thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-09--Glee's Naya Rivera Presumed Dead, Police Say

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Former Glee actor Naya Rivera is now presumed dead, the Ventura County Sheriff’s office has said.
Rivera went missing on Wednesday after renting a boat with her four-year-old son at Lake Piru, California.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s office has now stated that the effort to find the actress is being considered a “search and recovery operation”.
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Officers believe that Rivera drowned, and no foul play is suspected.
Naya Rivera, pictured in 2017 Greg Doherty via Getty Images
Officer Chris Dyer said: “The latest is that we’re switching efforts into a search and recovery operation. That doesn’t change anything in the efforts that we’re putting forth to locate her but it changes the title, in a sense.
“We’re presuming that an accident happened, we’re presuming that she drowned in the lake. There are no signs of foul play, no signs that anything went wrong besides a tragic accident.
“The goal is still to bring Ms Rivera home to her family so they can have some closure.”
The search for Naya Rivera will continue this morning at Lake Piru. The lake will be closed to the public while search operations continue. Dive teams from throughout the region will be assisting us through mutual aid. @VCAirUnit @Cal_OES @fillmoresheriff pic.twitter.com/q6LsHd8xaT — Ventura Co. Sheriff (@VENTURASHERIFF) July 9, 2020
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According to local reports quoting the sheriff’s department, Rivera rented a boat at Lake Piru at about 1pm local time. She and her son were swimming, and he was wearing a life vest, but she was not.
The alarm was raised after Rivera failed to return the boat, which was found drifting with her young son, Josey Hollis Dorsey, sleeping alone on board.
The 33-year-old star is best known for her portrayal of the cheerleader Santana Lopez in all six series of the musical comedy, Glee.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-09--Should Labour Back A Wealth Tax? With Stewart Wood

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Should Labour Back A Wealth Tax? With Stewart Wood
Rishi Sunak delivered a £30bn mini-budget designed to save jobs from the deep recession caused by coronavirus. The chancellor again came forward with radical state intervention proposals while keeping backbench Tory MPs eager for low tax, small state economics happy. But were the plans radical enough?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-09--Beauty Salons, Spas And Tattooists Can Reopen On Monday July 13

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Coronavirus has changed everything. Make sense of it all with the Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing. Sign up now.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden has announced beauticians, tattooists and tanning salons can reopen from Monday in the latest easing of the lockdown.
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He told the Downing Street press conference on Thursday: “Having allowed hairdressers to reopen, beauticians, tattooists, spas, tanning salons and other close contact services can now do the same, I’m pleased to say, from Monday.
“Of course that will be subject to some restrictions on particularly high-risk services.”
He also revealed outdoor swimming pools in England are to begin reopening from Saturday, with indoor pools, gyms and other sports facilities to follow on July 25.
In the latest easing of lockdown restrictions, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has also published guidance to enable competitive grassroots team sports to resume, beginning with cricket this weekend.
Outdoor arts performances – including theatres, opera, dance and music – will also be able to resume from the weekend although audience numbers will be restricted and will be subject to social distancing rules.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-09--Gyms And Swimming Pools To Reopen On July 25 As Lockdown Eased

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Gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres will reopen on July 25 as the government announced further coronavirus lockdown restrictions would be lifted.
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Speaking at the Downing Street briefing, culture secretary Oliver Dowden called on the public to “work out to help out”, but he warned fitness businesses that strict social distancing measures must be put in place to protect people from infection.
Dowden said face coverings would not need to be worn as a “whole series of mitigating measures” would be put in place.
Exercise machines should be spaced apart and one-way systems introduced at venues, while at swimming pools, there should be 3sqm per bather.
Saunas and steam rooms “should stay out of use for the time being”, the guidance adds.
Dowden said there must be regular deep cleaning at facilities and that new guidance will also soon be published to enable competitive grassroots team sports to resume, beginning with cricket this weekend.
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The minister told the Downing Street press conference: “Our fight began with a collective effort and I really hope it will end with one. At the beginning we all stayed at home to protect the NHS and save lives, now the British public has a new part to play. It’s time to eat out to help out, to enjoy the arts to help out and to work out to help out.
“It’s over to all of you to help the country recover safely.”
The news will be warmly welcomed by fitness chains, who have complained prime minister Boris Johnson’s “war on obesity” would be impossible if pubs and restaurants could reopen but gyms could not.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden ASSOCIATED PRESS
Retail and hospitality venues were able to open their doors to customers on Saturday, after the PM switched the two-metre social distancing rule to “one-metre plus”.
It meant that people could get up to a metre away from one another, provided a mitigation, such as a face covering, was in place.
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Government figures have been worried, however, that gyms presented a higher risk and will press operators to strictly follow gym-specific guidelines.
Dowden also revealed that beauticians, tattooists and tanning salons can reopen from Monday in the latest easing of the lockdown.
He said: “Having allowed hairdressers to reopen, beauticians, tattooists, spas, tanning salons and other close contact services can now do the same, I’m pleased to say, from Monday.
“Of course that will be subject to some restrictions on particularly high-risk services.”
Outdoor arts performances – including theatres, opera, dance and music – will also be able to resume from the weekend although audience numbers will be restricted and will be subject to social distancing rules.
A change in planning rules will also mean theatres, concert halls and live music venues will be protected from demolition or change of use by developers, stopping those that have been made temporarily vacant during lockdown disappearing altogether.
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Dowden said: “Our culture, heritage and arts are too precious to lose. That’s why we’re protecting venues like theatres from redevelopment if they fall on hard times.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-09--Outdoor Theatre And Music Can Resume From July 11, Culture Secretary Reveals

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Coronavirus has changed everything. Make sense of it all with the Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing. Sign up now.
Performing arts will be allowed take place outdoors from July 11, culture secretary Oliver Dowden has announced.
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The move means outdoor theatres, opera, dance and music can resume, so long as they take place outside and with “a limited and socially distanced audience”.
Pilots of small indoor performances with social distanced audiences will also take place as the government explores how to get venues back up and running.
Dowden said: “Our culture, heritage and arts are too precious to lose. That’s why we’re protecting venues like theatres from redevelopment if they fall on hard times.
“We are also giving further clarity on restart dates in our roadmap back to performance.
“From July 11 we can all enjoy performances outdoors with social distancing and we are working hard to get indoor audiences back as soon as we safely can, following pilots.
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“Our scientific research project will also help speed up this journey.
“Combined with our £1.57bn rescue package, this is a comprehensive plan to help our brilliant arts organisations weather the covid storm and bounce back stronger.”
Guidance on how outdoor performances can take place will be published later on Thursday.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-09--The Supreme Court's Ruling On Donald Trump's Tax Returns Explained For Brits

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In a much-anticipated verdict, the US Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a New York prosecutor can obtain Donald Trump’s financial records, but also decided Democratic-led committees can not.
The mixed verdicts mean the president’s tax returns, banking and other documents will be kept out of the public eye for the time being, possibly until after the presidential election in November.
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Trump reacted furiously to the news despite effectively being granted a reprieve.
The Supreme Court sends case back to Lower Court, arguments to continue. This is all a political prosecution. I won the Mueller Witch Hunt, and others, and now I have to keep fighting in a politically corrupt New York. Not fair to this Presidency or Administration! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2020
So what does this all actually mean?
Let’s start with the actual financial records themselves. Donald Trump’s tax returns have long been sought after as they detail all of his financial dealings from before he became president.
Trump’s dealings in property are incredibly murky and there have always been whisperings that he has been propped up in the past with money from Russia.
And being indebted to one of the US’s main geopolitical rivals would obviously pose a serious conflict of interest for the president.
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These whisperings have been given further weight by the fact that the only bank that was willing to lend Trump money after he became bankrupt was Deutsche Bank, which was fined $630 million in 2017 for Russian money laundering.
In short, they could be pretty juicy.
REUTERS
The president has of course always denied this but at the same time has gone to extreme lengths to keep his tax returns private, even though in modern times it has been the norm for the sitting president to release them.
Who is after his financial records?
Pretty much everyone but the ones we’re talking about today are a grand jury investigation in New York and three Democratic-led committees.
The New York investigation into Trump and the Trump Organisation was sparked by disclosures of hush payments to two women who said they had past sexual relationships with him, pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
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It wants access to the records, which include tax returns, as part of this investigation.
The House Oversight Committee is in charge of keeping the president in check and in April 2019 asked for the financial information in response to the congressional testimony of Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer.
Cohen said Trump had inflated and deflated certain assets on financial statements between 2011 and 2013 in part to reduce his real estate taxes.
Separately, the House Financial Services Committee has been examining possible money laundering in US property deals involving Trump and is investigating whether Trump’s dealings left him vulnerable to the influence of foreign individuals or governments.
Why has Trump said they shouldn’t have them?
In the New York case, Trump’s lawyers argued that under the Constitution he is immune from any criminal proceeding while serving as president. They also cited Justice Department guidance that a sitting president cannot be indicted or prosecuted.
In a lower court hearing, Trump’s lawyers went so far as to argue that law enforcement officials would not have the power to investigate Trump even if he shot someone on New York’s Fifth Avenue.
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Again it should be pointed out that every sitting president in recent history has released their tax returns – it’s not a big deal so the fact Trump and his lawyers are going to such lengths to keep them secret raises some eyebrows.
What did the Supreme Court say?
The justices rejected arguments by Trump’s lawyers and the Justice Department that the president is immune from investigation while he holds office or that a prosecutor must show a greater need than normal to obtain the records.
By seven votes to two, the justices upheld the Manhattan district attorney’s demand for Trump’s tax returns but kept a hold on financial records that the committees have been seeking for more than a year.
So when do we get to see them?
Because the grand jury process is confidential, the rulings make it unlikely any of Trump’s financial records will become public soon, and almost certainly not before they could have an effect on November’s election.
The ruling returns the case to lower courts, with no clear prospect for when the case might ultimately be resolved.
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Head of the New York investigation, Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr said his probe, on hold while the court fight played out, will now resume.
“This is a tremendous victory for our nation’s system of justice and its founding principle that no-one – not even a president – is above the law,” he said.
“Our investigation, which was delayed for almost a year by this lawsuit, will resume, guided as always by the grand jury’s solemn obligation to follow the law and the facts, wherever they may lead.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-09--A Wealth Tax 'Has To Happen', Says Senior Labour Peer And Ex-Gordon Brown Adviser

