mercurynews--2020-08-23--Video: “Flames were fully around me,” Alameda County firefighter says after “burnover” in bulldozer

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LIVERMORE — When Heidi Owens received a video from her husband on the first morning of the Bay Area ’ s lightning strike fires , all she saw was huge orange flames and billowing smoke on a hillside .
“ This was what I was doing this morning , ” her husband , Alameda County Fire Capt .
Gary Owens , texted her .
Had she looked closer , she said , “ I would have been so terrified.
” Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just experienced a dreaded “ burnover.
” Not until Capt .
Owens returned to his Los Gatos home after working the East Bay fire lines for two days and replayed the video did Heidi see the flickering lights of “ Dozer No .
18 ” — engulfed in the inferno .
Heidi , who is running for Los Gatos City Council , posted the video to her Facebook page last Tuesday : “ Do you see the bulldozer coming out of the flames ?
” she wrote .
By Sunday morning , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half million times .
“ I think people are really in need of heroes right now , ” Heidi said .
“ I think of Mister Rogers saying ‘ look for the helpers ’ and our firefighters are the helpers right now.
” The 25-second video , shot by a fellow firefighter at 6 a.m. Aug. 16 , is one of the first scenes of the destruction and danger caused by the hundreds of lightning strikes that lit up the sky early that morning and led to some of the biggest fires in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 700,000 acres had burned in Northern California , with hundreds of structures destroyed and at least four people killed .
In an interview over the weekend from his Dublin fire station , Capt .
Owens , 50 , downplayed the peril .
He was more worried about damaging the bulldozer , he said , than hurting himself .
He was a little embarrassed , too .
“ You ’ re supposed to be on the edge of the fire , ” he said , “ not in the fire.
” After 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as both a medic and a bulldozer operator , Owens said , the burnover on a Livermore hillside near Wente Winery was his first .
It wasn ’ t the lightning or thunder that awakened Owens that morning .
It was the station alarm at Dublin Fire Station No .
17 that jolted him out of bed at 4:50 a.m .
Lightning had started a grass fire at Arroyo Road , dispatch reported , so he took his spot behind the wheel of the transport truck , pulling his bulldozer on a lowboy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; all along Interstate 580 , bolts of lightning cracked across the sky .
From five miles out , he spotted the fire on the hillside .
An incident command had already been established when he arrived .
The fire wasn ’ t moving fast and the winds were low .
“ It was nothing big , ” he said .
“ The flames were probably only a few feet high or so.
” With air conditioning on in the bulldozer ’ s fully-enclosed capsule , he headed to the left flank , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and began a direct attack .
With bolts of lightning diving into hilltops nearby , he cut a break in the grass to take away fuel from the fire and pushed dirt along the edge of the fire , smothering the flames as he went .
“ I was following the fire and everything was real small , ” he said .
He had worked fires along Altamont Pass , where winds really pick up .
This was nothing .
But in the midst of a thunderstorm , the winds suddenly shifted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw the fire coming , ” he said , “ so I was going to try to cut it off , try to cut a line in front of it , but it was moving too fast and the flames got too big.
” In a moment , he said , the bulldozer was engulfed in the flames .
With a top speed of 6 mph , he wouldn ’ t be able to outrun the blaze .
“ Flames were fully around me and they were all around the window glass of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ So that was a little bit concerning.
” Trusting his years of experience and aware of the terrain he had just traversed , he kept moving .
The 10-foot flames passed quickly — maybe only 10 seconds , he estimated .
But it was long enough to feel the heat through the glass .
“ When I was really in the thick of the fire , I knew I just needed to keep going into the black ” of the already-burned area , he said .
When he made it out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t shake .
His hands didn ’ t tremble .
He just thought , “ boy , that must have been something.
” Then he turned the dozer around , started over and “ chased the fire again.
” As the fire was extinguished later that morning — luckily it wouldn ’ t add to the SCU Lightning Complex fire growing nearby — a firefighter he didn ’ t know asked if he had been driving Dozer 18 .
He had caught the burnover on video and sent it to him .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his bulldozer chased fires .
When he came home on Tuesday , the household was hectic .
His wife was in the midst of her campaign and his two daughters , 10-year-old Roxanna and 8-year-old Alexis , were in the midst of distance learning .
“ He was just exhausted , ” said Heidi , who has been sending out fire information on her Facebook page to keep other families of firefighters informed .
And still he found time to help his younger daughter stay focused on her schooling .
“ He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ He downplays absolutely everything .
”

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LIVERMORE — When Heidi Owens received a video from her husband on the first morning of the Bay Area’s lightning strike fires, all she saw was huge orange flames and billowing smoke on a hillside.
“This was what I was doing this morning,” her husband, Alameda County Fire Capt. Gary Owens, texted her.
Had she looked closer, she said, “I would have been so terrified.”
Her husband, a 22-year-firefighting veteran, had just experienced a dreaded “burnover.”
Not until Capt. Owens returned to his Los Gatos home after working the East Bay fire lines for two days and replayed the video did Heidi see the flickering lights of “Dozer No. 18” — engulfed in the inferno.
Heidi, who is running for Los Gatos City Council, posted the video to her Facebook page last Tuesday: “Do you see the bulldozer coming out of the flames?” she wrote. By Sunday morning, the post had been viewed more than a half million times.
“I think people are really in need of heroes right now,” Heidi said. “I think of Mister Rogers saying ‘look for the helpers’ and our firefighters are the helpers right now.”
The 25-second video, shot by a fellow firefighter at 6 a.m. Aug. 16, is one of the first scenes of the destruction and danger caused by the hundreds of lightning strikes that lit up the sky early that morning and led to some of the biggest fires in state history. By Sunday, more than 700,000 acres had burned in Northern California, with hundreds of structures destroyed and at least four people killed.
In an interview over the weekend from his Dublin fire station, Capt. Owens, 50, downplayed the peril. He was more worried about damaging the bulldozer, he said, than hurting himself. He was a little embarrassed, too.
“You’re supposed to be on the edge of the fire,” he said, “not in the fire.”
After 22 years as a firefighter, with certifications as both a medic and a bulldozer operator, Owens said, the burnover on a Livermore hillside near Wente Winery was his first.
It wasn’t the lightning or thunder that awakened Owens that morning. It was the station alarm at Dublin Fire Station No. 17 that jolted him out of bed at 4:50 a.m. Lightning had started a grass fire at Arroyo Road, dispatch reported, so he took his spot behind the wheel of the transport truck, pulling his bulldozer on a lowboy trailer.
It was still dark outside; all along Interstate 580, bolts of lightning cracked across the sky.
From five miles out, he spotted the fire on the hillside. An incident command had already been established when he arrived.
The fire wasn’t moving fast and the winds were low. “It was nothing big,” he said. “The flames were probably only a few feet high or so.”
With air conditioning on in the bulldozer’s fully-enclosed capsule, he headed to the left flank, the south side of the fire, and began a direct attack. With bolts of lightning diving into hilltops nearby, he cut a break in the grass to take away fuel from the fire and pushed dirt along the edge of the fire, smothering the flames as he went.
“I was following the fire and everything was real small,” he said.
He had worked fires along Altamont Pass, where winds really pick up. This was nothing.
But in the midst of a thunderstorm, the winds suddenly shifted. So did the fire.
“I saw the fire coming,” he said, “so I was going to try to cut it off, try to cut a line in front of it, but it was moving too fast and the flames got too big.”
In a moment, he said, the bulldozer was engulfed in the flames. With a top speed of 6 mph, he wouldn’t be able to outrun the blaze.
“Flames were fully around me and they were all around the window glass of the cab,” he said, “So that was a little bit concerning.”
Trusting his years of experience and aware of the terrain he had just traversed, he kept moving.
The 10-foot flames passed quickly — maybe only 10 seconds, he estimated — and “burned over” him and the dozer. But it was long enough to feel the heat through the glass.
“When I was really in the thick of the fire, I knew I just needed to keep going into the black” of the already-burned area, he said.
When he made it out, he said, his knees didn’t shake. His hands didn’t tremble.
He just thought, “boy, that must have been something.”
Then he turned the dozer around, started over and “chased the fire again.”
As the fire was extinguished later that morning — luckily it wouldn’t add to the SCU Lightning Complex fire growing nearby — a firefighter he didn’t know asked if he had been driving Dozer 18. He had caught the burnover on video and sent it to him.
For the next two days, Owens and his bulldozer chased fires. When he came home on Tuesday, the household was hectic. His wife was in the midst of her campaign and his two daughters, 10-year-old Roxanna and 8-year-old Alexis, were in the midst of distance learning.
“He was just exhausted,” said Heidi, who has been sending out fire information on her Facebook page to keep other families of firefighters informed. And still he found time to help his younger daughter stay focused on her schooling.
“He is the most humble guy,” she said. “He downplays absolutely everything.”


mercurynews--2020-08-23--Residents flee as Gulf Coast sees possible tandem hurricanes

