huffpost--2020-04-23--6 Couples Who Pulled Off Dreamy Virtual Weddings At The Last Minute

While some brides- and grooms-to-be have decided to postpone their nuptials until a later date , others have moved forward with their plans anyway , albeit in a different way than they had originally imagined .
Thanks to technology , these couples have been able to host virtual weddings via Skype , Zoom , Google Hangouts or Facebook Live , with their family and friends celebrating their love from afar instead of with them in person .
In light of social distancing measures and government office closures , the governors of New York and Colorado issued executive orders that allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The state of New York is also permitting clerks to perform ceremonies over video conference .
That ’ s not the case in many other places — at least not yet .
So if you ’ re planning a wedding anytime soon , check with local officials to see if you can get a marriage license remotely , to make sure a virtual ceremony in your area is legally binding , and to ask what other requirements must be met .
Even if it ’ s not legal where you are , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t do a symbolic tying of the knot now and a more official ceremony down the road .
4/4/2020 was a special date to both of us and it wasn ’ t going to come around again .
We had a two-year engagement and were dating for 10 years .
Our wedding date signified a new beginning for both of us .
We worked really hard on ourselves and in our relationship to get where we are and we were determined to celebrate .
We wanted to be united as one — how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On that day , my sisters and I woke up early .
As I started blowing up balloons , my sister Afua arranged all the items from the Amazon deliveries around the living room .
My sister Nana decorated the white cake she found with fresh white flowers as she went over the words she was about to say as the officiant ; she became an ordained minister for a moment just like this .
I knew the place was perfect when I heard my husband-to-be Ade say , ‘ wow ’ as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the music began to play , my legs began to shake .
We both started to cry and we said ‘ I do ’ to loving each other forever .
His family cheered us on and sent blessings via FaceTime , then we signed into the Zoom session my bridesmaid Sandy arranged .
Fifty-plus guests were waiting dressed up in formal wear .
They had champagne glasses in hand and were all ready to toast to our union .
It was perfect.
” — Abena A .
“ We had a destination wedding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Colorado .
We spent the last year planning our perfect day , only for our wedding and jobs to be taken away by COVID-19 .
My beautiful fiancé and I decided last minute to go ahead and have a virtual ceremony here in our home state of Florida , and it was perfect .
We will still have our reception at a later time , but we knew we wanted a marriage — and the wedding itself wasn ’ t all that important .
All services were donated to us by our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and loved .
The Zoom wedding could not have been more perfect !
It ’ s an amazing feeling marrying your best friend .
We picked a gorgeous park with large beautiful palm trees close to our home , and set up a small table for our unity ceremony .
We originally weren ’ t going to wear our wedding outfits , but decided at the last moment to go ahead and do it .
It ended up storming all morning and we were worried we wouldn ’ t be able to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just in time for us to go .
After our ceremony , we took some photos and walked around the park and got a massive round of applause from park goers , so that was really cool and memorable .
We also brought our two German shepherds , who are our world , to be a part of the ceremony .
We wouldn ’ t have been able to do that with our original wedding plans , so that was truly special.
” — Brittany and Jenna Lack We expressed our handwritten vows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sung by my talented brother-in-law , Steven , with his guitar .
We cut our cake , handmade by my loving sister Taelyn .
We ate a delicious dinner , prepared by my wonderful mother .
We giggled , cried and celebrated with our loved ones .
We got to do all the things .
While we look forward to hosting an in-person celebration at some point , our wedding day morphed into something remarkable .
It would ’ ve been very easy to get wrapped up in the ‘ disappointment ’ of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This virus forced us to relinquish and just let it be what it was — a whirlwind of a day that was perfect in its own way .
Coronavirus may have cancelled our wedding but it did not cancel our marriage or the love.
” — Talmadge Anderson The virtual ceremony was certainly unique .
We started the stream about 10 minutes early and played some instrumental music for people while they signed on .
I thought that was a nice touch .
What I found to be the most special was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re planning a wedding , people encourage you to remember what it ’ s ‘ really all about.
’ What ’ s important is who you ’ re marrying and why .
We always knew that .
This situation really put a stronger emphasis on that than we already had .
It was the most intimate experience of my life to date and for that reason , it will always be even more special .
What was a little strange was when we kissed and were pronounced husband and wife , I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ except there was nobody there to clap !
I ended up clapping for us , knowing that everyone at home was clapping for us too .
It was bittersweet , missing that moment , but it was also just as blissful .
At its height , I was told the ceremony had 300 live viewers , since then it ’ s up to 1,000 views.
” — Taylor Ortolani “ We had planned to elope on the first day of spring , and despite pretty much every other aspect of our plans going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that was the most important part .
A few loved ones asked why we wouldn ’ t wait to do it , but our thinking was , why not just do it now ?
And it turned out very sweet to actually have our friends and family there virtually , because our original plan was for the two of us to elope by ourselves .
The ceremony in our apartment in Oakland , California , felt very intimate and honest .
Jeff was barefoot .
We rearranged the plants , decorated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make space for our altar .
One of the hardest things was that we didn ’ t have a photographer there to capture the day of us together , but both of us work in photography and production so we did the best we could .
We set up three cameras and clipped a wireless microphone onto Jeff ’ s suit .
The wedding went better than we could have predicted .
It was almost as though the limited number of participants stripped away a lot of drama and made it just about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few traditions we could keep : a first look , the first dance and cake cutting .
Guests have told us that they each felt they had a front row seat for the ceremony .
They were also able to socialize before and after the ceremony in the video chat .
It was a good feeling that we could still bring our families together although they were so far .
We have a lot of international family and all of us are under quarantine .
So people cherish these social interactions.
” @ @ @ @

