npr--2020-11-22--Pandemic Pet Therapy: What's So Special About A Critter Friend?

Karen McCullough never wanted a dog .
`` It would have tied me down , and I had a great , very busy life , '' she says .
Her career as a keynote speaker at conferences has taken her across the U.S. , Canada and Mexico .
`` My job is to get everybody engaged , excited and ready to network , '' she says .
McCullough loved the travel — `` cool hotels and not worrying about having anything at home , '' she says .
`` I do n't even have any live plants in the house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she expected her best year yet .
Then `` BOOM '' — everything stopped , including conventions and conferences .
The pandemic `` took my life away , '' she says .
Living alone in Houston , she started feeling the stress — anxious and worried about money .
On top of that , she could n't see her three grandkids who live nearby .
`` I 'm such an extrovert and it 's just been crazy and hard . ''
The surprising solution , for McCullough and many other Americans in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four feet : a pet dog or cat .
First , her son and his wife adopted a puppy .
McCullough decided to do the same , quietly hoping that if she got a puppy , the grandkids `` would want to come and visit me in the front yard . ''
On Labor Day , 8-week-old Rosie , a Wheaten terrier , arrived .
Rosie opened a new world to McCullough — within just a few blocks .
Strangers became new friends .
`` I know all my neighbors now , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ routine and she gets me out there ; we walk three times a day ! ''
The loneliness that had started to sink McCullough as the pandemic wore on is gone .
`` Rosie has been like this magnet ; she 's attracting me to people and it 's good . ''
And there 's some science to back up McCullough 's feelings .
Research from Australia finds the `` pet factor '' does bring people together in helpful ways : Pet owners are more likely to get to know people , form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need .
Psychologist Lori Kogan , a professor of veterinary medicine at Colorado State University and chair of the Human-Animal Interaction Section of the American Psychological Association , has been cataloging stories like McCullough 's during the pandemic .
Kogan and colleagues from Washington State University , University of San Francisco and Palo Alto University did two anonymous online surveys via social media to current pet owners — one regarding cats and another asking about dogs .
The surveys asked participants to share their thoughts , experiences and concerns amid the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported feeling they have less social support from friends and family now than before COVID-19 spread across the U.S. For many , their pets have played a critical role in helping reduce feelings of depression , anxiety , isolation and loneliness in these tough months .
Pets , Kogan says , are `` a respite from the difficulties of life '' and provide their human companions `` an outlet to give . ''
And while relationships with friends and family can be fraught , she says , `` relationships with animals are simple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pet owners discovering animal companions can be the unsung therapists of these difficult times : Get up and get moving : Dr. Gregory Brown and Kai Dr. Gregory Brown is a psychiatrist in Austin , Texas , and a spokesperson for the American Psychiatric Association .
Brown says he has been seeing an increase in anxiety , insomnia and depression among patients he has counseled in the past six months .
`` People are definitely dealing with economic stressors , a hard time with money , and with just being idle '' — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A dog `` nudging at your foot or barking because they want to go for a walk '' can be a real motivation every day to get out and get moving , he says .
And that 's good emotionally as well as physically .
`` We know physical activity can help reduce depression . ''
Though Brown says he 's a fairly active guy , he found the reduced structure of these pandemic days meant he was getting to bed a bit later , getting up a bit later and sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , about a month ago , he and his wife decided to adopt a 10-month old golden retriever/lab mix named Kai .
Now , every day starts with her wake-up bark around 6:30 a.m. , returning some sense of structure to their lives .
And Brown says that he spends at least some time outside daily , jogging and walking and that helps make the days seem `` a bit more normal . ''
`` She 's just been a joy to be around when she 's not busy eating up my wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says .
Breaking through the isolation : Karol Kullberg and Molly As a psychiatric social worker in Rockville , Md.
, Karol Kullberg has spent most of her work life in a small room , listening to patients face to face — work she finds rewarding and fulfilling , she says .
When the pandemic hit , she was able to work from home — a blessing in some ways , but not others .
Offering therapy online , via telehealth appointments , has been convenient , Kulberg says , but she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's intensely stressful — I think for everyone , '' she says .
`` Certainly for patients as well as therapists , who were n't particularly technologically adept or even comfortable using Zoom or other platforms . ''
Reading patients ' facial expressions and body language can be more difficult she says , and without colleagues to talk to in between therapeutic sessions , `` you 're very aware that you are suddenly working in a vacuum . ''
Kullberg does n't say she 's lonely .
She says it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
By the end of March when it became clear that staying at home would be the norm for quite a while , she decided to adopt a dog .
Enter Molly , a 5-year-old terrier mix who `` came right into my home , was perfectly well-behaved , perfectly housebroken , and even welcomed my cat — who did n't return the favor . ''
For Kulberg , Molly was `` like getting something you did n't know you missed ; you forgot how wonderful it was to have something you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sudden it 's there again . ''
She finds Molly an extremely comforting presence , `` like having somebody 's arm around your shoulder without having to say anything .
Sort of like a dance partner you do n't have to teach ; they just figure it out . ''
Today , Kulberg says she no longer feels alone .
`` I get up in the morning and Molly curls up in her bed and we go to work . ''
`` My glorious chow chow mix died at the end of January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pacy , who initially planned to let some time pass before getting another dog .
But , `` a heart needs to love , '' she says , `` and I started looking . ''
At the end of February she adopted a large and fluffy Great Pyrenees mix — she named him Emmet .
It was just before lockdown in Washington , D.C. , where Pacy lives and works as an independent producer of commercials .
Emmet arrived `` just in time '' says Pacy , who lives alone .
`` No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go down the dark path in the world we 're in today . ''
Early on in the pandemic , the first three minutes of every morning would start with a `` mild panic '' she says .
But then a `` giant white paw lands on my shoulder and I wonder if it is possible to literally feel serotonin , '' she says , referring to one of the neurotransmitters thought to help stabilize mood .
Emmet spends much of his time chasing flies , unearthing clothing Pacy had forgotten she owned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — just watching him is diverting , she says .
`` All day long the kids drop by and yell for Emmet . ''
Even in times of despair , Emmet makes a difference .
`` I 'm standing in my front hall , lost in thought ... wondering if I will ever work again , if my small business loan will be approved , if I will have to sell my house .
And then , gazing in the direction of my couch , Emmet decides that a long slow back flip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' His antics pierce the grief and remind her to stay in the moment , she says — `` be grateful for what I have . ''
Pacy has a Post-it on her door that says : `` I have health insurance ; my cabinets are full of food ; I have a home ; I have Emmet .
This makes me happy . ''
A new focus to replace anxiety : Devin Green and Taco Devin Green , a small business consultant and life coach , who lives in Portland , Maine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adopt in May .
After many false starts , a close friend helped her find the dog of her dreams , a miniature goldendoodle ( a cross between a golden retriever and a small poodle ) .
Taco has `` changed my life in ways I never expected , '' says Green .
As he grows , his puppy fur is getting replaced by adult dog fur which can get matted .
So Green brushes him nightly , giving — and recieving — needed physical touch .
`` If I 'm having a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and snuggly . ''
She sometimes struggles with anxiety , she says , and soothing the pup 's needs helped her get beyond that .
`` I 'm consumed with him more than the worries in my mind , '' she says .
`` My brain space is now taken up by something far more productive than it used to be . ''
Green says she used to panic a little if she did n't have plans for the day , but Taco has introduced her to the neighborhood and helped her feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Every morning , they walk to the nearby fire station — a big loop , Green says .
`` The fire station is his favorite place . ''
Taco runs inside and `` loves on all the firefighters and they love him back .
I had never even spoken to any of them before but now we 're all buddies . ''
Choosing the right pet for you : advice from the `` falcon whisperer '' As executive director of the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital in the United Arab Emirates , veterinarian Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation 's `` falcon whisperer . ''
But her love for animals is thoroughly inclusive .
She is the author of a new book , Your Pet , Your Pill : 101 Inspirational Stories About How Pets Can Lead You to a Happy , Healthy and Successful Life .
A falcon would n't be the right choice for everyone , Muller notes .
`` Falcons are good for people who can be extremely dedicated , adhere to strict time schedules and have a great understanding of the falcons ' special needs and requirements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dogs , too demand the right kind of human companion .
`` It 's of utmost importance to find the right pet according to the person 's personality , as well as personal circumstances and environment , '' she says .
`` This means if you do n't have much time and you live in a very small apartment , a dog is not suitable for your lifestyle , and a cat , bird , rabbit or fish would be better for you . ''
All pets — dogs , cats , fish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , yes , falcons — can help people overcome numerous emotional and physical challenges , Muller says .
And certainly during the global pandemic , when people are feeling locked down , isolated and lacking in human connection , pets can make a world of difference .
Just playing with a pet for five minutes or petting the animal for five minutes can reduce blood pressure and increase hormones associated with contentment research suggests .
Oxytocin , sometimes called the `` bonding hormone '' or `` cuddle hormone , '' is often released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's not just humans who benefit from increased oxytocin levels — dogs do too .
When you develop a bond with an animal companion , Muller says , you often get someone who `` loves you unconditionally , who is there for you 24 hours a day , who does n't mind how you look today , '' she says .
`` They are just there to love you and this brings a tremendous benefit for the entire family . ''
Withdrawn kids may particularly benefit .
One family , she says , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the computer or iPad before they brought home a pet .
Now he does n't stop talking — about the pet .
`` Once you plant that seed in children and they love animals and learn how to care for them , they learn responsibility , '' she says — skills that will prove incredibly valuable as they grow up .

