usahitman--2020-04-10--Washington State Legalizes Restricted Use of Facial Recognition Technology

A bill permitting the use of facial recognition technology with certain restrictions has been signed into law in Washington State .
Governor Jay Inslee signed the new bill on March 31 after it was passed by the Washington State House of Representatives on March 12 by a vote of 27 to 21 in favor .
The new law will come into effect next year .
The new legislation will limit the “ unconstrained use of facial recognition services by state and local government agencies ” because it “ poses broad social ramifications that should be considered and addressed.
” Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government agencies “ may use facial recognition services to locate or identify missing persons , and identify deceased persons , including missing or murdered indigenous women , subjects of Amber alerts and silver alerts , and other possible crime victims , for the purposes of keeping the public safe.
” Before developing , procuring , or using facial recognition technology , a state or local government agency must file a notice of intent with a legislative authority and produce an accountability report .
The new legislation has won the support of Microsoft president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recent blog post .
“ This balanced approach ensures that facial recognition can be used as a tool to protect the public , but only in ways that respect fundamental rights and serve the public interest , ” wrote Smith .
Washington ’ s state agencies are not permitted to use facial recognition based on a person ’ s “ religious , political or social views or activities , ” or “ participation in a particular noncriminal organization or lawful event , ” or “ actual or perceived race , ethnicity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ status , age , disability , gender , gender identity , sexual orientation or other characteristic protected by law .
”

A bill permitting the use of facial recognition technology with certain restrictions has been signed into law in Washington State.
Governor Jay Inslee signed the new bill on March 31 after it was passed by the Washington State House of Representatives on March 12 by a vote of 27 to 21 in favor. The new law will come into effect next year.
The new legislation will limit the “unconstrained use of facial recognition services by state and local government agencies” because it “poses broad social ramifications that should be considered and addressed.”
Under the new law, state and local government agencies “may use facial recognition services to locate or identify missing persons, and identify deceased persons, including missing or murdered indigenous women, subjects of Amber alerts and silver alerts, and other possible crime victims, for the purposes of keeping the public safe.”
Before developing, procuring, or using facial recognition technology, a state or local government agency must file a notice of intent with a legislative authority and produce an accountability report.
The new legislation has won the support of Microsoft president Bill Smith, who praised it in a recent blog post.
“This balanced approach ensures that facial recognition can be used as a tool to protect the public, but only in ways that respect fundamental rights and serve the public interest,” wrote Smith.
Washington’s state agencies are not permitted to use facial recognition based on a person’s “religious, political or social views or activities,” or “participation in a particular noncriminal organization or lawful event,” or “actual or perceived race, ethnicity, citizenship, place of origin, immigration status, age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or other characteristic protected by law.”
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usahitman--2020-04-10--Gavin Newsom Declares California a ‘Nation-State’

California this week declared its independence from the federal government ’ s feeble efforts to fight Covid-19 — and perhaps from a bit more .
The consequences for the fight against the pandemic are almost certainly positive .
The implications for the brewing civil war between Trumpism and America ’ s budding 21st-century majority , embodied by California ’ s multiracial liberal electorate , are less clear .
Speaking on MSNBC , Governor Gavin Newsom said that he would use the bulk purchasing power of California “ as a nation-state ” to acquire the hospital supplies that the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes according to plan , Newsom said , California might even “ export some of those supplies to states in need.
” Newsom is accomplishing a few things here , with what can only be a deliberate lack of subtlety .
First and foremost , he is trying to relieve the shortage of personal protective equipment — a crisis the White House has proved incapable of remedying .
Details are a little fuzzy , but Newsom , according to news reports , has organized multiple suppliers to deliver roughly 200 million masks monthly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the face of President Donald Trump after Newsom ’ s previous flattery — the coin of the White House realm — failed to produce results .
If Trump can ’ t manage to deliver supplies , there ’ s no point in Newsom continuing the charade .
Third , and this may be the most enduring effect , Newsom is sending a powerful message to both political parties .
So far , the Republican Party ’ s war on democratic values , institutions and laws has been a largely one-sided affair , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party defending .
The lethal ruling this week by the U.S. Supreme Court ’ s Republican bloc , which required Wisconsin residents to vote in person during a pandemic that shut down polling stations , is a preview of the fall campaign .
The GOP intends to restrict vote-by-mail and other legitimate enfranchisement to suppress turnout amid fear , uncertainty and disease .
At some point this civil war by other means , with the goal of enshrining GOP minority rule , will provoke a Democratic counteroffensive .
Newsom , leader of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps accelerating that response , shaking Democrats out of denial and putting Republicans on notice .
California , an economic behemoth whose taxpayers account for 15 % of individual contributions to the U.S. Treasury , is now toning up at muscle beach .
What that means , of course , is left to the imagination .
But not much is required to envision what might evolve .
Newsom , a former lieutenant governor who won the top job in 2018 , has used the “ nation-state ” phrase before .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , like its 49 smaller siblings , qualifies only as the second half .
But it ’ s obviously no slip of the tongue .
Democratic state Senator Scott Wiener , a leader in California ’ s cumbersome efforts to produce more housing , said soon after Newsom took office in 2019 that reorienting the state ’ s relationship to Washington is a necessity , not a choice .
“ The federal government is no longer a reliable partner in delivering health care , in supporting immigrants , supporting LGBT people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to forge our own path , ” Wiener said .
“ We can do everything in our power to protect our state , but we need a reliable federal partner .
And right now we don ’ t have that.
” The statement appears prescient in light of the Trump administration ’ s failure to protect against a pandemic .
Newsom was the first governor to issue a stay-at-home order , on March 19 .
Though his state is chock-full of cosmopolitan centers , and rural threats loom as well , California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shape than New York , which has many fewer people and many more deaths .
Federalism has always had rough spots , but conflict is rising and resolutions are not .
California is a sanctuary state while the Trump administration is fond of immigration dragnets .
Marijuana is grown , marketed and used in abundance in the state while the White House conjures more restrictions .
The Trump administration endorses extreme gun rights ; California has other ideas .
Most of all , Trump ’ s failure to act , or even take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pandemic has required California , like other states , to look out for itself .
One conflict , however , encompasses all others , and could galvanize Californians into new ways of thinking about their state and its relationship to Washington .
The GOP war on democracy is inspired by a drive for racial and cultural supremacy that jeopardizes the democratic aspirations and human rights of California ’ s multiracial citizenry .
From Fort Sumter to Little Rock to Montgomery , the blueprint for states opposing federal control has a recurring theme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states can ’ t adopt a racist playbook for other ends .
If California and other 21st-century polities withhold revenue , or otherwise distance themselves from Washington ’ s control , legal and political battles will escalate .
Republicans will have a legitimate constitutional argument — but it will be a morally tainted and politically illegitimate one so long as they continue to subvert majority rule .
The experience of states battling Covid-19 while the White House devotes its energy to winning the news cycle may be instructive .
What is the difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its power to protect its population ’ s health and a state using it to protect its population ’ s democratic rights ?
John C. Calhoun , who used the theory of states ’ rights to defend the institution of slavery , is not generally a philosophical lodestar for liberal Democrats such as Newsom .
But if Republicans ( or foreign friends ) succeed in sabotaging democracy in November , Calhoun ’ s theory of nullification , which posited that states have the power to defy federal law , could be ripe for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With the heirs of the Confederacy now reigning in Washington , turnabout might be very fair play .