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Thousands of couples who were set to get married this spring have had their original wedding plans upended by the coronavirus pandemic.
While some brides- and grooms-to-be have decided to postpone their nuptials until a later date, others have moved forward with their plans anyway, albeit in a different way than they had originally imagined. Thanks to technology, these couples have been able to host virtual weddings via Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts or Facebook Live, with their family and friends celebrating their love from afar instead of with them in person.
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In light of social distancing measures and government office closures, the governors of New York and Colorado issued executive orders that allow couples to obtain marriage licenses remotely. The state of New York is also permitting clerks to perform ceremonies over video conference. That’s not the case in many other places — at least not yet. So if you’re planning a wedding anytime soon, check with local officials to see if you can get a marriage license remotely, to make sure a virtual ceremony in your area is legally binding, and to ask what other requirements must be met. Even if it’s not legal where you are, there’s no reason you can’t do a symbolic tying of the knot now and a more official ceremony down the road.
Below, six couples share how they pulled off virtual weddings in the age of COVID-19.
Responses have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
Abena and Ade
Abena A. Abena and Ade celebrated their love with a virtual wedding on April 4.
“Our actual wedding was scheduled for April 4, the day after our 12-year anniversary, in a California vineyard. We exchanged vows and had a virtual reception on April 4 in Brooklyn, New York.
4/4/2020 was a special date to both of us and it wasn’t going to come around again. We had a two-year engagement and were dating for 10 years. Our wedding date signified a new beginning for both of us. We worked really hard on ourselves and in our relationship to get where we are and we were determined to celebrate. We wanted to be united as one — how we celebrated didn’t matter.
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On that day, my sisters and I woke up early. As I started blowing up balloons, my sister Afua arranged all the items from the Amazon deliveries around the living room. My sister Nana decorated the white cake she found with fresh white flowers as she went over the words she was about to say as the officiant; she became an ordained minister for a moment just like this. I knew the place was perfect when I heard my husband-to-be Ade say, ‘wow’ as I hid behind double doors. When the music began to play, my legs began to shake. We both started to cry and we said ‘I do’ to loving each other forever. His family cheered us on and sent blessings via FaceTime, then we signed into the Zoom session my bridesmaid Sandy arranged. Fifty-plus guests were waiting dressed up in formal wear. They had champagne glasses in hand and were all ready to toast to our union. It was perfect.” — Abena A.
Brittany and Jenna
Outcoast Photography by Rachel Covello Brittany and Jenna said "I do" on April 18 in Saint Petersburg, Florida.
“We had a destination wedding scheduled for April 18 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We spent the last year planning our perfect day, only for our wedding and jobs to be taken away by COVID-19. My beautiful fiancé and I decided last minute to go ahead and have a virtual ceremony here in our home state of Florida, and it was perfect. We will still have our reception at a later time, but we knew we wanted a marriage — and the wedding itself wasn’t all that important. All services were donated to us by our local community. We were so supported and loved.
The Zoom wedding could not have been more perfect! It’s an amazing feeling marrying your best friend. We picked a gorgeous park with large beautiful palm trees close to our home, and set up a small table for our unity ceremony. We originally weren’t going to wear our wedding outfits, but decided at the last moment to go ahead and do it. It ended up storming all morning and we were worried we wouldn’t be able to have it outside, but the rain cleared just in time for us to go.
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After our ceremony, we took some photos and walked around the park and got a massive round of applause from park goers, so that was really cool and memorable. We also brought our two German shepherds, who are our world, to be a part of the ceremony. We wouldn’t have been able to do that with our original wedding plans, so that was truly special.” — Brittany and Jenna Lack
Talmadge and Lucas
Taelyn Nichols Talmadge and Lucas Anderson were married in San Diego on April 8.
“Our original ‘big day’ was supposed to take place on April 11, our anniversary. But we got married on April 8 at a small county building in San Diego called the Marriage Hut, complete with a walk-up window and waterfront view. We hosted a Zoom reception that evening in the living room.
Our ‘first look’ did not take place in nature in the same location as our engagement shoot as we had planned. Instead, we created a space in the living room. Lucas still got to see me in that dress. I still got to see his face light up. He was so handsome. I felt so beautiful.
Our ceremony did not take place under the oak trees where I grew up. Our reception did not take place under the stars. Instead, we set up an intimate celebration at home. We fumbled through a Zoom video call with our loved ones — bringing roughly 80 people together from Canada, Seattle, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego.
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We expressed our handwritten vows. We danced to our song — sung by my talented brother-in-law, Steven, with his guitar. We cut our cake, handmade by my loving sister Taelyn. We ate a delicious dinner, prepared by my wonderful mother. We giggled, cried and celebrated with our loved ones. We got to do all the things. While we look forward to hosting an in-person celebration at some point, our wedding day morphed into something remarkable. It would’ve been very easy to get wrapped up in the ‘disappointment’ of our day not going as planned. This virus forced us to relinquish and just let it be what it was — a whirlwind of a day that was perfect in its own way. Coronavirus may have cancelled our wedding but it did not cancel our marriage or the love.” — Talmadge Anderson
Tom and Taylor
J. Benson Photography Taylor and Tom Ortolani tied the knot on April 10.
“Our original wedding was scheduled for 4/10/20 and when we realized we had to cancel, the most important thing to us became preserving that date. It was Good Friday and we loved the even numbers. That considered, we did our Facebook Live wedding ceremony on April 10.
We had our quiet little ceremony at Great Neck Country Club in Waterford, Connecticut, with the help of a family friend and the owner of their restaurant, Langley’s. They allowed us to use the space despite them being closed to the public.
The virtual ceremony was certainly unique. We started the stream about 10 minutes early and played some instrumental music for people while they signed on. I thought that was a nice touch. What I found to be the most special was the level of intimacy. When you’re planning a wedding, people encourage you to remember what it’s ‘really all about.’ What’s important is who you’re marrying and why. We always knew that. This situation really put a stronger emphasis on that than we already had. It was the most intimate experience of my life to date and for that reason, it will always be even more special.
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What was a little strange was when we kissed and were pronounced husband and wife, I was just naturally expecting to hear applause — except there was nobody there to clap! I ended up clapping for us, knowing that everyone at home was clapping for us too. It was bittersweet, missing that moment, but it was also just as blissful. At its height, I was told the ceremony had 300 live viewers, since then it’s up to 1,000 views.” — Taylor Ortolani
Christie and Jeff
Tiny Oak Media Christie Goshe and Jeff Placencia tied the knot in their Oakland apartment on March 19.
“We had planned to elope on the first day of spring, and despite pretty much every other aspect of our plans going sideways, we still had each other, and that was the most important part. A few loved ones asked why we wouldn’t wait to do it, but our thinking was, why not just do it now? And it turned out very sweet to actually have our friends and family there virtually, because our original plan was for the two of us to elope by ourselves.
The ceremony in our apartment in Oakland, California, felt very intimate and honest. Jeff was barefoot. We rearranged the plants, decorated with papel picado and moved furniture to make space for our altar. One of the hardest things was that we didn’t have a photographer there to capture the day of us together, but both of us work in photography and production so we did the best we could. We set up three cameras and clipped a wireless microphone onto Jeff’s suit.
We rounded out the virtual experience with two calls: a phone running a Google Hangout and a computer running a Zoom call. We made a handmade sign to hang in front of the cameras while people waited and played a Vince Guaraldi record. Christie’s college friend officiated, and it felt very real and emotional. Seeing our friends cheer after we kissed was glorious. Such a silver lining.” — Christie Goshe and Jeff Placencia
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Yemi and Fisayo
Adebola Lamikanra Yemi and Fisayo got married on April 19 in Atlanta.
“We wanted to keep our original date of April 19, but postponed the celebration until December. The virtual wedding allowed us to make the day special but also limit contact with people. We did not want our wedding to be an event where people could get sick. The hardest thing was telling my parents that they could not attend because it was not safe.
The wedding went better than we could have predicted. It was almost as though the limited number of participants stripped away a lot of drama and made it just about the two of us. There were a few traditions we could keep: a first look, the first dance and cake cutting. Guests have told us that they each felt they had a front row seat for the ceremony. They were also able to socialize before and after the ceremony in the video chat. It was a good feeling that we could still bring our families together although they were so far. We have a lot of international family and all of us are under quarantine. So people cherish these social interactions.” — Yemi L.
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huffpost--2020-04-23--Prince Louis' Birthday Pics Turned Into A Great, Big Colorful Mess

Prince Louis turned 2 on Thursday and it looks like things got just a little messy with his birthday pictures .
Kate Middleton and Prince William shared adorable new portraits of the youngest of their three children , who had rainbow-colored paints on his hands , on Wednesday night .
The photos were taken earlier this month by Kate , the Duchess of Cambridge , at the family ’ s home in Anmer Hall .
But just a few hours later , the palace released some behind-the-scenes pictures that looked a little more realistic ― showing Louis with that same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Instagram Vs Reality , ” the palace cheekily tweeted , alongside side-by-side photos of Louis that included one of his painted-covered face .
“ Thank you for your lovely messages on Prince Louis ’ s second birthday.
” Clarence House , the residence of Prince Charles and wife Camilla , shared birthday wishes from them , along with a sweet black-and-white photo of Louis sharing a hug with his grandfather .
It ’ s likely that the families exchanged birthday wishes over the phone , as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve begun video chatting with their relatives amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ It ’ s been a really good way of keeping in touch and seeing each other , ” William told the BBC .
Kate added , “ I think your father , and my parents and our families ... have really loved keeping in touch with the children , because they know it ’ s really hard.
” Charles spoke about turning to technology to keep in touch with people in an essay he penned for the U.K. magazine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We have seen the very best use of technology — allowing us to keep working , but also to keep in touch through virtual parties , games , singing — and some of the funniest videos I have seen for a long time , ” he wrote , as one imagines the prince discovering TikTok during self-isolation .
“ In such testing times , it is reassuring to see that adversity is bringing out the very best in people .
”

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Prince Louis turned 2 on Thursday and it looks like things got just a little messy with his birthday pictures.
Kate Middleton and Prince William shared adorable new portraits of the youngest of their three children, who had rainbow-colored paints on his hands, on Wednesday night.
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The photos were taken earlier this month by Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, at the family’s home in Anmer Hall.
Sharing a sneak peek of Prince Louis’s handiwork ahead of his second birthday!🎨
We are pleased to share images ahead of Prince Louis’s second birthday tomorrow, taken by The Duchess this April. pic.twitter.com/HLm5tXVYHy — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 22, 2020
But just a few hours later, the palace released some behind-the-scenes pictures that looked a little more realistic ― showing Louis with that same rainbow paint all over his cheeks.
“Instagram Vs Reality,” the palace cheekily tweeted, alongside side-by-side photos of Louis that included one of his painted-covered face. “Thank you for your lovely messages on Prince Louis’s second birthday.”
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Instagram Vs Reality
Thank you for your lovely messages on Prince Louis’s second birthday 🌈. pic.twitter.com/42IauvVpEB — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 23, 2020
Now that is more like it!
Clarence House, the residence of Prince Charles and wife Camilla, shared birthday wishes from them, along with a sweet black-and-white photo of Louis sharing a hug with his grandfather.
A very Happy Birthday to Prince Louis, who turns two today. 🎂
The young Prince enjoys a hug from his Grandfather, The Prince of Wales. pic.twitter.com/olLLGASxX8 — Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) April 23, 2020
It’s likely that the families exchanged birthday wishes over the phone, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge told BBC Breakfast last week that they’ve begun video chatting with their relatives amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s been a really good way of keeping in touch and seeing each other,” William told the BBC. Kate added, “I think your father, and my parents and our families ... have really loved keeping in touch with the children, because they know it’s really hard.”
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Charles spoke about turning to technology to keep in touch with people in an essay he penned for the U.K. magazine, Country Life, published on Wednesday.
“We have seen the very best use of technology — allowing us to keep working, but also to keep in touch through virtual parties, games, singing — and some of the funniest videos I have seen for a long time,” he wrote, as one imagines the prince discovering TikTok during self-isolation. “In such testing times, it is reassuring to see that adversity is bringing out the very best in people.”