By Rebecca Santana , Jeff Martin and Seth Borenstein | Associated Press NEW ORLEANS — The Gulf Coast braced Sunday for a potentially devastating hit from twin hurricanes as two dangerous storms swirled toward the U.S from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean .
Officials feared a history-making onslaught of life-threatening winds and flooding along the coast , stretching from Texas to Alabama .
A storm dubbed Marco grew into a hurricane Sunday as it churned up the Gulf of Mexico toward Louisiana .
Another potential hurricane , Tropical Storm Laura , lashed the Dominican Republic and Haiti , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the U.S. coast , carrying the risk of growing into a far more powerful storm .
Experts said computer models show Laura could make landfall with winds exceeding 110 mph , and rain bands from both storms could bring a combined total of 2 feet of rain to parts of Louisiana and several feet of potentially deadly storm surge .
“ There has never been anything we ’ ve seen like this before , where you can have possibly two hurricanes hitting within miles of each over a 48-hour period , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the National Weather Service ’ s Slidell , Louisiana , office .
The combination of the rain and storm surge in a day or two means “ you ’ re looking at a potential for a major flood event that lasts for some time , ” said weather service tropical program coordinator Joel Cline .
“ And that ’ s not even talking about the wind.
’ Where precisely Marco was headed — and when the storm might arrive — remained elusive Sunday .
The hurricane was initially expected to make landfall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that “ a major shift ” in a majority of their computer models now show the storm stalling off the Louisiana coast for a few days before landing west of New Orleans — and likely weakening before hitting the state .
However , skeptical meteorologists at the center were waiting to see if the trends continue before making a dramatic revision in their forecast .
Marco is a small storm that may be pushed westward along the Louisiana coast , delaying landfall but worsening storm surge , Cline said .
The prospect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of damage caused by Hurricane Katrina , which struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29 , 2005 .
The storm has been blamed for as many as 1,800 deaths and levee breaches in New Orleans led to catastrophic flooding .
“ What we know is there ’ s going to be storm surge from Marco , we know that that water is not going to recede hardly at all before Laura hits , and so we ’ ve not seen this before and that ’ s why people need to be paying particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bel Edwards warned at a Sunday briefing .
Along the main drag on the barrier island of Grand Isle , south of New Orleans , Starfish Restaurant manager Nicole Fantiny could see an exodus of people driving off the island .
“ They are all packing up and leaving , ” she said .
Fantiny wasn ’ t planning to leave , at least for Marco , but she was anxious about the possible one-two punch from both storms .
Her husband works with the town ’ s fire and police departments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last ones to leave .
“ My house was built in 1938 so I think we ’ re good , ” she said hopefully .
Marco is expected to dance above and below hurricane status after hitting the 75 mph-wind mark Sunday afternoon .
“ The central Gulf could be really under the gun between Marco and Laura in back-to-back succession , ’ said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach .
“ Certainly both of these storms can impact New Orleans significantly .
It just remains to be seen if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the west.
” University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy warned that anyone in New Orleans should be alarmed by the threat .
At issue from possible dual hits : whether the levee system can withstand the stress , he said .
In New Orleans , the city ’ s aging drainage system has been a particular point of concern in recent years after an intense 2017 storm flooded streets and raised questions about the system ’ s viability .
Because the city is surrounded by levees and parts are below sea level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent flooding .
Any storm system that sits over the city and dumps rain for extended periods of time , or bands of rain that come in rapid succession , is a cause for concern .
New Orleans resident Matthew Meloy and two friends loaded a van with cases of bottled water in the parking lot of a New Orleans Walmart Sunday .
He said they still have a lot of storm preparations ahead .
“ Check the batteries , flashlights , stocking up on food and trying to park the car on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ I already spent like 40 minutes this morning filling up the tanks in the cars.
” Tourists were strolling through the New Orleans French Quarter under overcast skies as workers boarded up shop windows .
Louisiana corrections officials were evacuating 500 inmates from a jail in Plaquemines Parish , near the coast , to another facility in preparation for the storms .
In Kenner , just outside New Orleans , resident P.J .
Hahn said checkout lines in a Sam ’ s Club reached to the back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 114 oil and gas producing platforms in the Gulf have been evacuated as the storms churn toward the Louisiana coast .
Because of strong winds from the southwest , Marco may attain and then lose hurricane status before it hits land , meteorologists said .
But those winds could be gone when Laura ventures to the central Gulf , where the usually bathtub-warm water is a degree or 2 ( 0.5 to 1 degree Celsius ) warmer than normal , Klotzbach said .
The warmer the water , the stronger the fuel for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , might peak in intensity about landfall .
That ’ s the one thing I worry about with this one , ” MIT meteorology professor Kerry Emanuel said of Laura .
His multiple computer simulations show a decent chance of winds of more than 110 mph for Laura at landfall , as do other computer models .
The key for Laura ’ s future is how it survives Cuba .
Originally forecast to rake over almost the entire length of the island and potentially weaken , the storm late Sunday moved further south @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues , it is more likely to come out strong enough to power up over the favorable environment of the Gulf of Mexico , Klotzbach said .
If that continues , Laura could hit further west in the Gulf , possibly into Texas instead of Louisiana , he said .
If it hits Louisiana that would break the record for two named storms hitting the state so close together .
The current record is five days apart in 1885 , Klotzbach said .
And there ’ s one long-term possibility that adds to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after landfall into Oklahoma , there ’ s a chance it will be caught up into the jet stream , travel east and emerge over North Carolina and return to tropical storm status , McNoldy and Klotzbach said .
By late afternoon Sunday , Laura was 50 miles ( 80 km ) south of Guantanamo , Cuba , with 60 mph ( 95 kmh ) winds moving west-northwest at 21 mph ( 33 kmh ) .
Marco was 240 miles ( 390 km ) south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winds , moving north-northwest at 13 mph ( 20 kmh ) .
In Empire , Louisiana , about 50 miles south of New Orleans near the mouth of the Mississippi River , shrimp , oyster and fishing boats line the docks .
It was eerily quiet Sunday evening , as most fishermen had already secured their boats .
Mike Bartholemey was putting extra blocks of wood under his recently dry docked 50-foot shrimp boat “ Big Mike , ” out of his concern that hurricane winds might topple his boat to the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first death of child linked to virus • In recordings , Trump ’ s sister says he ‘ has no principles ’ • Republicans look to use convention as election test bed In Venice , a fishing town on the Mississippi River , shrimper Acy Cooper was up early Sunday to move his three shrimp boats from the harbor into the bayous nearby to ride out the storm .
It ’ s the same area where he moored his boat during Hurricane Katrina .
The boat survived ; his house in Venice did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia .
Borenstein reported from Kensington , Maryland .
AP reporter Stacey Plaisance in New Orleans ; and photojournalist Gerald Herbert in Empire , Louisiana , also contributed .

