huffpost--2020-03-24--As A Grocery Store Worker, I'm On The Frontline Of Coronavirus And I'm Overwhelmed

About an hour before opening , the crowd starts to grow .
Shoppers edge in as close as they can to the entrance , their carts already poised for door-busting .
But we aren ’ t offering half-priced smart TVs or impossible-to-pass-up BOGOs .
We ’ re in the business of cheap canned beans and seemingly the only rolls of toilet paper in town .
When the doors glide open at 9 a.m. , frantic shoppers , many of whom refuse to follow the 6-foot radius advice , scramble to the canned goods and the paper products .
I watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ empty a shelf of refried beans into his cart .
I watch a woman yank a package of toilet paper out of another woman ’ s cart .
“ Only one per customer !
” she admonishes .
Spending hours a day in this environment has me concerned not only for my physical health , should I fall ill or become a carrier of COVID-19 , but for my mental health as well .
I ’ ve been living with a base level of anxiety I can only assume is eating a hole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system .
Every day I wonder if I ’ m sick .
Are my body aches a symptom , or are they a result of doing that PopSugar cardio video the other day ?
Is my scratchy throat caused by talking to hundreds of customers each day , or is it the onset of the coronavirus ?
Am I fatigued from overstimulation and constant worry , or do I have COVID-19 ?
Every evening I tell my husband that it ’ s my last day , that I ’ m not going in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason not to .
My company is encouraging us to stay home if we ’ re feeling even the faintest suggestion of bronchial tickle .
They will still pay us in full and our absence will not dip into our paid time off , nor will it impact our benefits eligibility or employment status .
Yet each morning I dutifully rise at 4:30 , throw on a fresh hibiscus-printed T-shirt , grab my boxcutter and head out the door .
I ’ m usually embarrassed to tell people I work at a grocery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mater as my place of employment on social media platforms even though it ’ s been nearly two years since my graduate assistantship as a writing instructor and I ’ ve been wading in the cold water of the adjunct pool ever since .
I ’ m frustrated by the obliviousness of the customer who wonders why our shelves are bare .
I ’ m panicked by the patron who demands I glove up and wipe down before commencing the transaction .
I ’ m angered by the entitled consumer who is outraged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I try to maintain a patient , sober and compassionate face — the kind you would wear to a funeral .
But I really want to be mean , to point out greed and privilege and hypocrisy .
I also want to love , to hug those who are struggling because of this .
I can ’ t do either .
The world has turned upside down in a matter of weeks .
Many have lost their jobs and worry about getting unemployment checks .
Small-business owners are uncertain whether they ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plummeting , the daycare centers are closed , vacations are canceled , and there are no social gatherings to look forward to .
This abrupt topsy-turvy is quite possibly more disconcerting than the virus itself .
Many of us shop to feel purposeful — buying enough for a two-week ( let ’ s be real : two-month ) quarantine , then going out and buying more ( and ironically exposing ourselves to thousands of invisible germs ) the next day .
Maybe we ’ re bent out of shape over an out-of-stock pizza @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but because we ’ re scared .
That pizza was the familiar security blanket .
Maybe we ’ re policing other shoppers as a way to uphold civilian order , not to be meddlesome and petty .
Every customer is an exaggerated personification of my own shortcomings .
When I ’ m overwhelmed , I snap .
Or I crumble .
Or I worry my cuticles bloody and raw .
Facing these ghosts of tantrums past at my most vulnerable , when I feel both resentful and guilty to be employed , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ill ( if not kill me ) , is one of the most difficult things I ’ ve ever had to do .
So why do I continue to go to work day after day ?
I wish I could say that it ’ s out of altruism , that it ’ s an act of service .
But I can ’ t take credit for my new crisis-responder classification .
I never swore the Hippocratic oath , never enlisted in the National Guard .
I can ’ t be compared to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the Bosnian war to work breadlines .
I return to work because I ’ m just as freaked out as everyone else .
I find comfort in routine , in seeing the same faces day after day .
My grocery store job is the only facet of my life that hasn ’ t completely changed in the last two weeks .
Without it , I wouldn ’ t recognize anything at all and would probably sooner collapse with a nervous breakdown .
My co-workers and I talk about everything except the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pets or what we whipped up for dinner last night .
I hang packaged lunchmeat from pegs , spreading our thin inventory over several facings to give the illusion of abundance our customers will appreciate .
Our goal is to keep our store from looking post-apocalyptic as long as possible .
We want to be familiar .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
About an hour before opening, the crowd starts to grow. Shoppers edge in as close as they can to the entrance, their carts already poised for door-busting. But we aren’t offering half-priced smart TVs or impossible-to-pass-up BOGOs. We’re in the business of cheap canned beans and seemingly the only rolls of toilet paper in town.
I work at a grocery store that’s known for wacky Hawaiian shirts, tiny cups of coffee, clanging bells and super friendly cashiers. The COVID-19 pandemic has made every day at work feel like Black Friday during the Black Death.
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In the last two weeks, our stores from Portland, Oregon, to New York City have experienced unprecedented business as shoppers prepare for self-isolation, restaurant closures and kiddos at home 24/7.
Inside the store, after clearing the floors of empty cardboard boxes and stacked pallets, we come together near a display of mandarin oranges for a morning huddle. We stretch, kvetch, air hug, sometimes cry. We give each other encouraging words as we glimpse the ever-expanding horde beyond the glass. I feel like I’m in “Saving Private Ryan”: “Gear up. Fall in.”
When the doors glide open at 9 a.m., frantic shoppers, many of whom refuse to follow the 6-foot radius advice, scramble to the canned goods and the paper products. I watch a masked man use his forearm to empty a shelf of refried beans into his cart. I watch a woman yank a package of toilet paper out of another woman’s cart. “Only one per customer!” she admonishes.
Every crowded aisle makes me panic. Every cough sets me on edge. “Stay home!” I want to yell, but instead I head to the backroom where I can take a few deep breaths with less fear of inhaling somebody’s mucosal mists. A co-worker calls our backroom “the screaming pillow.”
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Until two weeks ago, this area was filled to the ceiling with back stock. It was bustling with employees pushing hand trucks stacked with merchandise, shoving hands into community bags of tortilla chips, flinging cardboard into the baler’s steel maw. Now it’s empty, as suppliers struggle to meet the current demands. The baler is quiet. Shared snacks are completely out of the question.
The backroom has become a place to cool off behind the scenes. To get nostalgic about events from three weeks ago. And to scream. “Fuck everything!” I yelled to anyone listening. My co-workers nodded. “Amen to that.”
Spending hours a day in this environment has me concerned not only for my physical health, should I fall ill or become a carrier of COVID-19, but for my mental health as well. I’ve been living with a base level of anxiety I can only assume is eating a hole in my stomach and weakening my immune system.
Every day I wonder if I’m sick. Are my body aches a symptom, or are they a result of doing that PopSugar cardio video the other day? Is my scratchy throat caused by talking to hundreds of customers each day, or is it the onset of the coronavirus? Am I fatigued from overstimulation and constant worry, or do I have COVID-19? Every evening I tell my husband that it’s my last day, that I’m not going in anymore.
And there’s no reason not to. My company is encouraging us to stay home if we’re feeling even the faintest suggestion of bronchial tickle. They will still pay us in full and our absence will not dip into our paid time off, nor will it impact our benefits eligibility or employment status. Yet each morning I dutifully rise at 4:30, throw on a fresh hibiscus-printed T-shirt, grab my boxcutter and head out the door.
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I’m usually embarrassed to tell people I work at a grocery store. I still list my alma mater as my place of employment on social media platforms even though it’s been nearly two years since my graduate assistantship as a writing instructor and I’ve been wading in the cold water of the adjunct pool ever since.
Working in a grocery store is an invisible job. It doesn’t have the hipness of bartending or the hustle cred that comes with freelancing. It pays too well to be some temporary gig, yet it isn’t what many people consider a career.
“You still work there?” my friends with grown-up jobs ask. “That’s so cool. I’m addicted to their frozen mandarin orange chicken!” Suddenly, however, I’ve been promoted from hummus stocker to frontline aid worker. I’m being thanked for my service, my bravery even.
My usual at-work attitude is chipper, practically Disney. We used to have so much fun that half the time I’d be laughing from a breakroom joke when I signed in to my cash register. I no longer know how to conduct myself. I’m no good at pretending.
I’m frustrated by the obliviousness of the customer who wonders why our shelves are bare. I’m panicked by the patron who demands I glove up and wipe down before commencing the transaction. I’m angered by the entitled consumer who is outraged that his favorite pizza is unavailable. I try to maintain a patient, sober and compassionate face — the kind you would wear to a funeral. But I really want to be mean, to point out greed and privilege and hypocrisy. I also want to love, to hug those who are struggling because of this. I can’t do either.
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The world has turned upside down in a matter of weeks. Many have lost their jobs and worry about getting unemployment checks. Small-business owners are uncertain whether they’ll ever reopen. The stock market is plummeting, the daycare centers are closed, vacations are canceled, and there are no social gatherings to look forward to. This abrupt topsy-turvy is quite possibly more disconcerting than the virus itself.
People react to and deal with uncertainty in different ways. We look for opportunities to reclaim a bit of control over our destabilized lives. For some, that’s buying all the tuna and shelf-stable oat milk. For others, it’s making cashiers sanitize their hands yet again.
Many of us shop to feel purposeful — buying enough for a two-week (let’s be real: two-month) quarantine, then going out and buying more (and ironically exposing ourselves to thousands of invisible germs) the next day. Maybe we’re bent out of shape over an out-of-stock pizza not because we’re entitled, but because we’re scared. That pizza was the familiar security blanket. Maybe we’re policing other shoppers as a way to uphold civilian order, not to be meddlesome and petty.
Every customer is an exaggerated personification of my own shortcomings. When I’m overwhelmed, I snap. Or I crumble. Or I worry my cuticles bloody and raw. Facing these ghosts of tantrums past at my most vulnerable, when I feel both resentful and guilty to be employed, when I fear anyone could make me extremely ill (if not kill me), is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do.
So why do I continue to go to work day after day? I wish I could say that it’s out of altruism, that it’s an act of service. But I can’t take credit for my new crisis-responder classification. I never swore the Hippocratic oath, never enlisted in the National Guard. I can’t be compared to my brother-in-law, who willingly went to Sarajevo during the Bosnian war to work breadlines.
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I return to work because I’m just as freaked out as everyone else. I find comfort in routine, in seeing the same faces day after day. My grocery store job is the only facet of my life that hasn’t completely changed in the last two weeks. Without it, I wouldn’t recognize anything at all and would probably sooner collapse with a nervous breakdown.
It’s 6 a.m. The parking lot is empty. The sun isn’t up yet. Inside the store, we listen to Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings at full volume. We dance our shoulders a little as we restock the bare shelves.
My co-workers and I talk about everything except the coronavirus: our new garden projects or our pets or what we whipped up for dinner last night. I hang packaged lunchmeat from pegs, spreading our thin inventory over several facings to give the illusion of abundance our customers will appreciate. Our goal is to keep our store from looking post-apocalyptic as long as possible. We want to be familiar.
I imagine many of our customers come into our store for the same exact reason I do. It’s one of the last vestiges of “normal” life right now. And though I’d like to think I’d never risk my life for a tub of ginger snaps or a bottle of cheap wine, I already have been.
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huffpost--2020-03-24--Doctors Are Hoarding Unproven Coronavirus Medicine By Writing Prescriptions For Themselves And Their

