huffpost--2020-05-11--4 Style Bloggers Share The Surprising Amount Of Money They Make

Expenses associated with this collaboration : “ I had to purchase the accessories to complete the outfits that they sent .
They only sent clothing .
I am all about presenting a great final product , so in order for my vision to come into fruition , I needed to have all accessories from that company to effectively show followers that it is a one-stop shop for all fashion needs .
I calculated all of that into my price .
I also had to hire a photographer for this one .
When I am working on higher-paid projects , hiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Quality is key.
” Her POV : “ Influencers and bloggers most definitely need to take the time out to research and study before just hopping into this field .
I have had many huge brands that I know for a fact make enough money to pay influencers still try to get over on me with not wanting to pay me , or pay me less than my worth .
Make sure that you are reading every single line of the contractual agreements sent to you .
Being knowledgeable is highly important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letters to previous clients that booked you .
Do not be afraid to follow up 3-6 months later if you haven ’ t heard from them again to see if they have any upcoming projects that you can work with them on .
Reach out to the PR and marketing companies .
They are the ones who have the clients with the money .
Last , keep a good reputation with brands by making sure that you present good quality and meet your deadlines .
It never hurts to get content to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will definitely be a good look !
” How her business has changed since COVID-19 : “ Work was completely put at a halt .
I own an agency and had to close it down until quarantine is lifted throughout all of the U.S. , because my models and actors can ’ t travel anywhere .
It has definitely been tough .
My influencing rates had to drop to half of what I charge , because many of the brands/clients are getting hit financially , as well .
One thing I did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brands that I ’ ve always wanted to work with for exchange collabs to keep up my content flow and build a stronger relationship with them and hopefully lead to something long term and paid .
I just worked on a quarantine style guide for at home workers with New York & Company .
I had to think smarter and not harder and make great use of my time in quarantine.
” Her POV : “ This may be an unpopular opinion , but I do think it ’ s OK to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a brand you ’ re interested in forming a relationship with .
Especially if you ’ re just starting out your blogging business ... this is how I built long-lasting relationships with several brands I still work with .
That being said , I also feel that in order to really commit and dive in to what is required to build a loyal , dedicated readership , it almost needs to be your only focus in the form of work .
I worked my job and did my blog on nights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then I started getting paid jobs so I felt comfortable going full time [ with blogging ] .
I don ’ t think it ’ s always clear that being a writer/blogger/influencer/content creator is a full-time job and a lot of us , myself included , have worked hard for everything we have .
“ Influencers get a lot of crap about doing sponsored content , but instead of choosing to be annoyed , they really need your support .
These creative individuals have been hired by big brands to do the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past , an entire crew would have been hired to do .
I also want to point out that the more you put into this job , the more you get out of it .
I hustled last year and worked entirely too much , but this year I ’ m able to choose more carefully which brands I work with .
My goal this year is to get a lot of brands to support projects with positive social impact because why do I have this platform if I ’ m not using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business has changed since COVID-19 : “ My long term partnerships thankfully are still active , however I know that it could change at any moment .
I ’ ve had a lot of work this month , surprisingly ― but I have also accepted slightly lower rates if a brand has asked .
I value transparency and relationships with all of my partnerships and I don ’ t mind working with the budget if I am able to .
I ’ ve also felt very fortunate during this time and keep giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like it ’ s the right thing to do.
” Her POV : “ I see sponsored content like traditional magazines .
You have a collection of interesting articles , beautiful imagery , and maybe even a quiz or two ― and in order to produce this highly engaging content that you love , I need to sell ad space .
The good news is that the ads are integrated into content that I would normally create , it feels seamless .
All brands are vetted by me and all content is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a person who you ( the reader ) know , like and trust .
Brands are not only paying for access to my content , but they are paying for content creation , for rights to use those images and for my likeness .
It ’ s easier to make a case to a brand when you understand not only the demographics but the psychographics of your reader and how that aligns with their target market.
” How her business has changed since COVID-19 : “ As with many industries , COVID-19 has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With many sponsorship deals being put on pause or canceled , creators are feeling the difference in their pockets .
On the flip side , we are creating more than ever before .
My blog has hit an all-time high traffic month with record-breaking numbers and my audience is more engaged than ever before .
The pandemic has impacted us all , but when you do what you love , you find wins where you can .
While I hope business can resume sooner rather than later , I know that this will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , influencer marketing included .
Hopefully , the content that I serve to my audience during this time will continue to build a relationship of trust and dependability for my readers.
” Her POV : “ Making income through sponsored content needs to be a two-way street .
The influencer has a responsibility to create compelling and original content and should be paid accordingly .
There ’ s been change as of this year in what the typical cost to hire an influencer looks like .
Brands need to consider authentic followers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ditch the notion that it matters what numerical size his or her audience looks like .
For example , we are seeing a huge shift in authentic , real-life , in-the-moment content rather than stylized photo shoots to highlight a product .
Sponsored content should look and feel as authentic as possible !
When an influencer chooses to partner with a brand , it should feel like a seamless addition to their blog and social channels .
Personally , I choose to work with fewer brands so I don ’ t come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decide who to work with on my end as a blogger to create the best end results in a campaign .
My goal is to continue a long-term relationship with just a couple of well-known brands rather than work with hundreds of different ones.
” How her business has changed since COVID-19 : “ I ’ ve had numerous campaigns either postponed or canceled altogether because of COVID-19 , which is to be expected with the stay-at-home order in place here in Florida .
Thankfully , I ’ ve been paid from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April .
I have a few campaigns going live in August .
I ’ ve had some campaign opportunities come through to go live in May with COVID-19 in mind featuring at-home workout ideas , cooking at home ideas , and cozy loungewear .
I am definitely not seeing the typical brand sponsorships I would normally see , but there ’ s been a shift in the type of content to post about due to the pandemic , for obvious reasons .
I ’ m also spending more time growing my video content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people enjoying this type of content from their phones .
”