By Rebecca Santana, Jeff Martin and Seth Borenstein | Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — The Gulf Coast braced Sunday for a potentially devastating hit from twin hurricanes as two dangerous storms swirled toward the U.S from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Officials feared a history-making onslaught of life-threatening winds and flooding along the coast, stretching from Texas to Alabama.
A storm dubbed Marco grew into a hurricane Sunday as it churned up the Gulf of Mexico toward Louisiana. Another potential hurricane, Tropical Storm Laura, lashed the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and was tracking toward the same region of the U.S. coast, carrying the risk of growing into a far more powerful storm.
Experts said computer models show Laura could make landfall with winds exceeding 110 mph, and rain bands from both storms could bring a combined total of 2 feet of rain to parts of Louisiana and several feet of potentially deadly storm surge.
“There has never been anything we’ve seen like this before, where you can have possibly two hurricanes hitting within miles of each over a 48-hour period,” said Benjamin Schott, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service’s Slidell, Louisiana, office.
The combination of the rain and storm surge in a day or two means “you’re looking at a potential for a major flood event that lasts for some time,” said weather service tropical program coordinator Joel Cline. “And that’s not even talking about the wind.’
Where precisely Marco was headed — and when the storm might arrive — remained elusive Sunday.
The hurricane was initially expected to make landfall Monday, but the National Hurricane Center said that “a major shift” in a majority of their computer models now show the storm stalling off the Louisiana coast for a few days before landing west of New Orleans — and likely weakening before hitting the state. However, skeptical meteorologists at the center were waiting to see if the trends continue before making a dramatic revision in their forecast.
Marco is a small storm that may be pushed westward along the Louisiana coast, delaying landfall but worsening storm surge, Cline said.
[vemba-video id=”weather/2014/08/07/hurricane-facts-orig-cfb.cnn”]
The prospect of piggybacked hurricanes was reviving all-too-fresh memories of damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, which struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005. The storm has been blamed for as many as 1,800 deaths and levee breaches in New Orleans led to catastrophic flooding.
“What we know is there’s going to be storm surge from Marco, we know that that water is not going to recede hardly at all before Laura hits, and so we’ve not seen this before and that’s why people need to be paying particular attention,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards warned at a Sunday briefing.
Along the main drag on the barrier island of Grand Isle, south of New Orleans, Starfish Restaurant manager Nicole Fantiny could see an exodus of people driving off the island.
“They are all packing up and leaving,” she said.
Fantiny wasn’t planning to leave, at least for Marco, but she was anxious about the possible one-two punch from both storms. Her husband works with the town’s fire and police departments, so she said they are always among the last ones to leave.
“My house was built in 1938 so I think we’re good,” she said hopefully.
Marco is expected to dance above and below hurricane status after hitting the 75 mph-wind mark Sunday afternoon.
“The central Gulf could be really under the gun between Marco and Laura in back-to-back succession,’ said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. “Certainly both of these storms can impact New Orleans significantly. It just remains to be seen if the track for Laura tracks a bit to the west.”
University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy warned that anyone in New Orleans should be alarmed by the threat. At issue from possible dual hits: whether the levee system can withstand the stress, he said.
In New Orleans, the city’s aging drainage system has been a particular point of concern in recent years after an intense 2017 storm flooded streets and raised questions about the system’s viability.
Because the city is surrounded by levees and parts are below sea level, rainwater must be pumped out to prevent flooding. Any storm system that sits over the city and dumps rain for extended periods of time, or bands of rain that come in rapid succession, is a cause for concern.
New Orleans resident Matthew Meloy and two friends loaded a van with cases of bottled water in the parking lot of a New Orleans Walmart Sunday. He said they still have a lot of storm preparations ahead.
“Check the batteries, flashlights, stocking up on food and trying to park the car on the highest point possible we can find,” he said. “I already spent like 40 minutes this morning filling up the tanks in the cars.”
Tourists were strolling through the New Orleans French Quarter under overcast skies as workers boarded up shop windows. Louisiana corrections officials were evacuating 500 inmates from a jail in Plaquemines Parish, near the coast, to another facility in preparation for the storms.
In Kenner, just outside New Orleans, resident P.J. Hahn said checkout lines in a Sam’s Club reached to the back of the store, while authorities said 114 oil and gas producing platforms in the Gulf have been evacuated as the storms churn toward the Louisiana coast.
Because of strong winds from the southwest, Marco may attain and then lose hurricane status before it hits land, meteorologists said. But those winds could be gone when Laura ventures to the central Gulf, where the usually bathtub-warm water is a degree or 2 (0.5 to 1 degree Celsius) warmer than normal, Klotzbach said.
The warmer the water, the stronger the fuel for a hurricane.
“It, unfortunately, might peak in intensity about landfall. That’s the one thing I worry about with this one,” MIT meteorology professor Kerry Emanuel said of Laura. His multiple computer simulations show a decent chance of winds of more than 110 mph for Laura at landfall, as do other computer models.
The key for Laura’s future is how it survives Cuba. Originally forecast to rake over almost the entire length of the island and potentially weaken, the storm late Sunday moved further south, skirting the island. If that continues, it is more likely to come out strong enough to power up over the favorable environment of the Gulf of Mexico, Klotzbach said.
If that continues, Laura could hit further west in the Gulf, possibly into Texas instead of Louisiana, he said. If it hits Louisiana that would break the record for two named storms hitting the state so close together. The current record is five days apart in 1885, Klotzbach said.
And there’s one long-term possibility that adds to the risk. As Laura moves north after landfall into Oklahoma, there’s a chance it will be caught up into the jet stream, travel east and emerge over North Carolina and return to tropical storm status, McNoldy and Klotzbach said.
By late afternoon Sunday, Laura was 50 miles (80 km) south of Guantanamo, Cuba, with 60 mph (95 kmh) winds moving west-northwest at 21 mph (33 kmh). Marco was 240 miles (390 km) south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, with 75 mph (120 kph) winds, moving north-northwest at 13 mph (20 kmh).
In Empire, Louisiana, about 50 miles south of New Orleans near the mouth of the Mississippi River, shrimp, oyster and fishing boats line the docks. It was eerily quiet Sunday evening, as most fishermen had already secured their boats. Mike Bartholemey was putting extra blocks of wood under his recently dry docked 50-foot shrimp boat “Big Mike,” out of his concern that hurricane winds might topple his boat to the ground.
In Venice, a fishing town on the Mississippi River, shrimper Acy Cooper was up early Sunday to move his three shrimp boats from the harbor into the bayous nearby to ride out the storm. It’s the same area where he moored his boat during Hurricane Katrina.
The boat survived; his house in Venice did not.
Martin reported from Marietta, Georgia. Borenstein reported from Kensington, Maryland. AP reporter Stacey Plaisance in New Orleans; and photojournalist Gerald Herbert in Empire, Louisiana, also contributed.


mercurynews--2020-08-23--It’s a sweep: SF Giants win sixth straight, finish first half with postseason hopes alive

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SAN FRANCISCO — When Major League Baseball announced plans for a condensed 60-game season during the coronavirus pandemic , the San Francisco Giants recognized the potential for chaos .
The Giants are in the midst of a multi-year rebuild and likely wouldn ’ t contend over a full 162-game schedule , but with an expanded playoff field that calls for three more teams to earn postseason berths in each league , president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and first-year manager Gabe Kapler saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A week after falling into an 8-16 hole to open the season , the Giants have ripped off six consecutive wins and earned their first sweep of the season with a 5-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday .
“ I believe in this club , ” Kapler said .
“ I believe in the resilient nature of this club , I believe in the offensive strides we ’ ve made , obviously the starting pitching has been one of the strengths of this club , I believe in our capability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the win streak , the Giants ( 14-16 ) have outscored their opponents 41-13 and haven ’ t entered any ninth inning needing a closer to pitch in a save situation .
It ’ s too soon to start scoreboard watching and too early to obsess over every tiny detail in the standings , but with late home runs from Mike Yastrzemski and Alex Dickerson and another strong performance from the Giants ’ pitching staff , the club is officially out of the National League West cellar and squarely in the conversation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ 16 teams now get in and I mean , in 60 games , anybody has a shot , ” Dickerson said .
“ It doesn ’ t matter where you ’ re at in any division right now , if you can get hot and maintain that for over a month , and we did that last year , we ’ re in the playoffs.
” In the Giants ’ 30th game of the year , Yastrzemski celebrated his 30th birthday on Sunday by launching the go-ahead home run in the bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backs starter Luke Weaver .
An inning later , Dickerson broke the game open with a two-out , three-run blast that barely snuck inside the right field foul pole .
After falling behind 1-2 against Weaver , Yastrzemski worked the count full before golfing a low and away changeup over the center field fence .
Yastrzemski ’ s sixth two-strike home run this season tied him with Wilmer Flores for the team lead with seven total homers and marked his National League-best 20th extra-base hit .
Yastrzemski is now the only player in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scored , 20 RBI , 20 walks and 20 extra-base hits , which helped him finish the first half as one of the most valuable players in all of baseball .
Yastrzemski joined Rick Wilkins ( 1997 ) and Pedro Feliz ( 2005 ) as the third Giants player to homer on their 30th birthday and became the first Giant to hit one out on his birthday since Gorkys Hernández on September 7 , 2016 against the Rockies .
“ Spirits are high , guys are happy , we ’ re playing well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep riding it , ” Yastrzemski said .
A pair of crucial home runs from Giants outfielders came hours after the club announced it had designated Hunter Pence for assignment .
The Giants turned the idea of a reunion with Pence into a reality this spring by signing him to a one-year deal , but no longer had room for a player who was off to a 5-for-52 start at the plate this year .
Kapler said his conversation with Pence informing him of the team ’ s decision was one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the Giants feel they can withstand the loss of a leading clubhouse presence thanks to the team ’ s impressive offense and underrated starting pitching .
Giants starter Trevor Cahill opened the afternoon with five scoreless innings , but was removed in the top of the sixth after walking leadoff hitter Kole Calhoun and striking out Ketel Marte .
A Starling Marte double against reliever Caleb Baragar allowed the D ’ backs to tie the game at 1-1 and ended a streak of 17 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ score a lot of runs and eventually the offense will come through so it makes it easier to pitch , ” Cahill said .
Cahill set a season-high with eight strikeouts and received a lot of help from rookie catcher Joey Bart who did an excellent job framing pitches on Sunday .
Bart also used his glove to aid Cahill in a different way .
With one out in the top of the fifth , the Giants ’ starter induced a high pop-up in foul territory from D ’ backs catcher Stephen Vogt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well off the foul line due to a defensive shift that left three infielders on the right side , Bart looked up and quickly realized he had the best chance to make a play .
Longoria arrived on the scene late , but had already been called off by Bart who made a tumbling catch to rob Vogt of a chance to keep his at-bat alive .
“ I think Joey for his size is especially agile and especially athletic , ” Kapler said .
“ We see that on the throws he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way he moves behind the plate , subtly but also gracefully .
We ’ ve seen it on blocks and I think we saw it on the pop-up.
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SAN FRANCISCO — When Major League Baseball announced plans for a condensed 60-game season during the coronavirus pandemic, the San Francisco Giants recognized the potential for chaos.
The Giants are in the midst of a multi-year rebuild and likely wouldn’t contend over a full 162-game schedule, but with an expanded playoff field that calls for three more teams to earn postseason berths in each league, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and first-year manager Gabe Kapler saw an opportunity to sneak up on teams.
A week after falling into an 8-16 hole to open the season, the Giants have ripped off six consecutive wins and earned their first sweep of the season with a 6-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.
“I believe in this club,” Kapler said. “I believe in the resilient nature of this club, I believe in the offensive strides we’ve made, obviously the starting pitching has been one of the strengths of this club, I believe in our capability from every angle right now.”
During the win streak, the Giants (14-16) have outscored their opponents 42-13 and haven’t entered any ninth inning needing a closer to pitch in a save situation.
It’s too soon to start scoreboard watching and too early to obsess over every tiny detail in the standings, but with late home runs from Mike Yastrzemski and Alex Dickerson and another strong performance from the Giants’ pitching staff, the club is officially out of the National League West cellar and squarely in the conversation for one of the final playoff spots.
“16 teams now get in and I mean, in 60 games, anybody has a shot,” Dickerson said. “It doesn’t matter where you’re at in any division right now, if you can get hot and maintain that for over a month, and we did that last year, we’re in the playoffs.”
In the Giants’ 30th game of the year, Yastrzemski celebrated his 30th birthday on Sunday by launching the go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth inning against D’backs starter Luke Weaver. An inning later, Dickerson broke the game open with a two-out, three-run blast that barely snuck inside the right field foul pole.
After falling behind 1-2 against Weaver, Yastrzemski worked the count full before golfing a low and away changeup over the center field fence. Yastrzemski’s sixth two-strike home run this season tied him with Wilmer Flores for the team lead with seven total homers and marked his National League-best 20th extra-base hit.
Yastrzemski is now the only player in the majors this season with 20 runs scored, 20 RBI, 20 walks and 20 extra-base hits, which helped him finish the first half as one of the most valuable players in all of baseball.
Yastrzemski joined Rick Wilkins (1997) and Pedro Feliz (2005) as the third Giants player to homer on their 30th birthday and became the first Giant to hit one out on his birthday since Gorkys Hernández on September 7, 2016 against the Rockies.
“Spirits are high, guys are happy, we’re playing well and we’re just going to keep riding it,” Yastrzemski said.
A pair of crucial home runs from Giants outfielders came hours after the club announced it had designated Hunter Pence for assignment. The Giants turned the idea of a reunion with Pence into a reality this spring by signing him to a one-year deal, but no longer had room for a player who was off to a 5-for-52 start at the plate this year.
Kapler said his conversation with Pence informing him of the team’s decision was one of the most difficult he’s had, but the Giants feel they can withstand the loss of a leading clubhouse presence thanks to the team’s impressive offense and underrated starting pitching.
Giants starter Trevor Cahill opened the afternoon with five scoreless innings, but was removed in the top of the sixth after walking leadoff hitter Kole Calhoun and striking out Ketel Marte. A Starling Marte double against reliever Caleb Baragar allowed the D’backs to tie the game at 1-1 and ended a streak of 17 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run for Giants starters.
“We know we score a lot of runs and eventually the offense will come through so it makes it easier to pitch,” Cahill said.
Cahill set a season-high with eight strikeouts and received a lot of help from rookie catcher Joey Bart who did an excellent job framing pitches on Sunday. Bart also used his glove to aid Cahill in a different way.
With one out in the top of the fifth, the Giants’ starter induced a high pop-up in foul territory from D’backs catcher Stephen Vogt. With third baseman Evan Longoria pulled well off the foul line due to a defensive shift that left three infielders on the right side, Bart looked up and quickly realized he had the best chance to make a play.
Longoria arrived on the scene late, but had already been called off by Bart who made a tumbling catch to rob Vogt of a chance to keep his at-bat alive.
“I think Joey for his size is especially agile and especially athletic,” Kapler said. “We see that on the throws he makes, we see it in the way he moves behind the plate, subtly but also gracefully. We’ve seen it on blocks and I think we saw it on the pop-up.”
We Need Your Support!
Several Giants articles will remain free every 30 days – and I’ve launched a free newsletter and podcast that come Monday-Friday – but for access to all of my coverage you’ll need to subscribe to MercuryNews.com or EastBayTimes.com. Click here for our latest Mercury News offer and here for the latest East Bay Times offer. Thank you! — Kerry Crowley