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Coronavirus has changed everything. Make sense of it all with the Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing. Sign up now.
A wealth tax in the UK “has to happen”, a senior Labour peer said after the party was forced to quash suggestions it was proposing one to pay for the coronavirus crisis.
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Lord Stewart Wood, who worked in the Treasury, told HuffPost UK’s Commons People podcast he was “quite glad” shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds floated the idea even though it caused “trouble in the short term” for Labour.
The peer, who worked with Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband, suggested a “jujitsu move” to tax income less and wealth and assets more would have “quite strong popular support”.
Labour was forced to shut down suggestions it wanted to tax wealth as a way of paying for the huge spending required to get through the Covid-19 crisis.
But Boris Johnson seized on the confusion about Labour’s position at prime minister’s questions this week, declaring that Labour want to “tax tax tax” whereas the Tories want “jobs jobs jobs”.
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Wood revealed Miliband “seriously considered” the idea when Labour leader, but eventually favoured a mansion tax as a “proxy for a wealth tax” because “anything more than that would be too much”.
But he said: “I think a wealth tax has to happen personally.
“It’s something that when I worked for Ed Miliband we looked at.
“Strangely the Treasury is a big fan of the wealth tax – the idea that we’d be taxing land and housing, two factors of production as an economist would call it that are totally undertaxed at the moment.
“So purely from an efficiency point of view there’s a case for it.
“We’re in a world where we know that down the line there’s going to have to be tax rises, there’s no way we can afford this extraordinary public expenditure and not support it with tax rises down the line.”
Lord Stewart Wood parliament.uk
Keir Starmer says Labour is considering the idea of a wealth tax but four years before an election he's not committing to anything.
The Labour leader added the party's last manifesto was "far too long" and had "far too much in it" meaning no one believed it.#CallKeir pic.twitter.com/auhKyBE4tR — LBC News (@LBCNews) July 6, 2020
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Wood said Labour’s mistake over the past week was getting stuck talking about tax instead of making the case for more short-term borrowing to fund measures to save people’s jobs.
“If Labour made a mistake this week it was letting the tax question get in front of that question where you’ve really got to fight for the space for that to happen,” he said.
The peer also suggested he had sympathy with the party leadership for backing away from the idea of a wealth tax, insisting big changes to tax policy need at least a year of work before being revealed.
“It’s too soon to have properly fleshed out proposals,” Wood said.
“I’m quite glad a wealth tax was floated by the way even though it caused them some trouble in the short term.
“Because it has to be out there on the agenda in my view.
“The lesson of this is – you spend a long time preparing these things and when you are ready to go you have tedious documents galore that you can bombard and you get nerds like me to go out and do policy seminars on them.
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“You’ve got to do the really hard digging in terms of preparing a way with detailed proposals and consultation before you go live.
“If you want to do anything on tax you have to do that.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-09--How To Have A Perfect Picnic

How To Have A Perfect Picnic

How To Have A Perfect Picnic
The great British picnic is a perfect way to enjoy the – albeit very occasional – sunshine over the coming months. With some good food, good drink and good company, you're guaranteed a recipe for success. Here, we speak to food historian Seren Charrington-Hollins about what makes a perfect picnic – and what you need to make your next one even better.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-09--Donald Trump's Latest Tweet On Coronavirus Might Be His Dumbest Yet

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You may only be allowed 280 characters, but it is often mind-blowing how much incorrect information a person can fit into one tweet.
Take the president of the United States for example, who on Thursday managed to completely misunderstand numbers, the nature of disease and how the media works all in one remarkable post on Twitter.
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Referring to the skyrocketing number of coronavirus case currently ripping through the United States, Donald Trump said:
For the 1/100th time, the reason we show so many Cases, compared to other countries that haven’t done nearly as well as we have, is that our TESTING is much bigger and better. We have tested 40,000,000 people. If we did 20,000,000 instead, Cases would be half, etc. NOT REPORTED! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2020
There’s a lot going on here so let’s break it down.
‘Cases would be half’
Let’s set aside the seemingly random capitalisation of “cases” and concentrate on what he’s actually suggesting here.
First, some context.
More than 132,000 Americans have died of the disease, already the highest number in the world and all the signs are pointing to the situation rapidly deteriorating in the very near future.
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According to a Reuters analysis, coronavirus cases have been on the rise in 42 of the 50 states over the past two weeks.
On Tuesday, the number of confirmed US cases crossed the 3 million mark, roughly equivalent to 1% of the country’s population and about 25% of all known infections worldwide.
And the number of new fatalities is ticking upwards as the lag time between when a person catches the disease and dies from it passes.
Trump is right to say that if they did half the testing they would have half the number of confirmed cases, but the number of infected people in the US would be the same.
Arguably, it would get much higher much quicker as without accurate data to inform the response, authorities won’t be able to react as they need to.
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By this logic, fire departments should go around destroying smoke detectors. No smoke detectors, no fires. Problem solved. https://t.co/3Ll4R8M6pD — Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) July 9, 2020
‘For the 1/100th time’
We can reasonably assume the president was trying to say “for the hundredth time” as he emphasised yet again his completely inaccurate view on coronavirus testing (see below).
But Trump decided to express this a a fraction instead. Or maybe he’s saying this is the first of 100 tweets on the matter. Who knows.
You are eleventy million percent bad at math. — The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) July 9, 2020
‘Not reported’
This is an easy one – it’s not reported because it’s wrong.
Good explainer on why the president cheated on his SATs ⤵ https://t.co/7hBnoHAVj0 — Jason Sparks (@sparksjls) July 9, 2020
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Meanwhile...
On Monday the US’s top health official Anthony Fauci said the current state of the Covid-19 outbreak in the United States “is really not good” and a “serious situation that we have to address immediately”.
The US is still “knee-deep” in the first wave of the illnesses, having never gotten the case number as low as planned, Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, said during a live internet interview with National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-09--A Minute Of Kindness: The Designer Clothes Sale Helping Queer People Of Colour

A Minute Of Kindness: The Designer Clothes Sale Helping Queer People Of Colour
Host, DJ and presenter Miss Jason raised over £16,000 for the Queer, Trans, Intersex, Black, Indigenous And People Of Colour UK Hardship Fund. By enlisting the help of celebrities including Lily Allen, FKA Twigs and Mabel as well as a host of designers, Miss Jason garnered over 600 donated items for sale.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-09--Coronavirus Getting You Down? Get A Year-Long Pass To Barbados

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You’re reading our series Summer’s Not Cancelled, celebrating summer in this new normal. From rediscovering nature and cherishing time with friends and family, to virtual festivals and unforgettable staycations – summer’s still here, it’s just different.
Forget working from home, what if you could work from holiday instead? Yes, that means clocking off for the day and heading to gorgeous beaches and crystal clear waters.
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Barbados plans to launch a 12-month ‘Welcome Stamp’ to encourage visitors from overseas to stay there for a year and work remotely.
The Caribbean island’s prime minister, Mia Amor Mottley, revealed plans for the scheme last week and said it’s currently being refined for promotion.
The hope is that it’ll bring more people to the island to grow the economy, given that tourism makes up an estimated 40% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
A year-long pass would make it easier for people to visit the idyllic island, it’s thought, as short-term travel is harder due to testing and quarantine. “You can come here and work for a couple months at a time; go back and come back,” said Mottley.
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Simon Dannhauer via Getty Images Bottom Bay, Barbados.
The scheme is currently being drawn up – but the Barbados government didn’t give a date on when travellers would be able to take up the offer.
Those rubbing their palms together with glee should note that the Foreign & Commonwealth Office still advises Brits against all but essential international travel – as we’re still considered a high risk country.
Barbados plans to officially reopen its borders to international travel on July 12. Current guidance states people travelling there need to have a Covid-19 test 72 hours before travel and must submit an Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) card 24 hours prior to travel.
Anyone who arrives in Barbados without being tested will have to have a mandatory test on arrival. If you test positive, you’ll be placed in isolation until you’ve recovered.
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As it stands, British passport holders don’t need a visa to visit Barbados. On entry, you’re normally granted a specified period to stay (usually six months). But if you wish to stay longer, you must apply and pay for an extension of stay through the Barbados Immigration Department.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--R Rate Rises And Could Be As High As 1 In England, Government Data Reveals