huffpost--2020-04-21--Photographer Captures What It's Like To Remember Oklahoma City Bombing During Coronavirus

A crowded memorial service for those killed has taken place every year since , but as the coronavirus pandemic continues , the changes this year have been stark .
The memorial , which features 168 empty chairs representing those who died , would usually be filled with families laying flowers for their loved ones .
But this year , due to social distancing guidelines , no one was allowed onto the memorial grounds except for staff members , who laid flowers on each chair the previous night .
Photojournalist Joseph Rushmore spent two days capturing the scenes from the memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watched from far away .
Above : 168 empty chairs sit on the lawn of the Oklahoma City National Memorial , one for each of the victims killed .
Nineteen smaller chairs represent each of the children who died in the bombing .
Normally , families would gather on the anniversary to lay flowers at the chairs of loved ones , but due to shelter-in-place restrictions , no one was allowed on the memorial grounds this year .
Staff placed flowers on each chair the day before the 25th anniversary of the bombing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a newly hung wreath with a photo of Doris ’ daughter and Bobby ’ s stepdaughter , Carrie Lenz , at the memorial site on the morning of the 25th anniversary of the bombing .
A security guard stands near the Survivor Tree at the Oklahoma City National Memorial .
The tree stood across the street from the Murrah Building and was heavily damaged in the blast , but survived and became a gathering spot for family and loved ones in the months and years after the bombing .
The Gates of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Memorial create a frame of the moment , 9:02 a.m. , when the bombing occurred .
9:01 represents the final moment of innocence before the act , and 9:03 is the first moment that healing could begin after the blast .
Shequandala Gigger stands for a portrait at the memorial site .
Her mother Sheila Gigger-Driver was 28 years old and pregnant when she was killed in the bombing .
“ I hate this place , ” she said .
“ It ’ s where my mother died.
” Fred Gonzales and Nina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s uncle Antonio “ Tony ” C. Reyes , who was killed in the bombing , on a piece of original fence set up to protect the site after the blast , which became an impromptu location for people to leave tokens of remembrance on the 25th anniversary of the domestic terror attack .
Steve and Zena Dater of Oklahoma City stand in silence at the Oklahoma City National Memorial at 9:02 a.m. on the morning of the 25th anniversary of the bombing .
Steve and Zena owned a local restaurant at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the weeks after the blast .
Members of the Almon family gather at the memorial site on the morning of the 25th anniversary to remember Baylee Almon , who had celebrated her first birthday the evening before she was killed in the bombing while at a day care center on the second story of the Murrah Building .
Baylee captured the world ’ s attention in the days after the blast when a now iconic photo of a fireman carrying her body out of the rubble made its way to front pages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family hung flowers and a “ happy birthday ” sign to celebrate what would have been Baylee ’ s 26th birthday .

Sunday marked the 25th anniversary of the domestic terror attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people.
A crowded memorial service for those killed has taken place every year since, but as the coronavirus pandemic continues, the changes this year have been stark.
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The memorial, which features 168 empty chairs representing those who died, would usually be filled with families laying flowers for their loved ones. But this year, due to social distancing guidelines, no one was allowed onto the memorial grounds except for staff members, who laid flowers on each chair the previous night.
Photojournalist Joseph Rushmore spent two days capturing the scenes from the memorial and outside of it, as families watched from far away.
See the photos below.
Above: 168 empty chairs sit on the lawn of the Oklahoma City National Memorial, one for each of the victims killed. Nineteen smaller chairs represent each of the children who died in the bombing. Normally, families would gather on the anniversary to lay flowers at the chairs of loved ones, but due to shelter-in-place restrictions, no one was allowed on the memorial grounds this year. Staff placed flowers on each chair the day before the 25th anniversary of the bombing.
Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost
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A staff member places flowers on one of the 168 chairs on the memorial grounds on April 18.
Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost
Visitors stand in an overlook area of the Oklahoma City National Memorial on April 18.
Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost
Doris Lenz and Bobby Jones stand by a newly hung wreath with a photo of Doris’ daughter and Bobby’s stepdaughter, Carrie Lenz, at the memorial site on the morning of the 25th anniversary of the bombing.
Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost
A security guard stands near the Survivor Tree at the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The tree stood across the street from the Murrah Building and was heavily damaged in the blast, but survived and became a gathering spot for family and loved ones in the months and years after the bombing.
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Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost
The Gates of Time section of the Oklahoma City National Memorial create a frame of the moment, 9:02 a.m., when the bombing occurred. 9:01 represents the final moment of innocence before the act, and 9:03 is the first moment that healing could begin after the blast.
Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost
Shequandala Gigger stands for a portrait at the memorial site. Her mother Sheila Gigger-Driver was 28 years old and pregnant when she was killed in the bombing. “I hate this place,” she said. “It’s where my mother died.”
Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost
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Fred Gonzales and Nina Reyes Gonzales hang flowers for Nina’s uncle Antonio “Tony” C. Reyes, who was killed in the bombing, on a piece of original fence set up to protect the site after the blast, which became an impromptu location for people to leave tokens of remembrance on the 25th anniversary of the domestic terror attack.
Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost
Steve and Zena Dater of Oklahoma City stand in silence at the Oklahoma City National Memorial at 9:02 a.m. on the morning of the 25th anniversary of the bombing. Steve and Zena owned a local restaurant at the time and served food to first responders in the weeks after the blast.
Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost
Members of the Almon family gather at the memorial site on the morning of the 25th anniversary to remember Baylee Almon, who had celebrated her first birthday the evening before she was killed in the bombing while at a day care center on the second story of the Murrah Building. Baylee captured the world’s attention in the days after the blast when a now iconic photo of a fireman carrying her body out of the rubble made its way to front pages of newspapers around the world. The family hung flowers and a “happy birthday” sign to celebrate what would have been Baylee’s 26th birthday.
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Joseph Rushmore for HuffPost


huffpost--2020-04-22--How To Deal With A Boss Who Micromanages Your Work From Home

Such bosses are “ monitoring instead of managing , ” said Alison Green , founder of the workplace advice website Ask A Manager .
“ Because they don ’ t know how to effectively manage people who are remote , they don ’ t feel like they have enough control , and they ’ re getting very anxious about accountability , and whether people are taking advantage of them , and they ’ re micromanaging.
“ First , try to understand why your boss is now a micromanager .
Accusing your boss of being a micromanager can put them on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ productive , but open-ended questions can help you find out the source of your boss ’ change in behavior .
Hogan suggested what/why questions that don ’ t assume an answer , such as , “ What , if anything , are you especially worried about right now ?
” Once you understand their reasoning , frame your response in the language that they care about .
Hogan said that could be like , “ Hey , I know you really care about this deadline .
Checking in this often is taking away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not going to help me hit this deadline .
Maybe instead we can ... ” Try to suggest a new way of reporting to them .
How to discuss your manager ’ s micromanaging tendencies depends on your track record and your relationship .
But if you can afford to be straightforward , Green said you can suggest what you want in a matter-of-fact way , like , “ ‘ I know that working from home has been new for all of us , but now that we ’ ve been doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we go back to more of the autonomy that we had when we were in the office , because I think I work more effectively that way ... Can we say for the next week , we are going to change the ... reporting system that we ’ re using ?
If it doesn ’ t work , we can address that.
’ ” Varelas said employees should also be proactive about keeping their micromanager informed .
That could take the form of a written report that says “ Here are the things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here are the things I ’ ve brought forward , and maybe even here are a list of things I ’ d appreciate talking about in our one-on-one , ” Varelas said .
How you tell your manager about this matters , too .
Consider the medium of how you usually bring up sensitive issues to your boss .
That ’ s the medium you want to use with this .
Green says people often hope these kinds of conversations can be done in an email , but she suggests a real-time conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are saying and have the context of tone .
Don ’ t let their check-ins get under your skin .

