fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Here I sit,
Tags: Theater, Covid, Pandemic

Here I sit,

Looking out at an imaginary audience that never had a chance to be overwhelmed by the immense beauty of a single act.

Here I sit,

Picturing a crowd that would’ve been buzzing with excitement, but instead hearing only the bitter stillness of an empty room.

Here I sit,

Imagining the heat from the sweltering stage lights that never had a chance to shine.

Here I sit,

Behind the curtain that should’ve held actors before they took their final breath and walked on the stage to perform, but now only hold silenced memories of what should’ve been.

Here I sit,

Behind the curtain that should’ve held a radiant actor after they perfected their part, but only a somber stillness remains.

Here I sit,

On top of the paintings that for some people hold cherished memories of belly laughs and heartbreaks, but are now just arbitrary splashes of color on the floor.

Here I sit,

Looking at a place that holds no major significance to me, but that holds the livelihood of others.

Here I sit,

With no emotion, on a stage where others have felt true joy, excitement, and passion.

Here I sit,

On a stage that holds bittersweet memories that will never be lost.

Here I sit,

After the pandemic.

Here I sit,

In the after.
#Bhaadmeinjaa 2020 trends on Twitter as netizens relate to the viral song: Watch here
By: India Ahead News
Tags: Covid, 2020, Covid-19

New Delhi: This year has been one heck of a roller coaster ride for everyone across the world. From the ongoing pandemic, forest fires to cyclones and floods, it seems like 2020 has had everything disastrous for us.



Most of us would be lying if we say we didn’t think for once that this year will never end. But, since this year is about to get over with 3 successful vaccines in hands and many others on the way, it rekindles our hope for a better year ahead.



Hashtag #BhaadMeinJaa2020 is trending on Twitter after the qawwali by Home time went viral on social media platforms.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAhMQwtwNxs&utm_source=TwitterTrend&utm_medium=VidoolyTrendTwitter&utm_campaign=2020Qawwali



Well, is it possible that netizens relate to something and not express it on their feed?



Microblogging platform Twitter is flooded with memes expressing the frustration that all of us share for the year 2020.



Here, have a look:



https://twitter.com/_TheKidd9/status/1342753591535136768



https://twitter.com/mard_tweetwala/status/1342747130973233152



https://twitter.com/mm_Singh761/status/1342743927821119489



https://twitter.com/Being_Akbar/status/1342739465081671680



https://twitter.com/KingS21697049/status/1342737639963705346



https://twitter.com/saffron_warlord/status/1342721635577602051



https://twitter.com/Being_Akbar/status/1342724418313678850



https://twitter.com/_Dishant7/status/1342725531079340037



https://twitter.com/imAKPandey/status/1342720830338306048



With
A CEO’s Experience During the nCoV Crisis — Part II : On the Ground
By: Teo Swee Ann
Tags: Covid, CEO, Ceo Blog, Coronavirus, Espressif

Besides the option of ordering food using online platforms, many restaurants are open in the normal sense of the word, albeit with some rules. For instance, I have had my lunch at an Italian eatery today (picture above) while working on my circuits and running simulations via remote access. I was however, the only person at the restaurant (I sat in the open) for that two hours, except for food delivery guys who dropped by every so often to pick up their orders. I finally left because it was too windy for me to have my WeChat teleconference.

Despite the strict quarantine measures and disruptions, Shanghai city hums along with quiet resolve and expansive tenacity, rapidly adjusting herself to the new circumstances — there have had been no disruption to water, electricity and food, and streets continue to be maintained. Somehow, even the cats in the vicinity of our workplace get fed too.

Our resident black cat

Restoring Functions

Our engineers and partners have made significant progress over the past two days to address our concerns regarding logistics and the supply chain. I was informed today that our manufacturing partners resumed operations yesterday and are producing our Espressif modules. A couple of new module designs were also being sent to our partners.

I don’t remember if I have had ever been so happy about such routine matters—they now rank high on The Checklist.

The Virus

In the cities other than Hubei, new infections are decreasing. In Shanghai, for instance, there were only 7 new cases detected today. In Hubei, there was a sharp rise in the number of infections (increase of more than 15,000) reported, and which was attributed to the change in the diagnostic criteria. The Hubei governor was also replaced by the central government today.

It’s not a perfect day, but things are moving in the correct direction.

Teo Swee Ann, CEO Espressif Systems

13 Feb 2020
🦠 1 yr ago today: 45 cases – Now: 94m 🦠 🌏
By: Stephen Douglas
Tags: Covid, Corona, Disinformation, Lockdown, Health

HK 🇭🇰 Govt presser – 16 Jan 20:

”…total …. infections …Wuhan 45 … 2 died…”

Cases had been recorded in 🇹🇭 & 🇯🇵.

That was it!

Now, 🌎

🛑 93m cases

🛑 2m + 🪦

400k excess 💀 in 🇺🇸

100k excess ☠️ in 🇬🇧

133 💀 in HK 🇭🇰

1.3.3.

We failed 🌎 😞 😔 😢

What can we do to ✋🏿🚦🛑⏹🙊😷?