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When most people think of influencers, they picture sponsored grid posts and stories on Instagram. We all know that influencers make money from sponsored grid posts and Instagram stories, but what about good old-fashioned bloggers? Are they still bringing in money for their content?
And now that the coronavirus pandemic has changed the landscape of digital influencing, how has the blogging world changed?
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Even though traditional blogging may not be as popular as it was a decade ago, it’s still an extremely lucrative way for influencers and content creators to make money — sometimes even more so than sponsored content on Instagram.
Mackenzie Newcomb is an influencer marketing manager for Traackr who works with brands to provide data on how much the brand should pay influencers, based on the quality of their audience. Newcomb also worked directly with influencers in past roles.
“From my experience working at a gourmet food company, most Instagram influencers asked for $1k-$2k per every 100k followers they had. There would be variations, for those who had extremely good engagement or outstanding photography skills that could be leveraged for marketing resources,” Newcomb said. “I found that blog posts almost always paid 50% to 100% more than standard in-feed posts, due to the amount of labor.”
Because blog posts almost always require more copy and more images than Instagram posts, blogs offer influencers an opportunity to bump up the overall rate for a collaboration. And blog posts rarely exist on their own — usually, a blog post is part of a collaboration that includes an Instagram grid post or story, as well. Unlike Instagram content, though, blog posts also come with the opportunity to attract a large audience through SEO. And unlike follower counts, organic SEO traffic is much harder to fake.
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So exactly what goes into a sponsored blog post? And how much money are content creators making from them? We spoke to five influencers and bloggers with audiences of all sizes to find out how things worked both pre-coronavirus and now, after things have started to change.
The influencers below didn’t name the brands that paid them for their work.
Paris Chanel is a Memphis, Tennessee-based influencer and blogger who covers topics ranging from fashion and beauty to lifestyle and tech. Like many successful influencers these days, her content covers a bit of everything. And though she’s only been blogging for two years, she’s already built up a substantial and engaged audience.
Brand category: Fashion
Deliverables: “The client sent me five outfits that I could choose from and style to make my own. They wanted me to create some fashion content for their clothes and created a special link for each piece that I could promote to my followers. My deliverables to them were: a 300-500 word temporary 2-week blog post, 3 consecutive permanent Instagram posts and 5 swipe-up Instagram stories with outfit breakdowns. They were so pleased with the content quality that they booked me again for a swimwear campaign that I created video content for.”
What she was offered initially: $500
What she was paid in the end: $1,500
Expenses associated with this collaboration: “I had to purchase the accessories to complete the outfits that they sent. They only sent clothing. I am all about presenting a great final product, so in order for my vision to come into fruition, I needed to have all accessories from that company to effectively show followers that it is a one-stop shop for all fashion needs. I calculated all of that into my price. I also had to hire a photographer for this one. When I am working on higher-paid projects, hiring a professional is a must for me. Quality is key.”
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Exclusivity: This campaign did not contain any exclusivity or in perpetuity rights.
How long did the post need to stay live: Two weeks
Turnaround time: Three weeks
Her POV: “Influencers and bloggers most definitely need to take the time out to research and study before just hopping into this field. I have had many huge brands that I know for a fact make enough money to pay influencers still try to get over on me with not wanting to pay me, or pay me less than my worth. Make sure that you are reading every single line of the contractual agreements sent to you. Being knowledgeable is highly important. Be sure to send thank you letters to previous clients that booked you. Do not be afraid to follow up 3-6 months later if you haven’t heard from them again to see if they have any upcoming projects that you can work with them on. Reach out to the PR and marketing companies. They are the ones who have the clients with the money. Last, keep a good reputation with brands by making sure that you present good quality and meet your deadlines. It never hurts to get content to them before the deadline date. Trust, it will definitely be a good look!”
How her business has changed since COVID-19: “Work was completely put at a halt. I own an agency and had to close it down until quarantine is lifted throughout all of the U.S., because my models and actors can’t travel anywhere. It has definitely been tough. My influencing rates had to drop to half of what I charge, because many of the brands/clients are getting hit financially, as well. One thing I did take advantage of was reaching out to brands that I’ve always wanted to work with for exchange collabs to keep up my content flow and build a stronger relationship with them and hopefully lead to something long term and paid. I just worked on a quarantine style guide for at home workers with New York & Company. I had to think smarter and not harder and make great use of my time in quarantine.”
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Ashley Dorough specializes in fashion and body acceptance content. Based in Atlanta, Dorough is entering her fourth year of creating content and blogging, and shared that it took her one year to get her first paid collaboration.
Brand category: Fashion
Deliverables: One Instagram post, two Instagram story sets (three-plus frames each), and one blog post featuring 10 items from the brand and her own styled outfit from the brand.
What she was offered initially: $2,200
What she was paid in the end: $2,800
Expenses associated with this collaboration: $150 for a photographer
Exclusivity: None
How long did the post need to stay live: Indefinitely
Turnaround time: One month
Her POV: “This may be an unpopular opinion, but I do think it’s OK to do work for product exchange sometimes if it’s a brand you’re interested in forming a relationship with. Especially if you’re just starting out your blogging business ... this is how I built long-lasting relationships with several brands I still work with. That being said, I also feel that in order to really commit and dive in to what is required to build a loyal, dedicated readership, it almost needs to be your only focus in the form of work. I worked my job and did my blog on nights and weekends for the first year, and then I started getting paid jobs so I felt comfortable going full time [with blogging]. I don’t think it’s always clear that being a writer/blogger/influencer/content creator is a full-time job and a lot of us, myself included, have worked hard for everything we have.
“Influencers get a lot of crap about doing sponsored content, but instead of choosing to be annoyed, they really need your support. These creative individuals have been hired by big brands to do the same scope of work that in the past, an entire crew would have been hired to do. I also want to point out that the more you put into this job, the more you get out of it. I hustled last year and worked entirely too much, but this year I’m able to choose more carefully which brands I work with. My goal this year is to get a lot of brands to support projects with positive social impact because why do I have this platform if I’m not using it that way?”
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How her business has changed since COVID-19: “My long term partnerships thankfully are still active, however I know that it could change at any moment. I’ve had a lot of work this month, surprisingly ― but I have also accepted slightly lower rates if a brand has asked. I value transparency and relationships with all of my partnerships and I don’t mind working with the budget if I am able to. I’ve also felt very fortunate during this time and keep giving back to my community because I just feel like it’s the right thing to do.”
Sabrina Molu, an influencer in Atlanta, started her beauty- and lifestyle-focused blog back in 2012 as “just a hobby.” It took her two years to get her first paid campaign, but these days she has roughly 75,000 blog readers per month (and no shortage of partnerships).
Brand category: Beauty
Deliverables: “The brand wanted a blog post, a round of social (evergreen Pinterest pin, static Instagram post, Facebook post, tweet, 3-5 Instagram stories), three images with one-year digital limited rights to repurpose content, and whitelist with paid advertising.” Whitelisting gives advertisers access to an influencer’s social account, allowing them to optimize paid media and make sure their ad dollars are reaching the right audience.
What she was offered initially: $2,000
What she was paid in the end: $3,000
Expenses associated with this collaboration: “The product was shipped to me and I worked with my usual team for photography, editing and optimization.”
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Exclusivity: One week before and one week after
How long did the post need to stay live: One year
Turnaround time: Three to four weeks
Her POV: “I see sponsored content like traditional magazines. You have a collection of interesting articles, beautiful imagery, and maybe even a quiz or two ― and in order to produce this highly engaging content that you love, I need to sell ad space. The good news is that the ads are integrated into content that I would normally create, it feels seamless. All brands are vetted by me and all content is written by me, the editor ― a person who you (the reader) know, like and trust. Brands are not only paying for access to my content, but they are paying for content creation, for rights to use those images and for my likeness. It’s easier to make a case to a brand when you understand not only the demographics but the psychographics of your reader and how that aligns with their target market.”
How her business has changed since COVID-19: “As with many industries, COVID-19 has affected the business of influencer marketing. With many sponsorship deals being put on pause or canceled, creators are feeling the difference in their pockets. On the flip side, we are creating more than ever before. My blog has hit an all-time high traffic month with record-breaking numbers and my audience is more engaged than ever before. The pandemic has impacted us all, but when you do what you love, you find wins where you can. While I hope business can resume sooner rather than later, I know that this will be a slow recovery for many industries, influencer marketing included. Hopefully, the content that I serve to my audience during this time will continue to build a relationship of trust and dependability for my readers.”
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Amanda Burrows is the St. Petersburg, Florida-based blogger behind Affordable By Amanda and has been creating content for four years now. Her niche focuses on (you guessed it) affordable fashion, but also includes beauty and travel content. She shares that it took two years to land her first paid blog post.
Brand category: Fashion
Deliverables: “One 300-word blog post with 4-5 high-res images, one Instagram in-feed post with 3-5 IG stories.”
What she was offered initially: $2,000
What she was paid in the end: $2,500
Expenses associated with this collaboration: “I hired a professional photographer to help me capture the images for this blog post. I had to purchase the product for the shoot. I also had to drive to the location where my shoot was taking place.”
Exclusivity: Six months
How long did the post need to stay live: One year
Turnaround time: Three weeks
Her POV: “Making income through sponsored content needs to be a two-way street. The influencer has a responsibility to create compelling and original content and should be paid accordingly. There’s been change as of this year in what the typical cost to hire an influencer looks like. Brands need to consider authentic followers and insights when choosing who to work with and ditch the notion that it matters what numerical size his or her audience looks like. For example, we are seeing a huge shift in authentic, real-life, in-the-moment content rather than stylized photo shoots to highlight a product. Sponsored content should look and feel as authentic as possible! When an influencer chooses to partner with a brand, it should feel like a seamless addition to their blog and social channels. Personally, I choose to work with fewer brands so I don’t come across greedy or unnatural. I carefully decide who to work with on my end as a blogger to create the best end results in a campaign. My goal is to continue a long-term relationship with just a couple of well-known brands rather than work with hundreds of different ones.”


huffpost--2020-05-07--Ahmaud Arbery's Parents Demand Arrests More Than 2 Months After Son Shot Dead

