huffpost--2020-04-17--How To Give Yourself A Buzz Cut At Home

How To Give Yourself A Buzz Cut At Home

As far as at-home coronavirus curiosities go , buzz cuts may seem like the least risky .
( Until you do a quick search of some of the internet ’ s biggest disasters , that is . )
Still , it ’ s a pretty straightforward process ― as long as you have some best practices and tricks to guide you .
Get yourself some gear For beginners , he recommends starting around 3 or 4 .
“ When you start raising it higher than that , it might not take the hair off as well , and I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
Before you even start adding your attachment guards , it ’ s important to add a few drops of oil to the clippers themselves .
Kits will typically come with oil , DeAngelis said , but in a pinch you can also use WD-40 .
“ That ’ s going to keep it from seizing up and give you a nice , clean cut.
” DeAngelis said you can start on the sides , but he prefers to use the top as a starting off point to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether that be all one length or a fade ( more on that later ) .
Go against the grain “ It ’ s key to taking the hair off , ” DeAngelis said .
“ You can go over it a few times , but if you ’ re not going against the grain , it ’ s not going to take the hair off evenly , and you ’ ll end up with patches or clumps because you ’ re not being aware of what direction the hair is going.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done , you can make the decision to keep it all one length ― or try doing a fade for a more advanced option .
If you go with the latter option , you want to count down from the attachment number you used on the top of the head .
“ Say you did a 3 on top , now you can do a 2 around the crown and a 1 around the temple , ” he said , adding that you need to blend in each as you go .
Don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near your ears “ You want to take the guard off the blade , open the lever , and start at the base of your neck and bring it up , ” DeAngelis advised .
“ When you hit the hairline , flip or rake it up a bit , which will give you a taper to keep it looking clean and natural.
” “ First , you want to take a look in the mirror and see if there ’ s any hair hugging around your ear , which is very difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ You have to pull your ear down a little bit and with the other hand and clipper gently tap that area with the corner of the clipper.
” Do your best with the back “ You ’ re gon na have to go into it blindly , ” he said .
“ To be honest , when I did that video I thought it looked great , and my friend was like , ‘ You missed a spot.
’ That ’ s what happens .
You can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ll want to use a hand mirror and refer to a video .
Essentially , though , you ’ re just kind of rubbing the clipper behind your head in repetitive motions.
” Be kind to yourself “ Everyone ’ s in the same boat , we ’ re all not going to our stylists , we can all be forgiving with each other ’ s hairstyles , ” he said .
“ It could be a really fun experience , a new skill .
You ’ ll get more comfortable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is kind of easy .
”

As far as at-home coronavirus curiosities go, buzz cuts may seem like the least risky. (Until you do a quick search of some of the internet’s biggest disasters, that is.) Still, it’s a pretty straightforward process ― as long as you have some best practices and tricks to guide you.
Tony DeAngelis, co-owner of Blue & Black barbershop and apothecary in Brooklyn, New York, recently shared his DIY buzz on his Instagram account, and was kind enough to tell us how to achieve the perfect buzz cut.
Advertisement
Step one: Know that there may be no such thing as a perfect buzz cut in quarantine, and that’s OK.
Below, the other do’s and don’ts of giving yourself a buzz cut at home.
Get yourself some gear
DeAngelis told HuffPost there’s no need to buy super fancy or expensive tools. “You can get something that is no more than $30 to $50 that will work great for home use,” he said.
He prefers the Wahl Self Kit Pro, which comes with “everything you will need,” including shears, a comb, a clipper and a wide range of plastic guards for various lengths.
Prep the area
Whether you live at home or with a partner or roommate, no one wants to deal with hair everywhere. DeAngelis recommends lining your sink with newspaper and wearing an old T-shirt for easy clean-up.
Know your numbers
Clippers typically come with attachment guards that indicate how short the buzz will be. The 0 attachment will leave your hair shortest, while something like a 3 leaves the hair a bit longer.
Advertisement
“I always say start high,” DeAngelis said. “You can always bring it shorter.”
For beginners, he recommends starting around 3 or 4. “When you start raising it higher than that, it might not take the hair off as well, and I don’t think it looks as nice,” he said.
Clippers also all come with a lever on the side that determines how close the guard is to the blade. Open the lever and you’ll have a looser cut; close it and the cut will be tighter.
Oil up
Before you even start adding your attachment guards, it’s important to add a few drops of oil to the clippers themselves. Kits will typically come with oil, DeAngelis said, but in a pinch you can also use WD-40. “That’s going to keep it from seizing up and give you a nice, clean cut.”
Start at the top
DeAngelis said you can start on the sides, but he prefers to use the top as a starting off point to see what direction he wants to go ― whether that be all one length or a fade (more on that later).
Comb it out
Hairs will stick to your head, so DeAngelis recommends using a comb throughout the process to prevent that from happening. “You’re able to loosen things up, you want to casually use the comb while you’re buzzing.”
Advertisement
Go against the grain
Once you’re ready to start buzzing, it’s important to against the grain of the hair, instead of with it, to get an even cut.
“It’s key to taking the hair off,” DeAngelis said. “You can go over it a few times, but if you’re not going against the grain, it’s not going to take the hair off evenly, and you’ll end up with patches or clumps because you’re not being aware of what direction the hair is going.”
Make your choice: fade or full buzz
Once the top of the head is done, you can make the decision to keep it all one length ― or try doing a fade for a more advanced option. If you go with the latter option, you want to count down from the attachment number you used on the top of the head.
“Say you did a 3 on top, now you can do a 2 around the crown and a 1 around the temple,” he said, adding that you need to blend in each as you go.
Don’t neglect your neck ― or near your ears
Ideally you’d have someone on hand to assist for the back of your head and neck hairs. But if you don’t, you’ll need a hand mirror.
Advertisement
“You want to take the guard off the blade, open the lever, and start at the base of your neck and bring it up,” DeAngelis advised. “When you hit the hairline, flip or rake it up a bit, which will give you a taper to keep it looking clean and natural.”
When you buzz the hair closest to your ears, you should also take the guard off, with the lever closed.
“First, you want to take a look in the mirror and see if there’s any hair hugging around your ear, which is very difficult to get with the guard on,” he said. “You have to pull your ear down a little bit and with the other hand and clipper gently tap that area with the corner of the clipper.”
Do your best with the back
“You’re gonna have to go into it blindly,” he said. “To be honest, when I did that video I thought it looked great, and my friend was like, ‘You missed a spot.’ That’s what happens. You can’t really see back there. So you’ll want to use a hand mirror and refer to a video. Essentially, though, you’re just kind of rubbing the clipper behind your head in repetitive motions.”
Use your ears
A good trick for knowing when to stop, especially in areas like the back of the head, is to listen to your clippers. They will stop cutting once they reach the length of guard you’ve chosen.
Advertisement
“You can hear the hair coming off, and once you stop hearing the hair come off that means it’s good,” DeAngelis said. “Just be aware of that sound of the hair, at a certain point you’ll just hear the clipper moving and not your hair coming off.”
Watch your stroke
It might be tempting to go straight back and forth while you buzz, but DeAngelis said your stroke should look more like a curve.
“The motion of the clipper should be kind of coming out with your strokes,” he said. “Instead of going straight up and down you want to angle a bit, almost like the letter C, scooping out rather than going straight will allow it to blend nicely.”
You can see the movement in action in the video above.
Be kind to yourself
Ultimately, it’s probably not going to be perfect ― and that’s OK!


huffpost--2020-04-17--Meghan Markle Reunites With Women From Her First Royal Project On Zoom Call