mercurynews--2020-08-23--UK leader urges parents to let kids to return to school

LONDON — Britain ’ s prime minister is asking parents to set aside their fears and send their children back to school next month when schools in Britain fully reopen for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic shut then down more than five months ago .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was the government ’ s “ moral duty ” to reopen the schools as he stressed that authorities now know more about COVID-19 than they did when the country went into lockdown on March 23 .
Johnson ’ s comments came hours after Britain ’ s top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that children were more likely to be harmed by staying away from school than from being exposed to COVID-19 .
“ This is why it ’ s vitally important that we get our children back into the classroom to learn and to be with their friends , ’ Johnson said in a statement released late Sunday .
“ Nothing will have a greater effect on the life chances of our children than returning to school.
” The statements come as parents and teachers have express concerns about reopening schools amid fears that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children safe .
Unions have demanded that Johnson ’ s Conservative government make sure that social distancing measures and other protective procedures are in place to ensure the safety of students and staff .
Schools across the U.K. closed in March as the government sought to control the spread of coronavirus .
Some students were allowed to return in early June , but classes weren ’ t mandatory and only about 18 % of students nationwide took part .
The chief medical officers of England , Scotland , Northern Ireland and Wales said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to catch COVID-19 than adults and they have “ an exceptionally low risk ” of dying from the disease .
By contrast , they said studies show that not going to school limits children ’ s ability to succeed in life and may worsen physical and mental health problems .
“ Very few , if any , children or teenagers will come to long-term harm from COVID-19 due solely to attending school , ” the medical officers said .
“ This has to be set against a certainty of long-term harm to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attending school.
” Britain has the highest confirmed virus-related death toll in Europe , at 41,515 people , and Johnson ’ s government has been strongly criticized for not locking down sooner , not getting medical workers enough protective equipment and not properly protecting the elderly in care homes from the virus .
• The Latest : Iowa sees first death of child linked to virus Thousands of British travelers had to cut short vacations and rush home earlier this month after the government abruptly announced it was slapping 14-day quarantines on people @ @ @ @

By Danica Kirka | Associated Press
LONDON — Britain’s prime minister is asking parents to set aside their fears and send their children back to school next month when schools in Britain fully reopen for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic shut then down more than five months ago.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was the government’s “moral duty” to reopen the schools as he stressed that authorities now know more about COVID-19 than they did when the country went into lockdown on March 23.
Johnson’s comments came hours after Britain’s top public health officials issued a joint statement saying that children were more likely to be harmed by staying away from school than from being exposed to COVID-19.
“This is why it’s vitally important that we get our children back into the classroom to learn and to be with their friends,’ Johnson said in a statement released late Sunday. “Nothing will have a greater effect on the life chances of our children than returning to school.”
The statements come as parents and teachers have express concerns about reopening schools amid fears that social distancing measures won’t keep children safe. Unions have demanded that Johnson’s Conservative government make sure that social distancing measures and other protective procedures are in place to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Schools across the U.K. closed in March as the government sought to control the spread of coronavirus. Some students were allowed to return in early June, but classes weren’t mandatory and only about 18% of students nationwide took part.
The chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales said in their statement that children are less likely to catch COVID-19 than adults and they have “an exceptionally low risk” of dying from the disease.
By contrast, they said studies show that not going to school limits children’s ability to succeed in life and may worsen physical and mental health problems.
“Very few, if any, children or teenagers will come to long-term harm from COVID-19 due solely to attending school,” the medical officers said. “This has to be set against a certainty of long-term harm to many children and young people from not attending school.”
Britain has the highest confirmed virus-related death toll in Europe, at 41,515 people, and Johnson’s government has been strongly criticized for not locking down sooner, not getting medical workers enough protective equipment and not properly protecting the elderly in care homes from the virus.
Thousands of British travelers had to cut short vacations and rush home earlier this month after the government abruptly announced it was slapping 14-day quarantines on people returning from France.


mercurynews--2020-08-24--SF Giants Gameday podcast: Is it time to rethink what the 2020 Giants are capable of?

SAN FRANCISCO — A week ago , the San Francisco Giants were in utter disarray .
The club had lost five straight games , fallen to 8-16 on the season and had fans thinking about 2021 draft position instead of the rest of the 2020 season .
The heartbreaking nature of the Giants ’ losses led to widespread frustration , but the ninth-inning collapses also obscured the improvements the club was making .
The rotation was stabilizing , the defense was making strides and the offense had given the team late leads to play with .
At the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won six consecutive games and have forced fans to recalibrate what the 2020 club is capable of .
With an expanded postseason field that now allows for eight teams from each league to make the postseason instead of five , the Giants are starting to think one of the last playoff spots is a realistic target .
On the shoulders of NL MVP candidate Mike Yastrzemski and a pitching staff that ’ s limited opponents to just over two runs per game over the last week , the Giants see themselves as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roll into town Tuesday for a three-game set at Oracle Park , but after a series against the top team in the National League , the Giants ’ schedule gets softer .
Over the final four weeks of the season , the Giants will play four games against the Seattle Mariners and six against a fading Colorado Rockies team that has lost nine of 10 .
The Padres and A ’ s present significant challenges , but the Giants have already shown they can handle the Diamondbacks and have demonstrated their plan of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s inexperienced pitching staff .
It ’ s too soon to know if the Giants ’ hot streak is a legitimate sign of what ’ s to come , but it ’ s clear the team wasn ’ t as bad as its record suggested a week ago .
In a condensed 60-game season , all we can expect is chaos .
For the Giants , that ’ s probably a good thing .
SF Giants Gameday : Listen to the Bay Area News Group ’ s daily San Francisco Giants podcast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crowley .
We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager Gabe Kapler and your favorite Giants players plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season .
We Need Your Support !
Several Giants articles will remain free every 30 days – and I ’ ve launched a free newsletter and podcast that come Monday-Friday – but for access to all of my coverage you ’ ll need to subscribe to MercuryNews.com or EastBayTimes.com .
Click here for our latest Mercury News offer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer .
Thank you !
— Kerry Crowley

