huffpost--2020-04-02--In Desperation, New York State Pays Up To 15 Times The Normal Prices For Medical Equipment

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With the coronavirus outbreak creating an unprecedented demand for medical supplies and equipment , New York state has paid 20 cents for gloves that normally cost less than a nickel and as much as $ 7.50 each for masks , about 15 times the usual price .
It ’ s paid up to $ 2,795 for infusion pumps , more than twice the regular rate .
And $ 248,841 for a portable X-ray machine that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80,000 .
This payment data , provided by state officials , shows just how much the shortage of key medical equipment is driving up prices .
Forced to venture outside their usual vendors and contracts , states and cities are paying exorbitant sums on a spot market ruled by supply and demand .
Although New York ’ s attorney general has denounced excessive prices , and ordered merchants to stop overcharging people for hand sanitizers and disinfectant sprays , state laws against price gouging generally don ’ t apply to government purchases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , competition among states , cities , hospitals and federal agencies is contributing to the staggering bill for fighting the pandemic , which New York has estimated will cost it $ 15 billion in spending and lost revenue .
The bidding wars are also raising concerns that facilities with shallow pockets , like rural health clinics , won ’ t be able to obtain vital supplies .
As the epicenter of the pandemic , with about 40 % of the nation ’ s coronavirus cases , New York state is especially desperate for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tab .
“ We know that New York and other states are in the market at the same time , along with the rest of the world , bidding on these same items , which is clearly driving the fluctuation in costs , ” budget office spokesman Freeman Klopott said in an email .
The Office of General Services , New York ’ s main procurement agency , declined to say which sellers were inflating prices for essential medical gear .
“ At this moment in time the New York State team is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on current market conditions , ” OGS spokeswoman Heather Groll wrote in an email .
“ There will be time to look back and pull together info on all this , that time will be when the pandemic is over.
” New York isn ’ t the only government paying whatever it takes — and keeping quiet about who ’ s overcharging .
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner told reporters last week that he authorized paying $ 4 per N95 mask and still lost the bid .
Turner ’ s spokeswoman Mary Benton said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide further details .
“ What Mayor Turner mentioned was not an isolated incident but rather the norm for today ’ s extreme demand on masks , ” Benton told ProPublica .
“ Given the urgency of the city ’ s COVID-19 response and the focus on doing the work , the need for masks and other supplies , at this time we see no value in publicly calling out other cities or companies by name.
” That same price was apparently too much for the U.S. Coast Guard .
It ordered 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apiece on March 17 , then downgraded the order to 200,000 masks , before canceling altogether , according to federal procurement databases and interviews with the contractor , Clean Harbors .
Chuck Geer , the company ’ s senior vice president of field services , said Clean Harbors doesn ’ t manufacture masks .
It simply offered to pass along the supplies from a vendor with access to 200,000 masks , Geer said .
The Coast Guard didn ’ t return requests for comment .
In his daily press conferences , New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about having to compete with states and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for personal protective equipment , and ventilators for patients in respiratory failure .
“ It ’ s like being on eBay with 50 other states bidding on a ventilator , ” Cuomo told reporters on Tuesday .
“ And then , FEMA gets involved and FEMA starts bidding !
And now FEMA is bidding on top of the 50 !
So FEMA is driving up the price .
What sense does this make ?
” A FEMA spokesperson said that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will work closely with the state to resolve it in a way that best serves the needs of their citizens.
” FEMA has not disclosed the prices it has paid for supplies and equipment during the pandemic .
Typically , New York state buys a wide range of medical supplies from a list of approved distributors , which agree to provide those goods at a set price .
Contracts are negotiated in bulk and over the long term , with public solicitations that generate multiple competitive bids .
That changed with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone with needed supplies to sell them to the state , which means that prospective vendors can ask whatever prices the market will bear .
Now , after running through their inventory , vendors are passing on higher costs from their own suppliers .
Hackensack , New Jersey-based Shield Line LLC , a recently approved New York state vendor , has a price list that includes 3.5 cents per glove and 3 cents for a simple surgical mask .
But its CEO , Joe Kastner , says he has mostly sold out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t bought from him yet , was to order medical gear now , he might have to raise his prices , he said .
He gets some of his products from Chinese companies , which reduced exports at the height of the epidemic there and are now resuming sending supplies to the U.S. — but at a higher price .
“ In some cases the cost is 15 to 20 times higher , ” Kastner said .
Neither federal nor state law accounts for a situation in which government agencies at all levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same goods .
“ The government has in normal times a lot of things to protect it , including lengthy contracts and oversight , ” said Justin Oberman , a former Transportation Security Administration official who now consults with businesses trying to navigate the federal procurement process .
“ In this case , raised voices may end up carrying the day.
” Normally , there ’ s no such crime as price gouging .
In most states , it ’ s only illegal during a declared state of emergency .
During the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have activated their price gouging statutes .
However , most of these laws only apply to the sale of consumer goods and services , not to purchases by states or by private or nonprofit businesses , said Gretchen Jankowski , a commercial litigation attorney with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney .
In order to go after a company for price gouging the state in Michigan , for instance , prosecutors would have to prove price fixing or fraud — a much higher bar .
Price gouging laws in New York state and New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city purchases , such as the $ 248,881 X-ray machine .
While X-rays aren ’ t recommended to diagnose COVID-19 patients , they are often used to assess how much damage the disease has done to a patient ’ s lungs .
Portable machines are more desirable than fixed machines because they help reduce the spread of infection .
Caregivers don ’ t have to bring patients to an X-ray room ; the machine comes to them .
New York is paying bloated prices for another reason : Large national distributors are reluctant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most coronavirus cases .
For fear of being accused of favoritism or even collusion , and in order to prevent stockpiling , they ’ ve put all of their customers on the same “ allocation , ” or what a customer purchased in the past .
Distributors say the federal government should step in to help them adjust those allocations based on need .
“ Only the federal government has the data and the authority to provide this strategic direction to the supply chain and the healthcare system , ” Health Industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FEMA administrator Peter Gaynor last weekend .
Dozens of cities have signed on to a letter coordinated by the nonprofit Public Interest Research Group asking the federal government to designate a “ medical equipment czar ” who would buy all the supply and fulfill requests from local jurisdictions .
A bill sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy , a Connecticut Democrat , would do the same .
WIthout federal intervention , states and hospitals may only become more vulnerable to the demands of brokers and speculators outside the normal supply chain , said Chaun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engagement at the national health care consultant Premier Inc. , which helps negotiate contracts for hospitals and health systems .
“ The more COVID patients they get , the more masks they ’ re going to burn , ” Powell said .
“ They ’ re getting desperate because they ’ re running out faster , so they ’ re willing to pay .
”