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The coronavirus R number has risen in England, with the government data stating that it could now be as high as 1.
The reproduction number, which indicates the rate of new Covid-19 infections, has remained at 0.7-1 across the UK as a whole, but in England it has now risen to 0.8-1.
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England’s rate on Friday, July 3 was 0.8-0.9.
A reproduction (R) number of 1 or above means the number of infections is still spreading exponentially with, on average, every infected person infecting one other person.
A figure of 2 would mean one person infects two other people, and so on, while a figure of 0.5 would mean that if an infected person met with two people, they would only infect one.
Meanwhile, the latest data published by the government shows that the growth rate range is now -5% to -2% per day in the UK. The growth rate reflects how quickly the number of infections are changing day by day – if the figure is positive it means the epidemic is growing, while a negative number indicates that it is shrinking.
The new figures show that the South West of England still has both the highest R number and growth rate in England – 0.7-1.1 and -6 to 1 respectively.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Julia Sawalha Claims She's Been 'Plucked' From Chicken Run Sequel As Voice Sounded 'Too Old'

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Julia Sawalha has claimed she has been “plucked, stuffed and roasted” after being replaced as the voice of Ginger in the upcoming Chicken Run sequel.
She has accused the makers of the upcoming film of ageism, after she was told her voice sounded “too old” to reprise the role.
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The actor – best known for playing Saffy in Absolutely Fabulous – had been hoping to voice Ginger in the new film, which Aardman Animations is creating for Netflix 20 years on from the release of the original.
However, in an open letter, Julia said she’d been informed “out of the blue” via an email to her agent that the character was to be recast.
Julia Sawalha PA
Sharing her letter on Twitter with the hashtag #ageism, she wrote: “The reason they gave is that my voice now sounds ‘too old’ and they want a younger actress to reprise the role.”
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Julia then revealed she’d sent producers a voice test to prove she still has the same range she did 20 years ago, but was told they would be recasting her role anyway.
“Usually in these circumstances, an actress would be given the chance to do a voice test in order to determine the suitability of their pitch and tone, I however was not given this opportunity,” she added.
“I am passionate about my work and I don’t go down without a fight, so I did my own voice test at home and sent it to the producers, which you can view here.”
Julia said she’d subsequently received “a very kind and thoughtfully written response from one of the creatives” explaining that despite “creatives” agreeing that her voice did not sound older, they will still be “going ahead to re-cast the voice of Ginger”.
Chicken Run 2 announcement!
I have officially been plucked, stuffed & roasted.
If you are interested, do read what I have to say about it.#ageism @actforchangehqhttps://t.co/MqUCOLWuPZ — Julia Sawalha (@JuliaSawalha1) July 9, 2020
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Julia went on to state she feels“ devastated and furious” to be ousted from the film, which will also be recasting Rocky, who was originally voiced by Mel Gibson.
She continued: “The reason given was that his voice is now too old. I feel I have been fobbed off with the same excuse.
“I went to great lengths to prove to the production that my voice is nigh on the same as it was in the original film. If they will be using some of the original cast members…let’s be frank, I feel I have been unfairly dismissed. (sic)”
She closed her message by writing: “I feel totally powerless, something in all of this doesn’t quite ring true. I trust my instincts and they are waving red flags.
“I am saddened that I have lost the chance to work with Nick Park and Peter Lord from whom I learnt so much. The three of us, together, created Ginger.
Today I responded by wishing the production the best of luck and the greatest success with the sequel. There is nothing more I can do, other than to thank all of you who loved and still love Chicken Run, as I do.
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“I’m off for the chop now, Ginger x (sic).”
HuffPost UK has contacted Netflix and Aardman Animations for comment and is awaiting responses.
Julia voiced Ginger in the original film Aardman Animations
The sequel to Chicken Run, which remains the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, was announced in June.
It is expected to go into production in 2021 and will be released by Netflix.
The logline for the sequel says: “Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream, a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world.
“When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat.
“For Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their own hard-won freedom at risk – this time, they’re breaking in!”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Elon Musk Casts Doubt On Kanye West Presidency Support After Rapper's Anti-Abortion And Anti-Vaccine

Elon Musk Casts Doubt On Kanye West Presidency Support After Rapper's Anti-Abortion And Anti-Vaccine Comments

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It seems Elon Musk may be a little less certain about Kanye West’s US presidency bid than he first made out.
Over the weekend, after Kanye reiterated his hopes to run for president in 2020, the Tesla billionaire was quick to show the rapper his firm endorsement, tweeting: “You have my full support.”
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Since then, Kanye gave an interview to Forbes, in which he revealed that he was being given guidance by Elon Musk, who he said he intended to make head of America’s space programme if he’s elected.
However, other comments made in the same interview – including expressing his anti-vaccine and anti-abortion stances – seem to have made the SpaceX founder a little less enthusiastic about Kanye becoming US leader.
When you go to your boys house and you’re both wearing orange 🍊 pic.twitter.com/IyPOdEKaVY — ye (@kanyewest) July 1, 2020
When one Twitter shared a link to Kanye’s comments, alongside the message “cmon Elon – you’re way too intelligent for this BS”, he responded: “We may have more differences of opinion than I anticipated.”
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However, Elon Musk’s tweet appears to have since been deleted, but is still searchable on Google.
Measure twice, cut once pic.twitter.com/RjWUUR9TaF — John Crowley (@GalwayJohnC) July 9, 2020
HuffPost UK has contacted a representative for Elon Musk for clarification.
During Kanye’s Forbes interview, he also revealed he no longer considered herself a supporter of current US president Donald Trump, who he’s previously faced a lot of controversy for endorsing, declaring: “I am taking the red hat off, with this interview.”
“One of the main reasons I wore the red hat as a protest to the segregation of votes in the Black community,” he explained. “Also, other than the fact that I like Trump hotels and the saxophones in the lobby.”
Kanye first stated he wanted to run for president five years ago, during an acceptance speech at the MTV VMAs.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Helen Mirren Recalls The Time She Confronted An Actual Wild Bear In Her Back Garden

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If there was any doubt in your mind that Dame Helen Mirren was not one to be messed with, the woman herself has now confirmed it once for all.
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Speaking to US comedian Marc Maron on his podcast WTF, the Oscar-winning star recalled an incident in which she confronted a bear (!) in her back garden (!!) because it had been stealing from her bird feeder (!!!).
“A great big black bear came by and stole my bird feed,” she explained. “I went out and I said, ‘Bad bear, naughty bear, very naughty bear!’”
Dame Helen Mirren at the Golden Globes earlier this year Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
The bear’s reaction? “He sort of looked at me and lumbered off,” Dame Helen added.
She then revealed she’d learned how to react when faced with a bear “looking aggressively at you” and “hunching its back like it is about to charge” from a pamphlet.
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Dame Helen explained: “They said you make yourself look as big as possible, if you can grab a stick, make yourself look big and then it literally said and then shout, ‘Bad bear, bad bear!’”
In recent years, it’s been well-documented that the Prime Suspect star has not held anything back (which apparently now includes banishing “naughty” bears from her back garden), whether she’s declaring “fuck Netflix” during a discussion about the cinema industry or confronting TV presenters who describe her as “feisty” live on air.
Perhaps her most notorious confrontation came in 2013, though, when she went out into the street to tell a group of street performers to “shut the fuck up” as they were disturbing a theatre production she was appearing in.
Dame Helen had been playing Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience, a role she was heavily rumoured to be reprising for a forthcoming series of The Crown.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--The Rules You'll Need To Follow At The Gym – And How To Stay Safe