z_wei via Getty Images Open-ended questions can help you figure out why your boss has become so controlling about how you do your job.
The coronavirus pandemic is causing people to feel understandably stressed about their job security, health and safety. Some employees also have to contend with the stress of their boss suddenly turning into a remote micromanager when they transitioned to working from home.
Such bosses are “monitoring instead of managing,” said Alison Green, founder of the workplace advice website Ask A Manager. “Because they don’t know how to effectively manage people who are remote, they don’t feel like they have enough control, and they’re getting very anxious about accountability, and whether people are taking advantage of them, and they’re micromanaging.“
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Green said she has heard from trusted high performers who have worked for their managers for years but are now suddenly dealing with their boss’s extra scrutiny. Others have complained of being told to stay on video calls all day as they work.
Newly remote bosses often want reassurance that their employees are being productive at home, but some are even turning to digital surveillance tools. Software makers like ActivTrak are seeing increased sales from employers seeking screen monitoring and productivity metrics, Bloomberg News reported. Others have demanded that their employees now keep them informed of every single break they take:
.@wsj wants to make sure nobody is having too much fun working from home pic.twitter.com/hbxBU0qG54 — Ben Smith (@benyt) March 13, 2020
Here’s advice from career experts on what you can do to fight back against the demands for constant check-ins and the stress of increased micromanaging.
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First, try to understand why your boss is now a micromanager.
There are many reasons why your boss is behaving irrationally and is monitoring your performance more right now, said Lara Hogan, author of “Resilient Management” and former vice president of engineering at Kickstarter.
“They might be worried about their reputation and so they want to make sure their team is delivering; they might be worried about a deadline because they so crave certainty right now,” Hogan said, noting that neither scenario is a good reason for this behavior.
“Most managers are running on fear that they can’t control what’s going on, so they are trying to control productivity,” said Elaine Varelas, managing partner of human capital consulting firm Keystone Partners.
Accusing your boss of being a micromanager can put them on the defensive and make your conversation less productive, but open-ended questions can help you find out the source of your boss’ change in behavior. Hogan suggested what/why questions that don’t assume an answer, such as, “What, if anything, are you especially worried about right now?”
Once you understand their reasoning, frame your response in the language that they care about. Hogan said that could be like, “Hey, I know you really care about this deadline. Checking in this often is taking away my focus on the project, which is not going to help me hit this deadline. Maybe instead we can ... ”
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Try to suggest a new way of reporting to them.
How to discuss your manager’s micromanaging tendencies depends on your track record and your relationship. But if you can afford to be straightforward, Green said you can suggest what you want in a matter-of-fact way, like, “‘I know that working from home has been new for all of us, but now that we’ve been doing this for a few weeks, can we go back to more of the autonomy that we had when we were in the office, because I think I work more effectively that way ... Can we say for the next week, we are going to change the ... reporting system that we’re using? If it doesn’t work, we can address that.’”
Suggesting what you want as an experiment, rather than saying you want to change a system forever, may make it more likely to get your “yes,” Green said.
Coming in with a proposal to your manager, Green said, is also a good idea “because clearly their ideas and solutions have failed them so far.” The goal is to frame your concern as something that is taking away from your ability to do your job well.
Varelas said employees should also be proactive about keeping their micromanager informed. That could take the form of a written report that says “Here are the things I’ve done this week, here are the things I’ve brought forward, and maybe even here are a list of things I’d appreciate talking about in our one-on-one,” Varelas said.
If you have a shared calendar with your manager, keep it filled with your projects, so you can give your manager insight into what it is that you do and how they can help, Varelas said.
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“Someone who asks for something as ridiculous as wanting to see you on video all day long, that is someone who is telling you they do not know how to manage.” - Alison Green, founder of Ask A Manager website
And if your boss is still asking to see you on video at all times even after you discuss your request, use bandwidth issues as an excuse.
“I don’t think that there’s an ethical issue with just saying, ‘My data plan is not supporting that,’” Green said.
How you tell your manager about this matters, too.
Consider the medium of how you usually bring up sensitive issues to your boss. That’s the medium you want to use with this. Green says people often hope these kinds of conversations can be done in an email, but she suggests a real-time conversation in which you can clarify what you are saying and have the context of tone.
“If you get an email from someone saying they feel micromanaged, it’s hard to not feel defensive by that, even if you’re pretty well-intentioned,” Green said. “A conversation is warmer and doesn’t feel quite as chilly.”
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Don’t let their check-ins get under your skin.
Often the reason your boss has become a micromanager has nothing to do with your performance, so don’t let their unwanted check-ins change how you see your capabilities.
When you are feeling annoyed and frustrated by a micromanager’s surveillance, it can help to know that their actions are not usually about you, but are a poor reflection of their ability to manage.


huffpost--2020-04-22--Prince Louis Hams It Up In Truly Adorable 2nd Birthday Portraits

Kate Middleton and Prince William rang in Prince Louis ’ second birthday by giving royal fans the best gift possible : new photos of the little one .
And it ’ s hard to believe just how grown up he is !
“ Sharing a sneak peek of Prince Louis ’ s handiwork ahead of his second birthday !
” Kensington Palace said on Instagram Wednesday .
“ We are pleased to share images ahead of Prince Louis ’ s second birthday tomorrow , taken by The Duchess this April.
” Louis is spending his birthday , which falls on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and staying occupied by playing outside , baking , and likely listening to his mom and dad homeschool his siblings .
He ’ ll also probably get some birthday wishes over the phone , as Kate and William revealed in an interview with BBC Breakfast last week that they ’ ve begun video chatting with family members .
“ It ’ s been a really good way of keeping in touch and seeing each other , ” William told BBC , while Kate added , “ I think your father , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really loved keeping in touch with the children , because they know it ’ s really hard.
” The last time we saw little Louis , he was standing alongside Prince George and Princess Charlotte in a sweet video made as part of the Clap For Our Carers campaign , which thanks those on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 .
On Tuesday , Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 94th birthday , but without the pomp and circumstance of years past .
Usually , flags are raised and there is a ceremonial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but all of that was canceled this year , as the monarch continues to self-isolate at Windsor Castle with Prince Philip .
Nevertheless , Buckingham Palace still posted a birthday message on behalf of Queen Elizabeth and shared footage of her as a young girl , playing with her sister Princess Margaret : Thank you for your messages today , on The Queen ’ s 94th birthday .
🎈🎉 🎥 In this private footage from @ RCT , we see The Queen , then Princess Elizabeth , with her family , including her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Royal Family ( @ RoyalFamily ) April 21 , 2020 Subscribe to HuffPost ’ s Watching the Royals newsletter for all things Windsor ( and beyond ) .

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Kate Middleton and Prince William rang in Prince Louis’ second birthday by giving royal fans the best gift possible: new photos of the little one.
And it’s hard to believe just how grown up he is!
“Sharing a sneak peek of Prince Louis’s handiwork ahead of his second birthday!” Kensington Palace said on Instagram Wednesday. “We are pleased to share images ahead of Prince Louis’s second birthday tomorrow, taken by The Duchess this April.”
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PA
Louis is spending his birthday, which falls on Thursday, with his family at home, and staying occupied by playing outside, baking, and likely listening to his mom and dad homeschool his siblings.
He’ll also probably get some birthday wishes over the phone, as Kate and William revealed in an interview with BBC Breakfast last week that they’ve begun video chatting with family members.
PA
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PA
PA
“It’s been a really good way of keeping in touch and seeing each other,” William told BBC, while Kate added, “I think your father, and my parents and our families ... have really loved keeping in touch with the children, because they know it’s really hard.”
The last time we saw little Louis, he was standing alongside Prince George and Princess Charlotte in a sweet video made as part of the Clap For Our Carers campaign, which thanks those on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
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On Tuesday, Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 94th birthday, but without the pomp and circumstance of years past.
Usually, flags are raised and there is a ceremonial gun salute to honor Her Majesty, but all of that was canceled this year, as the monarch continues to self-isolate at Windsor Castle with Prince Philip.
Nevertheless, Buckingham Palace still posted a birthday message on behalf of Queen Elizabeth and shared footage of her as a young girl, playing with her sister Princess Margaret:
Thank you for your messages today, on The Queen’s 94th birthday. 🎈🎉
🎥 In this private footage from @RCT, we see The Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, with her family, including her younger sister Princess Margaret. pic.twitter.com/T5IUS8MmQj — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2020
Subscribe to HuffPost’s Watching the Royals newsletter for all things Windsor (and beyond).


huffpost--2020-04-23--The Delivery Foods Americans Are Ordering More During Lockdown

From restaurant closures to bread-baking crazes , the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way Americans eat in many ways .
This applies to delivery orders as well .
It turns out Midwesterners are craving burritos .
In the Northeast , it ’ s mac and cheese , according to new data from Grubhub .
The food delivery service calculated which foods rose in popularity in the Midwest , Northeast , South and West during the first month of social distancing for most Americans .
Its study analyzed what food items were more frequently ordered in each region from March 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders from Feb. 15 through March 14 .
In the Midwest , glazed doughnuts became 115 % more popular ; and sausage , egg and cheese burritos rose 341 % .
Nashville hot chicken sandwiches increased 173 % in the Northeast and 157 % in the South .
Doughnut holes are 369 % more popular in the West compared with the previous month .
Keep scrolling to see the five food items that have grown in popularity the most during this time of social distancing .
Experts are still learning about the novel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is what was known or available as of press time , but it ’ s possible guidance around COVID-19 could change as scientists discover more about the virus .
Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations .