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
With the coronavirus outbreak creating an unprecedented demand for medical supplies and equipment, New York state has paid 20 cents for gloves that normally cost less than a nickel and as much as $7.50 each for masks, about 15 times the usual price. It’s paid up to $2,795 for infusion pumps, more than twice the regular rate. And $248,841 for a portable X-ray machine that typically sells for $30,000 to $80,000.
This payment data, provided by state officials, shows just how much the shortage of key medical equipment is driving up prices. Forced to venture outside their usual vendors and contracts, states and cities are paying exorbitant sums on a spot market ruled by supply and demand. Although New York’s attorney general has denounced excessive prices, and ordered merchants to stop overcharging people for hand sanitizers and disinfectant sprays, state laws against price gouging generally don’t apply to government purchases.
With little guidance from the Trump administration, competition among states, cities, hospitals and federal agencies is contributing to the staggering bill for fighting the pandemic, which New York has estimated will cost it $15 billion in spending and lost revenue. The bidding wars are also raising concerns that facilities with shallow pockets, like rural health clinics, won’t be able to obtain vital supplies.
As the epicenter of the pandemic, with about 40% of the nation’s coronavirus cases, New York state is especially desperate for medical equipment, no matter what the tab. “We know that New York and other states are in the market at the same time, along with the rest of the world, bidding on these same items, which is clearly driving the fluctuation in costs,” budget office spokesman Freeman Klopott said in an email.
The Office of General Services, New York’s main procurement agency, declined to say which sellers were inflating prices for essential medical gear. “At this moment in time the New York State team is focused on procuring goods and services based on current market conditions,” OGS spokeswoman Heather Groll wrote in an email. “There will be time to look back and pull together info on all this, that time will be when the pandemic is over.”
New York isn’t the only government paying whatever it takes — and keeping quiet about who’s overcharging. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner told reporters last week that he authorized paying $4 per N95 mask and still lost the bid. Turner’s spokeswoman Mary Benton said that price was commonplace but declined to provide further details.
“What Mayor Turner mentioned was not an isolated incident but rather the norm for today’s extreme demand on masks,” Benton told ProPublica. “Given the urgency of the city’s COVID-19 response and the focus on doing the work, the need for masks and other supplies, at this time we see no value in publicly calling out other cities or companies by name.”
That same price was apparently too much for the U.S. Coast Guard. It ordered 1 million N95 face masks for $5 apiece on March 17, then downgraded the order to 200,000 masks, before canceling altogether, according to federal procurement databases and interviews with the contractor, Clean Harbors.
Chuck Geer, the company’s senior vice president of field services, said Clean Harbors doesn’t manufacture masks. It simply offered to pass along the supplies from a vendor with access to 200,000 masks, Geer said. The Coast Guard didn’t return requests for comment.
In his daily press conferences, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has often complained about having to compete with states and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for personal protective equipment, and ventilators for patients in respiratory failure. “It’s like being on eBay with 50 other states bidding on a ventilator,” Cuomo told reporters on Tuesday. “And then, FEMA gets involved and FEMA starts bidding! And now FEMA is bidding on top of the 50! So FEMA is driving up the price. What sense does this make?”
A FEMA spokesperson said that “if a bidding conflict does arise, we will work closely with the state to resolve it in a way that best serves the needs of their citizens.” FEMA has not disclosed the prices it has paid for supplies and equipment during the pandemic.
Typically, New York state buys a wide range of medical supplies from a list of approved distributors, which agree to provide those goods at a set price. Contracts are negotiated in bulk and over the long term, with public solicitations that generate multiple competitive bids.
That changed with the coronavirus outbreak. New York state invited anyone with needed supplies to sell them to the state, which means that prospective vendors can ask whatever prices the market will bear. Now, after running through their inventory, vendors are passing on higher costs from their own suppliers.
Hackensack, New Jersey-based Shield Line LLC, a recently approved New York state vendor, has a price list that includes 3.5 cents per glove and 3 cents for a simple surgical mask. But its CEO, Joe Kastner, says he has mostly sold out. If New York, which hasn’t bought from him yet, was to order medical gear now, he might have to raise his prices, he said. He gets some of his products from Chinese companies, which reduced exports at the height of the epidemic there and are now resuming sending supplies to the U.S. — but at a higher price. “In some cases the cost is 15 to 20 times higher,” Kastner said.
Neither federal nor state law accounts for a situation in which government agencies at all levels are vying with each other for the same goods. “The government has in normal times a lot of things to protect it, including lengthy contracts and oversight,” said Justin Oberman, a former Transportation Security Administration official who now consults with businesses trying to navigate the federal procurement process. “In this case, raised voices may end up carrying the day.”
Normally, there’s no such crime as price gouging. In most states, it’s only illegal during a declared state of emergency. During the current crisis, New York and other states have activated their price gouging statutes. However, most of these laws only apply to the sale of consumer goods and services, not to purchases by states or by private or nonprofit businesses, said Gretchen Jankowski, a commercial litigation attorney with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney. In order to go after a company for price gouging the state in Michigan, for instance, prosecutors would have to prove price fixing or fraud — a much higher bar.
Price gouging laws in New York state and New York City do not apply to state and city purchases, such as the $248,881 X-ray machine. While X-rays aren’t recommended to diagnose COVID-19 patients, they are often used to assess how much damage the disease has done to a patient’s lungs. Portable machines are more desirable than fixed machines because they help reduce the spread of infection. Caregivers don’t have to bring patients to an X-ray room; the machine comes to them.
New York is paying bloated prices for another reason: Large national distributors are reluctant to steer more equipment to states with the most coronavirus cases. For fear of being accused of favoritism or even collusion, and in order to prevent stockpiling, they’ve put all of their customers on the same “allocation,” or what a customer purchased in the past. Distributors say the federal government should step in to help them adjust those allocations based on need.
“Only the federal government has the data and the authority to provide this strategic direction to the supply chain and the healthcare system,” Health Industry Distributors Association President Matthew Rowan wrote to FEMA administrator Peter Gaynor last weekend.
Dozens of cities have signed on to a letter coordinated by the nonprofit Public Interest Research Group asking the federal government to designate a “medical equipment czar” who would buy all the supply and fulfill requests from local jurisdictions. A bill sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, would do the same.
WIthout federal intervention, states and hospitals may only become more vulnerable to the demands of brokers and speculators outside the normal supply chain, said Chaun Powell, vice president for strategic supplier engagement at the national health care consultant Premier Inc., which helps negotiate contracts for hospitals and health systems.
“The more COVID patients they get, the more masks they’re going to burn,” Powell said. “They’re getting desperate because they’re running out faster, so they’re willing to pay.”


huffpost--2020-04-24--New Kids On The Block Gather Friends In Star-Studded 'House Party' Video For Charity

New Kids on the Block are clearly hangin ’ tough during the current global health crisis , as they managed to still drop new music and donate to charity in the process .
The band released a song titled “ House Party ” with a star-studded music video on Thursday , pledging to donate all merchandise and net proceeds from the song to No Kid Hungry , a national campaign dedicated to ending hunger and poverty in the United States .
“ For those about to lose their minds , we got ta remember that in the worst of times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , ” Donnie Wahlberg says at the start of the music video before the beat drop .
With vocals from Naughty By Nature , Boyz II Men , Big Freedia and Jordin Sparks , the upbeat song features musicians and other stars singing from their homes via Zoom and other video streaming services .
The video also includes cameos from the likes of Mark Wahlberg , Carrie Underwood , Kid ’ n Play , Nicole Scherzinger , Ken Jeong , Jenny McCarthy and Derek Hough .
“ It ’ s 9 o @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothin ’ else but time .
I think I ’ m gon na lose my mind , ” Jordan Knight croons at one point .
Then , Donnie Wahlberg bluntly asks the question we ’ re all wondering right now : “ When will it stop ?
Can ’ t take this shit no more .
Wan na go back to before.
” The band was supposed to host a cruise with fans this weekend , but it was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic .
As an alternative , New Kids on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of virtual events for fans to enjoy and have promised to post activities and other happenings throughout the weekend .
If you ’ re a New Kids fan , turns out that even during a crisis , these guys have the right stuff , baby .

New Kids on the Block are clearly hangin’ tough during the current global health crisis, as they managed to still drop new music and donate to charity in the process.
The band released a song titled “House Party” with a star-studded music video on Thursday, pledging to donate all merchandise and net proceeds from the song to No Kid Hungry, a national campaign dedicated to ending hunger and poverty in the United States.
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“For those about to lose their minds, we gotta remember that in the worst of times, we can make the best of times,” Donnie Wahlberg says at the start of the music video before the beat drop.
With vocals from Naughty By Nature, Boyz II Men, Big Freedia and Jordin Sparks, the upbeat song features musicians and other stars singing from their homes via Zoom and other video streaming services. The video also includes cameos from the likes of Mark Wahlberg, Carrie Underwood, Kid ’n Play, Nicole Scherzinger, Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy and Derek Hough.
“It’s 9 o’clock, ain’t got nothin’ else but time. I think I’m gonna lose my mind,” Jordan Knight croons at one point.
Then, Donnie Wahlberg bluntly asks the question we’re all wondering right now: “When will it stop? Can’t take this shit no more. Wanna go back to before.”
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The band was supposed to host a cruise with fans this weekend, but it was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. As an alternative, New Kids on the Block came up with a docket of virtual events for fans to enjoy and have promised to post activities and other happenings throughout the weekend.


huffpost--2020-04-24--How 'Idol,' 'Survivor' And 'The Voice' Are Wrapping Up Their Seasons

The highly anticipated anniversary season of “ Survivor ” kicked off in February as 20 former and beloved winners began their treacherous 39-day battle for a groundbreaking $ 2 million prize .
Since then , it ’ s been a run of ups and downs with old-school and new-school players attempting to outwit , outplay and outlast their competition on a remote island in Fiji .
Amid the pandemic that ’ s seen Hollywood productions completely shut down , reality series that usually go live toward the end of their runs need to rejigger plans .
How will CBS celebrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the contestants are in mandatory quarantine ?
And how will NBC and ABC air “ The Voice ” and “ American Idol ” live performances if hosts , judges , contestants and crew are being told to self-isolate at home ?
Since they can ’ t move ahead with typical shooting schedules , showrunners are imagining up new ways to conclude their seasons ― and they all involve going virtual .
Instead of hosting a reunion show in front of a live studio audience filled with castaways , their families and fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will read the final votes and announce the champion of Season 40 ’ s “ Winners at War ” over video chat on May 13 .
“ During the finale , Jeff will also virtually connect by video with all 20 players to discuss the highlights of the season , ” a CBS announcement said .
Probst told Entertainment Weekly that nothing is set in stone and producers are still exploring options on how to make the reunion as enjoyable , and functional , as possible .
The special will follow a two-hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Season 40 , was filmed last summer .
Although the final episode usually airs with live check-ins from Probst from the reunion stage at CBS Television City , no plan has been made in terms of this year ’ s structure .
But it can be presumed that during the start of the live portion , the three finalists will be shown on-screen from their homes while Probst announces a winner .
“ We will , of course , do our best to make it fun , ” Probst promised .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awesome , but hey , this is ‘ Survivor , ’ and now we ’ re having to deal with a twist of our own .
We ’ ll get it all sorted !
” “ Survivor ” has seen a solid boost in viewership this season , which could be thanks to the winners-only lineup or the fact that people are in lockdown and depending on TV content to fill their day .
“ I think it definitely serves as an escape for many and is so badly needed right now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entertainment communications at CBS , told HuffPost .
“ We ’ ve heard from a lot of fans who are binge watching old seasons because they have the extra time.
” “ The Voice ” ratings have also been up in recent weeks .
The NBC singing competition series , currently in its 18th season with coaches Blake Shelton , John Legend , Kelly Clarkson and Nick Jonas , is still airing pre-taped episodes but reportedly plans to also go virtual starting May 4 for the live shows , which usually film at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large studio audience .
“ Especially in LA , we ’ re not going to be ready to , you know , have events again , ” Shelton said .
“ It ’ s gon na be crazy .
We ’ re gon na have to coach like this , it ’ s just gon na have to be worked out this way , it ’ s gon na be nuts.
” NBC told HuffPost that it had “ no firm updates ” on what the plan was , but one can assume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s production strategy for Season 3 of the rebooted “ American Idol , ” which will air its first virtual episode this Sunday , April 26 .
The contestants , host Ryan Seacrest , mentor Bobby Bones , and judges Katy Perry , Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie will all join the program remotely from different locations .
The Top 20 will then perform from home , receive the judges ’ critiques and fight for America ’ s votes .
And although it will have the feeling of being live , the show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure no technical glitches mess up the experience .
( Producers are also making sure all the contestants have the same internet capabilities so their performances can be judged fairly . )
“ We ’ ve very conscious that this is a music show and it ’ s got ta be good , ” Trish Kinane , the showrunner-executive producer of “ Idol ” and president of entertainment at Fremantle , told Billboard .
“ So you ’ ve got the contestant in their home on Zoom , the pianist in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home on a Zoom , all doing virtual vocal coaching sessions .
And then Megan [ Michaels Wolflick , executive producer ] and I will come in for an executive run through on a different Zoom when they ’ ve got something to show us .
And Kris [ Pooley , music director ] and the band are recording tracks and mixing them and sending them to the contestants .
We ’ ve been careful to try and make this as high-quality as possible , especially the sound .
So I hope the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really great , even though it ’ s remotely .
It ’ s not just sitting at home with your iPhone singing.
” As complicated as that sounds , we ’ ve seen production teams getting very creative in quarantine as their normal programming routines are on hold .
Take the late night world , for instance , which has seen great success with remote shows .
Once in-studio productions were suspended , hosts slowly began to trickle onto YouTube , with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon kicking off the trend of at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Samantha Bee , Conan O ’ Brien , Trevor Noah and the rest joined the mix .