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We’re here to guide you through the coronavirus pandemic. Sign up to the Life newsletter for daily tips, advice, how-tos and escapism.
News of gyms opening in England from July 25 will be music to the ears of many. So if you’re heading back to your old stomping ground, expect there to be a few changes when you return.
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It’s been revealed that outdoor waterparks and swimming pools, hot tubs, hydrotherapy pools, whirlpools, jacuzzis, plus sport and physical activity participation events can open to the public from July 11.
Two weeks later, indoor gyms and swimming pools, fitness and dance studios, sports venues and facilities can reopen (July 25) – and many have been chomping at the bit to do so for some time.
Earlier this month, gym owners expressed outrage that they couldn’t resume business while pubs could, and told HuffPost UK how they’d already implemented plenty of strict hygiene measures.
Here’s what you can and can’t do when you next head to the gym.
DO turn up in your sports kit. All venues should encourage users to arrive in their gym wear and try to change and shower at home, says the new guidance.
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DON’T use the changing rooms, if you can help it. That said, they will be available for people with disabilities or special needs.
DON’T shout at people across the gym or over the machines. Venues have been told to “ensure steps are taken to avoid people needing to unduly raise their voices to each other”. This is because of the potential for increased risk of transmission – particularly from aerosol and droplet transmission.
DO expect it to be quiet. The number of people using a facility at any one time will be limited and users will have to book a slot to workout.
DO book ahead for fitness classes – they’re expected to be in serious demand, especially as there will be reduced class sizes.
skaman306 via Getty Images
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DO social distance. This shouldn’t be hard as gyms have been adapted to ensure machines and equipment are spaced out.
DO make the most of the hand sanitising stations. There will be enhanced cleaning operations underway and hand sanitising being offered throughout venues.
DON’T expect to use the saunas or steam rooms. These will be closed until further notice.
DON’T share towels, robes, weights, rackets, balls and scoring equipment with others unless they’ve been cleaned or sanitised.
DON’T enter the swimming pool if it looks busy – under the guidance, swimming pools should restrict numbers to allow three square metres per bather.
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DO clean machines before and after use, if your gym specifies to do this. It will ensure your exercise area is ready for you before you start and also clean for whoever comes next.
DO give your details to aid contact tracing. All venues are expected to collect personal details from each user, such as name, address, telephone numbers plus date and times of entry and exit, to potentially help with tracing if there’s a Covid-19 outbreak linked to the facility.
Navigating the changing rooms
While the government advises against using changing rooms, it may be hard if you’ve been for a swim and don’t want to travel home soaking wet.
For those who do end up using them, Dr Aragona Giuseppe, GP and medical advisor at Prescription Doctor, advises you bring hand sanitiser, anti-bacterial wipes and spray so you can wipe down any areas you use.
“This includes the bench area; any coat hooks; locker key, handle and interior; shower control, and anything else you are likely to touch,” he says.
“I’d advise against using the shared hair tools that are often in health clubs such as hair dryers and hair straighteners as these could potentially hold virus particles and will be easily transferred to you via direct use.”
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“I’d advise against using the shared hair tools that are often in health clubs.” - Dr Aragona Giuseppe, GP and medical advisor
Dr Giuseppe also says to be wary of children in the changing rooms, because they “tend to shout, talk loudly and scream much more often, especially when getting changed”. All of these actions could potentially mean respiratory droplets travel from their mouth and onto changing room surfaces. If there are kids around, ensure you wipe down the area you’re in with anti-bacterial wipes before you get comfortable, he says.
Wait until the changing facilities are quiet – or there are only a few people in there – if you do need to use them. If the showers are in separate cubicles, “this should be ok to use, but do not use sharing showers especially if there are people in them,” he adds.
Lastly, don’t leave any items out in the open where they are at risk of infection –towels, clothes, shoes, swimming goggles and products should all be kept in a zipped-up bag. That way you can take it home and transfer it straight into the washing machine – a 60-degree cycle with detergent should kill off any germs.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Police In England And Wales Face Review Into Possible Racial Bias

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Police in England and Wales will face a review into whether officers racially discriminate against ethnic minorities in their use of force and stop and search.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IPOC) is launching a probe into possible racial bias amid tensions over a series of recent high-profile cases.
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On Wednesday the Met Police apologised to Team GB athlete Bianca Williams for the “distress” caused by a stop and search which she claims was a result of racial profiling.
The police watchdog said it will use its formal powers to investigate cases to see if there is any pattern of racial discrimination.
It has vowed it can “drive real change in policing practice”.
IOPC director general Michael Lockwood said a review in the coming months will focus on race discrimination “to establish the trends and patterns which might help drive real change in policing practice”.
He said: “Evidence of disproportionality in the use of police powers has long been a concern which impacts on confidence in policing, particularly in the BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities.
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“But even with the numbers and the statistics, particularly from stop and search data, we still need to better understand the causes and what can and should be done to address this.
Lockwood added: “Initially we will focus on investigating more cases where there is an indication that disproportionality impacts the BAME community, including stop and search and use of force.
“We will also be investigating more cases where victims from BAME communities have felt unfairly treated by the police.”
Police officers handcuff a man at the Notting Hill Carnival in west London. Yui Mok - PA Images via Getty Images
It comes after the force’s commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, apologised to Williams - who claimed officers racially profiled her and her partner Ricardo dos Santos – a Black Portuguese 400-metre runner – when they were handcuffed and separated from their three-month-old son.
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A video of the incident, which saw the couple pulled from their car in a London street, was posted online by former Olympic medallist Linford Christie.
Nothing was found in the search, which the Met said was carried out by officers patrolling the area in response to an increase in violence involving weapons.
Williams has said she is considering legal action against the Met.
“[The officers] said there’s a lot of youth violence and stabbings in the area and that the car looked very suspicious,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“They see a Black male driving a nice car, an all-black car, and they assume that he was involved in some sort of gang, drug, violence problem.
“This isn’t the first or fourth or fifth time – it must be about the 10th [time her partner has been stopped by police], it’s getting ridiculous.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Johnny Depp Says Amber Heard Relationship Was ‘Crime Scene Waiting To Happen’

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Johnny Depp has said his relationship with ex-wife Amber Heard was “a crime scene waiting to happen” during the third day of his high-profile libel case against The Sun newspaper.
The Pirates Of The Caribbean star is suing News Group Newspapers, publisher of The Sun, and the paper’s executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an article the tabloid published in April 2018, in which they called him a “wife beater” and referred to “overwhelming evidence” that he attacked Heard during their relationship. He strongly denies the allegation.
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On Thursday, he faced further intense questioning over his relationship with Heard, including a visit to Australia in March 2015, when it is alleged he assaulted Heard and “completely destroyed” a house in a drink and drug-fuelled rage.
Johnny Depp pictured outside the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday KGC-102/189/STAR MAX/IPx
The trip – during which Depp was filming scenes as Captain Jack Sparrow in the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film – is one of 14 alleged incidents of domestic violence, all denied by Depp, relied on by NGN in their defence against the actor’s libel claim.
Sasha Wass QC, lead counsel for NGN, told the court that Depp’s former private security guard, Jerry Judge, had told Heard that if he and Depp’s other employees had not stepped in, “either you or he would be dead”.
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The barrister said: “It appears Mr Judge is saying that if they hadn’t come along when they did, either you would be dead or Ms Heard would be dead.
“That would be an odd thing to say if it was Ms Heard who was the only violent party – do you agree or not?”
Depp replied: “There are several times when I have spoken to Ms Heard and said, ‘listen, we are a crime scene waiting to happen’.”
Earlier, Wass had said Heard alleges there was a “three-day ordeal of assaults” in Australia, “during which [Depp was] under the influence of drugs including MDMA and you were violent”.
Depp said: “I vehemently deny it and would go so far as to say it is pedestrian fiction.”
Amber Heard was also present in court KGC-102/189/STAR MAX/IPx
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The actor was also accused of “reinventing” his account of how his finger became severed during the Australia trip.
Depp claims Heard injured the finger when she threw a vodka bottle at him, which she denies.
Wass put it to him that he had not said that Heard was responsible for the injury when he messaged his private physician, Dr David Kipper, nor in a text to his friend actor Paul Bettany, which said: “Just had the tip of me finger nicked off as it happens.”
She said: “You didn’t tell the hospital, you didn’t tell Dr Kipper, you didn’t tell your sister and you didn’t tell Mr Bettany.”
Depp said he had told Dr Kipper, to which Wass said: “You told Dr Kipper after Ms Heard got a domestic violence restraining order.”
She added: “You have reinvented the account of how this happened,” to which Depp replied: “No, ma’am”.
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The court heard a text message from Depp to Kipper said of Heard: “Her obsession with herself is far more important, she is so f****** ambitious, she’s so desperate for fame, that’s probably why I was acquired.”
The court was also told the star had used his severed finger, dipped in paint, to scrawl graffiti in the house.
The actor later said that when he realised the top of finger was missing “and pouring blood profusely and the bones was sticking out, I believe that I went into some kind of breakdown”.
Wass said Heard “came downstairs in the morning … and the house was completely destroyed”.
Depp agreed with the lawyer that the house was “wrecked” after the couple’s argument, acknowledging he’d written on mirrors by dipping his bloody fingertip in paint. However, he said Heard was responsible for most of the damage to the house.
“That is completely untrue,” Wass said.
“Thank you, but it’s not,” Depp replied.
A mirror in the house where Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were staying in Australia in March 2015 PA
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During cross-examination at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, the court also heard about an alleged incident during a trip on the Eastern and Oriental Express in the summer of 2015.
“I didn’t go back to alcohol or substances at this point as I wanted everything to work out,” Depp said. “I knew that the relationship would have a better chance of working if I resigned myself to doing the things that would please Ms Heard.”
Wass said the train journey “ended up with violence, it became physical, as I think you have described it”.
Depp said: “It was one incident in our cabin.”
Wass said: “You hit her around the face, tried to choke her and tore off her T-shirt and you eventually calmed down once ‘the monster’ had gone away.”
Depp said: “I say that that’s not at all what happened.”
Depp and Heard at a public event in November 2015 Todd Williamson via Getty Images
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Depp also said he accidentally headbutted his ex-wife during a heated argument in December 2015, in which he is said to have been “in an uncontrollable rage”. The High Court heard a recording of a conversation between the couple shortly after the incident, in which Depp appears to say he only headbutted her in the “f****** forehead” – which he said “doesn’t break a nose”. In the recording, Heard can be heard to say: “You had been screaming … it’s the end-all-be-all in the sort of offensive thing. “You can throw a punch but yet screaming’s OK. You can headbutt somebody who’s screaming but don’t scream.” Depp then seems to say: “I headbutted you in the f**king …” before he is interrupted by Heard, who says: “I couldn’t believe you did that.” The actor then says: “… forehead. That doesn’t break a nose.” Depp claimed the allegation was “another wonderful thing to put in the kaleidoscope of her dossier that she (Ms Heard) is building”. He added: “This injury that she would’ve suffered is not consistent with the photographs that she has given to the court.
“She was swinging wildly at me, and I … from behind, as I was walking away from the argument to my office, she was hitting me in the neck, ear, back, everything.
“I turned to cover my head and she was swinging quite wildly so the only thing I could do in that situation was either to run or to try to get hold of her, to get my arms around her to stop her flailing and punching me, so I did so, as I did so it seems there was a collision.”
Depp demonstrated with his arms how he claims he took hold of Heard and said she was “kicking and moving” so there was “very close contact” between them.
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He added: “That is the only collision and the only potential injury that Ms Heard could have had, there is no way I did as she said and broke her nose.”
Wass put it to Depp that, by December 2015, “you were routinely using violence against Ms Heard when you were intoxicated and when you were angry”.
Depp said: “I say that is incorrect. Most of the time I tried to get away.”
He added: “Most of the time, Ms Heard’s problem was that I would run away from fights and I was then called a coward and a pussy for trying to avoid an escalation.”
The actor’s case against NGN and Wootton arises out of the publication of an article on The Sun’s website on April 27 2018 with the headline “Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be ‘genuinely happy’ casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?”.
NGN is defending the article as true and says Depp was “controlling and verbally and physically abusive towards Ms Heard, particularly when he was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs” between early 2013 and May 2016, when the couple split.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--A 7-Year-Old Sent The Queen A Word Search Incase She Was 'Sad Or Lonely'