Pandemic Pet Therapy: What's So Special About A Critter Friend?
Karen McCullough never wanted a dog. "It would have tied me down, and I had a great, very busy life," she says.
Her career as a keynote speaker at conferences has taken her across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. "My job is to get everybody engaged, excited and ready to network," she says.
McCullough loved the travel — "cool hotels and not worrying about having anything at home," she says. "I don't even have any live plants in the house." As she sailed into 2020, she expected her best year yet.
Then "BOOM" — everything stopped, including conventions and conferences. The pandemic "took my life away," she says.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Karen McCullough Karen McCullough
Living alone in Houston, she started feeling the stress — anxious and worried about money. On top of that, she couldn't see her three grandkids who live nearby. "I'm such an extrovert and it's just been crazy and hard."
The surprising solution, for McCullough and many other Americans in 2020, was often furry, with four feet: a pet dog or cat.
First, her son and his wife adopted a puppy. McCullough decided to do the same, quietly hoping that if she got a puppy, the grandkids "would want to come and visit me in the front yard." On Labor Day, 8-week-old Rosie, a Wheaten terrier, arrived.
Rosie opened a new world to McCullough — within just a few blocks. Strangers became new friends. "I know all my neighbors now," she says. "We have a routine and she gets me out there; we walk three times a day!"
The loneliness that had started to sink McCullough as the pandemic wore on is gone. "Rosie has been like this magnet; she's attracting me to people and it's good."
And there's some science to back up McCullough's feelings. Research from Australia finds the "pet factor" does bring people together in helpful ways: Pet owners are more likely to get to know people, form friendships and get the social support humans need.
Psychologist Lori Kogan, a professor of veterinary medicine at Colorado State University and chair of the Human-Animal Interaction Section of the American Psychological Association, has been cataloging stories like McCullough's during the pandemic.
Kogan and colleagues from Washington State University, University of San Francisco and Palo Alto University did two anonymous online surveys via social media to current pet owners — one regarding cats and another asking about dogs. The surveys asked participants to share their thoughts, experiences and concerns amid the pandemic.
They found a significant number of people reported feeling they have less social support from friends and family now than before COVID-19 spread across the U.S. For many, their pets have played a critical role in helping reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, isolation and loneliness in these tough months.
Pets, Kogan says, are "a respite from the difficulties of life" and provide their human companions "an outlet to give." And while relationships with friends and family can be fraught, she says, "relationships with animals are simple."
Here are more stories of pet owners discovering animal companions can be the unsung therapists of these difficult times:
Get up and get moving: Dr. Gregory Brown and Kai
Dr. Gregory Brown is a psychiatrist in Austin, Texas, and a spokesperson for the American Psychiatric Association. Brown says he has been seeing an increase in anxiety, insomnia and depression among patients he has counseled in the past six months. "People are definitely dealing with economic stressors, a hard time with money, and with just being idle" — not getting out of the house much.
A dog "nudging at your foot or barking because they want to go for a walk" can be a real motivation every day to get out and get moving, he says. And that's good emotionally as well as physically. "We know physical activity can help reduce depression."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gregory Brown Gregory Brown
Though Brown says he's a fairly active guy, he found the reduced structure of these pandemic days meant he was getting to bed a bit later, getting up a bit later and sometimes letting his exercise schedule slide.
Then, about a month ago, he and his wife decided to adopt a 10-month old golden retriever/lab mix named Kai. Now, every day starts with her wake-up bark around 6:30 a.m., returning some sense of structure to their lives.
And Brown says that he spends at least some time outside daily, jogging and walking and that helps make the days seem "a bit more normal."
"She's just been a joy to be around when she's not busy eating up my wife's favorite pair of shoes," he says.
Breaking through the isolation: Karol Kullberg and Molly
As a psychiatric social worker in Rockville, Md., Karol Kullberg has spent most of her work life in a small room, listening to patients face to face — work she finds rewarding and fulfilling, she says. When the pandemic hit, she was able to work from home — a blessing in some ways, but not others. Offering therapy online, via telehealth appointments, has been convenient, Kulberg says, but she also finds it isolating and somewhat alienating.
"It's intensely stressful — I think for everyone," she says. "Certainly for patients as well as therapists, who weren't particularly technologically adept or even comfortable using Zoom or other platforms."
Reading patients' facial expressions and body language can be more difficult she says, and without colleagues to talk to in between therapeutic sessions, "you're very aware that you are suddenly working in a vacuum." Kullberg doesn't say she's lonely. She says it's more like being "profoundly alone."
By the end of March when it became clear that staying at home would be the norm for quite a while, she decided to adopt a dog.
Enter Molly, a 5-year-old terrier mix who "came right into my home, was perfectly well-behaved, perfectly housebroken, and even welcomed my cat — who didn't return the favor."
For Kullberg, Molly was "like getting something you didn't know you missed; you forgot how wonderful it was to have something you didn't notice until all of a sudden it's there again."
She finds Molly an extremely comforting presence, "like having somebody's arm around your shoulder without having to say anything. Sort of like a dance partner you don't have to teach; they just figure it out."
Today, Kullberg says she no longer feels alone. "I get up in the morning and Molly curls up in her bed and we go to work."
A source of joy amid grief: Peggy Pacy & Emmet
"My glorious chow chow mix died at the end of January and I was heartbroken" says Peggy Pacy, who initially planned to let some time pass before getting another dog. But, "a heart needs to love," she says, "and I started looking."
At the end of February she adopted a large and fluffy Great Pyrenees mix — she named him Emmet. It was just before lockdown in Washington, D.C., where Pacy lives and works as an independent producer of commercials. Emmet arrived "just in time" says Pacy, who lives alone. "No question, it's very easy to go down the dark path in the world we're in today."
Early on in the pandemic, the first three minutes of every morning would start with a "mild panic" she says. But then a "giant white paw lands on my shoulder and I wonder if it is possible to literally feel serotonin," she says, referring to one of the neurotransmitters thought to help stabilize mood.
Emmet spends much of his time chasing flies, unearthing clothing Pacy had forgotten she owned, and making friends with neighborhood kids — just watching him is diverting, she says. "All day long the kids drop by and yell for Emmet."
Even in times of despair, Emmet makes a difference. "I'm standing in my front hall, lost in thought ... wondering if I will ever work again, if my small business loan will be approved, if I will have to sell my house. And then, gazing in the direction of my couch, Emmet decides that a long slow back flip to the floor is in order." His antics pierce the grief and remind her to stay in the moment, she says — " be grateful for what I have."
Pacy has a Post-it on her door that says: "I have health insurance; my cabinets are full of food; I have a home; I have Emmet. This makes me happy."
A new focus to replace anxiety: Devin Green and Taco
Enlarge this image toggle caption Devin Green Devin Green
Devin Green, a small business consultant and life coach, who lives in Portland, Maine, started looking for a dog to adopt in May. After many false starts, a close friend helped her find the dog of her dreams, a miniature goldendoodle (a cross between a golden retriever and a small poodle).
Taco has "changed my life in ways I never expected," says Green. As he grows, his puppy fur is getting replaced by adult dog fur which can get matted. So Green brushes him nightly, giving — and recieving — needed physical touch. "If I'm having a bad day, he's very warm and snuggly."
She sometimes struggles with anxiety, she says, and soothing the pup's needs helped her get beyond that. "I'm consumed with him more than the worries in my mind," she says. "My brain space is now taken up by something far more productive than it used to be."
Green says she used to panic a little if she didn't have plans for the day, but Taco has introduced her to the neighborhood and helped her feel more a part of the community. Every morning, they walk to the nearby fire station — a big loop, Green says. "The fire station is his favorite place."
Taco runs inside and "loves on all the firefighters and they love him back. I had never even spoken to any of them before but now we're all buddies."
Choosing the right pet for you: advice from the "falcon whisperer"
As executive director of the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital in the United Arab Emirates, veterinarian Dr. Margit Gabriele Muller is known as her nation's "falcon whisperer." But her love for animals is thoroughly inclusive. She is the author of a new book, Your Pet, Your Pill: 101 Inspirational Stories About How Pets Can Lead You to a Happy, Healthy and Successful Life.
A falcon wouldn't be the right choice for everyone, Muller notes. "Falcons are good for people who can be extremely dedicated, adhere to strict time schedules and have a great understanding of the falcons' special needs and requirements," she says, noting that dogs, too demand the right kind of human companion.
"It's of utmost importance to find the right pet according to the person's personality, as well as personal circumstances and environment," she says. "This means if you don't have much time and you live in a very small apartment, a dog is not suitable for your lifestyle, and a cat, bird, rabbit or fish would be better for you."
All pets — dogs, cats, fish, rabbits, birds, snakes and, yes, falcons — can help people overcome numerous emotional and physical challenges, Muller says. And certainly during the global pandemic, when people are feeling locked down, isolated and lacking in human connection, pets can make a world of difference.
Just playing with a pet for five minutes or petting the animal for five minutes can reduce blood pressure and increase hormones associated with contentment research suggests.
Oxytocin, sometimes called the "bonding hormone" or "cuddle hormone," is often released with a gentle touch. And it's not just humans who benefit from increased oxytocin levels — dogs do too.
When you develop a bond with an animal companion, Muller says, you often get someone who "loves you unconditionally, who is there for you 24 hours a day, who doesn't mind how you look today," she says. "They are just there to love you and this brings a tremendous benefit for the entire family."
Withdrawn kids may particularly benefit. One family, she says, told her their son was always on the computer or iPad before they brought home a pet. Now he doesn't stop talking — about the pet.
"Once you plant that seed in children and they love animals and learn how to care for them, they learn responsibility," she says — skills that will prove incredibly valuable as they grow up.