SAVANNAH , Ga. ( AP ) — The parents of a black man slain in a pursuit by two white men armed with guns called for immediate arrests Wednesday as they faced the prospect of waiting a month or longer before a Georgia grand jury could consider bringing charges .
A swelling outcry over the Feb. 23 shooting of Ahmaud Arbery intensified after a cellphone video that lawyers for his family say shows the killing surfaced online Tuesday .
Following the video ’ s release , a large crowd of demonstrators marched in the neighborhood where Arbery was killed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which the governor and attorney general pledged to support .
The men who pursued Arbery told police they suspected he had committed a recent burglary .
A cross with flowers sits near the intersection of Satilla Rd .
and Holmes Rd .
in the Satilla Shores neighborhood where Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed May 7 , 2020 in Brunswick , Georgia .
Arbery was shot during a confrontation with an armed father and son on Feb. 23 .
( Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images ) No arrests have been made or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than two months after the killing .
An outside prosecutor in charge of the case said he wants a grand jury to decide whether criminal charges are warranted .
That won ’ t happen until at least mid-June , since Georgia courts remain largely closed because of the coronavirus .
Attorneys for Arbery ’ s family said the father and son , who have acknowledged in a police report grabbing guns and pursuing Arbery in a truck after seeing him running in their neighborhood , should be arrested now before a grand jury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often happens in criminal cases .
According to an incident report filed by Glynn County police , Arbery was shot after two men spotted him running in their neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon .
Gregory McMichael told police that he and his adult son thought the runner matched the description of someone caught on a security camera committing a recent break-in in the neighborhood .
They armed themselves with guns before getting in a truck to pursue him .
The father said his son , Travis McMichael , got out of the truck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began to violently attack.
” He said Arbery was shot as the two men fought over the shotgun , according to the police report .
After Arbery was shot , the police report says , Gregory McMichael turned him onto his back to see if he was armed .
The report doesn ’ t say whether he had a weapon .
The cellphone video , initially posted by a Brunswick radio station , shows a black man running at a jogging pace on the left side of a road .
A truck is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One man is inside the pickup ’ s bed , and another is standing beside the open driver ’ s side door .
The runner crosses the road to pass the pickup on the passenger side , then crosses back in front of the truck .
A gunshot sounds , and the video shows the runner grappling with a man in the street over what appears to be a shotgun or rifle .
A second shot can be heard , and the runner can be seen punching the man .
A third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The runner staggers a few feet and falls face down .
“ I realize that emotions are running high in this community and they ’ re running high throughout this state , ” Reynolds said in statement .
“ And the last thing anyone wants to do is extend us any patience .
But I also realize that this investigation must be done correctly.
” Georgia law says a person can kill in self-defense “ only if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a forcible felony.
” The law also says a person who provokes an attack or acts as “ the aggressor ” can ’ t claim self-defense .

Ahmaud Arbery Family handout
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — The parents of a black man slain in a pursuit by two white men armed with guns called for immediate arrests Wednesday as they faced the prospect of waiting a month or longer before a Georgia grand jury could consider bringing charges.
A swelling outcry over the Feb. 23 shooting of Ahmaud Arbery intensified after a cellphone video that lawyers for his family say shows the killing surfaced online Tuesday. Following the video’s release, a large crowd of demonstrators marched in the neighborhood where Arbery was killed, and the state opened its own investigation, which the governor and attorney general pledged to support. The men who pursued Arbery told police they suspected he had committed a recent burglary.
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Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper Jones, told reporters Wednesday she believes her 25-year-old son “was just out for his daily jog” in a neighborhood outside the port city of Brunswick. She hasn’t watched the video.
“I saw my son come into the world,” Jones said. “And seeing him leave the world, it’s not something that I’ll want to see ever.”
A cross with flowers sits near the intersection of Satilla Rd. and Holmes Rd. in the Satilla Shores neighborhood where Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed May 7, 2020 in Brunswick, Georgia. Arbery was shot during a confrontation with an armed father and son on Feb. 23. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Sean Rayford via Getty Images
No arrests have been made or charges filed in coastal Glynn County more than two months after the killing. An outside prosecutor in charge of the case said he wants a grand jury to decide whether criminal charges are warranted. That won’t happen until at least mid-June, since Georgia courts remain largely closed because of the coronavirus.
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Attorneys for Arbery’s family said the father and son, who have acknowledged in a police report grabbing guns and pursuing Arbery in a truck after seeing him running in their neighborhood, should be arrested now before a grand jury decides whether to indict them — as often happens in criminal cases.
“These men were vigilantes, they were a posse and they performed a modern lynching in the middle of the day,” said Lee Merritt, an attorney for Arbery’s mother.
According to an incident report filed by Glynn County police, Arbery was shot after two men spotted him running in their neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon. Gregory McMichael told police that he and his adult son thought the runner matched the description of someone caught on a security camera committing a recent break-in in the neighborhood. They armed themselves with guns before getting in a truck to pursue him.
The father said his son, Travis McMichael, got out of the truck holding a shotgun, and Arbery “began to violently attack.” He said Arbery was shot as the two men fought over the shotgun, according to the police report.
After Arbery was shot, the police report says, Gregory McMichael turned him onto his back to see if he was armed. The report doesn’t say whether he had a weapon.
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A phone number listed for Gregory McMichael has been disconnected. The Associated Press could not immediately find a phone listing for Travis McMichael.
The cellphone video, initially posted by a Brunswick radio station, shows a black man running at a jogging pace on the left side of a road. A truck is parked in the road ahead of him. One man is inside the pickup’s bed, and another is standing beside the open driver’s side door.
The runner crosses the road to pass the pickup on the passenger side, then crosses back in front of the truck. A gunshot sounds, and the video shows the runner grappling with a man in the street over what appears to be a shotgun or rifle. A second shot can be heard, and the runner can be seen punching the man. A third shot is fired at point-blank range. The runner staggers a few feet and falls face down.
Tom Durden, the district attorney appointed to oversee the case, declined to comment Tuesday when asked if the video depicts Arbery’s shooting.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation got involved Wednesday after Durden requested the agency’s help. GBI Director Vic Reynolds said he assigned three supervisory-level agents to the case.
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“I realize that emotions are running high in this community and they’re running high throughout this state,” Reynolds said in statement. “And the last thing anyone wants to do is extend us any patience. But I also realize that this investigation must be done correctly.”
Georgia law says a person can kill in self-defense “only if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury ... or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.” The law also says a person who provokes an attack or acts as “the aggressor” can’t claim self-defense.
Merritt, the attorney for Arbery’s mother, said the U.S. Justice Department should also investigate the death as a hate crime.
“The FBI has said it’s assisting,” said Justice Department spokesman Matt Lloyd, “and as is standard protocol we look forward to working with them should information come to light of a potential federal violation.”
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp late Tuesday threw his support behind that probe. He tweeted: “Georgians deserve answers. State law enforcement stands ready to ensure justice is served.”
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Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, also a Republican, spoke out as well.
“Based on the video footage and news reports that I have seen, I am deeply concerned with the events surrounding the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery,” Carr said in a statement. “I expect justice to be carried out as swiftly as possible.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, also weighed in. “The video is clear: Ahmaud Arbery was killed in cold blood,” Biden tweeted, referring to the death as a “murder.”
Jackie Johnson, the district attorney for Glynn County, recused herself from the case because Gregory McMichael worked as an investigator in her office. He retired a year ago. George Barnhill, the first outside prosecutor on the case, stepped aside in mid-April at the urging of Arbery’s family. Barnhill has a son who works as an assistant prosecutor for Johnson.
___


huffpost--2020-05-11--Supreme Court Hears Case Of Teachers Claiming Discrimination From Catholic Schools