HuffPost UK
We’re here to guide you through the coronavirus pandemic. Sign up to the Life newsletter for daily tips, advice, how-tos and escapism.
A schoolboy has sent the Queen a word search in case she is feeling “sad or lonely” during lockdown.
Seven-year-old Timothy Madders, of Billericay in Essex, created his “happiness word search” with hidden words including “smile”, “family”, “holiday” and “sunshine”.
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He wrote: “Dear Queen Elizabeth, You might be feeling sad or lonely during lockdown, so I thought I could make a word search for you to cheer you up. Love from Timothy Madders.”
HuffPost UK PA
Timothy received a reply from Windsor Castle thanking him for his thoughtfulness.
The letter, from one of the Queen’s ladies in waiting, Philippa de Pass, said: “The Queen wishes me to write and thank you for your kind letter, and for the puzzle you have created especially for Her Majesty.
“Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated, and The Queen hopes that you too are keeping safe and well in the current situation.
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“I am to thank you very much indeed for writing as you did at this time.”
HuffPost UK PA
Timothy said his family had been making word searches during lockdown when he decided to create one for the Queen and post it at the beginning of May.
He said he had forgotten all about it and felt “very special and happy and excited” when he received a reply.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--An Unprecedented 14 Million US Children Are Going Hungry Due To The Covid-19 Crisis

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Nearly 14 million children in the United States went hungry in June, as the economic fallout from the pandemic continued to batter families. That’s an increase of more than 10 million since 2018, and nearly three times the number of children who went hungry during the Great Recession, according to an analysis of Census data released by the Hamilton Project on Thursday.
The food crisis shows no signs of abating, either, as Covid-19 cases continue to rise, the relief measures implemented by the federal government in March are set to run out in a few weeks, and it’s not clear whether children will go back to school, where many get fed.
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“It’s pretty bad and it’s not getting better,” said Lauren Bauer, an economic fellow at the Brookings Institution who conducted the research.
Typically, children are fed even in families that are really struggling; parents will go hungry in order to make sure their kids are eating.
“If you’re not able to feed your children, it’s a pretty severe signal about your household’s capability to deal with financial shocks,” said Bauer. Most of these families have run out of cushion to deal with the economic pain wrought by this pandemic.
A boy wears a face mask as food is delivered to his family's truck at a food bank distribution center in Van Nuys, California, in April Mario Tama via Getty Images
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The data relies on a survey conducted by the Census in June that asks households struggling to afford food whether, over a seven-day period, the children in their home are often or sometimes not getting enough to eat.
A stunning 16.9% of households said they were struggling to feed their children. Bauer then estimated how many children are living in those households, and examined their demographics.
The numbers are even worse for Black families, 30% of which are struggling to afford food right now. The rate for Hispanic households is 25%. The struggle to feed children is yet another way the coronavirus crisis is hitting people of colour disproportionately harder.
Hamilton Project data on food insecurity HuffPost US
The unemployment rate was 11.1% in June — lower than in May but still historically high — and some believe that number doesn’t truly represent job conditions currently, as many businesses have been forced to close again to deal with the resurgence of the virus.
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Relief checks cut in late March helped many Americans buy food and necessities, but given how quickly the neediest households spent that money, it’s likely long gone by now. And at the end of the month the beefed-up unemployment insurance passed through the CARES Act expires, too.
Even parents with jobs are struggling to pay for food. Many relied on meals provided by their children’s school to help alleviate the cost of groceries; in an ordinary year, children’s rates of food insecurity go up in the summer, Bauer said.
But the school backstop is gone. Parents are struggling to buy more food with kids at home and it’s looking unlikely that things will go back to normal in September. For example, the country’s largest school system, New York City, just announced that children will only be attending school in person one to three days a week.
Meanwhile, food generally has gotten more expensive. The average cost of groceries has gone up by nearly 5% — and as much as 10% for some categories of food like meat, eggs and dairy — over the past year, according to federal data, because of massive shifts in how we’re eating because of the pandemic. Demand for food in grocery stores went up and food suppliers weren’t prepared for the change. The rise in food prices hit lower-income families harder, too: Not only did everything cost more, but it is more difficult to bargain-hunt when you want to reduce your exposure to a virus.
None of this is surprising. As soon as schools shut down, activists and policymakers sounded the alarm. The stimulus also provided for food vouchers for kids who typically got food at school. And Congress did expand SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (aka food stamps), as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act it passed in March.
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But the expansion didn’t really expand benefits for everyone. Because of a Trump administration decision, those already receiving the maximum amount of food assistance — $509 a month for a family of three — got nothing more.
That affected an estimated 5 million children.
The Trump administration essentially prevented the expanded benefits from going to the neediest households, Bauer said. The move stands in sharp contrast to actions taken at the federal level to expand food benefits during the Great Recession, which kept a lot of people from going hungry.
All of these benefits are set to run out soon, and Congress so far has shown little sign of doing anything.
There are relatively simple policy solutions to the problem of kids going hungry. Nothing new has to be cooked up, policymakers simply need to expand food stamp benefits through the fall and re-up the program that gives food vouchers to those who aren’t able to go back to school, said Bauer.
But so far, there’s been little attention on the issue. Instead, the media spotlight has focused on relatively well-off middle-class families who are struggling with their children being at home instead of at school.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Kanye For President & Rock DJ Turns 20 | Good Vibes Only

Kanye's Bid For President & Rock DJ Turns 20 | Good Vibes Only
This week in entertainment, after Kanye West announced his run for the White House, so we pick our favourite fantasy presidents. Elsewhere, Robbie Williams’ Rock DJ turned 20 years old (!) and we share the music and shows we’re loving as lockdown eases.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--UK Quarantine Rules Relaxed – Here's What You Need To Know

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People travelling into the UK from dozens of countries will no longer have to self-isolate for two weeks, according to new coronavirus rules.
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From Friday, quarantine requirements for people returning to or visiting England, Wales and Northern Ireland within the “travel corridor” of around 60 countries and territories will be relaxed.
Early Friday morning, the Foreign Office (FCO) also announced it would be removing Serbia from the list “based on the latest assessment of Covid-19 risk.”
#Serbia has been removed from the list of countries exempt from FCO advice against non-essential international travel, based on the latest assessment of COVID-19 risk. The FCO now advise against all but essential travel to Serbia. Read more: https://t.co/ZJMf0dUEyW pic.twitter.com/qpIShabmmw — FCO travel advice (@FCOtravel) July 9, 2020
Scotland has produced its own smaller list of countries from which passengers are exempt from quarantine rules.
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Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said the “difficult decision” was based on evidence and was necessary to protect the region from a resurgence of the virus.
Passengers passing through Gatwick Airport’s north terminal early on Friday morning admitted they would not be travelling if they were still required to self-isolate for two weeks on their return.
“We probably would have gone later,” said Ray Gordge, 64, from Taunton, who was on his way to Paris to see his daughter for the first time in six months, and meet his new grandson, born last week.
“It’s exciting, I’m pleased the quarantine has been lifted to be honest,” he told the PA news agency. “It’s nice to have a bit more normality.”
Mr Gordge said he only booked his easyJet flight in the last few days, but had no concerns about travelling.
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“I think it’s OK as long as you’re wearing a face mask. It’s very strange.”
Under previous rules introduced on June 8, most travellers who arrived in the UK had to quarantine for 14 days when they returned home or risk fines of up to £1,000.
Travellers who arrived before Friday will still be expected to complete the period of self-isolation.
The FCO has continued to warn against journeys on cruise ships.
The rule change comes as a survey suggested people in four European countries are more likely to oppose inbound UK tourists this summer than they are visitors from the rest of the continent.
People travelling into the UK from dozens of countries will no longer have to self-isolate for 14 days. ASSOCIATED PRESS
While between 40% and 54% of Spaniards would disprove of tourists from a group of European nations, the figure rises to 61% for those from the UK, a YouGov poll indicated.
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The opposition of UK holidaymakers is 58% in Germany, 55% in France and 44% in Italy.
Each country would be more welcoming to other European nations, according to the research.
Meanwhile the World Health Organisation has warned the coronavirus pandemic is “getting worse”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Coronavirus Going Airborne Indoors 'Cannot Be Ruled Out', WHO Says