npr--2020-11-22--'Slow Down,' 'Don't Quit': Advice From 7 Women Who Overcame Their Pandemic Struggles

'Slow Down , ' 'Do n't Quit ' : Advice From 7 Women Who Overcame Their Pandemic Struggles Is there a woman in your community who has overcome great challenges in their personal lives during the pandemic ?
In October , we asked our audience this question .
It 's part our special report that profiled 19 remarkable women across the globe who – despite the crisis — are surviving and thriving .
NPR received over 50 nominations for this call out .
Many are women whose lives were upended by the pandemic — but found a way to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves or their communities .
An artist who lost her job raised funds to buy art supplies for children in her neighborhood .
A doctor in Yemen , a country grappling with a civil war , drives up to five hours to educate patients about the coronavirus in remote villages .
A newly single mom of two finds strength in a saying from her Congolese heritage .
Here are seven stories of women making a difference .
These interviews have been edited for length and clarity .
Danielle Demetria East , 23 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Before the pandemic , I was working days , nights and weekends .
I was always too tired to make art or a difference in my community .
I was looking for a sign or some change to happen .
Suddenly , after the pandemic hit , I did n't have work .
Then it struck me .
What can I do with all this time I could n't do before ?
I started doing collages , which I have never really done .
I also wanted to give back to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predominately people of color .
There are n't a lot of resources or support for artists of color .
I started applying for grants in the beginning of the pandemic , and used the money to make art kits for children to encourage them to create in different mediums .
They get a canvas and watercolors , art supplies I wish I had when I was a kid .
When I first told people about this , they asked me : What if you do n't get the money for it ?
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
We do n't know how long the pandemic is going to last .
You have to be open to change and learning new skills .
Do n't quit .
It might not turn out well this time , but just keep doing stuff .
Crystal Watts , 36 , is a mentor to medical students at the Medical College of Georgia , a breast cancer patient , PhD candidate and mother of three children in Evans , Ga .
When things started happening in March , my husband got laid off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I discovered a lump on my breast .
It was awful and surreal .
We had so much drama going on .
Cancer was just another thing .
I just finished six rounds of chemo .
I have been sick most of the pandemic .
In my low moments , I think , `` What would Eva Mae do right now ? ''
She was my grandma .
She was very strong-willed and if she decided to do something or not do something that was what was going to happen .
She was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GED in her 50s after raising eight children and being a civil rights activist in Mississippi .
She walked across the bridge at Selma .
You got to put one foot in front of the other and keep going .
This awful situation is not supposed to last forever .
That 's what I keep telling myself every day .
I am on the other side of chemo and finally getting a taste of it not lasting forever .
People are still trying to hold themselves to pre-pandemic standards .
You ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Are you doing things that are necessary ?
I am the first to tell you that my house is a mess right now .
The kids are a mess , but the kids are going to catch up .
You do what you can .
Identify what the key parts are .
Everyone needs to be fed and housed .
So , we just take care of basic needs around here .
If you miss the mark , you ca n't kick yourself about it .
Tammy Elser , 60 , teaches at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reservation , near Missoula , Mont .
I just shifted to teaching fully online because of the pandemic .
I miss the interaction with my students .
I feel joy getting up in front of a classroom .
I live for it .
It 's a challenge to try to figure out how to teach online creatively .
You ca n't simply step online and do the same kind of activities you would ordinarily do in person .
Parents , teachers , former and current students contact me about what to do with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelmed .
I tell them to get really , really basic .
There are ways of authentically coming together in smaller groups on virtual platforms to talk about a book we have all read .
That 's a social opportunity and our kids are very lonely .
The opportunity here is that we as a society have been forced to pause .
That pause could actually get the students to do the things that are most beneficial : reading , writing , reflecting , journaling , doodling , scribbling , writing slivers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sadness , expressing joy .
I hope we do n't squander this moment to reset from our flat-screen environments .
We should be putting books in the hands of our children .
'Your responsibility is to also continue' Dr. Nebras Khaled , 33 , is a virologist , a doctor and health program manager for International Medical Corps , a humanitarian group , in Sana ' a , Yemen .
In Yemen , our situation is different than other countries .
We have had medicine shortages since the war started in 2015 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it got worse .
We ca n't ship or receive anything because of the war .
But my biggest challenge was not getting the medicine we needed , it was convincing people in my community to change their behavior , like social distancing and hand washing and wearing masks .
Gathering is part of our tradition .
It takes a long time to separate tradition from behavior .
I do n't give up .
I take pride in my work .
The first thing I did for my community was to raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus and how it spreads , and got them the minimum personal protection equipment through the nonprofit I work for , International Medical Corps .
I work with community leaders and volunteers in Sana ' a 's districts to educate people about the virus and how to be safe .
From my home , I drive about five hours by car to reach the farthest health facility to educate and screen patients for the virus .
My family always supports me .
They make me strong .
Every day , when I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mom asks me about my day and she always reminds me you are human and everyone around you is human .
Your responsibility is n't just to protect others , your responsibility is also to continue .
She tells me I am not here to fight COVID-19 or to end a pandemic , I am here to make people healthy .
'Slow down or you will crash' Josianne Modelo , 33 , is a single mother of two sons and lives in Houston .
It 's 100 % hustle to survive .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10-year abusive relationship with the father of my two sons .
He was completely certain that I would go back to him during the pandemic , but I did n't .
I stayed strong and resisted and stood my ground .
Now , I have two sons to keep a roof over their heads and feed all on my own .
I have to really push myself .
I work around 80 hours a week .
I clean houses and look after sick people as a home healthcare aide .
It 's nonstop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African family .
We escaped the wars in Congo and came to America when I was 3 years old .
I come from a family of very strong women who raised me .
They said little , but their wisdom , strength and the authority in their voices ring in my head years later .
The women would gather together to pray , braid hair , cook fufu [ plantains ] and give advice .
When I started growing up , I realized that woman is me , too .
I 'm an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuff done .
When I get upset or stressed , I think of my aunts putting both hands in the air and calmly saying `` malembe , malembe . ''
It 's Congolese for `` slow down . ''
I say it to my sons .
I hold my hands in the air , wiggle my fingers and say `` malembe . ''
Sometimes you got to slow down or you will overheat and crash .
'Remind yourself why you do what you do' Annie Harrison , 42 , is a detective who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Lansing , Mich. , and is a mother of two daughters .
Right when the pandemic hit , our child advocacy center closed down .
And we were worried about children sheltering in place during the pandemic with their abusers .
Then it hit me that we needed to figure out how to work [ remotely ] during the pandemic .
I feel very strongly about face-to-face contact with children , but we also owe it to children to find a safe and viable alternative .
It 's difficult to step outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
I was very intimidated and nervous conducting my first virtual interview .
I was concerned about the ability to build rapport with children , but I found that 's not true .
Some children feel the virtual conversation offers more control , choice and security as they tell about their most private and traumatic events .
The reason why I do the work that I do is that I believe every child deserves a life free from abuse .
The way I do my job every day now looks different , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When you remind yourself why you do what you do , it makes you a lot more resilient and adaptable .
And the resiliency in kids is just truly inspiring .
'Honor grief and the medicine it brings' Naomi Ochoa , 42 , is a healer and a massage therapist and counsels mothers who have lost their babies .
She is a mother of two children in Denver .
The pandemic has opened a new portal to this virtual world that was n't really a part of my practice .
But now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can connect with each other .
Before I worked with local women to help them process their grief by telling their stories , but now I reach women even farther away through the virtual world .
My work has been super heavy during the pandemic because there has been so much collective grieving .
It 's sad and lonely .
I call my grandma for help .
She was eight months pregnant with my mother when she crossed the border into this country through the Rio Grande River , while carrying my uncle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the space to grieve .
When I was sad , she always said to me in a stern voice : `` No estas pendeja !
Andale , muevete !
You 're not stupid !
Let 's go , get moving ! ''
I remember her resilience , and honor her grief because she did n't get to .
I always tell women I work with , you got to feel it to heal it .
Strength is not holding tight and stuffing it down .
It 's giving yourself permission to feel all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pesky friend that wo n't leave until you open the door .
If you do n't give grief the time , it will make you give it the time and feel it .
Honor grief and the medicine it brings .
Special thanks to our NPR readers who nominated women for this story .