Lead. Everyone can lead.

Leadership wear 😷 🎭!

Promote patience.

Focus 🧘🏿🎧🧘‍♀️on 🦠.

Hard in all of our lives.

We’ve ALL lost 😠 a lot.

Vaccine not a panacea.

4–6 facilities in 🌎 can manufacture vaxx.

2018: 10b doses of all kinds manufact 🌎 & 💉.

By Jan ‘22 estimated 8b Covid vaccine doses will’ve been manufactured.

= a lot of other vaccines which WON’T be made & 💉 for other 💀 diseases.

Looks like 🌍 needs 15b Covid vaxx doses EVERY year, permanently.

Betting on getting a vaccine & letting Corona run riot was & is a enMADDENING strategy.

Not enough of us r restricting our ⭕️.

Wearing 😷.

Can we do more strategically to communicate?

✅ 40% of transmission frm symptomless people.

✅ It’s airborne.

✅ Economy can’t recover, until 🦠 is suppressed.

✅ If you’re arguing any narrative that includes any variation of a narrative core “take less care,” why?

If you hear such narratives, however clothed, ignore them.

Take care.

✌🏿

Covid pieces collected:

100 🇬🇧 Covid+ Errors
“Thank God the Celebrities are Well!” — A COVID Poem
By: Nykia Cook
Tags: Covid, I Hate Rich People, Celebrity Culture, Ugh, Pandemic

The pandemic speeds in the foreground of our lives.

We’re still on Zoom, We’re still unemployed,

many of us still tied to our rooms.

But thank God, our precious celebrities have been able to go on just fine.

We observe as they return to their sets, their concerts,

their award show and more,

Cash they’re checks,

but us normal folk are still stuck

in the Pandemic’s roar.

Our GoFundMe’s crowd us out,

our cries for help silence as time moves,

But thank God, the celebrities get to gratefully return to their business.

The big-name models and actors post their

stories and their warnings,

“Wear your mask! Don’t go out, or you’ll be sorry!”

Be mindful of the pandemic, they tell us to socially distance

But moments later, celebrate and party in crowds with no resistance.

The red carpets roll out, and paparazzi photos shine,

But we sit and wait, wondering if the next ventilator will be mine.

They get their daily tests, while ours run limited.

They get to their friends, their family — no wonder they’re so high spirited.

They can afford this pause in life, but we can’t afford it all.

But here we are in our homes, isolated,

who knew their wallets were so small?

The pandemic only exists with us.

The plebes, the poor, the people.

Celebrities live in a different world.

The elite, the clean, the peaceful.

The virus wages a war on us as we lose all that we’ve got.

But thank God almighty, the pandemic hasn’t let the poor old celebrities rot.

Our friends infected, our family dead,

But thank God, the celebrities are fed.

But still, we sit and pray and pause,

with our lives in the hands of the law.

written back in June randomly in my notes app. I am not good at poetry but I was in my lil Edgar Allen Poe moment.
Ness Wadia : IPL 2020 Will Be Most Watched Ever
Tags: Ness Wadia Latest News, Covid, Ness Wadia, Ness Wadia News

Ness Wadia : IPL 2020 Will Be Most Watched Ever Mehtapayal Feb 2·1 min read

Players Should be Tested Daily for COVID,

Kings XI Punjab co-owner Ness Wadia on Friday advocated daily testing of players during the IPL and predicted that the upcoming edition in the UAE will be the most watched in the tournament’s history.

Wadia’s comments came after IPL chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed that the T20 league will be held from September 19 to November 8. All teams are now awaiting the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) from the BCCI, which will finalise the logistics in the IPL Governing Council meet next week.

“Strict safety protocols have to be put in place both for off-field and on-field activities to make the IPL safe and successful. They should not be compromised at all,” Wadia told PTI.

“I would want as much testing as possible and preferably daily. If I was a cricketer, I would be very happy in getting myself tested everyday. There is no harm in it,” he added.

Check here for more updates..
Russia’s Sputnik Vaccine Is Reported To Be 92% Effective Against COVID-19
Tags: Sputnik, Covid, Vaccine

Russia’s Sputnik vaccine was found to be effective in preventing COVID-19 symptoms, according to a new study published in The Lancet medical journal. Here, a patient gets a shot of the Russian vaccine at Sochi’s City Hospital No 4.

Dmitry Feoktistov/TASS via Getty Images

Updated at 9:50 a.m. ET

Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is 92% effective in protecting people from developing COVID-19 symptoms, according to a study published in The Lancet on Tuesday.

The study follows a Phase 3 trial in Moscow hospitals and clinics that included nearly 22,000 participants age 18 and older.

The vaccine, known as Gam-COVID-Vac, “was well tolerated in a large cohort,” the researchers said. It was administered in two doses, 21 days apart.

The study was financed by government entities such as the Moscow City Health Department and the Russian Direct Investment Fund. The findings stand to add legitimacy to the Sputnik vaccine, which met with skepticism last August when the Russian government touted its move to formally register the world’s first vaccine, despite not having completed clinical trials. The Phase 3 clinical trials in the Lancet study did not begin until Sept. 7.