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The World Health Organisation has updated its guidelines on how the coronavirus is transmitted, stating that the likelihood that the virus can go airborne, particularly in enclosed spaces like restaurants and gyms, “cannot be ruled out.”
In its updated guidelines issued on Thursday, the WHO cited multiple reported outbreaks of Covid-19 involving people who became infected after being in crowded indoor spaces, including fitness classes and choir practice.
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“In these events, short-range aerosol transmission – particularly in specific indoor locations, such as crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces over a prolonged period of time with infected persons – cannot be ruled out,” the WHO concluded while acknowledging that more research is needed.
The organisation had previously refrained from including airborne transmission among the virus’s potential modes of transmission among the general public. It did state that airborne transmission “may be possible” in specific medical settings and circumstances that involved aerosol-generating treatments.
WHO Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan said in an interview with India Today on Wednesday that there’s still no concrete proof that airborne transmission of the coronavirus is happening, but there are enough reported instances of its spread in closed settings to warrant proper attention and extra precautions.
These precautions include wearing a mask and trying to avoid relatively small enclosed places, like bars and clubs. This is because respiratory droplets that are less than 5 microns in size, called droplet nuclei or aerosols, “can stay in the air for a little bit of time and they can take a little longer to settle on the ground,” Swaminathan said. “These particles could be inhaled by other people who are in the vicinity, in the room, and this could be called airborne transmission.”
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Fortunately, the virus does not appear to be truly airborne, like the measles virus is. If it were, far more people would have become infected, she said.
A waiter wipes down a table before seating customers at a restaurant in central London. TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images
The WHO’s listed modes of coronavirus transmission also include droplet transmission, which occurs when a person is in close contact with someone with respiratory symptoms, and fomite transmission, which happens when someone becomes infected by touching a surface that had recently been touched by an infected person.
To date, there have not been any confirmed instances of fomite transmission but there is consistent evidence of it being possible because the virus is able to contaminate and survive on certain surfaces, the WHO guidelines state.
As of Thursday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not have airborne transmission on its list of ways the virus can spread. It does acknowledge that the virus is “spreading more efficiently than influenza, but not as efficiently as measles.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--What Is Toxic Positivity – And Why Can It Be Detrimental?

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“Everything will be fine.” “This too shall pass.” “Stay positive! It could be worse.”
If you’ve ever gone through a difficult time (a breakup, a job loss), you’ve probably heard some of these phrases ad nauseam from friends and family. People who say them no doubt have good intentions; they’re simply trying to put a rosy filter on the tough time you’re having. “It gets better, stay optimistic,” they assure you.
But if statements like this are all you’re hearing from your friends and family, that excess of positivity can be, well, negative.
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This kind of encouragement and self-talk is so common that mental health experts have a name for it: toxic positivity.
“Toxic positivity is the idea that we should focus only on positive emotions and the positive aspects of life,” said Heather Monroe, a clinical social worker and director of program development at Newport Institute. “It’s the belief that if we ignore difficult emotions and the parts of our life that aren’t working as well, we’ll be much happier.”
The problem is, toxic positivity oversimplifies the human brain and how we process emotions, and it can actually be detrimental to our mental health, Monroe said.
“You can fight toxic positivity by acknowledging or recognizing that multiple complex emotions can exist in you all at once.” - Jenny Maenpaa, New York City therapist
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“There can be long-term effects of toxic positivity including encouraging a person to remain silent about their struggles,” Monroe said. “Feeling connected to and heard by others is one of the most powerful antidotes to depression and anxiety, while isolation fuels these emotional issues. Often, trying to hide or deny feelings can lead to more stress on the body and increased difficulty in avoiding upsetting emotions.”
Unblinking optimism and shutting the door on negative feelings doesn’t make them go away; if anything, it exacerbates them.
Javier Zayas Photography via Getty Images
Toxic positivity has gone into overdrive amid Covid-19.
Given the collective trauma we’re all experiencing with the coronavirus pandemic, toxic positivity is an especially relevant concept right now.
All those Instagram posts saying we need to lean into this experience, embrace spending more time with our family, get fit, pick up a new hobby, learn a new language, and finally write that novel? That’s toxic positivity, said Noel McDermott, a psychotherapist in London.
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“One of the biggest examples of toxic positivity is in the area of denial of the traumatic nature of the pandemic,” McDermott said. “You see it when people only promote the positive experience of lockdown in which they have been on a journey of self-development, learning to live in peace with their inner world.”
He added: “Even in normal times, becoming more inwardly focused is always a challenge, as we all have inner demons.”
Toxic positivity subtly ― or not so subtly, as shown in the viral tweet below ― suggests that if you’re not staying positive about this pandemic, you’re in the wrong headspace.
It delegitimises the very legitimate worries people have about their health, their family and friends’ health, and putting food on the table while unemployed or worrying about job security.
With the pandemic, the act of survival is mentally exhausting; few want to work on their side hustle or learn a second language when they’re worried about their families and saying goodbye to Covid-stricken loved ones via Zoom funerals.
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If you don’t come out of this with either a new skill, a new business idea, or more knowledge, IT IS PERFECTLY NORMAL. This is not a summer vacation, it’s a pandemic. This is utter garbage. https://t.co/TumeZwAfvN — Ruchita (@roocheetah) April 5, 2020
As one man replied to the productivity-pushing tweet above: “Most of us will be more than satisfied if we get through this without losing family members.”
Of course, we can be a victim of our own toxic positivity, too. Think about your current outlook: Are you forcing toxic positivity on yourself during this pandemic? Have you given yourself time to sit with your grief and uneasiness over how life has changed? Or do you push those thoughts away as quickly as possible so you can focus on staying positive and grateful for what you do have?
Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with counting your blessings during such a dark time. But you can do so while also acknowledging your uneasiness, said Jenny Maenpaa, a therapist in New York City.
“You can fight toxic positivity by acknowledging or recognising that multiple complex emotions can exist in you all at once,” Maenpaa said. “You can be devastated at the loss of life from Covid-19 and enjoy the hygge of quarantine.”
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Toxic positivity can be applied to systemic racism, too.
Toxic positivity can also affect how people see and respond to calls for racial justice.
The toxic positivity pusher might listen to someone share their personal stories involving racism and downplay it. They might offer some platitudes about the need for love and peace and positive thinking. They definitely don’t want to dwell on the negative, as Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah pointed out recently in an Instagram post about toxic positivity and racial oppression.
They might say that focusing on race is damaging to our progress and that “avoiding any and all conversations is a more fulfilling and positive way to live life,” Iyamah explained.
Of course, Black Americans and other people of colour know positivity alone isn’t going to dismantle systematic racism.
“It’s problematic to say that the damage these social realities create can only be dealt with at the level of individual psychology,” McDermott said.
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The therapist used the example of a woman in an abusive relationship to illustrate his point.
“A woman experiencing domestic abuse can’t be counselled to learn great positive psychology tools as a way of managing the abuse and staying in the abuse,” McDermott said. “She should be counselled to take action to get to physical safety and also take psychological action to recover from the abuse.”
The same principle holds for racism. Social action must be taken to correct social injustices and dismantle white supremacy. Putting the burden on a Black person to “stay positive” is an insult to their lived experiences and an example of white complacency.
“Psychological action alone is never going to suffice here,” McDermott said.
So, now that we know that positivity pushing isn’t the way to address troubling times, what’s a better route to take? Here’s what the experts said:
1. Give yourself permission to have both negative and positive emotions.
Remind yourself that you’re capable of holding multiple perspectives about uncertain or troubling situations, even when you’re in the thick of it. Lean into the positive and the negative. Be realistic.
“Practice gratitude for what you do have, but also be honest and express what is bothering you, like missed celebrations or worries about the future in the case of this pandemic,” Monroe said.
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2. Take a deeper look at your anxiety through journaling or mental exercises.
Luckily, there are strategies for examining our own anxieties and managing them, Maenpaa said. Deep breathing techniques coupled with guided meditations that recognise the fear and acknowledge it in order to keep moving forward are often helpful.
“Another strategy is to journal before bed or any time you’re feeling overwhelmed, because our brains can hold many short-term thoughts in it at once just in case we need them at a moment’s notice,” she said.
“This means that when we’re thinking about our fears or anxieties, our brain codes them as important and keeps them at the forefront,” Maenpaa explained. “By writing down those fears and anxieties, even if we can’t do anything about them, we’ve told our brains that it’s OK to let them go because they’re being taken care of.”
When Maenpaa is struggling to accept and balance seemingly conflicting emotions during rough patches in her life, she uses the old improv exercise of “yes and ...?”
“For example, I’ll say, ’I am so grateful to have a roof over my head and I hate the job that’s continuing to pay me in order to afford that roof.” Or “I’m afraid of what the future holds and I feel some excitement at the hope some things may change for the better.’”
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“When we give ourselves permission to hold multiple seemingly conflicting truths in our minds at the same time, we can eliminate the tension between them and give room to all of our positive and negative emotions,” Maenpaa explained.
3. Once you’ve explored what’s causing you anxiety, make an extra effort to take care of yourself.
There’s no actionable advice built into toxic positivity. It’s just “hang in there, things will get better eventually!”
One action you can take when dealing with uncertainty? Make a project of simply taking care of yourself. You’re going through a lot right now, and it wouldn’t hurt to baby yourself a little.
“Taking action for yourself means you sort out your sleep hygiene, exercise regularly, eat well and keep a healthy mealtime routine, hydrate and talk more about your worries to loved ones and friends,” McDermott said. “You also might develop a habit of mind that allows you to find meaning in struggle, whether that be through religion, spiritual practice or by attaching to larger causes.”
If you follow that advice, you’re giving yourself agency, whereas toxic positivity just gives you nice-sounding, but empty platitudes.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--How Losing Weight Could Help In The Fight Against Covid-19

