major question that needs to be addressed is: what about protecting the eyes, a known route of entry?.” Dr Elaine Shuo Feng, an epidemiologist at Oxford University, supports the US stance on face masks and said it would be sensible for people who may have been exposed to the virus to wear face masks outdoors because of the risk of passing on the virus. “It would be helpful if high-risk people – elderly, people with chronic conditions – wear a face mask if they can’t avoid crowed areas, because these people have the highest risk of severe outcomes such as ICU/death if infected,” she said. • The headline on this article was corrected on 7 April 2020 to more accurately reflect the WHO’s findings.

Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities

Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities, and foreign exchange levels Benchmark crude oil fell $2.45, or 9.4%, to settle at $23.63 a barrel Tuesday. Brent crude oil, the international standard, fell $1.18, or 3.6%, to $31.87 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline fell 5 cents to 65 cents a gallon. Heating oil fell 2 cents to $1.03 a gallon. Natural gas rose 12 cents to $1.85 per 1,000 cubic feet. Gold fell $10.20 to $1,683.70 an ounce, silver rose 31 cents to $15.48 an ounce and copper rose 5 cents to $2.27 a pound. The dollar fell to 108.85 Japanese yen from 109.05 yen. The euro rose to $1.0904 from $1.0797.

One person shot, killed after domestic disturbance in Harker Heights

HARKER HEIGHTS, TX — Harker Heights Police is investigating a fatal shooting after a domestic disturbance. Officers were dispatched to the 800 block of Trail Crest related to a gunshot victim on April 7 at 2:59 A.M. Harker Heights Police Officers located 47-year-old Latonya Washington deceased from an apparent gunshot wound on arrival. Preliminary investigation revealed that a domestic disturbance at the resident had taken place earlier in the evening. A person of interest has been identified and taken into custody placed on an investigative hold at the Bell County Jail, according to police. Investigation is ongoing by the Harker Heights Police Criminal Investigation Division. If anyone has any information about this death, please contact Detectives at 254-953-5440. All information is confidential and anonymous.

Trump lashes out at ‘China centric’ World Health Organization for ‘faulty’ coronavirus advice

US President Donald Trump attacked the World Health Organization on Tuesday, saying it is “China centric” and issued bad advice at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic. “The W.H.O. really blew it. For some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China centric. We will be giving that a good look,” he tweeted. Trump went on to ask why the WHO had given “such a faulty recommendation,” apparently referring to the UN body’s recommendation against curtailing international travel to stop the virus which first spread from China. ADVERTISEMENT “Fortunately I rejected their advice on keeping our borders open to China early on,” Trump wrote, referring to his decision to ban travel from the country. China is under fire in Washington, particularly from Republicans, over the way it handled the pandemic and Trump has expressed doubt over the accuracy of Chinese statistics for cases and deaths. However, Trump himself has been widely criticized for initially downplaying the virus, which he likened to an ordinary flu and said was under control in the United States, before later accepting that it was a national emergency. More than 11,000 Americans have now died from COVID-19. © 2020 AFP

Brasil tem 667 mortes e 13.717 casos confirmados de coronavírus, diz ministério

Brasil tem 667 mortes e 13.717 casos confirmados de coronavírus, diz ministério Balanço da pasta foi divulgado nesta terça (7). Houve 114 novas mortes em relação aos dados divulgados na segunda (6). Taxa de letalidade está em 4,9%.

How can coronavirus models get it so wrong?

Analysis depends on data – so predictions for Italy and Spain, where peak has passed, are more reliable than for UK The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle, based at the University of Washington, is the best organisation in the world at collecting data on diseases and mapping out why we fall ill. Its Global Burden of Disease study is a massive collaborative effort that is valued and used in every country. But even for such an organisation, predicting what will happen to us all as a result of Covid-19 is a tricky business. Crucially, modelling or any other analysis depends on the data that can be gathered. Inevitably, the IHME has better data for the likely outcomes of Covid-19 in Italy and Spain, where the epidemics have peaked, than for the UK, its director, Dr Christopher Murray, says. The margins for the organisation’s predictions of daily deaths in the UK are big – a tenfold variation from 800 to 8,000 near the peak which, it predicts, will happen around 17 April. The IHME will be inputting new data on deaths, which it says are a better indicator of what is going on every day than are cases. That means the margins will shrink and the predictions become firmer as time goes on. This is a different type of model from that of the Imperial College London group advising the government, because it will constantly evolve. But even the Imperial modellers had to change their predictions some weeks ago. Famously, their changed advice persuaded the government to bring in physical distancing guidance, with towns closed for business and people staying home to reduce what, it had suddenly become apparent, would be an unacceptably high death toll. One moment the prime minister, Boris Johnson, was asking people with symptoms to stay home for seven days; a few days later, he had ordered a lockdown. What changed was data from Italy’s experience of the pandemic, in which more people were critically ill than anticipated, and from the NHS about its inability to cope if the same should happen in the UK. Models are only as good as the data that goes into them. As time goes on, we will learn a lot more about the outcomes of this pandemic in countries around the world and the effectiveness of policies in mitigating the worst outcomes.

Coronavirus pandemic pushes U.S. and China closer to cold war

The COVID-19 pandemic, in an unexpected but potentially fateful twist, has moved the United States and China a big step closer to a new cold war. It has strengthened hard-liners in both countries, and political pressures stemming from the pandemic are making it harder for leaders to back away from escalation. For two months, as the virus killed thousands and wreaked economic havoc around the world, officials of the two superpowers have heaped blame on each other to divert attention from the pain of the crisis and from their own missteps. President Trump has frequently referred to the novel coronavirus as the “Chinese virus” or the “Wuhan virus,” for the city that was the original epicenter of the outbreak. Advertisement Administration officials have quietly pressed for international censure of China’s culpability in the health crisis. And they have seized on the medical emergency to attack the network of manufacturing and other economic ties that have grown between the two countries over the last 40 years. Beijing, through its state-owned media and political operatives, has slammed the “racist and xenophobic” statements and actions of America’s “irresponsible and incompetent” political elites. It has gone so far as to make the unsubstantiated allegation that the U.S. military started the pandemic. Advertisement Meanwhile, the tariffs that Trump imposed on billions of dollars in goods from China — and the counter-tariffs from Beijing — remain in place, adding to the cost of trade at a time when many businesses are struggling to stay afloat. The punitive duties also have affected badly needed protective medical gear such as masks, gloves and goggles, many of which are made in China. “It was revealing of just how hostile U.S.-China relations have become that they couldn’t even bring themselves to just kind of hold their noses and reach out to one another to coordinate their efforts very well,” said Susan Shirk, chair of the 21st Century China Center at UC San Diego. Shirk and other China specialists haven’t given up on the relationship. She and dozens of other China experts and former politicians and diplomats across the political spectrum released a joint statement this month calling for renewed efforts to cooperate. Advertisement They urged Washington to find “the resolve to work together to contain and defeat the virus at home and abroad.” Newsletter Get our free Coronavirus Today newsletter Sign up for the latest news, best stories and what they mean for you, plus answers to your questions. Enter Email Address Sign Me Up You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. “China’s factories can make the protective gear and medicines needed to fight the virus; its medical personnel can share their valuable clinical experience in treating it; and its scientists can work with ours to develop the vaccine urgently needed to vanquish it,” the statement said. Whether either side is prepared to back away from confrontation remains in doubt. Both Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have pressing political reasons to keep playing hardball. Advertisement As the U.S. death toll mounts and the economic pain hits more Americans, the pressure on Trump has increased. “In the case where we’re dealing with a global and domestic recession, it will undoubtedly seed voices of populism and nationalism and xenophobia,” said Jude Blanchette, the Freeman chair in China studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “And they will be looking for vengeance and for someone to blame,” he warned. There is evidence that Trump’s anti-China message is finding bipartisan acceptance in Congress and in corporate America, which has grown increasingly unhappy with a relationship with China that it had long sought to strengthen and expand. Advertisement And with November’s election on the horizon and the economic gains he’d planned on taking credit for wiped out, Trump is likely to intensify his attacks on China and to frame any criticism of his administration by the media or Democratic opponents as being pro-China. “One way we still win this election is by turning it into a referendum on China,” said one Trump campaign advisor, speaking on condition of anonymity. Also contributing to the growing disenchantment with China have been Beijing’s continued crackdowns on dissent and human rights, its aggressive military moves in the South China Sea and other factors. But the human and economic toll of the coronavirus has introduced a white-hot element into the dynamic between the two countries. Advertisement On the Chinese side, the U.S. criticism of the nation — and the economic pain inflicted by the tariffs — has stirred waves of nationalistic resentment. Public anger, and the Chinese Communist Party’s massive response to fight the epidemic, has strengthened Xi’s grip on power and made it easier for him to pursue a crackdown on dissent. Many in China chafe at Trump’s effort to blame them for the pandemic as both unfair and factually wrong. They see China, with its isolation of Hubei province and other hot spots, as a model for how to contain and conquer the disease. Many also see China as having reached out to help other countries as its own crisis has abated. There’s a narrative widely accepted within China that the country has been able to bring the virus under control and “that China is — if not the savior of the world — at least sort of doing more than its fair share to help the rest of the world,” said David Bachman, a China specialist at the University of Washington in Seattle. Advertisement And public resentment in both countries is likely to be intensified by the rising economic cost of the pandemic. Both economies are expected to see their sharpest drops in decades, with millions of people thrown out of work, businesses crippled or destroyed, and political leaders facing a unique crisis in which conventional stimulus and other time-honored economic policies seem ineffective. As the economic pain spreads, analysts say it will probably make compromise more difficult even if deescalation would benefit both sides. Advertisement “I don’t think there’s any way in hell things get better from here,” Blanchette said. “An increasingly authoritarian China, mixed with a global growth downturn, mixed with a domestic recession, mixed with a populist president, mixed with an election year, equals an increasingly factious discourse on China.” In the months ahead, China’s economy is expected to suffer its slowest growth in more than 40 years, and could even turn negative for the first time since the mid-1970s. That could threaten political stability if the Communist Party fails to make good on its compact with the masses to keep improving their economic well-being in exchange for compliance with an authoritarian and often repressive system. But there are signs that China’s economy may fare better than many in the West are projecting. Factories have largely resumed operations, with electric power usage returning to 95% of what it was this time a year ago, said Nicholas Lardy, a China economy expert at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Advertisement Trade will undoubtedly suffer with slumping demand from recessions in Europe and America, but Chinese exports exert only half the weight they did on the U.S. economy in the 2008 financial crisis. What’s more, Beijing hasn’t felt the need to spur growth with massive credit or provide anything close to the $2-trillion relief package that the U.S. passed last month. If the Chinese thought they were heading for a major downturn, Lardy said, Beijing would have injected a lot more stimulus than it has. “I think that’s qualitatively probably the single most important indicator. It’s the dog that didn’t bark.” For Trump, the antagonism with China has centered on trade. He has led a tit-for-tat tariff war with China, eroding what for many years had been seen as the ballast in the relationship. Advertisement In January, there was a glimmer of hope that tensions might ease: The two sides struck a large trade deal in which the Chinese promised to buy billions of dollars more in American farm products and other goods. But “the trade deal signed in January is already dead in the water,” said Bachman. “There’s no possible way that the targets now are going to be met. And so that’s going to be a source of dissatisfaction on the U.S. side.” What’s more, the pandemic exposed America’s heavy dependence on China for critical medical supplies and drugs, as well as many other manufactured products. Advertisement The outbreak fractured supply chains now dominated by China, prompting more U.S. firms to make plans to relocate operations and rearrange global business relationships. The disruptions came at a time when corporate America was already growing disillusioned with the old relationship. Beijing’s persistent refusal to prevent its companies from appropriating the intellectual property and know-how of U.S. firms was high on a lengthening list of complaints. Whatever the outcome of the coronavirus crisis, it’s almost certain to accelerate long-term changes in the economic relationship between the two countries. Advertisement The pandemic “has demonstrated the impossibility of the U.S. and China being coupled closely together,” said Clyde Prestowitz, a top trade negotiator in the Reagan administration. “The notion that free trade and globalization are going to tame China and make it more democratic, etc., I think this has shown that’s bull.” Deborah Seligsohn, a former economic officer and later science and health counselor for the U.S. State Department in China, lamented the fact that Trump officials had ordered most of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff out of China. But even so, she said, there’s been enough goodwill among working-level officials in both countries that the Chinese CDC contacted the American CDC in early January about the coronavirus outbreak. The warnings were alarming enough and extensive enough that the U.S. could have responded more effectively and quickly, she said. Advertisement “The more we can come up with ways to work together with goodwill in the public health crisis, the more we will be able to move forward and, in a way, to rebuild the global economy,” said Seligsohn, who teaches at Villanova University. “We know from 1997 [the Asian financial crisis] and from 2008 that the economy will bounce back better if we are ensuring that we are all flourishing. “I think there’s an opportunity right now to tone down the rhetoric, to think about the global health crisis as one of cooperation, and to create the basis when we all try to get back to business.” Times staff writer Eli Stokols contributed to this report.

Fake Tuesday Morning Quarterback

Welcome to the inaugural Fake Monday Morning QB, where I go and look at some of the most controversial moments from some of the top games around and the league and explain why all the coaches are bad. My hope is not to make fun of others, but to help shed some light to some common mistakes coaches make, and help improve play across the league. A warning here for anyone reading this. This article is pretty meta and my analysis therewithin will be really meta. If this is something you aren’t interested in, that’s more than fine, turn away, because this article won’t be for you. I wanted to take a look at some of the biggest decisions and play calls from the week’s biggest games, and go over what went wrong. I won’t be looking at specific number selection, but more so the choices besides the number, when to run, when to pass, when to call a timeout, when to forget to take a timeout because you always forget that it happens before a play, that kind of thing. Hopefully we all can learn something along the way. I’ll be cross referencing our ranges with Pro Football Reference’s Win Probability Calculator often. Love: The Colorado State – Washington State Masterpiece If anyone wants to go look through a master class of coaching, this is the game to go look at. Before even getting into number selection, this game was called absolutely perfectly on both sides. They went for it on fourth when they needed it, they punted when it was the better play, and they stuck to their playbook advantage (both option teams, and ran in almost every situation, which is the statistically correct play). A late timeout by Washington St left just enough time on the clock for him to score the tying touchdown as time expired, and saved the game for him. There was only one sequence that is even open to questioning, and I still believe that it fell on the correct side of things. After forcing a Colorado St. stop on 4th down, Wazzooga took over on their own 25, and quickly fumbled the ball right back to end the second overtime and begin the third. While some may have suggested immediately kicking the field goal there, I like the call to try to pick up some yards first. A 42 yard field goal is by no means a sure thing (~ 65.1% success rate), and you’d have to run 15 plays to have the same odds of fumbling. What happened there is unfortunate, but given the improved odds just ten yards closer (80.5%), it was absolutely the right call. Disklike: Conservative Texas Texas really, really tried to lose this game, and almost succeeded in doing so. First of all, Texas came in with a huge playbook advantage, as they were rocking a 5-2 defense, which is an absolute killer against the Air Raid. That, coupled with their Spread versus Western Kentucky’s 4-3, meant that their expected success was nearly double on a per play basis. And yet, they continually ran the ball, making it basically an even playing field in that regard. While running does keep the clock going and can help to bleed the clock, Texas was rarely in a strong enough position to exchange winning plays for ticks of the clock, and it almost bit him in this one. There was also a highly questionable punt call that helped breathe life back into the Western Kentucky sideline. On fourth and 6 at his opponent’s 44 yard line, a punt is almost criminal. You typically stand to gain only 25 yards in exchange for possession, and numbers wise, if your punt was much better, you still should’ve gone for it because now you would’ve converted. It’s a disappointing call, quickly led to a touchdown the other way, and helped spark WKU’s comeback. More on this game later, however. Like: Situational Air Raid running Interesting dirty little secret about the Air Raid… it can run! The average difference for passing and running for the Air Raid is about 0.4 yards per play, less than the difference in Spread (0.8) Option (1.7) and even Pro (0.5). Some of our savvier coaches seemed to have picked up on. For a good example, check the Wisconsin Georgia Tech game, where the Wisconsin head coach often switched between running and passing to help chew the clock and convert short third downs. When done correctly, it can make the Air Raid hard to stop Dislike: Situation Spread Running This is not the same! The spread suffers when it runs, and it suffers a lot. While it isn’t as much of an uphill battle as an Option team throwing the ball from behind, the spread offense suffers when trying to run the ball. If you don’t have the game absolutely in hand, or aren’t looking at a 4th and 2 (which you should always always go for by the way), you shouldn’t be running. You’re doing more harm than good to your team. Yes you are burning clock, but you’re leaving yards on the field and forcing yourself to run extra plays, which increases your chance of a turnover. Avoid at all costs! See the previously mentioned Texas – WKU game and the Pitt – CMU game’s as examples of this. Dislike: Surprise Onside Kicks In real football, the occasional surprise onside kick can catch an opposing team off guard, giving teams close to a 50% chance of recovering the ball. Expected onsides, unsurprisingly, are considerably much less successful, and those closer reflect the odds we work with playing FCFB. At just 12% odds of recovery, they are not a smart play, and you gain no benefit from “catching the opposition napping.” It’s a risky play, and while you may recover one here or there, it’s not worth the risk unless the game is slipping out of reach. Be better coaches! See the Buffalo – Penn State game and the Massachusetts Oklahoma State game as an example of overly aggressive onsides. Like: Situational Onside Kicks Of course kicking onsides down multiple possessions with little time left is still an optimal play, even if your odds aren’t great. But there is another situation where onsides could have a small place in this game. With little time left in the second quarter, onsides carry less risk, especially against option teams. If you recover, you can make an attempt to quickly get down the field, and if you go 3 & out, you can punt to your opponent, pinning them deep with next to no time left. If you don’t, you have an opponent likely scrambling to take advantage of their improved field position, while still battling the clock, as well as your defense. Done properly, it can be used as a chance to generate an extra possession with little risk. See the Virginia – LSU game as an example of this, where a successful onside late in the second led to a quick bonus Virgina touchdown. Dislike: Coaches Forgetting About Timeouts I get it, it’s been a long offseason, and it can be a bit confusing, but timeouts happen before the play, not after. Timeouts can be one of your strongest tools as a coach especially in close games (see deBob, Ooga). They happen before the play where you are calling a timeout. Calling a timeout, then passing, then kicking a field goal with 4 seconds left in the half is going to result in you not getting the snap off. It’s heartbreaking when it happens, mostly because it’s completely avoidable. As a fun cousin to this, forgetting you have or forgetting to call timeouts when the game is winding down and a one possession game may just be even worse. You don’t get to keep them, and they don’t roll over, so don’t let them rot in your pocket. Call your timeouts. Get in the habit of checking. It may just cost you the game. See the first half gauff by Buffalo in his game versus Penn State, or the lack of a final timeout in the Texas – WKU game as examples. Combo Like/Dislike: Calling your own failure Combing through all these games can get a little exhausting, and I must say I appreciated the editorialized play calls. Two of my favorites of the last week were: “I should give it away here considering I’ve gained a grand total of zero yards on two fourth down attempts along with a punt returned for a TD, while Tyler has had great success tonight converting his two fourth downs with a forty(!) and nineteen yard gains respectively. BUT I’m not someone who learns his lessons very well, so let’s fail with Hurry Pass idk 888.” CMU, he did not convert “Probably a mistake, two point 827” Rice, indeed making a mistake While we are here, there are very few correct times to go for 2. It’s like FCFB’s sucker bet. In real football, the 2 pointer has seen a rise in popularity as offenses have improved and XP kicks have moved back. But in FCFB the odds just don’t favor going for it. You average 0.96 points every time you kick the XP, but only 0.8 on two point conversions. Unless the situation is absolutely clear cut, you are leaving points on the field by going for two. See the Rice – VT game as a perfect example of a foolish 2 pointer, or the end of the Texas – WKU game as two great times to break out the two pointer, although both eventually failed. And that’s all for this week folks! Check back in next week for more Tuesday Morning Quarterbacking

Commission to put forward updated MFF by end of April

The European Commission is planning to present an updated multi-annual financial framework proposal on 29 April, as part of the recovery strategy to tackle the economic fallout of the coronavirus, according to an internal document seen by EURACTIV.com. An updated MFF, the EU’s long-term budget for the period 2021-2027, is seen as a key tool to overcome the severe recession that the pandemic will cause in Europe, according to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The head of the EU executive said early this month that “we all know that in this crisis we need quick answers and we cannot take two or three years to invent new tools” and that “the MFF is the strongest tool we have”. Von der Leyen: EU budget should be the Marshall plan we lay out together The EU’s next long-term budget should be a key instrument in the recovery plan to confront the huge economic consequences of the COVID-19 crisis, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday (2 April). For the former German minister, the MFF could be the fiscal stimulus needed in lieu of divisive ‘coronabonds’, a joint debt proposal backed by nine member states on sharing the costs of the recovery. A small group including Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Finland are against them. According to an internal Commission document, the recovery strategy is scheduled for 29 April, although the date is still to be confirmed. It is set to include a communication with proposals to amend the draft MFF, initially put forward by the EU executive two years ago. In addition, the institution is also expected to amend its work programme for this year. An agreement on the MFF will not be easy. The impact of the coronavirus will complicate further the unanimity needed among the member states, after EU leaders failed to agree on the main features in February. The pressure to adopt the MFF continues to grow. Big spending programmes, such as the Common Agricultural Policy, will expire by the end of this year. The Commission already warned in February that EU leaders were late compared with previous periods. The European Parliament also needs to give its consent. Council ready to start negotiations on bridging CAP divide Agriculture sherpas rubber-stamped a partial negotiating mandate to discuss with MEPs the transition period that will allow EU farming subsidies to flow even without an agreement on post-2020 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Moreover, the EU executive has exhausted almost all the resources under the current MFF to fight the coronavirus. For that reason, some member states are urging to adopt a recovery plan as soon as possible, together with other measures that the Eurogroup will discuss later on Tuesday. Finance ministers are nearing an agreement on an economic package that will include guarantees and soft loans from the European Stability Mechanism, the Commission and the European Investment Bank to protect as much as possible companies and workers. Those measures can only do so much to combat the “induced coma” the European economy is suffering and a recovery plan will be needed to kick-start activity and repair the damage. The plan will depend on when and how member states start to exit their respective lockdowns and lift the containment measures implemented to stop the coronavirus. The college of Commissioners will hold an orientation debate on Wednesday on the ‘European Roadmap towards exiting from the COVID-19 pandemic’. A Commission spokesperson said that an exit from exceptional measures on restricting citizens’ movement will be gradual and will depend on the national situation in terms of the pandemic. As part of the exit strategy, the college is expected to adopt a recommendation on apps used by member states for contact tracing. These apps, together with the testing kits, will play a key role in the process of dismantling the containment measures and avoid new cases. In this regard, the Commissioners will also adopt guidelines for the validation of testing equipment in Europe, and on the optimisation of supply of medicines during the outbreak. [Edited by Sam Morgan]

2020 World’s Strongest Man Officially Postponed

Just a little over a month before the 2020 World’s Strongest Man was set to take place, the biggest and most widely televised event on the strongman calendar has been postponed until November 11 to 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement was made on April 7, with WSM posting the following press release (emphasis ours): The health and safety of everyone involved in World’s Strongest Man remains our top priority, so due to global health concerns regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) and recent advice from local, state and federal government authorities, this year’s competition is being postponed. The finals will now take place November 14 – 15, following qualifying rounds November 11 – 12, both on Anna Maria Island. We thank our competitors, fans, partners, volunteers and staff for their patience and support, and look forward to welcoming everyone to Bradenton, Florida in November. On January 14, it was announced that the 2020 World’s Strongest Man would be held in Bradenton, Florida, for the second time in as many years. But an awful lot has changed in three months. Not long afterward strength events in and around Asia, like the East Asian Weightlifting Championships in Korea and the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Uzbekistan, were canceled or indefinitely postponed. In early March, concerns began mounting in the United States and as far as strongman goes, the prohibition of spectators at the Arnold Sports Festival in early March meant that the Arnold Strongman Classic, which rivals World’s Strongest Man as the most important strongman event of the year, was a much smaller event than anticipated. (Thor Bjornsson won, by the way.) Then World’s Ultimate Strongman was postponed from April 11 to a currently unknown date. [Related: A list of all the canceled strongman events in 2020] View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (@thorbjornsson) on Sep 16, 2019 at 6:44pm PDT The biggest domino to fall was the 2020 Olympics themselves, which were officially postponed from July this year until July next year. It’s obviously a smaller event with fewer logistics to consider, but with World’s Strongest Man scheduled for May, some fans were nonetheless surprised by the fact that the event still hadn’t been moved when April rolled around. But now we have our answer. We hope the date stays fixed and that the athletes have enough time to reorganize their training cycles, peak for the event, and put on a great show. Featured image via @thorbjornsson on Instagram.

България ще получи безвъзмездно японска доставка от важно лекарство за коронавируса

Японското правителство ще предостави безвъзмездно на България противогрипното лекарство Авиган. То ще бъде използвано за лечението на заболелите от коронавирус. Това съобщи на страницата си във Фейсбук вицепремиерът Екатерина Захариева. "Само солидарни и обединени можем да се справим с предизвикателството COVID-19. Искрено желая на японския народ, с когото ни свързват топли и приятелски чувства, скорошно преодоляване на кризата. Миналата година чествахме 110 години от установяването на дипломатически отношения между двете ни страни, които съм сигурна, че ще продължат да се развиват и задълбочават.", пише още вицепремиерът и външен министър Захариева.

Climate change encouraged colonisation of the South Pacific Islands centuries earlier than first thought

Two halves of core sample taken from Lake Te Roto on Atiu A team of geographers, archaeologists and geochemists from the UK, New Zealand and the US, worked with the people of Atiu to collect core samples of lake mud, charting over 6000 years of history. Back in the labs in UK and US, the mud samples were subjected to a range of analyses including new techniques for reconstructing precipitation, and detecting the presence of mammalian faeces. Apart from fruit bats, the Southern Cook Islands never had mammal populations before humans settled there, so when the researchers found evidence of mammal faeces alongside other evidence for landscape disturbance and burning, it was a clear sign of the arrival of people. Within 100 years the first settlers, most likely from Tonga or Samoa, changed the landscape by burning native forest to make way for crops. The team, including undergraduate and postgraduate students from the universities of Southampton and Washington, as well as scientists from Newcastle, Liverpool and Auckland universities, also examined lake sediments from Samoa and Vanuata. Using this data, they found evidence for a major climate change which coincided with the newly established arrival time of the settlers. The data revealed a major change in the climate of the South Pacific region with the main rainbands that bring water to the archipelagos of Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji migrating north. The result was the driest period in the last 2000 years. This led the researchers to conclude that, alongside growing populations, water stress drove decisions to make dangerous voyages, aided by changes in winds that enabled easterly sailing. Soon after the arrival of people to Atiu, the climate changed again. Rain returned to the eastern Pacific – supporting a rapid (c. 200 years) settlement of the remaining islands of Polynesia. Professor Sear adds: “Today, changing climate is again putting pressures on Pacific island communities, only this time the option to migrate is not so simple. Within two centuries of first arrival those first settlers changed the landscape and the ecology, but were able to make a home. Pacific islanders now live with modified ecologies, permanent national boundaries and islands already occupied by people. The ability to migrate in response to changing climate is no longer the option it once was.” This research was supported by grants from the NERC, Explorers Club and Royal Geographical Society. The team wishes to acknowledge the support of the peoples of the Cook Islands, Samoa and Vanuatu.

Canada Day Celebrations Are Very Unlikely This Year According To Ottawa's Mayor

Canada Day this year is probably going to be a little quieter than usual. Speaking on Monday, Mayor Jim Watson discussed the possibility of Canada Day in Ottawa getting cancelled, due to COVID-19 concerns. While nothing is certain, Watson admitted that July’s usual celebrations would be very unlikely. In an interview with CTV News at Six on Monday, Mayor Watson explained that the chances of things returning to normal by July were slim, and therefore urged local communities to refrain from using money and resources to make plans for July 1. “I think realistically, I don’t think we’re going to have the kind of Canada Day celebration that we all wanted and we’ve all seen in years gone by,” he said. The City of Ottawa, like Toronto, has already prohibited all events, festivals and public gatherings until at least June 30, but there’s still potential for this date to be extended further. “I’m not sure if between June 30 and July 1 there’s going to be a big difference in terms of us dealing with this virus successfully and eliminating the risk to the public,” Watson explained. Ottawa boasts one of the largest celebrations of Canada Day across the country, with events taking place across the downtown region and Gatineau. While the partying usually continues throughout the long weekend, Watson is urging people not to make any plans just yet. “My best advice is, certainly for the community groups, not to incur any or very few expenses because there is a likelihood that July 1 celebrations would not take place and you would be wasting a significant amount of resources and money,” he said on Monday. “I think it’s going to be a real challenge,” he added. Watson's comments come as several huge, annual events in Ottawa are being cancelled, postponed, and redirected. In 2020, there will be no TD Ottawa Jazz Festival, and the popular spring Tulip Festival, which is the largest of its kind in the world, will move online instead. For the time being, Ottawa Bluesfest has not been affected, but organizers are urging locals to stay at home, so that the July event has the "best possible chance" of going ahead. In a tweet, Mayor Watson confirmed that it would be up to Heritage Canada to make the final call about the Canada Day event.