Meghan Markle got back to her royal roots on Tuesday , joining a Zoom call with women from the Hubb Community Kitchen , the group she worked with for one of her first royal projects .
The organization was founded by women affected by the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London .
The Duchess of Sussex secretly visited with the women for months , beginning in January 2018 .
In September of that year , Kensington Palace unveiled a cookbook collaboration with the group , called “ Together : Our Community Kitchen , ” for which Meghan wrote the forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the women of Hubb Community Kitchen , who are joining forces with The Felix Project , a food waste redistribution charity , and the Evening Standard ’ s Food for London Now campaign , to distribute meals during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ The spirit of the Hubb Community Kitchen has always been one of caring , giving back , and helping those in need , initially in Grenfell and now throughout the UK , ” Meghan said in a statement , shared with HuffPost .
“ A home cooked meal from one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it most , is what community is all about.
” The women will make the meals at home ( in order to follow social distancing protocol ) and then Street Games , another charity the Sussexes have worked with , will gather and drop off the meals .
They expect to produce upwards of 250-300 meals three times a week in London .
“ I ’ m so proud of the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen , and the continued support the Felix Project gives them to carry out these acts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time are urgently needed , ” the duchess said in her statement , adding that she was “ equally moved ” by the Evening Standard ’ s new campaign .
“ What was so great is you look back at that first day and then however many visits later and going , ‘ Yeah , we ’ re just going to make a cookbook ’ and not knowing what a huge success it was going to be , ” the duchess said with a smile as the women nodded .
“ And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I felt ― again ― it ’ s inspired so many people.
” The Duchess of Sussex visits the Hubb Community Kitchen in London on November 21 , 2018 to celebrate the success of their cookbook .
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently distributed meals for Project Angel Food , a nonprofit charity based in Los Angeles that prepares and brings food to people with AIDS and other critical illnesses .
Richard Ayoub , Project Angel Food ’ s executive director , told HuffPost Thursday that the royals “ have quietly been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days and they reached 20 different households.
” ″ [ Harry and Meghan ’ s ] whole goal in volunteering was just to pay tribute to our chef , staff and volunteers and just to ease the workload of our drivers , ” Ayoub said added .
“ They just took some of that load off ... and hopefully put a smile on people ’ s faces .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Meghan Markle got back to her royal roots on Tuesday, joining a Zoom call with women from the Hubb Community Kitchen, the group she worked with for one of her first royal projects.
The organization was founded by women affected by the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London. The Duchess of Sussex secretly visited with the women for months, beginning in January 2018. In September of that year, Kensington Palace unveiled a cookbook collaboration with the group, called “Together: Our Community Kitchen,” for which Meghan wrote the forward.
Advertisement
On Tuesday, Meghan reunited with the women of Hubb Community Kitchen, who are joining forces with The Felix Project, a food waste redistribution charity, and the Evening Standard’s Food for London Now campaign, to distribute meals during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The spirit of the Hubb Community Kitchen has always been one of caring, giving back, and helping those in need, initially in Grenfell and now throughout the UK,” Meghan said in a statement, shared with HuffPost. “A home cooked meal from one neighbor to another, when they need it most, is what community is all about.”
Meghan on a Zoom call with women from the Hubb Community Kitchen on Tuesday. Duchess of Sussex
The women will make the meals at home (in order to follow social distancing protocol) and then Street Games, another charity the Sussexes have worked with, will gather and drop off the meals. They expect to produce upwards of 250-300 meals three times a week in London.
Advertisement
“I’m so proud of the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen, and the continued support the Felix Project gives them to carry out these acts of goodwill, which at this moment in time are urgently needed,” the duchess said in her statement, adding that she was “equally moved” by the Evening Standard’s new campaign.
During the call with the women, Meghan mentioned the success of the group’s cookbook.
“What was so great is you look back at that first day and then however many visits later and going, ‘Yeah, we’re just going to make a cookbook’ and not knowing what a huge success it was going to be,” the duchess said with a smile as the women nodded. “And that’s a testament to you where I felt ― again ― it’s inspired so many people.”
The Duchess of Sussex visits the Hubb Community Kitchen in London on November 21, 2018 to celebrate the success of their cookbook. CHRIS JACKSON via Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently distributed meals for Project Angel Food, a nonprofit charity based in Los Angeles that prepares and brings food to people with AIDS and other critical illnesses.
Richard Ayoub, Project Angel Food’s executive director, told HuffPost Thursday that the royals “have quietly been delivering for us for a couple of days and they reached 20 different households.”
Advertisement
″[Harry and Meghan’s] whole goal in volunteering was just to pay tribute to our chef, staff and volunteers and just to ease the workload of our drivers,” Ayoub said added. “They just took some of that load off ... and hopefully put a smile on people’s faces.”


huffpost--2020-04-17--San Diego Comic-Con 'Officially' Canceled

For the first time in its 50-year history San Diego Comic Convention ( SDCC ) , the organizers behind the @ @ @ @ @ announced today with deep regret that there will be no Comic-Con in 2020 .
The @ @ @ @ @ the San Diego Convention Center from July 22-25 , 2021 .
Recognizing that countless attendees @ @ @ @ @ conventions each year , and how many exhibitors and stakeholders rely upon its events for @ @ @ @ @ livelihood , they had hoped to delay this decision in anticipation that COVID-19 concerns might @ @ @ @ @ monitoring of health advisories and recent statements by the Governor of California have made it @ @ @ @ @ be safe to move forward with plans for this year .

For the first time in its 50-year history San Diego Comic Convention (SDCC), the organizers behind the annual pop culture celebration, announced today with deep regret that there will be no Comic-Con in 2020. The event will instead return to the San Diego Convention Center from July 22-25, 2021.
Recognizing that countless attendees save and plan for its conventions each year, and how many exhibitors and stakeholders rely upon its events for a major portion of their livelihood, they had hoped to delay this decision in anticipation that COVID-19 concerns might lessen by summer. Continuous monitoring of health advisories and recent statements by the Governor of California have made it clear that it would not be safe to move forward with plans for this year.


huffpost--2020-04-17--Store Security Guard Used Stun Gun On Muslim Health Care Worker, Advocates Say

BALTIMORE ( AP ) — Officials with a Muslim civil rights advocacy group are urging Maryland police to investigate allegations a security guard used a stun gun on a health care worker who refused to remove a face covering inside a grocery store .
The Council on American-Islamic Relations called for the Howard County Police Department to investigate and called the incident an example of discriminatory behavior against people of color wearing protective face coverings during the coronavirus pandemic , according to a statement released Wednesday .
The council said the alleged victim , a Muslim man of Tunisian heritage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Columbia this month on his way home from his job , which includes serving patients with COVID-19 .
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on police to investigate a Muslim health care worker 's claims that he was mistreated at a Maryland grocery store .
The security guard ordered the man to remove the protective face covering he was wearing or he would not be allowed to shop , the council said in its account .
“ The shopper removed the face covering briefly to show the guard who he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the establishment — then replaced the face mask and requested the guard to move back to abide by social distancing guidelines , ” the statement said .
The group alleged that when the shopper later walked toward the checkout counter to pay , the guard approached him “ in a confrontational way , ” used a stun gun on him and restrained him on the ground .
Howard County police confirmed officers were called to the Columbia grocery store location April 4 on a “ report of a disorderly subject , The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying .
An investigation is ongoing , Llewellyn added .
Representatives for the store could not be reached Wednesday , The Sun said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
BALTIMORE (AP) — Officials with a Muslim civil rights advocacy group are urging Maryland police to investigate allegations a security guard used a stun gun on a health care worker who refused to remove a face covering inside a grocery store.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations called for the Howard County Police Department to investigate and called the incident an example of discriminatory behavior against people of color wearing protective face coverings during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a statement released Wednesday.
Advertisement
The council said the alleged victim, a Muslim man of Tunisian heritage, entered an LA Mart grocery store in Columbia this month on his way home from his job, which includes serving patients with COVID-19.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on police to investigate a Muslim health care worker's claims that he was mistreated at a Maryland grocery store. stellalevi via Getty Images
The security guard ordered the man to remove the protective face covering he was wearing or he would not be allowed to shop, the council said in its account.
“The shopper removed the face covering briefly to show the guard who he was — a regular customer and familiar face at the establishment — then replaced the face mask and requested the guard to move back to abide by social distancing guidelines,” the statement said.
Advertisement
The group alleged that when the shopper later walked toward the checkout counter to pay, the guard approached him “in a confrontational way,” used a stun gun on him and restrained him on the ground.
Howard County police confirmed officers were called to the Columbia grocery store location April 4 on a “report of a disorderly subject, The Baltimore Sun quoted spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn as saying. An investigation is ongoing, Llewellyn added.