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — A case about the appropriate separation between church and state is taking center stage at the Supreme Court , which is hearing arguments by telephone for a second week because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The case involving two ex-Catholic school teachers and their former employers is one of two the court is tackling Monday .
The three days of arguments last week might be considered something of a warm-up , a test of how telephone arguments would work and of making audio of arguments live for the first time .
The stakes are higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-profile fights over President Donald Trump ’ s financial records and whether presidential electors have to cast their Electoral College ballots for the candidate who wins the popular vote in their state .
Those cases will be heard Tuesday and Wednesday .
On Monday , the court is hearing a case involving Kristen Biel and Agnes Morrissey-Berru , both former fifth grade teachers at Catholic schools in California .
Biel taught at St. James Catholic School in Torrance and Morrissey-Berru at Our Lady of Guadalupe in nearby Hermosa Beach .
Morrissey-Berru ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 , when she was in her 60s , after she ’ d taught more than 15 years at the school .
And Biel ’ s contract wasn ’ t renewed after she disclosed she had breast cancer and would need time off .
Both sued their former employers , with Morrissey-Berru alleging age discrimination and Biel alleging disability discrimination .
A lower court said both lawsuits could go forward , but the schools have appealed and have the support of the Trump administration .
The question for the justices is whether the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result of a unanimous 2012 Supreme Court decision that said the Constitution prevents ministers from suing their churches for employment discrimination .
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington , DC , on May 4 , 2020 , during the first day of oral arguments held by telephone , a first in the Court 's history , as a result of COVID-19 , known as coronavirus .
The so-called ministerial exception “ ensures that control over religious functions lies with the church , not the state , to the great benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the court .
The schools argue that both women count as ministers , in part because they taught religion among other subjects .
Lawyers for Morrissey-Berru and Biel disagree .
The other case the justices are hearing arguments in Monday is about whether a large swath of eastern Oklahoma , including most of Tulsa , remains Indian land that belongs to the Muscogee ( Creek ) Nation .
The issue is whether tribal members can be prosecuted in state court for crimes committed on Indian land , and has been heard before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were evenly divided after the first round of arguments involving a Native American man who was convicted of murder .
Justice Neil Gorsuch took no part in that case , because he participated in it at an earlier stage when he was a judge on the federal appeals court in Denver .
But he will participate in Monday ’ s arguments involving a convicted child molester , who also is a member of the Creek Nation .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A case about the appropriate separation between church and state is taking center stage at the Supreme Court, which is hearing arguments by telephone for a second week because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The case involving two ex-Catholic school teachers and their former employers is one of two the court is tackling Monday. The three days of arguments last week might be considered something of a warm-up, a test of how telephone arguments would work and of making audio of arguments live for the first time.
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The stakes are higher later this week when the cases include high-profile fights over President Donald Trump’s financial records and whether presidential electors have to cast their Electoral College ballots for the candidate who wins the popular vote in their state. Those cases will be heard Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Monday, the court is hearing a case involving Kristen Biel and Agnes Morrissey-Berru, both former fifth grade teachers at Catholic schools in California. Biel taught at St. James Catholic School in Torrance and Morrissey-Berru at Our Lady of Guadalupe in nearby Hermosa Beach. Morrissey-Berru’s teaching contract wasn’t renewed in 2015, when she was in her 60s, after she’d taught more than 15 years at the school. And Biel’s contract wasn’t renewed after she disclosed she had breast cancer and would need time off.
Both sued their former employers, with Morrissey-Berru alleging age discrimination and Biel alleging disability discrimination. A lower court said both lawsuits could go forward, but the schools have appealed and have the support of the Trump administration.
The question for the justices is whether the schools are exempt from being sued as a result of a unanimous 2012 Supreme Court decision that said the Constitution prevents ministers from suing their churches for employment discrimination.
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The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2020, during the first day of oral arguments held by telephone, a first in the Court's history, as a result of COVID-19, known as coronavirus. SAUL LOEB via Getty Images
The so-called ministerial exception “ensures that control over religious functions lies with the church, not the state, to the great benefit of both,” the schools have told the court. The schools argue that both women count as ministers, in part because they taught religion among other subjects. Lawyers for Morrissey-Berru and Biel disagree.
Biel died last year at age 54 after a five-year battle with breast cancer. Her husband has pursued the case in her place.
The other case the justices are hearing arguments in Monday is about whether a large swath of eastern Oklahoma, including most of Tulsa, remains Indian land that belongs to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The issue is whether tribal members can be prosecuted in state court for crimes committed on Indian land, and has been heard before the court before.
Eight justices apparently were evenly divided after the first round of arguments involving a Native American man who was convicted of murder. Justice Neil Gorsuch took no part in that case, because he participated in it at an earlier stage when he was a judge on the federal appeals court in Denver. But he will participate in Monday’s arguments involving a convicted child molester, who also is a member of the Creek Nation.


huffpost--2020-05-11--White House Directs West Wing Staff To Wear Masks

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) - The White House has directed staff working in the West Wing , where the daily operations of President Donald Trump ’ s administration are carried out , to wear masks at all times in the building , except when they are at their own desks , a senior administration official confirmed on Monday .
ABC News first reported that a new memo directed everyone who enters the wing to cover their faces .
With Trump ’ s valet and Vice President Mike Pence ’ s press secretary both testing positive for the deadly coronavirus last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House to take further steps in protecting the health of country ’ s 73-year-old president .
Trump has been resistant to wearing a mask himself and has not put one on in public , though he said he tried some on backstage during a visit to a mask factory in Arizona last week .
The president is in the age group that is considered high risk for complications with the coronavirus , which has killed tens of thousands of people in the United States alone and ravaged countries and economies worldwide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was stepping up precautions for people who are around Trump and Pence , both of whom have resumed travel outside of Washington .
The two men are being tested for the virus daily and close associates are receiving tests on a daily basis as well .
“ In addition to social distancing , daily temperature checks and symptom histories , hand sanitizer , and regular deep cleaning of all work spaces , every staff member in close proximity to the president and vice president is being tested daily for COVID-19 as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judd Deere said in a statement .
After Pence ’ s spokeswoman , Katie Miller , tested positive for the virus last week , Trump was asked whether people in the West Wing would begin to wear masks .
He responded that people already were doing so , but he and his guests that day had not donned masks , and staff in the West Wing were not wearing them either .

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House has directed staff working in the West Wing, where the daily operations of President Donald Trump’s administration are carried out, to wear masks at all times in the building, except when they are at their own desks, a senior administration official confirmed on Monday.
ABC News first reported that a new memo directed everyone who enters the wing to cover their faces. With Trump’s valet and Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary both testing positive for the deadly coronavirus last week, pressure is growing for the White House to take further steps in protecting the health of country’s 73-year-old president.
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Trump has been resistant to wearing a mask himself and has not put one on in public, though he said he tried some on backstage during a visit to a mask factory in Arizona last week.
The president is in the age group that is considered high risk for complications with the coronavirus, which has killed tens of thousands of people in the United States alone and ravaged countries and economies worldwide.
This May 10, 2020 photo shows the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) ASSOCIATED PRESS
The White House said last week it was stepping up precautions for people who are around Trump and Pence, both of whom have resumed travel outside of Washington. The two men are being tested for the virus daily and close associates are receiving tests on a daily basis as well.
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“In addition to social distancing, daily temperature checks and symptom histories, hand sanitizer, and regular deep cleaning of all work spaces, every staff member in close proximity to the president and vice president is being tested daily for COVID-19 as well as any guests,” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement.


huffpost--2020-05-11--Shanghai Disneyland Reopens With Strict COVID-19 Controls

SHANGHAI ( AP ) — Visitors in face masks streamed into Shanghai Disneyland as the theme park reopened Monday in a high-profile step toward reviving tourism that was shut down by the coronavirus pandemic .
The House of Mouse ’ s experience in Shanghai , the first of its parks to reopen , foreshadows hurdles global entertainment industries might face .
Disney is limiting visitor numbers , requiring masks and checking for the virus ’ s telltale fever .
China , where the pandemic began in December , was the first country to reopen factories and other businesses after declaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as infections rise and controls are tightened in some other countries .
Tourism has been hit especially hard by controls imposed worldwide that shut down airline and cruise ship travel , theme parks and cinemas .
Disney blamed a 91 % plunge in its latest quarter profit on $ 1.4 billion in virus-related costs .
Shanghai Disneyland and Disney ’ s park in Hong Kong closed on Jan. 25 as China isolated cities with 60 million people to try to contain the outbreak .
Tokyo Disneyland closed the following month and parks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Disney guests , some wearing Mickey Mouse ears , and children in Little Mermaid , Mulan , Minnie Mouse and Snow White costumes were checked Monday for fever at the park gate and then walked down nearly empty lanes as employees waved to them .
The company ’ s signature tune , “ When You Wish Upon a Star , ” played over loudspeakers .
“ It really felt like a princess ’ s homecoming , especially when the staff lined up after the ticket check and said , ‘ Welcome home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ding of Shanghai .
“ It feels like so many fewer people than normal .
You don ’ t need to line up , ” said Ding , 26 .
“ You can play all the entertainment items at least once .
That ’ s very good.
” Decals on sidewalks and at lines for attractions show visitors where to stand to leave space between themselves .
The company said rides will be limited to one group of visitors per car to keep strangers apart .
The company said its plans were based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjacent shopping and entertainment facility that reopened earlier in the 1,000-acre ( 400-hectare ) Shanghai Disney Resort .
Advance reservations are required and visitors are assigned times to enter .
The company said earlier guest numbers will be limited to one-third of the usual daily level of 80,000 at the start and will gradually increase .
“ Excited about the opening of the gate !
” people in the first group of guests shouted as they entered the park at 9:30 a.m. Disney has a 43 % stake in the Shanghai Disney Resort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two hotels and Disneytown .
The resort said earlier it attracted about 12 million guests last year and a total of 66 million since it opened .
Disney , headquartered in Burbank , California , said some outlets in Disney Springs , a shopping , dining and entertainment complex attached to the Disney World theme park in Florida will reopen this month .
The company has yet to to set a date for reopening Disney World or its other parks worldwide .
Visitors to Shanghai Disney are required to show government-issued identification and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shanghai city government that tracks their health and contacts with anyone who might have been exposed to he virus .