SAN FRANCISCO — A week ago, the San Francisco Giants were in utter disarray.
The club had lost five straight games, fallen to 8-16 on the season and had fans thinking about 2021 draft position instead of the rest of the 2020 season.
The heartbreaking nature of the Giants’ losses led to widespread frustration, but the ninth-inning collapses also obscured the improvements the club was making. The rotation was stabilizing, the defense was making strides and the offense had given the team late leads to play with.
At the end of the first half, the Giants have won six consecutive games and have forced fans to recalibrate what the 2020 club is capable of. With an expanded postseason field that now allows for eight teams from each league to make the postseason instead of five, the Giants are starting to think one of the last playoff spots is a realistic target.
On the shoulders of NL MVP candidate Mike Yastrzemski and a pitching staff that’s limited opponents to just over two runs per game over the last week, the Giants see themselves as a threat.
The red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers roll into town Tuesday for a three-game set at Oracle Park, but after a series against the top team in the National League, the Giants’ schedule gets softer.
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It’s too soon to know if the Giants’ hot streak is a legitimate sign of what’s to come, but it’s clear the team wasn’t as bad as its record suggested a week ago.
In a condensed 60-game season, all we can expect is chaos. For the Giants, that’s probably a good thing.
SF Giants Gameday: Listen to the Bay Area News Group’s daily San Francisco Giants podcast, hosted by our beat reporter Kerry Crowley. We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager Gabe Kapler and your favorite Giants players plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season.
We Need Your Support!
Several Giants articles will remain free every 30 days – and I’ve launched a free newsletter and podcast that come Monday-Friday – but for access to all of my coverage you’ll need to subscribe to MercuryNews.com or EastBayTimes.com. Click here for our latest Mercury News offer and here for the latest East Bay Times offer. Thank you! — Kerry Crowley


mercurynews--2020-08-24--Human remains of missing person found in Santa Cruz Mountains

SCOTTS VALLEY — A person reported missing earlier this week as the CZU August Lightning Complex fire raged through the @ @ @ @ @ deceased in a remote location .
Santa Cruz County Sheriff ’ s Chief Deputy Chris @ @ @ @ @ a helicopter to get to the location at the end of Last Chance Road to @ @ @ @ @ 70-year-old man back to Santa Cruz County .
Identification details were not released immediately Sunday @ @ @ @ @ .
Clark said there are now four missing person cases .

SCOTTS VALLEY — A person reported missing earlier this week as the CZU August Lightning Complex fire raged through the Santa Cruz Mountains was found deceased in a remote location.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Chris Clark explained that it took a helicopter to get to the location at the end of Last Chance Road to bring the remains of a 70-year-old man back to Santa Cruz County.
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Clark said there are now four missing person cases.


mercurynews--2020-08-24--Amid coronavirus pandemic, California health professionals brace for flu season

Bracing for a collision between the novel coronavirus and influenza , health care professionals across California are beginning to stockpile flu vaccines and preparing to launch public outreach campaigns encouraging everyone — children , adults and the elderly — to get their shots this fall .
The upcoming flu season threatens to tax hospitals just beginning to thin the ranks of COVID-19 patients after coping with an early-summer surge .
The Centers for Disease Control says it ’ s likely influenza viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be spreading during flu season .
According to the CDC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the overall effects of respiratory illnesses on the population and lessen the resulting burden on the health care system .
Each year , millions of people across the U.S. are afflicted with influenza .
From October 2019 through April 4 , 2020 , the CDC estimated that 39 million to 56 million Americans contracted the flu and 24,000 to 62,000 people died from the virus .
Additionally , 18 million to 26 million people sought medical treatment for the flu , and 410,000 to 740,000 Americans were hospitalized with it , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year To maximize influenza vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic , the CDC will increase the availability of the vaccine , including purchasing an additional 2 million doses of pediatric flu vaccine and 9.3 million doses of adult flu vaccine .
Vaccine manufacturers have projected that they will supply 194 million to 198 million doses of influenza vaccine for the 2020-21 season , a 9.7 % to 11.6 % increase compared to the record 175 million doses distributed for the 2019-20 flu season , according to the CDC .
The CDC recommends all people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yearly flu vaccine .
“ If you ’ re 6 months of age and you ’ re breathing , you need a flu shot , with very few exceptions , ” said Dr. Robert N. Glazer , medical director of the Torrance Memorial Physician Network .
Torrance Memorial Medical Center and its affiliated outpatient offices already have begun receiving shipments of influenza vaccine , Glazer said .
“ We put in our request early .
We don ’ t anticipate running out , ” Glazer said .
“ I think we ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The infrastructure to handle an influx of both COVID-19 and influenza patients is already in place at Torrance Memorial , and the hospital plans to launch its public outreach campaign encouraging everyone to get the flu shot in early September , Glazer said .
“ We have various methods of getting the word out .
All our patients are either connected via email or patient portals , so we ’ ll be communicating that way , ” Glazer said .
“ Senior citizens will be getting direct calls from our office centers inviting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rodney Borger , emergency room director at the second busiest emergency department in the state at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton , said influenza vaccinations , coupled with COVID-19 best practices already in place since March — hand washing , mask wearing , social distancing and sheltering in place — might be helpful in minimizing ER visits and freeing up hospital beds during the flu season .
“ I don ’ t think anybody is sure what ’ s to come , but we need to prepare for whatever ’ s coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best , and the best is that we have a very mild flu year .
We certainly need a break .
But if it goes the opposite direction , we ’ re going to continue to do our best and work nonstop to help get through it.
” He said the hospital , which is operated by San Bernardino County , is preparing for a 30-40 % increase in Emergency Department patients during the flu season and a 20 % increase in hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is set up in the hospital ’ s north parking lot to accommodate any influx .
“ When hospitals are full , that can make things very difficult , ” Borger said .
Dr. Jennifer E. Gerber , a Baltimore-based epidemiologist with RTI International , a nonprofit research institute , believes influenza vaccines are the best tool to ensure hospitals have the capacity to treat patients with the coronavirus .
Gerber has been speaking out publicly on how policymakers need to increase access to influenza vaccines and fund communications and education campaigns to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s important that everybody get the influenza vaccine to protect themselves , their families and those in their communities , ” Gerber said .
“ Getting vaccinated against influenza is one way to try to keep people out of our hospitals , so we can save hospital beds and other resources for people with COVID-19.
” Dual epidemics of influenza and COVID-19 likely will occur this fall and winter , so people need to brace for it , Gerber said , adding that the best time to get an influenza shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I will be doing the same and getting my influenza shot as well .
Sometimes it hurts a little , but it ’ s worth it to be protected against influenza , because it ’ s a very serious disease , ” Gerber said .
St. Joseph Hospital in Orange , which has the highest number of COVID-19 patients in Orange County , is awaiting shipment of 2,750 doses of the flu vaccine .
In a typical flu season , the hospital disperses about 1,850 doses , said Dr. Glenn Raup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency services and behavioral health services at St. Joseph .
During a typical flu season , Raup said , the hospital promotes flu shots by posting signs around the hospital and campus and by partnering with its affiliates across Southern California to host public education campaigns .
“ This year we expect to build upon this by adding how prevention of flu through vaccinations is complemented through the use of social distancing , hand hygiene , and masking and that anytime someone feels ill , they need to stay home or seek treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mesisca , medical director for the Emergency Medicine Department and Disaster Medicine Team at Riverside University Health System , said RUHS is actively working with its affiliated partners throughout Riverside County to promote vaccines and access options , including drive-thru sites and readily accessible walk-in clinics .
He said RUHS already has received half of its pre-ordered supply of 12,000 doses , secured multiple suppliers of influenza vaccine , and has the ability to order more once flu season is underway .
Dr. James Kim , medical director of the department of emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said on Wednesday that 10,000 units of influenza vaccine were in transit to the hospital , with 3,000 of those units expected to go to low-income people or those from disadvantaged communities .
Kim said Pomona Valley ’ s ER sees a 15-17 % percent increase in patient volume during a typical flu season .
“ I ’ d say a fair number of those are patients who are presenting symptoms of influenza illnesses , ” he said .
While Mesisca believes that hand washing , wearing masks and social distancing also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit the number of hospital visits this flu season , he said that is contingent upon people strictly engaging in those best practices .
Additionally , businesses , faith-based groups , and schools need to strictly adhere to masking and social distancing safety guidelines when they reopen .
“ Supporting a shift in culture to embrace these measures is key to not only reopening but to staying open and minimizing the impact of local outbreaks that prompt reclosures , ” Mesisca said .