Today Football Odds by 5Dimes

5Dimes would like to kindly remind you that in 8 days (September 25th), US customers will have their last opportunity to request payouts using the traditional payment methods available in our system. On September 30th all funds will be transferred to a US based claims administrator who will seek to deliver the funds to the account holder. READ MORE NEWS ARCHIVE

Hawks’ Forbidden Love Results in a Rare Hybrid

The female common black hawk (left) and male red-shouldered hawk (right) in their nest Photo : Stan Moore She was a common black hawk. He was a red-shouldered hawk. They weren’t in the same genus, let alone the same species, and they normally don’t even live in the same part of the continent. But in a strange twist of fate, none of that mattered: It was love at first screech. Advertisement Researchers have discovered that two hawks from surprisingly distant perches on the tree of life have mated, resulting in rare hybrid chicks. In 2005, Stan Moore, a master raptor bander at Fairfax Raptor Research, spotted something peculiar in the Laguna de Santa Rosa Wetlands Complex in Sonoma County, California. It was a common black hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus), a bird of prey definitely not known to inhabit coastal California. Normally, the species stayed close to river systems throughout Central and South America, only barely reaching up into the interior of the American Southwest. The nearest breeding population was in southeastern Nevada, hundreds of miles away. Advertisement A common black hawk Photo : Gail Hampshire But it soon became clear this wasn’t a one-time sighting, and as the years went on, the transplant became a resident of the marshlands. “The Laguna de Santa Rosa Wetland is a very rich place that has great feeding opportunities, and so that could be part of [why it stuck around],” said Jennifer Coulson, a population ecologist at Tulane University in New Orleans and president of the Orleans Audubon Society. In 2009, Moore captured the hawk and tagged it with a leg band, determining that it was female. It was around this time that the hawk was seen performing mating displays in the air toward local red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus). These advancements didn’t go over well, and the female black hawk was routinely chased away in a flurry of feathery pique. Advertisement And understandably so. Red-shouldered hawks—found in eastern North America and a coastal strip in California—are a wholly different animal. They’re smaller than common black hawks and have completely different plumage, colored with rusty blushes and white bands instead of a uniform black or slate gray. A red-shouldered hawk Photo : Kat Vitulano Advertisement But, according to a new study published in the Journal of Raptor Research by Moore and Coulson, after years of unrequited courting, someone finally swiped right. In 2012, a bird watcher spotted what appeared to be a hybrid juvenile hawk following the common black hawk. In 2013 and 2014, the common black hawk was seen fraternizing with a red-shouldered hawk, and later on, the two were recorded mating and tending to a nest. In the spring of 2014, Moore spotted their hybrid nestling. Like its mother, it had dark plumage on its back and was pretty big. But its head was round, its bill was shallowly hooked, and its jaw narrow; all features more like its father. Advertisement “The common black hawk, as a juvenile, has a really striking face pattern, with a lot of white or cream color with some bold dark brown,” said Coulson, adding that the hybrid didn’t have this patterning. Hybrids do occur regularly in nature but are often the offspring of closely related species within the same genus (like coyotes and wolves—both Canis, or grizzlies and polar bears, both Ursus). But common black hawks and red-shouldered hawks belong to different genera—Buteogallus and Buteo, respectively. Their cross is more akin to a human interbreeding with a gorilla or a house cat mating with a jaguar. “Intergeneric hybridization” is exceptionally uncommon in general, and it’s only been recorded in wild hawks and eagles three other times. Advertisement The hybrid nestling Photo : Stan Moore Coulson said finding such crossbreeding is “a big deal.” “That doesn’t happen often in hardly anything, especially not in predators,” she added, noting that among hawks, females are the larger sex, and black hawks are the bigger of the two species, so the size contrast here was great enough to put the male in significant physical peril. Advertisement There’s also the matter of biological compatibility. “The ability to hybridize depends on the genetic distance between two species,” said Jente Ottenburghs, an evolutionary ecologist at Wageningen University in the Netherlands who was not involved in this research. “The longer two species have been evolving separately, the higher the genetic distance.” Advertisement Coulson noted that there’s roughly three to four times the amount of genetic separation between the two parental species than what you’d see between closely related (and more frequently crossbreeding) species. The unexpected pairing certainly owes itself to raw pragmatism rather than romance: the result of desperation on the part of the black hawk, finding herself hundreds of miles away from others of her species. Red-shouldered hawks may have been the closest approximation to her normal dating pool, so she made it work. Advertisement The hybrid nestling showing a mix of both species’ juvenile coloration. Photo : Stan Moore Coulson is curious to know if the hybrids’ genetic makeup lines up with their outward appearance. A blood sample was taken from the 2014 nestling, but no genetic analysis to confirm hybrid status has been performed yet. Advertisement Ottenburghs said that, if fertile, the hybrid could crossbreed with its parental species, leading to the flow of DNA between the two species. “This is what happened between humans and Neanderthals,” he said. “In some cases, the exchanged genes might result in an adaptive advantage for one of the species. So, hybridization can be an important factor in evolution.”

The Top 10 Dog Enlarged Heart Natural Treatment

Dog enlarged heart natural treatment, does this disease really cure naturally? Old age and injury can lead to serious medical conditions in dogs like enlarged hearts or chronic heart failure. Just like humans, your dog’s heart supplies its body with blood and nutrients. An inefficient heart will affect all the different body systems leading to weakness, illness and even death. There are good news and bad news though. There’s no treatment or cure for an enlarged heart in dogs but with the right diet, exercise and extra TLC, your pet will still enjoy a happy, fruitful life. How to tell if your dog has an enlarged heart? Your dog’s body language will let you know if there is something wrong. If you notice that he is shaking, panting, pacing and showing signs of weakness more often then suspect that he might have CHF. Along with the mentioned symptoms, your pup may also experience exercise intolerance, coughing, loss of appetite, heavy breathing, reluctance to lie down or to get up and collapse or fainting. Usually, vets prescribe medications to reduce symptoms of CHF and enlargement of the heart. Along with medications, your pet may also benefit from natural treatments and practices. We have ten of the most recommended natural treatments for your dog. 10 Dog Enlarged Heart Natural Treatment 1. Dandelion Dandelion is more than a stubborn weed. The dandelion flowers, leaves and roots can be used as a natural remedy to help dogs with enlarged hearts. This weed is rich in vitamins A, C, K, D, and B–complex which are needed for a strong heart and a healthy body. It has iron, manganese, phosphorous and other trace minerals as well. Dandelions are easily absorbed by the body. It can help with conditions like cardiovascular problems, digestive issues, and kidney problems. It comes with antioxidants to improve immune system health, potassium to stimulate appetite and treat chronic indigestion and vitamins A and C for healthy eyes and skin. It is also a diuretic, therefore, it can help dogs with enlarged hearts live a happy, healthy life. To use dandelion, you can dry it and use as a dried herb, in tea form or in tincture form. To make dandelion tea, dry the flowers and leaves. Use about 1/3 cup of dried herb every 20 pounds of your pup’s body weight. Give your dog dandelion tea three times a day. 2. Hawthorn Hawthorn is an ancient herb used to treat heart problems. Doctors use this herb to treat heart conditions and respiratory problems in humans. It is effective for hypertension, irregular heartbeat, hardening of the arteries, chest pain and CHF. The Hawthorn tree is so called because it has sharp thorns with red berries along with the buds. You can just pick some of these juicy berries and feed these to your dog. You may also get a basketful of these berries to make teas or tinctures. It is easy to spot Hawthorn trees because these are abundant in most North American meadows and forests. Hawthorn berries can improve the overall function of the heart and can strengthen weak or irregular heartbeats. There are studies that show that Hawthorn berries are very popular natural treatments for enlarged hearts and may even be as powerful as digitalis but safer and milder when it comes to any untoward effects. 3. Motherwort Motherwort is a very popular dog enlarged heart natural treatment ailments in humans and in pets. It is used to treat conditions such as heart failure, irregular heartbeats and heart symptoms related to anxiety disorders. Motherwort also has relaxing effects and can help with sleep. Research has shown that motherwort has natural compounds that protect the heart. It can relax heart tissues and prevent blood clots which can lead to heart attacks. It has leonurine, a calcium channel blocker which can reduce blood pressure and steadies irregular heartbeats. The only problem with giving your dog motherwort is that it tastes bitter. You can improve motherwort tea by adding honey, sugar or lemon. It can be made into tinctures and added to your dog’s meals. Be careful when administering motherwort to your pet because this can cause drowsiness, sedation, low blood pressure and diarrhea. 4. Astaxanthin Astaxanthin is a red pigment under the carotenoid family. It is a powerful antioxidant that is stronger than common antioxidants like vitamin C and beta carotene. It is needed for the prevention of heart disease and inflammation. It can also help with joint issues, immune system health, brain health, and eye conditions. There are astaxanthin supplements available in the market but make sure that you use astaxanthin from microalgae or from krill. Never use synthetic forms because these are from petrochemicals which can affect your dog’s health. If you are using a supplement made for dogs, follow the instructions on the label. If you are using supplements for humans, adjust the dose according to your dog’s weight. The recommended dose is 1 to 1.6 mg for every 20 pounds of weight. 5. Colostrum This natural supplement has very potent antioxidant properties that can improve heart health and prevent heart disease. It also comes with immune fighting proline-rich polypeptide which enhances immunity. It can also regulate the immune response to allergies. Colostrum can help with joint health, digestive problems like leaky gut syndrome, wound healing in abscesses, wound infections and skin conditions. There are available colostrum supplements found in natural stores online. Use around 1/3 teaspoons of colostrum powder every 25 pounds of your dog’s body weight. Give this twice daily on an empty stomach or mix with yogurt or milk. Give this for a month or as needed. 6. Green Lipped Mussels One of the most bountiful sources of omega-3 fatty acids is green lipped mussels. These are found only from New Zealand and will work wonders for your dog’s heart health. Green-lipped mussels are also rich in antioxidants, enzymes, and amino acids. Aside from strengthening the heart, green lipped mussels are needed for improving arthritis conditions in dogs as it can relieve pain, inflammation and enhance mobility. Green-lipped mussels also enhance skin and eye health. Green-lipped mussels are available in powder form for humans and also for pets. Simply follow the directions on the product label. There are also freeze-dried green-lipped mussel treats for dogs. Use only cold-treated products since heat destroys nutrients. 7. Eggshell Membrane This is a natural antioxidant from the delicate membrane between the egg white and the eggshell. This is rich in natural heart and joint health compounds such as glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, collagen, and chondroitin. Eggshell membrane supplements are good for dogs as it can reduce joint pain as well as stiffness. It does not come with side effects that regular medications have so its safe to use. You’ll find natural eggshell membrane supplements for dogs. Look for the NEM brand and simply follow the directions on how to administer to your dog. 8. Phytoplankton Another good source of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids is phytoplankton for dog enlarged heart natural treatment. It contains superoxide dismutase which is the most potent antioxidants which can protect the cells of the body, remove toxins and improve overall health. Phytoplankton can enhance heart health, improve immune system functions, reduce digestive conditions and prolong energy and stamina in dogs. Best of all, this is easily absorbed in dogs. Just a small amount will work even for a very large dog. You can find phytoplankton supplements for dogs. The usual dose is 1/16 tsp a day or follows package instructions. 9. Green Tea Use decaffeinated green tea for your dog enlarged heart natural treatment. Green tea has powerful antioxidants called polyphenols that provide most of its therapeutic properties including heart health, anti-inflammatory properties, immune system support, brain health, and anti-cancer effects. According to experts, green tea is a good supplement for dogs because it is safe and has no known dangerous effects. Give your dog organic green tea using one tea bag or a tablespoon of loose green tea in four cups of water. 10. Larch Arabinogalactan Extracts of larch arabinogalactan are from the Larch tree and this has very good effects on dogs. It can boost the immune system, enhance heart health, treat digestive system issues like diarrhea and bacteria and has anti-cancer properties. Larch arabinogalactan is available in supplement form. Use a supplement with at least 10 billion colony forming units or CFU. You may add this to your dog’s food and give for a month and then rest for two weeks before resuming treatment. There are no side effects to using this supplement. Make sure to give your dog plenty of water afterward. Follow the instructions indicated in the supplement package. Conclusion Aside from these natural treatments of heart, your dog needs the best diet as well as exercise that will fit his level of activity and overall health. Although most of these supplements are perfectly safe for dogs, it would be best to consult your dog’s vet beforehand. Never discontinue any medication prescribed to your dog; only his doctor will discontinue or reduce the dose as necessary. Always take your dog to his regular checkups to monitor his enlarged heart and to get expert advice on his treatment.

Trials of drugs to prevent coronavirus infection begin in health care workers

Trials of drugs to prevent coronavirus infection begin in health care workers Science ’s COVID-19 reporting is supported by the Pulitzer Center. When malaria researcher Nicholas White saw coronavirus infections picking up around the world 2 months ago, he immediately thought of the impact they could have on poorer countries. “In fragile health care systems, if you start knocking out a few nurses and doctors, the whole thing can collapse,” says White, who is based at Mahidol University in Bangkok. “So we realized that the priority would be to protect them.” White and his colleagues at the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit wondered whether widely available drugs could help. They have designed a trial in which 40,000 doctors and nurses in Asia, Africa, and Europe will prophylactically receive chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, two old drugs against malaria. White hopes the trial will start this month, but its launch has been “incredibly difficult because of bureaucratic processes,” he says The international study is one of several in preparation or underway that seek to use drugs for what is called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a strategy already widely used against HIV. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is funding plans for another huge study that will test the same two drugs in Africa, North America, and Europe. Separate studies of the same drugs are planned or underway in the United States, Australia, Canada, Spain, and Mexico. Researchers are also considering other potential preventives, including nitazoxanide, a drug used to treat parasitic infections, and the antibody-laden serum from people who have recovered from an infection. “If there was a drug that could prevent infections and that health care workers could take, that would be an enormous public health benefit,” says Jeremy Farrar, head of the Wellcome Trust, which is funding White’s effort. PrEP studies of the malaria drugs could also be the best way to settle the heated debate—inflamed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s advocacy—over whether they are a promising treatment for COVID-19, says virologist Matthew Frieman of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The weak and equivocal studies so far were mainly done in seriously ill patients. “To show an effect you really have to treat early,” Frieman says. “I don’t know any drug that works better late in infection.” Giving a drug before exposure is as early as it gets. White adds that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are good choices to test because they are widely available—a major consideration given the huge number of people who might be eligible for any drug that proves its worth. “The attraction of these drugs is that they are potentially readily deployable and we know an awful lot about them.” In White’s proposed trial, health care workers in Asia will be randomized to take chloroquine or a placebo for 3 months, while hydroxychloroquine will be used in Africa and Europe. Participants have to take their temperature twice a day and report it, along with any symptoms, through an app or a website. The researchers will compare the number of symptomatic and asymptomatic infections in both groups, as well as the severity and duration of illness in those who become infected. Meanwhile, a trial of a related approach called postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) started in Barcelona, Spain, in mid-March. The idea behind that study, born before Spain’s COVID-19 epidemic exploded, is that a short course of a drug might prevent disease or lessen its impact in health care workers, nursing home residents, and household contacts of COVID-19 patients who have already been exposed to the virus. “We said, we need something stronger than nonpharmacological interventions like isolation and quarantine,” says Oriol Mitjà of the Germans Trias I Pujol University Hospital, who leads the study. In the Spanish trial, people with symptoms who test positive for COVID-19 are treated with the HIV combination drug darunavir/cobicistat plus hydroxychloroquine. Anyone known to have spent more than 15 minutes with them in the previous 5 days is treated with hydroxychloroquine for 7 days. Patients in a control group and their contacts receive no drug—there was no time to prepare an appropriate placebo, Mitjà says. The researchers plan to compare how many new symptomatic infections occur in the two groups after 14 days. More than 1000 contacts have been included already; the first result from that subset should be available around 15 April, Mitjà says. Similar studies are underway in Minnesota, Washington, and New York. Experience with HIV has shown that PrEP and PEP can work to reduce infections. But before large-scale studies in HIV began, scientists had an “amazing amount of data” from a monkey model and epidemiology studies suggesting the strategies would work, says Steven Deeks, an HIV researcher at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). “I’m not sure any of that applies to what’s happening now.” Potential side effects of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, including heart arrhythmia, are another concern. “The risks that might be acceptable in someone with disease may be much less acceptable when you are treating someone who doesn’t have it,” says Annie Luetkemeyer, an infectious disease physician at UCSF. “And you’re very unlikely to be monitoring them in the same way.” Some countries aren’t waiting for the new trials. India, for instance, has already recommended hydroxychloroquine for health care workers caring for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases as well as patients’ household contacts; Bangladesh has a similar policy. (White says he had to exclude both countries from the international study as a result.) There is no basis for recommending wide use of the drug, many scientists say. “The idea that it is better than nothing is not true,” White says. “It could be worse than nothing.” That’s not just because of the potential side effects. People who think they are protected may also become less cautious and run a greater risk of infection. And broad use of the drugs will make them harder to obtain for other conditions. In addition to curing malaria, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are mainstays for patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, Luetkemeyer says. “We better be really sure that these drugs are working before we start impacting that drug supply.” Because the demand could be so big, there has been some debate among researchers about which dose to test. White has decided to go with the highest possible dose, to maximize the chance of getting a positive result. But the Gates-funded study plan calls for evaluating medium and low doses as well. If one of those shows an effect, more patients could benefit if supplies are low. Even if chloroquine works, it is unlikely to confer 100% protection—and a low level of protection may not make the risk of side effects worthwhile. “If you were a health care worker and I said, ‘Here’s a medicine which you have to take every day and it reduces your risk of getting COVID-19 by 20%,’ would you take it?” White asks. Below that, people probably wouldn’t bother, he says. White hopes to start the international trial on 22 April in the United Kingdom, but he is still navigating the “myriad rules, regulations, and sequential hurdles that govern the conduct of clinical trials.” No one is acting with ill intent, he adds, but he thinks the emergency warrants faster action. “Is it really ethical to take 3 weeks to review an application for a medicine that has been available for 70 years?” *Clarification: 8 April, 9:30 a.m.: This story has been updated to clarify that the Spanish trial protocol was changed to 7 days to reach a higher dose.

How to Work Comfortably at Home for a Prolonged Time

Not everyone has the same amount of space at home. Some may have an entire room dedicated as an office. Some will have to find a hidden corner in their house to work in. And for others there’s always the garage, laundry room, or basement. Depending on the location chosen, this will determine how much space we can allocate as a Home Office. When you decide on the ideal location (or close-to-ideal), make sure you have enough space to fit a desk. This is one of the main components you will need to work on and should be one of the easiest or hardest to get. There are a variety of desks available for purchase from local or online retailers, ranging from ‘Gaming Desks’ to full-on ‘Office Desks’ pimped out with drawers. You could also repurpose any furniture you or your family might have as a cheap alternative. Before hunkering down in the chosen location, ensure that sufficient power outlets are in the vicinity. As a sample below, I have provided some images I had throughout the years.

WeWork sues Japan’s SoftBank for backing out of deal

Recommended by Unseen Japan staff - get Japanese games translated to English, Japanese language originals, toys, and more! (AFP) – Office-sharing giant WeWork on Tuesday sued SoftBank claiming the Japan-based technology investment group breached its contractual obligations by backing out of a $3 billion rescue plan. The lawsuit filed in a US court in Delaware came just days after SoftBank said it was backing out of the plan to purchase WeWork shares to shore up the finances of the struggling sharing economy giant. WeWork's board of directors called the SoftBank action “a clear breach of its contractual obligations” under an agreement between the two firms last year as well as a breach of SoftBank's fiduciary obligations to the firm's current and former employees who were to sell their equity. The complaint alleges SoftBank yielded to pressure from “activist investors” and made the move after it had “received most of the benefits” under the deal, including control of WeWork's board. WeWork is asking the court to force SoftBank to live up to the agreement or pay damages. Last week, SoftBank said it was terminating the agreement, claiming WeWork failed to live up to its obligations and cited “multiple, new, and significant pending criminal and civil investigations” surrounding WeWork and its co-founder Adam Neumann. Neumann was to have received an estimated $1 billion from the SoftBank investment. The deal also would allocate some $450 million to current or former WeWork employees who have equity in the group. A WeWork board special committee said it “regrets the fact that SoftBank continues to put its own interests ahead of those of WeWork's minority stockholders.” The move by SoftBank marked a dramatic turn of events at troubled WeWork, once hailed as a shining unicorn valued at $47 billion. Things began to unravel last year as WeWork lost cash and cancelled its share offering, with Neumann pushed out — albeit with a generous package. The tender offer would have most benefited Neumann, his family, and major institutional stockholders like Benchmark Capital, SoftBank Group said. SoftBank has said its decision would not impact the day-to-day operations of WeWork. The Japanese firm and its Vision Fund have already committed more than $14.25 billion to WeWork. The lawsuit claims SoftBank took the action in part due to growing losses in its other investments, including its massive technology investment fund. SoftBank has seen its stock sink in recent weeks on worries about the liquidity of the heavily indebted company, as global financial markets are roiled by fears about the economic consequences of the pandemic. jum-rl/jm Japan fan? Want more? Join our inner circle today! Become a Patron of Unseen Japan and receive an ad-free site experience, access to our Discord chat server, and other insider treats!