Doctors Are Hoarding Unproven Coronavirus Medicine By Writing Prescriptions For Themselves And Their Families

Demand for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine surged over the past several days as President Donald Trump promoted them as possible treatments for the coronavirus and online forums buzzed with excitement over a small study suggesting the combination of hydroxychloroquine and a commonly used antibiotic could be effective in treating COVID-19 .
In a bulletin to pharmacists on Sunday , the state association wrote that it was “ disturbed by the current actions of prescribers ” and instructed members on how to file a complaint against physicians and nurses who were doing it .
“ People are losing their minds about this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of SMP Pharmacy Solutions in Miami .
“ We ’ re selling so much of this stuff and people are just stockpiling it prophylactically if anybody in their family gets sick — they ’ re just holding on to it.
” The two drugs are only available through a prescription and can not be purchased over the counter .
Hydroxychloroquine , sold under the brand name Plaquenil , is approved to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis while chloroquine is an anti-malarial treatment .
There is little evidence that the drugs work to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underway to find out .
But as coronavirus cases multiply and protective gear for medical workers vanishes from emergency rooms , many patients and physicians see the drugs as the only hope to reverse the course of serious disease .
Brito said his pharmacy had about 800 tablets on Monday and were nearly sold out in about an hour .
One doctor called and asked for 200 tablets , but the company refused .
“ He was a little upset about it but he understood and he went quickly from 200 to 42 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , ” Brito said .
“ So yeah , they ’ re stockpiling it.
” A pharmacist in Houston , who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation and violating patient privacy , said he was recently asked by a surgeon for an unusually large quantity with unlimited refills .
“ He said it was because his wife had lupus , ” the pharmacist said , “ but when I asked him for her name and diagnosis , he told me just to put it in his.
” Lupus patients are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drug .
On Monday , the Lupus Foundation of America issued a joint statement asking the White House Coronavirus Task Force to “ take action to ensure current supplies are allocated for patients taking them for indicated uses.
” Several states in the past few days have already moved to limit prescriptions of the drugs , neither of which is approved to treat the coronavirus .
Trump , in press conferences and tweets over the past week , has promoted the use of the drugs as potentially blunting the impact of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfortunate that a news conference , I think prematurely , made it sound like this was the answer , and that ’ s led to this panic , ” Michelle Petri , director of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine ’ s Lupus Center , said Friday .
“ I have spent the last two days trying to help lupus patients who actually need their refills.
” She said some patients have refills on back order while others are being provided smaller amounts than usual .
Texas and Ohio have also restricted prescribing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also issued an emergency rule limiting when the drugs can be prescribed , citing “ inappropriate use ” and “ hoarding.
” On Monday , the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy said it was rescinding that order because manufacturers had boosted distribution of the drugs .
This weekend Brooks cared for a man in his 60s who died after ingesting a version of chloroquine commonly used to clean fish tanks .
The man , who thought he might have COVID-19 , took a small amount of the substance in a misguided effort to treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized after taking the substance but survived .
“ A lot of physicians , unfortunately , are writing high amounts for more than the required number of tablets and calling in five , six , seven and eight prescriptions at a time , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t want to insinuate what is going on , but it is very unusual.
” He said his pharmacists are declining to fill suspicious orders and telling prescribers they don ’ t have enough of the medication on hand to complete those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those for people who have not previously taken the drug as well as orders from doctors who do not typically treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis patients .

An employee at a pharmaceutical company in China’s Jiangsu province checks the production of chloroquine phosphate (FeatureChina via AP Images)
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A nationwide shortage of two drugs touted as possible treatments for the coronavirus is being driven in part by doctors inappropriately prescribing the medicines for family, friends and themselves, according to pharmacists and state regulators.
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“It’s disgraceful, is what it is,” said Garth Reynolds, executive director of the Illinois Pharmacists Association, which started getting calls and emails Saturday from members saying they were receiving questionable prescriptions. “And completely selfish.”
Demand for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine surged over the past several days as President Donald Trump promoted them as possible treatments for the coronavirus and online forums buzzed with excitement over a small study suggesting the combination of hydroxychloroquine and a commonly used antibiotic could be effective in treating COVID-19.
Reynolds said the Illinois Pharmacists Association has started reaching out to pharmacists and medical groups throughout the state to urge doctors, nurses and physician assistants not to write prescriptions for themselves and those close to them.
“We even had a couple of examples of prescribers trying to say that the individual they were calling in for had rheumatoid arthritis,” he said, explaining that pharmacists suspected that wasn’t true. “I mean, that’s fraud.”
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In one case, Reynolds said, the prescriber initially tried to get the pills without an explanation and only offered up that the individual had rheumatoid arthritis after the pharmacist questioned the prescription.
In a bulletin to pharmacists on Sunday, the state association wrote that it was “disturbed by the current actions of prescribers” and instructed members on how to file a complaint against physicians and nurses who were doing it.
“People are losing their minds about this product,” said Brian Brito, president of SMP Pharmacy Solutions in Miami. “We’re selling so much of this stuff and people are just stockpiling it prophylactically if anybody in their family gets sick — they’re just holding on to it.”
The two drugs are only available through a prescription and cannot be purchased over the counter. Hydroxychloroquine, sold under the brand name Plaquenil, is approved to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis while chloroquine is an anti-malarial treatment.
There is little evidence that the drugs work to treat coronavirus, although clinical trials are underway to find out. But as coronavirus cases multiply and protective gear for medical workers vanishes from emergency rooms, many patients and physicians see the drugs as the only hope to reverse the course of serious disease.
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Brito said his pharmacy had about 800 tablets on Monday and were nearly sold out in about an hour. One doctor called and asked for 200 tablets, but the company refused. “He was a little upset about it but he understood and he went quickly from 200 to 42 tablets, which is essentially treating two people,” Brito said. “So yeah, they’re stockpiling it.”
A pharmacist in Houston, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation and violating patient privacy, said he was recently asked by a surgeon for an unusually large quantity with unlimited refills. “He said it was because his wife had lupus,” the pharmacist said, “but when I asked him for her name and diagnosis, he told me just to put it in his.”
Lupus patients are reporting difficulty in refilling their prescriptions for the drug. On Monday, the Lupus Foundation of America issued a joint statement asking the White House Coronavirus Task Force to “take action to ensure current supplies are allocated for patients taking them for indicated uses.” Several states in the past few days have already moved to limit prescriptions of the drugs, neither of which is approved to treat the coronavirus. Trump, in press conferences and tweets over the past week, has promoted the use of the drugs as potentially blunting the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“It’s unfortunate that a news conference, I think prematurely, made it sound like this was the answer, and that’s led to this panic,” Michelle Petri, director of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine’s Lupus Center, said Friday. “I have spent the last two days trying to help lupus patients who actually need their refills.” She said some patients have refills on back order while others are being provided smaller amounts than usual.
The West Virginia Board of Pharmacy, in an alert Saturday, ordered pharmacists to limit new prescriptions to no more than 30 tablets and only to cases where the drugs were being used for approved indications.
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“Currently, both nationally and in West Virginia, some prescribers have begun writing prescriptions for these drugs for family, friends, and coworkers in anticipation of Covid-19 related illness,” the board wrote.
Texas and Ohio have also restricted prescribing of the drugs. Louisiana on Sunday also issued an emergency rule limiting when the drugs can be prescribed, citing “inappropriate use” and “hoarding.” On Monday, the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy said it was rescinding that order because manufacturers had boosted distribution of the drugs.
Experts are warning that any use of the drugs outside of a hospital setting can be dangerous, and admonished doctors to stop prescribing the medicines inappropriately.
Daniel Brooks, the medical director of the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center in Phoenix, said it was “immoral” for physicians to hoard the medications.
“One should not be selfish and scared, especially medical providers,” he said. “I find it incredibly embarrassing and unfortunate that physicians appear to be prescribing these medications inappropriately.”
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This weekend Brooks cared for a man in his 60s who died after ingesting a version of chloroquine commonly used to clean fish tanks. The man, who thought he might have COVID-19, took a small amount of the substance in a misguided effort to treat his symptoms. His wife was also hospitalized after taking the substance but survived.
Brooks said the amount the couple ingested was equivalent to a couple days’ worth of prescription chloroquine.
Ken Thai, the owner of a chain of Los Angeles-area pharmacies, said his stores are witnessing a rash of inappropriate prescribing.
“A lot of physicians, unfortunately, are writing high amounts for more than the required number of tablets and calling in five, six, seven and eight prescriptions at a time,” he said. “I don’t want to insinuate what is going on, but it is very unusual.”
He said his pharmacists are declining to fill suspicious orders and telling prescribers they don’t have enough of the medication on hand to complete those requests. Among the prescriptions flagged are those for people who have not previously taken the drug as well as orders from doctors who do not typically treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis patients.
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“If a doctor is writing a prescription for himself or aunts and uncles, that is usually a red flag for us,” he said. “Whatever we have in stock, we have to preserve for the patients we currently service.”
On Twitter, pharmacy workers traded stories about dentists and opthamologists requesting hydroxychloroquine under dubious pretenses. “A dentist just tried to call in scripts for hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin for himself, his wife, & another couple (friends),” tweeted a pharmacist in Eugene, Oregon. “I have patients with lupus that have been on HCQ [Hydroxychloroquine] for YEARS and now can’t get it because it’s on backorder.”
Steve Moore, president of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York, said medical providers hoarding the drugs is occuring in the state, which has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country.