Bracing for a collision between the novel coronavirus and influenza, health care professionals across California are beginning to stockpile flu vaccines and preparing to launch public outreach campaigns encouraging everyone — children, adults and the elderly — to get their shots this fall.
The upcoming flu season threatens to tax hospitals just beginning to thin the ranks of COVID-19 patients after coping with an early-summer surge.
The Centers for Disease Control says it’s likely influenza viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be spreading during flu season. According to the CDC, an influenza vaccination can help reduce the overall effects of respiratory illnesses on the population and lessen the resulting burden on the health care system.
Each year, millions of people across the U.S. are afflicted with influenza. From October 2019 through April 4, 2020, the CDC estimated that 39 million to 56 million Americans contracted the flu and 24,000 to 62,000 people died from the virus.
Additionally, 18 million to 26 million people sought medical treatment for the flu, and 410,000 to 740,000 Americans were hospitalized with it, according to the CDC.
More vaccines available this year
To maximize influenza vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC will increase the availability of the vaccine, including purchasing an additional 2 million doses of pediatric flu vaccine and 9.3 million doses of adult flu vaccine.
Vaccine manufacturers have projected that they will supply 194 million to 198 million doses of influenza vaccine for the 2020-21 season, a 9.7% to 11.6% increase compared to the record 175 million doses distributed for the 2019-20 flu season, according to the CDC.
The CDC recommends all people 6 months old and older get a yearly flu vaccine.
“If you’re 6 months of age and you’re breathing, you need a flu shot, with very few exceptions,” said Dr. Robert N. Glazer, medical director of the Torrance Memorial Physician Network.
Torrance Memorial Medical Center and its affiliated outpatient offices already have begun receiving shipments of influenza vaccine, Glazer said.
“We put in our request early. We don’t anticipate running out,” Glazer said. “I think we’ll be able to accommodate every person.”
The infrastructure to handle an influx of both COVID-19 and influenza patients is already in place at Torrance Memorial, and the hospital plans to launch its public outreach campaign encouraging everyone to get the flu shot in early September, Glazer said.
“We have various methods of getting the word out. All our patients are either connected via email or patient portals, so we’ll be communicating that way,” Glazer said. “Senior citizens will be getting direct calls from our office centers inviting them for in-person flu vaccines.”
‘Prepare for the worst’
Dr. Rodney Borger, emergency room director at the second busiest emergency department in the state at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, said influenza vaccinations, coupled with COVID-19 best practices already in place since March — hand washing, mask wearing, social distancing and sheltering in place — might be helpful in minimizing ER visits and freeing up hospital beds during the flu season.
But he remains wary.
“I don’t think anybody is sure what’s to come, but we need to prepare for whatever’s coming,” Borger said. “We need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best, and the best is that we have a very mild flu year. We certainly need a break. But if it goes the opposite direction, we’re going to continue to do our best and work nonstop to help get through it.”
He said the hospital, which is operated by San Bernardino County, is preparing for a 30-40% increase in Emergency Department patients during the flu season and a 20% increase in hospital admissions. A 32-bed alternate care site is set up in the hospital’s north parking lot to accommodate any influx.
“When hospitals are full, that can make things very difficult,” Borger said.
Flu shots key to hospital capacities
Dr. Jennifer E. Gerber, a Baltimore-based epidemiologist with RTI International, a nonprofit research institute, believes influenza vaccines are the best tool to ensure hospitals have the capacity to treat patients with the coronavirus.
Gerber has been speaking out publicly on how policymakers need to increase access to influenza vaccines and fund communications and education campaigns to create demand for the vaccination.
“It’s important that everybody get the influenza vaccine to protect themselves, their families and those in their communities,” Gerber said. “Getting vaccinated against influenza is one way to try to keep people out of our hospitals, so we can save hospital beds and other resources for people with COVID-19.”
Dual epidemics of influenza and COVID-19 likely will occur this fall and winter, so people need to brace for it, Gerber said, adding that the best time to get an influenza shot is in late September or early October.
“I will be doing the same and getting my influenza shot as well. Sometimes it hurts a little, but it’s worth it to be protected against influenza, because it’s a very serious disease,” Gerber said.
St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, which has the highest number of COVID-19 patients in Orange County, is awaiting shipment of 2,750 doses of the flu vaccine. In a typical flu season, the hospital disperses about 1,850 doses, said Dr. Glenn Raup, executive director of critical care, emergency services and behavioral health services at St. Joseph.
During a typical flu season, Raup said, the hospital promotes flu shots by posting signs around the hospital and campus and by partnering with its affiliates across Southern California to host public education campaigns.
“This year we expect to build upon this by adding how prevention of flu through vaccinations is complemented through the use of social distancing, hand hygiene, and masking and that anytime someone feels ill, they need to stay home or seek treatment,” Raup said.
Drive-thru sites, walk-in clinics
Dr. Michael Mesisca, medical director for the Emergency Medicine Department and Disaster Medicine Team at Riverside University Health System, said RUHS is actively working with its affiliated partners throughout Riverside County to promote vaccines and access options, including drive-thru sites and readily accessible walk-in clinics.
He said RUHS already has received half of its pre-ordered supply of 12,000 doses, secured multiple suppliers of influenza vaccine, and has the ability to order more once flu season is underway.
Dr. James Kim, medical director of the department of emergency medicine at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, said on Wednesday that 10,000 units of influenza vaccine were in transit to the hospital, with 3,000 of those units expected to go to low-income people or those from disadvantaged communities.
Kim said Pomona Valley’s ER sees a 15-17% percent increase in patient volume during a typical flu season. “I’d say a fair number of those are patients who are presenting symptoms of influenza illnesses,” he said.
While Mesisca believes that hand washing, wearing masks and social distancing also can help fight off influenza and possibly limit the number of hospital visits this flu season, he said that is contingent upon people strictly engaging in those best practices.
Additionally, businesses, faith-based groups, and schools need to strictly adhere to masking and social distancing safety guidelines when they reopen.
“Supporting a shift in culture to embrace these measures is key to not only reopening but to staying open and minimizing the impact of local outbreaks that prompt reclosures,” Mesisca said.


mercurynews--2020-08-24--Coronavirus map: California hospitalizations down 35% since June; 10,268 new cases and 160 new death

Coronavirus map: California hospitalizations down 35% since June; 10,268 new cases and 160 new deaths reported as of Aug. 23

COVID-related hospitalizations in California continued on the decline as of Sunday .
The state reported 203 fewer patients , 5,665 @ @ @ @ @ its high of 8,820 July 21 , according to counts from county websites .
California @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus , on Sunday , Aug. 23 , bringing the cumulative total since tracking @ @ @ @ @ were also 160 new deaths reported , making for a total of 12,150 people who @ @ @ @ @ unofficial counts from county websites .
As of Aug. 19 , the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ is as follows : The state ’ s breakdown of deaths by age group is @ @ @ @ @ the complete pdf archive of the coronavirus daily tracker page , send us your subscription @ @ @ @ @ also receive the daily newsletter .
You can also follow the daily tracker on Facebook

COVID-related hospitalizations in California continued on the decline as of Sunday. The state reported 203 fewer patients, 5,665, down 35% from its high of 8,820 July 21, according to counts from county websites.
California reported 10,268 new cases of the coronavirus, on Sunday, Aug. 23, bringing the cumulative total since tracking began to 667,470.
There were also 160 new deaths reported, making for a total of 12,150 people who have died, according to unofficial counts from county websites.
As of Aug. 19, the state’s breakdown of cases by age is as follows:
5 and younger: 2.1% (14,059)
5-17: 7.9% (52,145)
18-34: 35.2% (233,463)
35-49: 25% (165,597)
50-59: 13.9% (92,513)
60-64: 5.1% (33,528)
65-69: 3.5% (22,966)
70-74: 2.4% (15,878)
75-79: 1.7% (11,006)
80 and older: 3.3% (21,606)
The state’s breakdown of deaths by age group is as follows:
5 and younger: 0% (0) 5-17: 0% (2) 18-34: 1.5% (178) 35-49: 5.8% (688) 50-59: 10.3% (1,226) 60-64: 8.2% (978) 65-69: 10% (1,198)
70-74: 11.4% (1,363)
75-79: 11.4% (1,362)
80 and older: 41.1% (4,947)
Download today’s STATE-TRACKER-0824
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mercurynews--2020-08-24--Video: Dolphins soaring 10 feet out of water off California coast caught on camera

Dolphins are known for frolicking off the Southern California coast , sometimes even playfully catching waves or darting across the ocean at full speed .
But seeing one of the massive mammals propel its body 10 feet into the sky ?
The acrobatic skills of a playful bottlenose dolphin was caught on camera on Aug. 19 , a video taken by the crew at Newport Coastal Adventure during one of their excursions .
“ These dolphin are extremely intelligent , and often will swim next to our boat and play in the wake ( waves we create when moving through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recap of the trip sent out by the Newport Beach charter company .
“ This particular bottlenose dolphin decided he wanted some high-flying action , leaping 10 feet into the air multiple times to the delight of everyone onboard.
” • One thing the coronavirus didn ’ t bring to the Bay Area — more rats • Should Walnut Creek neighborhood welcome bats or get rid of them ?
• Wild turkey that shut down an Oakland park remains on the loose Dolphins are larger than an average-sized person , can weigh about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in length .
“ To imagine that these guys are able to hurl their bodies out of the water with such effortlessness is incredible , but actually seeing it with your own eyes is something these passengers will never forget , ” the Newport Coastal Adventure recap reads .