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From restaurant closures to bread-baking crazes, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way Americans eat in many ways. This applies to delivery orders as well.
It turns out Midwesterners are craving burritos. In the Northeast, it’s mac and cheese, according to new data from Grubhub.
Advertisement
The food delivery service calculated which foods rose in popularity in the Midwest, Northeast, South and West during the first month of social distancing for most Americans. Its study analyzed what food items were more frequently ordered in each region from March 15 through April 14 and compared that with orders from Feb. 15 through March 14.
In the Midwest, glazed doughnuts became 115% more popular; and sausage, egg and cheese burritos rose 341%. Nashville hot chicken sandwiches increased 173% in the Northeast and 157% in the South. Doughnut holes are 369% more popular in the West compared with the previous month.
Keep scrolling to see the five food items that have grown in popularity the most during this time of social distancing.
Midwest Sausage, egg and cheese burrito: 341% more popular Chili con queso: 204% more popular Plant-based sausage breakfast sandwich: 119% more popular Glazed doughnut: 115% more popular Red velvet cupcake: 113% more popular Northeast Mac and cheese: 220% more popular Carne asada bowl: 203% more popular Barbecued bacon chicken sandwich: 198% more popular Nashville hot chicken sandwich: 173% more popular Shrimp Alfredo: 151% more popular South Burrito bowl: 345% more popular Grilled steak burrito: 293% more popular Nashville hot chicken sandwich: 157% more popular Baby back ribs: 108% more popular Bourbon chicken: 100% more popular West Chicken croissant: 375% more popular Doughnut hole: 369% more popular Chili con queso: 234% more popular Grilled chicken sandwich: 149% more popular Green chile cheeseburger: 127% more popular


huffpost--2020-04-22--Top Vaccine Official Says He Was Demoted For Resisting Unproven Drug Pushed By Trump

The doctor leading the Trump administration ’ s vaccine agency said he was removed from his post at the Department of Health and Human Services and moved into a smaller role at another agency in retaliation for pushing for “ scientifically-vetted solutions ” over drugs that have not been proven to treat the coronavirus .
Dr. Rick Bright said in a statement to The New York Times on Wednesday that he had clashed with HHS “ political leadership ” over his resistance to funding “ potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections.
” That disagreement led to Bright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in HHS , which leads the federal effort to develop vaccines and other drugs .
The director of that agency is not appointed by Congress .
Bright told the Times that he specifically limited the “ broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine , promoted by the administration as a panacea , but which clearly lack scientific merit.
” “ While I am prepared to look at all options and to think ‘ outside the box ’ for effective treatments , I rightly resisted efforts to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American public , ” Bright said Tuesday .
President Donald Trump has continuously promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine , a drug for malaria , as a possible treatment for COVID-19 despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting that claim .
At least one recent study of 368 patients ― the largest study so far ― showed that there were no benefits of using the drug .
The study also showed that more patients who received hydroxychloroquine died than those who received standard care .
Bright had been working with the agency since 2010 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director in late 2016 .
As of Wednesday afternoon , his biography page on the HHS website was unpublished .
When asked about Bright at the coronavirus task force press conference on Wednesday , Trump told reporters that he had “ never heard of ” the doctor .
Bright believes his transfer to the National Institutes of Health was in response to his “ insistence ” that the federal government invest the “ billions of dollars allocated by Congress ” in science-backed solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic instead of “ drugs , vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said in a statement .
Katz and Banks previously represented Christine Blasey Ford , who alleged that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school .
HHS officials confirmed to CNN that Bright had been moved to the NIH to lead a government project involving a public-private partnership on developing vaccines and COVID-19 treatments .
“ Unfortunately , this resulted in clashes with H.H.S .
political leadership , including criticism for my proactive efforts to invest early into vaccines and supplies critical to saving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections , ” he continued .
According to Stat , a medical and health care news site , Congress recently tripled BARDA ’ s budget as part of the response to the coronavirus pandemic .
HuffPost has reached out to the White House , HHS and Katz and Banks for comment .

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The doctor leading the Trump administration’s vaccine agency said he was removed from his post at the Department of Health and Human Services and moved into a smaller role at another agency in retaliation for pushing for “scientifically-vetted solutions” over drugs that have not been proven to treat the coronavirus.
Dr. Rick Bright said in a statement to The New York Times on Wednesday that he had clashed with HHS “political leadership” over his resistance to funding “potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections.”
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That disagreement led to Bright’s removal as the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in HHS, which leads the federal effort to develop vaccines and other drugs. The director of that agency is not appointed by Congress.
Bright told the Times that he specifically limited the “broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, promoted by the administration as a panacea, but which clearly lack scientific merit.”
“While I am prepared to look at all options and to think ‘outside the box’ for effective treatments, I rightly resisted efforts to provide an unproven drug on demand to the American public,” Bright said Tuesday.
President Donald Trump has continuously promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine, a drug for malaria, as a possible treatment for COVID-19 despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting that claim.
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At least one recent study of 368 patients ― the largest study so far ― showed that there were no benefits of using the drug. The study also showed that more patients who received hydroxychloroquine died than those who received standard care.
Bright had been working with the agency since 2010 and took on the role of BARDA director in late 2016. As of Wednesday afternoon, his biography page on the HHS website was unpublished.
When asked about Bright at the coronavirus task force press conference on Wednesday, Trump told reporters that he had “never heard of” the doctor.
Here is Dr. Rick Bright's full statement, just emailed out by the law firm Katz, Marshall & Banks which will be representing him as he files a whistleblower complaint.
(First reported by @maggieNYT) pic.twitter.com/oQ3j9Z17SK — Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) April 22, 2020
Bright believes his transfer to the National Institutes of Health was in response to his “insistence” that the federal government invest the “billions of dollars allocated by Congress” in science-backed solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic instead of “drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit,” he said in a statement.
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Bright’s attorneys Debra Katz and Lisa Banks called the health official’s removal “retaliation plain and simple,” according to CNN.
Katz and Banks previously represented Christine Blasey Ford, who alleged that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school.
HHS officials confirmed to CNN that Bright had been moved to the NIH to lead a government project involving a public-private partnership on developing vaccines and COVID-19 treatments.
“My professional background has prepared me for a moment like this — to confront and defeat a deadly virus that threatens Americans and people around the globe. To this point, I have led the government’s efforts to invest in the best science available to combat the Covid-19 pandemic,” Bright said in his statement.


huffpost--2020-04-23--Rolling Stones Release Song That May Become Anthem Of Self-Isolation