huffpost--2020-04-08--Cyclone Harold Slams Into Fiji As Category 5 Storm

Cyclone Harold , its strength ranked in the highest category of five , passed over Fiji ’ s south at @ @ @ @ @ and snapping communications links in the archipelago , which has adopted curbs on movement to @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ ve seen reports of injuries , ” Vasiti Soko , the director @ @ @ @ @ Office , said by telephone .
“ As to the number , as well as @ @ @ @ @ injuries , that ’ s yet to be ascertained.
” There were no immediate reports @ @ @ @ @ 10 houses in Suva were reported destroyed , Soko added .
Flooded streets , wild @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s main island home to Suva featured in unverified video images and @ @ @ @ @ .
Emergency officials were scrambling to establish contact with the southern island of Kapavu , @ @ @ @ @ with it , Soko added .

Cyclone Harold, its strength ranked in the highest category of five, passed over Fiji’s south at about midday, leveling homes and snapping communications links in the archipelago, which has adopted curbs on movement to rein in the virus.
“We’ve seen reports of injuries,” Vasiti Soko, the director of the National Disaster Management Office, said by telephone.
“As to the number, as well as the intensity, of the injuries, that’s yet to be ascertained.”
There were no immediate reports of deaths, but about 10 houses in Suva were reported destroyed, Soko added.
Flooded streets, wild winds and ruined buildings on the country’s main island home to Suva featured in unverified video images and photographs circulated on social media.
Emergency officials were scrambling to establish contact with the southern island of Kapavu, after the storm severed communications with it, Soko added.