What to Eat in Vietnam: Best Street Food, Traditional Dishes, and Drinks

Through all our years of traveling we can honestly say that traditional Vietnamese food is one of our favorite cuisines! From endless bowls of noodles to specialties you can’t find anywhere else in the world, every meal here is an explosion of unique flavors. Also, we’ve found one of the best parts of exploring Vietnam is that the food is super affordable. If you stick to Vietnamese street food and local markets you won’t spend more than a couple U.S. dollars per meal. So if you’re looking what to eat in Vietnam our ultimate food guide has what you need! Let’s dive into all the best Vietnamese dishes, soups, and so much more. Pin For Later ↓ More Vietnam Street Food Inspiration Vietnam Food Guide Quick Tips Eat local and what’s within sight! It’s easy to say that a stall looks dirty, but what’s going on in the back of the kitchens that you can’t see? We try to go with food we can see being cooked in front of us to avoid any mishaps. Stick to markets and Vietnamese street food. Not only is this the freshest food, but also the best tasting in our opinion. Keep an eye on the time. Unfortunately, it can be hard to find meals during off hours in mid-afternoon if you aren’t in touristic areas. Vietnamese street food stalls and vendors often have one specialty which is written on their sign. If they serve more than one item look for the largest word and order that! It will almost always be the best traditional Vietnamese food they make. Don’t try to do custom orders. Usually the best Vietnamese dishes will come from locals who don’t speak your language. For this reason, don’t try to change it or take out any ingredients because they might not understand. Also, if the chef puts it on the table it’s meant to be eaten. Try all the greens, sauces, and other fixings you are given! It’s common to throw your napkins (and even plates) on the floor in some parts of Vietnam after using. Despite what others may be doing, if there is a small trash can at the foot of the table try to make use of it. Simple Vietnamese Words to Know Before Ordering C ò m: Rice B á nh M ỳ : Bread Pho: Noodle Soup Ga: Chicken Bò: Beef Vịt: Duck Lấy Di: Take Away Pho We’re starting off our Vietnam food guide with something everyone should know. Not only is this traditional Vietnamese food popular in Vietnam, but it’s internationally recognized as one of the best soups in the world. Now before we go too crazy, we have to say we aren’t the biggest fans of Pho. Honestly, after trying all the other delicious Vietnamese street food we’ve found it’s not even close to the best in the country. In fact, once you try some of the other fantastic soups in Vietnam you might find it a little bland. Make sure to add in all the extra veggies and lots of chili sauce to elevate the flavor! Where to Eat in Vietnam: Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan, Hanoi Bun Bo Hue Like we said, Pho is actually not our go-to soup in Vietnam. That honor actually goes to the amazing Bun bo Hue! Hailing from Central Vietnam, this hearty bowl carries extra spice and touches that you won’t find in other soups. You’ll find the broth is more flavorful with added meats such as meatballs and blood chunks. You’re also meant to add lots of chili paste making the soup a deep red color, and it’s served with a thicker rice noodle than others. Where to Eat in Vietnam: Bun Bo Hue, Da Nang Canh Chua Ca For seafood lovers, fish soup will easily be one of the best Vietnamese dishes you will try. With Canh Chua Ca you’ll get your typical noodles with a fishy salty broth. The thin rice noodle, toppings, and amount of fish varies from vendor to vendor. Yet it’s rare to leave this fish soup on an empty stomach. Bun Thit Nuong Bun Thit Nuong is a dry noodle dish that’s packed with flavor. Thin rice noodles fill the bottom of the bowl which is topped with veggies, peanuts, charred meats, and an awesomely sweet chili sauce. The best part about this popular Vietnamese street food is that it’s budget friendly. Bun Thit Nuong is typically no more than 25,000 VND or $1 USD. Where to Eat in Vietnam: Con Market, Da Nang Cao Lau At some point during your travels through Vietnam it’s more than likely you’ll end up in the small charming town of Hoi An. The Hoi An streets are filled with some of the best Vietnamese dishes, but it’s most famous for a noodle bowl called Cao lau. Interestingly enough, you can only get Cao lau in this one region of Central Vietnam. The unique noodle is made out of water coming from a special well in the area. Once cooked, greens, pork slices, and a thin gravy are added and keep you coming back for more! → 22 Must Do Things In and Around Hoi An Vietnam Banh Beo Hue We found this dish randomly when walking through the famous Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, and only stopped because the food stall was slammed with people. Similar to a lot of Vietnamese street food stands, this spot cooks one thing and does it right. Trust us when we say this is the tell tale sign of a good place when looking for what to eat in Vietnam! Small balls made from a mix of rice and tapioca flour are filled with shrimp and pork, making each bite a succulent surprise. Banh Beo Hue also comes with crispy pork skin, scallion oil, and dipping sauce for you to enjoy. Where to Eat in Vietnam: Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Min City Rose Water Dumplings While dumplings of different kinds can be found throughout Vietnam, these are another speciality from Hoi An. The savory creations are topped with fried shallots, and are best when dipped in a spicy fish sauce. For us they made a great appetizer before moving onto the night market to get some more filling Vietnamese street food. Where to Eat in Vietnam: White Rose Restaurant, Hoi An Banana Blossom Salad It might be difficult to find a traditional salad while traveling in Vietnam, but it’s always easy to find fresh fruit and vegetables. With that said, the banana blossom salad might be one of the most diverse dishes in our Vietnam food guide. Spiraled veggies are mixed with banana blossoms, and have sweet vinegar dressing drizzled elegantly on top. Typically it’s served with either beef or tofu, then fried onions making for a crazy burst of flavors! Bun Cha Hanoi This amazing meat and noodle combo should be one of the first dishes you try when visiting the capital city of Hanoi. It might be confusing seeing all the plates and bowls at first, but it’s actually simple to eat. Take a piece of lettuce, noodle, and dunk it into the sweet broth that’s filled with vegetables and grilled meat. The taste explodes in your mouth like none other, and it’s sure to be a meal you’ll never forget. Without a doubt, this specialty of the north ranks extremely high with our list of best Vietnamese dishes! Vietnam Food Guide Tip: There are additional little bowls on the table so you can build your perfect bites before dipping and slurping it back. → Get Familiar with Hanoi Vietnam: A Travelers Guide to the City Banh Xeo The fact that this is the first thing we want when arriving, and the last meal we get before leaving should tell you all you need to know! Bánh Xèo translates into fried pancake which means you’ll have to work a little putting together this savory dish. Start by wrapping the pancake in a thin rice paper with greens and meat. Then dip it right in the provided sauce. If you’re lucky that will include a warm liver dip with this unique Vietnamese street food. The only problem with Banh Xeo is it seems to have the widest range between good and bad of anything in our Vietnam food guide. Sometimes you get a winner and that’s when you’ll feel on top of the foodie world. Unfortunately, when it’s bad it can be tremendously awful… But that’s the risk we take when looking for the best Vietnamese dishes! Where to Eat in Vietnam: Quán Bánh Xèo Miền Trung, Da Nang Banh Mi We have a joke that even the worst Banh mi you get in Vietnam will be better then anything you can find outside the country. The truth is you can now find them everywhere because this sandwich is a worldwide sensation! The fresh crunchy bread is packed with liver, mixed meats, sliced veggies, and chili sauce. To this day we still debate if our all time favorite is the Bánh mì we got in Saigon, or the two outstanding ones from Hoi An. Either way, you can’t go wrong with one of these mouthwatering sandwiches. Century Eggs Okay, we’re starting to get to the point of our Vietnam food guide where some stuff may not be for everyone. Century eggs are considered rare in China, but at the markets in Ho Chi Minh City you’ll likely find them in abundance. The name is quite telling, but you’ll be happy to know that these eggs aren’t actually 100 years old! Instead, they’re usually preserved for up to 3 months in a wild mix of salt, lime, and wood ash. If you’re brave enough to try these chicken or duck eggs in a soup then more power to you. Spring Rolls Although you might not think of spring rolls as a traditional Vietnamese food, we’d be crazy not including it on this list! Every restaurant you go is likely to have spring rolls, and they’re made in a variety of yummy ways. The fried ones are a crunchy delight and found in many other asian countries. While the fresh ones are a real treat with veggies, fruits, and sometimes fish or pork. Personally we prefer the fresh spring rolls, especially on a hot day in Vietnam. Bun Bo Nam Bo Bun Bo Hue is our favorite soup in Vietnam so when we found it had a delicious dry counterpart we couldn’t wait to try it. For this traditional Vietnamese food, a massive bowl is packed with thick rice noodles, pan fried beef, pickled vegetables, and mixed herbs. As with any noodle dish we smother it with a massive helping of chili and dove in. The northern city of Hanoi is particularly popular when it comes to Bun Bo Nam Bo, and actually our favorite city to eat our way through in Vietnam. Where to Eat in Vietnam: Bun Bo Nam Bo, Hanoi Banh Khot Onto our next egg dish, and oh it’s a doozy! We’ve most commonly found this Vietnamese street food strolling around the alleyways of Saigon or at the many markets of Da Nang. The unmistakeable smell and sizzle of the mini-pancakes will draw you in instantly. Quail eggs are very popular here, and can be found in some of the best Vietnamese dishes. So to get them on their own is quite the treat. Cha Ca La Vong When searching for what to eat in Vietnam there’s certain meals that stick out, and with Cha Ca La Vong the taste was just as interesting as the history behind it. In fact, there’s an entire street named after this seafood dish in Hanoi! Cha Ca started as a meal to feed hungry soldiers battling french colonial rule, and the legend still lives on today with this traditional Vietnamese food. The main restaurant in Hanoi is over 130 years old now. We loved it so much we highlighted it on our food lovers day in Hanoi travel guide. When you get there expect an entire wok brought to the table, where a thick oil fries lightly battered white fish mixed with dill. Once the fish is cooked you scoop it onto Vermicelli noodles, add the clear sauce, and enjoy! Where to Eat in Vietnam: La Vong Grilled Fish, Hanoi Hu Tieu With the origins coming over the border from neighboring Cambodia, you won’t find this soup on every street corner. Yet when you do you’re surely in for a great bowl! While the best Hu Tieu we’ve ever had was in Siem Reap Cambodia, Vietnam puts its own twist on this flavorful dish. A mix of seafood, meat, thin noodles, and clear broth, make every bite taste better than the last. Mi Quang Mi Quang is another great plate from Central Vietnam, and a must try if you’re visiting the up and coming city of Da Nang. Thick noodles are mixed with a light sauce and topped with pork, shrimp, quail eggs, and mixed vegetables. Honestly, this isn’t our favorite out of all the traditional Vietnamese food in this region. However, the people of Da Nang seem to swear by it so make sure to give it a try. Where to Eat in Vietnam: Mi Quang 1A, Da Nang Com Ga Many asian cultures make a great chicken and rice, but Com Ga is truly one to remember. From the south to the north, you’re guaranteed to see Com Ga signs walking around any Vietnamese city. The popularity of this Vietnamese street food also partly stems from how easy it is to make. Although beef and noodle dishes are far more common, the abundance of chicken means it’s only natural to find great meals like this. Either way, something about the spices and flavor of the vegetables really stands out to us. It’s good to know when looking for what to eat in Vietnam this won’t be hard to find! Grilled Goat When we first arrived in the northern province of Ninh Binh we were on the hunt for local specialties. After speaking with other travelers and our homestay owners grilled goat was the resounding choice! So one day after our epic boat ride in Tam Coc we took a stroll into town for dinner. The smell of meat immediately pulled us in as we saw goat spinning right out on the grill. The seasonings were extraordinary, and it would go down as one of the best Vietnamese dishes we’ve ever had. So much so, that we went back the next night and got it again! → Tam Coc River Boat Ride and Three Cave UNESCO Tour Banh Hoi Now that you’ve got a taste of what to eat in Vietnam I’m sure you know how many noodle dishes there are to choose from. Still, the way Banh Hoi is made clearly separates itself from the rest. The rice is tethered together into small sheets that you can wrap the veggies, meat, and sauce together in. It’s almost like rolling small spring rolls, but with actual rice noodles. This traditional Vietnamese food isn’t as well known to visitors as other dishes, but definitely worth hunting down. Where to Eat in Vietnam: Bánh Hỏi Thịt Nướng Năm Hiền, Da Nang Bo La Lot If you ever walk by a grill and see meat wrapped in green leaf then stop in your tracks and grab a plastic stool! Bo la lot is beef cooked inside a betel leaf and grilled to perfection. The smoky flavor gives it a unique taste you won’t find with duck or chicken. It’s often served together as part of some of the best Vietnamese dishes like Banh Xeo, or as it’s own snack. Hot Vit Lon By now you may be starting to realize that much of traditional Vietnamese food includes a wide array of eggs. With that said, they may not be the right choice for those with a weak stomach! Hot Vit Lin is essentially a fetal duck egg… Which means it’s more matured than a normal egg you’re used to. It’s quite common to see the small beaks and feathers poking out of the shell so you could imagine they’d be hard for some westerners to eat. You’ll typically only find these at the most local of Vietnamese street food markets. Bo Luc Lac Ever heard of shaking beef? Well if you haven’t, this traditional Vietnamese food is just as good as it sounds! The name stems from how it’s prepared, which like most of the things in our Vietnam food guide will be right in front of you. Beef is cooked in a wok or skillet, and then served still sizzling on a plate. The best Bo luc lac that we’ve had was done over a plate of tomatoes, onions, and other fresh veggies. Bo Bit Tet This may not be a dish you immediately think of when looking for what to eat in Vietnam for breakfast. However, you should know Vietnam has its own hearty steak and eggs! The small flank steak is smothered in a tasty pepper gravy with an egg sunny side up to go with it. If you think this is a wild way to start the day then just wait till you see our next item on the breakfast menu. Bo Ne Steak and eggs may have looked good above, but Bo Ne takes it to a whole other level! Firstly, if you’re not a morning person you might miss this traditional Vietnamese food all together. In the early hours shops pop up and sell this till about 11am or noon before shutting down for the day. Like Bo Bit Tet, this hearty plate is served with steak, eggs, and a thick brown sauce. Yet, what separates it is the addition of meatball, onions, chili, pate, bread, and more goodies on top! It’s also brought out on a sizzling plate so it’s still cooking when it comes to your table. In our opinion, this is one of the best Vietnamese dishes. Just know that a nap is highly recommended after your Bo Ne! Vietnam Food Guide Tip: If you ever see a sign for “Beef on Fire” at a Bo Ne restaurant order it right away. This is a side of spicy beef that they light on fire for you at the table in addition to the normal Bo Ne serving. Where to Eat in Vietnam: Bò Né 3 Ngon, Da lat Endless Seafood Now that you’ve got a taste of the variety of meats that go into some of the best Vietnamese dishes, it’s time to dive into the ocean! Vietnam has a long coastline which influences its cuisine with plentiful seafood. There are honestly so many different shellfish available in Vietnam that it would have been too many to list. The cheaper local restaurants offer each plate for about $2-3 USD so it’s awesome to try them all. Clams: If you like clams you’re in for a treat as they are cooked so many different ways here. Our favorite meals have been when they are doused in a lemongrass and chili sauce. If you like clams you’re in for a treat as they are cooked so many different ways here. Our favorite meals have been when they are doused in a lemongrass and chili sauce. Prawns: At any seafood stand and restaurant you will be sure to find prawns or shrimp on the menu. Order them grilled or sautéed, and even choose what sauce you want. We urge you to try the tamarind sauce if go sautéed! At any seafood stand and restaurant you will be sure to find prawns or shrimp on the menu. Order them grilled or sautéed, and even choose what sauce you want. We urge you to try the tamarind sauce if go sautéed! Snails: Haven’t had enough excitement when looking for what to eat in Vietnam? Try some snails! These slimy creatures can be found at the many markets and come in all shapes and sizes. Haven’t had enough excitement when looking for what to eat in Vietnam? Try some snails! These slimy creatures can be found at the many markets and come in all shapes and sizes. Crabs: Crabs are in abundance along the coast of Vietnam, and makeup some of the very best Vietnamese dishes. Also, real crab lovers should visit the Cambodian town of Kep from Phu Quoc Island if they get the chance. Crabs are in abundance along the coast of Vietnam, and makeup some of the very best Vietnamese dishes. Also, real crab lovers should visit the Cambodian town of Kep from Phu Quoc Island if they get the chance. Lobster: If you’re lucky enough to try this sea creature of the ocean please indulge. Although we should tell you we’ve never met a lobster we didn’t like! Coffee and Tea Cafe Sua Da: Nothing beats an iced coffee on a hot day, especially when it’s made in Vietnam! A mixture of condensed milk with the popular beverage gives it a taste like none other. This has to be our favorite drink in this Vietnam food guide, and our go to morning wakeup. Egg Coffee: This might be one of the most unique coffees you’ll come across. Egg yokes are beaten and blended with the liquid to make a thick and creamy drink. These are heavy so don’t plan on having a big breakfast with it. Coconut Coffee: Sweet condensed milk is mixed with coconut cream and coffee to make a sweet and tropical drink. Coconut coffee is often served iced, but it can also be ordered hot. Trà Đá: This local tea blend is served at nearly every restaurant in Vietnam. It’s usually accompanied for free with all the best Vietnamese dishes, and drank like water by the locals. Hot Soy Milk: This is another wild treat we had in Da lat, but definitely not for everyone. The name kind of speaks for itself. Beer Beer is a great choice to beat the summer heat, and the most common alcohol drank in Vietnam. There are many popular brands such as beer Saigon and Larue that you’re sure to enjoy along your travels. It’s common to see groups of men with entire crates of beer next to them as they feast on all the best Vietnamese dishes. It’s also typical to drink your beer on ice here as they don’t always keep it refrigerated. Vietnam Food Guide Tip: If you’re in Hanoi or Hoi An go out of your way to try fresh beer! It’s a quarter of the cost from the already cheap canned/bottled beverage, and has a light taste and refreshing taste. → 6 Best Rooftop Cafes & Bars in Hoi An Vietnam Da Lat Wine While wine won’t be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Vietnam, there is one small mountain town that makes it! Da Lat Vietnam is known for it’s coffee, strawberries, and delicious red wine. The popular drink here won’t stack up to many other counties in the world, but it can be a nice change from beer. Also, coming it at just a $3-4 USD a bottle it’s very affordable. → Destination Da Lat: A Guide to Vietnam’s Most Underrated Town What to Eat in Vietnam for Dessert Coconut Ice Cream Every night market that we went to and many of the restaurants serve creamy coconut ice cream. Made with a mix of condensed milk and coconut cream, this might have been one of the thickest and most delicious ice creams we’ve had! It’s also a fun dessert that’s perfect to grab while looking at all the other Vietnamese street food the markets hold. Kem Bo No Vietnam food guide would be complete without one of the most unique and popular desserts in the country. Kem bo is a tasty mix of of ice cream and avocado, with something crunchy sprinkled on top. Where to Eat in Vietnam: Kem Bo, Nha Trang Frozen Cream Just like the coconut ice cream, the night markets have taken over the shaved ice cream game. While this might not be traditional Vietnamese street food, they certainly make it their own with tropical flavors and unique toppings. The best part is watching them shave the cream off and roll it in some incredibly creative ways. Flan You might associate this sweet and yummy dessert with Europe, but get ready for a flan overload in Vietnam. In the dessert game Flan is considered one of the best Vietnamese dishes, and is sold everywhere from street carts to restaurants. You can get it traditional as shown below, or even served inside a coconut! Where to Eat in Vietnam: Dua Ben Tre 190, Da Nang We hope our complete breakdown of what to eat in Vietnam got your appetite going! Have any questions about our Vietnam food guide, or want to share your own favorite traditional Vietnamese food? Leave us a comment at the bottom of this post! Safe Travels, Brigitte & Jake ___________________________ Where to Stay in Vietnam Make sure to check out all our individual posts below for hotel recommendations, and more info on the best Vietnamese dishes we loved from each city. You can see the latest prices here for hotels! *By booking through our website we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This allows us to continue our travels and keep providing great content to our readers! You can also bookmark this link for all your future stays* ___________________________ Explore More of Vietnam with Us Northern Vietnam Central Vietnam Southern Vietnam

PS5 Controller: The DualSense Brings Big Design Changes

When the PlayStation 5 ships later this year, which is reportedly still the plan, it will come with a new controller: the DualSense. The PS5's DualSense controller is a large departure from the PS4's previous DualShock 4 design, sporting several new features including advanced haptic feedback. It's also got a new coat of paint to match the newly unveiled PS5 console design itself. Based on an insightful PlayStation Blog post, we know that the DualSense will retain what made the DualShock 4 popular while innovating in ways we haven't seen from a controller before. Here's a quick rundown of what's new with the DualSense: Two-tone color design Form factor Light bar placement Haptic feedback Adaptive triggers Rechargeable battery via USB-C Built-in mic Create button Let's break down what each change means for the new PS5 controller, and what else we know about the DualSense, so far. If you're wondering when you can pre-order the PS5, the answer is not yet--but you can sign up for pre-order notifications now. Two-Tone Color Design And Light Bar Placement The most noticeable difference between the DualSense and previous DualShock controllers is its striking two-tone design. The light bar placement has also changed--instead of being located at the top of the controller, it will now sit on both sides of the touch pad. This, according to Sony, will grant it "a slightly larger look and feel." The PlayStation 5 DualSense Controller New Form Factor The new DualSense controller seems to have a slightly thicker form factor than the DualShock 4. While we don't have the exact measurements and haven't held one in our hands yet, the shape is definitely a divergence from previous PlayStation controllers. According to Sony, the angle of the hand triggers and the grip have been updated to make room for some of its new features, like the introduction of adaptive triggers. Haptic Feedback And Adaptive Triggers One of the earliest things we knew about the new PS5 controller is that it would make use of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. That's still true, as Sony had previously announced. In their blog post, Sony detailed the "variety of powerful sensations" haptic feedback can bring to gameplay, like "the slow grittiness of driving a car through mud." Haptic feedback is the same technology behind the Nintendo Switch's HD rumble and we know the Xbox Series X controller will make use of it as well. (Check out our comparison of the PS5 and Xbox Series X controllers.) Adaptive triggers on the L2 and R2 buttons will introduce different levels of "resistance" with trigger presses, which can work in tandem with the DualSense's haptic feedback to make gameplay interactions more immersive. According to Sony, adaptive triggers make it so "you can truly feel the tension of your actions, like when drawing a bow to shoot an arrow." Rechargeable Battery The DualSense uses a rechargeable battery, just as previous DualShock controllers did. This maybe isn't the most exciting news, until you learn about the next new feature, which is... USB-C Port That's right--the DualSense controller will boast a USB-C port for its power cable. Good news for you, bad news for your dusty old micro USB cords. Built-In Mic The DualSense will include a built-in mic to chat with friends without requiring a headset--though Sony still recommends using one for longer chat sessions. Create Button The Share button has been replaced with a new Create button, though Sony declined to share more details on how the new button is differentiated from the Share functionality. It simply says, "we're once again pioneering new ways for players to create epic gameplay content to share with the world, or just to enjoy for themselves." More detail on that is said to be coming closer to launch. ...And More? We'll continue to update this story as we learn more about the new PS5 controller. For now, here's what Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO Jim Ryan had to say about the DualSense. "DualSense marks a radical departure from our previous controller offerings and captures just how strongly we feel about making a generational leap with PS5," said Ryan. "The new controller, along with the many innovative features in PS5, will be transformative for games – continuing our mission at PlayStation to push the boundaries of play, now and in the future. To the PlayStation community, I truly want to thank you for sharing this exciting journey with us as we head toward PS5’s launch in Holiday 2020. We look forward to sharing more information about PS5, including the console design, in the coming months." For more, we've rounded up the visual history of PlayStation controllers so you can see how the shiny new DualSense fits into Sony's legacy. Don't forget to also check out our guide to the PS5's technical specs and what we know about the PS5 so far.

Another Doctor Reports Dramatic Improvement In COVID-19 Patients Using Trump-Touted Treatment

As pro-establishment mouthpieces downplay the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 as "anecdotal" with "little evidence that the treatment is effective," yet another doctor treating has claimed dramatic improvement in coronavirus patients within hours of taking the anti-malaria drug in combination with two other medications. Los Angeles doctor Anthony Cardillo says he's seen very promising results when the Trump-touted drug is combined with zinc for severely-ill coronavirus patients. "Every patient I've prescribed it to has been very, very ill and within 8 to 12 hours, they were basically symptom-free," Cardillo told Eyewitness News, adding "So clinically I am seeing a resolution." Cardillo, CEO of Mend Urgent Care, says that the drug must be used in conjunction with Zinc, as the hdroxycholoroquine opens a 'channel' for the mineral to enter cells and prevent the virus from replicating. Los Angeles Doctor, Dr. Anthony Cardillo speaks of potential benefits of Hydroxychloroquine combined with Zinc. pic.twitter.com/fQ68HpsKup — Zee Bhaiyah (@Zee_HumHai) April 7, 2020 Commonly used for lupus and arthritis, hydroxychloroquine has been approved by the FDA for limited emergency authorization to treat COVID-19 patients. That said, Cardillo warns that the treatment should only be reserved for those with moderate to severe symptoms due to concerns over shortages. "We have to be cautious and mindful that we don't prescribe it for patients who have COVID who are well," he said, adding "It should be reserved for people who are really sick, in the hospital or at home very sick, who need that medication. Otherwise we're going to blow through our supply for patients that take it regularly for other disease processes."

COVID-19 Latest Facility Updates and Getting Care

At Kaiser Permanente, keeping you, your families, and our communities healthy and safe is our top priority. We continue to closely monitor COVID-19 in all of the counties we serve. While sheltering at home and physical distancing have slowed the spread of COVID-19, the virus is still present and active in our communities. Therefore, it is critical to wear a mask or face covering when in public, wash your hands often, and continue to practice physical distancing. For additional details, click here. The effect of COVID-19 is often localized and requires each community to closely monitor its infection and hospitalization rates to ensure safe, quality care at all times. We are also carefully re-opening temporarily closed medical offices and services. Some areas are opening more quickly than others, depending on the local area rates of infection and hospitalizations. We have additional safety measures in place to protect your health, and we’re thoroughly cleaning our facilities throughout the day. Our safety measures include: Important COVID-related screening questions and temperature checks at entrances Mask or face covering required in all facilities for everyone over the age of 2 years — we’ll provide one if you don’t have your own Limited visitors in our facilities Reconfiguring facilities, including waiting areas, cafeterias, and pharmacies, to ensure safe environments that promote physical distancing and crowd avoidance Return to Care Safely Video If your local medical office is still temporarily closed or is offering limited services, you can still get the care you need. Connect with a care team from the comfort of your home with e-visits (online questionnaire), phone or video visits, and email.1 And emergency departments remain open for those with serious conditions who need immediate medical attention.2 Delaying care can result in longer-term health issues that can be prevented. For details on how to get the care that’s right for you, visit kp.org/getcare, use our mobile app, or call (833) 574-2273 (TTY 711). For mail-order pharmacy, use the mobile app, visit kp.org/pharmacy, or call (866) 206-2982. For same day prescriptions, you can get your prescription filled at any open Kaiser Permanente pharmacy. Please click here Details for each impacted location may be found below. 1 When appropriate and available. 2 If you believe you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. For the complete definition of an emergency medical condition, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or other coverage documents. Antelope Valley Palmdale Medical Offices — Open. New hours of operation, Monday – Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Pharmacy hours remain the same, Monday – Friday, from 8 am to 7 pm. Downey Lynwood Medical Offices — Open Whittier Vision Essentials — Open Kern County East Hills Medical Offices — Closed ; For same day prescriptions, the pharmacies at Ming and Stockdale Medical Offices are open. For mail-order, see information above ; For same day prescriptions, the pharmacies at Ming and Stockdale Medical Offices are open. For mail-order, see information above Coffee Medical Offices — Closed ; For same day prescriptions, the pharmacies at Ming and Stockdale Medical Offices are open. For mail-order, see information above ; For same day prescriptions, the pharmacies at Ming and Stockdale Medical Offices are open. For mail-order, see information above Marketplace Vision Essentials — Open; by appointment only Los Angeles Metro Pasadena Vision Essentials — Open East Los Angeles Vision Essentials — Open Orange County MedicalOffices open M-F 8:30 am to 5 pm unless otherwise indicated Pharmacies open 9:00 am to 5 pm unless otherwise indicated Aliso Viejo Medical Offices — Open ; for all specialties M-F 8:30 am — 5:00 pm. Pharmacy is closed. For same day prescriptions, the pharmacy at the Irvine Medical Center is open. For mail-order, see information above ; for all specialties M-F 8:30 am — 5:00 pm. Pharmacy is closed. For same day prescriptions, the pharmacy at the Irvine Medical Center is open. For mail-order, see information above Anaheim Hills Medical Offices — Open for Dermatology only ; No pharmacy at this location. For same day prescriptions, the pharmacy at the Anaheim Medical Center is open. For mail-order, see information above ; No pharmacy at this location. For same day prescriptions, the pharmacy at the Anaheim Medical Center is open. For mail-order, see information above Brea Medical Offices — Open Euclid Medical Offices — Open ; This medical office presently serves Primary Care, Pediatric Well-Child visits, Lab, and Radiology. ; This medical office presently serves Primary Care, Pediatric Well-Child visits, Lab, and Radiology. Foothill Ranch Medical Offices — Open for all services; Laboratory and Radiology are closed for lunch M-F from 12:15 pm –1:15 pm. The pharmacy is closed. For same day prescriptions, the Irvine Medical Center and Tustin and Mission Viejo Medical Office pharmacies are open. For mail-order, see information above for all services; Laboratory and Radiology are closed for lunch M-F from 12:15 pm –1:15 pm. The pharmacy is closed. For same day prescriptions, the Irvine Medical Center and Tustin and Mission Viejo Medical Office pharmacies are open. For mail-order, see information above Garden Grove Medical Offices — Open ; M-F, 8:30 am — 5:00 pm. Urgent Care is open 7 days a week, 9:00 am — 9:00 pm. Pharmacy is open 9:00 am — 9:00 pm, 7 days a week. ; M-F, 8:30 am — 5:00 pm. Harbor/MacArthur Medical Offices – Open; M-F 8:30 am — 5:00 pm. Urgent care is open 7 days a week, 9 am — 9 pm. Pharmacy is open M-F 9:00 am — 9:00 pm, 7 days a week. M-F 8:30 am — 5:00 pm. Huntington Beach Medical Offices — Open La Habra Medical Offices — Open For Behavioral Health appointments and crisis management, call (714) 644-6480 For crisis intervention, referrals, and resources after hours, weekends and holidays, call (800) 900-3277 For Behavioral Health appointments and crisis management, call For crisis intervention, referrals, and resources after hours, weekends and holidays, call La Palma Medical Offices — Open Lakeview Medical Offices — Open Mission Viejo Medical Offices — Open ; Urgent care is open 7 days, 9 am — 9 pm. Pharmacy is open M-F 9:00 am — 9:00 pm, 7 days a week ; San Juan Capistrano Medical Offices — Open Tustin Ranch Medical Offices — Open ; This medical office serves Primary Care, Pediatric Well-Child visits, Lab, and Radiology ; This medical office serves Primary Care, Pediatric Well-Child visits, Lab, and Radiology Yorba Linda Medical Offices — Open Panorama City Canyon Country Medical Offices — Open; Lab remains temporarily closed. The labs are open at Santa Clarita Medical Offices and Santa Clarita Medical Offices 2 Lab remains temporarily closed. The labs are open at Santa Clarita Medical Offices and Santa Clarita Medical Offices 2 North Hollywood Medical Offices — Open Panorama City Vision Essentials — Open Santa Clarita Executive Plaza Medical Offices — Open Riverside and Coachella Valley Palm Springs Medical Offices — Closed; For same-day prescriptions, the Palm Desert Medical Offices pharmacy is open. For mail-order, see information above San Bernardino County Behavioral Health Medical Offices – Virtual appointments available for ALL locations ; Limited face to face services are available at Fontana Medical Office Building 5, and Montclair. Hesperia, Ontario, Fontana Medical Office Building 7, Fontana Randall St Clinic, and San Bernardino are Virtual-Only at this time. For Behavioral Health appointments and crisis management, call (866) 205-3595 For crisis intervention, referrals, and resources after hours, weekends and holidays, call (800) 900-3277 ; Limited face to face services are available at Fontana Medical Office Building 5, and Montclair. Hesperia, Ontario, Fontana Medical Office Building 7, Fontana Randall St Clinic, and San Bernardino are at this time. For Behavioral Health appointments and crisis management, call For crisis intervention, referrals, and resources after hours, weekends and holidays, call Chino Central Medical Offices — Closed ; Due to a recent fire, this medical office will remain closed until further notice. For same-day prescriptions, the pharmacies at Chino Grand and the Ontario Medical Center are open. For mail-order pharmacy, see the information above. ; Due to a recent fire, this medical office will remain closed until further notice. For same-day prescriptions, the pharmacies at Chino Grand and the Ontario Medical Center are open. For mail-order pharmacy, see the information above. Colton Medical Offices — Open ; Pharmacy is now open. Lab remains temporarily closed. Labs are open at San Bernardino Medical Offices, and Fontana Medical Center. ; Pharmacy is now open. Lab remains temporarily closed. Labs are open at San Bernardino Medical Offices, and Fontana Medical Center. Indian Hill Medical Offices — Open San Bernardino Medical Offices — Open Upland Medical Offices — Open; Laboratory hours have temporarily been reduced to 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. San Diego Bostonia Medical Offices — Open Carmel Valley Medical Offices — Open ; except for neurology. ; except for neurology. Carlsbad Medical Offices — Open El Cajon Medical Offices — Open except for Pharmacy. For mail-order, see information above except for Pharmacy. For mail-order, see information above Kearny Mesa Medical Offices — Open Oceanside — Open Point Loma Medical Offices — Open Rancho Bernardo Medical Offices — Open Rancho San Diego Medical Offices — Open Vista Medical Offices — Open except for Pharmacy. For mail-order, see information above South Bay Carson Medical Offices – Open and offering the following additional services: Addiction Medicine and offering the following additional services: Addiction Medicine Gardena Medical Offices — Open Lomita MOB Medical Offices – Closed Long Beach Medical Offices – Open Manhattan Beach Medical Offices – Open ; Pharmacy remains closedFor same-day prescriptions, Torrance pharmacy is open. For mail-order pharmacy, see information above ; Pharmacy remains closedFor same-day prescriptions, Torrance pharmacy is open. For mail-order pharmacy, see information above Main Street Health Pavilion — Open Normandie North Medical Offices — Open ; Lab hours have been temporarily extended from 7 am to 7 pm, 7 days a week. ; Lab hours have been temporarily extended from 7 am to 7 pm, 7 days a week. Normandie South Medical Offices — Open Parkview Medical Offices – Open Signal Hill Medical Offices – Open ; Pharmacy remains closedFor same-day prescription, Long Beach pharmacy is open. For mail-order pharmacy, see information above ; Pharmacy remains closedFor same-day prescription, Long Beach pharmacy is open. For mail-order pharmacy, see information above Torrance Medical Offices – Open Target Clinics All locations — Open West Los Angeles La Cienega — Vision Essentials — Open Woodland Hills and Ventura County

Wife of Illinois mayor busted for breaking stay-at-home orders

Cities across the country are using law enforcement officers to actively shut down and cite people found breaking stay-at-home orders put in place to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. For one Illinois mayor, enforcing the law meant - unwittingly - sending the cops after his wife. Mayor Brant Walker of Alton, Illinois, warned his constituents that he would step up enforcement of the state's stay-at-home orders by sending police out to break up social gatherings over the weekend. "On Friday, due to the continued increase in cases of COVID-19 in Madison County, as well as increased reports of large gatherings, particularly in some of our city parks, I directed the Alton police Department to more strictly enforce the Governor's statewide "Stay At Home" order through the use of citations," he wrote. In a statement made on Facebook Monday, Mr Walker explained how those efforts wound up with his wife in violation of the stay-at-home order. "At approximately 1am on Sunday morning, I was informed by the Police Chief that the Alton Police Department was investigating and stopping a social gathering in downtown Alton that was occurring in violation of the provisions of the statewide "Stay At Home" order," Mr Walker wrote. "I was also made aware that my wife was in attendance at this prohibited social gathering." According to the mayor, he gave his wife no leeway when it came to the police enforcing the rules. "I instructed the Police Chief to treat her as he would any citizen violating the "Stay At Home" order during this incident," he wrote. "I am embarrassed by this incident and apologise to the citizens of Alton for any embarrassment this incident may cause our City." According to the Alton Daily News, the mayor's wife attended a party at Hiram's Tavern. The owner of the tavern was arrested on an outstanding domestic battery warrant and the others in attendance - including the mayor's wife - were given citations for reckless conduct. "My wife is an adult capable of making her own decisions, and in this instance she exhibited a stunning lack of judgement," Mr Walker wrote on Facebook. He said his wife would face "the same consequences for her ill-advised decision as the other individuals" attending the party.

U.S. to China: Stop 'Exploiting' Pandemic to Colonize South China Sea

The United States Department of State has demanded China stop “exploiting the distraction” caused by the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic to ramp up its “unlawful” colonization of the South China Sea in a statement released on Monday. “We call on the PRC [People’s Republic of China] to remain focused on supporting international efforts to combat the global pandemic, and to stop exploiting the distraction or vulnerability of other states to expand its unlawful claims in the South China Sea,” urged State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus. A Chinese ship hit and sunk a Vietnamese fishing boat last Thursday near the Paracel Islands, endangering the lives of eight Vietnamese crew members detained by the Chinese on a nearby island. Chinese officials detained two other Vietnamese fishing boats that tried to rescue the detained crew. All were later released. At the time, Vietnam planned to file a formal complaint to authorities for the act of aggression. This incident was “the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea,” the State Department asserted in its statement on Monday. In late March, China announced the construction of two new “research stations,” or military installations, on Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef in the Philippine Sea. The reefs are claimed by the Philippines and others and the Chinese government lost an international case at the Hague on its claims to most of the South China Sea. In response to China’s March announcement, the U.S. Navy launched live-fire missile tests in waters east of the Philippines, pertaining to the highly contested South China Sea. Last week, the Pentagon’s Indo-Pacific Command requested $20 billion in funding from Congress to bolster the country’s military operations in the Indo-Pacific region through 2026. The funding would cover more air missile units, new radar warning systems, expanded training exercises, and initiatives to strengthen the military capabilities of U.S. allies. “Without a valid and convincing conventional deterrent, China and Russia will be emboldened to take action in the region to supplant U.S. interests,” an executive summary of the request stated. About $1.7 billion of the budget would fund a 360-degree air missile defense system in Guam, a U.S. territory in the western Pacific Ocean. This would upgrade the system, enabling long-range, high-precision missile strikes westward toward China’s claims on the South China Sea. The South China Sea possesses extensive oil and natural gas resources, and is home to one of the world’s richest trading routes, making it an attractive region to control. In recent years, China has illegally expanded control in the highly contested body of water, claiming zones that pertain to nearby Southeast Asian nations, or that are traditionally considered international territory. A 2016 international court ruling deemed China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea unlawful. However, China rejected the ruling and continues to assert power over almost all of the territory. The U.S. has responded to the growing Chinese threat in the sea with aid for Southeast Asian nations that China has refused to allow to exercise their legal control over their territory. China has responded belligerently to this development. In March, Chinese state media suggested the possibility of using an electromagnetic pulse weapon (EMP) against American ships entering the South China Sea.