huffpost--2020-04-16--Here's Why You Haven't Received Your Stimulus Check Yet

Though millions of people are set to receive stimulus checks , not everyone qualifies for one .
The payments are awarded based on income ― if you haven ’ t received a check , it might be because you earn too much .
Those with low enough incomes , including the homeless , aren ’ t required to file taxes each year .
They are still eligible to receive stimulus funds , but the IRS needs to have bank account information on file in order to deposit the money in a timely manner .
Without this information , checks have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 20 weeks .
Even if you did recently file taxes , the IRS still may not have your banking information on file .
Customers of major tax preparation services , including TurboTax , H & R Block and Jackson Hewitt , have complained that they did not receive their stimulus payments as expected .
This issue affects taxpayers who received an advance on their refunds or who had tax preparation fees taken out of their refunds .
In these cases , the companies actually received the refunds first ; after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest of the funds were then distributed to customers .
That means the IRS had temporary bank accounts on file for 2019 that were created by the tax preparation companies .
It ’ s estimated that up to 21 million people could be affected by this issue .
If you think you may be one of them , visit the IRS ’ s Get My Payment portal to enter your correct bank account details .
When the stimulus package was first revealed , there was some confusion as to whether Supplemental Security Income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The good news is that they do , and those payments are scheduled to go out no later than early May .
So if you receive SSI and haven ’ t gotten your check yet , it should be on the way soon .
However , it ’ s important to note that while SSI recipients who don ’ t have any qualifying children will receive their $ 1,200 payment automatically , those who do have qualifying children under age 17 will need to visit the non-filer tool and enter their information .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon , you ’ ll have to wait longer to get your extra $ 500 per child .
Under the CARES Act , which outlines the terms of the coronavirus stimulus package , unauthorized immigrants and most U.S. citizens or legal immigrant spouses who file taxes jointly with unauthorized immigrants or immigrants without a Social Security number are excluded from receiving aid .
The only exception is for military families .
That means some U.S. citizens will not get stimulus payments if they are part of a mixed-status family that includes either unauthorized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process of becoming legal citizens and haven ’ t received a Social Security number yet .
However , legal permanent residents who have Social Security numbers and file taxes will qualify for stimulus money , as long as no one in the household files their taxes under an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number instead of an SSN .
How To Check The Status Of Your Stimulus Payment For 2020 If you aren ’ t sure whether you qualify for a stimulus check or want to know the status of your payment , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the IRS website to find out .
You ’ ll need to enter your Social Security number or individual tax ID , date of birth , street address and ZIP or postal code to get your payment status .
If you haven ’ t set up your direct deposit information yet ( about 20 % of taxpayers haven ’ t ) , the tool may walk you through that process .
In order to enter your banking information , you ’ ll need to know your AGI from your most recent tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , the amount of your refund or the amount owed from your latest filed tax return , and your bank account type , account number and routing number .
Keep in mind that if you already have payment information on file or the payment has already been processed , you won ’ t be able to change the information for security reasons .
Unfortunately , that may mean that your payment was sent to the wrong bank account .
In this case , you ’ ll need to contact the bank directly @ @ @ @ @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak financial havoc, causing businesses to shut down and workers to lose income, Americans have been anxiously waiting on checks from Uncle Sam.
The $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package includes a one-time payment to qualifying Americans, either by direct deposit or mailed check. Many have received their funds over the past couple of days, while others are still waiting.
Advertisement
If you’re expecting stimulus money and it hasn’t hit your bank account yet, it could be due to one of several reasons:
1. You don’t qualify for a payment
Though millions of people are set to receive stimulus checks, not everyone qualifies for one. The payments are awarded based on income ― if you haven’t received a check, it might be because you earn too much.
Here’s how the payments break down:
Those with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less get a stimulus payment of $1,200. That amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 earned above the $75,000 threshold and caps at $99,000.
Married couples who file taxes jointly and have an AGI of $150,000 or less get a payment of $2,400, with that amount phasing out between $150,000 and $198,000.
Those who file as head of household and have an AGI of $112,500 or less will receive a payment of $1,200, with that amount phasing out between $112,500 and $146,500.
Stimulus check recipients should also receive an additional $500 for each qualifying dependent who is 16 years old or younger.
Advertisement
In addition to people who have AGIs above the limits outlined above, others who are excluded from receiving payments include nonresident foreigners, taxpayers who can be claimed on someone else’s return as a dependent, and estates and trusts.
2. You haven’t filed your taxes
The IRS is relying on tax returns from 2018 and 2019 to determine eligibility for stimulus payments and where to send them. However, you don’t actually have to file taxes in order to qualify for stimulus money.
Those with low enough incomes, including the homeless, aren’t required to file taxes each year. They are still eligible to receive stimulus funds, but the IRS needs to have bank account information on file in order to deposit the money in a timely manner. Without this information, checks have to be mailed, which could take up to 20 weeks.
So if you haven’t filed taxes for 2018 or 2019, visit the IRS website and enter your information in its new non-filer tool to ensure you get a direct deposit as soon as possible.
3. You filed taxes using a major tax prep service
Even if you did recently file taxes, the IRS still may not have your banking information on file. Customers of major tax preparation services, including TurboTax, H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt, have complained that they did not receive their stimulus payments as expected.
Advertisement
This issue affects taxpayers who received an advance on their refunds or who had tax preparation fees taken out of their refunds. In these cases, the companies actually received the refunds first; after the companies deducted the necessary fees, the rest of the funds were then distributed to customers. That means the IRS had temporary bank accounts on file for 2019 that were created by the tax preparation companies.
It’s estimated that up to 21 million people could be affected by this issue. If you think you may be one of them, visit the IRS’s Get My Payment portal to enter your correct bank account details.
4. You receive supplemental security income
When the stimulus package was first revealed, there was some confusion as to whether Supplemental Security Income recipients qualified to receive any money. The good news is that they do, and those payments are scheduled to go out no later than early May. So if you receive SSI and haven’t gotten your check yet, it should be on the way soon.
However, it’s important to note that while SSI recipients who don’t have any qualifying children will receive their $1,200 payment automatically, those who do have qualifying children under age 17 will need to visit the non-filer tool and enter their information. If you don’t do this soon, you’ll have to wait longer to get your extra $500 per child.
5. You’re part of a mixed-status family
Many taxpayers who would otherwise qualify for a stimulus payment will not receive any money because they have unauthorized immigrants in their family.
Advertisement
Under the CARES Act, which outlines the terms of the coronavirus stimulus package, unauthorized immigrants and most U.S. citizens or legal immigrant spouses who file taxes jointly with unauthorized immigrants or immigrants without a Social Security number are excluded from receiving aid. The only exception is for military families.
That means some U.S. citizens will not get stimulus payments if they are part of a mixed-status family that includes either unauthorized immigrants or immigrants who are going through the process of becoming legal citizens and haven’t received a Social Security number yet. However, legal permanent residents who have Social Security numbers and file taxes will qualify for stimulus money, as long as no one in the household files their taxes under an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number instead of an SSN.
How To Check The Status Of Your Stimulus Payment For 2020
If you aren’t sure whether you qualify for a stimulus check or want to know the status of your payment, you can visit the Get My Payment tool on the IRS website to find out.
You’ll need to enter your Social Security number or individual tax ID, date of birth, street address and ZIP or postal code to get your payment status. If you haven’t set up your direct deposit information yet (about 20% of taxpayers haven’t), the tool may walk you through that process.
In order to enter your banking information, you’ll need to know your AGI from your most recent tax return submitted (either 2019 or 2018), the amount of your refund or the amount owed from your latest filed tax return, and your bank account type, account number and routing number.
Advertisement
Keep in mind that if you already have payment information on file or the payment has already been processed, you won’t be able to change the information for security reasons. Unfortunately, that may mean that your payment was sent to the wrong bank account. In this case, you’ll need to contact the bank directly to rectify the situation.
Many people who recently attempted to check their payment status using the Get My Payment tool have also complained about receiving a “Payment Status Not Available” message. The Washington Post reached out to the IRS to find out why some people are met with this error. The reasons include, according to that report:
You aren’t eligible for a payment.
Your payment is based on your status as a Social Security, disability, Veterans Affairs or Railroad Retirement beneficiary. In this case, the IRS will use your SSA or RRB Form 1099 payment information. Your payment information isn’t available on the “Get My Payment” tool.
You have not filed a 2018 or 2019 federal tax return.
You filed your 2019 return, but it hasn’t been fully processed.
You used the non-filers tool, but the information you entered is still being processed.
There’s a problem verifying your identity when answering the security questions.
Some people say they received the “status not available” message even though none of the above situations apply to them. Keep in mind that the IRS is processing millions of stimulus payments per day, and information on the website is only updated once per day ― you may need to wait 24 hours for new results. According to the IRS, people who qualify for a payment will still get a check in the mail if they are unable to set up direct deposit.