'Slow Down,' 'Don't Quit': Advice From 7 Women Who Overcame Their Pandemic Struggles
Is there a woman in your community who has overcome great challenges in their personal lives during the pandemic?
In October, we asked our audience this question. It's part our special report that profiled 19 remarkable women across the globe who – despite the crisis — are surviving and thriving.
NPR received over 50 nominations for this call out. Many are women whose lives were upended by the pandemic — but found a way to make the most of their situation, for themselves or their communities. An artist who lost her job raised funds to buy art supplies for children in her neighborhood. A doctor in Yemen, a country grappling with a civil war, drives up to five hours to educate patients about the coronavirus in remote villages. A newly single mom of two finds strength in a saying from her Congolese heritage.
Here are seven stories of women making a difference. These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
'Don't quit'
toggle caption Lacie Freelen
Danielle Demetria East, 23, is an artist in Lubbock, Texas.
Before the pandemic, I was working days, nights and weekends. I was always too tired to make art or a difference in my community. I was looking for a sign or some change to happen.
Suddenly, after the pandemic hit, I didn't have work.
Then it struck me. What can I do with all this time I couldn't do before? I started doing collages, which I have never really done. I also wanted to give back to the community of East Lubbock, which is predominately people of color. There aren't a lot of resources or support for artists of color.
I started applying for grants in the beginning of the pandemic, and used the money to make art kits for children to encourage them to create in different mediums. They get a canvas and watercolors, art supplies I wish I had when I was a kid. When I first told people about this, they asked me: What if you don't get the money for it? I said I will just keep working on it.
We don't know how long the pandemic is going to last. You have to be open to change and learning new skills. Don't quit. It might not turn out well this time, but just keep doing stuff.
Don't hold yourself to 'pre-pandemic standards'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Douglas Watts, Jr. Douglas Watts, Jr.
Crystal Watts, 36, is a mentor to medical students at the Medical College of Georgia, a breast cancer patient, PhD candidate and mother of three children in Evans, Ga.
When things started happening in March, my husband got laid off. The schools closed down. Then I discovered a lump on my breast. It was awful and surreal. We had so much drama going on. Cancer was just another thing.
I just finished six rounds of chemo. I have been sick most of the pandemic.
In my low moments, I think, "What would Eva Mae do right now?" She was my grandma. She was very strong-willed and if she decided to do something or not do something that was what was going to happen. She was like a train. She got her GED in her 50s after raising eight children and being a civil rights activist in Mississippi. She walked across the bridge at Selma.
You got to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. This awful situation is not supposed to last forever. That's what I keep telling myself every day. I am on the other side of chemo and finally getting a taste of it not lasting forever.
People are still trying to hold themselves to pre-pandemic standards. You can't. Just pause and revaluate things. Are you doing things that are necessary?
I am the first to tell you that my house is a mess right now. The kids are a mess, but the kids are going to catch up. You do what you can. Identify what the key parts are. Everyone needs to be fed and housed. So, we just take care of basic needs around here. If you miss the mark, you can't kick yourself about it.
'Don't squander this moment'
toggle caption Rebecca Pershouse Olson
Tammy Elser, 60, teaches at Salish Kootenai College on the Flathead Indian Reservation, near Missoula, Mont.
I just shifted to teaching fully online because of the pandemic. I miss the interaction with my students. I feel joy getting up in front of a classroom. I live for it.
It's a challenge to try to figure out how to teach online creatively. You can't simply step online and do the same kind of activities you would ordinarily do in person.
Parents, teachers, former and current students contact me about what to do with their children and students. They're overwhelmed.
I tell them to get really, really basic. There are ways of authentically coming together in smaller groups on virtual platforms to talk about a book we have all read. That's a social opportunity and our kids are very lonely.
The opportunity here is that we as a society have been forced to pause. That pause could actually get the students to do the things that are most beneficial: reading, writing, reflecting, journaling, doodling, scribbling, writing slivers of poems, thinking deep thoughts, expressing sadness, expressing joy. I hope we don't squander this moment to reset from our flat-screen environments. We should be putting books in the hands of our children.
'Your responsibility is to also continue'
toggle caption Tawheed Fadhl Mohammed Hashem
Dr. Nebras Khaled, 33, is a virologist, a doctor and health program manager for International Medical Corps, a humanitarian group, in Sana'a, Yemen.
In Yemen, our situation is different than other countries. We have had medicine shortages since the war started in 2015, but when the pandemic came in April, it got worse. We can't ship or receive anything because of the war. But my biggest challenge was not getting the medicine we needed, it was convincing people in my community to change their behavior, like social distancing and hand washing and wearing masks. Gathering is part of our tradition. It takes a long time to separate tradition from behavior. I don't give up. I take pride in my work.
The first thing I did for my community was to raise awareness. I got them information about the virus and how it spreads, and got them the minimum personal protection equipment through the nonprofit I work for, International Medical Corps. I work with community leaders and volunteers in Sana'a's districts to educate people about the virus and how to be safe. From my home, I drive about five hours by car to reach the farthest health facility to educate and screen patients for the virus.
My family always supports me. They make me strong. Every day, when I come home from work tired, my mom asks me about my day and she always reminds me you are human and everyone around you is human. Your responsibility isn't just to protect others, your responsibility is also to continue. She tells me I am not here to fight COVID-19 or to end a pandemic, I am here to make people healthy.
'Slow down or you will crash'
toggle caption Josianne Modelo
Josianne Modelo, 33, is a single mother of two sons and lives in Houston.
It's 100% hustle to survive. Just before the pandemic, I left a 10-year abusive relationship with the father of my two sons. He was completely certain that I would go back to him during the pandemic, but I didn't. I stayed strong and resisted and stood my ground.
Now, I have two sons to keep a roof over their heads and feed all on my own. I have to really push myself. I work around 80 hours a week. I clean houses and look after sick people as a home healthcare aide. It's nonstop.
I get strength by remembering my African family. We escaped the wars in Congo and came to America when I was 3 years old. I come from a family of very strong women who raised me. They said little, but their wisdom, strength and the authority in their voices ring in my head years later. The women would gather together to pray, braid hair, cook fufu [plantains] and give advice. When I started growing up, I realized that woman is me, too.
I'm an anxious type-A person always rushing to get stuff done. When I get upset or stressed, I think of my aunts putting both hands in the air and calmly saying "malembe, malembe." It's Congolese for "slow down." I say it to my sons. I hold my hands in the air, wiggle my fingers and say "malembe." Sometimes you got to slow down or you will overheat and crash.
'Remind yourself why you do what you do'
toggle caption Ted Harrison
Annie Harrison, 42, is a detective who investigates child sexual abuse and assault cases in Lansing, Mich., and is a mother of two daughters.
Right when the pandemic hit, our child advocacy center closed down. And we were worried about children sheltering in place during the pandemic with their abusers. Then it hit me that we needed to figure out how to work [remotely] during the pandemic.
I feel very strongly about face-to-face contact with children, but we also owe it to children to find a safe and viable alternative.
It's difficult to step outside what I used to do in the office. I was very intimidated and nervous conducting my first virtual interview. I was concerned about the ability to build rapport with children, but I found that's not true. Some children feel the virtual conversation offers more control, choice and security as they tell about their most private and traumatic events.
The reason why I do the work that I do is that I believe every child deserves a life free from abuse. The way I do my job every day now looks different, but my reasons are still the same.
When you remind yourself why you do what you do, it makes you a lot more resilient and adaptable. And the resiliency in kids is just truly inspiring.
'Honor grief and the medicine it brings'
toggle caption Ariel Britt
Naomi Ochoa, 42, is a healer and a massage therapist and counsels mothers who have lost their babies. She is a mother of two children in Denver.
The pandemic has opened a new portal to this virtual world that wasn't really a part of my practice. But now it has become the only way we can connect with each other. Before I worked with local women to help them process their grief by telling their stories, but now I reach women even farther away through the virtual world.
My work has been super heavy during the pandemic because there has been so much collective grieving. It's sad and lonely. I call my grandma for help. She was eight months pregnant with my mother when she crossed the border into this country through the Rio Grande River, while carrying my uncle in a washtub. She never had the space to grieve. When I was sad, she always said to me in a stern voice: "No estas pendeja! Andale, muevete! You're not stupid! Let's go, get moving!" I remember her resilience, and honor her grief because she didn't get to.
I always tell women I work with, you got to feel it to heal it. Strength is not holding tight and stuffing it down. It's giving yourself permission to feel all the feels.
Grief is like a pesky friend that won't leave until you open the door. If you don't give grief the time, it will make you give it the time and feel it. Honor grief and the medicine it brings.
Special thanks to our NPR readers who nominated women for this story.