Lance Gooden: Allow DOJ to Investigate China for Coronavirus Bioweapon

Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) joined Tuesday’s edition of SiriusXM’s Breitbart News Daily with host Alex Marlow to discuss his proposed legislation to allow the Department of Justice to investigate China for potential release of a biological weapon reaching American soil. Entitled the “Stop COVID Act to Hold China Accountable for Coronavirus Pandemic,” Gooden’s proposed bill would amend the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act to allow the Justice Department to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation would also grant jurisdiction to U.S. courts over the matter, allowing the Justice Department to file claims against the Chinese Communist Party in America. Gooden explained, “The bill that I filed on Friday amends the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act, which was passed in the 1970s that said you can’t sue a foreign government [and] can’t investigate a foreign government in American courts. This says with exception to bioweapons potentially being released that we can actually investigate — the DOJ can investigate the origins of this virus — and if it’s China that’s responsible for getting it here, then we’ll deal with that.” Gooden continued, “If it’s an accident and China is not at fault, maybe this really just was some freak nature event — unlikely, but maybe it was — then China still lied to us since day one about the deaths. We were underprepared, because China didn’t communicate how serious this was, and even last week they admitted that the death counts were off.” LISTEN: “The Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act … was passed to prevent frivolous lawsuits,” explained Gooden. “It basically said you can’t go and sue another nation in American courts, and the idea was if someone was annoyed with a government of any nation, then our courts would just be full of ridiculous lawsuits.” International bodies such as the Word Health Organization and United Nations have been corrupted by authoritarian foreign states such as China, noted Gooden. Gooden stated, “No one takes seriously any international body these days, because they’re infected and taken over by propaganda machines of the likes of China and Russia. So they have no teeth, and the thinking here is the U.S. government at the very least should be able to move forward with an investigation so we can figure out the origins of this virus, and if the facts lead us there, hold [China] accountable.” Gooden remarked, “One one on the Earth believes the China’s only had 3,500 deaths in five months while we’ve had 10,000 deaths in the last month.” American news media outlets often frame Chinese state propaganda as accurate information. Gooden observed, “The fact that the left-wing media — even really the non left-wing media, just the media in general — just accept what China says is stunning to me, because I don’t know anyone with a brain that actually believes China is telling the truth on these numbers. Had they been telling the truth back in December when this allegedly all started, then the world would have taken action much earlier. These flight bans would have taken hold around the world, not just when the president put them out. Gooden recalled Joe Biden calling President Donald Trump’s implementation of travel bans on China “xenophobic.” Holding China accountable will likely grow in importance as an issue relevant to the 2020 presidential election, predicted Gooden. “I have to believe that this will be a theme in the election, and a campaign issue between the president, whoever it is, because I feel like Americans are going to want to hold someone accountable. I don’t think they’re going to blame Donald Trump for the loss of American lives.” Breitbart News Daily broadcasts live on SiriusXM Patriot 125 weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Eastern. Follow Robert Kraychik on Twitter.

Blackburn: Reexamine China's Role in International Organizations

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said on Tuesday that China’s standing in international organizations should be reexamined considering the damage the country created by failing to contain the coronavirus. “China must pay for damages caused by the coronavirus. It’s standing within international organizations should also be re-examined,” Blackburn wrote on Tuesday. China must pay for damages caused by the coronavirus. It’s standing within international organizations should also be re-examined. — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) April 7, 2020 Blackburn’s commentary follows as politicians and lawmakers have become increasingly critical of China’s relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO). Many Republicans have criticized the WHO for reportedly working to conceal China’s failure to contain the coronavirus. Sen. Martha McNally (R-AZ) called on WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, saying in April: I’ve never trusted a communist. And their cover-up of this virus that originated with them has caused unnecessary deaths around America and around the world. The WHO needs to stop covering for them. I think Dr. Tedros needs to step down. We need to take some action to address this issue. It’s just irresponsible. It’s unconscionable what they have done here while we have people dying across the globe. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) in March called on Congress to hold a hearing and investigate the WHO’s role in helping China hide its incompetence surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. Scott said in his statement: The mission of the WHO is to get public health information to the world so every country can make the best decisions to keep their citizens safe. When it comes to Coronavirus, the WHO failed. They need to be held accountable for their role in promoting misinformation and helping Communist China cover up a global pandemic. We know Communist China is lying about how many cases and deaths they have, what they knew and when they knew it – and the WHO never bothered to investigate further. Their inaction cost lives. As soon as Congress is back in session, there should be a hearing, along with a full investigation, to review whether American taxpayers should continue to spend millions of dollars every year to fund an organization that willfully parroted propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party. However, Blackburn’s commentary could suggest that politicians should reexamine China’s status in other international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations’ National Security Council. The Tennessee senator charged that China’s failure to contain the coronavirus spread means that the world should reconsider China’s membership across many international organizations. “China’s failure to control the spread of COVID-19 requires us to seriously examine its role in international organizations, including the World Health Organization and UN Security Council,” Blackburn told Breitbart News. “Now is the time to determine how China’s actions today should impact its role in the global community tomorrow.”

Rep. Ayanna Pressley hopes next phase of COVID19 relief will include student loan debt cancellation and financial relief for illegal immigrants [video]

Of the four members of the House Socialist Girl Squad, Rep. Ayanna Pressley usually comes off as the most level-headed. Let her remind you that she can be just as crazy as the rest of them: .@RepPressley: Next Coronavirus stimulus should include student loan debt forgiveness; also money for illegal immigrants, homeless people, and people in prison. pic.twitter.com/ohxdOdcCI7 — Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) April 7, 2020 Canceling student loan debt? Providing financial relief for illegal immigrants? Where does student loans come in to covid19 symptoms? Can I get my credit card debt forgiven you could be a symptom — @babycatcalla (@babycatcalla) April 7, 2020 Where does it stop? No it shouldn’t. — Shane (@Shanebaldwin82) April 7, 2020 No…no…no…and…no. — Navarro was in Mindhunter (@geld_it_damn) April 7, 2020 We’re compassionate people, but we’re not really understanding what those things will do to get our economy back on track. I’m sick of the Democrats using this crisis to push their agenda. — Mrs.Batch❤️ (@kimlovesdisney1) April 7, 2020 That really seems to be what COVID19 relief has been about for Dems. And that’s a shame.

Acting DNI Richard Grenell thinks Rep. Adam Schiff could have sent his letter to him before the press

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff has another bug up his butt, this time about Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell. Olivia Beavers of The Hill tweeted a copy of the letter Tuesday. New: Intel Chair Schiff sent a letter today to acting DNI @RichardGrenell raising concern he is reorganizing w/o receiving congressional authorization. Asks him to produce info to committee by April 16. pic.twitter.com/neHfLdptdx — Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) April 7, 2020 The thing is, she saw it before Grenell did, as did the rest of the Washington press, we’re assuming. His letter was sent to the press before it was sent to me. These press leaks politicizing the intelligence community must stop. https://t.co/hdWIzGWvZr — Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) April 7, 2020 That’s because @AdamSchiff is a press wh*re. — Rosie memos (@almostjingo) April 7, 2020 Is it that obvious? Because he’s evil and corrupt as they come……… — ⛈⛈TheStormIsHere⛈⛈ (@trumps_all) April 7, 2020 Welcome back to Washington! — Paul Bedard (@SecretsBedard) April 7, 2020 Color me shocked, sir. Typical Dem move. — ⚾️ Is it Opening Day Yet? ⚾️ (@LibertyBelleCJL) April 7, 2020 I'm shocked — shocked — to find out that @repadamschiff leaked to allies in the media first. pic.twitter.com/y6tBHvMLwb — Mollie (@MZHemingway) April 7, 2020 just ignore Schiff — Agent Kujan (@pinoyrudeboy) April 7, 2020 We’ve been trying. I wouldn’t comply with any requests from @RepAdamSchiff👹 — James Montfort (@JamesMontfort1) April 7, 2020 Adam Schiff is a clown. Don’t even respond — Revered Leader / Austere Scholar (@FiatJustitia_) April 7, 2020 Anything you give him will be leaked to the MSM immediately. Don’t give him anything. Don’t even respond to the letter — BamaNicki (@bamanicky) April 7, 2020 You know what to do with that letter pic.twitter.com/FAav7FOfbb — Lauren Elizabeth – Disinfecting Daily (@Coast__Coast) April 7, 2020 Give him nothing — Steve Ferguson (@lsferguson) April 7, 2020 He's just looking for his next hoax to take the heat off himself @RepAdamSchiff @SpeakerPelosi and their corrupt cabal. He's a disgrace to the United States of America. — RBW1926 (@RBW1926) April 7, 2020 Schiff plays all the parts: whistleblower, congressman, "anonymous", leaker, impeachment hoaxer, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee (minus the intelligence) , testimony hiding, congressional drama dept. team captain, congressional fiction writer, etc. — princess meng (@MarthaW19860146) April 7, 2020 Schiff is an enemy combatant. He is using his soldiers in the MSM to build narratives he wants to use to seize power. It won't work. — Why does the Chinese Virus love celebrities? (@scaramuccimodel) April 7, 2020 He’s a weasel and a snake🐍 — #O'sRobinMarie (@robin_marie1) April 7, 2020 God he is a crook. — Allison Payne (@AlicePa05864426) April 7, 2020 Of course it was sent to the press first…he is a snake. I don't hate many people, but I loathe Adam Schiff. — Leigh James (@PatriotLJames) April 7, 2020 Gee… I wonder why reorganizing might be necessary? Keep up the good work, patriot. — #TrumpPence2020 (@PolarWhut) April 7, 2020 More proof that your appointment was correct and desperately needed. — Oldeghost (@1Oldeghost) April 7, 2020 Also, he could have just called you to talk about it. We know he has your phone number – and every other Republican's. — Rudy's Not Stopping (@mgTrumpist) April 7, 2020 He also has his colleague’s phone records. Related:

Mo Brooks: ‘Open Question’ If Coronavirus Pandemic Is Chinese Communist Party Military Warfare

Many uncertainties surround COVID-19/coronavirus regarding its origins and the final tally of its impact on the globe, and according to Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL), it is not clear the pandemic is not part of an intentional effort by the Chinese government. During an interview with Huntsville, AL radio’s WVNN on Monday, Brooks criticized China’s communist ruling regime and raised the question about the genesis of COVID-19. He suggested it was one of three possibilities — naturally occurring, a military accident or an intentional effort by a government he argued that did not care much about human life. “In my judgment, this ought to motivate every American to better understand the risk associated with the Communist Chinese Party,” Brooks said on “The Jeff Poor Show.” “Keep in mind — they are socialists. They are communists. They are dictatorial. They engage in effective slavery, by the way in which they dictate who is going to work where and at what wages. It is a horrific form of government. This government is very aggressive. It does not care much about human life, as evidenced by the way it is treating its own citizens.” “And I truly believe it is an open question as to whether the coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China was just a naturally occurring event, or whether it was part of a military experiment that went awry, or whether it was part of a military warfare biological experiment that’s doing exactly the communist Chinese government wanted it to do,” he continued. “And there’s no way to know what the truth is behind the origination of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China because you cannot trust the Chinese Communist Party to tell you or anyone else the truth. I hope at some point we will find out the information that is needed for us to determine as a people that this was a naturally occurring event, an experiment gone awry by the biological weapons portion of the Chinese Communist Party military. Or worse yet, whether it was, in fact, what they wanted it to do — to experiment with a biological weapon to see how quickly it would cover the planet and how the rest of the world would respond to it. Lots of unanswered questions.” Brooks said the answer to the question would have to come from within the Chinese government, which he said was “highly unlikely.” “The only to find out is if someone on the inside of the communist Chinese government spilled the beans,” he added. “And that’s highly unlikely given how often people who are whistleblowers in China disappear. We may never know.” On reports of China’s use of coronavirus response necessities, like personal protective equipment and ventilators, as leverage to promote Chinese tech giant Huawei’s 5G service, Brooks urged a hard line against the communist Asian superpower. “Well, we ought to do everything we can possibly do, and I believe the Trump administration is doing exactly that to prevent Huawei or the Communist Chinese Party’s implementation of 5G around the world, and in particular, the United States,” Brooks said. “We cannot allow the dictatorial Chinese Communist Party to have the kind of information that 5G would allow China to accumulate. It would be a great risk to America’s national security, and for that matter, any country’s national security to rely on the Communist Chinese Party to not use that to further world-domination goal that the Chinese Communist Party has publicly set for itself and China. The 5G-Huawei, you know, we’re doing everything we can to let the rest of the world know how dangerous this is to their individual freedom or liberty, and how the Chinese Communist Party will inevitably use Huawei’s 5G to spy on citizens and government leaders around the world. That’s something we really need to focus on.” The Alabama Republican argued for limits on Chinese imports of essential products but warned there would be opposition from special interests. “We also need to understand, and certainly this should have been an eye-opening experience, we cannot continue to allow any essential life service or good be manufactured in China in the United States, where over 90% off the drugs that we use in the American health care system is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. That is a major problem. And so hopefully, the United States of America with the support of its people will be much more aggressive in our trade policies with China — so aggressive that we can overcome the resistance, the pro-Chinese Communist Party efforts of the farmers’ union around the United States, of those various companies that ship Chinese products into the United States for sale, companies like Walmart — you can go down the list. You know who I am talking about. These various special interest groups have wielded a sledgehammer who seek fair and balanced trade with the Chinese Communist Party. The consequence of these special interest successes — we have over $400 billion a year in American money hemorrhaging to support the Communist Chinese Party and its expansion. Brooks said one positive coming from the pandemic was the possibility the American public would rally behind measures reacting to the China threat. “So perhaps, there will be something good that comes out of this COVID-19 strain of coronavirus outbreak, and that would be the education of the American public to the extent that policymakers inside the United States Congress will react more to the threat of China, rather than the money that flows from the special interest groups that want to buck first – and they put America second,” he added. Follow Jeff Poor on Twitter @jeff_poor

Clay Travis: Media Must Blame Faulty Coronavirus Projections, or Admit Trump Saved Millions of People

Clay Travis blasted “blue checkmark” anti-Trumpers in the media who have spread forboding news about the coronavirus, while simultaneously criticizing the Trump Administration over the recently downgraded coronavirus death toll numbers. Replying to another Twitter user, Travis pointed out that the CDC’s recent downgrading of the number of coronavirus deaths that we might expect when this is all said and done can be read like a Trump success. After all, if the number of projected deaths are falling, wouldn’t that mean that Trump’s efforts have been successful? A Twitter user had scolded Travis for saying that Trump’s actions have been a great help in the response to the viral outbreak. That Twitter user scoffed by noting that the nation’s mayors and governors are the ones who really did the work. “Ah, gotcha. So, if millions of people had died, you would have blamed the mayors and governors for those deaths and not Trump. Thanks for clarifying, Matthew,” Travis scoffed. But Travis went further, adding, “My point here is this: Twitter blue checkmark I hate Trump brigade is going to have to pick a side. Either: a. the models predicting millions of deaths you all shared as fear porn to terrify everyone were wildly inaccurate or b. Trump saved millions of lives by his actions.” My point here is this: Twitter blue checkmark I hate Trump brigade is going to have to pick a side. Either: a. the models predicting millions of deaths you all shared as fear porn to terrify everyone were wildly inaccurate or b. Trump saved millions of lives by his actions. — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 6, 2020 Travis went on to say that you can’t have it both ways. You can’t praise mayors and governors but not Trump since he was saying and doing the exact same things as the mayors and governors. And if you are praising the mayors and governors, when the numbers of expected deaths are figured down, then you have also to credit Trump with the win. Travis was reacting to recent news from the CDC. On Monday, Dr. Robert Redfield, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), appeared on AM 1030 KVOI Radio in Tucson, Arizona, and said that the statistics have dramatically changed since the nation began the stay-at-home campaign. Redfield said that the number of deaths now looks on track to be “much, much, much lower” than previously projected. The doctor noted that the nation’s actions as a whole seriously impacted the models used to project the number of deaths. He added that, “those models that were done, they assume only about 50 percent of the American public would pay attention to the recommendations. In fact, what we’re seeing is a large majority of the American public is taking the social distancing recommendations to heart. And I think that’s the direct consequence of why you’re seeing the numbers are going to be much, much, much lower than would have been predicted by the models.” Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook at: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Huston.

Martin Shkreli Seeks Three-Month Prison Furlough to Find Coronavirus Cure

Martin Shkreli, the former hedge fund and pharmaceutical executive who is currently serving a seven-year jail sentence for securities fraud, is seeking a three-month reprieve from prison, claiming that he can help find a cure for the Wuhan coronavirus. “Pharma bro” Shkreli, 37, requested the furlough in a recently published scientific paper — co-authored with a group of associates — in which he argues that his experience in the pharmaceutical industry qualifies him to search for treatments for the Chinese virus. “I am one of the few executives experienced in ALL aspects of drug development,” Shkreli wrote in the 11-page paper, which is posted online. “The industry response to COVID-19 is inadequate. All biopharmaceutical companies should be responding with all resources to combat this health emergency.” Shkreli said he doesn’t expect to profit from or receive compensation for his work. “Being released to the post-COVID world is no solace to even the incarcerated,” he wrote. The paper was posted on the website of Prospero Pharmaceuticals, which describes itself as a biotech company focusing on treatments for rare or ignored diseases. Shkreli is currently incarcerated at a federal prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, with a scheduled release in September 2023. The New York Post reported that Shkreli has yet to formally request a furlough, but his defense attorney, Benjamin Brafman, said he would submit papers “shortly” to both the Bureau of Prisons and Brooklyn federal Judge Kiyo Matsumoto, who oversaw his case. Shkreli was convicted in August 2017 for defrauding investors out of more than $11 million. The former executive was also pilloried for acquiring the rights to the HIV drug Daraprim and then jacking up the price from $13.50 per tablet to $750 per tablet. Follow David Ng on Twitter @HeyItsDavidNg. Have a tip? Contact me at dng@breitbart.com

Brussels drops lockdown exit plan after anger from capitals

The European Commission was forced by angry EU governments on Tuesday to drop plans to present a "roadmap" for ending the coronavirus lockdowns. Governments made clear that the plans from President Ursula von der Leyen's Commission would send a dangerous signal when they are still urging millions of citizens to stay at home to save lives. The Commission's embarrassing U-turn highlighted tensions over lockdowns between the EU executive and member governments. Brussels has been keen to play a coordinating role in managing the response to the coronavirus crisis after countries initially imposed a chaotic array of unilateral measures. But in recent days countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic and Denmark have already laid out plans to ease some restrictions. Other countries like Spain and Italy, hit hardest by the virus that has killed thousands across the Continent, have made clear that severe limits on movement won't end in the immediate future. The Commission's chief spokesman, Eric Mamer, announced at his regular midday press briefing that commissioners would on Wednesday "focus on the roadmap to exit, which will be adopted tomorrow." Von der Leyen herself would brief reporters on the plan, Mamer said. Some capitals, anxious to loosen tight restrictions on their citizens and revive their economies even a little, are not waiting for a green light from Brussels. Shortly thereafter, a senior Commission official told POLITICO that the proposed exit guidelines had already been circulated to national officials and "will be published tomorrow." But by early evening, the Commission had backtracked, saying in an email that commissioners would only hold "an orientation debate on a roadmap to exit the restrictive measures" and that von der Leyen's news conference was postponed until the plan had been adopted. Adoption of the plan has now been postponed until "after Easter," Mamer told POLITICO in a phone call Tuesday evening. Officials said a group of EU member governments had told the Commission in no uncertain terms that it was on the wrong track, at a time when many countries are still struggling with the impact of the virus on their public health systems and populations. "We criticized them for not being able to consult [on] this with member states in an appropriate way," said one senior diplomat. Another diplomat summed up the confusion by sending a text message with a GIF of a spinning head, noting that this was not the first Commission U-turn on the issue of exit strategy. The Commission had pitched its plan as a coordination effort to stop countries easing lockdown measures too quickly, as announcements by some capitals caused irritation in Brussels. “If anything these restrictive measures have only [just] begun to show proper results," said a Commission official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It is of essence now that member states persist a few weeks more and then gradually start to relax them,” the official said, adding that “exit steps need to be smart and coordinated as much as possible throughout Europe.” Capitals in charge Von der Leyen promised last month the bloc would seek a coordinated exit strategy following a videoconference of EU leaders. At the time she warned a failure to coordinate would “undermine the effectiveness of the tough measures we took.” But some capitals, anxious to loosen tight restrictions on their citizens and revive their economies even a little, are not waiting for a green light from Brussels. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Monday outlined a timetable to gradually ease his country's lockdown, with nonessential shops allowed to reopen with strict hygiene controls starting April 14. From May 1, all stores, shopping malls and hairdressers will be allowed to reopen. But other services, as well as restaurants and hotels, must stay shuttered until mid-May, with a final decision to be taken in mid-April, Kurz said. The Danish government announced this week that it will reopen day care and elementary schools on April 15. Starting April 9, the Czech Republic will allow some shops — including those that sell building materials or bicycles — to reopen. Commission spokesman Mamer said on Tuesday that Austria and Denmark both informed the Commission and other member countries about their moves. “We do not have yet a fully fledged analysis of these strategies, but what I can already say is that we understand that these strategies are very gradual, will be implemented step-by-step,” he said. The Commission's exit roadmap had been expected to include guidance on coordinating a gradual rollback of public health measures and moves that impact the functioning of the EU's internal market, according to a diplomat briefed on the plans. The senior Commission official said it is "weird" for national governments to be going ahead with their own easing of lockdowns when governments had asked Brussels to develop a common strategy. The official acknowledged that it was ultimately up to member governments to judge what to do in their individual countries. "In the end they’re responsible to find the suitable timing for them as all member states are in different stages of the pandemic progressing,” the official said. But the official also branded governments pressing ahead on their own "not polite towards the EU.” Florian Eder and Paola Tamma contributed reporting. Want more analysis from POLITICO? POLITICO Pro is our premium intelligence service for professionals. From financial services to trade, technology, cybersecurity and more, Pro delivers real time intelligence, deep insight and breaking scoops you need to keep one step ahead. Email pro@politico.eu to request a complimentary trial.

Mnuchin: We Don’t Need Bill in Order to Move Supply Chains Back to U.S.

On Tuesday’s broadcast of the Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria,” Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin stated that he doesn’t think Congress needs to pass a bill in order to move supply chains from China to the U.S. Mnuchin stated, “I don’t think we need that in a bill. I think that Americans understand that we want to make sure that critical supplies, we can make in the USA, for the USA. So, that’s something that’s been in the president’s agenda from the campaign. That’s something we’ll continue to execute upon. And I don’t think we need legislation to do that. I think companies understand that and we understand that.” Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett

CNN’s Jake Tapper Retweets ‘Newsworthy’ Claim that Trump Is ‘Insane’

CNN anchor Jake Tapper retweeted a comment by perpetual presidential critic George Conway on Tuesday morning, claiming that President Donald Trump is “insane.” Tapper called the comment “noteworthy,” adding that Conway (who is married to Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway) knows a lot of “folks in the administration.” Noteworthy comment on folks in the administration from a Trump critic who knows a lot of them: https://t.co/ZvmMxmENuW — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) April 7, 2020 Tapper later noted that he did not necessarily agree with Conway — only that he found the tweet “newsworthy.” I RTed Conway, a conservative attorney and Trump critic, because he wrote that no one in the administration has the courage to stand up to the president which seems newsworthy given how many people in the administration he knows. RTs do not nec. = agreement. https://t.co/A4i1478urj — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) April 7, 2020 Conway has given the maximum donation to former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. He also is one of the leaders of an anti-Trump super PAC. He enthusiastically backed President Trump’s impeachment, and has repeatedly suggested that the president is insane. In March 2019, for example, Conway tweeted that Americans should be concerned about Trump’s “mental condition.” In October 2019, he tweeted: “The sooner we get this over with and he’s gone, the better off everyone will be.” He later predicted that Trump would end up in prison. Tapper also retweeted a comment that the press should stop covering President Trump’s daily briefings at the White House on the progress in the fight against the coronavirus. As a former White House reporter, I don’t say this lightly: Media should ignore the Trump follies, abandon the WH briefing room, and interview governors, doctors, nurses, victims and anybody else approaching the truth. Stop being props. Just stop. — Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) April 7, 2020 CNN has faced criticism for cutting away from the briefings, and for the antics of its White House correspondent, Jim Acosta. Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). His new book, RED NOVEMBER, is available for pre-order. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.

Democrat Congressman Gavels In House of Representatives Wearing Coronavirus Mask

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) wore a protective mask on Tuesday as he gaveled in a Pro-forma session of the House of Representatives. Sherman opened the floor wearing a mask as House chaplain Rev. Pat Conroy led an opening prayer in the empty chamber. The event was captured by C-SPAN cameras. “May love, not fear go viral,” Conroy prayed, asking for guidance for members of the House of Representatives. “Help us to practice social distancing and all other methods of safe interaction while we strive to find new and creative ways to come together in spirit and solidarity,” Conroy prayed. Rev. Conroy and other aides in the chamber did not wear a mask. Sherman led the group in a pledge of allegiance and conducted brief business before closing the session. Sherman announced that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had approved the policy of submitting and introducing bills electronically while Congress remains out of session as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Andrew Cuomo: Use of Hydroxychloroquine 'Anecdotally' Positive

The use of hydroxychloroquine has been “anecdotally” positive for patients with the coronavirus, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said during a press briefing Monday. At the briefing, the governor noted that the antimalarial drug had reportedly helped many people infected with the disease, but official scientific data was yet to come: Cuomo stated: There are a lot of people who are relying on this, who were relying on it. People with lupus, etc. The tests in the hospital, they won’t say that they are… they’re too short a period of time to get a scientific report. You know, hospital administrators, doctors, want to give… have a significant data set before they give a formal opinion. Anecdotally, you’ll get suggestions that it has been effective, but we don’t have any official data yet from a hospital, or a quote unquote study, which will take weeks if not months before you get an official study. There has been anecdotal evidence that it is promising, that’s why we’re going ahead. Doctors have to prescribe, but there are some people who have pre-existing conditions where it doesn’t work, or they’re taking medication that’s not consistent with this treatment. But anecdotally its been positive. “We’ll have a full test once they have a large enough sample and data set,” he stated. The federal government had promised to increase the supply of the drug, which would allow New York to lift its 14-day limit on how much people could buy, according to the governor. “We’ve allowed usage of the hydroxychloroquine with the Zithromax packs in hospitals at their discretion. The federal government is going to increase the supply to New York pharmacies,” he explained. Monday, a Democrat state representative from Detroit, Michigan, credited the antimalarial drug and President Trump for saving her life during her recent battle with the coronavirus. Rep. Karen Whitsett began taking hydroxychloroquine after her doctor prescribed it to her on March 31. She said relief came “less than two hours” after starting the treatment. Whitsett noted that she was familiar with the drug because of her previous battle with Lyme disease and added that she would never have thought to ask for the drug if the president had not touted its benefits. “It has a lot to do with the president … bringing it up. He is the only person who has the power to make it a priority,” she commented. Sunday during a White House press briefing, President Trump defended his continued push for doctors to prescribe hydroxychloroquine to coronavirus patients despite criticism from the media. “I’m trying to save lives,” he said, adding, “If it doesn’t work, it’s nothing lost by doing it. Nothing.”