More than 16,000 volunteers got the vaccine group and more than 5,000 got a placebo.

Despite the early lack of hard data, Russia has been able to sell its Sputnik vaccine to a number of countries, including Argentina, Mexico, India and Hungary, as health officials around the world work to secure life-saving vaccines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The international market for vaccines has been extremely tight: Hundreds of millions of doses from pharmaceutical giants such as Pfizer and Moderna have been bought or Sputnik V uses a snippet of DNA carried by a modified adenovirus, a kind of virus that causes the common cold. This is the same type of vaccine being developed by Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use a different method — they were created using RNA, a more fragile form of genetic material.

The piece of DNA in the Russian vaccine includes instructions for making the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins — the crown-like studs the coronavirus uses to enter cells. After the vaccine is injected, cells inside the body are able to make the spike protein, which triggers the immune system to provide protection against the coronavirus.

Russia has reported more than 3.8 million coronavirus cases, the fifth-most in the world, including nearly 73,000 deaths. In addition to Gam-COVID-Vac, the country has registered a second vaccine, called EpiVacCorona, which contains synthesized SARS-CoV-2 peptides. Russia’s health ministry says it plans to register a third vaccine — Kovivac — later this month. by the European Union, Canada, the U.S. and other large countries.
What will impact the recovery of vulnerable industries & jobs?
By: Horizon Group
Tags: Covid, Index, Jobs, Industry, Recovery

As countries look to a recovery Post-COVID, two fundamental factors will play an important role, according to Horizon-Group insights: their exposure to industries likely to continue to operate at reduced output and hence employment levels and the strength of their labour markets and policies.

​Among the countries heading the COVID Economic Recovery Index ranking, many score relatively poorly for their dependence on vulnerable industries, including the Netherlands, the US, the UK, and Singapore, who is 119th.

Source: Authors’ calculations based on International Labour Organization modeled estimates of employment by sex and economic activity (available at https://ilostat.ilo.org/data). The following economic sectors have been identified as high risk in the medium term: A) Accommodation and food service activities, B) Wholesale and retail trade, C) Transport, storage and communication, D) Real estate activities & Professional, scientific and technical activities & Administrative and support service activities, E) Mining and F) the Arts, entertainment and recreation & Other service activities & Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households for own use & Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies.

Like countries, industries have been affected in different ways by the crisis; by a collapse in demand; closure or operating restrictions due to containment measures; the impact of global travel bans; and supply chain difficulties.

Equally industries may not be able to return to pre-crisis levels of activity soon if no treatment or vaccine are found. Different industries are likely to return to pre-crisis activity levels at differing speeds but for some sectors the shape of that activity may change radically.

In some countries 50 percent or more of jobs are in sectors at risk.

Over 40 million jobs are at risk in Retail, Accommodation and Food, Manufacturing, and Construction in Europe alone (McKinsey, 2020). These industries are also those with a large percentage of lower-skilled, lower-income employees. Without wide-spread, rapid re-skilling, and training, many of those people may find it difficult to change jobs or enter new industries.

To date governments in many economies — notably in Europe — are still maintaining or only just beginning to scale back furlough or job retention measures, meaning the full impact of the crisis on job numbers has yet to be realised. But as businesses re-open, evidence suggests that so-called zombie jobs (Allianz Research, 2020), those in the sectors likely to be slowest to recover, will disappear.

Countries scoring higher on factors such labour market agility, the digital economy and skills and education will be better positioned to manage the labour market challenges ahead.
Belize Readies For COVAX Facility’s Deployment of COVID-19 Vaccines
By: Caribbean Culture, Lifestyle- Belize
Tags: Covid

The deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in the Caribbean and across the Americas under COVAX is anticipated to begin at the end of March. COVAX, a coalition led by WHO and Gavi to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, has notified countries in the Americas of the estimated dose allocation for the first phase of vaccine delivery in a letter to health authorities, the Pan American Health Organization reported January 31. Thanks to initial funding from the IDB of about $400,000, Belize has paid the first portion of our commitment to the COVAX facility, covering about 30% of our population. Countries in the Americas participating in COVAX that received letters are:



— Antigua and Barbuda

— Argentina

— Commonwealth of The Bahamas

— Barbados

— Belize

— Bermuda

— Bolivia

— Brazil

— British Virgin Islands

— Canada

— Chile

— Colombia

— Costa Rica

— Dominica

— Dominican Republic

— Ecuador

— El Salvador

— Granada

— Guatemala

— Guyana

— Haiti

— Honduras

— Jamaica

— Mexico

— Montserrat

— Nicaragua

— Panama

— Paraguay

— Peru

— St. Kitts and Nevis

— Saint Lucía

— Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

— Suriname

— Trinidad and Tobago

— Uruguay

— Venezuela



As one of six nations that will receive support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the rollout of a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination program, Belize aims to secure 120,000 vaccines in or before April 2021.