npr--2020-11-21--Judge Dismisses Trump Campaign's Bid To Delay Vote Certification In Pennsylvania

A federal judge handed the Trump campaign a definitive loss on Saturday in its final attempt to delay the certification of votes in Pennsylvania , where President-elect Joe Biden leads by more than 81,000 votes .
In a blistering decision , U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Matthew Brann dismissed the campaign 's lawsuit alleging that Republicans were disadvantaged because election officials in Democratic-leaning counties allowed voters to fix errors on their mail-in ballots .
Brann ruled that the campaign is essentially asking the court `` to disenfranchise almost seven million voters , '' using `` strained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... unsupported by evidence . ''
The judge also denied the campaign a motion to file an amended complaint , concluding that it had already done so once before , and that further motions `` would unduly delay '' the Nov. 23 deadline for Pennsylvania counties to certify their election results .
As NPR previously reported , Rudy Giuliani , President Trump 's lawyer , had argued that Republican observers were illegally denied access to ballot counting in Allegheny County and other Democratic-leaning areas and that the court should therefore invalidate nearly 700,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest in a series of defeats in several key swing states where Trump 's legal team has sought to either halt or delay the certification of election results as part of the president 's longshot strategy to reverse the outcome .
In a statement following the decision , the Trump campaign vowed to take their case to the Supreme Court .
`` We are disappointed we did not at least get the opportunity to present our evidence at a hearing , '' wrote Giuliani and Jenna Ellis , the campaign 's senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law professor at University of California , Irvine who writes about election law , said Brann 's decision marks a `` dead end '' for the Trump campaign .
`` The campaign can try to appeal this to the Third Circuit and even to the Supreme Court , but this is such a dog of a case I can not see any chance of success there , even before the most sympathetic judges , '' he wrote .
`` Rudy had truly participated in the worst piece of election litigation I have ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyering and the antidemocratic nature of what the lawsuit attempted to do . ''

Judge Dismisses Trump Campaign's Bid To Delay Vote Certification In Pennsylvania
Enlarge this image toggle caption Gene J. Puskar/AP Gene J. Puskar/AP
A federal judge handed the Trump campaign a definitive loss on Saturday in its final attempt to delay the certification of votes in Pennsylvania, where President-elect Joe Biden leads by more than 81,000 votes.
In a blistering decision, U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Matthew Brann dismissed the campaign's lawsuit alleging that Republicans were disadvantaged because election officials in Democratic-leaning counties allowed voters to fix errors on their mail-in ballots.
Brann ruled that the campaign is essentially asking the court "to disenfranchise almost seven million voters," using "strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations ... unsupported by evidence."
The judge also denied the campaign a motion to file an amended complaint, concluding that it had already done so once before, and that further motions "would unduly delay" the Nov. 23 deadline for Pennsylvania counties to certify their election results.
As NPR previously reported, Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's lawyer, had argued that Republican observers were illegally denied access to ballot counting in Allegheny County and other Democratic-leaning areas and that the court should therefore invalidate nearly 700,000 mail-in votes.
Saturday's order is the latest in a series of defeats in several key swing states where Trump's legal team has sought to either halt or delay the certification of election results as part of the president's longshot strategy to reverse the outcome.
In a statement following the decision, the Trump campaign vowed to take their case to the Supreme Court. "We are disappointed we did not at least get the opportunity to present our evidence at a hearing," wrote Giuliani and Jenna Ellis, the campaign's senior legal adviser.
Rick Hasen, a law professor at University of California, Irvine who writes about election law, said Brann's decision marks a "dead end" for the Trump campaign.
"The campaign can try to appeal this to the Third Circuit and even to the Supreme Court, but this is such a dog of a case I cannot see any chance of success there, even before the most sympathetic judges," he wrote. "Rudy had truly participated in the worst piece of election litigation I have ever seen, both in terms of the lawyering and the antidemocratic nature of what the lawsuit attempted to do."


npr--2020-11-22--Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich Says GOP Is 'Afraid' Of Trump