California this week declared its independence from the federal government’s feeble efforts to fight Covid-19 — and perhaps from a bit more. The consequences for the fight against the pandemic are almost certainly positive. The implications for the brewing civil war between Trumpism and America’s budding 21st-century majority, embodied by California’s multiracial liberal electorate, are less clear.
Speaking on MSNBC, Governor Gavin Newsom said that he would use the bulk purchasing power of California “as a nation-state” to acquire the hospital supplies that the federal government has failed to provide. If all goes according to plan, Newsom said, California might even “export some of those supplies to states in need.”
“Nation-state.” “Export.”
Newsom is accomplishing a few things here, with what can only be a deliberate lack of subtlety. First and foremost, he is trying to relieve the shortage of personal protective equipment — a crisis the White House has proved incapable of remedying. Details are a little fuzzy, but Newsom, according to news reports, has organized multiple suppliers to deliver roughly 200 million masks monthly.
Second, Newsom is kicking sand in the face of President Donald Trump after Newsom’s previous flattery — the coin of the White House realm — failed to produce results. If Trump can’t manage to deliver supplies, there’s no point in Newsom continuing the charade.
Third, and this may be the most enduring effect, Newsom is sending a powerful message to both political parties. So far, the Republican Party’s war on democratic values, institutions and laws has been a largely one-sided affair, with the GOP assaulting and the Democratic Party defending. The lethal ruling this week by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Republican bloc, which required Wisconsin residents to vote in person during a pandemic that shut down polling stations, is a preview of the fall campaign. The GOP intends to restrict vote-by-mail and other legitimate enfranchisement to suppress turnout amid fear, uncertainty and disease.
At some point this civil war by other means, with the goal of enshrining GOP minority rule, will provoke a Democratic counteroffensive. Newsom, leader of the nation’s largest state, is perhaps accelerating that response, shaking Democrats out of denial and putting Republicans on notice. California, an economic behemoth whose taxpayers account for 15% of individual contributions to the U.S. Treasury, is now toning up at muscle beach.
What that means, of course, is left to the imagination. But not much is required to envision what might evolve.
Newsom, a former lieutenant governor who won the top job in 2018, has used the “nation-state” phrase before. It’s a very odd thing to say. California, like its 49 smaller siblings, qualifies only as the second half. But it’s obviously no slip of the tongue. Democratic state Senator Scott Wiener, a leader in California’s cumbersome efforts to produce more housing, said soon after Newsom took office in 2019 that reorienting the state’s relationship to Washington is a necessity, not a choice.
“The federal government is no longer a reliable partner in delivering health care, in supporting immigrants, supporting LGBT people, in protecting the environment, so we need to forge our own path,” Wiener said. “We can do everything in our power to protect our state, but we need a reliable federal partner. And right now we don’t have that.”
The statement appears prescient in light of the Trump administration’s failure to protect against a pandemic. Newsom was the first governor to issue a stay-at-home order, on March 19. Though his state is chock-full of cosmopolitan centers, and rural threats loom as well, California is weathering the virus in far better shape than New York, which has many fewer people and many more deaths.
Federalism has always had rough spots, but conflict is rising and resolutions are not. California is a sanctuary state while the Trump administration is fond of immigration dragnets. Marijuana is grown, marketed and used in abundance in the state while the White House conjures more restrictions. The Trump administration endorses extreme gun rights; California has other ideas. Most of all, Trump’s failure to act, or even take responsibility for acting, in the face of pandemic has required California, like other states, to look out for itself.
One conflict, however, encompasses all others, and could galvanize Californians into new ways of thinking about their state and its relationship to Washington. The GOP war on democracy is inspired by a drive for racial and cultural supremacy that jeopardizes the democratic aspirations and human rights of California’s multiracial citizenry.
From Fort Sumter to Little Rock to Montgomery, the blueprint for states opposing federal control has a recurring theme. But there is no reason that states can’t adopt a racist playbook for other ends. If California and other 21st-century polities withhold revenue, or otherwise distance themselves from Washington’s control, legal and political battles will escalate. Republicans will have a legitimate constitutional argument — but it will be a morally tainted and politically illegitimate one so long as they continue to subvert majority rule.
The experience of states battling Covid-19 while the White House devotes its energy to winning the news cycle may be instructive. What is the difference, conceptually, between a state deploying its power to protect its population’s health and a state using it to protect its population’s democratic rights?
John C. Calhoun, who used the theory of states’ rights to defend the institution of slavery, is not generally a philosophical lodestar for liberal Democrats such as Newsom. But if Republicans (or foreign friends) succeed in sabotaging democracy in November, Calhoun’s theory of nullification, which posited that states have the power to defy federal law, could be ripe for a comeback on the left coast. With the heirs of the Confederacy now reigning in Washington, turnabout might be very fair play.
Source


usahitman--2020-04-10--Travelers to Utah will now have to complete a Travel Declaration

Travelers to Utah will now have to complete a Travel Declaration The governor of Utah has announced that out-of-state travelers will now have to sign a declaration upon entering the state .
One of the checkpoints is at the I-70 Colorado-Utah border .
Utah ’ s governor announced that anyone over 18-years-old traveling to Utah will have to complete a travel declaration starting April 10 .
The declaration will include questions about whether they ’ ve been tested , have symptoms and where they have recently traveled .
Drivers will receive a text message through the state emergency system upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a declaration form .
If Easter travels have you visiting Utah , you can expect something a little different .
“ We ’ re asking everybody ; visitors , residents and people that work in the state to fill out the online form , ” said Utah Department of Transportation ’ s John Gleason .
Those that enter Utah will receive an alert .
“ What happens is when they come in from Colorado , they are going to receive a text that asks them to fill out an online form within three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
This in an effort to track and prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Even ahead of the holiday weekend , it is unknown how many people will be crossing state lines .
( john gleason ) “ Easter weekend is generally one of those weekends where we would see a lot of travel , ” said Gleason .
“ I guess that remains to be seen with the current situation on our roads right now .
On any given day , we are seeing a 30-50 % traffic reduction on all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declarations will go on as long as it ’ s needed .
“ We just want to make sure we are being welcoming to visitors , ” Gleason said .
“ That ’ s still the case .
We just really want to make sure we are using every tool available to help stop the spread of this virus .
”

The governor of Utah has announced that out-of-state travelers will now have to sign a declaration upon entering the state. One of the checkpoints is at the I-70 Colorado-Utah border.
Utah’s governor announced that anyone over 18-years-old traveling to Utah will have to complete a travel declaration starting April 10. The declaration will include questions about whether they’ve been tested, have symptoms and where they have recently traveled. Drivers will receive a text message through the state emergency system upon entering the state with a link to a declaration form.
If Easter travels have you visiting Utah, you can expect something a little different.
“We’re asking everybody; visitors, residents and people that work in the state to fill out the online form,” said Utah Department of Transportation’s John Gleason.
Those that enter Utah will receive an alert.
“What happens is when they come in from Colorado, they are going to receive a text that asks them to fill out an online form within three hours of a stop,” Gleason said.
This in an effort to track and prevent the spread of coronavirus. Even ahead of the holiday weekend, it is unknown how many people will be crossing state lines.
(john gleason) “Easter weekend is generally one of those weekends where we would see a lot of travel,” said Gleason. “I guess that remains to be seen with the current situation on our roads right now. On any given day, we are seeing a 30-50% traffic reduction on all of our major routes.”
The online declarations will go on as long as it’s needed.
“We just want to make sure we are being welcoming to visitors,” Gleason said. “That’s still the case. We just really want to make sure we are using every tool available to help stop the spread of this virus.”
Source


usahitman--2020-04-10--Washington’s field hospital to be dismantled before treating any coronavirus patients

The massive army field hospital that hundreds of troops built inside a Seattle convention center last week will be dismantled before treating a single patient .
Instead , it will be redeployed to a state facing a more difficult battle against the coronavirus outbreak , Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee said Wednesday .
Nearly 300 soldiers from Fort Carson , Colo. , and Joint Base Lewis-McChord ( JBLM ) near Tacoma , Wash. , built the makeshift facility inside CenturyLink Field Event Center , normally home to the NFL ’ s Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Sounders of the MLS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
“ We requested this resource before our physical distancing strategies were fully implemented and we had considerable concerns that our hospitals would be overloaded with Covid-19 cases , ” Inslee said in a press release .
The facility housed 250 beds , a lab , X-ray machines , surgery facilities and an intensive care unit .
But Washington ’ s early action to limit the spread of COVID-19 has helped the state to slow the disease ’ s infection rate and allowed hospitals to maintain the capacity to support a surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These soldiers uprooted their lives to help Washingtonians when we needed them most , ” Inslee said .
“ Since then , it ’ s become apparent that other states need them more than we do .
It ’ s only right that we release this capability , so those states have the tools necessary to help end this nation-wide fight that we are all battling together.
” He stressed this decision doesn ’ t mean “ we are out of the woods ” and pushed citizens to continue following quarantine and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep our guard up and continue to stay home unless conducting essential activities to keep everyone healthy , ” Inslee said .
“ We requested this resource before our physical distancing strategies were fully implemented and we had considerable concerns that our hospitals would be overloaded with COVID-19 cases.
” The decision comes just days after Washington returned 400 ventilators it received from the federal government so they can be used in New York and other hard-hit states .
Despite these returns , Inslee assured Washingtonians the state was continuing to take steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event of a surge in cases , purchasing 1,000 hospital beds and more than 900 ventilators .