huffpost--2020-04-10--If You're Not Eating Peeps Stale, You're Doing It Wrong

I used to think that my personal preference for stale marshmallow Peeps ― the bird- and bunny-shaped marshmallows that will indeed be available for Easter 2020 , despite their factory closing due to the coronavirus pandemic ― was a palate outlier .
As it turns out , there are a lot of people like me in the world , people who prefer their marshmallow crunchy , their sugar crystallized .
For my part , I have a long-established method for expediting the staleness of my Easter candy , and it goes something like this : For me , cold is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of candy cold , even Twizzlers , which is a peccadillo many can ’ t wrap their head around .
Still , when it comes to Peeps , my candy peculiarities are much more understandable .
They ’ re common , even .
Recently , I surveyed a handful of people who shared my fondness for stale Peeps , because , it turns out , stale Peeps have a following .
Why eat Peeps stale ?
“ They just taste better stale !
” Caitlin Kneram Gross of Kennebunk , Maine , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re crispy on the outside and still soft inside , and the sugar crystalizes and tastes better.
” She also uses the holiday-specific Christmas ones ― made stale , of course ― in her hot cocoa .
Her drying out process involves a little preparation .
“ My husband even knows to open the package for me ahead of time !
” Elizabeth Erickson , of New York City , is also a stale Peeps devotee .
In fact , she ’ s so dedicated to the candy ― and to eating them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point to bring them to Morocco with her when she ended up there for Easter .
“ We have an annual Peep Toss as part of our Easter celebrations , and stale Peeps are absolutely required .
Two years ago , when we were going to be in Morocco for Easter , I packed stale Peeps in my luggage , and we tossed the Peeps in our riad !
” Erickson ’ s process of readying her Peeps is time-intensive , if not necessarily labor-intensive .
“ We buy them a week in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ Bringing them to Morocco was kind of a mess , because the loose sugar escaped into my bags .
In some years , we ’ ve even bought them on sale after Easter and stored them away until next year.
” “ I loved them .
And I still do .
Anyway , as a kid , I loved them stale , get home , slice some lines down a pack with a knife , and get a taste test of a fresh one , for reference , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good batch , ” McCaffrey said .
“ Then let the pack sit .
I put one in the microwave , ’ cause someone told me they expand and contract .
They do , but I also noticed that , after cooling off , they were chewy .
I started microwaving Peeps all the time and finishing whole packs at once .
It wasn ’ t the same as waiting for them to get stale , but it was good enough for a kid , until one day , I put too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for too long and forgot , and , well , the inside of that machine was never the same.
” Most felt no ambivalence .
“ Love , love , love them , ” said Bridget LeRoy of Center Moriches , New York .
“ Just rip the packet open and let them air out for a day or two .
There can be no ‘ almost ’ when it comes to Peep mouthfeel .
Can I also say that I only eat yellow chick Peeps ?
Does that make me a snob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part , I won ’ t eat pink Peeps .
I don ’ t know if it ’ s right or wrong , but I have always associated pink candy with a bitter taste , and whether or not this taste really exists , I can not , even at 39 , force myself to eat it .
Some regaled me with lore .
The father of a friend ’ s friend allegedly cures his Peeps in a garage for months before eating .
I can ’ t speak personally to the efficacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m not unwilling to try it .
Microwaving has its followers , producing chewy , stretchy mallow , and , after all , texture is what those of us who love a good stale Peep are hunting for .
So it ’ s no surprise that I found so many microwave enthusiasts in my hunt for fellow stale Peepists .
There was , for all of us , a certain ritual to all of it , a practice that we had observed for years upon years : exacting , personal , palate-pleasing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of taste on our own , separately , and yet we had all reached the same conclusion , which was that there was something compelling about the granular crunch of sugar stiffening over just-forgiving marshmallow .
It was , and is , so very , very good .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
I used to think that my personal preference for stale marshmallow Peeps ― the bird- and bunny-shaped marshmallows that will indeed be available for Easter 2020, despite their factory closing due to the coronavirus pandemic ― was a palate outlier. As it turns out, there are a lot of people like me in the world, people who prefer their marshmallow crunchy, their sugar crystallized. For my part, I have a long-established method for expediting the staleness of my Easter candy, and it goes something like this:
Slice open cellophane wrapping. Leave the package in the refrigerator overnight. Eat Peeps cold.
For me, cold is always key, but I like lots of candy cold, even Twizzlers, which is a peccadillo many can’t wrap their head around. Still, when it comes to Peeps, my candy peculiarities are much more understandable. They’re common, even. Recently, I surveyed a handful of people who shared my fondness for stale Peeps, because, it turns out, stale Peeps have a following.
Advertisement
DON EMMERT via Getty Images Hundreds of Marshmallow Peeps move down the conveyor belt to be boxed up at Just Born Inc. in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Why eat Peeps stale? “They just taste better stale!” Caitlin Kneram Gross of Kennebunk, Maine, said. “I think because they’re crispy on the outside and still soft inside, and the sugar crystalizes and tastes better.” She also uses the holiday-specific Christmas ones ― made stale, of course ― in her hot cocoa. Her drying out process involves a little preparation. “My husband even knows to open the package for me ahead of time!”
Elizabeth Erickson, of New York City, is also a stale Peeps devotee. In fact, she’s so dedicated to the candy ― and to eating them stale ― that she made it a point to bring them to Morocco with her when she ended up there for Easter. “We have an annual Peep Toss as part of our Easter celebrations, and stale Peeps are absolutely required. Two years ago, when we were going to be in Morocco for Easter, I packed stale Peeps in my luggage, and we tossed the Peeps in our riad!”
Erickson’s process of readying her Peeps is time-intensive, if not necessarily labor-intensive. “We buy them a week in advance and slit open the packaging,” she said. “Bringing them to Morocco was kind of a mess, because the loose sugar escaped into my bags. In some years, we’ve even bought them on sale after Easter and stored them away until next year.”
Advertisement
For Thom McCaffrey of Ipswich, Massachusetts, Peeps, stale and otherwise, inspire a certain nostalgia.
“I loved them. And I still do. Anyway, as a kid, I loved them stale, get home, slice some lines down a pack with a knife, and get a taste test of a fresh one, for reference, gotta make sure it’s a good batch,” McCaffrey said. “Then let the pack sit. I put one in the microwave, ’cause someone told me they expand and contract. They do, but I also noticed that, after cooling off, they were chewy. I started microwaving Peeps all the time and finishing whole packs at once. It wasn’t the same as waiting for them to get stale, but it was good enough for a kid, until one day, I put too many in my mom’s microwave for too long and forgot, and, well, the inside of that machine was never the same.”
Peeps The classic yellow, chick-shaped Peeps.
Most felt no ambivalence. “Love, love, love them,” said Bridget LeRoy of Center Moriches, New York. “Just rip the packet open and let them air out for a day or two. There can be no ‘almost’ when it comes to Peep mouthfeel. Can I also say that I only eat yellow chick Peeps? Does that make me a snob or a purist?”
For my part, I won’t eat pink Peeps. I don’t know if it’s right or wrong, but I have always associated pink candy with a bitter taste, and whether or not this taste really exists, I cannot, even at 39, force myself to eat it.
Advertisement
Some regaled me with lore. The father of a friend’s friend allegedly cures his Peeps in a garage for months before eating. I can’t speak personally to the efficacy of his method, but I’m not unwilling to try it. Microwaving has its followers, producing chewy, stretchy mallow, and, after all, texture is what those of us who love a good stale Peep are hunting for. So it’s no surprise that I found so many microwave enthusiasts in my hunt for fellow stale Peepists.


huffpost--2020-04-09--LGBTQ Rights Pioneer Phyllis Lyon Dies

LGBTQ Rights Pioneer Phyllis Lyon Dies

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) — Gay rights pioneer Phyllis Lyon , who with her longtime partner was among the first same-sex couples to marry in California when it became legal to do so in 2008 , has died at her San Francisco home .
She was 95 .
Lyon lived her life with “ joy and wonder , ” said Kate Kendall , a longtime friend and former executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights .
She said Lyon and her wife Del Martin were activists and mentors long before there was a movement or community .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their phone number listed in the phone book in case any young or terrified LGBTQ person needed help or support , ” she said .
“ And they fielded dozens of calls over the years.
” Lyon was a journalist who met her lifelong love , Martin , while working at a magazine in Seattle .
The couple moved to San Francisco in 1953 .
They co-founded with other lesbian couples the Daughters of Bilitis , a political and social organization for lesbians .
They published a national monthly for lesbians and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California Gov .
Gavin Newsom referenced her death at his daily briefing on the coronavirus pandemic Thursday , calling her one of his heroes .
Newsom was a newly elected mayor of San Francisco in 2004 when he decided to challenge California ’ s marriage laws by issuing licenses to same-sex couples .
His advisers and gay rights advocates had the perfect couple in mind to be the public face of the movement .
Lyon and Martin , who had by then been together more than 50 years , were secretly swept into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchanged vows before a tiny group of city staff members and friends , according to a 2008 Associated Press story .
Afterward they went to lunch , just the two of them .
“ Of course , nobody down there knew , so we were left to be by ourselves like we wanted to be , ” said Martin .
“ Then we came home.
” Later that year , the state Supreme Court voided the unions before overturning the state ’ s ban on gay marriage in 2008 .
They wed again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so in the state .
Del Martin died weeks after their second wedding at age 87 .
“ I am devastated to lose Del , but I take some solace in knowing we were able to enjoy the ultimate rite of love and commitment before she passed , ” Lyon said at the time .
Lyon was born Nov. 10 , 1924 in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
She grew up in Sacramento , California , and graduated from the University of California , Berkeley , where she was editor of the heralded Daily @ @ @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gay rights pioneer Phyllis Lyon, who with her longtime partner was among the first same-sex couples to marry in California when it became legal to do so in 2008, has died at her San Francisco home. She was 95.
Lyon lived her life with “joy and wonder,” said Kate Kendall, a longtime friend and former executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. She said Lyon and her wife Del Martin were activists and mentors long before there was a movement or community.
Advertisement
“Before cell phones they always had their phone number listed in the phone book in case any young or terrified LGBTQ person needed help or support,” she said. “And they fielded dozens of calls over the years.”
Kendall said Lyon died Thursday of natural causes.
Lyon was a journalist who met her lifelong love, Martin, while working at a magazine in Seattle. The couple moved to San Francisco in 1953.
They co-founded with other lesbian couples the Daughters of Bilitis, a political and social organization for lesbians. They published a national monthly for lesbians and in 1972, a book called Lesbian/Woman.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom referenced her death at his daily briefing on the coronavirus pandemic Thursday, calling her one of his heroes.
Advertisement
Newsom was a newly elected mayor of San Francisco in 2004 when he decided to challenge California’s marriage laws by issuing licenses to same-sex couples. His advisers and gay rights advocates had the perfect couple in mind to be the public face of the movement.
Del Martin, left, and Phyllis Lyon were married by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom at City Hall in San Francisco in 2008. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lyon and Martin, who had by then been together more than 50 years, were secretly swept into the clerk’s office. They exchanged vows before a tiny group of city staff members and friends, according to a 2008 Associated Press story. Afterward they went to lunch, just the two of them.
“Of course, nobody down there knew, so we were left to be by ourselves like we wanted to be,” said Martin. “Then we came home.”
“And watched TV,” added Lyon.
A wedding portrait of the couple cradling each other in pastel-colored pantsuits with their foreheads touching drew worldwide attention.
Advertisement
Later that year, the state Supreme Court voided the unions before overturning the state’s ban on gay marriage in 2008. They wed again, among the first couples to do so in the state. Del Martin died weeks after their second wedding at age 87.
“I am devastated to lose Del, but I take some solace in knowing we were able to enjoy the ultimate rite of love and commitment before she passed,” Lyon said at the time.
In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage.
Lyon was born Nov. 10, 1924 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She grew up in Sacramento, California, and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was editor of the heralded Daily Californian newspaper.
Lyon was a police reporter in Fresno and a reporter at the Chico Enterprise-Record during the 1940s, according to Kendall.


huffpost--2020-05-14--Prince William References Brother Harry In Sweet Letter To Princess Diana Charity