NEW YORK ( AP ) — The Rolling Stones have unveiled a new song the band thinks is perfect for these coronavirus times .
The legendary band released the four-minute slow-burning bluesy and harmonica-driven “ Living in a Ghost Town ” on Thursday .
“ I ’ m a ghost/ Living in a ghost town/ You can look for me/ But I can ’ t be found , ” sings frontman Mick Jagger , who wrote it with guitarist Keith Richards .
The band explained that the song was one they were working on before the global lockdown and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking it “ would resonate through the times that we ’ re living in right now.
” The lyrics do certainly sound timely : “ I ’ m going nowhere/Shut up all alone/So much time to lose/Just staring at my phone.
” The Stones ’ recently joined forces remotely to perform “ You Can ’ t Always Get What You Want ” for the “ One World : Together At Home , ” concert .
Other musicians who have recorded coronavirus-related songs include Twenty One Pilots , who released a new standalone single @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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NEW YORK (AP) — The Rolling Stones have unveiled a new song the band thinks is perfect for these coronavirus times.
The legendary band released the four-minute slow-burning bluesy and harmonica-driven “Living in a Ghost Town” on Thursday.
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“I’m a ghost/ Living in a ghost town/ You can look for me/ But I can’t be found,” sings frontman Mick Jagger, who wrote it with guitarist Keith Richards.
The band explained that the song was one they were working on before the global lockdown and they decided to revisit it in isolation, thinking it “would resonate through the times that we’re living in right now.”
The lyrics do certainly sound timely: “I’m going nowhere/Shut up all alone/So much time to lose/Just staring at my phone.”
The Stones’ recently joined forces remotely to perform “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” for the “One World: Together At Home,” concert.
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Other musicians who have recorded coronavirus-related songs include Twenty One Pilots, who released a new standalone single, “Level of Concern.”
___


huffpost--2020-05-11--'The Office' Reunites For Awesome Zoom Wedding On John Krasinski's Show

This was not just another day at the office for true love .
It was a day at “ The Office ” for one lucky Maryland couple .
“ The Office ” fans Susan and John were married by “ Office ” star John Krasinski , whose former castmates joined them online in a full-blown reunion of the 2005-2013 sitcom .
They somewhat recreated their characters ’ dancing down the aisle at Jim and Pam ’ s wedding in Season 6 .
Props to actor Rainn Wilson ( Dwight ) for busting out his accidental knockout kick from the fictional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over Zoom and shared on “ Some Good News , ” Krasinski ’ s weekly YouTube show that he ’ s been hosting throughout the coronavirus pandemic .
( Fast forward to the 7:15 mark below . )
Clearly , it wasn ’ t just any wedding ceremony , as it managed to get people in love hitched and reunite stars from one of TV ’ s beloved workplace comedies .
“ Let ’ s be honest , how does it get better than that ?
” Krasinski said .
Heck , any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have Steve Carell , Jenna Fischer , Mindy Kaling , B.J .
Novak , Angela Kinsey , Ellie Kemper , Kate Flannery , Brian Baumgartner , Ed Helms , Phyllis Smith , Oscar Nunez and Creed Bratton crash it .
The bride and groom got Krasinski ’ s attention by recreating the scene where Jim proposes to Pam at a gas station .
“ There ’ s only one way out of this wedding , ” Krasinski said on “ Some Good News.
” “ And Susan and John , because you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it ’ s only fitting that you rip off the wedding too.
” Here are the scenes of Pam and Jim ’ s proposal and wedding from “ The Office .
”

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This was not just another day at the office for true love. It was a day at “The Office” for one lucky Maryland couple.
“The Office” fans Susan and John were married by “Office” star John Krasinski, whose former castmates joined them online in a full-blown reunion of the 2005-2013 sitcom. They somewhat recreated their characters’ dancing down the aisle at Jim and Pam’s wedding in Season 6. Props to actor Rainn Wilson (Dwight) for busting out his accidental knockout kick from the fictional big day.
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The event was recorded over Zoom and shared on “Some Good News,” Krasinski’s weekly YouTube show that he’s been hosting throughout the coronavirus pandemic. (Fast forward to the 7:15 mark below.)
Clearly, it wasn’t just any wedding ceremony, as it managed to get people in love hitched and reunite stars from one of TV’s beloved workplace comedies.
“Let’s be honest, how does it get better than that?” Krasinski said.
Heck, any of us would have a wedding just to have Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, Mindy Kaling, B.J. Novak, Angela Kinsey, Ellie Kemper, Kate Flannery, Brian Baumgartner, Ed Helms, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nunez and Creed Bratton crash it.
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The bride and groom got Krasinski’s attention by recreating the scene where Jim proposes to Pam at a gas station.
“There’s only one way out of this wedding,” Krasinski said on “Some Good News.” “And Susan and John, because you elegantly ripped off our proposal, I think it’s only fitting that you rip off the wedding too.”
Here are the scenes of Pam and Jim’s proposal and wedding from “The Office.”


huffpost--2020-05-10--Angelina Jolie Throws Subtle Dig At Jon Voight In Powerful Tribute To Her Mother

In case you forgot that Donald Trump ’ s favorite movie star , Jon Voight , is Angelina Jolie ’ s father , she ’ s here to remind you in a powerful essay about her memories of her parents .
The “ Maleficent ” star wrote a revealing op-ed for The New York Times on Sunday in tribute to her late mother , Marcheline Bertrand , who died in 2007 after a battle with ovarian cancer .
Angelina Jolie and Jon Voight at the premiere of `` In the Land of Blood and Honey '' in 2011 .
Jolie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it shaped her own understanding of the world , especially on Mother ’ s Day .
“ I lost my mother in my thirties , ” Jolie writes .
“ When I look back to that time , I can see how much her death changed me .
It was not sudden , but so much shifted inside .
Losing a mother ’ s love and warm , soft embrace is like having someone rip away a protective blanket.
” In praising her mother , Jolie also reveals a thinly veiled disdain for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not on speaking terms for many years .
She shares that Voight caused tremendous pain by being unfaithful to Bertrand and that his dreams overshadowed her ambitions .
“ When my father had an affair , it changed [ my mother ’ s ] life .
It set her dream of family life ablaze , ” Jolie wrote .
“ But she still loved being a mother .
Her dreams of being an actor faded as she found herself , at the age of 26 , raising two children with a famous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on her life .
“ After she died , I found a video of her acting in a short film .
She was good .
It was all possible for her , ” Jolie added .
Jolie , no stranger to the toll marital issues can take , seemingly connects her mother ’ s struggles to her own .
The actor and ex-husband Brad Pitt currently co-parent their six children ― Maddox , 18 ; Pax , 16 ; Zahara , 15 ; Shiloh , 13 ; and 11-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come first.
” “ Life has taken many turns .
I ’ ve had my own loss and seen my life take a different direction .
And it hurt more than I imagined it ever would , ” she continued .
“ But now , with my girls growing up and being the ages I remember so well as a daughter , I am rediscovering my mother and her spirit.
” As an advocate for children around the world , Jolie urged protection for young people suffering amid the coronavirus pandemic in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We were underprepared for this moment because we have yet to take the protection of children seriously enough as a society , ” Jolie wrote .
“ The profound , lasting health impacts of trauma on children are poorly understood and often minimized.
” But Jolie has revealed that she and Voight have found a way to communicate for the benefit of her children .
“ Jon and I have gotten to know each other — through grandchildren now , ” Jolie told The Hollywood Reporter in 2017 .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ve had some difficulties , [ but ] through art we ’ ve been able to talk .
It ’ s the common language .
”

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In case you forgot that Donald Trump’s favorite movie star, Jon Voight, is Angelina Jolie’s father, she’s here to remind you in a powerful essay about her memories of her parents.
The “Maleficent” star wrote a revealing op-ed for The New York Times on Sunday in tribute to her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who died in 2007 after a battle with ovarian cancer.
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Angelina Jolie and Jon Voight at the premiere of "In the Land of Blood and Honey" in 2011. Lester Cohen via Getty Images
Jolie reflected on the life-altering event and how it shaped her own understanding of the world, especially on Mother’s Day.
“I lost my mother in my thirties,” Jolie writes. “When I look back to that time, I can see how much her death changed me. It was not sudden, but so much shifted inside. Losing a mother’s love and warm, soft embrace is like having someone rip away a protective blanket.”
In Opinion
Angelina Jolie writes, “To the mothers everywhere who feel helpless — yet who still give every last bit of energy, every last bite of food and the only blanket to their children — I honor you.”https://t.co/oHuDojYJW9 — The New York Times (@nytimes) May 10, 2020
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In praising her mother, Jolie also reveals a thinly veiled disdain for her estranged father, with whom she was not on speaking terms for many years. She shares that Voight caused tremendous pain by being unfaithful to Bertrand and that his dreams overshadowed her ambitions.
“When my father had an affair, it changed [my mother’s] life. It set her dream of family life ablaze,” Jolie wrote. “But she still loved being a mother. Her dreams of being an actor faded as she found herself, at the age of 26, raising two children with a famous ex who would cast a long shadow on her life.
“After she died, I found a video of her acting in a short film. She was good. It was all possible for her,” Jolie added.
The “Midnight Cowboy” star and Bertrand officially divorced in 1980 after nearly a decade of marriage.
Jolie, no stranger to the toll marital issues can take, seemingly connects her mother’s struggles to her own. The actor and ex-husband Brad Pitt currently co-parent their six children ― Maddox, 18; Pax, 16; Zahara, 15; Shiloh, 13; and 11-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne ― who Jolie says will “forever come first.”
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“Life has taken many turns. I’ve had my own loss and seen my life take a different direction. And it hurt more than I imagined it ever would,” she continued. “But now, with my girls growing up and being the ages I remember so well as a daughter, I am rediscovering my mother and her spirit.”
Angelina Jolie, right, and her mother Marcheline Bertrand, at a film premiere in Los Angeles in 2001. ASSOCIATED PRESS
As an advocate for children around the world, Jolie urged protection for young people suffering amid the coronavirus pandemic in an essay for Time magazine last month.
“We were underprepared for this moment because we have yet to take the protection of children seriously enough as a society,” Jolie wrote. “The profound, lasting health impacts of trauma on children are poorly understood and often minimized.”
Voight, meanwhile, hailed Trump as “hero” and a “magnificent soul” for his response to the COVID-19 health crisis in a recent video message.
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But Jolie has revealed that she and Voight have found a way to communicate for the benefit of her children.
“Jon and I have gotten to know each other — through grandchildren now,” Jolie told The Hollywood Reporter in 2017. “We’re finding a new relationship. ... We’ve had some difficulties, [but] through art we’ve been able to talk. It’s the common language.”