Belize
The path, the traveller, the virus…
By: Rukmini Iyer
Tags: Covid, Rukmini Iyer, Buddha, Poetry, Spiritual

Image source: Pixabay

There once lived a young prince

Who had never so much as seen a tear

For his father king was determined to rule his life.

A prophecy had said that prince will rule

Either his subjects or himself,

And the king would have none of the latter.

The father king only instructed the prince

In joy, luxury, comfort and ease.

One day, however, the young prince sneaked out

And opened his eyes to reality.

He encountered age, sickness, death and suffering

That made him pause and assess his destiny.

The prince became an ascetic;

He made friends with age, sickness and death;

He embraced suffering, became one with it;

And discovered, the only way out is through.

He went on to rule himself,

Laid a path for others to rule themselves, too.

They call him the Buddha

He discovered that the way out of suffering

Is to dance with it, for that is one’s dharma.

~

There was once a race of people

Who blinded themselves to their mother’s pain

For the system that fathered them

Lived only to perpetuate itself.

Eventually, it was either the system or the mother planet

And the system would have none of the latter.

The father system only egged on the race

To go after success, amassment, ambition and fame.

One day, however, a tiny microbe sneaked out

From a bat to an unsuspecting human.

It made them encounter what is essential

And made them pause and assess their choices.

The path always existed for the race

But the father system shrouded it with hardships

So the race believed it was merely for monks

And ignored the enlightenment presented on a platter.

Till they had no choice but to be dragged on to it,

Where they realised, the essential was all they needed.

They call them the sapiens

The world awaits, in extended pause…

For them to look life in the eye, and ask her for a dance.

~

The Buddha travelled alone

To create a path

So the sangha may follow

In community, to meet themselves.

Perhaps, the Buddha was the time-travelling soul…

Perhaps, the sangha is the earth-faring body…

#RukminiIyer #Buddha #Covid
Big C in love with 3Cs
By: Neil Pande
Tags: Covid, Survival, Collaboration, Prevention, Health

We have been living in the world of ‘C’ for the past 17 months globally. C has been the most common topic in every corner of the planet. It has disrupted human lives to the core. It seems to be on a continuous voyage from the East to the West. It mostly loves to travel around large cities, munching on all the weak and gentle, get stronger and move back and forth with more vigor and vitality. We humans are in an utter dilemma.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, it is that ‘C’ I am talking about that has disrupted lives of most of us in the planet. Coronavirus. And it thrives on 3Cs.

3Cs

Crowd

It loves to mingle in the crowd. It loves city life. It loves to have fun, dance all night long with a big horde.

Closed Spaces

It doesn’t like outdoor too much because it’s to windy out there. It thrives when the rooms are closed and loves it even more when the air conditioning is on. It adores the feeling of being suspended in air and finding another home to make more babies and get stronger at each step.

Close Contact

It loves when we humans are in close contact with each other, specially with our mouth, nose and eyes open. It gets VIP access when we humans are less than 6 feet away without any mouth coverings.

“C” has been trying to visit every household and stay inside every human if it can. Our body’s armed forces have been time and again fooled by it on a stealth operation.

So, what do we do to defeat this enemy that has disrupted our normal existence?

Just imagine oneself as a dry leaf in the forest and that the wildfire is going on in a near vicinity. If all the dry leaves are together, there is potential for all of them getting burnt. If they are separate, or in a bubble, chances are that the fire will never reache them.

So how do we ensure that flames from coming closer to us? Simple. Avoid 3Cs.

Crowd

Closed Space

Close Contact

If everyone takes this seriously and practices in full, Big C’s world tour will end, otherwise, we are here to be at the mercy of Big C and its children.

We know it’s hard, but it’s completely doable if we all collaborate, for the benefit of each one of us.
Why WHO is under criticism for it’s COVID 19 management?
By: Paradrox Com
Tags: Coronavirus, Co Vid, Health

World health organization (WHO) came under a lot of criticism for its inability to contain the COVID 19 and failing in guiding it’s member nations to safety. WHO was set up for the sole purpose of promoting global health and bring health to the remote areas under the United Nations in 1948. It had done its fair share of work till now, but many renowned scientist are stating that they had fallen short in tackling the COVID 19 pandemic.



When the first case of COVID 19 was reported in December from Wuhan, the WHO had recognized its potential for a global pandemic. But what prevented them from taking a hard stand against it? Allegations go along the way of China, where many believe that WHO has been strong-handed or became the puppet of Xi Jinping, President of China.



Did WHO slack so that China could get off the noose?



Almost all nations are unanimously accusing China for hiding facts, delaying information, falsifying data , and thereby contributing to a pandemic and putting other countries at risk. The pandemic has put many countries in an economic crisis, shattering their healthcare system. WHO has not made any public statement regarding China’s role in the pandemic. China has denied all the allegations as usual but they have not, will not permit an investigation in Wuhan by outside agencies. Are they hiding something ? America has been at the forefront accusing China and WHO for it’s irresponsible behaviour.
SixThirty’s Response to Coronavirus
Tags: Crisis Management, Fintech, Startups, Co Vid, Venture Capital

With all the punditry about the state of venture capital and VC-backed companies in the era of COVID-19, there are a couple of refrains that strike a chord:

‘Not sure how long this will last. Brace yourself, take shelter’ ‘Never let a crisis go to waste’

We take heed to both, and it is represented in the steps we are taking. Early stage venture-backed companies are culturally modeled and financially geared for high growth, often with high burn. In the current environment, resilience and solvency are paramount.