Prince William thanked those working closely with the Diana Award , a charity set up to carry on the legacy of the late Princess Diana , in a sweet message released on Thursday .
The Duke addressed the note to workers , volunteers and supporters on behalf of both himself and his brother , Prince Harry , amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
The charity , which is the only one set up on behalf of the late Princess of Wales , works to support and empower young people who are going above and beyond in their communities .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program and a mentoring program .
The Princess of Wales with her sons Prince William and Prince Harry attend the Heads of State VE Remembrance Service in Hyde Park on in May 1995 .
“ I wanted to write to send my support and thanks to all the staff , volunteers and supporters of The Diana Award , ” the Duke of Cambridge said in the note , which was shared on the Diana Award ’ s Instagram page on Thursday .
The note contained photos of the princes together with young people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Award over the years .
The Instagram account thanked the Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex for “ all your support over the years ” and tagged both the @ KensingtonRoyal and @ SussexRoyal Instagram accounts .
The Sussex Royal account is no longer active , as it was essentially archived after Harry and Meghan ’ s duties as working royals drew to a close on March 31 .
The account has also shut off comments on its posts .
William ’ s mention of his brother , Harry , comes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that the brothers are in touch , following the Sussexes ’ step back from royal duties and subsequent move to Los Angeles .
“ William and Harry are in touch , ” Nicholl said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight earlier this week , referencing their father ’ s diagnosis and recovery from the coronavirus .
“ They are on the phone , they have done video calls together , they have done a lot of family birthdays .
And I think with Prince Charles not being well , that really forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to each other and get back in touch.
” She also said that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have absolutely remained in contact with their patronages and charities back in the U.K. “ Harry picks up the phone very regularly .
He and Meghan have handpicked the charities and organizations to work with very carefully and quite deliberately because they ’ re charities that they care about , ” she said .
“ The idea that they would just go over to America and forget about these charities and organizations , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been a part of his life for so long that ’ s absolutely not the case , ” Nicholl added .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Prince William thanked those working closely with the Diana Award, a charity set up to carry on the legacy of the late Princess Diana, in a sweet message released on Thursday.
The Duke addressed the note to workers, volunteers and supporters on behalf of both himself and his brother, Prince Harry, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Advertisement
The charity, which is the only one set up on behalf of the late Princess of Wales, works to support and empower young people who are going above and beyond in their communities. It also has two offshoots: an anti-bullying program and a mentoring program.
The Princess of Wales with her sons Prince William and Prince Harry attend the Heads of State VE Remembrance Service in Hyde Park on in May 1995. Anwar Hussein via Getty Images
“I wanted to write to send my support and thanks to all the staff, volunteers and supporters of The Diana Award,” the Duke of Cambridge said in the note, which was shared on the Diana Award’s Instagram page on Thursday.
“My brother and I remain appreciative of the work you do to foster, develop and support young people, particularly at this time of uncertainty,” he said. “Whilst you are finding yourselves adapting to new ways of working, there is no doubt that your support for young people, through what will be anxious and unsettling times for many, is as important as ever,” the royal continued, signing off with “best wishes for good health” for everyone and their families.
The note contained photos of the princes together with young people who have been involved in the Diana Award over the years.
The Instagram account thanked the Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex for “all your support over the years” and tagged both the @KensingtonRoyal and @SussexRoyal Instagram accounts.
The Sussex Royal account is no longer active, as it was essentially archived after Harry and Meghan’s duties as working royals drew to a close on March 31. The account has also shut off comments on its posts.
Elan Mon Gilford receives an award at the Diana Award's at St James' Palace in May 2017. WPA Pool via Getty Images
Advertisement
William’s mention of his brother, Harry, comes on the heels of royal reporter Katie Nicholl saying that the brothers are in touch, following the Sussexes’ step back from royal duties and subsequent move to Los Angeles.
“William and Harry are in touch,” Nicholl said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight earlier this week, referencing their father’s diagnosis and recovery from the coronavirus. “They are on the phone, they have done video calls together, they have done a lot of family birthdays. And I think with Prince Charles not being well, that really forced the brothers to pick up the phone to each other and get back in touch.”
She also said that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have absolutely remained in contact with their patronages and charities back in the U.K.
“Harry picks up the phone very regularly. He and Meghan have handpicked the charities and organizations to work with very carefully and quite deliberately because they’re charities that they care about,” she said.
“The idea that they would just go over to America and forget about these charities and organizations, particularly in Harry’s case, they’ve been a part of his life for so long that’s absolutely not the case,” Nicholl added.
Advertisement


huffpost--2020-05-15--The Coronavirus Could Force Countries To Prioritize Wellness Over Wealth

“ When everything is turned upside down , people do have more time to think about what ’ s important , ” said Fran Boait , executive director of Positive Money and co-author of a new report calling for policymakers to abandon GDP growth .
“ You realize that in the U.K. and the U.S. we ’ re very much locked into this economy of growth , where it ’ s all about how much you can earn and how much you can consume.
” “ What ’ s problematic is the fixation on this abstract indicator [ of GDP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the activities and behaviors that are vital to our communities , ” said Amanda Janoo , head of knowledge and policy at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance in Scotland .
“ Like any indicator , it ’ s just meant to be a proxy of something , and we ’ ve given it way too much importance.
” Gross domestic product , or GDP , was devised by the economist Simon Kuznets in the 1930s to help measure countries ’ progress in recovering from the Great Depression .
Put simply , it counts the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a country .
When businesses are growing and sales booming , it rises ; when companies struggle or people stop spending , it shrinks .
Falling GDP usually means layoffs and pay freezes , while rising GDP creates scope for pay raises and brings more taxes in to fund public services .
“ People now know what [ growth ] means for them ― it doesn ’ t necessarily mean a higher wage , because we have seen a dysfunctional economy where a lot of excess growth goes to the shareholders , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t want to go back to normal , if that was on a course towards catastrophic climate change and high levels of wealth inequality.
” GDP also doesn ’ t count the economic value of unpaid work like raising children , or measure social goods like rising life expectancy .
That ’ s driven some economists to dig deeper into what actually makes for a good life .
Research has long shown that getting richer isn ’ t as fulfilling as some think .
According to one landmark Princeton University study , happiness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 75,000 , but after that more money doesn ’ t seem to make a difference .
Countries around the world have long been searching for ways to measure and improve their citizens ’ well-being .
The tiny kingdom of Bhutan has pursued “ gross national happiness ” over GDP since the early 1970s , measuring progress in nine different areas , from living standards to ecological diversity .
Its latest report , however , showed only a 1.8 % increase in national happiness between 2010 and 2015 .
In France , 69 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their hopes for a post-virus world wanted to slow down the pursuit of profit .
And in Britain , fewer than 1 in 10 want life to return to exactly how it was before , according to a survey by the pollsters YouGov .
Four in 10 said they have enjoyed a stronger sense of community during the country ’ s lockdown that has kept many at home for more than six weeks , while over half said the air felt cleaner with fewer cars on the roads .
Yet social goods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GDP .
GDP captures airlines collapsing , not carbon footprints shrinking ; it records the impact of offices closing worldwide , but not the way working from home during the pandemic lets parents see more of their children .
And while families are undoubtedly under stress , balancing work , child care and education , Juliet Schor , a professor of sociology at Boston College , predicts Americans may now seek shorter workweeks as a result of more flexible work schedules : “ People are getting an experience of a different kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time with the family.
” One city experimenting with balancing the two is Amsterdam .
It ’ s vowing to base its coronavirus recovery on the economist Kate Raworth ’ s “ doughnut ” theory that policies should aim to meet people ’ s basic needs , but only within the limits of what ’ s good for the planet .
For example , Amsterdam needs more affordable housing , and one solution would be to build more homes .
But to do so in line with the city ’ s need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recyclable materials .
Such shifts may be difficult for leaders , like U.S. President Donald Trump , who built their political platforms on the promise of boom times .
Ditching GDP as a yardstick also raises painful questions about whether it effectively means giving up on growth itself .
After all , even the Positive Money report concedes no advanced economy has boosted well-being without it .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
What really makes people happy? It may seem a strange question to ask in the middle of a pandemic. But plotting a path to recovery from the virus has given governments an opportunity to rethink how they measure success.
Traditionally, the equation was fairly basic: Wealth is good, more wealth is better. But as the human impact of the pandemic hits home, politicians around the world face growing calls to prioritize people over productivity.
Advertisement
Health and well-being should now come before economic growth, according to 8 in 10 people surveyed in the U.K. by the nonprofit advocacy group Positive Money. The majority (61%) also want to prioritize social and environmental benefits, like higher life expectancy or lower carbon emissions, over GDP once the pandemic is over.
“When everything is turned upside down, people do have more time to think about what’s important,” said Fran Boait, executive director of Positive Money and co-author of a new report calling for policymakers to abandon GDP growth. “You realize that in the U.K. and the U.S. we’re very much locked into this economy of growth, where it’s all about how much you can earn and how much you can consume.”
Yet, she said, “when people are thinking about their own mortality, they don’t think, ‘I wish I’d spent more hours in the office.’”
The New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street is deserted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alex Potemkin via Getty Images
Advertisement
As the pandemic exposes fault lines and inequalities in societies worldwide, it’s bringing fresh calls to move away from GDP as the sole measure of whether a country is succeeding, and create economies that work for everyone.
“What’s problematic is the fixation on this abstract indicator [of GDP] as opposed to really thinking about the activities and behaviors that are vital to our communities,” said Amanda Janoo, head of knowledge and policy at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance in Scotland. “Like any indicator, it’s just meant to be a proxy of something, and we’ve given it way too much importance.”
With GDP shrinking worldwide thanks to the virus, she argues, it’s actively in leaders’ interests to focus on other indicators. “Right now,” she said, “policymakers wouldn’t be smart to prioritize GDP, because they’re not going to look good if they do.”
Gross domestic product, or GDP, was devised by the economist Simon Kuznets in the 1930s to help measure countries’ progress in recovering from the Great Depression. Put simply, it counts the value of goods and services exchanged within a country. When businesses are growing and sales booming, it rises; when companies struggle or people stop spending, it shrinks. Falling GDP usually means layoffs and pay freezes, while rising GDP creates scope for pay raises and brings more taxes in to fund public services.
But GDP alone can’t tell us how fairly the proceeds of growth are actually shared within society. And the idea that rising growth automatically benefits everyone no longer rings true for many ― especially after a slow recovery from the 2008 crash that left many average earners still feeling squeezed.
Advertisement
“People now know what [growth] means for them ― it doesn’t necessarily mean a higher wage, because we have seen a dysfunctional economy where a lot of excess growth goes to the shareholders,” said Boait. “We don’t want to go back to normal, if that was on a course towards catastrophic climate change and high levels of wealth inequality.”
GDP doesn't capture the value of unpaid work like raising children, or measure social goods like rising life expectancy. Stephanie Keith via Getty Images
GDP also doesn’t count the economic value of unpaid work like raising children, or measure social goods like rising life expectancy. That’s driven some economists to dig deeper into what actually makes for a good life. Research has long shown that getting richer isn’t as fulfilling as some think. According to one landmark Princeton University study, happiness increases with wealth up to around $75,000, but after that more money doesn’t seem to make a difference.
Countries around the world have long been searching for ways to measure and improve their citizens’ well-being. The tiny kingdom of Bhutan has pursued “gross national happiness” over GDP since the early 1970s, measuring progress in nine different areas, from living standards to ecological diversity. Its latest report, however, showed only a 1.8% increase in national happiness between 2010 and 2015.
More recently, Andrew Yang’s unsuccessful bid for the Democrat presidential nomination featured calls for an “American Scorecard” targeting goals like reducing substance abuse instead of GDP.
Advertisement
In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last year published the country’s first “wellbeing budget,” putting an emphasis on lowering carbon emissions and boosting mental health, rather than GDP. Meanwhile, in January, the Canadian finance minister, Mona Fortier, was tasked with bringing quality-of-life measures into budget planning.
Now, as we wait for “normal” life to resume, the search for an alternative to GDP has taken on fresh urgency. There’s evidence people may not want to return to a normal that wasn’t working for them in the first place.
In France, 69% of those polled by the newspaper Libération on their hopes for a post-virus world wanted to slow down the pursuit of profit. And in Britain, fewer than 1 in 10 want life to return to exactly how it was before, according to a survey by the pollsters YouGov. Four in 10 said they have enjoyed a stronger sense of community during the country’s lockdown that has kept many at home for more than six weeks, while over half said the air felt cleaner with fewer cars on the roads. Yet social goods like this aren’t reflected in GDP.
GDP captures airlines collapsing, not carbon footprints shrinking; it records the impact of offices closing worldwide, but not the way working from home during the pandemic lets parents see more of their children. And while families are undoubtedly under stress, balancing work, child care and education, Juliet Schor, a professor of sociology at Boston College, predicts Americans may now seek shorter workweeks as a result of more flexible work schedules: “People are getting an experience of a different kind of work life, less pressured, more time with the family.”
Health and well-being should now come before economic growth, say the majority of people in a recent survey. picture alliance via Getty Images
Advertisement
The challenge however is whether this slower, more environmentally sustainable pace of life could still support the same number of jobs.
One city experimenting with balancing the two is Amsterdam. It’s vowing to base its coronavirus recovery on the economist Kate Raworth’s “doughnut” theory that policies should aim to meet people’s basic needs, but only within the limits of what’s good for the planet. For example, Amsterdam needs more affordable housing, and one solution would be to build more homes. But to do so in line with the city’s need to reduce emissions means using more sustainable or recyclable materials.
In Britain too, this week Labour and Green Party politicians called for the U.K. “to embrace a post-growth economy and build a fairer, healthier, happier and greener society.”
Such shifts may be difficult for leaders, like U.S. President Donald Trump, who built their political platforms on the promise of boom times. Ditching GDP as a yardstick also raises painful questions about whether it effectively means giving up on growth itself. After all, even the Positive Money report concedes no advanced economy has boosted well-being without it.
“We’ve built our whole system around the expectation of growth, so the end of growth means dashing expectations all around,” said Richard Heinberg, author of “The End of Growth” and senior fellow-in-residence at the Oregon-based Post Carbon Institute. Falling growth has historically brought painful consequences, from job losses to cuts in public services.
Advertisement
Yet the pandemic is currently showing that once-unthinkable ideas can go mainstream. Heinberg points out that several European governments have temporarily stepped in to pay the wages of people whose workplaces are closed by the virus, so why not do something similar to support workers through a transition away from fossil fuels?
For him, the pandemic simply brings forward decisions governments would eventually have faced for environmental reasons anyway. “We’ve created a perpetual growth machine on a finite planet, and something had to give,” he said. The question is whether that something is growth itself, or just the way we choose to define it.
For more content and to be part of the “This New World” community, follow our Facebook page.