The massive army field hospital that hundreds of troops built inside a Seattle convention center last week will be dismantled before treating a single patient.
Instead, it will be redeployed to a state facing a more difficult battle against the coronavirus outbreak, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Wednesday.
Nearly 300 soldiers from Fort Carson, Colo., and Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) near Tacoma, Wash., built the makeshift facility inside CenturyLink Field Event Center, normally home to the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Sounders of the MLS, for patients who do not have COVID-19.
“We requested this resource before our physical distancing strategies were fully implemented and we had considerable concerns that our hospitals would be overloaded with Covid-19 cases,” Inslee said in a press release.
The facility housed 250 beds, a lab, X-ray machines, surgery facilities and an intensive care unit.
But Washington’s early action to limit the spread of COVID-19 has helped the state to slow the disease’s infection rate and allowed hospitals to maintain the capacity to support a surge in patients, Inslee said.
“These soldiers uprooted their lives to help Washingtonians when we needed them most,” Inslee said. “Since then, it’s become apparent that other states need them more than we do. It’s only right that we release this capability, so those states have the tools necessary to help end this nation-wide fight that we are all battling together.”
He stressed this decision doesn’t mean “we are out of the woods” and pushed citizens to continue following quarantine and social distancing measures.
“We have to keep our guard up and continue to stay home unless conducting essential activities to keep everyone healthy,” Inslee said. “We requested this resource before our physical distancing strategies were fully implemented and we had considerable concerns that our hospitals would be overloaded with COVID-19 cases.”
The decision comes just days after Washington returned 400 ventilators it received from the federal government so they can be used in New York and other hard-hit states.
Despite these returns, Inslee assured Washingtonians the state was continuing to take steps to bolster its medical resources in the event of a surge in cases, purchasing 1,000 hospital beds and more than 900 ventilators.
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usahitman--2020-04-17--The pandemic is giving people vivid, unusual dreams. Here’s why.

Ronald Reagan pulled up to the curb in a sleek black town car , rolled down his tinted window , and beckoned for Lance Weller , author of the novel Wilderness , to join him .
The long-dead president escorted Weller to a comic book shop stocked with every title Weller had ever wanted , but before he could make a purchase , Reagan swiped his wallet and skipped out the door .
Of course , Weller was dreaming .
He is one of many people around the world—including more than 600 featured in just one study—who say they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dreams .
Science has long suggested that dream content and emotions are connected to wellbeing while we ’ re awake .
Bizarre dreams laden with symbolism allow some dreamers to overcome intense memories or everyday psychological stressors within the safety of their subconscious .
Nightmares , on the other hand , can be warning signs of anxieties that we might not otherwise perceive in our waking lives .
With hundreds of millions of people sheltering at home during the coronavirus pandemic , some dream experts believe that withdrawal from our usual environments and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dearth of “ inspiration , ” forcing our subconscious minds to draw more heavily on themes from our past .
In Weller ’ s case , his long-time obsession with comics came together with his constant scrolling through political posts on Twitter to concoct a surreal scene that he interpreted as a commentary on the world ’ s economic anxieties .
At least five research teams at institutions across multiple countries are collecting examples such as Weller ’ s , and one of their findings so far is that pandemic dreams are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes in sleep patterns—a swirl of negative emotions that set them apart from typical dreaming .
“ We normally use REM sleep and dreams to handle intense emotions , particularly negative emotions , ” says Patrick McNamara , an associate professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine who is an expert in dreams .
“ Obviously , this pandemic is producing a lot of stress and anxiety.
” During our dream states , stress sends the brain on a trip .
The neurobiological signals and reactions that produce dreams are similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to McNamara .
Psychedelics activate nerve receptors called serotonin 5-HT2A , which then turn off a part of the brain called the dorsal prefrontal cortex .
The result is known as “ emotional disinhibition , ” a state in which emotions flood the consciousness , especially during the rapid eye movement ( REM ) stage of sleep , when we typically dream .
Though these processes happen nightly , most people don ’ t typically remember their dreams .
Living through the coronavirus pandemic might be changing that due to heightened isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dreams and allowing some dreamers to remember more of them .
For one , anxiety and lack of activity decrease sleep quality .
Frequent awakenings , also called parasomnias , are associated with increased dream recall .
Latent emotions and memories from the previous day can also influence the content of dreams and one ’ s emotional response within the dream itself .
According to an ongoing study the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center in France initiated in March , the coronavirus pandemic has caused a 35 percent increase in dream recall among participants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative dreams than usual .
A different study promoted by Associazione Italiana di Medicina del Sonno ( the Italian Association of Sleep Medicine ) is analyzing the dreams of Italians confined during the outbreak .
Many of the subjects are experiencing nightmares and parasomnias in line with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder .
“ Not surprisingly , some years ago when we studied survivors of the 2009 L ’ Aquila earthquake , we found that sleep disorders and also nightmares strictly depended on the proximity to the epicenter , ” says Luigi De @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of Rome who is working on the Italian coronavirus study .
“ In other words , the seismic map mostly overlapped that of sleep disturbances.
” Results from De Gennaro ’ s ongoing research and other work such as the Lyon study suggest that people closer to the pandemic threat—health-care workers , those living in epicenters , and those with affected family members—are more likely to experience outbreak-influenced dreams .
Multiple studies have shown that our waking activities create a slide reel of memories that influence the content of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day can influence what we dream about and how we feel about it within the dream itself .
Reducing or restricting sources of everyday memories—by being stuck alone in quarantine—may limit the content of dreams or cause the subconscious to reach for deeper memories .
It may seem obvious , but Finnish researchers have scientifically backed up the notion that peace of mind leads to a “ positive dream affect , ” wherein dreamers feel good about what is happening in their dreams .
Anxiety , by contrast , is related to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show , which results in dreams that are frightening or otherwise upsetting .
Deirdre Barrett , assistant professor of psychology at Harvard University and author of The Committee of Sleep , has collected and analyzed dreams from the survivors of traumatic events , including the September 11 World Trade Center Attacks .
Barrett has found that dreams in which people process traumas tend to follow two patterns : They either directly reference or re-enact a version of the traumatic event , or the dreams are fantastical , with symbolic elements standing in for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest sample of coronavirus dreams , which she began collecting in March with this survey , some participants reported dreaming they caught the virus or were dying of it .
In another set of dreams Barrett collected , participants replaced fear of the virus with a metaphoric element , such as bugs , zombies , natural disasters , shadowy figures , monsters , or mass shooters .
“ Except for the [ dreams of ] health-care workers , we don ’ t see vivid visual imagery of people struggling to breathe on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The virus is invisible , and I think that ’ s why it ’ s transformed into so many different things .
”