huffpost--2020-04-08--6 Legal Documents To Have Ready In Case You Get COVID-19

Though most people who contract COVID-19 experience mild symptoms , it doesn ’ t hurt to be prepared if you do need to be hospitalized .
It can feel scary thinking about getting sick or not being able to make decisions for yourself , but an estate plan is meant to ease your fears .
After all , wouldn ’ t you feel better knowing that the burden of making health and financial decisions will never fall on unprepared family members ?
“ Any competent adult can serve as your agent , ” said Somita Basu , an estate planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco Bay area .
However , it should also be someone you trust to be honest , use common sense and be dependable .
“ Choose someone who is relatively nearby to manage the practical aspects of helping you with your finances , ” she said .
You should also choose a back-up agent in case your primary agent is unavailable .
While your advance health care directive will likely contain language that allows your agents to access your medical records , Basu said it ’ s not uncommon for medical facilities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand-alone HIPAA waiver .
“ As a back-up document , make sure you have a stand-alone HIPAA waiver to allow your nominated agents and family members to have access to your medical information so they can speak freely with your health care providers in case of a medical emergency or your incapacity , ” she said .
Finally , Basu said that a living trust can help provide for the care , support and education of your children by turning over trust assets to them at an age chosen by you .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children receive their inheritance in graduated stages , like one-third of the principal at age 21 , one-third at age 25 and one-third at age 30 .
“ A living trust can leave your assets to your children in a manner that will reduce the ability of their creditors or ex-spouses to take your children ’ s inheritance from them , ” Basu said .
Is It Possible To Create A Will , Trust , Etc.
, Without A Lawyer ?
Though there are several websites that make it possible to draft these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s important to keep in mind that estate planning can be complex and it pays to have a professional review your plan .
Aside from preparing documents and looking out for loose ends that need to be considered , a good estate planner will help with proper titling of assets such as real estate and vehicles , as well as designating beneficiaries for life insurance , retirement accounts and bank accounts .
Of course , considering the staggering unemployment numbers we ’ re facing during the coronavirus pandemic , you may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now ( it typically costs $ 1,000 to $ 2,000 to create an estate plan ) .
That doesn ’ t mean you ’ re totally out of luck .
Sites such as LegalZoom and Nolo can help you get basic documents in place for under $ 100 each .
However , you should consider having a lawyer look at these items more closely down the road , especially if you have a large estate or are concerned someone might try to contest your will .
Another issue to keep in mind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powers of attorney have to be witnessed and notarized in order to be binding .
The problem ?
During a pandemic , “ it ’ s actually dangerous to one ’ s health to gather the necessary notary public and witnesses for the in-person execution of the documents , ” said Ray Koenig III , an attorney and member of the litigation and tax and estate planning groups at law firm Clark Hill .
In fact , many notary and attorney offices are closed due to shutdown orders .
How To Organize And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you access your financial accounts online ... it is vital that your loved ones know where these accounts are held , ” she said .
In addition , you should keep a list of your wishes regarding your other digital assets such as email , social media accounts , photographs in cloud storage , virtual currencies , credit card rewards , etc .
Make sure that you share the passwords to these online accounts with someone so your family is able to retrieve and secure them should anything happen to you .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The coronavirus pandemic undoubtedly has you on edge. We’ve all been forced to face our fears in some way, whether it’s the fear of falling ill, losing a job or having to spend time alone. With all these anxieties and unknowns weighing on your mind, it might feel like there’s suddenly a pressing need to get your affairs in order ― just in case.
Though most people who contract COVID-19 experience mild symptoms, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared if you do need to be hospitalized. It can feel scary thinking about getting sick or not being able to make decisions for yourself, but an estate plan is meant to ease your fears. After all, wouldn’t you feel better knowing that the burden of making health and financial decisions will never fall on unprepared family members?
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The truth is that just about everyone should have an estate plan, even if there is no looming health threat. So if you don’t have one, there’s no better time than now to put it together.
Documents Needed For An Estate Plan
Anyone over the age of 18 requires some level of estate planning, according to Eido Walny, founder of Walny Legal Group, LLC, an estate planning and asset protection law firm based in Milwaukee. And you might be surprised to know that wills and trusts aren’t always the most important documents to focus on first, especially if you’re single with no kids and limited wealth.
“You need someone who can do your banking or make your medical decisions if you are quarantined in your home, admitted to the hospital or become incapacitated.”
“Estate planning is more than just getting a will,” Walny said. A strong estate plan will also include several other important documents, such as a revocable trust (sometimes called a living trust), financial powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney, and more. “All of these documents are important and serve a role in the overall planning,” Walny said.
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In light of the current situation, the two most important documents to have on hand are medical and financial powers of attorney, said Patrick Simakso, an elder law attorney and wealth preservation specialist at Simasko Law in Mount Clemens, Michigan. “You need someone who can do your banking or make your medical decisions if you are quarantined in your home, admitted to the hospital or become incapacitated,” he said.
Once you have those in place, it’s a good idea to work on putting together a comprehensive estate plan. Here’s a look at all the documents you should have and what they mean.
1. Financial Power of Attorney
A financial power of attorney document is a legal document that gives an agent the authority to carry on a person’s financial affairs and protect their property by acting on their behalf, according to David Bross, an Ohio-based attorney and certified specialist in estate planning, trust administration and probate, which is the legal process that unfolds when someone is incapacitated or dies. The FPOA gives the agent the ability to pay bills, write checks, make deposits, sell or purchase assets or sign any tax returns.
“Any competent adult can serve as your agent,” said Somita Basu, an estate planning and probate attorney based in the San Francisco Bay area. However, it should also be someone you trust to be honest, use common sense and be dependable. “Choose someone who is relatively nearby to manage the practical aspects of helping you with your finances,” she said. You should also choose a back-up agent in case your primary agent is unavailable.
Bross added that without an FPOA, there is no person with the ability to act on your behalf. “Family members will be required to request the probate court appoint a guardian to have these powers,” he said. “The court process can be time-consuming and expensive.”
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2. Health Care Power of Attorney
Similar to a financial power of attorney, Bross explained that a health care power of attorney is a legal document that gives an agent the authority to make health care decisions on your behalf if you are incompetent or incapacitated. If you’re over the age of 18 and don’t have an HCPOA, your family members will have to request that the probate court appoint a guardian to have these powers.
3. Living Will (Advance Health Care Directive)
A living will ― also known as an advance health care directive ― allows you to specify what end-of-life treatment you do or don’t want to receive if you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious and won’t survive without the administration of life support, according to Bross.
“Without a living will, the decision to remove life support is left in the hands of your health care agent or family members,” Bross said. “This can be a very emotional decision for family members ― by creating a living will, you set forth your wishes and take that decision out of your family member’s hands.”
4. HIPAA Waiver
While your advance health care directive will likely contain language that allows your agents to access your medical records, Basu said it’s not uncommon for medical facilities to refuse access to medical information without a stand-alone HIPAA waiver. “As a back-up document, make sure you have a stand-alone HIPAA waiver to allow your nominated agents and family members to have access to your medical information so they can speak freely with your health care providers in case of a medical emergency or your incapacity,” she said.
5. Last Will And Testament
A last will and testament is a legal document that allows you to direct distribution of your property at the time of your death, Bross said. A will also allows you to appoint an executor, who oversees the distribution of your assets.
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“Everyone has assets that must transfer after a person’s death,” he explained. “Without a will, there is no direction as to how those assets will pass.” If you don’t have a will in place, distribution of your assets will be handled by the state and the court will decide on the best person to oversee the administration of your estate.
A will also allows you to appoint a guardian to take care of minor children. Again, if you don’t have a will, a court will decide who is the best person to fulfill that role. “This limits a parent’s ability to have any say in the process,” Bross said.
6. Living Trust
Essentially, a revocable living trust is a legal contract that you make with yourself to create an entity to hold your assets, Basu explained. You can change your trust at any time (which is why it’s called “revocable”), and you can set it up to outlive you.
“If you become incapacitated or are unable to manage your estate, your living trust avoids the need for a court appointed conservatorship,” Basu said. You’ll appoint a successor trustee who steps in and manages your affairs without the involvement of the court, avoiding the extra time and money associated with probate. A trust also affords you privacy surrounding the details of your estate, since it avoids the need for probate, which is a public process.
Finally, Basu said that a living trust can help provide for the care, support and education of your children by turning over trust assets to them at an age chosen by you. For example, you could advise that your children receive their inheritance in graduated stages, like one-third of the principal at age 21, one-third at age 25 and one-third at age 30. “A living trust can leave your assets to your children in a manner that will reduce the ability of their creditors or ex-spouses to take your children’s inheritance from them,” Basu said.
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“Since a good estate plan can save a lot of money, it is not a ripe area to pay as little as possible because mistakes can be costly.”
Is It Possible To Create A Will, Trust, Etc., Without A Lawyer?
Though there are several websites that make it possible to draft these documents for a low cost, it’s important to keep in mind that estate planning can be complex and it pays to have a professional review your plan. Aside from preparing documents and looking out for loose ends that need to be considered, a good estate planner will help with proper titling of assets such as real estate and vehicles, as well as designating beneficiaries for life insurance, retirement accounts and bank accounts.
“Since a good estate plan can save a lot of money, it is not a ripe area to pay as little as possible because mistakes can be costly,” Walny said.
If you aren’t sure where to find legal help, you can try searching the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. Look for attorneys who have the estate planning law specialist (EPLS) designation, which means they’ve been highly vetted by the NAEPC. An accredited estate planner (AEP) designation is also helpful.
Of course, considering the staggering unemployment numbers we’re facing during the coronavirus pandemic, you may not have the money to hire a lawyer right now (it typically costs $1,000 to $2,000 to create an estate plan). That doesn’t mean you’re totally out of luck. Sites such as LegalZoom and Nolo can help you get basic documents in place for under $100 each. However, you should consider having a lawyer look at these items more closely down the road, especially if you have a large estate or are concerned someone might try to contest your will.
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Another issue to keep in mind is that documents such as wills and powers of attorney have to be witnessed and notarized in order to be binding. The problem? During a pandemic, “it’s actually dangerous to one’s health to gather the necessary notary public and witnesses for the in-person execution of the documents,” said Ray Koenig III, an attorney and member of the litigation and tax and estate planning groups at law firm Clark Hill. In fact, many notary and attorney offices are closed due to shutdown orders.
Fortunately, many states such as Illinois and New York have recently enacted executive orders or statutes which allow for virtual notarization and witnessing of these documents. “That means that clients do not need to make a risky trek to their attorney’s office. Instead, with trained and skilled staff, an attorney can coordinate everything virtually,” Koenig said.
How To Organize And Store Your Documents
Once you have all your estate plan documents finalized, you need to be sure they’re kept safe but accessible to the right people.
Give the originals to your lawyer. Bross said he recommends allowing your attorney to store original estate planning documents to ensure proper safekeeping. Typically, attorneys store these documents in fireproof safes in locked rooms. “If any of the originals are needed, the distributed copies usually have a stamp that alerts everyone where the originals are stored,” he said.
Provide copies to the appropriate people. You should give copies of relevant documents to your financial adviser, treating physician, successor agents and any family members you want aware of your plans. Additionally, Bross said you should be sure anyone named in your documents to act on your behalf is aware. “Provide them with an explanation of the role they may play so they can be prepared,” he said.
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Keep high-quality scanned copies. In addition to making physical copies of your legal documents, you should also have digital files saved. In fact, you should do this for all important financial and legal paperwork, including anything related to homeownership, custody, estate planning, guardianship and child support. “A high-quality scan will make printing and copying these documents much easier,” Basu said.
Label all your documents clearly. Don’t save your documents as “scan1,” “scan2,” and so on, as that will make organizing and finding them a nightmare. “Make sure everything is labeled accurately and includes dates the document was finalized or signed,” Basu said.
Save a list of your digital accounts and passwords. Along with estate planning documents, everyone should maintain a list of their digital assets and how to access them, said Katie Von Kohorn, a partner at Casner & Edwards who specializes in trusts and estates.


huffpost--2020-04-08--Masked Crowds Fill Streets, Trains After Wuhan Lockdown Ends