huffpost--2020-04-27--Sanders Challenges His Possible Removal From New York Primary Ballot

Malcolm Seymour , an attorney representing the Sanders campaign , argued in the letter to the board that the provision should not apply to Sanders “ retroactively , ” since he might have acted differently if it had been in effect when he decided to suspend his campaign .
The legislature would not have given the Board this discretion if the legislature had not anticipated that situations would arise in which a candidate ’ s removal would be improper .
Malcolm Seymour , a lawyer for the Sanders campaign “ The legislature would not have given the Board this discretion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situations would arise in which a candidate ’ s removal would be improper , ” the lawyer said .
“ This is clearly one such situation ― Senator Sanders has publicly stated that he wishes to remain a candidate and has formally objected to his removal.
” HuffPost reported last Tuesday that the two Democratic members of the board , co-chair Douglas Kellner and commissioner Andrew Spano , were due to meet the following day to decide on Sanders ’ potential removal .
The two men must reach a unanimous decision in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prior to that meeting , Kellner told HuffPost that he thinks he is legally obligated to remove Sanders .
Spano expressed ambivalence , however , weighing the inconvenience to county governments against the desire of Sanders supporters for a “ voice at the convention.
” Remaining on the ballot in New York is a priority for Sanders because he hopes to win enough convention delegates nationwide for his allies to receive at least 25 % of the seats on the three key convention committees in August : those concerning rules and bylaws , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A quarter share of the committees ’ membership ensures that Sanders ’ bloc will have the opportunity to submit a minority report to the convention floor for a vote on matters such as permanently disempowering the party insiders and elected officials known as “ superdelegates.
” ( Sanders ’ allies previously helped shepherd through rule changes barring the superdelegates from voting for a presidential candidate on the first convention ballot , but that move applies only to the 2020 nominating contest . )
But the Biden campaign , which believes that mollifying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president defeat President Donald Trump in November , has already shown a willingness to negotiate with Sanders over delegate allocation .
The two campaigns are in talks over how to divvy up the one-third of convention delegates awarded based on statewide primary and caucus results .
Normally , candidates who are no longer running can hold on to their share of the two-thirds of delegates awarded based on their primary performance in each congressional district but are not eligible to keep statewide delegates they ’ ve won .
Currently , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ballot in New York : Biden ; Sanders ; Sens .
Michael Bennet ( Colo. ) , Amy Klobuchar ( Minn. ) and Elizabeth Warren ( Mass . )
; billionaire businessmen Mike Bloomberg and Tom Steyer ; former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg ; former Massachusetts Gov .
Deval Patrick ; Rep. Tulsi Gabbard ( Hawaii ) ; and entrepreneur Andrew Yang .
Aside from Sanders , none of the other candidates who have dropped out of the race have asked to remain on the ballot .
Should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those candidates , the state ’ s presidential primary would be canceled .
Some 20 of the state ’ s 62 counties would not hold any primary elections at all as a result .
In late March , Cuomo postponed the New York presidential primary from April 28 to June 23 because of the coronavirus pandemic .
That made the presidential primary coincide with New York ’ s congressional and state legislative primaries .
Some left-wing activists in the state hoped that Sanders ’ continued presence on the ballot would benefit progressive candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the support of Sanders voters who would not otherwise turn out .
Those activists now fear the effort to remove Sanders is motivated by a desire to undermine primary challengers .
New York state will face issues of its own if it decides to remove Sanders .
It will have to get the Democratic National Committee ’ s approval for a new plan to allocate convention delegates who would otherwise be awarded based on the outcome of the primary .
If necessary , Cohen told HuffPost , he is prepared to try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s delegates in the convention ’ s credentials committee .

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The presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) submitted a letter to the New York State Board of Elections on Sunday challenging a looming decision on whether to keep him on the ballot for the state’s primary.
Sanders formally suspended his campaign earlier this month, but said that he planned to stay on the ballot in upcoming primaries in order to maximize his influence on the Democratic Party’s platform and rules.
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Five days later, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed a budget bill with an obscure provision authorizing the state’s board of elections to remove from the primary ballot those candidates who have withdrawn from the presidential campaign.
Though he's withdrawn from the presidential race, Sen. Bernie Sanders still wants the chance to shape Democratic Party rules at the convention. MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
Malcolm Seymour, an attorney representing the Sanders campaign, argued in the letter to the board that the provision should not apply to Sanders “retroactively,” since he might have acted differently if it had been in effect when he decided to suspend his campaign.
“The retroactive application of [the change in election law] would severely impact Senator Sanders’ core substantive rights,” Seymour wrote in the letter obtained by HuffPost. “Because of the severity of this potential deprivation, the presumption against retroactive application must operate with maximum force.”
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Seymour further noted that the new law merely states that the board of elections “may,” rather than “must,” decide to remove from the ballot candidates who have ended their campaigns for the nomination.
“The legislature would not have given the Board this discretion if the legislature had not anticipated that situations would arise in which a candidate’s removal would be improper.” - Malcolm Seymour, a lawyer for the Sanders campaign
“The legislature would not have given the Board this discretion if the legislature had not anticipated that situations would arise in which a candidate’s removal would be improper,” the lawyer said. “This is clearly one such situation ― Senator Sanders has publicly stated that he wishes to remain a candidate and has formally objected to his removal.”
Seymour noted that no interested party ― including former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic National Committee and the New York State Democratic Party ― has asked the board of elections to remove Sanders.
“His involuntary erasure from the ballot, on grounds of a law that was not in effect when he announced his campaign’s limited suspension, would sow needless strife and distrust, impeding Senator Sanders’ efforts to unify the Democratic Party in advance of November elections,” Seymour added.
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HuffPost reported last Tuesday that the two Democratic members of the board, co-chair Douglas Kellner and commissioner Andrew Spano, were due to meet the following day to decide on Sanders’ potential removal. The two men must reach a unanimous decision in order to cut Sanders from the ballot. Prior to that meeting, Kellner told HuffPost that he thinks he is legally obligated to remove Sanders. Spano expressed ambivalence, however, weighing the inconvenience to county governments against the desire of Sanders supporters for a “voice at the convention.”
Following HuffPost’s reporting, which brought to light the complaints of a select group of local Sanders supporters, a larger contingent of Sanders activists and allies escalated their calls to keep him on the ballot. The board of elections announced that it was delaying its decision until Monday.
The Sanders campaign’s letter to the board on Sunday marks its first official intervention into the deliberations in New York.
Remaining on the ballot in New York is a priority for Sanders because he hopes to win enough convention delegates nationwide for his allies to receive at least 25% of the seats on the three key convention committees in August: those concerning rules and bylaws, the party platform, and convention credentials. A quarter share of the committees’ membership ensures that Sanders’ bloc will have the opportunity to submit a minority report to the convention floor for a vote on matters such as permanently disempowering the party insiders and elected officials known as “superdelegates.” (Sanders’ allies previously helped shepherd through rule changes barring the superdelegates from voting for a presidential candidate on the first convention ballot, but that move applies only to the 2020 nominating contest.)
It is unusual, if not unprecedented, for presidential candidates to continue to compete for convention delegates after formally suspending their campaign.
But the Biden campaign, which believes that mollifying Sanders’ base would help the former vice president defeat President Donald Trump in November, has already shown a willingness to negotiate with Sanders over delegate allocation. The two campaigns are in talks over how to divvy up the one-third of convention delegates awarded based on statewide primary and caucus results. Normally, candidates who are no longer running can hold on to their share of the two-thirds of delegates awarded based on their primary performance in each congressional district but are not eligible to keep statewide delegates they’ve won.
Currently, there are 11 Democratic presidential candidates who remain on the ballot in New York: Biden; Sanders; Sens. Michael Bennet (Colo.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (Mass.); billionaire businessmen Mike Bloomberg and Tom Steyer; former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg; former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick; Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii); and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. Aside from Sanders, none of the other candidates who have dropped out of the race have asked to remain on the ballot. Should the board decide to remove all of those candidates, the state’s presidential primary would be canceled. Some 20 of the state’s 62 counties would not hold any primary elections at all as a result.
In late March, Cuomo postponed the New York presidential primary from April 28 to June 23 because of the coronavirus pandemic. That made the presidential primary coincide with New York’s congressional and state legislative primaries. Some left-wing activists in the state hoped that Sanders’ continued presence on the ballot would benefit progressive candidates running for lesser offices who might get the support of Sanders voters who would not otherwise turn out. Those activists now fear the effort to remove Sanders is motivated by a desire to undermine primary challengers.
Larry Cohen, a top Sanders ally and chairman of Our Revolution, which emerged from Sanders’ 2016 bid, is urging the board of elections to give Sanders supporters in New York a chance to make their views known.
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“Your mission is democracy. Your mission is to let people vote, not to come up with some scheme to stop them,” he said of the board’s responsibility.
New York state will face issues of its own if it decides to remove Sanders. It will have to get the Democratic National Committee’s approval for a new plan to allocate convention delegates who would otherwise be awarded based on the outcome of the primary. If necessary, Cohen told HuffPost, he is prepared to try to challenge the legitimacy of the state’s delegates in the convention’s credentials committee.
Cohen, who previously led the Communications Workers of America union, also cautioned Biden that Sanders’ removal could hinder efforts to rally the Democratic Party’s progressive wing behind the presumptive nominee.