Our message to portfolio companies’ CEOs has been simple:

· Not sure how long this will all last. The key is liquidity and having the financial staying power to be around when this is behind us.

· Actively communicate with your teams, take shared responsibility as a leadership team, and manage your personal stress.

· REDUCE BURN, INCREASE CASH-ON-HAND. And, it is OK to over-react!

Startups are not built to hoard cash; increasing cash requires adjusting burn.

A key concern is customers terminating contracts. Our advice? Protect the churn. We are on watch for this, though most of what we are seeing is delays or pauses on new activity. Strategies to consider in this environment include offering more favorable payment terms, incentives for renewals, and focusing new sales efforts on up-sell opportunities rather than cold / new ones.

On the capital and fundraising side, we’ve seen and are hearing about a range of situations. We are familiar with one case where a lead investor pulled out of an in-flight round. We are also familiar with situations in which investor commitments have been pared back. Several portfolio companies have secured government loans to shore-up liquidity. However, most in-flight raises have stayed the course and investors have kept their commitments.

Some of the best companies in the world have been created in times of crises.

While we are aware of investors that have paused new investments, SixThirty continues to diligence in-flight deals and build a pipeline of prospective investments.

This is an unprecedented time in history, and we will not know the full extent of the pandemic’s impact for quite some time. In the interim, SixThirty remains vigilant and committed to our responsibilities to manage the portfolio of investments and judiciously seek new investments as appropriate.
Exposure Notification API
Tags: Co Vid

Google and Apple have joined forces in the “fight against COVID”, which we learned is the cover story for the fight against privacy (nothing new there).

In an effort to keep you accountable they have co-created the Exposure Notification API:

From the looks of things, it will broadcast a LE bluetooth signal in search of other such signals and computes an exposure event. Of course it asks for permission. According to their spec, it will broadcast the keys of reported COVID cases and notify you [and the snoopy eyes looking @ the data) of a COVID exposure. While we saw this implemented in Israel and other places a few months back, it was generally met with outrage given privacy concerns. Interestingly, the spec:

https://blog.google/documents/70/Exposure_Notification_-_Bluetooth_Specification_v1.2.2.pdf

states the following “privacy practices”:

The Exposure Notification Bluetooth Specification does not use location for proximity detection. It strictly uses Bluetooth beaconing to detect proximity. A user’s Rolling Proximity Identifier changes on average every 15 minutes, and needs the Temporary Exposure Key to be correlated to a contact. This behavior reduces the risk of privacy loss from broadcasting the identifiers. Proximity identifiers obtained from other devices are processed exclusively on device. Users decide whether to contribute to exposure notification. If diagnosed with COVID-19, users must provide their consent to share Diagnosis Keys with the server. Users have transparency into their participation in exposure notification

When we tried to set up a test environment to see what the reality of this really was, we saw the following on the Github page:

Only approved government public health authorities can access the APIs (included in an upcoming build of Google Play services) to build an app for COVID-19 response efforts. As part of our continued efforts to be transparent, we’re making this code public to help approved government public health authorities understand how to use the Exposure Notifications API to build their COVID-19 apps.

While the terms and other such text state that apps using the API are not allowed to collect location data, there are several methods for location determination via BLE.

Overall, what we’re worried about is privacy and leveraging this ability for nefarious purposes. Will the capability/API be removed post COVID? Doubtful. And if we replaced some of the words in the API reference with something else (e.g. DaysSinceLastExposure to something else), what can this be used for? Our friends @ EFF have posted some great privacy related articles, we recommend you check them out.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/
Jeffree Star slammed by Fans over his New Cremated cosmetics Release
By: Information Palace
Tags: Cremated, Co Vid, Covid 19

Fans also slammed MAKEUP mogul Jeffree Star over the launching of his latest set of Cremated cosmetics during the coronavirus pandemic.

The controversial online personality, 34, called the line his “favorite thing” he is ever done but indignant fans disagree, dragging the drop as “tone deaf.”

The new line of Jeffree is darkly themeed around death, and was branded by fans as “tone deaf”. The “tone deaf” launch has shocked fans of the online personality.

Jeffree teased “get ready to be deceased,” while promoting the death-themed line ahead of its Friday launch.

The goods are wrapped in black and white marble packaging with an urn printed on the front. Jeffree’s Cremated palette includes eye shadows titled “Burial Gown,” “Casket Ready,” “DeathBlow,” and “Eulogy.”

He also included the names “Grave Digger,” “Obituary,” “Death Certificate,” “R.I.P.,” “The Morgue,” “Angel of Death,” and more that are darkly centered around dying.