Ronald Reagan pulled up to the curb in a sleek black town car, rolled down his tinted window, and beckoned for Lance Weller, author of the novel Wilderness, to join him. The long-dead president escorted Weller to a comic book shop stocked with every title Weller had ever wanted, but before he could make a purchase, Reagan swiped his wallet and skipped out the door.
Of course, Weller was dreaming. He is one of many people around the world—including more than 600 featured in just one study—who say they are experiencing a new phenomenon: coronavirus pandemic dreams.
Science has long suggested that dream content and emotions are connected to wellbeing while we’re awake. Bizarre dreams laden with symbolism allow some dreamers to overcome intense memories or everyday psychological stressors within the safety of their subconscious. Nightmares, on the other hand, can be warning signs of anxieties that we might not otherwise perceive in our waking lives.
With hundreds of millions of people sheltering at home during the coronavirus pandemic, some dream experts believe that withdrawal from our usual environments and daily stimuli has left dreamers with a dearth of “inspiration,” forcing our subconscious minds to draw more heavily on themes from our past. In Weller’s case, his long-time obsession with comics came together with his constant scrolling through political posts on Twitter to concoct a surreal scene that he interpreted as a commentary on the world’s economic anxieties.
At least five research teams at institutions across multiple countries are collecting examples such as Weller’s, and one of their findings so far is that pandemic dreams are being colored by stress, isolation, and changes in sleep patterns—a swirl of negative emotions that set them apart from typical dreaming.
“We normally use REM sleep and dreams to handle intense emotions, particularly negative emotions,” says Patrick McNamara, an associate professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine who is an expert in dreams. “Obviously, this pandemic is producing a lot of stress and anxiety.”
During our dream states, stress sends the brain on a trip. The neurobiological signals and reactions that produce dreams are similar to those triggered by psychedelic drugs, according to McNamara. Psychedelics activate nerve receptors called serotonin 5-HT2A, which then turn off a part of the brain called the dorsal prefrontal cortex. The result is known as “emotional disinhibition,” a state in which emotions flood the consciousness, especially during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep, when we typically dream.
Though these processes happen nightly, most people don’t typically remember their dreams. Living through the coronavirus pandemic might be changing that due to heightened isolation and stress, influencing the content of dreams and allowing some dreamers to remember more of them. For one, anxiety and lack of activity decrease sleep quality. Frequent awakenings, also called parasomnias, are associated with increased dream recall. Latent emotions and memories from the previous day can also influence the content of dreams and one’s emotional response within the dream itself.
According to an ongoing study the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center in France initiated in March, the coronavirus pandemic has caused a 35 percent increase in dream recall among participants, with respondents reporting 15 percent more negative dreams than usual. A different study promoted by Associazione Italiana di Medicina del Sonno (the Italian Association of Sleep Medicine) is analyzing the dreams of Italians confined during the outbreak. Many of the subjects are experiencing nightmares and parasomnias in line with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Not surprisingly, some years ago when we studied survivors of the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake, we found that sleep disorders and also nightmares strictly depended on the proximity to the epicenter,” says Luigi De Gennaro, a professor of physiological psychology at the University of Rome who is working on the Italian coronavirus study. “In other words, the seismic map mostly overlapped that of sleep disturbances.”
Results from De Gennaro’s ongoing research and other work such as the Lyon study suggest that people closer to the pandemic threat—health-care workers, those living in epicenters, and those with affected family members—are more likely to experience outbreak-influenced dreams.
Multiple studies have shown that our waking activities create a slide reel of memories that influence the content of our dreams. Emotions carried over from the day can influence what we dream about and how we feel about it within the dream itself. Reducing or restricting sources of everyday memories—by being stuck alone in quarantine—may limit the content of dreams or cause the subconscious to reach for deeper memories.
It may seem obvious, but Finnish researchers have scientifically backed up the notion that peace of mind leads to a “positive dream affect,” wherein dreamers feel good about what is happening in their dreams. Anxiety, by contrast, is related to “negative dream affect,” the data show, which results in dreams that are frightening or otherwise upsetting.
Deirdre Barrett, assistant professor of psychology at Harvard University and author of The Committee of Sleep, has collected and analyzed dreams from the survivors of traumatic events, including the September 11 World Trade Center Attacks. Barrett has found that dreams in which people process traumas tend to follow two patterns: They either directly reference or re-enact a version of the traumatic event, or the dreams are fantastical, with symbolic elements standing in for the trauma.
In Barrett’s latest sample of coronavirus dreams, which she began collecting in March with this survey, some participants reported dreaming they caught the virus or were dying of it. In another set of dreams Barrett collected, participants replaced fear of the virus with a metaphoric element, such as bugs, zombies, natural disasters, shadowy figures, monsters, or mass shooters.
“Except for the [dreams of] health-care workers, we don’t see vivid visual imagery of people struggling to breathe on the ventilator,” Barrett says. “The virus is invisible, and I think that’s why it’s transformed into so many different things.”
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usahitman--2020-04-17--Land O’Lakes Removes the More Than 100-Year-Old American Indian Logo from Packaging

Land O ’ Lakes butter ’ s packaging will no longer feature the American Indian “ Butter Maiden ” on its packaging .
The new-look packaging arrived in stores this month after the company announced the change earlier this year .
The change , which comes ahead of the brand ’ s 101 anniversary , was announced in February with Land O ’ Lakes explaining , “ We ’ ve recognized we need packaging that reflects the foundation and heart of our company culture.
” “ The new packaging will show up in a variety of ways , including through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phrase ‘ Farmer-Owned ’ above LAND O LAKES brandmark , ‘ Since 1921 , ” the company said in its release .
“ Some products , including stick butter , will also include photos of real Land O ’ Lakes farmers and co-op members and copy that reads ‘ Since 1921 ’ and ‘ Proud to be Farmer-Owned : As a farmer-owned co-op , we stand together to bring you the very best in dairy.
” Land O ’ Lakes did not explicitly state their reason for removing the American Indian woman named @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen on the packing holding the butter box .
The illustration was painted in 1928 by Brown & Bigelow illustrator Arthur C. Hanson .
The image was later updated to only show her face .
Instead , the dairy brand ’ s President and CEO Beth Ford explained they felt showing “ our farmer-owners whose milk is used to produce Land O ’ Lakes ’ dairy products ” better reflects what they stand for .
“ As a farmer-owned co-op , we strongly feel the need to better connect the men and women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consume it .
Our farmer-to-fork structure gives us a unique ability to bridge this divide , ” Ford said .
While the new design , which shows a scene of water in between a valley of trees , has already appeared on tub butter spreads , Land O ’ Lakes announced the updated look will soon be seen on products like deli cheese and stick butter beginning in spring/summer 2020 .
The original design has long been criticized for being racist .

Land O’Lakes butter’s packaging will no longer feature the American Indian “Butter Maiden” on its packaging. The new-look packaging arrived in stores this month after the company announced the change earlier this year.
The change, which comes ahead of the brand’s 101 anniversary, was announced in February with Land O’Lakes explaining, “We’ve recognized we need packaging that reflects the foundation and heart of our company culture.”
“The new packaging will show up in a variety of ways, including through a new front-of-package design that features the phrase ‘Farmer-Owned’ above LAND O LAKES brandmark, ‘Since 1921,” the company said in its release.
“Some products, including stick butter, will also include photos of real Land O’Lakes farmers and co-op members and copy that reads ‘Since 1921’ and ‘Proud to be Farmer-Owned: As a farmer-owned co-op, we stand together to bring you the very best in dairy.”
Land O’Lakes did not explicitly state their reason for removing the American Indian woman named, Mia, who has long been seen on the packing holding the butter box. The illustration was painted in 1928 by Brown & Bigelow illustrator Arthur C. Hanson. The image was later updated to only show her face.
Instead, the dairy brand’s President and CEO Beth Ford explained they felt showing “our farmer-owners whose milk is used to produce Land O’Lakes’ dairy products” better reflects what they stand for.
“As a farmer-owned co-op, we strongly feel the need to better connect the men and women who grow our food with those who consume it. Our farmer-to-fork structure gives us a unique ability to bridge this divide,” Ford said.
While the new design, which shows a scene of water in between a valley of trees, has already appeared on tub butter spreads, Land O’Lakes announced the updated look will soon be seen on products like deli cheese and stick butter beginning in spring/summer 2020.
The original design has long been criticized for being racist.
Read More Here