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SHANGHAI (AP) — Visitors in face masks streamed into Shanghai Disneyland as the theme park reopened Monday in a high-profile step toward reviving tourism that was shut down by the coronavirus pandemic.
The House of Mouse’s experience in Shanghai, the first of its parks to reopen, foreshadows hurdles global entertainment industries might face. Disney is limiting visitor numbers, requiring masks and checking for the virus’s telltale fever.
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China, where the pandemic began in December, was the first country to reopen factories and other businesses after declaring the disease under control in March even as infections rise and controls are tightened in some other countries.
“We hope that today’s reopening serves as a beacon of light across the globe, providing hope and inspiration to everyone,” the president of Shanghai Disney Resort, Joe Schott, told reporters.
Tourism has been hit especially hard by controls imposed worldwide that shut down airline and cruise ship travel, theme parks and cinemas. Disney blamed a 91% plunge in its latest quarter profit on $1.4 billion in virus-related costs.
Shanghai Disneyland and Disney’s park in Hong Kong closed on Jan. 25 as China isolated cities with 60 million people to try to contain the outbreak. Tokyo Disneyland closed the following month and parks in the United States and Europe in March.
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China has allowed shops and offices to reopen but is keeping cinemas, bars, karaoke parlors and other businesses closed.
Disney guests, some wearing Mickey Mouse ears, and children in Little Mermaid, Mulan, Minnie Mouse and Snow White costumes were checked Monday for fever at the park gate and then walked down nearly empty lanes as employees waved to them. The company’s signature tune, “When You Wish Upon a Star,” played over loudspeakers.
“It really felt like a princess’s homecoming, especially when the staff lined up after the ticket check and said, ‘Welcome home!’,” said visitor Dilys Ding of Shanghai.
“It feels like so many fewer people than normal. You don’t need to line up,” said Ding, 26. “You can play all the entertainment items at least once. That’s very good.”
Decals on sidewalks and at lines for attractions show visitors where to stand to leave space between themselves. The company said rides will be limited to one group of visitors per car to keep strangers apart.
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“We don’t want people too close — front, back or side,” said Andrew Bolstein, the park’s senior vice president for operations.
The company said its plans were based on the experience of Disneytown, an adjacent shopping and entertainment facility that reopened earlier in the 1,000-acre (400-hectare) Shanghai Disney Resort.
Advance reservations are required and visitors are assigned times to enter. The company said earlier guest numbers will be limited to one-third of the usual daily level of 80,000 at the start and will gradually increase.
“Excited about the opening of the gate!” people in the first group of guests shouted as they entered the park at 9:30 a.m.
Shanghai Disneyland, which opened in 2016, is a joint venture between Walt Disney Co. and a company owned by the Shanghai city government.
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Disney has a 43% stake in the Shanghai Disney Resort, which includes the theme park, two hotels and Disneytown. The resort said earlier it attracted about 12 million guests last year and a total of 66 million since it opened.
Disney, headquartered in Burbank, California, said some outlets in Disney Springs, a shopping, dining and entertainment complex attached to the Disney World theme park in Florida will reopen this month. The company has yet to to set a date for reopening Disney World or its other parks worldwide.
Visitors to Shanghai Disney are required to show government-issued identification and use a smartphone app issued by the Shanghai city government that tracks their health and contacts with anyone who might have been exposed to he virus.
That allows the company to “understand and regulate the flow of traffic,” said Bolstein.
Activities including children’s play areas and indoor theater shows are closed in line with government restrictions, Bolstein said.
“We hope to bring them back some time soon,” he said.


huffpost--2020-05-11--16 Creative Ways Parents Are Getting Some Alone Time In Lockdown

Pretending To Be In A Meeting “ I have told my kids I ’ m going to the store so I can drive around and sit in the car alone .
When I came home with no groceries , I had to lie and say I forgot my wallet at home .
Sometimes you do what you have to do to keep your sanity !
” ― Lori Gottman “ I work in a hospital , not with any patients but in an inner-office .
My husband works from home with the kids .
Some days , I go into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those days , my eight-hour workday is 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. , but I don ’ t always tell my husband when I ’ m leaving work early .
I ’ ll just drive around or hit up McDonald ’ s and sit in my car until 5 p.m. , the usual time I get home.
” ― Melissa Peña “ I went on my first walk alone yesterday and it was e ’ rethang .
Did it again today .
I adore my husband and son ( and cat ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with me , myself and I.
” ― Naomi Raquel “ I have four daughters between 3 and 10 , and I find arts and crafts is the best way to occupy all four of them at once .
Collage , coloring books , play dough , etc .
The last time I tried to hide in the bathroom , the 3-year-old peed on the rug , so I ’ m having to be more creative.
” ― Alex Scott “ If it ’ s just me and the kiddo , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ n Play or the crib with toys so I can get some time away .
If it ’ s been a very stressful day , I ’ ll even take a step out back and breathe in some fresh air and take in some sun.
” ― Anastasia Rose “ I work still ( seniors support services ) , whereas my wife is laid off for the duration of the closures ― which means she ’ s pretty much trapped at home with our two ( 8 and 10 ) .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sends them out to for short breaks , but really , it ’ s all about waiting for me to get home and provide relief so that she can go for a walk , a drive or just lock herself in the bedroom and watch a show .
As for alone time with each other ... , *sigh* ” ― Brett O ’ Reilly “ My husband works , but when he gets home I ’ ll often put the toddler in his office with him to take bathroom breaks on my own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so I can fold laundry , walk to get the mail , run to pick up some milk or bread or even beer , or just to drive around by myself to catch Pokemon in parking lots.
” ― Anastasia Rose “ My kids are 10 , 5 and 3 years old .
They get tired of my asking them to do chores as much as I get tired of tending to them .
So we talk , and we all take a break , usually by the end of the afternoon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever they choose on TV , or the little ones take a looong bath in the tub with some toys while the grown-ups get some rest .
I really don ’ t mind them physically close to me ( don ’ t lock myself in another room ) , as long as during that break they are playing or doing something else rather than in my face going ‘ Mommy , Mommy , Mommy , I want this and that.
’ ” ― Melina Rojas