Alyssa Milano Floats Impeachment over Trump Pushing Hydroxychloroquine

Actress and left-wing activist Alyssa Milano floated a New York Times report that suggests the president is promoting hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for the coronavirus for financial gain as grounds for his impeachment. “Trump can make history as the first President to be impeached twice. I mean, if putting lives in danger by pushing a drug for personal gain during a pandemic isn’t impeachmable, we should just throw in the towel,” the Charmed actress said. Trump can make history as the first President to be impeached twice. I mean, if putting lives in danger by pushing a drug for personal gain during a pandemic isn’t impeachmable, we should just throw in the towel. https://t.co/u7HoMMVDt4 — Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 7, 2020 Milano’s declaration follows a Times report on the general divide over the effectiveness of the anti-malaria medicine hydroxychloroquine in treating coronavirus patients. President Trump has touted the treatment, which the Times admitted has not been totally unwarranted. “Mr. Trump may ultimately be right, and physicians report anecdotal evidence that has provided hope,” the Times wrote before subtly suggesting that the president may have ulterior motives. “If hydroxychloroquine becomes an accepted treatment, several pharmaceutical companies stand to profit, including shareholders and senior executives with connections to the president,” the Times piece states, adding that Trump has “a small personal financial interest in Sanofi, the French drugmaker that makes Plaquenil, the brand-name version of hydroxychloroquine.” However, an analysis from MarketWatch found that Trump’s stake could be as little as $99. The report doesn’t say how small, but it notes that his three family trusts have investments in a Dodge & Cox mutual fund whose largest holding is Sanofi. A fund that matches this description is the Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund DODFX, +5.81%, which at last check was 3.3% invested in Sanofi. Trump’s 2019 financial-disclosure form lists stakes in Family Trusts 1, 2 and 3 valued at between $1,001 and $15,000. So if Trump has the maximum $15,000 in each of the trusts, he holds a stake in Sanofi that’s worth $1,485 — and, at the minimum, just $99. It turns out he does look to have more than that modest sum invested in Sanofi, because, unmentioned in the Times report, his trusts also hold broader European stock-market index funds. MarketWatch also noted that Trump “has a small stake in basically every big company you can think of.” Breitbart’s John Carney also rated the Huffington Post headline “Donald Trump Has Stake In Hydroxychloroquine Drugmaker: Report” as false in a fact check published on Tuesday. Carney explains thusly: The report cited by the HuffPost is from a New York Times story that said: “Trump himself has a small personal financial interest in Sanofi, the French drugmaker that makes Plaquenil, the brand-name version of hydroxychloroquine.” Trump’s personal financial interest, however, does not include a stake in Sanofi–and the New York Times did not claim it did. Instead, Trump’s financial disclosures show that his three family trusts each had investments in a $10.3 billion Dodge & Cox mutual fund that owns shares in Sanofi, the world’s fifth-largest drugmaker by prescription sales. As of its latest disclosures, those holdings amount to just 3.3 percent of the fund’s holdings. Trump’s most recent financial disclosure forms lists holdings in the Dodge & Cox International Fund valued between $1,001 and $15,000. That means Trump holds a maximum stake in the mutual funds of $45,000, giving him an indirect interest in Sanofi of $1,485 at the most. His “financial interest” in Sanofi, which has a market capitalization of nearly $58 billion, could be as low as $99.10. Another analysis conducted by documentary filmmaker and journalist Mike Cernovich also points to the Times’ flawed and misleading reporting. “According to Trump’s financial disclosure, he owns between $1,000 – $15,000 of Dodge & Cox fund. Dox & Cox’s fund has 2.9% of its money in Sanofi. Trump owns 2.9% of btw $1,000 – $15,000. Trump owns $29 to $435 of stock,” Cernovich said. “lol NYT didn’t think anyone would do the math.” According to Trump’s financial disclosure, he owns between $1,000 – $15,000 of Dodge & Cox fund. Dox & Cox’s fund has 2.9% of its money in Sanofi. Trump owns 2.9% of btw $1,000 – $15,000. Trump owns $29 to $435 of stock. lol NYT didn't think anyone would do the math. pic.twitter.com/ThjWpe34ry — Cernovich (@Cernovich) April 7, 2020 “NY Times runs a story about how Trump is hopeful that a drug which has numerous Doctors feeling it’s working to fight Covid because he could literally make TENS of dollars!!!” Donald Trump Jr. said. NY Times runs a story about how Trump is hopeful that a drug which has numerous Doctors feeling it’s working to fight Covid because he could literally make TENS of dollars!!! Are you Fn kidding me? Why didn’t they include how much of the stock he owns? Is $29 not compelling? https://t.co/Wd1r9RwPcP — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 7, 2020 “I’m trying to save lives,” Trump told CNN’s Jeremy Diamond on Sunday when grilled on hydroxychloroquine. “If it doesn’t work, it’s nothing lost by doing it.” “Nothing,” he added. While doctors stress that longterm studies are needed, those who have treated “a combined total of over 425 confirmed or presumptive Chinese coronavirus patients with the drug hydroxychloroquine told Breitbart News they are finding the medication to be helpful,” as Breitbart News detailed. Michigan Democrat Rep. Karen Whitsett, who tested positive for the virus last month, also credited her recovery to the anti-malaria drug and thanked the president for promoting it.

Fact Check: Trump Does Not Own Stake in a Hydroxychloroquine Drugmaker

Claim: “Donald Trump Has Stake In Hydroxychloroquine Drugmaker: Report” That’s the headline across a HuffPost story that goes on to claim that “President Donald Trump reportedly owns a stake in a company that produces hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug he has repeatedly touted as a coronavirus treatment even though his experts say there’s no strong evidence it works.” Verdict: False. The report cited by the HuffPost is from a New York Times story that said: “Trump himself has a small personal financial interest in Sanofi, the French drugmaker that makes Plaquenil, the brand-name version of hydroxychloroquine.” Trump’s personal financial interest, however, does not include a stake in Sanofi–and the New York Times did not claim it did. Instead, Trump’s financial disclosures show that his three family trusts each had investments in a $10.3 billion Dodge & Cox mutual fund that owns shares in Sanofi, the world’s fifth-largest drugmaker by prescription sales. As of its latest disclosures, those holdings amount to just 3.3 percent of the fund’s holdings. Trump’s most recent financial disclosure forms lists holdings in the Dodge & Cox International Fund valued between $1,001 and $15,000. That means Trump holds a maximum stake in the mutual funds of $45,000, giving him an indirect interest in Sanofi of $1,485 at the most. His “financial interest” in Sanofi, which has a market capitalization of nearly $58 billion, could be as low as $99.10. This was originally reported by independent journalist Mike Cernovich on his website. Cernovich’s figures are lower because it appears he was calculating the interest of a single trust rather than combining the three trusts as we have here. According to Trump’s financial disclosure, he owns between $1,000 – $15,000 of Dodge & Cox fund. Dox & Cox’s fund has 2.9% of its money in Sanofi. Trump owns 2.9% of btw $1,000 – $15,000. Trump owns $29 to $435 of stock. lol NYT didn't think anyone would do the math. pic.twitter.com/ThjWpe34ry — Cernovich (@Cernovich) April 7, 2020 Plaquenil, the company’s version of the drug, is not material to Sanofi’s stock. It is generically available, not sold in the United States, and has been around since the 1950s. Trump’s indirect interest in Sanofi pales compared with his indirect interest in practically every company in the world through his much larger holdings in basically every big company in the world through broad market index funds. Marketwatch reports: Trump has a small stake in basically every big company you can think of. In each of the trusts, the biggest fund holding is just the broader SPDR S&P 500 ETF, in which Trump holds between $200,000 and $450,000, according to his financial-disclosure forms. So one could say Trump has $22,000 or so invested in Microsoft, and nearly as much in Apple It would be accurate to claim that Trump has an interest in the prosperity of businesses around the globe, especially American companies. But it is inaccurate to claim he has a particular interest in the bottom line of Sanofi. Like most diversified investors, Trump’s stock portfolio benefits when the broad market rises and is not leveraged to the profits of one company. In any case, it is certainly false to claim he directly owns a stake in the French drugmaker.

Google confirms Hangouts Meet is now Google Meet

In a blog post this morning, Google confirmed that Hangouts Meet is no longer a Hangouts product, and will simply be known as Google Meet. The post, which lays out Google Meet's extensive security and privacy credentials, makes no mention of the change, but refers to the product throughout as Google Meet. Similarly, the Meet support pages have almost all been updated with language calling the service Google Meet, where they previously said Hangouts Meet. The official Hangouts Meet app for Android retains its old name at the time of this post, but we suspect that change will follow once the company decides on a new visual identity that doesn't include the old Hangouts logo, as the app currently does. The app will likely need a new logo, as the current one prominently features the old Hangouts logo. This then begs the question: What happens to Meet's sister service, Hangouts Chat? If I were a betting man, I'd guess a similar image rehabilitation is in the cards, and that the service will be renamed Google Chat (ironic, considering Google's first chat platform, Google Talk, was colloquially known as Gchat). It's possible that may not happen until the Hangouts consumer client is well and fully dead, though we still don't have a timeline for that shutdown. What does this mean for Google Meet users? Obviously, not much. Getting away from the Hangouts name is a smart move: the brand is associated with a discontinued live streaming service, a disused video and call platform, and Google's mostly-loathed Hangouts instant messaging service. As Google attempts to go toe-to-toe with services like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack, it's probably wise to put the Google name front and center, as it does for so many of its other services (Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Keep, Google Assistant, the list goes on). The timing of this change is likely no coincidence, either. Given the massive number of workers that have forcibly gone fully remote in the last few weeks across Google's primary market, the US, the Meet and Chat teams are doubtless under tremendous pressure to move forward their current soft launch plans and get to a fully rolled-out state. Could we see general consumer access opened up to these currently org-only (G Suite) apps sooner rather than later? Given the urgency, you might think yes, though Google's long track record of delays and staged rollouts for products would give me pause.

Pickup Truck Runs People Over During Street Fight in Ontario

Pickup Truck Runs People Over During Street Fight in Ontario Duration: 00:43 A pickup truck drove through a group of people who were fighting outside a branch of Lube King in Windsor, Ontario, dramatic footage posted on April 6 shows. This video, shot from a passerby in a vehicle, shows people brawling, some with weapons, including a machete, before a pickup truck exits the roadway and drives through them, knocking several people down. The video was recorded by Misty Wuerch, she told Storyful, “I caught a bit of the fight when suddenly a red truck pulled in front of me, I’m assuming to try and break up the fight, however he charged forward fitting 2 of the men and even looks like he ran one over.” Police closed off a section of Tecumseh Road East where the incident occurred and were investigating, according to local news reports. Credit: Misty Wuerch via Storyful

Hair Cuttery's Owner Expects to Miss Payroll on Tuesday -- Update

By Charity L. Scott One of the largest hair-salon companies in the U.S. said it can't afford to make payroll on Tuesday, more evidence of just how swiftly and severely the coronavirus pandemic has damaged businesses big and small. Ratner Cos., which owns Hair Cuttery and other salon brands, has more than 700 locations and employs thousands of stylists. Hair Cuttery closed all of its locations on March 21 but still owes many workers for shifts they worked before it shut down. In a video to staff, executives said the closely held company simply doesn't have the funds to make payroll on April 7 and is unsure when it might receive any assistance from the U.S. government. While employees in some states have received some pay, Ratner doesn't have enough to issue paychecks to the rest of its workers. "I know this is devastating news to hear," President Phil Horvath said in the video, referring to the news the company wouldn't pay employees what they had earned. "We took this extreme measure to ensure the survival of the company." The Vienna, Va., company had borrowed funds to make its previous payroll payments on March 24 and had used any money that came in until the stores closed to pay for health-insurance premiums for the month of April, Mr. Horvath said. He said the company intended to pay staff what they are owed once it secured additional funds. Ratner said it planned to seek assistance from the federal government but said it still was still waiting to learn details about the Cares Act, which created lending programs for small and large businesses. "We don't know how much we'll get, when we'll get it or what we have to do to get it," Mr. Horvath said. The company didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. The Federal Reserve has said it plans to launch a program, called the Main Street Lending Facility, that will help aid businesses that are too large to qualify for help from the Small Business Administration and too small to receive aid from lending facilities the Fed is creating for large, highly rated corporations. The $2.2 trillion economic-relief package Congress passed last month directed the Treasury to work with the Fed on establishing a facility aimed at smaller firms, as well as states and municipalities, and provided $454 billion to the Treasury to backstop the Fed's losses. Fed and Treasury officials are still finalizing the details of the program, and haven't said how it would be structured or which firms would be eligible. Cynthia Cole, a stylist at a Hair Cuttery location in Frederick, Md., said she found out on Friday she wouldn't be paid the roughly $700 she is owed in her paycheck Tuesday. Previously, workers were told that their paid-time-off requests wouldn't be honored, so many stylists chose to keep working until the salons were closed on March 21. "We were trying to get everyone in before our doors did shut, so we were actually really busy at our salon," said Ms. Cole, who was furloughed and filed for unemployment benefits. Company leaders issued new rules around how the staff should do their jobs in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. "They gave us guidelines not to do beard trims, not to do waxing, and to work at every other station, which didn't make sense to me because we were still not six feet away from our clients," Ms. Cole said. "Toward the end, people started getting scared of working," she added. "But since they weren't closed down, they knew that they would have to go in -- in order to get a paycheck that apparently they're not even receiving." Ratner, which competes with publicly traded Regis Corp., had been struggling before the coronavirus outbreak swept through the U.S. Ratner said in January it was closing about 10% of its salons, citing increasing competition and rising operating costs. "I'm truly sorry and heartbroken over how this has affected all of you, all of us," Ratner founder Dennis Ratner said in the video. He and his wife started the company with a single salon in 1974. "Unfortunately, the business was in a challenged-yet-improving state before we had to shut down. It's so devastating to be where we are today." --Kate Davidson contributed to this article. Write to Charity L. Scott at Charity.Scott@wsj.com

News Blog: During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, PBOT focuses on essential services and protecting public health and safety

News media contact: Hannah Schafer (971) 235-8472 hannah.schafer@portlandoregon.gov @pbotinfo News Blog: During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, PBOT focu ses on essential services and protecting public health and safety Governor’s order to restrict travel only to essential trips is mandatory Portlanders should treat every street as a shared street (April 6, 2020) During Portland’s COVID-19 public health emergency, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) urges all Portlanders to follow the Stay Home. Save Lives order and avoid all non-essential travel. Governor Brown’s Stay Home. Save Lives order—announced on March 23—directs Oregonians to make only essential trips such as to buy groceries or seek medical care. When people do travel they must maintain the proper social distance of six feet apart. “We need to stay home to flatten the curve,” said Transportation Commissioner Chloe Eudaly. “PBOT is working around the clock to continue providing the essential transportation services that Portlanders need, and to prioritize the needs of our most vulnerable community members—I want to thank every PBOT employee for their hard work during this crisis. Our priorities are to keep everyone safe, alleviate economic burdens on essential workers, and to engage with our community now to build a stronger, more sustainable transportation future for Portland when we get through this crisis.” “Don’t travel if you don’t have to. That’s our main message at this time,” said PBOT Director Chris Warner. “Governor Brown and our public health experts have made it very clear. If we stay home, we will save lives.” Director Warner continued by urging Portlanders to travel safely and to look out for each other. “During this crisis, we should treat every street as a shared street. Please don’t do anything that will endanger the lives of other Portlanders. At a time when our medical resources are severely stressed, we want to do everything we can to keep people out of the hospital.” If you have to drive, PBOT urges residents to make every effort to avoid neighborhood streets and greenways. This is particularly critical in parts of the city that lack bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, where people may walk in the streets to maintain social distancing. There is little traffic at the moment and while Portlanders may be tempted to drive faster, they shouldn’t. The last thing needed at the moment is added pressure on our heath care workers from roadway injuries. Promoting Healthy and Safe Travel PBOT has already taken a number of steps to support the Governor’s order and protect the health and safety of Portlanders. A new, focused approach to street maintenance The bureau has introduced significant changes to its maintenance operations. To ensure that Portlanders can still travel safely to fulfill their essential needs, crews are focused on maintaining critical assets such as traffic signals, conducting urgent repairs, and responding to emergency situations—including the recent landslide on West Burnside. To protect PBOT’s crews and the general public, the bureau has put new health and safety protocols in place. These include modified shifts, social distancing, and other precautions based on current guidelines from local, state, and federal health officials. Among other work over the last week, PBOT maintenance crews filled almost 200 potholes and repaired over two dozen street sections. In the same time, they removed 110 cubic yards of debris—the equivalent of almost 10 large dump trucks—from city streets. Crews also responded to 22 sewer spills or emergency sewer repairs. Discounted SmartPark rates To bring relief to residents and visitors who must travel downtown by car, PBOT reduced the all-day parking rate in the city’s five SmartPark garages to $5 dollars, the same cost as a round-trip TriMet ticket. Modified Tram Operations To protect the health of safety of health care workers and patients, PBOT modified the operations of the Portland Aerial Tram, limiting ridership to hospital employees and patients, and reducing occupancy to only 10 people at a time to preserve social distancing. Virtual Public Meetings During the first two weeks of the public health emergency, PBOT cancelled all public meetings and open houses to protect Portlanders from the spread of COVID-19. During that time, PBOT developed new protocols for public meetings. Since April 1, the bureau is conducting all public meeting using digital platforms which will allow for public participation while supporting the Stay Home. Save Lives order. New Safe Travel Measures Starting this week, PBOT is taking additional steps to promote safe travel and bring relief to Portlanders impacted by COVID-19 public health emergency. In accordance with the Stay Home. Save Lives order, the first option for Portlanders should be to stay home. If residents must make essential trips, PBOT has taken the following steps to make two transportation options more affordable. Reduced BIKETOWN fees BIKETOWN, the city’s bikeshare system, is offering significantly discounted pricing through April 30 to provide all Portlanders who need to complete essential trips with a convenient and affordable transportation option that allows for social distancing. Rides on the pay-as-you-go plan will now be only $0.01/minute with a $0.10 one-time sign-up fee, compared to the regular $.08/minute with $5 signup fee. Overage fees for all current and new annual and month-to-month members will also be reduced to $0.01/minute, compared to the regular $0.08/minute. Reduced Spin e-scooter fees PBOT has partnered with Spin—one of Portland’s e-scooter providers—to reduce the cost of e-scooter rentals in order to encourage Portlanders to take advantage of this option for essential travel. Through the end of this month, Spin e-scooter rides will be 50% off. PBOT and Spin may extend this offer further, and PBOT will be increasing Spin’s fleet by 250 scooters to recognize their support for the community. Spin has also announced unlimited, free 30-minute rides for “Everyday Heroes,” like healthcare workers—medical professionals can apply for that benefit on their website: https://www.spin.app/covid19 When using BIKETOWN and e-scooters, PBOT reminds users to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer after their ride. Deferred permit renewal fees for Private for-Hire transportation companies PBOT regulates private for-hire transportation services such as taxis, limousines, and non-emergency medical transport. Many of these companies and their drivers are facing unexpected financial burdens because of the Covid-19 outbreak. To provide temporary relief, PBOT is offering the option to defer the payment of permit renewal fees until July 1, 2020. Continued project completion During the public health emergency, PBOT's Fixing Our Streets and other capital construction projects are continuing, although contractors are required to implement social distancing techniques in their work. A new bicycle connection on NE Holladay as part of the HOP (Holladay, Oregon, Pacific) Neighborhood Greenway to a crossing at NE 122nd Avenue (looking east). Photo by PBOT. PBOT contractors recently completed work on the HOP (Holladay, Oregon, Pacific) Neighborhood Greenway in the Hazelwood neighborhood in East Portland. The new greenway provides a low-stress, east-west bike/ped connection parallel to the high traffic NE Halsey and NE Glisan corridors, connecting people biking and walking to essential services like the Gateway Fred Meyer and the Gateway Transit Center. The $1.5 million project, funded by Fixing Our Streets and Transportation System Development Charges, employed 64 people and had a 29.33% participation of Disadvantaged, Minority, Women, Emerging Small Business and Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises. A gravel street was paved street on NE Holladay between 118th and 119th avenues to provide a more direct bicycle route as part of the HOP Neighborhood Greenway. Photo by PBOT. The project added bike lanes and pavement markings, constructed speed bumps, and installed crossing improvements at NE Pacific Street at 102nd Avenue and at NE Holladay at 122nd Avenue. It also paved two unimproved road segments at NE Oregon Street between 110th and 111th avenues and at NE Holladay Street between 118th and 119th avenues. The new greenway is part of the rapidly expanding East Portland bike network including the recently constructed 130s Neighborhood Greenway and the soon-to-be-constructed 100s Neighborhood Greenway. Support for citywide measures Bureau staff have assisted with citywide COVID-19 emergency response efforts. PBOT’s Equity and Inclusion team is supporting efforts to connect service providers and community partners with volunteers and resources. Staff in PBOT’s permitting, parking enforcement and streetcar teams are continuing to support populations served by the Joint Office of Homeless Services. Various teams will be working to support food access efforts, including coordination with food trucks and right of way guidance for food distribution sites and in support of food pickups at local businesses. Information resources PBOT has created an FAQ about the special measures the bureau is taking in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. It is updated regularly and can be found here. The City of Portland also maintains a list of the changes to city services, including PBOT services, here. Looking ahead “During this crisis, we have seen how absolutely vital safe, well-maintained transportation assets are,” said Director Warner. “We will get through this crisis. Today, we are rightly focused on keeping our transportation system safe and accessible. But we also need to think about the future and how we should improve mobility for Portlanders, especially ones hardest hit by this crisis.” PBOT staff have started to develop ideas for how streets, sidewalks and other parts of the public right-of-way could be reimagined to support social distancing after the current Stay Home. Save Lives order is lifted. The bureau would like to hear from Portlanders with ideas and residents who would like to contribute are encouraged to email Active.Transportation@portlandoregon.gov The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation

Twitter CEO sets aside $1 billion in Square equity for charity, coronavirus relief

Square and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said Tuesday he will set aside $1 billion in his Square equity to support relief efforts for COVID-19 and other causes once the pandemic is over. In a series of tweets, Dorsey said that after the pandemic is over, he will dedicate the money to causes like universal basic income (UBI) and girls' health and education. He said he's pulling the shares from his stake in Square instead of Twitter because he own more stock in the Square. Dorsey said he'll cash in the shares over time. Dorsey Tweet. "The impact this money will have should benefit both companies over the long-term because it's helping the people we want to serve," Dorsey said on Twitter. Dorsey said that he wants to see the impact of his donation during his lifetime, and that "the needs are increasingly urgent." He also said he hopes it will inspire others to "do something similar." Dorsey also tweeted a link to a public Google Doc where people can track which organizations the fund's money will go to. Dorsey isn't the only technologist to fund coronavirus relief efforts, though he's doing it on a big scale. Amazon's Jeff Bezos has said that he is donating $100 million to U.S. food banks. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan donated $25 million toward creating treatments for coronavirus through their philanthropic organization, The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. And the Bill Gates Foundation has said it will spend billions to fight coronavirus, according to The Wall Street Journal.

MARSHALL: Mapping TTC crowding during a pandemic

Sean Marshall is a Toronto planner, transit advocate, and long-time Spacing contributor. This is cross-posted from his personal web site. While most people are urged to stay home as much as possible during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are those who must carry on. These include health care workers, staff at grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential businesses, and others who can not work from home. There are also those who continue to require transit to undertake essential errands, such as medical appointments. Thankfully, most transit systems have carried on. Through GO Transit has experienced an 80% drop in ridership since the beginning of March, it continues to operate all rail lines and most bus routes, providing fewer trips, but maintaining the same span of service hours. The TTC discontinued most express routes, but it maintains a grid of frequent bus and streetcar services. However, the TTC and Brampton Transit continue to struggle with crowding on certain routes. Brampton Transit — which has resorted to an “enhanced Saturday service” level – will only carry half a bus’s seated capacity to enforce social distancing, which has resulted in “closed-door” situations where buses won’t stop for waiting passengers. As a result, several routes are now discontinued during peak periods so that buses are sent to address crowding elsewhere. Brampton Transit serves many shipping warehouses, including two Amazon fulfillment centres, which remain busy during this time. Similarly, the TTC has also reduced its loading standards to ensure that staff and customers are able to remain safe. However, the TTC is struggling with morning rush hour crowding on ten bus routes: 29 Dufferin 35 Jane 41 Keele 44 Kipling South 96 Wilson 102 Markham Road 117 Alness-Chesswood 119 Torbarrie 123 Sherway 165 Weston Rd North These routes, mostly clustered in the city’s northwest, are illustrated below. Routes 117 and 119 are industrial services, connecting warehouses and food service plants. These industries — like the infamous Fiera Foods plants served by Route 119 — rely on low-paid, often temporary workers, with early morning starts. Certain warehouses and many food-service plants also have very early starts to the day. It would be tough for workers to accommodate the TTC’s request to travel at later times. Routes 96, 102, and 165 also extend into major industrial areas. Route 123 serves the Metro supermarket chain’s distribution centres on Dundas Street and The West Mall. Many of these routes run through Toronto’s neighbourhood improvement areas, which are identified by the city as those requiring additional investment due to issues such as poor access to services and higher concentrations of low-income families. In addition, routes 41, 96, 119, and 165 serve the Humber River Regional Hospital, one of Toronto’s largest health care facilities, while the 96 Wilson also directly serves Etobicoke General Hospital. Though it would be best for private essential employers to stagger shifts during this unprecedented time, the TTC has since recognized that is not an option for many employees. On April 1, the TTC announced that an additional 47 buses are now added to those routes — as well as the 300 and 320 night buses and the 52 Lawrence West to the Airport — to meet the demand while ensuring the safety of its customers. photo by Can Pac Swire (cc)

Grocery prices are rising as eat-at-home demand soars during the coronavirus pandemic

JPMorgan says food companies have started to talk about reducing the number of promotions they offer, and Mondelez International Inc., Kellogg Co. and plenty of other businesses stand to benefit. With people across the U.S. staying home more, diners are eating in, sending flocks of shoppers to retailers like Kroger Co. KR, +2.15% , Costco Wholesale Corp. COST, -0.86% , Walmart Inc. WMT, -1.01% and others. Though shoppers may be done with their initial stockpiling, which sent sales of grocery and household necessities soaring in March, analysts say they’ll likely maintain shopping activity to replenish essential items. Read:Traffic at Walmart, Costco and Target falls or the first time in weeks as coronavirus stockpiling behavior shifts BMO Equity Research data shows that grocery sales grew 83% for the two weeks ending March 22. Sales were up a whopping 89% for the week ending March 15 and up 77% for the week ending March 22. In a recent note, JPMorgan analysts said 22% of food on store shelves is discounted, according to the companies under its coverage, and the average discount is 23%. Retail sales would increase 5% if all discounts went away. “In a normal environment, reduced discounts — that is, higher prices — would lead to lower volumes, but we are not in normal times,” JPMorgan said. “We think elasticity will be minimal as long as food-at-home is benefiting from COVID-19 to this degree.” Analysts noted that J.M. Smucker Co. SJM, -0.53% has already announced that it will be cutting discounts, saying in a March 19 letter to retailers that terminating promotions scheduled to start between April 17 and Nov. 30 is one of the measures it’s taking to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. See: A record number of Americans are losing their jobs -- but Amazon, Walmart and Ace Hardware and others are hiring to fill 479,000 opening amid coronavirus Conagra Brands Inc. CAG, -0.71% has said it’s working with its retail customers on cutting discounts as well. “What I would tell you on promotions right now is, we’re honoring all the contracts we have in place,” said Conagra Chief Executive Sean Connolly on the company’s third-quarter earnings call on March 31, according to a FactSet transcript. “But the tactical dynamic is that we’re in daily discussions with our customers on how to help them meet the needs of their shoppers. And many customers are looking to pull back on promotions as they try to manage the basics of just keeping their shelves stocked.” In addition to Mondelez and Kellogg, JPMorgan said Kraft Heinz Co. KHC, -2.93% , Campbell Soup Co. CPB, -0.30% and Kroger will be among the companies that gain the most from reducing discounts. “Over the last four- and two-week periods, the percentage of food-at-products sold on deal has started to decline year-over-year,” the analysts wrote. Watch:Can companies keep up with the new demand of online grocery shopping? Grocers aren’t the only ones cutting promotions to keep shoppers from rushing the shelves. Home Depot Inc. HD, -1.66% said it has canceled all major spring promotions to keep from driving traffic to its stores, part of its social-distancing efforts. S&P Global Ratings also identifies certain categories, like shelf-stable foods and household cleaners, as well-positioned for the coronavirus pandemic and volatile capital markets. “The initial spike in demand from pantry-loading and consumers replenishing at a rapid rate because of the shift to at-home consumption gives manufacturers of staple items an advantage,” S&P said.

Company of Crime: Announcement Trailer

Company of Crime: Announcement Trailer Resistance Games introduces you to Company of Crime, its 1960s London-set strategy game coming soon for PC.

Valorant has just become the game with the highest number of concurrent viewers in the history of Twitch

UPDATE: VALORANT has just become the game with the highest number of concurrent viewers in the history of Twitch: 1, 750, 482 viewers are watching the game right now on Twitch (10PM CET, April 7) Previously League of Legends held the record with 1,743,521 concurrent viewers during the Worlds finals last year. It should be noted that the Valorant numbers are heavily skewed due to Twitch beta drops, and an abundance of bots and fake accounts watching streams in hope of beta key, so you should take this numbers with a grain of salt. Original Story: Months will pass before Valorant comes out in its full version and the game is already making some serious noise in the world of competitive online gaming. The open beta is live, but just a very small selected number of people is able to play it. One of the possible ways to get into closed beta is by getting the beta key while watching streamers who are currently playing Valorant and hoping for a random Twitch drops of beta keys. That's undoubtedly one of the driving forces behind an enormous amount of people that are currently watching streamers playing Valorant on Twitch. Read more: All Valorant Ranks Revealed At the time of writing this article, more than 1.6 million viewers are currently watching various Twitch streamers playing Valorant, and that number is only expecting to rise. The current record holder for most concurrent views on Twitch is LoL, with 1.74 million, which happened during the 2019 Worlds finals. It will be interesting to see of Valorant will be able to break this record, especially since in the NA region day has just started. Only a selected number of famous and most popular Streamers got direct access from Riot to play Valorant last week when the game broke 1 million concurrent viewers on Twitch. Although there aren't any disclosures, it is highly likely that they were all paid to play and promote Riot's game, something similar we saw last year with Apex Legends and Electronic Arts paying popular streames to play their Battle Royale in order to promote it. At the current moment, most-watched streamers that are playing Valorant are summit1g (180k viewers), TimTheTatman(111k viewers), xQcOW(76k viewers), and others. Big names like DrDisrespect, Seagull, Forsen, DrLupo and many others are also playing and streaming Valorant right now. For comparison, next game by numbers, after Valorant, is currently CS:GO, with 275k viewers, and that's only because ESL Pro League is broadcasting right now.