usahitman--2020-04-17--Comet Y4 ATLAS Breaks Up…Enter Comet F8 SWAN

At the moment a promising comet is fading , a newly discovered cosmic snowball has been spotted in an outburst phase , giving us a bright new distraction from dark days here on planet Earth .
When it it went through a period of rapid brightening in March , Comet Atlas ( C/2019 Y4 ) looked as though it might put on a spectacle in the night sky unlike anything we ’ ve seen in years .
But comets are famously erratic and unpredictable , and within weeks it became clear that Atlas was breaking up as it flew toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sun .
Seemingly on cue , a new bright comet has emerged to delight skywatchers .
Comet Swan ( C/2020 F8 ) is named after the Solar Wind Anisotropies device aboard NASA ’ s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory that was used to discover it .
Astronomer Ernesto Guido in Italy was then able to confirm the existence of the new comet , which is currently an 8th magnitude brightness object .
That means it ’ s not quite visible to the naked eye , but could be viewed with binoculars or small telescopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the comet is in ‘ outburst ’ mode , ” Karl Battams of the Naval Research Lab and NASA ’ s Sungrazing Comets Project told Spaceweather.com .
If it continues to brighten , Swan could become visible to the naked eye in May .
But Battams — who successfully predicted the disappointment of Comet Atlas — is skeptical once again .
“ I doubt the comet will maintain its current impressive appearance , and will quite possibly fade away soon , ” Battams said , “ but we ’ ve only been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so no one knows.
” More observations are needed to have a better idea of whether comet Swan will soon be worth staying up late for .
I ’ ll be sure to keep you posted as to whether it shines or fizzles .

At the moment a promising comet is fading, a newly discovered cosmic snowball has been spotted in an outburst phase, giving us a bright new distraction from dark days here on planet Earth.
When it it went through a period of rapid brightening in March, Comet Atlas (C/2019 Y4) looked as though it might put on a spectacle in the night sky unlike anything we’ve seen in years. But comets are famously erratic and unpredictable, and within weeks it became clear that Atlas was breaking up as it flew toward the overwhelming heat and radiation of the sun.
Seemingly on cue, a new bright comet has emerged to delight skywatchers.
Comet Swan (C/2020 F8) is named after the Solar Wind Anisotropies device aboard NASA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory that was used to discover it. Astronomer Ernesto Guido in Italy was then able to confirm the existence of the new comet, which is currently an 8th magnitude brightness object. That means it’s not quite visible to the naked eye, but could be viewed with binoculars or small telescopes.
“It’s extremely likely that the comet is in ‘outburst’ mode,” Karl Battams of the Naval Research Lab and NASA’s Sungrazing Comets Project told Spaceweather.com.
If it continues to brighten, Swan could become visible to the naked eye in May. But Battams — who successfully predicted the disappointment of Comet Atlas — is skeptical once again.
“I doubt the comet will maintain its current impressive appearance, and will quite possibly fade away soon,” Battams said, “but we’ve only been viewing it for a couple of days, so no one knows.”
More observations are needed to have a better idea of whether comet Swan will soon be worth staying up late for. I’ll be sure to keep you posted as to whether it shines or fizzles.
Source


usahitman--2020-04-19--Iran Develops Device to Remotely Detect COVID-19 in 5 Seconds

Iran has started to manufacture devices that are capable of remotely detecting COVID-19 within five seconds , Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami , commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps ( IRGC ) , has said , adding that no additional tests for patients are required .
“ This device can detect the virus in a range of 100 metres .
This is an operation that is done in five seconds .
It has no physical contact with patients , and it does not require a blood test .
None of them is required ” , Salami told state-run TV broadcasters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to people .
The IRGC ’ s chief noted that the accuracy of this device was over 80 percent , saying that it would be further developed to detect all types of viruses .
Iranian medical researchers have also managed to develop a special tool that can recognise the disease in two hours .
On Tuesday , Iran registered less than 100 coronavirus-related deaths for the first time since the middle of March , with a noticeable decline in new cases as well .
Iran has been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the disease , according to the WHO as of 16 April , 10:00 a.m. CEST .
It is also the epicentre of the virus in its region , with most infection clusters in neighbouring Middle Eastern countries tracing their first cases back to Iran .

Iran has started to manufacture devices that are capable of remotely detecting COVID-19 within five seconds, Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), has said, adding that no additional tests for patients are required.
“This device can detect the virus in a range of 100 metres. This is an operation that is done in five seconds. It has no physical contact with patients, and it does not require a blood test. None of them is required”, Salami told state-run TV broadcasters, adding that it was not harmful to people.
The IRGC’s chief noted that the accuracy of this device was over 80 percent, saying that it would be further developed to detect all types of viruses.
Iranian medical researchers have also managed to develop a special tool that can recognise the disease in two hours.
On Tuesday, Iran registered less than 100 coronavirus-related deaths for the first time since the middle of March, with a noticeable decline in new cases as well.
Iran has been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 76,389 cases and 4,777 deaths from the disease, according to the WHO as of 16 April, 10:00 a.m. CEST. It is also the epicentre of the virus in its region, with most infection clusters in neighbouring Middle Eastern countries tracing their first cases back to Iran.
Source


usahitman--2020-04-19--Advance Publications INC.  All The News Companies Owned By The Newhouse Family

Advance Publications INC. All The News Companies Owned By The Newhouse Family Advance Publications , Inc. is an American media company owned by the descendants of S.I .
Newhouse Sr. , Donald Newhouse and S.I .
Newhouse Jr .
It is named after the Staten Island Advance , the first newspaper owned by the Newhouse family , in which Sam Newhouse bought a controlling interest in 1922 .
As of October 2014 , it was ranked as the 44th largest privately held company in the United States , according to Forbes .
Crain ’ s ranked Advance Publications the 4th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area in 2012 .
In August 2018 , Condé Nast CEO Robert A. Sauerberg Jr. announced his five-year strategy to generate $ 600 million in new revenue from new revenue streams while driving costs out of the business .
Directly and through various subsidiaries , the group owns all these companies below , Still think you ’ re getting real news ?
: • NJ Advance Media • The News of Cumberland County ( Bridgeton , New Jersey ) • Advance Ohio ( New name for Northeast Ohio Media Group as of January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ websites of all Condé Nast ’ s publications • reddit.com : “ Reddit used to be owned by Condé Nast , but in 2011 it was moved out from under Condé Nast to Advance Publications , which is Condé Nast ’ s parent company .
Then in 2012 , Reddit was spun out into a re-incorporated independent entity with its own board and control of its own finances , hiring a new CEO and bringing back co-founder Alexis Ohanian to serve on the board .
Reddit has 3 sets of shareholders : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The second-largest set of shareholders are Reddit employees .
In the spin-out that occurred in early 2012 , Advance voluntarily reduced its sole ownership to that of a partial owner in order to put ownership in the hands of current and future employees .
The third and smallest fraction consists of a set of angel investors.
” • Charter Communications shareholder following May 2016 merger of Bright House Networks