Justin Case via Getty Images It's harder to carve out solo time when you're home with your family 24/7.
Getting alone time as a parent was already a challenge. Add in the 24/7 family togetherness of social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and it seems almost impossible.
But many moms and dads have gotten crafty and figured out some new strategies for carving out a little solo break from the kiddos.
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We asked the HuffPost Parents Facebook community to share the creative ways they’re getting alone time in lockdown. Scroll down for 16 tactics for inspiration.
Pretending To Be In A Meeting
“Keeping my headphones on after my meeting is over to make them think I’m still unavailable.” ― Julie Marie
Going For A Drive
“I have told my kids I’m going to the store so I can drive around and sit in the car alone. When I came home with no groceries, I had to lie and say I forgot my wallet at home. Sometimes you do what you have to do to keep your sanity!” ― Lori Gottman
“Have the older sibling watch the younger one and go for a drive with the music blasting. Sometimes I’ll do it alone and sometimes with hubby. It’s very therapeutic and helps clear your head.” ― Tara Main
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“Gas prices as they are, I either send my husband to take a drive with our 4-year-old or simply grab my keys and go alone. We have plenty of rural scenery to enjoy, and the weather’s been exquisite. Sunroof open and feel-good tunes going!” ― Theresa Carroll
Retreating To A Basement Or Garage Oasis
“I have a milk crate down in the laundry room in the basement. I will sit down there because the family knows there are spiders in the basement and won’t follow me. Sometimes I hide snacks behind the laundry soap.” ― Adrienne Arrington
“I sat in the garage alone last night. It was so quiet and peaceful.” ― Theresa Singh
Going In Mom ‘Timeout’
“I tell them I’m in trouble and I have to be on timeout; one minute for every year old I am.” ― Elle Jay
Sitting In The Car
“I work in a hospital, not with any patients but in an inner-office. My husband works from home with the kids. Some days, I go into work early to attend meetings. On those days, my eight-hour workday is 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but I don’t always tell my husband when I’m leaving work early. I’ll just drive around or hit up McDonald’s and sit in my car until 5 p.m., the usual time I get home.” ― Melissa Peña
“I sit in my car.” ― Lisa Stephenson-Horne
Donating Blood
“I gave blood last week to get some alone time, and help.” ― Karen Brehm Bogard
Taking Long Walks
“My husband and I go for a 3-mile dog walk most nights. It gives the kids their Fortnite time, gives us alone time, AND gets us some exercise. Everyone wins!” ― April Adams
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“I went on my first walk alone yesterday and it was e’rethang. Did it again today. I adore my husband and son (and cat), but it felt good to just be with me, myself and I.” ― Naomi Raquel
Hiding In The Bathroom
“I lock myself in the bathroom for a bath. Sometimes I tell the kids I have to go to the shop so they don’t find me there.” ― Michelle Bradley
“Hide in the bathroom ― that is the first place my kids go if they cannot find me. I now hide in my car or in the closet. I also put my noise-canceling headphones on.” ― Mary Mathews
“I had to take a conference call in the bathroom last week because it was the only place no one would follow me! It hasn’t been all that bad, but that day was exceptionally trying.” ― Anne-Marie Caron
Giving The Kids Distractions
“Mine are 5 and 8, and one thing that has been great is when they FaceTime their friends. They get a play date and I get a break!” ― Corie Jack
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“I have four daughters between 3 and 10, and I find arts and crafts is the best way to occupy all four of them at once. Collage, coloring books, play dough, etc. The last time I tried to hide in the bathroom, the 3-year-old peed on the rug, so I’m having to be more creative.” ― Alex Scott
“Give my sons their iPads and lock myself in my bedroom.” ― Sharon Briggs
Volunteering
“I volunteer at my local farmers market on Saturday mornings to get alone time. After my shift is done, I get to come home with fresh veggies, a refreshed mind, plus I get a vitamin D boost!” ― Jessica Marie Rivera
Getting Up Earlier
“I did manage to place an order and scheduled pickup EARLY, knowing no one would want to come with me. It was glorious to be alone for an hour!” ― Anne-Marie Caron
“Wake up with the sun ― house is quiet!” ― Sandra Tuckman
Staying Up Later
“Staying up way later than everyone to read or watch my fave TV.” ― MMurphy April
″‘Bedtime. Off you go.’” ― Christine Brady
Spending Time In The Yard
“I got a hammock, and I spend my alone time outside getting fresh air listening to audiobooks or podcasts. The kids are about 80% respectful of my alone time.” ― Amber Nation-Martin
“If it’s just me and the kiddo, I’ll occasionally put him in the Pack ’n Play or the crib with toys so I can get some time away. If it’s been a very stressful day, I’ll even take a step out back and breathe in some fresh air and take in some sun.” ― Anastasia Rose
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Switching Off With A Partner
“I work still (seniors support services), whereas my wife is laid off for the duration of the closures ― which means she’s pretty much trapped at home with our two (8 and 10). We do have a trampoline, which she sends them out to for short breaks, but really, it’s all about waiting for me to get home and provide relief so that she can go for a walk, a drive or just lock herself in the bedroom and watch a show. As for alone time with each other...,*sigh*” ― Brett O’Reilly
“My husband works, but when he gets home I’ll often put the toddler in his office with him to take bathroom breaks on my own, or ask him to watch him so I can fold laundry, walk to get the mail, run to pick up some milk or bread or even beer, or just to drive around by myself to catch Pokemon in parking lots.” ― Anastasia Rose
Scheduling A Collective Break
“My kids are 10, 5 and 3 years old. They get tired of my asking them to do chores as much as I get tired of tending to them. So we talk, and we all take a break, usually by the end of the afternoon. They get their tablets, or watch whatever they choose on TV, or the little ones take a looong bath in the tub with some toys while the grown-ups get some rest. I really don’t mind them physically close to me (don’t lock myself in another room), as long as during that break they are playing or doing something else rather than in my face going ‘Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, I want this and that.’” ― Melina Rojas
Savoring Every Brief Moment
“You’re getting alone time? Only time I get alone time is when I take a shower... rosé margarita included.” ― Adrienne Marquez
“My alone time is walking to the mailbox and back every day. I have a 4- and a 2-year-old and teaching my first-graders virtually.” ― Kristin DuBois
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huffpost--2020-05-11--COVID-19 Exposes How Many Unemployment Websites Are Truly Terrible

Each time the 65-year-old disabled North Carolina resident reached the final page of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ( PUA ) application , the website wouldn ’ t let her select “ submit.
” But when she , like many others , contacted the state ’ s Division of Employment Security for help , she reached the same voicemail over and over : All of their lines were busy , no one could talk to her and she would have to try calling back later .
Click .
By her 20th call , someone eventually picked up ― an employee representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ located in a different state .
Diane said the employee seemed almost as confused as she was with the state ’ s online unemployment application for claims involving the coronavirus pandemic .
Diane realized the next day that the employee had filled out her application incorrectly .
She ’ s tried calling back but hasn ’ t been able to get another person on the line again .
“ I ’ m just going to have to keep calling , ” said Diane , who was hesitant to let HuffPost publish her last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her payment .
“ I don ’ t have any other way forward .
This money would have bid me some time to find other solutions , but now I ’ m just stuck calling one day after another.
” “ Advancing your website is expensive , and it ’ s ongoing , ” Harrell said .
“ And for quite a while , the government would fund things like websites in a capital expense model .
You would do it , and it would be done , and you would assume that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on it for a while.
” There are numerous factors that can affect how smoothly a site works .
On the front end , websites should be sleek and easy enough to understand that a user can intuitively know how to move around and access resources .
Meanwhile , websites should be equipped on the back end to have enough surge capacity to handle numerous users at one time and to properly run without glitches .
A year later , the U.S. government experienced one of its earliest , and probably most notorious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2013 , the Obama administration introduced Healthcare.gov to disastrous results .
The Affordable Care Act website featured issues on both the front and back end .
When it crashed within a few hours of its debut , users reported that drop-down menus wouldn ’ t load and that information on the website was inaccurate .
Only six applications were successfully filed through the site on its first day .
“ Before the pandemic , there was already record-low unemployment , ” said the group ’ s unemployment insurance team lead , Reshma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t stressed , and there wasn ’ t a lot of attention needed to the systems .
And then suddenly millions of applications came in , and [ these websites ] became really hard to modify and keep online while under that much stress .
It ’ s just all kinds of chaotic .
”