The highly anticipated anniversary season of “Survivor” kicked off in February as 20 former and beloved winners began their treacherous 39-day battle for a groundbreaking $2 million prize. Since then, it’s been a run of ups and downs with old-school and new-school players attempting to outwit, outplay and outlast their competition on a remote island in Fiji.
Little did the producers know, however, COVID-19 would be the lowest blow yet.
Amid the pandemic that’s seen Hollywood productions completely shut down, reality series that usually go live toward the end of their runs need to rejigger plans. How will CBS celebrate the culmination of a momentous winners-only season if the contestants are in mandatory quarantine? And how will NBC and ABC air “The Voice” and “American Idol” live performances if hosts, judges, contestants and crew are being told to self-isolate at home? Since they can’t move ahead with typical shooting schedules, showrunners are imagining up new ways to conclude their seasons ― and they all involve going virtual.
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Instead of hosting a reunion show in front of a live studio audience filled with castaways, their families and fans, “Survivor” host Jeff Probst will read the final votes and announce the champion of Season 40’s “Winners at War” over video chat on May 13. “During the finale, Jeff will also virtually connect by video with all 20 players to discuss the highlights of the season,” a CBS announcement said.
Probst told Entertainment Weekly that nothing is set in stone and producers are still exploring options on how to make the reunion as enjoyable, and functional, as possible. The special will follow a two-hour finale, which, like the rest of Season 40, was filmed last summer. Although the final episode usually airs with live check-ins from Probst from the reunion stage at CBS Television City, no plan has been made in terms of this year’s structure. But it can be presumed that during the start of the live portion, the three finalists will be shown on-screen from their homes while Probst announces a winner.
It may not be the ideal end for a season featuring the greatest, most respected players in “Survivor” history, but it will do.
“We will, of course, do our best to make it fun,” Probst promised. “A traditional live finale would have been awesome, but hey, this is ‘Survivor,’ and now we’re having to deal with a twist of our own. We’ll get it all sorted!”
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Jeff Probst addresses the cast at the "Survivor: Island of Idols" finale and reunion show in December 2019. CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images
“Survivor” has seen a solid boost in viewership this season, which could be thanks to the winners-only lineup or the fact that people are in lockdown and depending on TV content to fill their day.
“I think it definitely serves as an escape for many and is so badly needed right now,” Lori DelliColli, vice president of entertainment communications at CBS, told HuffPost. “We’ve heard from a lot of fans who are binge watching old seasons because they have the extra time.”
“The Voice” ratings have also been up in recent weeks. The NBC singing competition series, currently in its 18th season with coaches Blake Shelton, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson and Nick Jonas, is still airing pre-taped episodes but reportedly plans to also go virtual starting May 4 for the live shows, which usually film at Universal Studios Hollywood in front of a large studio audience.
Although the network hasn’t confirmed anything, Shelton did mention to Jimmy Fallon over video chat on “The Tonight Show” last week that he’ll have to coach his team members electronically.
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“Especially in LA, we’re not going to be ready to, you know, have events again,” Shelton said. “It’s gonna be crazy. We’re gonna have to coach like this, it’s just gonna have to be worked out this way, it’s gonna be nuts.”
NBC told HuffPost that it had “no firm updates” on what the plan was, but one can assume it might end up resembling ABC’s production strategy for Season 3 of the rebooted “American Idol,” which will air its first virtual episode this Sunday, April 26.
The contestants, host Ryan Seacrest, mentor Bobby Bones, and judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie will all join the program remotely from different locations. The Top 20 will then perform from home, receive the judges’ critiques and fight for America’s votes. And although it will have the feeling of being live, the show will actually be pre-recorded the day before to ensure no technical glitches mess up the experience. (Producers are also making sure all the contestants have the same internet capabilities so their performances can be judged fairly.)
“We’ve very conscious that this is a music show and it’s gotta be good,” Trish Kinane, the showrunner-executive producer of “Idol” and president of entertainment at Fremantle, told Billboard. “So you’ve got the contestant in their home on Zoom, the pianist in their home and the vocal coach in their home on a Zoom, all doing virtual vocal coaching sessions. And then Megan [Michaels Wolflick, executive producer] and I will come in for an executive run through on a different Zoom when they’ve got something to show us. And Kris [Pooley, music director] and the band are recording tracks and mixing them and sending them to the contestants. We’ve been careful to try and make this as high-quality as possible, especially the sound. So I hope the sound on this is gonna be really great, even though it’s remotely. It’s not just sitting at home with your iPhone singing.”
Advertisement
As complicated as that sounds, we’ve seen production teams getting very creative in quarantine as their normal programming routines are on hold. Take the late night world, for instance, which has seen great success with remote shows. Once in-studio productions were suspended, hosts slowly began to trickle onto YouTube, with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon kicking off the trend of at-home segments. Almost immediately, Jimmy Kimmel, Samantha Bee, Conan O’Brien, Trevor Noah and the rest joined the mix.
Bee, for one, said this moment is the ultimate adventure.
“I’m basically just trying to put one foot in front of the other,” she told The New York Times. “I know that we can make a show. As long as there’s internet.”


huffpost--2020-04-24--Advocates Collect Nearly 1,500 Reports Of Anti-Asian Racism In The U.S. Over The Past Month

A group of Asian American organizations documenting the surge of racist incidents related to the COVID-19 pandemic received nearly 1,500 reports of anti-Asian harassment and discrimination over the last month , they said in a new report released Friday .
In mid-March , the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council ( A3PCON ) , Chinese for Affirmative Action ( CAA ) and the Asian American Studies Department at San Francisco State University launched STOP AAPI HATE , creating a form for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to report incidents of racism related to the coronavirus .
In the first four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including being called racial slurs , being refused service , being spat on , and being physically assaulted — a reflection of “ the pain , humiliation , trepidation and fear in the voices of AAPIs today , ” A3PCON executive director Manjusha Kulkarni said in a statement .
The reported incidents were from across the country — 45 states and Washington , D.C. — with 58 % taking place in California and New York , which both have large Asian American populations .
“ I was getting in my car after shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truck drove by and threw a [ fast food franchise ] drink on my back and yelled “ hey chink , you ’ re f―king nasty , ’ ” one incident report reads .
Another respondent said that at a post office , a “ middle aged Caucasian woman [ was ] mumbling ‘ f―king Chinese ’ around my wife ( Chinese ) and threw a bag at her.
” The assailant “ also walked up to [ the ] window to give all Asian employees the middle finger .
My wife was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerning trends is the high proportion of cases that involve more vulnerable populations , such as children , older people and people who speak limited English , said Dr. Russell Jeung , chair of the Asian American Studies Department at San Francisco State University .
“ The judge asked the man what his son did .
The man replied in ‘ broken ’ English that his son had recently returned from teaching English in China , ” the report reads .
“ The judge joked , ‘ Well , I hope he didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room chuckled and I chuckled half-heartedly , even though I didn ’ t think it was funny.
” People over the age of 60 were involved in 8 % of the reported incidents .
Some reports indicated that the respondents were filling out the form on behalf of their older family members .
“ My elderly parents were walking with my two-year-old and some 20-30-year-olds drove by and screamed “ F―k China !
!
” at the stop light , ” one report reads .
“ They felt very unsafe , especially with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report for my elderly parents , ” another report begins .
“ They were shunned for wearing masks by an elderly Caucasian man .
They were told , ‘ Go back to China ’ after telling him ... that wearing masks was encouraged by the government.
” Jeung also pointed to “ the impact of China-bashing by politicians ” as an alarming trend .
As the coronavirus pandemic began to worsen in March , President Donald Trump and his allies repeatedly referred to the disease with racist rhetoric , calling it the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus.
” Over the last month , they have blamed China in an attempt to deflect attention from the Trump administration ’ s inadequate response to the pandemic .
The groups stressed that the data they ’ ve amassed is just “ a snapshot of what AAPIs are experiencing on a daily basis , ” Cynthia Choi , the co-executive director of CAA , said in a statement , adding that “ we can expect the situation to worsen as the anti-China , anti-Chinese rhetoric becomes normalized.
” There have been mounting reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ descent since late January , when the coronavirus outbreak swelled in China and began to spread globally .
Growing fears over the disease exacerbated stigma and bigotry against Asian Americans , who have long faced racist stereotypes involving disease , including being described as “ the yellow peril ” in the 1800s .
The national data reflects similar trends from local and regional leaders .
Earlier this week , officials for New York City ’ s Commission on Human Rights said they ’ ve seen skyrocketing levels of anti-Asian harassment and discrimination : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to just five during the same period last year .
In recent weeks , federal law enforcement officials have warned there could be a potential surge in hate crimes and extremism against Asian Americans because of COVID-19 .
However , the Department of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not developed specific plans to address the racist attacks , despite having such plans during the SARS outbreak in 2003 and after 9/11 , the Center for Public Integrity reported last week .