What do we know about obesity and Covid-19?
Obesity has been linked to an increased likelihood of being admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with serious complications related to Covid-19. We also know that while young people tend to swerve the more severe effects of Covid-19, young obese people do not.
In the UK, nearly 8% of critically ill patients with Covid-19 in intensive care units have been morbidly obese, compared with 2.9% of the general population.
Individuals with a BMI greater than 35 – particularly those with heart disease – are at high risk for severe Covid‐19, one study found. Obese patients should be the focus of streamlined prevention and treatment strategies, researchers said.
The reason why obesity is a particular risk factor isn’t fully understood and more research is needed. But cardiologist David Kass, who works at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and co-led a study that linked higher BMI to more severe cases of Covid-19, has a few theories.
One of them is to do with inflammation, caused by fat itself. Fat cells release signals, which the immune system responds to, and this produces a “low level of background inflammation,” he said. We already know Covid-19 can cause the immune system to go into overdrive and attack itself – known as a cytokine storm – so this may be even worse for someone who is obese.
Dr Karen Coulman, a dietitian and research fellow at the University of Bristol, agrees that the risk of complications “may be due to increased inflammation and changes to the normal immune response in the bodies of people carrying excess weight”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--Sexting Helped Me Conquer My Body Confidence Issues

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You’re reading Sex Diaries, a HuffPost UK Personal series about how we are (or aren’t) having sex. To share your story, get in touch on ukpersonal@huffpost.com.
Since I can remember, I have always been body conscious.
I have been overweight my entire life, and though I recently lost two stone, at age 24 I am a size 26. This lead to a stunning lack of self-esteem and an intense fear of sex and anyone seeing me naked. I couldn’t even have my upper arms on show without hyperventilating.
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In my head, sex and boyfriends weren’t for fat girls and my body simply wasn’t desirable – and never would be unless I lost weight.
For the first 20 years of my life that turned out to be absolutely true. In school, my friends had boyfriend after boyfriend, while I became the official third wheel at the lunch table. I had never been asked out on a date – apart from as a joke of course – and no boy ever showed any interest in me whatsoever.
This continued when I went to university. I wasn’t a big drinker but when I did go out I was largely ignored by guys, and whenever any came over to try their luck with my friends they paid so little attention to me I may as well have been a bar stool.
“I wasn’t too sure why I enjoyed it so much – maybe it was because, for once, I was the one judging guys on their appearance.”
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Half out of desperation and half out of curiosity, I made an account on Tinder. At first I felt really weird about it – there’s still a lot of stigma around using dating apps, and I worried like I was being judged by my friends. It turned out I actually took to dating apps with gusto, swiping away in my spare time and finding it so therapeutic to look through these guys’ profiles. I wasn’t too sure why I enjoyed it so much – maybe it was because, for once, I was the one judging guys on their appearance.
I have no idea how, but eventually swiping turned into sexting, and idle chit chat turned into dirty exchanges. I ended up sexting a guy late one night and sending him nudes. The next morning I was genuinely ashamed at what I’d done, yet wondering where this sexy version of me had come from.
I felt like I was being judged by everyone who saw me, and even had a panic attack after telling a friend what happened. But under all this shame, I knew I had really enjoyed the experience and couldn’t stop thinking about how great it made me feel. When the same guy messaged me that night, I found myself jumping at the chance to do it again.
I sexted this same guy regularly for over a year – then anyone else who asked. I can’t tell you how many guys I ended up talking to, but I found it intoxicating and I couldn’t stop. I hadn’t given a blowjob before, but soon I could describe one like a pro.
“Yes, these were just random boys from the internet wanking to photos of my boobs. But the experience was really helping to not hate my body.”
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For the first time in my life I was seen as something desirable. These guys were begging to see my body, asking for pictures and liking what I sent. Yes, these were just random boys from the internet who were, let’s be honest, wanking to photos of my boobs. But the experience was really helping to not hate my body.
Despite feeling a little bit slutty, the self-confidence boost I enjoyed was phenomenal. I genuinely felt like a different person; I was still fat, but I really started to love myself and my body. I’d look in the mirror and wouldn’t hate what I saw. In fact, I liked it, and started dressing in clothes that showed off my figure, instead of just hiding it away. My self-esteem shone to the point friends and family noticed the change – though of course it was pretty much impossible for me to tell them why.
And without the confidence gained from my online trysts, I don’t think I’d ever have been able to get in the amazing relationship I have now, again meeting on tinder. Once I actually started to have confidence in myself, I got the boyfriend I was so desperate for and I was actually having real sex, rather than just writing it down. Sexting had been the only sex life I’d ever really had, and so to suddenly be catapulted into ‘real’ experiences was odd, but very welcome change. I knew in the long run constantly talking to different guys wasn’t healthy, and I wanted to have an actual relationship rather than just exchanging pictures.
It has taken me years to unlearn the horrible things I thought about my body. But without actually exploring my body and my sexuality through online dating I know I wouldn’t have the confidence I do today. Sure, I still have wobbly days when I look in the mirror and hate what I see. But if my boyfriend – and a bunch of other guys – can love my body, I can too.
Polly Jean Harrison is a writer and editor. Follow her on Twitter at @ohpollyjean
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--3 Satisfying Comfort Food Recipes From A Cookbook That Helps Others