“ I haven ’ t been outside for more than 70 days , ” an emotional Tong said as he watched a celebratory light display from a bridge across the broad Yangtze River flowing through the city .
“ Being indoors for so long drove me crazy.
” Streets in the city of 11 million people were clogged with traffic and long lines formed at the airport , train and bus stations as thousands streamed out of the city to return to homes and jobs elsewhere .
Yellow barriers that had blocked off some streets were gone , although the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Such measures won ’ t be entirely abandoned following the end of the city ’ s closure , which began on Jan. 23 as the virus was raging through the city and overwhelming hospitals .
Schools are still closed , temperatures are checked when people enter buildings and masks are strongly encouraged .
City leaders say they want is to simultaneously bring back social and commercial life while avoiding a second wave of infections .
The ability to travel again is a huge relief , however , and around 65,000 were expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan residents are now permitted to leave without special authorization as long as a mandatory smartphone application powered by a mix of data-tracking and government surveillance shows they are healthy and have not been in recent contact with anyone confirmed to have the virus .
It didn ’ t take long for traffic to begin moving swiftly through the reopened bridges , tunnels and highway toll booths .
Nearly 1,000 vehicles went through a busy highway toll booth at Wuhan ’ s border between midnight — when barricades were lifted — and 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a district police chief .
“ The crew will wear goggles , masks , and gloves throughout the flight , ” chief flight attendant Guo Binxue , was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency .
“ It will be very smooth because we have made much preparation for this flight.
” “ We were too excited to fall asleep last night .
I was looking forward to lockdown lift very much .
I set up an alert to remind myself .
I was very happy , ” said Xiao , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hankou station with her son and husband , all three of them wearing masks and gloves .
Restrictions in the city where most of China ’ s more than 82,000 virus cases and over 3,300 deaths from COVID-19 were reported have been gradually eased as the number of new cases steadily declined .
The government reported no new cases in the city on Wednesday .
During the lockdown , Wuhan residents could leave their homes only to buy food or attend to other tasks deemed absolutely necessary .
Some were allowed to leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had paperwork showing they were not a health risk and a letter attesting to where they were going and why .
Even then , authorities could turn them back on a technicality such as missing a stamp , preventing thousands from returning to their jobs outside the city .
Residents of other parts of Hubei were allowed to leave the province starting about three weeks ago , as long as they could provide a clean bill of health .
People leaving the city still face numerous hurdles at their final destinations , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Wuhan is a major center for heavy industry , particularly autos , and while many major plants have restarted production , the small and midsize businesses that employ the most people are still hurting from both a lack of workers and demand .
Measures are being instituted to get them back on their feet , including 20 billion yuan ( $ 2.8 billion ) in preferential loans , according to the city government .

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WUHAN, China (AP) — After more than two months indoors, Wuhan resident Tong Zhengkun was one of millions of people enjoying a renewed sense of freedom when the Chinese city’s 76-day coronavirus lockdown was lifted Wednesday.
“I haven’t been outside for more than 70 days,” an emotional Tong said as he watched a celebratory light display from a bridge across the broad Yangtze River flowing through the city. “Being indoors for so long drove me crazy.”
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Streets in the city of 11 million people were clogged with traffic and long lines formed at the airport, train and bus stations as thousands streamed out of the city to return to homes and jobs elsewhere. Yellow barriers that had blocked off some streets were gone, although the gates to residential compounds remained guarded.
Tong said his apartment complex was shut down after residents were found to have contracted the virus. Neighborhood workers delivered groceries to his door.
A medical worker from China's Jilin Province, in red, embraces a colleague from Wuhan as she prepares to return home at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province, on April 8, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Such measures won’t be entirely abandoned following the end of the city’s closure, which began on Jan. 23 as the virus was raging through the city and overwhelming hospitals. Schools are still closed, temperatures are checked when people enter buildings and masks are strongly encouraged. City leaders say they want is to simultaneously bring back social and commercial life while avoiding a second wave of infections.
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The ability to travel again is a huge relief, however, and around 65,000 were expected to depart Wednesday by plane and train. Wuhan residents are now permitted to leave without special authorization as long as a mandatory smartphone application powered by a mix of data-tracking and government surveillance shows they are healthy and have not been in recent contact with anyone confirmed to have the virus.
It didn’t take long for traffic to begin moving swiftly through the reopened bridges, tunnels and highway toll booths. Nearly 1,000 vehicles went through a busy highway toll booth at Wuhan’s border between midnight — when barricades were lifted — and 7 a.m, according to Yan Xiangsheng, a district police chief.
Passengers wearing face masks and raincoats to protect against the spread of new coronavirus walk outside of Hankou train station after of the resumption of train services in Wuhan on Wednesday. ASSOCIATED PRESS
According to airport official Lou Guowei, the first departing flight, MU2527, left Wuhan Tianhe International Airport at 7:25 a.m. for Sanya, a coastal city in Hainan province known for its beaches.
“The crew will wear goggles, masks, and gloves throughout the flight,” chief flight attendant Guo Binxue, was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency. “It will be very smooth because we have made much preparation for this flight.”
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Xiao Yonghong had found herself stuck in Wuhan after returning to her hometown on Jan. 17 to spend the Lunar New Year with her husband, son and parents-in-law.
“We were too excited to fall asleep last night. I was looking forward to lockdown lift very much. I set up an alert to remind myself. I was very happy,” said Xiao, who was waiting for her train outside Hankou station with her son and husband, all three of them wearing masks and gloves.
A medical worker from China's Jilin Province reacts as she prepares to return home at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. ASSOCIATED PRESS
At the airport, Chen Yating took personal protection a step further, wearing white coveralls, gloves, a mask and a baseball cap. She was waiting to catch a flight to the southern business hub of Guangzhou.
“We are living in a good era,” Chen said. “It is not easy to have today’s achievement.”
Restrictions in the city where most of China’s more than 82,000 virus cases and over 3,300 deaths from COVID-19 were reported have been gradually eased as the number of new cases steadily declined. The government reported no new cases in the city on Wednesday.
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While there are questions about the veracity of China’s count, the unprecedented lockdown of Wuhan and Hubei have been successful enough that other countries adopted similar measures.
“The people in Wuhan paid out a lot and bore a lot mentally and psychologically,” resident Zhang Xiang said. “Wuhan people are historically famous for their strong will.
A man and woman sit together outside a blood donation center in Wuhan on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
During the lockdown, Wuhan residents could leave their homes only to buy food or attend to other tasks deemed absolutely necessary. Some were allowed to leave the city, but only if they had paperwork showing they were not a health risk and a letter attesting to where they were going and why. Even then, authorities could turn them back on a technicality such as missing a stamp, preventing thousands from returning to their jobs outside the city.
Residents of other parts of Hubei were allowed to leave the province starting about three weeks ago, as long as they could provide a clean bill of health. People leaving the city still face numerous hurdles at their final destinations, such as 14-day quarantines and nucleic acid tests.
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Wuhan is a major center for heavy industry, particularly autos, and while many major plants have restarted production, the small and midsize businesses that employ the most people are still hurting from both a lack of workers and demand. Measures are being instituted to get them back on their feet, including 20 billion yuan ($2.8 billion) in preferential loans, according to the city government.
The exact source of the virus remains under investigation, though many of the first COVID-19 patients were linked to an outdoor food market in the city.
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huffpost--2020-04-08--Jimmy Fallon's Daughter Crashes Russell Wilson And Ciara Interview

If anyone tells you the kids aren ’ t the best part of late night right now , they ’ re lying through their teeth .
Speaking of teeth , Jimmy Fallon ’ s daughter Winnie , 6 , has one fewer right now , as she excitedly announced while crashing her dad ’ s interview with Russell Wilson and Ciara on Tuesday .
Wilson and Ciara were talking about the steps they ’ ve taken to help with coronavirus relief , which are commendable and include donating millions of meals and masks , when Winnie burst into the room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying something like , “ Hey , I ’ m kind of busy right now , ” Fallon seemed equally excited , putting a brief pause on the interview to let Winnie explain her big announcement .
“ Wait , this is big news guys , just tell them what happened , ” Fallon said .
Wilson and Ciara were into the news , too , with Ciara sharing a story about when their son , Future , lost his tooth .
Here ’ s hoping the Tooth Fairy came to visit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need more stories like this .

If anyone tells you the kids aren’t the best part of late night right now, they’re lying through their teeth.
Speaking of teeth, Jimmy Fallon’s daughter Winnie, 6, has one fewer right now, as she excitedly announced while crashing her dad’s interview with Russell Wilson and Ciara on Tuesday.
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Wilson and Ciara were talking about the steps they’ve taken to help with coronavirus relief, which are commendable and include donating millions of meals and masks, when Winnie burst into the room with her big news.
“Daddy, I lost my tooth!” Winnie excitedly shares off camera.
Rather than saying something like, “Hey, I’m kind of busy right now,” Fallon seemed equally excited, putting a brief pause on the interview to let Winnie explain her big announcement.
“Wait, this is big news guys, just tell them what happened,” Fallon said.
Wilson and Ciara were into the news, too, with Ciara sharing a story about when their son, Future, lost his tooth.
Here’s hoping the Tooth Fairy came to visit, Winnie. Tooth be told, we need more stories like this.


huffpost--2020-04-08--Kylie And Kris Jenner Recreate Epic Kourtney Kardashian Fight On TikTok

Turns out , much like many people on TikTok while self-isolating , the Kardashian-Jenner clan are also bored in the house and in the house bored .
This week , Kylie Jenner shared a few videos to her page on the platform while she and her family stay home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Fans of her family ’ s reality TV show , “ Keeping Up with the Kardashians , ” will likely love one of the videos in particular .
In a scene with matriarch Kris Jenner , Kylie plays sister Kourtney Kardashian opposite Kris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a now-iconic fight between the two .
The fight between the former couple , seen below , involves Disick asking for Kardashian to have boundaries about when they can talk business .
Disick asks at one point , “ So , are we cool ?
Like , are we in agreement ?
” To which Kardashian says : “ ABCDEFG I have to go.
” “ It ’ s just a phrase I like to use , ” explains Kardashian , before laughing and saying : “ That means the conversation is over.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the dissolution of the couple ’ s relationship and was given a rebirth of sorts on TikTok .
It seems it was only a matter of time before the sound bite , which has been on the platform for more than a month , boomeranged back to the family that originated it .
Kylie did not finish her posting spree this week with just that re-creation , but also shared a video featuring her daughter with rapper Travis Scott , her mother ( again ) , and her mother ’ s boyfriend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big head ” filter , the result is ... deeply unsettling and we can ’ t stop watching it .
Can ’ t wait to see what else Kylie comes up with while at home .