huffpost--2020-05-15--Officials Release Long-Delayed And Edited Down Coronavirus Reopening Guidance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted six one-page “ decision tool ” documents that use traffic signs and other graphics to tell organizations what they should consider before reopening .
The tools are for schools , workplaces , camps , childcare centers , mass transit systems , and bars and restaurants .
The CDC originally also authored a document for churches and other religious facilities , but that wasn ’ t posted Thursday .
The agency declined to say why .
Early versions of the documents included detailed information for churches wanting to restart in-person services , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limiting the size of gatherings .
The faith-related guidance was taken out after the White House raised concerns about the recommended restrictions , according to government emails obtained by The Associated Press and a person inside the agency who didn ’ t have permission to talk with reporters and spoke on condition of anonymity .
And Roger Severino , director of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services , said “ protections against religious discrimination aren ’ t suspended during an emergency .
This means the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as somehow being more dangerous or worthy of scrutiny than comparable secular behavior.
” President Donald Trump has championed religious freedom as a way to connect with conservative evangelical voters and has shown eagerness for in-person religious services to restart .
He consulted interfaith leaders last month for suggestions on how to reopen and said on a recent Fox News town hall that “ we have to get our people back to churches , and we ’ re going to start doing it soon.
” That longer document , which the AP obtained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to reopen while still limiting spread of the virus , including by spacing workers or students 6 feet apart and closing break rooms and cafeterias to limit gatherings .
Many of the suggestions already appear on federal websites but they haven ’ t been presented as reopening advice .
Some health experts and politicians have been pushing for the CDC to release as much guidance as possible to help businesses and organizations decide how to proceed .
“ They want to be able to tell their own employees the guidance of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , director of the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University , said at a congressional hearing Wednesday .
“ They want to be able to tell their customers , ‘ We ’ ve done everything that ’ s been asked of us.
’ ” The guidance relates to another document released by the Trump administration on April 17 .
That phased-in reopening plan broadly outlines how to move away from stay-at-home orders , school closures and other measures designed to stop the spread of the new coronavirus that has caused more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 80,000 deaths .
“ America needs and must have the candid guidance of our best scientists unfiltered , unedited , uncensored by president Trump or his political minions .
The CDC report on reopening the country is an important piece of that guidance , ” Schumer said .
For example , an earlier draft of the one-page document on camps obtained by the AP asked organizers if their program would limit attendance to people who live nearby .
If the answer was no , the camp was advised not to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was not in the version posted Thursday .
And in that document and others , language has been dropped that asked if the organization is in a community that is still requiring significant disease mitigation .
If the answer was yes , the organization was advised not to reopen .
For example , in the document for people who run child care centers , the older version obtained by the AP stated that CDC recommended “ checking for signs and symptoms of children and staff.
” The new guidelines add “ as @ @ @ @ @ @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials on Thursday released some of their long-delayed guidance that schools, businesses and other organizations can use as states reopen from coronavirus shutdowns.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted six one-page “decision tool” documents that use traffic signs and other graphics to tell organizations what they should consider before reopening.
Advertisement
The tools are for schools, workplaces, camps, childcare centers, mass transit systems, and bars and restaurants. The CDC originally also authored a document for churches and other religious facilities, but that wasn’t posted Thursday. The agency declined to say why.
Early versions of the documents included detailed information for churches wanting to restart in-person services, with suggestions including maintaining distance between parishioners and limiting the size of gatherings. The faith-related guidance was taken out after the White House raised concerns about the recommended restrictions, according to government emails obtained by The Associated Press and a person inside the agency who didn’t have permission to talk with reporters and spoke on condition of anonymity.
On Thursday, a Trump administration official also speaking on condition of anonymity said there were concerns about the propriety of the government making specific dictates to places of worship.
And Roger Severino, director of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services, said “protections against religious discrimination aren’t suspended during an emergency. This means the federal government cannot single out religious conduct as somehow being more dangerous or worthy of scrutiny than comparable secular behavior.”
Advertisement
President Donald Trump has championed religious freedom as a way to connect with conservative evangelical voters and has shown eagerness for in-person religious services to restart. He consulted interfaith leaders last month for suggestions on how to reopen and said on a recent Fox News town hall that “we have to get our people back to churches, and we’re going to start doing it soon.”
The CDC drafted the reopening guidance more than a month ago and it was initially shelved by the administration, the AP reported last week.
The agency also had prepared even more extensive guidance — about 57 pages of it — that has not been posted.
That longer document, which the AP obtained, would give different organizations specifics about how to reopen while still limiting spread of the virus, including by spacing workers or students 6 feet apart and closing break rooms and cafeterias to limit gatherings. Many of the suggestions already appear on federal websites but they haven’t been presented as reopening advice.
Some health experts and politicians have been pushing for the CDC to release as much guidance as possible to help businesses and organizations decide how to proceed.
Advertisement
“They want to be able to tell their own employees the guidance of the federal government,” Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University, said at a congressional hearing Wednesday. “They want to be able to tell their customers, ‘We’ve done everything that’s been asked of us.’”
The guidance relates to another document released by the Trump administration on April 17. That phased-in reopening plan broadly outlines how to move away from stay-at-home orders, school closures and other measures designed to stop the spread of the new coronavirus that has caused more than 1.3 million reported U.S. illnesses and more than 80,000 deaths.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, on Wednesday offered a resolution — blocked by Republicans — to encourage release of all the documents.
“America needs and must have the candid guidance of our best scientists unfiltered, unedited, uncensored by president Trump or his political minions. The CDC report on reopening the country is an important piece of that guidance,” Schumer said.
The decision tools have been undergoing review by different federal officials, and they’ve been edited from earlier versions.
Advertisement
For example, an earlier draft of the one-page document on camps obtained by the AP asked organizers if their program would limit attendance to people who live nearby. If the answer was no, the camp was advised not to reopen. That local attendance limitation was dropped and was not in the version posted Thursday.
And in that document and others, language has been dropped that asked if the organization is in a community that is still requiring significant disease mitigation. If the answer was yes, the organization was advised not to reopen.
Many of the changes provide more wiggle room than what was in the initial versions.
For example, in the document for people who run child care centers, the older version obtained by the AP stated that CDC recommended “checking for signs and symptoms of children and staff.” The new guidelines add “as feasible” to the end.
Similar new language about feasibility appears in sections about promoting healthy hygiene such as hand washing and employees wearing cloth masks.
___
Dearen reported from Gainesville, Florida. AP reporters Mary Clare Jalonick, Zeke Miller and Elana Schor contributed to this report.