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Want to eat good and do good? Enter: Community Comfort, a new cookbook spearheaded by author Riaz Phillips who, like many others, has turned to comfort food in a time of crisis – and directed that energy to make positive change.
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Profits of the digital cookbook will go to two charities set up to help the Black and ethnic minority community, who have been disproportionately affected by coronavirus. Money will go to the Majonzi Bereavement Fund, and the Auntie platform, so individuals can access counsellors and therapists.
Riaz Phillips
Expect recipes from a diverse line-up of more than 100 chefs and food writers, including the likes of James Cochran, Ravneet Gill, Vivek Singh, Benjamina Ebuihi, Romy Gill, and many more.
“In this UK, be it Asian, Latin American or west African, different communities have faced a similar plight of misrepresentation and oftentimes appropriation,” says Phillips. “Many of these smaller communities have bonded together to form an even wider community, shedding light on the political nature of food.
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“Through this project, I hope to pass the mic to all these people so they can tell their own stories.”
Here are three satisfying dishes that’ll invoke a sense of nostalgia.
Roasted Plantain With Pistachio Ice Cream And Salted Pistachio Brittle
Serves: 4 | Recipe by: Yvonne Maxwell
Yvonne Maxwell Roasted Plantain with Pistachio Ice Cream & Salted Pistachio Brittle
“Plantain is the ultimate form of comfort food. At peak ripeness, it provides a sweet burst of decadence – and, when cooked, the sugars are drawn out from intense heat, the flesh caramelising until soft and golden. This recipe is an adaptation of Boli, a Nigerian street food dish of roasted plantain that’s eaten with groundnut.”
Ingredients:
For the pistachio ice cream:
150g pistachios (unsalted, not roasted, shelled)
200g granulated sugar, separating 70g
320ml whole milk (or any alternative milk of your choice)
320ml double cream
4 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract (optional)
For the roasted plantain:
4 plantains
Coconut oil (enough to coat each plantain)
Sea salt flakes
Method:
1. For the ice cream, finely grind the pistachios and the reserved 70g sugar in a blender or spice grinder, taking care not to over-grind into a paste. Combine the egg yolks with the remaining granulated sugar in a bowl and whisk until they are fully combined and pale yellow in colour.
2. Separately, place the milk, double cream and ground pistachio mix into a large saucepan and bring to boil. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and almond extract (if using). Gradually pour the hot milk mixture over the eggs, whisking continuously to prevent the eggs from scrambling. Return the custard mixture back to the saucepan and simmer on a low heat, whisking until the custard thickens and coats the back of a spoon – roughly 10 mins. Place mix in the fridge until cold, about one hour.
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3. If using an ice cream maker, process the mix accordingly and freeze in an airtight container, placing cling film over the mixture before covering – or place the mix in an airtight container as previously instructed, and freeze until firm (about three hours), stirring every hour in order to break up any ice crystals that may form. This will give your ice cream that creamy texture.
4. Preheat your oven to 200°C/180°C fan oven. Line a baking sheet with foil and set aside.
5. Rinse and dry your plantain. With a sharp knife, cut both ends off of the plantain and carefully cut a shallow line down the long seam of the plantain, taking care not to pierce the flesh of the plantain. Peel and discard skin. Coat each plantain with the oil and a sprinkling of sea salt flakes and place on the tray.
6. Bake the plantain for 15-20 mins in total, check and turn over halfway, until the plantain is golden brown on all sides and tender. Now is a good time to remove the ice cream from the freezer to soften for 5-10 mins before serving.
7. To serve, split the roasted plantain in half using a knife and place on a plate, then break up pieces of some optional salted pistachio brittle over it. Scoop a generous portion of the pistachio ice cream and dollop over the warm caramelised plantain. Add more broken pieces of brittle and any spare pistachios you may have lying around, add a final sprinkle of sea salt flakes and devour!
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Red Pea Stew
Serves: 6 | Recipe by: Riaz Phillips
Riaz Phillips Red Pea Stew
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“Red pea soup is an institution in practically every nook and crevice of Jamaica. You can find it anywhere from upmarket diners to roadside stalls. Growing up this or cock soup was a staple Saturday dish by mum as the days began to get colder and a single pot would magically last me several days especially when bolstered with extra starch. The only issue was having the patience for it all to cook down properly.”
Ingredients:
2 cans (400g each) of kidney beans or 2 cups dried red kidney beans
1 can of coconut milk
10 cups of water
3 cloves of garlic
2 spring onions (green part only)
1 medium onion
1 medium Irish potato
1 medium chayote (chocho)
½ yellow yam
1 medium carrot
8 Allspice (pimento) berries or ½ tsp of ground allspice
3 sprigs of thyme
1 scotch bonnet pepper
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp crushed black pepper
1 tbsp all-purpose seasoning
For the spinners (dumplings):
65g (½ cup) all-purpose flour
1 tsp cornmeal (optional)
1 tsp coconut flakes (optional)
60ml (¼ cup) of water
2 dashes of salt
Method:
1. For the dumplings, combine all-purpose flour, salt, and optional ingredients into a bowl and carefully pour in water with one hand, while combining them with the other until a dough consistency is formed. If the mix is too wet, liberally add more flour until you can roll the dough about in your hands without leaving any residue. Once this is done, wrap in cling film, place in a bowl and refrigerate.
2. For the stew, if you are using dried red beans, wash them and soak for a minimum of seven hours or overnight. Rinse in a colander, then place in a large saucepan with the water. Bring to boil on medium-high heat, then turn down the heat to a medium simmer for 25 minutes until beans start to become yielding.
3. During this time, peel and dice the potato, chayote, yam into similar 3-4cm cubes. Peel the carrot and chop into ½-1cm circles. Chop off the white base of the spring onions, discard and finely chop the green body. Finally, peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Don’t worry if this takes longer than 25 minutes, the more the beans simmer and soften for, the better.
4. Add all chopped vegetables into the saucepan along with the whole scotch bonnet pepper (do not chop) and allow to cook for a further 20-25mins.
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5. Boil a pan of water on high and add a dash of salt. Collect your refrigerated dough mix and remove cling film. Flour dust a chopping board or kitchen surface and place the dough mix. Tear off pieces and roll into the size of your little finger until smooth. Repeat until the whole mix is used.
6. Remove the lid from the stew and add the tin of coconut milk, the dumplings in addition to the allspice, sea salt, black pepper, thyme, and all-purpose seasoning. Simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
7. If you find the final stew consistency too thick, add water as you feel. It’s not necessary to follow timings exactly. There’s a fine art to making the vegetables soft but dense at the same time.
Side note: if you’re using kidney beans from a tin: add water to saucepan first and add seasonings, vegetables and cook for 15 minutes before adding the beans straight from the tin without rinsing.
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Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Serves: 2 | Recipe by: James Cochran
James Cochran Buttermilk Fried Chicken
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“Fried chicken has been a constant love of mine and one which brings fond memories of eating Morley’s fried chicken in Brixton as a youngster with my mum, exploring my West Indian roots and culture in South London. It’s the ultimate accessible luxury and instant comfort for many. It’s also been a solid part of my culinary journey even winning me a Great British Menu dish.”
Ingredients:
2 litres vegetable oil
500g boneless/skinless chicken (thigh, breast or wings will all work)
250ml buttermilk (you should be able to pick up some in most supermarkets; if you can’t, make your own substitute: stir one tablespoon of lemon juice into 250ml milk, leave it to settle for 10 minutes and you’re done)
100g flour
4 eggs, whisked
300g breadcrumbs, or stale bread, blitzed
50g any store cupboard spices (I use jerk spice but anything with a kick will work – mild curry, chilli, paprika, turmeric, garam masala, whatever you’ve got)
A handful crushed of nuts (corn nuts, peanuts, almonds, cashews)
Method:
1. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces and mix them with the buttermilk and spices. Season with salt and leave for six hours; the acid in the buttermilk will tenderise the chicken and penetrate the spice into it
2. Panne the chicken. Start by mixing the bread crumbs with the flour. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs. Then dip the chicken in egg mix, and coat with the flour and breadcrumb mix
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3. If you have a fryer, set it to 180°C. If you don’t, heat a deep saucepan with enough oil to fill it three-quarters of the way up, and get it nice and hot – a kitchen thermometer will obviously be handy here, if you’ve got one.
4. Fry the chicken for six minutes, or until golden brown. Remove and let them drain on paper.
5. Serve with your sauce and herbs of choice. I like to garnish with coriander, spring onion, peanuts and lots of chilli jam – but mayonnaise, mustard mayo, ketchup and yogurt with smoked paprika all work too. And if you’re not into coriander, parsley, basil, mint and tarragon would all do.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-07-10--'Collect Child, Leave Immediately': How Covid-19 Tainted Playground Pick-Ups

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When my daughter started school four years ago, I had no idea what it would mean... for the parents.
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I hadn’t realised that just as my child entered a new stage of social learning; I, too, would find myself navigating the tricky territory of new friendship circles. At times, it felt like being plunged straight back into the drama of my own school days – except that it was “mum cliques”, not groups of pre-teens.
Yet, I also hadn’t anticipated making brand-new friends... for life. Friends who didn’t just smile at the school gate, but would become shoulders to cry on, holiday companions and dance partners on a wild night out.
More poignantly, I hadn’t fully appreciated how much I would come to value the daily contact I had with my parent pals at the start and end of every day – not to mention the day trips at half-term, and the weekly, wine-fuelled playdates.
Receiving a sympathetic hug from a friend on the playground while you’re tearing your hair out because your child has refused to go to school? The same friend who messages you later to say, “that looked stressful – come round for tea, after pick-up”? Worth its weight in gold.
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Until... lockdown. Now, there are a new bunch of social rules, designed to minimise physical contact between parents and carers. And it’s hard.
richard johnson via Getty Images
My children’s school in east London has dealt with the difficulties of the pandemic impeccably – but some of the rhetoric inevitably came off cold, because of the seriousness of the research, and resulting government guidelines. We received the following messages relating to our new routines:
Drop off: Please note that in the mornings for drop off, parents will need to line up at the gate and wait with their child to do a temperature check before they are allowed entry to school. Parents will not be allowed into the playground at morning drop off time.
Pick up: Parents come into playground and stand in their class ‘zone’, which will be signposted. Wait, following social distance rules, collect your child and leave playground immediately. Please ensure only one adult does this.
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While I wholeheartedly understand and appreciate the need for distance, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss it, now I’m reduced to mouthing “hello” to those I see on the nursery run. The rest of the school isn’t back, yet – so there are many families I simply won’t catch sight of for another two months.
The conversations I have with fellow mums, dads and carers have been reduced to the precious few moments before and after my son walks through the gate to meet his teacher – and have his mandatory temperature gun check.
I miss lingering in the playground to kiss my kids as they go into class; taking the teachers aside to tell them, face-to-face, when they have a tummy ache, or are feeling upset. I miss waving, smiling – and hugging – friends who pass by on the frantic morning rush to work. And giving (and receiving) a sympathetic smile when someone’s child is having a DEFCON 1-powered tantrum.
I even miss rolling my eyes in cheeky acknowledgement when a friend belts past you, dragging their kid along with them – because you know that while they’re running impossibly late today, it’ll be you tomorrow.
I’ve gotten so used to the pick-up and drop-off being a standard part of my day – one full of social interactions, chatter, and smiles – that I hadn’t realised how much I’d miss them when they weren’t there.
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These are small sacrifices to make, of course, in the face of so much fear and concern for health. But it’s important to notice their absence, because in realising our losses, we gain new awareness of their value.