Advance Publications, Inc. is an American media company owned by the descendants of S.I. Newhouse Sr., Donald Newhouse and S.I. Newhouse Jr. It is named after the Staten Island Advance, the first newspaper owned by the Newhouse family, in which Sam Newhouse bought a controlling interest in 1922.
As of October 2014, it was ranked as the 44th largest privately held company in the United States, according to Forbes. Crain’s ranked Advance Publications the 4th largest private company in the New York area in 2012.
In August 2018, Condé Nast CEO Robert A. Sauerberg Jr. announced his five-year strategy to generate $600 million in new revenue from new revenue streams while driving costs out of the business.
Directly and through various subsidiaries, the group owns all these companies below, Still think you’re getting real news?:
Advance Local, New York, New York Advance Digital, Jersey City, New Jersey Advance Central Services, Wilmington, Delaware Advance 360 (Digital and Full Service Marketing Agency) Headline Studio
American City Business Journals
Condé Nast
Advance Media Southeast Alabama Media Group AL.com gulflive.com The Birmingham News (Birmingham, Alabama) Press-Register (Mobile, Alabama) The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, Alabama) The Mississippi Press (Pascagoula, Mississippi) Advance Central Services Southeast
The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)
MassLive Media, Massachusetts
MLive Media Group MLive.com The Ann Arbor News (print edition Thursdays & Sundays) [4] Kalamazoo Gazette Bay City Times Flint Journal Grand Rapids Press Jackson Citizen Patriot Muskegon Chronicle Saginaw News
Advance Central Services Michigan
NJ Advance Media NJ.com The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) The Times (Trenton, New Jersey) The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, New Jersey) NJN Publishing South Jersey Media Group The South Jersey Times The Hunterdon Democrat (Flemington, New Jersey) Gloucester County Times (Woodbury, New Jersey) The News of Cumberland County (Bridgeton, New Jersey) Today’s Sunbeam (Salem, New Jersey) The Warren Reporter (Hackettstown, New Jersey) The Reporter (Somerset County, New Jersey) Independent Press (New Providence, New Jersey) Suburban News (Clark, New Jersey) Cranford Chronicle (Cranford, New Jersey) lehighvalleylive.com The Express-Times (Easton, Pennsylvania)
Penn Jersey Advance Central Services
SILive.com
Staten Island Advance (Staten Island, New York)
Advance Media New York syracuse.com newyorkupstate.com The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York)
Advance Central Services Syracuse
Advance Ohio (New name for Northeast Ohio Media Group as of January 26, 2016) cleveland.com The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) Sun Newspapers – weekly newspapers for the Greater Cleveland area
The Plain Dealer Publishing Company
Oregonian Media Group OregonLive.com The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon) The Hillsboro Argus (Hillsboro, Oregon)
Advance Central Services Oregon
PA Media Group The Patriot-News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) PennLive.com
Advance Central Services Pennsylvania
Business journals and periodicals
Sports Business Journal
Sports Business Daily
Street & Smiths sports annuals
Hemmings Motor News
Hemmings Muscle Machines
Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car
Hemmings Classic Car
Sporting News Media (35%)
Inside Lacrosse
Magazines
Condé Nast Allure Architectural Digest Bon Appetit Brides House & Garden Condé Nast Traveler Glamour Golf Digest Golf World GQ Lucky The New Yorker Self Tatler Teen Vogue Vanity Fair Vogue W Wired The World of Interiors
Condé Nast Digital
style.com
thescene.com
Flip.com
men.style.com
Brides.com
epicurious.com
concierge.com
nutritiondata.com
stylefinder.com
arstechnica.com
webmonkey.com
Wired News
pitchfork.com
Including the websites of all Condé Nast’s publications
Other related websites/companies


usahitman--2020-04-18--Woman charged for organizing protest of Murphy’s coronavirus stay-at-home order

A woman was charged Friday for organizing a protest in Trenton of the stay-at-home orders instituted last month by Gov .
Phil Murphy to help slow the spread of the coronavirus in New Jersey .
Kim Pagan , of Toms River was charged by the New Jersey State Police with violating the emergency orders , according to a release from New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Colonel Patrick J. Callahan , Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police .
The protestors gathered outside the Statehouse and other locations in Trenton on Friday afternoon as Murphy and state health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A video taken by a woman who was live streaming the protest on Facebook showed people driving by the Statehouse honking their horns with American flags waving from their windows and others holding signs and flags on the sidewalk in front of the building .
A woman holding a megaphone could also be seen among the relatively small crowd along with a group of masked New Jersey State Police troopers that the woman filming kept panning over to during the course of the nearly 10-minute long video .
Elsewhere in New Jersey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Skylands Tea Party , told NJ Advance Media that he considered gathering with 10 to 20 others on the Sussex County-owned Newton Green to protest Murphy ’ s executive orders .
Hayden said he opposes closing the parks , in addition to other restrictions imposed by the governor .
Across the country , protests against stay-at-home orders have taken place in Michigan , Ohio , Kentucky , Minnesota , North Carolina and Utah , according to CNN .

A woman was charged Friday for organizing a protest in Trenton of the stay-at-home orders instituted last month by Gov. Phil Murphy to help slow the spread of the coronavirus in New Jersey.
Kim Pagan, of Toms River was charged by the New Jersey State Police with violating the emergency orders, according to a release from New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.
The protestors gathered outside the Statehouse and other locations in Trenton on Friday afternoon as Murphy and state health officials held their daily coronavirus press briefing.
A video taken by a woman who was live streaming the protest on Facebook showed people driving by the Statehouse honking their horns with American flags waving from their windows and others holding signs and flags on the sidewalk in front of the building.
A woman holding a megaphone could also be seen among the relatively small crowd along with a group of masked New Jersey State Police troopers that the woman filming kept panning over to during the course of the nearly 10-minute long video.
Elsewhere in New Jersey, William J. Hayden, the president of the Skylands Tea Party, told NJ Advance Media that he considered gathering with 10 to 20 others on the Sussex County-owned Newton Green to protest Murphy’s executive orders. Hayden said he opposes closing the parks, in addition to other restrictions imposed by the governor.
Across the country, protests against stay-at-home orders have taken place in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina and Utah, according to CNN.
Source


usahitman--2020-04-18--Beer & Soda may lose its fizz as CO2 supplies go flat during pandemic

Beer & Soda may lose its fizz as CO2 supplies go flat during pandemic Dwindling supplies of carbon dioxide from ethanol plants is sparking concern about shortages of beer , soda and seltzer water – essentials for many quarantined Americans .
Brewers and soft-drink makers use carbon dioxide , or CO2 , for carbonation , which gives beer and soda fizz .
Ethanol producers are a key provider of CO2 to the food industry , as they capture that gas as a byproduct of ethanol production and sell it in large quantities .
But ethanol , which is blended into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has seen production drop sharply due to the drop in gasoline demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Gasoline demand is down by more than 30 % in the United States .
The lack of ethanol output is disrupting this highly specialized corner of the food industry , as 34 of the 45 U.S. ethanol plants that sell CO2 have idled or cut production , said Renewable Fuels Association Chief Executive Geoff Cooper .
CO2 suppliers to beer brewers have increased prices by about 25 % due to reduced supply , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Brewers Association .
The trade group represents small and independent U.S. craft brewers , who get about 45 % of their CO2 from ethanol producers .
“ The problem is accelerating .
Every day we ’ re hearing from more of our members about this , ” said Pease , who expects some brewers to start cutting production in two to three weeks .
In an April 7 letter to Vice President Mike Pence , the Compressed Gas Association ( CGA ) said production of CO2 had fallen about 20 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by mid-April without relief , CGA CEO Rich Gottwald said in the letter .
Meat producers are also feeling the pinch , as they use CO2 in processing , packaging , preservation and shipment .
Orion Melehan , CEO of Santa Cruz , California-based LifeAID , a specialty beverage company , said two of his production partners are looking for alternative CO2 sources .
“ It does have us up at night figuring out what our options are , ” Melehan said .
“ It highlights the laws of unintended consequences.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products include LaCroix , said the company sources from a number of national CO2 suppliers and does not anticipate a supply issue .

Dwindling supplies of carbon dioxide from ethanol plants is sparking concern about shortages of beer, soda and seltzer water – essentials for many quarantined Americans.
Brewers and soft-drink makers use carbon dioxide, or CO2, for carbonation, which gives beer and soda fizz. Ethanol producers are a key provider of CO2 to the food industry, as they capture that gas as a byproduct of ethanol production and sell it in large quantities.
But ethanol, which is blended into the nation’s gasoline supply, has seen production drop sharply due to the drop in gasoline demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gasoline demand is down by more than 30% in the United States.
The lack of ethanol output is disrupting this highly specialized corner of the food industry, as 34 of the 45 U.S. ethanol plants that sell CO2 have idled or cut production, said Renewable Fuels Association Chief Executive Geoff Cooper.
CO2 suppliers to beer brewers have increased prices by about 25% due to reduced supply, said Bob Pease, chief executive officer of the Brewers Association. The trade group represents small and independent U.S. craft brewers, who get about 45% of their CO2 from ethanol producers.
“The problem is accelerating. Every day we’re hearing from more of our members about this,” said Pease, who expects some brewers to start cutting production in two to three weeks.
In an April 7 letter to Vice President Mike Pence, the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) said production of CO2 had fallen about 20% and could be down by 50% by mid-April without relief, CGA CEO Rich Gottwald said in the letter. Meat producers are also feeling the pinch, as they use CO2 in processing, packaging, preservation and shipment.
Orion Melehan, CEO of Santa Cruz, California-based LifeAID, a specialty beverage company, said two of his production partners are looking for alternative CO2 sources.
“It does have us up at night figuring out what our options are,” Melehan said. “It highlights the laws of unintended consequences.”
A spokeswoman for National Beverage Corp, whose products include LaCroix, said the company sources from a number of national CO2 suppliers and does not anticipate a supply issue.
Read More Here


usahitman--2020-04-18--Florida beach is crowded within 30 MINUTES of reopening at 5pm