Dolphins are known for frolicking off the Southern California coast, sometimes even playfully catching waves or darting across the ocean at full speed.
But seeing one of the massive mammals propel its body 10 feet into the sky?
The acrobatic skills of a playful bottlenose dolphin was caught on camera on Aug. 19, a video taken by the crew at Newport Coastal Adventure during one of their excursions.
“These dolphin are extremely intelligent, and often will swim next to our boat and play in the wake (waves we create when moving through the water),” reads a recap of the trip sent out by the Newport Beach charter company. “This particular bottlenose dolphin decided he wanted some high-flying action, leaping 10 feet into the air multiple times to the delight of everyone onboard.”
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“To imagine that these guys are able to hurl their bodies out of the water with such effortlessness is incredible, but actually seeing it with your own eyes is something these passengers will never forget,” the Newport Coastal Adventure recap reads.


mercurynews--2020-08-24--Horoscopes Aug. 24, 2020: Dave Chappelle, put the past behind you

Happy Birthday : Put the past behind you , and prepare to initiate a change .
Opportunity is within reach and will be your ticket to a better future .
Channel your energy into the relationships and pastimes that will bring you the happiness and peace of mind you deserve .
Make romance a priority , and share your intentions with someone you love .
Your numbers are 8 , 14 , 22 , 26 , 32 , 38 , 43 .
ARIES ( March 21-April 19 ) : Avoid taking on too high a financial burden or giving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can not .
Take a moment to rethink your strategy and the best way to keep the peace with someone who has a different opinion .
3 stars TAURUS ( April 20-May 20 ) : Don ’ t let someone ’ s flirting or poor judgment lead to a wrong decision .
The more hands-on you are when making decisions , the easier it will be to control the outcome .
Reassess a partnership that is not living up to its expectations .
3 stars GEMINI ( May 21-June 20 ) : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interfere with your work responsibilities .
Recognize when someone is taking advantage of you .
Your most significant effort and contribution will lead to advancement and a better future .
Focus on getting ahead , not pleasing someone who doesn ’ t deserve you .
3 stars CANCER ( June 21-July 22 ) : A hobby or self-improvement project will push you to pursue a unique and exciting path .
Reconnect with old friends , and plan a virtual reunion .
Bridge the gap between your past and the present .
A forgive-and-forget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( July 23-Aug. 22 ) : Finish what you start , and honor promises you make .
A lifestyle change will improve a relationship you have with someone special .
If you have doubts , say what ’ s on your mind and find out where you stand .
2 stars VIRGO ( Aug. 23-Sept. 22 ) : A virtual journey will lead you in a new direction .
A chance to use your skills differently will encourage partnerships that can change the way you work or do things in the future .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen in a long time .
4 stars LIBRA ( Sept. 23-Oct. 22 ) : Don ’ t overspend or let anyone take advantage of you financially .
Unfinished business will leave you in an awkward position .
Don ’ t let ulterior motives lead to a problem with someone you need to work alongside .
Damage control will be necessary .
3 stars SCORPIO ( Oct. 23-Nov. 21 ) : Use reason when dealing with people offering ultimatums , and you will find a way to get them to see things your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen quickly .
Go with the flow , and the result will be better than anticipated .
3 stars SAGITTARIUS ( Nov. 22-Dec. 21 ) : Helping someone who has assisted you in the past will make you feel good .
A sales pitch may entice you , but before you decide to dole out cash , consider if your budget can handle the pressure .
Stick to what you can afford .
3 stars CAPRICORN ( Dec. 22-Jan. 19 ) : Listen , but don ’ t buy into someone ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotional well-being .
The ideas you come up with will far exceed what someone is prompting you to do .
Don ’ t hesitate to do your own thing .
4 stars AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18 ) : Being observant will keep you out of trouble and allow you to make a wise decision .
Distance yourself from a situation that is causing confusion or making you feel bad .
Protect your heart and your possessions .
2 stars PISCES ( Feb. 19-March 20 ) : You can repair a partnership that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to accept half the blame .
An exciting new interpretation on something you ’ ve always wanted to do will encourage you to take a chance .
Love and romance are favored .
4 stars Birthday Baby : You are practical , reliable and helpful .
You are independent and insightful .

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Rupert Grint, 32; John Green, 43; Dave Chappelle, 47; Cal Ripken Jr., 60.
Happy Birthday: Put the past behind you, and prepare to initiate a change. Opportunity is within reach and will be your ticket to a better future. Channel your energy into the relationships and pastimes that will bring you the happiness and peace of mind you deserve. Make romance a priority, and share your intentions with someone you love. Your numbers are 8, 14, 22, 26, 32, 38, 43.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Avoid taking on too high a financial burden or giving the impression you are capable of doing something you cannot. Take a moment to rethink your strategy and the best way to keep the peace with someone who has a different opinion. 3 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t let someone’s flirting or poor judgment lead to a wrong decision. The more hands-on you are when making decisions, the easier it will be to control the outcome. Reassess a partnership that is not living up to its expectations. 3 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t let your personal life interfere with your work responsibilities. Recognize when someone is taking advantage of you. Your most significant effort and contribution will lead to advancement and a better future. Focus on getting ahead, not pleasing someone who doesn’t deserve you. 3 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22): A hobby or self-improvement project will push you to pursue a unique and exciting path. Reconnect with old friends, and plan a virtual reunion. Bridge the gap between your past and the present. A forgive-and-forget attitude is favored. 5 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Finish what you start, and honor promises you make. A lifestyle change will improve a relationship you have with someone special. If you have doubts, say what’s on your mind and find out where you stand. 2 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A virtual journey will lead you in a new direction. A chance to use your skills differently will encourage partnerships that can change the way you work or do things in the future. Reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in a long time. 4 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t overspend or let anyone take advantage of you financially. Unfinished business will leave you in an awkward position. Don’t let ulterior motives lead to a problem with someone you need to work alongside. Damage control will be necessary. 3 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Use reason when dealing with people offering ultimatums, and you will find a way to get them to see things your way. A change is likely to happen quickly. Go with the flow, and the result will be better than anticipated. 3 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Helping someone who has assisted you in the past will make you feel good. A sales pitch may entice you, but before you decide to dole out cash, consider if your budget can handle the pressure. Stick to what you can afford. 3 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Listen, but don’t buy into someone’s plan. Concentrate on personal health and emotional well-being. The ideas you come up with will far exceed what someone is prompting you to do. Don’t hesitate to do your own thing. 4 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Being observant will keep you out of trouble and allow you to make a wise decision. Distance yourself from a situation that is causing confusion or making you feel bad. Protect your heart and your possessions. 2 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You can repair a partnership that experienced troubled times if you are willing to accept half the blame. An exciting new interpretation on something you’ve always wanted to do will encourage you to take a chance. Love and romance are favored. 4 stars
Birthday Baby: You are practical, reliable and helpful. You are independent and insightful.
Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.


Bridge: Aug. 24, 2020

The afternoon penny game had ended , and Rose showed me today ’ s deal .
She had been East .
“ When North-South bid four spades , ” she said , “ I wondered whether I should sacrifice at five hearts .
We would be down only one.
” “ If the hearts lay a bit differently , ” I observed , “ your ‘ sacrifice ’ could turn into a make .
But who was South ?
” “ Then sacrificing is less attractive , ” I said .
“ Louie may find a way to go down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second diamond , ” Rose said , “ drew trumps , attacked the clubs and lost three clubs .
Down one.
” After Louie ruffs the second diamond ( not best defense ) , he can lead a trump to dummy , ruff the last diamond , return a trump to dummy and lead a heart to his ten .
( For East to play the king won ’ t help the defense . )
When West wins , he is end-played .
Whether he leads a diamond — conceding a ruff-sluff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club , Louie gets his 10th trick .
You hold : S A Q 10 9 5 H A J 10 D 7 C K 9 8 5 .
You open one spade , and your partner raises to two spades .
The opponents pass .
What do you say ?
ANSWER : Game is possible , especially if partner has help for your second suit .
You will be a favorite at four spades if he has K 8 4 3 , 7 6 5 , J 6 5 3 , A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ K 8 4 3 , 8 7 6 5 , K J 6 , 6 4 , you need to stay low .
If you judge to try for game , bid three clubs , asking him to pay attention to his club holding .

The afternoon penny game had ended, and Rose showed me today’s deal. She had been East.
“When North-South bid four spades,” she said, “I wondered whether I should sacrifice at five hearts. We would be down only one.”
“If the hearts lay a bit differently,” I observed, “your ‘sacrifice’ could turn into a make. But who was South?”
“Unlucky Louie,” Rose replied.
“Then sacrificing is less attractive,” I said. “Louie may find a way to go down at four spades.”
“He ruffed the second diamond,” Rose said, “drew trumps, attacked the clubs and lost three clubs. Down one.”
END PLAY
After Louie ruffs the second diamond (not best defense), he can lead a trump to dummy, ruff the last diamond, return a trump to dummy and lead a heart to his ten. (For East to play the king won’t help the defense.) When West wins, he is end-played. Whether he leads a diamond — conceding a ruff-sluff — or returns a heart or a club, Louie gets his 10th trick.
Avoid taking sacrifices against a weak declarer.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A Q 10 9 5 H A J 10 D 7 C K 9 8 5. You open one spade, and your partner raises to two spades. The opponents pass. What do you say?
ANSWER: Game is possible, especially if partner has help for your second suit. You will be a favorite at four spades if he has K 8 4 3, 7 6 5, J 6 5 3, A 2. But if his hand is K 8 4 3, 8 7 6 5, K J 6, 6 4, you need to stay low. If you judge to try for game, bid three clubs, asking him to pay attention to his club holding.
West dealer
Both sides vulnerable
NORTH
S K J 8 7 4 3
H 6
D J 10 6
C 7 4 2
WEST
S 2
H Q 8 5 4 2
D A K 8 5
C A 10 3
EAST
S 6
H K 9 7 3
D Q 9 4 3 2
C Q J 6
SOUTH
S A Q 10 9 5
H A J 10
D 7
C K 9 8 5
West North East South
1 H Pass 2 H 2 S
3 H 4 S All Pass
Opening lead — D K
(C)2020 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.