He told fans “get ready to be deceased” when selling the items The social media star named the set his “favorite thing” for the dark theme palette: “R.I.P,” “Death Certificate,” and “Goodbye”

Fans were immediately shocked at the “extremely bad timing” of its release because, according to the CDC, more than 85,000 confirmed deaths were registered in the United States alone due to COVID-19.

One livid critic tweeted: “J*ffree st*r releasing a palette called CREMATED in the middle of a pandemic is so f**king tone deaf.”

“My grandma had to be cremated after she died from Covid. This seems like bad timing for such a product,” someone heartbreakingly answered.

Another fired off: “This is tone deaf and in extremely poor taste. No matter it went into production pre-pandemic, now is not the time.”

Fans were livid, during the global pandemic, he released the Cremated line. Some followers raised the possibility that mortuaries were overfilled during the health crisis.

Somebody who urged his fans to stop supporting the YouTuber stated: “Jeffree Star rly released a CREMATION themed palette in the middle of a global pandemic in which the bodies of thousands killed by covid are being cremated.

“And STILL his deranged lil fans will eat it up lmao. i’m so tired when will that voldemort nosferatu looking c**t just…”

He disclosed on Jeffree’s YouTube channel that the palette was originally set to drop in April but was postponed due to COVID-19.

The online personality said he was excited for a “dark, gothic spring,” but as the release was pushed back, fans would now have to settle for a “dark summer.” He has not yet commented on the uproar from the makeup line.

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Netflix or Nah: The Day the Content Stops
By: Nicole Mebane
Tags: Corona, Virus, Pandemic, Co Vid, Satire

Netflix or Nah: The Day the Content Stops

A couple of months ago, the world changed as we knew it. Everything was turned upside-down by an invisible monster, and reality suddenly seemed to become uncomfortably close to an apocalyptic Hollywood tale. While we may have a great deal to fear right now, amid so much uncertainty, one of the most overlooked concerns that we should possibly all be panicking about is this: what will we all do in quarantine, once there are no new shows on Netflix (or any of the other streaming platforms)?

Pretty much every production has halted filming, and we’re currently getting by on the shows and movies that already wrapped before quarantine began. There’s been no interruption in new content thus far, and the WiFi is our oyster, but picture, if you will, several months down the line, when we will very likely still be on lockdown. The once seemingly endless supply of new shows, that are usually cranked out with the regularity and certainty of a rat sighting on a train platform, will dry up; and how will the world look then? Sure, there’s decades worth of content in existence that we could potentially binge, but do you really want to finally give in and try your luck with the Full House reboot? Probably not. When we’re forced to stare at our collective, double-chinned reflections in the black screens of our devices, and Netflix asks us if we’re still watching, will we turn off that Great Value brand Christmas movie, starring that one actor that we’ve definitely seen somewhere before (probably in another Netflix movie)? Or will we refill our wine glasses to blur the lines just enough, to not really care?

Perhaps the world as we knew it, will never return, and streaming devices will one day become obsolete in a post-apocalyptic landscape, serving no more purpose than as paper-weights, and possibly as MacGyver’d radios (if you’ve ever seen a movie, you know this is the only acceptable form of post-apocalyptic communication). In the meantime, enjoy the cornucopia of new programs, that still eagerly await our viewership, but perhaps also learn to appreciate more vintage forms of entertainment, just in case. I hear paper books are still a thing, and there’s probably enough of those to hold us over for a while.
Covid: Most of California under strict new lockdown as cases surge
Tags: Covid, Update

The stay-at-home order affects around 85% of the state’s 40 million people. It will be in place for at least three weeks and cover the Christmas holiday. Many businesses will be closed, and people will be banned from meeting anyone outside their household. On Sunday, the US had a record number of people in hospital with Covid-19. The country has seen a sharp rise in cases and Covid-related deaths in recent weeks, a surge that could be partly down to last month’s Thanksgiving holiday, when millions of Americans travelled around the US.

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The new restrictions in California — the country’s most populous state — were triggered by intensive care capacity in hospitals shrinking. The measures apply to the southern part of the state and its central valley, while other areas could follow within days. San Francisco has also gone into lockdown, with the mayor imposing a separate set of orders. California’s lockdown in March, in which all non-essential businesses were closed, was seen as an early model for the US at the beginning of the pandemic.
Three more COVID deaths confirmed in Greater Manchester Hospitals
By: Manchester News
Tags: Covid, Coronavirus, Covid 19

Three more people have died after testing positive for COVID.



The deaths took place in hospitals around Greater Manchester.



The NHS provides daily updates on deaths related to the coronavirus at hospital trusts across England.



These are cases where a patient has tested positive for the virus within 28 days of their death or where COVID-19 is written on their death certificate.



That doesn’t include any deaths that might occur in a community setting or a care facility.



The current death toll from COVID across Greater Manchester’s hospitals is currently 3,769.



One of the three deaths was reported to be at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the other two at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.