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Turns out, much like many people on TikTok while self-isolating, the Kardashian-Jenner clan are also bored in the house and in the house bored.
This week, Kylie Jenner shared a few videos to her page on the platform while she and her family stay home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Fans of her family’s reality TV show, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” will likely love one of the videos in particular.
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In a scene with matriarch Kris Jenner, Kylie plays sister Kourtney Kardashian opposite Kris’ Scott Disick in a recreation of a now-iconic fight between the two.
The fight between the former couple, seen below, involves Disick asking for Kardashian to have boundaries about when they can talk business. Disick asks at one point, “So, are we cool? Like, are we in agreement?” To which Kardashian says: “ABCDEFG I have to go.”
“What the heck does ABCDEFG mean?” asks Disick.
“It’s just a phrase I like to use,” explains Kardashian, before laughing and saying: “That means the conversation is over.”
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The moment has lived on long after the dissolution of the couple’s relationship and was given a rebirth of sorts on TikTok.
It seems it was only a matter of time before the sound bite, which has been on the platform for more than a month, boomeranged back to the family that originated it.
Here’s Kylie and Kris’ take, which features Kylie improvising and taking a swig of Don Julio:
Kylie did not finish her posting spree this week with just that re-creation, but also shared a video featuring her daughter with rapper Travis Scott, her mother (again), and her mother’s boyfriend, Corey Gamble.
Using the “big head” filter, the result is ... deeply unsettling and we can’t stop watching it.
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huffpost--2020-04-08--Joe Scarborough Explodes Over Trump's Coronavirus Lies, Networks Airing Them

MSNBC ’ s Joe Scarborough could barely contain his anger on Wednesday as he ripped Donald Trump for repeatedly lying during his daily coronavirus task force briefings and roasted cable networks — including his own — for failing to adequately fact-check the president ’ s falsehoods .
“ I still for the life of me don ’ t understand why the networks , including our own , allow Donald Trump to lie for two hours to the American people , ” the co-host of “ Morning Joe ” said Wednesday , at times shouting toward the camera .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be one thing , but it is a lie , ” he added , visibly becoming more upset .
“ So if this network or CNN or Fox is going to run him lying for two hours a night , they need a real-time fact-checker.
” “ I know we come out of it and our anchor , whoever it is that day , runs down a list of what the president just said and sort of debunks if it needs debunking those facts , ” Geist said .
“ So there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s a good thing.
” “ I ’ m not just talking about our network , all the networks , they get distracted by the ground noise .
‘ Can you believe the president said this ?
Can you believe he tweeted that ?
’ No .
Get the facts , get his quotes , get the death toll , get the people in his administration that were warning him from early January .
Put up his words , not your words , ” Scarborough said .
“ Get his quotes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statements .
Get the fact that he ’ s trying to stop Americans from voting in the election by mail , and then get when where the president says , ’ Yeah , I voted by mail because I ’ m allowed to do it but you ’ re not.
’ ” Scarborough suggested the briefings “ can ’ t continue unless they have a serious fact checker that cuts in while the president is lying to the American people.
” “ If he gives facts , great .
I ’ m all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I said from the beginning of this we ’ re all in this together .
I said from the beginning I want the president to succeed because when he succeeds , we succeed and Americans don ’ t die.
” “ But he ’ s not succeeding , ” Scarborough concluded .
“ In fact , he ’ s spreading misinformation .
He ’ s trying to cover up all the mistakes he ’ s made over the past two months instead of looking forward , trying to save senior citizens ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scarborough compared the president to the fictional character Eddie Haskell from the 1950s-60s TV show “ Leave it to Beaver , ” causing Haskell to trend on Twitter .
“ The president lies .
And I got to say , he ’ s not a particularly good liar .
In fact , he ’ s one of the worst liars since Eddie Haskell , ” Scarborough said .
“ For you people that are not as old as I am , Eddie Haskell was on ‘ Leave it to Beaver.
’ I saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s a worse liar since Eddie Haskell .
”

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MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough could barely contain his anger on Wednesday as he ripped Donald Trump for repeatedly lying during his daily coronavirus task force briefings and roasted cable networks — including his own — for failing to adequately fact-check the president’s falsehoods.
“I still for the life of me don’t understand why the networks, including our own, allow Donald Trump to lie for two hours to the American people,” the co-host of “Morning Joe” said Wednesday, at times shouting toward the camera.
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“If he were giving good information, that would be one thing, but it is a lie,” he added, visibly becoming more upset. “So if this network or CNN or Fox is going to run him lying for two hours a night, they need a real-time fact-checker.”
Co-host Willie Geist pointed out that “some of the networks are figuring this out and adapting.”
“I know we come out of it and our anchor, whoever it is that day, runs down a list of what the president just said and sort of debunks if it needs debunking those facts,” Geist said. “So there is some evolution there. I think that’s a good thing.”
It wasn’t good enough for the enraged Scarborough, however.
“I’m not just talking about our network, all the networks, they get distracted by the ground noise. ‘Can you believe the president said this? Can you believe he tweeted that?’ No. Get the facts, get his quotes, get the death toll, get the people in his administration that were warning him from early January. Put up his words, not your words,” Scarborough said. “Get his quotes, get his words. Get his statements. Get the fact that he’s trying to stop Americans from voting in the election by mail, and then get when where the president says, ’Yeah, I voted by mail because I’m allowed to do it but you’re not.’”
Scarborough suggested the briefings “can’t continue unless they have a serious fact checker that cuts in while the president is lying to the American people.”
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“If he gives facts, great. I’m all for it,” he said. “I said from the beginning of this we’re all in this together. I said from the beginning I want the president to succeed because when he succeeds, we succeed and Americans don’t die.”
“But he’s not succeeding,” Scarborough concluded. “In fact, he’s spreading misinformation. He’s trying to cover up all the mistakes he’s made over the past two months instead of looking forward, trying to save senior citizens’ lives.”
(Watch the comments from the 14-minute mark in the video above.)
Elsewhere on the show, Scarborough compared the president to the fictional character Eddie Haskell from the 1950s-60s TV show “Leave it to Beaver,” causing Haskell to trend on Twitter.
“The president lies. And I got to say, he’s not a particularly good liar. In fact, he’s one of the worst liars since Eddie Haskell,” Scarborough said. “For you people that are not as old as I am, Eddie Haskell was on ‘Leave it to Beaver.’ I saw the reruns, OK? But but he’s a worse liar since Eddie Haskell.”
Check out that bit from the 11-minute mark in the video below:
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huffpost--2020-04-08--I'm At Home With A Profoundly Disabled Child And I'm Afraid I Can't Meet His Needs