Former Ohio Gov .
John Kasich Says GOP Is 'Afraid ' Of Trump Few high-profile Republican members of Congress have publicly acknowledged Joe Biden 's presidential win .
And many Republican politicians have refused to denounce Trump 's legal challenges and false allegations of widespread voter fraud .
John Kasich , the former governor of Ohio who was a 2016 Republican presidential candidate , says it 's because Republicans are `` either in complete lockstep with [ Trump ] or they 're afraid of him . ''
`` They 're afraid that they 'll be primaried or they 're afraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told Leila Fadel on All Things Considered .
`` And it 's a pretty remarkable situation . ''
Kasich endorsed Biden in the election and even spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August .
`` [ Biden ] has clearly won this election and it is just sort of amazing to me that Republicans just keep sitting on their hands .
It makes no sense , '' Kasich told NPR .
He said one of his foremost concerns about Trump 's refusal to concede is how it affects the transition and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fight the pandemic .
The Biden team has been shut out from information on the government 's coronavirus response , leaving them less prepared come Jan. 20 .
`` There should be total and complete cooperation between the Trump administration and the incoming Biden administration in any variety of ways in which to deal with the distribution of the vaccine , a whole series of issues going forward . ''
Kasich added that the Republican Party 's part in enabling Trump is `` extremely disappointing for someone who has been a Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he has spoken to Republican leaders about his concerns I appear a lot on television and my voice has been very clear and in terms of talking to Republican leaders , I have n't done that , but I 've talked to them through the television because it 's impossible for them to not hear what I 've had to say .
I have talked to Republicans who are not currently holding public office , a significant number , and some who are leaders , they basically hold the same view that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem , in the Congress of the United States , to be frozen in place .
Not all of them , but most of them .
Certainly the leadership is toeing the line .
And it 's a sad day .
I think it was the Scorpions that wrote a song when the [ Berlin ] Wall came down , the `` [ Wind ] of Change '' was the name of the song .
And we will see winds of change .
They 'll be blowing through shortly .
On his concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearly around the issue of the pandemic and the ability to figure out a very secure , solid and speedy plan for the distribution of the vaccine .
It appears as though the vaccines are right on the horizon .
And it 's an incredible logistical challenge to be able to distribute that to so many Americans that are going to be in a position to willingly accept the fact that they 'd like the vaccine .
You should have total cooperation .
Also , better cooperation allows us to be in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to understand exactly what the Trump people are going to do over the next couple of weeks so that the Biden administration can plan and prepare for a significant , hopefully , economic recovery .
And then finally , the idea that the administration , as they 're getting ready to go out the door , can try to implement some foreign policy actions that I think , frankly , border on irresponsible .
I 've always been one who 's favored being able to negotiate a settlement and ultimately leave Afghanistan .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops at this significant amount , I frankly think is irresponsible .
So there 's a foreign policy component to this as well .
There needs to be coordination , that Joe Biden ought to have access to all the intelligence like has happened in all of my lifetime when we 've had a presidential transition .
Natalie Winston and Eliza Dennis produced and edited the audio interview .
Christianna Silva produced for the Web .

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich Says GOP Is 'Afraid' Of Trump
Enlarge this image toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Few high-profile Republican members of Congress have publicly acknowledged Joe Biden's presidential win.
And many Republican politicians have refused to denounce President Trump's legal challenges and false allegations of widespread voter fraud.
John Kasich, the former governor of Ohio who was a 2016 Republican presidential candidate, said it's because Republicans are "either in complete lockstep with [Trump] or they're afraid of him."
"They're afraid that they'll be primaried or they're afraid they'll be severely criticized," he told Leila Fadel on NPR's All Things Considered. "And it's a pretty remarkable situation."
He called Trump's refusal to concede "absurd."
Kasich endorsed Biden in the election and even spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August.
"[Biden] has clearly won this election, and it is just sort of amazing to me that Republicans just keep sitting on their hands. It makes no sense," Kasich told NPR.
He said one of his foremost concerns about Trump's refusal to concede is how it affects the transition and the work Biden's team can do to fight the pandemic. The Biden team has been shut out from information on the government's coronavirus response, leaving it less prepared come Jan. 20.
"There should be total and complete cooperation between the Trump administration and the incoming Biden administration in any variety of ways in which to deal with the distribution of the vaccine, a whole series of issues going forward."
Kasich added that the Republican Party's part in enabling Trump is "extremely disappointing for someone who has been a Republican all of my life."
Interview Highlights
On if he has spoken to Republican leaders about his concerns
I appear a lot on television, and my voice has been very clear and in terms of talking to Republican leaders, I haven't done that, but I've talked to them through the television because it's impossible for them to not hear what I've had to say. I have talked to Republicans who are not currently holding public office, a significant number, and some who are leaders, they basically hold the same view that I have.
But again, they seem, in the Congress of the United States, to be frozen in place. Not all of them but most of them. Certainly the leadership is toeing the line. And it's a sad day. I think it was the Scorpions that wrote a song when the [Berlin] Wall came down, the "[Wind] of Change" was the name of the song. And we will see winds of change. They'll be blowing through shortly.
On his concerns about the transition
No. 1 is clearly around the issue of the pandemic and the ability to figure out a very secure, solid and speedy plan for the distribution of the vaccine. It appears as though the vaccines are right on the horizon. And it's an incredible logistical challenge to be able to distribute that to so many Americans that are going to be in a position to willingly accept the fact that they'd like the vaccine. You should have total cooperation.
Also, better cooperation allows us to be in a position to get this economy moving, to understand exactly what the Trump people are going to do over the next couple of weeks so that the Biden administration can plan and prepare for a significant, hopefully, economic recovery.
And then finally, the idea that the administration, as they're getting ready to go out the door, can try to implement some foreign policy actions that I think, frankly, border on irresponsible. I've always been one who's favored being able to negotiate a settlement and ultimately leave Afghanistan. But to just start willy-nilly withdrawing troops at this significant amount, I frankly think is irresponsible. So there's a foreign policy component to this as well. There needs to be coordination, that Joe Biden ought to have access to all the intelligence like has happened in all of my lifetime when we've had a presidential transition.
Natalie Winston and Eliza Dennis produced and edited the audio interview. Christianna Silva produced for the Web.


npr--2020-11-22--China Moon Mission Will Try To Bring Back The First Lunar Rocks In Decades

China Moon Mission Will Try To Bring Back The First Lunar Rocks In Decades China is planning to launch an uncrewed spacecraft to the moon on Tuesday , which will shovel up lunar rocks soil and bring them back to Earth .
If successful , it would be the first time any country has retrieved samples from the moon in more than 40 years .
The mission , called Chang ' e-5 , is part of a series of complex trips to the moon by the China National Space Administration ( CNSA ) .
In January 2019 , China landed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moon — something that had never been done before .
If successful , China will be only the third country ever to have retrieved samples from the moon , following the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s .
The spacecraft is expected to launch from Wenchang Space Launch Center on Hainan Island , China , early Tuesday local time , which will be about 3:25 p.m .
ET on Monday , according to Space Launch Now , a site that tracks rocket launches around the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ surface material from a previously unexplored region , over the course of one lunar day — equivalent to around 14 Earth days — which will keep the electronics from potentially damaging in the extreme overnight cold temperatures , according to the science journal Nature .
The samples will mostly be stored at the Chinese Academy of Sciences National Astronomical Observatory of China in Beijing .
It 's not clear whether the samples will leave the country for outside research .
The samples are important because they could help scientists understand volcanic activity on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last active .
The lunar rocks and soil could confirm that volcanoes were active billions of years more recently than previously thought .
If that 's true , `` we will rewrite the history of the moon , '' Xiao Long , a planetary geologist at the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan , told Nature .
The sample will be returned to Earth , parachuting into the Siziwang Banner grassland of the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia in China probably sometime in early December , says NASA .

China Moon Mission Will Try To Bring Back The First Lunar Rocks In Decades
Enlarge this image toggle caption Stringer/AFP via Getty Images Stringer/AFP via Getty Images
China is planning to launch an uncrewed spacecraft to the moon on Tuesday, which will shovel up lunar rocks and soil and bring them back to Earth. If successful, it would be the first time any country has retrieved samples from the moon in more than 40 years.
The mission, called Chang'e-5, is part of a series of complex trips to the moon by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). In January 2019, China landed a spacecraft on the far side of the moon — something that had never been done before. If successful, China will be only the third country ever to have retrieved samples from the moon, following the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s.
The spacecraft is expected to launch from Wenchang Space Launch Center on Hainan Island, China, early Tuesday local time, which will be about 3:25 p.m. ET on Monday, according to Space Launch Now, a site that tracks rocket launches around the world.
It will collect about 4 pounds of surface material from a previously unexplored region, over the course of one lunar day — equivalent to around 14 Earth days — which will keep the electronics from potentially damaging in the extreme overnight cold temperatures, according to the science journal Nature. The samples will mostly be stored at the Chinese Academy of Sciences National Astronomical Observatory of China in Beijing. It's not clear whether the samples will leave the country for outside research.
The samples are important because they could help scientists understand volcanic activity on the moon, and when volcanoes were last active. The lunar rocks and soil could confirm that volcanoes were active billions of years more recently than previously thought. If that's true, "we will rewrite the history of the moon," Xiao Long, a planetary geologist at the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, told Nature.
The sample will be returned to Earth, parachuting into the Siziwang Banner grassland of the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia in China probably sometime in early December, says NASA.