Word Game: Aug. 24, 2020

Can you find 17 or more words in PERUSE ?
The list will be published tomorrow .
SATURDAY ’ S WORD — EBULLIENT elite elute etui been beet belie bell belle belt bent betel bile bill billet bine bite blent blue blunt built bull bullet bulletin bunt unit unite unlit untie until utile lent lentil libel lien lieu lilt line lint lintel lune lute inlet nubile null teen tell tile till tine tube tulle tune To purchase the Word Game book , visit WordGameBooks.com .
Order it now for just $ 5 while supplies last !
1 .
Words must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 .
Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “ s , ” such as “ bats ” or “ dies , ” are not allowed .
3 .
Additional words made by adding a “ d ” or an “ s ” may not be used .
For example , if “ bake ” is used , “ baked ” or “ bakes ” are not allowed , but “ bake ” and “ baking ” are admissible .
4 .
Proper nouns , slang words , or vulgar or @ @ @ @ @ @ @

TODAY’S WORD — PERUSE (PERUSE: per-ROOZ: To read or examine carefully.)
Average mark 13 words
Time limit 25 minutes
Can you find 17 or more words in PERUSE? The list will be published tomorrow.
SATURDAY’S WORD — EBULLIENT elite elute etui been beet belie bell belle belt
bent betel bile bill billet bine bite blent blue blunt built bull bullet bulletin bunt unit
unite unlit untie until utile lent lentil libel lien lieu lilt line lint lintel lune lute inlet nubile
null teen tell tile till tine tube tulle tune
To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!
RULES OF THE GAME:
1. Words must be of four or more letters.
2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.
3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.
4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at kzsaxe@gmail.com.


mercurynews--2020-08-24--Ask Amy: What’s the etiquette for pursuing this man I’m obsessed with?

Dear Amy : I ’ m a 25-year-old gay man .
I ’ ve dated , but no long-term relationship , yet .
Recently , a Tinder match and I hit it off pretty quickly .
We decided to meet , in spite of whatever coronavirus fears either of us had .
He was fantastic : handsome , kind , funny , successful , my own age , and local .
He wasn ’ t afraid to talk about wanting to have a family someday , which is important to me .
I usually only go out with someone from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us decides it won ’ t work , but this match and I went out five times within a month .
I thought we might have something good going !
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• Ask Amy : She denies it happened , but I saw the proof on her phone • Ask Amy : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t tell me who this man was After the last time we went out , though , he told me he thought we were looking for different things , and that while he thought I was a nice guy , he didn ’ t think we were a match .
Now I can ’ t seem to shake the thought of him .
A month isn ’ t a very long time , but I like him better than I have liked anyone else before .
Unwanted messages would only push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so badly to ask for another chance .
What ’ s the etiquette around that ?
Should I wait a certain amount of time before reaching out again ( six months ?
a year ? )
.
Or just forget about it ?
Dear Inexperienced : First , let ’ s add COVID to the list of things a person should be tested for when choosing to meet and date a new person .
I won ’ t lecture you about your choice , but , well , it ’ s a roll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is extremely common , and the answer is for you to glean whatever lessons you can , and then move on with a determination to apply those lessons the next time you match with someone .
One thing you ’ ve learned is how it feels to be really interested in someone .
That is a plus !
It is possible that you did everything right and your date was being completely honest with you regarding his choice to part .
It is also possible that he continued to match with other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he simply met a new person that he preferred over you .
This is tough to take , but human attraction defies logic , which is what makes it seem so magical .
Your friend has made his choice and he has been kind about conveying it to you .
There is no etiquette surrounding asking someone for a second chance , partly because — in this context — you really should not do it ( certainly not right away ) .
If you continue to feel this way after several months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to check in and see how he is doing ( don ’ t ask outright for a second chance ) .
Based on his response , you would know quickly if the dynamic had shifted .
Dear Amy : I ’ m a 55-year-old man .
After no contact for 13 years , three years ago I reconnected with my ex-wife .
We started hanging out , going out and spending time together .
Last month , I moved into her house .
This week , she told me she has no interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been sleeping in a separate room .
I love and care about her , but I still need and desire sexual intimacy .
I ’ ve spent over $ 6,500 on her place since I moved back .
I wonder if I ’ m in savior mode .
I don ’ t want to spend the rest of my life frustrated .
How do I get past this without hurting her and ruining my ( great ) relationship with our two kids ( in their 20s ) ?
Dear Worried : You have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you are depressed and unhappy living in the household , then you should move out — but stay connected .
You and your ex seem to have previously severed all ties for over a decade , but I hope you have learned that you two are capable of maintaining a loving friendship .
You should do this , however , from a distance .
Dear Amy : I couldn ’ t believe the letter from “ Making Change , ” the poor little snowflake who didn ’ t like an “ Underground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ class years ago .
Doesn ’ t she know that the Underground Railroad assisted escaping slaves ?
Will she be happy when she gets this teacher fired ?
Dear Disgusted : “ Making Change , ” a Ph.D. candidate , was well aware of the importance of the Underground Railroad .
In retrospect , she objected to this dangerous , heartbreaking and important historical experience being gamified , and I completely agree with her .
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy @ amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy , P.O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13068 .
You can also follow her on Twitter @ askingamy or Facebook .

Dear Amy: I’m a 25-year-old gay man. I’ve dated, but no long-term relationship, yet.
Recently, a Tinder match and I hit it off pretty quickly. We decided to meet, in spite of whatever coronavirus fears either of us had.
He was fantastic: handsome, kind, funny, successful, my own age, and local. He wasn’t afraid to talk about wanting to have a family someday, which is important to me.
I usually only go out with someone from Tinder once or twice before one of us decides it won’t work, but this match and I went out five times within a month. I thought we might have something good going!
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Ask Amy: I’ve told them they need therapy, and they refuse to do it. What now? Advice | Ask Amy: The man I love is my grandchild’s uncle, and things have gotten messy After the last time we went out, though, he told me he thought we were looking for different things, and that while he thought I was a nice guy, he didn’t think we were a match.
Now I can’t seem to shake the thought of him. A month isn’t a very long time, but I like him better than I have liked anyone else before.
Unwanted messages would only push him further away, but I want so badly to ask for another chance. What’s the etiquette around that?
Should I wait a certain amount of time before reaching out again (six months? a year?). Or just forget about it?
— Woefully Inexperienced
Dear Inexperienced: First, let’s add COVID to the list of things a person should be tested for when choosing to meet and date a new person. I won’t lecture you about your choice, but, well, it’s a roll of the dice.
Your dating experience is extremely common, and the answer is for you to glean whatever lessons you can, and then move on with a determination to apply those lessons the next time you match with someone. One thing you’ve learned is how it feels to be really interested in someone. That is a plus!
It is possible that you did everything right and your date was being completely honest with you regarding his choice to part. It is also possible that he continued to match with other people while you two were seeing each other and he simply met a new person that he preferred over you. This is tough to take, but human attraction defies logic, which is what makes it seem so magical.
Your friend has made his choice and he has been kind about conveying it to you.
There is no etiquette surrounding asking someone for a second chance, partly because — in this context — you really should not do it (certainly not right away). If you continue to feel this way after several months, then you could get in touch to check in and see how he is doing (don’t ask outright for a second chance). Based on his response, you would know quickly if the dynamic had shifted.
Dear Amy: I’m a 55-year-old man. After no contact for 13 years, three years ago I reconnected with my ex-wife. We started hanging out, going out and spending time together. Last month, I moved into her house.
This week, she told me she has no interest in sexual intimacy. I’ve been sleeping in a separate room. I love and care about her, but I still need and desire sexual intimacy.
I’m so disappointed and depressed.
I’ve spent over $6,500 on her place since I moved back. I wonder if I’m in savior mode. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life frustrated.
How do I get past this without hurting her and ruining my (great) relationship with our two kids (in their 20s)?
Worried
Dear Worried: You have happily reconnected with your family, but if you are depressed and unhappy living in the household, then you should move out — but stay connected. You and your ex seem to have previously severed all ties for over a decade, but I hope you have learned that you two are capable of maintaining a loving friendship. You should do this, however, from a distance.
Dear Amy: I couldn’t believe the letter from “Making Change,” the poor little snowflake who didn’t like an “Underground Railroad” game she played in gym class years ago.
Doesn’t she know that the Underground Railroad assisted escaping slaves? Will she be happy when she gets this teacher fired?
Disgusted
Dear Disgusted: “Making Change,” a Ph.D. candidate, was well aware of the importance of the Underground Railroad. In retrospect, she objected to this dangerous, heartbreaking and important historical experience being gamified, and I completely agree with her.
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.