Crowds of beachgoers have charged on to the beaches in Jacksonville , Florida after the shores reopened to the public despite the coronavirus pandemic .
Jacksonville beaches reopened at 5pm on Friday under limited hours and use restrictions , even as Florida recorded its highest single-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases .
Photos and video from the scene show enthusiastic residents cheering as they ran out onto the sand after weeks of closures .
Florida Department of Health said confirmed cases in the state rose by 1,421 Friday , the highest one-day number yet .
The total number of cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of deaths has reached 726 , an increase of 58 in the last 24 hours .
Jacksonville ’ s beaches will be open daily from 6am to 11am and 5pm to 8pm for exercise such as walking and swimming only .
Banned are sunbathing , chairs , towels , or loitering on the shore , and beachgoers are required to remain six feet apart .
By 8pm on Friday night , many had already left the beach – adhering to the curfew .
‘ If for some reason it turns to helter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pull the plug again , ’ Mayor Lenny Curry warned on Friday .
Curry said he is letting the public back onto Duval County beaches because he is ‘ encouraged ’ by the rate of infections and hospitalizations and said there is evidence they are flattening the curve .
‘ This can be the beginning of the pathway back to normal life , ’ he said on Thursday .
‘ Please respect and follow these limitations .
Stay within the guidelines for your safety as well as for the safety of your neighbors @ @

Crowds of beachgoers have charged on to the beaches in Jacksonville, Florida after the shores reopened to the public despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Jacksonville beaches reopened at 5pm on Friday under limited hours and use restrictions, even as Florida recorded its highest single-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases.
Photos and video from the scene show enthusiastic residents cheering as they ran out onto the sand after weeks of closures.
Florida Department of Health said confirmed cases in the state rose by 1,421 Friday, the highest one-day number yet. The total number of cases in Florida is now 24,753. The number of deaths has reached 726, an increase of 58 in the last 24 hours.
Jacksonville’s beaches will be open daily from 6am to 11am and 5pm to 8pm for exercise such as walking and swimming only. Banned are sunbathing, chairs, towels, or loitering on the shore, and beachgoers are required to remain six feet apart.
By 8pm on Friday night, many had already left the beach – adhering to the curfew.
‘If for some reason it turns to helter skelter, we’re going to pull the plug again,’ Mayor Lenny Curry warned on Friday.
Curry said he is letting the public back onto Duval County beaches because he is ‘encouraged’ by the rate of infections and hospitalizations and said there is evidence they are flattening the curve.
‘This can be the beginning of the pathway back to normal life,’ he said on Thursday. ‘Please respect and follow these limitations. Stay within the guidelines for your safety as well as for the safety of your neighbors.’
Read More Here


usahitman--2020-04-19--California has purchased over 15,000 hotel rooms to house the homeless

California is on its manner to buying 15,000 resort rooms to home the homeless through the pandemic , stated Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Saturday as he reminded folks to keep indoors whereas outbreaks proceed to crop up all through the state .
Standing in entrance of a Motel 6 exterior the town of Campbell , Newsom stated greater than 4,000 folks have been moved out of shelters and off the streets and into motel rooms .
He took the chance to scold leaders of unnamed cities for blocking efforts to home the homeless , asking them to “ please @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here a day after the state reported one other 87 deaths from the coronavirus .
Meanwhile , California ’ s demise toll from the virus rose above 1,050 on Saturday , in accordance to tally by John Hopkins University .
“ We ’ ve certainly flattened the curve .
The question is when are we going to see those numbers start to decline on a consistent basis as opposed to an episodic basis , ” he stated .
The pandemic that has plunged California – the world ’ s fifth-largest financial system – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are issues the virus might sweep via the state ’ s 150,000 homeless folks , lots of whom have power well being circumstances and lack protected locations to quarantine themselves , well being officers say .
Newsom , who made fixing the state ’ s homelessness disaster a precedence even earlier than the pandemic struck , introduced in mid-March his administration was negotiating with 900 inns to home the homeless .
Two weeks in the past he introduced Project Roomkey , a program by which the Federal Emergency Management Agency pays 75 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , together with individuals who check optimistic or could have been uncovered to the virus , and older homeless folks and people with underlying well being circumstances .
He stated Saturday that they ’ ve acquired practically 11,000 rooms and housed greater than 4,200 , though his workplace has declined to say the place .
He additionally introduced that Motel 6 would put aside 5,000 rooms in 19 counties .
More than 100 homeless persons are in an undisclosed resort on the west aspect of Los Angeles , stated Va Lecia Adams Kellum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , positioned within the Venice Neighorhood of Los Angeles .
Among the residents is a girl utilizing a wheelchair ordered by her physician to take sizzling baths for her bodily and psychological well-being , stated Adams Kellum .
Two different residents are in hospice care .
“ So due to Project Roomkey these males are inside a cushty room the place they ’ ll get the excellent and palliative care they want and die with dignity , ” she wrote in an e mail .

California is on its manner to buying 15,000 resort rooms to home the homeless through the pandemic, stated Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday as he reminded folks to keep indoors whereas outbreaks proceed to crop up all through the state.
Standing in entrance of a Motel 6 exterior the town of Campbell, Newsom stated greater than 4,000 folks have been moved out of shelters and off the streets and into motel rooms. He took the chance to scold leaders of unnamed cities for blocking efforts to home the homeless, asking them to “please consider the morality.”
His announcement got here a day after the state reported one other 87 deaths from the coronavirus. Meanwhile, California’s demise toll from the virus rose above 1,050 on Saturday, in accordance to tally by John Hopkins University.
“We’ve certainly flattened the curve. The question is when are we going to see those numbers start to decline on a consistent basis as opposed to an episodic basis,” he stated.
The pandemic that has plunged California – the world’s fifth-largest financial system – into recession has hit onerous. There are issues the virus might sweep via the state’s 150,000 homeless folks, lots of whom have power well being circumstances and lack protected locations to quarantine themselves, well being officers say.
Newsom, who made fixing the state’s homelessness disaster a precedence even earlier than the pandemic struck, introduced in mid-March his administration was negotiating with 900 inns to home the homeless.
Two weeks in the past he introduced Project Roomkey, a program by which the Federal Emergency Management Agency pays 75% of prices related to housing some homeless, together with individuals who check optimistic or could have been uncovered to the virus, and older homeless folks and people with underlying well being circumstances.
He stated Saturday that they’ve acquired practically 11,000 rooms and housed greater than 4,200, though his workplace has declined to say the place. He additionally introduced that Motel 6 would put aside 5,000 rooms in 19 counties.
More than 100 homeless persons are in an undisclosed resort on the west aspect of Los Angeles, stated Va Lecia Adams Kellum, chief government of St. Joseph Center, positioned within the Venice Neighorhood of Los Angeles.
Among the residents is a girl utilizing a wheelchair ordered by her physician to take sizzling baths for her bodily and psychological well-being, stated Adams Kellum. Two different residents are in hospice care.
“So due to Project Roomkey these males are inside a cushty room the place they’ll get the excellent and palliative care they want and die with dignity,” she wrote in an e mail.
Read More Here


usahitman--2020-04-20--FEMA awarded bankrupt company with no employees $55 million contract for N95 masks