Here’s a breakdown of all the deaths across Greater Manchester hospitals as of December 6 from the Manchester Evening News:



Bolton NHS Foundation Trust — 399

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust — 9

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust — 685

NHS Nightingale Hospital North West — 6

Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust — 1,070

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust — 7

Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust — 325

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust — 321

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust — 417

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust — 18

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust — 512



There were six other deaths as the result of COVID reported in the wider North West region on Sunday as well.



The total overa
Half A Million Too Many
By: Barry Gander
Tags: Covid, Trump, School, America, Pandemic

The playground is silent

Half A Million Too Many

I just learned that a small-town school near my family has suddenly closed today because of COVID. It looks like teachers might be infected, which means that tonight, anxious parents are watching their children and going into a two-week isolation period. In a tiny community, everyone feels the pain; everyone wants to help but there is nothing that can be done.

That this is familiar to many of you, is a terrible thing, and I feel for your concern. So many are concerned…

By April of next year, there may be 530,000 Americans who will have died of COVID (University of Washington).

That’s like having a World Trade Centre terror attack every two days!

How do you feel about the leadership that actively brought this about?

This death-rate is not an accident. America has the world’s worst response to the pandemic: most number of infections, most deaths.

It happened because of one man.

He wouldn’t let a cruise ship dock in an American port because it would make his pandemic numbers look bad.

He encouraged mass gatherings.

He disdained medical advice.

He targeted state officials who tried to follow safety precautions.

He not only ignored the statistics on the rising numbers of deaths, he actively supressed them.

He triggered riots in the streets and hatred between neighbours.

He hid behind a bible while indulging in rape and abuse.

His sycophants were cowed by his rages and applauded his misdeeds.

In the midst of this death, he doubled down: he accelerated the number of executions of Death Row inmates at a pace not seen in 130 years.

He tried to remain in power by tricks like hobbling the Postal Service to slow down voting, and when that wasn’t enough, and he lost, he ranted and tried to cripple American democracy.

This man is leaving the helm soon, but his legacy will be with America for a generation. If Washington or Lincoln could see this man now, they would be mortified for their country. And probably outraged as well.

Let us not speak his name anymore; let only the tombstones whisper his name as the winds of night blow over them. For America, he is Ghost of Christmas Past. The dead are waiting for him.

There is a new world arising and a stronger America awaits it: weary perhaps, but thankful to be over an ordeal hand-made by their own leadership. If America can survive this, then nothing can beat it! Onwards and upwards! Make this count, for half-a-million reasons!
Morgan Wallen Broke COVID Rules, He Dropped as SNL Performer
Tags: Snl Performer, Covid, Morgan Wallen, Covid Rules

Country artist Morgan Wallen broke COVID rules with maskless partying in Alabama.

Today, he has donated an overwhelming apology after being dropped from his forthcoming play on Saturday Night Live for ignoring countless COVID-19 protocols.

He took to Instagram in a video posted ahead today, saying that he got a call from (SNL) letting him know he will no longer be able to play.

“I’m not positive for COVID, but my actions this past weekend were pretty short-sighted and they have obviously affected my long-term goals and my dreams,” Wallen said in his video on Instagram, “I respect the show’s decision because I know I put them in jeopardy, and I take ownership for this.”

Wallen continued that Lorne Michaels affirmed him he would be invited later and noted that he was stepping away from the public sight for a while. It’s currently undiscovered who will play as the musical guest on this weekend’s episode, hosted by Bill Burr.

People Criticising Morgan Wallen Broke COVID Rules

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DDC polls in J-K: 4th phase voting underway
By: India Ahead News
Tags: Covid, Coronavirus, Corona

Fighting the cold weather condition, voters across the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday (December 7) turned up in numbers at their respective polling stations to exercise their democratic right to vote during the fourth phase of District development council (DDC) elections.



The fourth phase of the DDC elections is currently underway for 34 constituencies — 17 each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions as lakhs of voters will decide the fate of 249 candidates. The voting will be held between 7 am and 2 pm.



“We want local governance and hope that it will bring development here,” said one of the local from Narbal area in Budgam district.



State Election Commissioner KK Sharma on Sunday had encouraged the people in J-K to take part in the election process, saying that democracy in this beautiful part of our country.



“DDCElections2020…I appeal all the eligible electors to vote in the 4th Phase tomorrow and strengthen the democracy in this beautiful part of our country…..34 DDC constituencies going to poll..249 Candidates in Fray,” KK Sharma tweeted on Sunday.



Apart from DDC election, polling will be held for panchayat bypoll in 50 vacant sarpanch seats and 216 vacant panch seats falling within the DDC constituencies.



The first phase of DDC elections on November 28 saw 51.76 percent voter turnout while second phase polls witnessed 48.62 percent on December 1 and the third phase of DDC elections on December 4 registered voter turnout of 50.53 percent.
COVID–19 Finance Guide for Mental Health Care Providers
Tags: Small Business, Therapist, Loan, Mental Health, Co Vid

Payroll Protection Program (PPP)

PPP loans are run through the Small Business Administration (SBA). The first round of PPP funding ran out, but on April 23 the program received an additional $320 billion in funding. Sole proprietors and business owners with employees are eligible for PPP loans.