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A group of Asian American organizations documenting the surge of racist incidents related to the COVID-19 pandemic received nearly 1,500 reports of anti-Asian harassment and discrimination over the last month, they said in a new report released Friday.
In mid-March, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) and the Asian American Studies Department at San Francisco State University launched STOP AAPI HATE, creating a form for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to report incidents of racism related to the coronavirus.
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In the first four weeks, they collected 1,497 incidents, including being called racial slurs, being refused service, being spat on, and being physically assaulted — a reflection of “the pain, humiliation, trepidation and fear in the voices of AAPIs today,” A3PCON executive director Manjusha Kulkarni said in a statement.
The reported incidents were from across the country — 45 states and Washington, D.C. — with 58% taking place in California and New York, which both have large Asian American populations.
About 70% of the cases involved verbal harassment, 24% involved shunning, and 8.5% involved physical assault, and several involved multiple types of attacks.
“I was getting in my car after shopping wearing a mask and gloves. A truck drove by and threw a [fast food franchise] drink on my back and yelled “hey chink, you’re f―king nasty,’” one incident report reads.
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Another respondent said that at a post office, a “middle aged Caucasian woman [was] mumbling ‘f―king Chinese’ around my wife (Chinese) and threw a bag at her.” The assailant “also walked up to [the] window to give all Asian employees the middle finger. My wife was distraught and left.”
Nearly 10% of the incidents involved a potential civil rights violation, like workplace discrimination or being refused service at a business or on public transportation or ride-sharing services.
Based on the incident reports, AAPI women were more than twice as likely to be harassed than men.
Among the most concerning trends is the high proportion of cases that involve more vulnerable populations, such as children, older people and people who speak limited English, said Dr. Russell Jeung, chair of the Asian American Studies Department at San Francisco State University.
For example, one incident report involves a person witnessing a racist incident during jury selection in March, involving “an older Taiwanese man” and an “elderly Caucasian judge.”
“The judge asked the man what his son did. The man replied in ‘broken’ English that his son had recently returned from teaching English in China,” the report reads. “The judge joked, ‘Well, I hope he didn’t bring anything back.’ The room chuckled and I chuckled half-heartedly, even though I didn’t think it was funny.”
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People over the age of 60 were involved in 8% of the reported incidents. Some reports indicated that the respondents were filling out the form on behalf of their older family members.
“My elderly parents were walking with my two-year-old and some 20-30-year-olds drove by and screamed “F―k China!!” at the stop light,” one report reads. “They felt very unsafe, especially with a child.”
“This is a report for my elderly parents,” another report begins. “They were shunned for wearing masks by an elderly Caucasian man. They were told, ‘Go back to China’ after telling him ... that wearing masks was encouraged by the government.”
Jeung also pointed to “the impact of China-bashing by politicians” as an alarming trend. As the coronavirus pandemic began to worsen in March, President Donald Trump and his allies repeatedly referred to the disease with racist rhetoric, calling it the “Chinese virus” and the “Wuhan virus.” Over the last month, they have blamed China in an attempt to deflect attention from the Trump administration’s inadequate response to the pandemic.
The groups stressed that the data they’ve amassed is just “a snapshot of what AAPIs are experiencing on a daily basis,” Cynthia Choi, the co-executive director of CAA, said in a statement, adding that “we can expect the situation to worsen as the anti-China, anti-Chinese rhetoric becomes normalized.”
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There have been mounting reports of racist attacks against people of Asian descent since late January, when the coronavirus outbreak swelled in China and began to spread globally. Growing fears over the disease exacerbated stigma and bigotry against Asian Americans, who have long faced racist stereotypes involving disease, including being described as “the yellow peril” in the 1800s.
The national data reflects similar trends from local and regional leaders. Earlier this week, officials for New York City’s Commission on Human Rights said they’ve seen skyrocketing levels of anti-Asian harassment and discrimination: 105 reported incidents since February, compared to just five during the same period last year.
In recent weeks, federal law enforcement officials have warned there could be a potential surge in hate crimes and extremism against Asian Americans because of COVID-19. However, the Department of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not developed specific plans to address the racist attacks, despite having such plans during the SARS outbreak in 2003 and after 9/11, the Center for Public Integrity reported last week.
Certain states and municipalities have taken some action. In New York and Minnesota, officials have launched statewide hotlines for reporting harassment and discrimination related to the pandemic.


huffpost--2020-04-24--Tom Brady Accidentally Walks Into Stranger's House In Latest Florida Mishap

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor had spilled earlier this week that a park patrol worker booted someone working out at a @ @ @ @ @ closed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ She went over to tell him it @ @ @ @ @ Tom Brady , ” the mayor said .
“ Sorry @ TomBrady , ” the @ @ @ @ @ Twitter after the incident .
“ Our team can ’ t wait to welcome you @ @ @ @ @ with even bigger smiles ― until then , stay safe and stay home as much @ @ @ @ @ flatten the curve.
” The six-time Super Bowl champ signed with the Buccaneers last month @

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor had spilled earlier this week that a park patrol worker booted someone working out at a downtown park that had been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“She went over to tell him it was closed and it was Tom Brady,” the mayor said.
“Sorry @TomBrady,” the City of Tampa joked on Twitter after the incident. “Our team can’t wait to welcome you and our entire community back with even bigger smiles ― until then, stay safe and stay home as much as you can to help flatten the curve.”
The six-time Super Bowl champ signed with the Buccaneers last month.


huffpost--2020-04-24--A Sad Bulldog, A Happy Prince And More Things To Make You Smile This Weekend

This week was a rough one .
On top of the already stressful news cycle , there were the grim projections for what life is going to look like for the foreseeable future as well as infuriating protests against stay-at-home orders across the country .
Our Anything But Coronavirus series , or ABC , was created to provide just that .
Each week we find five things unrelated to what ’ s dominating the news cycle and offer a moment or two of reprieve .
Prince Louis finger-painting his own face , an adorably sad bulldog and Mandy Patankin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week ( although Patankin ’ s entire Twitter feed is truly magical , too ) .
Our hearts somehow collectively broke and swelled up over Big Poppa — real name Pop — who , according to his owner , had been “ so sad today.
” In a tweet , ownder Rashida Ellis delivered the devastating report .
“ I think he miss playing with the kids in the building , ” she wrote .
“ He just watches them from the patio.
” Luckily , people came out in droves to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , urging everyone to abide by stay-at-home orders so Pop can get back out there to play with the kids .
So .
Cute .
If you , like us , can ’ t get enough of this sweet pup , he has an Instagram .
Prince Louis Becoming An ‘ Instagram vs.
Reality ’ Meme Prince Louis turned two this week , and the royal family released some very sweet photos of him taken by his mom , Kate , to mark the occasion .
The initial photos are cute , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of him covered in paint that we ’ re most obsessed with .
Just try not to tear up at the trailer for a new documentary about “ Auntie Terry and Auntie Pat , ” who have been happily together for 65 years ― many of them in secret .
Just try .
Mandy Patinkin And Kathryn Grody On Their 42-Year Relationship Mandy Patinkin has been sharing videos from quarantine with his family , including this one on his 42-year anniversary with wife Kathryn Grody .
In the video , they talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crucial to the success of their relationship and how they ’ re handling being together all the time .
It ’ s perfect .
Food , as well as food delivery slots , are not necessarily the easiest things to procure right now .
That ’ s part of what shocked Gareth Davies , who shared on Twitter that his 4-year-old managed to not only get a delivery slot but used it to nearly purchase hundreds of dollars worth of food , including 184 oranges and 900 mini meat sticks .

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This week was a rough one. On top of the already stressful news cycle, there were the grim projections for what life is going to look like for the foreseeable future as well as infuriating protests against stay-at-home orders across the country.
In other words, it’s time for a brain break.
Our Anything But Coronavirus series, or ABC, was created to provide just that. Each week we find five things unrelated to what’s dominating the news cycle and offer a moment or two of reprieve.
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Prince Louis finger-painting his own face, an adorably sad bulldog and Mandy Patankin’s relationship advice all made the cut this week (although Patankin’s entire Twitter feed is truly magical, too).
Below, five things to obsess over this weekend.
A Very Cute, Sad Dog
Big Poppa has been so sad today, I think he miss playing with the kids in the building. He just watches them from the patio pic.twitter.com/gVooqvZ5oI — Rae Elle (@RaeElle) April 22, 2020
Our hearts somehow collectively broke and swelled up over Big Poppa — real name Pop — who, according to his owner, had been “so sad today.”
In a tweet, ownder Rashida Ellis delivered the devastating report. “I think he miss playing with the kids in the building,” she wrote. “He just watches them from the patio.”
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Luckily, people came out in droves to support Pop, including actor Maisie Williams, urging everyone to abide by stay-at-home orders so Pop can get back out there to play with the kids.
So. Cute. If you, like us, can’t get enough of this sweet pup, he has an Instagram.
Prince Louis Becoming An ‘Instagram vs. Reality’ Meme
Prince Louis turned two this week, and the royal family released some very sweet photos of him taken by his mom, Kate, to mark the occasion. The initial photos are cute, of course, but it’s the one of him covered in paint that we’re most obsessed with.
The Trailer For “A Secret Love”
Their love story spans more than 60 years.
So did their secret — until now.
A Secret Love premieres April 29 pic.twitter.com/UwYy2pHufF — Netflix (@netflix) April 22, 2020
Just try not to tear up at the trailer for a new documentary about “Auntie Terry and Auntie Pat,” who have been happily together for 65 years ― many of them in secret. Just try.
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Mandy Patinkin And Kathryn Grody On Their 42-Year Relationship
42 years and one day after our first date. True love. pic.twitter.com/asn4Fs6lc0 — Mandy Patinkin (@PatinkinMandy) April 17, 2020
Mandy Patinkin has been sharing videos from quarantine with his family, including this one on his 42-year anniversary with wife Kathryn Grody. In the video, they talk about how spending time apart has been crucial to the success of their relationship and how they’re handling being together all the time. It’s perfect.
A 4-Year-Old Who Nearly Caused A ‘National Food Shortage’
My 4-year-old nearly caused national food shortage this morning. Got hold of mum's phone while she slept and ordered 990 mini Peperamis, and a combined 1,200 bakewell tarts and Fab ice lollies from Tesco. Total order £451.27. Even booked a delivery slot pic.twitter.com/FKKUM4jyGU — Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) April 23, 2020


huffpost--2020-04-23--Squad Members Press House Leadership For 'Phase 4' Relief Timeline