huffpost--2020-05-15--Whoopi Goldberg Asks Chris Christie Who He's Willing To Sacrifice To Reopen Economy

“ We sent our young men during World War II over to Europe , out to the Pacific , knowing , knowing that many of them would not come home alive , ” he said earlier this month .
“ And we decided to make that sacrifice because what we were standing up for was the American way of life .
In the very same way now , we have to stand up for the American way of life.
” But Christie didn ’ t have an easy answer when he appeared on “ The View ” Friday and Whoopi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own family members should die .
“ You upset a lot of people last week for saying that the country needs to reopen because people are going to die no matter what , ” Goldberg said .
“ You compared it to lives lost during World War II , calling it a sacrifice for the American way of life .
So I ’ m asking , since you ’ re suggesting that I sacrifice , who are you sacrificing ?
Who are you going to give up in your family ?
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whoopi , and that ’ s what people who don ’ t understand what ’ s going on keep saying , ” Christie said .
“ We have 36.5 million people unemployed .
We have in seven different states now the suicide rate going up.
” “ Who are you willing to sacrifice to die , Chris ?
” she said .
“ You ’ re saying people should be willing to sacrifice family to die .
Who are you willing to give up ?
” “ Whoopi , that ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding , “ lives are going to be lost inevitably in this , no matter what we do.
” Goldberg then asked Christie , “ So you didn ’ t say some Americans have to make the ultimate sacrifice ?
You did not say that ?
” Christie then claimed he said some Americans “ will make that sacrifice no matter what we do , ” before arguing that economic problems could lead to more deaths if the economy doesn ’ t open up .
“ The balance is that there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines , people who are losing their homes , people who are losing their livelihood which is leading to depression , which is leading to suicide , which is leading to addiction , which is leading to domestic violence , ” he said .
“ I saw all these things happen after Hurricane Sandy , when people wound up losing their homes , losing their livelihoods .
These things happen .
What I ’ m saying is , we have to balance .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
“We sent our young men during World War II over to Europe, out to the Pacific, knowing, knowing that many of them would not come home alive,” he said earlier this month. “And we decided to make that sacrifice because what we were standing up for was the American way of life. In the very same way now, we have to stand up for the American way of life.”
Advertisement
But Christie didn’t have an easy answer when he appeared on “The View” Friday and Whoopi Goldberg asked him point-blank which of his own family members should die.
“You upset a lot of people last week for saying that the country needs to reopen because people are going to die no matter what,” Goldberg said. “You compared it to lives lost during World War II, calling it a sacrifice for the American way of life. So I’m asking, since you’re suggesting that I sacrifice, who are you sacrificing? Who are you going to give up in your family?”
Christie wouldn’t answer the question directly. Instead, he claimed people didn’t understand what he was saying.
“It’s a false choice, Whoopi, and that’s what people who don’t understand what’s going on keep saying,” Christie said. “We have 36.5 million people unemployed. We have in seven different states now the suicide rate going up.”
Advertisement
Realizing the governor didn’t mention which family member should, to use “Hunger Games” parlance, volunteer as tribute, Goldberg asked again.
“Who are you willing to sacrifice to die, Chris?” she said. “You’re saying people should be willing to sacrifice family to die. Who are you willing to give up?”
“Whoopi, that’s not what I said,” Christie retorted, adding, “lives are going to be lost inevitably in this, no matter what we do.”
Goldberg then asked Christie, “So you didn’t say some Americans have to make the ultimate sacrifice? You did not say that?”
Christie then claimed he said some Americans “will make that sacrifice no matter what we do,” before arguing that economic problems could lead to more deaths if the economy doesn’t open up.
Advertisement
“The balance is that there are people who are standing on food bank lines, people who are losing their homes, people who are losing their livelihood which is leading to depression, which is leading to suicide, which is leading to addiction, which is leading to domestic violence,” he said. “I saw all these things happen after Hurricane Sandy, when people wound up losing their homes, losing their livelihoods. These things happen. What I’m saying is, we have to balance.”


huffpost--2020-05-15--US retail sales plunged 16% in April as virus froze economy

BALTIMORE ( AP ) — U.S. retail sales tumbled by a record 16.4 % from March to April as business shutdowns caused by the coronavirus kept shoppers away , threatened the viability of stores across the country and further weighed down a sinking economy .
The Commerce Department ’ s report Friday on retail purchases showed a sector that has collapsed so quickly that sales over the past 12 months are down a crippling 21.6 % .
The severity of the decline is unrivaled for retail figures that date back to 1992 .
The monthly decline in April nearly doubled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — set just one month earlier .
The sharpest declines from March to April were at clothing , electronics and furniture stores .
A long-standing migration of consumers toward online purchases is accelerating , with that segment posting a 8.4 % monthly gain .
Measured year over year , online sales surged 21.6 % .
Other than online , not a single retail category was spared in April .
Auto dealers suffered a monthly drop of 13 % .
Furniture stores absorbed a 59 % plunge .
Electronics and appliance stores were down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building materials posted a drop of roughly 3 % .
After panic buying in March , grocery sales fell 13 % .
Clothing-store sales tumbled 79 % , department stores 29 % .
Restaurants , some of which are already starting to close permanently , endured a nearly 30 % decline despite shifting aggressively to takeout and delivery orders .
For a retail sector that had already been reeling , a back-to-back free-fall in spending poses a grave risk .
Department stores like Neiman Marcus and J.Crew have filed for bankruptcy protection .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in danger .
Nearly $ 1 of every $ 5 spent at retailers last month went to non-store retailers .
An April analysis by a group of academic economists found that a one-month closure could wipe out 31 % of non-grocer retailers .
A four-month closure could force 65 % to close .
The plunge in retail spending is a key reason why the U.S. economy is contracting .
Purchases at retailers are a major component of overall consumer spending , which fuels about 70 % of economic activity .
With few Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise spending normally , economists are projecting that the gross domestic product — the broadest gauge of economic activity — is shrinking in the April-June quarter at a roughly 40 % annual rate .
That would be the deepest quarterly drop on record .
Spending tracked by Opportunity Insights suggests that consumer spending might have bottomed out around mid-April before beginning to tick up slightly , at least in the clothing and general merchandise categories .
But spending on transportation , restaurants , hotels and arts and entertainment remains severely depressed .
Credit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that spending on such necessities as groceries , fuel , phone service and auto repair declined 20 % on a year-over-year basis .
By contrast , spending on “ non-essentials , ” such as meals out , airfare and personal services like salons or yoga classes , plummeted by a much worse 50 % .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
BALTIMORE (AP) — U.S. retail sales tumbled by a record 16.4% from March to April as business shutdowns caused by the coronavirus kept shoppers away, threatened the viability of stores across the country and further weighed down a sinking economy.
The Commerce Department’s report Friday on retail purchases showed a sector that has collapsed so quickly that sales over the past 12 months are down a crippling 21.6%. The severity of the decline is unrivaled for retail figures that date back to 1992. The monthly decline in April nearly doubled the previous record drop of 8.3% — set just one month earlier.
Advertisement
The sharpest declines from March to April were at clothing, electronics and furniture stores. A long-standing migration of consumers toward online purchases is accelerating, with that segment posting a 8.4% monthly gain. Measured year over year, online sales surged 21.6%.
Other than online, not a single retail category was spared in April. Auto dealers suffered a monthly drop of 13%. Furniture stores absorbed a 59% plunge. Electronics and appliance stores were down over 60%. Retailers that sell building materials posted a drop of roughly 3%. After panic buying in March, grocery sales fell 13%.
Clothing-store sales tumbled 79%, department stores 29%. Restaurants, some of which are already starting to close permanently, endured a nearly 30% decline despite shifting aggressively to takeout and delivery orders.
For a retail sector that had already been reeling, a back-to-back free-fall in spending poses a grave risk. Department stores like Neiman Marcus and J.Crew have filed for bankruptcy protection. Hotels, restaurants and auto dealerships are in danger. Nearly $1 of every $5 spent at retailers last month went to non-store retailers.
Advertisement
An April analysis by a group of academic economists found that a one-month closure could wipe out 31% of non-grocer retailers. A four-month closure could force 65% to close.
The plunge in retail spending is a key reason why the U.S. economy is contracting. Purchases at retailers are a major component of overall consumer spending, which fuels about 70% of economic activity.
With few Americans shopping, traveling, eating out or otherwise spending normally, economists are projecting that the gross domestic product — the broadest gauge of economic activity — is shrinking in the April-June quarter at a roughly 40% annual rate. That would be the deepest quarterly drop on record.
Spending tracked by Opportunity Insights suggests that consumer spending might have bottomed out around mid-April before beginning to tick up slightly, at least in the clothing and general merchandise categories. But spending on transportation, restaurants, hotels and arts and entertainment remains severely depressed.