npr--2020-11-22--How To Celebrate Thanksgiving Remotely

How To Celebrate Thanksgiving Remotely

Thanksgiving is only days away , and for many of us , it 's going to be smaller and quieter than we 're used to .
With cases of the coronavirus surging across the country , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that people do n't travel .
And that in-person turkey dinner ?
That should be with people you 've been living with for at least 14 days before the holiday .
For some people , that 's No one .
But although we might not be able to see our loved ones in person , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend the holiday with them .
J.D .
Biersdorfer answers people 's technology questions for The New York Times and has been thinking about alternatives to the traditional holiday gathering .
Her latest piece is `` How To Have A Fully Remote Family Thanksgiving . ''
And J.D .
Biersdorfer joins me now .
Thanks for being with us .
J D BIERSDORFER : Thank you for having me .
FADEL : So let 's start with one of the most important parts of the remote setup .
You recommend people connecting via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people are familiar with Zoom , maybe a little too familiar .
What are some other ways to connect , especially if you 're sick of sitting in front of a computer all day ?
BIERSDORFER : There are a number of video chat platforms - like , Facebook Messenger has a rooms feature .
There 's FaceTime , which is Apple 's platform , if your whole family 's in the Apple ecosystem , Google Duo .
And then if the video thing is just not for everyone , you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where you 're sending food photos or you just get the old-fashioned telephone service and do an audio call , maybe put it on speaker phone if you have a number of people in your House , and just call people that way .
FADEL : So , you know , cooking is such a big part of the day , cooking together , bonding over recipes .
How do you recreate that experience remotely ?
BIERSDORFER : You can also pull the video into the kitchen as well if your family is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stream route .
And then if you 've got the one person in the family who always has all the cookbooks with all the ancient family recipes that you always , always have for your holiday meal and you want to share that out , you can have that person who is the keeper of the cookbooks scan or take a photo of the recipes , send them out to everyone .
Maybe you 're in the kitchen , everyone 's got their video call on and you 're cooking together using the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you want to bring in a little business into it , you know , make it be a presentation on the screen .
FADEL : You know , also , Thanksgiving is about - a lot about food , a lot about cooking , but it 's also about bonding time , people watching football , playing games .
What are some fun things to play while you 're hosting a remote gathering ?
BIERSDORFER : Yeah .
So if you 're - dependent on how your family rolls , Trickster Cards is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you can have four people playing cards through a Web browser .
And if you even want , you can have the video of the players there .
If you are into the traditional after-dinner movie while you digest , there are a number of sync watch apps .
I think Teleparty is a big one .
It works with Netflix and Hulu and Disney+ .
But you can synchronize the movie , send everyone an invite so they 're all there on the same screen .
And then there 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same snarky things about the movie that you would if you were sitting there watching it on the couch .
And for those who like football , because I believe Detroit and Dallas are doing their traditional games no matter what , Yahoo !
Sports has a feature where you can use their Yahoo !
Sports app to watch the games together , I think up to four people .
But if you want to sit there and tease the fan of the other team , that 's a way to kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't feel like texting .
FADEL : When you were reporting this out and trying to give the best advice on how to do Thanksgiving remotely , what was the best nugget you came across ?
BIERSDORFER : Well , I started from the point of all the things that I like to do just for my traditional family Thanksgivings and how those would translate to the digital world .
And to your point earlier on , people were maybe getting a little Zoom fatigued .
Being on screen the entire time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So maybe just do - if you are in the video mode , do that sporadically throughout the day .
Just do n't have a constant live stream .
Less can be more here .
And also , give members of the family a time to shine .
If you 've got , say , a niece or a nephew who 's taking music lessons , maybe have them give a little performance after dinner for everyone on the call .
You know , grandma can see the dance or hear the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share some life stories .
Like , we probably have grandparents who remember what life was like before the polio vaccine , which we 're kind of in the same point .
And get those first-hand stories .
Especially if you 're into genealogy or capturing family history , this could be your perfect opportunity to get all of that firsthand memories right there when people are sort of focused on them .
FADEL : That 's J.D .
Biersdorfer .
She 's a technology columnist for The New York Times .
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Fully Remote Family Thanksgiving . ''
Thank you so much .

How To Celebrate Thanksgiving Remotely
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Thanksgiving is only days away, and for many of us, it's going to be smaller and quieter than we're used to. With cases of the coronavirus surging across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that people don't travel. And that in-person turkey dinner? That should be with people you've been living with for at least 14 days before the holiday. For some people, that's No one. But although we might not be able to see our loved ones in person, it doesn't mean we can't spend the holiday with them. J.D. Biersdorfer answers people's technology questions for The New York Times and has been thinking about alternatives to the traditional holiday gathering. Her latest piece is "How To Have A Fully Remote Family Thanksgiving." And J.D. Biersdorfer joins me now. Thanks for being with us.
J D BIERSDORFER: Thank you for having me.
FADEL: So let's start with one of the most important parts of the remote setup. You recommend people connecting via video platforms. I think a lot of people are familiar with Zoom, maybe a little too familiar. What are some other ways to connect, especially if you're sick of sitting in front of a computer all day?
BIERSDORFER: There are a number of video chat platforms - like, Facebook Messenger has a rooms feature. There's FaceTime, which is Apple's platform, if your whole family's in the Apple ecosystem, Google Duo. And then if the video thing is just not for everyone, you can still have a great family text chain where you're sending food photos or you just get the old-fashioned telephone service and do an audio call, maybe put it on speaker phone if you have a number of people in your House, and just call people that way.
FADEL: So, you know, cooking is such a big part of the day, cooking together, bonding over recipes. How do you recreate that experience remotely?
BIERSDORFER: You can also pull the video into the kitchen as well if your family is inclined to go with the more video stream route. And then if you've got the one person in the family who always has all the cookbooks with all the ancient family recipes that you always, always have for your holiday meal and you want to share that out, you can have that person who is the keeper of the cookbooks scan or take a photo of the recipes, send them out to everyone. Maybe you're in the kitchen, everyone's got their video call on and you're cooking together using the same reference material. Or even if you want to bring in a little business into it, you know, make it be a presentation on the screen.
FADEL: You know, also, Thanksgiving is about - a lot about food, a lot about cooking, but it's also about bonding time, people watching football, playing games. What are some fun things to play while you're hosting a remote gathering?
BIERSDORFER: Yeah. So if you're - dependent on how your family rolls, Trickster Cards is a site that lets you get on and you can have four people playing cards through a Web browser. And if you even want, you can have the video of the players there. If you are into the traditional after-dinner movie while you digest, there are a number of sync watch apps. I think Teleparty is a big one. It works with Netflix and Hulu and Disney+. But you can synchronize the movie, send everyone an invite so they're all there on the same screen. And then there's a little chat window where you can say the same snarky things about the movie that you would if you were sitting there watching it on the couch.
And for those who like football, because I believe Detroit and Dallas are doing their traditional games no matter what, Yahoo! Sports has a feature where you can use their Yahoo! Sports app to watch the games together, I think up to four people. But if you want to sit there and tease the fan of the other team, that's a way to kind of do that in sync if you don't feel like texting.
FADEL: When you were reporting this out and trying to give the best advice on how to do Thanksgiving remotely, what was the best nugget you came across?
BIERSDORFER: Well, I started from the point of all the things that I like to do just for my traditional family Thanksgivings and how those would translate to the digital world. And to your point earlier on, people were maybe getting a little Zoom fatigued. Being on screen the entire time might be a little bit too much. So maybe just do - if you are in the video mode, do that sporadically throughout the day. Just don't have a constant live stream. Less can be more here.
And also, give members of the family a time to shine. If you've got, say, a niece or a nephew who's taking music lessons, maybe have them give a little performance after dinner for everyone on the call. You know, grandma can see the dance or hear the guitar solo. And have people maybe share some life stories. Like, we probably have grandparents who remember what life was like before the polio vaccine, which we're kind of in the same point. And get those first-hand stories. Especially if you're into genealogy or capturing family history, this could be your perfect opportunity to get all of that firsthand memories right there when people are sort of focused on them.
FADEL: That's J.D. Biersdorfer. She's a technology columnist for The New York Times. Her latest article is "How To Have a Fully Remote Family Thanksgiving." Thank you so much.
BIERSDORFER: Thank you.
Copyright © 2020 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.


npr--2020-11-22--Muslim Communities Divided Over Abuse Allegations Against Popular Preacher