Secrets in Plain Sight

Freedom Tower is the colloquial name for the One World Trade Center building which is currently under construction and scheduled to be completed ’round about Dec 21, 2012. Governor of New York George Pataki stated in 2003 that, “The Freedom Tower isn’t going to be One World Trade Center, it’s going to be the Freedom Tower…I think One and Two World Trade Center are sacred names which should never be used again.” –Source Image copyright Silverstein Properties Google Earth allows you to view latitude and longitude coordinates in degrees/minutes/seconds or decimal degrees. You can change the display to decimal degrees in the program’s options. The point marked Freedom Tower in the above image has the following coordinates which you can easily verify: Latitude 40.713° Longitude -74.013° Decimal longitudes west of the prime meridian are negative and those east of it are positive. Adding the latitude and longitude values we get: 40.713° -74.013° = -33.300° I suggest you pull out your calculator and verify this. That’s what I did this morning and my jaw hit the floor when I read my friend Jan Thulstrup’s post on this discovery. See my post on 33. An architect friend David Shipway had a hunch that the original Twin Towers might match the proportions of the columns of Boaz and Jachin (as described in the Bible) that were part of Solomon’s temple and a part of every Freemasonic lodge in the world. I made a model in SketchUp and verified this is indeed the case. The Twin Towers are overlaid as rectangles, drawn with real-world proportions: Just in case you think the symbolism ended, the 9/11 Memorial opens on the 10 year anniversary on 9/11/2011: 9+11+2+0+11 = 33. The story of Samson the giant Israelite from the tribe of Dan tearing down the two pillars resonates with 9/11. See my post about the Children of Dan. Samson Destroying the Temple of the Philistines by Phillips Galle (16th century) The Freedom Tower will be the tallest building in the United States at 1776 feet including its mast. July 4th, 1776 was of course the date the Declaration of Independence was signed. The pyramidion on top of the Transamerica Pyramid lights up on July 4th. Incidentally the Freedom Tower looks to me like two Trance America Pyramids (as above, so below) merged together if you will. Can you see that? Right image courtesy Daniel Schwen under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license. July 4th is also Aphelion, the day the Earth is farthest from the Sun. 1776 is an interesting number. It is the sum of 888 + 888. The Bavarian Illuminati was formed also in 1776 on May 1st (Beltane). Reflecting the Freedom Tower in an Orwellian mirror it appears as a Tower of Slavery in a novus ordo seclorum. Globalism is all smoke and mirrors. Another friend Dr. Mark Gray pointed out that the upper part of the building’s form is known to mathematicians as a square anti-prism (stretched upward): Image created by Robert Webb’s Great Stella software http://www.software3d.com/Stella.html If prisms split light into a diversity of colors then the antiprism symbolically sucks up all colors of light. Back to the light bearer, or E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one) if you will. The square anti-prism is also known as the anticube. That’s interesting because the full form of the building is an anticube sitting on an cube, as above so below, as if reflected in a symbolic mirror. I don’t fully understand the math but the Wikipedia page on the square anti-prism shows the following diagram which represents the anticube’s vertex figure: The red edges are shorter than the yellow edges. I can’t help but remember the D+M pyramid on Mars that I wrote about in The Snowflake and the Flower. Here’s a sequence of zoom shots of the base of the Freedom Tower that yet another friend, Grant Chamberlin took two weeks ago: What’s going on here? Grant presented it to me as a D+M pyramid. Why did someone involved in the design or construction of the Freedom Tower paint this mark? Were they aware of the design’s mathematical meaning? It seems unlikely but there it is in plain sight. Grant took these photos just as they were building the halfway point where the floor plate is perfectly octagonal. If you watched my videos you might remember how the octagon is resoundingly a solar symbol. The Freedom Tower will have 104 floors when completed. The octagon is therefore on floor 52, resonating with 52 weeks in a solar year, just like 555 California Street in San Francisco which has 52 floors in all. Not including the mast, the height of the building is 1368 feet, the same exact height as WTC1 which was of course destroyed on 9/11. Image source This view of WTC1 (from the northeast) looks like a “bubbler” of dust. This does not look like a “collapse.” Material is being launched upward and outward. The whitish material arcs over and begins to fall downward while the southern portion (away from the camera) appears to shoot straight up. –Dr. Judy Wood In less than 2 weeks we are coming up on the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. It’s one hell of a secret in plain sight. How many people still think people with box cutters made 500,000 tons of material go up in smoke? I recommend checking out Where Did The Towers Go?, Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth, and the Ring of Power video which exposes the Zionist connections by following the money (thanks to Jon Mayberry for sending it to me): I wrote about the connection between the Kaaba and the World Trade Center in my post on 110-111 and it is worth repeating here: The [Great Spherical Caryatid, aka The Sphere] artwork [in between the twin towers] was meant to symbolize world peace through world trade, and was placed at the center of a ring of fountains and other decorative touches designed by trade center architect Minoru Yamasaki to mimic the Grand Mosque of Mecca, Masjid al-Haram, in which The Sphere stood at the place of the Kaaba. –Source It is a great irony that the official story of 9/11 is of Islamic terrorists who destroyed what the architect who designed the WTC saw as an exquisite monument to Islam. The Kaaba in Mecca The 9/11 Memorial’s reflecting pools in the footprints of WTC1 and WTC2 are like twin mirrors reflecting the form of Grand Mosque in Mecca: The above image was posted by Mark Gray on Facebook. The 9/11 memorial inverts the form of the holiest place in Islam and therefore resonates with Islamic anger. The precise distance between the Kaaba in Mecca and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is 666 nautical miles. I recommend you verify this yourself in Google Earth to fully experience the mystery. Mark also discovered that the pier that accesses the Statue of Liberty (SOL) on Liberty island is oriented perfectly in line with the Kaaba in Mecca. The red line stretches from the torch of the SOL to the center of the black cube in Mecca. See One Times Square for more on the SOL’s torch. Incidentally the SOL was built inside the pre-existing 11-sided walls of Fort Wood which were completed in 1811. The SOL was dedicated on 1886. The SOL’s crown of 7 rays compared to the base star’s 11 points matches the 7:11 proportions of the Great Pyramid from height to base. Back to NYC, here is a computer rendering of the West Chamber within the 9/11 Memorial: Rendering copyright Squared Design Lab – Image Source The West Chamber is a room of massive scale and soaring height. Here, the “slurry wall,” a surviving retaining wall of the original World Trade Center that withstood the devastation of 9/11, will be presented as a testament to survival and determination. Against this backdrop will be the “Last Column,” 36-feet high and covered with mementoes, memorial inscriptions, and missing posters placed there by ironworkers, rescue personnel, and others. Removed during the ceremony marking the close of the recovery effort at ground zero, the column, laid prone, was draped with an American flag and escorted by honor guard. Standing tall once again, the Last Column will encourage reflection on the foundations of resilience, hope, and community with which we might build our collective future. –Source Is it any wonder why the Last Column is 36 feet high? The sum of the numbers 1 through 36 is 666. See my post on 666. The slurry wall is setup to become another Wailing Wall like the one in Jerusalem. Both walls are situated on the Western side of their respective complexes. The Wailing Wall is also known of course as as the Western Wall. The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem by Gustav Bauernfeind (19th century) The atrium space of the 9/11 Memorial will feature two tridents presumably made out of the original steel beams from the Two Towers right on the spot where the Great Spherical Caryatid (known as The Sphere) used to be. See my posts on 110-111 and Ellipses. Rendering copyright Squared Design Lab – Image Source Mark Gray reads the two pairs of 3 prongs together as another 33 and I think he has found another huge secret in plain sight. Patrick from Ontario Canada sent me this image that synchromystically resonates with the two tridents (33) and the twin towers. Look closer and you’ll be looking into the cold blue eyes of a destroyer: Image source The Transformers subtitle Dark of the Moon is another powerful clue. Are we looking at Lucifer in the above image? It has been said the Prince of Darkness has a base on the dark side of the moon. This reminds me of Mike Myers’ hilarious rendition of Dr. Evil’s moon base in The Spy Who Shagged Me. Pink Floyd’s famous cover of The Dark Side of the Moon also resonates with the light bringer’s prism and the Freedom Tower’s anti-prism shape: Image source Chapter 9 verse 11 of the book of Revelation (Christian holy book) states: And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. Image from The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan 1850 edition Thanks to info a mutual friend Gerald Santana uncovered, Mark Gray brought the following pieces together about the trident symbols: Here’s another reading Mark makes on the trident symbol: Get ready for 9-11-11…When looked upon as a weapon of Shiva, the trishula [trident] is said to destroy the three worlds: the physical world, the world of the forefathers (representing culture drawn from the past) and the world of the mind (representing the processes of sensing and acting). The three worlds are supposed to be destroyed by Shiva into a single non-dual plane of existence, that is bliss alone. Image courtesy Dave Kleinschmidt under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. I like where Mark is going with this (purification and bliss through Shiva’s destruction), but I’m not sure those behind 9/11 megaritual as Jake Kotze likes to say were destroying in order to help us out. However, no matter the destroyers’ motives the result is the same. We wouldn’t be growing so exponentially in consciousness without the resistance the negative elites are providing. 9/11 truth is helping to wake up more and more people. We shall overcome by waking up NOW! Do you see what a team effort this is? Shiva Shiva Shiva Shambo. Shiva sculpture in LACMA (see Magic of Hollywood) ©2012 SIPS Productions Inc. – All Rights Reserved.

Gove rejects Scottish Government request to halt Brexit talks

The UK Government has rejected a call from Scotland’s Constitution Secretary to pause Brexit negotiations. Mike Russell wrote to Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, requesting a halt to the withdrawal process during the coronavirus pandemic. But the UK Government said it had “no intention of changing” the December 31 date for ending the transition period. But, bluntly, is the UK Government now expecting the Scottish Government to divert resources from tackling Covid-19 to carry out the necessary, extensive work that would be involved? Michael Russell Mr Russell has now written again to Mr Gove to restate the Scottish Government’s case. Mr Russell said there will be “dismay across Scotland” and much of the UK at the Government’s “intention to plough on with their plans for a hard Brexit, or indeed a no-deal Brexit, in less than nine months’ time”. He questioned how the UK Government can be focused on tackling coronavirus while also pursuing Brexit negotiations and said there had been “no meaningful discussion of issues with the devolved governments for almost two months”, with none likely in the foreseeable future due to the pandemic. He added: “But, bluntly, is the UK Government now expecting the Scottish Government to divert resources from tackling Covid-19 to carry out the necessary, extensive work that would be involved? “There is still time to change course – and the UK Government should confirm without delay that they will seek the year’s extension that is on offer from June. That would ensure that every effort is put to tackling the pandemic emergency. A UK Government spokeswoman said: “Our top priority as a Government is to slow the spread of the coronavirus, protect the NHS and keep people safe – we are working around the clock to do so, with all four nations together providing unprecedented financial support for businesses, workers and the self-employed. “We remain fully committed to the negotiations. The UK and EU have shared draft legal texts and discussions with the Commission are continuing. “The transition period ends on 31 December 2020, as enshrined in UK law, which the Prime Minister has made clear he has no intention of changing.”

Coronavirus Deaths Will Be 'Much, Much, Much Lower' Than Predicted Models, Says Head of CDC

In the ever-changing contradictory nature of information during the pandemic age, the head of the CDC, Robert Redfield, told listeners of Arizona’s 1030 KVOI radio he believes there’s good news ahead. Redfield said the death toll from the Chinese COVID-19 will be “much, much, much lower” than the models have predicted. “If we just social distance, we will see this virus and this outbreak basically decline, decline, decline. And I think that’s what you’re seeing,” he said. The models the White House is using projected the deaths of between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans. Redfield says models aren’t the end of the story. “Models are only as good as their assumptions, obviously there are a lot of unknowns about the virus,” he said. “A model should never be used to assume that we have a number.” He continued to praise the American people for taking the social distancing seriously, saying, “I think that’s the direct consequence of why you’re seeing the numbers are going to be much, much, much lower than would have been predicted by the models.” Redfield has vociferously approved of the social distancing measures taken by the federal and local governments. CDC Director Robert Redfield says social distancing is "the powerful weapon" against coronavirus: "This virus has a great weakness. It can't jump from one person to another if it's gotta swim more than six feet." https://t.co/b9FtmY5sM4 pic.twitter.com/R6KSekNfEA — CBS News (@CBSNews) April 3, 2020 Dr. Anthony Fauci continues to deny that the virus is under control or that it will do less damage than he has predicted. You can hear the interview with Redfield here starting around the 10:30 mark. Megan Fox is the author of “Believe Evidence; The Death of Due Process from Salome to #MeToo,” and host of The Fringe podcast. Follow on Twitter @MeganFoxWriter

Trump’s Inspector General Has Expressed Dim Views of Congressional Oversight

Questions about the independence of the program’s inspector general emerged almost immediately after the president signed the $2 trillion economic relief package into law. In an unusual signing statement, Mr. Trump suggested he had the power to decide what information a newly created inspector general intended to monitor the fund could share with Congress. That prompted concern among lawmakers and watchdog groups, which said Mr. Trump’s statement went further than previous presidents in limiting the authority of the inspector general. The president has not been shy about his resistance to independent oversight in recent weeks, particularly individuals who played a role in the impeachment proceedings. On Friday night, after announcing that he intended to nominate Mr. Miller, Mr. Trump also said that he was firing the intelligence community’s inspector general who alerted lawmakers to a whistle-blower complaint about the president’s dealings with Ukraine. At a news conference on Monday, Mr. Trump assailed a Department of Health and Human Services inspector general for writing a report detailing equipment shortages that hospitals face as they confront the coronavirus. Mr. Trump suggested that the report was politically motivated because the inspector general was first appointed during the Obama administration. Mr. Trump further eroded the oversight architecture of the $2 trillion economic stabilization package on Tuesday when he removed Glenn A. Fine, the Defense Department’s acting inspector general who had been tapped to lead a separate Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, and replaced him with Sean O’Donnell, who is the inspector general of the Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Fine had been selected to lead the committee by a panel of inspectors general. A White House spokesman declined to make Mr. Miller available for an interview and would not comment on whether he had a role in drafting the signing statement or discuss his level of involvement in the impeachment process.

‘Cats’ VFX Artist Speaks Out on Editing Buttholes, Tom Hooper’s ‘Disrespectful’ Behavior

The VFX artist says working for Tom Hooper on "Cats" was "almost slavery." The much-discussed “butthole cut” of “Cats” has been confirmed by an anonymous VFX artist who worked on the Tom Hooper musical adaptation. The crew member spoke to The Daily Beast about working on the infamous musical film, which had an early cut where the feline characters appeared with buttholes. While the decision was anatomically correct for the cats, the look was too jarring for release. The VFX artist said, “When we were looking at the playbacks, we were like, ‘What the hell? You guys see that?’” “We paused it. We went to call our supervisor, and we’re like, ‘There’s a fucking asshole in there! There’s buttholes!’ the VFX artist continued. “It wasn’t prominent but you saw it. And you [were] just like, ‘What the hell is that? There’s a fucking butthole in there.’ It wasn’t in your face — but at the same time, too, if you’re looking, you’ll see it.” The VFX artist was a part of the team tasked with removing the buttholes from an early cut of “Cats.” The crew member has harsh words for director Tom Hooper and calls the experience of working on the film “almost slavery.” Other crew members told The Daily Beast they would stay in the office for “two or three days at a time, sleeping under desks.” The VFX artist said Hooper would rudely criticize their work despite not having a background in animation himself. As The Daily Beast reports: “Some aspects of the production, the source alleges, became simply absurd — like when Hooper would demand to see videos of actual cats performing the same actions the cats would do in the film. ‘And as you know,’ the source said, ‘cats don‘t dance.'” The source went on to call Hooper “horrible,” “disrespectful,” and “demeaning,” adding, “When you go into a conference room, you’re not allowed to speak. And he talks to you like you’re garbage.” Universal Pictures opened “Cats” in theaters over the Christmas holiday, where it bombed at the box office with just $27 million in the U.S. and $73 million worldwide. The musical carried a budget of over $80 million before marketing costs. The VFX in “Cats” became a punching bag, most notably because of the “digital fur” used to turn human actors like Idris Elba and Jennifer Hudson into felines. The Oscars featured a bit in which presenters and “Cats” actors James Corden and Rebel Wilson ripped the film’s VFX, but IndieWire’s Chris O’Falt slammed the joke because it’s Hooper’s artistic vision that is to blame for “Cats” being a disaster, not the VFX artists. IndieWire has reached out to Hooper’s representatives and Universal for further comment. Head over to The Daily Beast to read more from the VFX artist’s interview. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.

Mood in Bihar Covid-19 quarantine camps: ‘Hum toh corona ko chabaa jayenge’

At the quarantine centre set up for migrants at Havaspur High School in Patlapur panchayat near Patna. (Express photo by Santosh Singh) At the quarantine centre set up for migrants at Havaspur High School in Patlapur panchayat near Patna. (Express photo by Santosh Singh) Pappu Kumar, 22, sits on the edge of his bed in a classroom at the Madhopur Middle School in Hetanpur panchayat, thumbing his phone. Days before the March 24 lockdown, Kumar, a labourer at a flour mill in Chandigarh, had come home to Madhopur village, 15 km from Patna, only to be asked to stay in the school-turned-quarantine centre for 14 days. About a dozen other beds in his room and the adjacent one are empty. Of about 1.8 lakh migrant workers who returned to the state before or during the lockdown, about 27,300 who came after March 17 were sent to 3,115 schools and panchayat bhawans that were converted into quarantine centres. According to the COVID-19 protocol drawn up by the state health department, samples of those under quarantine and displaying symptoms are to be tested. About 55,000 of the 27,300 migrants had returned from the COVID-19 “hotspot” states of Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka and Delhi, and these people were to be continuously monitored and screened for symptoms. The other migrants have been told to stay in “home quarantine”. But that’s on paper. The Indian Express visited three of five quarantine centres in the Danapur riverine area — which has six panchayats and a combined population of 80,000, with almost at least one person from each household working outside the state – and found most of the migrants on the 14-day quarantine list missing. READ | On Maharashtra highways, dhabas home for stranded truckers Middle School, Madhopur, Hetenpur panchayat Present: 1/20 on quarantine list Around 11.30 am, it’s all quiet at the Madhopur school. Two rooms here have been set aside to accommodate the 20 migrants from the village who are under quarantine. Brick field worker during lockdown, North 24 Pargana, Barasat, Express Photo Shashi Ghosh Brick field worker during lockdown, North 24 Pargana, Barasat, Express Photo Shashi Ghosh Wearing a mask, teacher Arvind Kumar, who has been tasked to look after the migrants, says, “Twenty people are supposed to be here. the others are out working in the fields. Three hours later, this correspondent drops by at the school again. This time, all the 20 beds are occupied. A villager standing at the school gate says, “After the teacher called the mukhiya, all those who had left were asked to come back.” High School, Havaspur, Patlapur panchayat Present: 18/60 on quarantine list It is lunch time at the Havaspur school-turned-quarantine centre. On the menu today is rice, dal, potato, vegetables and papad. Ravishankar Kumar, a teacher on duty, says some of the 60 people under quarantine here have already eaten; others, who are out working in the fields, will join soon. None of the migrants at the centre is wearing a mask. Kumar says he and his fellow teacher were given gloves and sanitisers. READ | Kerala plan: no flights till end of May, schools only for exams Four of the 12 classrooms that have been set aside for quarantine facilities are empty and there’s no sign of luggage by any of the beds. The centre has 10 beds, besides mattresses laid on carpet for the others. Most of the 60 migrants here had returned to the village in a truck, all the way from Kolkata, where they worked mostly as daily wagers or drivers or ran small provision shops. Lying on their beds after lunch, Dilip Rai and Raju Rai say they owned provision shops in Kolkata and that they will return as soon as the lockdown ends. “We follow the rules. We don’t step out of this school,” claims Dilip. Drones spray disinfectant on quarantine sites in Ahmedabad. (Express photo by Javed Raja) Drones spray disinfectant on quarantine sites in Ahmedabad. (Express photo by Javed Raja) Vijay Rai, who worked as a driver in Kolkata earning Rs 8,000 a month, says, “Jaana hi padega (we will have to go back to Kolkata).” What he is waiting for is a green signal from the doctor. “They told us we can go back once doctor saab comes and screens us. Par koi nahi aaya ab tak (But no doctor has come yet),” he adds. The marketplace outside the school is bustling, with grocery shops and food carts selling aloo tikki and litti doing brisk business. No sign here of the lockdown that’s in effect across the country. Jitendra Kumar, 22, is hanging out here. Isn’t he supposed to be home? “Corona? Hum to corona ko chaba jayenge. Hum log mehnat karne wale aadmi hai, shaharwalon ki tarah najuk nahin. Humlogon ka corona kuch nahi bigaad sakri hai (We will chew this coronavirus alive. We are hard-working, not delicate like townspeople. Corona can do nothing to us).” Other villagers say there’s hardly any restriction. “No one follows any quarantine at the school. They go there for breakfast, lunch and dinner and are home or out in the fields the rest of the time. But most of them spend the nights at the centre. What if there is a sudden inspection? This is a joke,” says a villager and the others nod. Panchayat Bhavan, Gangahara panchayat Present: 0/40 on quarantine list It’s 2 pm and there’s no one at the gates of the panchayat building. No one in a room on the ground floor either, just four beds spread out on the ground. Soon, Rakesh Kumar Singh, an executive assistant at the panchayat office, emerges. “The mukhiya is in charge of the quarantine centre. My job is to give periodic reports to the Block Development Office on panchayat works,” he says. Singh, however, has a list with names of 40 people who are supposed to be in quarantine at the centre, most of them who had returned from Kerala on March 26. One room, with four beds, has been set aside at the panchayat bhawan for the 40 people on the quarantine list. The other rooms are all of panchayat officials. None of them, not even Singh, wears masks. Outside the building, in Gangahara, villagers admit no one stays in the centre. “Kya lockdown? Kya corona?”, says a villager, before offering a conspiracy theory. “All of us think this coronavirus is some kind of government plan to siphon off funds. After all, how can someone who has walked miles to reach here have corona?” When told about the situation in these quarantine centres, Bihar Principal Secretary, Disaster Management, Pratyaya Amrit, told The Indian Express, “We have taken serious note of this and have asked the Patna District Magistrate to take action. Our action will set an example for violators of quarantine in other districts. We are also ensuring doctor visits to all these centres.” Here’s a quick Coronavirus guide from Express Explained to keep you updated: What can cause a COVID-19 patient to relapse after recovery? | COVID-19 lockdown has cleaned up the air, but this may not be good news. Here’s why | Can alternative medicine work against the coronavirus? | A five-minute test for COVID-19 has been readied, India may get it too | How India is building up defence during lockdown | Why only a fraction of those with coronavirus suffer acutely | How do healthcare workers protect themselves from getting infected? | What does it take to set up isolation wards? 📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App.

Plea on state of migrant workers: SC says it doesn’t want to interfere in govt decisions

The bench pointed out that according to the government, all those accommodated in the shelters were being provided with food. (File Photo/Representational) The bench pointed out that according to the government, all those accommodated in the shelters were being provided with food. (File Photo/Representational) HEARING A petition concerning migrant workers hit by the lockdown to curb the COVID-19 spread, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said it did not want to interfere in government decisions for the next 10-15 days. Heading a three-judge bench, Chief Justice of India S A Bobde made the remarks while hearing the plea by activist Harsh Mander. Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Prashant Bhushan said about four lakh migrant workers, who had started walking to their homes after the lockdown, were lodged in shelter homes, making a mockery of social distancing. He urged the court to allow these workers to return to their homes and to direct payment of wages to them, saying that many did not have money to send home. The bench pointed out that according to the government, all those accommodated in the shelters were being provided with food. Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the government is on the job and is looking into complaints received. The CJI pointed out that the petitioners were saying that in some shelters, the food is inedible and added that this is not something the court could monitor. The court, however, observed that it will ask the government to put in place a helpline for complaints. Here’s a quick Coronavirus guide from Express Explained to keep you updated: What can cause a COVID-19 patient to relapse after recovery? | COVID-19 lockdown has cleaned up the air, but this may not be good news. Here’s why | Can alternative medicine work against the coronavirus? | A five-minute test for COVID-19 has been readied, India may get it too | How India is building up defence during lockdown | Why only a fraction of those with coronavirus suffer acutely | How do healthcare workers protect themselves from getting infected? | What does it take to set up isolation wards? 📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App.

Bucs Uniforms Reveal Full Circle Moment for Lavonte David

This season, the Buccaneers will don new uniforms on the field that are reminiscent of the Super-Bowl era threads worn by the 2002 championship team. The team unveiled the new look for the 2020 season on Tuesday via the below video posted to the team's website and social media channels. That is, the uniforms will be new to most players. There's one player currently on the Bucs roster that was taken on a trip down memory lane when he first put them on: inside linebacker Lavonte David. "I feel young again," David laughed as he sat there during a promotional shoot wearing the 'new' home uniform combination of a red jersey and pewter pants. "These were my rookie year, taking me back to when I was 22. I just turned 30 so I like feeling young again. It looks very similar. I feel really good in them." YOU MAY LIKE: David was a fresh-faced first year in 2012 and has been with the franchise since. This uniform was the first professional uniform he ever put on, memories undoubtedly woven in that original red and pewter fabric as he smoothed his jersey and grinned. David spent two seasons in them before the Bucs switched to the more futuristic-looking kit. And now David is back in his original fit, 'but a little better,' he adds. "When I first put it on, I just thought about all the greatness that happened in these uniforms," said David. "I think everybody will like them when they hit the field." Greatness is obviously a tribute to the Super Bowl XXXVII Champions – but it's also a reference to himself. David hit the ground running when he first got into the league. His rookie season, he amassed 139 total tackles, 20 of which were for loss, and 2.0 sacks. The next year – while still in the same uniforms – David earned First-Team All-Pro honors after recording 145 tackles, 21 for loss and 7.0 sacks. He wouldn't ever let up. And where he was a young player trying to prove himself when he last wore these threads, he's now a vested veteran and leader to which younger guys look up to.

Babybel enters esports with Team Heretics deal

Le Groupe Bel’s cheese snack brand Babybel has entered the esports industry through a deal with Spanish organisation Team Heretics. Acting as the organisation’s official cheese snack, this is the first venture for Babybel in esports. RELATED: Font Vella sponsors Team Heretics, renews Vodafone Giants deal The deal will see Team Heretics and Babybel collaborate on initiatives that promote having healthy habits while gaming, though the specific activations haven’t been disclosed at the time of writing. Lara Borrajo, Marketing Director of Bel Spain, spoke on the company’s entrance in a release: “We are very proud to be the new sponsor of Team Heretics. Gaming is a territory in which we have been betting for a long time, and which has worked very well for us. Now, we want to go one step further, hand in hand with Team Heretics, one of the most influential teams in the esports scene. “We think it is an excellent opportunity to promote healthy snacking and fun. We are delighted that the most followed team in Spain and its players transmit our values ​​of the brand through the content and campaigns that we will develop together.” RELATED: Arnau Vidal on Team Heretics not making Call of Duty League Team Heretics announced the partnership through a YouTube video featuring a collection of its Fortnite players. The Spanish organisation recently received a sponsorship from Spanish bottled water brand Font Vella. Pablo Canosa, Commercial Director of Team Heretics, added: “For us this alliance is very important because it reinforces the strategic positioning of partnering with leading companies in their sector. The Bel group has more than 150 years of history and is present in 130 countries making a unique, healthy and fun product.” Esports Insider says: Esports is becoming more and more prominent as many sources of entertainment go on hold due to the ongoing pandemic, so prominent brands are looking to this particular industry as a means to promote products. It’s cool to see yet another well-known name enter esports and Team Heretics is certainly a good choice when it comes to garnering eyeballs on your products. ESI New York 2020 - Find out more

Side Temp and GG comish by GewdBoi on DeviantArt

Side Temp and GG comish By GewdBoi Watch 280 Favourites 3 Comments 3K Views Trying my best not to forget my DA page This was a Commission of an OC Side Temp and a 4chan Creationg Golden Girl / Audrey Page IMAGE DETAILS Image size 1300x950px 470.11 KB Show More Published : Nov 30, 2017 | Mature

U.S. Coronavirus Outbreak: State-by-State Death Toll

As coronavirus cases and deaths continue to increase in the U.S., researchers from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predict that as many as 290,000 deaths from Covid-19 could occur by December. The projections are one of several models that aim to predict the course of the disease in the U.S., and are based on research that considers data from other outbreak hotspots around the world and local conditions in each state. The methodology behind the projections has changed as researchers incorporate more information. Researchers now directly model how the disease is transmitted, considering factors like temperatures rising, social-distancing mandates being lifted and measures being implemented that could reduce spread, like more testing and contact tracing. Critics have said that the White House is relying on modeling that relies on statistics like hospitalizations rather than accounting for how people are likely to become sick. The projections are updated regularly as new information on cases and other data are collected, and Bloomberg News is monitoring the changes. Like any estimate, the model depends on the assumptions that go into it, which can make forecasting results far in the future difficult, or highly variable. Projected Deaths in the United States The outbreak is expected to peak at different times in each state. The model projects a high and low range of deaths, as well as an average. While projections suggest that the number of deaths per day in several states has already peaked, several states could see a new increase in deaths in the fall. In some states, the group said it has predicted more deaths at least in part because of an easing of social-distancing measures. In places like Florida, Alabama and Texas, researchers found increasing mobility by people, contributing to an increased number of predicted deaths. Daily projected deaths in each state The total number of deaths in each state will be influenced by factors including the vulnerability of the population, the availability of testing, hospital beds and medical equipment and the timing and effectiveness of distancing orders. The model has been adjusted to reflect states’s social-distancing policies, as well as when mobility decreases voluntarily, or increases as people go back to normal life. Many states have begun lifting restrictions on businesses and social distancing, and the model is likely to change further as more states follow.