But the progressive lawmakers , like many left-wing activists outside Congress , all also denounced the bill as inadequate .
They are calling for additional aid to cities and states , an increase in food stamp assistance , national measures to protect renters from eviction , and the inclusion of undocumented immigrants in new benefits .
The lawmakers have privately pressed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) to provide a clear idea of when the House will vote on a more ambitious “ Phase 4 ” bill that includes progressive priorities .
The Squad wants details on that timeline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington to vote on Thursday , return to their districts .
Ocasio-Cortez , Pressley and Tlaib all represent urban , working-class communities with large immigrant populations that have become hot spots for the pandemic .
Pressley ’ s district includes Chelsea , the predominantly Latino city outside Boston that local officials contend has the highest COVID-19 infection rate in Massachusetts .
Getting aid to the city ’ s undocumented immigrants is thus a particularly high priority for Pressley .
“ Members need to be able to show their constituents that they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Jeremy Slevin , a senior aide to Omar .
“ How can we send Congress home without a clear timeline on the next package ?
” The Squad ’ s public stance was notable because it acted as a cohesive unit independent of the Congressional Progressive Caucus , of which they are members .
The CPC has over 90 members of varying ideologies , making it difficult to act as a bloc in order to pressure Democratic leadership in the way that the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus has done to Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Reps. Pramila Jayapal ( Wash. ) and Mark Pocan ( Wis. ) , issued a statement on Thursday evening lamenting that the legislation they voted to pass “ comes nowhere close to meeting the needs of families across this country.
” Rather than join the Squad ’ s call for an immediate timeline for voting on new legislation , the two lawmakers reiterated demands they made to Pelosi , together with other CPC leaders , in a letter two weeks ago insisting that new relief legislation protect workers ’ paychecks , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health ” and “ safeguard ” elections .
Pelosi told Washington Post columnist E.J .
Dionne on Wednesday that the Democratic-controlled House will pass its own relief bill first in the next round of lawmaking .
That bill will include liberal priorities like aid to cities and states , food stamp increases , universal voting by mail , and hazard pay for front-line health care workers .
“ If [ the Senate wants ] to pass their own bill , we ’ ll go to conference , ” she said .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a concrete timeline for such a vote , saying that it depends both on how long it takes to craft the legislation and what the U.S. Capitol ’ s physician advises in terms of public health precautions .
As a result , House Democrats , already wary of returning to Washington to vote in person , could not credibly threaten to reassemble to pass their own bill .
The Republican-controlled Senate shaped the $ 2.2 trillion relief bill , which included relief for small businesses and workers , such as a $ 600-a-month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a $ 500 billion corporate bailout fund .
It has since emerged that it has been considerably easier for major corporations to access aid than for small businesses or workers , who have had trouble navigating the Small Business Administration bureaucracy and state unemployment offices , both of which are inundated with historically high demand .
One factor that compounds the challenge for progressives clamoring for more dramatic action is the inability of the House to legislate from afar due to the health risks associated with COVID-19 .
Thursday ’ s vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precautions to help guard members ’ safety .
Pelosi signed off on a plan last week that would temporarily create a system for members to vote on legislation remotely by instructing lawmakers who can appear in person how to vote on their behalf .
On Monday , Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern ( D-Mass . )
briefed the entire House Democratic Caucus on the new plan , and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer ( D-Md . )
advised caucus members that they would be voting Thursday on the rule change .

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The four progressive members of Congress known as the “Squad” are pressing House Democratic leaders to provide a clear timeline for a vote on a more ambitious “Phase 4” relief package to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House easily passed an interim stimulus bill on Thursday that was crafted in the Republican-controlled Senate with input from House Democratic leaders.
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Of the four “Squad” members, only Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) voted against the legislation. Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.) cast votes for the relief bill, which provides nearly $500 billion in new aid for small businesses, hospitals and testing equipment.
But the progressive lawmakers, like many left-wing activists outside Congress, all also denounced the bill as inadequate. They are calling for additional aid to cities and states, an increase in food stamp assistance, national measures to protect renters from eviction, and the inclusion of undocumented immigrants in new benefits.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) voted for an interim COVID-19 relief bill on Thursday but is demanding a clear timeline on a vote for a more ambitious bill. Tom Williams/Getty Images
The lawmakers have privately pressed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to provide a clear idea of when the House will vote on a more ambitious “Phase 4” bill that includes progressive priorities. The Squad wants details on that timeline before House members, who came to Washington to vote on Thursday, return to their districts.
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“We need a timeline. We can’t just keep kicking the can down the road,” Pressley’s chief of staff Sarah Groh told HuffPost.
Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley and Tlaib all represent urban, working-class communities with large immigrant populations that have become hot spots for the pandemic. Pressley’s district includes Chelsea, the predominantly Latino city outside Boston that local officials contend has the highest COVID-19 infection rate in Massachusetts. Getting aid to the city’s undocumented immigrants is thus a particularly high priority for Pressley.
“Members need to be able to show their constituents that they’re working to get them more relief,” said Jeremy Slevin, a senior aide to Omar. “How can we send Congress home without a clear timeline on the next package?”
The Squad’s public stance was notable because it acted as a cohesive unit independent of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, of which they are members. The CPC has over 90 members of varying ideologies, making it difficult to act as a bloc in order to pressure Democratic leadership in the way that the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus has done to Republican leadership.
The co-chairs of the CPC, Reps. Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) and Mark Pocan (Wis.), issued a statement on Thursday evening lamenting that the legislation they voted to pass “comes nowhere close to meeting the needs of families across this country.” Rather than join the Squad’s call for an immediate timeline for voting on new legislation, the two lawmakers reiterated demands they made to Pelosi, together with other CPC leaders, in a letter two weeks ago insisting that new relief legislation protect workers’ paychecks, “provide economic relief,” “protect public health” and “safeguard” elections.
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Pelosi’s office insists that Democrats were able to negotiate significant concessions from Senate Republicans in negotiations. Their professed victories include doubling the funding Republicans originally wanted to offer and implementing a national coronavirus testing system that Republicans had also opposed.
Pelosi told Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne on Wednesday that the Democratic-controlled House will pass its own relief bill first in the next round of lawmaking. That bill will include liberal priorities like aid to cities and states, food stamp increases, universal voting by mail, and hazard pay for front-line health care workers. “If [the Senate wants] to pass their own bill, we’ll go to conference,” she said.
But Pelosi’s office declined to provide a concrete timeline for such a vote, saying that it depends both on how long it takes to craft the legislation and what the U.S. Capitol’s physician advises in terms of public health precautions.
The Squad members “have said that they want to move quickly on doing Phase 4,” a Pelosi spokesperson told HuffPost. “Nancy Pelosi has been saying that for a month.”
Congress should not go home until we have a clear timeline on a relief package that:
- Provides monthly and universal cash assistance
- Cancels Rent and Mortgages
- Fully funds COVID-19 care
- Defends our elections
We need to get people more relief now! #PutPeopleFirst — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 23, 2020
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This is a crisis within a crisis. And what happens in this chamber will determine just how many more lives we are robbed of.
Congress should not adjourn until we have a timeline for a bold & comprehensive Democrat led bill that meets the scale of the crisis.#PutPeopleFirst pic.twitter.com/kca2fqnte9 — Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) April 23, 2020
Progressive activists have, for over a month, been voicing their dissatisfaction with congressional Democrats’ legislative response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The last time Congress passed a COVID-19 relief bill, at the end of March, House members had already returned to their districts, but the Senate was still in Washington.
As a result, House Democrats, already wary of returning to Washington to vote in person, could not credibly threaten to reassemble to pass their own bill. The Republican-controlled Senate shaped the $2.2 trillion relief bill, which included relief for small businesses and workers, such as a $600-a-month increase in minimum unemployment benefits as well as a $500 billion corporate bailout fund. It has since emerged that it has been considerably easier for major corporations to access aid than for small businesses or workers, who have had trouble navigating the Small Business Administration bureaucracy and state unemployment offices, both of which are inundated with historically high demand.
Democratic leaders promised at the time that they could address the bill’s deficiencies in subsequent legislation.
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The House’s failure this week to win a greater share of progressive priorities, theoretically by passing their own bill and forcing legislative reconciliation, prompted a rare round of public criticism and calls to vote no from leading figures on the activist left.
A statement from Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party, was typical.
“Congress still hasn’t delivered the relief we need or addressed the racial inequalities this crisis has exposed,” Mitchell said. “Members of Congress should vote no and work on a new package that finally puts people first.”
One factor that compounds the challenge for progressives clamoring for more dramatic action is the inability of the House to legislate from afar due to the health risks associated with COVID-19. Thursday’s vote was conducted in stages and with other precautions to help guard members’ safety.
Pelosi signed off on a plan last week that would temporarily create a system for members to vote on legislation remotely by instructing lawmakers who can appear in person how to vote on their behalf. On Monday, Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) briefed the entire House Democratic Caucus on the new plan, and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) advised caucus members that they would be voting Thursday on the rule change.
But on Wednesday, Pelosi announced that the House would not be voting on the adoption of such a system when the House assembled this week. Instead, citing the objections of Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), she has tasked a bipartisan group of lawmakers with reviewing the matter.
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huffpost--2020-04-23--Please Do Not Bathe In Clorox Like Cristina Cuomo Has Been Doing