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As soon as Diane completed her unemployment application, she knew something was wrong.
Each time the 65-year-old disabled North Carolina resident reached the final page of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) application, the website wouldn’t let her select “submit.” But when she, like many others, contacted the state’s Division of Employment Security for help, she reached the same voicemail over and over: All of their lines were busy, no one could talk to her and she would have to try calling back later. Click.
By her 20th call, someone eventually picked up ― an employee representing North Carolina’s call center but located in a different state. Diane said the employee seemed almost as confused as she was with the state’s online unemployment application for claims involving the coronavirus pandemic. Diane realized the next day that the employee had filled out her application incorrectly. She’s tried calling back but hasn’t been able to get another person on the line again.
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“I’m just going to have to keep calling,” said Diane, who was hesitant to let HuffPost publish her last name for fear it would further jeopardize her payment. “I don’t have any other way forward. This money would have bid me some time to find other solutions, but now I’m just stuck calling one day after another.”
Plenty of other unemployment applicants are experiencing technical issues as they try to file. In North Carolina, more than one-fifth of its working population is now unemployed. And across the country, 33 million people have lost their jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic ― a 14.7% unemployment rate.
For those who have been working on the technology behind state unemployment websites, the fact that they’re widely dysfunctional right now is not a surprise.
“Unemployment systems are designed to deal with a few thousand applicants a week,” said Cyd Harrell, a civic designer who has worked as a consultant to state governments who want to create accessible websites. “Now they’re suddenly dealing with hundreds of thousands of people in a heightened state of emergency. It’s important to understand that access and ease aren’t always aligned with government policy.”
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A Structure Built On Rickety Old Architecture
In Florida, thousands of residents discovered that their unemployment applications have been marked ineligible, but the site provided no supporting documentation as to why or information on how to appeal.
Lauren Koff, a 27-year-old resident of Port St. Lucie, Florida, has been calling the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) every day to figure out why she’s ineligible. Koff had been working at a nonprofit until April 6. She’s been furloughed but isn’t sure when she’ll be able to get back to work.
“When I finally got someone on the line, they told me that hundreds of other people had been calling,” Koff said. “They told me it was a possible computer glitch and to just be patient.”
A screenshot of the Florida Department of Employment Opportunity site. myflorida.com
But Koff said it’s hard to remain patient since she’s had to ask relatives to help her cover next month’s mortgage. And Diane, who is already a month behind rent herself, says she’s used up all of her savings.
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“There’s just no hope,” Koff says. “Most of my friends have never been unemployed before or have even had to use this system.”
Harrell, who is the former head of product for the nonprofit tech group Code of America, said that a major contributing factor is funding.
“Advancing your website is expensive, and it’s ongoing,” Harrell said. “And for quite a while, the government would fund things like websites in a capital expense model. You would do it, and it would be done, and you would assume that you didn’t need to work on it for a while.”
There are numerous factors that can affect how smoothly a site works. On the front end, websites should be sleek and easy enough to understand that a user can intuitively know how to move around and access resources. Meanwhile, websites should be equipped on the back end to have enough surge capacity to handle numerous users at one time and to properly run without glitches.
State government websites that were once state-of-the-art have not been updated, while the private sector has enlisted design teams to keep websites from having even the slightest lag in buffering or awkward conversion to mobile.
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Harrell believes that state governments’ bureaucratic process was only compounded by the 2008 recession, which depleted already limited state budgets. By the time she began working in civic design in 2012, as one of the first to specialize in working directly with government entities, usability and design weren’t on anyone’s radar.
“When I started, design wasn’t a big consideration,” Harrell said. “It really wasn’t a big part of the conversation.”
A year later, the U.S. government experienced one of its earliest, and probably most notorious, technical fumbles. On Oct. 1, 2013, the Obama administration introduced Healthcare.gov to disastrous results. The Affordable Care Act website featured issues on both the front and back end. When it crashed within a few hours of its debut, users reported that drop-down menus wouldn’t load and that information on the website was inaccurate. Only six applications were successfully filed through the site on its first day.
In response, tech startups Ad Hoc and Nava were enlisted to fix the website.
“Healthcare.gov instigated public conversation on how technical failure can prevent access to basic services,” said Sha Hwang, the chief operating officer and founder of Nava. “This was a case where the interface and design of the website was actually blocking people from enrolling into health care services.”
Despite that high-profile failure, most state government websites still have not changed. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) made headlines in April when he asked tech programmers fluent in the programming language COBOL to help update the state’s unemployment website. That software reached its peak in the ’90s.
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A screenshot of the login page for New Jersey's unemployment website. New Jersey Department of Labor
Organizations such as the U.S. Digital Response, which provides technical support to federal agencies, has started matching voluntary tech engineers and programmers to states whose websites need the most help to deal with the pandemic.
“Before the pandemic, there was already record-low unemployment,” said the group’s unemployment insurance team lead, Reshma Khilnani. “But the mainframes weren’t stressed, and there wasn’t a lot of attention needed to the systems. And then suddenly millions of applications came in, and [these websites] became really hard to modify and keep online while under that much stress. It’s just all kinds of chaotic.”
Though Khilnani could not reveal which other states are still using COBOL, she could confirm that several still do.
“Modern software development is all about using the cloud or Javascript,” Khilnani says. “None of these are compatible with COBOL, it’s a completely separate universe. ... It’s hard to change, and a lot of states haven’t made that change.”
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The Move to Mobile Usage
State unemployment websites also struggle when it comes to compatibility on smartphones. In a study published in April from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, 86% of state unemployment websites failed at least one benchmark for the speed or user-friendliness of its mobile site.
This is particularly concerning when you consider that Black and Latino Americans are more likely than whites to rely on a smartphone rather than a personal computer.
“It’s frustrating that we haven’t seen improvements that are obtainable,” said Michael McLaughlin, a research analyst and co-author of the study. “Even in the private sectors, their websites are performing much, much better.”
The study found that 45 states were unprepared for increased traffic from COVID-19. Twenty-six sites have reportedly crashed due to a surge in website traffic, and 19 states did not meet accessibility standards for those who are visually impaired or might rely on screen readers.
The results echo a similar study released from ITIF three years ago. It showed that 9 out of 10 government websites failed to meet the benchmark standards each state had outlined.
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“This has been happening for years, every day, to people who don’t have as much political and social capital,” said Harrell. “It’s not just an epidemic problem, and it shouldn’t just be visible when it’s now affecting a large chunk of middle-class people.”
In North Carolina, Diane was eventually approved and received a direct deposit of $600. In Florida, Koff was finally able to get a state representative on the phone a week after initially being marked as ineligible. Her application has now been marked as active and she’s waiting for verification from her employer. She’s even received her first PUA check but is still waiting to hear back about her additional unemployment benefits.
At the very least, it’s given her some peace of mind.


huffpost--2020-05-11--Zoom And FaceTime Are The New Normal, But They're Literally Making Me Sick

Only three photos exist of me between ages 10 and 20 .
Beginning around the time of puberty , I developed a fear of looking in mirrors and having my picture taken .
I saw my abusive father ’ s eyes in every reflection .
It frightened me so much as a 12-year-old that I learned to apply Bonne Bell lip gloss without the help of a mirror .
In the years since , I have considered plastic surgery .
Days before my wedding last year , I considered hiring a sketch artist instead of a photographer for the ceremony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed all the mirrors from my walls .
Before the pandemic , my therapist suggested anti-anxiety medication to manage those feelings and taking selfies as a form of exposure therapy .
The control that I have over a selfie has helped a little , but I still experience panic attacks when someone wants to take a group photo at a work conference or family gathering .
Feeling self-conscious about my anxiety amplifies the panic on a closed emotional loop .
I end up fearing that I ’ m acting strangely because I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But group photos are not an issue during the COVID-19 crisis .
Instead , video conferencing is the triggering event these days .
While many people may dislike Zoom , FaceTime or other video meetings right now , I dread them .
With video chat platforms as the main method of communication , I ’ m struggling to stay connected with my boss , friends and family while not spiraling into a full depressive meltdown .
Nothing incites my body dysmorphia more than seeing my own image on screen .
Just recently I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , telling her that I would prefer a phone call .
She texted me back , insisting that we use Zoom .
The meeting itself didn ’ t worry me .
I was over-prepared with charts , graphs and a bevy of data points .
But the anxiety of knowing that I might see my own face during the meeting sent me into a panic .
I took a deep breath and dug through my bag , which hadn ’ t left the house in eight weeks , to search for anti-anxiety medication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I didn ’ t have the energy to push harder for a phone conference without divulging details of my PTSD that I absolutely did not wish to discuss with my boss .
Even if I wanted to tell her that I ’ m a sexual abuse survivor , it would not be a brief conversation .
Worse , I feared it would distract from the work that we needed to finish .
Before the meeting , I smoothed the collar of my dress shirt and straightened my favorite necklace ― a gift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key stamped with the word ” courage.
” I checked that my makeup wasn ’ t smudged the way that I usually do : by homing in on one specific quadrant of my face in the mirror and averting eye contact with myself .
Usually when I look at my entire reflection , I recognize only the features that remind me of my violently cruel father .
The dysmorphia blinds me to everything else .
That sends me into a panic attack that I can best describe as a sort of migraine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason that I have only one mirror in the entire house .
It hangs above the bathroom sink and I avoid it whenever possible .
Throwing open my laptop , I logged in to the meeting and held my breath , waiting for my webcam ’ s green light to glow .
I exhaled a sigh of relief when the screen opened to my boss ’ s face , not mine .
We checked in about the goals for the week and I avoided glancing at the smaller screen of my image .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller window , but I couldn ’ t find the button .
I just hoped that I didn ’ t look as nervous as I feel .
My boss told me that she needed to show me something and my face flashed on screen .
I jumped .
My dog jumped too .
Recoiling , all I could see were the eyes of the person who hurt me as a child , the mouth of my father who smiled sadistically when I was in pain , and the arms of the man who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in bloody welts .
I wanted to run away and I started to feel sick , but I fought the urge and reminded myself that I needed to remain composed and look professional .
While my boss was having a seemingly normal meeting with her employee , I was feeling triggered .
Later that day , my nephew texted my husband and me .
He wanted to FaceTime to show us his new baseball .
I would have preferred a phone call , but he is obsessed with baseball and I wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anxiety escalating as the FaceTime call rang .
He reached out to hold my hand .
My breath grew more and more shallow .
I tugged at my hair .
I checked my phone and massaged my hands to distract myself .
The video call was unable to connect for some reason and I exhaled a sigh of relief .
My husband pulled me close , telling me not to worry , that I ’ m beautiful .
It is the twisted fate of nature that even survivors of child abuse and incest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more like their biological parents .
When I feel calm and relaxed , I recognize my features as my own .
When I feel happy , I don ’ t think I look grotesque like my father , who trafficked and raped me .
When I ’ m stressed out , the symptoms of dysmorphia are much worse .
As COVID-19 infections spread , it ’ s been hard to find ways to replace my normal coping routines while practicing social distancing .
I knew that I needed to figure out a better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was interfering with my work and family and making me feel mentally unwell , so I was relieved when my therapist agreed to a phone call instead of a video conference .
Within a few minutes , I asked her again if she thought that plastic surgery would help my dysmorphia .
“ No , I don ’ t think that will address the root of what ’ s going on.
” She pointed out that dysmorphic disorder is more psychological than physical .
She told me that even if I look like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I said that I don ’ t want to look prettier ; I just want to look different .
We went around in circles like this until she finally asked me what I would change , if given the choice .
I know what I need to do to manage my dysmorphia right now .
I need to follow a regular sleep schedule , to exercise somehow and to take my anxiety medication each morning while continuing to see my therapist .
Listing the steps makes them sound so easy .
My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that reads “ Take as needed.
” But lately , “ as needed ” just means every day .
And while I may not be able to go to the gym , I can at least remind myself to breathe .
I want people to understand that for some of us , the struggle isn ’ t so obvious .
Check on your loved ones , even those who seem to be OK. More than anything , I want to set a good example for my niece and nephew .
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue to manage my mental illness so I can model healthy relationships for the kids in my family .