The coronavirus pandemic has created a desperate clamber for vital medical supplies , like N95 masks , that has led the federal government to award massive contracts to third-party vendors to help fill the gaps .
In this chaotic effort to obtain supplies , the Trump administration awarded a $ 55 million contract to Panthera Worldwide LLC , a company with no expertise in the world of medical equipment , for N95 masks , The Washington Post reported on Wednesday .
Panthera ’ s parent company filed for bankruptcy protection last fall , and one of its owners last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since May 2018 , The Post reported , citing sworn testimony .
It ’ s no longer listed as an LLC in Virginia , where its main office is , after fees went unpaid , the newspaper said .
Panthera , which describes itself as a tactical training company for the US military and other government agencies , has no record of producing medical supplies or equipment , The Post said .
The company ’ s website says it “ provides elite , scenario-based tactical , aviation and intelligence training and instruction for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agency and Law Enforcement teams who operate in sensitive environments worldwide , to enable those teams to meet their mission goals and requirements.
” Panthera ’ s executives are being sued by a Virginia businessman who leased the company ’ s primary asset , a training facility in West Virginia , The Post reported .
James V. Punelli , one of Panthera ’ s executives , told The Post that the company was working with military contacts to obtain the masks .
“ We ’ ve done [ Department of Defense ] medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contacts with that community were brought sources of supply in order to assist in the COVID-19 response , ” Punelli said in a text message to The Post .
“ We made the connection with FEMA and offered these supplies to them.
” “ We will provide these masks before May 1 for certain , in full and with a very high-quality product , ” Punelli said , adding that the company is registered as an LLC in Delaware .
The Post reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was paying Panthera about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than what the government pays companies with an established background in producing medical supplies such as 3M , which charges about $ 0.63 per mask .

The coronavirus pandemic has created a desperate clamber for vital medical supplies, like N95 masks, that has led the federal government to award massive contracts to third-party vendors to help fill the gaps.
In this chaotic effort to obtain supplies, the Trump administration awarded a $55 million contract to Panthera Worldwide LLC, a company with no expertise in the world of medical equipment, for N95 masks, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
Panthera’s parent company filed for bankruptcy protection last fall, and one of its owners last year said it’d had no employees since May 2018, The Post reported, citing sworn testimony. It’s no longer listed as an LLC in Virginia, where its main office is, after fees went unpaid, the newspaper said.
Panthera, which describes itself as a tactical training company for the US military and other government agencies, has no record of producing medical supplies or equipment, The Post said.
The company’s website says it “provides elite, scenario-based tactical, aviation and intelligence training and instruction for Defense Department, State Department, Federal Agency and Law Enforcement teams who operate in sensitive environments worldwide, to enable those teams to meet their mission goals and requirements.”
Panthera’s executives are being sued by a Virginia businessman who leased the company’s primary asset, a training facility in West Virginia, The Post reported.
James V. Punelli, one of Panthera’s executives, told The Post that the company was working with military contacts to obtain the masks.
“We’ve done [Department of Defense] medical training over the years and through those contacts with that community were brought sources of supply in order to assist in the COVID-19 response,” Punelli said in a text message to The Post. “We made the connection with FEMA and offered these supplies to them.”
“We will provide these masks before May 1 for certain, in full and with a very high-quality product,” Punelli said, adding that the company is registered as an LLC in Delaware.
The Post reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was paying Panthera about $5.50 per mask, decidedly more than what the government pays companies with an established background in producing medical supplies such as 3M, which charges about $0.63 per mask.
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usahitman--2020-04-19--Michigan Governor Caves to Pressure and Protest, Says She’ll Reopen State May 1st

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Friday she is hopeful the state can begin to reengage parts of its economy beginning on May 1 , days after facing a barrage of criticism for her strict measures to combat the new coronavirus .
Later on Friday , President Donald Trump , who has traded jabs with Whitmer over the state ’ s handling of the outbreak , tweeted : “ Liberate Michigan , ” along with similar tweets naming other states with Democratic governors .
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Friday she is hopeful the state can begin to reengage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 , days after facing a barrage of criticism for her strict measures to combat the new coronavirus .
Trump did not mention Ohio , whose Republican governor has set a similar target for economic reopening .
The chair of the Republican National Committee , Ronna McDaniel , has criticized Whitmer , saying she was turning Michigan into a “ police state ” .
As of Thursday , Michigan had more than 29,000 COVID-19 cases and almost 2,100 deaths , though Whitmer said the number of new cases was showing signs of leveling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come May 1 we will make some steps forward , and as we proceed , if that goes well and we continue to see progress , that we then go into a second phase , ” Whitmer said , referring to continued decrease in hospitalizations from the virus .
Whitmer told a webcast town hall with a Detroit business chamber that she recognized people were “ desperate to get back to work , ” and that no solution would be zero risk .
Michigan would have to be strategic and “ methodically ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Friday she is hopeful the state can begin to reengage parts of its economy beginning on May 1, days after facing a barrage of criticism for her strict measures to combat the new coronavirus.
Later on Friday, President Donald Trump, who has traded jabs with Whitmer over the state’s handling of the outbreak, tweeted: “Liberate Michigan,” along with similar tweets naming other states with Democratic governors.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Friday she is hopeful the state can begin to reengage parts of its economy beginning on May 1, days after facing a barrage of criticism for her strict measures to combat the new coronavirus.
Trump did not mention Ohio, whose Republican governor has set a similar target for economic reopening. The chair of the Republican National Committee, Ronna McDaniel, has criticized Whitmer, saying she was turning Michigan into a “police state”.
As of Thursday, Michigan had more than 29,000 COVID-19 cases and almost 2,100 deaths, though Whitmer said the number of new cases was showing signs of leveling off.
“I am hopeful that come May 1 we will make some steps forward, and as we proceed, if that goes well and we continue to see progress, that we then go into a second phase,” Whitmer said, referring to continued decrease in hospitalizations from the virus.
Whitmer told a webcast town hall with a Detroit business chamber that she recognized people were “desperate to get back to work,” and that no solution would be zero risk.
Michigan would have to be strategic and “methodically” reengage sectors of the economy, she said.
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usahitman--2020-04-19--Plexiglass Cages Coming To Restaurants & Public Spaces Soon

Once the quarantine is over , there will be major changes to society forever .
Several of the most impacted industries ; travel , tourism , and restaurants , are devising some pretty radical devices in hopes of attracting customers back after the coronavirus has ended .
Such as these glass boxes which will possibly be used at beaches : The boxes have been conceptualized by Nuova Neon Group Due , a firm located in Modena , Italy .
Each box can house two occupants and measures 4.5m x 4.5m x 2m .
It ’ s literally a giant box @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There also been photos which show transparent boxes made of plexiglass walls that sit on top of a restaurant table .
Which will limit the transmission of bodily fluids between guests even if you ’ re in the same family .
They want to make you feel like you are in prison 24/7 with all the new ‘ shields ’ placed in businesses .
I have already noticed that coffee places have similar shields to block the register and pickup areas .
Some places might never return with dine-in service which is completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from eating out during flu season or swine flu .
We need to stop believing the media and accept the stripped freedoms a simple virus has caused .
Lets hope we don ’ t see these safety measures in our once favorite restaurants .

Once the quarantine is over, there will be major changes to society forever. Several of the most impacted industries; travel, tourism, and restaurants, are devising some pretty radical devices in hopes of attracting customers back after the coronavirus has ended. Such as these glass boxes which will possibly be used at beaches:
The boxes have been conceptualized by Nuova Neon Group Due, a firm located in Modena, Italy. Each box can house two occupants and measures 4.5m x 4.5m x 2m. It’s literally a giant box that will be placed around beachgoers.
There also been photos which show transparent boxes made of plexiglass walls that sit on top of a restaurant table. Which will limit the transmission of bodily fluids between guests even if you’re in the same family. They want to make you feel like you are in prison 24/7 with all the new ‘shields’ placed in businesses.
I have already noticed that coffee places have similar shields to block the register and pickup areas. Some places might never return with dine-in service which is completely crazy. Nothing has stopped us before from eating out during flu season or swine flu. We need to stop believing the media and accept the stripped freedoms a simple virus has caused. Lets hope we don’t see these safety measures in our once favorite restaurants.