Luckily for Cristina , however , she appears to be making a swift recovery , even if one of the ways she claims to have done so is a bit troubling .
In a post on her Goop-like wellness blog Purist , Cuomo shared a laundry list of holistic methods she is using to tackle the coronavirus , including a “ body charger ” borrowed from a friend that sends electrical frequencies through the body , a vitamin drip done by a doctor who makes house calls to the Hamptons and what appears to be billions of milligrams of vitamins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1/2 cup of Clorox to my bathwater to combat the radiation and metals in my system and oxygenate it , ” she wrote of her routine .
If you ’ re thinking , “ Um , come again ?
” you ’ re not alone .
Bleach doesn ’ t seem like something we should be bathing in , pandemic or otherwise ― right ?
Right ?
?
She is , it appears , not the only one curious about or engaging in the practice .
The Clorox website is clear about where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is not recommended to bathe in bleach .
It details a scenario in which bleach is added to drinking water as treatment ― but that ’ s 1/8 of a teaspoon ― and to be used only in an emergency .
“ Using a bleach and water solution for bathing is not approved by the EPA and should not be done , ” it states .
A doctor of infectious diseases in New York state who asked not to be named for this story said he didn ’ t even really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called “ not mainstream or evidence-based medicine , ” but explained that while bleach is an effective tool for decontaminating surfaces like , say , a bathtub , it is not advised to bathe with , and in fact could cause more harm than good .
“ In high concentrations , bleach can be noxious and irritant to your skin , ” he said .
“ If you ’ ve ever touched concentrated bleach , you know it can be a skin irritant.
” He recommends the same soap and water we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combating the coronavirus .
And while there are a few studies surrounding the impact bleach may have on sun damage or radiotherapy ( like this one from 2013 ) , we ’ re going to stick with guidance from doctors and the brand itself and skip the bleach baths .

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Luckily for Cristina, however, she appears to be making a swift recovery, even if one of the ways she claims to have done so is a bit troubling.
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In a post on her Goop-like wellness blog Purist, Cuomo shared a laundry list of holistic methods she is using to tackle the coronavirus, including a “body charger” borrowed from a friend that sends electrical frequencies through the body, a vitamin drip done by a doctor who makes house calls to the Hamptons and what appears to be billions of milligrams of vitamins.
Yet one method rang decidedly unnatural: bathing in Clorox.
“Both days, I added 1/2 cup of Clorox to my bathwater to combat the radiation and metals in my system and oxygenate it,” she wrote of her routine.
If you’re thinking, “Um, come again?” you’re not alone. Bleach doesn’t seem like something we should be bathing in, pandemic or otherwise ― right? Right??
She is, it appears, not the only one curious about or engaging in the practice. The Clorox website is clear about where it stands on the matter: No, it is not recommended to bathe in bleach. It details a scenario in which bleach is added to drinking water as treatment ― but that’s 1/8 of a teaspoon ― and to be used only in an emergency. “Using a bleach and water solution for bathing is not approved by the EPA and should not be done,” it states.
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A doctor of infectious diseases in New York state who asked not to be named for this story said he didn’t even really know what to say about what he called “not mainstream or evidence-based medicine,” but explained that while bleach is an effective tool for decontaminating surfaces like, say, a bathtub, it is not advised to bathe with, and in fact could cause more harm than good.
“In high concentrations, bleach can be noxious and irritant to your skin,” he said. “If you’ve ever touched concentrated bleach, you know it can be a skin irritant.”
He recommends the same soap and water we’ve heard time and time again for combating the coronavirus. And while there are a few studies surrounding the impact bleach may have on sun damage or radiotherapy (like this one from 2013), we’re going to stick with guidance from doctors and the brand itself and skip the bleach baths.
Or, as gynecologist Jennifer Gunter put it:


huffpost--2020-04-23--Ruth's Chris Steak House Says It Will Pay Back $20 Million Federal Loan

NEW YORK ( Reuters ) - Ruth ’ s Hospitality Group Inc , owner of the Ruth ’ s Chris Steak House chain of restaurants , on Thursday said it would quickly repay $ 20 million of federal rescue loans it received to help maintain payroll through the coronavirus crisis , a program aimed at small businesses .
The announcement came after the U.S. Treasury said a highly valued public company would have a hard time getting a coronavirus relief loan in the next round of funding .
It also came after public pressure , with an online petition garnering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s to give back the money .
A spokeswoman did not respond to requests for more details about when the loan will now be repaid , and whether the company would be able to keep paying healthcare and wages or would need to seek additional financing to do so .
There has been widespread concern that big firms took the loans even though they have other means of funding not available to mom and pop shops , many of which have received nothing from the program .
“ You ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebrity entrepreneur Mark Cuban said on Monday on CNBC of publicly traded companies that sought federal Paycheck Protection Program loans .
Burger chain Shake Shack ( SHAK.N ) earlier this week became the first public company to say it will return the funds now , rather than pay back the loan over time .
Instead , the New York-based corporation , valued on the stock market at more than $ 1.6 billion , was able to raise $ 150 million of equity capital .

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ruth’s Hospitality Group Inc, owner of the Ruth’s Chris Steak House chain of restaurants, on Thursday said it would quickly repay $20 million of federal rescue loans it received to help maintain payroll through the coronavirus crisis, a program aimed at small businesses.
The announcement came after the U.S. Treasury said a highly valued public company would have a hard time getting a coronavirus relief loan in the next round of funding.
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It also came after public pressure, with an online petition garnering more than 260,000 signatures, asking Ruth’s to give back the money.
Ruth’s move on Thursday was first reported the Wall Street Journal.
A spokeswoman did not respond to requests for more details about when the loan will now be repaid, and whether the company would be able to keep paying healthcare and wages or would need to seek additional financing to do so.
There has been widespread concern that big firms took the loans even though they have other means of funding not available to mom and pop shops, many of which have received nothing from the program.
“You’re going to kill your brand,” said celebrity entrepreneur Mark Cuban said on Monday on CNBC of publicly traded companies that sought federal Paycheck Protection Program loans.
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Burger chain Shake Shack (SHAK.N) earlier this week became the first public company to say it will return the funds now, rather than pay back the loan over time.
Instead, the New York-based corporation, valued on the stock market at more than $1.6 billion, was able to raise $150 million of equity capital.


huffpost--2020-04-24--Pat Robertson Suggests Same-Sex Marriage, Abortion Among Reasons For COVID-19

Televangelist Pat Robertson agreed that abortion and same-sex marriage are partly to blame for the novel coronavirus that has caused massive social and economic upheaval in the U.S. “ You confess your sins and forsake them .
Then he heals the land .
It ’ s not before , ” he said on an episode of his show , “ The 700 Club , ” earlier this week .
Robertson ’ s comments came during a segment in which he fields questions from viewers .
On Monday , a viewer asked him about how a popular Bible verse , 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the illness caused by the novel coronavirus .
The verse reads , “ If my people , who are called by my name , will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways , then I will hear from heaven , and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
” The viewer asked : “ How can God heal our land and forgive the sins when abortion and same-sex marriage are laws and many people are anti-Israel .
Doesn ’ t this prevent his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think you put your finger on something very important .
You know the Bible says ― they turn from their wicked ways , ” he said .
“ We are not turning when we have done terrible things.
” Most Christian traditions would agree that abusing the poor is a serious sin .
But Christian denominations in the U.S. have adopted a wide range of positions on issues such as same-sex marriage , abortion and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .
Within American evangelicalism , whether Robertson ’ s views are mainstream or fringe is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What isn ’ t up for debate , however , is his network ’ s reach and influence .
“ The 700 Club ” is the flagship program of CBN , the conservative network Robertson founded in 1960 .
The show has considerable reach ― about 650,000 U.S. households watch Robertson ’ s “ 700 Club ” program every day , according to CBN .
The network also maintains close ties to President Donald Trump ’ s administration and regularly features high-ranking White House officials as guests on its shows .
Robertson ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Convention , America ’ s largest Protestant denomination .
But over the years , he has become more closely identified with charismatic Christianity , which emphasizes spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues and prophecy .
Immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks , Robertson and fellow televangelist Jerry Falwell , Sr. speculated on the “ 700 Club ” that God had allowed the terrorists to succeed because the U.S. had become a nation of abortion , feminism , homosexuality , and secularism .
Faced with withering disapproval from then-President George W. Bush and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their comments were taken out of context .
Most evangelical Christians consider abortion and same-sex marriage to be sinful , but many would be hesitant to interpret COVID-19 or similar events as God ’ s judgment on America , according to Thomas Kidd , a historian at Baylor University who studies evangelicalism .
“ Few evangelical leaders or pastors are willing to get as specific as Robertson about the connection between our sins and God ’ s temporal judgments , ” Kidd said .
“ In this sense he is an outlier.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s interpretation of 2 Chronicles 7:14 , Kidd said , doubting if this verse should be applied to God ’ s relationship with the U.S. today .
“ Some evangelicals would also note that the verse calls on God ’ s ‘ people , ’ not Americans or all people in general , to pray and repent of their sins , ” Kidd said .