Ponomariova_Maria via Getty Images
I survived child trafficking and incest abuse, but my body dysmorphia has plagued me in ways that I never anticipated during the coronavirus quarantine.
The Mayo Clinic defines body dysmorphia as a “disorder in which you can’t stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance.” In my case, it’s the result of post-traumatic stress disorder, and I’ve struggled with it for over two decades, despite years of therapy.
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Only three photos exist of me between ages 10 and 20. Beginning around the time of puberty, I developed a fear of looking in mirrors and having my picture taken. I saw my abusive father’s eyes in every reflection. It frightened me so much as a 12-year-old that I learned to apply Bonne Bell lip gloss without the help of a mirror. In the years since, I have considered plastic surgery. Days before my wedding last year, I considered hiring a sketch artist instead of a photographer for the ceremony. At my worst moments, I removed all the mirrors from my walls.
Anxiety always exacerbates my dysmorphia. It melts the boundary between internal and external terror as my mind insists that I look as monstrous as I feel.
“Only three photos exist of me between ages 10 and 20. Beginning around the time of puberty, I developed a fear of looking in mirrors and having my picture taken.”
Before the pandemic, my therapist suggested anti-anxiety medication to manage those feelings and taking selfies as a form of exposure therapy. The control that I have over a selfie has helped a little, but I still experience panic attacks when someone wants to take a group photo at a work conference or family gathering. Feeling self-conscious about my anxiety amplifies the panic on a closed emotional loop. I end up fearing that I’m acting strangely because I am, in fact, acting strangely.
Advertisement
But group photos are not an issue during the COVID-19 crisis. Instead, video conferencing is the triggering event these days. While many people may dislike Zoom, FaceTime or other video meetings right now, I dread them. With video chat platforms as the main method of communication, I’m struggling to stay connected with my boss, friends and family while not spiraling into a full depressive meltdown. Nothing incites my body dysmorphia more than seeing my own image on screen.
Just recently I texted my boss before a video meeting, telling her that I would prefer a phone call. She texted me back, insisting that we use Zoom. The meeting itself didn’t worry me. I was over-prepared with charts, graphs and a bevy of data points. But the anxiety of knowing that I might see my own face during the meeting sent me into a panic. I took a deep breath and dug through my bag, which hadn’t left the house in eight weeks, to search for anti-anxiety medication. I swallowed the dose, knowing that I didn’t have the energy to push harder for a phone conference without divulging details of my PTSD that I absolutely did not wish to discuss with my boss. Even if I wanted to tell her that I’m a sexual abuse survivor, it would not be a brief conversation. Worse, I feared it would distract from the work that we needed to finish.
In other words, I managed the best I could.
“With video chat platforms as the main method of communication, I’m struggling to stay connected with my boss, friends and family while not spiraling into a full depressive meltdown.”
Before the meeting, I smoothed the collar of my dress shirt and straightened my favorite necklace ― a gift from a friend that holds a golden key stamped with the word ”courage.” I checked that my makeup wasn’t smudged the way that I usually do: by homing in on one specific quadrant of my face in the mirror and averting eye contact with myself.
Advertisement
Usually when I look at my entire reflection, I recognize only the features that remind me of my violently cruel father. The dysmorphia blinds me to everything else. That sends me into a panic attack that I can best describe as a sort of migraine. This, in part, is the reason that I have only one mirror in the entire house. It hangs above the bathroom sink and I avoid it whenever possible.
Throwing open my laptop, I logged in to the meeting and held my breath, waiting for my webcam’s green light to glow. I exhaled a sigh of relief when the screen opened to my boss’s face, not mine. We checked in about the goals for the week and I avoided glancing at the smaller screen of my image. There is a way to close the smaller window, but I couldn’t find the button. I just hoped that I didn’t look as nervous as I feel.
My boss told me that she needed to show me something and my face flashed on screen. I jumped. My dog jumped too. Recoiling, all I could see were the eyes of the person who hurt me as a child, the mouth of my father who smiled sadistically when I was in pain, and the arms of the man who hit me until my body was covered in bloody welts. I wanted to run away and I started to feel sick, but I fought the urge and reminded myself that I needed to remain composed and look professional. While my boss was having a seemingly normal meeting with her employee, I was feeling triggered.
Later that day, my nephew texted my husband and me. He wanted to FaceTime to show us his new baseball. I would have preferred a phone call, but he is obsessed with baseball and I wanted to be supportive. My husband noticed my anxiety escalating as the FaceTime call rang. He reached out to hold my hand. My breath grew more and more shallow. I tugged at my hair. I checked my phone and massaged my hands to distract myself. The video call was unable to connect for some reason and I exhaled a sigh of relief. My husband pulled me close, telling me not to worry, that I’m beautiful.
“I want people to understand that for some of us, the struggle isn’t so obvious. Check on your loved ones, even those who seem to be OK.”
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It is the twisted fate of nature that even survivors of child abuse and incest must grow up to look more and more like their biological parents. When I feel calm and relaxed, I recognize my features as my own. When I feel happy, I don’t think I look grotesque like my father, who trafficked and raped me. When I’m stressed out, the symptoms of dysmorphia are much worse. As COVID-19 infections spread, it’s been hard to find ways to replace my normal coping routines while practicing social distancing.
I knew that I needed to figure out a better way to deal with this because it was interfering with my work and family and making me feel mentally unwell, so I was relieved when my therapist agreed to a phone call instead of a video conference. Within a few minutes, I asked her again if she thought that plastic surgery would help my dysmorphia.
“No, I don’t think that will address the root of what’s going on.” She pointed out that dysmorphic disorder is more psychological than physical. She told me that even if I look like my parents, I am not them. I said that I don’t want to look prettier; I just want to look different. We went around in circles like this until she finally asked me what I would change, if given the choice.
“I don’t know. A bigger nose?” I laughed. “I just want to not look like my dad.”
Hearing myself laying out this disoriented logic reminded me again that my therapist is right. Surgically changing my features won’t address the underlying reasons that I hyperventilate at the sight of my own face. Plus, plastic surgery is expensive. She assigned me homework to read Dr. Judith Herman Lewis’ book ”Trauma and Recovery” and we scheduled our next appointment.
I know what I need to do to manage my dysmorphia right now. I need to follow a regular sleep schedule, to exercise somehow and to take my anxiety medication each morning while continuing to see my therapist. Listing the steps makes them sound so easy. My prescription bottle is stamped with a label that reads “Take as needed.” But lately, “as needed” just means every day. And while I may not be able to go to the gym, I can at least remind myself to breathe.
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I want people to understand that for some of us, the struggle isn’t so obvious. Check on your loved ones, even those who seem to be OK. More than anything, I want to set a good example for my niece and nephew. I’m not my father, and I want to continue to manage my mental illness so I can model healthy relationships for the kids in my family.
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