How to apply

Applications for PPP loans must be filed through a bank. Most banks are not accepting new clients right now and many large banks have massive queues. Working with a smaller, local bank may allow you to file your application faster. Many people are reporting that it’s easiest and faster to file a loan outside of regular business hours.

When filing your loan application, expect the bank to ask for bank statements from the last 15 months as well as a prepared Schedule C from this year. The Schedule C does not need to have been filed yet.

How it works

Funding will be determined by your net profits from the 2019 tax year. To estimate your loan value, look at your net profits, divide it by 12, then multiply by 2.5.

Once a loan application has been submitted, you’ll receive a loan number from the SBA via email. The bank through which you filed your application will contact you separately with information about next steps.

Once you’ve signed your loan documents with the bank, your funds will be released within 24–48 hours, at which point you’ll have eight (8) weeks to use the funds.

What it can be used for

PPP loans can be used over a period of eight (8) weeks to cover gross payroll. A maximum of 25% of the loan can be put toward expenses outside of payroll, like rent and health insurance.

If you are a mental health care provider who is still seeing clients, consider allowing money from clients to cover your business expenses and treat the PPP loan as your own payroll.

Loan forgiveness and payback periods

If the PPP loan has been used properly over eight (8) weeks, it can be absolved and you won’t owe anything. The loan may not be forgiven if an employee was let go and was supposed to be re-hired under the PPP loan. If a PPP loan is not forgiven, it must be paid back within two years at 1% interest.

The bank you filed your application through will ask for proof of how the funds were used. The best and easiest way to prove how funds are being used and transferred is to open a separate bank account for the loan.

While the PPP loan is not considered income and is not taxable, is not yet known if the government will allow PPP loan recipients to write it down to zero, or if you can deduct payroll and rent expenses from it.
What Covid-19 has taught us
Tags: Covid, After Effects

The covid-19 pandemic had devastating effects globally. What started as a novel virus, became a pandemic worldwide. Covid has just changed our way of living. People who used to go to work every day are forced to work from home. Students whose daily agenda was to go to school, are now attending school virtually. Companies have been hit hard, which brought the economy down. Isolation, no social contact, and lockdown affected the mental health of young children and brought in anxiety. And the worst of all, nations battling against each other instead of fighting covid together.

But there are not only downsides to this pandemic. It has created many opportunities as well. As everyone is at home, people started learning new skills, languages, etc. Even children were involved in learning new skills such as coding which might not have been possible.

On one hand, the food and tourism industries had to occur huge losses, but on the other hand, industries like healthcare, computer hardware, and consumer products skyrocketed. People were not so conscious of sanitization and personal hygiene. But now, it is all a must.

Instead of complaining about what Covid has done to our lives, let’s take a moment and think about the positive effects.
Warmer Weather Is Here, And I’m Ready To Shed Layers… And My Seasonal Depression
By: Ashley Bowden
Tags: Spring, Covid, Seasons, Seasonal Depression, Summer

Warmer Weather Is Here, And I’m Ready To Shed Layers… And My Seasonal Depression Ashley Bowden May 9·2 min read

Photo by Fernando Brasil on Unsplash

Spring has arrived, and with that, the snow has melted and the temperature is rising into the 60s… and continuing to climb.

I couldn’t be more excited. That first beautiful day where I’m able to trade in my pants for shorts is the day my seasonal depression lifts, and a smile is back on my face.

Seasonal depression is brought on by the changing of seasons, and usually, it begins and ends around the same time each year. Most people are affected by this come late fall and through the winter months. There are some people, though it’s more uncommon, that feel it during the spring and summer months.

The causes of this change are still unknown, but there are guesses it comes from the changes to your biological clock from the lack of daylight hours and your serotonin and melatonin levels. People tend to have low energy, lost interest in activities they usually enjoy, changes to their mood and many of the symptoms that come with depression.

For those with bipolar disorder, such as myself, it can hit a tad harder as you already go through periods of mania and depression. Adding on seasonal depression, those low times come more often and can be more intense.

There are different reasons for the lifting of these feelings, for some, it’s the longer daylight hours or maybe, it’s spring cleaning. For me, it comes with the first day I am able to wear shorts.

Whatever the reason is, that moment it finally lifts is one of the best feelings there is.

That change is almost instant, too, at least for me it is. That moment I’m back in shorts, my mood lifts, and my energy comes back. I’m ready to get outside because during the winter months, I’m stuck indoors. I don’t enjoy any winter activities.

I’m planning projects for spring cleaning, and most importantly, I’m happy.

I believe the lifting of seasonal depression right now feels even better amidst the pandemic. There is already the feeling of being trapped and sad about the lack of things to do and loved ones you can’t see except through maybe a window or screen.

Even though activities are still limited, there are things you are able to do as long as you do them safely by wearing your mask and keeping your distance.

The vaccinations rolling out also gives me more hope. It’s like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, which just adds more happiness.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to shed some layers and enjoy this feeling of happiness again. Make some plans to get the most out of spring and summer!