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Televangelist Pat Robertson agreed that abortion and same-sex marriage are partly to blame for the novel coronavirus that has caused massive social and economic upheaval in the U.S.
The 90-year-old Christian Broadcasting Network founder suggested that God won’t end the coronavirus pandemic until people “turn from their wicked ways.”
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“You confess your sins and forsake them. Then he heals the land. It’s not before,” he said on an episode of his show, “The 700 Club,” earlier this week.
Robertson’s comments came during a segment in which he fields questions from viewers. On Monday, a viewer asked him about how a popular Bible verse, 2 Chronicles 7:14, applies to COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. The verse reads, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
The viewer asked: “How can God heal our land and forgive the sins when abortion and same-sex marriage are laws and many people are anti-Israel. Doesn’t this prevent his healing and forgiveness?”
Robertson told the viewer, “You are right.”
“I think you put your finger on something very important. You know the Bible says ― they turn from their wicked ways,” he said. “We are not turning when we have done terrible things.”
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In his response, Robertson explicitly cited abortion and abuse of the poor as some of the reasons why “God would hold us guilty.”
CBN did not return HuffPost’s request for elaboration about Robertson’s statements.
Pat Robertson hosts the "The 700 Club" on the Christian Broadcast Network. The 700 Club - April 20, 2020 / YouTube
Most Christian traditions would agree that abusing the poor is a serious sin. But Christian denominations in the U.S. have adopted a wide range of positions on issues such as same-sex marriage, abortion and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Within American evangelicalism, whether Robertson’s views are mainstream or fringe is a matter of debate between scholars. What isn’t up for debate, however, is his network’s reach and influence.
“The 700 Club” is the flagship program of CBN, the conservative network Robertson founded in 1960. The show has considerable reach ― about 650,000 U.S. households watch Robertson’s “700 Club” program every day, according to CBN. The network also maintains close ties to President Donald Trump’s administration and regularly features high-ranking White House officials as guests on its shows.
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Robertson’s roots are in the Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest Protestant denomination. But over the years, he has become more closely identified with charismatic Christianity, which emphasizes spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues and prophecy.
The televangelist has long drawn criticism for taking inflammatory positions on Islam, LGBTQ issues and feminism. He’s received backlash for appearing to blame national tragedies on culture war issues, such as LGBTQ rights and abortion.
Immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks, Robertson and fellow televangelist Jerry Falwell, Sr. speculated on the “700 Club” that God had allowed the terrorists to succeed because the U.S. had become a nation of abortion, feminism, homosexuality, and secularism. Faced with withering disapproval from then-President George W. Bush and fellow evangelicals, both men later insisted their comments were taken out of context.
A screenshot from The April 20th episode of The 700 Club shows a viewer question about COVID-19 and 2 Chronicles 7:14. "The 700 Club - April 20, 2020" / YouTube
Most evangelical Christians consider abortion and same-sex marriage to be sinful, but many would be hesitant to interpret COVID-19 or similar events as God’s judgment on America, according to Thomas Kidd, a historian at Baylor University who studies evangelicalism.
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“Few evangelical leaders or pastors are willing to get as specific as Robertson about the connection between our sins and God’s temporal judgments,” Kidd said. “In this sense he is an outlier.”
Some evangelical leaders would also question Robertson’s interpretation of 2 Chronicles 7:14, Kidd said, doubting if this verse should be applied to God’s relationship with the U.S. today.
“Some evangelicals would also note that the verse calls on God’s ‘people,’ not Americans or all people in general, to pray and repent of their sins,” Kidd said.
Jason Bivins, a scholar of religion and politics at North Carolina State University, argued that Robertson’s belief that God withholds blessings from nations because of certain sins is “very common” within American evangelicalism, particularly among middle-aged and older white evangelicals.
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The Christian Right’s belief in God’s covenantal relationship with the U.S., and in end-times prophecies about Israel, has helped shape U.S. foreign policy for decades, Bivins said.


huffpost--2020-04-24--Maryland Emergency Hotline Flooded With Calls About Fake Disinfectant Cures

“ Suppose that we hit the body with tremendous , whether it ’ s ultraviolet or just very powerful light , and I think you said that it hasn ’ t been checked and you ’ re going to test it , ” Trump said at a press conference Thursday .
“ Suppose you can bring the light inside the body.
” “ Then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in one minute , ” he continued .
“ Is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside , or almost a cleaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ check that.
” Trump later walked back the statement and stopped short of apologizing by claiming his comments were “ sarcastic , ” even though he had made them in apparent earnestness to medical professionals .
Maryland needed to issue an alert after the state ’ s emergency hotline received more than 100 calls asking about fake disinfectant cures , tweeted Mike Ricci , communications director of the Maryland governor ’ s office .
The Guardian first reported that Mark Grenon , a Florida-based producer and distributor of chlorine dioxide bleach , sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week touting his so-called “ miracle cure.
” Grenon reportedly said in the letter that drinking chlorine dioxide is “ a wonderful detox that can kill 99 % of the pathogens in the body ” and “ can rid the body of COVID-19.
” It can ’ t .
Days later , the president touted the same pseudo-science to millions of Americans .

“Suppose that we hit the body with tremendous, whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light, and I think you said that it hasn’t been checked and you’re going to test it,” Trump said at a press conference Thursday. “Suppose you can bring the light inside the body.”
“Then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in one minute,” he continued. “Is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning? … It would be interesting to check that.”
Trump later walked back the statement and stopped short of apologizing by claiming his comments were “sarcastic,” even though he had made them in apparent earnestness to medical professionals.
Maryland needed to issue an alert after the state’s emergency hotline received more than 100 calls asking about fake disinfectant cures, tweeted Mike Ricci, communications director of the Maryland governor’s office.
The Guardian first reported that Mark Grenon, a Florida-based producer and distributor of chlorine dioxide bleach, sent a letter to the White House earlier this week touting his so-called “miracle cure.” Grenon reportedly said in the letter that drinking chlorine dioxide is “a wonderful detox that can kill 99% of the pathogens in the body” and “can rid the body of COVID-19.” It can’t.
Days later, the president touted the same pseudo-science to millions of Americans.


huffpost--2020-04-24--How Often Do We REALLY Need To Cut Our Hair?

How often should we really cut our hair ?
It ’ s a very topical question during the coronavirus pandemic , and one that comes up in conversations all the time , especially now .
And it ’ s not the only question we ponder during our coronavirus lockdown .
Is there any way to avoid split ends ?
Is there such a thing as using dry shampoo too often ?
How often do you really need to cut your hair ?
How often do you need to wash your hair ?
Jake Davis , hairstylist at John Frieda Salon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible .
“ We have gotten into a habit of over-cleansing , so check how your hair feels before you wash it and decide if a good rinse and conditioner are enough , otherwise use a sulfate-free shampoo , so that you don ’ t dry the hair out , ” Davis said .
Sharpton emphasized the importance of finding using a sulfate-free shampoo , explaining that most conventional shampoos contain detergents ( like sulfates ) , which are damaging to the hair and scalp .
“ It ’ s why your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shampoo too much , ’ ” he said .
Plus , we should really think about cleaning the scalp from the product buildup , rather than the hair strands .
But the frequency that you shampoo also depends on your hair type .
Generally , dry , coarse and curlier hair can go longer without a wash than fine hair .
“ The oils from the scalp won ’ t travel down the hair shaft as quickly as it does in finer hair , ” Fekkai told HuffPost .
“ Dry and coarse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two times a week , while oily hair types may require washing on a daily basis .
If you have normal hair , you have the luxury of washing your hair every other day.
” However , that doesn ’ t mean daily hair washing is out of the question .
Polko suggests a detox shampoo or an acid wash as an alternative to daily hair washing , if you ’ re trying to avoid oily hair .
“ Your hair will tell you what it needs , ” she said .
Again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily , look for detergent-free shampoos , like the New Wash , Sharpton says .
“ Detergents will just cause your oily scalp into over-production mode making it more oily , ” he said .
The best way to prevent split ends is to avoid heat styling ( that includes a hair dryer ! )
and color , which isn ’ t exactly realistic for most people .
Even then , your hair isn ’ t immune to split ends .
Polko said you should invest in high-quality tools , so that even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage .
Those tools don ’ t have to be expensive ― do your research and remember that the lowest heat setting on your tool is always the one that causes the least amount of damage .
Sharpton seconds that point and recommends moisturizing leave-in products when you are air-drying your hair .
“ You don ’ t have to fully dry your hair , ” he said .
“ You can rough dry it and focus on the roots and middle sections , avoiding the ends .
Skipping the brush ( if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also helpful.
” Is dry shampoo really bad for hair ?
The main point to remember is that dry shampoo shouldn ’ t be a complete substitute for shampooing , as it can lead to a dry scalp , Davis said .
An easy way of knowing if you are overusing dry shampoo is if you ’ re using it many days in a row .
“ If you ’ re doing that , you should definitely be washing your hair more .
If overused , dry shampoo can start clogging the hair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we really need different shampoos depending on our hair type ?