For 40 weeks of the year , we have zero standing Saturday obligations .
We mark time with my 6-year-old ’ s five tube feedings .
WD sleeps in and later avails himself of cat naps , for which he simply must snuggle .
I ’ m not here to argue about being forced to watch TV and enjoy time with a boy who will soon be physically too big for this .
I do a few chores , and he tools around in his gait trainer , a piece of equipment he loves that allows him mobility and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uses to spin himself in endless circles .
We go for a walk if the weather allows , play with light-up or sound-rewarding toys , read some books .
He gets a bath .
He goes to bed , and I eat ice cream .
Wonderful .
I know I ’ m not alone right now .
Parents everywhere are in difficult positions trying to navigate working from home or not having work at all , educating and feeding their children , and managing worries about health and safety .
For parents of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that much more complex .
In my insular world of profoundly disabled children , the focus is on what they can do and what they ’ re working on doing .
Now , I have to large-scale reckon all of the things that both of us can not do .
I can not do physical , occupational or speech therapy exercises that aren ’ t beat for beat what a therapist has written out and demonstrated for me .
Even then , it seems dicey .
I do not know the nuances of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blind or have low vision , nor do I know how to supplement WD ’ s education the way I might a nondisabled child .
WD can not run around in the backyard — which we don ’ t have anyway — or create LEGO cities or doodle along with Mo Willems or do a worksheet or anything else on the myriad lists of how to engage children while we ’ re all stuck at home .
If I hold his elbow , WD can help turn pages in a book as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he can shake jingle bells .
If I shift his weight forward while he ’ s sitting in a WD-sized chair and cheer , “ Muscles !
Muscles !
Muscles !
” he will push until he ’ s standing , a skill new enough that he smiles with pride each time .
If I hold his hands for balance , he can take halting steps , always starting with his left foot .
The U.S. Department of Education ’ s supplemental fact sheet released in late March isn ’ t very comforting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to scrap education altogether for fear of violating the rights of students with disabilities .
What falls under IDEA ’ s provisions for “ for flexibility in determining how to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities , ” particularly in times of emergency ?
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has 30 days to inform Congress of the necessity of IDEA waivers “ in order to provide schools with ‘ limited flexibility.
’ ” What does that constitute ?
I want to believe the Department of Education ’ s guidance — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district ’ s websites — won ’ t be written off .
Or that the directive that children ’ s IEP teams “ must make an individualized determination whether and to what extent compensatory services may be needed consistent with applicable requirements , including to make up for any skills that may have been lost during the closure within a reasonable timeframe ” will actually result in compensatory services .
The thing is , parents and schools often have different interpretations of the “ appropriate ” part of the legally mandated Free Appropriate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I sued our school district : Their “ appropriate ” or “ good enough ” was not mine .
And now there ’ s an additional couching of phrases like “ current circumstances ” and “ greatest extent possible.
” IDEA has also been perpetually underfunded and difficult to enforce in the best of circumstances .
Each day , I remind myself of our luck and privileges : WD is an easygoing kid who rolls with just about anything .
I still have a flexible and understanding job .
We have a place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us make sure to step into yards or the street in order to maintain appropriate distance .
We have a wealth of people to FaceTime and Skype .
When WD ’ s school sent us creative , thoughtful websites like Paths to Literacy and Active Learning Space , I spiraled further still .
WD and I could do activities like squishing water beads or painting with black light-sensitive paint .
You know what I don ’ t have ?
Any of those things .
I have other things , but should I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been doing with our time ?
Have I already been hindering his progress ?
This is not a helpful place to be .
Every day that the schools ( rightly ! )
stay closed , every day that ’ s closer to summer is another day of potential growth or skills maintenance slipping away .
And if I decide WD ’ s going to be OK for however long this goes on , does that make our school district right that these services are expendable or unnecessary ?
Does it make the members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IDEA in the stimulus bill right ?
Will that give them eventual leeway in the future for further limiting services or Extended School Year , the summer programming that helps mitigate skill loss ?

robert reader via Getty Images
So far, my favorite days are Saturdays. I fundamentally understand Saturdays.
For 40 weeks of the year, we have zero standing Saturday obligations. We mark time with my 6-year-old’s five tube feedings. WD sleeps in and later avails himself of cat naps, for which he simply must snuggle. I’m not here to argue about being forced to watch TV and enjoy time with a boy who will soon be physically too big for this.
I do a few chores, and he tools around in his gait trainer, a piece of equipment he loves that allows him mobility and a modicum of independence, which he mostly uses to spin himself in endless circles. We go for a walk if the weather allows, play with light-up or sound-rewarding toys, read some books. He gets a bath. He goes to bed, and I eat ice cream. Wonderful.
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Nothing has changed about Saturdays, other than I can’t stop for coffee while we’re on our walks. The other days of the week, not so much.
For the last year, I’ve been arguing — at Individualized Education Plan meetings, mediation, a due process hearing — with our school district about WD’s school placement. My argument, in short, is that WD needs an environment and educational protocol specifically tailored to children with cortical visual impairment, a neurological blindness. With this protocol, children can better access their world, as WD has experienced for the past three years.
Now that schools are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the joke’s on me.
WD has schizencephaly, a condition in which the brain doesn’t fully form in utero, which has led to cerebral palsy, epilepsy and CVI. He’s nonmobile, nonverbal, and entirely tube-fed. He’s also charming, funny and tenacious.
I am dependent on his school and medical day care to anchor each week, so much so that we’ve never gone on vacation because I couldn’t see how we could make it work with just the two of us.
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I know I’m not alone right now. Parents everywhere are in difficult positions trying to navigate working from home or not having work at all, educating and feeding their children, and managing worries about health and safety. For parents of children with disabilities, the days are that much more complex.
In my insular world of profoundly disabled children, the focus is on what they can do and what they’re working on doing. Now, I have to large-scale reckon all of the things that both of us cannot do. I cannot do physical, occupational or speech therapy exercises that aren’t beat for beat what a therapist has written out and demonstrated for me. Even then, it seems dicey.
I do not know the nuances of being a teacher for children who are blind or have low vision, nor do I know how to supplement WD’s education the way I might a nondisabled child. WD cannot run around in the backyard — which we don’t have anyway — or create LEGO cities or doodle along with Mo Willems or do a worksheet or anything else on the myriad lists of how to engage children while we’re all stuck at home.
If I hold his elbow, WD can help turn pages in a book as we read, he can paint, and he can shake jingle bells. If I shift his weight forward while he’s sitting in a WD-sized chair and cheer, “Muscles! Muscles! Muscles!” he will push until he’s standing, a skill new enough that he smiles with pride each time. If I hold his hands for balance, he can take halting steps, always starting with his left foot.
How do you fill days with activities when so many of those activities require direct assistance? When a child can’t tell you what he wants to do? How many activities are enough?
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According to the National Center for Education Statistics, during the 2017-18 school year, 7 million students—14% of public school students — ages 3 to 21 received services made possible by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Kids with multiple disabilities account for 2% of that population.
What is going to happen to them?
The U.S. Department of Education’s supplemental fact sheet released in late March isn’t very comforting, especially since it encourages school districts not to scrap education altogether for fear of violating the rights of students with disabilities. What falls under IDEA’s provisions for “for flexibility in determining how to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities,” particularly in times of emergency? Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has 30 days to inform Congress of the necessity of IDEA waivers “in order to provide schools with ‘limited flexibility.’” What does that constitute?
I want to believe the Department of Education’s guidance — replicated on both my state and school district’s websites — won’t be written off. Or that the directive that children’s IEP teams “must make an individualized determination whether and to what extent compensatory services may be needed consistent with applicable requirements, including to make up for any skills that may have been lost during the closure within a reasonable timeframe” will actually result in compensatory services.
The thing is, parents and schools often have different interpretations of the “appropriate” part of the legally mandated Free Appropriate Public Education. It’s why I sued our school district: Their “appropriate” or “good enough” was not mine. And now there’s an additional couching of phrases like “current circumstances” and “greatest extent possible.” IDEA has also been perpetually underfunded and difficult to enforce in the best of circumstances.
Until three weeks ago, WD had a cadre of teachers and therapists at school and day care who work so hard each day. They make magic happen. My job, then, is to parent WD, and parent I have, specifically making sure to not get sucked into the perpetual therapist-and-caretaker vortex.
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Welcome to the vortex, I guess.
Each day, I remind myself of our luck and privileges: WD is an easygoing kid who rolls with just about anything. I still have a flexible and understanding job. We have a place to be outside where people walking toward us make sure to step into yards or the street in order to maintain appropriate distance. We have a wealth of people to FaceTime and Skype.
WD has his gait trainer as well as a switch, a big button he can use to do things like turn a page in a digital book or express a recorded phrase — both of which are expensive pieces of equipment that not everyone has access to.
I also find myself grateful for surprising things, such as last year’s back pain and the resulting physical therapy — because now I know how to monitor my body and protect it while being the sole provider of care for a physically dependent boy who is over a third of my weight.
Or for all the times WD spent in the hospital with seizures or neurosurgery or aspiration pneumonia. None of those stays have been as long as a pandemic, but the conceptual pathway is there for how to upend life and live in a world of altered time and uncertainty.
But it’s not enough.
When WD’s school sent us creative, thoughtful websites like Paths to Literacy and Active Learning Space, I spiraled further still. WD and I could do activities like squishing water beads or painting with black light-sensitive paint. You know what I don’t have? Any of those things. I have other things, but should I have these specific things? What have I been doing with our time? Have I already been hindering his progress? This is not a helpful place to be.
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Every day that the schools (rightly!) stay closed, every day that’s closer to summer is another day of potential growth or skills maintenance slipping away. And if I decide WD’s going to be OK for however long this goes on, does that make our school district right that these services are expendable or unnecessary? Does it make the members of Congress who wanted to include waiving IDEA in the stimulus bill right? Will that give them eventual leeway in the future for further limiting services or Extended School Year, the summer programming that helps mitigate skill loss?
These are the fears that consume me as we go through each day. What I want, instead, is to go back to cans instead of can’ts. I want to be focused on moments like Monday morning when WD nearly broke his face from smiling so hard when his teacher appeared on-screen for virtual circle time. I want him to continue to thrive.
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huffpost--2020-04-08--Is Dog Grooming Essential? PetSmart Says Yes, Pressuring Hundreds To Come In To Work