huffpost--2020-05-11--Why You Can’t Find Flour At Grocery Stores, And Where To Buy It Online

These are unprecedented times during the coronavirus pandemic .
As we blazed into the new year , who would have imagined we ’ d be willing to trade our kingdoms for ordinary household essentials like toilet paper , flour and yeast ?
Fortunately , toilet paper is making a comeback .
And you can still make yeast when it ’ s sold out at the store .
In the case of toilet paper , the scarcity was caused by hoarding and panic buying .
But the flour shortage , according to Matt Cox , vice president of marketing at Bob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a case of increased demand .
“ So many folks have been taking up baking since the pandemic , whether to relieve stress , for entertainment , or out of purely practical need , ” Cox told HuffPost .
“ As a result of this surging trend , staple baking ingredients like flour and yeast may be hard to come by.
” “ Despite how it may seem , there is actually plenty of flour ― just high demand with the dramatic increase in home baking , ” Underwood said .
“ People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month are now baking a few times per week.
” Both Bob ’ s Red Mill and King Arthur ’ s Flour say they are increasing production and expect to have flour back on the shelves soon .
In the meantime , they still have specialty flours available .
And there are plenty of places to buy all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour online if you know where to look .
Wauneta Roller Mills in Wauneta , Nebraska , has been in business since 1925 and is the last family-owned roller mill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and unbleached baking flour in stock and ready to ship .
Anson Mills in Columbia , South Carolina , specializes in organic , heirloom grains and takes the guesswork out of baking by packaging flours for specific uses .
They offer flours for everything from waffles to flatbreads .
At present , they have French Mediterranean white bread flour , colonial-style artisan whole grain wheat flour and more , available by the pound .
Bob ’ s Red Mill in Milwaukie , Oregon , prides itself on being an employee-owned company .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wheat flour and all-purpose flour at the moment , they still have specialty flours , including paleo baking flour , brown rice flour and coconut flour .
Community Grains in Oakland , California , works with a group of farmers to grow and mill its grain .
At present they have two flours available , including hard red winter wheat milled flour .
The flour can be purchased on its own or in gift boxes with extra goodies like bread and dried pasta .
Great River Organic Milling in Cochran , Wisconsin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variety of whole-grain flours , available to purchase on Amazon .
Depending on the amount of baking you do , you might want to split the purchase with a friend , since most of their flours are available in 25-pound packages .
Current stock includes stone ground whole wheat pastry flour and organic buckwheat flour .
North Dakota Mill in Grand Forks , North Dakota , has been milling flour for almost 100 years and has all-purpose flour , whole wheat flour and bread flour in stock and ready to ship .
King @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is working to get whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour back in stock .
In the meantime , they have a variety of specialty flours available online , including buckwheat flour , Italian-style flour and potato flour .

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These are unprecedented times during the coronavirus pandemic. As we blazed into the new year, who would have imagined we’d be willing to trade our kingdoms for ordinary household essentials like toilet paper, flour and yeast? Fortunately, toilet paper is making a comeback. And you can still make yeast when it’s sold out at the store.
But from coast to coast, home cooks are still wondering where they can buy flour.
In the case of toilet paper, the scarcity was caused by hoarding and panic buying. But the flour shortage, according to Matt Cox, vice president of marketing at Bob’s Red Mill, is merely a case of increased demand.
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“So many folks have been taking up baking since the pandemic, whether to relieve stress, for entertainment, or out of purely practical need,” Cox told HuffPost. “As a result of this surging trend, staple baking ingredients like flour and yeast may be hard to come by.”
Carey Underwood, director of mission-driven partnerships and programs at King Arthur Flour, also attributed the scarcity to demand.
“Despite how it may seem, there is actually plenty of flour ― just high demand with the dramatic increase in home baking,” Underwood said. “People who used to bake a few times a month are now baking a few times per week.”
Both Bob’s Red Mill and King Arthur’s Flour say they are increasing production and expect to have flour back on the shelves soon. In the meantime, they still have specialty flours available. And there are plenty of places to buy all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour online if you know where to look.
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We’ve done the legwork and rounded them up for you here:
Wauneta Roller Mills in Wauneta, Nebraska, has been in business since 1925 and is the last family-owned roller mill in the state. They have bleached and unbleached baking flour in stock and ready to ship.
Anson Mills in Columbia, South Carolina, specializes in organic, heirloom grains and takes the guesswork out of baking by packaging flours for specific uses. They offer flours for everything from waffles to flatbreads. At present, they have French Mediterranean white bread flour, colonial-style artisan whole grain wheat flour and more, available by the pound.
Bob’s Red Mill in Milwaukie, Oregon, prides itself on being an employee-owned company. Though the website is sold out of whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour at the moment, they still have specialty flours, including paleo baking flour, brown rice flour and coconut flour.
Hayden Flour Mills In Queens Creek, Arizona, is family-owned and grown and has a number of flours in stock, including white Sonora all-purpose flour and artisan bread flour. They also have instant dried yeast.
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Community Grains in Oakland, California, works with a group of farmers to grow and mill its grain. At present they have two flours available, including hard red winter wheat milled flour. The flour can be purchased on its own or in gift boxes with extra goodies like bread and dried pasta.
Great River Organic Milling in Cochran, Wisconsin, uses natural granite stones to mill a variety of whole-grain flours, available to purchase on Amazon. Depending on the amount of baking you do, you might want to split the purchase with a friend, since most of their flours are available in 25-pound packages. Current stock includes stone ground whole wheat pastry flour and organic buckwheat flour.
Janie’s Mill in Ashkum, Illinois, is run by a family of fifth-generation farmers using certified organic and regenerative practices. They currently have many kinds of flour, including all-purpose.
North Dakota Mill in Grand Forks, North Dakota, has been milling flour for almost 100 years and has all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour and bread flour in stock and ready to ship.
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King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont, is working to get whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour back in stock. In the meantime, they have a variety of specialty flours available online, including buckwheat flour, Italian-style flour and potato flour.
Sunrise Flour Mill in North Branch, Minnesota, uses renewed technology from the 1930s to mill organic, single-source heritage flours. They have a wide variety of flours in stock, including turkey red heritage white flour and ultra-fine heritage whole wheat flour.