In 2017 , in the midst of the # MeToo movement , a rigidly conservative celebrity American Muslim preacher was caught in a sexting scandal .
Nouman Ali Khan was accused of using his position to lure and groom women into sexual relationships under the guise of secret marriages , all while he was legally married to someone else .
The scandal divided Muslim communities as some came to his defense and others called for him to be held accountable .
He largely disappeared from public life .
Now , like a few other men accused of being sexual predators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he appears to be attempting a comeback .
Last week , Nouman Ali Khan was invited to speak on an all male-hosted podcast called `` The Mad Mamluks , '' and that was met with outrage from largely young Muslims questioning why anyone would give him a platform .
We called Alia Salem to hear her reaction .
She 's the founder of FACE , which stands for Facing Abuse in Community Environments , a Dallas-based organization that investigates spiritual , sexual and financial abuse by Muslim leaders .
ALIA SALEM : My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these individuals have so little regard for victims and survivors that they would knowingly host somebody like this individual who is known - like , we spoke to those victims early on .
We had to listen to how it made them feel , how it hurt them , et cetera .
And the callousness - even if it 's rooted in apathy , that 's disappointing .
And it 's something that I do n't think we should be so quick to embrace .
We have to move towards centering victims and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the doubt .
FADEL : And we should point out that this is a struggle that happens well - way beyond the Muslim community - centering victims ... FADEL : Yeah .
So this was pretty divisive , him being hosted on this podcast , coming back into public life .
Online , we saw some Muslims absolutely outraged , others saying he deserves a chance .
What were you seeing reaction to his appearing on this podcast ?
SALEM : Mostly , I was seeing people from the younger Muslim crowd expressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as women who were saying , this is not OK. And I think it really speaks to a tendency for the younger crowd to really understand and empathize with survivors and expect a lot from their leadership .
FADEL : Is that unique ?
Is that different than , say , what you might have seen in 2017 , when women first started speaking out ?
SALEM : It 's something where we 're seeing some changes , although minuscule .
You can see people getting a little bit , you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's still so much trepidation , and there 's still so much fear .
FADEL : Let 's talk about that .
What creates that situation - that trepidation , that fear , that concern about speaking openly ?
SALEM : I think specific to the Muslim community , you know , in a post-Sept. 11 world , the Muslim community has had to bear the brunt of , you know , being scrutinized under the guise of national security .
And the exhaustion from having to create this - you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the inaccurate portrayals has left people fatigued .
You know , when a leader abuses their position of power , those are the people that we hold up as our shining examples .
And for there to be a legitimate criticism about the people that are supposed to be the best of the best - there 's this sense of , you know , let 's not talk about this and give the broader world something legitimate to come after us with .
You know , you can absolutely sympathize and empathize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tired of defending ourselves .
FADEL : Your model at FACE is to do quite the opposite of staying quiet , dealing with it internally .
You investigate .
You issue public reports .
You issue warnings about possible predators .
Why did you choose to do this really almost confrontational approach ?
SALEM : So I 've been working in the community for about 16 years , and I noticed no organization at that time that was doing accountability work on a national scale .
There may be local congregations and things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues internally , within the community .
But what was happening is you may see a congregation fire a religious leader or a nonprofit fire a leader , but those leaders will go to another community or another nonprofit , and nobody talks about it .
Nobody passes on that information , and nobody is doing proper background checks .
FADEL : So basically , if one congregation might - rooted out the abuse , they did n't warn anybody else about what he might have done ... FADEL : ... At their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hop .
SALEM : Absolutely .
And that 's exactly the thing .
They would just hop from community to community , shrouded and protected by this culture of silence .
I watched `` Spotlight '' - the movie `` Spotlight '' - and I saw , you know , The Boston Globe come in and do this amazing investigation in the Boston area about the Catholic abuse scandals with priests .
So the other piece of it was , we ca n't wait for external media to come in and clean house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing this .
FADEL : That was Alia Salem .
She 's the founder of FACE , or Facing Abuse in Community Environments , which is an organization that investigates spiritual , sexual and financial abuse by Muslim leaders .
We 've been talking with her about preacher Noumen Ali Khan .
Thank you so much .

Muslim Communities Divided Over Abuse Allegations Against Popular Preacher
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
In 2017, in the midst of the #MeToo movement, a rigidly conservative celebrity American Muslim preacher was caught in a sexting scandal. Nouman Ali Khan was accused of using his position to lure and groom women into sexual relationships under the guise of secret marriages, all while he was legally married to someone else. The scandal divided Muslim communities as some came to his defense and others called for him to be held accountable. He largely disappeared from public life.
Now, like a few other men accused of being sexual predators at the height of #MeToo, he appears to be attempting a comeback. Last week, Nouman Ali Khan was invited to speak on an all male-hosted podcast called "The Mad Mamluks," and that was met with outrage from largely young Muslims questioning why anyone would give him a platform.
We called Alia Salem to hear her reaction. She's the founder of FACE, which stands for Facing Abuse in Community Environments, a Dallas-based organization that investigates spiritual, sexual and financial abuse by Muslim leaders.
ALIA SALEM: My reaction was not surprise but disappointment that these individuals have so little regard for victims and survivors that they would knowingly host somebody like this individual who is known - like, we spoke to those victims early on. We had to listen to how it made them feel, how it hurt them, et cetera. And the callousness - even if it's rooted in apathy, that's disappointing. And it's something that I don't think we should be so quick to embrace. We have to move towards centering victims and survivors and giving them the benefit of the doubt.
FADEL: And we should point out that this is a struggle that happens well - way beyond the Muslim community - centering victims...
SALEM: Oh, my God.
FADEL: ...Believing victims.
SALEM: Yeah.
FADEL: Yeah. So this was pretty divisive, him being hosted on this podcast, coming back into public life. Online, we saw some Muslims absolutely outraged, others saying he deserves a chance. What were you seeing reaction to his appearing on this podcast?
SALEM: Mostly, I was seeing people from the younger Muslim crowd expressing their disappointment. You had men as well as women who were saying, this is not OK. And I think it really speaks to a tendency for the younger crowd to really understand and empathize with survivors and expect a lot from their leadership.
FADEL: Is that unique? Is that different than, say, what you might have seen in 2017, when women first started speaking out?
SALEM: It's something where we're seeing some changes, although minuscule. You can see people getting a little bit, you know, braver in speaking out. But there's still so much trepidation, and there's still so much fear.
FADEL: Let's talk about that. What creates that situation - that trepidation, that fear, that concern about speaking openly?
SALEM: I think specific to the Muslim community, you know, in a post-Sept. 11 world, the Muslim community has had to bear the brunt of, you know, being scrutinized under the guise of national security. And the exhaustion from having to create this - you know, this defense against the negative portrayals and the inaccurate portrayals has left people fatigued.
You know, when a leader abuses their position of power, those are the people that we hold up as our shining examples. And for there to be a legitimate criticism about the people that are supposed to be the best of the best - there's this sense of, you know, let's not talk about this and give the broader world something legitimate to come after us with. You know, you can absolutely sympathize and empathize with this. We're just so tired of defending ourselves.
FADEL: Your model at FACE is to do quite the opposite of staying quiet, dealing with it internally. You investigate. You issue public reports. You issue warnings about possible predators. Why did you choose to do this really almost confrontational approach?
SALEM: So I've been working in the community for about 16 years, and I noticed no organization at that time that was doing accountability work on a national scale. There may be local congregations and things like that that try to address these issues internally, within the community.
But what was happening is you may see a congregation fire a religious leader or a nonprofit fire a leader, but those leaders will go to another community or another nonprofit, and nobody talks about it. Nobody passes on that information, and nobody is doing proper background checks.
FADEL: So basically, if one congregation might - rooted out the abuse, they didn't warn anybody else about what he might have done...
SALEM: Right.
FADEL: ...At their mosque, and so they could just hop.
SALEM: Absolutely. And that's exactly the thing. They would just hop from community to community, shrouded and protected by this culture of silence. I watched "Spotlight" - the movie "Spotlight" - and I saw, you know, The Boston Globe come in and do this amazing investigation in the Boston area about the Catholic abuse scandals with priests. So the other piece of it was, we can't wait for external media to come in and clean house for us. We have to be doing this.
FADEL: That was Alia Salem. She's the founder of FACE, or Facing Abuse in Community Environments, which is an organization that investigates spiritual, sexual and financial abuse by Muslim leaders. We've been talking with her about preacher Noumen Ali Khan.
Thank you so much.
SALEM: Thank you.
Copyright © 2020 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.