Low-income California communities enact plan to fight disproportionate air pollution

OAKLAND, California — It’s a sunny Friday afternoon in West Oakland but community organizer Margaret Gordon, 72, is inside at the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, poring over maps of the city. Interstate 880 and the train station are both visible through the office window, and diesel trucks going to and from the port are more common than commuter cars. She points to a map, overlaid with dotted red lines, each covering a street in West Oakland, that highlights the effects all of those vehicles have on the community's air. “The darker the red is the higher the pollution. So if you look at West Oakland through these three freeways, and over here you get to see that pollution in this neighborhood, Hoover-Foster, it's not the same as pollution over here,” Gordon said referring to different neighborhoods in the greater West Oakland region, surrounded by interstates 980, 880, and 580. Like many of California’s cities, air pollution is not evenly distributed in Oakland. The unhealthy air is concentrated — usually in low-income neighborhoods of black and brown people. Gordon and the project have a plan to fight those environmental inequalities in their community, funded by a California bill focused explicitly on environmental justice. The West Oakland Port has the heaviest trucking activity from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M. every single day. Nina Riggio / for NBC News Forty-nine percent of West Oakland residents are African American, according to a 2015 study conducted by the Alameda County Public Health Department. At 17 percent of the population, Latinos are the second largest ethnic group, followed by white people at 15 percent. Almost 13 percent of West Oakland residents are Asian. The neighborhood's rate of hospitalization for asthma among children under five is nearly double that of the county as a whole. A study conducted by Society Health found that life expectancy varies by 24 years in Alameda County. West Oakland’s, 67 years, is closer to countries like Turkmenistan and North Korea than Piedmont — a community 3 miles away with a household median income of $212,000 as opposed to West Oakland’s $50,000. But West Oakland is not alone in its problems. From agriculture and pesticides in the San Joaquin Valley to trucks and rail yards in East Los Angeles, communities across California face unique air quality challenges. For West Oakland, pollution mostly comes from industrial trucking. Let our news meet your inbox. The news and stories that matters, delivered weekday mornings. This site is protected by recaptcha In December, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved the environmental project’s proposal to cut down air pollution, the first of 10 communities selected in 2018 to start implementing a plan designed by and for the people living in polluted neighborhoods. Lawmakers and community members hope that targeted, local plans will help make the air safe. Curtis, a resident of the houseless community in West Oakland, lives near the interstates and explained that he sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night in a coughing fit. He's currently trying to fix his engine so he can move locations to where there might be better air quality. Nina Riggio / for NBC News The community action plans are part of a broader effort to study and improve the air quality in places experiencing an undue share of pollution. Passed in 2017, California Bill AB 617 set aside $495 million in funding to help communities develop air quality plans and implement them, as well as monitor the air in their neighborhoods. The group in West Oakland had been collecting air quality data with a fleet of small monitors for years before the bill passed, which allowed them to move directly into community planning. Karen Magliano, chief of the Office of Community Air Protection, said AB 617 is in part a recognition that the state air resources board’s previous tactics of air quality improvement were leaving some people behind. “Some communities within California, specifically communities of color, low income communities, still have a very disproportionate pollution burden,” she says. “This is a new collaborative effort, so it's CARB and the local air districts and, really importantly, the community members themselves that we're working together with to both identify what the problems are and identify what the solutions are needed going forward.” West Oakland’s Community Action Plan was approved in December, making it the first to move on to implementation — and a new set of challenges. Among the plan’s 90 strategies for reducing air pollution and health risks, Gordon says a few take priority. She wants to see all trucks coming in and out of the Port of Oakland to be electric (diesel from trucking is a leading cause of pollution and illness in West Oakland), indoor air filtration for income-based housing, and green infrastructure to create a buffer between neighborhoods and polluters such as freeways and truck routes. Mike Zampa, the Port of Oakland Communications Director, said the Port largely agrees with the community's environmental goals. He says they’ve spent millions removing old diesel trucks and providing electric power to ships stopped at the Port so they don’t have to idle their engines. Zampa added that the Port has worked with community leaders in West Oakland and shares their goal of completely transitioning away from diesel equipment. Some of those plans, like the transition away from diesel, are expensive, and Gordon thinks they would require cash incentives to implement. That means more state funding, said Gordon, who has been an activist in West Oakland since 1992 and is still working on many of the same issues. Margaret Gordon points to where some of the air monitors have been located around West Oakland over the years in her conference room in West Oakland, Calif., on Feb. 14, 2020. Nina Riggio / for NBC News Traditionally, CARB has worked by developing regional plans focused on net gains for large parts of the state, designed to make sure areas such as Southern California or the San Joaquin Valley meet federal air standards. But widely dispersed monitors meant parts of those regions were still below standards — just because Southern California’s air was improving overall didn’t mean that truck-heavy neighborhoods in San Bernardino had healthy air. Magliano said the purpose of grants provided by the 2017 bill is to fill in those gaps. San Bernardino is working on a community action plan with the new state funding. Each community targeted by the legislation has its own specific needs, different types of pollution and polluters in various locations. Shafter, which is close to oil and gas refineries, requires different emissions reduction strategies than West Long Beach, which has a port. The bill gives funding on the premise that people who live in polluted neighborhoods are the best informed about the nature of that pollution. By bringing community members, local regulators, nonprofits, and businesses together, CARB hopes to help develop plans that work for everyone. Gordon said that people living in these communities have the most immediate knowledge of how pollution works in their homes. “Regulatory agencies and bureaucrats don't necessarily know our day-to-day experience or expertise about how we understand these things,” she says. Magliano and CARB hope that the plans will get the conversation started. She thinks the bottom up approach to air quality planning will pay off, and other communities across California will follow the model pioneered by West Oakland. Next up: The nearby city of Richmond is in the process of collecting air quality data with a new round of funding. Environmental advocates there hope that it will someday lead to less asthma and heart disease.

Subaru partners with iRacing for rallycross series

Subaru of America, the North American branch of Japanese car manufacturer Subaru, has partnered with sim racing platform iRacing. The car manufacturer will be the entitlement sponsor of the Subaru iRX All-Star Invitational rallycross championship as part of the deal. RELATED: Nevada regulators permit eNASCAR and ESL One Los Angeles betting Professional drivers from rally, rallycross, Indycar, and NASCAR will participate in the event alongside sim racers in a six-round championship that begins on April 10th. Travis Pastrana, Subaru Rally Team USA driver, discussed the championship in a release: “With so many people staying at home and missing racing, now is the perfect time to try new things in esports. For this series we’re going to bring together some of the biggest names from different types of racing and put them on virtual rallycross tracks with dirt, tarmac and jumps. It’s going to be a blast, and I can’t wait to see what happens!” RELATED: F1 Esports’ Dr. Julian Tan on the sim racing revolution The event will have a total prize pool of $10,000 (£8,028), which will be donated in its entirety to a selection of charities that are set to be announced at a later date. Subaru Motorsports USA will field a three-car roster in the series. The championship will be broadcast across iRacing’s social media platforms and on Subaru Motorsports USA’s Facebook page. Other competitors, teams, and sponsors will also stream the event. Esports Insider says: The recent exposure of sim racing has attracted plenty of attention on what was previously a relatively small scene. Subaru getting involved in sim racing makes a lot of sense given the huge crossover potential between real-world and virtual motorsport while events across the globe are cancelled or postponed. ESI New York 2020 - Find out more

Up In Flames with Jonny Mais

Fan favorite, Jonny Mais stops by to discuss whether he would trust himself to count backwards for a large sum of money! You can Venmo Jonny Mais if you want. LEASE CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR PATREON! PLEASE SUBSCRIBE! PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW! CALL US AT (626) 604-6262 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Revelado el control de PlayStation 5 DualSense

90 Compartir Compartir El control Sony PS5 ha sido revelado, y se llama DualSense. A first look at DualSense, PS5’s new wireless controller. More details and images: https://t.co/SuaUVDkyvD pic.twitter.com/ot5R1u5hsz — PlayStation (@PlayStation) April 7, 2020 Cuando se lanzó PS4 en 2013, el controlador inalámbrico DualShock 4 obtuvo una gran cantidad de comentarios positivos de los jugadores y desarrolladores por ser el mejor controlador de PlayStation hasta la fecha, y por presentar funciones avanzadas como el botón Compartir. Esto nos llevó a la siguiente pregunta: ¿cómo construimos sobre ese éxito? Después de considerarlo detenidamente, decidimos mantener intacto gran parte de lo que los jugadores adoran de DualShock 4, al tiempo que agregamos nuevas funciones y refinamos el diseño. Según nuestras conversaciones con los desarrolladores, concluimos que el sentido del tacto dentro del juego, al igual que el audio, no ha sido un gran foco para muchos juegos. Tuvimos una gran oportunidad con PS5 para innovar al ofrecer a los creadores de juegos la capacidad de explorar cómo pueden aumentar esa sensación de inmersión a través de nuestro nuevo controlador. Es por eso que adoptamos la retroalimentación háptica, que agrega una variedad de sensaciones poderosas que sentirás cuando juegues, como la lentitud de conducir un automóvil a través del barro. También incorporamos disparadores adaptativos en los botones L2 y R2 de DualSense para que realmente puedas sentir la tensión de tus acciones, como cuando dibujas un arco para disparar una flecha. Esto nos proporcionó un desafío emocionante para diseñar un nuevo controlador que se base en la generación actual, teniendo en cuenta las nuevas características que estábamos agregando. Por ejemplo, con los disparadores adaptativos, tuvimos que considerar cómo encajarían los componentes en el hardware, sin darle una sensación voluminosa. Nuestro equipo de diseño trabajó en estrecha colaboración con nuestros ingenieros de hardware para colocar los disparadores y actuadores. Los diseñadores pudieron dibujar las líneas de cómo se vería y sentiría el exterior del controlador, con el desafío de hacer que el controlador se sienta más pequeño de lo que realmente se ve. Al final, cambiamos el ángulo de los disparadores de mano y también hicimos algunas actualizaciones sutiles al agarre. También tomamos cuidadosamente en consideración las formas de mantener una vida útil de la batería fuerte para la batería recargable de DualSense, y para reducir el peso del controlador tanto como sea posible a medida que se agregaran nuevas funciones. Para los botones, notará que ya no hay un botón “Compartir” como teníamos con DualShock 4. No se preocupe, no desaparecerá. De hecho, nos hemos basado en el éxito de nuestro primer botón Compartir para ofrecerle una nueva función de botón “Crear”. Con Create, una vez más, somos pioneros en nuevas formas para que los jugadores creen contenido de juego épico para compartir con el mundo o simplemente para disfrutar por sí mismos. Tendremos más detalles sobre esta función a medida que nos acerquemos al lanzamiento. DualSense también agrega una matriz de micrófonos incorporada, que permitirá a los jugadores chatear fácilmente con amigos sin auriculares, ideal para iniciar una conversación rápida. Pero, por supuesto, si planea chatear durante un período más largo, es bueno tener esos auriculares a mano. Después de considerarlo detenidamente, decidimos mantener intacto gran parte de lo que los jugadores adoran de DualShock 4, al tiempo que agregamos nuevas funciones y refinamos el diseño. Según nuestras conversaciones con los desarrolladores, concluimos que el sentido del tacto dentro del juego, al igual que el audio, no ha sido un gran foco para muchos juegos. Tuvimos una gran oportunidad con PS5 para innovar al ofrecer a los creadores de juegos la capacidad de explorar cómo pueden aumentar esa sensación de inmersión a través de nuestro nuevo controlador. Es por eso que adoptamos la retroalimentación háptica, que agrega una variedad de sensaciones poderosas que sentirás cuando juegues, como la lentitud de conducir un automóvil a través del barro. También incorporamos disparadores adaptativos en los botones L2 y R2 de DualSense para que realmente puedas sentir la tensión de tus acciones, como cuando dibujas un arco para disparar una flecha. Esto nos proporcionó un desafío emocionante para diseñar un nuevo controlador que se base en la generación actual, teniendo en cuenta las nuevas características que estábamos agregando. Por ejemplo, con los disparadores adaptativos, tuvimos que considerar cómo encajarían los componentes en el hardware, sin darle una sensación voluminosa. Nuestro equipo de diseño trabajó en estrecha colaboración con nuestros ingenieros de hardware para colocar los disparadores y actuadores. Los diseñadores pudieron dibujar las líneas de cómo se vería y sentiría el exterior del controlador, con el desafío de hacer que el controlador se sienta más pequeño de lo que realmente se ve. Al final, cambiamos el ángulo de los disparadores de mano y también hicimos algunas actualizaciones sutiles al agarre. También tomamos cuidadosamente en consideración las formas de mantener una vida útil de la batería fuerte para la batería recargable de DualSense, y para reducir el peso del controlador tanto como sea posible a medida que se agregaran nuevas funciones. Para los botones, notará que ya no hay un botón “Compartir” como teníamos con DualShock 4. No se preocupe, no desaparecerá. De hecho, nos hemos basado en el éxito de nuestro primer botón Compartir para ofrecerle una nueva función de botón “Crear”. Con Create, una vez más, somos pioneros en nuevas formas para que los jugadores creen contenido de juego épico para compartir con el mundo o simplemente para disfrutar por sí mismos. Tendremos más detalles sobre esta función a medida que nos acerquemos al lanzamiento. DualSense también agrega una matriz de micrófonos incorporada, que permitirá a los jugadores chatear fácilmente con amigos sin auriculares, ideal para iniciar una conversación rápida. Pero, por supuesto, si planea chatear durante un período más largo, es bueno tener esos auriculares a mano. Ahora, hablemos de los colores. Tradicionalmente, nuestros controladores base tienen un solo color. Como puede ver, esta vez tomamos una dirección diferente y decidimos un diseño de dos tonos. Además, cambiamos la posición de la barra de luces que le dará un toque extra. En DualShock 4, se sentó en la parte superior del controlador; ahora se sienta a cada lado de la almohadilla táctil, dándole un aspecto y sensación un poco más grandes. En total, revisamos varios conceptos y cientos de maquetas en los últimos años antes de decidirnos por este diseño final. DualSense ha sido probado por una amplia gama de jugadores con una variedad de tamaños de manos, para que podamos alcanzar el nivel de comodidad que queríamos, con una gran ergonomía. Nuestro objetivo con DualSense es dar a los jugadores la sensación de ser transportados al mundo del juego tan pronto como abran la caja. Queremos que los jugadores sientan que el controlador es una extensión de sí mismos cuando juegan, ¡tanto que olvidan que incluso está en sus manos! Estamos encantados de compartir el aspecto final del controlador DualSense con nuestros fanáticos, ¡y no podemos esperar a que todos lo tengan en sus manos! Me gustaría cerrar con un mensaje del presidente y CEO de SIE, Jim Ryan, a la comunidad: DualSense marca una desviación radical de nuestras ofertas de controladores anteriores y captura cuán fuertemente nos sentimos acerca de dar un salto generacional con PS5. El nuevo control, junto con las muchas características innovadoras en PS5, será transformador para los juegos, continuando nuestra misión en PlayStation para ampliar los límites del juego, ahora y en el futuro. A la comunidad de PlayStation, realmente quiero agradecerles por compartir este emocionante viaje con nosotros mientras nos dirigimos hacia el lanzamiento de PS5 en Holiday 2020. Esperamos compartir más información sobre PS5, incluido el diseño de la consola, en los próximos meses “. – Jim Ryan, presidente y director ejecutivo de Sony Interactive Entertainment. 90 Compartir Compartir Me gusta: Me gusta Cargando...

Lipid Expert and Babraham Institute Director Michael Wakelam Dies

The Babraham Institute Babraham Institute Director Michael Wakelam died on March 31 due to respiratory complications from a suspected COVID-19 infection, according to the Babraham Institute. He was 64 years old. Over the course of his research career, Wakelam investigated cell signaling and communication with a focus on the physiological functions of lipids, according to the Babraham Institute, where he had served as director since 2007. His lab pioneered high-sensitivity liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology that allowed researchers to measure lipid levels in different types of cells, tissues, and tumors, and sought to understand the role that lipids play in cell function during the process of aging. Wakelam earned an undergraduate degree in medical biochemistry in 1977 and a PhD in biochemistry in 1980, both from the University of Birmingham, according to the Babraham Institute. He then completed postdocs at the University of Konstanz in Germany and Imperial College London. In 1985, Wakelam accepted a lectureship at Glasgow University in biochemistry, and returned to the University of Birmingham in 1993 as a professor of molecular pharmacology at the Institute for Cancer Studies. According to the website for Wakelam’s laboratory, the lipidome on which his research focused is a complex structure composed of hundreds to perhaps thousands of different types of lipids. He and his collaborators investigated how these different lipid species function during aging, including how they regulate cellular signaling processes, and how enzymes that affect lipidome composition are regulated based on environmental changes. David Adams, the head of the College of Medical and Dental Sciences at the University of Birmingham, says in a university press release that Wakelam will be remembered “not only as a superb scientist but also as a warm, supportive and highly collaborative colleague.” In addition to his work at the Babraham Institute, Wakelam was an honorary professor at the Cambridge University Clinical School and the University of Birmingham, as well as a visiting professor at King’s College London, states the institute’s obituary. He was also a fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and a member of the Academia Europaea. Wakelam represented the Babraham Institute as part of the EU-LIFE alliance of research institutes and was awarded the Morton Lectureship from the Biochemical Society in 2018. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Drew McIntyre On His WWE Title Reign Being Different From Brock Lesnar's, Coronavirus WWE PC Safety

As seen above, new WWE Champion Drew McIntyre spoke with TMZ Sports about his title win over Brock Lesnar from Night Two of WrestleMania 36. McIntyre was asked how safe he felt competing at the empty WWE Performance Center during the coronavirus pandemic, and if his safety was a concern or if he felt like WWE had everything covered. He revealed that he had his own locker room at the tapings. "No, definitely. WWE has done a... I had the whole locker room to myself," Drew revealed. "Everybody was following the protocols to a 'T' and they've got it down to a science, following the CDC guidelines, maybe even more so precaution-wise. I've never seen so few people there. That's why it was hard to believe it was WrestleMania because it didn't feel like it. When I was in the building, I was like, 'This is so weird.' It's like a ghost town in here. Backstage, when I went to talk after the match and I'm thinking, 'This is really weird.' "Because I'm psyched up, because this is the match, this is WrestleMania, and it's so weird. When my music hit I just slipped into the zone. I walked out there, it was as if 80,000 people were there. I was so in the zone, I was so in the moment, understanding how big this was. And Brock Lesnar walks out to the ring, you see Brock Lesnar look at you like he wants to eat your lunch. He was in fight mode, he had that look in his eyes, I had that look in my eyes." He continued, "If you could read my mind, I was literally thinking, 'If you pull any funny business I'll drop you Brock Lesnar.' That's what was going through my head as we were both staring at each other. That was my favorite part, as we were staring each other down because we were in that moment. We had that match, it was physical, and I won. Like, that's when all the emotions started coming in. It's exactly the same as if there was a crowd of people there. You know, I had that moment, the journey going through my head, all the sacrifices that I've made, my family has made, my wife has made. In that moment when I was handed the title and then I remembered, 'Oh yeah, there are millions of people watching around the world.' It does not seem real at all. The reason I know it's real is because I have this title right beside me. I have to keep checking it." Drew joked about using the championship as a belt when asked if he'd been wearing it around the house. "Of course, of course. We don't like to call them belts," Drew said. "Belts hold up your pants. They're championships, they're titles, but I have been wearing it, basically to hold up my pants," he said laughing. Drew also responded to the recent exchange with pro boxing champion Tyson Fury, who accepted a post-WrestleMania challenge from Drew. Drew insisted he could take down Fury, despite how fast his hands are. Drew said he wasn't seeking out some super-fight, he was just responding to Fury's friendly words. "He's a big promoter, he loves it," Drew said of Fury issuing the challenge for more WWE action. "It could be fun, it's something to fantasize about down the line if things get back to normal, but I'm down for anything. Unlike Brock Lesnar, I'll be there every week. I'm gonna fight everyone on the roster and if Fury wants to go, I'll fight him, too. I'll fight any comers. I don't know, if an alien comes from another planet, I'll fight him, too."

My Stepmother Sploogs

My Stepmother Sploogs Leya Falcon is so sex-positive that even pummels her dangled step sonny

Star Wars Editor Criticizes The Last Jedi for Trying to ‘Undo’ Trilogy

It’s been almost four months since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was released, closing the book on Disney’s “Sequel Trilogy” that began in 2015, as well as the overarching “Skywalker Saga” that comprises nearly every Star Wars movie since 1977. To say that the results were divisive is an understatement. Despite grossing more than $1 billion, the film was met with a tepid critical reception and continued online fan discord that began with 2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi. So it shouldn’t be surprising that a new narrative is emerging around the Sequel Trilogy about what went wrong or who is to blame for a general dissatisfaction with the overall effect of the three movies. In this context, film editors Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey were put in the unenviable position of discussing their thoughts of The Last Jedi while appearing on the Mission: Impossible podcast, Light the Fuse. Brandon, who was an editor on both J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars movies, The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker, and Markey, who worked on The Force Awakens, have impressive credentials between them that also include Super 8, Star Trek (2009), and Mission: Impossible III. All of which were directed by Abrams. However, what piques interest is when they’re asked about the recent “Skywalker” movie that Rian Johnson instead directed… After an awkward beat when the podcasters bring The Last Jedi up, Brandon said, “It was just a different take on the Star Wars saga. And to Rian’s credit, he stuck to what he wanted to do, and he wanted to deconstruct the film and open it up to go a different direction. That is the film he made. I know it is controversial, but isn’t that kind of good in a way?” Brandon did add though, “That’s why I feel very much in hindsight that the trilogy, the last part of the trilogy, needed one vision.” Markey was far more blunt: “I couldn’t agree more. It’s very strange to have the second film so consciously undo the storytelling of the first one. I’m sorry that’s what it felt like.” However, Markey disputes that The Rise of Skywalker tried to undo The Last Jedi.

Δύο νεκροί, μία αγνοούμενη και δεκάδες τραυματίες στον Εβρο

Η Διεθνής Αμνηστία κατέγραψε βία, πλιάτσικο και κακομεταχείριση προσφύγων/μεταναστών και στην ελληνική πλευρά των συνόρων. ● Οι ελληνικές αρχές δεν έχουν διατάξει έρευνα. Η κυβέρνηση εξακολουθεί να αγνοεί τις καταγγελίες, τις μαρτυρίες και τις ενδείξεις και να μιλά για «μια καλοσχεδιασμένη εκστρατεία fake news και προπαγάνδας, που μόνο μια κρατική μηχανή που έχει φυλακίσει χιλιάδες δημοσιογράφους μπορεί να οργανώσει», όπως είπε ο αναπληρωτής υπουργός Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου Γιώργος Κουμουτσάκος σε συνέντευξή του στο Ινστιτούτο Hans Seidel των Χριστιανοκοινωνιστών της Βαυαρίας με τις γνωστές ακραίες ξενοφοβικές θέσεις. Την ύπαρξη δύο νεκρών στον Εβρο από πυρά, μιας αγνοούμενης που θεωρείται πιθανότατα νεκρή και δεκάδων προσφύγων και μεταναστών τραυματισμένων από πλαστικές σφαίρες, δακρυγόνα, χτυπήματα με κλομπ, ρόπαλα, κλοτσιές και γροθιές από τις ελληνικές δυνάμεις καταγράφει έκθεση της Διεθνούς Αμνηστίας για την κατάσταση που επικράτησε στον Εβρο μετά τα τέλη Φεβρουαρίου. Η έκθεση επιβεβαιώνει τα ρεπορτάζ διεθνών μέσων ενημέρωσης και ορισμένων ελληνικών, μεταξύ των οποίων η «Εφ.Συν.», που δημοσιοποίησαν μαρτυρίες, στοιχεία και πληροφορίες για την ύπαρξη των δύο νεκρών και τραυματιών, όπως και για την ανησυχητική έξαρση της ξενοφοβικής βίας στα σύνορα και τον πρωταγωνιστικό ρόλο ενστόλων, που επαναπροωθούσαν νύχτα στην Τουρκία πρόσφυγες, αφού πρώτα τους αφαιρούσαν προσωπικά αντικείμενα και χρήματα. Προσθέτει επίσης τη συγκλονιστική καταγγελία Σύρου που έχασε τη σύζυγό του μπροστά στα μάτια του, όταν ήρθαν αντιμέτωποι με ομάδα ένοπλων στρατιωτών στις 29 Φεβρουαρίου. Η βάρκα είχε μεταφέρει πρώτα τα έξι παιδιά τους στην ελληνική όχθη και περίμεναν να γυρίσει για να μεταφέρει και τους ίδιους. Είδαν όμως να καταφτάνουν απέναντι δύο στρατιωτικά οχήματα με έξι στρατιώτες που πυροβόλησαν στον αέρα. Ανήσυχοι για τα παιδιά, αποφάσισαν να μην περιμένουν και μπήκαν στο ποτάμι για να περάσουν με τα πόδια. Στο βαθύτερο σημείο, το νερό έφτανε στον ώμο του άνδρα και στον λαιμό της γυναίκας. Οι στρατιώτες τούς φώναζαν, αλλά δεν καταλάβαιναν τη γλώσσα. Οταν έφτασαν δυο-τρία μέτρα από την όχθη, ήρθαν αντιμέτωποι με τους στρατιώτες, λίγα μέτρα πιο πίσω, και τους σημάδευαν με τα όπλα τους. «Πυροβόλησαν και πέσαμε μέσα στο νερό από τον φόβο μας. Είδα έναν με περίστροφο και ένα τουφέκι. Εφτασα στην όχθη, η γυναίκα μου ήταν πίσω μου. Η τελευταία εικόνα που έχω απ' αυτήν είναι να στέκεται περίπου δύο μέτρα πίσω μου με το κεφάλι έξω από το νερό. Οι στρατιώτες με πλησίασαν, προσπάθησα να γυρίσω να πάρω τη γυναίκα μου, αλλά με άρπαξαν και με έσπρωξαν με το κεφάλι κάτω, στραμμένο στην άλλη πλευρά, έτσι που δεν μπορούσα να βλέπω το ποτάμι. Προσπάθησα να σηκωθώ, αλλά ο στρατιώτης μού έβαλε το όπλο στο κεφάλι. Πυροβόλησαν συνολικά τρεις φορές», αναφέρει ο άντρας στο κλιμάκιο της οργάνωσης. Τον κράτησαν μαζί με τα παιδιά κάποιες ώρες, τους πήραν τα ρούχα, τους ξαναπήγαν στο ποτάμι και τους πέρασαν απέναντι με ξύλινη βάρκα, μαζί με άλλους. Με τη βοήθεια δικηγόρων στην Ελλάδα και την Τουρκία, αναζητά από τις αρχές πληροφορίες για να εντοπίσει τη γυναίκα του, αλλά μάταια. Εκτός από την αγνοούμενη γυναίκα από τη Συρία, που εκτιμάται ότι είναι νεκρή, η Διεθνής Αμνηστία επιβεβαιώνει τον θάνατο του 22χρονου Μοχάμεντ αλ Αραμπ από τη Συρία στις 2 Μαρτίου από πυρά, σύμφωνα με την ανάλυση οπτικού υλικού της ερευνητικής ομάδας Forensic Architecture. Επιβεβαιώνει επίσης τον θάνατο του 43χρονου Μοχάμεντ Γκουλζάρι από το Πακιστάν στις 4 Μαρτίου, που δημοσιοποίησαν η «Εφ.Συν.» και διεθνή μέσα. Σύμφωνα με αντίγραφο από την αυτοψία των τουρκικών αρχών, μια σφαίρα 5 χιλιοστών αφαιρέθηκε από το σώμα του. Οι ελληνικές αρχές δεν έχουν διατάξει έρευνα. Η κυβέρνηση εξακολουθεί να αγνοεί τις καταγγελίες, τις μαρτυρίες και τις ενδείξεις και να μιλά για «μια καλοσχεδιασμένη εκστρατεία fake news και προπαγάνδας, που μόνο μια κρατική μηχανή που έχει φυλακίσει χιλιάδες δημοσιογράφους, μπορεί να οργανώσει», όπως είπε ο αναπληρωτής υπουργός Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου Γιώργος Κουμουτσάκος σε συνέντευξή του στο Ινστιτούτο Hans Seidel των Χριστιανοκοινωνιστών της Βαυαρίας με τις γνωστές ακραίες ξενοφοβικές θέσεις. 34 μαρτυρίες Αν μη τι άλλο, η Διεθνής Αμνηστία είδε τη διευθύντριά της στην Τουρκία να φυλακίζεται και έχει βέβαια καταγράψει τις παραβιάσεις ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων εκεί. Για την έρευνά της για τον Εβρο, η οργάνωση βασίστηκε, μεταξύ άλλων, σε μαρτυρίες προσφύγων και μεταναστών και οργανώσεων στην Τουρκία και στην Ελλάδα και σε επιτόπια αυτοψία στην Αδριανούπολη, στην τουρκική πλευρά των συνόρων, στις αρχές Μαρτίου, όπου κατέγραψε τις μαρτυρίες 34 προσφύγων και μεταναστών που είχαν επιχειρήσει να έρθουν στην Ελλάδα στα τέλη Φεβρουαρίου ή τα είχαν καταφέρει, μερικοί μάλιστα φτάνοντας αρκετά μέσα, ύστερα από πορεία ημερών. Η έκθεση καταγράφει πώς η Τουρκία διευκόλυνε και ενθάρρυνε τους πρόσφυγες να κατευθυνθούν στα σύνορα, χωρίς να εξασφαλίζει τις στοιχειώδεις συνθήκες διαβίωσης. Καταγράφει επίσης παρενόχληση των τουρκικών αρχών προς δημοσιογράφους στην περιοχή. Καταγράφει όμως και δεκάδες μαρτυρίες ανθρώπων που υπέστησαν βία, πλιάτσικο και κακομεταχείριση στα χέρια των ελληνικών αρχών, οι οποίες τους γύρισαν πίσω στην Τουρκία, έξω από κάθε νόμιμη και ανεκτή διαδικασία. Καταγράφει επίσης τις βίαιες επιθέσεις εναντίον προσφύγων και μεταναστών στα νησιά, όπως και παράνομες επιχειρήσεις επαναπροώθησης στο Αιγαίο.

Coronavirus: Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox ace, has wondered if spring illness was COVID-19

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has left Red Sox ace Chris Sale wondering if the serious illness he battled at the beginning of spring training was COVID-19. Sale was late arriving to camp in mid-February due to a a flu-like illness that turned into a case of pneumonia. At the time, a flu test came back negative but Sale wasn’t tested for coronavirus, which had not yet spread widely and was not yet being tested for in the United States. With the benefit of hindsight, Sale believes some of his symptoms mirrored the reported symptoms of COVID-19. As more and more cases have surfaced in recent weeks, Sale has started to wonder if he had the virus without knowing it. “Honestly, yes. No doubt," Sale replied when asked if it has crossed his mind that he potentially had the virus. "It has been talked about a lot. I don’t know if there’s a test now, but I think they’re working on a test to see if you have the antibodies for it, meaning you’ve had it... to take a test and see if you had it. It’s crazy to look at my symptoms and think about the symptoms of people that have the COVID-19 virus, and some of the similarities. We may never know, but I’m definitely hoping not.” The Red Sox ordered Sale to stay away from the team’s facility for a short period in February so that he didn’t spread his illness to teammates or other team employees. He returned to camp once he felt better and was told by doctors that he was no longer contagious. “As contagious as this virus is, I think if I had it, somebody in my family and a lot of people at the park would have been infected by it,” Sale said. “I don’t want to make light of it and joke about having something like that, but it definitely crossed my mind and I asked people about it. I got tested for the flu and it came back negative. The tests for the virus weren’t out yet. If there’s a way to find out, I’d love to find out. I don’t know. I think it might be a stretch.” Before Sale’s elbow flared up in early March, the lefty was scheduled to miss the first two weeks of the season due to the delay caused by his sickness. He’ll miss the entire 2020 season -- if one is played -- after undergoing Tommy John surgery last week.