huffpost--2020-04-30--Some Churches Are Passing On Passing The Plate For Now

“ It took a pandemic for a Baptist church to quit passing a plate .
That ’ s almost unthinkable .
It ’ s close to heresy .
Real close , ” said David Uth , pastor of the First Baptist Church of Orlando and president of the Southern Baptist Pastors Conference on a video conference on how to reopen churches .
“ It ’ s just not going to be the same.
” The meeting was set up by the Florida Family Policy Council and had about 800 church leaders from across the country listening to the conversation about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions and what to do going forward .
A prominent message was that a church isn ’ t just a building , but rather a community , so there has to be a new way of thinking about spreading God ’ s message and not spreading a disease .
“ Everything that we ’ ll do , we ’ ll do outside , ” said Eli Hendricks , the pastor at a small Tallahassee church .
“ I will perform baptisms .
I feel like that is an instrumental time in the life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he will ask people to wear something to cover their faces .
And when it comes time for an offering , he , too , won ’ t pass a plate .
“ We ’ re not going to pass the tray , because if you have dozens of people touching them , you raise the risk of that virus being passed , ” he said .
Instead , pastors said they ’ ll set up donation stations at the front of churches , or go back to the long-handled baskets that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also talked about different ways to reach people , such as social media , the internet or even “ snail mail ” to deliver a message instead of encouraging large crowds to gather in the same place .
“ You know what ?
It was a beautiful thing .
It actually was incredible .
I was so worried going into it that it just wasn ’ t going to be what it can be and should be , but it absolutely was amazing , ” Uth said .
“ So you know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things , we just have to do them a little differently .
“ What are the essentials that God would say for the church ?
We developed a series called essentials , and guess what ?
Our building wasn ’ t one of them , ” Uth said .
“ Do we have to meet to be a church ?
No .
Do we have to have a building to be a church ?
No .
That ’ s not essential.
” As far as getting back to normal , Uth said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ larger than his church .
“ When Disney opens , we ’ re going to open , ” said Uth , who has a church with more than 5,000 members .
“ That sends a message to the people here , our people , that it must be OK .
I think we would do well to gain wisdom from them .
We don ’ t have to do it at the same time , but at least learn from them .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — It’s almost unheard of to go into a Southern Baptist church and not have a plate passed for donations.
Until now.
“It took a pandemic for a Baptist church to quit passing a plate. That’s almost unthinkable. It’s close to heresy. Real close,” said David Uth, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Orlando and president of the Southern Baptist Pastors Conference on a video conference on how to reopen churches. “It’s just not going to be the same.”
Advertisement
The meeting was set up by the Florida Family Policy Council and had about 800 church leaders from across the country listening to the conversation about the impact of the coronavirus on religious institutions and what to do going forward. A prominent message was that a church isn’t just a building, but rather a community, so there has to be a new way of thinking about spreading God’s message and not spreading a disease.
“Everything that we’ll do, we’ll do outside,” said Eli Hendricks, the pastor at a small Tallahassee church. “I will perform baptisms. I feel like that is an instrumental time in the life of a believer.”
But he said he will ask people to wear something to cover their faces. And when it comes time for an offering, he, too, won’t pass a plate.
“We’re not going to pass the tray, because if you have dozens of people touching them, you raise the risk of that virus being passed,” he said.
Advertisement
Instead, pastors said they’ll set up donation stations at the front of churches, or go back to the long-handled baskets that can be extended down church aisles.
They also talked about different ways to reach people, such as social media, the internet or even “snail mail” to deliver a message instead of encouraging large crowds to gather in the same place.
Uth said that included livestreaming a funeral that he only allowed 10 people to attend in person.
“You know what? It was a beautiful thing. It actually was incredible. I was so worried going into it that it just wasn’t going to be what it can be and should be, but it absolutely was amazing,” Uth said. “So you know what? I think we can do these things, we just have to do them a little differently.
He said that may mean not opening up churches to large groups.
“What are the essentials that God would say for the church? We developed a series called essentials, and guess what? Our building wasn’t one of them,” Uth said. “Do we have to meet to be a church? No. Do we have to have a building to be a church? No. That’s not essential.”
“The greatest church is a healthy church,” he added.
As far as getting back to normal, Uth said he would take a cue from a being larger than his church.
“When Disney opens, we’re going to open,” said Uth, who has a church with more than 5,000 members. “That sends a message to the people here, our people, that it must be OK. I think we would do well to gain wisdom from them. We don’t have to do it at the same time, but at least learn from them.”
Advertisement
Churches’ plans to move forward during this crisis could create new opportunities, said John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council.
“This could be the churches’ finest hour. It really could be, if we respond with grace and respond with wisdom,” Stemberger said.
___


huffpost--2020-05-01--Canada Bans Assault-Style Weapons After Mass Shooting In Nova Scotia

Trudeau cited numerous mass shootings in the country , including the killing of 22 people in Nova Scotia April 18 and 19 .
He announced the ban of over 1,500 models and variants of assault-style firearms , including the AR-15 and other weapons that have been used in a number of mass shootings in the United States The Cabinet order doesn ’ t forbid owning any of the military-style weapons and their variants but it does ban the use and trade in them .
He said the order has a two-year amnesty period for current owners , and there will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bill passed in Parliament .
In the meantime , they can be exported , returned to manufacturers , and transported only to deactivate them or get rid of them .
In certain limited circumstances , they can be used for hunting .
“ You do not need an AR-15 to take down a deer , '' Trudeau said .
“ So , effective immediately , it is no longer permitted to buy , sell , transport , import or use military-grade , assault weapons in this country.
” Trudeau said the weapons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose only : to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time .
`` There is no use - and no place - for such weapons in Canada , ” he said .
Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada , but Trudeau said they are happening more often .
Trudeau noted he was nearby when in Montreal when gunman Marc Lepine killed 14 women and himself at Montreal ’ s Ecole Polytechnique college in 1989 .
The Ruger Mini-14 Lepine used is among weapons included in the ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduce further gun control legislation prohibiting military-style assault weapons , a measure that had already been planned before the coronavirus pandemic interrupted the current parliamentary session .
The gunman in Nova Scotia , 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman , shot 13 people to death and set fires that killed nine others in one of the worst mass shootings in the country 's history .
Police have said he used a handgun that was obtained in Canada and long guns that he obtained in the U.S. , but they have not specifically said what guns he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault on his girlfriend and it ended with 22 people dead in communities across central and northern Nova Scotia .
A number of people had disputes with the gunman .
“ Taking firearms away from law-abiding citizens does nothing to stop dangerous criminals who obtain their guns illegally , ” Scheer said in a statement .
“ The vast majority of gun crimes are committed with illegally obtained firearms .
Nothing the Trudeau Liberals announced today addresses this problem . ''

LOADING ERROR LOADING
TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that Canada is banning the use and trade of assault-style weapons immediately.
Trudeau cited numerous mass shootings in the country, including the killing of 22 people in Nova Scotia April 18 and 19. He announced the ban of over 1,500 models and variants of assault-style firearms, including the AR-15 and other weapons that have been used in a number of mass shootings in the United States
Advertisement
"Canadians need more than thoughts and prayers," Trudeau said.
The Cabinet order doesn’t forbid owning any of the military-style weapons and their variants but it does ban the use and trade in them. He said the order has a two-year amnesty period for current owners, and there will be a compensation program that will require a bill passed in Parliament.
In the meantime, they can be exported, returned to manufacturers, and transported only to deactivate them or get rid of them. In certain limited circumstances, they can be used for hunting.
“You do not need an AR-15 to take down a deer," Trudeau said. “So, effective immediately, it is no longer permitted to buy, sell, transport, import or use military-grade, assault weapons in this country.”
Trudeau said the weapons were designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time.
Advertisement
"There is no use - and no place - for such weapons in Canada,” he said.
Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada, but Trudeau said they are happening more often. Trudeau noted he was nearby when in Montreal when gunman Marc Lepine killed 14 women and himself at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique college in 1989. The Ruger Mini-14 Lepine used is among weapons included in the ban.
“As of today the market for assault weapons is closed. Enough is enough,” Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said.
Trudeau has said his government would introduce further gun control legislation prohibiting military-style assault weapons, a measure that had already been planned before the coronavirus pandemic interrupted the current parliamentary session.
The gunman in Nova Scotia, 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, shot 13 people to death and set fires that killed nine others in one of the worst mass shootings in the country's history. Police have said he used a handgun that was obtained in Canada and long guns that he obtained in the U.S., but they have not specifically said what guns he used. The rampage started with an assault on his girlfriend and it ended with 22 people dead in communities across central and northern Nova Scotia. A number of people had disputes with the gunman.
Opposition Conservative leader Andrew Scheer accused Trudeau of using the “immediate emotion of the horrific attack in Nova Scotia to push the Liberals’ ideological agenda and make major firearms policy changes.”
Advertisement
Scheer said the Nova Scotia shooter did not have a firearms licence, so all of his guns were illegal.