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How often should we really cut our hair? It’s a very topical question during the coronavirus pandemic, and one that comes up in conversations all the time, especially now. And it’s not the only question we ponder during our coronavirus lockdown. Is there any way to avoid split ends? Is there such a thing as using dry shampoo too often?
We spoke to seasoned hairstylists, who answered common questions about hair.
How often do you really need to cut your hair?
First off, if you really, absolutely have to, here’s how to cut your own hair and even how to do your own buzz cut at home.
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Second, know that the answer differs greatly based on your haircut. Most short men’s cuts, for example, should be maintained at least once a month.
As for longer cuts, it’s common to be told we need to cut our hair every six to eight weeks ― even hairdressing training guides suggest that timeline. But that’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, because everyone contends with different issues, whether it’s split ends or maintaining a style.
Still, here are some guidelines for specific needs:
Split ends: Hairstory’s resident hairstylist Wes Sharpton told HuffPost he recommends a cut four times a year if you are focusing on split ends, and more often if you want to maintain your haircut’s shape and style.
yacobchuk via Getty Images Color-treated hair is particularly susceptible to split ends and should be trimmed every two months to maintain optimal health.
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Maintaining a short to medium cut: Celebrity hairstylist and founder of Fekkai, Frédéric Fekkai, said: “For short to shoulder-length hair, I advise having a trim every 4-6 weeks. If you’re sporting a shorter style, then the regrowth is more noticeable than on longer hair.”
Maintaining medium to long hair: Fekkai recommends a trim “every 6-10 weeks because it will help the hair to grow healthier” if you are maintaining or growing out your hair. Two to three months is ideal for normal hair with minimal heat damage.
“This will help the hair to stay in good condition and prevent split ends from traveling up the mid-lengths,” hairstylist Nathan Phoenix said. For curly hair, he recommends a bit longer, 8-10 weeks. “If you are growing out your hair, it’s still advised to get a trim to keep the hair in good condition and healthy.”
Maintaining color-treated hair: Heat styling and coloring creates damage, so hair has to be cut every two months, celebrity hairstylist and T3 stylist ambassador Laura Polko said.
How often do you need to wash your hair?
This depends on your habits, routine and hair type.
Jake Davis, hairstylist at John Frieda Salon in London, recommends washing as little as possible. “We have gotten into a habit of over-cleansing, so check how your hair feels before you wash it and decide if a good rinse and conditioner are enough, otherwise use a sulfate-free shampoo, so that you don’t dry the hair out,” Davis said.
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As a general guideline, Davis suggests a light wash every two days for fine and greasy hair. For medium to thick hair, he suggests washing it no more than once a week ― but if that’s not possible, every three days is OK.
If you’re someone who exercises a lot and feel you need to wash your hair more often than three days a week, consider just rinsing and using conditioner.
Celebrity colorist and Redken ambassador Matt Rez is also a fan of sulfate-free shampoo, as it’s a great way to keep your color from fading between appointments.
Sharpton emphasized the importance of finding using a sulfate-free shampoo, explaining that most conventional shampoos contain detergents (like sulfates), which are damaging to the hair and scalp. “It’s why your hairdresser whispers, ‘Don’t shampoo too much,’” he said. Plus, we should really think about cleaning the scalp from the product buildup, rather than the hair strands.
But the frequency that you shampoo also depends on your hair type. Generally, dry, coarse and curlier hair can go longer without a wash than fine hair. “The oils from the scalp won’t travel down the hair shaft as quickly as it does in finer hair,” Fekkai told HuffPost. “Dry and coarse hair types should shampoo a maximum of two times a week, while oily hair types may require washing on a daily basis. If you have normal hair, you have the luxury of washing your hair every other day.”
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However, that doesn’t mean daily hair washing is out of the question. Polko suggests a detox shampoo or an acid wash as an alternative to daily hair washing, if you’re trying to avoid oily hair. “Your hair will tell you what it needs,” she said. Again, if you have to hair wash daily, look for detergent-free shampoos, like the New Wash, Sharpton says. “Detergents will just cause your oily scalp into over-production mode making it more oily,” he said.
Can I prevent split ends?
The best way to prevent split ends is to avoid heat styling (that includes a hair dryer!) and color, which isn’t exactly realistic for most people. Even then, your hair isn’t immune to split ends. Polko said you should invest in high-quality tools, so that even when you heat-style, you minimize the damage. Those tools don’t have to be expensive ― do your research and remember that the lowest heat setting on your tool is always the one that causes the least amount of damage.
Getty images If you must use a heat-styling tool like a curling iron, use it at the lowest possible temperature to avoid damaging your hair.
Though you can’t prevent split ends, Fekkai recommends deep conditioning the hair to ensure it’s as healthy as possible until your next trim.
Sharpton seconds that point and recommends moisturizing leave-in products when you are air-drying your hair. “You don’t have to fully dry your hair,” he said. “You can rough dry it and focus on the roots and middle sections, avoiding the ends. Skipping the brush (if possible) while drying your hair is also helpful.”
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Is dry shampoo really bad for hair?
It’s your scalp you should be worried about, more than your hair.
The main point to remember is that dry shampoo shouldn’t be a complete substitute for shampooing, as it can lead to a dry scalp, Davis said. An easy way of knowing if you are overusing dry shampoo is if you’re using it many days in a row. “If you’re doing that, you should definitely be washing your hair more. If overused, dry shampoo can start clogging the hair follicle,” Polko said.
Sharpton said that apart from potentially clogging up the pores and hair follicles, dry shampoo does even more damage on a wet scalp. “Never apply dry shampoo/powder to wet hair or to a sweaty scalp; powder plus moisture makes a paste and it can really clog things up!” he said.
Do we really need different shampoos depending on our hair type?
Not exactly, though you should assess your scalp to understand what is suitable, Sharpton said. “Your scalp is part of your skin, after all, so think about it in terms of what type of skin do I have: oily, normal or dry? If you produce more oil on the scalp, reach for a deeper clean, but remember it should be detergent-free.”


huffpost--2020-04-24--Fox News Anchor Unconvinced Trump's Disinfectant Comments Were Sarcastic

But at least one journalist at the normally Trump-friendly Fox News is skeptical .
On Friday , Bret Baier was asked whether he thought the president was really being sarcastic when he mentioned using disinfectant to kill the virus at a press briefing Thursday .
Trump had asked , “ Is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside , or almost a cleaning ?
… It would be interesting to check that.
” Baier admitted the president did not appear to be joking when he said that .
“ Well , that ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it didn ’ t seem like it was coming off as sarcastic when he was talking and turning to Dr. Birx on the side , ” he said , referring to coronavirus task force coordinator Deborah Birx .
“ What ’ s problematic for this president is sometimes he goes on these riffs , ” he said , adding that while Trump ’ s improvisation may work on political topics , it ’ s not good for dealing with medical issues .
Baier also suggested the president ’ s claim may be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the manufacturer of Lysol warning people not to ingest disinfectants .
“ Obviously , this is his answer to all of that criticism , but the president does get himself into these issues , ” Baier said .
“ I don ’ t think he wants to cause any harm to anyone ― obviously ― and no one at home thinks ‘ Oh , you know what ?
I ’ m going to drink bleach , ’ I don ’ t think .
But it is something that he clearly stepped in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was being sarcastic when he talked about injecting disinfectants .
Your thoughts ?
Bret Baier : `` Well , that ’ s not how it looked in the briefing ... it didn ’ t seem like it was coming off as sarcastic when he was talking and turning to Dr. Birx on the side '' pic.twitter.com/XbdJXLg2WT — Justin Baragona ( @ justinbaragona ) April 24 , 2020

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But at least one journalist at the normally Trump-friendly Fox News is skeptical.
On Friday, Bret Baier was asked whether he thought the president was really being sarcastic when he mentioned using disinfectant to kill the virus at a press briefing Thursday. Trump had asked, “Is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning? … It would be interesting to check that.”
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Baier admitted the president did not appear to be joking when he said that.
“Well, that’s not how it looked in the briefing ... it didn’t seem like it was coming off as sarcastic when he was talking and turning to Dr. Birx on the side,” he said, referring to coronavirus task force coordinator Deborah Birx.
Baier then attempted to gently explain the problem with the president’s comments.
“What’s problematic for this president is sometimes he goes on these riffs,” he said, adding that while Trump’s improvisation may work on political topics, it’s not good for dealing with medical issues.
Baier also suggested the president’s claim may be a response to statements from both the FDA and the manufacturer of Lysol warning people not to ingest disinfectants.
“Obviously, this is his answer to all of that criticism, but the president does get himself into these issues,” Baier said. “I don’t think he wants to cause any harm to anyone ― obviously ― and no one at home thinks ‘Oh, you know what? I’m going to drink bleach,’ I don’t think. But it is something that he clearly stepped in here.”
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You can see the exchange below.


huffpost--2020-03-23--Russian Theater Performing For One Spectator At A Time

MOSCOW , March 23 ( Reuters ) - Usually it ’ s the artists for whom a solo is the ultimate prize .
Now it is the audience .
Starting this month , Russia ’ s Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre will stream its performances online and allow just one spectator in the theater to watch in person .
Called “ One-On-One , ” the project is designed to create a new kind of interaction with the public at a time when a growing number of coronavirus cases are limiting outings and gatherings .
“ We are ready to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end ... one spectator has the same value as a full house , “ Marat Gatsalov , the theater ’ s principal stage director , said in a statement .
The theater , located in Perm , an industrial city 1,100 km ( 680 miles ) east of Moscow , said it would shortly be accepting applications for those wanting to attend the performances alone .
It said that one of the performers would choose thespectator in a draw , but that the chosen person would need to be screened by a doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far recorded 438 cases of the virus , as well as one coronavirus-related death .
The authorities have barred foreign nationals from entering the country until May in an effort to stop the coronavirus from spreading further , and have canceled or heavily restricted public gatherings .

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MOSCOW, March 23 (Reuters) - Usually it’s the artists for whom a solo is the ultimate prize. Now it is the audience.
Starting this month, Russia’s Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre will stream its performances online and allow just one spectator in the theater to watch in person.
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Called “One-On-One,” the project is designed to create a new kind of interaction with the public at a time when a growing number of coronavirus cases are limiting outings and gatherings.
“We are ready to hold performances for one person because in the end ... one spectator has the same value as a full house,“ Marat Gatsalov, the theater’s principal stage director, said in a statement.
The theater, located in Perm, an industrial city 1,100 km (680 miles) east of Moscow, said it would shortly be accepting applications for those wanting to attend the performances alone.
It said that one of the performers would choose thespectator in a draw, but that the chosen person would need to be screened by a doctor before entering the theater.
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Russia has so far recorded 438 cases of the virus, as well as one coronavirus-related death.
The authorities have barred foreign nationals from entering the country until May in an effort to stop the coronavirus from spreading further, and have canceled or heavily restricted public gatherings.


huffpost--2020-03-23--Texas Moves To Ban Most Abortions During Coronavirus Crisis

“ No one is exempt from the governor ’ s executive order on medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures , including @ @ @ @ @ said in a press release .
“ Those who violate the governor ’ s order @ @ @ @ @ full force of the law.
” Failure to comply with the order may result in @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 or 180 days of jail time .

“No one is exempt from the governor’s executive order on medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures, including abortion providers,” Paxton said in a press release. “Those who violate the governor’s order will be met with the full force of the law.”
Failure to comply with the order may result in penalties of up to $1,000 or 180 days of jail time.