Judge Denies R. Kelly’s Request for Coronavirus Release, Says He Is a ‘Danger to the Community’

A federal judge denied R. Kelly’s request for release from prison due to the coronavirus on Tuesday, finding that the singer was not the most at-risk for the illness and, instead, “poses danger to the community, particularly to prospective witnesses.” Attorneys for Kelly, who is awaiting trial based on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and other sex crimes in a Chicago federal prison, requested in late March that Kelly be released on bail because he was at risk for being infected with the novel coronavirus. In Tuesday’s decision, U.S. District Judge Ann M. Donnelly said that while she was “sympathetic to the defendant’s understandable anxiety about COVID-19,” Kelly had not “established compelling reasons warranting his release.” Also Read: R. Kelly 'Knowingly and Intentionally' Gave Women Herpes Through Nonconsensual, Unprotected Sex, Prosecutors Say Donnelly said that there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the Chicago Metropolitan Correctional Center, where Kelly is currently being held, and that, at 53 years old, Kelly was 12 years younger than the group of “older adults” that the CDC considers to be at high risk for COVID-19. “The defendant is currently in custody because of the risks that he will flee or attempt to obstruct, threaten or intimidate prospective witnesses. The defendant has not explained how those risks have changed,” Donnelly also wrote. “The defendant here has not demonstrated an analogous change in circumstances that would alter the Court’s conclusion that he is a flight risk and that he poses danger to the community, particularly to prospective witnesses.” Kelly’s Brooklyn trial is scheduled to begin on July 7. He has pleaded not guilty. “We are disappointed but it doesn’t stop the fight,” Douglas Anton, an attorney for Kelly, told TheWrap. “We are certainly not giving up.” Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

Acting Navy Secretary Just Resigned After Calling Coronavirus Whistleblower Captain ‘Stupid’

Want the best of VICE News straight to your inbox? Sign up here. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly submitted his resignation Tuesday after giving an address to crew members aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt during which he called its ousted captain “stupid” for speaking out about the coronavirus outbreak on the ship, according to multiple media outlets. It’s now up to Defense Secretary Mark Esper to accept or decline Modly’s resignation. Audio of Modly’s expletive-laden address, which he gave Sunday via the ship’s public address system, leaked to Task & Purpose. He laid into their former commander Capt. Brett Crozier, who was relieved of his duties after he pleaded with Navy officials for more resources to treat a coronavirus outbreak on the ship, currently docked in Guam. Modly also apologized for his remarks in a statement Monday night, saying he didn’t really believe Crozier to be stupid. “If he didn't think, in my opinion, that this information wasn't going to get out into the public, in this day and information age that we live in, then he was either A, too naive, or too stupid to be a commanding officer of a ship like this,” Modly said in the leaked address. Modly wasn’t pressured to resign by members of the administration, according to an anonymous source who spoke to Politico, although a day earlier, President Donald Trump had said he might “get involved” because “two good people” were arguing. In a letter that subsequently leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle last week, Crozier warned Navy officials of a coronavirus outbreak among dozens of sailors on his ship that could quickly turn dire, due to the 4,000-plus crew in his care and limited access to quarantine space. (That outbreak has since grown to 150 crew members, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.) Modly said that letter wasn't sent securely and broke Crozier’s chain of command. Crozier remains in the Navy but was removed from his position as the ship’s captain. As he left the USS Theodore Roosevelt for the last time, on April 2, his crew applauded him and chanted his name.

Analysis: Raiders DE Maxx Crosby’s Tape Shows Potential

The Las Vegas Raiders selected defensive end Maxx Crosby in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He was one of the best defensive additions the team made last year in retrospect based on tape. The defense seemed to struggle all year at each of the three levels, having to deal with injuries, ineffective play, several rookies being forced to see the field significant time, mid-season additions and even the suspension of middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict. However, Crosby provided one of the few silver (and black) linings. Crosby’s 2019 season in a beat The fourth-round draft pick out of Eastern Michigan University didn’t see significant playing time until Week Five against the Colts, which makes his entire season even that much more remarkable. Against Indianapolis, he was on the field for 98% of the defensive snaps. After that game, he never saw less than 66%. He took full advantage of the boost in playing time and finished the season with 10 sacks, half of one away from the Raiders rookie record of 10.5 (he could’ve finished with 11.5 but had one negated in Week 12 against the Jets). Crosby finished the year with 47 total tackles (T-second among rookies), 16 tackles for loss (T-first among rookies & T-fifth in the league), four forced fumbles (leading all rookies & T-sixth in the league) and 14 quarterback hits. Moreover, Crosby was in the running for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and while there are no moral victories in the NFL, that type of recognition is nothing to scoff at. Knowing all those, I wanted to put the spotlight on Crosby and see what he does well and some things where perhaps he can improve. Related: Raiders RB Doing His Part Amid Pandemic Areas of Improvement Let’s start with the negatives. One of Crosby’s weakest performances in 2019 came in Week 14 against the Jaguars. While he did manage to record a sack, that was his only recorded stat of the game. It certainly wasn’t for lack of trying though. He had a few plays throughout that game where he definitely affected the outcome but outside of the few snaps, he was mostly quiet. Some of the things you saw throughout this game are places he can be better at. One of the biggest issues I saw out of Crosby was if his fist plan of attack doesn’t work, he can get stymied and has a hard time improvising to eventually shed his blocker. Coupled with that, he struggled to get to his second move quickly. When his original move doesn’t work, he would occasionally attempt a second move but by the time he’s committed to plan “B”, his blocker was in good position and ready for it. That or the quarterback was already getting rid of the ball. It would be nice to see him put together a strong “one-two” punch combination in order to beat some of the more talented offensive linemen. While Crosby did show some strong technique in his pass rush game, he would occasionally flash some ugly tendencies. At times, his pad level was too high, allowing his blocker to gain leverage on him and mitigate his impact. Occasionally, you would see him reveal his plan of attack too soon and his opponents would beat him to his spot. Another place of improvement would be lateral quickness. On design stunt rushes (sometimes called a twist), Crosby would be a little slow hitting his new hole and would allow linemen to adjust and recover, resulting in a failed attempt. Crosby was rookie after all and you can never expect a first-year player to be flawless. There’s a lot of positives to build on and Crosby even possesses some traits you can’t teach. Let’s take a look at what some of those traits are. Strenghts Crosby’s strongest performance of the year came in Week 10 against the Bengals, when he racked up four sacks and forced one fumble. He wreaked havoc on Cincinnati’s offensive line and it felt like he was in on every play. Almost all of Crosby’s strong attributes were on display in that game: His high IQ, flashes of strong technique, active eyes in the backfield, and a relentless motor. Below is a video of all four sacks from the aforementioned Bengals game: On the first sack, you get to see some veteran-like technique out of the rookie. The left tackle reaches too early getting him out of a strong position. Crosby does a good job to cross chop the tackle’s arms with his inside arm (left) and get to the quarterback for the strip sack. In the second sack, you see Crosby bull-rush his man. He does a good job pursuing the quarterback and sheds his man at the right time in order to take his man down. Crosby’s spatial awareness and high IQ are on display on his third sack. While he does go unblocked off the line, he does an excellent job not to bite on the play fake and crash down the line. He maintains pursuit of the signal-caller and makes the open field tackle. In the fourth and final sack of this video, Crosby sheds the initial chip block coming out of the backfield. He then stunts back to the his left and bursts through the hole created by Mo Hurst and brings down the quarterback once again. After what felt like 100’s of hours of film, it’s evident Crosby was the definitive steal of the 2019 draft. Perhaps he fell victim to the small school biases or it was something else entirely. Either way, the Raiders are grateful he fell to where he did and the value he provided. You can never expect rookies, or any other player, to be perfect. While there are some things Crosby can improve upon those un-coachable traits makes for an exciting future. In his second season in the same system, it should be fun to watch what Crosby brings to the field in 2020. You May Also Like: Raiders Should Consider An OL In The First Round 0 0 vote Article Rating Share this: Twitter Facebook Pinterest Email LinkedIn Reddit Like this: Like Loading...

New York region governors plan coordinated economic restart

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, left, speaks as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo listens during a press conference | AP Photo New York region governors plan coordinated economic restart ALBANY, N.Y. — The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will take a regional approach to reopening the economy when it is safe to do so, mirroring the coordinated shutdown they undertook to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Even as the states each announced record death counts, with more than 1,000 people dying across the region over the past 24 hours, the leaders said it was time to start planning the best way to rollback their lockdown orders in the coming months. Advertisement “We’re working on a plan with Connecticut and New Jersey because when we go back, we go back together,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday during a daily press briefing in Albany. Cuomo and the other governors — Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Ned Lamont of Connecticut — appear to be focused on ramping up the availability of a rapid test for the virus and a new antibody test that will show if someone already had the virus and recovered. Once widely available, such testing could allow the states to gradually open businesses back up as some social distancing restrictions remain in place. “You’re not going to end the infection, end the virus, before you start restarting life. I don’t think we have that luxury,” Cuomo said. “This is not a light switch that you just can flick one day and go back to normal. We’re looking to restart the economy, we’re going to have to restart a lot of systems that we shut down abruptly and we need to start a plan for that.” The three states worked together in March on a rolling lockdown of society, banning public gatherings and forcing the closure of bars, restaurants and other nonessential businesses in close succession. New York and New Jersey have recorded more cases of the virus than anywhere else in the U.S. Now, amid signs that the spread of the virus may be nearing its peak in the region, states and the federal government are grappling with the question of how and when to begin allowing more individuals to return to work, resume normal routines, go out to restaurants, start planning trips and other activities that are on hold. “We discussed … in a general sense a regional approach to the things like testing, tracking and the reopening — slowly and responsibility, whenever that moment comes — the reopening of businesses and schools,” Murphy said at his own press conference on Tuesday afternoon. Murphy said he had also reached out to Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, who participated in previous efforts to coordinate a regional coronavirus response, about joining their planning about how to end the restrictions. Cuomo had previously indicated he wants to start early to plan for how and when to let people return to work. The governor has largely pinned his hopes on widespread availability of an antibody test for immunity to the virus, along with a rapid 15-minute test for the virus itself. “I think we go back with people who have tested, that they are negative, or people who have tested that they have the antibodies which means they had the virus and they’re immune from the virus, or we go back with young people going first,” Cuomo said. The New York Department of Health is still awaiting final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the antibody test it has developed, which requires a blood sample. DOH Commissioner Howard Zucker said production and use of the test will ramp over the next week as the state works with the FDA to make it available at other labs beyond the state’s Wadsworth Center in Albany. Zucker said this test is specifically for antibodies that show an individual is fully recovered from the virus. For now, the state expects to be able to run 5,000 of those tests each week, according to the governor’s office. Cuomo said that governors in the three states are interested in supporting businesses who can develop these tests at scale, saying New York will “invest” in those companies. It’s not clear how long such a ramp-up may take. Cuomo said in late March he had tasked two of his former secretaries — Bill Mulrow, a Blackstone executive, and Steve Cohen, an executive at billionaire Ronald Perelman’s holding company — with crafting “NY Forward,” the state’s economic restart plan. The governor has cited David Katz, a physician and founder of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, who wrote a column for The New York Times making the case for a stratification of risk rather than a broad, economy-wide lockdown. Some public health experts have reservations about that approach, citing the difficulty in separating young people who may be exposed if they return to work from their elderly relatives or those with underlying conditions. Priority for an antibody test should be given to health care and other frontline workers, they suggested. States will likely have to divert resources back to things like contact tracing to contain spread once the states begins seeing the number of infections fall. When that happens, or how that will be handled, remains an open question. “Too early to tell,” Murphy said. “The house is still on fire and we're still fighting the fire.” While New Jersey officials have begun to see evidence that the pandemic is starting to plateau — the daily growth rate in new reported cases slowed considerably over the last week — its peak in Covid-19 hospitalizations is still on the horizon. Murphy shut down state and county parks on Monday, adding that it will likely take “many more weeks, at the least” for the state to consider removing the storm shutters from its economy. “We are not there yet,” he said. “I repeat. We are not there yet.” In Connecticut, Lamont said on Tuesday that it was not yet time to let up on social distancing rules and announced a new requirement for temperature checks at essential businesses. But the governor — noting many of his residents commute to New York City for work — said he, too, wants to quickly develop regional testing protocols that will allow people to work over the coming months. The state had already been pushing to ramp up testing. “We’re thinking hard about the nature of our testing protocols. How do we prioritize that?“ Lamont said at a late afternoon press conference. “Who is building up an immunity?“ Lamont indicated that CVS Pharmacy is planning to launch a 15-minute test for the coronavirus in Connecticut in in the coming weeks. The testing would likely be prioritized for workers in critical areas, Lamont indicated. He emphasized that there would be a slow return to normal. “We don’t have a vaccine yet,” he said. “That would probably get us out of the woods faster. Until then, we have to self-vaccine and we do that by testing.“

18 Best Personal Budgeting Tips for Beginners

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info. A personal budget is a roadmap to achieving your financial goals. Whether it’s getting out of debt, paying off your mortgage, financial independence, or even retiring early; you’ll need a budget to get there. These 18 best personal budgeting tips for beginners will help ensure you have a successful budgeting experience. Why Do I Need a Budget? Imagine you are on a ship at sea and you are the captain. You have a rough idea of the direction you want to head, but you don’t have a map or any navigational tools. Without an ending destination in mind and navigational tools to get there, you just float around aimlessly in a vast sea. In this example, your net worth tells you where you currently are, your financial goals are the destination, and your budget is the navigational tool to get you there. If you want a better life, you need to be intentional about how you spend your time and money. To get ahead, each action you take should be one that makes your life just a little bit better and one step closer to your ultimate goals. To be intentional with your money, you need a budget. Click here to learn how to create a simple, monthly personal budget. Start with the End in Mind: Set Savings and Debt Payoff Goals As I mentioned before, your short-term and long-term goals are the destinations along your route. To start, spend a little time thinking about what you value and is most important to you. What brings you the most joy? Where do you envision yourself in 5, 10, 20 years? For example, if you imagine working for yourself someday, you may need to pay off your debt and save up a “business fund” that will support you for a couple of years while you build your business. Another example could be that you are sick and tired of worrying about money and want to be financially independent. Well, to do that you’ll need to develop a long-term plan (financial independence) with smaller short-term financial goals (paying off debt, and saving & investing goals) along the way. Taking the time to set good short-term and long-term goals is important because your goals will ultimately serve as the psychological fuel that keeps you completing a personal budget each month and tracking towards those goals. Use Accurate Income and Expense Data When Budgeting This should go without saying, but your budget is only going to be as accurate as the data you use to create it. Income Don’t just use your gross salary for the year and divide by 12 to get the monthly income unless you’re planning on deducting all of your taxes and other mandatory expenses (state/federal pension, social security, workman’s comp, etc.) each month. Irregular Income If you have an irregular income, definitely don’t just take your yearly income and divide it by 12 to get your monthly income. Look at previous years (if you can) to see if you earn more in certain months/seasons and use those numbers as an estimate. Also, people with irregular income should plan on being more conservative with their income estimates for each month. This depends on the industry and why it’s irregular (overtime, commission, seasonal work, etc.), so ultimately it will be up to you to decide how conservative you need to be. Expenses When it comes to expenses, don’t just guess what you spend each month. Look back at previous months to see what you spend on average for each expense category and use those numbers as a starting point. For irregular expenses, look at past data to get a better idea of what it might be each month. For example, your electricity may be more in the summer and winter months, but lower in between. If you’ve been in your home for over a year and are preparing a budget for August, look back at your bill for August last year to get some idea of what it should be. Don’t Forget Less Frequent Expenses When planning a budget, don’t forget about those expenses that are less frequent than monthly. Some examples include car insurance, car taxes, home insurance, property taxes, vehicle maintenance, home maintenance, income taxes (if you frequently owe money), tuition, etc. To make sure you have the money when the expense rolls around, you should be saving a little each month towards each of these infrequent expenses. Focus on Needs and Debt Payoff First For most budgets, you’ll end up separating your expenses into three categories: needs, wants, and savings (this includes debt payoff, retirement investing, etc.). As a general rule of thumb, you should aim to spend no more than 50% towards needs and 30% towards wants, and at least 20% towards savings (again debt payoff, investing, etc.). However, to truly get ahead with your personal finances and accelerate your progress towards your goals, your budget should focus primarily on paying your needs first and debt payoff second. The expenses that fall within the “wants” category should be an afterthought until you can pay down your debt (except maybe your mortgage). Utilize the K.I.S.S. Method When Budgeting You should keep your budget as simple as possible, especially early on. To start with, you can use something as simple as a budget planner or excel worksheet. Free Budget Worksheet Sources Consumer.gov – Make a Budget – Worksheet Microsoft Office Templates (For Office 365 Subscribers) – Budgets Google Drive – Once you’re logged in, drop down under My Drive -> Google Sheets -> From a Template Mint – Free Budget Templates (they keep the files in the body of the post for each template) Consider Using an Online Budget Tool If you are more into technology and believe that would be easier, there are several great apps to choose from including: Mint You Need a Budget EveryDollar PocketGuard Clarity Money Goodbudget Personal Capital I would personally recommend EveryDollar starting out as it’s simple and free. Similar to completing a zero-based budget on pen and paper, you tell each dollar of income to go each month. Create a Buffer in Your Budget Although you should be creating a zero-based budget, it’s smart to consider creating a financial buffer (especially early on). To create a buffer, you should tell less of your money to go towards wants and more towards savings, it’s as simple as that. This will provide a small amount of money you can use when an unforeseen expense rears it’s ugly head. Another simple tip you can use to provide a little more buffer is to round up all of your expenses to the nearest dollar. If you’re feeling particularly conservative you can round to the nearest 10 dollars (for example, $77 would round up to $80). A word of caution, try not to dip into your buffer unless you absolutely need it and keep building it month after month until you have savings large enough to act as your emergency fund in case something happens. Click here to learn more about what an emergency fund is, why you need one, and how to create one. Ditch the Credit Cards Credit cards are an added complication to your life that you don’t need, especially when you are just beginning with your budget. Credit cards are just a way to pay for something you can’t afford now. If you can’t afford it now, you don’t need to buy it. Credit cards are notorious for high interest rates and fees that steal away your income. Also, all it takes is one emergency for you not to be able to make payments on your credit card. One missed payment turns into another and so on. If you can stick to using cash or a debit card (make sure the one you have has the same protections as a credit card). If you must keep a credit card, try to stick to one and make sure to pay it off each month. Budget Before the Month Begins This should probably go without saying, but you need to create your budget before the month begins. If you create your budget a week into the month or even halfway through, the budget will have served you no good for the time you didn’t have it. Use Cash to Stay on Track Once you start budgeting, if you find there are expenses that you routinely overspend on, you may want to consider using cash for those items. For example, if you consistently overspend on food each month, you may want to stick your food budget in an envelope in a safe place and use that to track your spending. You’ll know exactly how you’re doing each time you spend money on food because the money will physically disappear each time you dip into the envelope. For some people, this causes them to be more intentional with their spending. Each Month is Different Each month is going to be different, so each monthly household budget should be different. Don’t just copy and paste your budget from month to month. Sit down and think about the income and expenses for that month. Is it time to take the cat or dog to the vet? Are you earning a bonus this month? Be present when doing your budget because your budget is only going to be as good as the data you put into it. Take the opportunity to thoroughly plan ahead and you’ll be rewarded with less money emergencies and stress throughout the month. Automate Your Budgeting as Much as Possible The easier you make your finances, the better. Use Direct Deposit To start with, set up your paycheck for direct deposit. You don’t want to have to stop by the bank every time you get paid. Pay Yourself First When you setup your paycheck for direct deposit, you’ll often have the option to divvy it up as you see fit. Go ahead and setup any savings or retirement accounts, so that when you get your paycheck it’s automatically deposited into those accounts. Automate Your Bills To start, simplify you bill due dates by changing them to be due when you want them to. For ease of use, you’ll either have one day when everything is due, or break it into 2-4 different days each month, depending on how you get paid and when you can make the payments. Next, for those bills that are consistently the same amount, you can go ahead and set up autopay with your bank. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look at the bills when it comes budget time. Things happen (kids use too much cell data, water leaks, mistakes on the bill itself, etc.). However, it does mean that it should be less likely that you’ll forget to make the payment. Make Sure Your Budget is Realistic and Attainable Starting off you’ll most likely be excited about budgeting because of the future possibilities you now see open to you. This excitement about the future is going to make you want to set super challenging goals because you want to reach those goals as quickly as possible. Because of this, your budget will also be extremely challenging. You know what’s possible for your family (at least you should have some idea after reviewing previous spending patterns). Jumping in with both feet is fine, but don’t make a budget so strict that after a couple of months of doing it, you quit. Your budget should be challenging, but attainable. If you do this, two things will happen. You will feel a sense of pride and accomplishment because you were able to achieve a challenging goal. You won’t get burnt out before you even really begin. Have A Budget Buddy Whether it’s your spouse, another family member, or a friend; you need a budget buddy. Similar to other programs like Weightwatchers or Alcoholics Anonymous, the key to staying on track is accountability and support. Your budget buddy will provide this accountability and support. By having a budget buddy, you both have someone to share in your triumphs and defeats, encourage you, and ultimately push you to reach your financial goals. Track Your Progress and Be Intentional with Your Spending It’s important to track your progress along the way. You should track your progress throughout the month to ensure you’re staying on budget. You should also take a step back from time to time to see how you’re tracking towards your overall goals. This will keep you motivated and excited to continue budgeting each month. Be Flexible When you’re tracking your progress throughout the month, there may be times where you overshoot a budget item or some unexpected expense comes up. Don’t let this derail your entire monthly budget. Instead, look for other budget items that you can undershoot to still meet your overall budgeting goals for the month (i.e. needs, wants, savings). Stop the Comparisons There is nothing more toxic to your finances than comparing your situation to someone else. Be content with the things you do have and the actions you’re taking to achieve your financial goals. Life is a marathon, not a race. As long as you keep making good financial decisions, your finances will improve incrementally, month after month, year after year. Before long you’ll have reached that long-term goal you thought was impossible and be working towards a new goal. Take It Easy on Yourself and Practice Patience It takes a little while to get in the groove of making and following a personal budget. You are going to have months where you succeed and some where you fall flat on your face. In those cases where stumble or fall, you shouldn’t beat yourself up or even worse, give up. Instead, get up, remember why you’re doing this, and get back to it. Celebrate Small Wins and Treat Yourself When you do reach budgeting and financial milestones, make sure to acknowledge and celebrate those wins. By celebrating achieving your short-term goals, it will provide a feeling of accomplishment and provide you with fuel to tackle your next challenge. Best Personal Budgeting Tips for Beginners – Conclusion A budget is an important personal financial tool. It allows you to identify and take back control over where your money goes each month. Following these simple personal budgeting tips will help ensure your budget experience is a smooth one. What personal budgeting tips for beginners do you have? Share this: Pinterest Twitter Facebook Print

How Data Transparency Can Help Fight COVID-19

In the weeks since COVID-19 became a pandemic, a plethora of data dashboards have been launched by governments and non-governmental entities. Unfortunately, the data they provide is often incomplete and inconsistent, resulting in policymakers and the public receiving an insufficient amount of actionable information. To answer the questions of what public health measures are necessary and what personal protective measures are prudent, we should have comprehensive, standardized data. The most-used sources of data are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with visualization produced by Johns Hopkins University, Worldometer and many local and state governments. These sources generally lack information on hospitalizations as well as demographic data on deaths and serious cases. A common practice for these sites is to publish just raw counts of positive tests and deaths attributed to the virus. Test results are not comparable across jurisdictions because the criteria for being tested vary. Since we know that many people who are infected experience only minor symptoms (if any), it is likely that the number of positive cases is greatly undercounted even in places that are testing aggressively. For the positive case number to be really meaningful, most of the population in a given area would have to be tested on a regular basis. The government’s massive testing failures, since the beginning of this pandemic, continue to hurt the ability to get a full and complete picture from testing totals. Deaths provide a more reliable indicator of the coronavirus’ impact on communities, but this statistic also has some important limitations. First, it is a lagging indicator: a final outcome of an illness that is less helpful in predicting the near-term trajectory of the pandemic. Second, there may be differences across jurisdictions and even across medical examiners about how to attribute any given death. While the presence of COVID-19 in a deceased individual can be reliably determined, whether the virus caused the death is a judgment call. It has been argued, for example, that Italy has a higher reported death rate than neighboring countries because it does not make a distinction between deaths with COVID and deaths from COVID. Others have suggested the death count is being underreported. The New York Times reported “hospital officials, doctors, public health experts and medical examiners say that official counts have failed to capture the true number of Americans dying in this pandemic. The undercount is a result of inconsistent protocols, limited resources and a patchwork of decision making from one state or county to the next.” A better measure of COVID-19’s impact at this point is hospitalizations. This figure excludes asymptomatic and mild cases that have may less of a social impact and provides more of a real-time indicator than deaths. Admittedly, this measure is also vulnerable to the classification issue that also applies to deaths. Speaking of classification, only some jurisdictions break down reported COVID-19 totals by age group, gender, and the presence of comorbidities. These factors are known to affect how any given individual experiences the virus and so these decompositions are useful information for both the public and policymakers. New York City provides more data than most jurisdictions, which is fortunate given the severity of its situation. It reports on hospitalizations and also provides age and gender breakdowns. Recently, the city’s dashboard showed a hospitalization rate of 0.17 percent for males and 0.11 percent for females—a significant difference, and one that has been observed elsewhere. Hospitalization rates ranged from 0.01percent for those under 18 to 0.5 percent for individuals 75 and over. While New York does not provide comorbidity data for hospitalizations, it does so for deaths. A recent report showed that over 97 percent of deaths that had been assessed for the existence of underlying conditions were found to have them present, but 29 percent of all deaths had yet to be assessed. Underlying conditions included “Diabetes, Lung Disease, Cancer, Immunodeficiency, Heart Disease, Hypertension, Asthma, Kidney Disease, and GI/Liver Disease.” Scaling up New York City’s reporting to a national level would greatly improve the level of actionable information we have. To effectively scale, all jurisdictions should report their data in a standardized, machine-readable format and submit these data files to a single, public repository. Once again, New York City has taken an important step in this direction by producing daily comma separated value (CSV) files and posting them on Github, a popular software repository that is also used for publishing public data. As of this writing, the underlying condition data was only available on the city web site in PDF format. If those limitations were overcome, the New York City public data reports could be used as a template by states, counties and cities across the nation. COVID-19 poses a serious threat to public health, the economy and ultimately large parts of our civilization. To attack the problem, we need to have the best possible data. It’s understandable that overwhelmed hospitals, cities and states might not view this as the ideal moment to change the way they collect, process and share data. However, establishing and implementing a data standard right now could significantly help health officials identify coronavirus trends and best practices faster and more effectively. Ultimately, the cost of a data standard is tiny compared to the many other expenditures being undertaken by governments at all levels, but its value could be enormous.

Duran Duran and Beyond: New record review: The Buttertones deliver soothing anthems for our time on 'Jazzhound'

2020: It was a year that started out with promise. For the Buttertones, and for the rest of the world, this year was supposed to be so much better than 2019. For the band, last year held the departure of one member, a health scare for another, and a canceled tour. But as 2020 began, the Buttertones had emerged from all of that to open a tour for the veteran act the Reverend Horton Heat, and then had a headlining tour lined up in support of the band’s first album in more than two years. Well, we all know what has happened now. A pandemic has postponed the Buttertones’ tour and countless others. Albums have been shelved, and musicians’ and fans’ lives have been turned upside down. But thankfully, we still have the Buttertones, and the band’s new album, “Jazzhound” (Innovative Leisure) may be just what the world needs now. Music can heal, and Richard Arazia with his buttery-smooth baritone and his band are here to soothe us. The band recorded the album last November at Electro-Vox and Jazzcats studios, with producer Jonny Bell once again at the helm. Araiza has described the album as poppy, saying it's titled “Jazzhound” because “Pophound” just didn’t have the same ring to it. As the singles dropped, fans could tell this album was going to be one of the Buttertones’ best. The title track is a glorious realization of the band’s foray into post-punk started on “Midnight in a Moonless Dream” and continued on the standalone single "Madame Supreme." “Fade Away Gently” is an anthem for our time, culminating with Araiza singing, “Loneliness. Fuck loneliness.” The latest single, “Phantom Eyes,” gets the album off to a cracking start. It’s irresistible, along with much of “Jazzhound.” Sean Redman’s bass lines are catchier than ever. Longtime drummer Modeste Cobian makes the seamless transition to guitar, lending jangly riffs throughout. London Guzman provides the link to the band’s past with his saxophone, and the future, with his keyboards. His sax is in the spotlight on songs like “Bebop” and “Velour,” which perhaps sound the most like the Buttertones of old, with added punch. Although much of the music is upbeat, there is an air of sadness throughout Araiza’s lyrics. He sings of dreams fading away (“Fade Away Gently”), and of crying “out alone in the night” (“Rise and Shine”). On “Denial, You Win Again,” with resignation he proclaims, “I’ll happily lose to you.” The Buttertones may just be taking up the “happy-sad” mantle of post-punk icons the Cure. It’s a future worth being excited about. After all of this is over, bands will tour again. As for the Buttertones, they're hoping they can be back out on the road in the summer. But until we emerge from the darkness, music like “Jazzhound” will be there, to soothe us and show us the promise of a better future.