“ It sounds like a lot of corporate excuses to justify what they want to do , ” said a groomer , who like others interviewed for this story , spoke on condition of anonymity .
“ They ’ re just smelly and need their nails trimmed .
There is nothing that we do that a dog owner can not do at home.
” Groomers , some of whom have a base pay of less than $ 10 an hour , say there is no way to perform their jobs without coming into close physical contact with pet owners and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
In many states , PetSmart may also be flouting governors ’ orders against operating nonessential businesses .
As of Wednesday , governors in 45 states have told residents to stay at home and have ordered total or partial shutdowns of nonessential businesses to stop the spread of COVID-19 , the illness caused by the coronavirus .
Most states have classified PetSmart and other pet stores as essential businesses so that pet owners can buy necessities like dog food and cat litter .
“ We have been contacted by local law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instance , we have cooperated and fully complied with their requests , ” a PetSmart spokesperson said .
“ Many times , we ’ ve shared our operational improvements to enable social distancing , and the officer or inspector has felt confident these measures were sufficient for us to remain in operation.
” For those who have no choice but to work , PetSmart is paying groomers their regular hourly pay ; it has not joined companies like Kroger and Amazon in offering small “ hazard pay ” raises .
One groomer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the salon , said his pay was so low that he did not earn enough to qualify for unemployment benefits .
The company has waived attendance policies for workers who choose to stay home , the spokesperson said , and is paying 100 % of health care premiums for furloughed workers in locations where salons are not allowed to operate .
As for workers who are choosing to stay home , PetSmart is “ working with associates to ensure they can return to the business when they feel the time is right for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Is ‘ Much Like Washing Your Hands ’ The talking points strongly imply that dog groomers are actually helping to prevent the spread of a dangerous disease .
Although the communication stresses that there is no evidence that dogs can spread COVID-19 , it also states in nearly the same breath that dog grooming is “ much like washing your hands ” and is essential to stopping the spread of “ viruses .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
As the coronavirus pandemic rips across the country, governors in nearly every state have ordered the closure of all but the most essential businesses. On Monday, however, PetSmart, a big-box retailer of pet supplies with 1,650 North American locations, reopened hundreds of its dog-grooming salons.
The decision increased traffic to the stores and infuriated employees who say they are risking exposure to a deadly virus to perform a nonessential task.
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Should they be questioned, PetSmart told employees, they should tell authorities that pet owners can’t brush their dog’s fur or clean their teeth at home, and that grooming will help reduce the spread of viruses. These talking points, reviewed by HuffPost, are bogus, groomers said.
“It sounds like a lot of corporate excuses to justify what they want to do,” said a groomer, who like others interviewed for this story, spoke on condition of anonymity. “They’re just smelly and need their nails trimmed. There is nothing that we do that a dog owner cannot do at home.”
Groomers, some of whom have a base pay of less than $10 an hour, say there is no way to perform their jobs without coming into close physical contact with pet owners and other workers, which risks spreading the virus. In many states, PetSmart may also be flouting governors’ orders against operating nonessential businesses.
By reopening its salons, PetSmart has joined the ranks of numerous companies that are stretching the meaning of “essential” business to keep operating during the pandemic.
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“Everyone in our store is pretty angry. It’s ushering people out of their houses. It’s giving them a reason to be out and about and moving the virus around.” - PetSmart groomer
As of Wednesday, governors in 45 states have told residents to stay at home and have ordered total or partial shutdowns of nonessential businesses to stop the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Most states have classified PetSmart and other pet stores as essential businesses so that pet owners can buy necessities like dog food and cat litter.
PetSmart’s pet salons — which are a high-margin part of its business — are another story. Although they are located inside the big box stores, the legality of providing pet grooming services during the coronavirus pandemic is questionable.
Only a few states have made rules on pet grooming explicit. Oklahoma has allowed some grooming services to continue, while authorities in Ohio charged a woman with a misdemeanor for allowing dog grooming to continue at her animal hospital. On Tuesday, PetSmart company closed salon services in Los Angeles after Popular Information, a newsletter, noted that the city had explicitly suspended dog grooming.
In Michigan, where several PetSmart employees who spoke to HuffPost are located, the governor suspended all in-person nonessential businesses on March 23. The state later issued exemptions related to pets, but those cover basic care — buying pet food or medication, for example — or veterinary care that is lifesaving or treats a pet’s “serious pain.”
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PetSmart locations across the state of Michigan are charging ahead with the interpretation that grooming is allowed, too. A company representative said 22 of its 40 grooming locations in the state are up and running.
“Everyone in our store is pretty angry,” said one groomer. “It’s ushering people out of their houses. It’s giving them a reason to be out and about and moving the virus around.”
A steady drip of dog owners are making new appointments — although not enough that this groomer expects to clear the threshold for earning a commission.
An employee and a former employee of at least one PetSmart location in Michigan reported the store to the police this week for violating Michigan’s shutdown order. So far, local law enforcement has not moved to shut that location down.
“We have been contacted by local law enforcement in some stores, and in every instance, we have cooperated and fully complied with their requests,” a PetSmart spokesperson said. “Many times, we’ve shared our operational improvements to enable social distancing, and the officer or inspector has felt confident these measures were sufficient for us to remain in operation.”
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An Impossible Choice
PetSmart initially closed most of its grooming salons on March 21 “out of concern for the safety and wellbeing of both our associates and customers,” the company said in a public statement. But it reopened many of those locations on Monday, April 6.
The company says its grooming salons underwent a “redesign” during their closure. “We have implemented stringent new measures that follow the social distancing and sanitary guidelines detailed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” PetSmart said in a public statement.
PetSmart workers are not being asked to perform services that require more than one person to be in the salon and are being told not to accept leashes and collars, a company spokesperson told HuffPost.
Some “redesigns”, however, consists of no more than providing salon employees with disposable gloves, homemade face masks and a cleaning product, Oxivir Five 16, workers told HuffPost. The spray is effective at killing the coronavirus, but workers are responsible for cleaning.
The realities of dog grooming make it impossible to keep the CDC-recommended six feet of distance away from other people. One worker said it recently took two employees standing face to face to hoist a large dog onto a grooming table and make sure it didn’t squirm while getting its hair cut.
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Groomers say they are still touching objects like leashes, collars and dog crates made of plastic, where the virus may survive for many hours. And although customers can prepay for dog grooming online, many still enter the store to pay at the register.
PetSmart is not even asking owners with COVID-19 to refrain from sending their pets to the store, but rather asking for that pet owner to send their pet via an “agent,” such as another member of their household.
Groomers who are refusing to work in those conditions are taking unpaid leave, according to the workers who spoke with HuffPost, and PetSmart is not guaranteeing their jobs back when the crisis ends. Most workers have accrued only a few paid vacation days.
For those who have no choice but to work, PetSmart is paying groomers their regular hourly pay; it has not joined companies like Kroger and Amazon in offering small “hazard pay” raises. One groomer, who took leave rather than work in the salon, said his pay was so low that he did not earn enough to qualify for unemployment benefits.
The company has waived attendance policies for workers who choose to stay home, the spokesperson said, and is paying 100% of health care premiums for furloughed workers in locations where salons are not allowed to operate. As for workers who are choosing to stay home, PetSmart is “working with associates to ensure they can return to the business when they feel the time is right for them personally.”
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“We respect everyone’s choices under these difficult circumstances.”
PetSmart: Dog Grooming Is ‘Much Like Washing Your Hands’
PetSmart sent employees a set of talking points to repeat to local law enforcement and government officials if they question why the pet salons are open.
The talking points strongly imply that dog groomers are actually helping to prevent the spread of a dangerous disease. Although the communication stresses that there is no evidence that dogs can spread COVID-19, it also states in nearly the same breath that dog grooming is “much like washing your hands” and is essential to stopping the spread of “viruses.”
“Effectively bathing a pet (much like washing your hands) removes germs from a pet’s coat. Like washing your hands, washing a pet will help reduce the likelihood of spread where viruses have been in contact with the pet’s fur. To date, the CDC does not have evidence that companion animals, including pets, can spread COVID-19,” the talking points read.
“To be clear,” a company spokesperson said, “PetSmart has never suggested or implied that dog grooming will prevent the spread of COVID-19. Pet grooming is an important part of a dog’s health, but these concerns are not related to the ongoing pandemic.”
It is accurate that there is currently no evidence of household pets or their fur transmitting the coronavirus.
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But other claims PetSmart is making are suspect — like its claim that pet salons are crucial for dogs’ health. The talking points for law enforcement also state that a typical pet owner cannot perform services like brushing a dog’s teeth, brushing its coat, trimming its nails, or cleaning its ears without injuring the dog.
“Hygiene such as teeth brushing, ear cleaning, nail trimming and brushing are essential aspects of regular dog care and cannot be performed by the dog themselves. Pet Parents typically cannot perform these functions themselves without risk of injury to themselves or the pet.”
In fact, most pet owners can perform basic grooming tasks at home. Older pet owners and pet owners with disabilities may have trouble doing so. But that is not PetSmart’s justification for keeping its salons open, and PetSmart isn’t limiting grooming to customers with disabilities or service animals.
Instead, a salon in Michigan is mostly catering to pet owners who are simply bored, a groomer said.
“Dogs need care, but it doesn’t have to be provided by us,” this person said. “It’s just not essential to bring them to a groomer.”
CORRECTION: This article initially mischaracterized as a “former employee” one of the individuals who contacted the Michigan police in regard to a PetSmart location. That individual is a current employee.